migrating birds through a telescope at Columbia College, N. Y. The East River 

 is probably a great highway of migration like the Hudson, upon which similar 

 observations have been made and already recorded [see Auk, Vol. V, 1888, 

 p. 32]. At times as many as three birds were in the field of view, and they 

 straggled along much as flocks of swallows do. 



Some spring arrivals were reported at this meeting, among them a large flight 

 of Yellow-bellied Woodpeckers {Sphyrapicus varius), after the warm days of 

 April 11-12. 



Mr. Jenness Richardson gave an account of a recent visit to Amagansett and 

 Gardiner's Island, Long Island. At the latter place, three nests of the Black 

 Duck {Anas obscurd) were found early in May, one with young. The Carolina 

 Wren ( Thryothorus hidovicianus) was met with twice. 



The absence of the Myrtle Warbler {Dendroica coronata) from the vicinity of 

 New York City, the past winter was spoken of by several members. 



October 4, 1889. — The Vice-President in the chair. Seven persons present. 



Mr. L. S. Foster presented some notes on birds observed by him at Kiskatom, 

 N. Y., in August and September, 1889. 



Mr. Wm. Dutcher reported the recent capture of an albino White-bellied Swallow 

 (Tachycineta bicolor) at Good Ground, Long Island ; and also spoke of a migra- 

 tion of hawks on Sept. 21-22. Those along the south shore of Long Island were 

 largely Sparrow and Pigeon Hawks {Falco sparverius et cohimbarius) with 

 numbers of Fish Hawks {Pandion halidetus carolinensis) and Marsh Hawks 

 {Circus hudsonius), while those along the noi-th shore were mostly Sharp-shinned 

 and Cooper's Hawks {Accipiter velox et cooperi). 



Mr. F. M. Chapman made some remarks upon the meadow mice of Little Gull 

 Island, L. I., visited last summer by Mr. Dutcher and himself. They do not 

 differ materially from the common Arvicola riparius and apparently show no ap- 

 proach to the pale form inhabiting Muskeget Island. The immense number of 

 toads on this island, where there are no snakes to destroy them, was striking. 



The migration of the brown butterfly {Danais arc/iipptts), as observed in the 

 vicinity of New York and on Long Island, was discussed at length. During some 

 days in the autumn the air is often filled with them passing southward. 



October 18, 1889. — The President in the chair. Nine persons present. 



Mr. J. A. Allen presented extended remarks, illustrated by specimens, upon a 

 collection of mammals recently made by Dr. A. Buller in Zacatecas, Mexico. 

 [This paper has been published in Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. II, No. 3, 

 1 889 J Mr. Allen also gave a brief summary of recent progress in North Ameri- 

 can mammalogy, referring especially to the impetus recently given through the 

 excellent work of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, whose collection of the smaller North 

 American .mammals is at present unrivalled in extent and in quality of the 

 material. 



November 1, 1 889. — The President in the chair. Ten persons present. 

 Mr. Frank M. Chapman read the following paper. 



