1897.] Proceedings of Seientific Societies. 467 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
Boston Society of Natural History.—The general meeting 
was held Wednesday evening, April 7, 1897.—The following papers 
were read: Prof. J. Eliot Wolff, “The occurrence of Tourmalines at 
Mt. Mica, Paris, Me.;” Dr. C. B. Davenport, “The rôle of water in 
growth.” Wednesday evening, April 21, 1897.—The following paper 
wasread: Mr. Herbert Lyon Jones, “Some biological adaptations of 
our seaside plants.” Stereopticon views were shown.—SaAMvuEL HEN- 
SHAW, Secretary. 
New York Academy of Sciences.—Biological Section.—March 
8, 1897.—The papers presented were: H. E. Crampton, “On the Asci- 
dian Half Embryo.” Hisexperimental studies on the egg of Molgula 
manhattensis showed that the isolated blastomeres segment in a strictly 
‘partial’ manner, but that a gradual passage to a total development 
ensues. As far as the early stages were concerned Chabry, Roux, Bar- 
furth are entirely correct in arguing for a half or ‘partial’ develop- 
ment. But Driesch, Hertwig and others are also correct in considering 
the end results a ‘total’ larva of less than the normal size. The paper 
will be published in full. 
N. R. Harrington, “On a Nereid from Puget Sound (Pacific Coast) 
which lives commensally with the Hermit crab, Eupagurus alaskensis. 
A variety of the Western European species N. fucata is known to in- 
habit deserted whelk shells with Eupagurus bernhardus and a careful 
comparison of the Old and the New World forms brings out resembl- 
ances in structure due to the operation of the same physiological fac- 
tors. These are notably (1) the degeneration of the muscular and 
cuticular layers in the posterior two-thirds of the body, (2) loss of the 
pigment in the same, (3) physiological factors may explain why only 
females have been found (as yet) in this comfortable and nutritive 
habitat. The author surmises that the commensal form is the female 
Epitocous type of some free living nereid. 
This apparently undescribed species from the Pacific differs from N. 
fucata, B. inquilina of Wirén in the arrangement of the paragnathi, 
respiratory lobes of notopodium and transverse pigment stripes. 
Bashford Dean, “ A Posthumous Memoir of Prof. J. S. Newberry. 
This paper described new species and a new genus of North American 
fossil fishes, and.discussed the genera Oracanthus, Dactylodus, Poly- 
rhizodus, Sandalodus, and Petalodus. 
