Proceedings of the Section of Biology 177 



Mr. William T. Davis read from an article by David Starr 

 Jordan in the Independent for February 11, 1909, entitled "Dar- 

 winism Fifty Years After," referring to Dr. Arnold Ortmann's 

 words that the four factors of evolution, variation, inheritance, 

 selection, and separation were all concerned in the formation of 

 new forms or species. 



Mr. Howard H.' Cleaves spoke of the saw-whet owl caught at 

 Woodrow recently and kept in captivity in a chicken coop. A 

 white-footed mouse placed in the coop with the owl was caught 

 by the owl while Mr. Cleaves was present; an English sparrow 

 was also caught by the owl under the same circumstances, and 

 the method of devouring the sparrow was observed by Mr. 

 Cleaves. The owl begins at the head and tears off the wing- 

 feathers. A flashlight photograph was shown of the owl while 

 holding the sparrow in the act of devouring. He exhibited pellets 

 that had been disgorged by the owl, showing something of its diet. 



Mr. G. P. Engelhardt remarked on the similar eating habits of 

 the European falcon. 

 . Mr. Pollard exhibited skins of weasels showing winter and 

 summer pelage. 



Mr. Stafford Cr Edwards exhibited a specimen, presumably a 

 fungus growth on cat dung, found in a cellar, the growth re- 

 sembling fine black hair. 



Mr. Alanson Skinner remarked on having seen a flock of quails 

 at Princes Bay ; also a chewink on February 5. In a hollow tree 

 at Woodrow he had found a screech owl in the upper part and a 

 rabbit below. He remarked that rabbits are greatly increasing in 

 numbers. He had recently found at Princes Bay a dead opossum, 

 a very large specimen. Opossums were apparently decreasing in 

 numbers on Staten Island, but increasing on Long Island. 



