62 Proceedings of Societies. _ (January, 
ing, where they were placed during a few days. In one case there were 
twenty-seven pieces of leaves to make a cell, and thirteen round pieces 
at the ends. 
A plant of Portulaca olerarca (common purslane) weighed one 
pound and thirteen ounces, and by careful estimate produced about 
1,250,000 seeds. 
A student brought in a horn about six inches long, and over two 
inches in diameter, slightly curved and blunt at the apex. The horn 
was suspended on the abdomen of a sheep, a little to one side. It 
could be easily slipped around. It was there a year or so before the 
sheep was killed. 
A student had noticed that the dandelion opened and closed four times 
before the flowers were withered and seed began to appear. On fair 
days it closed earlier than on cloudy, varying from noon till four o’clock. 
BurraLo Society or NATURAL Sciences. — November 5, 1875. 
The following paper was read: A List of the North American Syrphide, 
by C. R. Osten Sacken. Mr. Grote announced that his Check List of 
North American Noctuide was in the printer’s hands, and would be is- 
was synonymous with the var. A. of periculosa Guen. 
December 3d. Dr. Rohlff, the African traveler, was the guest of the 
evening. The following paper was read: An Illustration of North 
American Agrotis, by Dr. Leon F. Harvey. 
CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB. — November 12, 15/5: :Ðr: 
Hagen exhibited queens of white ants (Termes flavipes) found by Mr. H. 
G. Hubbard in Florida. No queens of this species have ever been found 
before in this country, and but one anywhere. The females are unde- 
veloped, being wingless, but sexually mature. Dr. Hagen dwelt upon 
the extreme importance of a popular knowledge of the danger to which 
all wooden buildings are subjected by the presence of these insects, which 
occur not uncommonly over the country. 
Mr. S. H. Scudder spoke of the supposed relation of thë“ osmateria ” 
of certain butterflies (Equites) with the transverse fissure and prehensile 
NATIONAL ACADEMY or SCIENCES. — Meeting held at Philadelphia, 
November 3d and 4th. Professor Pumpelly read a paper on the influ- 
reef-building corals, Professor R. E. Rogers accounted for the action 
of the steam seysers of California by chemical processes at the surface. 
The heat is caused by the action of air and water upon’ iron pyrites» 
