Page:The Emu volume 20.djvu/152

 Il6 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union-. Fisf'T i was unanimously elected an honorary member in recognition of distinguished service rendered to the R.A.O.U. since its inception. Many matters were discussed and resolutions agreed to at meetings continued at the Museum and at the Cave House, Yallingup. The chief of these stated that the State Game Laws should be co-ordinated (sub-committee appointed) ; that strong representations be made to State Governments to restrict grazing rights and timber-cutting in National Parks and bird sanctuaries ; that the use of the pea-rifle be restricted to persons over i8 years of age ; that the time required for notice of congress business be reduced to the minimum necessary to secure adequate notice ; that, provision be made for voting by proxy and by post ; that a system of distinctions in ornithology be instituted ; that fellow- ships not exceeding three in any one year be awarded those who had done good work in the science of ornithology ; and that members in States desiring it should form themselves into branches and meet regularly to discuss ornithological matters ; that as each formal change in the rules necessitates considerable expense, the Council take action with regard to such matters as do not necessitate a change of rules and await an opportune time to deal with the other matters ; and that the editors of The Emu adopt as soon as possible the approved names accepted by the Check-hst committee for the second edition.

The address of the retiring president, Mr. A. F. Basset Hull, unfortunately prevented from attending by Parhamentary duties, was well received, and gave rise to a valuable discussion. The address was ordered to be printed in The Emu. Several papers were presented and discussed — "Forgotten Feathers," bv A. J. Campbell ; " The Watling Drawings," by' A. H. Chisholm ; " The Birds of the Perth District," by W. B. Alexander ; " The Relationship of the Western Australian Avifauna," by Robert Hall ; " The Times Review of John Gould's ' Birds of Austraha ' " ; " The Migration and Movements of Aus- trahan Birds," by A. Gilbert (a committee — Messrs. A. J. Campbell, C. L. Barrett, and A. H. Mattingley — was appointed to collate statistics).

Specimens were exhibited and examined. E. Ashby (S.A.) exhibited a unique specimen of the Pink-breasted Robin, from Tasmania, and several Humming-Birds ; A. J. Campbell exhibited the skin of a Western Austrahan Bristle-Bird taken about 50 years ago. A. S. Le Souef showed beautiful plates of birds and eggs painted by Mr. Neville Cayley, R.A.O.U., for the forthcoming work on the birds of Australia.

E. Ashby introduced a valuable discussion oh the necessity of active propaganda for bird protection. Members should address school children whenever possible. A discussion showed unanimity of belief that the tame cat gone wild is the worst enemy of native bird-life. Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock, who had just arrived from an ornith- ological expedition to Dirk ITartog Island, gave some interesting notes.