The Annual Meeting 101 



has beeu an accurate, as well as an interesting work. Under each 

 species the setting of its natural environment is first given, por- 

 traying a vivid picture of the bird in its actual haunts. Courtship, 

 nesting, eggs, young, plumage, food, behavior are then taken uy 

 and finally very accurate data concerning the distribution, such 

 as breeding range, winter range, spring and fall migration, casual 

 records and egg dates. With each species characteristic photos 

 are given, selected from the author's own fieldwork and that of 

 many others. At the end of the volume there are eleven color 

 plates of the eggs of the Pygopodes, which are certainly true to 

 nature. Colored plates of the birds themselves would have added 

 still more to the value of the work, which we regard as perfect 

 as far as the contents are concerned. Mr. Bent has certainly 

 earned the full gratitude of Ornithologists the world over. In re- 

 gard to some questions of species and subspecies, while following 

 the A. O. U. check-list's decision officially, he has also had the 

 courage to express his private opinion, e.g. in regard to Cepphus 

 mandtii, which he is inclined to regard as a subspecies of grylle, 

 an opinion in which we concur. The disputed Uria ringvia we are 

 personally convinced is a good species, but as Mr. Bent shows 

 there is much to be said on both sides of the matter, that he has 

 done well to leave it an open question which the future may de- 

 cide. 



The one great criticism we have to make does not strike at 

 Mr. Bent, but at a government that has been shameless enough to 

 put such a fine piece of work out in a poor pamphlet form without 

 even any binding, on miserable paper and with still worse covers. 

 This certainly is not the place for petty economy. 



W. F. H. 



THE ANNUAL MEETING 

 Bear in mind that our next annual meeting will be held in 

 St. Louis, Missouri, in conjunction with > the meetings of the Amer- 

 ican Association for the Advancement of Science. No program of 

 these meetings has been issued, so that the dates of our meetings 

 cannot be announced at I this time. But it is probable that our 

 meetings will be held on December 30 and 31. Announcement of 

 the exact time and place of meeting will be made in ample time 

 by circular letter. It is hoped that you will not wait for an invi- 

 tation to prepare and read a paper at this meeting, but that you 

 will send your title as soon as possible to the secretary, A. F. 

 Ganier, 1023 Villa Street, Nashville, Tenn. Liberal cooperation 

 will ensure a most profitable and interesting meeting. 



