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2 Notes and News. | January 
the bibliographical references and the habitats; the abridged edition, 
however, to include the additions and changes of the ‘Supplement.’ inter- 
polated in their proper places. It will be printed on fine paper, and on 
one side of the page only, in order that it may be conveniently used for 
labelling purposes when desired, or the blank pages, when the list is used 
merely for a check-list, may be utilized for additions or other notes. This 
abridged list is already in the hands of the printer, and its publication 
may be looked for during January, 1889. 
IN ORDER to add interest to the next meeting of the A. O. U., to be held 
in New York City next November, and also to advance our knowledge of 
certain obscure groups of birds, the Union decided to instruct the Com- 
mittee of Arrangements for that meeting to make this a special feature of 
the meeting. The Committee decided to select the genus O/ocoris (the 
Horned Larks), the Red Crossbills (Zowxéa curvirostra group), and 
the Thrushes known as Turdus alicie and Turdus alicie bicknellz, as the 
groups to be considered at the New York meeting. Mr. Robert Ridg- 
way will have the matter especially in charge, fo whom, as the time for 
the meeting approaches, it is hoped abundant material may be forwarded. 
Probably at the close of the meeting an informal sort of indoor ‘field- 
day’ will be arranged for the examination and comparison of the material 
thus brought together, in which examination all the members present 
can participate. It is hoped members will freely loan such material as 
they may have, bearing upon these groups, that light may thus be thrown 
upon the status and relationship of some of these obscure forms. 
THE DESIRABILITY of adopting some uniform method of measuring 
birds having been brought to the attention of the Council of the A. O. U., 
by a letter on the subject addressed to it by Col. N. S. Goss, the Council 
appointed a Committee, consisting of Dr. Coues, Mr. Ridgway. Mr. Cory, 
Dr. Merriam, and Dr. Stejneger, to prepare a report on the subject to be 
presented at the next meeting. The Committee at its first session dis- 
cussed the matter at some length, deciding some general matters, and 
referring special points to a subcommittee, consisting of Mr. Ridgway 
and Drs. Merriam and Stejneger, with instructions to prepare directions, 
illustrated with diagrams, for taking measurements of the bill and tail, in 
reference to which it is found that the systems employed by different 
authors widely vary. It is thus evident that a uniform method is highly 
desirable, and it is hoped the Committee will be able to formulate one 
which can be commended for general adoption. 
THE CoMMITTEE of the A. O. U. appointed at the Boston meeting to 
incorporate the Union under the laws of the State of New York (see Auk, 
Vol. V, p. 97), found that incorporation under the laws of this State 
would render it necessary to hold the annual meetings of the Union always 
in the State of New York. This being contrary tothe desire of the Union, 
the Committee advised incorporation under the laws of the District of 
Columbia, where it would be subject to no such restriction. In accord- 
ance with this suggestion the necessary steps to incorporate in Washing- 
