p? 
ge The American Naturalist. [June, 
use need only to hear the familiar “clink,” « clink,’’ as his rider 
paces beside him, before mounting, to go for half a day at a time with- 
out necessitating its use. 
It is with pleasure that this relic, mystical though its history may be, 
is presented to the Association. While its true story may never be 
told, it is nevertheless safe to assume that it played its part in the grand 
drama that shook the world in “the days that tried men’s souls. 
A specimen of the violet spotted salamander (Amblystoma punc- 
tatum) was shown, in which the tail was bifurcated, each branch being 
about half an inch in length. It was captured by Mr. John Tynan in 
the Snug Harbor woods, and presented to the Association. 


SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 
The next meeting of the British Association will be held at Leeds, 
in week commencing September 3d, under the Presidency of Sir 
Frederick Augustus Abel, C.B., D.C.L,, DSc. FERS; V.E-CS. 
The general Committee will meet on Wednesday, the 3d of Sep- 
tember, at 1 P.M., for the election of sectional officers, and the des- 
patch of business usually brought before that body. On this occasion 
there will be presented the report of the Council, embodying their 
proceedings during the past year. The General Committee will meet 
again on Monday, September 8, at 3 P.M., for the purpose of appoint- 
officers for 1891, and of deciding on the place of meeting in 1892. 
The concluding meeting of this Committee will be held on Wednes- 
day, September 1o, at 1 P.M., when the report of the Committee of 
Recommendations will be received. 
The first general meeting will be held on Wednesday, the 3d of 
September, at 8 P.M., when the President will deliver an address; the 
concluding meeting on Wednesday, the roth of September, at 2.30 
P.M., when the Association will be adjourned to its next place of 
meeting. 
At two evening meetings, which will take at 8. 30 P.M., discourses on 
certain branches of science will be delivered, 
There will also be other evening meetings, at which opportunity will 
be afforded for general conversation among the members. 
SECTIONAL MEETINGS.—The sections are: A, Mathematical and 
Physical Science; B, Chemical Science; C, Geology; D, Biology ; 
E, Geography; F, Economic Science and Statistics; G, Mechanical 
Science ; H, Anthropology. 



