February 4, 1878. 



Dr. G. Engelmann, President, in the chair. Twenty members 

 present. 



Mr. Collet made some remarks on the eflbrts of Lord Bute to 

 domesticate the beaver, and to establish, by the exclusion of all 

 disturbing agencies, a rendezvous for wild animals and fowls. 



Dr. Stevens presented for inspection several specimens of bone 

 phosphates from South Carolina, and some fine crystals of native 

 calcium oxalate. 



Dr. Engelmann called attention to Paris meteorological records 

 of June last, pointing out that in different parts of the city differ- 

 ences of temperature of iS degrees were observed. 



February 18, 1878. 



The President in the chair. Twelve members present. 



In behalf of Mr. Wm. Einstein, Dr. Engelmann presented sev- 

 eral specimens of ore from the silver mine in Madison Co., Mo., 

 on the St. Francis river. The specimens included syenite — in 

 which the vein occurs, — wolfram, pyrite, and many pieces of 

 argentiferous galenite. The specimens were accompanied by a 

 diagram of the mine. 



Judge Holmes called the attention of members to the recent 

 work of Dr. Paul Topinard on " Anthropology," with a Preface 

 by Prof. Paul Broca ; translated by R. T. H. Bartley, M.D. ; Lon- 

 don, 1878. 



This is a highly important work, especially for practical observers, and 

 is probably the best extant summary of the present state of the science. It 

 explains fully the modern methods of measurement as adopted by Dr. 

 Broca and other distinguished anthropologists, and must become an indis- 

 pensable handbook for the practical observer. 



As among the more interesting conclusions of the learned author, I may 

 mention the following. The Pliocene man of the flint implements of St. 

 Pris, in France, hunted the Elephas mertdionah's, the Rhinoceros etrns- 

 ctis, the R. Merckit, and the R. leptorhinus. At the close of the Miocene 

 period, as shown by the shell-heaps of Pouance, Man was in conflict with 



