364 The American Naturalist. [April, 
barbed hairs of some species of prickly pear upon which the animal 
had unquestionably fed. Attention was called to similar balls from the 
stomachs of horses, which had been described in 1896 by Mr. Coville, 
of the United States Department of Agriculture. 
March 1, 1897.—Mr. William H. Rush presented a demonstration 
of the formation of carbon dioxide and alcohol as a result of the intra- 
molecular respiration of seeds and other vegetable structures in an 
atmosphere containing no free oxygen. The theory of the dissolution 
and reconstruction of the living nitrogenous molecules was explained 
in connection with the experiments, and the different behavior of these 
molecules when supplied with or deprived of free oxygen was indicated. 
r. H. von Schrenk briefly described certain edematous enlarge- 
ments which he had observed at the beginning of the present winter, 
near the root tips of specimens of Salix nigra, growing along the edge 
of a body of water. The speaker compared these with the cedemata of 
tomato leaves and apple twigs, which were studied some years since at 
Cornell University. 
Professor J. H. Kinealy exhibited a glass model illustrating the mode 
of action of the Poley air-lift pump, the efficiency of which he had dis- 
cussed at the preceding meeting. 
One name was proposed for active membership.— WILLIAM TRE- 
LEASE, Recording Secretary. i 
Torrey Botanical Club.—January 27, 1897.—The scientific 
onn was as follows: Dr. H. H. Rusby, “ Remarks on some Solana- 
cee;” Mr. A. A. Tyler, “The Origin and Functions of Stipules ; ” 
Dr. J. K. Small, “Aster gracilis Nuttall ;” Mr. George V. Nash, “ New 
and Noteworthy American Grasses.” 
Dr. Rusby exhibited a number of solanaceous plants and remarked 
upon their relationships. It was pointed out that the general appear- 
ance and chemical and physiological characteristics of these plants fre- 
quently fail to indicate their structural affinities. Cestrum and Sessea, 
Atropa and Datura, were cited as illustrations of the separation of 
otherwise naturally related groups through their possession respectively 
of baccate and capsular fruits. Wicotiana was referred to as connect- 
ing those tribes having a radial symmetry with the tribe Salpiglossidæ, 
having a bilateral symmetry, and thus connecting the family with the 
Labiales. The Androcera and Andropeda sections of the genus Solanum 
were instances of the appearance of this bilateral symmetry in a widely 
separated part of the family, where radial symmetry is the peta 
‘invariable rule. 
