87 



birds have generally shown themselves intensely gregarious, and it is 



quite unusual for them to over-flow in this manner. 



SWALI ows. 



The recent autumn-like weather with clear or cool nights and 



heavy dew has so shortened the supply of insect-life that most of the 



birds which take their food upon the wing are now showing evident 



signs of speedy departure. In various parts of the city large assemblies 



of Purple Martins have been observed wheeling for hours over some 



favourite district. Occasionally they may rest for a while perched in 



long ranks upon the Telephone wires, but each member when address- 

 ing the house rises to the wing and from the solemnity and yet e .rnest- 



ness of the whole proceeding it is clear that business of imprrtance is 



being discussed. 



When we recollect that 60 or 70 days hence must find them in Central 



or even South America, that this journey is to be made through all 



the tempestuous weather of autumn, and with a failing food-supply, and 



that more than one half of the company, the young ot the year, are 



entirely without experience of long flights, it will be seen how great 



responsibility rests upon the leader, in these great migrations. 



The last week of August generally sees the departure of these and 

 all the other speci s of swallows except the White-belly (Tachycineta 

 bicolor. ) The latter the hardiest of all the family arrives a week earlier, 

 stays at least as much later, and makes its winter home no further south 

 than Louisiana and Mississippi. 



:o: 



BOTANY. 



The following Rules for Botanical Nomenclature were drawn up 

 at the recent meeting of the A. A. A. S. at Rochester, and will, we feel 

 sure, be read with interest by our Botanists. 



THE NEW RULES FOR BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE. 



The Botanical Club of the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science at a meeting held Aug. 19th. 1892, adopted these 

 principles of Nomenclature : Resolved:' That the Paris code of 1867 

 be adopted except where it conflicts with the following : 



I. The Law of* Pkiority. — Priority of publication is to be reg- 

 arded as the fundamental principle of botanical nomenclature. y 



C 



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