132 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



Finally — I would caution the society, as a scientific l)ody, 

 against hastily committing itself to a one-sided view of an im])ortant 

 question, on insufficient evidence and with but a handful of mem- 

 bers present; and it would urge those members present to think 

 twice before putting the society on record as a body swayed by 

 sympathy and prejudice rather than by facts, reason and judgment. 



Mr. R. H. Warder said that Dr. Langdon, in his papers, con- 

 fined his remarks to song birds, whereas the report of the Com- 

 mittee referred to all native birds. The original resolution should 

 have read " Our Native Birds," not " Sofig Birds." 



Dr. Langdon said he did not confine his remarks to song 

 birds. He thought man's protective as well as his destructive 

 powers should be recognized. 



Mr. Fisher remarked that Dr. Langdon's statement that the 

 whole movement is a shrewd advertising scheme of an enterprising 

 Eastern journal, is not just, any more than a charge that the New 

 York World's advocacy of the Fresh Air Fund is an advertisement 

 for that paper. The Audubon Society, a branch of the American 

 Ornithologists Union, is disinterested in its work. All means pos- 

 sible should be and are being used to bind up a public sentiment 

 against the destruction of birds. The object of the Committee has 

 been to encourage such a sentiment, and to enforce the laws protect- 

 ing birds. 



Mrs. Jos. F. James thought that Dr. Langdon's papers had 

 been an injury to the cause. Persons had refused to sign the 

 pledges, quoting Dr. Langdon as authority for the belief that birds 

 are in no danger of extermination. 



Dr. Langdon said in reply that his ])apers had stirred up an 

 interest in the subject, and if members were joining the Audubon 

 Society at the rate of 1000 per day, as he had heard, he thought no 

 harm had been done. . • 



Mr. Warder, on behalf of the Committee, desired to make the 

 report final. 



Mrs. James moved its adoption, seconded. 



Dr. Langdon objected. 



The motion was carried. 



Prof. Jos. F. James read a paper, by tide, on the Geology and 

 Topography of Cincinnati, being the conclusion of a paper read at 

 the ])revious meeting. 



The Society, by a special vote, requested the paper to be read 

 in full at the meeting in August. 



