62 TBE IBIS 



As an instance of my forgetfulness I could have taken 

 oath that Gurney was present at the Conference at 

 Cambridge in October, 1858, when we foimded the 

 Ibis — or Avis as was to have been its name. Now I find 

 from looking' at old letters that Gumey was not at the 

 Conference of 1858, though he had intended to be there, 

 but had to go to a funeral somewhere else. He had 

 been, however, at a former Conference, that of 1857 I 

 suppose. Those present in 1858 so far as I can make out 

 were yourself, Drummond, P. L. Sclater, and E. C. 

 Taylor whom he brought down, the Godmans, Salvin, 

 Sealy, Simpson, and A. and E. N. — eleven in all. I 

 think any letters of that period are worth keeping, for 

 no doubt the institution of the Ibis had a very remark- 

 able effect on Ornithology all the world over. Alas that 

 the poor old bird should nowadays fly so feebly, and yet 

 I quite beUeve that its youth might be renewed, if proper 

 steps were taken.* 



Newton was very definite in declaring that not all 

 of these were the founders of the Union. 



Don't forget that E. N. [Edward Newton] was 

 emphatically one of the founders of the B.O.U., which 

 is a good deal more than being only one of the original 20. 

 I have always looked on the founders as : — 



Drummond. 



Tristram. 



Newtons (2). 



Salvin. 



Godmans (2). 

 The rest — Sclater, Gumey, and Wolley included — 

 were asked to join us. 



The Editor and the Secretary lost no time in making 

 arrangements for the new magazine, and Messrs. Taylor 

 and Francis agreed to print it. The head of the latter 

 firm, Dr. WilUam Francis, suggested the name lUs, 



* Letter to H. B. Tristram, January 2, 1888. 



