966 
solution of the substance in a molten magma, 
and the crystals are formed either with or with- 
out pressure. 
The last paper of the evening was read by 
Dr. E. A. de Schweinitz, and was entitled ‘A 
Convenient Dropping Bottle.’ This bottle was 
devised especially to be used by ophthalmolo- 
gists for the purpose of keeping collyria sterile 
and free from dust, and at the same time one 
which was very easy to handle, and from which 
the solution could be dropped into the eye with 
almost any desired rapidity. It isa small pear- 
shaped flask with a long tubular neck at a 
right angle to the bottle. The end of the neck 
is drawn out to a moderately fine point and 
provided with three bends, so that the end of 
the tube dips downward. The object of these 
bends is to prevent the dust from entering the 
bottle. At the same time when they are filled 
with liquid the rest of the solution is sealed. 
On the side of the flask opposite the neck is a 
short open arm, to which a small rubber drop- 
ping bulb can be attached to regulate the ra- 
pidity with which the liquid is allowed to flow 
out at the bottom. A little cotton should be 
placed in this arm to keep out the dust. The 
dropper is adapted for general microchemical 
and volumetric work. 
Professor Chas. E. Munroe made an exhibit 
of paraformaldehyde and the lamps used in 
generating formaldehyde from it. This sub- 
stance is sold in the form of tablets. Contrary 
to the general belief, it is comparatively readily 
soluble in hot water. It makes a convenient 
laboratory source of formaldehyde. The gas is 
very readily given off from the tablets at com. 
paratively low temperatures. 
Mr. V. K. Chesnut exhibited specimens of 
Amanita muscaria, the fungus which caused the 
recent death, in Washington, of Count de 
Vecchj, and the serious poisoning of Dr. Daniel 
J. Kelly. Colored plates were shown, which 
showed how the fungus was mistaken for that 
of the closely related but edible species, 
Amanita cxsarea. Brief remarks were also 
made about the poisonous constituents char- 
acteristic of the two most poisonous Amanitas 
and their characteristic action on the human 
system. V. K. CHESNUT, 
Secretary. 
SCIENCE. 
[N. S. Vou. VI. No. 156. 
BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON—283RD 
MEETING, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 
Mr. LyMAwn J. BricGs presented a paper on 
‘The Causes of Water Movement in Soils,’ show- 
ing that the capillary movement of water in soils 
depends upon the form of the surface of the wa- 
ter contained in the capillary space between 
two soil grains in contact. The direction and 
relative magnitude of the pressure of films of 
several geometrical forms was considered, and 
the resultant movement of water in soils under 
such conditions was pointed out. 
Mr. Sylvester D. Judd read a paper entitled 
‘Protective Adaptations of Insects from an Orni- 
thological Point of View.’ Such protectively 
colored insects as grasshoppers, he stated, are 
eaten in large quantities by practically all land 
birds that are to any extent insectivorous. The 
Geometrid caterpillars, which so closely simulate 
twigs, were found in the stomachs of a score of 
our commonest birds. Vile-smelling or ill-fla- 
vored insects, such as many bugs, Carabid bee- 
tles and Chrysomellid beetles, are greedily de- 
voured by the majority of land birds. Numbers. 
of species of insects exhibiting warning colora- 
tion and protective mimicry are selected for 
food by birds. The Kingbird catches the Fras- 
talis fly that imitates a honey bee. It also 
takes honey bees, but in doing so selects only 
the drones. The author concluded by saying 
that the interaction between insects and birds 
does not afford the best example of the greatest 
efficiency of the protective adaptation of insects. 
Dr. Theo. Gill spoke on ‘The Distinctive 
Characters of the Molinz and Ranzaniine,’ say- 
ing that the family represented by the gigantic 
sunfish of the Northern Atlantic (Mola mola) is 
also represented by another smaller species, but 
which is generally regarded as nearly related— 
the Ranzania truncata. These two resemble each 
other so much superficially that many (including 
Dr. Gunther) have combined them in the same 
genus. Anatomically, however, they are so 
widely different that they should be distin- 
guished as subfamily types at least, if not as 
families. The subfamilies were distinguished 
as long ago as 1838, by Prince Bonaparte, but 
the characters partly transposed. The Molin 
have the skeleton mostly cartilaginous and the 
dorsal and anal fin rays invested in the com- 
