V °''8w VI ] Sixteenth Congress of the A. O. U. 53 



obtained were enough to show that great possibilities in this field 

 may be looked for in the future. 



The second title was ' The Distribution and Relationships of 

 Ammodramus maritimus and its Allies,' by Mr Frank M. Chap- 

 man. 



The next paper was ' The Geographical Distribution of the 

 Wrens of the bewickii Group,' by Harry C. Oberholser. 



The fourth title was ' Polygamy among Oscines,' by Prof. F. E^ 

 L. Beal. Remarks followed by Messrs. Baskett, Chapman,. 

 Fuertes, and Nelson. 



The fifth paper was ' The Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria 

 citrea, a common summer resident of Southeastern Minnesota,' by 

 Dr. Thos. S. Roberts. Remarks followed by the Chairman (Dr. 

 Merriam), and Mr. Stone. 



The sixth title was ' Some early Philadelphia Collectors and 

 Collections,' by Mr. Witmer Stone. Remarks followed by Drs. 

 Coues and Merriam, and the author. 



The concluding paper of the afternoon was by Mr. William 

 Palmer, entitled ' Chadbourne on Individual Dichromatism in 

 Megascops asio, with some evidence in the question.' Discussion 

 followed by Drs. Allen and Coues, Messrs. Oberholser, Judd, 

 Wood, Dutcher, Baskett, and the author. 



Second Day. — The meeting was called to order by Vice- 

 President Merriam. 



Mr. William Palmer gave, as the first paper of the morning, 

 ' Some Characteristics of Neossoptiles.' Remarks followed by 

 the Chair and Dr. Gill. 



Mr. Witmer Stone, Chairman of the ' Committee on Protection 

 of North American Birds,' then read the report of his committee 

 for the past year. The report is published in this number of ' The 

 Auk,' and will be issued as a pamphlet to be sold at a very low 

 price for general distribution. 



The afternoon session was held at the Central High School, 

 the large hall in the building having been placed at the disposal 

 of the Union and its friends, by Prof. W. B. Powell. Vice-Presi- 

 dent C. B. Cory in the Chair. All of the papers read there were 

 illustrated with lantern slides. 



The first title was ' The Bird Rocks of the Gulf of St. Law- 



