remarks on their impressions of the trip. The latter had found a 

 single bat, with its neck broken, at the base of the Statue. 



Dr. C. Hart Merriam made some remarks upon bird migration ; 

 he was satisfied that in migrating, birds rely mainly upon the power 

 of sight, and stated that while darkness obscures minor details of 

 topography, it brings into prominent relief the more important land- 

 marks, as water courses and mountain ranges, the natural guides in 

 passing from one region to another. He stated further that birds 

 rarely migrate singly or in compact flocks, but in scattered assem- 

 blages made up of many species and comprising individuals of all 

 ages. On favorable nights the call notes of such birds may be heard 

 at frequent intervals, and all moving in a common direction. A 

 young bird in setting out on its first migration has only to launch 

 into the air to find itself in company with a moving host whose notes 

 it can easily follow. 



Mr. Hales spoke of a mesh-wire fence, eight feet high, in his yard, 

 against which birds have occasionally been killed in the daytime ; 

 he has picked up dead Cedar Birds (Ampelis cedrorum), and once, a 

 Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). 



Mr. L. M. Loomis referred to a deposit of bat guano, containing 

 thirty-two bushels and three pecks, found in a loft near Chester, S. C. 



December 2, 1891. — The Vice-President in the chair. Nine 

 members and four visitors present. 



Mr. Wm. A. Robbins was introduced by Mr. Foster, and presented 

 a paper on the Falco?iidce breeding in southwestern Santa Clara Co., 

 Cal., where he had collected for two seasons. Some of the eggs taken 

 were exhibited. Elanus leucurus breeds regularly ; Buteo borealis 

 calurus is abundant, and Aquila chrysa'eios is not uncommon, nesting 

 on cliffs or in tall trees. One nest of Falco mexicanus was found. 

 Falco sparverius was very common, and persisted in laying in the 

 deserted nests of the Magpie. 



Mr. L. S. Foster presented a paper on " Bird Myths," drawing his 

 material from the classics, and recent ethnological publications. 



Mr. Wm, Dutcher reported two Dovekies (Alle a//e), recently taken 

 on Long Island — the first since 1882. He considers this species and 

 the Puffin (Fratercula arclica), among the rarest of the boreal birds 

 that visit Long Island. 



December 16, 1891. — The Vice-President in the chair. Ten mem- 

 bers and three visitors present. 



