1S5G.] 



61 



March 4:(h, 1850. 

 Vic3-President Bridges in the Chair. 



A letter was read from the American Antiquarian Society, dated 

 Worcester, Muss., 29th Feb., 1856, acknowledging the receipt of vol. 

 7, of the Proceedings, and of the Journal, parts 1 and 2, vol. 8, n. s. 



Also a letter from Mr. E. Billings, of Ottowa, Upper Canada, dated 

 26th Feb., 1856, acknowledging receipt of a copy of the llesolutions of 

 the Academy adopted Feb. 19th last. 



Dr. Leidy presented for publication two papers, entitled, " Descrip- 

 tions of soiiie remains of Fishes from the Carboniferous and Devonian 

 formations of tlie United States ;" and " Descriptions of some remains 

 of Fossil Manimidia ;" both of which were referred to the following 

 Committee : Mr. Isaac Lea, Dr. Henderson and Dr. King. 



March llth. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



Letters were read 



From S. Drinker, Esq., dated Canton, 28th Nov., 1855, transmitting 

 donations to the Museum. 



From Mr Edward Tuckerman, dated Amherst, Mass., March 1, 1856, 

 offering for the acceptance of the Academy a collection of American 

 plants. 



Dr. Leidy presented for publication in the Proceedings, a paper by 

 Drs. F. B. Meek and F. V. Hayden, entitled, "Descriptions of 

 new species of Gasteropoda from the Cretaceous formations of Nebraska 

 Territory ;" which was referred to a Committee consisting of Mr. Lea, 

 Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Wilson. 



Dr. Leidy read the following extract from a letter recently received by 

 Dr. J. McClellan from Mr. George Gribbs, Indian Agent, dated Fort 

 A^'ancouver, Oregon, December 17, 1855. 



"Let me point out to you one thing to be noted as regards skulls from this 

 part of the country, Avhich was brought to my notice by an article in School- 

 craft's book. I forget by whom. Among ten figures given are Chinook skulls 

 vnflattened. Skulls from the region where that practice prevails, which are in 

 the natural state, are those of slaves, and though possibly born among the 

 Chinooks or other adjacent tribes, are of alien races. The characteristics must 

 not be assumed therefore from these. The practice prevails, generally, from the 

 mouth of the Columbia to the Dalles, about 180 miles, andfrom the Straits of Fuca 

 on the North to Coos bay, between the 42d and 43d parallel south. Northward 

 of the Straits it diminishes gradually to a mere slight compression, finally con- 

 fined to women and abandoned entirely north of Milbank Sound. So east of the 

 Cascade Mountains it dies out in like manner. Slaves are usually brought from 

 the south, I should rather say were, for the foreign slave trade has ceased, though 

 not the domestic (I am not talking of home politics), and the Klamath and 

 Shaste tribes of California probably furnished many for this country, while 

 captives from here were taken still north, and fro-m Puget's Sound as far as the 

 Russian possessions. The children of slaves were not allowed to flatten the 

 skull, and therefore these round heads indicate, not the liberty-loving Puritan 

 of the west, but the serf. I mention this because in minute comparisons it is 



PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VIII., NO. II. 



