142 STATEN ISLAND INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
The Nov. 24, 1922, meeting was held in the Public Museum. 
Dr. Joseph Bequaert explained in more detail the facts known 
about the food habits of the fly Microdon, the larvae having been 
observed feeding on the indigestible matter expelled from the 
peculiar saclike structure in the head of the ants in whose nests 
they live. Dr. Bequaert also spoke on sleeping sickness, describ- 
ing the life habits of the tsetse fly, which carries the disease by its 
bloodsucking habits, and the attempts made to exterminate this 
serious pest of men and cattle in Africa. The lecture was illus- 
trated with colored lantern slides of the fly and the various kinds 
of country in Africa where it is to be found. 
Mrs. H. M. Trench read extracts from her diary covering a 
period of a week, in which she described in an interesting manner 
her impressions of the changing aspects of nature as seen on her 
daily walks. 
_ Mr. William T. Davis showed a specimen of Conopholis amert- 
cana (lL. f.), commonly called squawroot or cancerroot, collected 
from under a red oak near a branch of the Moravian Brook on 
Todt Hill. He stated that this parasitic plant had been discovered 
growing on the roots of this particular red oak over 27 years ago 
by Mr. John H. Stottler, and was mentioned in Bul. Torrey Club 
22: 234, 1895, where the statement is made that the patch was 
about 10 feet square and contained several hundred plants. Since — 
that time the locality had been visited on a number of occasions 
to ascertain if the parasite still persisted; and specimens collected 
on September 26, 1897, June 12, 1898, and Nov. I, 1903, were 
shown. ‘The red oak still appears to be in a flourishing condition 
in spite of the presence of the parasitic Conopholis. 
The Dec. 23, 1922, meeting was held in the Public Museum. 
Miss Katharine Trench reported having seen two starlings 
carrying nest material on. December 9th and the return of the 
cardinal which had visited her feeding station during. previous 
winters. 
Mrs. H. M. Trench spoke interestingly of her experience rais- 
ing honeybees, describing their habits and the exciting times of 
