353 



Notes and News. [October 



Why has not the change been made ? 



Will yon through these pages kindly shed some light on the subject and 

 thus bring it to the attention of the A. O. U. ? 



It seems desirable to have some fixed arrangement for the convenience 

 of all. 



The choice in this locality appears to be for the metric system. 



William Flint. 

 Oakland, Cal. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



Spencer FuLLERTON Baird died suddenly at Wood's Hc-ll, Mass., 

 August 19, in hi* sixty-fifth year, after suffering for many months from 

 seriously impared health. In his death American ornithology has lost 

 its time honored leader, and zoological science one of its most powerful 

 and unselfish promoters. Although occupied during the later years of 

 his life with engrossing executive cares attending two of the most impor- 

 tant positions of scientific responsibility to which a naturalist could be 

 called — those of Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and head of the 

 United States Fish Commission — his impress upon American zoology is 

 perhaps unequalled by that of any other naturalist, living or deceased. 

 His published works on the mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes of North 

 America were for a long period of years the standard authorities of the 

 subject, and will always hold the place of classics. His influence upon 

 the progress of ornithology in America is beyond comparison, his work 

 of thirty years ago forming the basis of nearly all subsequent advance. 

 But his influence was by no means restricted to his published writings, he 

 having been the instigator and organizer of ornithological explorations 

 extending throughout the North American continent. To his influence 

 with the government authorities is due the excellent field work done in 

 connection with nearly all the Government Surveys and the Signal Ser- 

 vice Bureau, from the first inception of the various Pacific Railroad Sur- 

 veys to the present time. The immense resources thus gathered into the 

 National Museum have rendered possible the rapid progress in our 

 knowledge of North American birds which has especially marked the 

 last two decades. 



In Professor Baird every rising naturalist has found a friend, ever 

 ready to render all possible assistance and encouragement. Many owe 

 to him opportunities for prosecuting distant explorations, or the material 

 for monographic work. His one ohject, to which he was most disinter- 

 estedly devoted, was the advancement of science, and every effort to that 

 end was sure of his generous encouragement. To the American Orni- 



