MINUTJvS 01-' SJ<:CTION A. I27 



on August 27th, 1883. In ibis cataclysm the top of the 

 mountain was blown off, and by the aid of delicate instru- 

 ments it was proved that the resultant sound waves circled 

 the earth seven times. General discussion on sound, its 

 nature and definition, ensued. Dr. E. D. Fitch mentioned 

 that when viewing an object microscopically it was possible 

 on a contiguous piece of paper to see an image sufhciently 

 clear to draw with a pencil. He asked an explanation, which 

 was given by Albert S. Barker. Ur. B. M. Underhill exhi- 

 bited specimens of the ox louse {Trichodectes sca/ar/s), a 

 Species found upon cattle, and of biting and climbing habit. 

 These had been mounted by the Director upon slides for the 

 microscope. Following the subject of parasites, Charles Potts 

 spoke of finding a spider's nest which had been inhabited by 

 some thirty specimens of ichneumon, and Sanford Omensetter 

 produced a chrysalis of Sainia cccropia almost totall}^ cleared 

 of its interior by some parasite, also probably ichneumon. 

 Sanford Omensetter gave his observations on the actions of 

 the common earthworm ( Lumbriais tcrrestris) in its attempts 

 to uproot and store in its burrows freshly planted onion sets. 

 Charles Potts had noticed the same proclivities. Albert S. 

 Barker exhibited Spi?'ogyra in early and complete stages of 

 conjugation, also specimens of Amoeba (radiosa?). The 

 Section adjournetl. 



