LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES,

Washington, D. C., January 10, 1888.

SIR: In conformity with the requirements of the act of incorporation approved March 3, 1863, I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of the National Academy of Sciences during the past

year.

O. C. MARSH,

President of the National Academy of Sciences.

The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

3

REPORT

OF

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

The National Academy of Sciences was established by act of Congress in March, 1863, with power to frame its own constitution, select its own members, and provide in other respects for its continuance and successful operation.

The object of the Academy is to advance science, and especially to investigate, examine, experiment, and report on any subject of science or art, whenever called upon by any Department of the Government.

The Academy contains at present about one hundred members, and these have all been selected for their original researches in science. They represent within their ranks nearly every department of knowl edge, and their services, in accordance with the charter of the Academy, are always at the disposal of the Government, without compensation.

SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY.

During the past year, the Academy has held three sessions. The first was the regular annual meeting held in Washington, D. C., April 19 to 12, 1887; the second was a scientific session, in New York City, November 8 to 11, 1887; and the third was a special session, in New York, November 9, 1887.

STATED SESSION.

HELD IN WASHINGTON CITY, APRIL 19 TO 22, 1887.

The Washington session was held in the National Museum, the presi dent, Prof. O. C. Marsh, presiding.

The following members were present during the session:

At this session, the following papers were read:

1. HUNT, T. STERRY: On Chemical Integration.

2. LOOMIS, ELIAS: On the Rainless Character of the Sahara. (Read by Mr. Young.)

3. COPE, E. D.: On the Fore Limb and Shoulder Girdle of Eryops, and on the Verte-

brates of the Triassic.

4. DUTTON, C. E., and HAYDEN, EVERETT: Results of the Investigation of the

Charleston Earthquake.

5. LANGLEY, S. P.: A New Map of the Spectrum.

6. FARLOW, W. G.: The Vegetation of the Hot Springs of the Yellowstone Park.

Discussed by Mr. Cope.

7. LANGLEY, S. P.: The Color of the Sun.

8. REMSEN, IRA: Chemical Constitution and Taste.

9. REMSEN, IRA: On a New Class of Compounds analogous to the Phthaleins.

10. GREELY, A. W. (by invitation of the Academy): On the Barometric Oscillation-

Diurnal and Annual.

11. WILLIAMS, G. H. (by invitation of the Academy): On the Serpentine of Syracuse,

New York.

12. GIBBS, J. W.: On the Determination of Orbits of Planets and Comets. Discussed

by Messrs. A. Hall, G. W. Hill, and Newcomb.

13. BELL, A. G.: On the Ancestry of the Deaf.

14. BELL, A. G.: On the Notation of Kinship. Discussed by Mr. Abbe.

15. Dall, W. H. (by invitation of the Academy): On Floridian Geology. Discussed

by Mr. Gilbert.

16. WALCOTT, C. D. (by invitation of the Academy): On the Taconic System of Em-

mons. Discussed by Mr. Hunt.

17. IRVING, R. D. (by invitation of the Academy): Is there a Huronian Group?

18. LE CONTE, JOSEPH: On some Phenomena of Binocular Vision.

19. WRIGHT, A. W.: The Effect of Magnetization on the Electrical Resistance of

Metals. Discussed by Messrs. Young and Bell.

20. WILDER, B. G. (by invitation of the Academy): On the Brain of Ceratodus, with

Remarks on the General Morphology of the Vertebrate Brain. Discussed by

Messrs. Cope and Gill.

21. REMSEN, IRA: On the Decomposition of Diazo Compounds by Alcohol. (Read

by title.)

22. GILL, T.: Outline of the Ichthyological System. (Read by title.)

ELECTIONS.

Mr. John S. Billings was elected treasurer, in place of Mr. Coffin,

whose term of office expired with this session.

The following members were selected for the council for the ensuing

year: Messrs. S. F. Baird, G. J. Brush, S. P. Langley, M. C. Meigs, E.

C. Pickering, and Ira Remsen.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.

The following recommendations from the council were adopted by the

Academy:

1. That the assessment for the ensuing year be $5.

2. That the vote accepting the resignation of Mr. Agassiz be recon-

sidered.

3. That, in accordance with Mr. Agassiz's request, his name be trans-

ferred to the list of honorary members.