1 882.] Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 623 



identical with one of the genus Agamonema, found in fresh water 



Mr. Potts exhibited a specimen of the sponge to which the un- 

 fitness for use of the Boston drinking water had been attributed. 

 The specimens were composed in part of a Meyenia and in part of 

 a Spongilla. The Meyenia was new, and he proposed for it the 

 name of M. acuminata. He believed that a sponge is usually the 

 product of many statospheres, and tli.it hybridism was, from the 

 manner of germination of the statospheres, probably of frequent 

 occurrence. The speaker stated that he had never yet been able 

 to detect the ciliated chambers that have been described in 

 sponges. 



Dr. Parker stated that the effect of colloids upon crystalline 

 substances was to retard growth except in the direction of the 

 axes. He believed that the various forms of spicules were caused 

 by this retarding influence of the sarcode, acting with greater or 



Mr. Potts stated that in all spicules of sponges there was an 

 axial space, branching towards the spines; moreover, the larger 

 spicules can be seen to be formed of a series of annular layers. 



New York Academy of Sciences, April 10. — Mr. F.J.'G. 

 Wiechmann read a paper on the fusion-structures in meteorites- 

 (illustrated with microscopic sections). 



April 24.— Professor J. J. Stevenson read a paper on the eco- 

 nomic importance of the mineral resources of Southwest Virginia. 



May 1. — Dr. B. N. Martin read a memorial notice of the life 

 and works of the 1 ite Professor John \V. Draper. 



May 8th.— Professor H. Le R. Fairchild lectured on the methods 

 of animal locomotion. 



May 22.— Dr. A. A. Julien presented notes and observations 

 made during a recent visit to the islands of Curacoa, Buen Ayre 

 and Aruba.W. I. Mr. J. C. Russell read a paper on sulphur de- 

 posits in Utah and Nevada. 



June 5.— Dr. W. Miller, read a paper on the prevention 

 of tubercular disease in men and animals by Vaccination. Mr. 

 N. L. Britton remarked on a glacial "pot-hole" near Williams 

 Bridge, N. Y. 



Boston Society of Natural History, General Meeting, April 

 19— Mr. Frederic Gardiner, Jr., described the methods of pro- 

 pagating salmon, and Dr. VV. S. Bigelow spoke on the study of 

 Bacteria and allied forms. 



Annual Meeting, May 3. — The curator, secretary and treasurer 

 Presented their annual reports on the condition and work of the 

 society during the past year. The officers for 1882-83 were 

 elected, after which the discussion of the general question of 



1 paper by Mr. VV. M. Davis. 



