no S«>^ Observers' Cluh. [isf'oct. 



of the Lyre-Bird {Menura victoria') and Cuckoo-Shrike {Graucahis 

 melattops) contributed a paper on the last-named variety, explaining the 

 manner in' which the bird obtains its food, and showing the amount of 

 oood work done by it amongst the larvae of the case-moth {Pyschido>). 

 Messrs. Tregallas and Chandler read papers on the habits of the Coach whip- 

 Bird (Psophodes crepitans). Mr. C. L. Barrett drew attention to the 

 Importation of Plumage Prohibition Bill introduced into the House of Lords 

 by Lord Avebury. The object of the proposed Act was to check the 

 growing and wholesale destruction of birds in all parts of the world, and 

 Their importation into the United Kingdom. An idea of the numbers of 

 birds imported into England in 1907 was given by Mr. Barrett, who said 

 that the catalogue at one sale included 19,742 skins of Birds of Paradise, 

 1,386 Crowned Pigeons' heads, and many Lyre-Birds' tails at another. It 

 was decided to write to Lord Avebury in appreciation of his action. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club for July was held at the 

 residence of Dr. G. Home, Clifton Hill, with a fair attendance. Dr. Home 

 presided. Field notes and papers were received from Messrs. Christian, 

 Raywood, and Chisholm, Maryborough. After many other field notes were 

 discussed, Mr. C. F. Cole read a paper entitled " Do Gulls Dive ? " and 

 Mr. Chisholm's paper was in favour of protecting the Crow or Raven, as 

 they do good work as scavengers. Both papers were well received, and 

 opened up lengthy discussion. Mr. A. H. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., read an 

 interesting and instructive paper on " The Birds of Lawrence Rock," which 

 was illustrated with many excellent lantern slides, showing the phases of 

 plumage of the young of Penguins, Terns, Gannets, and Petrels. Dr. 

 Home exhibited a curio in the shape of a Swallow's nest built on the handle 

 of a pair of sheep shears which had been stuck into the wall of a stable. 

 Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., showed a series of Southern Stone-Plovers' 

 eggs, varying in colour from light gi'ey through various shades of brown to 

 dark green, and explained that the eggs almost invariably were placed on 

 the soil that harmonized best with them. Whether the bird knows this, or 

 it is due to the food obtained, were questions that were discussed. Miss 

 Bowie interested the members when she told how a pair of Black-breasted 

 Plovers (Ztf;?;/fr /r/ctf/^r) that are in Dr. Home's aviaries were nest-making. 



Great Forward Movement in Bird Protection, 



{Continued from p. gi.) 

 Regarding the protection of game in Tasmania, the resolution 

 passed at a recent meeting of sportsmen, recommending that a 

 Commission be appointed to protect and preserve the native 

 fauna of Tasmania, was placed before the Premier (Hon. J. W. 

 Evans, C.M.G.) on the 28th September, 1908, by a large and 

 representative deputation. Included amongst those present 

 were Hon. A. Morrisby, M.L.C., Messrs. F. B. Rattle (who 

 introduced the deputation) and B. Watkins, Ms.H.A., Dr. Gibson, 

 Bernard Shaw, and A. D. Watchorn (Royal Society), A. L. 

 Butler (Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club and Australasian 

 Ornithologists' Union), P. S. Seager, I.S.O. (Tasmanian Tourist 

 Association), L. M. Shoobridge and L. C. Thirlwall (Tasmanian 

 Farmers and Stockowners' Association), T. A. Tabart (Chief 

 Inspector of Stock), Robert Hall, F.L.S. (Curator of the Tas- 

 manian Museum), S. Salmon (East Coast landowners), and 

 several others. 



After several of the members of the deputation had spoken at 



