Safe Proceedings of Scientific Societies. [July, 1886, 
— Thos, Edwards, the Banff naturalist, so well known from 
Smiles’ biography, is dead. Since the publication of Smiles’ 
work he has enjoyed a pension of £50 per annum, and latterly 
he has been curator of Banff Museum. 
— A dromedary in Central park, N. Y., gave birth, on May 17, 
to a calf weighing 105 pounds. This is said to be the third birth 
of the kind in the United States. 
e morning glory, natural grasses and other species of 
land life rapidly take the place of aquatic plants in the vast areas 
of drained lands in sub-tropical Florida. 
` — The Chicago Academy of Sciences has deposited its collec- 
tion in commodious quarters at the Exposition building on the 
lake front. i 
:0: 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
BiotocicaL Society oF Wasuincton, May 15.— Commu 
cation: Dr. C. Hart Merriam, habits of the short-tailed shrew 
(Blarina). 
ay 29.—Communications: Mr. John B. Smith, Ant’s nests 
and their inhabitants; Dr. T. H. Bean, The trout of North Amer- 
ica, with exhibition of specimens ; Mr. L. O. Howard, On some 
new Chalcidide; Mr. L. F. Ward, Exhibition of a specimen of 
the Palo la Cruz or Wood of the Cross. 
New York Acapemy oF Sciences, May 10.—A history of the 
society from its beginning to the present time, prepared by the 
secretary, was presented. It comprised the following sections: 
: Origin ; membership ; biographical sketches of prominent mem 
=~ — bers; changes of location; the old Lyceum building; collec- 
=— tions; library; publications; change of name, etc., etc. Some 
pe of the old documents, books, etc., were exhibited. i 
~ May 17.—The following paper was presented : Ten years Ko 
gress in astronomy, Professor C. A. Young, of Princeton wO 
lege. E d 
__ May 24.—The subject of the sanitary influence of vegetation 
-in cities and the importance of tree-planting to the health, beauty 
_ and summer temperature of New York, with practical wo" 
_ tions in relation thereto, was presented by Dr. Stephen S 
_ and Professor D. S. Martin. d 
¿ — May 31.—On rock-crystal, its cutting in Japan, Germany ats 
the United States, with exhibition of crystal spheres and ot ae 
_ objects of transparent quartz, including some of the largest pit 
in this country, by Mr. George F. Kunz. 
rF W. 
early migration from Asia to America; Dr. C. S. Mino 
the origin of the mesoderm. 
n 
