122 kuyal Atistralasiaii Oniithologists Union. [,m''"hii 



sloping rock, thinly overgrown with Mesemhryantheinum, and in 

 a space of barel}^ a hundred square yards there were several dozens 

 of these birds sitting on eggs or nesthngs, the eggs being close to 

 the water's edge, fresh or in progressive stages of incubation the 

 higher the situation, until at the topmost ridge the young birds 

 were almost fully fledged. Such densely-packed colonies may 

 exist on many of the islets and rocks scattered through Bass 

 Strait and along the coasts of the mainland. Numbers of these 

 rocks are inaccessible unless imder exceptionally line weather 

 conditions, and onty a man of abundant leisure and means can 

 hope to carry out the necessary prolonged investigations to clear 

 up the existing uncertainty as to whether, and if so, where, these 

 small Petrels that frequent our seas have their breeding-places 

 on our islands. 



Only one Albatross is known to breed in the Australian region. 

 Who knows but that the Black-browed, Flat-billed, and Yellow- 

 nosed Albatrosses have some isolated spot where a few dozen 

 pairs annually rear their broods ? It is by no means a far-fetched 

 idea. To what extent have the islets of the Recherche and Nuyt's 

 Archipelagoes been exhaustively searched ? 



These few suggestions as to fields for future endeavour are 

 limited to the sea-birds. Are there no land-birds requiring further 

 study and investigation ? Glance over your " Check-hst " and 

 count up the species about which we know everything there is to 

 know of their life-histories. Can you honestly exhaust the fingers 

 of both hands in making the count ? 



In conclusion, let each seeker after truth take one genus, or even 

 one species, and work it out thoroughly. Too many objectives 

 tend to blurred results. Good luck to you all ! 



A. F. Basset Hull, 



Retiring President R.A.O.U. 



CHECK-LIST COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 

 The convener, Dr. J. A. Leach, presented the report on bt-lialf 

 of the Check-hst Committee. This showed that, except for a 

 few cases of incomplete information and disputed status, finahty 

 and unanimity had been reached by the committee. Pleasure 

 was expressed that the differences which were expected to be 

 serious proved slight and easily' removed. It was decided that 

 the A.O.LT. and B.O.U. names for birds found in those countries 

 as well as in AustraUa be accepted ; that in all cases where the 

 evidence is complete the oldest vahd name be used ; and that in 

 cases of doubt or incomplete evidence the nanae of the " Official 

 Check-hst " be not altered. The committee found that its 

 generic standard approximatrd closely to that of the " Official 

 Check-hst " — indeed, it found the " Check-hst " most helpful and 

 its standards in the main satisfactory. Mr. Campbell and Dr. 

 Leach were deputed to investigate the disputed points and to 



