^°';g^^s"-] Bird Observers' Club. lOQ 



Bird Observers^ Club. 



The monthly meeting of the Club was held at the residence of Mr. D. Le 

 SoLief, Zoological Gardens, Parkville, on 25th March. There were present 

 Messrs. Mattingley, Ross, A. J. Campbell, Tregallas, Chandler, Barrett, 

 Nicholls, R. P. Godfrey, Cole, M'Lennan, and Howe (hon. sec.) The host 

 occupied the chair. Mr. R. W. Armitage was elected a member, and 

 Messrs. Chisholm (Maryborough) and M'Lennan (Pine Plains) country 

 members. Mr. Christian contributed field notes from Raywood (Vic.) 

 The subject for discussion was Cuckoos. Mr. Cole read a paper 

 entitled " Observations on the Finch as a Foster-Parent to the Cuckoo," 

 in which he negatived the idea of the Finch successfully rearing the Cuckoo. 

 Mr. A. H. Mattingley read a paper on the Cormorants in regard to fisheries, 

 and contended that the bird does more good than harm, inasmuch as though 

 fish were undoubtedly taken by the bird in question, it destroyed great 

 numbers of eels and crustaceans, the greatest enemies of the fish ova. The 

 exhibits were many and beautiful. Mr. Le Souef e.xhibited the egg and 

 nest of the Paradisea raggiatia^ hitherto unknown to science, on behalf of Mr. 

 Atlee Hunt. Mr. J. A. Ross showed specimens of six Victorian Cuckoos. 

 Mr. Chandler's exhibits were the male and female of the Masked Wood- 

 Swallow [Arlaniiis pcrsonafus), and our host showed the type skins of the 

 Fern-Wren, Pale Flycatcher, Pheasant Flycatcher, and Gay-tinted Honey- 

 eater, all kindly loaned by the authorities of the Brisbane Museum. Mr. 

 Le Souef also showed the eggs of every known variety of Cuckoo found 

 breeding in Australia. Messrs. Cole and Howe exhibited skins of Little 

 Tern, Tringa, and Stint, and eggs of the former found in Port Phillip Bay. 



The May meeting of the Club was held at Oxford Chambers, Bourke- 

 street, Melbourne, and 1 1 members accepted the invitation of the hon. 

 secretary (Mr. F. Howe). The host was voted to the chair. The resignation 

 of Mr. J . A. Kershaw was accepted with regret. A suggestion that seemed 

 to find favour with members was made by Mr. Mattingley (on behalf of a 

 member not present), that the Club have its own room, where members 

 could meet. The matter was discussed, and adjourned for further considera- 

 tion. Mr. Cole exhibited mounted specimens of the Darter, Little, Little 

 Black, and White-breasted Cormorants, this family forming the subject for 

 discussion. Mr. Chandler's exhibits were skins of the Tawny-crowned and 

 Sanguineous Honey-eaters, Frontal Shrike-Tit, Chthonicola, and Little 

 Grass-Bird. Mr. C. F. Cole read a paper on " Cormorants," and his 

 observations along the coast and inland waters were intently listened to and 

 appreciated, Messrs. Mattingley and Le Souef endorsing his remarks as to 

 the good done by these birds. Mr. Chisholm (Maryborough) forwarded a 

 paper on the White-eye {Zosterops cccriilesceiis) and Red Wattle-Bird 

 {AcantliochcEra carunculata). Mr. Robert Hall's "Suggestions on 

 Migration " was read by Mr. Mattingley, showing an admirable plan for 

 taking notes on this interesting question. Mr. E. Christian sent field-notes, 

 and mentioned the Koel {Eiidyuainis cyanocephala) as an autumn visitor to 

 Raywood (Vic.) 



The quarterly dinner of the Club was held at the Mia-Mia Tea Rooms, 

 Collins-street, Melbourne, on 24th June, when only seven members were 

 present, but later in the evening six others arrived. Mr. Mattingley pre- 

 sided. Mr. Fred Godfrey tendered his resignation as a member of the Club. 

 Mr. Godfrey was one of the original founders of this Club, but as he was 

 leaving the colony for New Zealand, his resignation was accepted with 

 regret, and the hon. sec. was directed to write expressing the Club's regret at 

 his loss. The subject for discussion was " Scrub-loving Birds." Mr. Cook, 

 of Poowong (Vic), sent an interesting paper on the Lyre-Bird, and a pencil 

 drawing showing the birds going to roost was considered unique. Messrs. 

 A. G. Campbell and F. P. Godfrey both sent papers on the Bristle-Bird 

 {Sphenura broadbenti). Mr. F. E. Howe, hon. sec, read a paper on the 

 Pilot-Bird {Pyawptilus floccosus). Mr. C. F. Cole, besides exhibiting skins 



