1878.] Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 67 
the most minute requiring high microscopic power to distinguish 
their structure. 
— Captain Howgate has received a letter via Scotland, from 
_ Captain Tyson, who commands the Florence, the advance vessel 
of the American Arctic Expedition. It is dated September 29, 
and reports Captain Tyson’s safe arrival at Niuntilick Harbor, 
Cumberland Gulf after a tedious voyage of forty days. He pro- 
poses moving to the head of the gulf ina few days, to go into 
winter quarters, and carry out his instructions in reference to the 
collection of material. The crew were all in good health and 
spirits. Messrs. Sherman and Kumlein are reported as doing 
well in their respective departments. 
3 -— We regret to learn that the note on page 749, volume xi, has 
_ been regarded by Dr. Brewer as too personal, and construed as 
an affront. The writer begs us to disclaim for him the slightest 
intention of reflecting upon Dr. Brewer’s veracity and sincerity 
= in his conduct of the sparrow controversy. The bantering sen- 
: tence seemed to bear its own credentials; but since it has been 
misconstrued, the writer permits us to substitute the following: 
“ Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, has so long remained in what I consider 
= tobe his honest misapprehension of the real bearing of alleged 
facts, in the face of testimony no less explicit, that it is no longer 
a question with me whether he will continue to argue as heretofore 
against such bearing of the testimony. 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
— York, October 23d to 25th, the following papers on subjects re- 
~ dating to natural science were read: On the Development of 
= Flounders, by A. Agassiz. On the Morphology of the Antlers 
of the Cervide, by Theodore Gill. On some new Fossil Fishes 
= from. Ohio and Indiana; on the Geological Age of the Western 
_ Lignites, by J. S. Newberry. On some Gigantic Dinosaurian 
Reptiles bisa the Wealden of the Rocky Mountains; American 
Cretaceous Birds, by O. C. Marsh. On the Air-Sacs of Locusts, 
by A. S. Packard, jn On the Glycogenic Functions of the Liver, 
$ and its relation to Vital Force and Vital Heat, by Joseph Le 
_ Conte. Biographical Memoir of Louis Agassiz. First part, re- 
lating to his Life and Work in Europe, by A. Guyot. 
T NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE.—At the session held in New 
AcaADEmy OF Science, St. Louis, Nov. 5—Dr. Engelmann pre- | 
opment of the flower. ‘It opens in the aening, and antri sieg : i 
sented an additional paper on the curious mode of fertilization ofthe __ 
Agave shawn, Dr. Engelmann expatiated upon the process of devel- 
