114 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
The late Palzontologist of the Dominion Geological Sur- 
vey (E. Billings) pointed out in a paper published in ‘‘ The 
Canadian Naturalist in 1860,” that in the Silurian rocks here, 
and in the neighboring countries, there are many species or 
varieties of that group of the genus, viz., ‘ Strophomena,” of 
which “S. Alternata” may be regarded as the typical form. 
All are closely related, he adds. ‘The specimen here submitted 
for the inspection of the Section appears to me to be nearly 
allied to “ Strophomena Neglecta.” It differs, however, in be- 
ing rounded at the cardinal angles or extreme ends of the 
hinge. Millar, referring to Strop. Alternata, states “specimens 
secured within 200 feet of low water mark at Cincinnati are 
large, thin, frail and somewhat flat, but in their markings re- 
semble the more profound ones of the Trenton group of New 
York and Ottawa, Canada. Many found from 350 to 450 feet 
above low water mark are peculiarly thick, firm, and heavy. 
Above that to the top of the group specimens are generally pro- 
portionately longer on the hinge line, more distinctly eared, and 
much. larger.” Few save Palzontologists, trained to close ob- 
servation, would see the differences recorded by the Cincinnati 
Professor in this instance; fewer still can have any conception 
of the prevailing ignorance here regarding Natural History in 
this immediate neighborhood. At the recent meeting of “the 
British Association for the Advancement of Science,” held at 
Belfast, one of the speakers asserted that Great Britain was at 
least two generations behind Germany in scientific matters. 
Heaven only knows how many the ambitious city of Hamilton 
‘has yet to overtake. Dr. Clarke (the Chief Palzontologist of 
the New York State Geological Survey) recently paid us a 
visit in order to clear up an unsettled point regarding the Bar- 
‘ton Niagaras. On visiting the Museum he seemed surprised 
to learn that very little interest was taken in our collection by 
the learned professions generally. Among our members we 
can point to @ solitary parson. We receive no grant from the 
city. It is presumed, because our aldermen are incapable of 
recognizing what every civilized country admits, viz., that a 
museum is absolutely worthless unless used as a means of im- 
