8382 SCIENCE. 
this JouURNAL on yages 305-315, September 
8, 1899. 
The following is a complete list of the 
papers read,accompanied byshort abstracts : 
The Utility of Phosphorescence of Deep Sea 
' Animals. ©. C. Nurrine, Iowa City, 
Towa. 
The paper is an attempt to explain phos- 
phorescence in terms of utility to its posses- 
sors. When possessed by free swimming 
forms it acts in a manner analogous to ‘al- 
luring coloration,’ in some cases. In oth- 
ers it reveals the prey, in others it may be 
‘directive,’ and in still others protective in 
function. Among the Protozoa it may 
serve to keep individuals of a species to- 
gether, and thus secure conjugation. 
When possessed by fixed forms, such as 
many coelenterates, the phosphorescence 
does not serve the purpose of warning color- 
ation, nor is it useful to attract the mate, or 
sex elements of opposite sexes, but it is use- 
ful in attracting many organisms that serve 
as food for its possessors. 
Investigation of the Course of the Fibers in the 
Optic Chiasma of Bufo lentiginosus. Bur- 
ton D. Myers, Ithaca, N. Y. 
1. The decussation is total. 2. The 
chiasma is made up of a crossing of fibers 
and not of bundles of fibers as described by 
the earlier writers. 3. There is not that 
gradually increasing complexity of decus- 
sation in the chiasma from fishes to mam- 
mals as described by Wiedersheim. 4. 
There are no interretinal fibers. 5. The 
trophic center for at least the greater part 
of the fibers:of the optic nerve is in the 
retina. 6. On experimental grounds the 
toad is capable of monocular vision. 7. 
After loss of sight of one eye, contrary to 
the old belief, the toad does not die of star- 
vation. 8. Flemming’s fluid hardening is 
superior to Marchi’s method in that the 
normal nerve tracts are absolutely free 
from those blackened granules so closely re- 
[N. S. VoL. X. No. 259. 
sembling degeneration. 9. Degeneration 
after severance of the optic nerve of the 
toad is first seen after five days. 
On Reighardia, A New Genus of Linguatuiida. 
Henry S. Warp, Lincoln, Nebr. 
In the air sacs of gulls on Lake St. Clair 
was discovered in 1894 a vermiform para- 
site which could not be definitely placed. 
It occurred infrequently and even when 
found was present in small numbers. The 
host was Bonaparte’s Gull. Last year the 
same parasite was found in the common 
tern on Lake Erie. Here it is even rarer, 
only one bird in 100 being infested. One 
of the three parasites obtained was a female 
containing well developed embryos and, 
from their character, it was easy to deter- 
mine the taxonomic position of the parasite 
as closely related to the Linguatula. Subse- 
quent careful study showed also the charac- 
teristic hooks of the family, yet very poorly 
developed. The body is elongated, cylin- 
drical transparent and devoid of any an- 
nulations. The cuticula is thin, bearing 
around the mouth-opening a _ chitinous 
framework recalling that of the Sarcoptide- 
Of its post-embryonic development nothing 
is known. Our species of Linguatula is re- 
corded from a gull of Arctic Ocean. This 
form, which is incompletely described, prob- 
ably belongs to this new genus, a view 
strengthened by some minor details men- 
tioned by the author. 
Photographing Natural History Specimens 
under Water or other Liquids with a Verti- 
cal Camera. Simon H. Gace, Ithaca, 
N.Y. 
The purpose of this paper was to show by 
specimen photographs what could be done 
in getting accurate pictures of live aquatic 
animals and of delicate specimens which 
must be supported in liquids. By means 
of a vertical camera, this is as easily accom- 
plished as photographing in the ordinary 
horizontal position. The most notable 
