lyii '] South Australian Omithuloi^ical Association. 63 



The hon. secretary, Mr. J. W. Mellor, read the twclltli annual report, 

 which showed that during the year one ot the members, Mr. A. G. 

 Edquist, had been most energetic in working up a Gould League 

 for the protection of birds, and that 135 pubhc schools in that State 

 had formed clubs, with a membership of 5,000 cliildrcn, all pledged 

 to study and protect native birds. A regrettable action during the 

 year was the })lacing of the I'elican on the totally unprotected list, 

 and a strong protest was being made to the Commissioner of Crown 

 Lands by vaiuous scientific bodies.* The report showed that the 

 most noteworthy work of the Association during tiic year was the 

 liberation of Mallee-Fowl {Lipoa ocellata) f on the National 

 lieserve at Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island, which had l)een success- 

 fully carried out by the secretary (Mr. J. W. Mellor) on 24th February 

 last. Representatives of the Association had attended the I^oyal 

 Australasian Ornithologists' Union Congress in Brisbane in October, 

 had visited the Capricorn Islands, and other places in Queensland, 

 and had done good work in ornithology, while several members had 

 been successful in fmding new birds during the year, and describing 

 and naming them. The financial statement showed a credit balance, 

 and Mr. J. W. Mellor was congratulated upon his energy and ability 

 in so successfully piloting the institution from its infancy to date. 

 Mr. E. Ashby gave some notes upon several interesting birds, with 

 illustrations. Captiiin S. A. White read a paper upon a trip recently 

 taken to Mount Tambourine, in Southern Queen.sland, in which he 

 graphically described the ascent and descent in a " buckboard," and 

 gave interesting notes taken of the various birds seen in this naturalist's 

 paradise. Captain White showed a number of birds to assist him in 

 bringing before his hearers the gay scenes of plumage to be met with 

 in the tropics. The annual election of officers for the ensuing year 

 resulted thus : — President, Captain S. A. White ; vice-president, Mr. 

 E. Ashby; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. W. ]\Iellor ; the.se 

 officers to form the general committee of management. 



The following monthly meeting was held at the rooms ot Dr. R. H; 

 PuUeine on the evening of 28th April, Captain S. A. White presiding. 

 Mr. E. Ashby reported having arranged with the Royal Society for 

 the use of their rooms in the Institute, North-teri-ace, for future 

 meetings of the Association, and a vote of thanks was carried to the 

 Royal Society for their generosity in granting the request. A. vote 

 of thanks was also accorded Dr. PuUeine for past favours in the free 

 use of his rooms for meetings. Mr. J. W. Mellor reported having, 

 with several other members of the Association, recently visited Yorke 

 Peninsula, and identified 60 species of native birds in thi-ee days. 

 Mr. F. R. Zietz stated that the first Flame-breasted Robin (Petrceca 

 phcenicea) this season had returned from its southern breeding 

 grounds, and had been observed at Kingswood, near Mitcham, on 

 23rd April, which was considered early. Dr. A. M. ]\Iorgan noted 

 the Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) building its mud nest on ist April 

 in Adelaide. Mr. A. Crompton stated that great numbers of Blue 

 Wrens (Malurus cyaneus) had taken up their abode at Stonyfell, 

 Magill, where they were so tame that they would eat bread crumbs 

 thrown to them each day at certain hours. Mr. E. Ashby made 

 some intei-esting remarks regarding some rare and pecuhar birds 

 from the Northern Territory and from Mount Dandenong (Victoria). 

 Amongst specimens from the former place were the Black-tailed 



* See p. 45 this issue. f See p. ^^ this issue. 



