OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME XV, 1913 123 



Gahan, Gill, Greene, Heidemann, Heindrich, Hood, Hopkins, 

 Hunter, Kirk, Knab, Mclndoo, Malloch, Middleton, Myers, Pierce, 

 Popenoe, Rohwer, Schwarz. Shannon, Snyder, Turner, Walton and 

 Wood, members, and T. D. A. Cockerell and W. T. X. Forbes visi- 

 tors. President Busck occupied the chair. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were read, and with the 

 insertion of the names of Dr. Adam Boving and Mr. H. B. Kirk as 

 having been proposed for active membership at the last meeting 

 were approved. 



The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Dr. David Sharp 

 thanking the Society for electing him as an honorary member. 



The Editor stated that the manuscript for the second number of 

 volume XV was in the hands of the printer and that it was intended 

 that it would be out on June 6. He also added that he had attended 

 the meeting of the Editors and Secretaries of the Washington 

 Academy of Science and affiliated societies, the purpose of which 

 was to obtain suggestions as to the improvement of the Journal 

 of the Academy. It had been suggested that a department of news 

 and personal notices be included. No action was taken on this. 



Dr. Adam Boving and Mr. H. B. Kirk were elected active 

 members. 



The first paper of the evening "Remarks on Fossil Insects" 

 was presented by Professor T. D. A. Cockerell. 



REMARKS ON FOSSIL INSECTS. 



BY PROF. T. D. A. COCKERELL. 

 [Author's Abstract.] 



The known insects, as well as the plants, can be divided into two 

 great groups, the ancient and the modern. The ancient groups 

 were represented in the Palaeozoic and earlier part of the Mesozoic. 

 During the Mesozoic the dicotyledonous plants, even including 

 genera still common, appeared, and the flora has not changed its 

 general facies since. We know very little about the later Meso- 

 zoic insects but the Tertiary insects are so thoroughly modern in 

 type that there is no doubt that the modern series of insects arose 

 during the Mesozoic. At the same time, it must be noted that of 

 the groups prevalent today, some are very much older than others. 

 The statement has been carelessly made, that bees existed during 

 the Mesozoic. As a matter of fact, none of the few known Mesozoic 



