I 



Vol. XIV. 

 1915 



] Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. H7 



White-shafted Fantails {Rhipidnra alhiscapa), and other species were 

 busy nest-building or rearing broods of young. The photographers 

 were at work, and camera shutters choked busily while the day- 

 light lasted. 



An interesting find was a nest of the Scarlet-breasted Robin 

 [Petroica leggii) containing two eggs of the Robin and two of the 

 Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo [Chalcococcyx basalts). A Blue 

 Wren's nest, which cradled four eggs of the Wren, also held an egg 

 of this Cuckoo. At one place a Nankeen Night-Heron {Nydicorax 

 caledonicus) was startled from its afternoon siesta in a bushy 

 sapling, and members had an interesting exhibition of its 

 beautiful flight as it slowly mounted in spiral course to a higher 

 altitude. 



The Expedition. 



On Monday, 9th November, a large party left Melbourne for 

 Mallacoota Inlet, where, under the leadership of Mr. A. H. E. 

 Mattingley, much valuable work was accomplished. 



Annual Report. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — Your Council has much pleasure in 

 presenting to you the Fourteenth Annual Report. 



During the preceding twelve months 25 new members have been 

 enrolled, and for various reasons 14 names have been struck off 

 the roll. 



A well-attended Council meeting has been held each month, 

 in addition to two special meetings to welcome Dr. H. Harris, 

 State hon. secretary for Queensland, and Mr. Gregory M. Mathews 

 respectively. Mr. Mathews gave the Council an exhaustive 

 explanation of his views on nomenclature. 



The resignation of Mr. A. J. Campbell, Col. M. B.O.U., as 

 co-editor of The Emu was received with sincere regret, and a 

 motion was vmanimously carried by the Council thanking him 

 for his great services to the Union and ornithology in general. 

 Dr. J. A. Leach, who was elected a Colonial Member of the British 

 Ornithologists' Union this year, consented to fill the vacancy. 



The Council again has placed on record its indebtedness to Col. 

 Chas. Ryan for his kindness in placing his rooms at 37 Colhns- 

 street, Melbourne, at the disposal of the Council for meetings. 

 Colonel Ryan has placed the Council still further in its debt by 

 allowing the use of his rooms during his absence in Europe. 



The best thanks of the Council are due to the Zoological and 

 Acclimatization Society of Victoria for their continued kindness 

 in housing the Union's library. Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., &c., 

 the hon. librarian, has had a series of book cupboards made in 

 which to place the stock copies of The Emu, and the Union's 

 thanks are due to him. 



During the year a fine series of papers, with accompanying 

 illustrations, have been contributed to The Emu by members of 

 the Union, and several new birds and eggs have been described. 



In relinquishing my office as your hon. secretary, I have to 



