1 62 The \^est Avierican Scientist. 



in them of a compound or substellate dermal spicule. The spic- 

 ulae of the dermis throughout the group are generally minute, 

 spined acerates; in M. Everetti, Mills, we find them as minute 

 birotulates. In this species the two forms seem to be combined; 

 the spines have become central and prolonged, while their capi- 

 tate extremities suggest the rotules of the last-named species. 



Of the six sponge masses from the above locality, sent by the 

 Smithsonian Institution for examination, the smallest was some- 

 what fusiform in shape and proved to belong to a different species — 

 Meyenia crateriforma, Potts — heretofore found along the eastern 

 border of the United States. In it alone the mass was not dark- 

 ened by the presence of some pervading vegetable parasite. 



Edwm'd Potts. 



PER/DO TITE. 



Mr. George F. Kunz, of Tiffany & Co., New York, was sent, 

 accompanied by Mr. J. S. Diller, of the -U. S. Geological Survey, 

 to examine the peridotite of Elliot Co., Kentucky. 



The occurence there of carbonaceous shale in it, closely re- 

 sembles the same rock at the South African Diamond Fields, and 

 although diamonds were not found yet, valuable observations were 

 made on this most interesting occurrence, which will be published 

 later by the " Survey," in a paper on the subject. 



New^ York, June 23, 1887. 



THE KANSAS SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



Editor West American Scientist: — I beg to call your 

 attention to the late organization in Leavenworth of the Kansas 

 Society of Natural History, which has begun its career with the 

 following persons as officers for the following year: 



Dr. R. J. Brown, President; W. R. Lighten, Secretary and 

 Treasurer. 



Article 2 of the Constitution reads: "The object of this society 

 shall be the study and increase of knowledge of the natural sciences 

 with special reference to such as are of economic importance to the 

 state of Kansas " The Constitution provides for a corresponding 

 membership of non-residents of this county, and provision is also 

 made for the occasional publication of " Transactions." 



The next regular meeting will be held on July 14th, at which 

 meeting papers will be read on the black rot of the grape, by Dr. 

 Carpenter; on the structure of the eye, by Dr. W. D. Bidwell; 

 on the early use and development of the microscope, by Prof 

 Wm. Lighten; on some of the common plants of this regjon, by 

 Dr. Brown; and on the circulation of sap in certain plants, where 

 the natural and regular circulation is interfered with, by W. R. 

 Lighton. Respectfully, 



yiUy 6, 1887. W. R. Lighten, Secretary. 



