80 STATEN ISLAND INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
Park set apart to be cared for by the Staten Island naturalists, in 
order to keep it in as natural a condition as possible. 
Mr. Wm. T. Davis stated that he had received a number of egg 
masses of the praying mantis, Paratenadera sinensis, from Mr. 
Philip Laurent of Philadelphia, and had placed them in suitable 
situations on Ward Hill, Tompkinsville, and at Tottenville, where 
it is hoped they will flourish like the colony at Arlington, Staten 
Island. While distributing these egg masses on the thick, tangled 
growth of oriental honeysuckle near the beach at Tottenville, he 
saw a turkey buzzard alight on the beach, and succeeded in 
approaching quite near to the bird. As an early record he men- 
tioned seeing the “little blue butterfly’ Lycaena pseudargiolus on 
March 28. Specimens of the scale insect Lecanium nigrofasciatum 
on twigs of the oriental sycamore, St. Pauls Avenue, Tompkins- 
ville, were also shown. 
A series of water-color sketches of insects, mostly Lepidoptera, 
by Mr. Ernest St. C. Jeans were shown and their excellence com- 
mented upon. 
The meeting of May 18, 1921, was held at the residence of Miss 
Miriam A. Campbell, 275 Watchogue Road, at 8.15 p.m. 
Mr. Carol Stryker, and other members, reported a very success- 
ful walk of the Bird Club on May 14, when about fifty species 
were seen. Twelve rosebreasted grosbeaks were observed, a rather 
unusual number. 
Mr. Wm. T. Davis spoke of a pear tree close to the Watchogue 
Road near Miss Campbell’s home, 6 ft. 3 in. in circumference and 
about 50 ft. high. This is an unusual size for a pear tree. He 
also related his experiences in tracing a sealion reported in the 
local papers to have been killed at Kreischerville. After much 1n- 
quiry and persuasion he succeeded in seeing a portion of the skin 
in the shop of a local upholsterer. It seems to have been a sealion 
rather than a seal. 
Mr. Edward Avis favored the members with imitations of bird 
calls and songs, and selections on the violin, which were much 
appreciated. 
