264 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 
from H. G, Hanks, seven volumes on California geology; from Prof. 
John Collett, Report on Statistics and Geology of Indiana, for 1880 ; 
from Miss Louisa Dyer, five species of Cincinnati fossils; from C. 
Faber, twelve species of European and North American fossils; from 
H. Pugh, one lot pamphlets on mollusca; from Macbrair & Sons, three 
specimens of lithographic stone; from O. T. Mason, five pamphlets on 
archeology; from Miss Mary Telfair, one mole skin; from J. M. Patter- 
son, five volumes of Ohio geology and twenty-six volumes of maps; 
from Gideon Mabbett, seven specimens alligators and birds’ eggs. 
Turspay Eventne, November 1, 1881. 
Dr. R. M. Byrnes, President, in the chair. Present, 18 members. 
Mr. Davis L. James presented a large fungus (Lycoperdon gigan- 
teum), commonly known as the “ puff-ball.””. This species, Mr James 
stated, as well as all others of the genus, is edible; and when properly 
cooked much resembles in consistency and flavor, an omelet. It should 
be eaten when only a day or two old, at which time the flesh is firm 
and pure white. The specimen was ovoid in shape, and measured about ° 
eight by twelve inches. It was supposed to be less than a week old, 
and when cut open had a deep lavender color and uninviting appearance. 
Dr. A. B. Thrasher was elected a regular member of the society. 
The President announced the recent death of Prof. William Colvin, 
who had been a prominent and active member of the society for many 
years. A committee, consisting of Messrs. 8S. A. Miller, 5. E. Wright 
and L. S. Cotton, was appointed to draft a suitable memorial of his 
life and services. A committee, consisting of J. A. Warder, U. P. 
James and 8. T. Carley, was appointed to prepare a tribute to the 
memory of Mr. John L. Talbott, recently deceased, who was a life 
member of this society, and a member of the old Western Academy of 
Natural Sciences. , 
Mr. A. E. Heighway, Jr., distributed a number of copies of a 
geological map of Kentucky to the members present. 
Donations were announced as follows: from the Chief of Engineers, 
War Department, 14 volumes of valuable Government reports on 
geology and zoology, etc.; from Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, U. 8. A., two 
memoirs on Avian Osteology; from Ward and Howell, a cast of a large 
ammonite; from Jacoh Hoffner, Esq., Cumminsville, Ohio, through Dr. 
A. E. Heighway, the lower jaw ofa sperm whale, sixteen feet in length; 
from A. E. Heighway. Jr., a specimen of Calymene niagarensis, from 
Alabama, and 21 volumes of books and pamphlets on geology; from Dr. 
A. E. Heighway, a specimen of Sigillaria, from Rockwood, Tennessee; _ 
from E. O. Hurd, Esq., a specimen of the American bittern, from 
Alabama; from E. ©, Reiss, a specimen of Bolannus lentiginosus. 
Turspay Everenine, December 6, 1881. 
Dr. R. M. Byrnes, President, in the chair. Present, 12 members. 
Samuel R. Matthews was elected a member. ? 
Mr, Joseph F. James read a paper on the Variability in the Acorns 
