l6 JOURNAL OP MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The publication named contained some humorous verses in 

 which were named the said Society, several of its members and 

 certain well-known American ornithologists. The verses were un- 

 signed and no one was named as the publisher. 



Dr. Knight authorizes us to say that he is the author of the 

 verses, and that they were issued thus anonymously, not because he 

 was unwilling to be known as the author, and certainly with no in- 

 tent of putting anyone else in a false light, but because he "did not 

 wish the article taken seriously," and such is, as he understands it, 

 "the usual way of publishing parodies, satires and similar humorous 

 and harmless writings, intended for fun making." 



But inasmuch as it has been called to his attention, that some 

 of the other writers whose names are used therein might possibly be 

 regarded as having had a part in such publication, he takes this 

 opportunity to say that they had no knowledge that the verses were 

 to be published, that he is their author and assumes full responsi- 

 bility for the same. 



Attention is called to the annual business meeting and exhibi- 

 tions of the New England Federation of Natural History Societies, 

 April 15th and i6th, to be held at the building of the Boston So- 

 ciety of Natural History, Berkeley and Boylston streets, Boston. 



Information and circulars can be obtained of the Secretary, 

 J. H. Emerton, 194 Clarendon street, Boston. Through the mem- 

 bership of the Maine Ornithological Society, all of its members are 

 entitled to attend the exhibitions and informal meetings, exhibit 

 specimens and any material relating to natural history. 



The Journal has just received a circular announcing the 

 organization of the American Bird Banding Association, the presi- 

 dent of which is Eeon J. Cole, Peabody Museum, New Haven, 

 Conn. The purpose of this association is to study the movements 

 and migrations of wild birds by means of metal bands, which are 

 attached to their legs. These bands bear an address and a serial 

 number, the inscription reading "Notify the Auk, New York." 



When a bird is banded a record is made of the number of the 



