108 
number of chromosomes, which by partial longi- 
tudinal splitting pass into flattened ellipses. 
These elongate, and during the growth period 
become twisted and distorted, and their true 
shape is thereby obscured. While entering the 
first polar spindle they appear as loose open 
rings or compact rods (bivalent). These by 
concentration and looping up form crosses, op- 
posite arms of which are attached to the ‘ Zug- 
fasern.’ During metaphase the crosses become 
drawn ont into flattened ellipses which split 
across into two V’s with closely apposed limbs. 
At telophase the latter separate at the angle 
and diverge in the second polar mitosis. No 
longitudinal splitting of the V’s occurs. 
In Zirphea (Lamellibranch) the process is 
identical, although more obvious by reason of 
the less close apposition of the halves of the 
rings and V’s. The conclusion is that in both 
forms a reducing division takes place. 
Mr. J. H. McGregor offered a preliminary re- 
port on the development of the Spermatozoa in 
Amphiuma. Professor F. E. Lloyd’s paper on 
Pholadidza of the Pacific Coast was read by 
title. 
C. L. BRISTOL, 
Secretary. 
MAY 3, 1897. 
Mr. Gary N. Calkins, of Columbia Univer- 
sity, was elected Secretary of the Section. 
In the absence of Dr. Dyar, chairman of the 
committee appointed to consider the question 
of postage on natural history specimens, Pro- 
fessor Stratford reported that the Postmaster- 
General had been notified, and that the matter 
had received due consideration. 
Upon behalf of the committee appointed to 
draw up a resolution relating to the death of 
Professor Cope, Professor Osborn delivered a 
brief eulogy of the great naturalist, pointing out 
the especial features which have made his work 
famous and have given him such a high position 
in the history of natural science. He dwelt es- 
pecially upon the fact that Professor Cope prose- 
cuted five great lines of work simultaneously, 
and that in each he acquired a commanding 
position. He also spoke of some of his gener- 
ous qualities as a fellow scientific worker, es- 
pecially his liberality in the loan of collections 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8. Vox. VI. No. 133. 
and generous recognition of the work of others, 
Finally, he alluded to his remarkable inde- 
pendence and fortitude of character, and per- 
sistent devotion to science, even with limited 
resources. His death leaves a vacuum es- 
pecially in the line of able and accurate criti- 
cism of contemporary work. Professor Osborn 
concluded by submitting the following reso- 
lution: 
The members of the New York Academy of Sci- 
ences desire to record their admiration of the noble 
services to science of the late Professor Edward D. 
Cope. Since 1895, when he offered his first contri- 
bution to the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, at 
the age of nineteen, he has been a devoted and bril- 
liant investigator in five great branches of natural 
history—ichthyology, herpetology of the batrachians 
and reptiles, mammalian paleontology, historical 
geology and philosophy. Im each he has long been 
an acknowledged leader, and his combined knowl- 
edge of all has given his researches a philosophical 
breadth, grasp and permanence which place him 
among the great masters of comparative anatomy— 
Cuvier, Owen and Huxley. We deeply regret that 
his untimely death has cut short his life work, and 
feel that the loss of his keen, critical and productive 
faculty deals a blow to the cause of comparative 
anatomy of the vertebrata throughout the world, 
which can hardly be measured. We tender to the 
American Philosophical Society and to the Academy 
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, of which Pro- 
fessor Cope was a life-long member, an expression of 
our deep regret at their loss, and of our readiness to 
cooperate with them in the establishment of some 
suitable memorial. 
Henry F. OsBorn. 
J. L. WoRTMAN,. 
Signed : 
Mr. H. E. Crampton, Jr., gave a brief ab- 
stract of a paper by F. C. Baker on ‘ Notes on 
Variations in the apex of Gasteropod Molluscs.’ 
Professor Bashford Dean and Mr. F. P. Sumner 
reported on the spawning habits of Petromyzon 
Wildert at Van Cortlandt Pond. Mr. H. E. 
Crampton, Jr., reported on some Coalescence 
Experiments with Lepidoptera. A paper on 
the ‘ Vertical Distribution of Plankton in Deep- 
Sea Collections from Puget Sound,’ by Profes- 
sor James I. Peck and N. R. Harrington, was 
read by title. 
G. N. CALKINS, 
Secretary. 
