128 Notes and Nevjs. ^"^ 



If EVIDENCE were needed that 'Bird-Lore ' successfully fills its double 

 r61e of a magazine " devoted to bird study and bird protection," it is 

 undoubtedly furnished in the greatly increased size of the magazine and 

 its program for a course in bird-study outlined and initiated in the num- 

 ber for December, igoo. Its chief feature during the coming year will be a 

 series of articles and 'lesson-outlines' on 'Birds and Seasons.' It is the 

 editor's hope that this may be a " starting point in the development of an 

 idea which includes a school of popular ornithology, with a summer 

 encampment where both class-room and field instruction could be given 

 by a corps of experienced teachers." If "To know birds is to love them." 

 as one author has happily said, we cannot have a better safe-guard for <nir 

 birds than the kind of bird-study here contemplated. 



At the last Congress of the A. O. U. steps were taken to amend the 

 By-Laws of the Union in reference to the classes of membership. When 

 the Union was founded in 1883, the list of 43 Active Members then ad- 

 mitted, either as Founders or as original members, included all cf the 

 ornithologists in North America who had attained any degree of promi- 

 nence, and the limitation of the Active list to 50 members did not th.en 

 seem unwise. During the last fifteen years North American ornithology 

 has advanced with unlooked for rapidity, so that the number of prominent 

 workers in this field has now greatly increased. Hence each year the 

 competition for the few vacancies in the Active list has necessarily 

 resulted in the raising of the standard for admission, and finally to the 

 recognition that the limit of 50, while ample fifteen years ago, is now 

 too narrow. It has also become apparent that the large and constantly 

 increasing body of Associate Members contains very diverse mateiial, 

 which should be reclassified. In view of these facts it has been deemed 

 wise to segregate from this material a new class of members, enrolment 

 in W'hich shall be a recognition of noteworthy work in ornithology. 



The amendments to the Bj'-Laws, duly proposed and approved at the 

 last meeting, but which will come up for final adoption or rejection at the 

 next annual Congress, it is hoped will satisfactorily meet the new condi- 

 tions. They are (i) the increase of the Active list from 50 to 75; (2) the 

 constitution of a new class of members, also limited to 75, to be elected 

 from the present class of Associates; (3) the change of names of the 

 classes of members, as follows : {a) Active Members to Fellows, and 

 Honorary and Corresponding Members to Honorary and Corresponding 

 Fellows; {b) Associate Members to Associates; (c) giving to the new class- 

 the designation of Members. There is apparently little doubt of the rati- 

 fication of the amendments at the next Congress. 



