NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 99 



and frequently makes holes in it and thus shelters itself during the nigh't. 

 In this position it is occasionally found frozen in by a superficial crust of ice 

 which formed during the night, caused by the fall of rain, and owing to a 

 sudden change of temperature, which is not an unusual circumstance even in 

 these northern localities." 



" Owing to their absence in a great measure from the inhabited northern 

 localities, these birds do not possess that degree of fear which is observed 

 in other members of the Grouse family, in consequence of which they are 

 easily shot or caught in snares. They are said to pair at the same time as 

 the red Grouse. The female lays 10 to 12 eggs, which are white and marked 

 with brown spots, and which are deposited on the ground, no nest being pro- 

 vided. Having examined carefully the digestive organs of this bird, I found 

 the principal contents to be small twigs and buds of the Birch tree, mixed 

 with small particles of sand. These twigs were nicely divided into pieces, 

 varying from one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch in length, and in examin- 

 ing the beak it will be observed that it possesses considerable strength, and 

 from its peculiar formation is beautifully adapted to the division of these 

 small shoots or twigs, from which this bird appears to derive the greater part 

 of its nourishment. I have much pleasure in sending to you specimens of 

 both sexes for the Academy of Natural Sciences." 



April 7 th. 



The President, Mr. Lea, in the Chair. 



Twenty members present. 



The following were offered for publication : 



Descriptions of new Squamata. By E. D. Cope. 



Descriptions of new species of Vireonidae, &c. By Geo. N. Lawrence. 



Descriptions of new species of Pedipalpi. By Dr. H. C Wood, Jr. 



April lAth. 

 The President, Mr. Lea, in the Chair. 

 Twenty-seven members present. 



April 21st. 

 The President, Mr. Lea, in the Chair. 



Twenty-two members present. 



April 28th. 



The President, Mr. Lea, in the Chair. 



Nineteen members present. 



On the report of the respective Committees, the following were 

 ordered to be published in the Proceedings: 



1863.] 



