^12 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE [AugUSt, 1888. 



The specimen is about eighteen inches long and is not adult, as the length 

 of four and five feefc is commonly reached. 



There are instances of its wandering off from its regular habitat at considera- 

 ble distances during the summer months, individuals having been captured off 

 Wood's Hole on the coast of Massachusetts. This is believed to be the first 

 recorded instance of its capture off the South CaroHna coast. 



It is an excellent table fish and is assiduously fished for along the coast of 

 the Island of Jamaica where it is much esteemed. 



Mb. E. a. Smyth remarked that on the 4th of August, he was collecting 

 birds on the various islands that surround Stono Inlet, While walking on the 

 front beach of the western end of FoUy Island, he picked up a dead bird that 

 had evidently been washed ashore. The skin and flesh had been eaten away from 

 the head and neck, but without destroying the beak or the bones of the skull. 

 The rest of the bird was in fairly gooH condition, although not suggestive of 

 " Araby the blest." Mr. Smyth stated that he recognized the bird as the re- 

 mains of a Dusky or Audubon's Petrel. Knowing the rarity of the bird in 

 this quarter, he determined to attempt the preservation of the specimen and 

 started back to his boat for that purpose. Upon getting into his skiff to row 

 to his yacht which was anchored some distance off the beach, he obsei'ved what 

 appeared to be a wounded bird in mid-stream, coming in apparently with the 

 wind and tide. Having been shooting at Long-billed Curlews the greater part 

 of the day, as they flew to and from Bird Key, he naturally supposed this to be 

 one of the wounded that had fallen into the water. He rowed towards it with 

 the intention of picking it up, but before getting within gunshot range, the 

 bird rose and flew seaward, with that peculiar curvature of wing distinctive of 

 the Puffins and Petrels. The squally appearance of the weather forbade a trip 

 seaward in an open boat, so restraining his desire to obtain the bird, he turned 

 and rowed back to the yacht. Scarcely five minutes had passed, when, hap- 

 pening to look seaward, he saw the same bird drifting down upon the boat 

 as before. The bird continued its drift until almost on the boat when he shot 

 it. Upon picking the bird out of the water it was found to be, like the first, 

 a Dusky Puffin, ( Paffinus Auduboni,) only in perfect condition. Mr. Smyth 

 stated that it was the thinnest specimen of a sea bird that he had ever handled, 

 the skin being entirely free from the masses of fat usually found in Ducks and 

 Gulls. It is now in his collection. 



This capture is worthy of record, being only the second authentic instance, 

 ia his knowledge, of the capture of this bfrd around Charleston; the other spe- 

 cimen was taken on Sullivan's Island, and is now in the collection of Mr. Arthur 

 T. Wayne of Charleston. 



A letter of resignation from Gen. E. McCrady was read and ac- 

 cepted. 



