THE WOMBAT. 



The reading room continues to prove a useful adjunct to 

 the College, the latest additions to the large number of technical 

 publications being " Knowledge," " Ice and Refrigerating," 

 Mark Lane Agricultural Journal," " The Farmer's Gazette " 

 and " Out and Home." 



People in the vicinity of the Town Hall, between 9 and 

 10 o'clock on Saturday night, were the spectators of an 

 unusual sight. Three very large black swans whilst on the 

 wing, attracted possibly by the electric arc light on top of the 

 town hall tower, struck the top of the building, and two of 

 them fell dead on the footpath in front of the hall. The other 

 got away. — Bendigo Advertiser, 10/8/96. 



A question which the photoscope suggests, 

 Would all our varied actions stand these tests ? 

 Detective-like, life's voice and actions caught, 

 Thank God it can't detect our secret thought. 

 Thoughts when expressed perchance in memories dwell : 

 All thoughts inscribed would make this life a hell. 



Ironbard. 



We would be glad to receive short notes on natural 

 history, art, photography, for this column, and members 

 should communicate any items of interest they may come 

 across on any of these subjects. 



The annual Xmas. camp from the museum will be held 

 this year at the head waters of the Gellibrand, near Mt. 

 Sabine, about ten miles from the half-way house on the road 

 from Forest to Apollo Bay. All our previous camps have 

 been on the coast, short excursions only being made inland, 

 so this will be somewhat of a change, and should produce 

 good results. 



A bill to amend the Game Act has been introduced in 

 the Legislative Council. It provides that the protection of 

 certain imported game, including deer, may be withdrawn by 

 proclamation in any district. A penalty is imposed for the 

 possession of the skin, feathers, and eggs of protected native 

 game, but there is an exemption in favour of authorised 

 garden or exhibition trustees, and the Commissioner of 

 Customs may sanction the collection of game or eggs for 

 scientific purposes. Power is given for the seizure of swivel 

 or punt guns, whether they are being used or not, and these 

 implements are defined as follows : — " Every gun or fowling 

 piece having a barrel of a length exceeding 42 in., or having 

 a single barrel exceeding 8 lb. avoirdupois in weight, or 

 having a double barrel exceeding 14 lbs. avoirdupois in weight, 

 or having a bore exceeding eight calibre, or being of a weight 

 exceeding 16 lbs. avoirdupois, or having more than two 



