proceedings: biological society 201 



and very low undershrubs. Succession was most rapid on the upper 

 slopes and the annual and perennial grasses gradually moved down the 

 slopes into drier situations. Fire is the principal factor in preventing 

 shrubs from replacing the grasses. 



In the informal discussion Mr. G. A. Pearson discussed the reseed- 

 ing of yellow pine areas; Mr. J. T. Jardine, how to maintain a most 

 productive subclimax type of vegetation for sheep pasturage; Dr. 

 David Griffiths, the effect of fires on the maintenance of the grass 

 stage in Arizona; and Dr. H. L. Shantz, the importance of a knowledge 

 of succession in the interpretation of the results of range management. 



H. L. Shantz, Corresponding Secretary. 



THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 566th meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall 

 of the Cosmos Club Saturday, February 24, 1917; called to order by 

 President Hay at 8 p.m.; 50 persons in attendance. 



Under the heading book notices, brief notes, exhibition of speci- 

 mens, etc., M. W. Lyon, Jr., called attention to the latest edition of 

 the International Rules of Zoological Nomenclature containing a 

 summary of the opinions that have been rendered by the International 

 Commission, compiled by Mr. John Smallwood of Washington. 



Dr. R. W. Shufeldt communicated a short paper entitled "Notes 

 on the. Trunk-fishes" and exhibited a specimen of Lactophrys tricornis. 



Dr. L. O. Howard commented on the parent tree of an unusually 

 fine variety of oranges and the extraordinary care taken of it by the 

 owner during the recent cold weather in Florida. 



Mr. Wm. Palmer also commented on the effects of the recent "freeze" 

 in Florida. 



The regular program consisted of three communications as follows: 



T. S. Palmer: A pioneer naturalist in southern Florida. — Extracts 

 from the diary of Titian R. Peale, 1825. Dr. Palmer gave a detailed 

 account of Peale's collecting trip in Florida in 1825 made for the pur- 

 pose of securing birds for Prince Louis Bonaparte and mentioned 

 and exhibited the species of birds discovered by Peale as new to science 

 or new to the United States. He read extracts from Peale's diary 

 and called attention to the other scientific expeditions of which Peale 

 was a member, giving many interesting facts of his long life. 



A. L. Quaintance: Some notes on the Aleyrodidae. (No abstract.) 



Emerson Stringham (introduced by R. E. Coker) : The shad and its 

 relatives in the Mississippi river. 



Mr. Stringham said that herring-like fishes found in the Mississippi 

 river possess more economic significance than formerly recognized. 

 The two mooneyes (Hiodon) have flesh of excellent quality, but they 

 are not sufficiently abundant to be of great importance. They eat 

 principally insects, and feed both summer and winter, day and night, 

 and they deposit their eggs as soon as the water temperature begins 

 to rise in spring. The gizzard shad (Dorosoma) which serves as food 



