Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 192 
Professor Heilprin described the finding of the remains of a mas- 
todon near Pemberton, N. J. 
Oct. 18, 1887.—Dr. H. C. McCook gave an account of an Amer- 
ican tarantula which must have been at least seven years old at 
death, and stated that a queen of the fuscous ant, in the possession 
of Sir J. Lubbock, died at the age of thirteen years. 
Dr. Leidy described a collection of fossil bones from Archer, 
Fla., and characterized Hippotherium plicatile, from teeth and ankle 
bones, as a species of horse new to science, 
Professor Ryder described a ring-like prolongation of the pla- 
centa in embryo mice and rats, as indicating the descent of these 
animals from lower types on which the placenta was zonary. 
Oct. 25, 1887.—Profcssor J. A. Ryder stated his conviction that 
the organ in the head of fishes, supposed by Wiedersheim to be the 
homologue of the pineal gland, was really a portion of the lateral 
line system, and thus derived from the skin. 
Mr. Woolman described the deposits pierced by an artesian well,. 
1,100 feet deep, at Atlantic City. Thirty-one species, including 
three sharks and a crocodile, were the fossil harvest. 
Professor Heilprin stated that Perna mawillata found in the above 
well at a depth of about 300 feet, in dark clay, indicated the base- 
of the miocene, while the Turritella found above indicated the 
middle miocene. The speaker and his class had recently collected 
Several species new to the miocene fauna of New Jersey, including 
three new to science. 
- Keenig described a new variety of unisilicate of manganese, 
and proposed for it the name “ Bementite.” 
. Leidy. stated his belief, founded on examination of numerous. 
examples, that the brown hydra of North America is identical 
with that of Europe; and Professor Ryder stated that the marine 
parasitic infusoria of the American coast were the same as those 
0. urope. 
Dr. Cheston Morris described certain Dorsetshire sheep which 
Seemed to be intermediate between the ordinary sheep and the goat. 
Nov. 1, 1887.—Dr. H. C. McCook described the habits of For- 
mica rufa, their mounds, their straight roads, ete. Atta fervens, a 
Texan ant, constructs straight underground trails, sometimes for a 
length of 448 feet. 7 
Dr. Dolley spoke of the native cotton of Harbor Island, one of 
the Bahamas. It is of a reddish buff tint, and is not attacked by 
the cotton worm. 
Professor Heilprin exhibited the mastodon remains found at 
Pemberton, N. J, 
NOV. 15; 1867. Profesor Ryder described certain improvements 
1n preparing tissues for the microscope. Soaking in celloidin and 
then in chloroform enabled the most fragile structures to be 
manipulated, 
