November 21, 1913] 



SCIENCE 



751 



be interpreted to mean an increase in perme- 

 ability. Finally, the treatment of the egg of 

 purpuratus with a hypertonic solution may 

 precede the artificial membrane formation by 

 one or two days. According to Lillie's hypoth- 

 esis, NaCISr should diminish the permeability 

 of the egg. Direct observations by Wasteneys 

 and myself have shown that NaCN" does not 

 influence its permeability. 



The reversion of the induction of develop- 

 ment is clearly the outcome of the suppression 

 of the developmental changes in the egg by 

 NaCN or by chloralhydrate. During this 

 period of rest the cortical layer may return 

 permanently to a condition resembling that of 

 the normal resting egg. Since fertilization 

 by sperm, artificial membrane formation, and 

 destruction of the egg by cytolysis, all raise 

 the rate of the oxidations in the egg of pur- 

 puratus by the same amount, the clue to the 

 explanation of the phenomena of reversibility 

 may possibly be found in those conditions of 

 the cortical layer which have to do with the 

 increase in the rate of oxidations after mem- 

 brane formation. Jacques Loeb 



The Eockefeller Institute 

 FOR Medical Eesearoh, 

 New York 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP WASHINGTON 



The 414th regular meeting was held in the as- 

 sembly haU of the Cosmos Club, October 18, 1913, 

 with former President L. O. Howard in the chair 

 and 61 persons present. 



The program consisted of three communications: 

 I. The Federal Migratory Bird Eegulations and 



their Assistance in the Conservation of Bird 



Life in America: T. S. Palmer. 



The speaker outlined briefly the history of the 

 Weeks-McLean bill, approved March 4, 1913, and 

 of the adoption of regulations for its enforcement 

 which have been promulgated by the Department 

 of Agriculture under proclamation of the Presi- 

 dent dated October 1, 1913. Maps of the winter and 

 breeding ranges of some of the species of birds 

 affected were shown, together with another show- 

 ing the division of the country into two zones. 

 Eeasons were given for the exceptions in certain 

 states to the general closed season. In general the 



beneficial effects upon the bird life of the country 

 expected as a result of the enforcement of the 

 federal law were pointed out. 



Hugh Smith and Col. Joseph H. Acklen took 

 part in the discussion which followed. 



II. The Breeding of the Loggerhead Turtle: W. 

 P. Hat. 



The communication was accompanied by lantern 

 slides. It was an account of observations of the 

 liabits and reproduction of the diamond-backed 

 terrapin and the loggerhead turtle made at Beau- 

 fort, North Carolina. This place is near the north- 

 ern limit of the distribution of the loggerhead 

 turtle and the speaker was of the opinion that 

 normally in this latitude few of the eggs of the 

 species are left to hatch and that the young from 

 those that may hatch all perish with the first cold 

 weather. 



III. The First Year's Results in Breeding Some 

 Bahama Shells (Cerion) on the Florida Keys: 

 Paul Bartsch. 



A former communication by the speaker gave an 

 account of the transfer of two races of Cerion from 

 the Bahamas to various Florida Keys. The pres- 

 ent paper was an account of observations of the 

 condition of the new colonies at the end of the first 

 year. In general they have prospered and in sev- 

 eral localities have reproduced young. 



The 515th meeting was held in the hall of the 

 Cosmos Club, November 1, 1913, with President E. 

 W. Nelson in the chair and about 50 members 

 present. 



Under the heading ' ' Brief Notes and Exhibition 

 of Specimens, ' ' C. Dwight Marsh related an ob- 

 servation in Montana of a noise made by a bull 

 snake (Pituophis sayi) which was in close imita- 

 tion of that made by a rattlesnake. The sounds 

 were made by the respiratory organs and were ob- 

 served by a number of persons. 



The regular program follows. 



A. D. Hopkins spoke of Depredations by Forest 

 Insects and their Control. He gave a brief histor- 

 ical sketch of early insect invasions of forests and 

 of the means adopted to combat the pests. The 

 greater part of the paper was devoted to depreda- 

 tions of which the author had personal knowledge. 

 The efficacy of modern methods was pointed out, 

 especially the control work undertaken by the 

 Bureau of Entomology in collaboration with the 

 United States Forest Service. These have been 

 generally adopted by large private holders of 

 timber lands and much saving of valuable timber 

 has resulted. 



