proceedings: biological society 657 



T. S. Palmer: The discoverer of the toothed birds of Kansas. Dr. 

 Palmer presented a brief account of the life of Prof. Benjamin Frank- 

 lin MuDGE, former State Geologist of Kansas. Prof. Mudge was born 

 at Orrington, Maine, August 11, 181 7, and died at Manhattan, Kansas, 

 Nov. 21, 1879. He came to Kansas about the beginning of the Civil 

 War and was elected State Geologist in 1864. In 1865 he was ap- 

 pointed Professor of Natural Sciences in the State Agricultural College 

 at Manhattan. The last five years of his life were spent in collecting 

 fossils for Prof. O. C. Marsh. During the summer of 1872 Prof. 

 Mudge discovered in the Niobrara beds of the Solomon River the re- 

 mains of Ichthyornis dispar, the first known Cretaceous bird belonging 

 to the group that had teeth in sockets. Four years later at Fort Mc- 

 Kinney, Texas, he discovered another species now known as Ichthyornis 

 lentus. Only five other species of this genus are now recognized. Prof. 

 Mudge has been described as a "Prince of collectors in the West," 

 and Prof. LesquerEaux referred to him in 1871 as "the only truly 

 scientific Geologist west of the Mississippi River." Discussion by 

 J. W. GiDLEY, A. Wetmore and R. W. Shufeldt followed. 



Paul Bartsch: Results in Cerion breeding. Dr. Bartsch gave an 

 interesting account of experiments in transplanting landshells of the 

 genus Cerion from Andros Island in the Bahamas to certain of the 

 Florida Keys. A complete report of the results obtained is now in 

 press and will be published shortly by the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington. Discussion by H. C. Oberholser and A. Wetmore 

 followed. 



Alexander Wetmore, Recording Secretary pro tern. 



600TH meeting 



The 6ooth regular meeting of the Biological Society of Washington 

 was held in the Assembly Hall of the Cosmos Club, on November 

 I, 191 9; called to order at 8.10 p.m. by President H. M. Smith. Fifty- 

 five persons were present. 



On recommendation of the council the following were elected to 

 membership: Federated JVIalay States Museum, Kuala Lumpur, 

 F. M. S.; Ellsworth Killip, U. S. National Museum. 



It was announced that the Council had resolved to tender a vote of 

 thanks to Dr. M. W. Lyon, Jr., in recognition of his faithful and un- 

 tiring service as Recording Secretary. This action of the Council 

 was confirmed, and unanimously endorsed by the members present. 



Under heading of book notices and general notes the following were 

 communicated : 



Dr. H. M. Smith read an announcement of the unveiling of a monu- 

 ment at Arlington Cemetery, dedicated to the memory of Surgeon 

 General George Miller Sternberg. Gen. Sternberg was President 

 of the Society in 1895 and 1896. 



Dr. T. S. Palmer gave notice of the meeting of the American Or- 

 nithologists' Union to be held in New York City, November 11 to 13, 



