I06 Ausi>'alasia>i Ornithologists' Union. [ ist "(an 



Annual Report. 



The hon. secretary (Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley) read the 

 following report : — 



" Your Council have much pleasure in presenting to you the 

 fourth annual report, embodying the transactions of the A.O.U. 

 for the year ending 30th June, 1905. During the past year 

 steady progress has been made in the Union's affairs. The 

 membership is increasing, and it is a matter for congratulation 

 that most of the new members are ' working ornithologists.' 

 The Emu as a journal still maintains its standard of excellence, 

 and requests have been made from outside countries for 

 permission to republish some of the articles contributed to it, 

 whilst, on the other hand, many ornithological societies from 

 different parts of the world are making application for exchange 

 of journals. Subscribers have also been presented with a 

 ' Dichotomous Key ' as an aid to the study of ornithology in the 

 field. 



" Efforts have been made by the Council to establish national 

 parks and reserves as sanctuaries for our avifauna, and to 

 prevent the alienation of river and creek frontages, the habitats 

 of many of our birds, and movement also has been made to bring 

 into uniformity the game laws of the Commonwealth. Special 

 efforts have been made to protect the Penguins, which are being 

 slain in thousands yearly for their oil, with the result that the 

 Government of Tasmania have notified your Council of their 

 intention of co-operating with the Government of New Zealand 

 in protecting these birds on Macquarie and other islands south 

 of New Zealand. Two representative members of the Austral- 

 asian Ornithologists' Union were appointed as deputies to attend 

 the International Ornithologists' Congress held in England 

 during June, 1905. The Council also approved of the design of 

 a badge to be worn at ornithological functions. Members of 

 the A.O.U. will be more readily discernible thereby. 



" To supply the increasing and popular demand for nature 

 study, several natural history societies have been formed, and it 

 is a matter for congratulation that the ' Bird Observers' Club ' 

 has been successfully inaugurated, whilst the Field Naturalists' 

 Club of Victoria, which has had a long and successful career, 

 has been exceptionally fortunate through the accessions to its 

 junior section. 



" One coloured plate, portraying three previously unfigured 

 Australian birds, was issued with vol. iv. of The Emu, and the 

 Council would be glad if members would send in during January 

 any notes they may have made up to the end of the year, 

 especially on the migration of the birds of their districts. 



" The thanks of the Union are again due to Colonel C. S. 

 Ryan for the gratuitous use of his rooms for Council meetings. 



