498 RECORDS. 



cleavage of this form throw no Hght upon its phylogenetic 

 position or upon that of its allies. 



Professor Brooks' paper was accompanied by a demonstra- 

 tion of three microscopic preparations. 



Professor Lloyd showed that in a number of genera of Rubi- 

 aceae studied by him the embryo-sac is divided into two regions ; 

 an upper region in which the pro-embryo is developed, and a 

 lower part containing numerous nuclei of uncertain origin. 

 The suspensor of the pro-embryo develops branches which act 

 as haustoria, taking food from the endosperm. The latter in 

 turn takes its food from the integument by means of cells spec- 

 ialized for food absorption. 



Dr. Learning showed that light of different colors acts 

 strongly upon the activities of Amoeba proteiis. Certain colors 

 (red, orange, yellow and green) accelerate the protoplasmic 

 flow, while other colors (white, violet and blue) retard it. The 

 apparatus was fully described and the experiments were re- 

 peated in part, before the Section. 



Gary N. Calkins, 



Secretary. 



SECTION OF GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 

 December 19, 1898. 



Section met with Professor J. F. Kemp in the chair. Twelve 

 persons present. 



A paper was read by Mr. Henry S. Washington, on The 

 Igneous Rocks of Essex County, Mass. The rocks were de- 

 scribed in some detail, and shown to be mainly Granites, Quartz- 

 Syenites corresponding to the Akerites and Nordmarkites of 

 Brogger ; Quartz-Diorites and Diorites, with smaller areas of 

 Nepheline-Syenite, Syenite, Essexite and Gabbro. These are 

 cut by numerous dykes of various kinds, including Aplites, 

 Granite-Porphyries, Paisanites, Solvbergites, Tinguaites, and 

 many basic dykes, most of which are of Diabase, but some of 

 camptonitic rocks. There are also extensive flows of Rhyolite, 



