IS86.J Notes and Neivs. I A3 



name, but not in the spirit and interest, of science ; and that they are 

 already combining aggressive!}' to check the wholesale slaughter of birds, 

 the real extent, purpose, and source of which our violent critic seems 

 never to have dreamed? While intelligent criticism is generally welcome, 

 and usually beneficial, an ignorant tirade is unquestionably harmful, even 

 to the cause it is intended to promote; and it is to be hoped that when 

 next Mr. Burroughs assumes the r61e of public censor he will have a fair 

 degree of acquaintance with the subject he takes in hand. 



The a. O. U. Committee for the Protection of Birds met at the office 

 of Mr. William Dutcher, 51 Liberty Street, New York City, on December 

 12, and organized for work by the choice of Mr. George B. Sennett for 

 Chairman, and Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell for Secretary. Several new mem- 

 bers were added to the Committee, and there was some preliminary 

 discussion of plans and methods of work. A second meeting was held 

 on December 19. at the American Museum of Natural History in New 

 York, in accordance with a vote passed at the previous meeting to hold a 

 sitting (for the present at least) at 4 p. m. on Saturday of each week, at 

 the American Museum. At each of these sittings seven of the twelve 

 members of the Committee (all of those resident in New York) were present, 

 and much was done in the way of preliminary work. A subcommittee was 

 appointed to collect statistics respecting the extent of trade in bird 

 skins for millinery purposes, and the destruction of birds, particularly in 

 the neighborhood of New York, and also elsewhere in the IJnited States; 

 and another subcommittee to procure a full series of the legislative enact- 

 ments of the different States in behalf of bird protection, as a basis for 

 intelligent action in respect to this phase of the subject. 



It seemed to the Committee that a large part of its work must be 

 directed, for the present at least, toward a diffusion of information 

 among the people at lai-ge respecting the very serious magnitude of the 

 destruction of bird life for purely. mercenary purposes, and its necessarily 

 terrible influence in diminishing the number of birds — an effect already 

 in many instances appallingly evident — and the creation of a sentiment 

 against the use of birds for decorative purposes, and in general for the 

 better protection of our native birds. The Committee has already begun 

 the collection of material bearing on this general subject, which will soon 

 be elaborated and vvidelv published. 



At the meeting of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, held December 

 I, 1885, the annual election of officers was held, resulting in the re-election 

 of the present incumbents, except Recording Secretary H. A. Purdie and 

 Corresponding Secretary J. A. Allen, the former having resigned and 

 the latter being no longer in Cambridge. The officers for 1886 are as 

 follows: President, William Brewster; Vice-President, W. A. Jefl'ries ; 

 Recording Secretary, Arthur P. Chadbourne ; Corresponding Secretary, 

 H. A. Purdie ; Treasurer, Charles F. Batchelder. 



The meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month, 

 from October to June inclusive, but for the present will be informal, 

 owing to the absence of a number of the prominent members. 



