CHAIEMAN'S ADDRESS 



ox OPEXIXG THE SECOXD ISESSIOX 



OF THE 



BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' CLUB, 



(OCTOBEE 18, 1893.J 



I PROPOSE to Open the Second Session of tlie B. O. C. by 

 offering a few remarks on recent events in the ornitho- 

 logica] world. Before doing so, however^ I cannot avoid 

 alluding to a sad loss that we have recenth^ experienced. 

 Since our last meeting our list of ]\1 embers has become one 

 less by the death of Mr. John Tristram Tristram- Valentine, 

 ■who had been an active Member of the Club since its 

 foundation and had charmed us all by his genial and pleasing 

 company. Tristram- V^alentine^ although he contributed 

 but little to the scientific literature of Ornithology^ had done 

 much to popularize our scieuce by articles in the ' Saturday 

 Review ■' and in other periodicals. 



Turning now to the leading events in Ornithology^ I will 

 first call attention to the approaching completion of the great 

 ' Catalogue of Birds ' founded on the unrivalled collection of 

 specimens in our National Museum at Soutli Kensington. 

 Twenty-one volumes of this most important work are, I need 

 hardly remind you, already published. As v^e are informed 

 in the recent Parliameiitary Eeport of the British ]\Iuseumj 

 Yol. xxii. (Game Birds) by Mr. "\V. E. Ogilvie Grant^ 

 A^'ol. • xxiii. (Kails^ Cranes, and Bustards) and Vol. xxiv. 

 (Waders) by Dr. R. B. Sliarpe, and Vol. xxv. (Gulls and 

 Petrels) by ]\Ir. H. Saunders and Islr. 0. Salvin, are now in 

 preparation. 



