39 



illustration. Dr. Matthew concluded that Diatryma was most 

 probably a Carinate, possibly most nearly related, among 

 existing forms, to Cariama. Discussion followed by the 

 speaker, Prof. Osborn, Dr. Lucas, Mr. C. Wm. Beebe, Mr. 

 Weber and others as to Diatnjmd's mode of life. It was agreed 

 that it was probably neither raptorial nor a swift runner, and 

 that there were indications of a possible littoral habitat, where 

 the powerful beak would be useful in crushing turtles and 

 large molluscs. 



February 27, 1917. — The Vice-President in the chair. 

 Eleven members (Messrs. Cleaves, Gladden, Granger, Hix, 

 J. M. Johnson, Lang, J. T. Nichols, L. N. Nichols, Phihpp, 

 Rogers and Woodruff) and forty-six visitors present. 



Mr. Rogers proposed the name of Mr. Leo E. Miller, of the 

 American Museum of Natural History, for Resident Mem- 

 bership; it was referred to the Membership Committee. 



Mr. Gladden spoke of noticing recently for the first time a 

 note of the Tufted Tit {Bceolophus bicolor) that resembled the 

 Bluebird's (Sialia sialis) autumnal call, and Mr. Decker 

 remarked that he had just had the same experience and that 

 the note had also suggested to him one of the Blue Jay's 

 {Cyanocitta cristata) . 



Mr. Decker reported three male White-winged Crossbills 

 (Loxia leucoptera) in the big wood at Great Kills, Staten 

 Island. They had been found by Mr. Cleaves, and had been 

 seen four times since, by Mr. Cleaves, Mr. Decker and Mr. 

 Rogers, always feeding on Sweet Gum {Liquidambar Styraci- 

 flua) seeds (most recent date, February 25) . Mr. Decker had 

 also seen on the 25th a flock of sixteen Prairie Horned Larks 

 (Otocoris alpestris pratincola) at Castleton Corners in the 

 interior of the Island, carefully identified at a few feet with 

 8x glasses and compared with a flock of the typical form (0. a. 

 alpestris) seen later the same day on the shore. 



Mr. Rogers recorded a flock of five Short-eared Owls {Asio 

 flammeus) seen by him and Mr. J. M. Johnson flying about 

 over the meadows at Long Beach January 28, and on the same 

 day three Sanderling (Calidris leucophcea) on the beach; also, 

 with Mr. W. DeW. Miller, a Labrador Brown-cap Chickadee 



