I08 Notes and Notices. [ isf "oct. 



Bass Strait Expedition. — A reunion of the members of the 

 Australasian Ornithologists' expedition to the Bass Strait 

 islands in November-December last year took place on 9th 

 July, 1909, at the Independent Hall, Melbourne, in conjunction 

 with an entertainment given by the Bird Observers' Club. His 

 Excellency the Governor and Lady Gibson-Carmichael attended, 

 and the chair was occupied by Mr. E. B. Nicholls, A.O.U. 

 Among those present were — Dr. G. T. Howard and Mrs. 

 Howard, Dr. C. L. Lempriere, Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, and Mrs. 

 Leach, Mr. W. T. Kendall, M.R.C.V.S., and Mrs. Kendall, Dr. 

 S. A. Ewing, Dr. George Home and Mrs. Home, Dr. H. W. 

 Bryant and Misses Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. Mattingley, Mr. 

 Andrew Scott (Elmore), Mr. O. W. Rosenhain, Mr. A. R. 

 Aylwin, Mr. W. A. Shum and Miss Shum, Misses Le Souef, 

 Mrs. A. J. Campbell and Misses Campbell, Miss Fenton, Misses 

 Nicholls, Miss B. Wood, Miss Barrett, Messrs. A. H. Kenyon, 

 Z. Gray, and J. Barr. Mr. Donald Macdonald was to have given 

 a history of the expedition, but was unable to attend, through 

 indisposition. Mr. Charles Barrett (hon. sec. B.O.C.) took his 

 place, and, with the aid of a line selection of lantern slides, 

 described the voyage of the s.s. Manaivatu from the time she 

 left Melbourne till she stranded in Western Port Bay. Views 

 were shown of the bird rookeries on Penguin, Cat, Storehouse, 

 and other islands. Mr. A. J. Campbell, Col. M. B.O.U., then 

 gave a very interesting account of the Mutton-Bird {Puffinus 

 tetmirostris). He described the wonderful nesting habits of the 

 bird, and explained how the half-castes who live among the 

 islands gather the eggs and the nestlings. The lecturer was 

 warmly applauded. 



After a brief interval, Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., the 

 leader of the Ornithologists' expedition, made a few explanatory 

 remarks prior to a display of the cinematograph pictures, which 

 were taken under his direction by Mr. O. Perry, an expert 

 operator. The films were unlike anything yet seen in Mel- 

 bourne. Hundreds of seals were shown clambering about the 

 rocks at Seal Island and making graceful evolutions in the sea. 

 Then appeared on the screen pictures of the great Gannet 

 rookery on Cat Island. Thousands of big white birds were seen 

 flying about their nesting-place, and the domestic economy of 

 the Gannet was shown. The Cormorant films proved equally 

 interesting, and finally the members of the expedition were 

 shown climbing the rocky hillside at Deal Island. At the 

 conclusion of the display there was hearty applause. During the 

 evening Lady Carmichael was presented with a souvenir album 

 of photographs of the Bass Strait islands and their bird-life. 

 The presentation was made by Miss Fenton, on behalf of the 

 Bird Observers' Club, — Herald, 10/7/09. 



