240 Notes and News. [j^ 



Organization Secretary of the Ornithological Section, Academy of Natural 

 Sciences, Logan Square, Philadelphia. 



'The Condor' (IX, p. 29) reports that the California Academy of 

 Science's expedition to the Galapagos Archipelago, which left San Fran- 

 cisco June 28, 1905, returned December 1, 1906, after an absence of seven- 

 teen months. The leader of the expedition, Mr. R. H. Beck, regards the 

 collections obtained as by far the most extensive ever made at these much- 

 explored islands. Nearly every branch of natural history is represented, 

 and we await with interest the results of the elaboration of this extensive 

 material by specialists. 



The sixth annual session of the Australian Ornithologists' Union was 

 held at Hobart, Tasmania, Nov. 22 and 23, 1906, after which a visit 

 was made to Launceston, from which point excursions were made and 

 field work conducted during the following eight days. It was voted to 

 hold the next annual meeting in New South Wales. The presidential 

 address, by Colonel C. S. Ryan, had for its subject 'The Protection of 

 Native Birds,' and is given in full in 'The Emu' for January, 1907. It 

 contains a review of legislation in America for bird protections, and con- 

 cludes with various suggestions for better protection of birds in Australia, 

 and especially urges the introduction of bird study in schools, he believing 

 that " to educate people to love birds is better for their protection than 

 many acts of legislation." He advocates a gun tax, a license fee for 

 collectors, and a small bird for farmers and fruit growers, and others 

 who are practically benefitted by birds, and a heavy tax on game vendors 

 and on all who trade in wild birds or their feathers; these tax returns 

 to be used for the payment of 'rangers' or wardens for the protection 

 of State reserves. 



