iSS6.] Notes and Ne.tvs. 495 



sideration of external characters and obscure points in synonomj, as Dr. 

 Stejneger has so ably done for us, expressing himself as he does in the 

 criticism of my memoir by saying, "A natural system cannot be based 

 upon one single set of characters ; all will have to be carefully considered, 

 whether they are external or internal, before we can hope to understand 

 the true relationship of the different groups" (p- 406). This is precisely, 

 indeed the words are quite the echo of, what I have taught, and my senti- 

 ments for a number of years past, as the reader may see by referring to 

 the leading paragraphs in my "Osteology of the Cathartidie," published 

 in 18S3 in Hayden's Twelfth Annual, by the Department of the Interior. 



Very respectfully. 

 Ft. Wingate, Neiv Mexico, R. W. Shufeldt. 



4th August, 1SS6. 



Erratum. — In Dr. Shufeldt's letter in the July 'Auk,' p. 414, for "nine," 

 in the first line of the letter, read mine. — Edd. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



The next meeting of the xAmerican Ornithologist's Union will be held 

 in Washington; Tuesday, November 16, and Ibllowing days. A very in- 

 teresting meeting is anticipated, and a much larger attendance than usual 

 of both Active and Associate Members is expected. The meeting will be 

 chiefly occupied with the reading and discussion of scientific papers. 

 There will be in addition the usual reports of committees. 



Dr. F. W. Langdon, of Cincinnati, has in preparation a work on 'Ohio 

 Valley Birds,' which he hopes to have soon ready for the press. It will 

 be devoted to the birds of the region drained by the Ohio River and its 

 tributaries. Besides some matter relating to ornithology in general, it 

 will include descriptions and life histories of Ohio Valley birds. 



A 'Manual of North American Birds,' by Mr. Robert Ridgway, is an- 

 nounced as in pi'ess, to be published by J. B. Lippincott and Co., of Phila- 

 delphia. The work will be abimdantly illustrated and, it is needless to 

 say, most carefully and thoroughly prepared. 



Dr. Leonhard Stejneger announces his intention (Proc. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus., 18S6, p. 99) "to write a comprehensive and reliable guide to Japan- 

 ese ornithology, with ample descriptions of all the known forms from 

 original Japanese specimens." Finding his material for the work still 

 incomplete he earnestly requests assistance in gathering it, in order to 

 enable him to satisfactorily fulfil the task he has undertaken. The work 

 will be based primarily on tlie Blakiston arid Jouy collections of Japanese 



