92 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [March, 1885. 



by Mr, G. Buist Lucas in 1872, and consists of the last phalanx of one of the 

 toes of the Megalonj^ which he presented to the Charleston Museum. 



The second is a fragment of the upper jaw of a Dugong with one of the inci- 

 sors in position. This was presented to the Museum by Mr. G. W. Coxe in 

 1878. It was shown to Prof, E. Cope in 1880, and, in 1882, at his request, it 

 was delivered to him in Philadelphia for illustration and description. This ha.s 

 since been done but the result has not yet been returned to him from the gov- 

 ernment printing office at Washington. 



These two fossils are interesting, the first, as showing the limit, so far ob- 

 served, of the Megalonyx in its migi-ations from its usual habitat in tropical 

 America ; the second, as proving the existence on the Atlantic coast of North 

 America, during a remote geological period, of an animal which at present is 

 confined to the Indian Ocean and to the coasts of Australia. 



Members Elected. 



Prof. H. E. Shepherd, Dr. C. U. Shepaed, Jr., 



Major E. Willis, Dr. P. G. DeSaussuee, 



Prof. A. R. GuEEAKD, Dr. C. B. Colson, 



F. W. Schlepegrell, A. M , IVIi'. C. A. Scanlan. 



APRIL 9th, 1885. 



The President in the Chair. 



Mr. C. A. Scanlan made some remarks concerning the subsidence of the sea- 

 coast of South Carolina, suggesting as its probable cause, an underlying stra- 

 tum of quicksand which is being gradually washed out by the percolation of 

 water seeking an outlet in the ocean. 



Dr. C. B. CoiiSON mentioned that he knew several facts which make Mr. 



Scanlan's theory probable. Many large spiings opening into the ocean are 

 known to exist along our coast, they are well known to the fishermen and may 

 be seen on calm days. Do they not carry out sand ? for it is known that a vast 

 quantity is thrown up- by our artesian wells, and that these ocean springs are 

 the outlets of the subterranean streams that are tapped by these wells is no 

 longer doubted. 



He had had the good fortune to witness how the tides and the direction of 



