1893.] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 95 



area, and to this fact is ascribed the often noted contrast 

 between its topography and that of tbe " honeycomb '' district 

 about the south pole. 



The paper is to be printed in full in the Bulletin of the 

 Philosophical Society of Washington. 



Remarks were made by Dr. Bolton, Me. Jacoby and Prof. 

 Rees. 



February 13, 1893. 



Stated Meeting. 

 Biological Section. 



A paper on the ' ' Functions of the Internal Ear" was presented 

 by Dr. F. S. Lee, based upon study of dog-fish. The results 

 of experiments were given showing that the semi-circular 

 canals are sensory organs for d^-namical (rotational) equilibrium, 

 otolithic parts for statical (resting) equilibrium. Each canal 

 appreciates movement in its own plane, and by a definite 

 functional combination of canals all possible rotational move- 

 ments are mediated. This theory explains compensating 

 movements of eyes, fins and trunks. The method of experiment 

 was that of sectioning the branches of the acoustic nerve and 

 stimulation (by rotational movements) of the swimming fish. 



In a paper by Dr. Bashford Dean, on the Marine Laboratories 

 of Europe, a series of views were shown of the stations of 

 Naples, Banyuls, Roscoff, Plymouth, Arcachon, the Helder, and 

 St. Andrews. 



Prof. H. F. Osborn described the foot of Arlionyx, the new 

 member of the order Ancylopoda, Cope. It is distinguished 

 from Chalicolherium by the character of ancle and ]ies, 

 which present a marked resemblance to the Artiodact_\]a, while 

 Chalicolherium represents these structures as found in Perisso- 

 dactyla. Both genera are ungulate in ancle joint, but the 

 phalanges terminate in claws, and in view^ of the double parallel- 



