The Emu. 
49 
been held would result in the promotion of the objects of the 
Union. 
THIRD DAY. 
On Monday morning, 4th November, the visiting members 
went, by invitation, to the Museum to inspect the unique fossil 
bones of extinct mammals, &c. — many from the lacustrine 
deposits of the interior of the State. 
In the afternoon members of the Union went to the 
Zoological and the Botanic Gardens. At the former Mr. A. C. 
Minchin was congratulated upon the fact that a number of 
native birds had bred while in his charge, amongst them the 
Pacific Gull {Larus pacificus) and the little Plumed Pigeon 
i^LopJiopJiaps leucogaster). The party were entertained at after- 
noon tea by Mr. and Mrs. Minchin, to whom a hearty vote of 
thanks was given. In the Botanic Gardens the party, under the 
guidance of Mr. M. Holtze, noted the various birds who find a 
safe and congenial resting-place in this reserve, and also the 
many points of interest in connection with the place. 
The proceedings of the session were closed by an at home," 
given by Mr. J. W. Mellor, at the residence of his father, 
" Holmfirth," Fulham, where already the visiting members had 
spent some time most pleasantly and had been most hospitably 
entertained. Amongst others present at the " at home were 
Mr. A. Zietz, C.M.Z.S., Dr. A. Morgan, Mr. C. Winnecke, 
F.R.G.S., and Mr. Symonds Clark. After a most enjoyable 
evening, in returning thanks to the host, Mr. A. J. Campbell, on 
behalf of the company, congratulated Mr. Mellor on having 
collected and properly classified the coveted number of 500 
species of Australian birds' eggs, and also that the collection 
included such an absolutely unique specimen as the egg of the 
extinct Tasmanian Emu. 
EN ROUTE FOR HOME. 
At the invitation of Dr. Thos. F. Ryan, a member of the Union, 
three of the Melbourne visitors — Messrs. D. Le Souef, A. J. 
Campbell, and A. G. Campbell — broke their return journey at 
Nhill, the centre of the great Mallee district of Victoria, to enjoy 
a day amongst the Mallee birds. 
The ornithologists were up before six o'clock. Numerous 
feathered friends were soon found to the northward of the town. 
Black-breasted Song Larks were singing over the crops ; others 
were perched on fences, their tails upward, wren-like, and 
making good subjects for binocular observation. Reaching the 
edge of the Mallee, a mile or two out, the place was literally 
filled with bird music, notably the extraordinary gulping-like 
notes of Wattle Birds, gurgling voices of Spiny-cheeked Honey- 
eaters, whining cries of Choughs (Corcorax), melodious flute-like 
tones of Butcher Birds, merry calls of Singing, Yellow-plumed, 
and the more familiar White-plumed Honey-eaters. Beautiful 
