43 



I found the first one at night, after the heavy rain of the 27th, in a path at 

 the edge of a recently ploughed field, a quarter of a mile from any pond or 

 running water. Several were heard during the evening in various directions, 

 but they did not seem abundant, and the darkness prevented my obtaining 

 any. The next morning my brother collected a pair which he found copu- 

 lating in a little pool formed by the heavy rain. I visited the pool shortly 

 after, but found only a single female, and she had already laid her eggs. 

 Strings of eggs were attached to the grass growing in the water which, from 

 their quantity and being placed in different parts of the pool, I concluded 

 must have been deposited by two females. The pair obtained by my brother 

 I placed in water, and during the day the female deposited her spawn. I fre- 

 quently heard the notes of several other pairs, during the day, in different 

 pools of water. 



You will remember that I have repeatedly asserted that Scaphiopus oc- 

 curred at Springfield, and that on more than one occasion I had heard their 

 notes, the last time I heard them was about the end of June, 1863, after a 

 succession of heavy showers had filled low places with temporary pools of 

 water, when from noon 'til 11 P. M. all such pools and ponds resounded with 

 their unmistakable croakings. They were then out in great numbers and 

 undoubtedly spawned ; but, being confined to the house by illness, I was un- 

 able to observe the fact or to obtain specimens. 



Having observed this species spawning at Cambridge, early in the spring, 

 their spawning here so late as June becomes the more interesting, and I think 

 the time of spawning of this singular species is governed much by the wetness 

 or dryness of the season. 



This year water has not stood before in the places here frequented by 

 them for the deposition of their ova. Two days ago the pool was dry, where 

 yesterday they laid their eggs, and no other toads or frogs were about (they 

 had all spawned long ago). 



I shall observe the development of the eggs and tadpoles and will let you 

 know about them ". 



Donations to the Museum and Library were announced. 



A large display of native plants, the gleanings of the Botanists of the 

 party during their forenoon rambles, having been placed on the table, Cyrus 

 M. Tracy, of Lynn, was called upon, and spoke in his usual instructive man- 

 ner of the different species, among which, were the Nodding Trillium, Tril- 

 lium cernuum ; Bellwort Uvularia perfoliata ; Solomon's Seal, Pohjgonatum bi- 

 Jlorum ; Yellow Violet, Viola pubescens ; Indian Turnip, Arisrema tripJiyllum ; 

 Cranesbill, Geranium maculatum ; and then alluded to the pecularities in the 

 flora of this section of the county ; the excellence of the soil for developing 

 many rare and interesting plants, and had not conclnded his interesting com- 

 ments on the specimens before him when a shower commenced which in- 

 creased to such an extent as to compel a speedy adjournment. This was fol- 

 lowed by a succession of summer rainfalls which prevented the resumption 

 of the business meeting, though detracting nothing from the hilarity of the 

 party, who sought shelter as best they could until the arrival of the carriages 

 which conveyed them back to the Town Hall. 



The interruption of the meeting was unfortunate, as the material at hand 

 afforded a variety of topics of the most interesting and instructive character. 

 The Zoologists had been quite successful in their collections and were pre- 



