THE WOMBAT. 57 
NOTES. 
a 
Tue Field Naturalists’ Club has during the past half-year met on 
the first Friday in each manth only. This has been found not to 
afford sufficient time to cope properly with the work to be done, 
and with the new year fortnightly meetings will be inaugurated, ~ 
The Gordon College Museum has been handed over to the 
control of the Field Club, whose executive haye appointed as 
curator Mr. W. Shaw. Under his careful guidance the museum is 
re-assuming an appearance of order. ‘The specimens have, to a 
great extent, been re-grouped, and set out in a more attractive 
manner than heretofore. 
The drought is responsible for the appearance of some rare 
bird-visitants to Southern Victoria during the past spring. The 
beautiful Blood Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguineolenta) came down 
from its home in the tropical scrubs of the north and was seen in 
various localities south of Melbourne. A. specimen shot at 
Queenscliff by Mr. Batchelder was exhibited on September 5th 
before the club by Mr. W. Shaw. ‘The rich metallic red of the 
bird’s head and neck, aud the minuteness of its body (only four 
inches long altogether), made the skin an object of great interest. 
Tn connection with the list of shells from King Island, which 
appeared in our last issue, it should have been stated that about 
half the species enumerated had previously been noted from 
Victoria, and not from Tasmania, while the other half consisted of 
purely Tasmanian forms. ‘his is fnteresting as another proof of 
the connection that once existed between Tasmania add the 
mainland, 
The Game Act has been amended g0 as to extend the close 
season tor ducks from the 21st December to the 31st Jannary, so 
that the birds will have henceforth a clear half-year’s resi from the 
1st August onwards, All bird-lovers will agree that the alteration 
is a wise one, It may be hard upon those sportsmen whose only 
chance for shooting is the Christmas vacation, but it will puta stop 
to the slaughter of “ flappers ” that has hitherto occurred annually 
in.certain parts of tho State at the opening of the season, and so 
give the birds a chance to increase. 
Another significant alteration of the Act concerns imported 
birds. Formerly all birds not indigenons to Australia, except 
Sparrows and (Indian) Minahs, were protected throughout the year. 
