June 19, 1921 proceedings: phiIvOsophical society 283 



composition and copper content of the ores is to be expected at depths to be 

 reached by future mining than has already been noted a few feet below the 

 surface. Alaska has produced a total of 272,500 tons of copper. 



The Alaska coal reserves include enormous quantities of lignite, con- 

 siderable low-grade bituminous coal, and much smaller quantities of high- 

 grade bituminous coal and anthracite. There are many other potential 

 mineral deposits in Alaska in addition to those listed above. Of these, the 

 petroleum fields give the most promise for immediate development. Be- 

 tween 1880 and 1919 Alaska produced mineral wealth to a total value of 

 $438,160,000. A. H. B. 



ZOOLOGY.— r/ze Echinoderms of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, iqij-i8. 

 Austin H. Clark. Rep. Canadian Arctic Exped. 1913-18, Vol. 8, 

 Part C, Echinoderms. Pp. 11 (IC-llC). 

 The echinoderms, 2024 specimens representing 20 species, secured by 

 the Canadian Arctic Expedition, are herein described and the relationships 

 of the Canadian Arctic fauna are discussed. A. H. C. 



ZOOLOGY. — Additional data for the Report on Echinoderms of the Canadian 

 Arctic Expedition, based upon specimens from the ''Neptune'' and other 

 Eastern Arctic Expeditions. A. H. Clark. Rep. Canadian Arctic 

 Exped. 1913-18, Vol. 8, Part C, Echinoderms. Pp. 3 (11C-13C). 

 Herein is recorded additional arctic material in the collections of the 

 Victoria Memorial Museum at Ottawa. A. H. C. 



ZOOLOGY. — Sea-Lilies and Feather -Stars. Austin H. Clark. Smith- 

 sonian Misc. Coll. 72, No. 7, 1-43, pis. 1-16. 1921. 

 This is a semi-popular summary of the present-day knowledge in regard 

 to living crinoids ; it includes a considerable amount of hitherto unpublished 

 information, especially concerning the color of these animals, the extra- 

 ordinary similarity between crinoids and plants, and the conditions of para- 

 sitism under which crinoids live. A. H. C. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY AND AFFILIATED 



SOCIETIES 



PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 

 846th meeting 



The 846th meeting was held in the assembly hall of the Cosmos Club 

 on February 12, 1921. The meeting was called to order by President Faris 

 with 66 persons present. The following program was given : 



C. LeRoy Meisinger : The meteorological factor in aeronautics (illustrated) . 



For various reasons the public confidence, the essential factor in business 

 success, has not been acquired in commercial aeronautics, and it behooves 

 enterprises engaged in promoting civil aviation to take advantage of every 

 agency which will help in this direction. Meteorology is such an agency 

 and its application to aeronautics is two-fold: climatological, dealing with 

 average conditions of the elements; and current, dealing with conditions 

 prevailing at the time of flight. 



The functions of the Weather Bureau in relation to aeronautics are (1) 

 to collect and disseminate observational data; (2) to forecast for specified 

 regions; and (3) to conduct researches. The limitations of the work of 

 the governmental agency are expected to evolve the aeronautical meteor- 

 ologist, privately retained by commercial concerns. His duties will consist 



