* u f'l Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 55 



Mr. G. Coghill said that the statement that he had exhibited 

 Pterostylis vittata in May, 1884, as collected at Hawthorn must 

 have been a slip, as Sandringham is the only locality in which 

 he had collected it near Melbourne. Several species of orchids 

 used to grow at Hawthorn, but they had long since disappeared. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard referred to finding splendid specimens 

 of Gastrodia sesamoides in a dark fern gully at Wilson's 

 Promontory on the occasion of the Christmas, 1914, camp-out. 



2. By Mr. L. G. Chandler, entitled " Some Victorian Birds 

 and Their Haunts." 



In explanation of a very interesting series of slides depicting 

 the nests, eggs, and young of some of our native birds in their 

 haunts, the author detailed the patience and tact that had to 

 be displayed and the difficulties that had to be overcome 

 before many of the views shown were secured. Many inter- 

 esting narratives demonstrating the confiding nature of our 

 birds when treated with kindness were narrated, and views 

 expressed on several points whereon diversity of opinion 

 among ornithologists exists. He mentioned that the Coach- 

 whip-Bird, under certain conditions, will give utterance to the 

 bi-syllabic call — which is usually given as an answering call 

 by the female — in conjunction with his own whip-crack notes, 

 and expressed the opinion that this is probably a ruse to 

 protect the female from detection when danger threatens. 

 Referring to the call of the Podargus, he stated that on one 

 occasion he had heard this bird give a call which might easily 

 be interpreted as " Mo-poke." At the same time the call 

 could not be mistaken for that of the Boobook Owl, being 

 uttered in a lower key, and much more rapidly. His conclusion 

 was that neither bird said " Mo-poke." The call of the 

 Boobook Owl resembled " More-pork," whilst that of the 

 Podargus was more like " Rope-rope." Both species had a 

 number of other distinct calls. An interesting point in con- 

 nection with the Yellow Robin was mentioned — namely, that 

 when the bird was perched on a gently swaying spray the 

 body swayed in unison, but the head did not move. This 

 enabled the bird to focus its eyes accurately on any particular 

 spot. The author concluded his lecturette by reading some 

 notes entitled " The Birds' Drinking Tin," in order to show 

 the possibilities of bird photography out of the nesting season. 



The president, in congratulating Mr. Chandler on the 

 excellent serii s of views shown, intimated to the meeting that 

 the lecturer was about to proceed to the front. He felt sure 

 that all present would sincerely wish him a safe and speedy 

 return, and that he might favour them on some future occasion 

 with his other lantern slides, for the display of which there 

 was not sufficient time thai evening. 



