220 Cinci}inati Society of Nahual History, 



selves destroyed, but the eggs and nests also, by thousands, and 

 in the most wanton and reckless manner. The testimony of Audu- 

 bon as to the manner in which the eggers of Labrador had desolat- 

 ed the islands off that coast was also given and the opinion ([uoted 

 that unless sonic stop was put to the destruction the total extinction 

 of the birds would result. 



The writer then went on to show how baneful had been man's 

 action in decreasing the number of fur seals and sea lions in the 

 Alaskan Islands and the South Slietlands. In these places where 

 the animals had once existed in immense numbers, such has been 

 the destruction, that in the latter islands they are nearly extinct and 

 in the former are only preserved from the same fate by laws passed 

 for their protection. This portion of the paper was acknowledged 

 to be somewhat foreign to the subject in hand, but was useful in 

 showing that the power of man was great when exerted in the 

 direction of the destruction of life. Reference was further made, 

 on the authority of Prof. James Orton, to the immense destruction 

 of turtles, by reason of their being sought by man, in the valley of 

 the Amazon. 



EIGHTH PAPER. 



Dr. F. W. Langdon's Remarks. 



{At the Meeting, June i6, 1886.) 



In the discussion which followed the reading of the second 

 series of reports of the committee. Dr. Langdon said : 



Mr. President — It is evident from what we have just heard that 

 my statement at our last meeting, that "this is a large subject," 

 was a very true one. 



It is not my intention to weary you at this late hour with 

 any extended remarks. 



Before opening the discussion, however, I hope it will not be 

 considered out of order for me to return thanks to the Society of 

 Natural History for the compliment implied by the calling of a 

 special meeting to consider my remarks. I did not presume then 

 to be of so much importance. I should also not omit to thank the 

 essayists of the evening for the very valuable array of original 

 ornithological facts and thoughts presented, which are cpiite an 

 improvement upon their former report. 



The statement of one member of your committee that my 



