1066 The American Naturalist. [Decem her, 
At the meeting on the evening of November 16, 1896, Dr. Charles 
R. Keyes, the State Geologist of Missouri, read a paper entitled, “ How 
Shall We Subdivide the Carboniferous?” and Professor J. H. Kinealy 
exhibited a chart for determining the number of square feet of low- 
pressure steam-heating surface required to keep a room at 70° F., and 
gave a description of the method of making the chart. Two active 
members and one life-member of the Academy were elected. 
WILLIAM TRELEASE, Recording Secretary. 
New York Academy of Sciences.—November 9th—Members 
of the Columbia University Expedition to Puget Sound made reports 
on the summer’s work. 
Mr. N. R. Harrington gave a short narrative of the expedition, in- 
cluding a description of the equipment of the laboratory, dredging, in- 
vestigation and plankton collection. 
In addition, he made a report on the Echinoderms, Crustacea and 
Annelids. Mention was made of the relation of the asymmetry in 
Scutella excentrica to its habit of burrowing and its vertical position in 
the sand. Abundant material, both larval and adult, of Entoconcha was 
obtained. This mollusk had been noted by Miiller in 1852, and Baur 
in 1864, in Synapta digitata and by Semper in Holothuria edulis. 
The present material was found in an undetermined species of Holo- 
thuria. About forty species each of Crustacea, Annelids and Echino- 
derms have been identified. 
Mr. Bradney B. Griffin presented the following report on the 
Platodes, Nemerteans and Mollusks: 
The Platodes and Gephyrea are relatively scarce. They are repre- 
sented solely by two Dendrocoels, and one Phymosoma respectively. 
The nemertines occur very abundantly, fully fifteen different species 
were obtained, most of which appear to be undescribed, though some 
seem to approach more or less closely the European forms rather than. 
those of the east coast of America. The European species are the 
more numerous. 
The Molluscan fauna is very rich and varied, ninety-three species of 
sixty-nine genera were collected. These include among others the 
large Cryptochiton stellerii which, when alive and expanded measures 
over 20 em., besides numerous smaller species of Mopalia, Katherina, 
Tonicella, ete., that occur in vast numbers on rocks and piles between 
tides. The Nudibranchs are notable from their bright colors and 
large size. One species of Dendronotus attains a length of over 25 cm. 
Cases of color variation ( Cardium and Acmaea) and color series (Lit- 
torina) were to be met with, as well as color harmonization; many 
