PROCEEDINGS LIU 



seen under the microscope, of the sedimentary character of the 

 rock. The irregular angular quartz grains are clouded with liquid 

 inclusions containing dancing bubbles. The feldspar is in large 

 part plagioclase, for, notwithstanding the alteration, the character- 

 istic stride in polarized light are yet distinct. Distinct silvery scales 

 of muscovite occur sparingly, so that the rock has the composition 

 of a gneiss, which, on account of the distinct quartz fragments it 

 contains, may be called conglomerate gneiss. 



Mr. G. P. Merrill thought it was premature to decide upon the 

 character of the rock, but that, as far as he had examined it, he 

 agreed with Mr. Diller as to its characters. 



Prof. Lester F. Ward exhibited specimens of the "diamond 

 willow," a form of Sa/i'x cordata occurring in the Upper Missouri 

 region, distinguished by a great exaggeration of the scars left by 

 the early growth of limbs, which form series of large diamond- 

 shaped cavities in the wood. He also exhibited some remarkable 

 canes carved by the people of that region from saplings of this 

 species. 



Prof. Seaman advanced the theory that the scars were produced 

 by a fungus or an insect*. 



The following papers were read by title : 



Mr. Robert Ridgwav. Descriptions of some new North Amer- 

 ican Birds. Description of a \\q\n American Kingfisher. Note on 

 Psaltriparus grindce Belding. Note on the generic name Calodro- 

 nias."^ 



Mr. Leonhard Stejneger. Diagnoses of new species of Birds 

 from Kamtschatka and the Commander Islands.f 



Dr. T. H. Bean and Mr. H. C. Dresel. Diagnoses of three 

 new species of Fishes from the Gulf of Mexico. J 



Fifty-Ninth Meeting, March 8, 1884. 



The President occupied the chair, and forty-five members were 

 present. 



Dr. J. H. Kidder, U. S. N., exhibited specimens of Bacillus 



'■• Proc. Riol. Soc. Wiishington, II, pp. 89-97. Extras printed April lO, 1884. 

 j- Ibid., pp. 97-99. Extras printed April 10, 1884. 



■1- 



Jlliid., pp. 99-100. Extras printed April 10, 1884. 



