446 RECORDS. 



SECTION OF ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS. 

 January 3, 1898. 



Mr. Dudley in the chair, eighteen members and guests pres- 

 ent. W. Hallock was appointed Secretary, pro ton. Minutes 

 of last meeting read and approved. 



The first paper was by H. Jacoby, entitled Photographic 

 Researches near the North Pole of the Heavens. Pro- 

 fessor Jacoby explained how the ** trail plates " are taken with 

 stationary telescope having in its field the north pole point, and 

 pointed out how, after proper corrections, an improved location 

 of the pole could be obtained as the common center of the trail 

 arcs. The results are excellent, and bid fair to give much better 

 values for declination than those obtained by other methods. 



The paper was discussed by Professor Rees, Mr. Post and 

 Professor Hallock. 



The second paper was by P. H. Dudley, entitled The Com- 

 pletion OF Relaying the Track of the Boston and Albany 

 Railroad with 95 -lb. Rails. Mr. Dudley outlined the intro- 

 duction of rails of improved material and section, and the 

 gradual relaying of this line, showing how greatly the road was 

 improved at all points, how heavier loads were carried, and how 

 a gain was obtained in all directions. Meeting then adjourned. 



W. Hallock, 



Secretary of Section^ pro tern. 



SECTION OF BIOLOGY. 

 January 10, 1898. 



Professor Osborn in the chair, fifty-six persons present. The 

 following programme was offered: 



H. F. Osborn, The Origin of the Mammalia. 



F. M. Chapman, The Distribution of Birds in the State 

 of Vera Cruz. 



F. E. Lloyd, On Hypertrophied Leaf-Scales in Pinus 

 ponderosa. 



