J""^'] Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 27 



illustrating the country, which he would have pleasure in 

 placing before the members, if a convenient time could be fixed. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., moved that Mr. Kitson be invited 

 to lecture on Southern Nigeria, and that a special meeting 

 be held at a date to be fixed by the committee. 



The motion was seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, and 

 carried unanimously. 



Dr. T. S. Hall, M.A., stated that the Royal Society proposed 

 erecting a new hall to seat about 300 people, and, in order to 

 raise funds, Prof. W. B. Spencer had consented to give a lecture 

 on the Northern Territory in the Auditorium on 6th June. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard pointed out that the June meeting of 

 the Club would fall on King's Birthday, and suggested that it 

 be postponed until i6th June, and moved accordingly. 



This was seconded by Dr. C. S. Sutton, and carried. 



PAPERS, 



Owing to the lateness of the hour, the reading of a paper by 

 Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., entitled " The Algse of the Flamingo 

 Pool, Zoological Gardens, Melbourne," was postponed. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Dr. J. A. Leach referred to the reduced numbers of occupants 

 in Mutton-bird burrows at Phillip Island, not more than 

 10 per cent, yielding birds. He proposed that camps should 

 be held during the summer months and at Easter for some 

 years to come in order that data relative to the habits of these 

 birds might be collected. 



Dr. E. B. Nicholls stated that on a previous visit to the 

 locality burrows were marked with numbered stakes, but many 

 of these could not be found on the occasion of the visit of the 

 Club's excursion party at Easter. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., asked if any attempt had been 

 made to put secret marks in addition to the stakes. This 

 system had been adopted with success in survey work. 



Mr. Chandler thought the idea a good one, and suggested 

 its adoption. 



Mr. A. E. Kitson, F.G.S., mentioned that, whilst on the 

 voyage out from England, when the ship was off the coast of 

 Spain, a Painted Quail was caught on deck one night at 11.30. 

 It refused food and w^ater for two days. After reaching 

 Marseilles it was set free, when it flew into a strong breeze, and, 

 rising steadily, proceeded inland. Later on, when off the Cocos 

 Islands, a Sooty Petrel came aboard, but vanished in the 

 darkness as soon as liberated. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S. — Epacris microphylla, R. Br., 

 variegated form, collected near Vereker Range, Wilson's 

 Promontory, December, 1912. 



