a -20 TRAXSACTIOXS OF THE [jAN. 18, 



■of wood from tlie Egyptain catacombs, which, by being kept dry, 

 had been preserved three thousand years; moisture is necessary 

 for decay; and there is no " dry rot." 



Mr. Dudley said the first Nicholson pavement was of sea- 

 soned wood, while later unseasoned wood was used, and the 

 ]iavements were short-lived. He thought that it was practicable 

 to exhaust air, and fill pores of small timbers with antiseptic 

 fluid, but not of all kinds of large timbers. 



January 11, 188G. 



Stated Meeting. 



The President, Dr. J. S. Newbkrry, in the chair. 



A large audience assembled in tiie west lecture room of the 

 Library Building, Columbia College. 



The second lecture of the Popular Lecture Course was deliv- 

 ered by Prof. Edward S. Morse. 



Subject: Prehistoric Man in America 

 (Illustrated with blackboard drawings). 



.January 18, 1886. 



Stated Meeting. 

 The President, Dr. J. S. Newberry, in the Chair. 

 Thirty-eight persons present. 



Dr. 0. P. Hubbard exhibited a siliceous sponge from Mo- 

 riches, L. I. The President said he had received them from 

 other localities on the coast of Long Island and New Jersey. 

 Dr. Britton said the species was Saber lies compacta Verrill. 



Dr. Hubbard also showed a plate by Petrie which represented 

 borings in stone at Gizeh similar to those made to-day by the 

 diamond drill. The President described the method probably 

 employed. 



Dr. J. J. Frikdrich exhibited some rocks and minerals from 

 New York Island, and read the following 



