JULY, 1906. 
PROCEEDINGS. 
65 
Mr. H. L. Ward followed with an account of the organization of 
the "Association of American Museums." He outlined the origin and 
hopes of the new association which he said was primarily intended 
to facilitate the exchange of ideas between museum men for mutual 
benefit. He referred also to the great changes recently inaugurated in 
museums all tending to make the museum an institution of greater 
value to those not especially interested in scientific subjects. 
The meeting then adjourned. 
June 28, 1906. 
Regular monthly meeting of the Society. 
In the absence of President Teller, Vice-President Ward presided. 
Mr. Doerflinger called the attention of the society to the fact that 
the 6th of May, 1907, would be the fiftieth anniversary of the founding 
of the society, and suggested that some suitable celebration be planned. 
The matter was referred to the Executive Committee. 
There being no further business, Mr. C. T. Brues, of the Public 
Museum, spoke on "The Wingless Condition of Certain Insects in Rela- 
tion to Current Theories of Evolution and Variation." The speaker 
reviewed briefly the conceptions of variation and mutation and their 
relation to the origin of new species. He outlined the causes generally 
accepted to account for the origin of variations. The condition of the 
wings in a number of subapterous genera of beetles was described and 
the possibility of applying the theory of mutation to' them. The 
correlation between the wing-length in subapterous species and 
climate was also mentioned. 
Dr. Graenicher asked the society for expressions of opinion as to 
the effects of introducing squirrels into city parks on the nesting of 
song birds in these places. Considerable discussion followed by 
various members. 
The meeting then adjourned. 
