^"'i. 2^^'] Camera Craft Notes. 247 



him, exciting chases amongst the thick scrub. Our efforts, how- 

 ever, were cventuahy rewarded, for, despite tlie parents' warning 

 cries, the young bird posed for several pictures. One of these is 

 of interest, as it shows the youngster in the " sidelong clinging " 

 attitude so characteristic of tliis species. — D. F. F. Thomson, 

 R.A.O.U. Canterbury. 



State Secretaries' Reports. 



New South Wales. 

 The wonderful season that this State has been experiencing has 

 had a marked effect on the bird-life, and, generally speaking, birds 

 are recovering fast from the effects of the previous dry period. 

 Reports from the country show that birds, especially Waders, 

 are numerous. Ducks are reported to be scarce in many of their 

 regular haunts, but this indicates that they are scattered far and 

 wide on many small lagoons and flooded areas that are not usually 

 available for them. The Royal Agricultural Society of New South 

 Wales has instituted a series of lectures in the show-grounds on 

 popular subjects connected with agriculture, and your local 

 secretary has been asked to take the subject, " How to Get the 

 Best Use from Our Birds This Year." Owing to numerous 

 complaints of destruction of fish, young Ducks, Ibis, &c., by the 

 Pelican, this bird has been removed from the protected list for 

 the breeding season in the western part of New South Wales. 

 This will enable land-holders who find them troublesome to keep 

 them in check when the waters are low and young birds are about. 

 Parrots have been very numerous this season in some of the 

 fruit districts, and have also been reported as destroying maize 

 crops, and certain species have been taken off the protected list, 

 as the farmers had to shoot the birds in order to protect their 

 crops. From reports to hand it seems that the Barraband Parrot 

 is again becoming numerous in western New South Wales. This 

 species has been scarce for many years past, many being probably 

 destroyed by rabbit poison, and that it rs now increasing is very 

 likely due to the fact that most of the large stations in the Riverina 

 dig out rabbits instead of using poison. 



A. S. Le Souef. 



Queensland. 

 F'rom a business point of view (as distinct from ornithology 

 itself) the most notable happening since last report — possibly 

 the most important development of the Union in this State — was 

 a meeting of Queensland members, held on nth February, in 

 connection with the formation of a State branch of the R.A.O.U. 

 Mr. H. A. Longman (member of the Council) was voted to the 

 chair. 



Several matters of local importance were first dealt with. These 



