The American Ornithologists' Union 147 who have become contributors to 'The Auk,' and the constantly increas- ing number who have aUied themselves to the Union by membership therein. The constitution of the Union provides for four classes of members; namely, ( i) Active Members, limited to fifty, and to include only those who have distinguished themselves as original investigators in ornithology, and who reside in the United States or Canada ; (2) Honorary Members, limited to twenty-five, and consisting of the most eminent of foreign ornithologists ; (3) Corresponding Members, limited to one hundred, and consisting mainly also of eminent foreign orni- thologists ; (4) Associate Members, unrestricted as to number, but limited to residence in the United States or Canada. This class includes not only a large number of experienced field workers, but many college professors, educators, and persons eminent in other scientific fields, but who are not expert ornithologists. It is open to all reputable persons whose interest in ornithology is sufficient to prompt them to seek such a congenial alliance. At the first congress forty-seven ornithologists were elected to active membership — -presumably all of the satisfactory candidates available. Of these forty-seven original members, twenty-four were either present or took a prominent part in the organization of the Union, and are thus termed 'Founders.' (The accompanying photo- graph is a picture of these founders, made up from separate photo- graphs, it being impracticable for the members to assemble to be photographed as a group. ) This has remained about the average num- ber, but, as years have passed, the choice for the few coveted places has become harder and harder each year to fill, through the rapid increase of not only available but desirable candidates; so that attainments that would in the earlier days of the Union have proved ample credentials for admission have now less weight, in the effort to select the best from a large otherwise desirable candidacy. The honor of the position has thus become enhanced through competition of merit. The two foreign classes have remained practically unchanged as regards numbers. But the class of Associate Members has increased from about one hundred in 1886 to nearly six hundred in i8g8. The revenue of the Union is derived entirely from the annual dues from members ($5 for active members and $3 for associate members) and subscriptions to 'The Auk.' As the ordinary running expenses of the Union are but a trifle, all of the proceeds from these sources of revenue are devoted to the publications of the Union. These include, besides 'The Auk,' now in its sixteenth volume, the original Code and Check-List of North American Birds (1886), an Abridged Check-List (i88g), a separate reprint of the Code alone (1892), the second edition of the Check-List (1895), and nine Supple-
