proper, which is lined with fine grasses and a 
very few hairs. One straw in the nest is over 
twenty inches long, and many are over a foot 
long, all bent inacircle. Another nest is com- 
posed of wild oat straws, large pieces of bark,and 
coarse grass, with the same lining as No.1. The 
eggs of each set are always very similar to one 
another. On one occasion a male was observed 
about forty feet up in an oak, where it poured 
forth a pleasing song, which was the only time 
the bird was heard singing. 
March [eeting. 
The Southern Division met at the residence of 
F. S. Daggett, in Pasadena, February 24. The 
receipt of six publications from the Smith- 
sonian Institution and one from the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture was reported, the same 
having been placed in the Southern Division 
Library. Mr. W. S. Cobleigh also presented 
Fisher’s Hawks and Owls of the United States 
to the library. Two lines of work were decided 
upon, namely, collecting notes on the migra- 
tions, which is in charge of a committee com- 
posed of Messrs. Daggett, Grinnell, and Wicks, 
and studying the early life histories of common 
species, the report to be compiled by Messrs. 
Anthony, Arnold, and Jewett. Members are 
requested to forward observations to the com- 
mittees. It was also decided to record all in- 
teresting Ornithological notes which may be 
sent in. Mr. Arnold exhibited representatives 
of species taken by him in Arizona on a recent 
trip, and comparisons were made with allied 
races of Southern California. ‘The Southern 
Division meets March 30 at the residence of C. 
H. Wood in Pasadena. 
The Northern Division met at the residence 
of H. C. Ward, in Alameda, March 7. ‘The 
evening was given to discussing Club work, Mr. 
Bryant advancing a number of ideas which will 
probably be followed out. The Northern Divi- 
sion meets April 4 at the residence of W. H. 
Osgood, in San José 
>+ > 
Mr. FRANK M. CHAPMAN, sailed from New York 
February 21, for a trip to Yucatan. 
The Ornithologist, the admirable British monthly, 
will be referred to more at length next month. 
OLIve THORNE Mitter’s recent lectures at the Hotel 
Marlborough, New York, have been much enjoyed. 
‘“Sracks” of admirable articles and illustrations 
have lately come to us, and we must ask the patience 
of all contributors. Among notable articles to appear 
is one by Dr. Shufeldt, on the Smithsonian, with a 
fine view of its Ornithological Hall. 
THE NIDOLOGIST 
[Publications for review should be sent to Dr. R. W. Suuretpt, 
Associate in Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.] 
PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. 
Gurney, J. H. Ornithological Notes from Norfolk. 
Reprinted from 7/te Zoologist for March, 1895. Pp. 
1-8. [From the author.] 
Gurney, Jonn Henry. F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.  Supposea 
Occurrences of the Spotted Sandpiper in Yorkshire. 
Pp. 311, 312. [From the author. | 
Gurney, J. H. Ox the Recent Abundance of the Little 
Auk (Mergulus alle, Linn.) in Norfolk. Weprinted 
from the Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich 
Naturalists’ Society. Vol. VI, Art. viii, pp. 67-70. 
[From the author. ] 
Gurney, J. H. Catalogue of the Birds of Prey (Accip- 
itres and Striges), with the Number of Specimens in 
Norwich Museum. Published by R. H. Porter. 
London, 1894. [Frontispiece: Portrait of late J. 
H. Gurney.] Pp. 1-56. [From the author.] 
SouTHWELL, THomas, F.Z.S.  Afemotx of the Late 
Yohn Henry Gurney. |Reprinted, with some Revi- 
sions, from the Transactions of the Norfolk and 
Norwich Naturalists’ Society, Vol. V, p. 156.] _Tay- 
lor & Francis. London, 1896. Pp. 1-12. [From 
J. H. Gurney, /ils.] 
Itis my intention to devote the Review-space of the 
present number to a few brief remarks upon the life 
and works of the late John Henry Gurney, the well- 
beloved British Ornithologist of Norwich, England. 
Although it is now quite six years ago since Mr. Gur- ~ 
ney’s death, the time is hardly more than ripe to 
glance at his careerand form some estimate of his in- 
fluence ; in fact, itis buta few weeks ago since his good 
friend, Mr. Southwell, put forth a memoir devoted en- 
tirely to this subject, and a most charming account it 
is. For many years past Mr. Gurney frequently fa- 
vored me with copies of his publications, and at one 
time no little correspondence passed between us. 
There is in my private library acopy of his Diurnal 
Birds of Prey, presented me by him over ten years 
ago, and several of his excellent papers that appeared 
in Zhe Jbis are also there. It is to Mr. Southwell’s 
Memoir, however, that many Ornithologists here in 
America, myself among the number, are indebted for 
a more intimate knowledge of his life and career, and 
to his esteemed son for a photographic portrait of his 
father (see the works in list of ‘‘ publications re- 
ceived” above); which last I have succeeded in 
making a copy of with my camera, and present it 
herewith. 
Mr. John Henry Gurney was born at Earlham Hall, 
near Norwich, England, on the 4th of July, 1819, and, 
after a long and active career in Ornithology, he died 
at the old family mansion, Northrepps Hall, in his 
seventy-first year, on the 20th of April, 1890. In ad- 
dition to being a member of a number of learned so- 
cieties we had the honor in this country of having him 
as an original Honorary member of the American Or- 
nithologists’ Union. By his earnest labors, his nu- 
merous addresses upon Ornithological subjects, his 
writings, and other works he greatly furthered the 
cause of Ornithology in general, while, owing to the 
especial attention he bestowed upon Raptorial Birds, 
