THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



dale and on Phillip Island ; but in November last twenty-six 

 members of the Club devoted themselves for over a fortnight 

 to the exploration of King Island, and the examination of its 

 flora and fauna. The Hon. Commissioner of Customs kindly 

 allovi^ed the use of the Government steamer — the Lady Loch — 

 to convey the members of the expedition to and from the island. 

 The members vv'orked hard throughout, and full reports of the 

 results secured by them have already appeared, constituting the 

 January number of the Naturalist. I will not here recapitulate 

 them, but will simply quote the general conclusion of Professor 

 Spencer that " there is little doubt, from the evidence obtained, 

 negative and positive, that King Island is allied naturally, as 

 well as politically, to Tasmania." The expedition does not 

 pretend to have exhausted King Island, and I have little doubt 

 but that, profiting by the experience now acquired, a future 

 party of our naturalists will succeed in wresting further spoil 

 and knowledge from the difficult parts of the island not as yet 

 reached. That much has been done the exhibits from King 

 Island to-night testify. 



We have not forgotten our duties to the State this year. The 

 subject of the protection of our native birds has been again 

 brought under the notice of Government, and we have found 

 the Commissioner of Customs very favourably disposed to our 

 views. The Government have gone, indeed, even further in 

 this matter than we ventured to suggest, and have proclaimed 

 permanently-closed seasons for a large number of our useful and 

 persecuted birds. I would especially call your [attention to the 

 tact that it is now illegal at any time to take or destroy the 

 Lyre-bird ; and it is to be hoped that the public will endeavour 

 to support this attempt of the Government to save these rare 

 and curious birds from extermination, by giving information 

 should they become aware of any breach of the law. 



At the August meeting Mr. Gregory brought before the Club 

 the desirability of at once taking steps to secure the permanent 

 reservation of Wilson's Promontory as a national park. The 

 motion he introduced was carried unanimously, and it was 

 decided to ask the other scientific societies of Victoria to 

 Unite in making strong representations to the Ministers of Lands 

 apd Customs on the subject. Accordingly, after much careful 

 consideration had been given to the question by these bodies, a 

 deputation, representing the Royal Society, the Geographical 

 Society, and the Academy of Arts, as well as our Club, waited 

 on the Minister of Lands, and pointed out to him the peculiar 

 advantages of the Promontory for the purpose specified, its 

 natural and effective boundaries, its variety of scenery, its 

 future accessibility, the absence of vested interests, and the 

 utility of part as a forest (kauri) reserve. The deputation was 

 well received, and we are hopeful that Victoria will follow, in 



