1876.] Proceedings of Societies. 61 
cluding twenty-one belonging to the higher cryptogamic orders, besides 
a dozen of probably recent introduction. The number of new species is 
twenty-two, with two new genera, almost all nearly allied to Californian 
species and genera. Of those before known, all are Californian, and 
most have a wide range through that State. The flora of Mexico is 
scarcely represented, but on the other hand some fresh indications are 
found of a connection between our western flora and that of South 
America. 
‘Boston Society or Natura, History. — November 17th. Mr. 
W. K. Brooks read a paper on the egg and bud development of Salpa spi- 
nosa (Otto). The life-history of Salpa may be stated in outline as fol- 
lows : the solitary Salpa is the female, which produces a chain of males by 
budding, discharging an egg into each before birth. These eggs are im- 
pregnated while the zodids of the chain are small and sexually imma- 
ture, and develop into females, which give rise to other males by budding. 
After the embryo has been discharged from the body of the male, the 
latter grows up, becomes sexually mature, and discharges its seminal 
fluid into the water, by means of which it is carried to the eggs within 
the bodies of younger chains. 
December Ist. Mr. S. H. Scudder gave an account of the geographical 
distribution of Vanessa cardui and V. Atalanta, two butterflies of wider 
range than any others known. He attempted to show by the facts at 
command, and by the distribution of the other species of the genus, that 
V. cardui originated in North America and V. Atalanta in Europe. 
Both the species are now found over either hemisphere, and V. cardui 
over nearly the entire globe. ‘The communication will be given in full 
in a future number of the NATURALIST. 
Professor James D. Dana made a communication on metamorphism 
and pseudo-morphism in minerals, in reply to Dr. Hunt's strictures on 
the author’s views regarding these phenomena. A Prodome of the Ta- 
banidæ of the United States. Part II. The Genus Tabanus, by C. R. 
Osten Sacken, was read by title. 
Narorar History Soctery at MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COL- 
LEGE. Notes of Remarks made at late Meetings. — Two roots of the 
asparagus were found of equal size, about one eighth of an inch in diam- 
eter, of which one had grown right through the centre of the other, 
or the one had grown about the other. They were not fastened to each 
Other, ¢. e., one was loose in the cavity where it had grown. Roots of 
basswood and beech were found grown firmly together like a net-work, 
united in many places. Some of these were over an inch in diameter. 
_ The leaf-cutting bee is very common about Lansing, Mich. It is 
quite destructive to leaves and petals of roses, the petals of Petunia, 
Pelargonium, and many others. The beauty of some beds of flowers is 
often much injured by them. Their cells are frequently found made of 
bits of leaves and petals. Quite a number were found in a woolen stock- 
