^"'•^'^'•] Royal Australasian Ornilhologists' Union. i6q 



published as a sui)])lement to The limn, vol. vii. (January, 1908), 

 this list being founded on the British Museum " Catalogue , of 

 Birds " and the " List of Vernacular Names for Australian Birds " 

 adopted by the Australasian Science Association, 1898. These 

 lists were forwarded to members of committee with a covering 

 circular letter. 



Messrs. Hall. Legge, and Mellor returned their lists, each 

 making certain suggestions, while Mr. Mathews was good enough 

 to indicate, for the information of the committee, the whole of the 

 alterations he proposed to make, which he considered necessary 

 in accordance with the strict law of priority, as laid down in the 

 " International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature." 



During the winter months the convener and Mr. Milligan had 

 many meetings in Melbourne, and reduced the lists to doubtful 

 species or species (for the want of references or specimens) not 

 examined. 



On the eve of the Sydney Session two more meetings were held, 

 at which Col. Legge and Mr. Mellor conferred, and the number 

 of doubtful species was further reduced. 



Finally, the four gentlemen named, with the addition of Mr. 

 Basset Hull, met in committee three days at the Australian 

 Museum, through the courtesy of the Curator, Mr. Robt. Etheridge. 



It was resolved that the validity of species only could be 

 attempted with the time allotted for this Session, leaving the 

 nomenclature (including vernaculars) for some future occasion, 

 and so far over 500 species (or kinds) have been agreed upon. 



The special thanks of your committee are due to Mr. Etheridge 

 and his staff, who kindly placed a room and the whole of the 

 valuable bird collections of the Australian Museum at the disposal 

 of your Committee for examination. 



Thanks are also due to the following persons and institutions 

 for the loan of important material, viz. • — Mr. Robt. Hall (Museum, 

 Hobart), Mr. Bernard Woodward (Museum, Perth), Dr. Hamlyn 

 Harris (Museum, Brisbane), Mr. H. L. White (Belltrees, New South 

 Wales), and Mr. A. G. Campbell (Pomonal, Victoria). 



A. J. Campbell (Convener). 

 Alex. Wm. Milligan. 

 A. F. Basset Hull. 

 W. V. Legge. 

 J. W. Mellor. 

 Sydney, 31/10/11. 



Memorial Service to John Gilbert. 



On Tuesday, the 31st October, 191 1, the members of the Royal 

 Australasian Ornithologists' Union attended a memorial service at 

 St. James' Church, King-street, and placed a wreath of native 

 flowers on the tablet erected to the memory of Gilbert. This 

 church, one of the oldest in Sydney, bears an inscription to the 

 effect that in the year 1820 it was " opened for public worship by 



