l68 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. {^^^ "j",^ 



accident, so that steps can be taken to remedy this condition of 

 affairs. 



During the year the Council sustained three regrettable losses 

 from their ranks — firstly, by the resignation of the hon. secretary 

 through ill-health ; secondly, by the resignation of the acting hon 

 secretary, due to pressure of business ; and thirdly, the hon. 

 treasurer on account of a similar cause. The Council were, how- 

 ever, fortunate in being able on each occasion to fill the vacancy. 



The Emu still maintains, and even surpasses, its high standard 

 of literary, scientific, and artistic excellence. One coloured plate 

 of a new and unfigured bird has been given to members, as well 

 as a special part of The Emu. Further donations to the Coloured 

 Figure Fund would be welcome 



The Department of External Affairs, which exercises control 

 over British Papua, has displayed considerable vigilance in the 

 prevention of the destruction of Birds-of-Paradise, and has in- 

 formed the Council from time to time of its actions regarding 

 the preservation of the wild birds of British New Guinea. Under 

 the existing law of the territory special permits may be issued to 

 the duly accredited agents of any scientific society or institution 

 to collect or destroy Birds-of-Paradise for scientific purposes. 

 Representations were made to the Department that all the species 

 of Birds-of-Paradise known to inhabit Papua have already been 

 studied, so no specimens were now necessary for scientific pur- 

 poses, and the reason for the special permits disappears. The 

 Council of the Union was of opinion that permits might still be 

 issued under stringent conditions, and for personal use only of 

 bona-fide collectors for scientific institutions, and not for the use 

 of agents, black or white, far and near, of such collectors. 



The thanks of the Union are again due to Dr. Charles Ryan for 

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

 and to the Zoological and Acclimatization Society of Victoria for 

 shelving the library of the Union. 



A. H. E. Mattingley, 



Acting Hon. Secretary, 



Progress Report of the Check-list Committee of the 

 R.A.O.U. regarding an Australian List of Birds. 

 At the Hobart session (1903) a committee was appointed to deal 

 with a Check-list of Australian birds, Mr. Robert Hall, convener. 

 At the Adelaide session (1908) the committee, which had prac- 

 tically done nothing (for the reason that the time for issuing such 

 a list was not ripe) was remodelled, with Mr. A. J. Campbell as 

 convener. It now stands • — Colonel W. V. Legge (Tasmania), 

 Mr. Basset Hull (New South Wales), Mr. A. J. Campbell (Victoria). 

 Mr. J. W. Mellor (South Australia), Mr. A. W. Milligan (Western 

 Australia), Mr. Robt. Hall (Queensland), and Mr. Gregory M. 

 Mathews (England). 



The convener made a commencement by taking as a working 

 basis the list of Australian birds compiled by Mr. Mathews and 



