^"'i<)j^^ ] Royal Austyalasian Ornithologisls' Union. \iy 



It \v;is decided to hold the next congress in Syihiey (hiring 



October, i()2r, and to Iiold tlie 2ist anniversary the following year 



in Adelaide, where the inaugnral meeting of the R.A.O.U. was held. 



The bird collections of the Museum were examined, and the 



numerous living birds (many free) at the Zoo were admired. 



Official meetings and receptions were held at the Town Hall, 

 Perth, by the Lord Mayor ; at the beautiful and well-kept Zoological 

 (hardens, by the trustees of the Zoological and Acclimatization 

 Society ; by the State Government at Rottncst Island, some miles 

 out in the open ocean, where many reHcs of the early days weri' 

 examined with interest ; and at the great Mundaring Weir, the 

 source of the water supply carried over 450 miles to the goldfields 

 at Kalgoorlie and the Boulder. Many small parties made day 

 trips, and were always well and hospitably treated. 



Pubhc lectures on birds and general and economic ornithology 

 were given at the University by D. Le Souef (His Excellency the 

 Governor, Sir Francis Newdegate, K.C.M.G., presiding) and Dr. J. 

 A. Leach (Prof. Dakin presiding). Capt. White lectured to 1,200 

 pupils of combined schools (C. Andrews, Esq., Director of Educa- 

 tion, presiding), and the three lecturers named visited educational 

 institutions and addressed the students. 



A profitable week was spent on the south-west coast. The 

 Cave House at YaUingup was a good centre. The large partv 

 was comfortably accommodated, and found interesting material 

 and good facilities for work. Parties, under the guidance of Mr. 

 Dugdale, postmaster at Yalhngup, visited the Canal Rocks and 

 the famous Osprey's nest at Cape Mentelle, near the mouth of 

 the Margaret River, within a few miles of the place where Grace 

 Bussell, the " Austrahan Grace Darhng," performed the remark- 

 able feat of saving many lives from the wreck of the Georgette. 

 Helenbrook, the home of the Bussells ; the deserted timber town 

 of Karridale, wdth its disused church, school, houses, and railway ; 

 Augusta, on its beautiful harbour ; and Cape Leeuwin, at the 

 south-west corner of Austraha, were visited. Motor-cars 

 travelled rapidly over the well-made roads of this generally level 

 and heavily-timbered locality of high rainfall. Caves were 

 abundant and interesting. The extremely rough coast, with many 

 sunken rocks, swept by huge waves and masses of spray, lent 

 variety and interested some photographers, though the rough 

 conditions disappointed the experts on the Chiton group of 

 MoUusca (shell-fish). 



The officials of the Railway, Education, and Forests Depart- 

 ments, and the Tourist Bureau, assisted in every way possible, 

 while Mr. C. Herbert, Government Botanist, and Mr. Clarke, 

 Entomologist of the Forests Department, accompanied tlu' 

 delegates on some of the excursions. 



The wild-tlowers of Western Australia are outstandingly beauti- 

 ful, iind are known and appreciated by all \'isitors and residents. 

 Local birds, however, are not so well known. I'"ortunat(>lv, we 

 were able to dissipate the widespread belief that Western Austraha 



