7 

 Considerable interest was shown by the visitors present and a pleas- 

 ant as well as profitable evening was spent by all. 



FIFTH SESSION. 



For the place of holding the fifth session, Mossy Glen, a most delight- 

 ful as well as magnificent spot, was chosen. It is situated about fifteen 

 miles directly north of Manchester, in Clayton county. This gully, one of 

 the feeders of the Volga river, for it abounds in springs, opens to the north, 

 and on either side at a distance of fifty yards or less apart perpendicular 

 walls of rock rise to the height of from fifty to seventy-five feet, while at 

 the upper end of the glen the washing out of the springs has produced a 

 huge overhanging wall which protects a large amphitheater, not only 

 from the noon day sun but from any direct rays whatever. 



In this spot, on one of the hottest days of the summer, the members 

 of the I. O. Association, scattered about and perched on Nature's stools in 

 cool comfort, and with a projecting ledge for the President's chair, held a 

 business meeting so intensely interesting that it was only aroused to a 

 knowledge of the outer world late in the afternocn by a large Turkey Vul- 

 ture, which after peering about several nooks and out-hanging rocks, fin- 

 ally settled on a large stub, which protruded from the rocks, directly over 

 the heads of the members.* 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



The members present spent considerable time discussing the birds 

 comprised in the annotated list now in the course of preparation. It was 

 determined that an appeal be made to all members for a thorough study, 

 with an eye to the differentiation of the eastern and the western varieties 

 and the relative and actual abundance of the following : Red-tail, Great- 

 horned Owl, Night Hawk, Meadow Lark, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lark 

 Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Maryland Yellowthroat, Robin, Blue Bird ; 

 a special study of the varieties occuring within the state of : Grebes, 

 Loons, Gulls, Terns, Sandpipers, Arctic Woodpeckers, Horned Lark, 

 Whipporwill, Longspurs, Redpolls, Juncos, Vireos, Waterthrushes, Chick- 

 adees, "Wrens, Thrushes ; the possible occurence of Prairie Sharp-tailed 

 Grouse, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Burrowing Owl, Summer Tanager, 

 Barn Owl ; the possible nesting of Franklins's Gull, Solitary Sandpiper ; 

 relative abundance of Traill's Flycatcher, and Little, and Acadian Fly- 

 catchers, Least and Baird's Sandpipers, King Rail and Florida Gallinule, 

 Sora and Virginia Rails ; notes on the occurence of Harris's Sparrow, Sa- 

 vana Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow. 



*Several large views of the glen with members of the association scattered about 

 on the roclis were taken, and the pictures (5 x 7) may be procured for fifty cents each 

 by anplying to Mr. Wilmon Newell, Ames, Iowa. The proceeds to go to the treasury 

 of the I. O. A. 



