286 General Notes. 
October 7, 1887.—Prof. Cope presented a communication for the 
proceedings entitled the “Classification and Phylogeny of the Artio- 
dactyla.” Two communications from Mr. S. Garman, of Cambridge, 
Mass., entitled “Reptiles and Batrachians cf Grand Cayman,” 
and “ West Indian Reptiles in the Museum df Comparative Zool- 
ogy, Cambridge, Mass.,” were read. 
October 21, 1887.—Mr. P. C. Garrett read an obituary notice of 
Pliny-Earle Chase, LL. D., a vice-president of the Society. A 
paper on “ Octonary Numeration and its Application to a System of 
Weights and Measures,” by A. B. Taylor, was presented. Prof. 
Cope read a paper on the “Phylogeny and Classification of 
the Artiodactyla. Dr. J. Cheston Morris spoke of the remarkable 
resemblance between Devonshire sheep and goats, both ewes and 
bucks had horns and, like the goat, they had more than one period 
of reproduction in a year. Dr. D. G. Brinton, H. Phillips, Jr., 
and M. B. Snyder, were appointed a committee to consider the 
value of Volapiik. 
November 4, 1887.—Dr. Brinton read a paper on the so-called 
Alaguilac language of Guatemala. 
November 18, 1887.—A paper entitled “ Notes on the Ethnology 
of British Columbia,” by Dr. F. Boas, was presented through the 
Secretaries. Dr. Brinton read an account of “ An Ancient Human 
Footprint from Nicaragua,” and in the discussion that ensued Prof. 
Heilprin stated that in his belief the deposit in which it occurred 
was Post-pliocene. Prof. E. J. Houston read a communi- 
cation on a non-magnetizable watch invented by M. C. A. 
Palliard, of Geneva, Switzerland ; and on the Gramophone, an in- 
vention of Edwin Berliner, of Washington, D.C. Prof. E. F. 
Smith presented a paper on “ Electrolysis of Lead Solutions.” 
December 2, 1887.—Prof. D. Kirkwood, of Bloomington, Ind., 
presented a communication on “The Possible Existence of Fire- 
balls and Meteorites in the Stream of Bielids.” 
January 6, 1888.—The committee of Volapük presented a sup- 
plementary report. Prof. P. H. Uhler, of Baltimore, read a paper 
on “The Albirupian Formation and its Nearest Relatives mm 
Maryland.” Profs. Lewis and Heilprin, in the discussion which 
followed, differed from Prof. Uhler in their views of the age of this 
formation, Prof. Lewis considering it as Silurian, Prof. Heilprin a8 
Paleozoic and not Mesozoic. 
Western Society or Naruratists.—A Western Society of Nat- 
uralists, embracing members from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Tllinois, 
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, was organized at Indian- 
apolis, Dec. 29th, 1887. Its scope is like that of the American 
Society of Naturalists, the constitutions of the two being almost 
identical. The following officers were elected :—President, Profes- 
