688 Proceedings of Scientific Societies. [July, 1887 
Pecten, especially since the snail has no locomotive powers _ 
which would enable it to escape from a foe seen by such eyes, _ 
March 15.—A couple of copper coins, taken from the stomach 
of an ostrich which recently died in the Zoological Garden, were - 
which partly filled the gizzard. It was evident from the con- 
dition of the bolus that the muscular fibres of the stomach had 
not kept up such a spiral movement as is found in the crop of 
the pigeon or the stomach of the cow. . 
New York Academy of Sciences.—April 4, 1887—Drn 
Henry H. Rusby read some notes of recent travel on a journey 
from La Paz to Para through the Bolivian Andes and the Beni 
and Madeira Rivers. 
March 27, 1886, near Cabin Creek, Johnson County, Ark. E 
Biological Society of Washington.—April 16, 1887—Dr 
William H. Dall presented some notes on a recent exploring 
trip to Florida. Dr. H. G. Beyer spoke of the action of caffeine 
upon the kidneys. Dr. C. H. Merriam referred to the depreda-_ 
tions of the bobolink, or rice-bird, in the rice-fields of the South, 
. Mr. F. A. Lucas presented some notes on the os prominens in birds. 
Middlesex Institute.—May 11, 1887.—Mr. Sylvester Baxter 
read a paper descriptive of his second visit to Zuñi, describing - 
one of the dances. Mr. Clarence Pullen made some remarsi | 
upon the various Pueblo Indians. a 
Essex Institute.—May 16, 1887—Annual meeting. The fol 
lowing officers were elected: President, Henry Wheatland ; Vic 
Presidents, A. C. Goodell, Jr., F. W. Putnam, D. B. Hagar, and 
Robert S. Rantoul; Secretary, George M. Whipple; Treasureh 
George D. Phippen ; Librarian, William P. Upham. The annual 
reports which were read show a very substantial prosperi 
ty ok 
the part of this institution. The ordinary income was thou 
sand two hundred and five dollars and eighteen cents, while tW 
bequests amounted to fourteen thousand dollars. The a 
