36 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



ation of the importance of the proceedings and of the enjoyment 

 they had afforded, to have all those present photographed in a 

 group, which was subsequently carried out successfully by 

 Bogardus, of Broadway. • 



At the secojid meeting of the Union, held in the same place in 

 September, 1884, the committee on Nomenclature reported progress, 

 but had not yet completed their labors. The hope was expressed 

 that by next September a system of classification and nomenclature 

 will be agreed on, which will be practically permanent, and save the 

 annoyance arising from the frequent changes already referred to. 



The committee on the desirability or otherwise of encouraging 

 the English Sparrow, reported that they had taken evidence on the 

 subject from every State where he was located, and the vote was 

 almost unanimously against him ; but he is here now, and the 

 committee taking a merciful view of his case, did not at present 

 recommend any violent measures for his extinction, but suggest that 

 tlo more houses be put up for the accommodation of the birds, that 

 those who have been in the habit of affording them food and 

 shelter should discontinue doing so, and that in all States where 

 they have not yet appeared every means should be used to keep 

 them out. If thus left to themselves for a few years, it would be 

 seen whether the severity of the climate or other causes would be 

 sufficient to keep them within proper bounds ; if not, an aggressive 

 movement could then be made against them. 



On behalf of the committee on Migration, Dr. Merriam 

 reported that on taking office as Chairman, he had at once issued 

 circulars calling for observers to note and report on the movements 

 of the birds during the season of migration, and that he had now 

 nearly 700 at different points in the Statts and Canada ; besides 

 which every lighthouse keeper in both countries had instruction 

 trom their departments to furnish a record of all birds destroyed by 

 flying against the glass at night, with the, date and name of birds so 

 killed as far as possible. 



The amount of information furnished on these subjects was so 



great that the Chairman found it impossible to present it in proper 

 shape without the use of maps, which he hoped within a short time 

 to be able to supply. He presented an abstract from the reports 

 referring to the movements of one or two representative birds from 

 the time they crossed the southern boundary till they reached their 



