52 



Without reading the entire hst of species included in the 

 paper, the speaker took up a number of the most interesting 

 forms, and gave notes on their habits and hfe histories, distribu- 

 tion, classification, and economic status. The paper was illus- 

 trated with lantern slides. 



It was discussed by Messrs. J. M. Johnson and T. D. Keim. 



Mr. Dwight Franklin gave a talk on ''Collecting Fishes and 

 Keptiles in Mississippi." He had spent two months in the 

 spring of 1910 in the vicinitj^ of Moon Lake, Miss., making col- 

 lections for the American Museum of Natural History. He 

 described at length the methods of taking certain food fishes 

 — especially the Spoonbill {Polyodon spathula) — for commercial 

 purposes, and also spoke of the various other fishes, as well as 

 the reptiles, birds, and batrachians, which he had collected or 

 observed in the region. Mr. Franklin illustrated his remarks 

 with a large number of lantern slides made from photographs. 



Both papers were also illustrated with preserved specimens, 

 which those present had an opportunity to inspect after ad- 

 journment. 



January 24, 1911. — The President in the chair. One hundred 

 and seventeen members and visitors present. 



Mr. Frank M. Chapman presented the paper of the evening, 

 which was entitled ''Bird Studies in Vera Cruz, Mexico," and 

 embodied some of the results of an expedition which he had 

 conducted to this region last spring. The expedition was made 

 for the purpose of collecting data and material for a new habitat 

 group in the Museum, representing the bird life of the tropical 

 parts of Vera Cruz and the various life zones of Mt. Orizaba. 

 Mr. Chapman illustrated his paper with a large number of 

 lantern slides, including photographs of White Ibises {Guara 

 alha), Man-o'-war-birds {Fregata aquila), and Roseate Spoon- 

 bills {Ajaia ajaja) nesting on the Tamiahua Lagoon, and also 

 a drawing of a new species of Oriole, Icterus fuertesi. This has 

 been named by Mr. Chapman in honor of the discoverer, Mr. 

 Louis Agassiz Fuertes, who accompanied him. A description, 

 together with a plate, of the new species appeared in The Auk, 

 vol. xxviii, 1911, p. 1. 



February IJ/., 1911. — The President in the chair. Nineteen 

 members and visitors present. 



