1878.] 41 [Allen. 
with nullipore and bryozoan growths, also dead. They form beds of 
considerable thickness in places, often more or less consolidated, and 
are dug up to burn for lime. The species discovered among the 
fragments are all found living in various parts of the bay, excepting 
Mussa Haritii, which does not apparently live at present anywhere 
in the bay of Bahia. This extensive accumulation of broken corals, 
which must have been formed by the breaking off and heaping up of 
living corals from the surface of the reef by the breakers, when the 
reef was at a lower level, testifies to the exceeding richness of the 
coral life at that time. Corals have apparently ceased to be reef 
builders in the bay of Bahia. 
Mr. J. A. Allen gave an account of the fossil birds of 
North America heretofore discovered, describing particularly 
a specimen procured through Mr. Scudder at Florisant, Col., 
interesting from its very perfect preservation, the feathers in 
fact being the most perfect yet shown in any fossil. Many 
of the bones, especially of the feet and wings, are also well 
preserved. The specimen is now the property of the So- 
ciety, and has been described by Mr. Allen under the name 
of Paleospizu bella." 
Dr. T. Sterry Hunt read a paper on the Taconic system. 
of North America. 
General Meeting. October 2, 1878. 
Vice-President Mr. 8. H. Scudder in the chair. Twenty- 
seven persons present. 
After the reading of the records, the chairman referred to 
the death of Professor Joseph Henry at the beginning of 
the past vacation, and introduced Prof. Asa Gray, who ad- 
dressed the Society in some remarks upon the life and 
eharacter of this eminent honorary member, whose death 
last spring — full of years and honors — had been so sensi- 
bly felt throughout the country and the scientific world. 
1 Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., Iv, 443-46, pl. i. 
