Trans. N. V. Ac. Set. 16-1 May 2,, 



May 8, 1882 



Section of Biology. 



The President, Dr. J. S. Nf.wberrv, in the Chair. 

 Forty-three persons present. 



Mr. G. F. KuNZ exhibited choice specimens of several varieties 

 of feldspars, including " moonstone" from Ceylon, and from Chester 

 County, Penn., "sunstone" from Chappaqua, N. Y., oligoclase 

 from Norway, etc. 



He also announced the death, on May 5, of a Corresponding 

 Member of the society, Mr. William S. Vaux of Philadelphia, long 

 eminent as a mineralogist, and a leading patron of science in the 

 city of his home. Mr. KuNZ made special reference to the extent 

 and elegance of his celebrated collection. 



The President spoke further of Mr. Vaux, and particularly of 

 his active connection with the Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia, 

 and with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 



Prof. H. L. Fairchild then gave the address of the evening, 

 largely illustrated with blackboard drawings and lantern views, on 

 the subject of 



methods of animal locomotion. 

 (Abstract.) 



Self-motion is the most prominent characteristic of life. This re- 

 markable power of overcoming the forces of Inertia and Gravitation is 

 not confined to animals. Many plants have, besides the capability of 

 upward growth and extension, more or less motion of some organs. 

 In the lowest forms of life, plants and animals can not be distin- 

 guished by their locomotive powers. Many microscopic plants move 

 about in water as lively as animals, and propelled by similar organs. 

 Nor can the movements be distinguished as voluntary in animals and 

 involuntary in plants. Consciousness and will are not more evident in 

 the lowest animals than they are in the Venus Fly-trap and the Sensi- 

 tive Plant. 



It is doubtless true that all animals can move from place to place at 

 some period of their life. For example the coral polyp, oyster and 

 barnacle possess locomotive powers only in the embryo state, becom- 

 ing fixed in the adult ; while in some other animals, as the jelly-fish 

 these conditions are reversed. 



The means of locomotion are exceedingly various. The lowest 

 method is exhibited by the amoeba, in which progression is secured by 



