£:6 Ninth Congress of the A. O. U. [January 



They were quite expert acrobats, and became proficient in 

 many ways. They seemed to delight in exhibiting their ability 

 and practical jokes to an audience whether of birds or human 

 beings. One thing in which they were said to have delighted, in 

 captivity, was climbing a suspended string. They were very 

 cleanlv in their habits, and are said to have bathed regularly every 

 day at a particular spot. 



All facts concerning their former distribution and their habits 

 as noted when they ranged north of the Ohio River, are very 

 much desired. 



NINTH CONGRESS OF THE AMERICAN ORNITH- 

 OLOGISTS' UNION. 



The Ninth Congress of the American Ornithologists' Union 

 was held in the Library of the American Museum of Natural 

 History, New York, Nov. 17-19, 1891, the President, Mr. D. G. 

 Elliot, in the chair. In the absence of the Secretary, Mr. Sage, 

 on account of illness, Mr. C. F. Batchelder was appointed ^^c- 

 reta.Yy pro tern. There were present during the session fourteen 

 Active Members, and thirty-two Associate Members. The present 

 membership of the Union, as given in the report of the Secretary, 

 is as follows : Active Members, 47 ; Honorary Members, 22 ; 

 Corresponding Members, 72 ; Associate Members, 352 ; — Total, 

 493, showing an increase of 28 for the year. During the year 

 the Union has lost by death, one Honorary Member, Dr. August 

 von Pelzeln of Vienna, Austria ; one Active Member, Col. 

 N. S. Goss, a member of the Council, of Topeka, Kansas; and 

 one Associate Member, Dr. J. I. Northrop of New York City. 

 The Treasurer's report exhibited the finances of the Union in 

 good condition, there being no liabilities, and a balance in the 

 Treasury. 



Dr. Anton Reichenow, of Berlin, Germany, was elected an 

 Honorary Member ; Dr. Max Fiirbringer of Amsterdam, Hol- 

 land, Ernst Hartert of London, England, and VVm. V. Legge of 

 Hobart Town, Tasmania, were elected Corresponding Members, 



