tbe Uktorian naturalisi 



Vol. XXX.— No. 10. FEBRUARY 5, 1914. No. 362. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, I2th January, 1914. 

 Mr. F. Pitcher, one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair, 

 and about 40 members and visitors were present. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



A letter was received from the secretary to the Hon. the 

 Premier, forwarding a copy of a letter received from the Agent- 

 General for Victoria in London, giving the result of his interview 

 with the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies in 

 connection with the Plumage Bill which will shortly be brought 

 before the House of Commons, requests having been made by 

 this Club, as well as other kindred societies, urging the passing 

 of the bill in the interests of bird protection. The Hon. Mr. 

 M'Bride stated that Mr. Secretary Harcourt informed him that 

 he was quite in sympathy with the measure, and that he has 

 already been interested in the institution of ordinances in various 

 Crown colonies prohibiting the destruction of insectivorous and 

 other birds. Mr. Harcourt added that he would be very pleased 

 to bring the matter under the notice of his colleagues, the 

 members of the Government. 



Mr: Keartland said it was desirable that legislation should be 

 enacted to stop the destruction of our native birds, but legisla- 

 tion was of little use unless carried out. Laws were often more 

 honoured in the breach than the observance. 



Mr. J. Gabriel also spoke in support of the question. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Sandringham on Saturday, 13th 

 December, was given by the leader, Mr. J. Shephard, who said 

 that about fifteen members met at Sandringham railway 

 station. A start was at once made for the beach, which was 

 traversed in the direction of the Red Bluff. The tide was fairly 

 high, but ebbing, and when Half-Moon Bay was reached 

 the rocks at the southern extremity were fairly accessible. 

 This stretch of beach is much resorted to by the growing 

 population, and this partially accounts for the paucity of manne 

 shore fauna. A stranded shoal of sting-rays was noticed, as 

 well as the continued extension along the rocks of the European 

 mussel. At Half-Moon Bay some time was spent among the 

 anemones, barnacles, planarian worms, starfish, periwinkles, 

 washed-up corals, crustaceans, &c., found among the rocks and 



