Excerpt from Reports of the First, Second, and Third Meetings of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists, at Philadelphia, in 1840 and 1841, and at Boston in 1842: Embracing Its Proceedings and Transactions Besides the Papers read at the three meetings heretofore held, the present volume includes an account of the proceedings of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists, from its origin. It affords, therefore, a view not merely of the past labors of the Association, but of its plan and objects, which, it will be observed, differ essentially from those proposed by the other scientific societies of this country. Aiming to promote a closer intercourse between the numerous cultivators of Geology and Natural History throughout the United States, and to lend greater efficiency, by systematic cooperation, to the active exertions now making in these departments of Science, it has imitated in its essential features those Associations of other countries which are seeking, in their several spheres, similar results. It cannot, however, pretend, in the present early stage of its progress, to copy the full and effective organization of some of its distinguished European prototypes. The transactions of the Association have hitherto been confined chiefly to communications, written and oral, of individual members, and to the discussions which these have suggested. It is, however, within the plan of the Society, to procure reports from committees, and individual members, on special subjects of research, several of which have been undertaken, and also on the progress of particular branches. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.