Vol. xlii.] 138 



Union, whicli is to be held in AcUilaide in October next. 

 This Session beino- the "Cominoof Aoe '^ of the Union, it is 

 hoped that ornitholooists from Great Britain will be able 

 to attend. On behalf of the Council he assured them of a 

 verj hearty welcome. 



Mr. Ashby then stated that, at an adjourned meeting held 

 at the Camp of the last R. A. 0. U. Conference, certain 

 resolutions under the headin<i- of " Private Collections and 

 Permits " were adopted, althouoh thought by some to be 

 ^dtra vires. The object of this legislation is to restrict 

 collecting throughout the wide unpopulated Continent of 

 Australia within very narrow limits. Amongst other reso- 

 lutions it is stated " that the formation of any new collec- 

 tions be discountenanced." The speaker stated that here in 

 England he had been giving a number of lectures in Schools 

 and Colleges, endeavouring to stimulate the interest of the 

 young people in Nature Study, especially in Ornithology, 

 and had been doing the same for many years in his own 

 State of South Australia. He would like to see promising- 

 young ornithologists making real study collections in every 

 large County School. Where were the workers of the 

 future to come from if the young are to be precluded from 

 making student collections ? 



Shortly before Mr. Ashby \eh Australia, he received a 

 letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Union, in which the 

 the writer said that the Council have recommended that an 

 urea, GO miles in diametei', with Melbourne as its centre, 

 should be proclaimed a " Bird Sa)ictuari/." 



As fully half, if not more, of ihe " population of the State 

 of Victoria is within this large block, which contained 

 forests, wooded hills, and mountains, this resolution was, in 

 the opinion of the speaker, a serious menace to the future 

 of Ornithology. He asked British ornithologists, if they 

 agreed with his point of view, to su})port him in the stand he 

 was making against this restrictive policy. This would 

 strengthen him in the action he was taking. He had given 

 notice that, at the U. A. 0. U. Congress to be held next 

 October, ho would oppose the resolution referred to and 



