1890.] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 23 



After the reading of the paper, Dr. Newberry made some 

 pertinent remarks on the geology of the group, and spoke of the 

 disputes in progress as to the rise or subsidence of the islands. 

 Dr. Brixton asked if the soil contained much oxide of iron. 

 In reiolv, Dr. Northrop stated that he had been unable to make 

 any exact analyses, from lack of time, but that on treating the 

 various specimens of soil with dilute hydrochloric acid a consid- 

 erable variation in them was shown. Some specimens dissolved 

 completely, others left a large residue; these residues, tested be- 

 fore the blow-pipe, showed varying amounts of iron. Dr. New- 

 berry explained that the limestone rocks were disintegrated by 

 waters charged with carbonic acid; the lime being dissolved out 

 left the silica, and oxide of iron, and alumina; these latter sub- 

 stances formed the nucleus of a soil. If the original rock con- 

 tained much oxide of iron, we would be prepared to find it in 

 the resulting soil. Dr. Bolton remarked that some of the 

 specimens exhibited were similar to the rhizomorphs occurring 

 on the Island of Niihau, H. I. 



The following names were proposed for Eesident Member- 

 ship: 



Frederick Starr, Ph.D., 

 by Dr. Bolton. 



Mrs. Theodore Sutro, 

 Dr. Jeannette B. Greene, 

 by Dr. Newberry. 



October 20th, 1890. 



Stated Meeting. 



The President, Dr. Newberry, in the chair. 



About fifteen persons present. 



Minutes of October 13tli were read and approved. 



The following nominations were made for Resident Member- 

 ship: 



