4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1899. 



persons of the vicinity to discredit the authenticity of the skull 

 after it had attracted general attention were due to that spirit, 

 unfortunately too common among ignorant persons, which leads 

 them to disparage that in which they have no share. As the per- 

 sons chiefly concerned made no attempt to utilize the discovery as a 

 source of profit, and the coming of the specimen into scientific hands 

 was due to circumstances which could not have been foreseen, the 

 speaker believed that so far, no sufficient reason had been adduced 

 for doubting the genuine character of the skull and its original 

 situs below the lava; though the question of the coexistence of 

 man and the extinct mammals whose remains have been found in 

 the same gravels is entirely distinct and may reasonably be left 

 open. 



January 17. 

 J. Cheston Morris, M.D., in the Chair 

 Twenty-three persons present. 



January 24. 



The President, Samuel G. Dixon, M.D., in the Chair. 



Eighteen persons present. 



A paper entitled " Contributions to the Life History of Plants, 

 No. XIII," by Thomas Meehau, was presented for publication. 



A paper entitled " The North American Species of Argia (Order 

 Odonata)," by Philip P. Calvert, presented for publication August 

 17, 1897, was withdrawn by the author. 



January 31. 



Mr. Charles Morris in the Chair. 



Fifteen persons present. 



A paper entitled " A List of Fishes collected at Port Antonio, 

 Jamaica," by Henry W. Fowler, was presented for publication. 



Rev. A. B. Kendig was elected a member. 



The following were ordered to be printed : 



