OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 59 



pounded. After an explanation of the terms choripetalae and 

 gamopetalae it was shown why the Orchidaceas are considered the 

 highest of tlie monocotyledons and Compositas the highest of the 

 dicotyledons. Just as in ornithology the thrush has been de- 

 throned and the crow put in his place so in botany the rose and 

 the lily have been compelled to yield in favor of the thistle ! A 

 diagram of the primal orchid having been drawn upon the black- 

 board it was shown how the original fifteen parts, viz., three 

 sepals, three petals, three outer and three inner stamens and 

 three pistils have been reduced by suppression and coalescence 

 to the present three sepals, three petals, of which one has been 

 transformed into that characteristic feature of the orchid family 

 called the lip, one stamen (or sometimes two) and one exceed- 

 ingly complex pistil. The peculiar alteration in the position of 

 the parts, caused by the twisting of the ovary so that the lip, 

 which was formerly the upper petal, is directed downwa'rd in all 

 our genera, except Calopogon, was then described. The talk 

 closed with a hint of the close connection between botanical and 

 entomological studies, revealed by the remarkable specialization 

 which orchids have undergone in the endeavor to secure cross- 

 fertilization by means of insects. 



The meeting closed with the examination of fine specimens of 

 Corema Conradii, brought from Truro, Mass., by Miss Ellen F. 

 Wiggin. 



A'djourned to May 9th. 



Tuesday evening. May 9th. Regular meeting, the Vice Presi- 

 dent in the chair. There being no business on hand the members 

 engaged in the analysis of flowers of the season. Cross sections 

 of the ovaries of Rhodora, Uviilaria and Captis were shown un- 

 der the compound microscope. 



Adjourned to May i6th. 



Tuesday evening, May i6th. Regular meeting, the Vice Pres- 

 ident in the chair. There being no business to transact the mem- 

 bers devoted the time to the examination of flowers, of which 

 twenty species were presented for analysis. Suggestions were ' 

 -offered resrardino: collections for the future herbarium of the Insti- 



