12 ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



February i, i8g4. — Seventeen members present. 



Mr. J. Francis Stokes was elected an Associate Member. 



Dr. Hughes read a paper on " Breeding Habits of the Snow Bunting," 

 {Plectrophenax nivalis) based on his observations in Greenland while 

 accompanying the West Greenland Expedition of 1891 which estab- 

 lished Lt. Peary at Whale Sound preparatory to his journey farther 

 north. Dr. Hughes stated that the birds occupied the same nesting site 

 year after year. He took one set of six eggs, though five was the usual 

 set. The bird was most abundant about the native settlements, where 

 it filled the air with its pleasant song. 



February ij, i8g4. — Fifteen members present. 



Mr. Serrill read a paper entitled " Some Bird Experiences in the 

 South." He dealt principally with a remarkable roost of Purple Martins 

 {Frogne subis), observed near Atlanta, Ga., June 15, 1892. The flocks 

 congregated in an immense flight and performed interesting evolutions 

 before settling into some willow trees for the night. 



Mr. Stone exhibited a specimen of the Ringed Kingfisher ( Ceryle 

 torquata) taken by Mr. Geo. B. Benners at Laredo, Texas, the first 

 record of the species for the United States (see Auk, 1894, p. 177). 



Mr. Voelker reported a Golden Eagle {Aquila chrysaetos) shot at 

 New Egypt, N. J. 



March i, i8g4. — Twenty-four members present. 



Mr. Baily described a trip to Holly Beach, N. J. He noted only 

 twenty-one species, most interesting of which was a Brown Thrasher, 

 {^Harporhyuchus ru/us) Feb. 22. 



Mr. Justice recorded a Holboell's Grebe ( Colymbus holbocUii) shot on 

 the Delaware River by John Reese, Feb. 21. 



A general discussion followed on " The Best Methods of Preparing 

 Skins." 



March 75, J8g4. — Seventeen members present. 



Mr. S. N. Rhoads made a communication on a recent trip to Barrel 

 Island, near Tuckerton, N. J. He located a roosting-ground of the 

 Short-eared Owls {Asio accipifrifius) where there were numerous ejected 

 pellets, each containing a single unbroken meadow-mouse skull, together 

 with odd bones and hair. A number of mice-skins scattered about led 

 him to think that the Owls sometimes skinned their prey before devour- 

 ing it. 



Mr. Reed stated that this was not the case with such owls as he had 

 studied in captivity. They always devoured their prey head foremost 

 without skinning it. 



A newspaper clipping presented by Dr. Rotzell reported a Golden 



