CROMPTON — History of Ornithology in South Australia. 9 



comprehensive list of birds put into the first schedule, but had 

 to fight and fight hard for the inclusion of almost every species. 

 The second schedule was still more difficult, quite a number of 

 these birds are apt to damage crops at times when their 

 natural food is scarce and members of Parliament representing 

 country interests, saw only the harm they did, and could only 

 be apprised of the good they do, by a body of ornithologists. 

 Finally the section relating to bird sanctuaries was considered 

 by a certain section of the House to be a copy of the British 

 Game Laws which they hoped would never be introduced into 

 Australia. However, the early members of the Association, 

 much to their credit, got it passed. 



At the meeting of this Association on September 11th, 1899, 

 Mr. A. J. Campbell. F.L.S.. was present as a visitor. A con- 

 ference was held with this gentleman regarding the formation 

 of an Australasian Ornithological Union to hold annual meet- 

 ings in the capitals of the various colonies. 



The idea was warmly supported, but the members thought it 

 advisable that the local Associations should still continue 

 their work, thereby keeping up local interest; and that these 

 societies should appoint delegates to attend the inter-colonial 

 congresses. Mr. Campbell thanked the South Australian As- 

 sociation for its suggestion, and congratulated South Australia 

 on having such a society, more especially as it was the first of 

 its kind in Australia. 



The following year a representative of this Association went 

 to Melbourne to' attend the preliminary meeting, to consider 

 the formation of this proposed inter-colonial union. At this 

 meeting the "Australasian Ornithologists' Union," since re 

 christened "The Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union," 

 by Royal command, was formed and a committee appointed to 

 draw up rules, to be presented to the various colonies for 

 approval. 



At the annual meeting of the R.A.O.U. at Hobart in 1906, M» 

 J. W. Mellor and Captain S. A. White advocated the introdui 

 tion of the lyre bird into Tasmania and the mallee fowl into 

 Kangaroo Island, as they felt that ere long the foxes would 

 have depleted these beautiful birds, nearly if not quite, to ex- 

 tinction. It seemed to them that these birds were admirably 

 suited to these localities; where they would be free from the 

 ravages of this rapidly increasing pest. This suggestion was 

 taken up by the South Australian Association as far as Kan 

 garoo Island is concerned. The introduction of the lyre bird 



