AMERICAN ASSOCIA TION FOR THE AD VANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 311 



In Section F, permanent sub-section on Entomology, the following papers 

 were read : " On Certain Habits of Heliconia Charitonia," W. H. Edwards. 



" Life-History of the Buckeye Stem-borer. Sericoris intstrutana Clem," E. 

 W Claypole. 



'■' New Insects Injurious to American Agriculture," C. V. Riley. 



''The Egg-case of Hydrophilus triangularis," C. V. Riley. 



"On the Oviposition of Prodoxus decipiens," C. V. Riley. 



"The Cocoon of Gyrinus," C. V. Riley. 



The geologists of America attending the Association, held a meeting and 

 resolved to form an " Association of American Geologists." 



The third day's session of the Association commenced with some general 

 business in reference to raising $4,000 for the- purpose of publishing certain num- 

 bers of the Transactions now out of print. Subscription papers were circulated 

 and an additional $110 was quickly raised. 



Professor Swallow made a statement in reference to the formation of an 

 American Geological Society. The movenient was not hostile to the American 

 Association, as they did not intend to withdraw themselves from that Society. 

 In the readjustment of sections they wished to consult about their relation to the 

 Association and their wants. They desired to form a geological library as it is al- 

 most impossible for a private library to gather the publications now issued from 

 a hundred sources. One can scarcely describe a new fossil now for fear some 

 one has already described it. After electing a large number of new members, 

 the Association received a report from the standing committee upon the subject 

 of conferring the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The report concurred with 

 the Americari Philological Association in deprecating the custom of many col- 

 leges in conferring the degree, not by examination, but honoris causa. The re- 

 port was thoroughly discussed and unanimously adopted. There are three hun- 

 dred and sixty institutions of collegiate grade in the United States, and the con- 

 ferring of the higher degree, honoris causa, has worked much harm against sound 

 learning. If a scientist wants a Ph. D. let him study for it. 



After receiving invitations from , Minneapolis and Toronto for holding the 

 next meeting of the Association, the regular order of business was taken up for 

 the reading and discussion of papers. 



The first paper, in Section A or Physics, upon the programme was upon the 

 subject of the " Magnetic Survey of Missouri," by Francis E. Nipher, but owing 

 to the necessary absence of that gentleman it was read by Professor Mendenhall. 

 It was a brief discussion of results of his experiments to ascertain the dip of the 

 magnetic needle in the State of Missouri, and the influence of the Iron Mountain 

 and other natural causes upon the compass. 



D. P. Todd was absent, and his paper upon the " Comparison of Newcomb's 

 Tables of Uranus and Neptune with those of the same Planets by Le Verrier," 

 was not read. 



One of the best talks of the day in this section was Professor Wm. Harkness' 

 address " On the Methods of Determining the Solar Parallax, wath Special Refer- 



