1877.] 267 [Hubbard. 



A description was also given of an ancient shell mound discov- 

 ered by Professor Morse at Omori, near Tokio, and photographs of 

 many of the vessels exhumed were exhibited. The general aspects 

 of the deposit were like those described by Steenstrup in Denmark, 

 and by Wyman, Putnam and others, on the United States Coast. 

 The implements were mostly horn. Only three rude stone imple- 

 ments were discovered. The pottery was remarkable in showing a 

 great variety of ornamentation, though it was very rude in char- 

 acter and did not show the finish seen in ancient Corean pot- 

 tery, which is found in the Empire. In the incised character of the 

 markings, it recalls the pottery of the east coast of the United States. 



In the character of the raised knobs for handles on the edge of the 

 vessels, it shows the closest resemblance to pottery discovered by 

 Professor Hartt in Brazil. Mr. Morse was not prepared to say 

 whether it was the work of early Ainos, or a race which preceded 

 them, and which the Ainos displaced in their occupation of the island 

 from the north. 



Prof. F. W. Putnam spoke of the great interest of Mr. 

 Morse's observations, and sketched briefly the general char- 

 acter of shell heaps. 



Section of Entomology. December 26, 1877. 



Mr. E. P. Austin in the chair. Eight persons present. 



Dr. Hagen read the following communications : -— 



Notes on the Tree Nests of Termites in Jamaica. 

 By Henry G. Hubbard. 



The tree nests of several species of Termites are very abundant in 

 the island of Jamaica. They are dark brown, more or less spherical 

 or conical masses, looking externally as if composed of loamy earth, 

 and varying from the size of one's fist to huge globes as big as a 

 hogshead. Everywhere throughout the island they form conspic- 

 uous objects upon the fences and stone walls by the roadside, in the 

 main forks of trees, not unfrequently upon the ground, and sometimes 

 fastened, at a considerable height, to the trunk of the cocoanut. 



They are composed of a material resembling papier-mache, which 

 is probably finely comminuted wood and animal gluten. As they 



