BIKDS OF 



proceedings, and of the enjoyment they had afforded, to have all 

 those present photographed in a group, which was subsequently 

 carried out successfully by l>ogardus, of Broadway. 



At the second meeting of tiie Union, held in the same place in 

 September, 1884, the committee on Nomenclature reported progress 

 but had not yet completed their labors. The hope was expressed 

 that by next September a system of classification and nomenclature 

 will be agreed on, which will be practically permanent, and save the 

 annoyance arising from the frequent changes already referred to. 



The committee on the desirability or otherwise of encouraging 

 the English Sparrow, reported that they had taken evidence on the 

 subject from every State where he was located, and the vote was 

 almost unanimously against him ; but he is here now, and the 

 committee taking a merciful view of his case, did not at present 

 recommend any violent measures for his extinction, but suggest that 

 no more houses be put up for the accommodation of the birds, that 

 those who have been in the habit of affording them food and shelter 

 should discontinue doing so, and that in all States where they have 

 not yet appeared, every means should be used to keep them out. 

 If thus lefc to themselves for a few years, it would be seen whether 

 the severity of the climate or other causes would be sufficient to 

 keep them within proper bounds ; if not, an aggressive movement 

 could then be made against them. 



On behalf of the committee on Migration, Dr. Merriam reported 

 that on taking office as Chairman, he had at once issued circulars 

 calling for observers to note and report on the movements of the 

 birds during the season of migration, and that he had now nearly 700 

 at different points in the States and Canada ; besides which, every 

 lighthouse keeper in both countries had instructions from their 

 departments, to furnish a record of all birds destroyed by flying 

 against the glass at night, with the date and name of birds so killed 

 as far as possible. 



The amount of information furnished on these subjects was so 

 great that the Chairman found it impossible to present it in proper 

 shape without the use of maps, which he hoped within a short time 

 to be able to supply. He presented an abstract from the reports 

 referring to the' movements of one or two representative birds from 



