Reports of Excursions 
MUNDARING WEIR, 14TH AUGUST, 1909. 
The first of the Society’s excursions for the current session 
1909-1910 was fixed to take place on Saturday afternoon last, 
and the scene of work was the region of the Mundaring Weir, 
in the Darling Ranges, whither a total of eight Members journeyed. 
Before going further, I may be pardoned for expressing the 
opinion (not my own) that the attendance of members was not 
at all satisfactory. Members who were absent will, I trust, 
take the hint and roll up for future excursions. I think all will 
agree, however, that as far as the Officers of the Society are 
concerned, the excursion was a success, for although the trip 
was the first one after their taking office, five of the eight taking 
part were office-holders, and although their captures were not 
as large as could have been wished, I think it shows a happy 
augury for the future welfare of the Society, and 1 am sure you 
will agree with me that if this state of things continues, "the 
Watchword of Nature and Science — “ Onward ” — will be the 
guiding star, as it were, of our humble Society. But if young and 
humble now, need we remain in this form ? Rather, should 
we not strive and endeavour to let this small nucleus grow and 
expand into something worthy of a more fitting appellation ? 
Unfortunately, the journey up from Perth was considerably 
delayed through an irksome wait at Midland Junction, which 
was the means of considerably shortening the all-too-brief stay 
in the vicinity of the Weir. On arrival at our destination a 
hurried move was at once made for a promising gully through 
which the Hay Creek flows into the Weir. The only sign of 
wild mammal life was a solitary Black-gloved Wallaby ( Macropus 
irma) , generally known as the " Brush,” but the interview was 
very brief, as he seemed to have a more pressing one in the 
hills, judging by his haste to arrive there. 
Ornithology presented us with far more representatives, 
which, I am very glad to say, were all allowed to remain in 
peace, as no specimens were wanted on this occasion. Of the 
two most numerous species noted, one was the ubiquitous Magpie 
( Gymnorhina dorsalis) . I suppose t his unfortunate name (Magpie) 
will stick to this bird indefinitely, although members are well 
aware, I am sure, that it is one of the Crow- Shrikes or Butcher- 
bii ds and not a true Magpie at all. It is very interesting to 
note the extieme variation in the white colouring of this species. 
It would be most difficult to get two specimens marked alike— 
