Vol.XXVIIII , T , , „ rr>0 



1911 J Aotes and News. QZo 



commonest questions of bird migration; the efforts of a few can never 

 avail much. We are therefore endeavoring to interest all bird lovers in 

 the importance of the work. The limited funds secured by the former 

 Committee have been almost exhausted, and we estimate that the sum 

 of $500 should be raised at once. This will place the affairs of the Associa- 

 tion on a substantial basis and enable the work to be pushed as its scientific 

 importance demands, and as it is already being pushed in many countries 

 of Europe. 



We believe that you appreciate the value of the work we have undertaken, 

 and we appeal to you for your cooperation and for a contribution to the 

 fund. 



Please make checks payable to Howard H. Cleaves, Secretary-Treasurer, 

 and mail to Public Museum, Xew Brighton, New York City. 



Respectfully yours, 



William Wright Grant. 



Committee in charge J Clinton G. Abbott. 

 of Bird Banding ) Howard H. Cleaves, Sec'y-Treas. 



[ Public Museum, New Brighton, N. Y. 



The criticism has repeatedly been made that the present volume of 

 'The Auk' does not conform strictly to the third edition of the Check-List, 

 in respect to the use of trinomials for all subspecies. In almost all cases 

 the Editor has followed the preference of the contributors as indicated in 

 their manuscripts, believing that no ambiguity would result where the 

 accompanying vernacular name and the geographical area concerned 

 render it evident that only the eastern form of a group of subspecies 

 can be intended. In the case of the Robin, Bluebird, Song Sparrow, 

 Lincoln's Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Meadowlark, Purple 

 Martin, Cardinal, Yellow Warbler, the various species of Wren (House, 

 Winter, Carolina, Bewick's, etc.), Chickadee, and in a great number of 

 other instances, it seems needless, not to say pedantic, to burden the text 

 with the full form, as in Planesticus migratorius migratorius, Sialia sialis 

 sialis, Melospiza melodia melodia, Passer ella iliaca iliaca, Sturnella magna 

 magna, Thryophilus ludovicianus ludovicianus, etc., in casual references or 

 informal mention of birds, or even in local lists, when the locality is in the 

 Eastern or Middle States, where no other form of the species occurs. In 

 the case of intermediate districts, or from the eastern border of the Plains 

 westward, where two or more forms of a species may occur, it is obvious 

 that the full form of the technical name should always be used, and of 

 course in all systematic works and technical papers. This is an explana- 

 tion, not a dictum nor a defense. 



The Seventh Annual Meeting of the National Association of Audubon 

 Societies will be held at the American Museum of Natural History, New 

 York City, October 31, 1911. In addition to the election of officers and 



