The Smith Australian Ornithological Association. 165- 



The same member also showed: — 



Amytornis siriatus (Striated Grass Wren). 

 Gilbert or nis rufogularis gUbertii (Red-throated Thick-head). 

 Eclectus pectoralis macgilUvrayi (Red-sided Parrot). From 

 the Pascoe River, North Queensland. 



May 26th, 1916. 



A monthly meeting was held, at which Capt. S. A. White 

 reported that Carlot Lagoon, nine miles above Mannum, would 

 be gazetted the following week as a Fauna Reserve. Mr. F. 

 R, Zietz drew the notice of members to an article in the N.S.W. 

 Agricultural Gazette, upon poisoning fruit for the destruction 

 of birds. Members strongly condemned this suggestion. An 

 illustration in the same paper showed 600 poisoned galahs. 

 Members were very sorry to see such a sad photograph, and 

 to know that 2,371 parrots were killed at one poisoning. No 

 wonder our native birds were disappearing. Capt. White 

 drew attention to a recent publication of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture upon "The Birds of Porto Rico," 

 by Alex. Wetmore, Assistant Biologist. The work was a 

 very interesting one from the economic point of view alone. 

 The Chairman (Dr. A. M. Morgan) spoke upon bird life 

 recently observed on the islands and along our coastline, these 

 observations being made through the kindness of the Messrs. 

 Rvmill putting their motor yacht, the 'Avocet," at the dis- 

 posal of ornithology again. Two species of shells were 

 shown, Turbo Stramineus and Thais textiliosa. The doctor 

 explained that these shells were supposed to be carried up 

 into the air by the Pacific Gulls (Gabinus pacificus), and dropped 

 upon the rocks, and thus smashed as a means of abstracting 

 the edible contents. He stated that he did not think this 

 possible, as one shell weighed 10^ ozs. He credited the 

 White-headed Osprey (Pandion haliaetus cristatus) with the 

 practice. 



Some discussion took place for and against the supposi- 

 tion. It was the general opinion that only by observation 

 could this matter be cleared up. 



Skins of the Pacific Gull and White-headed Osprey were 

 exhibited by Capt. White, to illustrate the above discussion. 

 The same member also showed the skins of young Short-tailed 

 Petrels (Neonectris tenuirostris brevicaudus), and, remarked upon 

 the strange growth of the down upon each feather. 



