KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 535 
the mammoth {Elephas Americana) at Newton last spring, Prof. Dyche having 
examined the fossil soon after its exhumation. He stated that the entire speci- 
men has been disposed of to eastern parties. 
The following topics of Prof. F. W. Cragin, of Washburn College, Topeka, 
were read by title and referred to the committee on publication : " Notes on the 
Embryology of Porcellio," "Notes on some Crustacea of Kansas," "Additions 
to the List of Kansas Reptiles and Batrachians," "List of Hymenomycetes Col- 
lected near Topeka," "Key to the Known Species of Cyclops.'''' 
Prof. I. D. Graham, of the Agricultural College, and Prof. Cragin, had each 
prepared a paper on " Preliminary List of the Fishes of Kansas," and upon con- 
sultation it was decided to combine the two, so they were read by title and ordered 
referred to the committee on publication when ready. An excellent paper on 
" Practical Fish Culture," was presented by Prof. L D. Graham. The paper 
was very interesting and instructive, and evinced close study and careful inves- 
tigation. 
Under the department of Ornithology Prof, Popenoe read the following 
short papers by N. S. Goss, of Topeka, the State Ornithologist: "Birds New 
to the Fauna of Kansas, and Birds Rare in the State;" " Notes on the Nest- 
ing Habits of the Yellow-Throated Vireo {Lanivtreo Flavifrons) ; Observations 
on the Breeding Habits of the American Eared Grebe {Dytes nigricollis Californ- 
iatus). 
Professor F. H. Snow then followed with a brief verbal report on the " New 
Species of Lepidoptera, discovered in New Mexico in 1883." These new species, 
twenty-five in number, were discovered by himself while sojourning there during 
the past summer. He then took up the topic, "Additions to the List of 
Kansas Coleoptera in 1883." This was also a brief verbal report, and the pro- 
fessor stated that the list of Coleoptera would now number about 2,000 in Kansas, 
the largest list in the United States by a single society belonging to one State 
or Territory, except the list of the Coleoptera of the District of Columbia, which 
numbers 2,800, as prepared by a Washington scientist. The professor stated that 
the Academy hoped to beat this record before a great while. Prof. Snow then 
continued with "Further Observations Upon the Gila Monster {Heloderma sus- 
pectum)." He gave a verbal report and stated that from experiments he had 
been led to believe that the reptile was not poisonous though it was generally 
believed to be so. At the close of his remarks, a general discussion of the sub- 
ject arose, and several interesting facts in regard to experiments with this species 
of lizard were brought out. 
The next subject, "Observations on the Habits of Ants," was handled by 
Prof. Joseph Savage. He made a very short verbal report, merely calling the 
attention of the Academy to the fact that in the ant-hills of the plains he had 
always found Indian beads in great quantities. He explained this by stating 
that these beads were carried there from great distances by the ants themselves. 
Prof. Frank Kizer, of Emporia, then, by the aid of a set of drawings, ex- 
VII— 34 
