g6 The President's Address: [isf"jan. 



ornitholog-y ; and, secondly, the protection of economic and 

 ornamental native birds. 



It appears to me that our journal. The Emu, is carrying out 

 admirably the first object ; indeed, it has succeeded in this 

 direction far beyond the most sanguine expectations — in fact, 

 the complaint has been (if it be a complaint) that the journal is 

 too popular — should be more scientific ; but it must be 

 remembered that we are still a young Society, and we must 

 walk before we can run — therefore I purpose to confine the 

 subject of my address to the second object — namely, the 

 protection of birds. In this direction we have a long way to 

 travel before we may expect to reach anything like an adequate 

 protective policy for our indigenous avifauna. Probably that 

 is why the Union, although in the sixth year of its usefulness, 

 has not yet made a start in any definite way beyond making a 

 few preliminaries and suggestions. We have been holding our 

 annual meetings in one or the other of the Southern capitals, 

 and, as it were, advertising ourselves at these central places by 

 means of popular lantern-lecturettes and working camp-outs. 

 This is quite the correct thing, because in these modern times 

 we resort to advertising in almost every line. Moreover, it was 

 just as well that these early and extremely pleasant gatherings 

 of our Union should be educational in character, and tend to 

 create a national sentiment in favour of birds and bird 

 protection — conditions which must first obtain before anything 

 of a practical nature can be attempted. Now, however, the 

 time appears to have arrived when we should endeavour to 

 settle down to something more practical regarding bird 

 protection. But what tangible shape is our practice to take } 

 is a very potent question. I can only hint at a few directions 

 in which we may expect to work with success. 



There is no doubt that each State will have to carry out its 

 own domestic legislation regarding proper bird protection — at 

 present, at least. It has been said that Australia is an over- 

 governed country. So far as bird protection is concerned it is 

 hardly governed enough. Here is one direction, at all events, in 

 which the numerous Governments of the day may hand down 

 to posterity for all time an invaluable legacy, and that is if they 

 devise and introduce adequate game and non-game laws, before 

 it be too late — i.e., now. The administration of such laws, of 

 course, means some slight expenditure by creating new depart- 

 ments or augmenting those that at present exist. But would 

 not that be repaid by the accomplishment of the object we have 

 in view ? Besides, birds, I apprehend, will only be one item 

 claiming the attention of such departments ; other fauna and 

 fish will have to be properly watched too, if they are likewise to 

 be spared and not wiped off the face of the earth. 



