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THE SOUTH AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' 



UNION. 



The idea of founding an Ornithologists' Union in Soutli Africa 

 originated with Mr. A. K. Haagner, now Director of the National 

 Zoological Grardens, Pretoria. He corresponded on the subject 

 with Mr. W. L. Sclater, then Director, South African Museum, 

 Cape Town, Mr. J. Buckuill, then Commissioner of Patents, 

 Pretoria, and Dr. Grunniiig, then Director of the Transvaal 

 Museum, Pretoria, as well as with some thirty-five others. All 

 signified their willingness to join such an organisation, if started. 

 Advantage was taken of a Congress of the South African Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science in Johannesburg and, on 

 the 8th April 1904, a meeting was held in the Normal College 

 there, when the Union was formally launched. From those 

 present a committee, consisting of Messrs. W. L. Sclater, 

 J. Bucknill, J. A. Alexander, Y. J. Ellemor, A. K. Haagner, and 

 Dr. Gunning, was elected " to frame rules and decide upon 

 publishing a Journal." The rules were duly formulated and a 

 decision to publish a Journal arrived at. In July 1905 the first 

 number appeared, containing 38 pages and 3 plates. Mr. Sclater 

 was the first President of the Union and Mr. Haagner the first 

 Hon. Secretary, a position he has occupied for thirteen years 

 past. Mr. Bucknill was the first Editor in Chief ; and, on his 

 departure in 1907, this work was taken over by Mr. Haagner 

 and with it he is still associated. The Journal was published at 

 more or less regular intervals until the outbreak of the European 

 war, when, chiefly owing to the departure of many of the active 

 workers, it became exceedingl}'' difficult to obtain material for 

 publication. Twenty-two numbers of the " Journal " and three 

 numbers of the " Bulletin " were published, during the eleven 

 years. The papers are too many to enumerate, but much solid 

 work was ])ut in by many members and nuich original matter 

 ])ublished, together with a number of coloured and other plates. 

 The membership rose from thirty-nine at the inaugural meeting 



