10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



are from to \ a line long. The feet are terminated by a five- 

 lobed disk and a pair of claws, as represented in figure 3. The 

 palpi are six-jointed, as represented in figure 1. The mandibles 

 end in pincers or chelae, resembling lobster claws, as represented 

 in figure 2. The movable joint of the chelse has two teeth at the 

 end. The opposed extremity of the fixed joint of the chelas is 

 narrow, and ends in a hook. 



Whether this mite is a true parasite of the ear of the living 

 ox, or whether it obtained access to the position in which it was 

 found after the death of the ox in the slaughter house, has not 

 yet been determined. Dr. Turnbull observed it only in the posi- 

 tion indicated. 



January 9. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Twenty-three members present. 



January 16. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Twent} r -one members present. 



January 23. 

 Dr. Carson, Vice-President, in the chair. 

 Twenty-six members present. 



Mr. Thomas Meehan said that among the ranchmen and 

 miners of California a belief exists that the mammoth Sequoia* 

 will live eight or ten years after being girdled. These trees often 

 had strips of bark taken off for some distance up, and completely 

 round, for the purpose of exhibition in other countries. 



This belief has been generally discredited by those of us ac- 

 customed to the prevalent ideas of the effects of girdling. But 

 experience having taught him how often popular observation was 

 nearly at least correct, notwithstanding our predisposition to be- 

 lieve implicitly accepted conclusions, he had watched for some 

 opportunity to test, by some observations of his own, the Cali- 

 fornian idea. 



A few years ago an Austrian pine on his grounds had the main 

 stem partially girdled by an insect. The opportunity before re- 

 ferred to suggested itself; and he completed the injury, entirely 

 girdling the stem. It was then staked securely to prevent the 

 wind from breaking it oil" at the injured place. The part above the 



[April 10, 



