D PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



has given such an extraordinary interest to the study ot 

 Zoology generally. 



Before concluding these short remarks I cannot omit 

 saying a few words about the Editors of ' The Ibis/ who have 

 done so much to sustain its high character. Dr. Sclater 

 commenced by editing the first series of six volumes ; 

 he was succeeded by the late Professor Newton and 

 Osbert Salvin, each of whom undertook a similar series. 

 Of the 3.2 remaining volumes Dr. Sclater has been either 

 Editor or Joint Editor, besides having been amongst the 

 chief contributors throughout the 50 years. I am sure 

 therefore that you will feel with me that we owe him a deep 

 debt of gratitude for the labour of love which he has so 

 well performed on behalf of the Union — a debt we also 

 OAve to the late Howard Saunders and to our present Joint 

 Editor, Mr. A. H. Evans. 



With regard to the medals which the Society is about 

 to present to four surviving founders of the Union, I will 

 only say for myself, that I feel most highly honoured at 

 being the recipient of such a gift, and I can assure you that 

 I deeply value your appreciation of the small part that I 

 have been able to take in the welfare of our Society. 



I should like also to express to you my sense of the 

 honour you liaA'e done me in electing me as your President, 

 and to assure you that so long as you continue to repose 

 that confidence in me, it will be my earnest desire to 

 promote the welfare of the British Ornithologists' Union, 

 while I sincerely trust that it may long continue to enjoy 

 a similar prosperity to that which it has experienced in 

 the past. 



The President : I will now ask Dr. Sclater to read a 

 short history of the Union since its foundation, which he 

 has prepared for this Meeting. 



(See below, p. 19.) 



The President: Mr. A. H. Evans has prepared some 

 notices of the Life and Work of certain of the principal 



