I 20 Aiistyalasiaii Oynithologists' Union. [ist "lan 



F. Howe, Z. Gray, E. Brooke Nicholls, C. P. Kinane, Librarian 

 Commonwealth Parliament, Curator Warrnambool Museum. 

 New South Wales — Lancelot Harrison. South Australia — 

 Robert Crompton, R. H Martin. Tasmania — F, D. Barclay. 

 Western Australia — F. Calder. England — W. E. Helman Pidsley. 

 United States, America — Ludlow Griscom, Worthington Society 

 for the Investigation of Bird Life. 



The office-bearers for the year 1905-6 were then duly elected, 

 viz. : — President — Colonel C. S. Ryan, P.M.O., Victoria ; vice- 

 presidents — Messrs. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., &c., and J. W. 

 Mellor ; hon. treasurer — Mr. F. P. Godfrey ; hon. secretary — Mr. 

 A. H. E. Mattingley ; hon. editors of The Eimi — -Messrs. A. J. 

 Campbell, Col. M. B.O.U., and C. F. Belcher, M.A., LL.B. ; 

 members of Council— Messrs. Robt. Hall, F.L.S. (Victoria); P. 

 Peir (New South Wales), A. W. Milligan (Western Australia), 

 W. MTlwraith (Queensland). Colonel W. V. Legge, F.Z.S. 

 (lasmania), Capt. F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. (New Zealand). 



The elections by the Council of Mr. H. Kendall as advisory 

 editor and Mr. C. L. Barrett as press correspondent were 

 ratified. 



Second Day. 



A large number of the visiting and local ornithologists visited 

 the Reedbeds on Thursday afternoon, 12th October, for the 

 purpose of observing some of the bird life for which this locality 

 is noted. They were received by the vice-president of the Union 

 (Mr. J. W. Mellor). An inspection of Holmfirth, the estate of 

 Mr. and Mrs. John F. Mellor, was first made. Birds were seen 

 in their natural state quite tame and confiding, showing how the 

 little feathered friends appreciate the strict protection afforded 

 them, not only by the Mellor family, but the whole of the 

 residents in the neighbourhood. Mr. J. W. Mellor illustrated 

 the tameness of the birds by showing the party nests of young 

 Tree-Martins {Pctiocheiidon nigricans) that are building in all 

 sorts of situations around the homestead, while the parent birds 

 flew around the visitors without fear. The little Black-and- 

 White Fantail (^Rhipidura tricolor) was seen in the garden, and 

 the Blue Wren {Mahirus cyaneus) brightened up the scene with 

 its gay plumage and soft trilling notes. Flycatchers, Honey- 

 eaters, Magpies, Landrails, Swallows, Martins, Laughing 

 Jackasses, and innumerable other birds were seen, all enjoying 

 their liberty in a veritable paradise of verdure among the old 

 red gum and other native trees. In addition to the birds in 

 their native liberty there are numerous large aviaries on all sides 

 containing many rare birds, and those whose instincts make them 

 wanderers afar, and but for some slight retention would probably 

 depart in the cold weather ; but they cannot be termed " caged," 

 as the spacious aviaries contain trees and plants, in which the 



