^°|;-]^,^'] President's Address. I57 



takers. The timber trees afford ample shelter to large numbers 

 of bh"ds of many species. 



Educating Children. 



Good work is being done in educating the school children in 

 bird-protection. The inculcation of a love for natural objects 

 should tend to make the young people bird-protectors. The 

 Education Department, under the able directorship of Mr. A. 

 Williams, is doing a grand work. " Bird and Arbor Day" com- 

 bined was instituted several years ago, at first in connection with a 

 few schools, but now it is universal in the State. A nature study 

 school in connection with the Education Department is also doing 

 good work. At the head is Mr. A. G. Edquist, who is an enthusi- 

 astic and energetic worker. He comes in touch with the practical 

 side of things, being a member of all the societies which have for 

 their object the study and protection of our native fauna and 

 flora. With the object of assisting him, the South Australian 

 Ornithological Association gave a challenge cup, known as the 

 " Bird and Arbor Day Cup," to be competed for annually by the 

 public schools throughout South Australia. The winning school 

 holds the cup for twelve months. The first to gain the trophy 

 was a small country school at Narridy. The essay competitions 

 are making the school children generally observant. 



The inauguration of the Gould League for the Protection of 

 Birds marks an epoch in bird-protection. In South Australia 

 301 schools have started branches, and no fewer than 9,000 

 children have enrolled as members and become active bird-lovers. 

 Prominent ornithologists form the committee. 



It is gratifying that the Ministers of the Crown, both in the 

 Education and Crown Lands Departments, are fully alive to the 

 need of bird-protection, and have helped the cause. Praise is 

 due to Mr. Crawford Vaughan, who, while Commissioner for Crown 

 Lands, supported bird-protection by granting sanctuaries and 

 placing useful species upon the totally protected list. Mr. F. W. 

 Young, the present Commissioner, has also a kindly feeling 

 towards bird-life, and it is to be hoped that he will show it in a 

 practical way. 



A Local Bird Book. 



Mr. Thos. Duffield has also urged upon his Minister the advisable- 

 ness of gathering knowledge on useful birds and disseminating 

 it among the people. He compiled a valuable little book upon 

 " The Protected Native Birds of South Australia," with an intro- 

 duction and descriptive matter by Mr. A. G. Edquist. The book 

 has excellent coloured plates, and has done much to interest the 

 people in native birds. 



Many private persons strictly protect bird-life on their estates, 

 and see that the law is not infringed in their respective districts, 

 while public bodies are also vigilant in securing protection on the 

 lands under their control. The press is sympathetic ; and, 

 altogether, the future of bird-protection appears to be bright. 



