50 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [vor'xxxi 



discolor and L. capcnsis and Davallia duhia. The interesting 

 locality to the south of Evelyn will soon cease to be possessed 

 of attraction for those botanically inclined, as large areas have 

 been cut up for building sites, and numbers of " week-end " 

 dwellings are being erected to the usual accompaniment — the 

 destruction of native trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. A 

 special feature of interest in the journey to Evelyn was the 

 number of trees of Acacia Bailcyana, in profuse bloom, that 

 were to be seen in private gardens on either side of the railwa y 

 line. Though mid-winter, the afternoon proved a pleasant 

 one, resulting in a very enjoyable outing. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, ^liss Dorothy Coleman, " Walsham," 

 Blackburn, was duly elected as an associate. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Mr. O. Rosenhain said that, in accordance with the resolution 

 passed at the annual meeting of the Club on 15th June, he had 

 interviewed Major Semmens respecting the granting of permits 

 to destroy Black Swans on The Heart estate, near Sale. The 

 inspector stated the birds had increased to an enormous extent 

 during the past few years, and were to be seen at the locality 

 mentioned in thousands. Letters had been received by him 

 from settlers in the district complaining of the damage done 

 to their grass by large flocks of these birds. The police had 

 made inquiries, and their reports fully confirmed the genuine- 

 ness of the land-owners' complaints. He had intimated that 

 he would, on application being made, grant a permit to any 

 aggrieved settler to destroy swans on his property. So far no 

 permits had been applied for. In the event of permits being 

 granted the police would l)e instructed to prevent wanton 

 destruction. 



Mr. Rosenhain expressed himself as being satisfied that The 

 Heart settlers had a just complaint, and were entitled to some 

 measure of protection from the depredations of the Black 

 Swans. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland said that he had noted large flocks, 

 comprising thousands of birds, in The Heart district in March 

 last. 



Mr. J. Gabriel expressed the opinion that the dry season, by 

 drying up the lagoons and swamps and so reducing the area 

 of those sheets of water frequented by the swans, had con- 

 tributed, to a great extent, to the congregation of the birds in 

 the Sale district. 



REMARKS BY EXHIBITORS OF SPECIMENS. 



Arising out of some remarks by Mr. C. J. Gabriel at the 

 thirty-fourth annual meeting of the Club on 15th June respecting 



