Vol. VI. 

 1907 



I Australasian Ornithologists' Union-. Q< 



minded scientific ornithologists, who, without reward, conducted 

 investigations into the economy of AustraHan birds, that we were 

 beginning to know that our feathered friends were of decided value 

 in our domestic economy. He said that the members of the A.O.U., 

 gathered together from different parts of the Commonwealth, were 

 on the morrow going into camp for practical work, and he wished 

 them success. 



Early next morning members drove to " River-Made," St. 

 Patrick's River, situate near Mount Barrow, for their " working 

 camp," and were comfortably housed by Mr. and Mrs. Prestidge, 

 who were most assiduous for the comfort and welfare of their 

 visitors. 



Eight days of profitable work were accomplished, despite the con- 

 tinuous rain for the first half of the camp. The rain did not, 

 however, deter both ladies and gentlemen from scrambling through 

 the dense forest growths of towering eucalypts, myrtles, and fern- 

 trees on investigation bent. The results of the ornithological work 

 will afterwards be published in The Emu. On one day a slight fall of 

 snow occurred, and the weather throughout was cold and bracing. 

 Snowballing was enjoyed one afternoon on Mount Barrow, and was 

 greatly appreciated, since many of the members received their first 

 introduction to this pastime. After ten days the main body of 

 visitors returned to the mainland, whilst others undertook an 

 investigation of the bird-life of the Great Lakes district. The 

 following were the visitors to the working excursion to Mount 

 Barrow :— Mr. F. Littler, Mr. J. F Mellor, Mrs J. F. Mellor, Miss 

 B. Mellor, Miss W. Mellor, Miss Allen, Miss E. Campbell, Miss K. 

 Campbell, Mr. J. W. Mellor, Mr. E. B. Nicholls, Mr. Griffiths, 

 Captain White, Mrs. White, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. A. 

 Mattingley. 



The President's Address : The Protection of Native 



Birds. 



The following address was read by Colonel C. S. Ryan, P.M.O., 

 Victoria : — 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — I deeply appreciate the very great 

 honour you have conferred upon me by electing me as your 

 president for a second term, and it would only be using 

 superfluous words for me to say that I shall always be 

 extremely glad to be of any service whatever to the Australasian 

 Ornithologists' Union. 



{a) Introductory. 



As you are aware, the chief objects of the Australasian 

 Ornithologists' Union are set forth in its second rule, and are 

 twofold — firstly, the advancement and popularisation of 



