Vol. X. 

 1910 



Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



159 



parts being now out of print, consequent on the issue of only 250 

 copies of those volumes. The financial conditions of the Union 

 during the first three years of its existence did not permit of a 

 larger issue than 250 copies. Through the generosity of the 

 Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, the whole of 

 the library is stored on its shelves. The accumulation of books 

 is expanding, due to exchange, donation, and occasional purchase, 

 and the space required to accommodate them is increasing. Later 

 it will be necessary to find some other means of shelving the books 

 in a systematic way. The funds of the Union do not as yet permit 

 of many purchases. The Council would be glad of further donations 

 of works on bird-life. A library fund is urgently needed, so that 

 works too expensive for purchase by many of the members may 

 be obtained for the benefit of all, and also to pay for the binding 

 of many delicately covered books liable to injury during transit 

 to members. To facilitate the members availing themselves of 

 the literature of the Union's library, and its distribution to them, 

 a card catalogue is about to be instituted. The Council of the 

 Union already subscribes to the international card catalogue of 

 the literature of the Aves of the world. The library of the Union 

 is, therefore, a valuable and steadily increasing asset, and I would 

 be glad of any suggestions regarding it, more especially with 

 reference to the means of making it more available to members 

 than at present. 



Parts of The Emu in Stock, 26/9/10. 



— A. H. E. Mattingley, hon. librarian. Melbourne, 24th 

 September, 1910." 



A letter forwarded by Mr. F. M. Littler, Tasmania, was read by 

 the hon. secretary This communication had been sent b}^ a resi- 

 dent who had lived, on islands in Bass Strait for 40 years. It 

 stated that Flinders and Barren Islands had always been resorts 

 and breeding-places for a great many wild-fowl, but that Flinders 

 Island had been thrown open to selection, ana it was rumoured 

 that Barren Island would also be thrown open for the same pur- 



