Tyans. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 38 Yan. 7, 
Mr. KuNz then exhibited a collection of beryls and emeralds from 
North Carolina. The specimens exhibited were sent to him by Mr. J. 
A. D. STEPHENSON, of Statesville, N. C., the most earnest and suc- 
cessful local collector of the minerals of that State, who was the first 
to call the attention of the outside public to North Carolina minerals, 
and also that of mineralogists to the beryls and spodumene (See 
papers on emerald, by W. E. HIDDEN, Am. Four. Science, 1881, 
Series III., XXII., 489; and on hiddenite, by J. L. SMITH, Am. Four. 
Science, 1881, Series III., XXI., 128), and also to many other localities. 
In a letter he states: ‘‘These emeralds occur on the property of 
Mr. J. O. Lackey, about one mile southwest of the Emerald and Hid- 
denite Co.’s property, Stoney Point, N. C., a short distance from the 
Lyons property (Smeaton’s), and are found in a vein of black decom- 
posed mica, associated with quartz crystals, common rutile and hid- 
denite. I consider the locality a promising one, although there has 
been but very little work done as yet.” 
The lot received from Mr. STEPHENSON consists of 33 crystals, 10 
mm. to 55 mm. (2 inches) long, and 1 mm. to 8.5 mm. wide, and 
varying from colorless to a light emerald green. Nearly all have 
the curious saw markings in considerable numbers on each corner of 
the prism, and some contain simple crystals of rutile. The interest 
attaching to these crystals is in the fact that they are found at some 
distance from the Emerald and Hiddenite Co.’s property, and that 
between these we have the Lyons property, on which Mr. SMEATON 
found the same minerals, showing that the deposit is not an accidental 
one, and that there is encouragement for future work in this section of 
the State. 
The PRESIDENT then exhibited a specimen of a fossil landlocked 
skate, or ray, from the beds of fresh water lakes of Eocene age, in 
Wyoming—the same locality from which he had already shown speci- 
mens of fossil fishes and plants. The rays of the present day inhabit 
the salt water, and there occur in great numbers. These present an 
extreme prolongation of the vertebral column, carrying the sting. In 
resh water they are very rarely found, one living species occurring in 
Lake Nicaragua. He also exhibited specimens of argentite and native 
silver from Batopilas, Mexico. 
Dr. N. L. BRITTON then read the following paper : 
NOTES AND CRITICISMS ON MR. GRANT ALLEN’S THEORY OF THE 
ORIGIN OF LEAF-FORMS. 
Mr. GRANT ALLEN’S recent papers on the ‘‘ Forms of Leaves ’’ 
and their origin, printed in Wature,* and elsewhere, must have been 
* Nature. Vol. XXVII., pp. 439, 464, 492. 511, 552. 
