14 



American Goshawk {Astur a. atricapillus) , an adult and an 

 immature bird, two of four received in the flesh this autumn, 

 as follows: 



Adult male, November 1, Morris, Otsego County, N. Y. 

 Adult male, November 11, near Smith ville Flats, Che- 

 nango County, N. Y. 



Adult, October 21, Norfolk, Conn. 



Immature male, December 5, Stag Lake, Sussex County, 



N.J. 



Barn Owl (Aluco pratincola) , a young bird with down still 

 clinging to some feathers, taken from the nest on top of a 

 water tank (sheltered by a roof) at Jamaica, L. I., December 1, 

 1915. 



Mr. Rogers mentioned that the returns so far received for 

 '^ Bird-Lore's" Christmas Census indicated the absence of 

 Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus) and the other irregular winter 

 visitors, and the presence of Black-capped Chickadees {Pen- 

 thestes a. atricapillus), so scarce last season, in even greater 

 numbers than usual. 



Mr. Weber opened the announced discussion on profitable 

 club activities. What had for years interested him especially, 

 he said, was the question why the Chickadee was so abundant 

 some seasons and so scarce in others, and in general what 

 caused the fluctuations in the numbers of birds, marked in 

 some species, doubtless present in most. He suggested that 

 a systematic and accurate series of censuses in definite localities 

 would in time yield data covering the facts of fluctuation and 

 that these in connection with data on the weather, food supply 

 and other possible influences would probably bear interesting 

 results. Mr. Weber considered that the Linnsean Society 

 was in a good position to undertake such work. 



Mr. Ladd spoke of the rapidly increasing number of large 

 local bird clubs throughout the country, most of whose mem- 

 bers know next to nothing about birds and are constantly 

 demanding information on questions of identification, feeding, 

 nesting, etc. Furthermore, very many of these people are 

 installing feeding places and nest boxes and are acquiring 

 information concerning nesting habits, incubation, care of the 



