a 
of the chairman, Messrs. Riley, 
1876.] — Scientific News. 755 
as follows: Nebraska, Governor Silas Garber, ex-Governor Furnas, 
Professor Wilbur, and Prof. A. D. Williams; Dakota, Governor John 
L. Pennington; Minnesota, Governor Pillsbury, Professor Whitman, 
and Mr. Pennock Pusey ; Iowa, Governor Kirkwood; Illinois, Prof. C. 
W. Thomas of Carbondale, Governor Beveridge being ill; Missouri, 
Governor Hardin and Prof. €. V. Riley. 
The meeting was organized by the election of Governor Pillsbury as 
chairman, and Professor Riley and Mr. Pusey as secretaries. 
The Governor of Minnesota made a brief address on the objects of the 
meeting, and suggested that steps be taken to memorialize Congress to 
appoint a commission of scientific men to visit the districts suffering from 
the grasshopper pest, and investigate the subject. 
This brought out a discussion which was participated in by nearly all 
the gentlemen present, the most important speeches being made by Gov- 
ernor Pennington of Dakota, Professor Riley of Missouri, Governor 
Kirkwood of Iowa, Professor Thomas of Illinois, and ex-Governor Fur- 
nas of Nebraska. 
Prof. C. V. Riley briefly narrated the habits and history of the pest, 
and gave sound practical advice. He considered that there were two 
main questions before the conference: first, the consideration of how best 
to deal with the young insects that threaten to hatch out over a vast ex- 
tent of the country next spring, and second, the investigation of the in- 
ect in its native home, with a view of preventing its migrations into the 
country to the southeast. For the first, he advised some well-digested 
_ plan of action that would give confidence to the people and insure con- 
cert of action; mentioning, among other things, the offering of rewards 
by the several States and counties for the eggs and newly hatched hop- 
pers, as recommended in his last report, and systematic burning and 
ditching. For the second, he urged an appeal to Congress to add a spe- 
cial appropriation to the sundry civil service bill, to defray the expenses of 
a commission of three experts, to be appointed by and to work under 
Prof. F. V. Hayden, in charge of the United States Geological Survey 
of the Territories, who, with his experience and skill in organization, 
could materially assist such a commission. In the evening the conference 
met again and, after deliberating, appointed a committee of six, compos 
Osborn, Wilbur, Thomas, and Williams, 
suggestions for the farmers of the 
discussion and adoption. 
French botanical palæ- 
fessorship in the Jardin 
to present a series of resolutions and 
country, and a memorial to Congress for dis 
— Count Gaston de Saporta, the distinguished 
ontologist, has recently been appointed to a pro 
' des Plantes in Brongniart’s place. 
— Mr. S. E. Cassino, Naturalists’ Agency, Salem, Mass., announces 
the publication in December of The Land-Birdsand Game-Birds of New 
England, by H. D. Minot, 8vo, 400 pages ; and in e a Nen 
ist Directory, which we are sure will prove very services © E ae y: 
— Under date of September 29th, Prof. O. A. Derby, of the Brazihan 
