1885. ] Froceedings of Scientific Societies. 223 
zon is the Stormville shales of the Lower Helderberg. Miss G. 
Lewis described a schizomycete found in a sulphur spring at 
Clifton Springs, N. Y. Mr. Meehan stated his belief that 
the fasciation of a branch was a premature attempt to form 
flowers. ` 
July 17—Professor Heilprin reported the discovery, in the 
Stormville shales, at the Delaware Water Gap, of the tooth of a 
Cestracion. Mr. Meehan exhibited specimens of the Western an- 
nual sunflower (Helianthus lenticularis), and spoke of the,proba- 
bility that it was the parent of the garden sunflower. A paper on 
the geology of Delaware was presented for publication by Pro- 
fessor F, D. Chester. 
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PsycHICAL ResEarcH, Dec. 18.—To ` 
this meeting were invited all those who had accepted the invita- 
tion to join a psychical society, sent out by the committee of or- 
ganization appointed by the meeting held in Boston, Sept. 2 3d. 
This committee consisted of G. Stanley Hall, E. C. Pickering, H, 
P. Bowditch, C. S. Minot, William Watson, S. H. Scudder, Wil- 
liam James, Alpheus Hyatt, and N. D. C. Hodges. The meeting 
was called to order by Professor E. C. Pickering. Mr.S. H. Scud- 
der was chosen chairman fro tem., and Mr. N. D. C. Hodges sec- 
retary pro tem. Mr. Scudder told the history of the movement 
which had resulted in the formation of the society, giving in some 
detail an account of the work done by the committee, which had 
had full charge of the work of organization. The first business 
was the election of fifteen members of the council of twenty-one, 
which will have charge of the conduct of the society. G. Stan- 
ley Hall, George S. Fullerton, William James and E. C. Pickering, 
were elected for three years; Simon Newcourt, C. S. Minot, HEF 
Bowditch and N. D. C. Hodges, for two years; and George F. 
Barker, S. H. Scudder, Rev. C. C. Everett, Moorfield Storey, Esq., 
John Trowbridge, William Watson and Alpheus Hyatt, for one 
year. The constitution provides that seven shall be elected each 
year, to hold office for three years. 
The committee on work made an informal report, and has since 
issued a circular calling for volunteers to go on the investigation 
committees, and for information in regard to furnishing subjects for 
investigation. The society then adjourned to meet January 8th. 
BirorocicaL Society oF WasHixcrton, Dec. 13.— The fol- 
lowing communications were made: Mr. Leonhard Stejneger on 
an exhibition of specimens illustrating the shedding of the bill 
in auks; Mr. George Vasey on the grasses of the arid plains ; Mr. 
Charles D. Walcott, on the oldest known fauna on the American 
continent; Professor Lester F. Ward on the occurrence of the 
seventeen-year locust in Virginia in October, 1884. Additions to 
the Flora of Washington, made during 1884. 
