906 Proceedings of Scientific Societies. [Aug,, 1883. 
able rate of daily flow. Professor H. C. Lewis argued that condi- 
tions different from the present existed in glacial times. For ex- 
ample, the facts observed indicated a depression south of the 
glaciated area in the Delaware valley and elsewhere, producing a 
greater water surface. Errors often arose from want of attention 
to the relative elevation of glacial striae. Stria upon the high 
levels indicate the general movement of the ice, while those upon 
the low levels show the local movements of the lower strata. 
Professor Cope argued that the evidence was against a polar-ice 
cap of sufficient thickness to give the glacial ice the necessary 
motion; but that there had been rather an ice ring south of the 
Arctic circle, which would account for the giacial phenomena. 
March 15.—Professor Cope described various Permian reptiles. 
Professor Lewis spoke of his discovery, in deweylite, of crystals 
which the blow pipe and other tests proved to be serpentine. The 
mineral contained also partially altered feldspar, and small, sharp 
fragments of quartz. e micaceous serpentine was the result of 
the alteration of the mica, but, being crystallized, was not a true 
pseudomorph. The occurrence of serpentine in crystallized slate, 
and the direct alteration of graphic granite into a magnesian 
mineral were the points he wished to record. 
March 22.—Miss Lewis exhibited drawings of the structure of 
feathers in various genera of birds, and showed that the cell char- 
acters might be utilized in classification. Professor Koenig stated 
that recent experiments with a weak solution of gold containing 
arsenic acid had convinced him that the compound known ; 
purple of Cassius was not a chemical compound. Professor oe 
said that upon the evidence of fossils received from Professor 7 
Darby he had confirmed the determination of the existence 
Permian strata in Brazil. : 
March 29.—Dr. H. Allen called attention to individual pee 
tion, and showed that parts related to each other varied toge sak 
For example, whenever the lower jaw is malformed the ma hiis 
which in its development is the proximal part of the same sis 
with the lower jaw, has been found in many cases examined mi 
malformed also. Two idiot skulls were exhibited to nes 
retention of juvenile characters. It was shown that in ia this 
atrophy of certain portions of the skull occurred, and iy pat 
atrophy always affected parts that are last acquired by the oe 
and are absent in lower animals, as, for example, the orbito-teB™ 
poral septum. Occasionally parts normally lost by man reappent 
in senile skulls, such as the paroccipital process. 
New York Acapemy or Sciences, June 4.—The gs r 
papers were read: Evidences of former glaciation oe an ice- 
mountain ranges, and their bearing on the question F. Kunz 
period, by Professor John S. Newberry. Mr. George *- 
exhibited some interesting and remarkable minerals. 
