214 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Dec., 1888. 



Journal of Comparative Medicine and Surgery, Philadelphia : 

 Vol. IX, No. 4. 



Koyal Dublin Society : Transactions, Series II, Vols. Ill and 

 IV ; Vol. V, parts 7 and 8 ; and Vol. VI parts 1 and 2. 



Eoyal Society, London : Proceedings, No. 271. 



Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge: Bulletin, Vol. 

 XVI, No. 2 and Vol. XVH, No. 2. 



Museo Nacional, San Jose, Costa Eica: Anales, pt. 2. 



Mr Mazyck exhibited specimens of Belemnites, Belemnitella, 

 and the pen of Loligo, and suggested that the fossil exhibited by 

 Mr. Koyle at the September meeting is a portion of the phragmo- 

 cone of a gigantic cephalopod allied to JBelemnites. 



Dr. Manigault exhibited two groups of unusually large Balani 

 from a vessel recently arrived from Africa. 



Prof. H. E. Shepherd submitted the following 



REPOET : 



In response to the communication of the American Philosophical Society re- 

 garding the propriety and feasibility of establishing ' ^ a language for learned 

 and commercial purposes," I beg leave to present to your consideration the fol- 

 lowing Eeport : 



The plan suggested seems to me not only possible of accomplishment, but in 

 QYexy respect desirable for the promotion of the ends indicated, learning and 

 commerce. 



It is unfair and unjust to measure the possibilities of the present scheme by 

 such plans or endeavors as have been projected in former ages, such, for exam- 

 ple as the system of Bishop Wilkins for estabhshing a universal language. The 

 conditions under which the present scheme is proposed are essentially different 

 from those that existed before the rise of internationalism in its varied and 

 constantly increasing forms, and before the wonderful development of modern 

 comparative philology. All the influences of our complex civilization tend more 

 and more to unity of idea and action, modern scientific progress and linguistic 

 investigation have in large measure overcome the barriers and the prejudices of 

 race and speech, and philology, since the age of F. Schlegel and William Von 

 Humboldt, by demonstrating the original unity of the Indo-European or Aryan 

 family, has immensely diminished the difficulties that a century ago rendered 

 txao o^-cess of any such movement as that now under consideration, apparently 

 insuperable. 



