Hitchcock, Kerr, Cope, Cox and Forshey, presented recent work in the field and laboratory, and were not only in most part ably discussed, but were most instructive résumés of work accomplished and theories advanced. Under this head must not be forgotten the remarks on the recognition of the value of the State Geological Surveys by Prof. Peirce as Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey, which resulted in a memorial to Government calling attention to the desirableness of compiling the results of all the state surveys and publishing them with suitable maps; a most important step for the proper understanding of the geology of the country. In Anthropology, Col. Foster's paper on the "Crania of the Mound Builders," of which we shall give an abstract in our next number, was the most important, while the short communications by Messrs Woodman and Putnam helped to keep up an interest in this subject. In Microscopy but little was done, though the few microscopists present separated, under the usual subsection, from the Physical section, and had a number of discussions and papers by Messrs. Ward, King, Hilgard, Babcock, Tuttle and Wescott. The more than usual care with which the Standing and Sectional Committees passed on the papers that were entered on the general list before allowing them a place on the daily programme will be hailed by all members as a step in the right direction. Though a most disagreeable task to perform, it is one that, if carried out to the full extent that it should be as required by the constitution. will do more than any other thing to make the association an exponent of the science of America, and we trust that the example set by the last Standing Committee will be followed next year, so that not only will worthless papers be excluded, but the rule providing for the presentation of abstracts of papers be enforced before allowing papers to go over to the Sectional Committees. The Committee appointed at the Indianapolis meeting to report if any amendment to the constitution was required regarding membership rendered their report, in which they stated that they found the constitution fully provided for the points which they had been requested to consider, but that its provisions had been violated, and that they considered a strict adherence to the constitution of vital importance to the association." The clause to which the report was specially directed was that relating to the two classes of members, the active and the associate, and it is under stood by the present Standing Committee that the elections next year will be made in accordance with the provision; and it was very generally expressed that all present members should notify the Permanent Secretary as to the position they wish to hold, either as an active or associate member, it being understood that the class of active members was to contain all who were specially interested in scientific work, while the associates were to be those who joined the association for the purpose of attending the meetings in order to gratify their own tastes or to give pecuniary or personal aid in advancing its objects; the only distinction made between the two classes being that the active members alone could hold office or vote on any matter pertaining to the management of the association. Among the votes passed was one proposed by Col. Foster, the chairman of Sect. B., providing for a classified index of all the volumes of the proceedings, which would render them of much greater value than now. In the general discussions which took place among the members much was said regarding the importance of having an official report of the proceedings, which should embody all the discussions, printed daily. The accomplishment of this would be a great advantage to the public as well as to the association, and arrangements could unquestionably be made for it by the employment of regular stenographers, which the rules of the association state shall be employed when practicable. During the session, excursions were made to the lead mines, spar caves, and other places of interest in and about Dubuque, and a very enjoyable trip was made by rail to the "painted rocks” some 80 miles up the river, and continued by boat to the town of McGregor, where the members and friends of the association were most cordially welcomed and provided with a repast, after which they returned by rail to Dubuque. After the adjournment, quite a number of members accepted the kind offer of passes from the officers of the Illinois Central R. R., and were in succession the guests of the citizens of Ft. Dodge, Springvale and Sioux City, receiving at every place the most generous of welcomes, and assisted in securing the special specimens each was after. The writer of this note will never forget the aid and kindness he received while pursuing his ichthyological and archæological researches among the rivers and mounds of Iowa, and he knows that all others who were on the excursion unite with him in thanking the many friends they made for the true western hospitality extended and accepted. The twenty-second meeting of the association will be held at PORTLAND, Maine, beginning on Wednesday, AUGUST 20, 1873, and we believe that the association made a most judicious choice in selecting a place not only easily reached from all sections of the country, but one which will offer the extra inducement of a probably cool season, however hot the discussions may prove, and there will not be the 'bugbear' of "too hot a place to go in August" which has prevented many members from attending the western meetings. The officers elect for the next meeting are President, JOSEPH LOVERING of Cambridge; Vice President, A. H. WORTHEN of Springfield, Ill.; Permanent Secretary, F. W. PUTNAM of Salem; General Secretary, C. A. WHITE of Iowa City; Treasurer, W. S. VAUX of Philadelphia; Standing Committee, ex officio, in addition to the above officers, J. LAWRENCE SMITH of Louisville, Ky.; ALEX. WINCHELL of Ann Arbor; E. S. MORSE of Salem. BOOKS RECEIVED. Ueber die Weizenverwusterin Chlorops tæniopus und die Mittel zu ihrer Bekampfung. Von Prof. Dr. M. Nowicki. Wien. 1871. 8vo. pp. 58. Die unseren Kulturpflanzen schadlichen Insekten. Von G. Kunstle. Wien. 1871. 8vo, pp. 96. Bulletin Meteorologique Mensuel de l' Observatoire de l' Universite d Upsal. Vol. 1. Nos.1- Moscou, 1572. 8vo. Monographie des Chrysomelides de l' Amerique. Par C. Staal. Parts 1-111. Upsal, 1962-65. 4to. Bulletin Mensuel de la Societe d' Acclimatation, Jan.-May, 1872. Svo. Paris. Sitzungsberichte der Naturwissensch, Gesellschaft Isis in Dresden. Oct.-Dec., 1871. Jan. to March, 1872. 8vo. Correspondenzblatt des Zoolog, mineral. Vereines in Regensburg, 25 Jahrg. 1871. 8vo. Archie fur Anthropologie. Band 5. Vierteljahrheft 2. Braunschwelg. 1872. 4to. Beitrage No. 1, zu der Abhandlungen des Naturwissensch, Vereines zu Bremen, 1871. 4to. Memoires pour servir a l' Histoire Naturelle du Merique des Antilles et des Etats-Unis. Par H. de Saussure. 4me Mem. Mantides Americains. Tome 2me. Prem, Part. Geneve et Bale. 1870. 4to. STO. Ofversigt af K. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Forhandlingar. 26, 1869, 27, 1870. Stockholm K. Svenskal Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar Ny Foljd. Band vit. Haft 2. Band viti, ix 1868, 1869, 1870. Stockholm. 4to. Meteorologiska Jakttagelser i Sverige utgifna af K. Svenska Vetenskaps-akademien. Af Er. Edlung. Band ix-xi. 1867-1869. Stockholm. Folio. Minnesteckning ofver Erik G. Geijer. Af F. F. Carlson. Stockholm. 1870. 8vo. pp. 23. Lefnadstecknigar ofrer K. Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens efter aar 1854, aflinda "Ledamoter. Bandi, Hafte 2. Stockholm. 1870. 8vo. Sitzungs-berichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, 1871, Berlin, 1871, 8vo. * Mr. Putnam will not enter upon the duties of his office, except so far as relates to arrangements connected with the Portland meeting, until next summer, and all communications relating to the past meeting must be addres ed to Prof. Lovering. DOUBTLESS the ancients were as honest as the moderns. But were they as painstaking and therefore as trustworthy? Those olden treatises on Nature stood upon a sort of exacting didactic dignity of their own, even when they discoursed of marvels akin to "The Anthropophagi and men whose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders!" It has always been easier to imagine than observe. Thus has instinct too long been regarded in the beast as the functional equivalent of reason in man; as if man had no instinct, and the beast no reason.* And how vitiating an element has this proved in our natural theology. How many believe the pseudo-axiom that of necessity every bird builds its nest to-day as did its ancestors six thousand years ago? Is not instinct transmitted, or inherited habit? And so there may be relatively new instincts as well as old ones. The trained animal- - the setter, the pointer, the retriever-transmits to its offspring those traits which have become the habit, the resultant of long training. The cow migrates to Norway and, contrary to the bovine instinct, eats the fucus off the sea rocks, and finally becomes an eater of fish. Her offspring take to it naturally, that is, instinctively. The mountain parrot, (Nestor notabilis) called by the Maories, Kea, is a simple honey * Pythagoras taught that animals had reason but no mind.-Eds. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by the PEABODY ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. VI. 46 (721) eater. This bird has lately found out that mutton is good; and actually combines in flocks to attack sheep, eating the live flesh from the animal's back and sides. But what has all this to do with orioles and bumble bees? Let us see. At the beginning of June, I received a small package from Rev. Dr. Campbell, President of Rutger's College. It contained several carpenter-bees, each with its head detached. All the president could tell me, was that they were picked up under a tree in the college campus; and an explanation was asked of the phenomenon. A good deal puzzled, I ventured a provisional statement, a sort of . hypothesis which, at least, had the merit of seeming probable. It was shot at a venture and, like such shots generally, it hit wide of the mark. I had just closed quite a long course of lectures on natural history in the grammar school of that institution, and this question, becoming somewhat general, made me feel like one put on his mettle, so I went at it resolved to work out the case if possible. In the campus were two beautiful horse-chestnut trees, Esculus hippocastaneum. They were large trees, and resplendent with their dense panicles of bloom; every one, as it stood gorgeously upright, seemed a thyrsus worthy the hand of a god. These trees formed the great attraction of honey-seeking insects. It was only under these trees that the headless bees were found, but there they lay in hundreds; the ground was literally speckled with them. Strange to say, the slain insects consisted of but one species and one sex. They were carpenter-bees, of the species Xylocopa Carolina, and all were males. Now these males are stingless, and have a white face. I picked them up by handfuls, all headless, the heads lying on the ground. I searched diligently for a head without that characteristic white face which designates the stingless male, but could not find one. Indeed, I entertain no doubt that, of the large number of these decapitated bees, every one was a stingless male. One fact was now apparent, the massacre was made up among the flowers, while the insects were in quest of honey. But what had done it? How was it done? And for what purpose? On these three questions the whole case rested. If they could be answered, the mystery would be solved. It appeared under the microscope that the severance of the head from the body was clean and not bunglingly done. The head was |