570 General Notes. 
Boston Socrery oF Natura History. — May 16, 1888. — 
Professor Alpheus Hyatt read a paper on “'The Evolution of the 
Faunas in the Lower Lias.” Professor W. O. Crosby gave an 
account of the Geology of Nantasket. ; 
PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY NATURAL Scrences.—November 
15, 1887.—Prof. J. A. Ryder spoke of an improved method of 
preparing sections of animal tissue for microscopic examination. 
The object is first hardened as usual, then soaked in a solution of 
celloidin twenty-four hours, then in chloroform until the celloidin 
is transparent. It is afterward subjected to the action of paraffine 
before cutting. The use of celloidin enables the operator to make 
continuous thin sections of the most fragile structure without 
breaking. 
Prof. Heilprin contravened Mr. Boulenger’s criticism of his 
(Prof. Heilprin’s) statement regarding the distribution of North 
American Lizards. He had defined a line drawn from San Fran- 
seen of gold occurring in limestone. : 
Descriptions of two new species of fishes from South Ane 
o : 
which served to distinguish the left side from the right. _ 
The Rev. Dr. McCook described a spider from Florida. The 
ferred to a communication received Mr. C. Townsend, deseribing 
the nests of a white ant found in Honduras. Wood pulp seems x 
be the material used, and the nests are placed between branches 0 
trees. fine 
December 6, 1887.—Mr. Binder exhibited, among other Ane 
minerals added to the Vaux collection, a specimen of Hiddeotts, & 
mineral which from its rarity, is at present more valuable than i 
diamond. 
Mr. Meehan called attention to the tubers of Dioscorea eburned, 
