100 Proceedings of Scientific Societies. [Jan., 1886. 
‘The New York State herbarium, by Charles H. Peck (by invita- 
tion); The formation of a polar catalogue of stars, by T. H. Saf- 
ford (by invitation); A section through the southern tertiaries, 
by Otto Meyer (by invitation); Remarks upon the Lamellibran- 
chiate fauna of the Devonian rocks of the State of New York, 
and the results of investigations made for the palzontology of the 
State, by James Hall; Recent discoveries of gigantic placoderm 
fishes in the Devonian rocks of Ohio, by J. S. Newberry; The 
flora of the Cretaceous clays of New Jersey, by J. S. Newberry. 
ACADEMY OF ScIENCES OF InDIANA.—The preliminary circular 
proposing the formation of a State Academy of Science of Indi- 
ana, issued by authority of the Brookville Society of Natural 
History, has elicited such a general response in favor of the move- 
ment that there has been issued a circular calling a meeting of all 
of the people of Indiana interested, to be held in the criminal 
court room (Hall of Representatives) of the Marion county 
court house, at Indianapolis, Ind., on Tuesday, December 29, 
1885, at 2 o'clock P.M. 
In order that a proper understanding may be had of the present 
state of scientific study in Indiana, it has been thought advisable 
to ask from competent authority a statement of the present con- 
dition of each branch of science that is being studied within the 
borders of our State. The following persons have kindly con- 
sented to present papers upon the several subjects mentioned. 
Richard Owen, M.D., Sketch of the work accomplished for 
Natural and Physical Science in Indiana; David S. Jordan, M.D., 
Icthyology ; Professor John M. Coulter, Botany ; Professor J. P. 
Naylor, Physics; R. T. Brown, M. D., Geology; Professor O. P. 
Jenkins, Lower Invertebrates; E. R. Quick, Mammalogy ; Pro- 
fessor Robert B. Warder, Chemistry; Professor O. P. Hay, Her- 
petology; Daniel Kirkwood, LL.D., Astronomy; P. S. Baker, 
M.D., Entomology ; Maurice Thompson, Mineralogy; Rev. D. 
R. Moore, Conchology; Sergeant Orin Parker, Meteorology ; 
J. B. Conner, Statistics; A. W. Butler, Ornithology. 
New York Acapemy oF Sciences, Nov. 9.—The following 
paper was presented: Description of some gigantic placoderm 
fishes recently discovered in the Devonian of Ohio (with illustra- 
tions), by Dr. J. S. Newberry. 
ov. 16.—The following paper was read: The rise and pro- 
gress of invertebrate Zoology, by Dr. J. B. Holder. 
Nov. 23.—The following paper was read: The preservation of 
building materials by the application of paraffine, as recently used 
Sper a SeS ERS with apparatus and experiments), by 
Nov. 30.—The following papers were presented : On meteoric 
irons (1. From Glorieta mountain, Santa Fé county, New Mexico; 
2. From Jenny’s Creek, Wayne county, West Va.), by Mr. Geo. F. 
Kunz; Minerals of Harlem and vicinity, by Mr. B. B. Chamberlin. 
