1 68 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



was made captain in the Continental navy. He was taken prisoner by the 

 British, paroled in France, and later he brought to America the Due du 

 Lauzan (20 guns) bought of France in 1782. Two of the "Letters of 

 John Paul Jones " published by Congress refer to Captain Green. 



He was honorably discharged in 1783, and was a member of the New 

 York Society of the Cincinnati. 



After the Revolution he resumed his command of merchant vessels. 



He was the captain of the first ship carrying the American flag into 

 Chinese waters. The ship was the " Empress of China," and he made the 

 voyage in record time of one year, in 1784, going through the Straits of 

 Sunda. 



He brought the first Shanghai chickens to this country and imported 

 the first set of chinaware direct from China. Watson, in his " Annals of 

 New York," says he has one of the original plates, presumably the last of 

 the set. There are two saucers in the family, however. 



This spread he must have brought before his last voyage in 1788. It is 

 said that at the same time he brought and sent to General Washington 

 two tiger skins, for which the General thanks him in a letter still in the 

 possession of the family. Being unable to get to the letter I cannot tell 

 its date. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



Regular Meeting, February 20, 1909 



The meeting was held in the reading room of the branch public library 

 at St. George. 



President Howard R. Bayne in the chair. 



About twenty-one persons were present. 



The minutes of the meeting of January 16, 1909, were read and 

 approved. 



On motion the Board of Trustees were authorized to take such steps 

 as it might consider advisable and feasible for the participation of the 

 Association in the forthcoming Hudson-Fulton celebration in September. 



Scientific Program 



Mr. Howard H. Cleaves read " Notes on a Captive Saw-whet Owl." 

 (Printed in full in this issue, p. 155.) 



Mr. William T. Davis exhibited herbarium specimens and read " Notes 

 on Staten Island Plants." (Printed in full in this issue, p. 161.) 



Mr. James Chapin reported on observations on our local fauna during 

 the winter. In a hollow tree at Woodrow a gray screech owl was found 

 in the upper part and a rabbit below. 



Mr. Isaac Wort of Woodrow unearthed a jumping mouse on February 

 6. Chewinks were seen from time to time during the winter. 

 ■ The meeting then adjourned. 



