ig6 Roval Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [,sf'"jan. 



Annual Report, 1918-ig. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — The Council has much pleasure in 

 presenting to the members of the Royal Australasian Orni- 

 thologists' Union its nineteenth annual report. 



Thirty-two of our members, we are glad to say, have returned 

 from the front. Several of the returned members were cordially 

 welcomed at a dinner given to them at Scott's Hotel, Melbourne, 

 last July. An honour board is now being prepared, and will be 

 hung in the Union's room in Melbourne. 



During the year 59 new members have been elected — 21 in 

 Victoria, 15 in New South Wales, 2 in South Australia, i in 

 Western Australia, 13 in Queensland, 3 in Tasmania, i in New 

 Zealand, and 3 in England. Twelve members have resigned or 

 ceased. 



Additional sanctuaries have been proclaimed for the protec- 

 tion of our native flora and fauna in Queensland, Tasmania, 

 South Australia, and Victoria, and it is hoped that Macquarie 

 Island, with its wonderful sub-Antarctic bird-life, will also shortly 

 be proclaimed. 



All the various States except Western Australia have re- 

 modelled or added amendments to their Game Laws, with the 

 object of securing further protection for valuable insectivorous 

 birds or prohibiting the wearing of their plumes, &c. This has 

 been largely done through the efforts of the Union. 



The Council acknowledges with pleasure the assistance given 

 by the National Museum of Victoria in loaning and mounting 

 birds' skins and also assisting with the reproduction of the 

 coloured plates which are such an interesting feature of The Emu. 



The Union's room at 2 Temple-court, Collins-street, Melbourne, 

 is proving of much use, and both the collections of bird skins and 

 eggs are being added to through the kind generosity of our various 

 members. 



The conversaziones that are held on the first Wednesday in 

 each month at the room are well attended, and much interesting 

 ornithological information is brought forward. 



The library is steadily increasing, and is of much use to members. 



The Union's journal, The Emu, has been kept up to its usual 

 standard, and papers of much interest have been published, as 

 well as notes of general interest, and also coloured plates and 

 photographs. 



The Council has again to thank the Royal Zoological and 

 Acclimatization Society of Victoria for so kindly continuing to 

 house the spare stocks of Emus, &c. 



Tw^ quarterly meetings were held at the National Museum, 

 through the courtesy of the Director, and certain families of birds 

 discussed, and also additions to the " H. L. White Collection " 

 inspected. 



W. H. D. Le SouiiF, 



General Hon. Secretary. 



