Vol. XI n ^V,,/,,, „„,) .vVif.s-. 97 



The a. O. U. 'Committee on Protection of North American Birds' 

 made its usual report at the Twelfth Congress. The Chairman, Mr. 

 Frank M. Chapman, read as a part of his report a communication from 

 Mr. William Dutcher regarding the protection secured for the colony of 

 Terns on Great Gull Island, New York, during the breeding season of 

 1894. In 18S6 from 3000 to 4000 Terns were living on this island. 

 It was found to be a common practice for persons to visit the island, 

 shoot the birds, and take their eggs for various purposes, priiuiiKilly, 

 however, for eating. Subsequently it was ascertained that the Terns 

 were decreasing in numbers from \ear to year, and the necessity for 

 protection became apparent if this colony of beautiful and harmless 

 birds was not to be entirely destroyed. This had been the result else- 

 where on the coast of Long Island. Through cooperation with several 

 scientific and other societies of New York, and the United States Light 

 House Board, a Special Game Protector was appointed who had charge of 

 the island from May 15 to September 15. During that period numerous 

 parties were prevented from collecting eggs and shooting birds. As a 

 result of his efforts the estimated increase of the colony was from 1000 

 to isoo birds, or at least one-half in numbers. Mr. Dutcher considered 

 the statement correct, as large flocks of Terns had been seen on Long 

 Island Sound as far west as Flushing Bay during the past season, none 

 having been observed there before for a number of \ears. 



Mr. Chapman also stated that Messrs. \\'m. Brewster and Geo. H. 

 Mackay were instrumental in saving from destruction the Terns on 

 Muskeo-et Island, Mass. The efforts of these gentlemen prevented the 

 threatened repeal of protective laws already in force. 



The Committee was continued and, Mr. Chapman declining the Chair- 

 manship, Mr. Gurdon Trumbull was made Chairman. 



The action on the Amendments to the By-Laws of the A .(). U., 

 proposed at the Eleventh Congress and referred to the Twelfth Congress, 

 resulted as follows : The first proposed addition was not adopted. That 

 part of the second amendment relating to elimination was adopted, but 

 that portion consisting of the addition of the words '-and voting" was 

 rejected. The first paragraph of Article 1\', Section 5. as amended, reads 

 as follows : — 



'' Article IV, Section s- Elections to Active Membership shall beheld 

 in the following manner : The number of Active Members to be elected 

 shall be first decided by a majority vote of the Active Members present at 

 the Stated Meeting at which the election is to be held. At each ballot 

 each member present may vote for nominees not exceeding the full 

 number of vacancies to be filled, and the person receiving the highest 

 number of votes shall be declared elected, provided that he receive the 

 votes of at least three-fourths of the members present, and so on until all 

 the vacancies are filled." 



