1890.) Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 1105 
Professor Ward referred in some detail to the **Problematical 
Organisms,’’ mentioning in particular the genus Dendrophycus. This 
was described by Lesquereux from the Coal Measures. Dr. Newberry 
has more recently described a second species from the Triassic, very 
similar to Lesquereux’s, and Professor Ward referred to a third species 
which he intended to describe under the name of D. shumakeri. This 
. genus is regarded by Dr. Newberry as of vegetable origin, and while 
Professor Ward did not express a positive opinion as to its nature, he 
described the fossi/e manner of its origin, assuming it to be an Alga. 
He argued strongly against the idea that because vegetable or carbon- 
aceous matter is wanting the specimen in question or similar ones 
could not be plants. A discussion of the paper was reserved for the 
next meeting.—J. F. JAMES. 
American Association for the Advancement of Science.— 
At the Indianapolis meeting the following officers were chosen for the 
ensuin : 
President: Albert B. Prescott, Ann Arbor, Mich. 
Vice-Presidents: A (Mathematics and Astronomy), E. W. Hyde, 
Cincinnati, Ohio; B (Physics), F. E. Nipher, St. Louis; C (Chemistry), 
R. C. Kedzie, Agricultural College, Mich.; D (Mechanical Science 
and Engineering), Thomas Gray, Terre Haute; E (Geology and 
Geography), J. J. Stevenson, New York; F (Biology), J. M. Coulter, 
Crawfordsville, Ind. ; H (Anthropology), Joseph Jastrow, Madison, 
Wis.; I (Economic Science and Statistics), Edmund ]. James, 
Philadelphia. 
Permanent Secretary: F. W. Putnam, Cambridge, Mass. 
General Secretary: Harvey W. Wiley, Washington, D. C. 
Secretary of the Council: A. W. Butler, Brookville, Ind. 
Auditors: Henry Wheatland, Salem, Mass.; Thomas Meehan, Ger- 
mantown, Pa. : 
Treasurer: William Lilly, Mauch Chunk, Pa. 
Proceedings of the Natural Science Association of Staten 
Island.—October gth, 189o. Mr. Davis exhibited an egg of the 
black and white creeper, and read the following memorandum in con- 
nection with it: 
On the 3oth of last May, while in the woods to the northwest of 
Richmond village, in company with Mr. Leng, I observed a black and 
white creeper (Mniotilta varia) hopping down a tree trunk and hold- 
ing a caterpillar inher bill. Within a yard of the base of the tree, 
and well hidden in a close clump of beech sprouts and dead leaves, 
