Mat 6, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



713 



was found to consist not of separate cells. It 

 is a syncjrtial nucleated sheet of protoplasm 

 witiiout cell boundaries. The epidermis is 

 regenerated over a cut surface in about 

 twenty-four hours. The union of the mesen- 

 chyme cells to form it was followed. Some 

 new facts as to the way in which pores close 

 were made out. 



Dr. G. H. Parker, professor of zoology in 

 Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Dr. 

 Parker investigated the reactions of the shore 

 sponge, Stylotella. No physiological evidence 

 of nervous tissue was found, though the 

 sponge reacted to changes in the environment 

 by opening and closing its oseula and pores, 

 and by moving its body as a whole. These 

 movements were produced by tissue resem- 

 bling a primitive kind of smooth muscle. 

 They were apparently caused by the direct 

 stimulation of the contractile tissue. The 

 conclusion was reached that in phylogeny 

 muscular tissue had preceded nervous tissue 

 in time of origin. 



Dr. E. P. Lyon, professor of physiology, St. 

 Louis University School of Medicine, St. 

 Louis, Mo. Dr. Lyon worked on the following 

 problems: (1) The catalase of echinoderm 

 eggs before and after fertilization. An ap- 

 parent large increase of catalase is found 

 after fertilization. The results of this in- 

 vestigation were published in the American 

 Journal of Physiology for December, 1909. 

 (2) The comparative autolysis of eggs before 

 and after fertilization. The chemical work 

 on this problem has been continued since 

 leaving Beaufort and the results are nearly 

 ready for publication. 



Dr. E. W. Gudger, professor of biology in 

 the State Normal College, Greensboro, N. C. 

 Dr. Gudger was chieily occupied in continu- 

 ing his investigations of several years' stand- 

 ing on oral gestation in the gaff topsail 

 catfish, Felichthys felis, and in collecting ma- 

 terial for the study of its embryology. He 

 was successful in pushing back its life history 

 by several days and lacks only the segmenta- 

 tion and invagination stages of having a 

 complete series of eggs and embryos. 



He also began a study of the viviparous 



top minnow, Gambusia affinis, and collected 

 various unusual and interesting fishes the 

 data concerning which have been embodied in 

 a paper now in press. 



Dr. Alvin S. Wheeler, associate professor at 

 the University of North Carolina, Chapel 

 Hill, N. C. The composition of the sea water 

 at five points near the laboratory was accu- 

 rately determined. The results agreed closely 

 with each other but showed certain differences 

 from deep-sea waters and shore waters in 

 other parts of the world. 



Dr. I. F. Lewis, professor of biology, Ean- 

 dolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va., completed 

 his study of the flora of Shackleford and 

 Bogue banks, and his report has been sub- 

 mitted to the commissioner of fisheries. 



After a brief discussion of the geology, 

 soils, physiography and climate of the region, 

 the plant formations are considered. The 

 vegetation is treated under the following 

 heads: L, sand strand vegetation — (1) tree- 

 less (open), (2) trees and shrubs (closed) ; II., 

 marsh vegetation — (1) salt marsh, (2) creek 

 marsh, (3) dune marsh, (4) tidal flat. 



Under these heads each plant association is 

 described, and the characteristic species 

 noted. Following this discussion of what may 

 be termed the units of vegetation, a general 

 account of the vegetation of the banks is 

 given, in order to present as clear a picture 

 as possible of the conditions obtaining on the 

 banks at the present time. 



The present plant covering was found to be 

 in process of destruction by certain physio- 

 graphic agencies. Measurements showing the 

 rapidity of action of these agencies are given, 

 and methods suggested for the conservation 

 of the vegetation. In this connection the 

 soil-building and sand-binding plants of the 

 region are described and their value indi- 

 cated for reclamation work. 



The geographical distribution of the plants 

 occurring on the banks is discussed, and com- 

 parisons instituted with other points on our 

 South Atlantic coast and with the littoral 

 flora of Alabama. The littoral floras of 

 North and South Carolina and Alabama are 

 jfound to be typically austro-riparian in char- 



