258 
October 2d, 1871. 
Prof. C, A. Joy in the chair. Twenty-four persons present. 
The following paper was read, by title, 
Notes on North American Crustacez in the Museum of the Smith- 
sonian Institute. 
By W. Srimpson, M. D. 
Mr. J. Hyatt gave an account of the Aurora of September 
7th, 1871, as seen in Dutchéss County, N. Y., and which was 
characterized by its whiteness. 
Pror. T. Ea@Leston gave a brief account of the recent 
Progress of Metallurgy in Europe. In the metallurgy of iron 
the most striking change is the construction of blast furnaces 
with no exterior of ordinary masonry. The fire brick is 
supported by iron columns and braces. At Konigshutte and 
Gleiwitz in Silesia, this construction is effected upon old 
furnaces from the bosh up, but in the vicinity of Borsickswerk 
the furnace is new and is constructed without any exterior 
masonry. Another striking improvement is the attempt to 
turn blast furnace slags to profitable account in the manufac- 
ture of paving stones, building blocks and cement, and the 
utillization of the granulated slag for brick-making and other 
manufactures. 
A very decided change in the machinery for the manufac- 
ture of iron is in progress. Most of the new rolling mills 
doing heavy work use reversible engines. They not only 
save time but the labor of lifting the material over the rolls, 
In the middle mills the three high rolls and in the little mill 
trains one in front of the other are coming into use. Hach 
machine has its own engine, and is independent therefore 
of any delays or stoppages in any other part of the works. 
In the blast furnaces upright blast engines which economise 
PROC. LYC. NAT. HIST., N. ¥.— VOL. IL a 
