30 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



[NOV. 23, 



November 23, 1891. 

 Stated Meeting. 

 Vice-President Allen in the chair. About forty persons present. 

 The minutes of the previous meeting (November 16th) were 

 read and approved. 



Professor Trowbridge presented two sketches relating to animal 

 mechanics, and ilkistrating a discovery by his son C. C. Trowbridge, 

 connected with the mechanism by which certain birds secure their 

 food bv boring in soft ground. 



The" slietches represent the head and bill of the Hudsonian 

 Godwit. Sketch No. 1 — the mandibles closed as in the act of bor- 

 ing- ; and No. 2, the bill as in the act of seizing its food under 

 ground. 



Professor Trowbridge stated that it is well known to naturalists 

 and sportsmen that in the boring birds, such as the godwits, snipe, 

 and woodcock, the upper mandible at its extremity is quite flexible, 

 and may easily be bent upwards as shown in sketch No. 2. But 

 that it has not been known, as far as he is aware, that this bending 

 is also under the control of the bird, and is accomplished by certain 

 muscles about the base of the mandibles; the muscles being con- 



