1882. 153 Trans. N. VY. Ac. Sci. 
of the deeply-rooted belief in witchcraft, etc., that is to be found 
there, even where the people have taken on the externals of civil- 
ization. She proposed the question whether, in view of the 
credence given to spiritualism and the like among our own people, 
the claim of a great advance in culture and enlightenment, from 
these ruder, but kindred, superstitions, could be consistently main- 
tained. 
Dr. Bearp replied that, as regards spiritualism, it is precisely as 
Mrs. Situ had said, a manifestation of the same kind; but the 
superstition is of a milder type, lacking the ferocious and tragical 
features that belong to the witchcraft delusion, and herein lies the 
advance and the improvement. 
Several other members discussed various aspects of the paper of 
Dr. BEARD. 
April 10, 1882. 
The President, Dr. J. S. NEWBERRY, in the Chair. 
Thirty-five persons present. 
THE SECRETARY referred to the arrival, a day or two before, of 
the remarkably large African elephant, ‘“‘ Jumbo,” sold from the 
London Zodélogical Gardens, on account of supposed vicious dis- 
position. Henoted certain of the differences between the two spe- 
cies of elephants, the African and the Asiatic—the former being 
reported as generally larger, and also readily distinguished by the 
great size of the ears. 
THE PRESIDENT commented on the same subject, and illustrated 
by blackboard drawings the distinctive features of the teeth in the 
two species. The teeth of the Asiatic elephant, like those of our 
American fossil species, are crossed by parallel ridges of enamel 
and dentine; while in the African elephant the plates are waved 
in such wise as to produce not parallel, but lozenge-shaped ridges 
on the crown of the tooth. 
Mr. F. G. WEICHMANN then read a paper entitled: 
FUSION-STRUCTURES IN METEORITES. 
(Abstract.)* 
After referring in general to the peculiar interest which attaches to 
meteorites, and the uncertainty as to their real nature which is still felt 
*This paper is printed in full in the ANNALS of the Academy, Vol. II, No. 10. 
