knew how to ask questions without antagonizing his interlocutor. He was also known for his dry wit and a habit of thinking aloud and abruptly changing subjects. In one instance he commented of another ornithologist, aged 85: "I think he is beginning to get old. I was very much tempted to give him a piece of my mind, but, under the circumstances, I think perhaps the best thing to do is to let matters slide." Batchelder's age at the time was ninety-five. Batchelder was a founding member of the American Ornithologists' Union (AUO). He was always very keen to dispel the originally widespread impression that the AOU had originated in the Nuttall Ornithological Club. In fact, the Nuttall members were not very happy with how the Club was "rather unwillingly compelled" to transfer control of its Bulletin, which was to become The Auk, to the AOU. Despite these tensions, Batchelder served as associate editor of the new publication from 1888 to 1893, and vice-president, then President (1900–1905) of the AOU. As editor, he was envied for his ability to obtain any amount of money necessary to maintain the publication. Within the Nuttall Club, however, he kept in the background. After the death of Brewster, who had been President almost continuously since the Club's inception, the meetings naturally transferred to Batchelder's house, but he refused to be elected even as honorary President. He also originated and hosted the annual New Year party, at least until 1949, when his increasing deafness and loss of eyesight made these too difficult. At the time, he was also handicapped following a hip fracture in 1943 that forced him to use crutches. Although ornithology was his main interest, he also worked in botany and zoology, taking notes on, amongst other things, the activities of the hedgehogs living under his barn. He was a founding member of the New England Zoological Club in 1899, of which he published the proceedings, which Thomas Barbour characterized as "a modest but enduring monument". Although he had taken classes in the subject, he became a member of the New England Botanical Club (and thus began regular contact with established botanists) only in 1905. He would contribute much to the collection of herbarium specimens (over 5,000) from southern New Hampshire, but generally thought little of his achievements in the subject. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and