Vol. IX. 

 1910 



Wilson, First Bird Day in the Commonwealth . I^Q 



suggested was as far as possible carried out ; but, instead of an 

 excursion, members of the A.O.U., B.O.C., and other bird-lovers 

 each visited two or three schools and addressed the children on 

 the value and interest of birds. These addresses were illustrated 

 by specimens, and in some instances by the lantern. All certify 

 to the interest and attention with which the children received 

 the addresses. 



Thousands of lists and reports have been received, and the 

 information contained in them is being tabulated. This work 

 has not yet been completed, but it is certain that much practical 

 work of scientific value was accomplished through the Bird Day 

 movement. 



" To deepen the interest in bird life and to lead to a closer 

 study of our native birds, it is proposed to establish a league 

 amongst the pupils of our schools on the lines of a similar 

 society in America. There the society is named after their 

 great bird-lover, Audubon. So it is proposed to establish on 

 similar lines ' The Gould League of Bird-Lovers,' associated 

 with the name of that distinguished ornithologist, John Gould, 

 who did so much in describing the birds of the world." — 

 Ediicatioji Gazette, 20/10/09. The aims of the proposed society 

 were explained to the children on Bird Day, and they were 

 asked if they wished to become members. The response was 

 remarkable. The idea of forming the " Gould League of Bird- 

 Lovers " was put forward by Dr. H. W. Bryant, A.O.U., who 

 wrote to the Department of Education concerning the formation 

 of such a league, and the Director of Education, Mr. F. Tate, 

 M.A., approved of the idea. A committee of members of the 

 A.O.U. has the matter in hand, and a suitable card of member- 

 ship is being prepared. His Excellency the Governor, Sir 

 Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, has consented to become a patron 

 of the League, as also have many leading public and scientific 

 men. 



The following members of the A.O.U. and others visited 

 schools on Bird Day and gave addresses to the higher classes : — 

 Mrs. Hardy, Miss Fenton, Dr. H. W. Bryant, Dr. G. Home, 

 Messrs. A. J. Campbell, D. Le Souef, Donald Macdonald, A. H. 

 E. Mattingley, Chas. Barrett, E. B. Nicholls, C. F. Cole, F. E. 

 Howe, J. A. Leach, G. E. Shepherd, F. G. A. Barnard, G. B, 

 Pritchard, F.G.S., and H. W. Wilson. Messrs. J. Gabriel, 

 Keartland, Coles, Townsend, and James also helped, and Mr. 

 C. French described the birds in his collection to the numerous 

 visitors. The following were the contributors to the October, 

 1909 (Bird Day) number of TJie School Paper: — Miss J. A. 

 Fletcher, Messrs. Donald Macdonald, T. H. Tregellas, Robert 

 Hall, Chas. Barrett, W. H. D. Le Souef, L. G. Chandler, 

 W. Gillies, E. B. Nicholls, A. H. E. Mattingley, L. C. Cook, 

 J. W. Mellor, F. Howe, C. F. Cole, A. G. Campbell, and Dr. VV. 

 MacGillivray. 



