Annual Meeting.] 360 [May 4, 



recognizable form. Figure 18 is marked epitricliium but looks 

 like the so-called granular layer below. This figure is not ex- 

 plained, no description being given of the reagents used in prepar- 

 ing the specimen, of the lenses used in examining it, from what 

 part it was taken, nor even if it be a section or a surface view. 

 So it seems unwise to accept the statement blindly. How fusi- 

 form, horny cells can turn into a flat potygonal layer is difficult to 

 explain, yet such is the difference in much of the skin. 



I regret that Dr. Gardiner has not found an outer layer on the 

 body, but I cannot accept that as proof against my finding it. 



Dr. Gardiner seems disposed to doubt the accuracy of my de- 

 scription of a fold at the base of the bill. This specimen shows 

 it as you can satisfy yourselves. 



On page 26 we read " It seems as if Dr. Jeffries had misread, 

 since he says Kerbert has given no description of the epitricliium 

 during the last da}^s of incubation ; on the contrary, Kerbert has 

 remarked that it is lost before the shedding of the granular layer." 

 I wrote (page 223), "Kerbert does not describe the epitrichial 

 layer but says it becomes lost." 



In closing I would call your attention to the paper by Klee, 1 

 which completely verifies my observations, though worked out in 

 ignorance of my article. 



Annual Meeting, May 4, 1887. 



The President, Mr. S. H. Scudder, in the chair. 



The following reports were presented : 



Report on the Museum. By Alpheus Hyatt, Curator. 



The first of the Guides to the Society's Museum was issued 

 early in the year, but owing to unavoidable delays it was not 



1 Bau unci Entwickelung der Feder, Zeitschr. f. Naturwiss. 1886, 110-156. 



