A discussion of the effects of the "blizzard" of March 12 of the present 

 year upon avian life developed evidence as to the extensive destruction 

 of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in this vicinity. Many of these 

 sought the protection of out-buildings and henneries, two being actually 

 found the next morning under a hen. Many perished from lack of food 

 and the severe cold. In New Jersey great numbers of other species 

 sought refuge in sheltered ravines. On Staten Island a Blue Jay (Cyano- 

 citta cristata) was seen to drop dead from a tree, and near Lawrenceburg, 

 Long Island, a Seaside Finch (Ammodramus maritimus) was found dead 

 on March 12, this date being also an early record for this species. 



Dr. C. Slover Allen instanced the death of many Bank Swallows (C/t'v- 

 icola riparid) after a three days* storm at Grand Menan. He also exhib- 

 ited two nestlings of the Black Duck {Anas obscura) and fragments of one 

 of the eggs, showing the perforated line around the larger end made by 

 the young bird for escaping. This line is always made to the right. 



October 12, 1888. — Mr. Frank M. Chapman, Vice-President, in the chair. 



Mr. L. S. Foster read a list of birds noted this summer at Kiskatom, 

 Greene Co., N. Y. 



Mr. Ernest E. Thompson stated that he had heard the following birds 

 singing throughout the night, viz. : the Golden-crowned Thrush (Se tu- 

 rns aurocapillus), the Chipping Sparrow (Spt'zella socialis), and the Song- 

 Sparrow (Mclospiza fasciata),a.s well as most of the common songsters. 

 Mr. Thompson also remarked upon the effect of wind in repressing the 

 songs of birds. 



Mr. William Dutcher remarked that contrary to the usual published 

 statements, he believes that Wilson's Petrel (Oceatiites oceanicns) is the 

 common one off our coast, as the majority of Long Island records are of 

 this species. They were common at Little Gull Island in August, 18S8. 



Novetnber 30, 18S8. — Mr. George B. Sennett. President, in the chair. 



Mr. Frank M. Chapman read a paper entitled 'Notes on the Birds of 

 Aiken, S. C.,' based on observations made there in November, 1S87. Fif- 

 ty-seven species were noted, among them a flock of fifty Crossbills, 

 probably the third record for the State, and a single Vireo solitarius alti- 

 cola, the second record for the State (see Auk, July, 18S8, p. 324). About 

 nine tenths of the birds seen were Sparrows and nine tenths of these 

 Spizella socialis. He learned that a Mockingbird (Mt'mus poylglottos) 

 had been observed to herald the approach of each shock of the memora- 

 ble South Carolina earthquake by peculiar twitterings several moments 

 before the rumble became audible. The English Sparrows left Aiken in 

 a body after the earthquake. 



A letter from Mr. William M. Wood of San Francisco spoke of the 

 great number of Sea-birds that are washed ashore dead on the Pacific 

 coast after a storm. 



Mr. George B. Sennett said that Mr. Paul Babcock of New Jersey had 

 found in his chicken coop during 'the blizzara' of last March an immense 

 number of birds, estimated at fully twenty-five hundred, that had taken 

 refuge there. Of these nearly one half were Bluebirds (Sialia sta/t's). 



