402 The American Naturalist. [April, 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
National Academy of Sciences.—A special stated session of 
the Academy met on Saturday, February 9th, 1895, in New York 
City, at Columbia College, to consider the Report of the Committee on 
Electrical Units. The report was adopted and was ordered to be 
transmitted to Congress. 
Boston Society of Natural History.—January 16.—The fol- 
lowing papers were read: Prof. E. S. Morse, “ Korean Interviews ; ” 
Mr. Percival Lowell, “ Korea and the Koreans.” 
February 20th.—The following paper was read: Prof. Edmund B. 
Wilson, “ Karyokinesis and the Fertilization of the Ovum; ” illustra- 
ted by stereopticon views photographed directly from the eggs ef the 
sea-urchin ( Toxopneustes variegatus). 
March 6th.— The following papers were read: Mr. L. S. Griswold, 
“The Geographical History of the Lower Mississippi;” Mr. C. F. 
Marbut, ‘Some Features of the Coastal Plain in the Mississippi Em- 
bayment ;’* Mr. Cleveland Abbe, Jr., “ Note on Cusped Sand-bars of 
the Carolina Coast.” —SamuEL HENSHAW, Secretary. 
The Biological Society of Washington.—February 9th.— 
The paper of the evening was “ Explanation of Immunity from Infec- 
tious Diseases,” by Surg.-Gen’l George M. Sternberg, U. S. A 
February 23d.--The following communications were made: Prof. 
Lester F. Ward, “ Archetypal Angiosperms;” Prof. F. E. L. Beal, 
“Food Habits of Woodpeckers;” Mr. F. A. Lucas, “Some Abnormal 
Feet of Mammals ;” Mr. M. B. Waite,“ Notes on the Flora of Wash- 
ington.” —FREDERIC A. Lucas, Secretary. 
Nova Scotian Institute of Science.—February 11th—The fol- 
lowing papers were read: “ The Iron Ores of Nictaux N. S., with Notes 
on the Manufacture of Steel in Nova Scotia,” by Edwin Gilpin, Jr., 
Esq., LL. D., F. G. S., Inspector of Mines; “ Geological Notes on the 
Nictaux Iron Fields,” by A. H. MacKay, E, LL. D, F. B.S. C. 
Superintendent of Education.—Harry Prers, Secretary. 
"7 
New York Academy of Sciences. Biological Section.— 
February 11th, 1895.—The following papers were presented: Dr. 
Albert Schneider, “ The Occurrence and Functions of Rhizobia;” a 
