1220 The American Naturalist. [December, 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
Boston Society of Natural History.—November 5th,—Mr. 
G. H. Barton read a paper on the ‘‘ Drumlins of Massachusetts ’’ ; 
Prof. F. W. Putnam spoke on the ‘‘ Archeological Explorations in 
Ohio during the Past Season." November ıgth.—Mr. Nathan Apple- 
ton read a paper on ‘Santo Domingo." December 3d.—Dr. J. 
Walter Fewkes spoke of ‘‘The Summer Ceremonials of the Zufi 
Indians: a Study of Aboriginal Religion."—]. WALTER FEWKES, 
Secretary. 
Biological Society of Washington.—November rst, 1890. — 
Mr. F. V. Coville spoke of the fruiting of Ginkgo at Washington. 
This tree has only rarely fruited in America, due to the fact that it is 
dicecious, and the staminate tree only is planted. A large specimen 
was referred to as growing on Analostan Island, near Washington. 
This tree is probably as old as any in this country, and is about three 
feet in diameter. The fruit described by Mr. Coville resembles a plum 
in general appearance, having a soft pulp surrounding a hard nutlet. 
The morphology of the fruit was explained, it being really a naked 
seed, the outer part soft and pulpy, the inner hard and nut-like. The 
fruit represents a single female flower with a single bract. The seed 
contains a large amount of albumen surrounding the embryo, which 
is dicotyledonous, and not polycotyledonous as in most conifers. The 
embryo grows after the seed is mature, and often even after it has fallen 
to the ground. In Japan the nutlet is eaten like the pifions of the 
western part of our country. The pulp has the disagreeable odor of 
sour paste. = 
In speaking of the mode of growth of the Ginkgo, Dr. C. V. Riley 
referred to the difference in appearance between trees in the agricul- 
tural grounds and others he had seen in Europe. The former were 
pyramidal, but the latter branched more widely and looked like oaks. 
He also said the species was, so far as he knew, entirely free from in- 
sect pests, and on this account was valuable as a shade tree. 
Mr. Coville also spoke of its value as a shade tree, as it would grow 
in the sooty atmosphere of towns, and it was not affected by any fun- 
gus diseases, 
Dr. George Marx spoke at some length on the poison glands of the 
genus of spiders Latrodectus. His investigations were undertaken — 
in consequence of the accounts received of the serious-effects of the 
