146 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLI. No. 1047 



were based, it was frequently impossible to iden- 

 tify the material collected. 

 Arabic Zoology: Paul B. Popenoe. 



A sketch of the rise of Arabic zoology, with 

 curious extracts from the treatise on the subject 

 ' ' Hayat al Hayawan ' ' by Kamal al Din Muham- 

 mad ibu Musa al Damiri, published in the four- 

 teenth century and still the standard authority 

 among Moslems. 

 A National Bird Census: Wells W. Cooke. 



An account of the plans followed and results ob- 

 tained last June in an attempt by the Biological 

 Survey in cooperation with ornithologists to count 

 the birds that nest within the United States. 



The 531st meeting was held November 28, with 

 President Bartsch in the chair. 



Under the heading Brief Notes, Dr. J. W. Stiles 

 gave a brief account of experience in sanitation in 

 relation to hookworm disease. 



Wm. Palmer exhibited some interesting fossils 

 from the Miocene deposits near Chesapeake 

 Beach, collected during the past week. 



Three communications were presented. 

 A Porcupine Slcull Shoioing an Extra Pair of 



Upper Incisors: Makcus M. Lton, Jr. 



The specimen under consideration is believed to 

 be unique. It was collected, by Dr. Abbott in 

 Borneo. The extra incisor was regarded as a per- 

 sistent milk tooth. Lantern slide pictures of the 

 skuU were shown. 

 Notes on Some Pishes Collected ty Dr. Mearns in 



the Colorado Eiver: J. 0. Snyder. 



The species found in the Colorado basin are dis- 

 tinct from species found elsewhere. The faunas of 

 other river basins of the West show the same fea- 

 ture. From evidence shown by genera the speaker 

 concluded that communication between the basins 

 must have been at a very remote period and by way 

 of the head waters. He exhibited specimens 

 taken by Dr. Mearns. 

 Notes on Some Birds Observed on the Florida 



Keys in April, 1914- 



Observations as related to birds seen during an 

 8 days' cruise among the Florida Keys last April. 

 Most of the stay was at Bird Key. Lantern slides 

 were used in illustration. 



The 532d regular and 35th annual meeting was 

 held December 12, 1914, President Bartsch presid- 

 ing. The annual reports of officers were received. 



The election of officers for 1915 resulted in the 

 following selections: 



President — Paul Bartsch. 



Vice-presidents — A. D. Hopkins, W. P. Hay, J. 

 N. Eose, Mary J. Eathbun. 



Becording Secretary — Marcus M. Lyon, Jr. 

 Corresponding Secretary — W. L. MeAtee. 

 Treasurer — Wells W. Cooke. 

 Members of Council — Hugh M. Smith, Vernon 

 Bailey, Wm. Palmer, N. HoUister, J. W. Gidley. 

 D. E. Lantz, 

 Becording Secretary 



THE SCIENCE CLUB OF THE UNIVERSITY 

 OF WISCONSIN 



The first meeting of the Science Club of the 

 University of Wisconsin was held at the Univer- 

 sity Club on January 6, 1915. 



Professor Daniel W. Mead, of the department of 

 hydraulic and sanitary engineering of the Uni- 

 versity of Wisconsin, gave an account of his visit 

 to China last summer, where he and Col. W. L. 

 Siebert, and Arthur P. Davis, chief of the U. S. 

 Eeelamation Service, were called by the Chinese 

 government for consultation upon the problem of 

 preventing floods and reclaiming for agriculture 

 lands now inundated by rivers and the sea. 



The lecture was devoted mainly to an account of 

 the engineering works of the Chinese. These are 

 for the most part ancient, as there has not only 

 been no new construction but the ancient works 

 have been allowed to fall into disrepair. 



The most notable works of the Chinese are their 

 bridges, walls for defense, and dikes, levees and 

 canals for navigation, irrigation and protection 

 against floods. These are characterized by enor- 

 mous expenditure of labor and material in their 

 construction. Evidences of the ignorance and 

 superstition of the constructors abound, and in 

 many cases reduce the effectiveness of the works 

 very materially. 



The existing government in China recognizes 

 the need for extensive reconstruction and exten- 

 sion of works for defense against the floods that 

 destroy millions of the people each century. The 

 visiting engineers were received with greatest re- 

 spect and were afforded every facility for • their 

 work by representatives of the national and local 

 governments. 



The lecture was illustrated with many beautiful 

 lantern slides prepared and colored by Japanese 

 artists from photographs made by Professor Mead 

 during his trip. 



The meeting was preceded by a dinner at the 

 University Club by members of the Science Club, 

 their wives and guests. Eric E. Miller, 



Secretary 



