cee Pa 
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236 
had been obtained by Mr. Harrington while sifting 
moss for small Coleoptera; and with it occurred a 
number of other species, including Hyalina milium 
Morse, Pseudohyalina exigua Stimpson, Vertigo 
milium Gould, and V. Gouldii Binney. Among many 
other interesting and valuable facts was reported the 
rapid increase, in and around the city, of Limax 
agrestis Linn. In 1882 a single individual of this 
species was found in a garden. During the past sum- 
mer it was found in hundreds in this garden, and 
other gardeners complained of its destructive attacks. 
The advent in Ottawa of this voracious species of 
foreign origin (long known in cities along the Atlantic 
coast) is a fact of much economic as well as scien- 
tific interest. After the reading and discussion of 
this report, the members spent some time in examin- 
ing the specimens exhibited by Messrs. Harrington, 
Tyrrell, and Latchford, in connection with the papers 
and report. 
Torrey botanical club, New York. 
Feb. 12. — Dr. Newberry gave an account, continued 
from a previous meeting, of the vegetation bordering 
the line of the Northern Pacific railroad. Many of the 
trees are undoubtedly specifically the same as eastern 
ones, although considered and described as distinct. 
They should probably be referred to varieties of the 
same species. All are, no doubt, descended from 
the same ancestors, although now altered by the differ- 
ence in surrounding circumstances. Many of the 
smaller plants are identical, but generally the aspect 
of the vegetation is very distinct and striking. The 
Douglass spruce (Abies Douglassii, Lindl.) and Pinus 
Lambertiana, Doug., are scarcely less in size than the 
famous ‘ big trees’ of California. Some of the former 
are three hundred feet high and six feet in diameter. 
The annual rings are sometimes half an inch wide, 
showing very rapid growth. One specimen, about 
five feet in diameter, showed five hundred annual 
rings. Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifoli- 
us, Nutt.) has avery hard, dense wood, considered 
superior to coal for making a bright, hot fire. Sever- 
al species of the genus Berberis are conspicuous fea- 
tures, owing to the showy racemes of berries. They 
are called indiscriminately ‘Oregon grape.’ Several 
species have apparently not been described. The 
‘Manzanita,’ a name given to several species of Arc- 
tostaphylos, produces a fruit resembling a small apple, 
which is used as a food by the Indians. No hickory- 
trees are found, and only one hazel (Corylus rostrata, 
Ait.). ‘The berries of Gaultheria Shallon, Pursh., are 
much used by the natives, as are also the fruit of the 
‘“service-berry’ (Amelanchier alnifolia, Nutt.) and 
several species of Vaccinium. Spirea millefolium, 
Torr., is very abundant and conspicuous: it would 
make a very ornamental garden-shrub. Artemisia 
tridentata, Pursh., is the common sage-brush of the 
region. Kalmia glauca grows the same-as with us; 
and Rhododendron Californicum, Hook., is hardly 
different from our R. maximum, L. 
Amongst the herbaceous plants are to be seen, par- 
ticularly, three species of Mimulus, — cardinalis, 
Lewisii, and luteus. Antennaria dioica is very con- 
spicuous with its red flowers. Many species of the 
SCIENCE. 
genus Phlox are abundant and conspicuous. The 
showy genus Castilleia is also well represented. One 
of the most extensively represented genera is Erio- 
gonum, — more than twenty species in this region. 
Many species of Ribes are to be seen, some of which 
have apparently not been described. Fire has dev- 
astated immense tracts of forest, and completely 
altered the, appearance of the landscape in many 
places. Where the ground has been burnt over, there 
generally springs up a thick growth of Pteris and 
Vaccinium. 
Peucedanum ambiguum, Nutt., is an important 
food-staple, the root being dried and powdered. 
Cincinnati society of natural history. 
Feb. 5.—Mr. W. H. Knight read a paper on the 
motions of fixed stars and on non-luminous bodies of 
space. Dr. W. A. Dun exhibited a series of relics 
from the Swiss lake dwellings, and read a short paper 
describing them. Prof. Joseph F. James gave a 
brief account of some observations on the common 
Caladium. After cutting off a growing, healthy leaf, 
a jet of water shot out from the apex of the unfolding 
leaf, and continued flowing with a rhythmical move- 
ment at the rate of a hundred and eighty pulsations 
per minute for several hours. 
Academy of natural sciences, Philadelphia. 
Jan. 10. — Miss S. G. Foulke stated that the modes 
of reproduction of Clathrulina elegans are four in 
number, — by self-division, by the instantaneous 
throwing-off of a small mass of sarcode, by the for- 
mation and liberation of minute germs, and by the 
transformation of the body into flagellate monads. 
The fourth mode is significant in bringing to light a 
new phase in the life-history of the Heliozoa. ‘The 
Clathrulina, in which the phenomena were observed, 
withdrew its rays, and divided into four parts, as in 
the ordinary method; but the sarcode instantly be- 
came granular and of a rough surface. Then fol- 
lowed a period of quiescence, in this case of five or 
six hours’ duration, although in other instances last- 
ing three days and nights; after which one of the 
four parts began slowly to emerge from the capsule, a 
second following a few moments later. While passing 
through the capsule, these masses of sarcode seemed 
to be of a thicker consistence than the similar bodies, 
which, in the ordinary method, instantly assume the 
Actinophrys form. After both had passed completely 
through, for nearly a minute they lay quiet, grad- 
ually elongating meanwhile. Then a tremor became 
visible at one end, and a short prolongation of the 
sarcode appeared waving to and fro. This elongated 
at the same time into a flagellum, the vibrations be- 
coming more rapid, until, at the same moment, both 
the liberated monads started away through. the water. 
They were followed for about ten minutes, when both 
were lost to sight among a mass of sediment, and 
the fear of mistaking one of the common monads for 
them led the observer to abandon the search. Another — 
monad was followed through various movements, and _ 
finally seen to attach the tip of its flagellum to the — 
glass, and revolve swiftly for a few moments, when — 
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