98 



Notes and News. \'} uV 



|_ Jan. 



The Kent Ornithological Club was reorganized at Grand Rapids. 

 Mich., on Dec. 12, 1895, under the n^nie of L e Michigan Ornithological 

 L'lub. The following officers were elected for [896: V. B. Durfes, Presi- 

 dent; R. R. Newton, Vice-President; W. E. Mulliken, Secretary; Prof. 

 C. A. Whittemore, Treasurer; Leon J. Cole, Librarian. 



The Club will take up a systematic study of the birds of the State and 

 it is hoped all Michigan ornithologists will address tbe Secretary, 191 

 First Avenue, Grand Rapids. Mich., for particulars at once. 



At the Thirteenth Congress of the A. O. U. Mr. William Dutcher, in 

 behalf of the ' Committee on Protection of North American Birds,' stated 



that tbe same precautions had been taken during tbe breeding season of 

 [895 as in 1894, regarding the protection of Terns on Great Gull Island, 

 New York. A special game protector had been employed, several of the 

 Natural History Societies of New York City contributing toward tbe 

 payment of his salary. Absolutely no shooting had been done and parties 

 who visited the island during tbe summer were presented from collecting 

 eggs. As Great Gull Island is the property of the United States Gov- 

 ernment: it will always be a breeding ground for Terns, if properly 

 protected. The number of birds now in the colony on this island was 

 estimated at 3500 — a large increase from the previous year. Mr. Dutcher 

 thought that the numerous cottages now built and being erected on all 

 portions of the New York coast would present the Terns from again 

 nesting there. 



Mr. William Brewster said that tbe Terns on Muskeget Island, Mass., 

 had increased from year to year, the result of protection. No birds bad 

 been shot on or near the island the past year and very few Jggs had been 

 collected. A notable increase was seen also in the colons of Laughing 

 Gulls at the same place. Great credit is due Mr. Geo. II. Mackas for bis 

 continuous efforts in saving the Gulls and Terns on this island from 

 destruction. 



Mr. Witmer Stone knew of only one colony of Terns on the New Jersey 

 coast. As the birds nested back in tbe meadows and away from tbe 

 coast, it was difficult to protect them, but he did not think they decreased 

 in numbers. In recent years tbe ' eggers ' (so-called; had destroyed 

 immense numbers of the eggs of tbe Clapper Rail which nesied in favor- 

 able localities along the coast of New Jersey. This Rail had increased 

 the past season, as game wardens had watched the meadows and arrested 

 several marauders. 



Mr. Leverett M. Loomis remarked upon the wholesale destruction of 

 birds and their eggs on the California coast during 1895. 



A new 'Committee on Protection of North American Birds' was 

 appointed, as follows: William Dutcher (Chairman), Ruthven Deane, 

 Witmer Stone, Leverett M. Loomis, and Geo. H. Mackay. 



