^S4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1886. 



During this period the N. America species of Gyperus have been 

 carefully revised by Prof. Britton, of Columbia College, New 

 York ; and the perplexing species of Paspalum, bj' Dr, Vasej'^, of 

 Washington. Dr. John W. Eckfeldt has continued his special 

 care of the lichens of the Academy, adding to their number, 

 and has so arranged and catalogued the several collections of 

 this order, as greatly to facilitate reference. Similar work is 

 greatly needed for the remaining order of the lower Cryptogams. 



John H. Redfield, 



Conservator. 



REPORT OF THE MINERALOGICAL AND GEO- 

 LOGICAL SECTION. 



The Director of the Mineralogical and Geological Section of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences would respectfully report that 

 meetings have been held regularly during the year, but that 

 owing to the enforced absence of several of the more active 

 members the attendance has not been as great as formerly. The 

 additions to the cabinet, while not as numerous as in former 

 years, have been considerable and valuable. A number of them 

 have been purchased with the funds of the Section. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Theo. D. Rand, 



Director. 



REPORT OF THE PROFESSOR OF INVERTEBRATE 



PALEONTOLOGY. 



The Professor of Invertebrate Paleontology respectfully reports 

 that during the 3'ear he has delivered a course of lectures, with 

 practical demonstrations, on geology and paleontology, which 

 course was supplemented by a number of field excursions in 

 the surroundings of Philadelphia. A special excursion, designed 

 for the purposes of original investigation, and extending over a 

 period of two weeks, was conducted during the month of July to 

 Nantucket and Martha's Vine3'ard, resulting in valuable acquisi- 



