233 



of declination, and of the counter belief in the existence of 

 two such northern poles; followed by a brief statement of 

 the results of his own Held observations and calculations, 

 leading him to the conviction of the existence of two poles, 

 and enabling him to locate their two ellipses of rotation, ap- 

 proximately ; not as accurately as he desires to have it done 

 by a more skillful mathematician ; but with such an ap- 

 proach to exactness as to be practically useful in his own 

 tests of the age of any given land line. Both poles are lo- 

 cated nearly on the 70° parallel of north latitude ; but while 

 the ellipse of the American pole lies nearly in a North and 

 South direction, that of the European pole lies nearly East 

 and West. Mr. Smith is anxious to have mathematical as- 

 sistance in projecting his ellipses upon a map or globe. 



Prof. Houston desired the Society to make a note of some 

 curious observations he had made recently while using 

 Plucker tubes for obtaining the hydrogen spectrum, and 

 modifying the internal diameter of their capillary tubes with 

 a view to regulate the flow of the gas. In proportion as the 

 resistance was increased, crimson spots and lines appeared, 

 and Anally the crimson color filled the entire space. 



Pending nominations Nos. 792 to 802 were read, and bal- 

 loted for. No. 793 being on motion postponed on account of 

 the absence of the nominator. 



The report of the Finance Committee was presented by 

 Mr. Fraley, and the appropriations recommended by the 

 Committee for the ensuing year, were on motion passed. 



The ballot boxes being scrutinized by the presiding offi- 

 cer the following named gentlemen were declared to be duly 

 elected members of the Society : 



Col. Frank M. Etting, of Philadelphia. 

 Dr. Daniel C. Gilman, Presideiit of the Johns Hopkins 

 University at Baltimore. 



Mr. P. Cunlift'e Owen, of South Kensington, London. 

 Mr. I. Lowthian Bell, of Newcastle on Tyne, England. 

 Mr. James Geikie, of Scotland 

 Prof. Thos. C. Archer, of Edinburgh. 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XVI. 97. 2d 



