v^'-^viii.-i Review. 22^ 



1919 J 'J 



We have read of the " flora of a single tree." Here is the 

 avifauna of a single tree — a tall, slender wild cinnamon tree 

 (" canella " of the natives), which Mr. Beebe observed on the 

 Amazon, and noted in a chapter sandwiched in his Guiana jungle 

 matter. The tree was twiggy and laden with a wonderful harvest 

 of brownish berries : — 



" From daybreak to dark the canella tree was seldom deserted. 

 Usually a score or more of birds fluttered and fed amongst its branches. 

 In the few hem's I was able to devote to its study I identified seventy- 

 six different kinds, and, together with those which I saw but could 

 not name, I judged that more than a hundred species must have 

 come to the berries during that week in early May. The first day I 

 secured sixteen specimens, all different ; and the following day 

 yielded fourteen more, only one of which was a duplicate of the first 

 day's results." (Here follow names and habits of same.) 



We congratulate Mr. Beebe on his unique book on nature. We 

 sometimes hear the expression, " the fortunes of war." In the 

 Great War just concluded it was our good fortune to have the 

 United States of America as an ally ; therefore we claim Mr. Beebe 

 as one of ourselves. Moreover, he writes in our language and 

 speaks our mother tongue. It is a happy coincidence, too, that 

 this book, with its title, " Peace " — even the " Peace of the 

 Jungle " — should synchronize with the end of the dreadful war. 



Royal Australasian Ornithologists^ Union. 



The annual meeting of the Union was held at No. 2 Temple 

 Court, Melbourne, on 4th December, 1918, at 7.30 p.m. 



There were present : — Col. G. Home (in the chair), Messrs. 

 W. B. Alexander, A. J. Campbell, R. H. Croll, Z. Gray, H. E. 

 Hurst, W. H. D. Le Souef, H. W. Ford, A. H. E. Mattingley, F. 

 Keep, G. Hill, A. C. Stone, A. Wilkie, F. Tregellas, J. A. Ross, 

 Dr. B. Nicholls, Miss H. Bowie, Capt. H. L. Cochrane. 



Annual Report. 



The Council has much pleasure in presenting to the members of 

 the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union its Eighteenth 

 Annual Report. 



Thirty-four of our members are still at the front, and all honour 

 to them ! We deeply regret that four — probably five — in 

 addition, have given their lives during the past year, namely : — ■ 

 Reginald Hutchinson, Victoria ; A. M'Kenzie Kirkwood, Victoria ; 

 Maurice Thompson, Victoria ; R. H. M. Eltis, Victoria ; and 

 G. Arnold Young, Queensland (missing for over a year). 



At the conclusion of the war an honour board will be erected 

 in the Union's room, so that the names of the brave men who 

 have obeyed their country's call will be handed down to posterity. 



Seven members have resigned during the year. Sixteen members 



