New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-11
PROCEEDINGS or SOCIETIES.

neat,
April 14-Prof. Cope described two species of
reptiles recently discovered by Prof Orton in the
Peruvian Amazon region. One of these was
serpent, with the ends of the neural spnes of the
vertebre dilated into tubercular plates that form
row along the middle line of the back. This was
named Gerrhostens prosOpi8. The lizard was n snake
like chalcid with one pair of rudmental limbs,
April 2l.-Mr. Goldsmith exhibited specimens of
impure graphite from Virginia. Prof. Leidy eX-
hibited some specimens of leather much altered by
pressure and great heat at the Chicago fire. He also
made some remarks RhizOpods, stating that he
had observed several species of DiGugia, one OF
which is new to science and that these animals are
the food of StentOr and of worms.
April 2S.-Dr. Chapman described the worm Eehino-
rhynclus moailtormis from a squirrel.
May st. c, Gentry read a paper on the habits OF
several species of native birds especially IN respect
toincubatiou Mr. Conrad read a paper descriptive
of fossil shells obtained by Prof. OrtOn from the
Upper Amazon. Prof, Cope described Planaria'
which is common in springs the Colorado plains
NAV l2-Dr. Leidy described new genus OF
Rhizopoda allied to AmGb1. which chiefly oilers
from the latter in The possession of elongated spneS
on ore extremity of the body. it was named
UrdpGbd, and two species were descubed-Cdo-
rd1 and II. ldpsa. He described several new species
of Diflugia and their sliciOus incrustatlons, and
added new genus Cdthdrid, which appeared to be
a DiRaqa without external shell. He also de-
scribed the coniugaton of Cdttdrid Dr. Chapman
described the hemaphroditsm of Harmonious.
June 1G-rrof Cope exhibited mounted crania of
some gigantic horned mammalia of the Mioccne of
Colorado viz: the SgnJorOdon tacoO S. ditrosiris;
s. acu: and s. trigonOcerds lie explained the dis
tinctive features OF this gems compared with
TitdnOtherup, exhibiting typical specimens OF the
latter from the Academys museum, showing iohI
1 81 xlflft ha lnNXAI
boredom does not possess any. He pointed out that
these animals had small brains With few and deeply
separated cOnvouticns, and that the assures were
occupied by thin bOny iaming, ana that the lat
and tentOrium well developed. lie pointed out
the relatively small size of the BRAN, and that at
least half of the length of the Uranium Is occupied
bv enormous undivided frontal slnuscs. Each of
these communicates with the nasal meatus by an
elongated foIamen' and enters me DaSe Oh inc fHi
SnuSes exist ia the Uranium OF EO6dYetS ana enter
the bases OF the middle pair of horns Ill the same
Prof Cope recorded the capture of Young ri ght
whale lBdiGRd cSdrcticdl III the RaIitdn River
New-JeTsey, OF IS feet III length. 49, -,
DR.. Leidy described some new Rhizopoda which
he had observed IN the inteIstices between little
used payements in Phadelphia There are two
AplobG identical with European species. and new
GrOiaia. which he named GrOmia terricOd. This
gelatinOus body is covered with an earthly ncruSta
ton during dry weather. which protects 1t from DIES
location When feeding it projects thread-hke pro-
longatiOns of one-30,0OOth of an inch diameter,
which are often connected so as to forH a network
and Desnids and other food are conducted along
these lines to the central mass, where they are con
sumed. dc described a new Petomyra, lP SdbatoSal'
whose body contained angular bodies OF 81 Eek, etc
June 23.-PrOf. Frazer exhibited and described
photographs of Browns rotary con -cutteT winch
is employed with much success IN mining the
block coal of Indiana-Dr. kOenig described the re
suits of treating chloride of sodium by superheated
steam He obtained needlelike rhOmbic crystals
in apparent contradiction to the usual form. On
polaIizing them he found that they were distorted
aggrcga tons of cubeS.-PTOf. Is, Wotcrhousc Haw-
kinS made observations the supposed position Of
the so-called pubic bones of HddroSdWaS, suggest
ing that the discovery of portions OF the horse
pubs showed that they had other relationships,
and suggested on various accounts that they Occu-
pied the place Of the maTsuplal bones OF the KAN
garoos.Prof. Cope stated that he thought that the
evidence derived from the corresponding bones i'll
L1IGps and MfgadacfyiUS showed them to be lsclia,
as believed by Prof IluXley.-Prof. Cope described
a species of extinct dpnoan FISH IRON the coal
measures of Ohio, belonging to the genus CteHodgs
AgdSS. 1t represented by large cIaial scuta OF
a species of the size OF sturgeon, and was named
{. ObiOeHSiS.
PnmADE1rHIA: AMERICAN PHLosopHICL So
cIETY May 22-Prof. Cope exhibited partially
complete crauium of the large Eobasilid, described
by him as LoroloDhodon gaIeatas and pointed out the
features by which it is well distinguished from the
L. c0rnutas described last year. These pecuarities
10 the shapes OF the horns and the lateral
crests of the skull He also exhibited Uranium of
a walrus, which bad been washed up on the sea
coast of Accomac County, Virginia
NEw-UAvES: CONNECuCUr ACADEnY: June
17.-Prof j. w. Gibbs presented a COM
mnnication on the Principles of Thermo-
Dynamics as Determining Chemical Equil-
ibrum. Prof A. w. Wright gave the results
Of his Spectroscopc Observations of the Zodiacal
Ii ght from which he drew the following oonclu-
sions: d. The spectrum is continuous and is scnsi
bly, the same as that of faint sunlight or twilight.
2J No bright line band can be recognized as be-
longing to this spectrum. g. There is no evidence
of any connection between the zodacal light and
the polar aurora. A. The deduction, drawn from
the fact Of its polarization that the zOdacal light is
derived from the sun, and is reflected from solid
matter, is thus strengthened and confirmed by the
identity of its spectrum with that of solar light.
Prof o. c. Marsh made communication on the
Size of the Brain in Tertiary Mammals. He stated
that the Eocene mammals all appear to have had
small brains and in of them the brain cavity
was hardly more capacous than in the higher rep |
tiles. The largest Eocene mammals the Dinocerata |
were but little inferior 10 the elephant III bulk. In
Dnoceras the BRAIN cavity is not more than one
eighth the size of that III existing rhlnOsce
roses. In the other of this order the small
ness of the brain quite as remarkable. The q |
gantic mammals OF the American Miocene, the BrOn-
totheride, equaled the Dinocerata in size. In Bron
t0ther,am Marsh, the brain cavity is very much |
larger than i'll the Eocene DiuoceTas, being about |
the size OF the brain III the Indian Rhinocrros. In
do 9 IS %e arsest mammal and Although II hS s
perior in absolute size TO BrOntOtheTium il had "A |
very nucn larger DfdD, Dul not eual 10 lDdt OF cN
listing PrObOscidiaus The IapiToid ungulates of |
EOcene had brain cavities much smaller than their
allies the Miocene RhinOcerode. The Pliocene rep
resentatives of the latter group had well developed
brains, but proporionally smaller than living spc
cies
SALEM, MASS: ESSEX INSTITUTE: June 1s.-The
second Field Meeting of the Institute OF the present
season held at TOpsiield at this date. At the
afternoon meeting President Whcatland mentioned
that it in this town 40 years that the organ
of the Couutv Natural Iistorv Societu