Bird Clubs in America 13
Club’s] meetings were at first informal, but as years passed the Club became a welleorganized publishing society, wielding, through its quarterly ‘ Bulletin,‘ 3 more than national influence. While its active membership numbered somewhat less than a score, its corresponding membership included all American ornithologists of note. Through their hearty cooperation the Club was able to concentrate the ornithological interests of the whole country, its journal proving not only a strong bond of union, but an indispensable medium of communication.
" In 1883 the time seemed ripe for a more direct and intimate union of American ornithologists, and early in the year the matter began to receive serious thought on the part of several members of the Club, resulting in the call issued in July of that year for a congress of orni- thologists to meet in New York the following autumn. rThe project met with favor, a large proportion of those invited responding to the call, which resulted in "I‘he American Ornithologists' Union, founded in New York, September 26, 1883.’ In effect the Nuttall Ornithological Club was thus transformed into a national, or rather an international organization, to which it magnanimously transferred its quarterly journal, and with it much of its prestige and influence."
Before the launching of the ‘Bulletin’ many of the younger orni- thologists in other parts of the country had been elected as correspond- ing members of the Club, but professional ornithologists had been excluded out of modesty. Now, however, with a dignified journal on its hands to vouch for its scientific standing and to bring new respon- sibilities, the Club took courage to invite the leading ornithologists to join as either resident or corresponding members, and, somewhat to the surprise of these young men, their elders seemed very glad to identify themselves with them. Dr. J. A. Allen, who was at that time in charge of the birds at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, at Cambridge, became a resident member in April, 1876, and soon after the issue of the first number of the ‘Bulletin’ was made its editor-in- chief.
The success of the Nuttall Club as a scientific body now seemed assured, and, though it has been less prominently before the ornithological world since the A. O. U. took the ‘Bulletin’ off its hands, it still publishes, in its occasional ‘lVIemoirs,’ papers of importance which are too long for the pages of ‘The Auk.‘
Of late years, however—and perhaps at all times—the chief usefulness of the Club has been for its members. Its meetings—at first held weekly, now coming semi-monthly—have always had a delightfully informal char- acter, and sociability and good fellowship have helped along the interchange of ornithological news and ideas. The early meetings were occupied largely with the reading of published papers, and for some time the
