1879.] NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 209 



been induced to make it a visit. Though he had seen collections 

 of casts of fossils and skeletons in the museums of colleges and 

 other institutions, from Prof. Ward's establishment, he had not 

 been prepared to find it so extensively representing all depart- 

 ments of natural history as it proved to be, and even in Europe 

 he had seen no dealer's stock that was equal to it. For the variety 

 of its objects, and the excellence of preservation and preparation 

 of the specimens, he recommended it to the Academy and to others 

 as a source from whence to supply the wants and deficiencies of 

 their cabinets. The collection of skeletons is large, and is admi- 

 rable for the cleanness, whiteness, and perfect mounting of the 

 specimens. A few thousand dollars expended in this department 

 would be of much importance to the museum of the Academy. 

 A collection of glass models of invertebrate animals, made by 

 Leopold Blaschka, of Dresden, had especially attracted his atten- 

 tion. The models are remarkable for their accuracy and beauty, 

 and they supply a means of illustration which has long been felt. 

 They represent soft and delicate forms which cannot be satisfac- 

 torily preserved, and others too minute to be examined with the 

 naked eye. Moreover their price is so moderate, that it is to be 

 hoped that the Academy may make early provision to obtain a 

 series. Prof. L. exhibited specimens, such as the Red Coral, 

 Cor allium rubrum, of the natural size and magnified ; the hydroid 

 polyp, Hydr actinia echiiiata, which lives on the shell of the Hermit 

 Crab, etc. Prof. L. added that at the present time when society 

 was awakened to the importance of the study of natural history, 

 Prof. Ward was worthy of the highest commendation for the ability 

 and energy he had displayed in accumulating so ample a means 

 for its illustration. 



October 28. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Forty-nine persons present. 



The following papers were presented for publication: 



" Revision of the Palreocrinoidea, Part I., the Families Ichthyo- 

 crinidse and Cyathocrinidae," by Charles Wachsmuth and Frank 

 Springer. 



" A Comparison of the Eocene Mollusca of the Southeastern 

 United States and Western Europe in relation to the determina- 

 tion of identical forms," by Angelo Heilprin. 



The death of William H. Gumbes, a member, was announced. 



Variations in Thuja and Retinospora. Mr. Thomas Meehan 

 referred to his observations reported to the Academy many years 



