DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 5 



the Club during 1890, with notes on their abundance and time of occur- 

 rence. The dates of arrival of a number of common migrants at all the 

 stations where observations were recorded during the spring, were also 

 given on the chart, as well as a map showing the location of the stations 

 along the Delaware Valley. [The Auk, 1891, p. 244.] 



A general discussion was held on the relationship of the species of 

 Ammodrami/s. Dr. Trotter called attention to the fact that the bills of 

 the Seaside and Sharp-tailed Finches (A. rnaritimus and A. caudacutus) 

 were much more attenuated than was the case in other species, and sug- 

 gested that it was the result of the action of environment, these birds 

 having been compelled to probe in the soft mud for their food. The 

 development of their powerful feet he attributed to their habit of cling- 

 ing to the upright reeds. [See Proceedings Acad. Nat. Sci. of Phila. 

 1891, p. 118.] 



The general abundance of Snowy Owls {Nyctea nycted) during the 

 present winter was remarked upon, some twenty specimens having been 

 reported from the vicinity of Philadelphia. 



A communication from Mr. H. G. White, on " A New Method of 

 Recording Bird Migration," was briefly discussed. 



February 2, i8gi. — Eight members present. 



Messrs. J. Farnum Brown, George Forsythe, William W. Smith and 

 Frank L. Burns were elected Associate Members. 



Mr. Wilbank displayed a specimen of the Lesser Snow Goose (Chen 

 hyperborea nivalis), which he Had shot at Tinicum, Delaware Co., Pa., 

 on Dec. 18, 1890. 



A recent article on the bills of Crossbills (Loxia), by Dr. Hans 

 Gadow, was discussed. The fact that the mandibles cross differently 

 in different individuals (the upper turning soir.etimes to the right and 

 sometimes to the left of the lower), led to some interesting questions, 

 whether mated birds always had the mandibles crossed in the same 

 direction, and if not, whether the opposite tendencies of the parents in 

 this respect would result in neutrahzing the tendency to crossed man- 

 dibles in the young. It was considered that the habit of forcing the 

 mandibles apart horizontally in opening cones as described by Gadow 

 would tend to throw them out of the same plane on one side or the 

 other, and when once the tips did not meet evenly, the curved ends 

 would of necessity develop so that hereditary tendency might not have 

 anything to do with it. 



A large series of specimens of the genus Tringa from the members' 

 collections was on exhibition. 



February 16, i8gi. — Eleven members present. 



