1895.] Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 403 
discussion of the discovery of the adaptability of rhizobia to other 
plants than leguminous. Some conclusions based upon investigations 
carried on at the Illinois experiment station were given to show that it 
is probable that rhizobia may be so modified as to grow in and upon 
roots of gramineous plants (ex. Indian corn). Prof. N. L. Britton,“An 
Undescribed Ranunculus from the Mountains of Virginia;” Dr. J. L. 
Wortman, “On the So-called Devils Corkscrews of Nebraska.” A 
visit to the locality during the past summer had enabled him to study 
many problems in connection with their occurrence, which tend to 
throw considerable light upon their nature. The formation in which 
they occur was positively identified as the Loup Fork division of the 
upper Miocene, which is a true sedimentary deposit. The Daemonelix 
occurs in a stratum of from 50 to 75 feet in thickness, always standing 
vertically, and their tops are not confined to any one level. They vary 
much in size and character, but, so far as observed, always present the 
spiral twist. The fact that they occur in true sedimentary rocks, that 
their tops occupy many levels, together with the lack of evidence to 
show that there was any disturbance of level during the time the sedi- 
ment was being laid down, was considered to totally disprove the 
theory that they represent the burrows of animals which has been so 
extensively held in explanation of their curious nature. The invari- 
able presence of plant-cells, together with other facts, leads to the con- 
clusion that they very probably represent the remains of roots or stems 
of some gigantic water plant. 
“The Excretory System of Clepsine and Nephelis,” by Dr. Arnold 
Graf. The results of H. Bolsius have proved to be erroneous. The 
different parts of the nephridium are classified as follows: 1. Infundi- 
bulum, consisting in Nephelis of six bilobed ciliated cells, in Clepsine 
of a peduncle cell, pierced by a ciliated canal, and two bilobed ciliated 
cells attached to the peduncle. 2. Receptaculum excretorium <A vesi- 
cle which is in open communication with the funnel and in osmotic 
com munication with the following parts of the nephridium. It is sim- 
ilar in both genera, and filled with disintegrating material. 3. Portio 
afferentia. The part of the gland, consisting of a single row of round 
cells, pierced by a sometimes bifurcated canal, which gives off-branched 
side canals. Similar in both genera. 4. Portio glandulosa. Row of 
cells, pierced by a smooth canal without side branches of bifurcation. 
This part is the largest part of the whole organ. Similar in both 
enera. 5. Vesicula terminalis. In Nephelis, a vesicle, lined by a 
ciliated epithelium ; in Clepsine, a simple pouch of the epidermis, with- 
out cilia. 6. Canalis terminalis. The short canal by which the termi- 
