THE JOURNAL 



of the Museum of Comparative Oology 



Copyright, 1920, by William Leon Dawson 

 Intended eventually to be issued as a Quarterly, but new put out as an ANNUAL 



VOL. I 



DOUBLE NUMBER 



NOS. 3 and 4 



[Issued March 31, 1920] 



THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF OOLOGISTS 



Members of the Museum of Comparative Oology. 



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• '• • 



IHE logic of events has imposed upon 

 the management of the Museum of 

 Comparative Oology the pleasant 

 task of sounding the call for muster 

 and integral organization of 

 the oologists of the world. 

 It is true that our early 

 ambitions had not vaulted to 

 such a height. We were not fully 

 aware of the strength of the 

 international cordiality which 

 now exists in the ranks of sci- 

 ence, and especially among 

 English-speaking people. We 

 were not clear in our own 

 minds, either, as to how we 

 could really serve the interests 

 of such a scattered company, 

 and we were inclined at first to 

 resent the implication that our 

 plans either deserved or re- 

 quired the use of outside money 

 and outside responsibility in 

 development. But the whole 

 discussion has been lifted out of 

 the realms of hypothesis by the 

 cordial insistence of men whose 

 judgment we cannot but trust. 

 Through a host of flattering- 

 pledges already received, the 

 new order, "The Members of 

 the Museum of Comparative 

 Oology," is in virtual existence now; and it remains to publish our plans herewith 

 and to give others the opportunity of becoming charter members. 



It was perhaps the communication from Henry L. White, Esq., of Belltrees, 

 Scone, and Melbourne, Australia, whose modest inquiry regarding membership, accom- 

 panied by a "cheque" for six dollars, precipitated our decision to accept the role 

 thrust upon us. Words of inquiry and encouragement from England and Scotland and 

 India had already arrived. A score of letters from our own country were asking, 

 "How much?" but it took this generous patron of the Royal Australian Ornithologists 

 Union to "shoot first and get the details afterward." Very well, gentlemen, we are off. 

 It should be understood at the outset that the Members of the M. C. O. expect 

 to become a responsible body. Although the administration of the institution will 

 still be in the hands of fifteen trustees, who ?re the incorporate body, and who 

 must hold the charter, the members will be privileged to nominate one such trustee 

 annually. And since the trustees are divided into five annual classes of three each, 

 this will give the members a constant representation of five upon the board. Pending 



A California Gull, Larus californicus 



