FEBRUARY MEETING.
The meeting of the Biological Club, held in the Zoological lecture room on the evening of February 4th, 1901, was presided over by the president, Prof. Osborn, about thirty being present.
Prof. Lazenby presented “Remarks on Poisonous Plants.” He mentioned many of the poisons to which the poisonous properties of various plants are due. Many cases of poisoning are caused by poisonous fungi gathered with edible mushrooms, and greens gathered by persons unacquainted with poisonous herbs. Stramonium has been known to cause cases of poisoning by being gathered in greens. The distribution of poisonous plants through the various botanical orders was discussed, and the fact was revealed that a large percentage of the orders contain such species.
Prof. Ball spoke on “Collecting in Colorado.” His remarks on both faunal and floral conditions are valuable to all, and especially to those who collect in that western state. He emphasized the fact that in collecting Hemiptera, general sweeping is not productive of the best results. Many of the grasses which grow in that country are at least partially recumbent, and for that reason the sweeping net misses most of the desirable species. The species of insects which feed on these grasses are best taken by searching about the roots, or by lifting up the stems and scrutinizing them closely. Many new or rare species of Hemiptera have been procured in numbers in this way.
He exhibited many photographs and drawings which revealed the picturesqueness of the country, something of the flora, and the difficulties railroad companies experience in getting a track across the mountains, and left with many present a desire to see the remarkable scenery for themselves.