RECORDS. 351 



after which, as the pressure is further reduced the duration of 

 the glow increases rapidly to the maximum. The electrodeless 

 discharge was also made to take place at liquid air temperature, 

 and it was found that the afterglow accompanying the discharge, 

 while still fairly strong, was diminished considerably in duration 

 and intensity at the low temperature of about — i86° C. 

 The meeting then adjourned. 



C. C. Trowbridge, 



Secretary. 



SECTION OF BIOLOGY. 



November 14, 1904. 



Section met at 8:15, Professor Underwood presiding. 



The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



The following program was then offered : 



W. E. Kellicott, Development of the Venous System of 

 Ceratodus. 



M. A, Bigelow, Some Pressure-Experiments on the Eggs 

 of the Crustacean Hippolyte. 



Summary of Papers. 



F. E. Lloyd, Botanical Research at the Desert Labor- 

 atory IN Arizona. 



Dr. Kellicott's paper, on the *' Development of the Venous 

 System of Ceratodus,'' pointed out many similarities to the 

 amphibian. These similarities are so numerous and exact, that 

 it seems impossible to believe that the Dipnoi and Amphibia 

 have not arisen as a common stock which has separated later 

 into these groups. The adult relations and the mode of 

 development of the vena cava of Ceratodus indicate that this 

 vessel is not to be looked upon as one of the hepatic veins, 

 which has made a new connection with the posterior cardinal 

 vein, but that its anterior portion develops as a short cut by way 

 of which the blood from the mesonephros may be carried to 



