CXXXlll 



sponded an unusually warm one throughout Europe ; so that we have to 

 look for more local, or at least terrestrial, causes for these conditions. 



A peculiaiity of this winter was its dampness and cloudiness, and 

 evidently, in connection with this, the smaller range of thermometrical 

 extremes, as the following table exhibits : 



Minimum. Maximum. 

 December, 1S73 140 540 

 January, 1874 — 2.0 66.5 

 February, '" 11 -3 61.6 



Winter 1S73-74 — 2.0 66.5 



The quantity of rain and melted snow was by li inches greater than 

 the average, and much greater than that of the two preceding winters, 

 when in 1S72-73 it was 5I inches and in 1871-72 only 3J inches. 



Indies. Indies. 



Rain in December, 1873. ..... 4.43 Average for December 3.09 



" January, 1S74 2.47 " January 2.17 



" February, " 2.23 " February 2.55 



" Winter 1873-74-. 9-^3 '' Winter 7.81 



The rather low temperature of February has retarded vegetation in a 

 degree not very pleasant to us, but no doubt very useful to the country , 

 where a too forward spring vegetation often is the precursor of defective 

 grain and especially fruit crops. 



Mr. J. R. Gage was added to the list of Curators. 



March 16, 1874. 



Albert Todd, Vice President, in the chair. 



Sixteen members present. 



Publications received, laid upon the table. 



Mr. Todd presented on the part of Mr. B. F. Young some frag- 

 ments of a skull and three pieces of ornament made of shells from 

 the Big Mound. 



He remarked that the subject of mounds had interes-ted the Society a good 

 deal, and it would be remembered that at a late meeting an appropriation 

 was made for the purpose of beginning an exploration of some of the 

 mounds in this vicinity. Considerable regret had been expressed that 

 there was such neglect in reference to the Big Mound when it was opened. 

 A large number of remains were found there. According to the best evi- 

 dence the mound consisted, first, of a natural elevation, then on the top 

 of that an artificial elevation. Mr. Young was present at the opening of 

 the nnound, and stated that near the surface were some skeletons in good 



