176 proceedings: bioIvOGicaIv society 



Lyman Carrier presented the second formal communication: Dr. 

 John Mitchell, an early naturalist and historian. He gave a synopsis 

 of his rather extensive investigations into the Hfe of John Mitchell,, an 

 early physician in the English Colonies of America who was also 

 noted for his work as a naturalist, historian, and cartographer. Much 

 of his work is published anonymously and much of it is rare and rather 

 inaccessible. Discussion by A. vS. Hitchcock, 



J. W. GiDLEY gav^e the third paper of the program: Significance of 

 the divergence of the first digit in the primitive mammalian foot. 



A. S. Hitchcock presented the last paper of the program: A pecidiar 

 species of Lasiacis. Discussion by T. vS. Palmer. This paper appears 

 in full in this Journal (9: 35-3S. January 19, 19 19). 



The 59otli regular meeting of the vSociety was held in the Auditorium 

 of the New National Museum, vSaturday, January 25, 1919; called to 

 order at 8.00 p.m. by President vSmith; 29 persons present. 



On recommendation of the Council the following named persons 

 were elected to membership: Erich W. vSchwartze, Bureau of 

 Chemistry; Myron H. vSwenk, University of Nebraska; R. C. Mc- 

 Gregor, Bureau of vScience, Manila. 



Informal communications were presented as follows: General T. 

 E. Wilcox: Remarks on the berries of Mitchella. President Smith: 

 Exhibition of and remarks on a piece of baleen of the right whale of the 

 Pacific Coast. He stated that this species is nearing extinction as 

 among 999 whales taken last year on the Pacific Coast but one was a 

 right whale. He also referred to whale meat as human food. W. L. 

 McAtee: Reference to an old publication, 178;^ to 1784, in which it 

 appears that peanuts and cotton were commonly raised about Wash- 

 ington at that time. 



The first paper of the regular program was by G. Dallas Hanna : 

 Additions to the avifauna of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, including species 

 new to North America. In the collection of birds made on the Pribilof 

 Islands, Alaska, during the period June, 191 6, to vSeptember, 191 8, 

 there were 21 species which had not been secured there or reported 

 therefrom before. Four of these had not previously been collected 

 within the limits of North America. 



Species new to North America and the Pribilof Islands: Eunetta 

 falcata, Falcated Teal; Ilctcroscclus brevipes, Polynesian Tattler; 

 Thalassoaetus pelagicus, Kamchatkan Sea Eagle; Anlhus spinolctta 

 japonicus, Japanese Pippit. 



Species new to the Pribilof Islands only: Brachyramphus marmoratus, 

 Marbled Marrelet; Pufiinus tenuirosiris, vSlender-billed vShearwater; 

 Nettion crecca, European Teal; Aristonetta valisineria, Canvas-back; 

 Clangula clangtda americana, American Golden-eye; Arctonetta fischeri, 

 Spectacled Eider; Oidemia dcglandi dixoni, Pacific White-winged 

 Scoter; L'hen hyperborea hyperborea, Snow Goose; Brania canadensis 

 hutchinsii, Hutchin's Goose; Numenius tahitiensis, Bristle-thighed 

 Curlew; Haematopus bachmani, Black Oyster-catcher; Archibuteo 



