. . The . 3 



South Australian Naturalist. 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Mr. M. Symonds Clark. — On the occasion of Mr. Clark 

 reaching his 81st birthday, the Secretary conveyed to him the 

 hearty good Avishes of the Field Natnralists, and referred to the 

 many years of loving- and suceessfnl work given by that gentle- 

 man to matters connected Avith the care of the native fanna and 

 flora. In reply, Mr. Clark wrote: — "I am indeed pleased to 

 know that Flinders Chase is now secnred as a reserve, bnt [ 

 understand that the area is only about half of that we had asked 

 for. The question of the protection of our native birds Avas 

 forced upon my notice by the introduction of a ncAv Game Bill 

 about 1873. The then existing Act extended i)rotection to 

 rabbits and s])an'ows, together Avith game birds generally, 

 indigenous and imported, and (1 think) deer and hares. Be- 

 lieving that by far the greater number of birds Avere more 

 useful than harmful, I thought it Avould be a good plan to 

 protect during a close season all excepting those acknoAvledged 

 to be harmful, so I drafted a schedule for the ucav Act, includ- 

 ing 'all birds indigenous to Australia,' excepting certain birds 

 and groups of birds, Avhicli Avere named — about a dozen names. 

 The Bill Avas passed in, 1 think, 1874, Avitli this particular 

 amendment of mine practically intact. I had i)ressed my vicAvs 

 upon several members of both Houses of Parliament, and 

 Messrs. Ayers ( after Avards Sir Henry) and Morgan (afterAvards 

 Sir AVilliam) Avere mainly instrumental in introducing my 

 amendments. About fifteen years later, the late Mr. A. F. Robin 

 introduced the question to the Field Naturalists. With him as 

 the first secretary, the Fauna and Flora Protection Committee 

 Avas established. He and I, Avith much stimulation and help 

 from Mr. Samuel Dixon, carried on the Avork of the Committee. 

 This included the steps necessary for obtaining the reserve of 

 the National Park. After this AA^as accomplished, Mr. Eobin's 

 health gave Avay, and he asked me to take his place for a time. 

 He Avas never Avell enough to resume the Avork, and I remained 

 secretary until 1913, AA'hen I also had to resign.'' 



