A Sketch of the Wilson Club 
217 
line print are given to the subject of bird banding in the June 
11)22 number of the Wilson Bulletin. 
Wholesale bird and egg collecting has not been encouraged 
by the Wilson Club, and the Club has not interfered with those 
who have found it necessary to kill some birds for really scien- 
tific use. The Audubon Societies have always had a good sup- 
port from the Club and have found it willing to cooperate with 
it in all good methods of reducing unnecessary bird destruction. 
As long ago as 181)8, Dr. K. M. Strong in his President’s address 
before the Club said : “I wish to encourage to the fullest extent 
the active cooperation of the members in the various movements 
toward the protection of birds, which are now on foot. We can 
do much by our example and influence . . . .The whole chap- 
ter should constitute itself a committee on bird protection”. 
Later in 190% an editorial states: “We do not pose as a society 
of bird protectors, but we expect to exert all our influence toward 
a sane policy of protection everywhere and at all times.” 
We are not an organization of “bird lovers”, and do not pub- 
lish a magazine of popular ornithology, although most of the 
members are interested in the kind of ornithology that is most 
popular, that is outdoor bird study. The Wilson Ornithological 
Club is one of real students of birds and stands for scientific 
ornithology pure and simple. Again quoting from our editor: 
“While we stand for field study, because we believe that here we 
can do the most good to the cause, we still hold ourselves plastic 
enough to enter any field of study and investigation which may 
promise large results in the increase of knowledge.” 
In endeavoring to accomplish its ends, the Wilson Club has 
had a hard struggle. Several times through lack of funds its 
future has been exceedingly uncertain, and twice it was decided 
to suspend publication of the Bulletin, but it was proved worthy 
to live, each time, by forthcoming of aid largely unsolicited from 
those who seemed to feel the Bulletin essential to ornithology. 
The rugged road of progress has been followed partly through 
choice, for it has been the policy of the Wilson Ornithological 
Club to give members maximum returns in publication for the 
dues they pay, and practically all the money of the treasury 
P'oes to the Bulletin. A reserve fund has not been ventured. The 
o 
editor has not only given a good part of his energies to the Wil- 
son Bulletin for more than twenty-five years, but he has per- 
sonally aided in financing it at critical times. Allow me to 
assure this gathering that any irregularities in 
the historv of 
