Miscellaneous . Notes. 63 



that the erosion so effected may be explained on the basis of Mr. 

 Harney's observations on molecular coalescence ; (3) that in con- 

 tact with glycerine and carbonate of potash, ivory and mother, of 

 pearl may be eroded, although as far as can be seen, no spherules 

 of carbonate of lime are formed. 



The first tAVO conclusions are believed to be applicable to the ero- 

 sion by ant mud, as observed by Dr. Bidie, while the third is held 

 to have a much wider application, explaining by " Molecular dis- 

 integration," the formation of the Haversian spaces in bone ; the 

 excavation of shell surfaces to which Polyzoa are attached ; the 

 boring of Molluscous shells by sponges and other similar erosions- 

 — Journal of the Royal Mining Society, Ser. 2nd, V. 761. 



Proceedings of the Natural History Society. 



The First Monthly Meeting of the Session of 1885-86 was 

 held on Monday evening, October 26th, 1885, the President, 

 Sir William Dawson, being in the chair. 



The minutes of the last Council Meeting were read, and 

 the following names proposed for membership, viz., Messrs. 

 James M. Jack, W. C. Van Home, P. A. Peterson, E. W. 

 Boodle, Eobert Mackay, Samuel Pinlay, James McShane, 

 M.P.P., Edward Eadford and A. H. Sims. 



Prof. Penhallow reported that there had been several im- 

 portant additions to the list of Exchanges since the regular 

 issue had been resumed of the Society's quarterly magazine, 

 the Canadian Eecord of Science. Mr. A. H.Mason, Hono- 

 rary Curator, reported that, during the recess, the following 

 additions to the Museum had been made, through the kind- 

 ness of Mr. J. H. E. Molson, viz., the Teeth of Carcharoden, the 

 Teeth of Oxyrhina, and the Vertebrae of Fishes (Eocene), 

 found in the Phosphate beds near Charlestown, South 

 Carolina; also the Egg of an Alligator from Jacksonville, 

 Florida. Sir William Dawson offered some remarks upon 

 the specimens presented, pointing out many peculiar 

 features connected with them. 



Mr. Mason called attention to the fact, that the President , 

 Sir William Dawson, had been appointed to preside at the 

 next meeting of the British Association, to take place at 

 Birmingham in 1886, and considered it to be a most distin- 

 guished honor, in which we should all take much pride, as 

 it was a position to which only the most notable men of 

 Science were elected. 



Prof. Penhallow then read a paper on " The Origin of the 

 Ainos and their final Settlement and Distribution in Japan." 

 After a vote of thanks to the lecturer, it was resolved that 



