V °^ T ] Notes a?id News. 87 



On returning to New York City he was associated with Dr. James B. 

 Wood and later established an office of his own at 21 East 28th Street, 

 which he occupied at the time of his death. In the treatment of throat, 

 nose, and ear affections Dr. Allen was notably skilful and he held the 

 position of clinical lecturer on the diseases of these organs in the Medi- 

 cal Department of the University of the City of New York. 



Dr. Allen was born a naturalist and only the duties of an unusually 

 busy professional life prevented him from taking high rank as an original 

 investigator in some branch of natural history. As a naturalist his tastes 

 were of the broadest. Every object in nature had for him a fascination 

 which impelled him to study the animate or inanimate with equal ardor. 



His more recent natural history work had been largely confined to 

 investigations of the toxic power of snake venom with the particular 

 object of discovering an antidote for this virile poison, but he never lost 

 interest in his study of birds and their habits, and to the readers of 'The 

 Auk' he will best be known by his admirable articles on the Fish Hawk 

 and Black Duck (Auk, IX, pp. 313-321, and X, pp. 53-59)- His note- 

 books were filled with equally interesting material which it is to be 

 regretted will now never see the light. 



Dr. Allen was a rarely genial comrade. In the field no misfortune 

 was great enough to dampen his enthusiasm, and his generous disposi- 

 tion always prompted him to sacrifice himself for the good of his com- 

 panions. Indeed his presence on an expedition was an assurance that it 

 would be both a pleasant and successful one. 



The A. O. U. Committee on Bird Protection made, through its Chair- 

 man, Mr. George B. Sennett, its usual report at the Eleventh Congress 

 and asked to be discharged, the need for such a Committee being con- 

 sidered no longer urgent, of late its function having been mainly advisory 

 and its services not often required. As most of the States have now 

 enacted excellent statutes for the protection of birds, modelled to a large 

 extent upon suggestions advanced by the Committee, little more than 

 their proper enforcement is now necessary. In recognition of its impor- 

 tant services to the cause it was designed to aid, during a continuous ser- 

 vice of ten years, the Union acceded to its request, accompanying its dis- 

 charge with a vote of thanks. Later, in view of certain contingencies 

 it was thought might arise, however, it was deemed desirable to have 

 the Union represented officially by a committee that could act in its 

 behalf, and a new 'Committee on Protection of North American Birds' 

 was appointed, as follows: Frank M. Chapman (Chairman), Charles 

 E. Bendire, Montague Chamberlain, Jonathan Dwight, Jr., and L. S. 

 Foster. 



At the Eleventh Congress of the A. O. U. the Union authorized the 

 preparation of a new 'Check-List of North American Birds,' the original 

 edition having been for several years out of print. The purpose of the 



