279 
is his just due. He had repeatedly pointed out defects in the present pre- 
vailing methods of weather-study. Recent papers in scientific journals and 
discussions before learned bodies had shown that the same investigator 
could draw entirely opposite conclusions from the same set of observations. 
His reclamation was meant to cover the frequent effect of rain in increas- 
ing the force of storms; the influence of the uneven distribution of heat, 
both in vertical and lateral directions ; the mingling of cold and warm air 
through the alternate encroachment of polar and equatorial currents, the 
former passing under, or the latter flowing over its antagonist ; the con- 
sequent occurrence of high barometer storms as well as of low barometer 
storms ; and the fact that the areas of both high and low barometer are 
parts of the same storm. 
He had aroused the attention of meteorologists to the fact that dangerous 
storms not only might be both preceded and followed by rain, but might 
be wholly unaccompanied with rain ; and these new views had entirely 
changed the character of the published official and unofficial weather re- 
ports and predictions; but he especially insisted on the fact that the 
methods of observation and correllation in regard to storms, employed by 
professional meteorologists were still so defective that any hypothesis 
whatever could be constructed from the present weather charts, at the will 
or fancy of a meteorologist who had no better resource of his own in the 
shape of facts of his own observing. 
Dr. Sadtler read by title two papers entitled, “ A new 
method for the decomposition of chromic iron,” and “ Precipi- 
tation of copper and sodium carbonate.” By Edgar T. Smith, 
Ph. D., Assistant in Analytical Chemistry, University of 
Pennsylvania. Being contributions from the Laboratory of 
the University of Pennsylvania, No. XII. See page 216. 
Mr. Lesley exhibited a diagram of the railway cutting, op- 
posite Harrisburg, in Cumberland County, showing the alti- 
tude and order of forty-six (46) consecutive layers of the 
Magnesian Limestone Formation, No. II (calciferous auroral, 
or siluro cambrian); and a colored diagram of the analysis 
of said beds, made by Mr. Joseph Hartshorne, in the Labora- 
tory of the Second Geological Survey at Harrisburg, exhi- 
biting a remarkable regular alternation of magnesian and 
non-magnesian layers, with maxima of insoluble matters 
corresponding with the maxima of carbonate of magnesia. 
See page 260. 
Prof. Cope displayed life size drawings of vertebrze, femoral 
and other bones of gigantic fossil saurians of the genera La- 
