^'".Qos" 1 Report of Hon. Secretary. I37 



Applications for membership have been increasing, and there 

 are indications that the initial efforts of the Union are being 

 surely though slowly crowned with success. The objects for 

 which the society was founded— namely, the advancement and 

 popularisation of the science of ornithology and the protection 

 of useful and ornamental avifauna — are being steadily proceeded 

 with, more especially as regards the popularisation and protection 

 of our bird-life. It is, however, desirable that the study of the 

 more abstruse problems relating to the structure and uses of the 

 organs of our birds, as well as research in other neglected fields 

 of study of the ornis, be systematically undertaken. The 

 impetus given to nature study in our primary schools is bearing 

 excellent fruit, and the desirability of the protection of our 

 useful birds is being thereby more prominently impressed on the 

 minds of the juvenile section of the community, which in recent 

 years was responsible for much wanton destruction, and it is 

 pleasing to know that, generally speaking, the avifauna, at 

 present, is less molested by those of immature years than 

 formerly. Some students, however, in their eagerness to excel in 

 the study of our bird-life, collect specimens and eggs needlessly 

 for identification, and it is to be hoped that the evils attendant 

 on such practices will be remedied by their instructors. 



Much desirable work is being accomplished by our light-keepers, 

 who forward useful and informative notes on birds that happen to 

 strike the lighthouses whilst migrating. The Council would 

 be pleased to receive any further notes on the migration of 

 birds up to the end of the current year, so that they can be 

 tabulated. 



Application was made to the Council of the A.O.U. to appoint 

 delegates to represent the Union at the Seventh International 

 Zoological Congress, held at Boston, Mass., U.S. America, in 

 August, 1907. Two representative members of the Union were 

 appointed as deputies. 



Endeavours have been made to have the laws relating to the 

 protection of Egrets and Birds-of-Paradise made more effective, 

 since large numbers of these birds are annually destroyed for 

 their beautiful plumes, which are used for millinery purposes. 



Coloured plates of unfigured Australasian birds will be con-- 

 tinued in The Emu, but as the regularity of the production of 

 these plates depends on the financial condition of the coloured 

 figure fund, which is raised by voluntary subscription, it is to be 

 hoped that further donations will be forwarded by members to 

 assist in this useful work, thereby advancing the status of the 

 journal. 



The thanks of the Council are again due to Col. C. S. Ryan 

 for the gratuitous use of his rooms for Council meetings, and 

 also to the Zoological Society of Melbourne for the storage in 

 their fireproof room of the books, &c., of the Union. 



