Vol. XIII. 

 1914 



] Fields for Work. -^-^7 



Australian Gannet locates itself when the young need their supply. 

 The movements of large bodies of Terns are an indication of shoals 

 of fish. One wonders how the reduction of Puffinus brevicaudus 

 (Mutton-Bird), in its relation to cephalopods, will affect our 

 deeper fishing grounds. In the study of the migration of this 

 Petrel some valuable hght will fall upon the balance of things. 



It is further to be hoped that some member of the Union, 

 living upon the coast-line, will give us data with regard to the 

 value of marine birds as destroyers of insecta and Crustacea. It 

 is well known that our Silver Gull (Larus novce-hollandice) is a 

 benefactor to man in this respect. We need to prove why the 

 better pi'otection is necessary of what are considered to be birds 

 outside the walk of man so far as their economic value is concerned. 



At the present time much interest is being centred in re- 

 afforestation, because a vandalism that has been working quietly 

 for fifty years is now becoming evident. The same will dawn upon 

 our people with regard to the need of a better knowledge of our 

 native land-birds. The opening of the country by means of 

 cultivation is already demanding serious interest. At present 

 two enemies to fruit-growers are doing much damage in a suburb 

 of Hobart owing to the lack of insect-eating birds, which are not 

 being encouraged to stay about. I refer to an aphis and a small 

 curcuho. What has been done by anti-plumage laws and the 

 lessening of the exportation of live birds is very fine ; but the truth 

 is, in the words of a former Prime Minister of the Commonwealth 

 — the women of our country have more power for the good of 

 this cause than even a combination of State Governments and 

 Commonwealth. 



It is in this work of education that the help of our Union has 

 shown itself, and at no distant day the agriculturists of south- 

 eastern Australia, in particular, will realize the value of field research 

 done in their favour. In the interval, every encouragement to 

 the better protection of birds, as a whole, within the area of closer 

 settlement should be continued. To this end the Education 

 Departments are distributing and modelling the rough-hewn 

 material which we are supplying in The Emu, and it is a happy 

 union of strength and usefulness. 



Results of observations by competent field naturalists will 

 continue to come forward until we shall be able to chart the work 

 annually to be done by certain birds throughout the Common- 

 wealth. There will be a fine summary of the value of their lives 

 before the Union is many years older. It will be then that guides 

 for the following years could be supplied. Just as grain-crops 

 and wool-clips can be fairly accurately judged at the last moment, 

 so will the movements of the more common birds in relation to 

 our and their food supply. 



In the course of the year some important events have occurred 

 that may have far-reaching results. There was, foremost, the 

 pubhcation of the " Official Check-list " of the Union. A strong 

 desire on the part of the committee entrusted by you to draw up 



