I 86 Fourth Iiitey national OrnitJiolosical Congress. \ ^"^^ ■, 



o '^ List April 



Fourth International Ornithological Congress, 



This Congress, which is to be held in London during June, promises 

 to exceed all former ones in importance. 



*"• The Congress is under the patronage of HTi.H. the Prince of 

 Wales, and will be presided over by Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe. Besides 

 a Home Committee composed of eminent ornithologists, there is an 

 influential General Committee representing all the more important 

 countries of the world, Australia and New Zealand being represented 

 by Sir Walter Buller, Messrs. x\lfred J. North, Chas. W. De Vis, and 

 Dudley Le Souef. Capt. F. W. Hutton and Mr. Frank Littler, who 

 will be in England when the session is sitting, will be the official 

 deputies of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union. The business of 

 the Congress will be divided into the following sections : — (i) 

 Systematic Ornithology, Geographical Distribution, Anatomy, and 

 Palaeontology ; (2) Migration ; (3) Biology, Nidification, Oology ; 

 (4) Economic Ornithology and Bird Protection ; (5) Aviculture; and, 

 as is the custom on a smaller scale in the Antipodes, the session 

 terminates with an excursion to a " rookery " of sea-birds — Flam- 

 borough Head, Yorkshire. 



The subscription for members is £1, which also entitles members to 

 a copy of the published proceedings of the Congress. Circulars, &c., 

 may be had on application to the editors of The Emu. 



New Nature Study Societies. 



A MEETING of persons interested in the formation of a Field Natural- 

 ists' Club at Cairns (Queensland) was held in the School of Arts on the 

 evening of 12th March. A Club was formed, with the following office- 

 bearers : — President, Mr. E. M. Cornwell ; vice-president, Mr. J. G. 

 Fearnley ; secretary, Mr. E. Allen ; committee, Messrs. D. Dean, 



J. Hyland, F. Barrett, Ingram, Anderson, and Burnett. 



* * * 



At the invitation of Mr. C. L. Barrett a number of gentlemen 

 interested in field ornithology met at his residence, " Craigielea," 

 Brighton Beach (Victoria), on the evening of 12th April. 



On the proposition of the host, Mr. A. J. Campbell was voted to the 

 chair. 



After discussion, it was resolved :-- 



To form an association of field ornithologists, limited to 25 members 

 (for the present). 



That the association be called the " Bird Observers' Club." 



That Mr. F. P. Godfrey be elected hon. secretary. 



That the subscription be 2s. 6d. per annum. 



That the Club meet once a month, at some member's residence or 

 other place to be named at the previous meeting. 



The following were elected original members : — Messrs. Donald 

 Macdonald {The Argus), A. J. Campbell, Col. Mem. B.O.U., A. G. 

 Campbell, C. L. Barrett, F. E. Howe, A. H. E. Mattingley, A. J. 

 Kershaw, F.E.S., D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., C. F. Belcher, M.A., LL.B., 

 F. P. Godfrey, R. P. Godfrey, C. P. Kinane, H. Kendall, Robt. Hall, 

 F.L.S., and E. Brooke Nicholls. 



Walker, INIay and Co., Printers, Mackillop-street, Melbourne. 



