34: 



Mr. L. N. Nichols gave a summary of his observations on 

 the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker {Picoides arcticus) and 

 others of the family in the Adirondacks. 



Mr. Chapin mentioned a curious habit of Turtle Doves 

 (Turtur) in the Congo, two species of which would come reg- 

 ularly to eat the soil at a spot where salt had been stored. 



Mr. Rogers described* the egg-laying and burying operations 

 of a Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) as observed by him at 

 Runyon, N. J., on July 4 last. 



Mr. Hix presented some notes on Van Cortlandt Park birds, 

 including a Prairie Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris pratincola) , 

 seen on the ball-field July 29, 1916. The number of Kingbirds 

 {Tyrannus tijr annus) collecting there in the autumn migration 

 is remarkable, at times as many as five hundred being present, 

 chiefly in the bushy area above the Lake. The breeding 

 Crested Flycatchers {Myiarchus crinitus), Blue- winged War- 

 blers {Vermivora pinus) and Chats {Icteria v. virens) seem to 

 have decreased in numbers in the Park. 



Mr. Cleaves distributed a questionnaire for information 

 regarding Purple Martin {Progne s. suhis) colonies within fifty 

 miles of Staten Island. 



December 27, 1916. — The President in the chair. Nine 

 members (Dr. Dwight, Dr. F. M. Chapman and Messrs. 

 Cleaves, Gladden,. Griscom, Hix, Lang, Marks and Rogers) 

 and twelve visitors present. 



Mr. Marks proposed the name of Mr. L. D. Ingalls, of 

 Arlington, N. J., for Resident Membership; it was referred to 

 the Membership Committee. 



Mr. Griscom recorded a Chipping Sparrow (Spizella p. 

 passenna) seen by him and Mr. J. T. Nichols at East Rocka- 

 way, L. I., December 24, and on the same day eleven Pintail 

 (Dafila acuta) at Lynbrook, including six males, and four 

 Canvasback (Marila vallisneria) at Mastic. 



Large numbers of Redpolls {Acanthis Unarm) were reported 

 present in northern New Jersey and on Staten Island. Mr. 

 Cleaves had seen 145 on Staten Island on December 24, in- 

 cluding one flock of sixty feeding on ragweed. 



* See " Notes on Three Common New Jersey Turtles," Copeia, August, 

 1917, 74-76. 



