224 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. F^J 



Emu 

 Jan. 



have joined from Victoria, eleven from New South Wales, three 

 from Queensland, three from South Australia, and one each from 

 Western Australia, Tasmania, India, and Norway, making a total 

 of thirty-seven. 



The visit to Queensland for the purpose of holding the annual 

 meeting in Brisbane and a camp-out has been again postponed 

 until the war is over. (Arrangements are now being considered 

 for the resumption of the annual congress and camp-out.) 



The Union's room at Temple Court, Melbourne, has proved of 

 much service. Two handsome egg-cabinets have been added — 

 one kindly presented by Mr. H. L. White, and the other by Mr. 

 T. G. Austin. The Council is much indebted to both these gentle- 

 men for their generous gifts. Our hon. secretary, Mr. Le Souef, 

 has also presented a commodious cabinet in which most of the 

 Union's bird-skins are kept ; it is, as far as possible, insect-proof. 

 Mr. H. L. White has presented the Union with over three hundred 

 sets of birds' eggs, with full data, and other members have 

 generously given clutches. It is hoped that a full catalogue of 

 the collection will be published in The Emu later on, so that our 

 members can see what we still need. Mr. Stone and his helpers 

 have worked well during the year in getting the collection in 

 order. Mr. White has also most generously given the Union 

 twenty-eight of Gould's coloured illustrations, being part of his 

 famous supplement of " Birds of Australia." These are all framed 

 in blackwood, and adorn the Union's room. 



The collection of bird-skins is slowly increasing, and Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell, with his two assistants, has got them all in order. Mr. 

 Wm. Howat has kindly presented the Union with a large case of 

 mounted birds, mostly Parrots, for its room. 



Mrs. Otway Falkiner, Miss A. J. Fletcher, Mr. Chisholm, Mr. 

 Howe, and others have also presented pictures of interest to the 

 Union. 



The conversaziones held at the room on the first Wednesday 

 in every month have been well attended, and many instructive 

 papers have been read, also interesting discussions have taken 

 place ; these are usually notified in The Emu. 



A quarterly meeting is held at the National Museum, through 

 the courtesy of the Director, where members have the privilege 

 of discussing the relationship one species has with another, &c., 

 and also of inspecting Mr. H. L. White's splendid collection and 

 other bird skins. 



The Council have again to thank the Royal Zoological and 

 Acclimatization Society for so kindly continuing to house the 

 spare stocks of The Emu, &c. 



The library continues to increase. The librarian, Mr. W. B. 

 Alexander, has been assiduous in his duties, and his report is 

 appended. The Union's journal. The Emu, has been kept well 

 up to its usual standard, despite increased cost, &c., and the 

 papers are of interest and value. 



W. H. D. Le Souef, Hon. Sec. 



