55 Seventeenth Congress of the A. O. U. Hae 
advantage of every opportunity of securing the passage of good 
bird laws, and the enforcement of the same; and in the instruc- 
tion of those who are in a position to encourage bird study among 
the children, and in directing young ornithologists into the true 
paths of ornithological research. 
Respectfully submitted, } 
WITMER §&.)NE, 
Chairman. 
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAN OR- 
NITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 
THE SEVENTEENTH Concress of the American Ornithologists’ 
Union convened in Philadelphia, Pa., Monday evening, Novem- 
ber 13, 1899. The business meeting was held in the Council 
Room, and the public sessions, commencing Tuesday, November 
14, and lasting three days, were held in the lecture hall of the 
' Academy of Natural Sciences. 
Business SEssion.— The meeting was called to order by 
Vice-President Merriam, in the absence of the President, Prof. 
Robert Ridgway. Sixteen active members were present. The 
Secretary’s report gave the membership of the Union at the 
opening of the present Congress as 744, constituted as follows : 
Active, 48; Honorary, 17; Corresponding, 66; Associate, 613. 
During the year the Union lost forty-six members — four by 
death, thirteen by resignation, and twenty-nine were dropped for 
non-payment of dues. The members lost by death were John 
Cordeaux,’ a Corresponding member, who died at Lincoln, Eng- 
land, August 1, 1899, in the 69th year of his age; also Oliver 
Marcy,” LL. D., Dean of Northwestern University, who died at 
Evanston, Ill., March 19, 1899, aged 79; Major Joshua L. Fow- 
ler,2 U.S. A., who died on board the Steamer ‘Ella,’ July 11, 
1 For an obituary notice, see Auk, X VI, pp. 377, 378. 
* For an obiturary notice, see Zbzd., p. 211. 
3 For an obiturary notice, see /b7d., p. 377. 
