446 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1888. 



REPORT OF THE CONCHOLOGICAL SECTION. 



The Recorder of the Coiichological Section respectfully reports 

 that during the year ending Dec. 1st, 1888, the Academy has con- 

 tinued to publish such conchological papei's as have been offered. 



Two members have been elected. The loss to the section by 

 ■death has been the severest in its history. On January 21st, 1888, 

 our honored Treasurer, Mr. Wm. L. Mactier, was called from works 

 to reward, and we had hardly turned from paying our last tribute 

 of respect to his memory, when we were again summoned to perform 

 the same service for our beloved Conservator, the eminent Conchol- 

 •ogist, George W. Tryon Jr. who died February 5th, 1888, while 

 yet in the prime of life. 



At a special meeting of the Section called for the purpose and 

 held February 22nd, 1888, appropriate minutes prepared by the 

 Director were adopted and by direction sent to the families of the 

 deceased. 



William Laurence Mactier, a member of the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia since Jan. 1860, was born in the city of 

 New York, May 28, 1818, and died at his home in this city Jan. 21, 

 1888. 



His father, Henry Mactier, was a native of Scotland, and his 

 mother, a daughter of Augustine Hicks Laurence and Catherine 

 Luquer, was born in New York. 



Mr. Mactier had been prepared for admission into the College of 

 New Jersey, intending after completing his general education there 

 to devote himself to the medical profession. But unexpectedly, 

 conclusive reasons forced him to abandon the project, and seek a 

 more speedy route to a livelihood in mercantile affairs — he became 

 ix man of business. The extent and character of his preliminary 

 education fostered in him a taste for letters which he cultivated 

 during his leisure so well that the College of New Jersey conferred 

 upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. 



Mr. Mactier was one of the constituents of the Conchological Sec 

 tion of the Academy ; and from the date of its institution, Dec. 26, 

 1866, was its treasurer. During twenty-two years he discharged all 

 the duties of the office efficiently and promptly. 



He served in the Council of the Academy, and was a member of 

 its Committee on Instruction and Lectures. 



He contributed $285 to the building fund, and was a member of 

 the Board of Trustees thereof. 



