MINUTES OF SECTION A. 



November i8, 1909. — Miscellaneous scientific meeting, 

 with presentation of mineralogical and natural history speci- 

 mens. Among other things, Dr. B. M. Underhill presented a 

 specimen of an interesting parasitic worm, Echino7'hynchus 

 gigas, order Acanthocephala. This worm is interesting from 

 the fact that it has no digestive tract, but gains nutriment 

 by absorbtion through the body wall. The j^oung worms 

 locate in the larva of the May beetle. The latter are eaten 

 by hogs, and the worms become parasitic in that animal. 



December 16, 1909. — General microscopic meeting. T. 

 Chalkley Palmer exhibited under the microscope bacteria 

 from the human mouth and explained the principles of side 

 illumination and dark background by which they were made 

 visible by a comparatively low power. Albert S. Barker 

 exhibited lantern slides of the winged seeds of Pmdcncmia 

 iviperialis . The usual discussion and exhibition of miscella- 

 neous subjects followed. 



January 20, 1910. — Albert S. Barker exhibited under 

 the microscope Globigcrina mud from the depth of 119 

 fathoms ; also a number of other microscopic objects. Dr. 

 J. C. Starbuck exhibited a species of scale which was found 

 infecting a box of oranges shipped from Florida. William 

 R. Newbold, Jr., showed a number of seeds arranged like 

 strings of beads, the work of the natives of Panama, and 

 used as curtains for doors, etc. He also spoke of the croco- 

 diles found in that region, and said that in the heads of two 

 specimens which he had examined the lower teeth protruded 

 through the upper jaw and produced an elevation of the 

 flesh. Henry L. Broomall mentioned the derivation of the 

 word alligator, showing its descent from the Spanish cl lagarto, 

 the lizard, and the subsequent rehabilitation of the word in 

 the modern Spanish aligador. 



