1877.] Proceedings of Societies. 61 
In continuation Dr. LeConte noticed the increase of introduced species 
of Coleoptera. One species of Aphodius, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
had extended downward to Massachusetts. Another had spread from 
Maine to Virginia. Other insects introduced into New England had 
remained localized. 
Mr. Gabb noticed the growth of an introduced plant, the Alfilarillo, 
Erodium cicutarium, in California. 
September 26th. Mr. Martindale stated that the foreign plant spoken 
of by him as having been found at the mouth of the Wissahickon Creek 
had been determined by Dr. Gray to be Leonurus glaucescens. It comes 
from Siberia, and was probably brought among some of the Centen- 
nial exhibits, most likely by way of Japan. He did not think it came in 
wool; as suggested at a previous meeting. 
Dr, Engelmann, of St. Louis, continued his remarks upon the conifers, 
These plants are found much earlier in geological formations than ordi- 
nary flowering plants, which is an additional reason for placing them 
below the latter. Peculiarities of wood and seed, as well as those of 
the leaves previously described, were dwelt upon, and the conclusion was 
reached that these plants stand as a connecting link between the endo- 
gens and the exogens. 
Dr. McQuillen directed attention to a human skull in which, owing 
to the loss of the bicuspid and molar teeth in the left side of the lower 
jaw, an upper molar, failing to meet with the antagonizing tooth, pro- 
truded from its socket twice its original length. In addition to this, 
and from the same cause, the left upper jaw had fallen considerably be- 
low the level of the right side, and had in consequence lowered the 
orbit to such an extent as to produce marked disfigurement during life. 
The condition of this skull was contrasted with that of one in which all 
the teeth were in good condition, symmetrical in their arrangement, and 
illustrating in a marked degree the harmony of antagonism. 
October 3d. Dr. Leidy spoke of the results of a dredging excursion 
on the Schuylkill River. The mud at the bottom of the river was found 
to be thoroughly saturated with coal-oil, and in consequence thereof all 
the animal and vegetable life, which the dredging party had expected to 
find in abundance, had been destroyed. It was believed that this ab- 
Sorption of the coal-oil by the river mud exemplified the formation of 
bituminous shale. ` 
- LeConte remarked that the only difference between the modern 
and the ancient bituminous bearing deposits was that in the case of the 
former the oil came from the refuse matter of the manufactories, and in 
the earlier formations it was absorbed immediately when exuded by the 
substances producing it. The origin of these oils from vegetable sources — 
ed to. 
= Was allud 
Rev. Mr. McCook spoke of the architecture and habits of a species 
of ant, Formica rufa. The mature hills formed by these ants were 
