310 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XV. No. 373. 



ilar works. There are three oiieniiigs in the 

 embanliment. The antiquity of the work is in- 

 dicated by the presence of large pine stumps 

 on the embankment and in the ditch ; the larg- 

 est stump measured 13 feet 4 inclies in cir- 

 cumference. 



An effort is being made to have this ancient 

 work enclosed in a state, county or township 

 park. The land, now worth perhaps less than 

 $10 an acre, can easily be secured. If neg- 

 lected, the road to be built on the line between 

 sections 33 and 34 will probably destroy the 

 work. 



Dr. John E. Swanton reported some results 

 of his investigations into the mythology and 

 origin of the Haida Indians of northern Brit- 

 ish Columbia. The whole Haida people is di- 

 vided into two clans. Raven and Eagle, each 

 of which is strictly esogamic with descent in 

 the female line, and has its own crests, its own 

 names, its independent traditional centers of 

 origin. Each is subdivided into a number of 

 families. The Haven clan traces its origin 

 from a single legendary ancestress, who is re- 

 puted to have emerged from the waters with 

 the Haida island. Some families of that elan, 

 however, trace their descent from other 

 sources. The Eagle clan has much less tra- 

 ditional unity of origin, and there are certain 

 indications in the tradition that this clan is 

 of foreign origin or at least has received con- 

 siderable admixture of foreign blood. One im- 

 portant fact that seems to point to the Raven 

 clan as the indigenous element is the great 

 preponderance of Ravens among the supernat- 

 ural beings of the island. 



R. S. WOODWOETH, 



Secretary. 



SECTIOIT OP ASTRONOMY, PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY. 



The Section of Astronomy, Physics and 

 Chemistry met at the Chemists' Club on Feb- 

 ruary 3. Mr. G. B. Pegram addressed the 

 Section on the subject of 'Experimental 

 Methods of Studying Eadio-Activity.' Mr. 

 Pegram described the principal methods which 

 have been used in the study of radio-active 

 substances and also gave a brief summary of 

 the more important results so far obtained. 



The address was followed by a very interest- 

 ing discussion of the subject. 



F. L. Tufts, 

 Secretary. 



ZOOLOGICAL CLUB, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. 



At the meeting of October 23, 1901, the fol- 

 lowing paper was presented: 



' The Origin and Development of the Wings 

 of Coleoptera': W. L. Tower. 



The embryonic origin of the wings was stud- 

 ied in Lepitinotarsa decemlineata, where the 

 hind wings were found to be derived from the 

 rudiment of the metathoracic spiracle. The 

 elytra are also probably derived from the re- 

 mains of the mesothoracic spiracular disk, 

 which are left in the segment after the anterior 

 migration of the spiracle of the mesothorax. 



In the larvae of several species of beetles the 

 wings were found to develop in one of three 

 ways : (1) Directly beneath the cuticula — 

 Carabidae, Cerambycidse, Buprestidse and oth- 

 ers; (2) in a shallow peripodal sac, which is 

 broadly open against the cuticula — Scara- 

 baaidse; (3) in a closed peripodal sac which is 

 removed to a greater or less distance from the 

 surface — Coccinellidse, Chrysomelidse. 



In the wings there is a larval temporary 

 tracheal system which develops from the cells 

 of the hypotrichal membrane of the tracheal 

 trunks. This system is functional in the late 

 larva, prepupa and early pupa, but is destroyed 

 during the pupal stage, probably by ferments 

 in the hsemolymph and not by phagocytes. 



The elytra and hind wings were found to 

 have an essentially similar structure, both 

 gross and microscopic, and are therefore 

 homodynamous organs. The development' of 

 scales and glands, the development and finer 

 structure of the cuticula, and the behavior of 

 the hypoderra were followed in detail, and 

 have given interesting results. 



The conclusion reached is that the wings 

 of beetles are homologous to those of other in- 

 sects, but are specialized by reduction. They 

 are not divergent organs specialized for a new 

 function, as was stated by EJriiger. 



MEETING OF NOVEMBER 6, 1901. 



'Spermatid Transformations in Gryllvs 



