1878.3 301 [Brewer. 



often with a slightly irregular course, to the margin of the wing; in 

 the fragment there are eight such veins on one wing and six on the 

 other and more imperfect wing, in both cases about equidistant, but 

 more regular and straighter on the left than on the right wing; in 

 both, also, one of the secondary veins, and one only, arising shortly 

 before the middle of the wing, is forked ; on the left side close to its 

 origin, on the right side near the middle of its course. Both borders 

 are perfectly preserved on the right wing, showing it to be 10 mm. 

 broad; the length of the longer fragment is 20 mm,, and the probable 

 length of the wing is about 35 mm. 



General Meeting. February 6, 1878. 



The President, Mr. T. T. Bouve, fn the chair. Fifty-one 

 persons present. 



Dr. W. G. Farlow gave an account of recent investigations 

 on the nature of lichens. 



The following paper was presented: — 



Notes on Certain Species of New England Birds, with 

 Additions to his Catalogue of the Birds of New 

 England. By T. M. Brewer. 



Polioptila cserulea Sclat. In December, 1886, more than 

 forty-one years ago, I ventured, with a ?, to place this species on the 

 list of the birds of Massachusetts, inferentiall.y (Bost. Journ. Nat. 

 Hist., I, p. 436). During all the years that had intervened, there had 

 been no authentic evidence whatever showing that it was entitled to 

 that place. Accordingly, in my catalogue this fact was stated, and 

 its name transferred to the list of unauthenticated claimants. Since 

 then it has been stated (Nutt. Bull., n, p. 20) that two specimens 

 have been shot at Wauregan, Conn., by Mr. C. M. Carpenter, one in 

 1874, the other in 1876. Even if there were any doubts as to the 

 certainty of the identification of these birds, there can be none in 

 reference to an example observed by Mr. Arthur Smith, Nov. 18, 

 1877, at Chatham, Mass., and afterwards secured by Mr. Stephen 

 Decatur (Nutt. Bull., in, p. 45). 



