THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 75 



was called to order in the Town Hall at 2 p. M. by the 

 President who made a few introductory remarks and then 

 called upon Mr. Haydn Brown of West Newbury, wh<* 

 gave a familiar talk on " Our Song Birds," a subject to 

 which he had devoted much observation and study. He 

 said that there were three hundred and thirty-two vari- 

 eties of birds recorded in Massachusetts. About eighty 

 of these varieties are our summer residents, raising their 

 young in this neighborhood. The handsomest birds in 

 plumage are not the best songsters. The Bartram Sand- 

 piper or Field Plover was fully described as to its habits, 

 singing, etc. Robins, he said, are fast increasing and 

 they build near dwellings. Their best singing is in the 

 morning just before daybreak. 



The warblers, field sparrows, orioles, swallows and 

 other varieties were alluded to, and their peculiar charac- 

 teristics were noted. A collection of well prepared 

 specimens of birds was shown as the different varieties 

 were described. Mr. M. Walsh Bartlett apologized for 

 the absence of Mr. T. C. Thurlow, president of the club, 

 who was kept at home by illness. Mr. Bartlett wel- 

 comed the Institute to West Newbury, and mentioned 

 that the geology of the place is interesting, and hoped 

 that at some future time the Institute would make a 

 thorough geological examination of this vicinity. Mr. 

 John H. Sears described the flora of the place, showing 

 the specimens that he had collected, and giving some 

 simple and practical hints to students in botany. 



It was voted that the very cordial thanks of the Insti- 

 tute be extended to the members of the West Newbury 

 Natural History Club, for the refreshing and bountiful lunch 

 so handsomely served, and to the ladies who had kindly 

 assisted in making this gathering so successful ; also to 



