7 fy.'^^i^f^ FOR THE PEOPLE Frontispiece. : •- '^/// THE JOURNAL OF THE VOLUMES I. & II. PUBLISHED BY THE UNION IN PRETORIA, TRANSVAAL. LONDON AGENT R. 11. I'OUIKI!, 7 I'lilNCKS STREET, CAVEXDISH SQUAIIK, W. 1905-1900. ALKRIC V FLAMMAM. PRINTKD BY TAYLOR AND FRANCLS, liED IJON COURT, FLEET STIiEET. // *^rA^(^- (^^T-frr . PIIOCEEDINGS OF THE UNION Report of the Third Annual Meeting. The Third Annual Greneral Meeting of the Union was held in the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, on the 25th August, 1906. The Meeting, which took place at 3 p.m., was preceded by a luncheon at the Grand Hotel, Pretoria, covers being laid for about thirty. Amongst the guests of the Union present at the luncheon were His Worship the Mayor of Pretoria (Mr. J. Gr. Van Boeschoten), Mr. F. Braybooke Smith, M.L.C. (Director of Agriculture for the Transvaal) , and Dr. Theiler (Principal Veterinary Bacteriologist to the Transvaal Department of Agriculture) Mr. J. E. Adamson, M.L.C. (Director of Education for the Transvaal), and Mr. R. Kelsey Loveday, M.L.C, were also invited, but were unable to be present, owing to absence from Pretoria. An excellent collation was provided, and the tables were most tastefully arranged, the production by the talented chef of several elaborate representations of a variety of species of birds—apparently hitherto undescribed—being a most appro- priate feature of the decorations. The menu cards consisted of a series of six artistic designs of bird-life from original drawings by Mr. C. B. Hoesbeugh, specially executed for the luncheon. In the absence of the President of the Union (Mr. W. L. Sclatee) the Chair was taken by Dr. J. W. B. Gunning, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Union and Director of the Transvaal Museum and Zoological Gardens. At the conclusion of the luncheon, and after the loyal toasts had been duly submitted, the Mayor of Pretoria pro- posed the health of the Union and its Members. He said that he always regretted that a very busy life had prevented liini from making a close study of ornitholoo;y, but that, although he himself could not claim any exact knowledge o£ the scientific aims of regular students in the science, he knew that the work done by such associations as the South African Ornithologists' Union was both of scientific and practical valucj and the more so in a country such as South Africa, where the economic value and danger of different species of birds were so little understood. He desired to wish the Union every prosperity and a long period of existence in which to continue and carry, if possible, to a successful conclusion the work for which it was founded. In response to this toast the Chaikman, after thanking the Mayor for his congratulatory remarks upon the Union^s work and for having spared some of his valuable time in which to join the Union at its Annual gathering, said that he also welcomed the presence of the Director of Agriculture, whose department was so very intimately connected with one important side of the work of the Union. The Union was as yet a very young child, with its objects and aims still imper- fectly defined or understood, but if its labours were carried out upon the lines of similar and older established associations, it could scarcely avoid being of substantial benefit both to science and to agriculture. So far the only definite pro- duction of the Union had been its Journal, in connection with which he desired to mention particularly the names of Messrs. Bucknill and Haagner. Ornithology had during the last year sustained the loss of some of its oldest and most renowned students. Canon Tristram, Jean Cabanis, Dr. Fatio, M. Oustalet, and the young and brilliant Von Erlanger were men familiar to all naturalists throu;i,hout th« world ; their loss was irreparable, but their names and their work would endure. Much valuable addition had been recently made to the study of South African Ornithology during the twelve months by the publication of several important volumes dealing with the avifauna of this country ; Professor Reichenow's German work on the Birds of Africa was recently completed, whilst further instalments of Captain Shelley's monumental volume on the same subject were being frequently issued. It was much to be regretted that the President of the Union, Mr. W. L. Sclater, whose concluding volume in the series ' The Fauna of South Africa : Birds^ had x'eceutly come from the press, had now given up his post as Director of the South African Museum, Cape Town, and had left this country to reside in England ; not only did this action cause him to resign from the Presidency of the Union, but it was a loss to ornithologists in this country, as his work, knowledge, and energy were certainly unequalled by any other resident ornithologist. These losses, however, it was the duty and the hope of the Union to fill, and from the younger generation of enthusiastic students now coming to the fore it was to be hoped that there would be found some who might in some degree worthily follow in the footsteps of those who had preceded them. Mr. J. A. S. BucKNiLL, M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. (Joint- Editor, Journal S.A.O.U.), also responded to the toast on behalf of the Editorial C^onnnittee of the Journal. He said that the side of ornithology which perhaps enlisted the widest sympathy was the practical side relating to the harm or utility of birds in their relation to agriculture. Whilst many reports had already been received by the Editors of the Union's Journal as to the depredations amongst the crops caused by various species of birds, it was, on the other hand, a well- known fact that many birds of beauty and note which were formerly deemed to be harmful were, as a matter of fact, of utility and value in the destruction of the insect pests which were one of the farmer's curses in this and other countries. South Africa presented an enormous field for useful study both on this and on the more scientific side of ornithology. Little or nothing was known as to the migratory movements of birds —whence they come, why they move and where they go ; there were, doubtless, also many new species still unre- corded and undescribed, whilst the habits and eggs of even many common birds in South Africa were still quite unknown. Systematic ornithologists all over the world were now attempting to find out many interesting facts, such as the common origin of birds, the relationship those of different a 2 IV origins bear to each oilier, and the proper place which shouhl be assigned to different species in the great theory of evolution which was the accepted zoological hypothesis of the present time. The Union had had little chance as yet to foster the more scientific side of ornithology or to collect sufficient data for generalization, but its foundation might have the effect of, to some extent, doing away with that lack of desire hitherto shown in South Africa to devote time to the advance- ment of such a non-material science as ornithology and kindred natural history subjects. Speaking for himself, he felt that to the retiring President of the Union the thanks of all ornithologists were due for having presented to them a comparatively cheap form of working handbook upon which students could base their future observations. He added that in future he hoped that it would be possible to hold the Annual Meeting of the Union in conjunction with the Meetings of the South African Association for the Advance- ment of Science. Mr. Langford proposed the health of the visitors, in reply to which Mr. F. B. Smith (Director of Agriculture) responded. He said that it gave him great pleasure to be present at the Union^s Meeting ; Agriculture, of which he was locally the official representative, owed to ornithologists in all parts of the world an enormous debt of gratitude, and the investiga- tions of ornithologists would always have the hearty support of the Agricultural Department of the Transvaal. Almost every branch of natural history touched agriculture more or less directly, and whilst perhaps South Africans had been in the past somewhat too material in their aims, the foundation of a Union such as the South African Ornithologists' Union, the members of which devoted much of their leisui-e to the pursuit of a delightful hobby, was a good augury for the future. The study of birds—many of them beautiful creatures renowned in prose and poetry—might well be included in that liberal education Avhich he would advocate for every person and even child in this country. Upon the detailed work of members of bodies such as this Union the great naturalists of the day built up the splendid edifices of scien- , tific theory and practical results which were of lasting and immeasurable benefit to the public. In conclusion, he wished to compliment the Society upon the excellence and accuracy of its Journal, which he hoped would continue to be issvied with the same care as had hitherto been bestowed upon it. An adjournment was then made to the Museum Buildings, and after a group-photograph of the Members of the Union present had been taken (vide Frontispiece), the official business of the Meeting was proceeded with. There were present, amongst others: Dr. J. B. Gunning, F.Z.S. (a Vice-President of the Union and Director of tbo Transvaal Museum and Zoological Gardens), who occupied the Chair, Messrs.