. — 467 — 



berlain expresses his opinion that Mr. Allen is reckoned 

 the very ablest of American ornithologists. He will 

 probably, he thinks stand at the head of them, in the 

 future, " A most diligent and careful student," his posi- 

 tion in the American Museum in New York, gives him 

 unusual facilities. Dr. Merriam, he says, is rapidly 

 advancing, and his exceptional opportunities, with his 

 ability and energy, will doubtless soon place him by 

 the side of Allan. Eidgway and Coues must^ always be 

 counted among those who have advanced American 

 ornithology to its present high position. The works that 

 are being prepared by Brewster and Bendire backed 

 by their past records, will cause them to be ranked by 

 the side of Eidgway and Coues, if not by the side of 

 •Merriam. 



" Nothing of late years ", writes Mr. Mcllwrath, " has 

 happened so well calculated to advance the interest of 

 this subject as the result of a meeting which was held 

 in the Museum of Natural History, in the Central park, 

 New York, in September, 1883. The meeting was com- 

 posed of a few of the leading amateur and professional 

 ornithologists or North America. There were present 

 one from Ontario, one from New Brunswick, and about 

 twenty from different states in the Union. The meeting 

 was a most enjoyable one, as it brought together many 

 who were known to each other by correspondence, and 

 yet had never personnally met. It remained in session 

 for three days, with Dr. Coues as chairman and Mr. E. 

 P. Bicknell as secretary. The proceedings resulted in 

 the formation of an 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGIST'S UNION, 



now familiary known as the A. 0. U., with a constitu- 

 tion and by-laws similar to those of the British associa- 

 tion of similar nature. J. A. Allen of Cambridge Mass., 

 was elected president and Dr. C. Merriam, of Locust 

 Grove, N. Y., secretary. Committees were formed to 



