1883. 33 Trans. IN. Yo Ae Set: 
for several days in succession. These facts were then very generally 
known and attracted much attention. 
The PRESIDENT presumed that the appearances were being studied 
by observers of the heavens, who would yet definitely report upon 
them. He also referred to the facts known in regard to the locomotive 
appendages of trilobites, as recently discussed in an article of Zhe 
American Naturalist, and to the discovery of tracks in Colorado. 
He further remarked on the recent observations of Prof. ALEX, 
AGASSIZ, on the growth of the coral formation in the peninsula of 
Florida, and his own observations on the Gulf Coast, in confirmation 
of the view of the organic nature of the increase, with little, if any, 
assistance from elevations of the sea-bottom. 
Prof. D. S. MarTIN called the attention of the Academy to the 
recent death, by typhoid fever, on Thanksgiving day, of Prof. 
ARTHUR SPIELMAN, one of the most promising Resident Members, 
from whom had been expected an important record of observations 
on the excavation of the tunnel beneath the Hudson River. He 
referred to the great ability, energy and activity of Prof. SPIELMAN, 
his remarkable engineering skill, and the great loss to society and 
the Academy by his decease at so early an age. 
The President exhibited and described 
SOME PECULIAR SCREW-LIKE CASTS FROM THE SANDSTONES OF 
THE CHEMUNG GROUP OF NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA. 
These he considered the remains of the stems of seaweeds, and com- 
pared with Spzrvophyton. Two distinct forms were shown, which he 
regarded as two species of a new genus, to which he gave the name of 
Spiraxis,; this he defined as follows : 
SPIRAXIS (nov. gen.).* 
Body cylindrical or sub-fusiform, somewhat abruptly conical above, 
more gradually tapering below; surface traversed by two parallel 
revolving prominent ridges, in some species closely approximated, in 
others separated by an interval of half the diameter of the stem. No 
traces of internal structure or distinct surface-markings visible. 
The two species are described as follows : 
1. Spiraxis major, n. sp. 
Body cylindrical; about one inch in diameter, terminating above in 
a conical summit, traversed by two strong spiral revolving ridges, 
which cross the axis at an angle of about 45°. These ridges are flat- 
tened or sulcated. 
* Fully described and figured in the Annals, Vol. III., No. 7. 
3 
