Association of American Geologists. 187 



ported by the committee on business,) for the purpose of making 

 suitable arrangements for the next session of the Association. 



The secretaries were intrusted with the preparation and publi- 

 cation of an abstract of the proceedings of the Association. 



Resolved, That the chairman of the present session be reques- 

 ted to open the next session by an address. 



Dr. S. G. Morton was then appointed chairman, and Dr. 

 Jackson secretary, for the next session. 



Dr. L. C. Beck, Prof. H. D. Rogers, Prof Hitchcock, Dr. 

 Locke, and Dr. Jackson, were appointed a committee to prepare 

 a constitution, by-laws, &c. for the government of the Associa- 

 tion, according to a resolution of the committee on business. 



Dr. Griscom made a communication respecting the Duane 

 " steel ore" of New York. 

 Adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

 At 8 o'clock in the evening the Association had the pleasure, 

 in common with a respectable audience of ladies and gentlemen 

 of Philadelphia, of hearing a most interesting and instructive ad- 

 dress from Prof Silliman, on the general principles of geology, 

 and subjects connected with its progress in America. 



Fifth day of session, Saturday, April 10, 1841. The Asso- 

 ciation met this morning according to adjournment of yesterday. 

 Dr. Locke in the chair. 



The minutes of yesterday's proceedings were read and adopted. 

 Dr. Morton opened before the Association a vessel of earthen 

 ware taken from the Pyramids of Sakhara in Egypt, and for- 

 warded to him by the American consul at Cairo, which con- 

 tained an embalmed body of the Ibis religiosa, or sacred bird of 

 the ancient Egyptians. The earthen vessel containing this relic 

 of the most remote antiquity, was of a cylindrical or rather a 

 conical shape, having a lid or cover fixed on the larger end, closely 

 fitted on and luted with a composition resembling common mor- 

 tar of lime and sand. 



Dr. M. remarked upon the interest attending these relics, owing 

 to their complete preservation — the bones, feathers, and even ani- 

 mal matter being frequently found almost unchanged, except by 

 desiccation. The specimen opened was one of uncommon interest 

 on account of the great perfection and almost interminable number 

 of the bandages of linen cloth in which it was enfolded, and the 

 high preservation of the most delicate parts of the plumage. The 



