140 Notes and News. [J a u n k 



Ichthyology was his specialty and it was in that field that he won his 

 greatest renown. His publications were by no means limited to the fishes 

 however. His learning was broad, his knowledge of literature enormous, 

 and he was in every sense a philosophical naturalist, one of the last of a 

 group, the like of which, in these days of specialization, we shall probably 

 not see again. 



Dr. Gill was elected a Fellow of the A. O. U. at the first meeting in 1883, 

 and was a prominent figure at all the meetings held in Washington. He was 

 a member of the Committee on revision of the A.O.U. Code of Nomenclature 

 and was ever ready with helpful suggestions in matters of nomenclature 

 and taxonomy with which the Union has had to deal. Most of his ornitho- 

 logical publications dealt with matters of taxonomy in connection with the 

 classification of the vertebrates in general, although during his editorship 

 of 'The Osprey' (1899-1902) he wrote upon a great variety of topics. 



To how many of us does Dr. Gill's name bring up memories of the old 

 Smithsonian building, where he had a room, and in the library of which he 

 could usually be found engaged in some literary research, but never too 

 busy to discuss with his friends the problems with which they were strug- 

 gling, or to turn to the young naturalist with helpful words of advice or 

 reminiscences of the past. 



By all visitors to the scientific centers of the national capital Dr. Gill's 

 cheerful greeting and sympathetic interest will be sadly missed, and in still 

 greater degree by his associates in Washington. 



A biographer will be appointed by the president of the A. O. U. to prepare 

 an adequate sketch of Dr. Gill's life and work which will later appear in 

 'The Auk.' 



The following communication from the Chairman of the local Committee 

 of Arrangements for the San Francisco Meeting of the A. O. U., May 18- 

 20, 1915, will be read with interest by all members of the Union. This 

 however will not make the meeting a success. A large number of the read- 

 ers must make up their minds to be present at the meeting, to enjoy the 

 pleasures and hospitality which Mr. Mailliard and his fellow members of 

 the Cooper Club offer, and to make them feel that their efforts have not 

 been in vain. Many members in the east can make the trip by arranging 

 their plans now, and even though it puts them to some little inconvenience 

 it is their duty to California and the A. O. U. to make such sacrifice and to 

 help to make this the most notable meeting that the Union has ever held. 



Mr. Mailliard's announcement follows: 



The 1915 Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union. 



On February 20th, 1915, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition 

 will be formally opened. The stage is already set, and only the finishing 

 touches remain to be applied. Already the wonderful color scheme is a * 

 thing of beauty and a joy to the sight-seers who throng the grounds even 



