1S84.I Xo/i^ (iiid AVic'.s. 107 



— The Committee of the A. O. U. on Chissification aiiH Nonieiichiture 

 of North American Birds,' recently held an eight davs' session in Wash- 

 ington, and determined the scope and form of the proposed new 'List' of 

 Nortii American hirds, and formulated a set of rules for the guidance of 

 the committee in their work. The subject of genera was carefully con- 

 sidered, and a considerable reduction from the number now currently 

 recognized was agreed upon. Several days were devoted to a considera- 

 tion of the principles of nomenclature, with results eminently satisfactory 

 to the committee. Sub-committees were appointed to especially investi- 

 gate all questions of synonymy, to consider the status of species and sub- 

 species, and to elaborate and codify the rulings of the committee respecting 

 the general principles of nomenclature. The committee worked with the 

 utmost harmony, and adjourned to meet again some months later, to con- 

 tinue and. if possible, conclude their work. 



— The A. O. U. Committee on 'Avian Anatomy' held a session in 

 Washington, on December 15, and considered the desirability and possi- 

 bility of preparing a general work on the anatomy of birds, to be in part 

 based on special memoirs already extant, and in part on original research 

 bv members of the committee. The project to some degree took shape, 

 and will be further considered. The committee on 'Classification and 

 Nomenclature' referred to this committee a series of special investigations 

 to determine the relationships of various groups of North American birds, 

 whose position in the natural system has not as yet been satisfactorily 

 assigned. 



— The A. O. U. Committee on 'Migration of Birds" met in New York 

 on December 17 to determine ways and means'foi- carrying on their work. 

 The circular of the Chairman, Dr. Merriam, published in this issue of 

 ■The Auk,' shows the plan of operations agreed upon for the currentyear, 

 and indicates that the work of collecting data will be pushed \ igorously 

 and on an extensive scale. 



— The A. O. U. Committee on the -European House Sparrow' have 

 entered heartily upon their work, and have prepared a circular soliciting 

 information from all available sources to aid them in the preparation of 

 their report. 



— The A. O. U. Committee on -Faunal Areas' has decided to prepare 

 as a 'report of progress' a provisional map of faunal areas for North 

 American birds, and will enter upon the collection of data concerning the 

 breeding and winter ranges of all the well-known species for the purpose 

 of eventually mapping the distribution of as many species as may^ be 

 practicable. For this purpose the committee decided to enlarge its num- 

 bers, and to assign particular districts to special workers. 



— Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, recently on duty at Jefierson Barracks, La., has 

 returned to Washington and is again in charge of the osteological depart- 

 ment of the Army Medical Museum. 



