natural sciences of philadelphia. 245 



October 3, 1871. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Eighteen members present. 



Mr. Thomas Meehan referred to some observations made by 

 him last spring before the Academy in regard to the office of bud 

 scales and involucral bracts. The general impression was that 

 they were formed for the purpose of protecting the tender parts 

 beneath. At that time he exhibited branches oi Fraxinus excel- 

 sior on which some of the buds were entirely naked, and others 

 clothed with scales in the usual manner. They could scarcely be 

 for protection in this instance, as both were equally hardy. 



He now had to exhibit an ear of corn which had been produced 

 without the usual involucral bracts or husks, and yet was as per- 

 fect as if clothed in the usual way, showing that the husk was of 

 not much importance as a protecting agent. An interesting point 

 was that this ear had been formed on the end of a male panicle 

 or tassel. It was not uncommon to find scattered grains of corn 

 amongst male flowers, but a perfect ear like this he had never 

 before seen. The ear was eight-rowed, and contained two hun- 

 dred perfect grains. It was the variety known as " popcorn." 



Dr. Howell announced the death of Mr. Chas. Wilson Peale. 



October 10. 



The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Eighteen members present. 



Remarks on the Minerals of Mount Mica. — Prof. Leidy re- 

 marked that the specimens of minerals presented this evening by 

 Ml". Bement and himself were part of a collection which ihey had 

 obtained at Mt. Mica, near Paris, Oxford Co., Maine. At the 

 invitation of, and in company with. Dr. A. C. Hamlin, of Bangor, 

 they had recently made a visit to that locality, celebrated for its 

 beautiful tourmalines and other interesting minerals. 



The position in which these occur is a ledge of coarse albitic 

 granite upon the brow of a hill known as Mt. Mica. The granite 

 has been quarried in the search of mineral specimens to the extent 

 of about forty square yards, and, thus exposed, appears mainly 

 composed of a tough, white, amorphous feldspar, without distinct 

 cleavage, and with quartz sparingly disseminated. The white feld- 

 spar is mottled with black tourmalines, varying in size from an 

 inch to a foot in length. These are brittle, and so firmly fixed in 

 position as rarely to be isolated in an entire condition. In many 

 positions the quartz and feldspar occur more intimately inter- 

 mingled in the condition of graphic granite. 

 18T2.] part iil— it 



