NOVEMBER 26, 1897. ] 
that not a feather of the upper surfaces of 
the woodeock and grouse had been artifi- 
cially colored referred only to the feathers 
along the median dorsal region. 
The skin of a cottontail rabbit was ex- 
hibited, showing a most perfect gradation 
from the black hairs of the middle of the 
back and over the shoulders to the white of 
the belly. 
This communication, in connection with 
that given at Cambridge a year ago, com- 
pletes Mr. Thayer’s admirable demonstra- 
tion of his theory of the great underlying 
principle of protective coloration in animals. 
On Wednesday evening, November 10th, 
an illustrated lecture entitled ‘ A Natural- 
ist’s Expedition to Hast Africa,’ was given 
in the large lecture hall of the Museum by 
Mr. D. G. Elliot before an audience of some 
1,500 persons. 
Mr. Wm. Dutcher, Chairman of the 
‘Committee on Protection of North Ameri- 
ean Birds,’ read a most interesting report 
on the work done during the past year. 
This report will be published in abstract in 
The Auk, and printed in full as a separate 
pamphlet. 
Mr. Frank M. Chapman gave an exhibi- 
tion of lantern slides of birds in nature, 
from material contributed by himself and 
other members of the Union. This was 
followed by Professor A. 8. Bickmore with 
colored lantern slides showing recent ad- 
vances in methods of visual instruction. 
Dr. Coues remarked upon certain Laride 
which were before him, and Dr. Jonathan 
Dwight, Jr., showed a specimen of a new 
species of bird for North America (Puffinus 
assimilis ) . 
An informal talk on the Gyrfalcons was 
given by Mr. Chapman, who exhibited 
specimens from Greenland and Labrador. 
Remarks followed by Dr. W. E. Hughes, 
who accompanied the first Peary expedition 
to north Greenland. 
Following is a list of the papers read at 
SCIENCE. 
803 
the sessions, in addition to those already 
mentioned : 
Protective Adaptations of Insects from an Ornithological 
Point of View: SYLVESTER D. JUDD. 
Summer Birds of the West Virginia Spruce Belt : W1L- 
LIAM C. RIVES. 
Is Uniformity in Local Lists Possible? JONATHAN 
DWIGHT, JR. 
Ten Days among the Birds of Northern New Hampshire : 
JoHN N. CLARK. 
Some Notes on Liberian Birds: 
HOLSER. 
Remarks on a New Theory of the Origin of Bird Migra- 
tion: J. A. ALLEN. 
Experiences of an Ornithologist in Mexico: FRANK M. 
CHAPMAN. 
The Great Roosts on Gabberet Island, Opposite North St. 
Louis: O. WIDMANN. 
The Terns of Gull Island, N. Y.: J. HARRIS REED. 
The Petrels of Southern California: A. W. ANTHONY. 
The Terns of Muskeget Island, Mass.: GORGE H. 
MACKAY. 
The Northern Raven Breeding in New England: H. K. 
JOB. 
The Summer Birds of the Catskill Mountains, with re- 
marks upon the Faunx of the Region: EDWIN I. 
HAINES. 
Breeding Habits of the Common Robin in Eastern Massa- 
chusetts: REGINALD WEBER HOWE, JR, 
HARRY C. OBER- 
The next meeting of the Union will be 
held in Washington, D. C., commencing 
November 14, 1898. Jno. H. Sac, 
Secretary. 
CURRENT NOTES ON ANTHROPOLOGY. 
THE ABORIGINAL ART OF ECUADOR. 
THE well known Alpine explorer, Mr. 
Edward Whymper, during his expedition 
to the Andes made a considerable ethno- 
graphical collection in and near Keuador, a 
description of which, with illustrations, is 
given by Mr. O. M. Dalton in the Journal 
of the Anthropological Institute for August. 
The most interesting results refer to the 
forms of axes and similar stone imple- 
ments. There are numerous types in 
Ecuador, many seemingly indigenous, while 
almost all the Colombian forms ‘ can easily 
be traced to a foreign source.’ There are 
frequent instances of resemblance between 
