lxxxiv 



Genl. Ranney, being invited to address the Academy upon the 

 matter, in the course of his remarks, announced that our fellow- 

 citizen, James H. Lucas, Esq., was the donor of this liberal gift, 

 and paid a fitting tribute to his generosity. 



A committee, consisting of Dr. J. B.Johnson and Albert Todd 

 and C. C. Whittelsey, Esqs., was appointed to tender to Mr. 

 Lucas the thanks of the Society for his liberal offer, and to accept 

 the lot on the conditions mentioned. 



Dr. Engelmann exhibited specimens of an evergreen fern {Poly- 

 podium incanum), which grows in the south and even in the 

 woods around Cairo, mostly on the bark of trees, but does not 

 reach as far north as St. Louis. It has the property of shriveling 

 up and apparently dying, but opens again when moistened. 

 These pseudo-parasitic plants, unlike the true parasites, do not 

 absorb nourishment from the plants to which they fasten, but 

 live on whatever collects in the crevices of the bark, etc. 



Mr. C. V. Riley exhibited some large and handsome specimens 

 of a Japanese silkworm, {Anthercea yama-mai) reared from 

 eggs imported from Japan. Of all the species of silk-producing 

 insects that have been experimented with here, or in Europe, 

 during the last few years, as substitutes for the Mulberry silk- 

 worm, which has been so badly attacked by an epidemic, he said 

 this one gave the greatest promise. It was a large green worm, 

 with silvery spots, and feeds on the leaves of different oaks. The 

 cocoons were as large as a small hen's egg, and the silk was valu- 

 able, strong and lustrous, and was much used in Japan. He had 

 had very good success in feeding them this year. 



Mr. Riley also exhibited specimens of wild sage {Artemi- 

 sia tridentata) from Utah, handed him by Dr. Engelmann. They 

 were peculiar from the fact that there were three distinct galls 

 growing from them. As the plant was rare, these galls were 

 doubtless undescribed. 



Mr. Mallinckrodt reported that he had analyzed the green oak- 

 wood presented at a former meeting by Prof. Hager, and found 

 in the ashes a large percentage of iron ; and he believed the green 

 appearance to be produced by tannate of iron, as the only acid 

 that could be in the wood was tannic acid. There was also found 

 in the ashes carbonate ot lime, carbonate of potassa, and traces 

 of soda, magnesia, manganese and silicic acid. The tannic acid, 

 in combination with the iron, would produce the green color. 



