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SOCIETY NEWS. 



Meeting Jan. 7, 1890. — Twenty-one persons presents Capt. T. L. Casey 

 presiding. Reports of the Treasurer and Assistant Editor respectively, for 

 the year ending Dec. 31, 1889, were read and accepted. Col. William C. 

 Beecher, of 123 Columbia Heights, a member of the Institute, was elected a 

 member of the Department. The election of officers was postponed until 

 the first meeting in May, to correspond with the other departments of the 

 Institute. The election of editor or editors was laid over until the February 

 meeting. Mr. Roberts opened the scientific discussion by exhibiting speci- 

 mens of Deronectes hydroporus and Dineutes and pointed out differences of 

 structure existing in individuals now associated under one species in each of 

 these genera, which differences from their constancy seemed to indicate that 

 they in fact belonged to distinct species. Mr. Hulst was appointed to read a 

 paper at the next meeting. Mrs. A. T. Slosson presented to the Society cf 

 and $ specimens of Seirarctia echo, which were accepted with thanks. 



Meeting Feb. 4, 1890. — Thirty-four persons present. Capt. T. L. Casey, 

 President, in the chair. Mr. Henry S. Woodman explained a method of 

 preparation and mounting of entomological specimens for microscopic pur- 

 poses. Pasteboard rings could be readily made by using two gun-wad punches 

 differing in diameter of cut, say one-eighth of an inch, the outer edge being 

 cut first. A glass slide was then placed upon a turn-table and the balsam ap- 

 plied in the usual manner, but always slightly larger than the cut on account 

 of the shrinkage of the balsam in drying. No solicitation need be felt on ac- 

 count ot air bubbles, which in time would disappear. The cut was laid in 

 position by a pair of tweezers and then adjusted by a needle point applied to 

 its inner edge, after which more balsam was added until it projected above 

 the cut. The object to be examined was then deposited in the balsam and 

 arranged under a lens, with the needle point, after which a cover-glass of 

 smaller diameter than that of the cut was placed over the balsam, and the 

 edges made to correspond by a short spatula-like steel blade, the cover-glass 

 being then firmly pressed upon the cut, which completed the work. Prof. 

 Smith added that by boiling the balsam on the glass over a flame, all air bub- 

 bles were immediately expelled, the balsam was hardened, and the slide 

 could be used forthwith. 



Dr. Zabriskie presented a double-sided case devised by himself for con- 

 taining botanical specimens. The two sides being of equal size, joined by a 

 hinge at the back. Two rows of cards of three each, upon which the speci- 

 mens were glued, exactly filled each side, the upper edges of the upper row 

 and the lower edges of the lower row being inserted in a groove running along 

 the top and bottom of the cases, while the edges of the cards where they 

 came in contact in the middle were prevented from displacement by a retaining 

 bar, consisting of a flat narrow strip of wood, one end of which could be fitted 

 in a cavity, in the side of the case, and the other fastened by passing over a 

 small spring. The bar could be released by pressing back the spring, and 

 cards rearranged if desired. 



The cases contained twelve specimens of portions of the stems and leaves 

 of Rosa Carolina and litcida, affected by several species of Cynipidae and ex- 

 hibiting nearly all the effects produced by the several species of these insects 

 upon the wild rose in this locality. 



Mr. Meeske presented to the cabinet a cocoon and pupa of Samia cynthia 

 filled with partially developed ichneumons, and a number of specimens of 

 the perfect ichneumon. ' A. C. Weeks, 



