320 [Dece. 21; 
A biographical sketch of the late Thomas U. Walter, by 
Mr. Joseph M. Wilson, was read. 
The death of Dr. Caspar Wister (December 20, 1888, set. 71) 
was announced, and, on motion, the President was authorized to 
appoint a suitable person to prepare the usual obituary notice. 
This being the evening for balloting for candidates for mem- 
bership, the pending nominations Nos. 1181 and 1182 were 
read and spoken to and voted upon. 
The following communication from Mr. Aubrey H. Smith 
was read: 
‘In Boott’s illustrations of the genus Carex, we have Carex miliaris 
Michaua, figured from the original specimens of Michaua, preserved in the 
Herbarium Richard, at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris. Boott says: ‘This 
species is the only one of those described by Michaux which has not been 
satisfactorily ascertained by recent observers.’ Mr. Charles E. Smithand 
I collected a Carex on the gravel bars of the Kennebec river, at the outlet 
of Moosehead lake, in the years 1865 and 1867, which was thought by 
Gray to be 0. miliaris (see Manual, ed. 5, 1867). C. E. Smith afterwards 
found it in other places on Moosehead lake. I collected it about 1872 on 
the gravel bars of Marguerite river and Lake St. John, Lower Canada. 
My specimens agree with the engraved figure in Boott, and were sub- 
mitted to T. C. Porter and Olney, and by them recognized as Carex 
miliaris.”’ 
Dr. .D. G. Brinton read a paper on the Zai-Ki and the 
Swastika in America. 
A-paper by Dr. W. J. Hoffmann (Washington, D. C.), en- 
titled ‘‘ Grammatic Notes and Vocabulary of the Pennsylvania 
i German Dialect,” was presented through the Secretaries. 
F On motion, the Secretaries were authorized to print the 
\ same in the Proceedings of the Society if so desired by them. 
| Prof. Lesley presented a paper entitled “ Description of 
New Species of Fossils from the Clinton, Lower Helderberg, 
Chemung and Waverly groups,” by George B. Simpson, 
On motion, the paper of G. B. Simpson was. referred to a 
special committee of three, to be appointed by the President at 
his leisure, to examine for the Transactions. (Subsequently 
the President appointed Messrs. Lesley, Horn and Heilprin as 
such committee.) 
