Letters, Announcements, ^c. 581 



ment from the older organization of similar character in 

 England ? 



Yours &c.^ 



Elliott Coues. 



{Enclosure.) 

 "A. O. U. 



" Cambridge and Washington, 

 August 1, 1883, 



To 



" Dear Sir : — 



" You are cordially invited to attend a convention 

 of American Ornithologists, to be held in New York City, 

 beginning on September 26, 1883, for the purpose of found- 

 ing an American Ornithologists' Union, upon a basis 

 similar to that of the ' British Ornithologists' Union.' The 

 place of meeting will be announced hereafter. 



''The object of the Union will be the promotion of social 

 and scientific intercourse between American Ornithologists, 

 and their cooperation in whatever may tend to the advance- 

 ment of ornithology in North America. A special object, 

 which it is expected will at once engage the attention of the 

 Union, will be the revision of the current lists of North- 

 American birds, to the end of adopting a uniform system of 

 classification and nomenclature, based on the views of a 

 majority of the Union, and carrying the authority of the 

 Union. Other important matters will be doubtless presented 

 for consideration at the fii^st meeting. 



" It is proposed to hold meetings at least once annually, 

 at such times and places as may he hereafter determined, for 

 the reading of papers, the discussion of such matters as may 

 be brought before the Union, and the transaction of the 

 usual business of a scientific society. 



"Those who attend the first meeting will be considered 

 ipso facto Founders of the American Ornithologists' Union. 

 Active and Corresponding Members may be elected in due 

 course after organization of the Union, under such rules as 



