63 [Vol. xxi. 



Mr. J, B. Nichols exhibited a male example of the 

 Grey-backed Warbler {Aedon familiaris) which had been 

 shot at Hythe, Kent, on the 15th of July, 1907. The 

 species had already been recorded and figured in 'British 

 Birds' [cf. i. p. 257 (1908)], but had not previously been 

 exhibited. 



Mr. W. P. Pycraft gave a short account of his pre- 

 liminary investigations into the source of the peculiar 

 powder which permeates the plumage of Pigeons. He 

 remarked that, so far as could at present be determined, this 

 powder was of the same nature as that which was formed by 

 the peculiar powder-down patches of Herons, or of the 

 isolated powder-down feathers of Parrots and some 

 Accipitres. 



In the Pigeon, however, — at any rate in the Wood- 

 Pigeon, — it was difficult to trace the source of this powder 

 to any particular form of feather, though it seemed clear 

 that it was formed by the semiplumous feathers lying on 

 each side of the body, immediately over the thoracic I'ibs. 



Though it had long been known that Pigeons give off 

 large quantities of peculiar powder, it had never until now 

 been suggested that this was of the same nature as the 

 powder formed by " powder-down " feathers. That this was 

 so there could be little room for doubt, but the exact source 

 of the supply, and the manner of its formation, had not as 

 yet been ascertained, though, it was hoped, the investigations 

 now in hand would solve this mystery. 



The Meeting of the Club to be held in April will be devoted 

 to a show of lantern-slides, and those who wish to exhibit are 

 requested to inform the Editor of their intention to do so as 

 soon as possible. 



