VOL. III.] Proceedings of Societies. 371 



Check List of the Plants of Kansas. By Bernard B. Smyth. 

 Aug., 1892. This is an attempt to give a complete list of the plants 

 of the State with approximate localities. The introduction shows an 

 originality not common in catalogue makers. The author says: 

 " As to nomenclature the compiler simply adopts those names said 

 by common authority to be the correct ones. He is opposed to 

 changes of name in a plant, and prefers a name long-established and 

 well-known to a name which though more correct, is comparatively 

 unknown. Notwithstanding this, exceptions are made, where evi- 

 dence is indisputable as to priority of some other name as applied to 

 a particular plant. Most noticeable among these is Hicoria instead 

 of Carya, Navarretia for Gilia, Castalia for Nympheea, and others. 

 . . . Where no name is given the compiler doesn't know who is 

 authority. ... A few radical changes are made, as the trans- 

 ferring of the order Nymphaeaceae from Exogens to Endogens, these 

 plants showing most clearly endogenous characteristics of structure. 

 Conversely the order Sniilacaceae should be transferred to Exogens, 

 these plants being exogenous when more than herbaceous." 



. Under the head of "New .Species" are included Erythronium 

 mesochoreum Knerr, n. sp ; Cypenis carruthii Wood, n sp ; Cyperus 

 spiculatus Wood, n. sp.; Setaria perennis Hall,n. sp. Uporobohts pilosus 

 Vasey n. sp. ; Barbula henrici E. A. Rau, n. sp. All of these "new 

 species," excepting two, are credited at the end of the character to 

 previous places of publication. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



California Academy of Sciences, November 7, i8g2. President 

 Harkness in the chair. 



Donations to the museum were reported from John Carlsen, 

 Gustav Eisen, Carl Precht, Dr. J. G. Cooper, John L. Howard. 



November 2r, i8g2. Mr. T H. Hittell in the chair. 



Donations to the museum were received from Willard M. Wood, 

 Miss Lottie Rau, George H. Knight, Sam Hubbard Jr., Overend 

 G. Rose, M. H. Gilson, T. S. Brandegee. 



The Librarian reported 104 additions to the library. 



Mr. H. W. L. Couperus read a paper on the possibility of the 

 cultivation of coffee within the limits of the United States. 



