183 



flower of the season in which it is found. It reminds one of the early 

 summer floAvers. A New England Aster, wliich grows in little bunch- 

 es as a wild flower, he had cultivated and obtained a composite flower 

 the size of an old fashioned parasol. A branch of Winter-berry, 

 he said, bore the nearest resemblance to the English holly of any 

 plant that grows in this climate. The above are only examples of 

 the manner in which a large number of specimens were treated. 



Mr. E. S. MoKSE, who was one of the party that visited the " neck" 

 and examined the ancient shell-heaps found there, gave an account of 

 the results of the morning's exploration. Only one shell-heap was dug 

 into. It was composed principally of the common Clam, though a 

 few Oysters, Quahogs, and Mussels, were found scattered in the heap. 

 The Clam-shells were noticed to be much thicker than those found at 

 present on the flats from which these ancient ones were probably col- 

 lected. Bones of the deer, dog, beaver, cod, and of birds, were 

 also found. Those of the deer being the most abundant of the Mam- 

 malian bones. Two pointed implements of bone were also discovered, 

 and one or two fragments of pottery. Mr. Morse alluded to the explo- 

 ration of the shell-heaps on Goose Island in Casco Bay, where quite a 

 similar condition of things existed, and in which the bones of the 

 Great Auk, a bird now extinct, except in extreme northern localities, 

 were fouud in considerable numbers. In both localities distinct evi- 

 dence of fire-places were shown by the charcoal found in the heaps, 

 showing that the food was probably cooked on the spot.* Mr. Moi'se 

 then made some entertaining remarks upon the manner in which 

 certain of the lower animals eat, illustrating the process on the 

 blackboard. 



Voted, — That the thanks of the Essex Institute are hereby ten- 

 dered to Abram D. Waite, Stephen Baker, Wesley K. Bell, Frederic 

 Wilcomb, N. A. Dickinson, Rev. L. Dodge, and others, for their ser- 

 vices and attentions during the day ; to the Selectmen of the town for 

 the use of the Town Hall, and to the Methodist Episcopal Society for 

 the use of their vesti-y to hold this meeting. 



Monday, October 7, 1867.* Regular Meeting. 

 Hon. J. G. Waters in the chair. 



Sir William E. Logan, of Montreal, was elected a Corresponding 

 Member. 



John Henry Silsbee, of Salem ; J. C. Fletcher, Joseph Wassail, of 

 Newburyport ; C. W. Rose, of Marblehead ; John P. Cowles, Abram 

 D. Waite, of Ipswich, were elected Resident Members. 



*For an account of a more extensive exploration of the Shell-heaps in Ipswich, 

 and also of those of other localities, see the article by Prof. Wymau in the Ameri- 

 can Naturalist, Vol. I. p. Stil, Jan. 18(58. 



