30 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



It was the plan of the founders to publish a list of all birds 

 that breed in the State, map their faunal areas, and add a list of 

 migrants. 



At the close of 1895 the ranks contained thirty-five members, 

 yet no active work had been done. 



Early in 1896 new officers were elected and the work of the 

 society began to take a definite shape. The following were chosen 

 officers for 1896 : 



President, James Carroll Mead, North Bridgton, Maine. 



Vice-President, Everett E. Johnson, Lewiston, Maine. 



Secretary and Treasurer, Ora W. Knight, Bangor, Maine. 



President Mead at once entered upon a campaign of reform by 

 appointing Mr. Adams, Mr, Lane and Mr. Powers a committee to 

 revise the constitution. Negotiations were entered into with the 

 leading papers of the State for space in which to publish the transac- 

 tions, and the Maine Sportsman, a monthly published in Bangor, 

 was decided upon as the most suitable organ. 



In the March numl^er of that year was a page devoted to our 

 interests, edited by Ora W. Knight, of Bangor, and each succeed- 

 ing issue contained a like amount of information, valuable to the 

 student of ornithology. 



In the April number of 1895, the committee on new constitution 

 reported their final draft, and in the May number. President Mead 

 was able to report its unanimous adoption by the society. 



On Dec. 28-29, i<^96. the society held its first annual meeting in 

 the High School building at Gardiner. The following officers were 

 elected for 1897 : 



President, A. H. Norton, Westbrook, Maine.. 

 Vice-President, Ora W. Knight, Bangor, Maine. 



Secretary and Tjrasurer, William L. Powers, Gardiner, Maine. 



Councilor, A. E. Lane, Waterville, Maine. 



Councilor, James Carroll Mead, North Bridgton, Maine. 



Five new members were elected at this meeting. Previous to 

 this meeting, none of the members, outside of the Gardiner branch, 

 had ever met. 



