May 4, 1921 proceedings: entomological society 215 



years ago, when Kalakaua was King, and his last visit, when he was sent to 

 the islands as delegate from the U. S. Department of Agriculture to the First 

 Pan-Pacific Scientific Conference, held at Honolulu from August 2 to August 

 20, 1920. 



During the Conference Dr. Safford presented papers treating of the dis- 

 semination of plants by ocean currents, the introduction of plants in prehis- 

 toric times through human agency, and the role played by the vernacular 

 names of economic plants as indices to the origin not only of the plants but 

 of the people who introduced them. A number of lantern slides were shown 

 illustrating the arts and customs and the physical appearance of the primitive 

 inhabitants and showing the contrast of the Hawaiian Islands as first seen 

 by the lecturer with the Territory of Hawaii of today, with its great sugar 

 and pineapple industries, the rice-fields and water-lily ponds of the Chinese 

 and Japanese, which have almost supplanted the taro-patches of the natives, 

 and the magnificent modern city which has grown out of the early Honolulu, 

 with its homely residences embowered in palms and ferns, and the grass- 

 covered houses of the natives nestling in the valleys surrounded by taro- 

 patches and clumps of 'awa plants from which their narcotic drink was pre- 

 pared. 



Slides were also shown illustrating the former lava flows on the Island of 

 Hawaii, and the crater of Kilauea, whose activity still continues. 



Dr. Safford paid a tribute to the generous hospitality received bv the mem- 

 bers of the Conference and called attention to the admirable organization of 

 the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association and to the impctant work ac- 

 complished by the U. S. Department of Agriculture Experiment Station at 

 Honolulu, under the management of Mr. J. M. Westgate. 



The part of this paper relating to the flora of the Islands and the role played 

 by economic plants introduced in prehistoric times in the daily life of the 

 primitive Hawaiians will be published elsewhere. (Author's abstract.) 



A. A. DooLiTTLE, Recording Secretary. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



334th meeting 



The 334th meeting of the Entomological Society of Washington was held 

 in Room 43 of the new building of the National Museum on November 4, 

 1920. President Walton presided and there were present 33 members and 

 9 visitors. Messrs. J. C. Bridwell, of the Bureau of Entomology', and L. L. 

 Buchanan, of the Biological Survey, were elected to membership. 



Regular program 



L. O. Howard: A recent visit to certain European entomologists. 



This was a running account of Dr. Howard's recent visit to Europe, illus- 

 trated by many lantern slides of the entomologists whom he met and of places 

 of entomological interest. The personal characteristics, work, and special 

 interests of the various entomologists were discussed. 



N. E. McIndoo: The auditory sense of the honey bee. 



Beekeepers are agreed that bees can hear, yet they cannot prove it, and 

 critics still contend that it has never been experimentally proven that any 

 insect can hear; nevertheless, within the last few years some good experimental 

 results have been obtained. 



The special sound-producing apparatus of the honeybee consists of the 

 membranes lying between the axillaries at the bases of the front wings. 



