510 Proceedings of Societies. [ August, 
number of animals and minerals taken at random. What could have 
induced any one to spend his time in such utterly unprofitable work as 
this, we are at a loss to imagine. 
— Dr. John S. Bowerbank, well known for his researches in the 
sponges, died at the age of eighty, March 8th. Professor Panceri re- 
cently died while lecturing to his class at Naples. 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
Boston Society or Narurat History. — April 18th. Mr. C. S. 
Minot made a communication on the primitive homologies of the animal 
kingdom, based on a new theory of the germinal layers. 
May 2d. Mr. S. W. Garman read a paper on the pelvis of Selachians, 
with especial reference to that of the genera Potamotrygon-and Disceus. 
May 16th. Mr. M. E. Wadsworth remarked on the fusibility of some 
forms of quartz; on the mineralogy and petrography of Boston and vi- 
cinity, and on the granite of North Jay, Me. Mr. Scudder described a 
fossil cockroach probably from P lvania, and referred to some points 
hitherto overlooked in the structure of the book-louse. 
AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. — New York, May 7th. Mr. 
J. A. Johnson lectured upon Some Geographical Features of California, 
and Mr. A. R. Conkling read a paper entitled A Summer's Explora- 
tion in the Sierra Nevada. 
May 22d. Addresses were made on the Exploration and Civiliza- 
tion of the Interior of Africa and the Suppression of the Slave Trade, by 
Revs. J. B. Pinney, H. W. Bellows, Prof. A. Crummels, Paul B. Du 
Chaillu, and Judge Daly. 
APPALACHIAN Mountain CLuB. — Boston, June 13th. Mr. J. R. 
Edmands exhibited his improved camera for mountain surveying: Mr. 
W. H. Pickering showed a new form of plane-table for the same pur- 
pose. Prof. C. R. Cross described some measurements of heights by 
the barometer. On June 16th the club joined the Lexington Field and 
Garden Club in a field-meeting, at Lexington. 
Acapemy or Natura Scrences. — Philadelphia, May 22d. Dr. 
Koenig placed on record the occurrence of enstatite associated with co- 
rundum from Lincoln County, Georgia, received for examination from 
Dr. Foote. 7 
Mr. John Ford described a group of eight burial mounds examined 
by him on the lands of Mr. E. P. Ford, on Coups Creek, Macoupin 
County, Illinois. The scene presented upon opening the third grave 
was somewhat startling in character. Four skeletons set within it, two 
and two» their arms crossed, the knees of one pair pressing sharply 
against the backs of the other, and the faces of all, like those in the 
central grave, turned directly towards the east. The enveloping earth 
