Ixviii 



xylutn clava-Herculis^ or Prickly-ash, the trunk being^ covered 

 with corky cones — locality Little Rock ; Sambucus canadensis^ 

 or common Elder, five inches in diameter, from Newport; Ben- 

 join odoriferum^ or Spice-wood, four and a half inches in diam- 

 eter, from Newport ; Forestiera acuminata^ or Water Privet, 

 eight inches in diameter, from Newport ; Ainus serrulata^ or Al- 

 der, four inches in diameter, from Nevada Co. Mr. Lettermann 

 remarked that Sassafras attains a diameter of four and a half feet 

 in south-east Missouri and Arkansas, growing-, like Spice-wood, 

 only in rich soil. 



Mr. Nipher presented a copper-plate portrait of W. von Hai- 

 dinger. 



Mr. W. McAdams, of Jerseyville, Ills., exhibited copper im- 

 plements and ornaments found in Illinois mounds. 



Dr. Washburn exhibited an ai row-point taken from the femur 

 of a mound skeleton. He remarked that the bone gave evidence 

 that death had occurred long after the wound had been inflicted* 

 The arrow-point was found to be comparatively soft like chert. 

 He thought the arrow must have been much harder in order to 

 have entered the bone. 



Mr. E. A. Engler described an auroral phenomenon seen by 

 him oft' the Atlantic coast. 



Decembci- 19, 1881. 



M. L. Gray, Vice-President, in the chair. Eight members 

 present. 



Mr. Nipher, in behalf of Dr. W. G. Weaver, of Bolivar, Polk 

 Co., Mo., presented an English edition of the complete works of 

 John Rudolph Glauber. The edition is a translation from the 

 original German edition, and many of the illustrations are from 

 the original copper-plates. The work bears the date of 1668. Mr. 

 Nipher remarked that the book had been owned by Joseph Dra- 

 per, of Perquimans Co., N. C, who bought it " y*^ 12th of 6th 

 month 1780. Price was 100 dolars at about I2 pence each." The 

 after history of the book is partly recorded on the blank leaves. 



