SECOND ANNUAL MEETING 13 



PAPERS 



PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS— IllSTOKY OF ORNITHOLOGY IN NE- 

 BRASKA, AND OF STATE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETIES 

 IN GENERAL 



I. S. TROSTLER, OMAHA 



It is a AAell established fact that org'anized work along any of the 

 lines of study or scientific research will yield better and more satisfac- 

 tory'^ results than will unorganized, individual efforts. The establish- 

 ment of an ornithological society for Nebraska has been a hobby of 

 mine for a number of years. I have watched the work of other state 

 ornithological societies ^dth considerable interest and it will be my 

 effort to give a short sketch of the work done by the societies of other 

 states and some of the particulars regarding the formation of our 

 Nebraska Ornithologists' LTnion. 



^lost of the information reg'arding' the societies of other states Avas 

 given me by their members, and I desire to thank !Messrs. Chester Bar- 

 low, of Santa Clara, California; Ora W. Knight, of Orono. Maine; R. H. 

 Wolcott, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Fred. M. Dillie, of Denver, Colorado, and 

 F. L. Burns, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, for the aid thej' have given me. 



THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB OF CALIFORNIA 



The foremost state ornithological society in this country is the Cooper 

 Ornithological Club of California (named in honor of Dr. James G. 

 Cooper of that state). This club was org-anized June 22, 1893, at San 

 Jose, bj' Messrs. W. H. Osgood, F. A. Schneider, H. R. Painton, and 

 Chester Barlow. New members were added from time to time, and 

 at the end of three jears the club was upon a firm footing. I am unable 

 to enumerate the exact number of members at the end of each year, 

 until January 1, 1898, when the club had 77 active members. On January 

 1, 1900, there were 85 and November 1, 1900, 110 active and 3 honorary 

 members. 



For convenience in holding meetings the Cooper Ornithological Club 

 is divided into two divisions, a "Northern Division" and a "Southern 

 Division." Both "Divisions" are under the control of what is termed 

 "the Club-at-Large," Avliich has its executive power vested in the 

 "Northern Division." In this way both Divisions act as a unit upon 

 general questions and hold meetings in their portion of the state at 

 regular intervals. The meetings of the Northern Division are held bi- 

 monthly, those of the Southern Division monthly. The attendance at 

 the meetings averages 15 to 20 members. 



