EDITORIAL 



Our first publication was so well received and we are in receipt 

 of so many encouraging words in reference to it, that it has been 

 decided to publish, at such intervals as may seem expedient, a series 

 of bulletins. These will be composed mainly of papers read before 

 the Club, and will be confined mostly, if not entirely, to the orni- 

 thology and cology of North America, north of the Mexican boun- 

 dary-line. 



Several papers appear in the pi-esent number which were writ- 

 ten prior to the publication of the new Code and Check-list of The 

 American Ornithologists' Union, and, as the classification and 

 nomenclature therein given have been adopted by the Club and 

 ornithologists generally, we have taken the liberty of revising such 

 papers so that they may conform to this list. 



In this connection a short history of the Club may be interesting. 



Sometime during July, 1883, a notice was sent to several per- 

 sons in the city that an attempt would be made to organize an Orni- 

 thological Club. On August 23d the following named gentlemen 

 responded in person : 



Dr. J. W. Vei.ie, G. Frean Morcom, F. L. Rice, 



C. C. Whitacre, Jos. L. Hancock, A.J. White, 



Geo. L. Toppan, H. K. Coale, 



All agreed that it would be a good thing to have a club in the 

 city, and a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by- 

 laws. These were adopted at the next meeting, (Sept. 6th), when 

 the Club was duly organized with ten active members. 



It was moved and unanimously carried to name the Club The 

 Ridgway Ornithological Club of Chicago, in honor of the eminent 

 ornithologist, Mr. Robert Ridgway, of Washington, D. C. 



Officers for the first year were elected as follows : 



Dr. J. W. Velie, President; G. Frean Morcom, Vice-President 

 and Treasurer; H. K. Coale, Secretary; Jos. L. Hancock, Curator; 

 F. L. Rice, Librarian. 



At the meeting held March 6th, 1884, the question of incor- 

 porating the Club was discussed and a committee appointed to 



