May, 1903 .] 
Meeting of the Wheaton Club. 
437 
MEETING OF THE WHEATON CLUB. 
The Club met in Biological Hall, Monday evening, April the 
twentieth. After the reading of the minutes there was a short 
business session in which, among other matters, the Club resolved 
to make efforts toward the better protection of birds in the 
University grounds. After the business session the Club spent 
most of the evening in a general discussion of the causes, routes 
and general phenomena of bird migration. Prof. Smith opened 
the discussion by a review of the articles published several years 
ago by Prof. W. W. Cooke upon “ Bird Migrations in the Missis- 
sippi Valle}’.” The investigations upon which this was based, 
could not, by reason of the physical features of the region studied, 
afford much light on the question of the existence or non-exist- 
ence of particular bird routes. At this point Prof. Smith took 
occasion to state the conflicting theories upon this subject which 
are held by European ornithologists, some holding that birds 
migrate along special paths and others that they pass in a broad 
mare. The point covered to a fuller degree in the article reviewed 
was as to the effects of mind and temperature particularly the 
latter, upon migration flights and the author of the article 
seemed to consider the effect of temperature the more important. 
An article in the American Naturalist for September, 1902, upon 
‘‘Bird Migrations” by Dr. C. C. Trowbridge was then briefly 
reviewed by Mr. Derby. This article which based its conclusions 
upon the observations of hawk migrations upheld the influence 
of wind in migration as opposed to temperature. Mr. Mead then 
presented a paper upon “The Great Auk.” He first described 
the distribution of the bird and commented upon the fact that it 
occupied formally in the North Polar regions the position held by 
the Penguin in the South. He next took up the appearance and 
habits of the birds, speaking of its awkward movements, habit 
of flocking in great numbers, the fact that only a single egg was 
laid and other interesting details. He then described graphically 
the former abundance of the Auks and their wholesale destruction 
for the sake of the eggs, flesh and feathers by the sailors. The 
last live birds found were captured in 1844. In closing mention 
was made of the specimens in existence and of the value assigned 
to them. Prof. Hine called the attention of the Club to two 
records, made some years ago, of birds very rare in the state, the 
Red-cockaded Woodpecker and the Red-tailed Black Hawk, both 
taken in this region. In the line of personal observations Mr. 
Dawson reported several early records, among which were Hermit 
Thrush, March 15 ; Barn Swallows, April 4, and Bobolink and 
Chimney Swift, April 12. 
Walter J. Derby, Secretary. 
