, N. Y._ We have started a library, and are now studying
ornithology. Our membership is reduced to three, but all are
active.--Herbert C. Howe.

[_If three active-members understand "Reduction Ascending,"
they will soon reduce the membership to a dozen or more._]

256, _Newton, Upper Falls, Mass._ The past year has been one of
gratifying progress. We number twelve. Our meetings are very
interesting, each member giving an account of some object in his branch
of study, often illustrating it by the specimen or describing some book
he has been reading, or relating some recent personal experience. At the
first meeting of each month a paper called _Gatherings_ is read,
composed of original records of personal observations. Wishing to bring
our Chapter and its work to the knowledge of our friends, we have held a
series of socials at the home of one of our members. The first of the
evening we have devoted to talks and essays by the members of the
Chapter, and later we have played games, and amused ourselves in other
ways. We find this plan very beneficial, and have already gained three
new members and a present of books.--Mrs. J. M. H. Smith.

[_We commend this suggestive report to the earnest attention
of every Chapter._]

257, _Plantsville, Ct._ We have made large additions to our collections.
Our library also has been enlarged, and we have now nearly 100 volumes.
We decide on the subject for each coming meeting in this way. Each
member writes on a ballot the subject he would prefer. The ballots are
then shaken in a hat, and the one drawn first is our subject. Moreover,
the one whose ballot is successful must furnish a paper on that subject,
and all the others bring short items on the same subject. We closed our
last meeting by a collation, and singing by our glee club.--A. L. Ely,
Box 219.

260, _Mercer, Pa._ We have not been idle, and have quite a collection.
We think every Chapter should keep a scrap-book for entering reports and
clippings.--Mrs. H. M. Magoffin.

272, _West Town, N. Y._--Most of us are attending school away from home.
We therefore disband through the winter, and then reorganize for the
summer vacation, and work as much as we can, for we have farm work to do
besides. Still we can study as we work, and we do this. Our minerals are
all labeled and mounted. We have about 200 birds' eggs, some of them
quite rare. We pride ourselves on our insects. I think we have 300,
still am not pos