RECORDS OF MEETINGS 435 



shows that the freezing point of the blood of such fishes is higher than 

 that of normal blood. If the fishes are placed in a solution of sea water 

 plus sea salt, the corpuscles count is increased, the specific gravity of the 

 blood is greater and the freezing point of the blood is depressed. A 

 chemical examination of the chlorides of the blood of normal fish as com- 

 pared with the chlorides of fishes kept in fresh water shows that the loss 

 of chlorides in case of the fishes experimented on is greater than the mere 

 dilution of the blood by the endosmosis of water would account for. 

 Hence, under the abnormal conditions to which the fish is subjected, the 

 gills become permeable to salts. The osmotic pressure of the blood is 

 thus profoundly changed. That these changes reach the tissues is indi- 

 cated by investigations now going on. The death of the fish which usually 

 accompanies such sudden transitions as are employed in these experiments 

 is possibly caused by conditions set up similar to those in such diseases as 

 dropsy. It is hoped that further investigations being carried on at present 

 will clear up this question. 



Mr. Miner described the chief associations of marine animals to be 

 found between the tides or just below the lower tide limits along the 

 north Atlantic coast, with especial reference to the annulates and mol- 

 luscs and the fauna of wharf piles in the Woods Hole region and the 

 north shore of Long Island. The methods of collecting and the chief 

 steps for preserving data, observations, etc., for museum ecological groups 

 were then briefly outlined. The speaker then spoke of the problems con- 

 nected with constructing and installing groups and models of inverte- 

 brates in a museum. Colored slides were shown both of the living inver- 

 tebrates and their habitat and also of the models and groups in course of 

 construction and as completed at the American Museum. The speaker 

 concluded by exhibiting two sketch-models prepared to take in the field 

 under his direction by Messrs. Matausch and Shimotori of the museum 

 staff as preliminary studies for the Annulate and Pile Fauna Groups 

 which are in course of construction in the American Museum. 



Mr. Matausch exhibited a series of six enlarged models in wax which 

 he had prepared for the American Museum of Natural History, as well as 

 a series of 23 colored drawings and a collection of typical specimens 

 which had been sent him by Professor F. Silvestri, of Portici, Italy. The 

 Memhracido', or tree-hoppers, are among the most interesting of insects. 

 Very little is yet known concerning the life histories of these forms, a 

 subject to which the speaker said he had devoted considerable attention. 

 They are remarkable for the extraordinary variation in the form of the 

 prothorax. In order to make an enlarged model, it is necessary to dis- 

 member the insect and to prepare drawings of the difi'erent parts to a 



