The American Ornithologists' Union 147 



who have become contributors to 'The Auk,' and the constantly increas- 

 ing number who have aUied themselves to the Union by membership 

 therein. The constitution of the Union provides for four classes of 

 members; namely, ( i) Active Members, limited to fifty, and to include 

 only those who have distinguished themselves as original investigators 

 in ornithology, and who reside in the United States or Canada ; (2) 

 Honorary Members, limited to twenty-five, and consisting of the most 

 eminent of foreign ornithologists ; (3) Corresponding Members, limited 

 to one hundred, and consisting mainly also of eminent foreign orni- 

 thologists ; (4) Associate Members, unrestricted as to number, but 

 limited to residence in the United States or Canada. This class includes 

 not only a large number of experienced field workers, but many 

 college professors, educators, and persons eminent in other scientific 

 fields, but who are not expert ornithologists. It is open to all 

 reputable persons whose interest in ornithology is sufficient to prompt 

 them to seek such a congenial alliance. 



At the first congress forty-seven ornithologists were elected to 

 active membership — -presumably all of the satisfactory candidates 

 available. Of these forty-seven original members, twenty-four were 

 either present or took a prominent part in the organization of the 

 Union, and are thus termed 'Founders.' (The accompanying photo- 

 graph is a picture of these founders, made up from separate photo- 

 graphs, it being impracticable for the members to assemble to be 

 photographed as a group. ) This has remained about the average num- 

 ber, but, as years have passed, the choice for the few coveted places has 

 become harder and harder each year to fill, through the rapid increase 

 of not only available but desirable candidates; so that attainments that 

 would in the earlier days of the Union have proved ample credentials 

 for admission have now less weight, in the effort to select the best from 

 a large otherwise desirable candidacy. The honor of the position 

 has thus become enhanced through competition of merit. The two 

 foreign classes have remained practically unchanged as regards 

 numbers. But the class of Associate Members has increased from 

 about one hundred in 1886 to nearly six hundred in i8g8. 



The revenue of the Union is derived entirely from the annual 

 dues from members ($5 for active members and $3 for associate 

 members) and subscriptions to 'The Auk.' As the ordinary running 

 expenses of the Union are but a trifle, all of the proceeds from these 

 sources of revenue are devoted to the publications of the Union. 

 These include, besides 'The Auk,' now in its sixteenth volume, the 

 original Code and Check-List of North American Birds (1886), an 

 Abridged Check-List (i88g), a separate reprint of the Code alone 

 (1892), the second edition of the Check-List (1895), and nine Supple- 



