480 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 742 



A EEQULAB meeting of the section was held at 

 the American Museum, on February 8, 1909, Mr. 

 Frank M. Ohapman, chairman of the section, pre- 

 siding. The following papers were read: 



A New Example of Determinate Evolution: Pro- 

 fessor Bashfobd Dean. 



In a previous paper the speaker had shown that 

 the egg-capsule of the chima;roids at the time of 

 deposition is adapted with singular precision to 

 the needs of the future embryo, and had given 

 reasons for the view that this adaptation was 

 orthogenetic rather than selectional, in a legiti- 

 mate sense. It was now shown that the egg- 

 capsules of various chimceroids could be arranged 

 in an orthogenetic series. In this series the head- 

 and-body portion of the capsule becomes progress- 

 ively shorter, the tail portion more slender, the 

 lateral web disappears, the opening valve increases 

 in length, the serrulae of this valve reduce to a 

 smaller area, and the respiratory pores of the tail 

 end of the capsule to a longer one. This pro- 

 gressive series is accentuated by the recent dis- 

 covery of an undetermined capsule from the North 

 Atlantic ( ? G. (Bathyalopex) mirabilis) received 

 by the speaker from Professor Jungersen, of 

 Copenhagen. 

 Some Interesting Reptiles: Mr. Raymond L. Dit- 



MABS. 



The speaker exhibited a series of living lizards 

 and serpents illustrating the salient features in 

 the evolution and classification of these groups. 



The serpents are undoubtedly derived from 

 lizards. Some of the latter possess grooved teeth 

 and a series may be arranged among them show- 

 ing the progressive decline in morphological and 

 functional importance of the limbs. This series 

 begins with such a form as the dragon li2ard 

 {Basiliscus) with long hind limbs and which, in 

 running, carries its body clear above ground. In 

 other forms the limbs are not so well developed, 

 so that the body rests entirely on the ground 

 {Heloderma) or may even be dragged (Cyclodes) . 

 A connecting link between serpents and lizards 

 was exhibited {Ophisaurus) . This form looks ex- 

 actly lika a snake, but is a true lizard. 



In the serpents there are no traces of external 

 limbs, though with the boas and pythons internal 

 ones are present. The jaw is greatly distensible, 

 and true grooved or caniculated fangs are devel- 

 oped among many. A number of interesting 

 points in the habits of the serpents were brought 

 out. 



Field Observations on the Fin Whales of the 

 North Padfio: Mr. RoT C. Andrews. 

 Mr. Andrews gave an account, illustrated by 

 lantern slides, of his experiences while at the 

 whaling stations on the coast of Vancouver Island 

 and southern Alaska. The paper was devoted to 

 a discussion of the habits of some members of the 

 family Balaenopteridae and of the modem methods 

 employed in their capture. Many reproductions 

 of photographs were shewn on the screen illustra- 

 ting the manner of spouting, diving and feeding 

 of these whales. The speaker dwelt especially 

 upon the peculiar manner in which the nasal 

 region is protruded during respiration, and upon 

 the attitudes assumed by the animals when diving. 

 The method of feeding and the movements during 

 play were also discussed. 



L. HUSSAKOF, 



Secretary 

 American Museum of Natural History 



THE ANTHROPOLOQICAI, SOCIETY OP WASHINGTON 



At the 429th regular meeting of the society, 

 February 16, 1909, Mr. Robert Grosvenor Valen- 

 tine, the Assistant Commissioner of Indian Af- 

 fairs, delivered an address on " The Unspoiled 

 Indian," illustrating his remarks by the specific 

 instance of the San Carlos Apache. The speaker 

 said that the Indian had suifered less on account 

 of that of which he had been despoiled than from 

 the benefits which had been unwisely conferred 

 upon him. He declared that he must be educated 

 through his home, and therefore it is better to 

 locate schools in Indian neighborhoods rather than 

 remove the Indians from their homes and educate 

 them apart as was the older government policy. 

 In opening lands next to Indian reservations for 

 settlement he believed it was important that the 

 right kind of white men be induced to locate there. 

 He favored opening such lands block by block to 

 companies of settlers who had previously been 

 neighbors rather than the present plan of throw- 

 ing open all at once and bringing on a spectacvdar 

 rush from all quarters. 



The address provoked a lively discussion par- 

 ticipated in by Dr. Merriam, Dr. McGee, Dr. 

 Hough and the speaker, after which the president 

 exhibited some blankets, belts and other articles 

 made by the Apache and Navaho, and Dr. Merriam 

 showed several pendants worked by California 

 Indians out of feathers of the red flicker. 



John R. S wanton. 



