190 ANNALS NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



of the Mineralogical Club, Mr. Ernest Schernikow, of this city, I propose 

 for this marked and peculiar variety the name of Schernikite. 



(2) The nodular variety of mesolite, generally called Thomsonite, 

 from Grand Marais, Lake Superior. Professor N. H. Winchell, in several 

 articles, has shown this mineral to be not Thomsonite at all but a true 

 mesolite in composition and has urged the use of the latter correct name 

 instead of the former incorrect one. As it is, however, a distinct variety 

 peculiar to that locality and considerably used as a "local" gem-stone, 

 it is entitled to a name as much as lintonite or chlorastrolite, and in 

 recognition of its identifier, I suggest that of Winchellite. 



The evening was then given to the following lecture: 



Frank A. Perrett, K. 1. C, The 1909 Eruption at Teneriff and the 



Great Eruption of Etna in March 

 and April. 1910. 



Mr. Perrett has been for several years a close student of volcanic phe- 

 nomena. Many excellent lantern illustrations were shown representing 

 recent activities and conditions investigated by Mr. Perrett. The lecture 

 was listened to with great interest, and remarks were made by several 

 members of the Academy. 

 The meeting then adjourned. 



Charles P. Berkey, 



Secretary. 



SECTION OP BIOLOGY. 



13 February, 1911. 



Section met at 8:15 p. m., Vice-President Frederic A. Lucas presiding. 

 The minutes of the last meeting of the Section were read and approved. 

 The following programme was then offered : 



W. D. Matthew, Climate and Evolution. 



W. K. Gregory, On the Limbs of Enjops and the Origin of Limbs 



from Paired Fins. 



Summary of Papers. 



Dr. Matthew said in abstract: The thesis of the paper is as follows: 



1. Secular climatic change has been an important factor in the evolu- 

 tion of land vertebrates and the principal known cause of their present 

 distribution. 



2. The principal lines of migration in later geological epochs have been 

 radial from holarctic centers of dispersal. 



