RECORDS. 683 



years a large number of the showy fishes that abound in the 

 coral reefs were brought home alive for the New York Aqua- 

 rium. Notwithstanding the sudden fall of temperature at the 

 northern edge of the Gulf Stream the system of regulation of 

 the temiperature was so perfect that less than one per cent, 

 died on the voyag.e. A pair of green parrot fishes of large size, 

 and a large green murray about eight feet long were the most 

 conspicuous among them, and were living and in good health 

 at the date of the meeting. 



Francis E. Lloyd, 



Secretaiy. 



SECTION OF GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY 



November 20, 1899. 



Section met at 8:15 P. M., Mr. Geo. F. Kunz, presiding. 

 The minutes of the last meeting of Section were read and ap- 

 proved. 



On motion by Professor Stevenson, a committee of three was 

 appointed to prepare resolutions in reference to the recent death 

 of its distinguished honorary member. Sir William Dawson, of 

 Montreal. 



The following paper was then presented : 



Charles Barnard, Some Recent Changes in Shoreline 

 OF Nantucket. 



Summary of Paper. 



These changes have become apparent by comparison with the 

 outlines indicated in Shaler's map of 1888 (Bull. No. 53, U. S. 

 Geol. Survey). The shoreline, there represented as nearly 

 straight, from a point just beyond the Range Lights to Brant 

 Point, in the harbor, has become materially changed by a rapid 

 advance of the beach on each side, so that the original shore 

 end of the break-water is lost to sight in the sand or covered by 

 buildings. 



On the north shore, beyond the apron beach, the sea has 

 steadily advanced upon the land, the increase of material at the 



