proceedings: biological society 363 



Whereas, Prof. Wells W. Cooke, distinguished ornithologist, au- 

 thority on bird migration, Treasurer of the Biological Society of Wash- 

 ington, and an active member of the Council of the Society, has passed 

 from this life, therefore be it 



Resolved: That the Biological Society of Washington deeply regrets 

 the death of one for many years so keenly interested in the affairs of 

 the Society, one who was a peculiarly efficient officer, a wise counselor, 

 and a charming companion, and extends its warmest sympathy to the 

 family of Professor Cooke. 



(Signed) N. Hollister 

 ► J. W. Gidley 



Alex. Wetmore 



Under the heading Brief Notes, Dr. Howard E. Ames commented 

 upon a question raised at the 553d meeting as to the existence of a South 

 American mammal having the mammae on the dorsal surface of the 

 body. He had ascertained that this condition existed in the coypu 

 (Myocastor coypu). Dr. Ames also offered information in regard to 

 another question propounded at the same meeting as to the ability 

 of camels to swim: According to Dr. E. A. Mearns dromedaries used 

 in Abyssinia were able to swim; and in a book by an English Army 

 officer of experience Dr. Ames had found a statement to the effect that 

 camels were powerful swimmers. Comments followed by the chair 

 and by Dr. L. O. Howard. 



Under the same heading Dr. F. H. Blodgett discussed the embry- 

 ology of the duck weed, Lemna, and exhibited seeds, remarking that 

 though the plant was common the seeds were seldom found. Dr. 

 Caldwell of Chicago had worked out the development of Lemna to the 

 point of fertilization. Studies made by Dr. Blodgett carried the em- 

 bryology from this point. The talk was illustrated by diagrams. 

 Discussion followed by Mr. W. L. McAtee. 



The first paper of the regular program was by T. H. Kearney: 

 Native plants as indicators of the agricultural value of land. Mr. Kearney 

 outlined the results of field work carried on with Dr. H. L. Shantz 

 in the semiarid regions of the United States west of the 98th meridian. 

 Typical areas were surveyed in Colorado, the Great Basin, and in the 

 Southwest desert region. Detailed surveys defined the dominant 

 types of vegetation and their distribution, and these were correlated 

 with the varying degrees of salinity, moisture content, and other physi- 

 cal properties of the soil. Areas actually under cultivation gave a 

 check as regards productivity. From these studies it is now possible 

 to predict agricultural possibilities by examination of the original types 

 of vegetation in these regions. Typical plant growths and diagrams 

 showing distribution were illustrated by lantern slides. 



Mr. Kearney's paper was discussed by Messrs. W. L. McAtee, 

 William Palmer, Alex. Wetmore, and L. O. Howard. 



The last paper of the regular program was by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt: 

 Comparative study of certain, cranial sutures in the primates. Dr. Shu- 



