Vol. XXII 

 1 905 



Sage, Twenty-second Congress of the A. O. U. J I 



Explanatory Note. 



At the recent Congress of the A. O. U. in Cambridge the author's 

 attention was called to some parts of the introduction to ' Birds of Cali- 

 fornia,' which have created a wrong impression concerning the work, 

 among those lacking time to investigate the matter." Hence, it seems 

 best to state definitely that the book is not the result of one season's 

 reconnaissance in the field ; it is based upon the author's own field notes, 

 begun in October, 1894, and continued, zvith fe-w interruptions, until July, 

 1Q02. 



These years of data gathering in the field were supplemented by two 

 years' work upon the text. 



The "test study " refers only to the last five months, which were spent, 

 as stated, in ascertaining so far as possible what birds were most com- 

 monly met with by the casual observer. The list of places where obser- 

 vations were made includes all places visited during the eight years men- 

 tioned, and does not refer alone to the last trip. 



Also, the word "cases" on page 13 is used as synonymous with 

 u instances," the specific meaning intended being "broods." 



When Mr. F. M. Chapman, in reviewing the book in ' Bird Lore,' inter- 

 preted 'cases' as ' species,' the author was appalled and at once wrote to 

 Mr. Chapman, asking that this error be corrected in the next issue. 

 Owing to Mr. Chapman's absence in the Bahamas, the letter failed to 

 reach him and the correction was not made. 



TWENTY-SECOND CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAN 

 ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 



The Twenty-second Congress of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union convened in Cambridge, Mass., Monday evening, Novem- 

 ber 28, 1904. The business meeting was held in Mr. William 

 Brewster's museum, and the public sessions, commencing Tuesday, 

 November 29, and lasting three days, were held in the Nash 

 Lecture-room of the University Museum. 



Business Session. — The meeting was called to order by the 

 President, Mr. Charles B. Cory. Sixteen Fellows were present. 

 The Secretary stated that at the opening of the present Congress 



