OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 103 



probability, that maize is indigenous to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, or anywhere so far north, but that it is a tropical pro- 

 duction. He had once supposed that this form might be the 

 original state of Corn, but he was now convinced that it was 

 an induced or monstrous form, with a tendency to become 

 proliferous or paniculate, instead of producing simple spikes. 



Professor C. C. Felton communicated to the Academy an 

 extended memoir by Mr. Sophocles, of Harvard University, 

 entitled, " A Glossary of Later and Byzantine Greek." 



He also gave some particulars of his recent visit to Greece, 

 in the summer season. As to the climate, the thermometer 

 in June did not rise above 75" F., except for two or three days 

 toward the end of the month, when it indicated 83° and 84°, 

 which was the highest he noticed. He had observed a re- 

 markable progress since his first visit in 1853 - 54, in spite of 

 the occupation of the country by foreign armies and the prev- 

 alence of cholera, in industrial pursuits, art, literature, and 

 especially in education, not only in Greece proper, but wher- 

 ever the Hellenic race was found in Turkey and Asia Minor. 



Four Iiuudred and fifty-sixth meeting. 



November 10, 1858. — Stated Meeting. 



The Vice-President in the chair. 



The Corresponding Secretary read letters from the Royal 

 Academy of Sciences of Madrid, and the Natural History 

 Society of Freiburg in the Briesgau. Also a letter from 

 William Sharswood, Esq., of Philadelphia, in relation to the 

 probable action of phosphoric acid upon non-acid calculi in 

 the bladder. 



Professor Joseph Lovering, in behalf of the committee to 

 whom was referred the communication of Dr. I. I. Hayes, 

 dated July 19, 1858, requesting "the counsel and the favor- 

 able influence of the Academy " in his proposed attempt to 

 reach the north pole of the earth, read the following re- 

 port : — 



