68 



THE OSPREY. 



LATE DEPARTURE. 



October 29th, I observed a Crested Fly- 

 catcher {M\'i archils crinitiis) feeding- on 

 the berries of a vine near my window. 

 A few days previous the g-round was 

 white with snow, and the thermometer 

 reg'istered several degrees below the 

 freezing point. W. S. Johnson. 



Boonville, N. Y. 



A QUEER NESTING SITE. 



While collecting with a friend in June, 

 1895, we came across an orchard situated 

 near a dumping ground for old tin cans, 

 ashes, etc. Boys had evidently been 

 there and thrown the old tin cans around, 

 and one of the cans had lodged in the 

 lower branches of an apple tree, five feet 

 from the ground. In this queer situation 

 a Chipping Sparrow had built its nest, 

 and raised a family of four, which were 

 about ready to fly when discovered by us. 

 F. E. Newbury. 



Providence, R. I. 



American Ornithologist's Union, 



The fourteenth annual Congress of the 

 American Ornithologists, held in Cambridge, 

 Mass., last November, proved one of the most 

 successful since its foundation Many active 

 and associate members were present and the 

 attendance of the public was unusually large. 



The officers of the previous year were re- 

 elected. One active and seventy-eight associ- 

 ate members were elected. 



Miss Maria R. Audubon, grand-daughter of 

 the celebrated naturalist, was present each day, 

 and in her behalf Dr. Elliott Coues exhibited 

 several recently discovered manuscript journals 

 of John James Audubon. The finding of these 

 priceless treasurers completes the broken link 

 in the chain of Audubon's note books, and 

 when published must surely clear up some long 

 disputed points about his writings. 



The report of the Committee on the Protec- 

 tion of North American Birds, read b^- the 

 chairman, Mr. Dutcher, was a most valuable 

 document, g^iving in detail the good work 

 accomplished b^' the committee during the 

 year 1896. It will be published in The Auk, the 

 official organ of the Union, and reprinted as a 

 separate pamphlet. 



Dr. Coues had a veritable surprise for those 

 present when he showed an advance copy of the 

 volume containing the papers presented to the 

 World's Congress on Ornithologj' held at Chi- 

 cago in 1893. The book has since been sent out 

 to subscribers. He stated that he was engaged 

 in the preparation of a new edition of his "Key 

 to North American Birds" and mentioned 

 other works on ornithologj' that would soon be 

 given to the public. 



The afternoon of the first day was devoted 

 entirely to the papers hy Messrs. Frank M. 

 Chapman and William Brewster, entitled "An 

 Ornithological Tour in Yucatan," and "Some 

 New England Birds' Nests." Both were illus- 

 trated with lantern slides. 



On the second day the reading of papers 

 began with one by Dr. Jonathan Dwight, Jr., 

 on "The Philadelphia Vireo." Dr. Dwight has 

 had exceptional opportunities for studying this 

 little-known bird, and gave many new facts 

 regarding its life history'. This paper was fol- 

 lowed by one by the same author on "The 

 Moult of the Song Sparrow, and of the Red- 

 eyed Vireo." Judge John N. Clark read as the 

 the third title, "Notes on the Black Rail in 

 Southern Connecticut." and exhibited the set of 

 four eggs found b^- him In the afternoon Mr. 

 Abbott H. Thayer gave an open-air talk dem- 

 onstrating his theory of the principles of pro- 

 tective coloration. 



During the morning of the third day Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam spoke informally about some of 

 the birds of Oregon, and Mr. Brewster exhib- 

 ited a series of Redpolls and explained two 

 curious birds' nests. The opening paper of the 

 afternoon was by Mr. Geo. H. Mackay on "The 

 Terns of Penikese Island, Massachusetts. " 

 Owing to lack of time the following papers 

 were read by title : 



"The Fringillidae of Dodge County, Wiscon- 

 sin " by Will Edwin Sn3'der. 



"Some Notes on the Nesting Habits of the 

 White-tailed Kite," \ty Chester Barlow. 



"On the Terns of Muskeget Island, Massa- 

 chusetts," by Geo. H. Mackay. 



The members appreciated the kindness of 

 Messrs. Chester Barlow and C. W. Crandall in 

 sending six sets of eggs of the White-tailed 

 Kite for exhibition. They were fine specimens, 

 and we understand were all taken by Mr. 

 Barlow. 



The next meeting of the Union will be held 

 in New York City, beginning Nov. 8, 1897. 



Michigan Ornithological Club. 



The annual meeting of the Club was held at 

 the home of the Librarian, Mr. E- J. Cole, on 

 Dec. 11, 1896 The afternoon was devoted to 

 the transaction of business and the evening to 

 the presentation of papers. 



The reports of the retiring officers and com- 

 mittees showed the affairs of the club to be in a 

 flourishing condition The Treasurer reported 

 a balance on hand. The following officers 

 were elected : 



President— A. B. Durfee, Grand Rapids, 

 re-elected. 



Vice President — W. A. Davidson, Detroit. 



Secretary — Eeon J. Cole, Grand Rapids. 



Treasurer — Mrs. F. A. Kelsey, Goose Isle. 



Librarian — B. R. Laraway, Grand Rapids. 



Prograin, collection, and migration commit- 

 tees were elected. New members elected are 

 one active, four associate and four honorary. 



On account of the scattered membership it 

 was decided to publish a quarterly bulletin in 

 which full accounts of the workings of the club 

 shall be published. Its sole object shall be the 

 promotion of Michigan Ornithology. 



