546 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1897. 



REPORT OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL 



SECTION. 



The Section has held ten meetings during the past year with 

 slightly increased average attendance. Communications of general 

 interest have been made at each of the meetings, diatoms and 

 bacteriology receiving special attention. 



The Conservator reports the purchase of several new objectives. 

 Donations to the museum were made by Dr. J. C. Morris, and a large 

 aquarium was presented by Mr. Holman. The following commu- 

 nications were made to the Academy : 



"Demonstration of Absorption of Carbon Dioxide and of the 

 Generation of Oxygen by Diatoms," by T. Chalkley Palmer. 



"Dentition of Snails," by Professor Pilsbry. 



" Furs," by Dr. Morris. 



" The Neuron," by Dr. A. O. J. Kelly. 



"Structure of the Diatom Valve," by F. J. Keeley. 



The officers of the Section are as follows : 



Director J. Cheston Morris, M. D. 



Vice-Director, 

 Treasurer, . 

 Conservator, 



Corresponding Secretary, 

 Recorder, . 



T. Chalkley Palmer. 

 Charles P. Perot. 

 F. J. Keely. 

 John G. Rothermel. 

 Charles S. Boyer. 



Charles S. Boyer, 



Recorder. 



REPORT OF THE CONCHOLOGICAL SECTION. 



The past year has been one of continuous growth in the concho- 

 logical department of the museum, although no one accession of 

 great size has been received. In the arrangement of the collection 

 considerable progress has been made. The bivalves of the families 

 Pholadidse, Teredidse, Myidse, Mactridas, Solenidoe, Donacidse and 

 some allied groups have been transferred from the table cases to the 

 rail cases formerly occupied by minerals, and systematically arranged 

 therein. To the space thus gained, the terrestrial operculates have 

 been transferred, and the species rearranged according to the latest 

 monographs of the several groups. The cases formerly occupied by 

 the operculates, which had long since been outgrown by the increase 

 of the collection, will now be utilized for displaying the Bulimulidse, 



