124 Australasian Ornithologists'' Union. ist "ian 



" In all cases bird laws should be kept apart from other game 

 laws." 



Mr. Belcher's suggestions were referred to the Council. 



Upon the recommendation of Mr. Dudley Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., 

 it was resolved that the Victorian Government be urged to intro- 

 duce a gun licence, and also reintroduce the bill dropped two 

 years ago relating to the better preservation of Australian birds. 



Mr. A. J. Campbell, Col. M. B.O.U., contributed a paper 

 entitled " Domestic Wild Cats versus Native Birds." He said a 

 great evil existed in the introduction of tame cats into the back 

 country for the destruction of the rabbits. The remedy was now 

 becoming worse than the evil, as the cats had become so numerous 

 and adapted themselves so well to the situation that they 

 had bred in large numbers, and were killing native birds whole- 

 sale. Birds that bred on the ground had little chance of rearing 

 their young. The Union had its hands full at present with its 

 various planks for the preservation and protection of native 

 fauna, but it was evident that it would have to secure legis- 

 lation soon to eradicate the cat pest. He advocated that 

 sportsmen should turn their proclivities to " go out and kill " in 

 this direction, as they would then be doing a good service to 

 their country. A cat tax might be put on all "domestic pussies," 

 and the money thus gained could be devoted to paying for 

 scalps of slaughtered wild cats, and thus reduce the fast-growing 

 evil. 



Dr. George Home referred to the recent Inter-State Conference 

 of Inspectors of Fisheries, and the recommendation " that action 

 be taken by each of the States with a view to the destruction of 

 Pelicans." He moved that the Union disapproves of the 

 destruction of this fine bird. 



International Ornithological Congress. 



The following report by Mr. Frank M. Littler, F.E.S., was 

 read by the hon. secretary : — 



I have the honour to report having attended as your delegate 

 the Fourth International Ornithological Congress, held in London, 

 under the presidency of Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, 12th to 17th June. 

 The proceedings were opened on Monday evening, 12th June, by 

 an informal reception at the Jehanghir Hall, Imperial Institute 

 Buildings, South Kensington, when a good number attended. 



The actual business commenced next morning, at 10 a.m., when 

 Dr. Sharpe welcomed the various members, and read his Presidential 

 Address. After transacting some routine business, the meeting 

 adjourned until 3 p.m. At that hour Sections I., II., and IV., 

 under their respective presidents, commenced their work. 

 Section I. took in Systematic Ornithology, Geographical Distribution, 

 Anatomy, and Paleontology ; Section II., Migration ; Section IV., 

 Economic Ornithology and Bird Protection. 



