312 



original designs, but that the figures in question were symbol- 

 ically compounded of man and serpent, and appear as such in 

 MSS. recently published by the French government. 



Mr, Lesley instanced the mammoth, etched on a plate of 

 ivory, found in a cave in France, to clear aAvay any serious im- 

 probability from the way of supposing a like physical remin- 

 iscence of the Mastodon in this country. He referred, also, to 

 the fact, that the Ancient Egyptian B was graphically repre- 

 sented by the human leg, A by the arm, T by the hand, and that 

 what is called the comb, may have been meant for the foot- 

 mark. In the earliest stage of human life the foot and the 

 foot-print were of superior importance to the hand and its 

 work. But in the second stage of aboriginal life, the hand 

 took precedency of the foot, as symbol of force and skill, com- 

 bining thought with feeling, the reasoning power with the 

 instinct. It soon entered into the synod of symbolic gods, with 

 its fingers, and obtained a special worship for its hand-print. 



Dr. Coates related the origin of the Arabic cyphers on the 

 hypothesis, that they were constructed by posturing with the 

 hands and fingers, singly and in combination. 



Pending nominations 649 — 656 were read. 



The following communication was read : 



Office of the Commissioners of Fairmount Park, JSTo. 224 S. Fifth Street, 

 Philadelphia, March 12th, 1870. 



At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Park, held this day, the fol- 

 lowing preamble and resolutions were adopted : 



Whereas, The American Philosophical Society has made a communi- 

 cation to this Commission, proposing that the name of Andre Francois 

 Michaux, who travelled long in this country, and described our Oaks and 

 forest trees, in a work of great merit and sijleiidor, should have his name, 

 and that of his father (who had, by like travel and study, rendered ser- 

 vice to science), honored in the Fairmount Park, in a manner to be a me- 

 morial to their devotions, and to promote the objects which had occupied 

 their lives, and has proposed, after the death of the widow of Andre Fran- 

 cois Michaux, to devote the interest or income of six thousand dollars be- 

 queathed by him to said Society, to be expended in execution of the trust 

 of his will in the said Park, for the purpose following. Therefore, 



Resolved, That there shall be a grove of Oaks in the Fairmount Park 

 forever to bear the name of "The Michaux Grove," in which, if i)racti- 

 cable, shall grow two oaks of every kind that will endure the chmate. 



Resolved, That any svirplvis of revenue received by the Commission from 



