wash them away as many as twenty or thirty times in a single 

 season and yet the Terns fail to learn wisdom by experience. Several 

 present spoke of the diminished numbers of Terns now found along 

 our coast, owing chiefly to their merciless persecution by persons who 

 shoot them for the milliners. 



Mr. Dutcher exhibited a number of Marsh Wrens from Georgia, 

 the majority being Cistothorus mariance. This species had never been 

 taken before north of Tarpon Springs, Fla. .[See a record for South 

 Carolina, Auk, VIII, 1891, p. 239.J 



April 4, 1890. — Mr. Geo. B. Sennett in the chair. Six persons 

 present. 



Mr. Foster recorded the capture of the European Widgeon (A?ias 

 penelope) at Carroll's Island, Md., Feb. 25, 1890. [Auk, VII, 1890, 

 p. 283.I 



Mr. Dutcher exhibited a Cedar Bird {Ampelis cedrorum) remarkable 

 in having part of an extra tail. Two rectrices inserted upside down 

 grew from the back just anterior to the insertion of the normal tail. 



May 2, 1890. — The president in the chair. Ten persons present. 



Mr. J. Dwight,Jr., presented an extended paper entitled 'Some im- 

 pressions of Birds of the New Jersey Coast.'" It comprised a list of 

 103 species, largely ' Shore Birds/ seen mostly during the summer 

 of 1878 at a once famous gunning resort on Barnegat Bay. A rail- 

 road and summer cottages have since invaded the sandy and marshy 

 wastes where formerly large colonies of Terns bred, and many species 

 of waterfowl resorted, unmolested save by the enterprising sports- 

 man. 



May 16, 1890. — The President in the chair. Ten persons present. 



Mr. W. E. D. Scott gave an informal account of his recent trip to 

 the region east of Cape Sable, Florida, and to the Dry Tortugas. 

 His, notes have since been published. [Auk, VII, 1890, pp. 221-226 

 and pp. 301-314.] 



Mr. Chapman related some of his observations made at Gainesville, 

 Fla., chiefly on the mammals inhabiting floating islands. These 

 islands are formed first of lily stalks torn up by alligators. Seeds 

 falling upon the floating bunches of stalks soon sprout and form a 

 tangle of roots that increases in size from year to year. They are 

 frequented by Marsh Hares and form the resorts of the rare Neofiber 

 alleni. 



Dr. C. S. Allen gave a brief outline of a recent trip down the 



