Jlrmal Sforietu for tljr ^protrction of S trite. 
REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1904. 
To be presented at the Annual General Meeting-, 
February 21st, 1905. 
T HE chief event in the history of the Society for the ipcorpora- 
Protection of Birds for 1904 is one which it is hoped Society. 6 
and believed will extend its usefulness and influence. 
In accordance with the resolution passed at the Annual Meeting 
in February last a petition influentially signed was presented to 
the Privy Council for the Incorporation of the Society by 
Royal Charter; and after due investigation had been made and 
consideration given to the Society’s position, work, and public 
utility, this petition received the gracious assent of His Majesty 
in Council on October 24th. A Charter of Incorporation, dated 
November 3rd, 1904, was accordingly granted with the name of 
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. 
* 
It is especially gratifying that so young an association should 
have conferred upon it this recognition of its character and 
aims; the Society is barely fifteen years old, and its annual 
income has so far never risen beyond a few hundred pounds. 
The additional prestige thus bestowed should ensure not only a 
great expansion of its powers, but also a corresponding augmen¬ 
tation of workers, supporters, and funds. 
A copy of the Charter and Statutes will be found in the 
Appendix to this Report. The old constitution of the Society 
is preserved with the fewest possible modifications, and the 
revised Statutes will afford strength and permanence to its 
existence as a body corporate. The chief points to be noted are 
the definition of Fellows, Members, and Associates who compose 
the Society, and the limitation of the Council to twenty-four 
Members. Petitions and draft Charters having been prepared 
by the Chairman of Council the Society was spared all legal 
expenses, and had to meet no outlay beyond the customary fees 
and printing. 
In consequence of much special work involved by the re¬ 
constitution of the Society under the Charter the Hon. 
