Decbmbek 12, 1902.] 



SCIENCE. 



939 



Mr. Witmer Stone, in his paper entitled 

 'A Glance at the Historical Side of the 

 Check-List of North American Birds,' re- 

 ferred to the help accorded by the earlier 

 ornithologists in making a check-list pos- 

 sible, and gave in detail the number of 

 species described by each. Dr. Allen 

 traced the history of the present A. 0. U. 

 cheek-list from its inception and spoke of 

 its future. 



Much discussion ensued and many in- 

 quiries were made regarding the protec- 

 tion of birds. The report of the commit- 

 tee having this matter in charge showed 

 that satisfactory results had been obtained 

 during the past year, and that interest in 

 the preservation of wild bird life was not 

 lacking at the present time. Dr. Bishop 

 spoke of the slaughter bj^ marketmen and 

 milliners' agents of the species found along 

 the coast of North Carolina, and Mr. 

 Duteher remarked on the proposed legisla- 

 tive bills for the preservation of such birds. 

 Dr. Palmer told of the immense number 

 of ducks annually taken to the northern 

 markets from the North Carolina coast. 

 He thought the upland as well as the shore 

 birds needed pi-otection. Professor T. 

 Gilbert Pearson referred to the destruction 

 of bob-white in his state (North Carolina), 

 and of the illegal methods used in trans- 

 porting them north. 



Mr. Chapman compared the bird-life of 

 Gardiners Island, N. Y., and Cobbs 

 Island, Va., accompanying his remarks 

 with lantern slides. As a result of rigid 

 protection birds are abundant on the 

 former island, while at the latter island, 

 for want of suitable protection, they are 

 nearly exterminated. 



Mr. George Spencer Morris gave many 

 facts relating to the life of Edward Harris, 

 the friend of Audubon, and read extracts 

 from his unpublished journals. It was 

 an important contribution to the historical 

 side of ornithology. 



The Union sustained a severe loss in the 

 death of Major Jas. C. Merrill, U. S. A., 

 a prominent fellow of the Union, who died 

 in October, and of Chester Barlow, a mem- 

 ber, who died the present month. Mr. 

 Barlow was also the leading spirit in the 

 Cooper Ornithological Club of California. 



The day following adjournment the 

 members of the Union were invited by the 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 

 to visit the National Zoological Park, and 

 many availed themselves of the privilege. 

 Secretary Langley received the visitors, 

 who were subsequently taken through the 

 Park by Dr. Prank Baker, the Superin- 

 tendent. 



The question of holding a special meet- 

 ing of the Union in California the coming 

 year was referred to a committee, with 

 power. 



Following is a list of the papers read 

 at the sessions: 



Geo. Spencer Morris : ' Notes on the Life of 

 Edward Harris, with Extracts from his Journals.' 



Hubert Lyman Clark : ' The Development 

 of the Pterylosis.' 



.John N. Clark: 'The Domestic Affairs of Bob- 

 white.' 



T. (tILBert Pearson : ' Summer Bird Life of 

 Eastern North Carolina.' 



R. M. Strong: 'Change of Color without Molt.' 



R. M. Strong : ' Iridescence and White Feathers.' 



Walter B. Barrows : ' Some Problems of Local 

 Bird Population.' 



T. S. Roberts: 'Notes on Picoides America-nus 

 and Picoides arcticus in Minnesota.' Illustrated 

 with lantern slides. 



Frank M. Chapman : ' Comparison of the Bird 

 Life of Gardiners Island and Cobbs Island.' 

 Illustrated with lantern slides. 



W. L. Baily and Wm. Dutcher : ' A Contribu- 

 tion to the Life History of the Herring Gull.' 

 Illustrated with lantern slides. 



J. A. Allen: 'The A. 0. U. Check-List— its 

 History and its Future.' 



Witmer Stone : ' A Glance at the Historical 

 side of the Check-List of North American Birds.' 



E. W. Nelson : ' Evolution of Species and Sub- 

 species as illustrated by certain Mexican Quails 

 and Squirrels.' 



