1^5 Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [isfi)' 



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The adjourned general meeting was held at the Belle Vue Hotel 

 on 6th October, at 7.30 p.m., the president in the chair. 



On the motion of Captain White, seconded by Mr. Nicholls, the 

 annual report was referred to the Council for reconsideration. 



On the motion of Mr. Leach, seconded by Mr. Cornwall, the 

 amended annual report was adopted. 



On the motion of Captain S. A. White and Mr. Mellor, Mr. 

 D. B. Fry and Mr. S. Stokes were elected members. The names 

 had been omitted from list through typographical error. 



Check-List. — Mr. A. J. Campbell reported that the list was not 

 ready, as the committee appointed to deal with it had been too 

 busy ; but they hoped to have it ready for the next meeting. 



Colour Chart. — A letter was read from Mr. R. Ridgway, U.S.A. 

 The printing had been delayed. 



Place of Next Meeting. — On the motion of Mr. W. H. D. 

 Le Souef, seconded by Mr. J. A. Leach, it was decided that the 

 next annual session be held in Sydney. 



Report on Ornithological Court at A.N. A. Exhibition, Melbourne. 

 — Mr. Barrett, and other members who assisted, stated that the 

 experiment had not been a success, and that it would be well to 

 wait for some time before making another attempt. 



Bird Day and Education Departments. — Mr. Nicholls movea that 

 a vote of thanks be conveyed to the Directors of the Education 

 Departments of Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tas- 

 mania, in appreciation of the valuable work done in furthering 

 the cause of bird protection and spreading a knowledge of the 

 work performed by birds, and their value to the country, by pub- 

 lishing special numbers of School Papers dealing with phases of 

 bird-life, and by instituting a Bird Day in schools. 



Mr. H. W. Wilson and Captain S. A. White supported the 

 motion, which was seconded by Mr. H. Tryon, and carried 

 unanimously. 



The Education Departments of Victoria and Tasmania were 

 eulogized for the interest they had taken and the support given 

 to the Gould League of Bircl Lovers which had been instituted 

 in these States. 



Bird Sanctuaries and Protection of Birds. — The question of 

 introducing and ]ibera.ting ferrets in the Commonwealth for the 

 purpose of destroying rabbits was discussed. The hon. secretary 

 quoted the report of Mr. E. Stead on stoats and weasels in New 

 Zealand. Mr. D. Le Souef mentioned the harm done by intro- 

 ducing the mongoose in some parts of the world for the purpose 

 of destroying rabbits and other pests. Captain White and Mr. 

 J. A. Kershaw also spoke strongly on the damage that would 

 be done by the introduction of the ferrets, as proved by the harm 

 done by those that escaped from custody. The hon. secretary 

 stated that the Minister of Customs had the matter in hand, and 

 it was receiving his careful consideration. (A proclamation has 

 since been issued prohibiting the importation of ferrets into the 

 Commonwealth.) 



