874 The Amerwan Naturalist. [September, 
of the Navy to consider the system which has been established at the 
naval observatory, in pursuance of which time signals are given for 
commercial purposes to the Western Union, and to cause this practice 
to be so changed as not to injure the work of the local observers. 
Mr. Amos W. Butler moved that the permanent secretary be em- 
powered to extend invitations to the governments of Mexico, Central 
and South America to send delegates from the different scientific socie- 
ties of those countries to the meeting of the association at Washington. 
The resolution was adopted, after which Permanent Secretary Putnam 
announced that of the 364 members and associates in attendance upon 
the present meeting, Indianapolis furnished 27; Indiana, outside of 
Indianapolis, 64; Ohio, 38; New York, 29; District of Columbia, 
30; Illinois, 26; Michigan, 22; Massachusetts, 19 ; Kentucky, 14; 
Iowa, 12; Pennsylvania, 12; Missouri, 12; New Jersey, 6; Nebraska, 
6; Wisconsin, 5; Tennessee, 4; Arkansas, 2; Maine, 2; Canada, 6 
There were also representatives from Rhode Island, West Virginia, 
England, Scotland, New Hampshire, Arizona, Texas, and other 
States. ] 
The resolutions of thanks comprehended nearly all the railroad 
companies that enter that city, the street-railroad company, the people 
of Indianapolis, Noblesville, Kokomo, Marion, Muncie, Anderson, 
Terra Haute, and New Albany, the local committee, the ladies of that 
committee, and the press. The various corporations, committees, and 
persons thus thanked were not disposed of in one resolution, but taken 
up seriatim and each brought, as in toast-making, for a little speech 
from the proposer, and one from the gentleman duces to respond. 
In this way speeches were made by Mr. F. E. Nipher, of St. 
Louis ; Prof. E. T. Cox, of New York ; Prof. E. D. Com. of Philadel- 
phia; Secretary Putnam, of Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. A. W. Butler, of 
Brookville; Mr. A. F. Potts, of Indianapolis ; Professor Avery, of 
Cleveland; Professor Abbe, of Washington, D. C.; President-elect 
Prescott, of Ann Arbor; Professor Mees, of Terre Haute; Dr. Hover, 
of New York; Professor Mason, of Washington, D. C.; Mr. G. 
W. Holley, of Ithaca, N. Y.; Prof. Stanley Coulter, of Lafayette ; 
Prof. Charles R. Barnes, of Madison, Wis, ; and ex-President Menden- 
hall, of Washington, D. C. After this the meeting adjourned. 
On Saturday, August 23d, an extensive trip was arranged to cover 
the immense gas territory of Indiana. 
A special train was provided, which left the city in the morning, 
going north over the Lake Erie & Western R. R., through Nobles- 
ville to Kokomo, where the gas field was explored, and a visit made to 
