Letters, Extracts, and Notices. 141 



of known species under two names, without making any 

 distinction between these races and well-marked species. 



In my opinion, those who cling to two names, and two 

 names only, should describe and name nothing but distinct 

 species and leave geographical races entirely alone ; other- 

 wise, if a continuance is made of the practice of naming 

 geographical races just in the same w r ay as full species a 

 knowledge of the true relationship of birds will become an 

 enormous difficulty. 



I think it is generally acknowledged that there are such 

 things as geographical races, and that it is an advantage to 

 our science that they should be named and described. If 

 so, and if the above-given argument against the practice of 

 naming such races on the binomial system be accepted, what 

 system are we to adopt ? 



What alternative is there to the trinomial system? 



Yours faithfully, 

 Holmeliurst, Harrv F. WlTHERBY. 



Barley, New Forest, 

 November L'2nd, 1904. 



The South-African Ornithologists' Union. — The first Annual 

 Meeting of the newly constituted " South- African Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union" was held in the Transvaal Museum at Pretoria 

 on October 8th, 1904. In the absence of the President 

 (Mr. W. L. Sclater), Mr. J. Burtt Davy, F.L.S., took the 

 Chair. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Alwin Haagner, read a 

 report, which shewed that, since the inaugural meeting on 

 April 9th (see 'Ibis/ 1904, p. 478), 14 new Members had 

 joined the Union, bringing the total numbers up to 53. 

 The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : — 

 Mr. W. L. Sclater, President ; Dr. J. W. B. Gunning 

 and Dr. S. Schonland, Vice-Presidents ; and Mr. A. K. 

 Haagner, Secretary. The name and scope of the proposed 

 new Journal were discussed, but not finally decided upon. 



