Michigan Ornithological Club 51 



in the form of the letter C. These should be issued by some central body to 

 avoid confusion and duplication of numbers, who would keep a record of the 

 numbers and to whom sent. 



One of these slipped over a bird's tarsus and closed with the pressure 

 of the thumb and finger seems to fulfill the before mentioned requirements. 

 They are light, strong and non-corrosive. In the case of the smaller birds 

 it seems impossible to put any more than a mere number on the tags. An 

 address to which to send records would be desirable but hardly practicable. 



A record of each number attached, date, place and species thus marked 

 would be made. If a bird turned up anywhere the central body would be 

 notified. Their records would show to whom that number was issued and 

 the field notes would complete the record. 



Such a scheme as this, if widely known and practiced, would in time lead 

 to some very interesting results. It would require the co-operation of the 

 ornithologists all over the continent to arrive at the highest degree of effi- 

 ciency. But even one man would soon be able to decide such questions as 

 whether a bird returns to the same locality or migrates by the same exact 

 routes year after year. 



This seems to be one of the most promising fields open for ornithological 

 work just now and I would greatly like to see the Michigan Ornithological 

 Club take hold of something of the sort and make a start. I have had a few 

 such bands made and am using them as above now. It is needless to say that 

 I request that anyone taking such marked specimens will communicate with 

 me. I should be pleased also to hear from anyone interested in the work. 



Detroit, May i8th. P. A. Taverner. 



MINUTES OF CLUB MEETINGS. 



The first Quarterly Meeting was held at the Detroit Museum of Art on 

 February 5th, 1904. In the absence of the president, J. Claire Wood presided. 

 The first paper was by A. B. Klugh of Guelph, Ontario, on "Our Winter 

 Visitors" (published in the Oologist, Vol. XXI, p. 44). This paper was read 

 by Mr. Blain in the absence of the author. A discussion followed on the 

 Pine Grosbeak. Walter C. Wood spoke at length on his trip to the 

 Cheneux Islands and Mackinac County in October, 1903. Among interesting 

 notes were observations on the Pileated Woodpeckers, Pine Grosbeak, Am. 

 Crossbills and Am. Scoters. Passenger Pigeons were reported to be still 

 occasionally seen. Charles E. Wisner read a paper on a trip taken to the 

 Hen and Chicken Islands in Lake Erie on June 3rd, 1903. Common Terns 

 were found breeding in great numbers — over 1,200 pairs. J. Claire Wood 

 read a paper on "Migration," which created much discussion. 



Discussion followed on the formation of a Michigan Audubon Society. 

 Jefferson Butler was elected a representative of the Club to look into the 

 matter. Letters of acceptance of honorary membership from Dr. J. A. Allen, 

 Mr. Ridgway and Mr. Brewster were read by the Secretary. Adjourned. 



