204 Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 



in the west, ma}' likewise be made to } T ield a revenue at 'no distant 

 period sufficient for the needs of kirge communities. 



The best varieties, culture, pickling, and manufacture of olive 

 oil, will be the subjects of future papers. C. R. Orcutt. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 

 san Francisco microscopical society, June 4, 1891. 



The society celebrated its twenty-first anniversary at its new 

 rooms, 432 Montgomery street, June 17, 1891. The cabinet was 

 enriched by a quantity of diatom aceous earth, very rich in fossil 

 diatoms, found near Lompoc, Santa Barbara county, presented by 

 Henry G. Hanks. Henry C. Hyde presented a caterpillar from New 

 Zealand, with a curious fungus grown from the head. The cater- 

 pillar is known by the common name of the 'bulrush caterpillar,' 

 and to science as Sphoeria Robertsia. The natives, however, call it 

 'aweto.' The plant, or fungus, in every case fills the body of the 

 caterpillar, which in well-grown specimens reaches a length of three 

 and a half inches. The fungus rises from the head and attains a 

 length of six to ten inches. When found the body of the caterpillar 

 is buried beneath the surface of the soil or leaf-mold, and the greater 

 portion of the stalk as well. The apex of the plant, when in fructi- 

 fication, resembles the club-headed bulrush. There is every prob- 

 ability that the seeds or spores of the plant find a lodgment in the 

 folds of the caterpillar's skin, where the temperature and moisture 

 soon cause them to germinate, and the growth soon causes the 

 death of the animal, its tissues suppljnng food for the plant. 



William Norris presented to the societv- two photographs of 

 diatoms, made by B. W. Thomas of Chicago, one a species of 

 Eunotia from Ellensburgh, Washington, and the other a species of 

 Asterolampra from Fisherman's Cove, California. This latter, Mr. 

 Thomas writes, seems to be a new species, as it does not conform to 

 the known species of that genus. 



The paper of the evening was read by Harold Sidebotham, 

 M. R. C. S., L. R. C. P., late of London, on the subject of 'Cell Di- 

 vision.' He alluded to the various theories held at different times 

 by biologists on this subject, illustrating the same by drawings on 

 the blackboard. The later and more general accepted theories were 

 also fully exemplified. A series of carefully stained preparations 

 showed the various stages of the animal cell, and it was remarked 

 that his staining of the extremely delicate tissues of the infusorian, 

 Paramecium, were worthy of more than passing notice. 



