record of proceedings. 17 



May 27th, 1876. — Biological Section. 



J. Dj Putnam in the chair. 



Eleven members present. 



On motion of Dr. C. II. Preston, it was voted to hold the 

 regular meeting of the Section on the first Saturday evening of 

 each month. 



A letter was read from Mrs. Marv P. Haines, of Richmond, 

 Indiana, inquiring if any of our members were interested in the 

 study of the mosses, etc. The subject of mosses and lichens, 

 and the books relating to them, were discussed to some extent. 

 Mr. J. G. Haupt was appointed to make further investigations. 



Mr. Haupt reported a list of sixty species of plants which had 

 been collected in flower since the last report, April 15th. One 

 of these, a species of Eriisimuin^ is new to this locality. An 

 abundance of all the wild plants now in flower was on hand, 

 and a number of those present, under the leadership of Mr. 

 Haupt, organized a class, and spent some time in analyzing 

 plants. 



Dr. Preston exhibited some large tadpoles, which he was 

 keeping under observation in a vase during the interesting pro- 

 cess of development to the adult batrachian state. 



Mr. Putnam brought a living horned toad {Phrynosoma cor- 

 nutum) from Texas, given by Mrs. Col. Mandeville, and a fine 

 living specimen of a tree toad {Hyla versicolor^ Lee.) from 

 Jacksonville, 111. Also a specimen of Sainia cecropia, recentlv 

 emerged from a cocoon in one of the cabinets of the Academy. 



Mr. Putnam reported a continued scarcity of butterflies, prob- 

 ably owing to the severe cold weather of March and April. The 

 following species were observed during the month of May : 

 Papilio usterias, P. troilus^ Colias lyliilodice^ Pieris protodice^ 

 Danais errippiis^ Pyrameis oardui^ P. atalanta, Lyccena 

 sp., Hesperia sp., DeilepMla Uneata^ Arctia nais, Samia 

 cecropia^ and others. A considerable number of beetles, in- 

 cluding several not before recorded from this locality, were col- 

 lected, but have not yet been identified. 



A living specimen of a large black spider, a species of Lycosa, 

 bearing a large globular cocoon filled with eggs, was shown by 



[Proc. D. A. N. S. Vol. II.] 4 [March 1877.] 



