1 882.] Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 175 



insect or moth of some kind, which it held firmly by the proboscis . 

 They are found in many gardens adjoining San Francisco, are 

 hardy and of rapid growth, having a white, sweet-scented flower 

 suitable for ornamental purposes. It came originally from Buenos 

 Ayres and is popularly called a moth-trap. It is a species of 

 milk-weed. This plant belongs to a group which is related to the 

 ornamental phloxes, the parasitic dodders, one form of which is 

 destructive to our alfalfa, as it winds its fatal thread and strangles 

 the plant by preventing the upward flow of the sap. The bind- 

 weeds are popularly known by the sweet potato, also by jalap, 

 scammony and other medicinal plants. Other related groups in- 

 clude tobacco, mandrake, potatoes, and egg-plant ; also the olive, 

 the common lilac and flowering ash. In all plants of this group 

 the sap is milky, acrid and bitter ; also contains more or less 

 caoutchouc. The roots are diaphoretic, emetic or cathartic. The 

 inner bark yields very strong and fine fiber. One form is known 

 in Ceylon as the cow plant, and yields a palatable sap, which is 

 used by Cingalese as milk. It is supposed that these plants are 

 fertilized by insects, and the insects are caught by their probosces, 

 between the wings of the anthers while seeking for the nectar. 

 Other insects, such as ants, beetles, etc., are often found in the 

 nectary of these flowers, but not as prisoners. The paper was 

 elaborately illustrated by blackboard drawings. 



Dr. Behr and Dr. Gibbons then spoke in further explanation of 

 insect traps, and Dr. Behr read a paper on " The Part Played by 

 Hawk Moths in the Economy of Nature." 



Dr. Arthur Krause and Mr. Aurelius Krause, of the Bremen 

 Geographical Society, who have just returned from explorations 

 in Siberia, were present and promised to address the Academy at 

 a future meeting. 



Mr. Dieckmann, of Nicolaeskfy, Amoor river, an entomologist, 

 said tigers were very plenty on the shores of the Okhotsk sea, 

 and were found throughout Siberia with white bears. They have 

 hair five inches long, and are larger than Himalayan tigers. They 

 prey on large herds of reindeer, and remain far north all winter, 

 where snow is four feet deep, never migrating far south. They 

 also eat wild boars. Natives believe the bear to be influenced by 

 the Good God, and tigers by the Evil Spirit. Five natives fre- 

 quently lasso and catch bears alive, but always kill the tigers. 

 He then described the native ceremonies at a bear feast, some of 

 which were quite laughable. 



The matter of some lectures on islands of the South Pacific, 

 by Captain Augustus E. Bruno, was referred to the Council for 

 action, many members desiring to hear from Captain Bruno before 

 his departure East, to lectur - k lore the P< abo ly Institute, Boston 

 Society of Natural History and other scientific societies. 



Mr. Brooks then made some rem. 11 ks, giv in • the I ite news from 

 the Rodders, and illustrated her track with an outline of the Coast 

 of Wrangell Island. 



