president's address. 33 



The Act at present in force in New South Wales, assented to in 

 1903, prescribes a close season from August 1st to January 31st 

 of each year for the Red Kangaroo and the Wallaroo, our friend 

 the Native Bear, the Wombats and Flying Phalangers, and for 

 the Platypus and the Echidna. This is a welcome step in the 

 right direction, and we trust that the list will be extended to 

 include the other fur-bearing Marsupials. 



Fish. — The Fisheries Board is doing excellent work in the 

 protection and the introduction of edible fish, both in our fresh 

 waters and in the shore waters of the ocean. We would like to 

 see its hands strengthened, and its operations extended to the 

 deeper waters. This part of our natural food-supply is of vast 

 importance to the community, and we know but too little at 

 present as to the habits and migrations of our sea* fish. 



Birds. — It is hard to speak in terms of calm moderation on the 

 subject of the Protection of our Native Birds. Enthusiasm is 

 liable to be looked upon with suspicion. But the point is that 

 everyone who studies the useful work done by our beautiful 

 feathered friends inevitably becomes an enthusiast for their pro- 

 tection. Great credit is due to the members of the Australasian 

 Ornithologists' Union, to Colonel Legge, Colonel Ryan, Mr. 

 Dudley Le Souef, Mr. A. J. Campbell, Mr. Mattingley, and the 

 rest for their persistent endeavours to bring the importance of 

 the work done by the birds home to the Governments and people 

 of the Commonwealth. To quote Mr. Campbell, " Apart from 

 the physical elements, the most important allies of the farmer, 

 pastoralist or orchardist, are our beloved birds — not to mention 

 the delight that many of them give us in form, colour and song. 

 Australian producers appear slow to recognise the great utility 

 of birds, because their (the birds') work is mostly unobserved. 

 The diet of numerous birds consists mainly of the lower forms of 

 life — insects and such-like crawling creatures. Experts who 

 have studied the question know how the lowly hordes of insect 

 pests increase, often at an astounding rate, and what a destruc- 

 tive power they are to almost every living green thing. Happily 

 this insect life is kept in check by birds. Contemplate what 



