June 2, 1899.] 



SCIENCE. 



^85 



sent to phj'sicists geoerally, and provision will 

 be made that those voting upon it by mail shall 

 be received as original members of the Society. 

 The first regular meeting will be held in Octo- 

 ber. Already about a hundred members are 

 assured, and it is hoped that the Society 

 may eventually contain all leading American 

 physicists and take a prominent place among 

 our scientific societies. 



A. G. Webster, 



SecreUiry pro tern. 



THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP WASHINGTON. 



The 304th regular meeting was held March 

 11th. The program consisted of an illus- 

 trated lecture on the general physiographical 

 and biological features of Puerto Eico by Dr. 

 E. T. Hill, of the U. S. Geological Survey. The 

 mountain and drainage systems were explained 

 and classified, and the relations of the various 

 geological formations and the resulting soils to 

 the flora and agricultural resources of the 

 island were pointed out. 



The lecture was supplemented by informal 

 accounts from Dr. B. W. Evermann, of the U. 

 S. Fish Commission, and Mr. A. B. Baker, of 

 the Zoological Park, who had recently returned 

 from Puerto Eico. Dr. Evermann stated 

 that the coasts are almost everywhere 

 abrupt and rocky, and that the water is 

 generally agitated by a powerful surf. The 

 result of these conditions is that only 

 those types could survive which were adapted 

 for life in deep water or which were fitted by 

 habits and structure to secure protection among 

 the rocks. This applies not only to the fishes, 

 but to the molluscs, Crustacea, algfe and other 

 groups, all classes of aquatic organisms having 

 received the attention of the expedition. The 

 fresh- water fish fauna is not extensive and has 

 been derived independently from marine groups, 

 having no connection with the fresh- water forms 

 of the continent. Dr. Evermann also explained 

 the methods of the native fisherman and ex- 

 hibited examples of traps and decoys for fishes 

 and turtles. 



Mr. Baker noticed some additional points re- 

 garding the geography and physiography of the 

 island and the almost complete destruction of 

 the forests, which has had a disastrous effect 



upon the fauna, having more less completely 

 exterminated some species and caused profound 

 changes in the habits of others. 



At the 305th regular meeting, March 25th, 

 Dr. T. S. Palmer traced the history of the in- 

 troduction of the English sparrow into the 

 United States and its subsequent gradual dis- 

 tribution throughout temperate North America. 



The case of the mongoose in Jamaica, Puerto 

 Rico and Hawaii was also considered, together 

 with accounts of other accidental or intentional 

 importations of mammals or birds, and the 

 general conclusion was drawn that once re- 

 moved from the natural conditions and checks 

 of its original habitat it is impossible to know 

 in advance of the experiment what the utility 

 or injury of any given species will be, and 

 hence such experiments should be undertaken 

 with .the greatest caution. The speaker con- 

 sidered the introduction of game birds attended 

 with less danger on account of the fact that 

 they would more easily be kept under control 

 by human agency. 



Mr. M. B. Waite exhibited specimens illus- 

 trating ' The Effects of the Eecent Severe Cold 

 on Vegetation,' and described the processes at- 

 tending the freezing of plant cells, explaining 

 that sudden thawing caused death in many in- 

 stances because the protoplasm of the cells was 

 unable to reabsorb the water lost in freezing. 



The extent of recent injuries to fruit trees and 

 ornamental and native plants was then touched 

 upon and subsequently discussed by several 

 members. 



Mr. F. A. Lucas then read a paper on the 

 ' Mental Traits of the Fur Seal,' saying that it 

 had a practical bearing on the question as to 

 whether or not the fur seal was likelj^ to change 

 its habits owing to the presence of man on the 

 islands where it bred. The behavior of the 

 seals on the drives and killing grounds was 

 described as showing the low grade of the ani- 

 mal's intellect and its inability to think for 

 itself. The female seals were said to take little 

 interest in their offspring and to show no affec- 

 tion, while the sight and smell of blood seemed 

 to produce no effect on the animals. The con- 

 clusion reached was that the fur seal is a creature 

 of instinct and not guided to any extent by 

 reason ; that its habits, having been formed by 



