Record. XXXiil 
species, the islands with a common coastal plain possessing little if 
at all differentiated forms. The almost entire absence of the genus 
from South America and the geographic grouping of species and super- 
species in the West Indies indicate that Agave penetrated from the 
Central American mainland, where it centers, and overran the terrain 
before the disruption into islands, two or perhaps three parent stocks 
being involved. 
Mr. William Keeney Bixby and Mr. Edward Mallinc- 
krodt were unanimously elected Patrons of the Academy. 
Mr. Cloyd Raymond Bender was elected to membership. 
JuNE 6, 1910. 
President Trelease in the chair; attendance 40. 
Professor Walter Edward McCourt gave an account, 
illustrated by lantern slides, of ‘‘The Unfolding of the 
Map of the World.’’ 
Mr. McCourt related how the knowledge of new lands has been 
acquired by discoveries and explorations, beginning with the small 
area about the Mediterranean Sea and gradually widening the geo- 
graphic horizon, until we have the world of today, as we know it. 
Mr. McCourt also told of the various ideas of peoples (from these 
early times, 3000 B. C.) concerning the shape and features of the earth, 
and the various changes taking place on it. The talk was amply 
illustrated by lantern slides, including many ancient and fanciful 
maps of the world, to show how our present ideas concerning the 
earth have come to be. 
The death of Mr. Henry W. Scheffer was reported. 
Octosper 17, 1910. 
President Trelease in the chair; attendance 52. 
Professor William Trelease exhibited and illustrated 
by lantern slides ‘‘The Smallest of the Century Plants.’’ 
Professor J. L. Van Ornum gave a summary of his 
recent experiments showing the effect of the presence 
of vegetable mold on the strength of concrete and mortar. 
Professor F. E. Nipher gave a review of his recent 
work on the electric discharge. 
The death of Dr. Gustav Baumgarten pa of Judge Jacob 
Klein was reported. 
