104 proceedings: biological society 



small quantities of an alkaloid called katrine, which seems to resemble 

 cocain. It has been introduced into the United States by the Office 

 of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, United States Department 

 of Agriculture, and grows well in the South. The dangers from its 

 use have probably been much exaggerated. This plant may present 

 commercial possibilities as the source of a new beverage to compete 

 with tea. 



W. E. Safford, Corresponding Secretary. 



THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 548th meeting of the Biological Society of Washington was held 

 at the Cosmos Club on Saturday evening, January 15, 1916; called 

 to order by President Hay, with 40 persons present. 



The President noted the recent death of F. M. Webster, long a 

 member of the Society. 



Upon recommendation of the Council the following were elected 

 to active membership: H. F. Taylor, Bureau of Fisheries, Douglas 

 C. Mabbott, Biological Survey; Wallace M. Yatees, Department 

 of Agriculture. 



Under the heading of Brief Notes and Exhibition of Specimens 

 Mr. Wm. Palmer exhibited a specimen of seahorse which actually 

 came from near Colonial Beach, Chesapeake Bay, but which had at- 

 tained much newspaper notoriety as having been caught in the Tidal 

 Basin, D. C. He also exhibited the collector's sketch of a pipefish 

 which had actually been captured in the Tidal Basin. 



The regular program consisted of a communication by W. W. Cooke, 

 Notes on Labrador birds. Mr. Cooke gave an interesting account of 

 Mr. Clarence Birdseye's experiences and travels in Labrador dur- 

 ing the past four years while engaged in farming silver gray foxes for 

 their fur, describing the difficulties under which he labored and the 

 disastrous effect of the European War on the fur market. The speaker 

 then gave an historical survey of Labrador ornithology from the early 

 days of Cartwright to Mr. Birdseye's latest observations which include 

 the extension of range of several species of birds. Mr. Cooke's paper 

 was illustrated with lantern slide views of maps of Labrador, maps 

 of migrations of certain birds, and views of several birds which had 

 lately been observed for the first time in eastern Labrador. Mr. 

 Birdseye's observation on Labrador birds will appear in full in the 

 April Auk. 



The paper was discussed by Messrs. Wm. Palmer and Alex. 

 Wetmore. 



M. W. Lyon, Jr., Recording Secretary. 



