^"'^9^7' ] Chisholm, Progress of Bird Study in Queensland. 1 87 



had been made to reach the school children. Obviously, tlie 

 way to do this was through the departmental School Paper, such 

 policy making, as Mr. Hall aptly observed in the address earlier 

 quoted, " a happy union of strength and usefulness." The 

 Under-Secretary for Public Instruction (Mr. J. D. Story), when 

 approached, was good enough to speak very appreciatively of 

 the nature-study work carried on in the southern States, and, 

 with the Minister's approval, readily assented to Queensland 

 schools holding a Bird Day in October, the Gould League to 

 supply material for special issues of the School Paper. 



The collecting and arranging of the necessary articles, verses, 

 and photographs took some little time, but it was a most pleasant 

 occupation, made doubly so by the readiness of the response of 

 those approached. Messrs. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., 

 R.A.O.U., R. T. Littlejohns, R.A.O.U., S. A. Lawrence, R.A.O.U. 

 (of Melbourne), and Mr. E. M. Cornwall, of Mackay, Queensland 

 secretary of the R.A.O.U., are especially to be thanked for con- 

 tributing many fine photographs. Other members of the Union 

 who lent willing assistance were Messrs. E. J. Banfield, of Dunk 

 Island ; N. V. J. Agnew, of Peel Island ; and A. J. Campbell (the 

 latter writing from Cardwell). It will be stimulating to these 

 contributors to learn that, since the issue of the School Paper, 

 the juvenile membership of the Queensland Gould League of 

 Bird-Lovers has jumped from some few hundreds to approxi- 

 mately 7,000. 



In connection with this wave of enthusiasm, one of the most 

 pleasing features is the interest that has been aroused in the far 

 north of the State, particularly in the neighbourhood of Cairns 

 and Atherton. This seems to point to " a brighter day to be " 

 for the imique and beautiful bird-forms of those tropical 

 localities ; and the impression is strengthened by the fact that 

 the Barron Shire Council (Cairns) has carried a resolution con- 

 gratulating the educational authorities on the prominence being 

 given to the value and interest of birds. It is probable that this 

 Shire Council will act shortly in the direction of having ornitho- 

 logically rich areas reserved as sanctuaries. 



In going through some hundreds of letters received by the 

 League from various schools, I have been much struck with the 

 apparent earnestness of the children in their desire to protect 

 the birds and learn more of them. Many teachers also have 

 written in similar strain. One small school reported that, on 

 Bird Day, 25 nests were located within the school area, which is 

 a sanctuary. Another locality reports Finches nesting in the 

 orange trees, and Black-throated Butcher-Birds {Cractictts nigri- 

 gularis) coming to the kitchen for scraps ; while yet again there 

 is a report from the North of children studying Bower-Birds at 

 close quarters, and, better still, keeping an intimate watch on 

 the movements of migratory birds. 



In the matter of providing food and drink for bird visitors, an 

 excellent example is set by Mr. Cornwall. His pictures of 



