364 Notes and News. [f^^ 



The next Stated Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union \\'ill be 

 held in "Washington, D. C, beginning Monday, November 14, 1910, this 

 being the date selected by the Local Committee, to whom the matter was 

 referred by the Union. 



The new edition of the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of 

 North American Birds, which has been some four years in preparation, 

 will probably be ready for distribution about the end of July. It will 

 differ in several respects from the previous editions, both typographically 

 and in the character of the matter. The arrangement and numeration, 

 however, will be the same. The changes in nomenclature have already 

 been announced in the various supplements that have been issued since 

 the publication of the second edition in 1895, so that in this respect there 

 will be few surprises. The 'ranges,' or the matter relating to the geo- 

 graphical distribution of the species and subspecies, have, however, been 

 entirely rewritten and greatly amplified, thus fully reflecting the latest 

 knowledge of the subject. Besides being given in greater detail and with 

 more definiteness, they are arranged to show not only the general range of 

 the forms, but also the breeding and winter ranges, so far as these are at 

 present known. We hence feel sure that the vast amount of work ex- 

 pended in the preparation of this new edition will be greatly appreciated 

 by future users of the Check-List, of which a more detailed analysis, and 

 comparison with previous editions, will be given later. 



An abbreviated edition of the Check-List, consisting only of the English 

 and technical names, numbered in accordance with the numeration of the 

 previous editions of the Check-List, is in preparation and will be issued at 

 about the same time as the regular edition. It will be of small size, with 

 rounded corners and flexible covers, and thus handy for the pocket, and be 

 printed on only one side of the leaf, thereby providing convenient space for 

 annotations. 



Re.\ders of 'The Auk' will be interested to learn that through the 

 liberality of Mrs. E. H. Harriman an endowment has been established to 

 provide Dr. C. Hart Merriam with a liberal income and a fund for general 

 expenses to enable him hereafter to devote his time entirely to scientific 

 work untrammeled by official routine. Doctor Merriam has long had in 

 contemplation the preparation of a work on the mammals of North Amer- 

 ica, the completion of which has been delayed by pressure of official work. 

 The establishment of this endowment makes it certain that the appear- 

 ■ ance of the first volumes of the series will not be long delayed. The 

 resignation of Doctor Merriam as Chief of the Biological Survey took 

 effect June 1, and Mr. H. W. Henshaw has been appointed his successor, 

 with Dr. T. S. Palmer as Assistant Chief. 



In order that the fruits of Doctor Merriam's experience and long field 

 work may not be wholly lost to the Department, which he has served for 



