18 PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
Survey, as a portion of the author’s “Synopsis of the Flora of the 
Laramie Group.’’] R 
Remarks followed by Messrs. GitBERT, ELLIoTT, and WHITE. 
Mr. T. C. MENDENHALL made a communication on 
THE MEASUREMENT OF TEMPERATURE AT DISTANT POINTS. 
Remarks were made by Mr. Ev.iorr. 
Mr. GusTaVE RAVENE gave an abstract of a communication pre- 
pared on 
THE ASTEROIDS. 
Remarks were made by Messrs. TayLtor, H. Farquyar, and 
ELLIort. 
271st MEETING. May 23, 1885 
The President in the Chair. 
Forty-one members and guests present. 
The Chair announced that only one more meeting would be held 
before the summer vacation. 
Mr. A. GRAHAM BELL made a communication on 
THE MECHANISM OF “CLICKS” AND “CLUCKS.” 
Remarks were made by Messrs. M. BAKER, GILBERT, and Ros- 
INSON. 
Mr. H. M. Paut completed his communication on 
THE CONDITION OF THE EARTH’S INTERIOR. 
Mr. W. B. Taytor made a communication on 
THE CRUMPLING OF THE EARTH’S CRUST, 
in which, referring to the plausible hypothesis of contraction by cool- 
ing—which had been so largely accepted, he contended that the 
amount of cooling and contraction since the formation of a consis- 
tent crust had been much less than even the opponents of that 
hypothesis had conceded; while the maximum amounts estimated 
by its adherents would still be wholly inadequate to represent the 
