350 Proceedings of Scientific Societies. [April, 



geese and a moosehead, with horns attached, from the Yukon 

 river, in Alaska. John G. Lemmon described a new species of 

 gentian, which he discovered in September last on the summit of 

 the Chiricahua mountains, in Southeastern Arizona, and which 

 on account of its small flower-cups, he named Gcntiana microcalyx. 

 It was a valuable acquisition to the cultivated flora, besides having 

 valuable medicinal properties as a tonic. Robert E. C. Stearns 

 read a suggestive paper on the growth of certain California forest 

 trees, and meterological data suggested thereby. The death of 

 Henry Chapman, the taxidermist and curator of mammals and 

 birds of the Academy, was announced, and resolutions of respect 

 to his memory were adopted. 



The San Diego Society of Natural History held its eighth 

 annual meeting in the new building recently erected by the So- 

 ciety, on Sixth street, November 18, 1881, the President, Dr. G, 

 W. Barnes, in the chair. There was a good attendance of mem- 

 bers, and of visitors on invitation. 



Mr. C. J. Fox exhibited an Indian relic, probably a medicine 

 tube, from Temecula canon. Mr. O. N. Sanford exhibited an 

 enormous beetle from Africa. 



The president gave the substance of a communication from 

 Mr. Henry Hemphill, of Oakland (now of San Diego), addressed 

 to Mr. Tryon, and by him submitted to the Philadelphia Academy 

 of Sciences, describing a species of Acmaea collected by him, 

 which was also presented to the Academy of Sciences. Mr. Hemp- 

 hill had discovered that the Acmaa pelta and Nacclla instaHlis 

 were identical, apparent differences depending on stages of growth 

 and effect of station. It is regarded as an interesting addition to 

 our limpets. Annual reports of the librarian, treasurer and 

 president were made. 



State Natural History Society of Illinois. — The annual 

 meeting was held at Champaign, February 28 to March 2, 1882. 

 About thirty members were present, with an unusually good local 

 attendance. Twenty-two papers were presented, nineteen of which 

 were read. Mr. VVm. McAdams gave an account of the religion 

 of the mound builders, as indicated by idols and other relics of a 

 religious character, and also described the "Great Cahokia 

 Mound," opposite St. Louis, and other mounds of that vicinity, 

 giving the results of a recent survey of the group. Mr. F. S. 

 Earle described the mounds of a part of south-eastern Missouri, 

 explored by him last autumn for the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. 

 F. M. Webster gave an account of the appearance and movements ot 

 the Army Worm in north-eastern Illinois, in 1881. Mr. S. A. Forbes 

 described the lateral organs of blind fishes and reported the 

 results of a series of observations and experiments on the first 

 food of the white fish. Mr. J. A. Armstrong described the life his- 

 tory of a jelly fish ; and Mr. C. W. Butler contributed a number 



