INTRODUCTORY NOTE. THIS Volume of Proceedings is published in obedience to the vote of the Society, passed May 26, 1882. The BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON was organized December 3, 1880, and at the time of its summer adjournment, in 1882, carries upon its roll the names of one hundred and thirty-nine active members, one honorary member, and twenty corresponding members. It has held thirty-one regular meetings, three special meetings, and one field meeting. At its regular meetings fifty-four communications have been presented, nearly all of which, except informal verbal communications, have already been published, as is indicated in the bibliographical foot notes. It has inaugurated and, in conjunction with the Anthropological Society, carried on a course of eight popular scientific lectures, four of which were delivered in its special behalf, and all of which were delivered by its members. The meetings of the Society have always been held in rooms provided by the courtesy of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; the first fifteen in the Regents' Room of the Smithsonian Institution; the sixteenth to the twenty-fourth in the Archive Room of the National Museum; the subsequent meetings in the Lecture Room of the Museum. In preparing the proceedings of the Society for publication, the Secretaries have omitted the record of the election of members from the minutes of the several meetings, the information there contained being presented in a much more convenient form in the "List of Members." |