Dr. Sharpe founded this species on a single male specimen, procured in the north-west of our State (W.A.) C. cinnamomeum is an interior bird, and, moreover, a species likely to be met with around Lake Way. The female of the latter is not strikingly distinct from that of C. marginatum. It seems to me, therefore, quite a natural thing for Mr. North to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the presence in his hands of the two males and one female of C. marginatum collected by myself to aid him in his description and identification of the female skin sent by Mr. Gibson. I do not blame him for doing so, but I think at the same time that an acknowledgment of the fact was due either to Mr. H. L. White or myself.
I take this opportunity, too, of stating that it is rather painful to me to have my sexing of the type specimen of Lacustroica whitei questioned by Mr. North, even if indirectly.[1] After skinning and sexing birds for upwards of 30 years, I think I may be trusted to distinguish the male from the female, especially during the height of the breeding season.—I am, &c.,
Young's Siding, D.R., W.A., 6/6/10.
Bird Observers' Club.
The quarterly dinner and ordinary meeting of the club were held at the Strand Tea Rooms, Collins-street, Melbourne, on 14th April, 1910. There was a good attendance. At the conclusion of the dinner, Dr. H. W. Bryant was voted to the chair. A report from the Chief Inspector of Vermin, Mr. F. E. Allan, regarding the use of poisoned baits in orchards (forwarded by the Secretary for Agriculture) was read. Mr. Allan contended that the statement that thousands of birds were destroyed annually by means of baits was exaggerated, if not entirely without foundation. Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z..S., said the shooting in orchards did more damage than poison. Mr. G. E. Shepherd remarked that only Parrots and other birds provided with crops were liable to poisoning. Mr. C. F. Cole expressed the same opinion. The resignation of Mr. E. J. Christian, of the Kamarooka Estate, was received with regret, and it was resolved that he be placed on the list of country members. A paper by Mr. A. G. Campbell (Pomonal), dealing with the Victorian Sericornes., was read by Mr. A. J. Campbell. The author's contention was that Sericornis frontalis and ..S". osciilnns are really distinct species. Several members stated that two distinct types of nest were of general occurrence, one type being covered with moss externally, the other with bark. Mr. L. G. Chandler exhibited skins of .V. ffontalis, and Mr. J. A. Ross eggs of S. frontalis and other species of Sericortiis. In the general discussion of the evening, reference was made to recent flocking of migratory birds, and to White-bearded Honey-eaters {Melwrfiis novcr-/iol/an(hr) nesting, as a result of protracted warm weather. Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, reported that a dead specimen of Oceanitjs oceanicus had been picked up 9 miles from the sea-coast, at Geelong. Instances of Mutton-Birds (Short-tailed Petrel) and White-faced Storm-Petrels having been
- ↑ Vict. Nat., xxvi., p. 138.
