256 



[Nov. 



The following papers were presented : " Notes and Descrip- 

 tions of Palaeozoic Fishes," by Dr. E. D. Cope; "On Extinct 

 Genera of Testudinata," by Dr. George Baur; "On the Mam- 

 malian Genus Palseosyops," by Charles Earle. 



Prof. Harrison Allen made an oral communication on the 

 subject of the affinity of the teeth of rats with those of Eocene 

 mammals. 



Dr. J. Cheston Morris referred to a late publication by Dr. 

 McLaughlin, of Texas, regarding, immunity from disease by 

 carrying out the law of interference, and dilated upon the 

 great prospective and revolutionary value of the so-claimed 

 discovery, if the same should be verified. 



New nominations, Nos. 1213, 1214, and 1215, were read. 



Mr. J. Sergeant Price presented the following report from 

 the Committee on the Michaux Legacy, with accompanying 

 resolution, which was unanimously adopted : 



To the American Philosophical Society : 



The Michaux Committee respectfully reports that at a meeting of the 

 Committee, held on October 28, a note was received from Prof. Heilprin, 

 towards whose expedition to Mexico and Yucatan the Society last Jan- 

 uary appropriated from the Michaux Fund the sum of $200, stating that 

 the officers of the expedition had not been as yet able to complete their 

 report, but it was in progress, and as soon as they had fully determined 

 the names of the trees and plants from the regions visited by them, and 

 never before reported upon by botanist, a complete report would be made 

 to the Society. A letter was also received from Prof. Rothrock, stating 

 that, owing to the fact that he was about to take a party of scientists to 

 the West Indies in his yacht and spend the winter there, and in the lands 

 to the westward, in making scientific collections, it would be impossible 

 for him to deliver his usual course of lectures under the auspices of the 

 Society, but suggested that it should appropriate to him out of the Michaux 

 Fund the sum of $300 (the amount given to him each season for said lec- 

 tures) for the purpose of obtaining fresh forestry data and new knowl- 

 edge of forest products and lantern illustrations for future lectures. The 

 Committee fully approved of the suggestion of Prof. Rothrock, and its 

 Chairman, Mr. Meehan, in written endorsement of the application, stated 

 that it is only by the accumulation of facts of a general character bearing 

 on special subjects, that the special subjects themselves can be well un- 

 derstood. That at present we are very much in the dark on the arboreal 

 features and peculiarities of the portions of the Western Continent, outside 

 of the United States, and that he was sure that Prof. Rothrock's labors 



