^°'ig^^^'] Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 1 47 



Excursions and Lectures. 



The delegates from other States were most hospitably enter- 

 tained by Tasmanian members of the Union, who had arranged 

 excursions to places of special interest in and around Launceston. 

 As already stated, on arrival at Launceston the delegates were 

 met by Mr. F. M. Littler and other members. In the afternoon 

 they were the guests of the mayor of the city, and were driven 

 to the electric power station in the Cataract Gorge. Mr. and 

 Mrs. Littler provided afternoon tea, which was enjoyed in a 

 picturesque spot. 



On Sunday, 7th November, the visitors were the guests of Mr. 

 and Mrs. Littler. The party was conveyed in drags to Distillery 

 Creek, several miles from Launceston. Birds were plentiful, and 

 several nests containing either eggs or young birds were discovered. 

 The flowering shrubs also gave the ornithologists much pleasure. 



A public lecture was given by Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley on 

 Monday evening, i8th November, in the Art Gallery. The title 

 of the lecture was " Amid Australian Palm Islands and on Coral 

 Strands," and the wonderful animal life of the tropical north 

 was described. The lecturer suggested that an endeavour should 

 be made to form in Tasmania a society having for its object the 

 study of the native birds. The lecture was illustrated by a fine 

 series of lantern slides. 



On the morning of Tuesday, 19th November, Captain S. A. 

 White and Dr. G. Home addressed a large gathering of State 

 school pupils on the subject of " Birds and their Protection." 

 Captain White stated that in Tasmania and on the islands around 

 the shores of the State there existed a remarkable flora and fauna, 

 which, if not afforded protection, would soon pass away, like 

 the extinct Tasmanian Emu. He asked the children to study 

 birds, and described the habits of some of the insectivorous 

 species. Mr. T. Kildea, on behalf of the Education Department, 

 thanked the speakers. He remarked that addresses of the kind 

 given by Captain White and Dr. Home were a decided help to 

 the scholars, conveying to them more knowledge of the creatures 

 of their native land. 



Annual Report. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — It gives the Council much pleasure 

 to present to you the Twelfth Annual Report of the Royal Aus- 

 tralasian Ornithologists' Union. Since the last annual meeting 

 thirty new members have been elected and the names of thirty-four 

 have been removed from the rolls for various reasons. The 

 Council greatly regrets the death of Dr. W. T. Angove, of South 

 Australia, who joined the Union in 1905. During the year Mr. 

 W. H. D. Le Souef was elected a corresponding member of the 

 American Ornithologists' Union. Nine Council meetings were 

 held in the course of the financial year. The Council again 

 desires to thank Col. Charles Ryan for his kindness in placing 

 his rooms in Collins-street, Melbourne, at its disposal for the 



