92 Sage, Twenty-ninth Stated Meeting of the A. 0. U. [f^^ 



mystery one should study the metaphysics of the general subject 

 of flight and familiarize himself with its voluminous literature. 

 For so onerous a task I have had insufficient time and possibly not 

 much real inclination. Being thus handicapped I should perhaps 

 have abstained altogether from theorizing. But the temptation 

 was irresistible and if, by yielding to it, I have originated nothing 

 of value there will at least have been little if any harm done — 

 save, perchance, to my scientific reputation. 



TWENTY-NINTH STATED MEETING OF THE AMERI- 

 CAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 



The Twenty-ninth Stated Meeting of the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union convened in Philadelphia, Pa., Monday evening, 

 November 13, 1911. The business meeting was held in the Coun- 

 cil Room, and the public sessions, commencing Tuesday, Novem- 

 ber 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 the 

 President, Mr. Edward W. Nelson. Eighteen Fellows were 

 present. The Secretary's report gave the membership of the 

 Union at the opening of the present Stated Meeting as 887, con- 

 stituted as follows: Fellows, 48; Honorary Fellows, 11; Corre- 

 sponding Fellows, 60; Members, 78; Associates, 690. 



During the year the Union lost sixty-six members, eight by 

 death, twenty-four by resignation, and thirty-four for nonpayment 

 of dues. The deceased members include one Fellow, one Honorary 

 Fellow, two Corresponding Fellows, two Members, and two 

 Associates, as follows: 



Henry Augustus Purdie,^ a Fellow, and one of the Founders of 

 the Union, who died in Boston, March 29, 1911, in his 71st year. 



Dr. Adolf Bernhard Meyer,^ an Honorary Fellow, who died in 

 Berlin, Germany, February 5, 1911, at the age of 71 years; 



1 For an obituary notice, see Auk, XXVIII, p. 387; also Memorial Address in 

 the present number. 



= For an obituary notice, see Auk, XXVIII, p. 519. 



