Annual Reports 53 



Leng, chairman, and Howard H. Cleaves, recorder, be reelected for the 

 ensuing year. 



On motion of Mr. Skinner it was 



Voted, that Mr. William T. Davis be appointed a committee of one to 

 prepare and present to the Association a suitable memorandum on the loss 

 sustained by the Association and the Section in the recent death of Mr. 

 John A. Grossbeck. (See this issue, p. 13.) 



Mr. Davis reported that on May 10 he and Mr. Ernest Shoemaker and 

 Mr. Alan S. Nicolay were looking over the precipice along the easterly 

 edge of the First Watchung Mountain, about a mile north of Great Notch, 

 N. J., into the tops of the trees growing at a lower level. The oaks 

 were in flower and a female and two male rosebreasted grosbeaks, Zame- 

 lo'dia ludoviciana (Linn.), were observed pulling the catkins apart. The 

 birds were very tame and were seen at close range. Soon, in the adjoin- 

 ing tree, a male scarlet tanager, Piranga erythromelas Vieil., and his 

 green colored mate appeared. Both would occasionally make short flights 

 into the air to secure passing insects. A little later a male indigo bunting, 

 Passerina cyanea (Linn.), came to the tree where the grosbeaks were at 

 work. Thus there were, at one and the same time, three rosebreasted 

 grosbeaks, two scarlet tanagers, and an indigo bunting all close together 

 in adjoining trees, making a splendid display of bird coloration. 



Mr. Davis exhibited a living specimen of Hy!a cvitata Miller, collected 

 September 22, 191 1, on the Virginia shore of the Potomac River, near 

 Washington, D. C. This same specimen was commented upon at the meet- 

 ing of the Section on October 11, 1911. (See Proceedings 4: 83O Mr. 

 Davis stated that in 1912 the frog had been taught to take bits of raw meat 

 when they were offered, hence the trouble of catching flies, often difficult 

 to secure out of season, was obviated. However, considerable care is 

 necessary in the feeding of tree frogs, as evidenced by the fact that both 

 the Hyla evitata and a Hyla andcrsonii were afflicted after each had swal- 

 lowed a piece of raw meat with what appeared to be a painful attack of 

 indigestion. They lay on their backs, with eyes shut, while their bodies 

 were inflated to an alarming extent. In a short time this distension sub- 

 sided and the Hyla evitata recovered, but the andersonii died. Feeding 

 about once a week in summer and much less often in winter seems to keep 

 these frogs in good health. 



Dr. Dowell remarked that during the past winter the cocoons of the 

 Cecropia moth were noticed in unusual abundance, especially at Port Rich- 

 mond, where as many as 70 were counted on a single white maple tree, 50 

 or more on another, and 30 or more each on about 23 trees. The larva 

 of the moth appeared to have been less particular than usual in the choice 

 of tree or place for spinning its cocoon, as some were on willow and sassa- 

 fras trees, and others on other kinds of plants, and one even in the corner 

 of a window sill. 



Howard H. Cleaves, 

 Recorder. 



