IIO FIELD AND FOREST. 



M. D., of the University of Nebraska: Prof. C. D. Wilber, A. M., M..E., 

 the first superintendent of Illinois scientific survey ; Prof. G. E. Bailey, 

 A. M., of the University of Nebraska ; Lawrence Bruner, West Point, 

 Nebraska. Hon. J. W. Small, of Fairfield, will act as general man- 

 ager and superintendent. 



The district to be traversed lies within the cretaceous and tertiary 

 formations; it contains some fine exposures of the Loess; and affords a 

 good field for scientific investigation. The school starts from Red 

 Cloud, Nebraska, about the 5th of July and continue in session eight 

 weeks. A small tuition fee will be charged in addition to the actual 

 expenses of the trip. Circulars, giving details, will be issued in Jan- 

 uary, and forwarded to all making application. Address, G. E. Bailey, 

 Secretary, Lincoln,. Nebraska. 



Potomac-Side Naturalists' Club. 



The 215th meeting was held November 15, 1877. 

 A paper was read by the secretary on the flora of Nashville, Tenn., 

 and vicinity. (Published in the November number of this journal.) 



The 216th ?neeting was held December 10, 18/"/. 

 A paper was read by Mr. Dodge on a scale insect, which is doing 

 much mischief among the orange orchards of California. 



Dr. Vasey read a paper upon the origin of Pyrus mains, the common 



apple. 



Mr. Ward asked for information respecting the "chigoes" or "jig- 

 gers," which are such pests to blackberry pickers. 



Statements were made by several members as to some of the phe- 

 nomena of the recent freshet in the Potomac. 



The Berlin Gorilla. — Poor Pongo, who recently died in Berlin, 

 has been post-mortemed and dissected by Prof. Virchow. His death 

 was ascertained to be due to acute inflammation of the bowels — the 

 same disease which carries off young children so rapidly. Even in 

 his diseases, therefore, the gorilla claims an affinity with man. — 

 Science Gossip. 



