580 Letters, Announcements, 6fc. 



pp. 634, 635), and will explain why I prefer Gmelin^s name 

 erythrorhynchus for this species to Latham^s later one of 

 trachyrhynchus. It is true that the bill and pouch are 

 reddish only during the breeding-season, but it is equally 

 true that the horny maxillary crest is dropped long before 

 the colours begin to fade ! The colours of the specimen of 

 the Brown Pelican (P. fuscus) are those of the same indi- 

 vidual when freshly killed, as recorded by the collector, Mr. 

 L. Belding, These colours are materially different from 

 those given by Audubon for the Atlantic bird, and may, in 

 connexion with the black instead of rich seal-brown neck, 

 indicate the specific or subspecific diversity of the Pacific- 

 coast representative. 



In conclusion, I may be pardoned for adding that, in the 

 official catalogue of the International Exhibition, the National 

 Museum collection of aquatic and fish-eating birds is, by 

 some incomprehensible error, credited to " Mr. W. T. Horu- 

 aday, Washington, D.C' Tlie gentleman named, however, 

 had nothing to do with the collection in question except the 

 mounting of a single specimen, the fine example of the Bald 

 Eagle {Haliaetus leucocephalus) , the entire exhibit having 

 been got up by myself, with the professional assistance of 

 Mr, Marshall and Mr. Webster, as mentioned above. 



Yours &c., 



IloBEllT RlDGWAY, 



Curntur Department of Birds, 

 U.S. National Museum. 



Siiiithsouian lustitutioii, Washing-ton, D.C., 

 August 25, 1883. 



Sirs, — I beg to call your attention to the enclosed circular 

 invitation, addressed to a large number of American orni- 

 thologists. The responses received thus far have been 

 prompt, cordial, and unanimously favourable to the propo- 

 sition ; and there is every prospect of the successful estab- 

 lishment of the organization, the character and purposes of 

 which are so fully set forth in the invitation that I need not 

 say more. May Ave not look for recognition and encourage- 



