16 
to those of Peru and Central America. Pottery and utensils 
are extremely abundant at many points, and would indicate 
the former existence of a large population, in parts of the 
Amazonas region now very sparsely inhabited. 
Among the most interesting and peculiar indications of 
this kind, are the great fresh-water shell-heaps, true kyokken 
moeddings, which he had found on the banks at Taperinha, 
near Santaren, in the province of Para. Here is presented 
the evidence that the aborigines used for food the species of 
Hyria, Castalia, etce., which still inhabit the waters of the 
Amazonas. 
The PRESIDENT gave a brief account of the several expedi- 
tions which are preparing to carry on explorations during the 
summer of 1878, in the western states and territories. 
ee 
April 28th. 
President Newberry in the chair. ‘'T'welve persons present. 
Dr. FEUCHTWANGER exhibited a large series of specimens 
from the Yellowstone geysers, comprising silicified wood, 
geyserite, sulphur, etc., and made remarks on their occur- 
rence, 
Pror. D. 8S. Martin showed specimens of octahedral and 
dodecahedral crystals of cuprite, coated with malachite, and 
with edges variously replaced, from Texas. He remarked 
upon their singular resemblance to those from Chessy, France, 
specimens of which, almost indistinguishable from them, were 
exhibited for comparison. 
THE PRESIDENT, remarking upon the copper ores discoy- 
ered in Texas by Prof. Roessler and others, said that though 
this occurrence of copper in the Triassic is especially marked 
in Texas, it is well nigh universal in the South-west. 
The sulphides of the farther West are in true descending 
veins ; but in the Triassic the copper ores never occur thus, 
