229 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Dec, 1889. 



at the Schuetzenplatz. It is an old, but healthy, Live Oak, {Quercus virens,) 

 the trunk of which measures 9 ft. 4 in. in circumference, 2 ft. above the base, 

 and the leaves, green and vigorous, are most abundant on the outer ends of the 

 branches. This tree is one of a group of four, the others being two Cedars, 

 {Juniperus virginianus, ) and a second Live Oak ; the two Cedars being re- 

 spectively West, ( No. 1, ) and North West, ( No. 2, ) and the Live Oak, ( Oak 

 No. 2,) South West of the first tree, (Oak No. 1). Near the foot of Cedar No. 



1, grows an enormous wild grape vine, the trunk measuring 3 ft. 2 in. in cir- 

 cumference 18 in. above the base. This vine soon divides into three trunks, 

 one, the largest, passing among the branches of Oak No. I, and the other two, 

 much smaller in size, passing among the branches of Oak No. 2 and Cedar No. 



2, the Cedar, at the foot of which the grape vine grows, containing none of the 

 branches. 



Regarding the phenomenon, the drops of "rain " could be felt as they fell ; 

 they could be seen glistening in the air as they descended, and the drops which 

 had fallen could be seen on the benches surrounding the base of the tree. I 

 noted that the drops did not fall in like numbers in all parts of the ground 

 under the tree. The largest number fell near the base of the tree on the West 

 side ; the next in number fell around the base of the tree, from North through 

 East to West. Under the branches extending North and East no di-ops could 

 be felt or seen, beyond a circle of 8 ft. from the base of the tree, although the 

 branches extended 38 ft. North, and 32 ft. West. Oak No. 2 showed only a 

 few drops, these being on the North East side. Under Cedar No. 1 no drops 

 could be found, but under Cedar No. 2, drops could be seen on the benches 

 under the South East branches of the tree. 



I selected a number of branches from Oaks No. 1 and No. 2, and Cedars No. 

 1 and 2, in order to compare their structure microscopically. 



I made an examination of the other trees on the grounds to see if any drops 

 could be found under them, but none of them exhibited the phenomenon. 



December 6th, 1889, 3.35 p. m. ; Thermometer 62"^ ; Barometer, Weather 

 Slightly Cloudy. 



I visited the tree in company with Mr. W. O. Mazyck and found the tree 

 ' * raining " as on the 3d inst. Examining the tree for insects, we found a few 

 lepidoptera, one-quarter of an inch in length, in the pupa state, and enclosed 

 in their cocoons. The small number that we found were attached to the under 

 siirf ace of the leaves. A single specimen of LoQUda was found on a branch. 

 We tested the drops which fell under the two Oaks and Cedar No. 2 and found 

 them slightly acid, just sufficiently so to change the color of blue litmus paper. 

 We tasted them, but the taste, if any existed,, was too weak to be perceived. 



We directed the keeper of the grounds to make observations in order to as- 

 certain whether any variation existed in the fall of the drops during the day 

 and night. 



December 7th, 1889, L40p.m. ; Thermometer, 66°; Barometer, Weather Fair. 



Careful microscopical examination has failed to show any difference in the 

 leaves and branches of the Oaks or Cedars. The keeper of the grounds report- 



