Phillips.] 330 [Dee, 21, 
Prof. Rothrock read a paper entitled: “The microscopic ex- 
amination of timber with regard to its strength; a contribu- 
tion from the Eli K. Price Botanical Laboratory of. the 
University of Pennsylvania, by Frank M. Day.” Remarks 
were made on the interesting subject of the paper by Dr. 
Brinton, Mr. Ingham and Mr. Price, and the Treasurer was 
authorized to pay for necessary illustrations. (See page 833.) 
Mr, Phillips communicated “A note respecting the correct 
name of the last letter of the English Alphabet?” 
Mr. Lesley exhibited a small copper-plate map of Pennsyl- 
vania which he had colored geologically according to the 
system of Major J. W. Powell, Director of the United States 
Geological Survey, as a contribution to a general map of the 
United States now in preparation at Washington for illustrat- 
ing the coloration adopted by Major Powell, and intended for 
presentation at the Congress of Geologists to meet at Berlin 
in 1884. 
Dr. Allen read a paper “On a case of human congenital 
malformation,” and exhibited two photographie views of the 
subject. 
The reading of pending nominations was postponed. 
Mr. Phillips reported that the Curators were consulting with 
Mr. Rothermel respecting the oil paintings of the Society. 
The Report of the Finance Committee was received. 
The annual appropriations for 1884 recommended therein 
were passed. 
And the meeting was adjourned. 
A Note respecting the Correct Name of the Last Letter of the English Alpha- 
bet. By Henry Phillips, Jr. 
(Read before the American Philosophical Society, December 21, 1883.) 
A dislike of what seemed to be a growing evil, one which had greatly 
increased within the past twenty years, the misnomer of the last letter of 
the English alphabet, by which it was called gee instead of zed, led me to 
investigate so far as the material was accessible to me into the origin of 
this usage, and into the authorities by which it was countenanced.. I have 
