148 Bird -Lore 



ments to the Check-List (i88g-i8gg), varying in size from about 8 to 

 36 pages. 



' The Auk, ' issued quarterly, consists on the average of about 420 pages 

 per 5^ear, with at least four fine colored plates, and a greater or less 

 number of text figures, including of late numerous half-tone illustrations 

 of birds in life. As practically all of the funds of the Union are 

 devoted to its publications, and mainly to 'The Auk,' its prosperity 

 as regards its size, the frequency and character of its illustrations, 

 and its influence in promoting the study of ornithology, is limited 

 only by the proceeds from memberships and subscriptions As it 

 aims to meet the interests and the necessities of both the scientific 

 and the non-scientific reader and contributor, the general articles, 

 comprising more than half of each number, are about equally divided 

 between popular and technical papers, while its department of Gen- 

 eral Notes (embracing some 15 pages in each number), is about 

 equally acceptable to both classes, as with more or less technical 

 matter for the benefit of the expert are blended notes on the habits 

 and distribution of the lesser known species of our fauna, often of a 

 highly popular character. The department of Recent Literature 

 gives more or less extended notices of the current literature of 

 ornithology, including general works, popular and technical, and of 

 all the principal writings relating to American birds, whether faunal, 

 economic, popular, or technical. 



The meetings of the Union occur in November of each year, and 

 heretofore have been held alternately in New York, Washington, and 

 Cambridge or Boston. The present year the meeting, which will be 

 the seventeenth congress of -the Union, will be held in Philadelphia, 

 Nov. 13-17, 1899. As usual, the public sessions, beginning on the 

 14th, will be open to the general public, to which all who are 

 interested in birds are cordiall}'' invited. 



