rreshleittldl Addre 



II. — Presidential Address. — The Domesticated Ostrich in 

 South Africa. By J. E. DuERDEN, Ph.D., M.Sc, Pro- 

 fessor o£ Zoology, Rhodes University College. 



Gentlemen, — 



It might be expected that the Presidential Address at 

 the Annual Meeting of the South African Ornithologists' 

 Union would be devoted to a survey of the year's work in 

 Ornithology, or at least directed to some phase of ornithology 

 as the subject is usually understood. I must, however, con- 

 fess that I am incapable of such a task, and should feel that 

 I were here under false pretences were it not that your 

 Council was fully aware of my deficiency in this respect at 

 the time it invited me to this honourable position. Lest you 

 should be disappointed by the absence of this traditional 

 accompaniment of an annual gathering, namely a survey of 

 the year's work, I have ventured to ask the Secretary to 

 perform the duty for me ; and I am sure you will agree with 

 me that the task could not have been placed in abler hands, 

 for I make bold to sa}^ there is no one in South Africa 

 working more successfully upon birds than he, no one doing 

 more for the cause of ornithology, even beyond his arduous 

 duties of Secretary of this Union and Editor of its 

 Journal. 



There is one step forward in South African ornithology, 

 however, which I cannot permit to pass unnoticed. I refer, 

 of course, to the recent appearance of the book ' Sketches of 

 South African Bird Life,' by Mr. Haagner and Mr. Ivy. 

 When I think of the circumstances under which the w^ork 

 has been produced I marvel at the degree of success which 

 has crowned the endeavour, and sincerely desire to con- 

 gratulate the authors upon their production and to wish it 

 all success. The book is bound to have much influence in 

 stimulating a popular interest in the subject to which both 

 writers are so earnestly devoted, and has received verv 

 favourable reviews from many independent sources. 



Having confessed myself in the matter of the neglect of a 



