Proceedings of the Royal Society for the month of August, 1877

Abstract

The monthly meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday, 14th August; James Barnard, Esq., in the chair. Presented from Mr. Wm. Barnard, was a specimen of an Australian Golden Plover (Charadrius orientalis). Mr. J. Swan observed he had never known these birds to be so numerous in Tasmania as during the present season. For one bird seen on former occasions, he must have seen fifty this year in the Lake District. He thought it probable that the great droughts in the interior of Australia had driven the birds southward to Tasmania in search of moisture. From Master H. Jones—a specimen of a Bronze Cuckoo (Lamprococcyx plagosus) from near Mount Nelson was presented to the society. Mr. E. Swan remarked that this Cuckoo had appeared a month earlier than usual this year, as it was very rarely seen before September. Mr, J. Swan thought it might generally be looked for about the same time as the Swallow. The Secretary called attention to the unusually long list of book presentations on the table from societies in various parts of the world, to wit. Great Britain, America, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, and the neighbouring colonies.