279 



Tndian tradition of tlie contemporary existence of the mammoth 

 and aboriginals of this region of tlie globe." 



Dr. A. A. Hayes also read a letter from Mr. A. P. 

 Davis, of Buchanan, Liberia, giving some farther par- 

 ticulars in relation to the discovery of Native Iron in 

 Africa. 



Mr. Davis, from whom the specimen analyzed by Dr. Hayes 

 Avas received, in the present letter describes the mass found as 

 " being as large as the crown of a man's hat, and like a rock, of 

 a yellow color taken from the earth. From its appearance I 

 supposed it would break into pieces ; but it resisted the repeated 

 blows of a sledge-hammer of fifteen pounds weight ; and I could 

 not separate it by breaking, as the hardest blows only flattened 

 it. It was by these means we found out it was malleable. The 

 huge bulk was put in the fire and blown to, until it became suffi- 

 ciently hot to be cut. It was divided into many parts, and some 

 of the same bulk was actually ore, not malleable at all. It had 

 a very craggy appearance, with many cells in it. Where the 

 ore is to be had, or the distance that the ore in question came 

 from, is about four to six days' travel. I have none now, but 

 will, with Div^ine help, get some as soon as possible." 



Dr. Hayes added that he was indebted to the efforts and kind- 

 ness of Rev. Joseph Tracy, of the Colonization Society, for the 

 letter from Mr. Davis, and other intei'esting facts in relation to 

 the natural productions of the country bordering on the lands of 

 the colony of Liberia. 



The President exhibited specimens of curiously inter- 

 twining and intergrowing woods from Surinam ; they 

 were referred to the Curator of Botany. 



The Curator of Crustacea exhibited the Crustacea 

 collected in California by Mr. E. Samuels, together with 

 other specimens presented by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution. Among them are several new species described 

 by Mr. Stimpson in the forthcoming number of the So- 

 ciety's Journal. 



