MINUTES OF MEETINGS. 133 



A RARE BIRD. 



BY PROF. J. P. KIRTLAND. 



Read before the Cleveland Academy of Natural Science, November, 1857. 



A few days since, Messrs. Wriglit and Williams, residing 

 near the mouth of Rocky River, observed a large bird 

 attacking a flock of hens and chickens. These gentlemen 

 secured the depredator without injury, and to their polite- 

 ness I am indebted for the specimen in a living state. It 

 proves to belong to the gull family, and probably the Les- 

 tris Richardsonii^ or Richardson's Jager. There is, how- 

 ever, some doubt as to its species. In most particulars it 

 resembles the young of that species figured by Audubon. 

 I have it now in confinement, and hope to keep it till its 

 more mature moultings shall disclose with certainty its 

 true specific character. 



This is the first instance in which I had decisive evidence 

 that any of the Jagers visited Ohio, though I had occasion- 

 ally observed large and active birds, that I supposed to be 

 of this genus, flying over the lake, and generally persuing 

 the several species of gulls common here in the spring and 

 autumn. 



According to Nuttall the Jagers are bold and predacious 

 birds, inhabiting the antarctic as well as the arctic seas, 

 and migrating only short distances towards warmer cli- 

 mates at the approach of winter. 



Cleveland, November 27, 1857. 



The annual meeting for the election of officers took place 

 on Friday evening, at Dr. Kirtland's rooms, in the Medical 

 College, Dr. T. Garlick, Vice President, in the chair. The 

 minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



Messrs. G. A. Hyde and J. B. Trembley were elected 

 members- 



