VI NOTES BY THE EDITOR 



The American Association for the Advancement of Science held two 

 meetings during the past year. The first, a semi-annual meeting, was 

 held at Cincinnati, Ohio, commencing May 5th, and continuing five days. 

 The attendance at this meeting was as numerous as could have been ex- 

 pected ; consisting chiefly, however, of members of the Association from the 

 West. An unusually large number of papers and communications was pre- 

 sented, most of them relating to geology and paleontology. An exhibition 

 of fossils, collected in various parts of the West, of the most novel and inter- 

 esting character, was made by several of the members. Many of the speci- 

 mens shown belonged to entirely new and undescribed species, and were in 

 the most perfect state of preservation. This exhibition seemed to indicate 

 that the Silurian rocks of the Western United States are richer in fossil 

 remains than any other similar deposits. The greatest hospitality was 

 exercised towards the Association by the citizens of Cincinnati, and a fund 

 sufficient to defray the cost of publishing the proceedings was liberally and 

 generously subscribed. The President of this meeting was Prof. A. D. 

 Bache, Superintendent of the Coast Survey. 



The second and annual meeting of the Association for 1851 was held at 

 Albany, N. Y., during the week commencing Monday, August 18th, Prof. 

 Agassiz presiding. The attendance was unusually large, and upwards of 

 one hundred and twenty papers were presented and read. The depart- 

 ments of geology, astronomy and physics were most largely represented; 

 while zoology and chemistry received comparatively little attention. The 

 Association experienced the most generous treatment from the corporation 

 and citizens of Albany ; and, at the close of the meeting, it was announced 

 that the authorities had voted to publish the volume of proceedings at the 

 expense of the city. By invitation from, the city of Troy, an excursion was 

 made to that place, where a session was held at the Rensselaer Institute, 

 after which, the members were invited to a handsome collation. 



The officers of the Association for the year 1852 are as follows : Prof. 

 Pierce, of Cambridge, President ; Prof. James D. Dana, of New Haven, 

 General Secretary ; Prof. Spencer F. Baird, of Washington, Permanent Sec- 

 retary ; Dr. Elwyn, of Philadelphia, Treasurer. It was voted to hold the 

 next annual meeting at Cleveland, Ohio, that city having invited the Asso- 

 ciation, and generously offered to publish the proceedings. A similar invi- 

 tation and offer were afterwards received from the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. , 

 and general invitations from Providence and Baltimore. It was deemed 

 inexpedient to appoint a semi-annual session, though one at Washington 

 was requested. 



At this meeting, on recommendation of the standing committee, it was 

 unanimously voted, that the names of all members who have not paid their 

 assessments, and who refuse to do so after two notices of three months' inter- 

 val, shall be stricken from the rolls of the Association. Resolutions, com- 



