American Ornithologists' Union. 61 



somewhat with regard to geographical representation, it 

 being desirable to make the gathering as catholic and non- 

 sectional as possible. Of the forty-eight persons invited, 

 all but fourteen responded — in each case warmly favouring 

 the project ; there is reason to believe that in a large part of 

 the remaining instances the persons invited failed, through 

 absence from home or other cause, to receive the call. 

 Twenty-five of those heard from expressed their intention 

 to attend the Convention, and twenty-one were actually 

 present. Following is a list of those in attendance, with the 

 States whence they came: — Hon. Chas. Aldrich, Iowa; H. 

 B. Bailey, E. P. Bicknell, D. G. Elliot, Dr. A. K. Fisher, 

 Dr. J. B. Holder, Dr. E. A. Mearns, and Dr. C. H. Merriam, 

 New York; C. F. Batchelder, W. Brewster, C. B. Cory, and 

 H. A. Purdie, Massachusetts ; Capt. C. E. Bendire, U.S.A., 

 Oregon ; N. C. Brown, Maine ; M. Chamberlain, New 

 Brunswick ; Dr. E. Coues, Dr. D. W. Prentiss, and R. 

 Ridgway, District of Columbia; T. Mcllwraith, Canada; 

 Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, U.S.A., Louisiana; Dr. J. M. Wheaton, 

 Ohio. 



" The Meeting was called to order by Mr. Brewster, and 

 Dr. Coues and Mr. Bicknell were respectively elected tem- 

 porary Chairman and Secretary. The original call for the 

 Convention was then read, and also the list of persons to 

 whom invitations had been sent, twenty-one of whom were 

 present and responded. On the motion of Dr. Merriam, a 

 Resolution was adopted to the effect that those who attended 

 the Convention be declared Founders of the American Orni- 

 thologists' Union, and that this Union be declared to be 

 hereby founded. A communication was then read by the 

 Chairman from Professor Baird, expressing his hearty con- 

 currence in the objects of the Convention, and his regret at 

 being unable to be present. The Chairman then referred to 

 the eminent standing as naturalists of both Professor Baird 

 and Mr. Allen, and urged, notwithstanding their enforced 

 absence — the one by pressing official duties, the other by 

 physical disability — that these gentlemen, in view of their 

 connexion with the initial steps of organization, be enrolled 



