6o Bird Observers' Club. [isf'juiy 



elected a member of the Club. Mr. L. G. Chandler, the hon. secretary, 

 reported that a party of Club members had spent an instructive week-end 

 on Mud Island, Port Phillip Bay. Thirty-seven specimens of the White- 

 faced Storm- Petrel {Pelagodrouia iiiaritm) had been ringed, in connection 

 with the study of migration. The Mutton-Bird rookeries at Phillip Island 

 formed the subject for the evening, and Mr. Cole thought it was time that 

 the Club arrived at some finality in regard to the preservation of these 

 interesting rookeries. Mr. A. J. Campbell said that little was known 

 regarding the life-history of the Mutton-Bird, and the B.O.C. should make 

 systematic studies. Mr. Campbell made suggestions concerning the pro- 

 tection of the birds. Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley considered that only wire 

 crooks should be used in extracting eggs from the burrows. When crooks 

 with wooden handles were used the mouths of the burrows were enlarged, 

 and finally the tunnels collapsed. Mr. G. A. Dyer stated that last year, on 

 Phillip Island, he met a man who had in his possession four 40-gallon casks 

 of bird oil. At a rough estimate, over 3,000 birds had been killed to obtain 

 this oil. The chairman described a visit which he had recently made to 

 Cape Woolamai, in company with Messrs. A. J. and A. G. Campbell. He 

 considered that the Club should study the Mutton-Birds scientifically. He 

 outlined several plans whereby the many problems in the life-history of the 

 Petrels could be elucidated. Messrs. O. W. Rosenhain, F. E. Wilson, and A. 

 C. Stone also spoke on the subject. Major J. M. Semmens, Chief Inspector 

 of Fisheries and Game, who was present by invitation, said that it might be 

 better to go on with protection without waiting for the scientific points to be 

 cleared up. He detailed a series of recommendations, which, he said, he 

 intended to place before the Minister for Agriculture at an early date. It 

 was agreed that members of the Club visit Cape Woolamai before the old 

 birds had left the rookeries for the season. Mr. F'. E. Howe exhibited an 

 unusual nest of the White-shafted Fantail {R/iipidiira albiscapa), the speci- 

 men being devoid of the "tail." Mr. C. Barrett exhibited photographs of 

 the nests of typical birds of the Lake Boga district, and Mr. Chandler photo- 

 graphs taken during the recent Club outing at Mud Island. 



The monthly meeting of the Club was held on W^ednesday evening, 19th 

 February, at the residence of Mr. Dudley Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., Zoological 

 Gardens, Parkville. Before dinner, members inspected the gardens, under 

 the guidance of Mr. Le Souef The large mounds of the Brush-Turkey 

 created considerable attention. The host stated that the male bird alone 

 constructed the mound, the earth and debris being scratched up by the bird's 

 feet, with a backward motion. A pair of White-quilled Rock-Pigeons 

 {Petrop/uissa albipennis) was also closely examined. Mr. Le Souef had 

 recently brought these birds from the Northern Territory. At the business 

 meeting Mr. Le Souef occupied the chair. Mr. L. G. Chandler, hon. 

 secretary, read the report of the Mud Island camp-out, and a brief paper by 

 Mr. A. H. Chisholm, of Maryborough, on the nesting habits of Thrushes. 

 Mr. J. A. Ross then read an interesting paper on Cuckoos. Mr. Le Souef 

 gave a lecture on his recent trip to the Northern Territory. A series of 

 lantern slides was shown. Mr. D. Le Souef exhibited an adult specimen of 

 the White-faced Storm-Petrel {Pelagodroma inarina)., and two young in the 

 down. Mr. F. E. Wilson showed a set of eggs of the Yellow Robin 

 {Eopsaliria ausiralis\ with an ^gg of the Bronze-Cuckoo {CJialcococcyx 

 plagostis). This was a new record. On behalf of Mr. H. L. White, of New 

 South Wales, Mr. A. J. Campbell exhibited a magnificent series of eggs of 

 the Spotted Bower-Bird {Chlamydcra inaculnta), and also a set of eggs of 

 the rare Yellow-spotted Bower-Bird (C guttata). For further note on this 

 exhibit see Emu., vol. xii., p. 286. 



The monthly meeting of the Club was held on Wednesday evening, 19th 

 March, at the residence of Dr. H. W. Bryant, Toorak. The host occupied 

 the chair. Mr. C. F. Cole read an interesting paper on the Mutton-Bird. 

 The paper contained many valuable notes on the habits of the birds, and 



