NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 73 



March 9. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Eighteen members present. 



The Feet of Bathmodon. Prof. Cope described the structure. 

 of the feet in Bathmodon. He pointed out the existence of five 

 digits on each of the feet, composed of very short metapodial and 

 phalangeal bones. The carpus resembles that of the Toxodonts 

 as described by Prof. Burmeister, but differs in the much greater 

 nlno-carpal articulation. The carpus differs from that of the Pro- 

 boscidia in the considerable mutual articulation of the unciform 

 and lunar bones. The tarsus more nearly resembles that of the 

 Proboscidians, but differs in the abbreviation of the navicular bone, 

 on the inner side. This abbreviation permits the cuboid, which is 

 wide as in the Elephants, as well as the ectocuneiform, to come in 

 contact with the astragalus. On these grounds, the genus Bath- 

 modon, and probably Coryphodon, Owen, which is nearly allied to 

 it, were separated as a distinct order from the Proboscidia, under 

 the name of Ambhjpoda, and two suborders were recognized, viz. : 

 Pantodonta, represented by Bathmodon, and Dinocerata, repre- 

 sented by Uintatherium and Loxolophodon. 



The death of Dr. G. W. Norris was announced. 



March 16. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Thirty-one members present. 



Remarks on some Marine Rhizopods. Prof. Leidy remarked 

 that he had spent a short time last August at Noank, on the 

 coast of Connecticut, where Prof. Baird was then engaged in pur- 

 suing his inquiries and investigations as United States Commis- 

 sioner of Fisheries. Throuo;h the kindness of Prof. Baird he 

 had been enabled to make a few observations on some marine 

 Rhizopods. 



Some years ago, on the beach at Newport, R. I., he had noticed 

 that the ripple marks of the sand were crested with white parti- 

 cles, which could be scraped up by the handful, and which he at 

 first viewed as the pulverized debris of various calcareous shells. 

 On closer examination the material was found in large proportion 

 to consist of the dead shells of Foraminifera. The immense 

 quantities of these remains, extending in innumerable ridges over 



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