2 PKOCEEDINGS OP THE 



The Phesident : I Avill ask Dr. E. Hartert to read an 

 Address from the German Ornithological Society. 



Dr. E. Hartert : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — The 

 German Ornithological Society, Avliicb, you know, has 

 always l)een on very friendly terms with the British 

 Ornithologists^ Union, has sent an Address, which the 

 President and Secretary of that Society have asked me 

 to hand over to the President of this Society, with the 

 offer of their very best wishes for your continued prosperity. 

 The Address may be translated as follows : — " The German 

 " Ornithological Society presents to the British Ornitho- 

 " logists' Union, on the occasion of their Fiftieth Anniversary, 

 " the most cordial wishes for the continual progress of their 

 ^' successful work and efforts for the growth and in the 

 '' interests of Ornithology.'^ 



Mr. Schalow wished me to say he had intended to come 

 over in person to deliver his wishes and to shew his goodwill 

 to the Union, but that, unfortunately, his health has pre- 

 vented him from so doing. 



The President : I am sure that you will all join me in 

 thanking those who have sent their congratulations to-day 

 on our Fiftieth Anniversary. 1 will put it to the vote, and 

 I am sure that it will be carried unanimously. (Applause.) 



The President then delivered the following Address : — 

 Brother Members of the B. O. U., — You need not that 

 I should remind you that the occasion of our meeting 

 here to-day, is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 

 foundation of the British Ornithologists' Union. Though 

 I am one of the few surviving- members of that little band 

 of twenty who inaugurated the Union, I take no credit to 

 myself for the small part I had in doing so. The real 

 honour of founding the Society belongs to our late friend 

 and colleague Professor Alfred Newton, at whose rooms 

 in Magdalene College, Cambridge, the idea was propounded 

 in 1858 ; and I feel sure it will be deeply regretted by all 

 here present that in consequence of his untimely death, he 



