58 Bird Observers' Club. [.sr^'juiy 



in Ancient Medicine." Mr. C. Cole mentioned that he had seen the 

 Flame-breasted Robin {Peirceca phcetiicea) at Hawthorn (Vic.) on 20th 

 March. Mr. J. Ross stated that a fisherman friend of his had seen, on 

 20th March, a pair of Flame-breasted Robins pass over the boat, near 

 Oiieenscliff (Vic.) The birds were flying north, and were about 8 miles 

 from land. 



The monthly meeting of the Bird Observers' Club was held at the 

 residence of Dr. H. W. Bryant, " Tarella," Toorak, on Wednesday evening, 

 17th April. The host occupied the chair. The chairman read a letter received 

 from Mr. O. W. Rosenhain, dated from Egypt. Mr. Rosenhain described 

 several species of birds which he had met with in the valley of the Nile. 

 He also forwarded two specimens of Quail shot in that country. Mr. 

 Laidlaw was unanimously elected a member of the Club. Mr. L. G. 

 Chandler read a brief paper on the Mistletoe-Bird (Z^/(:i??/w Jnrundinaccum), 

 and a discussion arose regarding the habits of the species. Mr. T, H. 

 Tregellas exhibited three specimens of the Mistletoe-Bird. Mr. Chas. 

 Barrett showed a photograph of an Emu, taken at Wilson's Promontory. 

 Mr. F. E. Wilson exhibited nest of the Mistletoe-Bird, and Mr. L. G. 

 Chandler photographs of young Mistletoe-Birds and nest. 



Field Outing : Ringing Mutton-Birds. 



Several members of the B. O.C. spent a very profitable and enjoyable 

 week-end on Phillip Island from the 20th April to 22nd April, 1912. 



The party drove from Cowes to the rookery at '' The Narrows." Much 

 useful information was elicited from our driver concerning the habits of the 

 Mutton-Bird {Puffi)ius brevicmidus). One interesting statement was that 

 the young birds do not go straight out to sea on their first flight, but make 

 several short journeys, and return to their burrows for a day or two before 

 finally leaving the locality. 



At " The Narrows " the members of the party got to work with wire crooks, 

 but it was difficult to draw the nestlings from the burrows, and only 13 birds 

 were ringed. The rings were numbered and dated, and had the inscription 

 "B. O.C, Melbourne," stamped upon them. A wooden stake was driven 

 into the ground at the entrance to each burrow containing a ringed bird, and 

 a brass tag, dated and numbered to correspond with the ring, was affixed to 

 it. By this means the Club hopes to determine next season whether the 

 birds return to their birthplace to nest. Three young Mutton-Birds were 

 caught in the surf ; they had probably been driven in by the heavy wind 

 which prevailed on the previous night. Rings were placed on their legs, 

 and they were then liberated. As it was the first visit to Phillip Island of 

 several members of the party a visit was made to Cape WoUomai. Birding 

 had evidently been going on, as a number of heads of young Mutton-Birds 

 were noted. A certain amount of cruelty is involved in drawing a young 

 bird from its burrow. An egg-crook is used, with the wire cut so as to form 

 two prongs at the end ; this is worked behind the bird, which is dragged out 

 with the spikes digging into its body. The remains of several old birds 

 were found entangled in the barbed-wire fences at WoUomai. This wire 

 probably causes the death of a large number of birds. It was noticed, too, 

 that cattle had broken through the soil into many of the burrows. At 

 WoUomai the party met Inspector Rowson, of the Fisheries and Game 

 Department. 



The party returned to " The Narrows," and, after tea, sat down and 

 waited for the young birds to leave their burrows. The first bird appeared 

 at about 7 p.m. ; it was captured and a ring placed on its leg. Altogether 

 42 birds were ringed during the trip. Of course, the burrows could not be 

 marked in the evening. The first bird caught in the evening was one of the 

 ringed ones that had been taken from the surf earlier in the day. The old 

 birds had evidently deserted their nestlings, as none was seen. 



