318 Recent Literature. [^ 



principal contributors to the first series of 'The Ibis' (1859-1864). and 

 the present officers (pp. 71-232) ; (4) List of Members (pp. 233-268). 



Dr. Sclater's history of the founding of the Union recounts the first steps 

 taken in the formation of this great agent in the promotion of ornithological 

 research during the half century now just ended. The account of the 

 inaugural meeting, held in the rooms of the late Professor Alfred Newton 

 at Magdalene College, Cambridge, November 17, 1858, is less full than 

 could be desired, no formal record of it having been found. It apparently 

 comprised eight ornithologists, who decided upon a list ' of twenty persons 

 who were to be invited to become founders. Two resolutions were adopted, 

 which were to the effect that an Ornithologists' Union of twenty members 

 should be formed, " with the principal object of establishing a new Journal 

 entirely devoted to Birds"; and that Lieut-Col. H. M. Drummond should 

 be the President, Professor Newton the Secretary, and Dr. Sclater the 

 Editor of the proposed Journal. Steps were immediately taken by the 

 Editor to secure a publisher, and the first number was ready for the press 

 about the middle of January, 1859. Then follows a history of 'The Ibis,' 

 volume by volume, for the next fifty years, giving briefly the principal 

 events in its history and in that of the Union, from which we learn that the 

 first general meeting of the B. O. U. was held in London on November 9, 

 1859; but the minutes of this meeting, like many other early papers relat- 

 ing to its organization, "have not been found." At the annual meeting 

 held in 1860 it was voted to elect ten Honorary Members from "ornitholo- 

 gists not residing in the United Kingdom," among whom were Professor 

 S. F. Baird of Washington and John Cassin of Philadelphia. The only 

 other Americans on whom this honor has been conferred are Robert Ridg- 

 way, elected to this class in 1903, and the Editor of 'The Auk,' in 1907. 

 In 1872 a new class, designated as Foreign Members, was instituted, to 

 which fifteen distinguished foreign ornithologists were elected, among 

 whom were two from America — Coues and Lawrence. In later years 

 were added Ridgway in 1880, Marsh in 1883, Allen in 1890, Stejneger in 

 1900, Chapman in 1902, Oberholser in 1905, and Richmond in 1908. 



The 'List of Members' includes the names of all who have been elected 

 to the different classes of membership since the organization of the Union, 

 thisjroll numbering 719, of which the roster at the close of 1908 carried only 

 473, a large number having died in the half century of the Union's existence. 

 Of the 650 elected to the class or Ordinary Members, only 343 were in good 

 standing in 1908, deaths, resignations, and delinquency in payment of 

 dues accounting for the large reduction in the half-century total. Of the 

 3 elected as Extraordinary Members, 2 remain; of 21 elected as Honorary 

 Members (limited to 10) 11 have passed on; the class of Colonial Members, 

 instituted in 1903 and limited to 10, numbers 8, with 1 deceased; the 

 list of Foreign Members (limited to 20) contains 19; of the 36 who have 

 received this honor 17 have died. 



1 A facsimile of this list, in the handwriting of Newton, with additions in the hand- 

 writing of Sclater, is here given (plate facing p. 21). 



