Mf. L. S. Foster read a list of antidotes, chiefly plants, 

 which were considered to be useful in treating the bites of 

 poisonous snakes. 



Mr. S. H. Chubb reported the breeding of the European 

 Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in a church tower at Lenox 

 avenue and 123d street, New York City. He had seen 

 several young birds. 



Mr. W. W. Granger stated that two nests, containing 

 nearly-fledged young of this species, are at present on the 

 American Museum building. These birds have been con- 

 tinually present in Manhattan Square since the fall of 1891, 

 with the exception of January and February, 1893. 



October 4, 1893. — The President in the chair. Nine 

 members and seven visitors present. 



The Constitution was so amended that Resident Mem- 

 bers may become Life Members upon the payment to the 

 Treasurer of fifty dollars, which shall be in lieu of annual 

 dues ; and that any person interested in the aims of the 

 Society may become a Patron upon the payment to the 

 Treasurer of five hundred dollars and its acceptance by the 

 Society. 



Mr. L. M. Loomis presented a paper entitled "A Study 

 of the Earlier Southward Migrations at Monterey Bay, 

 California, during June, July, and August, 1892." He found 

 that the migration commenced on the Pacific coast in the 

 same manner as in the East— by the departure, first, of the 

 adult birds breeding in the vicinity, followed later by those 

 from further north. The Northern Phalaropes (Phalaropus 

 lobatus) were very abundant, especially on August 12. 

 Usually they were found to migrate several miles from 

 shore, but on that day they were deflected by a dense fog 

 to within five hundred yards of the coast line. 



Mr. L. S. Foster read a paper entitled "A Consideration 

 of Some Ornithological Literature, with Extracts from 

 Current Criticism. I. 1876 to 1883 " The criticisms in 

 this paper were taken from the eight volumes of the Bulle- 

 tin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, and the subject was 



