36 



of the rocks, — that is, their stratigraphy, paleontology, lithology, 

 orography, and their geographical distribution ; and, after all, it is 

 very nearly the same classification as those proposed and employed 

 by Werner, Smith, Brongniart, De la Beche, De Buch, Humboldt, 

 d'Omalius, and Elie de Beaumont. 



Some observers, relying exclusively on Paleontological evidence, 

 and putting aside all other geological characters, have proposed the 

 classification of all the stratified rocks into three or four great peri- 

 ods, under the names of Azoic, Paleozoic (Grauwacke, Carboniferous, 

 and Dyas), and Neozoic (Trias, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, and 

 recent,) or Mesozoic (Trias, Jurassic, and Cretaceous), and Cainozoic 

 (Tertiary and recent). 



If the class of Molluscs, especially the Brachiopods, and the plants, 

 are alone considered in Paleontology, it is true that, in the actual 

 state of our hioivledge, the preceding classification is well founded ; 

 but if we study also the Radiates, the Echinodermata, the Crustacea, 

 the Fishes, Reptiles, and the Mammalia, to place the Dyas in the 

 Paleozoic is no longer so justifiable, and several learned Paleontolo- 

 gists place the Dyas even in the Mesozoic. 



While I understand and respect these different Paleontological 

 classifications, I think that I follow the true principles and methods of 

 natural history in keeping to the ancient classification, as I have 

 learned it in the works of the founders of Geology, and as I have 

 seen it in the two hemispheres. 



Mr. Wilder made a verbal communication on the mus- 

 cular differences existing between the hands and feet of man 

 and those of the Quadrumana, showing, in particular, that 

 though in general appearance and power of grasp the so- 

 called hind-hand of the monkey resembles rather the hand 

 than the foot of man, yet there is this important structural 

 difference, that the great toe of the monkey has no separate 

 long flexor muscle, but its tendon is closely connected with 

 the tendons of the other toes ; so that it has little indeiDcn- 

 dent motion, but is flexed at the same time with the rest, in 

 the simple act of grasping a branch or other object. 



In accordance with a suggestion from the Council, it was 

 voted to establish a Curatorship of Ethnology. 



Voted, that a committee be appointed to nominate a can- 

 didate for the Curatorship ; the President designated Drs. 

 Gould, White, and Kneeland, who nominated Dr. Charles 

 Pickering, and he was unanimously elected. 



