20 ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Mr. S. N. Rhoads reported several Black-backed Gulls {Larus 

 marinus) seen by gunners at Tuckertown, N. J., Feb. ist. 



February 20, j8g6. — Fourteen members present. 



Mr. Morris read a paper entitled " European Bird Notes," in which 

 he spoke of the species noted by him during a recent trip through 

 Great Britain and the Continent ; and contrasted the bird-life with that 

 of America. 



Mr. S. N. Rhoads reported a Northern Shrike {Laiiii/s borea/is) at 

 Haddon Heights, N. J., a few days since. 



March 5, i8q6. — Fifteen members present. 



Mr. Stone spoke on the "Structure of Feathers," illustrating his re- 

 marks by some selected specimens and drawings. He also called atten- 

 tion to the nomenclature of the Horned Owls. The type of Bubo 

 subarcticus in the Academy collection proves to be a typical arcticus. 

 Mr. Stone proposed the v\d.me. occidenhilis for the old "subarcticus,'" and 

 proposed to separate the southern Californian race as pacificus Cassin. 

 (See Auk, 1896, p. 153 ; also Amer. Nat., 1897, p. 236.) 



A number of birds collected by Dr. A. Donaldson Smith on his recent 

 expedition through Somali Land, N. E. Africa, were exhibited, from 

 the Academy's collection. 



March ig, i8g6. — Ten members present. 



A general discussion was held on "Bird Protection." 



April 2, i8g6. — Twelve members present. 



Mr. Guy Myers was elected an Associate Member. 



Mr. S. N. Rhoads read a paper on the " Real and Apparent Decrease 

 in Our Native Birds," which was followed by a general discussion on 

 the subject. 



April j6, i8g6. — Fifteen members present. 



Mr. Stone read a letter from Mr. A. W. Anthony describing the de- 

 struction of Egrets for the millinery trade along the Gulf of California. 



Mr. De Haven spoke of shore birds at Atlantic City, comparing the 

 spring migrations for several years past. 



Mr. Fowler followed with some observations on water birds of the 

 Delaware River near Bristol, Pa. 



May 7, i8g6. — Seventeen members present. 



Mr. Whitaker read a paper on "A Recent Trip to Florida," illustrat- 

 ing his remarks by a series of photographs, 



Mr. Stone described a trip to a heronry of the Great Blue Heron 

 {Ardea herodias), near Salem, N. J., on May 2, in company with Dr. 

 Hughes, Messrs. Justice and Young. There were upwards of thirty 

 pairs of birds breeding in the tops of some tall pin oaks, Mr. Young 



