ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. XIX. 
pressed air. Too great a pressure of oxygen produces 
symptoms of poisoning. An atmosphere of pure oxygen, 
at 30lbs. to the square inch, kills in a few minutes. Under 
scientifically controlled conditions, work in caissons and 
diving can be carried out free from risk. 
PRESERVATION OF AUSTRALIAN FAUNA. 
The following official correspondence on the above subject 
is published herewith by direction of the Council :— 
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 
3 Hanover Square, London, W. 
dlst January, 1908. 
I venture to bring to your notice the treatment which is now 
being meted out to the Birds of Paradise in New Guinea, owing 
to the rescission of the Proclamation made in 1904 for the pro- 
tection of these birds. We have been advised that representations 
on this subject to the Australian authorities and to the New 
Guinea Government coming from you would have great weight, 
so if this matter has not already received attention at your hands, 
we venture to appeal to you to use your influence to bring about 
a renewal of the Proclamation which forbade the killing of these 
beautiful birds, for we feel that to allow them to be exterminated 
by hunters employed by trading firms would be a disgrace to the 
whole civilized world, and more particularly to Societies interested 
in Science, in Art, and in Natural History objects of rarity and 
beauty. 
FRANK E, Lemon, Hon. Secretary. 
To the President of the Royal Society of N. S. Wales. 
The Royal Society of New South Wales, 
The Society’s House, 5 Hlizabeth-st., N. 
22nd June, 1908, 
The Hon. the Premier of New South Wales. 
Sir,—On behalf of the Council of the Royal Society of New 
South Wales we have the honour to ask you to be good enough to 
forward the enclosed letters to the Hon, the Minister for External 
Affairs of the Commonwealth. 
J. H. MAIDEN 
F. B. GuTaRi£ Hon. Secs. 
