THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



REPORT OF THE THIRD ANNUAL 

 MEETING OF THE N. O, A. 



The Northwestern Ornithological Associ- 

 ation held its third annual meeting at Salem, 

 Oregon, on the 29th. and 30 th. of December, 

 1896. The meeting was a success in every 

 respect, members being present from all parts 

 of the state. Rounding off the work of the 

 closing year, reading and the discussion of the 

 numerous reports and papers, ami starting the 

 work for the coming year on a solid, system- 

 atic basis was a task of such proportions that 

 almost continuous session was required for its 

 completion. 



As it was desired to make the meetings 

 interesting to the general public, arrangements 

 were made by the program committee to have 

 the sessions held in the Auditorium of the Will- 

 amette University. This being a large, well 

 lighted hall, the collections were shown to 

 excellent advantage. 



George D. Peck, of Salem, had a large part 

 of his extensive collection of birds artistically 

 mounted which increased the interest taken in 

 the meetings by the public. The most satis- 

 factory feature of this beautiful exhibit, to 

 students at least, was the large series of the 

 eastern and western varities of the same species. 

 Those of us who are struggling with that in- 

 tricate taxonomical science of dividing and 

 subdividing, with which the A. O. U. has 

 burdened us, can easily appreciate the valu.- of 

 such a collection. Mr. Peck's extended knowl- 

 edge of the birds on both sides of the Rockies 

 was of much assistance to the students -in their 

 comparative stuuy of plumage variation. 



One of the most complete and interestmg 

 collections of Oregon birds' eggs that hns ever 

 b:en gathered into one display, it was the good 

 f )rtunenfthe society to exhibit on this orassion. 

 Its completeness wis accom^ilishei o ily by the 

 active and enthusiastic co-operntinn of the mem- 

 bers; each one luinging witli iiim, or sending 

 by mnil, if nnnhle personally to attend, his 

 r uer sets and nests. 



An open session was arranged for the even- 



ing of the 29th., the program containing essays 

 written with a view of interesting the general 

 public in our science. Until half-past eight 

 those present were pleasantly occupied in ex- 

 amining and studying the collections which 

 were explained and described by the members. 

 Then our president, William L. Finley, called 

 the meeting to order and welcomed those pr..- 

 sent with a polished address in which he gave 

 a brief history of the society and the work it 

 has accomplished since its organization in 1 894. 

 IL then dwf-lt at length on the future before 

 the society and the unequaled opportunities .0 

 advance the science of Ornithology which this 

 association possesses. The mercernary ends 

 and methods of the average pseudo ornitholo- 

 gist he strongly condemned, especially, the 

 wholesale exchanging and buying of eggs, which 

 practice has increased so alarmingly during the 

 past decade. 



In the absence of the author, D. Franklin 

 Weeks read an interesting paper on ''A Trip 

 through Eastern and Southern Oregon," by 

 Guy Q. Stryker. 



Ellis F. Had ley followed by a paper on 

 ■ 'The Red-breasted Nuthatch. His description 

 of its nesting habits interesting everyone. 



Master James Mott varied the program by a 

 unique recitation entitled "The Owl Critic." 



The experiences of a naturalist in a day's 

 1 amble were delightfully described by Herman 

 r. Bohlman in his "Incidents of a Day's Col- 

 lecting among "Aquatic Birds." 



The "Notes on the Pileolated Warbler," by 

 Mervey M. Hoskins, showed this observer's 

 thorough knowledge of a rare warbler. 



The session closed with an essay by Dorsie 

 C. Bard, entitled ''Biographical Sketches of 

 Great Ornithologists," in which he gave some 

 interesting notes from the lives of Buffon, White, 

 and McGillavray. 



Work began the next morning at 8:30, and, 

 with an hour at noon and in the evening, for 

 rest and refreshments, the [ resident did not rap 

 his yivei for dismissal until the night had spent 

 its-lf by half. 



The em lie morning was devoted to a most 



