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Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. 



NEW MEMBERS. — The following new members have been elected: — 



ORDINARY MEMBERS. 



Messrs. c. C. Capper, Heywood Chapman, Ben Puller, Edward Palmer, and 



Eugene Viles, Sydney. 



ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. 



Ralph C. Blacket, Queanbeyan; E. P. Fleming, A. II. S. Lucas, and 

 Erwix NUBLING, Sydney; LOUIS E. D'ARX, Livingstone-street, West End, Towns- 

 ville, X. (Queensland. 



HONORARY MEMBER. 



In recognition of her services to the Society, in allowing the free use of a 

 room in the city tor Council meetings during the past five years, Mrs. G. J. 

 Waterhouse, of Woodford, N.S.W., has been elected an Honorary Member. 



BAT PLAGUE AT LORD HOWE ISLAND. 

 Dr. Eustace W. Ferguson, Principal Microbiologist, Department of Public 

 Health, brought under the notice of the Society a threatened danger to the native 

 fauna of Lord Howe Island. It appears that in 1918 a steamer was beached at 

 the Island, and rats from her got ashore, spreading through the Island. They 

 were causing very grave damage to the Kentia Palm seeds, the staple product of 

 the Island, ami it was reported that they were also attacking the eggs of the 

 native birds. Unless means were taken very soon to diminish the rats, or other- 

 wise conserve the birds, it seemed likely that some of the species peculiar to 

 the Island might become extinct. 



The Council thereupon offered the services of their expert members to the 

 Board of Control of the Island. Mr. E. B. Harkness replied that the Board 

 appreciated the spirit of the offer, as it was alive to the seriousness of the menace, 

 and was already actively engaged in endeavoring to combat the pest. As Mr. 

 Allan R. McCulloch, Zoologist, Australian Museum, was proceeding to the Island 

 on a visit for the benefit of his health, the Board furnished him with credentials, 

 and afforded him every facility to make inquiries and report to them on the best 

 means to protect or preserve the native fauna from the ravages of the rats. Mr. 

 McCulloch sailed in the '"Makambo" on the 8th February, and his report will be 

 awaited with interest. As no less than six members of the Council have at one 

 time or another visited the Island, and are all keenly alive to the necessity for- 

 preserving its unique avifauna, it is hoped that some practical suggestions will 

 result. 



FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 

 Owing to ill-health, Mr. McCulloch has been unable to complete his Check- 

 list of the Fishes of New South Wales. A large section is, however, published 

 in this Part, and it is hoped that the remainder will be ready for publication in 

 the next Part of the "Australian Zoologist." The complete work will then be pub- 

 lished in book form. 



