To another important committee appointed at the first congress of the Union was delegated the investigation of 'The Status of the European House Sparrow in America.' This committee issued circulars of inquiry, and made an elaborate preliminary report to the Union, which report was later, as in the case of the data accumulated by the Migration Committee, turned over to the Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the United States Department of Agriculture. Under Dr. Merriam, the investigation was prosecuted with renewed activity, and a final and authoritative report was issued by the Department of Agriculture in 1889. It is needless to say that this impartially conducted report was strongly condemnatory of this burdensome pest.
At the second congress of the Union it appointed a Committee on Protection of North American Birds, which has been continued to the present time, and has been the guiding influence in this great economic and humanitarian work. It has done much to arouse and enlighten public opinion respecting the enormity of the destruction of birds for millinery purposes, and to guide legislation for the better protection of our birds. It early published two important 'bulletins' on the destruction of birds, and was the origin of the original Audubon Society, whose president, Dr. George Bird Grinnell, was long one of the most active members of this committee; through this society, with chapters throughout the country, the cause of bird protection was for several years immensely aided. Of late it has become practically the advisory committee of the existing Audubon Societies which have recently multiplied so gratifyingly throughout the country, and it publishes in 'The Auk' an annual report summarizing the work of bird protection for the year.
In extending a helping hand to casual and isolated observers, the Union has had a marked influence upon the recent progress of ornithology in America, as shown by the increase in the number of observers who have become contributors to 'The Auk,' and the constantly increasing number who have allied themselves to the Union by membership therein. The constitution of the Union provides for four classes of members; namely, (1) 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 ornithologists; (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.