175 



crabs, said to have come from the same place ; these Lad probably 

 been transported from the north. 



Mr. Marcou observed that ammonites are worn about the necks of 

 the Indian natives as talismans, and as such may be extensively cir- 

 culated, very far from their natural localities. 



Much discussion, Mr. Marcou remarked, has arisen concerning the 

 bituminous coal of Hindostan, as to whether it is true carboniferous, 

 Jm-assic, or red sandstone; Dr. McClelland found there the flora of 

 the new red sandstone, and later explorations have disclosed laby- 

 rinthodont remains (Permian and Triassic), and Trias-like fossil fish 

 {ceratodus), which indicate an extensive new red sandstone formation 

 in India. He presented the second part of his work on " The Rocks of 

 the Jura," and their geographical distribution in the two hemispheres. 

 He believed that the red sandstone of the Atlantic border may be 

 Jurassic, though no fossils have yet been found to prove this. 



Dr. Samuel A. Green sent in his resignation of the office 

 of Curator of Herpetology, which was accepted. 



Drs. C. E. Ware, J. B. S. Jackson, and Samuel A. Green 

 were appointed a nominating committee for officers for 

 the ensuing year. 



3Imj 1, 1861. 



ANNUAL MEETING. 



The President in the Chair. 



The Annual Reports of the Treasurer, Librarian, and 

 Curators, with the exception of those of Botany, Radiata, 

 and Herpetology, were read and accepted. 



The Treasurer congratulated the Society upon a state of 

 financial prosperity unprecedented in its history. During 

 the past year the legacy of 810,000 from the late Jonathan 

 Phillips has been received and invested ; and a donation from 

 Dr. William J. Walker, of an estate in Bulfinch Street, 

 valued at $30,000. It has also received from the State a 

 grant of land on the Back Bay, on such conditions as are 

 considered equivalent to a gift. The property of the Society 

 may be safely estimated at 175,000. The total number of 

 paying members is over 200. 



' The Auditing Committee reported that the Treasurer's 

 account was correctly cast and properly vouched. 



