Vol. XXIV. I 
1925. J 
Annual Congress 
169 
Of recent years a party from this Royal Australasian Ornith¬ 
ologists’ Union visited the Capricorn Group, near the southern 
end, in October, 1910, and in that and the following years Dr. 
YV. McGillivray paid a series of visits to the islands off the coast 
between Cooktown and Cape York. Distinguished ornithologists 
have visited Upolu Bank and Oyster Cay, off Cairns, and the 
islands off Mackay, while E. J. Banfield, the “Beachcomber,” 
made studies during his long residence on Dunk Island, and Cap¬ 
tain J. K. Davis during his six months’ stay on Willis Island. In 
the case of the last two names I have mentioned, the observa¬ 
tions lasted for a considerable period, and it is such extended 
observation that should be made possible through the existence 
of the Great Barrier Reef Committee. From the point of view 
of systematic work, I am informed that it is not probable that 
any new species will be brought to light by further research. 
On the other hand, detailed observations of the numbers, distri¬ 
bution and habits of each species are required. It has been noted, 
for instance, that the different colonies of the same species, even 
on the same island or group of islands, often breed at different 
seasons. That this should have been observed in comparatively 
short visits gives an indication of the further information of this 
nature that might be acquired through more or less continuous, 
observation. Then there is another direction in which such ob¬ 
servation may be of great value. We have, thanks to the en¬ 
lightened policy of the Department of Agriculture and of the 
Government of Queensland, excellent legislation to secure that 
main object of this Union: “The preservation and protection of 
the avifauna indigenous to or occurring in the Australian region 
. . and the islands and water adjacent or contiguous 
thereto.” All the sea-birds except Cormorants are totally pro¬ 
tected. ' We have evidence, however, that at any rate in the past 
no such protection has been enforced, and no doubt enforcement is 
difficult. The evidence I refer to shows that Booby Island, where 
half a century ago the greater part of the rock was white with 
the dung of sea-birds, is now entirely deserted, probably owing 
to the depredations, such as those that have been described by 
Dr. McGillivray in the Enin, of careless or mischievous visitors 
burning the dry grass, and the young birds with it, and of beche 
de-mer fishers and others gathering birds’ and turtles’ eggs as 
food for their crews or for themselves. We know that there has 
been great injury done at Bramble Cay and Raine Island by 
South Sea Islanders getting eggs and birds for food during the 
breeding season, while even Mr. A. J. Campbell’s enemy, the 
domestic, cat gone wild, has managed to get to the North-west 
Island of the Capricorn Group and commit havoc among the 
birds there. The Great Barrier Reef Committee are constituting 
agents for the purpose of making observations on various mat¬ 
ters — physical, meteorological, and biological—connected with 
their investigations. They will consider the advisability of ap¬ 
proaching the Government with regard to these persons, or some 
