THE HOWGATE EXPEDITION, 551 
* logical inferences that might be drawn from it, into which he did not propose to 
enter. It was so remarkable, indeed, that he took occasion to examine other 
examples of the same species before accepting it as a general fact of extensive ap- 
plication. Upon recurring to some younger specimens of the same gigantic sauri- 
an, he was enabled to verify the existence of the cavity in every instance, and to 
prove that sacral enlargement of the cord in extinct reptilians was an extraordinary 
fact. If it had appeared in a single instance in must, of course, have been re- 
garded as a phenomenon due to injury or disease ; but in all cases since his at- 
tention was attracted to the point by this enormous creature he had found the 
posterior cavity in extinct reptiles. 
There was nothing analagous to this sacral enlargement, Prof. Marsh con- 
tinued, in existing vertebrates. The aurphiax had absolutely no brain—that is no 
cerebral enlargement of the cord at the anterior extremity, but there was an en- 
largement of the spinal cavity at the sacrum which answered to what he had ob- 
served in extinct species. He would not take the time of his colleages by draw- 
ing any conclusion from the facts he had stated. Prof. Rood inquired if the sacral 
enlargement was in such a position as to furnish a point of origin for the nerves 
of the leg. Prof. Marsh replied that such was the case, and that the creature had 
very powerful hind legs. But the fore legs were equally strong, and there was no 
corresponding enlargement. 
After concluding his paper, Prof. Marsh read the necrological roll for 1880. 
Three members had, he said, been removed by death, namely: J. Homer Lane, 
of Washington; Count Pourtales, whose name was so familiar from contributions 
to the literature of the Coast Survey; and Prof. S. S. Haldeman. He appointed 
Prof. J. E. Hilgard, Prof. Alexander Agassiz and Prof. J. J. Le Conte to prepare 
memorials of the deceased members. The meeting was then adjourned. 
CH@ Gina Plc Ak: 
THE HOWGATE EXPEDITION. 
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMANDER. 
WasHINGTON, D. C., June 22, 80 
Lr. G. C. Doane, U. S. A.—Sir: I take pleasure in assigning you to the 
command of the permanent party of the expeditionary force now on its way to 
Lady Franklin Bay, in the Arctic region, and I shall expect each member of said 
party to render full and prompt obedience to your directions. 
The short time at my disposal since receiving notice of your intention to join 
the party, prevents me from entering into detail, and I shall, therefore, limit my- 
a 
IV—37 
