4 
The Emu. 
" The Sparrow Pest," &c., Dr. Allen mentions that at the second 
congress of the Union it appointed a Committee on Protection 
of North American Birds, which has been continued to the 
present time, and has been an influence for good in this great 
economic and humanitarian work. 
In the important matter of bird protection there is a great 
task before the Australasian Union. The Field Naturalists' 
Club of Victoria has done some good work locally from time to 
time. The Australasian Association for the Advancement of 
Science promised to be a larger sphere of usefulness in this 
direction. But possibly it has " too many irons in the fire," and 
the meetings only once every two years are not conducive to 
the continuous efforts needed for effective bird protection. At 
the Association's first (Sydney) session, 1887, a paper was read 
on "The Protection of Native Birds" {vide vol. i., p. 338), and 
Professor Baldwin Spencer secured the appointment of a 
committee to consider and investigate the question (page 33). 
The committee was reconstructed at the following (Melbourne) 
session, and brought up its recommendations (amended and 
approved by the Council) at Adelaide, 1893 {znde vol. v., p. 
241, 242). But although eight years have passed since then, 
nothing practically has been done, except to carry out the one 
relating to the preparation of a systematic list of vernacular 
names for Australian birds, which was adopted at Sydney (1898) 
and published in vol. vii., pp. 128-154. 
Probably one of the first acts of the Australasian Ornithologists' 
Union will be to start where the Adelaide Committee of the 
Australasian Science Association left off — namely, with the 
recommendations, which for the most part are these : — 
(i.) That close reserves, controlled by local honorary 
trustees, and supported by Government grants, should 
be proclaimed. 
(2.) That the existing game laws should be strictly enforced. 
(3.) That in all Game Acts provisions should be made for 
the proclamation of districts, comprising both Crown 
lands and private property, wherein particular species 
may be absolutely protected for indefinite periods. 
(4.) That special legislation should be introduced in all the 
states to provide for the protection of animals of 
economic value or particular biological interest. 
(5.) That a standing committee of local naturalists should 
be appointed in each State to deal with the protection 
of the native fauna. 
All this cannot be accomplished at once, and it must ever be 
remembered that ornithologists and bird-lovers will have to 
" hammer, hammer, hammer " at some very apathetic skulls 
before due protection is achieved. The public must first be 
roused, then never be permitted to ignore the desired result. 
The Union would achieve much, to commence with, if it only 
