FEB. 4, 1921 proceedings: biological society 65 



more than ten centuries, and are more creditable than some recent works in 

 occidental countries. There are still some very activebotanists, oneof whom 

 has published the largest descriptive treatise ever attempted, and one of 

 great merit. Successful agricultural schools are established, as well as re- 

 foresting projects. The paper was illustrated by lantern slides of Chinese 

 plants, plant environments, books, gardens and botanists. The paper was 

 discussed by Mr. T. L. Gary. 



6I0TH MEETING 



The 615th meeting of the Biological Society of Washington was held in 

 the lecture hall of the Cosmos Club on November 13, 1920. Vice-president 

 Ned Hollister called the meeting to order at 8.10 p.m., with 40 persons 

 present. 



On recommendation of the Council Messrs. Oscar P. Silliman, Salinas, 

 California; M. Sloog, of the A. L. P. Agence de Libraire de Publications, 

 New York City; S. Stillman Berry, Redlands, California, and Herbert 

 J. P.\CK, Logan, Utah, were elected to membership. 



Informal communications 



Dr. Paul Bartsch stated that the ship-worm problem in San Francisco 

 Bay is reaching important proportions. The Navy has lost $7,000,000 worth 

 of piling, and commercial shipping has sustained a loss of $5,000,000. The 

 damage is caused by a Teredo, probably undescribed. Dr. Bartsch also 

 referred to two land shells, .Epiphragmophora, which have probably been 

 differentiated very recently. One, a large form, was rather rare under the 

 needles of cypress, and at a little distance, occurring only on rocks under 

 shelter; Mosambrianthum , a composite, was a smaller form, otherwise identical. 

 Each had its own associates. Also in the Hawaiian Islands, Dr. Bartsch 

 noted a honey-eating bird with the same repulsive odor as that of the Honey 

 Creeper of South America. An explanation of the similarity of odors was 

 desired. 



Dr. T. vS. Palmer, referring to the meeting of the American Ornithological 

 Union, recently held in Washington, said that the attendance was 140, 

 out of a membership of 1140, the largest on record. The attendance at the 

 technical sessions indicated great interest. The Chairman remarked, apro- 

 pos of interest in the more technical aspects of biology, that the symposium 

 upon subspecific characters brought out both large attendance and great 

 interest, when the subject was wholly technical. 



Mr. William Palmer exhibited the type skull of Rhabdostetts, one of several 

 genera of very peculiar dolphin-like animals, possessing extremely extended 

 upper jaws. Mr. Palmer exhibited parts of a similar skull, enough to re- 

 construct a skull 39 inches long, collected from the beds south of Chesapeake 

 Beach, Maryland. 



Regular progratn 



R. W. Shufeldt: A snake affected with chiggers. 



A black snake was found by Dr. Shufeldt which had unusual swellings in 

 the skin of the anterior third of the body. The animal could not shed the 

 skin thus affected, and seemed to be considerably discomfited. A little 

 soaking in warm water enabled the skin to be removed easily, and the snake 

 gave evidence of relief. The snake had been in the hands of several biol- 

 ogists, and on coming into the hands of Dr. H. E. Ewing, of the Bureau of 

 Entomology, the skin was microscopically examined, and was clearly found 



