Proceedings of the Society. 



99 



flower, as was the case with the Hindoos, who said that Brahma floated 

 on the surface of the water, buoyed up by a lotus leaf, and there 

 created the flower. Since then it has been symbolized as the type of 

 the creation. He showed the strength and elasticity of the spiral 

 ducts in the interior of the petiole of the leaf, drawing them out 

 twelve or eighteen inches. The cells in the interior of the petiole 

 are very large and covered on the inside with curious stellate hairs. 

 The large cells contain air sufficient to buoy up the peltate leaf. The 

 blossoms were very large, and of a deep rose color, while the leaves 

 were circular and of a deep velvety green. 



Dr. A. J. Howe spoke upon some anatomical points of the brain, 

 showing its development from the lowest to the highest forms, and 

 gave some remarkable illustrations of recoveiy or partial recovery 

 from injuries to this vital organ. 



The Committee on the memory of Dr. W. H. Musse} T , reported as 

 follows : 



William Hebberden Musse}' was born at Hanover, N. H., September 

 30, 1818, and died in this city, August 1, 1882, after a long and 

 honorable career of personal and professional usefulness. He was one 

 of the earliest and most liberal friends of this Society, of which he 

 became a member at its organization, January 19, 1870. He mani- 

 fested a special interest in the cultivation of the natural sciences, and 

 supplemented his works and good will by the donation of an extensive 

 and valuable collection in Comparative Osteology to the Society's 

 museum, which was, to use his own words, " To be increased by future 

 donations and called the Mussey Collection of Comparative Anatomy, 

 in honor of the donor's illustrious father." Often a worker in the 

 Society himself, and at one time its President, he lost no opportunity 

 of furthering its interests and usefulness; his frank and zealous habits, 

 his upright walk and conversation, candor and thoroughness, gave him 

 at once a commanding position as colleague in the upbuilding of any 

 good work. 



In scientific research, he was broad, liberal and comprehensive; a 

 diligent worker and a faithful friend, with sympathies always for the 

 right and for progress. As an evidence of his energy and promptness, 

 as well as regard for the welfare of this Society, the following may be 

 educed: 



In a conversation relating to the interests of the Society, deep re- 

 gret had been expressed at the loss to our city of the great collection 

 of fossil mammalian remains from Big Bone Springs, Kentucky, 



