26 ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



A paper entitled "Great Gull Island during 1897," was read by Mr. 

 Reed, in which he described the destruction of a colony of Terns {Sterna 

 hirundo) which formerly bred on the island. The island has been 

 fortified by the United States government and the breeding ground 

 practically destroyed. 



Mr. Fowler reported a Red-throated Loon ( Urinaior hnnme) shot 

 from a flock of fifteen at League Island, Philadelphia, and Mr. Baily 

 recorded a Mockingbird {Mimus polyglottos) seen at Cape May, N. J., 

 last August. 



November 4, iSgy. — Twenty-three members present. 



Messrs. Morris and Hughes discussed a trip taken to several points 

 on the Virginia coast of Chesapeake Bay, June 12 and 19, 1897, and 

 described the nesting of the several species of birds observed. Common 

 Tern {Sterna hirundo), Skimmers {Rynchops nigra), and Black-headed 

 Gulls {Larus atricilla) and a few Forster's Terns {S.forsteri) were the 

 only kinds left breeding on the islands along the bay so far as they could 

 ascertain. 



November 18, i8gy. — Sixteen members present. 



A general discussion was held on the proceedings of the Fifteenth 

 Congress of the American Ornithologists' Union by the members who 

 had been in attendance. 



December 2, iSgy. — Twelve members present. 



Mr. Arthur Cope Emlen was elected an Associate Member. 



Mr. Stone read some notes on Mexican birds made during his trip 

 of 1890. 



A specimen of Gannet {Siiia bassana) in the mottled young plumage 

 was exhibited, shot at Holly Beach, N. J., Nov. 22, 1897. 



December 16, i8gy. — Eighteen members present. 



Mr. S. N. Rhoads read a paper entitled " Fossil Birds and their Living 

 Allies," in which he carefully reviewed the subject as treated by the 

 leading writers on the subject and exhibited many specimens from the 

 Academy's collection. 



Errata in Abstract Proceedings D. V. O. C, i8gi-2. 

 Page 2. Empidonax pusillus traillii proved to be E. minimus. 

 Page 4. Corvus corax sinuatus. Specimen was taken in Fulton Co., 

 Pa. 



Page 5. Chen hyperborea nivalis should read C. hyperborea. 



