138 proceedings: biological society 



in our atmosphere. Changes in solar radiation probably first affect 

 the higher layers of our atmosphere, and thus create an unrest which 

 in turn is transmitted to the lower strata near the earth's surface. 



Such dynamic changes will produce different effects in different 

 regions of the earth. But by thorough and complete analyses of the 

 great meteorological material now at hand it may be possible to find 

 the general rules. This will be an important step forward toward 

 understanding the laws ruling our atmosphere. 



For this purpose it will also be of the greatest importance to have 

 the wonderful researches of Abbot and Fowle continued with the 

 greatest possible efficiency. These investigations of the sun's radiation 

 of heat, which they have been carrying on for a long series of years at 

 Washington, Mount Wilson, Mount Whitney, and in Algeria, have 

 given us the remarkable revelation that our sun is *a variable star, 

 the most important discovery that has been made in this field in many 

 years. {Author's abstract.) 



William R. Maxon, Recording Secretary. 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



The 577th regular meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly 

 Hall of the Cosmos Club, Saturday, Januarj^ 12, 1918; called to order 

 at 8.00 p.m. by President Rose; 38 persons present. 



On recommendation of 'the Council the following were elected to 

 membership: E. A. Chapin, F. P. Metcalf, Charles E. Chambliss. 



President Rose announced the death on October 29, 1917, of Miss 

 Katherine M. Raber, a former member of the Society. 



President Rose announced the membership of the Publication Com- 

 mittee as C. W. Richmond, J. H. Riley, N. Dearborn, and W. L. 

 McAtee; of the Committee on Communications as William Palmer, 

 Alex. Wetmore, R. E. Coker, L. 0. Howard, and A. S. Hitchcock. 



The Recording Secretary read a letter from the Washington Academ.y 

 of Sciences in which subscriptions to the Journal of that Society were 

 solicited on the part of members of the affiliated societies, and in which 

 the aims and character of the Journal were set forth. 



Dr. L. 0. Howard introduced Prof. Stephen A. Forbes, of the Uni- 

 versity of Illinois, as a visitor to the Society who was invited by the 

 President to take part in the discussions. 



Under the heading brief notes, General T. E. Wilcox presented a 

 note read by the Secretary on the inability of camels to swim. 



A. S. Hitchcock outlined the plans formulated by a gathering of 

 botanists during the scientific meetings recently held in Pittsburgh 

 for the establishment of an abstract journal on the subject of botany. 



The regular program consisted of three communications as follows: 



N. E. McIndoo: The senses of insects, illustrated by charts. Three 

 types of olfactory organs were discussed. (1) The lyriform organs are 

 found on all the appendages of spiders. (2) The olfactory pores found 

 on the appendages of insects were divided into simple and compound 



