i882. 85 Trans. N. V. Ac. ScL 



age ; in other words for the entire reach of geological history ; and we 

 are compelled to infer that either the astronomers are mistaken in their 

 views of the genesis of the moon, and that she never formed part of the 

 earth's mass, or that her separation and recession to near her present 

 distance took place before the beginning of geological history. Certainly 

 so much of the geological record as is now submitted to our inspection, 

 offers no evidence in confirmation of, but much that is diametrically 

 opposed to, this high-tide speculation. 

 Columbia College, New York, January ■znd, 1882. 



Mr. Wm. Earl Hidden exhibited a remarkable and perhaps 

 unique stone implement from North Carolina. Its form is that of a 

 parallelogram of nearly a foot in length, and five inches in breadth. 

 The lower face is slightly convex from end to end, and its upper face 

 rises into a conical or pestle-shaped handle, some six inches high, at 

 about the center. Dr. Newberry had suggested that its probable use 

 was as a corn-muUer. The specimen was plowed up in a field near 

 Waynesville, Haywood Co., N. C, some three years ago, and has been 

 in Mr. Hiddeu's cabinet for over a year. The material is a very com- 

 pact gneiss. 



The President remarked further on this very singular implement,. 

 and repeated his belief that it was probably used to grind corn, upon 

 a flat or concave stone, making comparison of it with other forms of 

 mullers, etc., known to us from various parts of America. 



He also laid before the Academy some of the advance plates of the 

 Palaeontology of New York, prepared for the forthcoming volume by 

 Professor Hall, and spoke of the great importance of a proper appro- 

 priation by the Legislature for the completion of this noble monument 

 to American science. There was danger that much of this carefully 

 prepared material might fail of publication, and be lost to science, by 

 a mistaken and unworthy policy of "economy," aid he sugg-sted 

 that the Academy might, with great propriety, memorialize the Legisla- 

 ture on this subject. 



Other remarks were made, in the same spirit ; and it was voted that 

 the President and Secretary be constituted a committee to express the 

 views of the Academy in the direction indica'ed. 



January i6th, 1882. 

 Section of Physics and Astronomy. 

 The President, Dr. Newberry, in the Chair. 

 Twenty-seven persons present. 

 Prof. John K. Rees read the following paper : 



