BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 69 



ering. Prof. Wyman gave an account of the horse shoe (Limulus), and the way in which 

 it casts its shell. Mr. Francis Alger spoke upon the great Beryl formation in Grafton, 

 N. H., and Dr. Jackson, upon the geology of the hill where the Beryls are found. 

 Dr. Jackson then gave an account of trap dykes, as illustrated by what had been seen 

 by them in the course of the excursion on the coast. Dr. Weinland gave an account of 

 the reproduction of parasitic animals, and Mr. Charles J. Sprague exhibited and talked 

 upon a parasitic fungus growing upon the body of a beetle. 



Informal, but interesting and instructive conversation followed. The members then 

 passed votes of thanks to those who had been instrumental in enabling them to pass the 

 day so agreeably, and proceeded to take cars for Boston from the station only a few hun- 

 dred feet distant. 



Of course it has not been possible to make any reference to the many valuable papers 

 brought forward and read at the meetings of the Society. To have mentioned even 

 briefly the most important of them would have required that volumes should have been 

 devoted to this historical sketch, where only pages are given. Moreover these may all 

 be found in the Journal, or the printed Proceedings of the Society. When, however, an 

 important discovery is mentioned as having been made in our immediate neighborhood, 

 it seems well not to omit notice of it. 



Of this character certainly was the discovery of Trilobites in the slates of Braintree, 

 scarcely a dozen miles from Boston. This was announced by Prof. Win. B. Rogers, in 

 August of this year, and specimens were exhibited. This afforded the first satisfactory 

 evidence yet presented of the geological age of the stratified rocks of eastern Massachu- 

 setts. 



A letter was received in November from Mrs. M. A. Binney, tendering a portion of the 

 library of the late Dr. Amos Binney for deposit with the books of the Society, upon cer- 

 tain conditions not objectionable. It was voted to receive them, and present the thanks 

 of the Society to Mrs. Binney for the kind interest manifested by her in making the pro- 

 posal. The number of works thus deposited were 353, and the number of volumes, includ- 

 ing pamphlets, 1145. This accession to the library was of very great service to the mem- 

 bers, the works deposited being many of them of great value for investigation, and not 

 otherwise to be had by them. 



1857. Early this year the Society lost from among its corresponding members no less 

 than three, distinguished for their scientific attainments, viz.: Prof. J. W. Bailey, of West 

 Point ; William C. Redfield of New York, and Prof. Michael Tuomey of Alabama. Reso- 

 lutions expressive of the great loss that science had sustained by their death, were passed 

 by the Society, introduced by remarks concerning their lives and labors. From Prof. 

 Bailey a bequest was received of great value, consisting of his microscopic collection, and 

 of a collection of Algae, with a great deal of material for microscopic research. Also a 

 great many works upon microscopy, botany and histology. These embraced Ehren- 

 berg's Mikrogeologie, Lindley and Hutton's Fossil Flora, and others of great value. 

 The bequest was upon the condition that the collection should be kept in cases by them- 

 selves, and that the sons of Prof. Bailey should have such access to them for study or 

 examination, as might be consistent with the rules of the Society. 



At the annual meeting, the reports of the Treasurer, Librarian and Curators were pre- 

 sented, and the substance of them is here briefly given. 



