Proceedings. 9 



February 2, 1892. 



Regular monthly meeting. 



Fifteen persons present. 



Prof. H. L. Osborn read a paper on **The rodentia in 

 evolution; a preliminary study." [See paper A.] 



A letter dated November 12, 1892, from Mr. D. C. Wor- 

 cester, of the Menage Scientific Expedition to the Philippine 

 Islands was then read by Secretary Hall. Following this, 

 President Nachtrieb read the description of a new species 

 belonging to the family Lemuroidea, sent by Mr. Worcester 

 for prompt publication. An abstract of the description has 

 been published in the Zoologische Anzeiger. No. 389, 1892. 



The following were elected members. Prof. W. R. 

 Appleby, Charles P. Berkey, and Arthur H. Elftman, all of 

 the University of Minnesota. 



March 8, 1892. 



Twent3^-three persons present. 



The following papers were presented: 



Notes on the genus Laciniaria in Minnesota, by E. P. 

 Sheldon. [See paper B.] 



The classification of the Metaphyta by Prof. Conway 

 MacMillan. 



[abstract.] 

 Ill this paper an attempt is made to indicate the dual nature of the 

 species among higher plants, in which both sporophytic and gametophytic 

 structures may be distinguished, upon the presence or absence of the sporo- 

 phyte, plants are classified into Gamophyta and Sporophyta and the sub- 

 divisions of these groups are indicated. The futility of attempts to homolo- 

 gizc, after the ordinary manner, higher plants with higher animals is 

 pointed out and the proper course in the search after a basis for compari- 

 son between the two principal phyla of living things is suggested. The 

 paper is published in full in Vol. XVII, pp. 108-113 of the Botanical Gazette 

 (1892). 



Current methods in botanical instruction by Professor 

 MacMillan. 



[aHvSTRACT.] 



The ordinary attitude of educators towards the science of botany is de- 

 scribed and criticised. A plea is entered for the emancipation of botany 

 from its bonds to medicine and the establishment of it, as physics or chem- 

 istry, upon a pure basis, where the knowledge of the plant rather than the 



