160 Editors’ Table. [February, 
. made her home. While looking through the interstices of leaves 
and sprays from the other side, to observe the devoted actions o 
the pair, I discover another odlogist, but with more hostile inter 
tions than the writer. A small striped coachwhip snake has i 
the several portions of its lithe body conveniently along the twig 
and there remains as motionless as any part of the bush. Aftet 
watching it for a time, I make various noises to ascertain to what 
extent it can be affected by sound, and seeing that it does nol 
stir from its resting place, I slightly shake the bush, when È 
lowers its head, darts out its forked tongue, but seems unwilling 
to move. Nature has given to its skin the general hue of te 
bark, and probably it instinctively remains in this position, rely 
ing more for protection on the harmony of color and being i 
rest than upon escape by any other means. Just as I am en | 
` to take more vigorous measures for its removal, the bush € 
struck by a sudden breeze, which appears like a palpable p 4 
vention; while the serpent takes advantage of it, and glides 
through the tangled mass out of reach. 
EDITORS’ ‘TABLE, 
EDITORS: A. S. PACKARD, JR., AND E. D. COPE. 
—— The Society of Naturalists of the Eastern United Sa 
held its first full meeting in Columbia College, New York, 
the Christmas holidays. The aims of this body, so far as W 
are developed, appear to be to sustain the business aspect # a 
pursuit of natural science in a material and practical way- | : 
papers read related to the means rather than the ends of the sort 
tific career, no discussion of subjects of pure science being 1) 
order. The questions discussed may be classified as follows: | a 
The methods of original research. (2) The methods of te4 l ) 
(3) The constitution of societies and academies of science g 
The employment of competent specialists by the educat i 
institutions of the country. In each of these departments pe 
is to be accomplished in this country, and none who atten tas 
meeting failed to gain ideas on these topics. The society its 
chosen to restrict its geographical range in order to reliev® | 
members of the necessity of traveling long distances, which antior 
siderations of time and-money render impracticable. tE 
pated that other sections of the country will adopt similar O'S" 
= & 
