942 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIII. No. 1122 



many of whicli are not referred to in modern works 

 on anatomy. Frontal, parietal, temporal, ali- 

 sphenoid and malar articulations show many varia- 

 tions in sutural lines. These again are varied by 

 the presence or absence of epaetal or epipterio 

 bones. By means of lantern slides and diagrams 

 these were illustrated and compared and the 

 speaker touched upon their value in taxonomy and 

 racial distinction and their pathological signifi- 

 cance. Discussion followed by Drs. L. O. Howard 

 and H. E. Ames and Mr. Wm. Palmer. 



Alexander Wetmoee, 

 Recording Secretary, pro tern. 



The 556th regular meeting of the society was 

 held in the Assembly Hall of the Cosmos Club, 

 Saturday, May 6, 1916, called to order by Presi- 

 dent Hay at 8 p.m., with 45 persons present. 



On recommendation of the cotrncU Victor J. 

 Evans, Washington, D. C, was elected to active 

 membership. 



The president announced the recent deaths of 

 Charles A. Davis and S. M. Gronberger, members 

 of the society. 



The first communication of the regular pro- 

 gram was by M. W. Lyon, Jr., "Longevity of 

 Bacteria." Dr. Lyon described a culture of 

 Bacillus paratyplwsus B which had been hermetic- 

 ally sealed in a glass tube in ordinary culture 

 medium for the past ten years and exhibited a liv- 

 ing subculture which had been made from it. He 

 called attention to the short life of certain organ- 

 isms and the long life of others, especially those 

 producing spores. This communication was dis- 

 cussed by Dr. L. O. Howard and Mrs. E. M. En- 

 lows. 



The second paper of the regular program was 

 by Dr. L. Stejneger : ' ' The Amphisbronoid Lizards 

 and their Geographic Distribution." Dr. Stej- 

 neger called attention to the various theories that 

 have been advanced to account for distribution of 

 animals and explained how the Amphisbsenoid 

 lizards with their peculiar morphology and habits 

 were particularly adapted to show former connec- 

 tions with now separated land masses and islands. 

 The distribution and relationships of these lizards 

 clearly showed a former land connection between 

 South America and Africa. Dr. Stejneger 's paper 

 was illustrated by charts, diagrams and maps, 

 showing the classification, the structural tasonomie 

 characters, probable evolution and geographic dis- 

 tribution of the Amphisbsenoid lizards. The chair, 

 Drs. L. O. Howard, C. H. T. Thownsend, General 

 Wilcox and others took part in the discussion. 



The last paper of the evening was by W. L. 

 McAtee: "Sketch of the Natural History of the 

 District of Columbia." Mr. McAtee gave a very 

 interesting historical account of the study of the 

 natural history of the District of Columbia from 

 the earliest accounts of Capt. John Smith who as- 

 cended the Potomac Eiver as far as Little Falls 

 and made notes on the fauna of the region; and 

 the account of other early explorers and travelers, 

 down to recent times. The speaker gave many 

 entertaining quotations from the writings of these 

 early naturalists, told about the early societies in- 

 terested in the natural history of the District, and 

 described the faunal and fioral lists that have ap- 

 peared, mentioning the number of species in each, 

 and calling attention to the fact that the District 

 of Columbia is the type locality for many species. 

 Mr. McAtee 's communication was discussed by 

 the chair. Dr. L. O. Howard, D. E. Lantz and Wm. 

 Palmer. 



M. W. Lton, Jk., 

 Recording Secretary 



THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASH- 

 INGTON 



At the 488th meeting of the society, held Oc- 

 tober 13, 1915, jointly with the Medical Society 

 of the District of Columbia, Dr. Ales HrdliCka 

 read a paper on ' ' The Evolution of Man in the 

 Light of Recent Discoveries and its Relation to 

 Medicine." Human evolution is now an accepted 

 doctrine in natural history. In addition to the 

 older evidence in the analogies between man and 

 other mammals, the resemblances in embryonic de- 

 velopment, the presence of vestiges or reversions, 

 and the like, in recent years a large series of pre- 

 historic remains have completed the demonstra- 

 tion. The evidence is conclusive, although there 

 are as yet important gaps in the line, especially 

 relating to the earlier periods. Among recent 

 changes in man 's ' ' evolution ' ' are deterioration' 

 of the teeth and disharmonies in the facial struc- 

 ture. Parts which become less useful are elimi- 

 nated or weakened and degenerated. Progressive 

 and retrogressive changes that are not harmonious 

 or beneficial necessitate medical or surgical inter- 

 vention. The erect posture results in greater dis- 

 orders, as in pregnancy. The great enlargement 

 of the brain results in imperfections. The ability 

 of procreation is adversely affected. The study 

 needs the enlightened help of all branches of medi- 

 cine. 



Daniel Folkmar, 



Secretary 



