It was voted to omit the course of public lectures that 

 have been given by the Society for several years at the 

 American Museum. 



Dr. J. Dwight, Jr., presented a paper on the " Canadian 

 Birds of August," illustrating his remarks, which were, to 

 a considerable extent, on the moult of birds, by many bird- 

 skins, the several plumages of the same species being 

 shown. Visits during the past few years to eastern Canada 

 and the maritime provinces (except Newfoundland) had 

 given the speaker opportunities to observe birds there dur- 

 ing every month in the year excepting January and April. 

 August proved to be a specially interesting month, as it 

 marks the end of the first song season and the beginning 

 of moult in many species. Flocks of land birds begin to 

 assemble early in July, but most species (except the Fly- 

 catchers) do not migrate until the moult is virtually com- 

 pleted. All of the Limicolce, however, appear to migrate 

 before moulting. Large flocks of exceedingly shy adults 

 collecting on the reefs much earlier than the tamer young 

 birds, and departing southward earlier than they do. 



Mr. A. H. Helme stated that he had taken specimens of 

 the Least Sandpiper {Tringa minutilld) on Long Island, in ' 

 the autumn, which were moulting the quill feathers. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. John H. Sage, 

 stating that he had seen five Tennessee Warblers (Helinin- 

 thophila peregrind) at Portland, Conn., on May 17, 1899, 

 all in full song; also that more than the usual number of 

 Pigeon Hawks (Falco co lumbar ins) were passing on Octo- 

 ber 9, 1899. 



Mr. William Dutcher announced that he had learned 

 that the English Sparrow {Passer domes ticus) is now to be 

 found in Manila, Philippine Islands. 



Mr. W. D. W. Miller reported the Alder Flycatcher 

 (Empidonax trail lit alnorum) apparently summering at 

 Plainfield, N. J., where he had seen a specimen on July 

 19, 1899, an< 3 taken the bird, which he exhibited, on Au- 

 gust 6th. 



