714 NOTES. 
other’s formicaries ; in this case, sapping is sometimes carried on 
so extensively as to ruin a portion of the common abode, whence 
ensues a sanguinary combat, the smaller, weaker mining species 
only saving itself by taking refuge in narrow passages where the 
foe cannot follow. 
M. Fatio followed with an account of exotic bats which have 
been known to occur in Switzerland. 
Dr. Vouga next read a paper on the Mentone skeleton, and 
compared the formation of-the bone cave where it was found to 
that of the Grotto of Four, where implements of the stone age 
have been discovered ; he considered the powdery soil of both to 
have been produced mainly by the incessant fall of flakes of lichen 
from the ceiling of the cave, and argued from the comparative 
depth of these deposits that the probable age of the Mentone skel- 
eton was four times that of the implements in the Four Grotto. 
The same subject was discussed in the geological section, where 
M. F. Forel maintained that the Mentone Cave relics should be 
referred to the period of the reindeer, although no bones of that 
animal had been found in it; he believed the skeleton to be that of 
an old man, belonging to a wandering tribe of hunters. 
The foregoing account embraces that portion of the early 
proceedings which would especially interest readers of the Natu- 
RALIsT; but we cannot pass over some other features, suggesting, 
perhaps, desirable changes in our own plan of procedure. in a 
first place, the Swiss Entomological Society takes this opportunity 
of assembling its members. Why might we not still further nation- 
alize our “ American” Entomological Society, which never holds 
a meeting out of Philadelphia? 
Again, the eminently social character of this annual as 
is in pleasing contrast with our more formal meetings. 
mornings only are given to ‘ papers ;” two or three hours each day 
are devoted to a “banquet” in a large hall, at which the president 
of the association presides. The annual assessments are ma 
large enough to cover the additional expense and in this instance 
the wine was provided partly by the ‘‘ Fribourg section p F the 
society, partly by the ‘* Conseil d’Etat” of Fribourg. «Vind pe 
neur” was the new name given to the Yvorne. Toward the con® 
sion of the first day’s repast, toasts followed in rapid 
Prof. Vogt favored the assembly with a truly American 
which “ la Liberté” was toasted. In accordance with as 
sembly 
The 
speech in 
uggestion 
succession.  — 
