PROCEEDINGS. 335 



In connection with tliis work reference was made to back 

 numbers of tiie " Proceedings" and the minutes of former 

 3'ears, wherein were found occasional notices of accessions 

 which the curator has failed to find any trace of. It is to 

 be hoped that these are not lost, but packed away, and will 

 eventually be restored to the society. 



The field work of the curator has consisted in about four 

 months' explorations in Lower California; a month's sojourn 

 in Lassen county, Cal. ; a trip of one week in the vicinity 

 of Mt. Hamilton; and several short visits to Sonoma county, 

 besides a number of brief excursions in the vicinity of 

 San Francisco — at all of which places collections were made. 

 In all, more than six months have been spent in the field. 



The original work of investigation has consisted in the 

 description of a bird new to science {Melospiza fasciata riv- 

 idaris), and the preparation of a report upon the collection 

 of birds made this year in Lower California: this last is in 

 MS., but it was thought best to delay its publication 

 until the following year, by w4iich time a great deal of ad- 

 ditional information is expected. 



Several lots of bird skins have been received for identifi- 

 cation; this having been made, the specimens were returned 

 to the owners. 



Field notes pertaining to the life histories of Pacific Coast 

 mammals and birds have been kept, for use in future pub- 

 lications. 



A collection of 124 bird skins from Mr. W. W. Price has 

 been deposited for identification and the use of the curator. 



Microscopical examinations have been made of the con- 

 tents of the crops and stomachs of birds, disclosing some 

 interesting facts relating to the food habits of Californian 

 birds. 



No exchanges have been undertaken; not because no 

 offers were received, but for lack of duplicates to send in 

 return. 



