1911] Proceedings. 7 



Minutes of the last meeting was informal. Mr. Henry L. Ward 



The meeting' was informal. Mr. Henry L. Ward exhibited some 

 specimens of birds showing remarkable sexual coloration. 



Dr. S. Graenicher spoke on the distribution of certain bees and 

 plants. 



Mr. K. A. Muttkowski spoke on the preevalence of the Tussock 

 moth and Tomato worm in Milwaukee during the past summer. 



All members present joined in the discussion of the topics. 



The advisability of the Society's taking action on the appoint- 

 ment of a state game warden by the governor was discussed by the 

 members, no action being taken because of the absence of a quorum. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



Milwaukee, January 12, 1911. 



Meeting of the combined sections. 



President Earth in the chair. 43 people present. 



Minutes of last meeting read and approved. 



Mr. Burrill presented an informal report of a committee on 

 spring shooting. After some discussion on the part of Messrs. Burrill, 

 Barth, Kussell, Finger and Gallun, Mr. Finger moved that the com- 

 mittee confine its work to the opposition of spring shooting in Wis- 

 consin. Seconded and carried. 



A leaflet entitled "A Sportsman's Platform : fifteen cardinal prin- 

 ciples affecting wild game and its pursuit." by W. T. Hornaday, was 

 read by the secretary. Mr. Burrill moved that the Society indorse the 

 principles as read. Seconded by Mr. Doerflinger. Carried. 



The evening's symposium on Venomous Snakes and Their Poisons, 

 was opened by Dr. S. Graenicher, who spoke on the Classification and 

 Phylogeny of Snakes. Dr. Graenicher stated that snakes were of 

 comparatively recent origin, remains having been found in the Eocene 

 epoch. Their nearest relatives are the lizards ; their classification is 

 based upon the bones of the head and the presence or absence of poison 

 fangs. The speaker accented the fact that there are no reliable means 

 of distinguishing poisonous from harmless snakes at sight except 

 familiarity with the species. 



President Barth then announced that owing to the illness of Dr. 

 B. E. W. Sommer, his scheduled lecture would be postponed until 

 February. 



Mr. George W. Colles read an illustrated paper on the Pit-vipers. 

 After a brief review of the various species of poisonous snakes in 



