OBSERVATIONS ON THE HOUSEBUILDING HABIT OF THE MUSKRAT. By AмOS W. BUTLER, Brookville, Ind. [ABSTRACT.] THIS paper gave some observations on the structure of muskrat homes, noting certain changes that have occurred in the habits of the animal within historic time. The author also referred to the extension of the housebuilding habit and its rate of advancement, devoting attention to the causes of the changes noted. The observations were all made within the southeast quarter of Indiana. METAMORPHOSIS IN THE PLEURUM OF ALEURODES. By Prof. HERBERT OSBORN, Ames, Iowa. [ABSTRACT.] OBSERVATIONS on a species of Aleurodes during prepupal, pupal, and the imago stages show that the pleurum in prepupal stage is equal in extent, and not separable from the scales; that during the pupal stage it is detached from scale and in meso-and meta-thorax is rapidly altered in structure, while in prothorax and abdominal segments lobes are clearly defined. In the fresh imago slight pressure from above causes the extrusion of these lobes on prothorax and abdomen, showing that the pleurum is simply contracted to form the walls of the body, while no such expansion in mesoand meta-thorax indicates the modification of this portion of the pleurum to form the wings. Specimens showing these different steps in development were submitted for examination. ENTOMOLOGICAL MEMORANDA. By Prof. O. S. WESTCOTT, Maywood, Ill. [ABSTRACT.] (1) Further evidence of the carrion-loving propensities of certain diurnal Lepidoptera. (2) Alleged seasonal varieties of Melitaa tharos, viz., marcia and Morpheus equally abundant in the latter part of July at Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada. (3) Pupation of nocturnal larvæ on a gravel walk. (4) Evidence of the greater abundance of Lachnosterna gibbosa Burm. than that of Lachnosterna fusca Fröhl, in some localities. (5) Vast numbers of Crambidæ taken at light. (6) A successful insect trap. A PLEA FOR UNIFORMITY IN BIOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE. By Dr. N. L. BRITTON, Columbia College, New York. ADDRESS BY DR. CHARLES C. ABBOTT, VICE-PRESIDENT, SECTION H. EVIDENCES OF THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. AN ecclesiastical body has recently decided, by a significant vote, that man, perfect in all his parts, had been created de novo from the dust that the law of evolution has nothing whatever to do with him or his; if, indeed, it is not a very flimsy figment of the imagination, and a harmful plaything with which men who aim to be scientific, or rational, solace themselves, because, in their foolhardiness, they decline to accept the asserted initial separate creation of all living beings, from the highest to the lowest, now living or that have lived. In If this decision of an ecclesiastical body really represented the truth, instead of being a painful exhibition of stultifying ignorance, Anthropology would be shorn of much of its attractiveness, and the term "prehistoric" would have little, if any, meaning. such a case, the races of America would scarcely be worthy of consideration, being but the rapidly degenerated and discolored descendants of the physically perfect, yet painfully weak-kneed Adam of Paradise. There is, on the contrary, unquestionably but one method of correctly interpreting the past, as to the history of man, and that is to adopt the same methods and draw the same inferences as have been done in tracing the evolution of the horse, camel, elephant or ΟΧ. This, strangely enough, seems repugnant to very many who feel that any relationship, however remote, with less intelligent creatures is a reflection upon their own intelligence; while, in fact, |