E. P. CHURCHILL, JR.: The life history of the blue crab. Various features of the life history of this form were studied by means of observations and experiments carried on during the interval from July 1, 1916, to December 1, 1917, especial attention being given to the crab of Chesapeake Bay. The eggs of the crab were found to measure about 1/100 of an inch in diameter. As they are laid they become attached to the endopodites of the four anterior pairs of swimmerets, forming the "sponge." About 1,750,000 eggs are laid at one time. They remain upon the swimmerets until they hatch, which event occurs within about fifteen days after they are laid. Upon hatching the young leave the female at once and do not cling to her as has often been supposed. Most of the spawning in Chesapeake Bay is accomplished from the first of June to the first of August and occurs mostly in the southern part of the bay.

About one month is required in which to pass the zoeal and the megalops stages. After the latter stage is passed the crab molts about fifteen times before the adult condition is reached. Most probably it does not molt after reaching maturity. The young, which are hatched. in the southern part of the bay, migrate to Maryland waters and reach maturity and mate there. There is a cessation of growth and molting during the winter. Maturity is reached during the second summer, at the age of about twelve to fourteen months. Mating occurs during July and August. Mating takes place in the female at the time of her last molting, at which time the abdomen changes from a triangular to a broad rounded form. Most of the females do not lay the eggs the same season in which mating occurs but migrate to the southern part of the bay, lie on the bottom in deep water there, and spawn the following season. The males do not migrate southward to as great an extent as do the females, but remain in more northerly waters. The crabs do not bury in the substratum during the winter as has been commonly supposed.

At least two and probably three batches of eggs are laid by the females. Some lay their first lot late in the summer and another lot the next season. Some lay two batches during the same summer. At the time of the only copulation which occurs during the life of the female, enough spermatozoa are deposited by the male in the sperm sacs of the female to fertilize all the eggs which she lays during her life time. The females die shortly after the last batch of eggs is laid, death usually occurring during the late summer or early fall. The usual length of life of the crab is about three years.

The paper was illustrated by lantern slides. It was discussed by W. P. HAY and Dr. T. S. PALMER.

R. H. TRUE: Notes on the early history of the pecan in America. The earliest account of the pecan is probably that by Cabeza de Vaca, who saw it in 1533 on the lower course of the Guadaloupe River in Texas. De Soto found it in use by the Indians in 1540-42 along the Mississippi River from near the mouth of the Illinois River and southward. The pecan seems to have been first introduced into the English

colonies by Captain Bouquet and John Bartram in September 1761. Daniel Clark of New Orleans sent nuts to Vice President Jefferson in 1799. The first botanical description is by Jefferson in his Notes on Virginia, in 1782. The name "pecan" was found in use by De Soto about 1540 and by Pénicault, 1704, among the tribes of the Mississippi Valley; probably not used by the Texas tribes west of this region. The pecan was probably cultivated in Spain at an early date, but the first ascertained record of its introduction into Europe was by John Bartram who sent pecans to Peter Collinson in England early in 1761. First introduction into France was probably through Jefferson in 1787. The earliest cultivation in America probably took place in Mexico about 200 years ago. William Prince succeeded on Long Island with nuts planted in 1772. Abner Landrum successfully budded the pecan on common hickory at Edgefield, S. C., in 1822.

The paper was discussed by Gen. T. E. WILCOX and Major R. W. SHUFELDT.

The 582d regular meeting of the Society was held in the Assembly Hall of the Cosmos Club, Saturday, March 23, 1918; called to order at 8 p.m. by President ROSE; 65 persons present.

The regular program consisted of an illustrated lecture by EDMUND HELLER entitled The Chinese borderland of Tibet and Burma. Mr. Heller gave an account of his recent collecting trip made in conjunction with Mr. Roy Andrews through Japan, China, and northern Burma. He described the route taken, the geographic and geologic features of the country passed through, the characteristics and customs of the people, and the nature of the larger animals encountered. He called particular attention to the deforested conditions of China and the intensive system of agriculture in vogue. The absence of animal life in China was rather conspicuous as contrasted with many of the neighboring and less densely populated countries. The scarcity of birds in some places with no apparent increase in insect pests was noteworthy. His talk was profusely illustrated by lantern slide views of all the features mentioned by him.

Mr. Heller's paper was discussed by the chair, A. S. HITCHCOCK, and Dr. GEORGE W. FIELD.

M. W. LYON, JR., Recoding Secretary.

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON

The 312th regular meeting of the Society was held at the Cosmos Club, April 4, 1918. There were twenty-nine members and four visitors present.

In the absence of President E. R. SASSCER, the Honorary President Mr. E. A. SCHWARZ occupied the chair.

The following names were favorably acted upon for membership: Dr. J. A. NELSON, Bureau of Entomology; Mr. OSCAR H. BASSECHES, Bureau of Entomology; Mr. L. P. ROCKWOOD, Forest Grove, Oregon;

Mr. C. W. COLLINS, Gipsy Moth Laboratory, Melrose Highlands, Massachusetts; and Mr. HOWARD L. CLARK, North Farm, Bristol, Rhode Island.

The regular program was as follows:

HAROLD MORRISON: Notes on the Virgin Islands. Mr. Morrison discussed briefly the size, location, past history, and the economic development of the islands, giving some notes on the principal agricultural crops and their chief insect enemies. Among the insects mentioned were termites, the different varieties of a species of weevil (Diaprepes sp.) the cotton-leaf blister mite, and the sweet-potato weevil (Euscepes batata). About thirty species of scale insects were collected, and about twenty-six hundred specimens representing other orders. No fruit flies were found, and fruit was very scarce on the islands due to the great destruction caused by the recent hurricane. Mr. Morrison's communication was discussed by Messrs. SCHWARZ, CASEY, BUSCK, and PIERCE.

R. E. SNODGRASS: The value of pictorial charts in extension entomology. This paper was illustrated by a number of artistically drawn charts designed to illustrate the life histories of economic insects. The speaker presented a strong argument in favor of this manner of carrying entomological information to the general public. He stated that the charts would attract and hold attention, that they were designed to bring out the most vulnerable points in the life-histories of the insects illustrated; and that they were quickly and easily read. He believed that the essential points in control would be more readily grasped by the reader than from the written page. In discussing Mr. Snodgrass' remarks Dr. L. O. HOWARD pointed out some of the excellencies of the charts from the artistic standpoint.

W. D. PIERCE: The case of the genera Rhina and Magdalis. Read by title.

E. A. MCGREGOR: A new host plant for the cotton-boll weevil. Read by title.

S. A. ROHWER: New sawflies of the subfamily Diprioninae. Read by title.

A. B. GAHAN, Recording Secretary.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS

Dr. H. FOSTER BAIN has recently returned from China, and has accepted the position of Assistant Director of the Bureau of Mines.

Dr. GRAHAM EDGAR, of Throop College, Pasadena, California, has been appointed Technical Assistant to the newly established Research Information Committee, and has entered upon his duties at the office of the National Research Council. Mr. WALTER M. GILBERT, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, is secretary of the local office of the Committee.

Dr. YOGORO KATO, formerly a member of the Research Laboratory of Physical Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and now professor in the Higher Technical School of Toyko and director of the Nakamura Chemical Research Institute, visited Washington in March.

Dr. E. C. LATHROP, formerly of the Laboratory of Soil Fertility Investigations, left Washington on May 1, 1918, to accept a position in the organic dye research laboratory of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., at Wilmington, Delaware.

Mr. JOSEPH U. MONROE, chief of the telegraph division of the Weather Bureau, died suddenly on April 13, 1918, after a service with the Bureau of twenty-seven years' duration.

A "Joint Information Board on Minerals and Derivatives" has been formed for the purpose of systematizing the handling of official inquiries regarding minerals and mineral products. This body is intended to serve as a clearing house to secure the prompt preparation and transmittal of data from a single authoritative source without duplication of effort, and is composed of representatives from the various government bureaus, boards, and departments interested. Mr. POPE YEATMAN, of the War Industries Board, Division of Raw Materials, is chairman, and Dr. EDSON S. BASTIN, of the Geological Survey, is secretary of the new Board.

The following persons have become members of the ACADEMY since the last issue of the JOURNAL:

Mr. SIDNEY F. BLAKE, Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Dr. JOSEPH AUGUSTINE CUSHMAN, Sharon, Massachusetts.

Mr. ERNEST G. FISCHER, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D. C.

Professor WILLIAM SUDDARDS FRANKLIN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mr. NED HOLLISTER, National Zoological Park, Washington, D. C. Dr. RAYMOND PEARL, U. S. Food Administration, Washington, D. C.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETINGS OF THE ACADEMY AND AFFILIATED SOCIETIES1

Tuesday, May 7: The Botanical Society, at 8 p. m.

Thursday, May 9: The Washington Academy of Sciences, at the George Washington Medical School, at 8.15 p. m. Program to be announced later.

Thursday, May 9: The Chemical Society. The regular meeting has been replaced by the joint meeting with the Washington Academy, May 15.

Saturday, May 11: The Philosophical Society, at the Cosmos Club, at 8.15 p. m. Program:

A. Q. TOOL, Bureau of Standards: The constitution of the gas ion. (Illustrated). L. A. BAUER, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism: Corresponding changes in the earth's magnetic state and in solar activity, 1888-1916. (Illustrated).

Wednesday, May 15: The Washington Academy of Sciences and the Chemical Society, joint meeting at the Interior Department, 18th and F Streets, at 8.15 p. m. Program:

ARTHUR A. NOYES, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: The determination of crystal structure by x-rays.

Saturday, May 18: The Biological Society, at the Meeting House, Friends' School, 1809 I Street, at 8 p. m. Program:

Dr. J. C. MERRIAM, Professor of Paleontology, University of California: Cave hunting in California.

1 The programs of the meetings of the affiliated Societies will appear on this page if sent to the editors by the thirteenth and twenty-seventh of each month.