IStiS.] 137 [Shaler. 



and Northern Kentucky, and, if still remaining in Southern Indiana, 

 has become limited to certain localities where it is not readily found. 

 The phenomenon is to be attributed in great part to the cultivation of 

 the more fertile parts of this region, and also to the fact that cattle 

 will, at certain seasons, feed upon it. But the observer easily per- 

 ceives that these causes alone will not account for the disappearance 

 of the plant. Other influences have driven it away from large tracts 

 of land favoi-ably situated for its growth. It seems but reasonable 

 to regard its disappearance as a consequence, not of tlu; direct action 

 of man, nor of the animals he brought with him, but as one of those 

 changes induced most probably by the effect of cultivation of tlie soil 

 upon the climate of the Western country; by changing the condi- 

 tions of moisture, and jiossibly of heat, he has compelled a southward 

 movement of the northern limit of this species. There are some in- 

 dications of the operation of similar forces upon the higher plants; 

 the box elder, Negundo aceroides Mcench, for examjjle, seems to be 

 rapidly disappearing from this same region, where it was formerly 

 quite common. It is much to be regretted that few carefully made, 

 local lists of plants of the Ohio River valley have ever been compiled. 



Mr. Luther Hills presented some specimens of the work of 

 the beaver, and explained the structure of a beaver dam 

 froLi three hundred to four hundred feet long, near Rangely 

 Lake, in Maine. They can still be seen in other locrJities in 

 the same State, such as Kennebago and Moosetucmaguntic 

 Lakes and Kupsuctic River. 



~ A letter was read from Mrs. E. B. Bryant, making ;i fur- 

 ther donation of birds from Central and South America. 

 The Corresponding Secretary was directed to convey the 

 thanks of the Society for the gift. 



By unanimous vote, the latter clause of the fourth article 

 of the first Section of the By-Laws was altered so as to read: 



'•Any member, who shall neglect to pay his regular assessments for 

 two successive years, upon receiving due notification from the Treas- 

 urer, shall have his name erased from the roll of members." 



The Secretary read a letter from Dr. B. G. Wilder, resign- 

 ing his position as Curator of Herpetology, on account of 



