52 Ourselves-. [,„^7„,^, 



IMPORTANT NOTICE. 



The monthly re-union of members in the R.A.O.U. room at 

 2 Temple Comt, Collins-street, Melbourne, has been fixed for the 

 first Wednesday in each month, at 8 p.m. The subject for the 

 August meeting will be " Penguins," illustrated by lantern slides, 

 specimens, &c. The subject in September will be " Honey-eaters," 

 and that for October "Crows and Crow-Shrikes." Members are 

 requested to bring or send any specimens, lantern slides, or photos, 

 they may have of these birds. 



The Council welcomes suggestions from members as to subjects 

 for future meetings. They would also strongly impress on 

 members the value of keeping a record of the arrival and departure 

 of migratory birds, and any details they may note regarding the 

 same. 



The Greatest Victory for the Birds of America. 



By W. T. Hornaday. 



With record-breaking celerity the international treaty between' 

 Canada and the United States for the federal protection of all 

 the migratory birds of I^orth America north of Mexico has been 

 ratified by Congress, and is now a law. It was initiated over 

 two years ago by Senator George P. M'Lean, of Connecticut, in 

 a Senate resolution. At that time President Wilson wrote a letter 

 to Secretary Bryan, approving the idea, and requesting its 

 advancement. 



After a great amount of labour in Canada, in which Dr. G. 

 Gordon Hewitt, of the Canadian Department of Agriculture, 

 played a very important part, the treaty was finally sent down 

 from Ottawa early in August for ratification l)y this country. On 

 i6th August it was signed by Secretary Lansing and Sir Cecil 

 Arthur Spring-Rice, British Ambassador. 



By the President it was transmitted to the Senate on 22nd 

 August. It went to and through the Committee on Foreign 

 Relations in a few hours ; and Senator James A. O'Gorman, fully 

 resolved to secure action at this session, was designated to take 

 charge of it on the floor of the Senate. For several months past 

 Senator M'Lean has been hard at work paving a broad and 

 smooth road for its passage. 



On 29th August it was brought before 'the Senate, and quickly 

 ratified by a two-thirds majority. The swiftness with which 

 Congress did its part in the matter amazed and delighted the 

 defenders of the birds. That quick action is the Senate's answer 

 to the very bitter and abusive attacks that have been made on 

 the federal migratory bird law and its defenders by Senator 

 James A. Reed, of Missouri, and a few of his duck-shooting con- 

 stituents who vehemently demand duck-shooting in spring as a 

 special privilege. 



