iSSy.l Fourth Meeting of the American Ornithologists' U?iion. CQ 



assistance. The public press had also warmly seconded its efforts, 

 and it felt justified in claiming that its labors had yielded most 

 encouraging results, and that the future was full of promise of 

 further successes. The public was thoroughly aroused to the 

 importance of enforcing strenuous measures for the better pro- 

 tection of our birds, and the sympathy and assistance received 

 by the committee in its work was full of encouragement to fur- 

 ther effort.* 



The report of the committee was accepted as a report of pro- 

 gress, and the committee continued. 



The chairman of the Committee on the Geographical Distri- 

 bution and Migration of North American Birds, Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam, gave a very satisfactory account of the work of his 

 committee, dealing particularly with the economical aspects of 

 its work. As already stated in the pages of 'The Auk,'f the 

 work undertaken by this committee has practically been assumed 

 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and has now reached 

 the status of a distinct Division of this Bureau of the Government, 

 under the title 'Division of Economic Ornithology and Mam- 

 malogy,' the scope of the work under Government auspices having 

 been broadened to include the economic relations of mammals 

 to agriculture as well as those of birds. Last June, through the 

 influence of Senator Warner Miller, of New York, not only was 

 this important change secured, but also an appropriation of 

 $10,000 for carrying on the work for the present year. This 

 appropriation was for the "promotion of Economic Ornithology 

 and Mammalogy ; an investigation of the food-habits, distribution, 

 and migration of birds and mammals in relation to agriculture, 

 horticulture, and forestry ; for publishing reports thereon ; and 

 for drawings, and travelling and other expenses in the practical 

 work of the division." Dr. Merriam has associated with him as 

 scientific assistants Dr. A. K. Fisher and Prof. W. B. Barrows. 



Dr. Merriam, in his report, referred especially to his investiga- 

 tions in relation to the Bobolink — the 'Rice Bird' of the South — 



* For notices of the work of this committee, its organization and membership, see 

 Auk III, pp. 143 and 287, and its 'Bulletins,' entitled as follows: American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union. Bulletin No. I. of the Committee on Protection of Birds. Destruction 

 of our Native Birds, pp. 1-16. Published originally in 'Science,' No. 160, Feb. 26, 

 1886. 



Bulletin No. 2. Protection of Birds by Legislation, pp. 1-8. Published originally in 

 'Forest and Stream,' Nov. 11, 1886. 



f See Auk, III, pp. 117, 416. 



