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PROCEEDINGS

I3o0ton Society of Natural history.

..SVnYHlST.JSTS

VOL. I

1841 TO 1844.

BOSTON :

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY

BY DUTTON AND WENTWORTII-

1844.

/\l*l

t

PROCEEDINGS

BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY.

TAKEN FROM THE SOCIETY'S RECORDS.

Regular Meeting, January 6, 1841.

Dr. Gay in the Chair.

Dr. Storer read extracts of a letter from Dr. Kirtland
of Ohio, making corrections of his paper published in our
last number, and promising to forward to us descriptions
of the following new species, the result of his late labors :

Semotilus diplema,

" dubius,

Rutilus compressus,

Luxilus erythrogaster,
Luxilus Kentuckiensis,
Leuciscus chrysoleucas,
Salmo fontinalis,
Semotilus dorsalis,

" plagurus,
Acipenser platyrynchus.

Voted, That, an invitation be given to the members of
the Executive department and Legislature of the State to
visit the Society's room, and inspect the collections, parti-
cularly the collection of minerals and fossils belonging to
the Commonwealth there deposited.

Some conversation arose on the desirableness of better
accommodations for our minerals. Most of them are in
drawers out of sight; and those of the State Collection are
not readily accessible for examination. The subject was
referred to the Curators, to report at the next meeting.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Essay on the Culture and Commerce of Tobacco. By Wm.
Tatharn. 8vo. Lond. 1800. From Dr. H. Storer.

1

First Report of the Liverpool Nat. Hist. Society. 8vo. pam.
Liverpool. 1836. From Francis Alger.

Catalogue of Plants found in the vicinity of Milwaukie, Wiscon-
sin. By J. A. Lapham. 18mo. pam. 1838. From the Author.

Proceedings of the Geological Society of London. 8vo. 3. vols.
1834—40. From the Society.

Manual ; or, Easy Method of Managing Bees. By John M.
Weeks. 18mo. Bost. 1840. From Henry Colman.

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec. pro tern.

January 20, 1841.

G. B. Emerson, President, in the Chair.

The President exhibited the seed vessel of the Nelum-
bium luteum, from the Missouri river.

The N. luteum belongs to the natural order Nymphaeacese of
Decandolle, (Nelumbiacese of Lindley, and of Torrey and Gray,)
of which the number of species is small. N. luteum is mentioned
by Pursh as occurring in ponds in the neighborhood of Philadel-
phia, where, from its isolated situation, he supposed it must have
been carried by the Indians. It is also mentioned by Professor
Hitchcock as occurring in Haddam, Ct. The seed vessel is of a
conical shape, the disk being perforated by about twenty orifices
opening into as many cells, each containing a single seed resem-
bling an acorn in its shape. The flower of the N luteum is de-
scribed by Mr. Nuttall as the largest of American flowers, that of
the Magnolia excepted.

Dr. Eddy stated that, from descriptions given him by
others, he was induced to believe that this plant existed in
Smithfield, R. I.

The Secretary, Dr. Wyman, made a verbal report on the
cranium of a Seal, referred to him at a previous meeting.

This proved to be a rare specimen, the Stenorhincus Jeptonix of
Frederick Cuvier. It is characterized by the presence of four inci-
sors in each jaw, all the molars being deeply trifid. The cranium
of this species is figured by Sir E. Home in his Comparative Anat-

3

omy, and in the Philosophical Transactions for 1822. But little is
known of the habits of the animal, it being exceedingly rare, and
an inhabitant of the Southern Pacific Ocean.

The Secretary presented to the Cabinet of the Society
the following anatomical preparations, viz :

Skeleton of the Emysaurus serpentina, Lin.

" " " Raia batis, Lin. common skate.
" " Boa.
Cranium of the Crotalus durissus, Kalm, rattlesnake.
Cranium of an eagie, the outer table of the skull being removed

to show the existence of air ceils communicating with the cavity

of the tympanum.
Craniui.i of a Panther, showing the bones of the ear, in situ,

and the cavity of the tympanum.

He also added, that the Society had, since the last meet-
ing, received from D. T. McCauley, Esq.. U. S. Consul at
Tripoli, three living specimens of the four-horned variety
of sheep, and one specimen of the Fezzaif variety. The
former, in addition to the four horns, were characterized by
broad tails, which sometimes acquire a weight of 10 to
15 lbs. They are covered with a long, coarse wool, which
is of but little value. The Fezzan variety is covered en-
tirely with a coarse hair, forming a mane on the shoulders,
and also acquiring a length of several inches on the dew-
lap. This variety is of no value as an article of food#
The President of the Society was authorized to make such
disposition of them as he deemed expedient.

Mr. Teschemacher exhibited the following specimens of
minerals, lately received from Dr. Monticelli, of Naples,
some of which were probably new to the members of this
Society — all from Vesuvian localities :

Thomsonite, Gismondine, which is considered by Brooke, (An-
nals of Philos. 1837,) as synonymous with Phillipsite and Aricite ;
Christianite crystallized, according to the Berlin mineralogists
identical with Fosterite ; Humite ; Biotine in brilliant white crystals ;
Monticellite undescribed ; Hauyne in dodecahedral crystals ; and
chloride of copper.

4

■Mr. Teschemacher had also received from Dr. Monticelli
specimens of sulphuret of lead and zinc in Vesnvian lava :
their occurrence in this situation was singular, particularly
the latter, which would volatilize in a heat probably less
than that of melted lava.

In order to secure a more full attendance of the members
of the Society, to ensure a greater number of communica-
tions on the different departments of Natural History, and
more effectually to promote the objects of the Society, it
was proposed by the President to divide the members into
committees on the following subjects, viz : Botany, Ichthy-
ology and Herpetology, Conchology, Ornithology, Geology,
Mineralogy, Entomology, Zoology, Books and the Library ;
the different committees in turn to be responsible for reports
and communications at each meeting.

The proposition was unanimously adopted ; and the fol-
lowing gentlemen were elected to fill the different commit-
tees :

1. Botany. — Messrs. Teschemacher, Eddy, Tuckerman, J. H.

Abbot, Gould, T. A. Greene.

2. Ichthyology and Herpetology. — Drs. Storer, S. L. Abbot,

J. B. S. Jackson, Wyman, Bigelovv.

3. Conchology. — Gould, Binney, E. S. Dixwell.

4. Ornithology. — Abbot, Brewer, Bryant, Wyman.

5. Geology. — C. T. Jackson, Bulfinch, Williams, Alger, Bouve.

6. Mineralogy. — Gay, Bouve, Channing, Hayes, Bacon.

7. Entomology. — Harris, Bowditch, Randall, Gould.

8. Comparative Anatomy. — J. B. S. Jackson, Wyman, Shurtleff,

Bigelow.

9. Zoology. — Wyman, Bigelow.

10. Books and the Library. — Dillaway, Sherwin, Robinson.

Dr. Storer stated that Dr. C. T. Jackson, in reference to
the subject introduced at the last meeting, had signified his
intention of removing his collection of mineralogical and
geological specimens.

The President remarked that it was desirable that the
Geology and Mineralogy of our own State should be repre-
sented in preference to that of any other State or country.

He also believed that the mineralogical cabinet of the Soci-
ety would be much more rapidly increased than heretofore,
when it was known that a place had been appropriated for
such specimens as should be presented to the Society. He
had specimens in his own cabinet which he would deposit
in the Society's collection whenever a suitable place should
be assigned for their exhibition.

J. D. Whitney was elected a member.
Adjourned,

J. WYMAN, Rec. Sec

February 3, 1841.

The President in the Chair.

Present, twelve members.

Dr. Binney laid on the table two beautiful specimens of
Cyproea aurantia, to be deposited in the Cabinet on behalf
of a lady: also a number of land shells from Major Barton.
The thanks of the Society were voted to the lady for this
most valuable deposit.

The President read a letter from T. J. Whittemore, in
which was an extract from a letter from J. G. Anthony,
Esq. of Cincinnati, stating that the Aneulottis Kirtlandia-
nus of Anthony was identical with the Mela? da Rogersii
of Conrad ; also an extract from a letter of N. T. True,
Esq. of Maine, in relation to the transferring of fish from
one pond to another, and from salt water to fresh.

Mr. Teschemacher made a report on specimens of plants
from Ulyria, sent to him by Dr. Tommasini.

The geographical situation of Illyria is between 13° and 16° E.
long, and 44° and 45° N. lat. The country is traversed by the
Carinthian and Julian Alps, which are chiefly calcareous, and is
watered by two or three rivers, which fall into the Adriatic Gulf
by which its coast is washed. On the coast of Dalmatia are nume-
rous islands, abounding in vegetation. The climate is mild and
soft ; the valleys rich in soil ; but the mountains are dry and very

stony. The great obstacle to vegetation is the north wind, called
the Bora, which is very drying, and destructive to vegetable life.
In such a territory, the vegetation is of course various. The Al-
pine plants are of great variety ; some of them, as the Anemone
alpina and Geranium argenteum, cannot exist when brought from
the height of 5000 or 6000 feet above the level of the sea. Mr.
T. exhibited dried specimens of the following species : Anemone
stellata ; Pulsatilla montana, from an elevation of 6000 feet ; Helle-
borus agamenticus, the character of the seed vessels of which
elucidates a section of Ranunculaceae ; Peonia ferruginea ; Denta-
ria digitata, Lamk. There are said to exist four species of the
Dentaria in the United States, the D. maxima, resembling the digi-
tata, except that the former has ternate leaves, and the latter quinate.
Iberis umbellata or candy tuft ; Acer opalus ; Spartium junceum ;
Genista sericea ; Medicago marina ; Gladiolus myricus ; G. bon-
cheanus ; Crocus variegatus ; Romulea columnar ; Orchis apifera ;
Orchis rubra and militaris ; the latter exceedingly interesting ; the
manner in which the new bulb is produced on one side being ex-
hibited in this instance, so that, as the old bulb dies, the position of
the plant is necessarily changed at each reproduction, and it is
found to move in a curve ; Orchis nigra and camphora ; Carpinus
duinensis, much resembling our C. Americana ; Quercus suber or
Cork oak ; Q. ilex ; Pedicularia Fred. Augusti ; Gentiana Pannon-
ica and acaulis ; Aronia rotundifolia ; Erica carnea ; Satureja Jlly-
rica ; Primula venusta and multiceps ; Statice cancellata.

Dr. Gould gave results of his investigations concerning
the Testacea of Massachusetts.

The whole number now catalogued is 268, of which there be-
long to Cirripedes, 12 ; Conchifera, 97 ; Brachiopoda, 2 ; Gastero-
poda, 154. Of these, 29 belong to the land, 42 to fresh water, and
197 are marine. Seventy of these have been discovered and de-
scribed within the last five years. The Catalogue in Professor
Hitchcock's Report of 1833 enumerates 126 species ; that of 1835
named 165 species, so that the number of shells at present known
is more than double the number known eight years ago. Cape
Cod is found to exercise a great influence upon the geographical
distribution of species. Of the 197 marine species, 83 do not pass
to the south of the Cape ; and 50 have been found only on the north

shore. At least 70 of our species are found also on the other side
of the Atlantic.

Dr. Bacon made a verbal report on the Treatise on Bees
by J. M. Weeks, referred to him at the last meeting.

This book gives a popular account of the natural history of the
bees. The only new fact which the author has observed is, that a
living queen bee is not essential to the operations of the hive. If
a dead queen is fastened in the hive they continue to work as usual.
If, however, this is removed from its proper situation, all work ceases.

The Secretary exhibited a cocoon which was somewhat
remarkable.

It consisted of a silk cocoon externally enclosing a second, per-
fectly loose and unattached to the first, but of a more dense struc-
ture, the latter containing the pupa. Between the two were the
exuvise of the larva, the inner case seeming to have been formed
after the exuviae had been cast.

John H. Eastburn was elected a member.
Dr. Binney was elected Curator of the Crustacea and
Radiata.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Elements of Botany. By Benjamin S. Barton, M. D. 8vo.
Philad. 1803. From C. P. Curtis, Jr.

Annals and Mag. of Nat. History. Dec. 1840. Courtis Fund.

Silliman's American Journal of Science, Vol. XL. No. 1. 8vo.
The Editors.

Introduction a l'Etude de Botanique, par Alph. De Candolle.
8vo. 2. Paris, 1835. From G. B. Emerson.

Annual Report of the Superintendent and Inspector of Salt in
Onondago County. 8vo. pam. 1841. From J. P. B. Storer.

Naturalist's Library, conducted by Sir Wm. Jardine, 12mo. Vol.
I— VI. Mammalia; Vol. I. Icthyology; Vols. III. IV. V. Ornithol-
ogy. Courtis Fund.

Description of Several New Electro-magnetic and Magneto-Elec-
tric Instruments and Experiments. By Jos Hale Abbot. 8vo. pam.
1840.

Attempt to determine the True Theory of the Pneumatic Para-
dox. 8vo. pam. By J. H. Abbot. From the Author.
Adjourned,

J. WYMAN. Rpc Sec.

February 17, 1843.

The President in the Chair.

Dr. Storer read a report on the Indian Cyprinidae. being
a notice of the Report on this family of fishes prepared and
published in the Asiatic Researches by Geo. McClelland,
Surgeon in the Bengal service. (See Silliman's Journal,
XLI. 92.)

Mr. S. L. Abbot made a verbal report on the stuffed spe-
cimen of an Albatross belonging to the Cabinet.

There is some difficulty in identifying birds on account of the
difference of plumage at different periods of life. Those species
which are white when adult, are generally darker when young.
The present specimen is probably the young of the Diomedea ex-
ulans. The Diomedese strongly resemble the gulls in their habits
and external characters ; the upper mandible strongly hooked at its
extremity, the lower one truncated ; the orifices of the nostrils ter-
minating in a horny tube. They are in the habit of wandering to
a great distance from the shore ; sometimes met with at the distance
of 600 or 700 leagues. The nest is constructed on the earth, prin-
cipally of sedge, in which a single egg is deposited ; and the male
is said to provide food for the female during the period of incuba-
tion. At this time the female is said to be inoffensive, though ordi-
narily fierce and unmanageable. The Albatross is exceedingly
voracious, and is in the habit of disgorging food for its young. It
is said to perform long migrations from the southern to north-
ern latitudes, appearing in Kamtschatka at the same time with the
salmon.

Dr. Gay offered a verbal report on a notice of Liebig's
Agricultural Chemistry, published in the January number
of Silliman's Journal, 1841, in which he compared the con-
dition of Agricultural Chemistry, as laid down in that work,
and the progress it had made in this country.

Dr. C. T. Jackson stated that, since allusion had been

made to his labours in Agricultural Chemistry, he would
state here some of the results at which he had arrived.

He had, in 1839 and 40, detected the presence of crenic and
apocrenic acids in soils and peats ; and, since then, other substances
of an important character. In the Report on the Geology and
Agriculture of Rhode Island, he announced the discovery of an
undescribed substance, which he had, during the past winter, ex-
amined more thoroughly. It was obtained from a solution of
organic matters in the soil, the crenic and apocrenic acids having
been previously separated; the copper of the solution was precipi-
tated by sulph. hydrogen, and from the remainder an extractive-
like mass was obtained, soluble in distilled water, which yielded an
ash grey precipitate on addition of sub-carbonate of lead, which
consisted of 15 parts of an oxide of lead, and 6 parts of a new
substance. While examining this substance, he received the in-
formation that the same substance had been discovered by Berze-
lius, and denominated by him Humic acid, the same tests having
been used as in the present analysis.

The following substances were now known to exist in all fertile
soils ; apocrenic acid, crenic acid, humic acid, Humin, extract
of Humus, and carbonate of Humus. To these Dr. J. thought
Glairin might be added, as he had discovered it in three fertile
soils. Thus we have the bodies formerly known as ulmic acid,
Ulmin, Geine, and Apotheme resolved into seven distinct sub-
stances.

Dr. J. stated that he had noticed the fact that glasses in which
Hyacinth bulbs had been grown, were corroded. He had also
noticed the same effects on bottle glass, which had lain in garden
mould. He supposed that the plants had the power of decompos-
ing glass as well as the felspar of granite, and of appropriating to
their use the potash contained in it, and that this was the source of
the potash contained in the ashes of plants.

Dr. J. thinks that Liebig's work contains many interesting
observations, and some important errors. With regard to the ex-
istence of ammonia in the rain, he thought it was to be regretted
that Liebig had not experimented on water taken from the interior
of a mountainous country, where it would have been less liable to
derive this substance from the combustion of coal and other sub-
stances. Carbonate of ammonia has long been distinguished foi
2

10

its fertilizing powers, but it is too expensive for general use. The
best method at present known for generating it is by skilful com-
posting of manures, the different steps of which are detailed in the
Report on the Geology and Agriculture of Rhode Island.

Dr. J. stated that Guano, a remarkable manure, found on the
islands near the coast of Peru, had been found by Mr. M. B. Wil-
liams to contain the usual amount of organic matters found in fer-
tile soils.

A correspondent of the Journal of Commerce, under date of
Valparaiso (South America) April 2, 1842, thus speaks of this
article, known as bird lime.

The Chincha Islands, from which the present exportations are
made, bid fair to become more valuable than all the gold and
silver mines on the coast, combined. They are said to be in-
exhaustible. That is doubtful, however, as the Huano is evi-
dently the deposite of the numerous water-fowl of the coast,
which has been probably accumulating ever since the flood, as
there are no rains, or none sufficient to wash it away, on the coast
of Peru. A French gentleman obtained the exclusive privilege of
exporting the article about the time I came to the coast, on the
payment to the Peruvian Government of $80,000. He introduced
it into England as an experiment — and was so successful as to have
cleared, it is said, within a few months, about $1,000,000. The
Government then interposed, and withdrew from the contract, and
entered into a new one with a company of merchants, by which it
secured to itself one-third of the profits, after the deduction there-
from of all expenses. I understand that it brings, in England,
about $120 per ton. It is embarked on board the ships with as
much facility, and with as little expense, as if it were sand from
the most convenient banks. Specimens of the Huano have recent-
ly been forwarded to the United States.

Dr. Bacon made a report on the descriptions of new Elec-
tro-magnetic apparatus referred to him at the last meeting,
and exhibited some of the experiments which arc usually
performed with it.

Mr. Bulfinch offered a report on some of the character-
istic fossils of the valley of the Ohio, presented to the Soci-
ety by Dr. Jarvis of Louisville, consisting of Madrepores,
Favosites, Turbinolia, Cyathophylla, &c. Report on file.

Rev. Dr. Greenwood made a verbal report on the Catalogue

11

of the Leverian Museum, a book which is interesting in show-
ing the past condition of science. He also made a dona-
tion of the following volumes to the Library :

Philosophical Account of the Works of Nature, by Richard
Bradley, 4to, Lond. 1721.

Historia Animalium et Mineralium Novae Hispanise ; auctore
Francisco Fernandez, 4to.

Natural History of Animals, and Descriptions of Creatures dis-
sected in Paris, 4to, Lond. 1702.

Mr. T. A. Greene made a verbal report on a work giving
an account of the cultivation, preparation, and vending of
Tobacco, referred to him at a previous meeting.

It was stated that the room over the Franklin Library
Avas now vacant, and might be had for the use of the depart-
ment of Comparative Anatomy.

Drs. Wyman, Jackson and Storer were appointed a com-
mittee to ascertain on what terms this could be had.

J. I. Bowditch was elected a member.
Adjourned,

J. WYMAN, Rec. Sec.

March 3, 184L
Mr. Sherwin in the Chair.
Nineteen members present.

Mr. Whittemore made a written report on the Third Re-
port of the Agricultural Commissioner, on Wheat and Silk.
Report on file.

Mr. Teschemacher exhibited specimens of Ferns from
Taheite, the fronds of some of which acquire a height of
30 feet. Many of them were probably undescribed species :
scarcely any were figured in the works of Jackson and
Greville.

Mr. T. A Greene made a verbal report on a number of the
Annals and Magazine of Natural History referred to him at a
previous meeting.

The Secretary, Chairman of the Committee on Zoology,
made a verbal report on the following animals, stuffed skins

12

of which were in the Society's collection, viz : Mangusta
Ichneumon, M. tetradactyla, and Sciurus petaurista.

Mr. Sherwin made a verbal report on the pamphlet enti-
tled " An Attempt to determine by experimental research the
true theory of the Pneumatic Paradox, by Jos. H. Abbot."
He exhibited the different experiments by which the ex-
planation offered by Mr. Abbot was supported.

The Secretary laid before the Society a communication
for the Society's Journal by the Rev. J. H. Linsley of Con-
necticut, on Tornados, Waterspouts, &c.

A communication was read from Mr. Alger, laying before
the Society a proposition of Mr. Archer of Liverpool to send
the Society casts of the Cheirotherium footprints, desiring
in exchange casts and drawings of the Ornithicnites gigan-
tens.

Voted, to send casts of O. giganteus to Mr. Archer at the
expense of the Society.

Dr. Storer read a letter from Spencer F. Bird of Cumber-
land County, Pennsylvania, offering to make exchanges
with members of the Society. He also read extracts from
a letter from J. P. Couthouy, dated Hawaii, giving an
account of the Volcano at that island.

A Discourse on the objects of the National Institution for
the promotion of Science at Washington, by J. R. Poinsett,
was presented to the Library by Hon. R. C. Winthrop.

Adjourned,

J.'WYMAN, Bee. Sec.

March 17.
The President in the Chair.
Eighteen members present.
The following Donations were laid on the table :

An Address on the Study of Natural History, by J. G. Morris.

Four volumes of the Naturalist's Library, viz : Mammalia, Vols.
Ill and IV ; Ornithology, Vol. V ; Ichthyology, Vol. I. Refer-
red to the Committees on their respective subjects.

13

Monograph of the Limniades, by S. S. Haldeman, No. 2, from
the author.

A Crab from Mr. John Warren.

Specimens of Lava from Hawaii from Mr. Emerson of Auburn.

A specimen of the Paspalum Carolinianum, supposed to be
a new species, from W. A. Curtis, Esq., of Carolina.

An Echinus from Chalk presented by Mr. J. P. Preston.

A letter was read from J. Amos, accompanying which
were two specimens of stuffed birds, viz : a Bird of Para-
dise and an Indian Jay, donations to the Cabinet from
Hon. A. Amos, member of Supreme Council of Bengal.

Voted, that the thanks of the Society be presented to the
Hon. A. Amos for his acceptable donation.

Mr. Tuckerman from the Committee on Botany, read a
paper entitled i: Further notices of some New England Li-
chenes." Placed on file for the use of the Publishing Com-
mittee, and afterwards published in the Journal. The two
following, described in that paper, are considered as new :

Parmevlia Halseyana : thallo substellato pallide flavo-virescente
nigro-punctato, subtus albo fuscescente fibrilloso, laciniis angustis
imbricatis ad centrum rugosis concretis ; scutellis badiis margine
integro. Mountain rocks. — Notch of the White Mountains, abun-
dant.

Cetra'ria Oakesiana : thallo subcoriaceo expanso glabro viridi-
flavescente, subtus pallide castaneo, laciniis planis adscendentibus
marginibus elevatis nigro-ciliatis demum pulverulentis ; peltis rufo-
fuscis margine integro. — On trees ; mountain wToods. White Moun-
tains.

Rev. J. L. Russell of Chelmsford read a paper entitled
" An Attempt to ascertain some of the Hepatic Mosses of
Massachusetts." Placed on file for the use of the Publishing
Committee, and afterwards published in the Journal.

The President exhibited dried specimens of the following
marine plants found on our coasts, viz : Fucus vesiculosus;
F. nodosus ; Alaria esculenta : Agarum cribrosum ; Lamina-
riadigitata; Desmarestiaaculeata: Dichloria viridis: Chorda
lilum; Asperococcus echinatus; Punctaria latifolia ; Delesse-
Rhodomenia cristata ; Chondrus crispus : Pti-

14

lota plumosa : Porphyra. several species ; Ulva latissima
and other species.

Mr. H. J. Bigelow made a verbal report on the stuffed
skins of the following animals: Sciurus Hudsonianus. Hud-
son's Bay squirrel, or common red squirrel; Sciurus volu-
celia, flying squirrel : Condylura cristata. star-nosed mole ;
and the Cougar.

He also exhibited specimens of Menopoma and Meno-
branchus : the Menobranchus is one of the true Amphibia.
with persistent branchiae, in this respect resembling the
Siren. Proteus and Axolotl. The Menopoma has no exter-
nal branchiae, but a branchial orifice behind the angles of
the jaws.

Mr. T. A. Greene presented for the Cabinet two speci-
mens of Janthina fragilis, found at Nantucket.

The President made a verbal report on the Proceedings
of the Geological Society of London, containing papers and
addresses read between the years 1S26 and 1S33.

Mr. Robinson made a verbal report on the addresses of
the same society delivered between the years 1S38 and
1840.

Dr. Gould read a letter from Frederick Stoud Stallknecht,
dated at Paris, in relation to procuring exchanges of the
Society's Journal with the different Natural History Socie-
ties in London and Paris.

W. J. Loring, Esq., was elected a member.

The Secretary and Cabinet keeper gave notice of their
resignation of their respective offices.

Drs. Gould, Storer and Wyman were appointed a Com-
mittee to take into consideration the subject of nominating
candidates to fill the vacancies.

The thanks of the Society were voted to the Secretary
for the services done the Society in the performance of the
duties of his office.

Adjourned,

J. WYMAN, Bee. Sec.

16

April 7, 1841.

Dr. Gould in the Chair.
Ten members present.

Mr. Bulfinch was elected Secretary pro tempore.

Mr. Teschemacher read a paper i:On the Occurrence of
Phosphate of Uranium in the Tourmaline locality of Ches-
terfield."

In examining specimens of the green and red Tourmaline. Mr.
T. observed a few minute yellow crystalline plates of a cubic form.
Possessing, himself, but few facilities for chemical analysis, he sent
the specimens to Mr. A. A. Hayes of Roxbuiy, with a suggestion
that the external characters agreed entirely with those of the salts
of Uranium. Mr. II. confirms this suggestion, and describes the
mineral " to contain phosphoric acid and Oxide of Uranium as
essential constituents only." The quantity found was small. There
were, however, two or three well defined cubic crystals, from two
to three lines in diameter, varying in color from straw yellow to
light green. Some exist in the red centre of the Tourmaline, and
are exposed on splitting the crystals ; others are on the Quartz, and
on the Albite forming the mass.

Mr. E. S. Dixwell communicated a letter from Mr. J. I.
Bowditch. containing notices of a paper on Hurricanes
from Mr. Linsley of Connecticut, offered for insertion in our
Journal.

Mr. Linsley supposes the cause of Hurricanes to be within the
earth, connected with the phenomena of Earthquakes. Earth-
quakes and Volcanoes have, in several instances, been coincident
in point of time, or nearly so, with Hurricanes. But facts in suf-
ficient number have not yet been recorded to justify anv conclu-
sion, and Mr. Bowditch recommends that the paper be returned to
the author, with every mark of respect, acknowledging that his
views are new, and the subject one of great interest. On motion
of Dr. Wyman, it was voted, that the paper be returned accord-
ingly-

16

Dr. Gould read a paper on Ellis's work on Corallines.

It is little more than a century since the Zoophytes were consi-
dered the undoubted subjects of the vegetable kingdom. The only
dissenters from this opinion were the mineralogists, some of whom
held that they were composed of the calcareous sediments of the
ocean, moulded into form by crystallization. Ferrante Imperato,
an apothecary of Florence in 1600, has the honor of first announc-
ing the theory that Corals and Madrepores are of animal origin.
The idea excited so little attention that when Peysonnel, in France,
127 years after, arrived at the same conclusion, it was with him
an original discovery, and received as not entitled to credit. Him-
self and his discoveries were forgotten and neglected, till Abra-
ham Trembley in 1741 demonstrated the reproductive powers of
polypes found in fresh water. Jussieu and Reaumur pursued the
investigation, and declared their belief in the animal theory. The
theory was not, however, generally admitted till John Ellis pub-
lished his work in 1752. Of this work, the highest opinion is pro-
nounced by competent critics, as one nearly complete in itself and of
great accuracy. His proofs are drawn from the actual existence
of the polypes, their union with their solid residences, the animal
odor yielded on burning them, and their mode of reproduction.
His inference that sponges and corallines (Corallina) are also of
animal origin is not fully confirmed by late observations. Paper
on file.

Mr. S. L. Abbot made a report on specimens of birds pre-
sented to the Society by the Hon. Mr. Amos of Bengal.

Of the one, he remarks, it is not an Indian Jay, as Mr. Amos
styles it, but a Bee-eater or Merops. Its specific name he had not
ascertained, not having found it described by BufFon, Cuvier or
Latham. This genus of birds, Merops, is, with the exception of
one species, confined to Asia, Africa, and the islands of tropical
latitudes. They feed on wasps and bees, which they take on the
wing. Tn this specimen the bill is curved from the base, and is 1J
inches long to the feathers at base. Superior mandible dark-co-
lored and grooved nearly throughout its whole extent. Inferior
yellow, darker at tip, with a stripe of dark along the centre from
base one half its length. Nostrils oval, pervious, partly covered
by feathers at base of bill. General color of plumage above, olive

17

green ; head, neck, and outer vanes of quill feathers the same ;
outer vanes of quill feathers inclining to brown, inner edge of these
vanes brownish yellow.

The other specimen was of the Greater Paradise bird, Paradisea
apoda of Linneus. Introduced into Europe by Ant. Pigafetta. It is
a native of New Guinea. Furnished by nature with powerful claws,
which are removed by the natives in preparing the birds for sale.
Hence arose the story from which the specific name is derived,
that they were by nature destitute of feet. On which opinion are
founded the further fables that they live and breed on the wing,
feed on dew and the odor of flowers, have no digestive appara-
tus, &c.

Mr. Abbot also made a report from the Committee on
Ornithology, on the condition of that department.

The birds in cases and those in drawers were carefully exa-
mined, and their condition found to be good. No injury from in-
sects or dampness was detected. A different arrangement is desi-
rable, and is contemplated as soon as more room can be obtained
for that purpose. The cabinet contains specimens of 70 varieties
of American birds.

The Chair announced the following donations to the Li-
brary :

Transactions American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia,
from the Society.

Silliman's Journal, Vol XL. No. 2, from the Editors.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History. No. 41. Lond. 1841.
Courtis Fund.

Constitution and By-laws of National Institution for promotion of
Science, Washington.

Mr. Poinsett's Discourse pronounced before that Institution.

Directions for making collections in Natural History, by H.
King. 8vo. 1841 ; from the Institution.

Naturalist's Library, 12mo. 8. Lond. 1833-6. Audubon Fund.

Reports of the Meetings of the Brit. Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, 8vo. 4. Lond. 1825-36. From the Sons of Na-
thaniel Bowditch.

Stuffed specimens of Corvus Americanus and Emberiza nivalis,
prepared and presented by Mr. Bryant.

Ant Eater from South America, by S. Abbot Lawrence.
3

The following gentlemen were unanimously elected cor-
responding members of the Society :

Edward Doubleday, Esq., of Epping, England.
Francis Archer, Esq., President of Geological Society, Liver-
pool.

Mr. Richard Soule, Jr. was elected a member.
Adjourned,

T. B. Sec. pro tern.

April 21, 1841.

The President in the Chair.

Eleven members present.

Dr. Gray made some remarks on a paper in the last num-
ber of Silliman's Journal " On detecting arsenic in the ani-
mal body," by Dr. J. Lawrence Smith.

He indicated an imperfection in the statement of the experi-
ments of Orfila for the detection of arsenic in the peroxide of iron,
in its not being stated, with sufficient clearness, whether the pro-
cesses pursued would discover arsenic if any existed. The reader
may infer this; but it should have been distinctly stated. The
hyd rated oxide of iron, which is usually employed as an antidote
to arsenic, does sometimes contain a small portion of arsenic. This
the writer states is not hurtful, " being slowly absorbed and elimi-
nated by the urine." Dr. Gay expressed his doubts whether this
process would take place. It requires strong evidence, which it is
not stated has been obtained. The writer says : " little difficulty
will be found in procuring zinc of the necessary purity to be used
in Marsh's apparatus." Dr. Gay remarks on this, that it is both
highly important and extremely difficult to procure zinc and other
materials for reagents which are themselves entirely free from
arsenic. In zinc, for instance, arsenic may be contained in atoms
in certain parts of the mass, while other parts may be wholly free
from it. Therefore testing one portion will not give grounds for a
certain inference with regard to another portion. Dr. G. spoke of
Marsh's apparatus as ingenious, but liable to certain objections,

19

which this writer has examined and attempted to remove, but not
with entire success.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson reported on a specimen of the Ant
Eater of South America.

There are three species of these animals ; the great Ant Eater
or Ant Bear. Myrmecophaga jubata, is as large as the largest
greyhound. Of this species the Society possesses a cranium. The
specimen before us is of the second size, M. Tamandua, as large
as a good sized cat. The smallest species is of the size of a squir-
rel. Of this last we have a specimen preserved in spirits. This,
as completing the series, is particularly valuable to us.

The Great Ant Bear lives on the ground, feeding exclusively
on ants, which he captures by breaking open their hills, and draw-
ing over the insects his long flexible tongue, to which they adhere.
The species before us lives on the trees, for which its prehensile
tail qualifies it. The food is wild honey and bees and insects.
This species has four toes on the front and five on the hind feet.
The toes of the front feet are bent inwards, as in the sloths, so
that they walk on the sides of their feet. It is a true Edentate ani-
mal, having no teeth. The Sloth, also reckoned among Edentata,
has back teeth.

Dr. J. also remarked upon a volume of the Naturalist's Li-
brary on Mammalia, committed to him. The work is a
compilation, and appears to be well executed.

Mr. Bryant reported upon another volume of the same
work, on Gallinaceous birds.

It is a compilation, but not only so, for some species are added
to those previously described. The statement that the wild Tur-
key is extinct in the North Eastern parts of North America is not
correct. One was shot in Springfield within three years. The
weight of this bird is also overstated as being 80 lbs. Audubon
states 36 lbs. to his knowledge; which is probably beyond the
usual weight. The two specimens of birds prepared and pre-
sented by Mr. Bryant on a former evening, were Coruus Americanus,
resembling but not identical with Corvus corone, an European
species ; and Emberiza nivalis, the snow bunting. This last is
found in immense flocks.

20

Dr. Storer exhibited a specimen of an undescribed spe-
cies of Lota from Lake Winnipiseogee, which, from its
resemblance to the Cusk. by which name it is commonly
known by the fishermen, he has denominated Lota Bros-
miana.

The Cusk is a sea fish. Dr. S. remarked that there are many
points of resemblance between this fish and a species taken by
Le Sueur in Lake Erie in 1816, and described by him under the
name of Gadus maculosus. But the moment the figure in Le
Sueur's description is examined, all doubts of their being distinct
species are removed. Dr. S., after a minute description of the
specimen, feels compelled to consider it a new species, and has
designated it by the name above recorded.

Dr. C. T. Jackson having announced that at the late
meeting in Philadelphia of the Association of State Geolo-
gists, it had been determined to hold the next meeting of
that association in this city, in the month of April, 1842, it
was Voted, " That this society invite the Association of
State Geologists to make use of the Hall of this Society for
the meetings of that Association contemplated to be held in
this city in April 1842, and tender the use of the Cabinet
and Library for the purposes of the Association."

A Committee to nominate Officers for the Society for the
ensuing year was chosen, viz : Dr. Storer, Mr. Bulfinch,
Dr. Eddy.

A Committee of arrangements for the Annual Meeting,
Mr. S. L. Abbot, Jr., Mr. Bacon.

Adjourned,

T. B. Rec. Sec. pro tern.

May 19, 1841.

The Vice President, Dr. Binney, in the Chair.
Fourteen members present.
Mr. Bulfinch reported upon two specimens of Jantkina

21

fragilis, the ocean snail, from the coast of Nantucket, pre-
sented by Mr. Greene.

The operculum of the animal is modified into a vesicular appen-
dage, which serves to suspend it on the surface of the water. Ac-
cording to Dr. Coates of Philadelphia, who had an opportunity of
studying the animal, while crossing the ocean, the float has no
anatomical connexion with the animal. The membrane enclosing
the cells is secreted by the foot, which the animal throws back
upon the water, expanded to the utmost ; then by contracting the
edges it is formed into the shape of a hood, enclosing a globule of
air, which is applied to the float. ^Vhenthe foot is withdrawn, the
globule is found enclosed in its newly made envelope. Mr. B.
quoted several interesting facts from authors concerning the habits
and structure of this animal.

On motion of Dr. Storer, it was Voted, That the President
of the Society be requested to make known to the Secretary
of the Navy, the past history and present condition of this
Society, to show what it has done for the advancement of
natural science and national honor, and to point out its
claims to national patronage ; and respectfully to petition
that a portion of all the specimens which may be received
from the Exploring Expedition may be set apart for the cabi-
net of this Society ; and that said petition be given to our
distinguished associate. Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, for pre-
sentation, and that he be requested to use his influence to
further the views of the Society in obtaining a part of said
specimens.

On motion of Dr. Storer it was Voted, that the thanks of
the Society be presented to Mr. John Warren for his gentle-
manly conduct in throwing open his entire collection of
shells for the examination of a special committee ; and for
the very liberal manner in which he offered and urged upon
that committee the acceptance of all the species he pos-
sessed, not already belonging to the Society's cabinet, not
even withholding those upon which he placed the greatest
value.

22

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Remarks relating to the New Brunswick Tornado, by W. C.
Redfield. New York, 1841.

Report of the Geological Survey of the State of New York.
1841.

The Fifty-fourth Annual Report of the Regents of the Univer-
sity of New York. From W. C. Redfield.

Historia Naturalis de Serpentibus, Libri duo. Joannes Jonstonus.
fol. Ileilbronnae, 1757. Hon. Jno. Pickering.

Monograph of the genus Sciurus, with descriptions of New Spe-
cies existing in North America. By Rev. J. Bachman. 8vo. Lond.
1839. From the Author.

Natural System of Botany, by John Lindley. 8vo. Lond. 1836.

Botanical Miscellanies, 8vo. 3. Lond. 1830. From the Audu-
bon Fund.

Yotes of thanks were presented to Messrs. Redfield and
Pickering for their donations of books.

Messrs. S. J. May, Chs. Stodder, J. B. Fenno, and Omen
S. Keith were elected members of the Society.
Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

Jane 2, 1841.

The President in the Chair.

Seventeen members present.

Mr. Teschemacher exhibited specimens of an undescribed
species of Rafflesia sent from Manilla by Padre Manuel
Blanco, and promised the Society a paper upon it at the
next meeting.

He also exhibited specimens of perfectly silicified wood from
the same place. The vessels and structure of the wood were very
distinct. In some parts the wood was opalized, and in others
changed into volcanic glass.

Dr. C. T. Jackson, from the Committee on Geology, read
a written report on specimens of lava presented to the Soci-

23

ety by the Secretary of American Board of Foreign Missions
from the volcano Kilauea in Hawaii, the crater of which is
said to be the largest in the world.

He quoted from writers who had visited the volcano some glow-
ing accounts of its size, appearance, &c, and inquired of Mr. Cou-
thouy if these observations were correct. Mr. Couthouy said that
most of them were exaggerations, and promised the Society a
paper on the subject.

Dr. Jackson stated that a writer in Silliman's Journal had said
that vast quantities of native sulphur existed in the neighborhood of
the volcano, and observed that since the discussion of the sulphur
monopoly in Sicily it was an interesting question for commerce, if
it were true. Mr. Couthouy replied that the sulphur merely ex-
isted as a thin covering on the rocks in the vicinity of the crater,
and that there was not a ship-load of sulphur on the whole island.

Mr. Abbot reported on some specimens of Birds in the
Cabinet. They were :

Alcedo bicolor.
Alcedo Smyrnensis.
Alcedo rudis.
Alcedo Bensalensis.

Alcedo alcyon.
Charadrius Helveticus.
Trinc;a Islandica.

The two last species were not before in the Cabinet of the Soci-
ety.

Dr. Clay reported on some minerals presented by Hon. R.
C. Winthrop from Gov. Winthrop's collection, and proposed
that a part of them should be retained, and the others which
were not suitable for exchange, should be given away
where they would be acceptable. On motion of Mr. Bouve,
it was Voted, that Dr. Gay be authorized to dispose of them
as he thinks best for the interest of the Society.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Winthrop for his
donation.

The President read the following communication :

June 2, 1841.
The Committee appointed to audit the treasurer's accounts for
the past year, have attended to the duty assigned them, and report

24

that they have found the accounts correctly kept, accurately cast,
and properly vouched.

Geo. Darracott, Chairman.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Geological Survey of the State of New York, 1841, from
Dr. Emmons.

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Vol VII.
No. 3. 1841. From the Society.

Synopsis Luzularum rite cognitarum. Edidit, Ernestus Henr
Fridr. Meyer. 8vo. Gottinga?, 1823.

De Talpse European Oculo, Auct. Augus. Guliel. Koch. 12mo.
pam. Regimontii, 1826.

Compendium Florum Philadelphia?. By Wm. P. C. Barton,
M. D. 2 vols. 12mo. Philadelphia, 1818.

Memoires sur les Dipsacees, par Thomas Coulter, 4to. pam.
Geneve, 1823.

Recueil de Memoires sur la Botanique. Par M. A. P. De Can
dolle, 4to. Paris, 1813.

Synopsis Plantarum, curante Dr. C. H. Persoon, 12mo. 2 vols.
Parisiis. 1805.

Fragments of the Natural History of Pennsylvania. By B. S
Barton. 4to. pam. Philadelphia, 1799.

Synopsis Juncorum rite cognitorum. Edidit Ernestus Henr.
Fridd. Meyer. 8vo. Gottingae, 1822.

Monographic de la Famille des Anonacees : par Michel-Felix
Duval. 4to. Paris, 1817.

Flora Virginica ; exhibens plantas quas Johannes Claytonus in
Virginia crescentes obtulit, D. Joh. Fred. Gronovio. 4to. Lugduni
Bat. 1762.

Vue generale des Progres de plusieurs branches des Sciences
Naturelles, par M. Le Compte de Lacepede. 12mo. Paris. 1818.

Enumeratio Euphorbiarum quae in Germania et Pannonia gig-
nuntur. Auctore Joanne Roeper. 4to. pam. Gottingae. 1820.

Descriptions of some rare Indian Plants, by N. Wallich. 4to.
pam. 1818.

Epistola de Balaenopteris quibusdam ventre sulcato distinctis,
auotoribus D. F. Rosenthal, D. F. Hornschuch. 4to. pam. Gryphia.
1825.

De Rubiaceis Capensibus, praicipue de genere Anthospermo.
Auctore Gulielmo Cruse. 4to. pam. Berolini, 1825.

25

De Lege Zonarum, principio, evolutionis systematum crystalli-
norum. pars prior. Auctore Francisco E. Neumann. 4to. pam-
1826.

Proceedings of the Society for the Encouragement of Horticul-
ture and Agriculture in Jamaica. 4to. pam. Jamaica. 1825.

Musci Exotici ; containing figures and descriptions of foreign
Mosses, and other Cryptogamic Plants. By Wm. Jackson Hooker.
8vo. pam. Nos. 9 to 16. London. 1819. 2 copies.

Do. 4to. London. 1818, with colored plates, pam. Nos. 9 to 16.
2 copies.

Esquisse d'une Monographic du genre Aconitum, 4to. pam. 1822.

Tentamen Synopseos Potentillarum, auc. Alberto von Haller
Fil. 4to. pam.

Generis Asparagi Historia Naturalis atque Medica. Auct. M.
Bresler. 12mo. pam. Berolini.

Revue de la Famille des Lythraires. Par M. le Prof. De Can-
dolle. Ito. pam. Geneve. 1826.

Plantae Cryptogamicae quas in plaga Orbis Novi iEquinoctiali
collegerunt A. de Humboldt et Amat. Bonpland. descriptae a G.
Jackson Hooker. 4to. pam. Londini. 1816.

Compendium Florce Britannica?, auctore J. E. Smith. 12mo. pam.
Londoni. 1S00.

Memoire sur la Famille des Violacees, par M. Fred. De Gingins
de Lassaray. 4to. pam. Geneve. 1823.

Experiences sur les diffierentes parties du Marronier de'Inde
Par M. Vauquelin. 4to. pam. 1808.

De Plantarum Classificatione Naturali, Commentatio. Auc. Dr
Aug. Frid. Schweigger. 12mo. pam. Regiomonti, 1820.

Essai Monographique sur le genre Scrofularia, par Henri Wyd
ler. 4to. 1828. Geneve.

Monographic des Cereales de la Suisse, par N. C. Seringe
l2mo. pam. Berne. 1818.

Description of a Fragment of the Head of a new Fossil Animal
By Isaac Hays. 4to. pam.

Description of a New Genus and New Species of Extinct Mam
miferous Quadruped. By John D. Godman. 4to. pam.

Essai d'un Monographic des Saules de Suisse, par N. C. Seringe
12mo. pam. Berne. 1815.

Rapport sur les Plantes rares et nouvelles dans le Jardin de Bota-
nique de Geneve. 4to. pam. Geneve. 1824.
4

26

Florae Italicse Fragmenta, a D. Viviani, 4to. pam. Genuae.

Histoire Naturelle et Medicale des Digitales, par Joseph Elmi-
ger. 4to. pam. Montpelier, 1812.

Analyse des Travaux de la Classe des Sciences Matbematiques
et Physiques de i'lnstitut Imperial de France, par M. le Chevalier.
Partie Physique, 4to. pam. Paris. 1813.

Memoire sur le Cuviera, par M. Decandolle. 4to. pam. 1806.

From Dr. Jacob Bigelow.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Specimens of Flexible Sandstone, from T. J. Whittemore.

Two Eggs of the Pelecanus Aquila, the Frigate bird, which are
in no cabinet in the country. They were found at Bellinghausen
Island, one of the Society group. Mr. C. had examined more than
one hundred nests, and found but a dozen eggs. The nests
consist of only two or three sticks of drift wood, placed in the
fork of a tree.

Cyrena Keraudrenii, from one of the Fejee Islands.

Unio cucumoides, from Paramatta, New South Wales.

Unio atratus, Swains. From the River Maypo, Chili.

Chiton variabilis, from Terra del Fuego.

A shell of a new genus, found only on the Fucus giganteus,
which he has named Gaimardia fucicola.

Siphonaria pileiformis, Couth, from Terra del Fuego.

A Patelloidea, from Orange Harbour,

Helix, from the Fejee group.

Serolis, from Terra del Fuego.

Seeds of a tree from Hawaii, resembling an Acacia, supposed to
be an und escribed species. From Jos. P. Couthouy.

The Librarian was authorized to transmit a copy of the
Address, delivered at the last annual meeting, to each mem-
ber of the Society, and to give additional copies wherever
they might serve the cause of science.

Frederick Miller of New Bedford was elected a corres-
ponding member of the Society.
Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

27

June J 6.

The President in the Chair.

Twelve members present.

Mr. Teschemacher read a paper on a new species of
Rarrlesia from Manilla, for which he proposed the specific
name of R. Manilana. Its characters are as follows :

Bud, before expansion, 2 J inches in diameter, arising from a
cup J in. high, formed by the thickened bark of the root of the
Cissus : the bractere originating from the inner side of the upper
edge of the cup : no appearance of reticulation under the base :
disc of column convex, processes on surface eleven, one of which is
in the centre, the rest arranged around it, their summits entire and
hispid : lower part of the tube of perianth studded with thick, glandu-
lar hairs : anthers 10, with cells and pores, as in other species : no
moniliform cord at base of column : sporiferous cavities not appa-
rent, flowers examined probably male ; interior of perianth covered
with various formed tubercles.

The President read extracts from a report transmitted by
Dr. Harris from the Committee on Entomology, on a col-
lection of insects from Cape Palmas in Africa presented by
Dr. Savage to the Society.

In this collection there were 31 species of Coleoptera, 10 of Or-
thoptera, 2 of Neuroptera, 6 of Hemiptera, 6 of Hymenoptera,
4 of Lepidoptera, and a few miscellaneous specimens.

Dr. Harris also presented to the Society a box containing
some African Butterflies received from Dr. Westerman of
Copenhagen.

Dr. Gould reported upon Mr. Lea's descriptions of 19
species of Colimacea from the Philippine Islands.

Many of them were new shells, unknown till recently. Dr.
Gould also reported upon some land shells from Cuba ; and re-
marked that the West Indian shells were less known, and more
difficult to collect than those of most other countries.

28

Dr. Storer read a Report on the following Fishes pre-
sented by the Rev. Zadoc Thompson of Vermont :

Lepisosteus oxyurus ; Acipenser oxyrinchus ; Centrarchus reneus ;
Lota maculosa ; Esox reticulatus ; Coregonus albus ; Catostomus
oblongus and teres ; Lucio-perca Americana ; Corvina oscula ;
Leuciscus pulchellus ; Hiodon elodulus ; Pimelodus nebulosus.

The thanks of the Society were presented to Mr. Thomp-
son for his donation.

Dr. Storer laid on the table the lower jaw of a rare and
remarkable species of Galeus, sent by C. W. Dabney, Esq.,
U. S. Consul at Fayal, to Messrs. A. & C. Cunningham,
and by them presented to the Society. The thanks of the
Society were voted to the Messrs. Cunningham for their
donation.

A communication was received from a committee appoint-
ed at a public meeting in this city held in furtherance of
Mr. Vattemare's project, requesting the concurrence of the
Society in his plan. A motion to have the communication
read was not sustained, and the subject was referred to a
committee, consisting of the President, Mr. Teschemacher,
and Mr. Sherwin.

Dr. Storer stated that Mr. Ayres of Long Island had sent
a collection of Fishes to the society ; — among which were
Prionotus strigatus ; Umbrina nebvlosa ; Tetraodon turgi-
dus ; and Temnodon saltator ; — and he desired an addi-
tional case for their reception. Referred to the Board of
Curators.

Dr. Gould presented from Mr. Couthouy some shells,
which he observed were " rare shells from rare localities.*'

DONATIONS.

Nest and Eggs of the Hirundo riparia — from H. J. Bryant.

Tetraodon mathematicus — taken forty miles off the Leeward
Islands. From Mr. G. L. Perkins, of Plymouth.

The Entomologist, Nos. 1,2, 3, edited by Edward Newman.
8vo. London. 1840. From the Editor.

29

Flora of North America by Torrey and Gray, Vol. II. Part 1.
New York, 1841. From Mr. Thomas Lee.

Etvvas i'lber die Natur-Wunder in Nord Amerika, zusammenge-
tragen von Charles Cramer, 8vo. St. Petersburg. 1840. Author.

A Collection of Plants from Cambridge. From Dr. T. W.
Harris.

Voted, that the thanks of the Society be presented to
Messrs Edward Newman and C. L. Perkins for their do-
nations.

The Committee on Ichthyology, Comparative Anatomy,
and Ornithology were instructed to report at the next meet-
ing.

Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

July 7, 1341.
The President in the Chair.

Thirteen members present — T. Bulfinch was chosen Secre-
tary pro tern.

Dr. Shurtleff made a written report on the skeleton of
Orycteropus Capensis, Aard Bark or Earth Pig of the
Dutch colonists, lately added to the Society's Collection.

The report was long and minute, embracing an account of the
bones which compose the skeleton of the animal, accompanied by
a statement of the rank it holds in the scale of animated nature,
its external appearance, and its habits in its native wilds. In allud-
ing to the Ornithorynchus, the reporter having remarked that this
animal is stated, on good authority, to be oviparous, yet neverthe-
less giving suck to its young, Mr. Couthouy remarked that one of
these animals was examined in the pregnant state, when Mr. C. was
in New Holland, which settles the question that it is viviparous.

Mr. Abbot made a verbal report on some Oriental Birds,
designating the species, and remarking on the habits of
each, viz :

30

Upupa epops, Certhia Zeylonica,

Merops Javanicus, Certhia erythronotus,

Merops viridis,
They were beautiful specimens, and in fine order for examina-
tion.

Mr. Bouve presented, in the name of Dr. Edward Jarvis
of Louisville, a variety of Fossils, Insects and Shells from
that vicinity. Dr. Gould presented, from the same gen-
tleman, specimens of plants, with pamphlets, &c.

On motion of Mr. Bouve w o remarked that Dr. Jarvis
had repeatedly favored our Society with valuable speci-
mens, which, there was reason to fear, had not been, in all
cases, duly acknowledged, it was Voted, That the thanks
of the Society be presented to Dr. E. Jarvis for this and
former instances of his friendship and cooperation, and that
the Society be directed to inform him of the receipt of the
specimens, and to communicate this vote.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Natural History of the Tea-tree, by J. C. Lettsom, 4to. London
1799. From T. Bulfinch.

Organic Chemistry, in its application to Agriculture and Physi
ology, by Justus Liebig, with Notes by J. W. Webster, 12mo
1841. From J. Owen.

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 4to. Vol
VII. Part 3, 1841. From the Society.

Reports on the Herbaceous Plants and Quadrupeds of Massa
chusetts, by Chester Dewey and Ebenezer Emmons. 8vo. Cam
bridge. 1841.

Report on the Invertebrata of Massachusetts, by A. A. Gould.
8vo. Cambridge, 1841. From the Legislature of Massachusetts.

First Annual Report on the Geology of New Hampshire, by
Charles T. Jackson. 8vo. Concord, 1841. From the Author.

Report relative to the Geological Survey of New York. 8vo.
1841. From the New York Lyceum of Natural History.

Mr. Couthouy presented some minerals from California
which had been sent to the Sandwich Islands for the in-
spection of the gentlemen attached to the Exploring Expe-

31

dition, as ores of the precious metals, but in reality only
sulphuret of copper, &c, of no value.

Mr. C. presented specimens of Succinea from Terra del Fuego,
where he represented them as found in the greatest abundance.
Also, seven specimens of woods from New Holland, and some
Gourds of remarkable size and form from the Sandwich Islands,
used by the natives for a variety of purposes, as cooking utensils,
trunks for baggage, packages for goods, bottles, drinking ves-
sels, &c.

Two tin cases, containing specimens of Bread Fruit pre-
sented by T. B. Park, Esq., of California ; and on motion,
it was Voted, That the thanks of the Society be presented
to T. B. Park, Esq., for this acceptable donation.

Mr. Whittemore presented a specimen of copper ore from
Coquimbo.

Adjourned,

T. B. Rec. Sec. pro tern.

July 21, 1842.
The President in the Chair.

Dr. Storer communicated from Dr. Brewer, an Egg of
the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, (Fringitta Ludoviciana of Au-
dubon, Loxia rosea of Wilson,) with a written notice of
the bird, and the circumstances under which the egg was
produced.

It was laid in confinement, the parent bird having been encaged
for three years previously without a mate. A year ago, last spring,
from indications she gave of a desire to build a nest, a male Bobo-
link was mated with her. Shortly after, without constructing any
nest, she laid three eggs on the floor of the cage. The egg is
peculiar in color and form, a description of which, with notices of
the habits of the bird, were furnished in the communication, which
is on file.

Dr. Storer mentioned an instance which he had lately
met with of a Paroquet in confinement, without a mate,
producing several eggs.

32

Dr. Brewer requested, through Dr. Storer, leave to take
from the Cabinet, an egg of Sylvia Delajieldii, lately pre-
sented by Dr. Kirtland.

The President communicated a letter from Hon. R. C.
Winthrop, in reply to our application made through him,
for a portion of the collections sent home by the Explor-
ing Expedition.

Enclosed was a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, promis-
ing that when a final disposition of the articles is made, the appli-
cation of the Boston Society shall have very respectful attention.

The President mentioned an incident of late occurrence
at Hingham, which he had learned from Rev. Dr. Green-
wood.

A countryman at work in the fields heard a sound which pro-
ceeded from the bushes near by. Approaching, he saw a black
snake in a coil round a victim. He threw a stone, which, hitting
the snake, induced him to relax his hold and make off, leaving a
rabbit, which had been enfolded in his coil, severely crushed. The
snake was pursued and killed, and in its body were found fifteen
eggs of the quail, whole, and some of them containing the young
bird. The snake was seven feet long.

The President also mentioned having made the acquaint-
ance at Hingham of Mr. Sprague, a modest and very inge-
nious man, who had, for the gratification of his taste, made
a collection of many species of birds, prepared and set up in
the most skilful manner by himself, with drawings, beauti-
fully colored, of the same.

They were particularly commended for their freedom from ex-
aggeration, a charge which has sometimes been thought to lie
against the figures of Audubon.

Dr. Gould presented a shell received by him from Dr.
Kirtland of Ohio.

It is the Paludina jjonderosa, a reversed specimen ; the same
shell which Dr. Kirtland formerly designated as the Paludina
heterostropha, and described as such in Silliman's Journal.

Mr. Dill away, in behalf of Mr. Travelli, presented a

33

beautiful specimen of the Myristica moschata, (Nutmeg,)
also specimens of Granite and other minerals from Singa-
pore.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Travelli for
this donation.

At Dr. Storer's suggestion, a two-headed snake belong-
ing to the Society's Collection, was presented to the Soci-
ety for Medical Improvement.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Monograph of Limniades, No. 3, 8vo. Philad. 1841. Presented
by the Author, S. S Haldeman.

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 1789 to
1809. 4to. 6. and New Series, 1818-34. 4to. (3. Philad. Courtis
Fund.

Silliman's Journal of Science, Vol. XL1. No. 1. 1841. From
the Editors.

First Report of the Liverpool Natural History Society. 8vo.
pamph. 1836. From the Society.

Suggestions relating to the size of the page in future Nos.
of our Journal, and also the expediency of publishing a
Bulletin of Proceedings monthly or oftener, were referred
to the Publishing Committee.

Mr. J. J. Dixwell communicated a letter received from
an artist in London, with the sketch of a Seal for the Soci-
ety of suitable size for diplomas, and not too large for let-
ters. Letter referred to the Committee which has the sub-
ject in charge.

Dr. Gay, from the Committee on Mineralogy, was pre-
pared to report ; but, on account of the lateness of the hour,
his report was postponed, and assigned for the next meet-
ing.

A letter was read from Francis Archer, Esq., President
of the Liverpool Society of Natural History, acknowledg-
ing the compliment of his election as a corresponding mem-
ber of this Society, tendering his services in aid of our ob-
jects, and presenting two casts of impressions on the New
Red Sandstone of Cheshire, England, one of C/teirotherium,

34

and the other of an unknown animal, and of a vegeta-
ble.

Mr. E. D. Brigham was elected a member.
Adjourned,

T. B. Rec. Sec. pro. tern.

August 4, 1841.
The President in the Chair.

The President reported on three of the seven specimens
of wood from the South Sea Islands, presented by Mr. Cou-
thouy.

The first is the " yellow wood" of New Holland, Oxleya Xan-
thoxyla, a tree often 100 feet high, and three in diameter. It has
been found useful in the Arts, though, from its recent discovery,
all its properties are not known. The second is erroneously called
the cherry, although it has no affinity to that family. It is the Ex-
ocarpus cupressiformis, a light wood resembling the common
cherry, and very abundant. The third is the Iron wood, which is
of greater specific gravity than any of the woods of North Ame-
rica.

Mr. Teschcmachor reported on the plants from Kentucky,
presented by Dr. Jarvis.

He exhibited the rarest and most interesting specimens, among
which were Stylipus vermis of Rafinesque, formerly Geum vernum.
Ilafmesque erected this into a new genus from the torus being pcdi-
cclled, not being aware that Geum rivale, an undoubted Geum,
has a similar character.

2d. Schizandra coccinea^ the only representative of its family in
North America.

3d. Aster Shorlii of Hooker, a new Aster, named in honor of
Dr. Short of Kentucky.

4th. Buchnera Americana. A series of blunders has been made
in describing this plant, originating with Linna'us. He, by mis-
take, gave to Buchnera, the characters of Erinus of Persoon, and
IVilldenow added the true characters of Huchnera to his descrip-
tion, causing a woful confusion. Bentham detected the error and
described it anew.

35

Dr. Gay reported on that portion of the Donation of Mr.
\\ inthrop which was selected for the Cabinet.

Of these there were 85 specimens of the Si! icicles, 25 of the Car-
bonides, 15 Chlorides, and 80 miscellaneous. Dr. Gay reported
at leniith on the most interesting of these.

Mr. Dillaway reported on the "Address of the President
of the Liverpool Society of Natural History'' referred to
him at the last meeting.

Mr. Whittemore presented to the Society the following
shells :

Helix labyrinthica, Say.

" electrina, Gould.

" chersina, Say.

Helix lineata, Say.

Pupa modesta, Say.

Planorbis dilatatus, Gould.

The President announced for the Library :

Prodromus Systematis Vertebratorum, 12mo. pamph.

Prodromus Systematis Ornithologise, 12mo. pamph.

Prodromus Systematis Ichthyologiae, 12mo. pamph.

Prodromus Systematis Mastozoologiae, 12mo. pamph.

Presented by the author, Charles Lucien Bonaparte.

Proceedings of the Academy of Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia,
Vol. I. No. 3. From the Academy.

Annals and Magazine of Nat. History, Nos. 43 and 44. 8vo.
Lond. 1841. Courtis Fund.

On suggestion of the President, the following names were
added to the several committees :

To the Com. on Botany, O. S. Keith.

" " Ornithology, S. Cabot, Jr. M. S. Scudder.

" " Conchology, T. J. Whittemore.

" " Geology, Dr. Gay.

" " Mineralogy, T. Bulfinch.

" Books, W. J. Adams.
Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

36

August 18, 1841.

The Vice President. Dr. Binney, in the Chair.

Thirteen members present.

Dr. Eddy presented to the Society a collection of plants
from the banks of the Hudson, and different parts of New
England, not previously in the Cabinet.

Among the more interesting of these were Aster graminifolius,
from the Gulf of Quceche, the rarest and smallest of our native
Asters. Lobelia Kahnii, from the same locality ; Arabia hispida,
from the summit of Mt. Ascutney ; Lygodium palmatum, from Men-
don, Mass. But one other locality of this rare fern has hitherto
been found in New England. Andromeda mariana, from Staten
Island. Strut hiopteris Germanica, Beck. This plant was described
cribed by Willdenow as a new species, S. Pennsylcanica, until Beck
ascertained its identity with the European plant. Hepatica triloba,
another plant accredited to Willdenow, until Dr. Torrey restored it to
the original discoverer, Chaix. Nuphar Kalmiana, (Ph.) N. lutea var.
Kalmiana, (Torrey.) Dr. Eddy had observed that this plant has sub-
mersed, large, waved, orbicular, membranaceous, root leaves,
which distinguishes it from all other plants of that family. It is
sufficient to establish it as a distinct species, instead of being a
variety, according to Torrey. Aspidium spinulosum from R. I. ; A.
hulbiferum and goldianum, Norwich, Vt. Scutellaria integrifolia,
and pilosa, Long Island. Vaccinium tenellum of Bigelow, a species
which, though every New England botanist knows it to be a dis-
tinct, is denied by all other authors. The remainder of the col-
lection was promised at a future meeting.

Dr. Storer read a long and interesting paper on the fishes
of Massachusetts, in which he added many new facts res-
pecting the species already known; and minutely described
Trichiurus lepturvs ; Tetraodon mathematicus ; and Zy-
goena malleus, as new to our Fauna, together with the fol-
lowing new species :

Pomotis rubri- cauda. General color rusty-brown, more marked
above the lateral line, in consequence of ferruginous spots densely

31

distributed among the scales ; body upon the sides golden ; in front
of the anal fin beneath, blood-red. Head, between and in front of
the eyes, naked ; a bluish line runs from just beneath the eye
across the operculum to its posterior extremity ; and another arises
just above this, and being interrupted by the eye, then passes over
the operculum, so that the two include the black, membranous ap-
pendage of the operculum. Bluish-white blotches arc irregularly
distributed upon the pre-operculum. Eyes, three lines in diam-
eter, pupils black, irides red.

Dorsal fin dark brown anteriorly, red posteriorly, the spinous
portion not quite so high as the soft rays. Ventral fins red at base
and black at tip. Pectoral, yellowish brown. Anal, yellowish at
base, dusky at margin. Caudal, blood-red during life. Rays, D.
11-9; P. 11; V. 1-5; A. 3-9; C. 18.

Length five inches ; depth across the base of the pectorals, two
inches. Taken in Concord River.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Trichas Delafieldii (Audubon.) From Dr. J. P. Kirtland, of
Cleveland, Ohio.

Three very beautiful casts of Encrinites and a Trilobite were
presented from Mr. Samuel T. Carley, of Cincinnati. The thanks
of the Society were presented to Mr. Carley for his donation, and
Dr. Storer was instructed to request him to communicate his obser-
vations on fossil remains for publication in the Journal.

A living specimen of the horned frog from Calveston, Texas,
presented by J. Elliot Lillie.

Glow Worm, from Illinois, presented by Mr. Tilson.

FOR THE LIERARY.

" Rapport sur les Travaux de M. Espy relatifs aux Tornados ;"
Commissaires MM. Arago, Pouillet. Babinet rapporteur 4to. 1841.
Paris.

" Rapport de M. Warden sur un ouvrage relatif a. la Florida
Occidentale" 12mo.

" Analyse d'un memoire sur les bois d'Amerique par M. Bull,"
presente par M. Warden, 12mo. pam. Presented by D. B. War-
den, Esq.

" Osservazioni sulle Larve, Ninfe et Abitudini della Scoliafla-

38

vifrons, lette in Pisa, alia sezione di Zoologia della prima riunione
degli Scienziati Italiani, di Carlo Passe rini." 4to. Pisa. 1840.

From the author.

A Letter was received from M. Auguste St. Hilaire, ac-
knowledging his election as an honorary member of the So-
ciety, and requesting their acceptance of two volumes of
his miscellaneous works.

John A. Bolles, Esq. was elected an immediate member of
the Society.

Messrs. C. H. Olmsted of E. Hartford, Ct.,
Isaac Sprague of Hingham, Ms.,
Increase S. Smith, do.
were elected corresponding members of the Society.

Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

September 1, 1S41.
Mr. Dillaway in the Chair.

Dr. Storer presented from Dr. Wood of Portland a very
beautiful collection of fishes, prepared by him during a resi-
dence in Santa Cruz, comprising, among others, the follow-
ing genera :

Serranus, Mullus, Scorpoena, Eques, Chaetodon, Heniochus,
Holacanthus, Vomer, Acanthurus, Scarus. Fistularia, Scombere-
sox, Diodon, Batistes, Ostracion.

On motion of Dr. Storer, the thanks of the Society were
voted to Dr. Wood for his donation, the richest collection of
fishes ever presented to the Cabinet.

Mr. Whittemore presented specimens of Purpura tubercu-
loid, P. anaxares, and P. musiva, from the Pacific ; also
the Eggs of the Black Snake, from Fresh Pond.

George W. Pratt, Esq. presented to the Society in behalf
of his brother, W. Pratt, Jr., Esq., casts of the head and
foot of the Dodo from the Ashmolean Museum, and some
fine geodes of Quartz from Clifton, Eng.

39

Mr. Edward Codman was elected a member of the ►Soci-
ety.

Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

September 15, 1841.
The President in the Chair.

Mr. Whittemore, to whom was referred a specimen of the
genus Spondylus, presented at a previous meeting, reported
that this very rare and curious species has been hitherto
undescribed.

No mention of it is made in any conchological work. The shell
was referred to the Committee on Conchology with instructions to
prepare a description of the species for publication in the Jour-
nal.

Rev. Dr. Greenwood gave a description of a swordfish of
remarkable size taken during his visit at Hingham, with an
interesting account of their habits and the manner of taking
them.

The President, Messrs. Gould and Dillaway, were ap-
pointed a committee to make arrangements for a permanent
place for the Library.

Mr. Couthouy was added to the Committee on Concho-
logy, and Dr. Eddy to the Committee on Zoology.

Mr. Bulfinch gave notice of the receipt of three boxes of
minerals, specimens of the rocks of Maine, sent in by Dr.
Charles T. Jackson, having been collected in his late sur-
vey of the lands in that State belonging to Massachusetts.

The specimens were mostly labelled, some of which are as fol-
lows : From Moosehead lake the specimens are primary rocks ;
from Aroostook river, Black Limestone, Greenstone Trap, Bog
Iron Ore, Hematitic Iron Ore, and Sulphuret of Iron ; from Penob-
scot river, Granite and Trap rocks ; from Tobique river, Contorted
Slate, New Red Sandstone ; from St. John's river, Fossiliferous

40

Limestone. The fossils are Favosite, Madreporite, Encrinite, and
Terebratulite.

Mr. Whittemore presented some specimens of a singular
clay formation.

Mr. Couthouy presented two Jars, containing several ser-
pents and other smaller reptiles, preserved in alcohol; also,
a collection of fossils from the vicinity of Trenton Falls,
consisting of Favosites, Terebratulse, Product], Corallines
and Trilobites.

B. R. Curtis, Esq., was elected an immediate member of
the Society.

Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

October 6, 1841.
The President in the Chair.

Dr. Store r read a report on the Cybium macvlatum, a
fish recently taken at Lynn, and not before found in our
waters.

Dr. Gould reported on a collection of star-fishes from
Portland, among which were Solaster endeca, Solaster pa-
posa, Asterias aurantiaca , Echinarachnms placenta, E.
parma, Cribella ocidata, Opkinra acideata and O. bellis.

Dr. G. thought that all the English Radiata would be
found in our waters.

Dr. Abbot read a report on the genera Cuculus, Coracius
and Corvus, and exhibited specimens of each from the Soci-
ety's collection.

Dr. Storer read a paper entitled " Observations on the
genus Scalops, with descriptions of the species found in
North America" by Mr. Bachman. After some general
remarks on the genus, he enumerates and describes the fol-
lowing species :

S. aquaticus, Lin. In restoring to this species the name given
by its first describer, I have adhered to a rule which it is necessary

•-

41

to adopt in order to prevent the repetition of synonyms. The name
" aquations" certainly docs not apply to the habits of the animal ;
but that of M Canadensis" is equally unfortunate, as it is more com-
mon in the Southern States than in Canada.

S. Townsendi, Bach. Dental formula incisors \ ; false molars g ;
true molars \ = 44. Length of the head and body 7 inches 6 lines ;
of the tail one inch 6 lines ; breadth of the palm 6 lines. Body thick
and cylindrical, shaped like S. aquaticus, but larger. The whole up-
per and under surface is of a dark color, in most lights appearing
black ; the hair, when blown aside, exhibits a greyish black color,
from the roots to near the tips. The tail is slightly clothed with
short, strong bristles. Brought from the banks of Columbia river.

S. Breweri, Bach. Glossy, cinereous black above, brownish
beneath. Palms narrow. Tail flat, broad and hairy. Dental for-
mula— incisors \ ; false molars }* ; true molars \ ; = 44. Length
of the head and body 5 inches 11 lines; of the tail 1 inch 5 lines ;
breadth of the tail 4 lines ; of the palm 4 lines ; length of the palm
to the end of the middle claw 7 lines. Its most striking peculi-
arity is its tail, which, instead of being round and nearly naked,
as in S. aquaticus, is flat and broad, resembling, in some respects,
that of the Beaver, and is very thickly clothed, above and beneath,
with long stiff hairs, which extend 5 lines beyond the vertebrae.
Found at Martha's Vineyard.

S. latimanus, Bach. Broad-palmed shrew-mole, larger than the
common shrew-mole, intermediate in size between S. Townsendi
and S. Breweri. Hair longer and thinner than in either of the
other species, and slightly curled. Palms larger than in any of the
known species. Color nearly black. Tail naked. Length to the
root of the tail 7 inches 7 lines ; of the tail 10 lines ; breadth of the
palm 10 lines ; of the tarsus 7 lines. Mexico and Texas.

Dr. Storer also read part of a " Monograph on the Arane-
ides of the United States," accompanied with Plates by
Prof. N. M. Hentz, of Florence, Al. The following spe-
cies of the genus Mygale, are described :

M. truncata. I iceous ; cephalothorax with .< c | sion

behind the middle, cheliceres terminated by several points above
the fang, hairy; abdomen cylindrical, suddenly truncated at the
end, and callous at that place, with concentric grooves and 6 cir-

6

42

cular impressions ; thighs more or less rufous at base ; a white
membrane between the joints. Feet, 4. 1. 3 = 2. Alabama.

M. solstitialis. Deep black ; cephalothorax with two indenta-
tions, cheliceres moderately large ; abdomen with several impres-
sions above, and 4 yellow spots underneath ; membrane between
the joints white ; third pair of legs with the third joint short and
crooked ; feet hairy, 4. 1.2. 4. Alabama.

M. Carolinensis. Brownish, very glossy ; cephalothorax with
two slight impressions near the base ; abdomen blackish, not glossy ;
third joint of the third pair of legs very short and crooked ; feet
4. 1 = 3 = 2. N. Carolina.

M. gracilis. Rufous ; cephalothorax somewhat six sided, long
and narrow ; abdomen plumbeous, two nipples very long ; feet long,
hairy, penultimate joint of the anterior pair with a notch; feet 4. 1.
2. 3. Alabama.

M. unicolor. Deep rufous ; cephalothorax deepened in the mid-
dle, with two impressions, cheliceres very large ; abdomen smooth ;
third pair of legs with short, very thick joints ; feet 4. 1. 2. 3. Ala-
bama.

Professor W. R. Johnson presented to the Society a num-
ber of minerals and fossils from the coal regions of Penn-
sylvania, as Juglandites, Stigmaria Jicoides, PhiloUtJius
imbricatuSj Catamites cannceformis, Lepidodendron obova-
tum.

A species of Agama from Texas, not before in our collec-
tion, was presented by Mr. Thomas A. Holt through Dr.
C. T. Jackson.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

A Selection of the Birds of Brazil and Mexico, the Drawings by
Wm. Swainson. 8vo. Lond. 1841.

History of British Starfishes, by Edward Forbes. 8vo. Lond.
1841.

British Oology, by Wm. C. Hewitson. 8vo. Newcastle on Tyne.
Audubon Fund.

Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences,
No. 5. From the Academy.

Report on the Fauna of Ireland, div. Vertebrata. By Wm.
Thompson. 8vo. Lond. 1841. The Author.

43

A letter was received from the Treasurer of the " lnsti-
tut Historique" of Paris, acknowledging the receipt of the
Society's Journal. Accompanying the letter was the com-
plete collection of the Journal of that Institute for eight
years. Monsieur Renzi, in behalf of the Institute, requests
in future an exchange of publications.

A letter was received from the Secretary of the Zoologi-
cal Society of London, returning the thanks of that Society
for the third volume of our Journal, and enclosing their last
Annual Report.

Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

October 25, 1841.
Vice President, Dr. C. T. Jackson, in the Chair.

VERBAL COMMUNICATION.

Professor Johnson of Philadelphia, by request, made some
statements respecting the fossils presented by him at the
last meeting of the Society.

The sample of foliated or micaceous Galena then presented, from
a locality 2 1-2 miles below Sunbury in Pennsylvania, on the left
bank of the Susquehanna, was stated to occur in an upward curva-
ture of the limestone bed in which it is found, which, like other
strata of the formation in that part of Pennsylvania, has been cut
through by the Susquehanna, in excavating its channel. The lead
ore occurs in fissures from one to two hundred feet above the bed
of the stream, and at a part where the bank is almost perpendicu-
lar. These fissures doubtless descend below the bed of the river,
but the height at which they are worked is that just indicated.
Through these fissures, which are four or five in number within the
distance of as many hundred yards, the sulphuret appears to have
been sublimed from below, and to have lodged in the cavities of
the limestone, mixing with the loose fragments of the latter, and
forming very irregular masses. Some carbonate of lead also
occurs with the galena. That the lead ore has been sublimed into

44

its present position seems probable from its position, from the
absence of marks of fusion, from the appearance of the limestone
near the tops of the fissures where a sort of Cadmeia exists and
coats every projecting fragment of the rock, from similar indica-
tions in other lead regions where large caves are found in the lime-
stone, wholly incrusted with the crystallized galena, over which,
as it adheres to the rock, the percolation of water has caused a
coating of stalactite to be formed partially veiling the faces of the
crystals. That the sulphuret of lead may be sublimed, in the man-
ner just suggested, is proved by an experiment made a few years since
in Philadelphia, in which a mixture of lead and sulphur, in chemical
proportion to form galena, were placed in a well closed strong iron
tube, and heated for some time to a bright red heat, the upper part
of the tube being kept at a considerably lower temperature than
that in which the mixture was placed. On cooling the tube, and cut-
ting off the upper part, the whole material was found sublimed at
that part. The fossils, consisting of orthoceratites, encrinites, pro-
ducti and juglandites, occur in beds overlying the limestone in
which the lead is found. These beds are various alternations
of limestone and clay slate, forming a series many hundred feet
thick. The juglandites occur in a bed of one or two feet thick, the
general appearance of which is marked by ferruginous matter in
considerable quantities. In or near the same localities occur
nodules of radiated pyrites. The shells of the juglandites are some-
times easily separable from the nucleus ; sometimes they are wholly
decayed, and only the more solid nucleus remains.

One or two of these singular fossils were found of the size of a
large lemon, and very strongly resembling that fruit in its exte-
rior figure. Marly beds of considerable thickness occur in some
portions of this formation, the more solid parts of which are per-
ceived to be composed wholly of fossils. The lead locality is 12
miles west of the Shamokin coal basin, at its westerly prolonga-
tion.

The fossil vegetables from the coal measures of Pennsylvania
were from Bear Gap, 16 miles east of the Susquehanna river.
They consist of the usual plants accompanying both anthracite and
bituminous coal, and seem conclusively to prove, so far as fossils
may be regarded as the indices of geology, the contemporaneous-
ness of the anthracite and bituminous coal deposites.

45

A specimen of coal exhibiting pure anthracite, mineralized char-
coal and a material strongly resembling coke in exterior charac-
ters, was also among the objects commented on. The tendency of
the anthracite portion to a crystalloid arrangement was also re-
marked.

Mr. Bulfmch read a report on the casts of fossil footsteps
from Cheshire, England, lately presented to the Society by
Mr. Archer of Liverpool.

He gave an account of the researches of Professor Owen as de-
tailed in a communication to the Geological Society of London in
the present year, by which the Professor has been led to the con-
clusion that the footmarks of the Keuper sandstone of Germany, the
Cheirotherian impressions of Hessberg, those of the Warwick sand-
stone, and those of Cheshire, of which we have the casts, are those
of an animal of one and the same genus, and of the Batrachian
family. This result was obtained from an examination and com-
parison of teeth, found in the German sandstone, with others found
in England, and particularly from sections of the teeth viewed mi-
croscopically, disclosing a structure entirely unknown heretofore,
in which the enamel of the outer portion of the tooth is diffused
through the interior substance in folds, exhibiting a labyrinthine
appearance, upon a cross section. From this structure, the Pro-
fessor has formed the name of " Labyrinthodon," to designate the
animals of the fossil footsteps heretofore designated by the various
names of Cheirotherium, Salamandroides, Mastodonsaurus, &c.

Dr. Storer, through Dr. Abbot, presented a rare variety
Phrynosoma cornuta from Texas, together with a specimen
of Trionix ferox, from the Hudson river sent to him by Dr.
Wright.

It was first described in 1771, in the Philosophical Transactions,
and afterward described and figured by Lacepede. The present
specimen is young, as the old ones are covered with tubercles. It
has no undershell.

Dr. C. T. Jackson exhibited specimens of the compact
tin ore from New Hampshire, and one of Chlorophillite, a
new mineral, discovered in the town of Unity, N. H., which

46

has been stated, in defiance of the careful analysis of J. D.
Whitney, to be Iolite.

He hoped that Mr. Whitney would soon make another analysis,
to put the question at rest. Dr. J. likewise exhibited a rare mine-
ral, the Titanite of Zirconia, from Merrimack.

From Dr. Stearns of Groton a black squirrel.
Dr.H. I. Bowditch presented two specimens of fossiliferous
limestone from Virginia.

Capt. Sturgis presented a Conglomerate Boulder which
was washed on Cape Cod during the late storm.
Adjourned,

M. B. WILLIAMS, Sec. pro tern.

November 3, 1841 .

Vice President, Dr. Binney, in the Chair.

Thirteen members present.

A report from the Committee to whom was referred a
communication inviting the cooperation of the Society in
M. Vattemare's plan was read, received, and ordered to be
placed upon the records.

E. S. Dixwell, Esq., from the Committee appointed to
procure a Common Seal for the Society, presented a model
which was adopted.

Dr. Abbot exhibited eight new birds, which had been pro-
cured and mounted for the Society, viz.

Anser bernicla ; Anas Americana, female ; Mergus cucullatus,
female ; Anas acuta, female ; Anas fusca ; Podiceps Carolinensis,
young; Fuligula Americana, male adult.

Dr. A. also reported upon Hewitson's Oology, committed to him
at the last meeting.

Letters were received from Francis Archer, Esq., of Liv-
erpool, acknowledging his election as a corresponding mem-
ber, and from Auguste St. Hilaire, acknowledging his elec-
tion as honorary member.

47

Letters were received from the Historical Institute, and
from the Geological Society of France, accompanied by the
Journals of those Societies, in exchange for ours.

A beautiful series of Unios and fresh water shells was
presented by S. S. Haldeman, Esq., of Pennsylvania.

From E. S. Perkins, Esq. two African hangingbirds' nests.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

John Pickering, Esq., presented- Vandelle's Viridarium Lusita-
nicum ; a revision and new arrangement of a very old Flora of
Grisley, which was first published in 1661, and at the time of its
publication in 1789 was the only Flora of Portugal.

History of British Starfishes. By Edward Forbes. 8vo. Lond.
1841. From Edward Doubleday, Esq.

Manual of British Algae, by Hon. Wm. Henry Harvey. 8vo.
Lond. 1841. From the Author.

Nos. 1 to 4 of the Phytologist.

Edward Newman, Esq., presented, through the same, Newman's
Familiar Introduction to the History of Insects, and Nos. 4 to 7 of
Newman's " Entomologist."

The following gentlemen, nominated by the Council, were
elected honorary members of the Society.

Edward Spach, Aide Naturaliste au Museum d'Histoire Natu-
relle.

Prof. D. F. L. von Schlectendal, P. D., Halle.

Prof. Aug. Pyr. De Candolle. Geneva.

Asa Gray, M. D. of New York.

Professor John Torrey of New York.

Roderick Impey Murchison, Esq., London.

J. O. Westwood, F. L. S. London.

Heinrich Friedrich Link, Director of the Royal Gardens, Berlin.

Wm. Sharp McLeay, Esq., F. L. S. London.

John George Children, F. R. S. London.

Edmund Griffith, Esq. F. R. S. London.

John James Audubon. New York.

F. A. EDDY, Rcc. Sec.

48

November 17, 1841.
The President in the Chair.

On motion of Dr. Gould it was voted that the Report of
the Committee on M. Vattemare's plan be transmitted to
Dr. Walter Charming by the Corresponding Secretary.

Mr. Couthouy presented to the Society a very large speci-
men of Mactra giga?itea, and stated that he has received
from Chelsea three living specimens of My a truncate, the
first ever obtained directly on our coast. They differ some-
what from those found on George's Bank.

Mr. Couthouy also made some remarks on certain errors, into
which he believed Professor Lyell had fallen in regard to the for-
mation of the Coral Islands in the Pacific, and announced his in-
tention of preparing a paper on that subject for the Journal.

Dr. Gould read a paper entitled "Descriptions of twenty-
five new species of New England Shells," by J. W. Mighels,
M. D., and Prof. C. B. Adams, of which the following are
regarded as new.

Thracia truncata, Migh. T. testa parva, solida, per-inequilate-
rali, postice truncata, et striata : callo nymphali producto, haud
cochleariformi. Length, .75 inch ; height, .5 inch. Habitat, Cas-
co Bay, Me.

Cyclas minor, Adams. C. testa minima, ovata, inequilaterali ;
natibus tumidis, approximatis ; marginibus rotundatis ; dentibus om-
nibus fortibus. Length, .18 inch ; height, .15 inch; width, .11
inch. Habitat, Wey bridge, Vt.

Cyclas nitida, Migh. C. testa sub-ovat.a, inequilaterali ; natibus
parvis, haud approximatis ; dentibus lateralibus fortibus, cardinali-
bus obsoletis. Length, .3 inch. ; height, .24 inch ; width, .2 inch.
Habitat, Norway, Oxford Co., Me.

Nucula delphinodonta, Migh. N. testa parva, solida, trigona,
transverse sub-sulcata ; angulis umbonalibus duobus ; natibus pro-
minentibus, sub-terminalibus ; dentibus anticis tribus, posticis sep-
tem, elevatis, conicis, acutis. Length, .13 inch ; height, .11 inch ;
width, .09 inch. Habitat, Casco Bay.

Nucula Cascoensis, Migh. N. testa ovato-lanceolata, sub-inequi-

49

laterali, compressa ; postice attenuata ; areola valde compressa ;
natibus parvis ; dentibus anticis decern, posticis duodecim, parvis.
Length, .6 inch ; height, .35 inch ; width, .09 inch. Habitat,
Casco Bay.

Pecten tenuicostatus, Migh. P. testa parva, tenui, sub-inequi-
valvi ; valva superiore plerumque rubro-fusca, tenuicostata, costis
majoribus 25 usque ad 30, totidem rninoribus ; auribus costulalis ;
valva inferiore pallide rubro-fusca ; extus et intus laevi. Length,
.5 inch ; height, .56 inch ; width, .14 inch. Habitat, Casco Bay.

Chiton mendicarius, Migh. C. testa elongata, in medio longi-
tudinaliter ad latus irregulariter granulata, cinerea, nubeculala ;
areis parum conspicuis ; margine coriaceo, rubro. Length, 1 inch ;
breadth, .4 inch ; width of margin, .06 inch. Habitat, Casco
Bay.

Cemoria princeps, Migh. C. testa alba, procera, costulata,
punctulata ; rima intus in canalem producta, fornice obtecta ; for-
nice lateraliter testae alis adjuncto ; apertura ovata, crenulata.
Length, .46 inch ; width, .33 inch ; height, .35 inch. Habitat,
Coast of Maine.

Bulla puncto- striata, Migh. B. testa alba, solida, eleganter
striata ; striis crebris, inequidistantibus, punctatis ; spira occulta ;
apertura magna. Length, .38 inch ; breadth, .24 inch. Habitat,
Casco Bay.

Pliysa fragilis, Migh. P. testa tenuissima, oblique ovata ;
spira brevi ; anfractibus quatuor ; apertura subovata, repanda ;
labio tumido, lamina obtecto. Length, .55 inch ; greatest breadth,
.4 inch. Habitat, Monmouth, Me.

Limnaza decollata. L. testa ventricosa ; anfractibus duobus vel
tribus, ultimo magno ; spira breviuscula, plerumque decollata ;
sutura impressa ; apertura maxima, sub-campanulata ; labro por-
recto ; columella valde plicata. Length, .6 inch ; breadth, .5
inch ; height, .4 inch. Habitat, Unity, Me.

Margarita varicosa, Migh. M. testa parva, tenui, conica ;
anfractibus quatuor, convexis ; longitudinaliter costulatis, transverse
striatis ; sutura sub-canaliculata ; umbilico magno, profundo.
Height, .25 inch ; diameter of base equal to the height. Habitat,
Bay Chaleur.

Trochus occidentalis, Migh. T. testa pallida, imperforata ; an-
fractibus septem, convexis ; carinis pallide fuscis ; infra laevi ;

50

sutura impressa ; columella callosa. Height, .5 inch ; greatest
basal diameter, .43 inch. Habitat, Casco Bay.

Cingula latior, Migh. C. testa minima, ovato-conica, laevi,
pallida ; anfractibus quatuor, convexis ; sutura impressa ; spira
quam apertura longiore ; anfractu postremo magno ; apertura sub-
ovata ; operculo corneo. Length, .08 inch ; breadth, .05 inch.
Habitat, Casco Bay.

Turritella costulata, Migh. T. testa albida, transverse subti-
lissime striata ; anfractibus decern, superioribus sub-plicatis, duobus
ultimis sub-leevibus, ultimo sub-carinato ; apertura subovata, ante-
rius products.. Length, .7 inch ; breadth, .23 inch. Habitat,
Casco Bay.

Turritella reticulata, Migh. T. testa turrito-subulata ; anfrac-
tibus duodecim, convexis, longitudinaliter plicatis, transversim stri-
atis ; sutura valde impressa ; apertura sub-orbiculari. Length,
.7 inch ; breadth, .2 inch. Habitat, Bay Chaleur.

Pleurotoma violacea, Migh. & Adams. P. testa atro-purpurea,
longitudinaliter sub-plicata, transverse striata ; anfractibus sex,
ultimo supra, carinato, plicis in medio evanescentibus, alteris medio
carinatis ; spira. acuta ; apertura angustata ; cauda brevi. Length,
.3 inch ; breadth, .15 inch. Habitat, Casco Bay.

Fasciolaria ligata, Migh. F. testa elongata, fusiformi, crassa,
rubro-fusca, transversim costulata ; anfractibus sex, convexis : spira
acuminata ; sutura valde impressa ; apertura ovato-elongata ; labro
crenato ; columella biplicata. Length, .7 inch ; breadth, .3 inch.
Habitat, Mingan, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Fusus cancellatus, Migh. F. testa subulata, longitudinaliter
plicata, transverse striata : anfractibus septem, convexis : sutura
valde impressa ; spira acuminata ; apice acuta ; apertura sub-ovata ;
labro crenato. Length, .65 inch ; breadth, .25 inch. Habitat, Casco
Bay.

Nucula antiqua, Migh. N. testa parva, sub-trapcziformi, per-
obliqua, transverse sulcata : dentibus posticis sexdecim, anticis sex ;
marginesimplici. Length, .7 inch ; height, .27 inch ; breadth, .2 inch.
Habitat, Westbrook, Me. (fossil.)

Bulla occulta, Migh. B. testa parva, ovato-cylindracea : spira
occulta : labro supra elevato, medio recto ; apertura sub-angusta,
infra, lata, rotundati. Length, .2 inch ; breadth, .15 inch. Habitat,
Westbrook, Me. (fossil.)

51

The President read a letter from Mr. Edward Tuckerman
now in Europe, giving a very interesting account of his re-
ception by botanists abroad, both in England and on the
Continent.

The President announced to the Society the death of
Professor A. P. Decandolle of Geneva, who was elected an
honorary member, at the last meeting of the Society.

He read a memoir of his life and services to the cause of sci-
ence. On motion of Rev. Dr. Greenwood, it was voted, That the
President be requested to communicate with the son of Prof. De
Candolle, and to express the sympathy which this Society feels in
the loss to the scientific world of his distinguished parent, and that
the President be further requested to prepare a memoir for publi-
cation in the Journal.*

Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

December 1, 1841.
The President in the Chair.

Dr. Binney exhibited four species of N. American Helices,
which he supposed to be new, and requested that they might
be submitted to a Committee for examination as to this fact.

Voted, That they be submitted 'to the Chairman of the
Committee on Conchology.

Dr. Binney also read a paper, " on some of the species
of naked Pneumonobranchous Mollusca of the United
States," containing a new genus and two new species, and
four species previously known, viz. Limax agrestis, Lin. ;
L. hortensis, Fer. ; L. Jiavus, Lin. : Tebennophorus Caro-
linensis, Bosc.

Genus Tebennophorus, Binney. Mantle covering the whole supe-
rior surface of the body ; pulmonary cavity anterior, orifice on the
right side toward the head ; orifice of the rectum contiguous to,
and a little above and in advance of the pulmonary orifice ; organs
of generation united, orifice behind and below the superior tenta-

* Published in Silliman's Journal, Vol. XLII. p. 217.

52

cle of the right side : without testaceous rudiment, terminal mucus
pore, or locomotive band of the foot.

Limax campestris, Binney. L. corpore succineo colore, cylin-
draceo, glandulis elevatis, elongatis subrugoso ; clypeo sub-antico,
ovali-oblongo, lineis ct sulcis concentricis striato ; cauda subcari-
nata ; apertura laterali postica. Length, one inch. Inhabits the
New England States, New York, Ohio, Missouri.

Philomycus dorsalis, Binney. P. corpore cylindraceo, postice
attenuato ; dorso linea longitudinali nigrescente interrupta et glan-
dulis minutis longulis instructo ; clypeo nullo ; apertura laterali
parva, antica. Length, .75 inch. Inhabits Massachusetts and
Vermont.

Professor Hall made some verbal statements with regard
to the Geology of the region of Niagara Falls.

He alluded more particularly to the retrocession of the Falls ;
the supposed fault of Professor Daubeny at Lewiston ; the forma-
tion for a space of 16 miles between Erie and Ontario, until
recently undetermined, — and the discovery of a fresh water for-
mation along the banks of the River, and on Goat Island. He
announced that it was his intention to write a detailed paper on
these subjects, and offer it for publication in the Journal.

Professor Hall also exhibited well authenticated specimens of
Old Red Sandstone of England and those of Pennsylvania and
New York, and showed their identity by the contained fossils.
He proposed to prepare a paper on the results of a comparison of
these rocks and fossils for publication in the Journal.

Mr. J. P. Couthouy continued his remarks upon the La-
goon Islands of the Pacific, which are to be embodied in a
paper for publication in the Journal.

He also presented for the Cabinet several species of shells,
viz. —

Helix lirata, Couth, ms. ; and H. rupium, Couth, ms. ; Chiton viri-
dulus, Couth, ms. ; Terebratula — ; Littorina erosa, Couth, ms. ; all
from Terra del Fuego ; Helicina solidula, Swains, from Chain Isl-
ands ; Balimus, from Pachecamac, Callao Bay ; Bulimus from Ascen-
sion ; Littorina from Feejee Islands ; Neritapicea, Reclus ; Littorina
and Pecten, all from Kauai, Sandwich Is. ; Buccinum and Ocula,
from Newcastle, New South Wales ; Vitrina from Argyle, New

53

South Wales ; Voluta multicostata, Brod. from New Zealand ;
two species of Hyalcca from Newcastle, New South Wales.

Mr. Whittemore communicated a portion of a letter from
Air. J. G. Anthony, of Cincinnati, in which he speaks of
having received Fishes and Crustacea from a dark cavern
in Kentucky, without any perceptible organ of vision.

The President laid upon the table Part 1 of Vol I. of the
Proceedings of the Botanical Society of London, from the
Society.

Dr. Gould presented specimens of Nidularia crvcibulum
in behalf of John A. Bolles, Esq.

A. A. GOULD, Sec. pro tern.

December 15, 1841.

The Society met at the President's house. — The President
in the Chair.

Mr. J. P. Conthouy continued his remarks upon the
Lagoon Islands of the Pacific.

A written report was sent by Dr. Storer. entitled '-Addi-
tional Descriptions of, and Observations on, the Fishes of
Massachusetts."

The following species he supposes to be new, viz.

Myliobatis lispinosus, Storer. Jaws furnished with rows of
smooth, flat, elongated plates, with rhomboidal plates exterior to
these. Tail 30 inches long from the anus, dirty brown and per-
fectly smooth, and tapering to a point. Dorsal fin two inches
back of the anus, one inch in length, subtriangular ; at its poste-
rior extremity is a strong, naked spine, 3 inches long, closely ser-
rated upon its sides, and beneath this is a similar spine 4 inches
long. The tail and part of the jaw were the only portions ex-
amined, and were furnished by Dr. L. M. Yale, of Holmes Hole.

54

The following species have been added to the Catalogue :

Perca flavescens, Mitchill, from Concord River.

Cybium maculatum, Cuv. " Mass. Bay.

Leuciscus cornutus, Mitch. " Berkshire Co.

Tetraodon mathematicus, Mitch, from Nantucket.

Zygaena malleus, Valenc. from Holmes Hole.

Raia centroura, Mitch. " Holmes Hole.

Squalus macrodon, Mitch. " Lynn.
Dr. Storer has also become satisfied that the fish previously
regarded by him as Perca flavescens, is P. granulata, Cuv. Tra-
chinotus argentens, Cuv. is Coryphcena perciformis, Mitch. It is
not a Coryphama, however, and has been placed by De Kay in a
new genus which he calls Palinurus.

The paper contained many other interesting particulars with
regard to the characters and habits of various fishes.

The President announced the following donations :

Four Nos. of the Journal of the Calcutta Society of Natural
History, from J". P. McClelland.

The 53d and 54th Annual Reports of the Regents of the Uni-
versity of New York.

The 3d, 4th, and 5th parts of the 2d Vol. of the Transactions of
the Albany Institute, from the Albany Institute.

Several Reports on the Geological Survey of New York, from
Professor James Hall.

A Report of the Superintendent and Inspector of Salt for the
State of New York, from Professor Hall.

Adjourned,

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

January 5, 1842.
The President in the Chair.

Mr. Couthouy continued the reading of his paper on the
formation of the Lagoon Islands in the Pacific.

A letter was received from Dr. T. S. Savage of Cape

55

Palmas, Africa, accompanying the donation of various ob-
jects.

Among them were a very large and valuable collection of in-
sects ; a Jar containing Fishes and Reptiles ; the elytra and thorax
of Goliathus cacicus, with a request that they might be committed
to some good chemist for analysis, for the purpose of discovering
the nature of the colored markings with which the insect is so
beautifully adorned. The letter contained copious remarks upon
the habits of the objects sent, and full descriptions of many of
them. This was referred to the publishing committee.

Voted, That the Corresponding Secretary be authorized
to transmit to Dr. Savage, in addition to the thanks of the
Society, a copy of the Society's Journal.

Voted, That Drs. Hale and Storer be a committee to pro-
cure and send to Dr. Savage, such articles for the collec-
tion and preservation of Insects and other objects, as they
may deem necessary.

Dr. Storer read an extract from a letter from Dr. J. P.
Ivirtland, stating that the specimen forwarded by him some
time since as the skin of the Sylvia Delajicldii, proves, on
a closer examination, to be that of the Kentucky Warbler,
{Sylvia formosa. )

Dr. K. also stated that he had met with a new species of
fish in the Ohio lliver, which he would soon describe.

Voted, That the Recording Secretary be requested for the
future to transmit to the Corresponding Secretary, notice of
the election of Honorary and Corresponding Members, the
reception of donations, and the passage of special votes of
thanks, in order to ensure the transmission of due informa-
tion of the same.

Voted, That the Recording Secretary be also requested
to enter upon the Records of the Society full abstracts of
all written papers, as well as of verbal communications,
with a view to their publication as Proceedings.
Adjourned.

F. A. EDDY. Rpr. Sec.

56

January 19, 1842.

The President in the Chair.

Dr. S. L. Abbot exhibited some birds received from Rev.
J. H. Linsley of Stratford, Con. on which he made a writ-
ten Report.

The first was the Swamp Sparrow, (Fringilla Georgiana Nutt.
Ammodramus palustris, Audub.) one of our most common species,
but, being young, it differed slightly from the descriptions in the
books. The Black and Yellow, or Spotted Warbler (Sylvia ma-
culosa, Nutt. Sylvicola maculosa, Audub.) The Crested Wren,
(Regulus calendulas) young of the first year, before the character-
istic vermilion spot on the crown has appeared.

Dr. A. announced the following birds which he had pro-
cured, and which had been mounted for the Society :

Fuligula mollissima, Eider Duck, male.

Anser Canadensis, Canada Goose, adult male.

Uria Alle, Little Auk, or Sea-Dove.

Of the latter, Dr. A. remarked, that it is a very hardy bird, fre-
quenting the most northern regions, and procuring its prey among
the tumbling ice.

Mr. Couthouy remarked that the sailors had the superstition
respecting this bird, which they are commonly supposed to enter-
tain respecting the Stormy Petrel, but which, as applied to the
latter bird, he had not noticed, viz. that it is a prognosticator of
storms.

Dr. Abbot exhibited the stomach of the Cinereous Owl,
containing a rounded mass, which, upon being opened,
was found to consist of the bones and hair of several mice,
showing that these birds reject, undigested, such parts of
their prey.

Dr. Henry C, Perkins, of Newburyport, offered to the
Society casts of some fossil bones lately found at the Wal-
lamet settlement on Columbia River, supposed to be those
of a Megatheroid animal.

The larger bones are fragments of the humerus, strongly resem-

51

bling the humerus of Orycteropus Capensis. There is a tooth
which Dr. P. regards as a tooth of the Mylodon of Prof. Owen.
A notice of these bones had been given in a recent number of
Silliman's Journal. Dr. P. was not aware that any bones of Me-
gatherium had been previously found in this country, except per-
haps one noticed by Dr. Mitchill as found upon an island on the
coast of Georgia. There were found, at the same locality on Co-
lumbia River, cervical vertebra?, tusks and teeth of a fossil elephant.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson mentioned that a Porpoise had been
taken in Chelsea, which he thought would be a valuable
acquisition to the Cabinet. He was authorized to procure
it.

The Recording Secretary announced that he purposed to
publish a Catalogue of the Plants belonging to New Eng-
land, and solicited any information which members might
afford him in aid of his purpose.

On motion of Mr. Teschemacher, Voted, that the Journal
of the Society be sent to Dr. Shortt of Kentucky, in acknow-
ledgment of contributions of Botanical Specimens received
from him.

The following donations were then announced, viz.

The skin of a Dove from Manilla, subsequently found to be the
Columba cruenta. Lath. From Lewis Ashman, Esq.
Unio intermedins, from S. S. Haldeman.
Tellina Spengleri, from Prof. C. B. Adams.

The thanks of the Society were voted for the several
donations, and the Society adjourned.

February 2, 1842.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. S. L. Abbot read a Report on a Specimen of Syrnium
cinereum — the great Cinereous Owl.

The specimen is a very perfect one, and differs somewhat from
those described and figured by Nuttall and Audubon. It is rarely
found in our latitude, but is common in the woody districts lying

8

58

between Lake Superior and latitude 67° or 68° between Hudson's
Bay and the Pacific. Only two are recorded by Audubon as hav-
ing been seen in this State ; and Nuttall says that it only appears
when driven here by the severity of the winter in its northern
haunts. It is a little singular, that two excellent specimens of this
bird should have been obtained here the present winter, so remark-
able for its mildness.

The length of our bird is 16 inches — its alar extent 57 inches,
and its weight about three pounds.

Dr. Storer communicated a paper from William O. Ayres
of East Hartford, entitled " Enumeration of the Fishes of
Brookhaven, L. L> with remarks upon the species ob-
served."

The paper was accompanied by figures of Mugil lineatus, Mitch,
and Rata diaphanus, Mitch, and is intended for publication in
the Journal. The following are the species enumerated, viz.

Perca flavescens, Mitch. ; Etheostoma Olmstedi, Storer ; Labrax
lineatus, Cuv. ; L. mucronatus, Cuv. ; Pomotis vulgaris, Cuv. ; Pri-
onotus strigatus, Cuv. ; P. Carolinus, Cuv. ; Cottus variabilis, Ayres ;
Gasterosteus Noveboracensis, Cuv. ; G. millepunctatus, Ayres ;
Otolithus regalis, Cuv. ; Umbrina nebulosa, Mitch. ; Pogonias gigas,
Mitch. ; Scolopoides Sayanus, Gilliams ; Sargus ovis, Mitch. ; Pa-
grus argyrops, Lin. ; Scomber vernalis, Mitch. ; Cybium macula-
turn, Mitch. ; Temnodon saltator, Cuv. ; Vomer setapinnis, Mitch. ;
Peprilus triacanthus, Peck ; Mugil lineatus, Mitch. ; Atherina Bos-
cii, Cuv. ; Lophius piscatorius, Lin. ; Batrachus variegatus, Le
Sueur; Labrus Americanus, Bloch ; Crenilabrus burgall, Schospp ;
Leuciscus chrysoleucas, Mitch. ; Fundulus fuscus, Ayres ; Hy-
drargira fasciata, Schn. ; H. pisculentus, Mitch. ; H. flavula, Mitch. ;
Esox reticulatus, Le Sueur ; Belone truncata, Le Sueur ; Alosa
mattowaca, Mitch. ; A. menhaden, Mitch. ; Morrhua tomcodus,
Mitch. ; Merluccius vulgaris, Cuv. ; Phycis Americanus, Schn. ;
Platcssa plana, Mitch. ; Rhombus aquosus, Mitch.; Rhombus aquo-

sus, Storer; Achirus mollis, Mitch.; Echeneis ? Anguilla

acutirostris, Yarrell ; Ammodytcs lancea, Cuv. ; Syngnathus fus-
cus and Peckianus, Storer ; Diodon ? Tetraodon turgidus,

Mitch. ; Orthagoriscus mola, Schn. ; Acipenser oxyrinchus, Mitch. ;
Carcharias griseus, Ayres ; Mustelus canis, Mitch. ; Spinax acan-

59

thias, Lin. ; Raia diaphanes, Mitch. ; Trygon centroura, Mitch. ;
Myliobatis ? Petromyzon Americanos, Lc Sueur.

A Letter was received from William W. Andrews, Esq.,
of Malta, enclosing two specimens of Insects from a Collec-
tion in that place 96 years old, and perfectly preserved
between thin sheets of mica cemented at the edges.

Prof. F. Hall, of Washington, made some statements
relative to the collection of objects being made under the
direction of the National Institute at Washington. The
Cabinet is receiving constant accessions from members of
Congress and others, but most of all from the collections
made by the Exploring Expedition.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Memoires sur le Canada, depuis 1749 jusqu' a'1760. 8vo. pam.
Quebec. 1838. From the Literary and Historical Society of
Quebec.

Remarks upon the Coral Formations of the Pacific, by Jos. P.
Couthouy. 8vo. pam. Boston. From the Author.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History for September, No-
vember and December, 1841. By Subscription.

Monograph of the Limniades, No. 4. From the Author, «S. S.
Haldeman.

Chimie Experimental et Raisonnee, par M. Baume. 8vo. Paris,
1773.

Essais ; ou Receuil de Memoires sur plusieurs Points de Mine-
ralogie, par M. Macquart. 4to. Paris, 1789.

Elemens de Chimie appliquee a la Medicine et aux Arts, par
M. Orfila. 8vo. 2. Paris, 1819. From Wm. B. Foivle.

History of British Birds, indigenous and migratory. By John
Macgillivray. 8vo. 2. Lond. 1837.

General Outline of the Animal Kingdom, and Manual of Com-
parative Anatomy. By Tho. Rymer Jones. Svo. Lond. 1841.

Courtis Fund.

The President read a letter from Dr. John Torrey of New
York, acknowledging his election as an Honorary Member
of the Society.

Adjourned.

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

60

March 2, 1842.

Regular meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in

the Chair.

Dr. Eddy made some Remarks on the " Report on the
Herbaceous Plants of Massachusetts." by Prof. Dewey,
pointing out many defects in literary execution and scien-
tific detail.

Mr. H. J. Bryant read, a Report on a Parrot recently pre-
sented by Mr. Teschemacher.

It is the Platycercus Pennantii of Vigors, an inhabitant of New
Holland, where it is common. It was kept caged for some time
with several Canary birds, and was twice detected in the act of
devouring one of them which he had killed. This habit probably
is not natural, as it is said to feed upon seeds, principally those of
grapes and the cereal grasses.

A Letter was read from Prof. Michelotti of Turin, re-
questing that the Society would exchange its Journal for
certain works published by him. Referred to the Publish-
ing Committee, with instructions to accede to his request.

A Letter was read from Dr. Edward Jarvis, of Louis-
ville, announcing that he had sent to the Society some spe-
cimens of Moretis, male and female. They are common
in Green River County, and are occasionally found in the
vicinity of Louisville.

A Letter was received from J. Amos, Esq., stating that
a case containing Specimens of Birds from the Himalaya
mountains, had arrived. They were sent by Hon. A.
Amos of Calcutta as a present to the Society.

The Cranium of a Porpoise was presented by Dr. Too-
mey of Chelsea.

Voted, That the thanks of the Society be communicated
to Messrs. Amos, Jarvis and Toomcy for their valuable
donations.

Adjourned.

F. A. EDDY, Rec. Sec.

61

March 16, 1842.

Vice President, Dr. C. T. Jackson, in the Chair.

Dr. S. L. Abbot made some remarks upon several Birds
which had been recently procured and mounted for the Soci-
ety, viz.

1. Kittiwake Gull, (Lams tridaclylus, Lath.) shot in the outer
harbor in January, in full winter plumage, by Mr. Charles Mayo,
and by him presented to the Society. 2. Black headed Cull (Lo-
tus atricapUla, Lin.) a species which Dr. A. had observed to be
very abundant about Yarmouth, but which is not mentioned by Mr.
Peabody in his Report on the Birds of the State. 3. Long-billed
Curlew (Numenius longirostris, Wilson,) an adult female in full
plumage, shot in Virginia.

Dr. Gould had examined a paper in the last number of
Silliman's Journal, by Henry C. Lea, purporting to de-
scribe eight new species of shells.

Dr. G. believed that a large proportion of them were not new.
The Cyrena purpurea, he was confident, must be a small speci-
men of Venus gemma, Totten. The genus Cyrena seldom inha-
bits salt water. His Crepidula acuta is certainly a small specimen
of C. convexa, Say. His Carychium exile is a common variety of
Pupa cxigua. Say. Pasithea sordid a must be a variety of Ac-
tion trifidus, Totten ; and Cerithium cancellation is apparently a
specimen of Cingula aculeus, Gould, with the lip broken.

Dr. G. deprecated such a practice as had been here pursued,
that of describing very minute shells, from a few specimens
brought from a distance. The natural inference that they might
be embryo shells ought to deter one from describing them, unless
he were possessed of numerous specimens gathered at different
seasons.

Mr. Teschemacher exhibited a number of fossil Ferns
which he had collected from the anthracite coal mines at Mans-
field, with a view of ascertaining the age of the stratum by a
comparison of the fossils with those of other coal mines in
this country, particularly those of the Alleghany region.

62

He had ascertained the following species by the aid of Brong-
niarfs Fossil Ferns, viz. Sphenopteris Dubuissonis ; Pecopteris
cistii ; P. Serlii ; P. punclidala. There were some species of Neu-
ropteris, one of which appeared to be N. acutifolia, and another
N. Scheuchzeri ; also one species of Odontopteris, but none of them
perfect enough to be identified. Three or four of these were iden-
tical with species found at Wilkesbarre, and figured by Brongniart.
He spoke of the abundance and beauty of the Ferns to be found
at Mansfield, and hoped other members of the Society would give
them attention.

Dr. C. T. Jackson alluded to the singular position of the
fossil remains at Mansfield, and stated that the coal strata
had been completely inverted by a force acting from be-
neath on the centre of the strata.

Dr. Storer reported upon some numbers of the Calcutta
Journal of Natural History which had been committed to
him for that purpose.

He also read an interesting Letter from Dr. Wyman at Paris,
and presented a very perfect skeleton of a mole which Dr. W.
had bought to replace one which he had formerly broken.

Dr. Abbot stated that Mr. Teschemacher had deposited
with the Society two swans which had died suddenly at
the Conservatory, and which were to be mounted.

In the pro-ventriculum were found some leaves of JSerium ole-
ander', and Mr. T. did not doubt that their death was caused by the
poisonous qualities which that plant possessed in common with
many belonging to the family Apocynese, particularly the cele-
brated Upas Tree of Java.

Dr. H. C. Perkins of Newburyport presented a cast of
the fossil femur of the Orycterothcrium Oregoiiense.

Dr. J. P. Spooner of Milton, presented a Collection of
Plants from the vicinity of Milton, made by D. C. Field.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Drs. Perkins
and Spooner.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

British Zoology. By Tho. Pennant, 8vo. 3. Lond. 1768. Cour-
tis Fund.

63

Supplcmentum Indicis Ornithologici, studio et opera Joannis
Latham. 4to. Lond. 1801.

Natural History of Birds. By Eleazcr Albin. 4to. 4. Lond.
1738. Audubon Fund.

Genessee Farmers' and Gardeners' Journal. Nos. 1. 2. Vol.
III. From the Editor, H. Colman.

Zoological Contributions No. 1. 8vo. pam. Philad. 1842. From
the author, S. S. Haldeman.

Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts. By Edward
Hitchcock. 4to. 2. Amherst. 1841.

Report on the Insects of Massachusetts injurious to Vegetation.
By T. Wm. Harris. 8vo. Cambr. 1842. Legislature of Massa-
chusetts.

Silliman's American Journal of Science and Arts, Vol XLII.
No. 2. From the Editors.

De Herbarum Virtutibus iEmilii Macri Veronensis elegantis-
sima poesis. 12mo. Basilise. 1508. From F. A. Eddy.

Calcutta Journal of Natural History, conducted by Jno. M'Clcl-
land. 8vo. Nos. 1, 3, 4. 1840-1. From the Editor.

Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences
for January 1842. From the Academy.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Nos. 15,
16, 18, 19, 20. From the Society.

April 6, 1842.
Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson made a written Report on his dis-
section of a young Spermaceti Whale, in which he demon-
strated several interesting points in its anatomy not men-
tioned in the books.

Dr. Gould stated that he had received from J. Bartlett,
Esq., of Cuba, an interesting collection of land and fresh
water shells from that island.

He offered descriptions of several species which he regarded as
new.

64

Mr. Bryant made a Report upon the Collection of Birds
from Bengal, given by Mr. Amos.

Most of them were in a state unfit for mounting. He had ascer-
tained the following species :

Bucca Philippensis,
Muscicapa paradisea.

Picus medius,
Iiurial Pigeon.

Mr. Abbot exhibited two Birds recently procured and
mounted for the Cabinet, viz. the male Scaup Duck, (Fidi-
gula mar ilia,) and the Song Sparrow. (Fringilla melodea.')

He read a letter from Dr. Brewer to Mr. Audubon, expressing
his belief that two birds had been confounded under this name.
Mr. A. had published the letter without comment.

The following gentlemen were elected a Committee for
the reception of the Association of American Geologists in
the Hall of this Society at their approaching meeting, viz.
Dr. C. T. Jackson, Messrs. M. B. Williams, and T. Bnl-
finch.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Fourth Report on the Agriculture of Massachusetts. 8vo. Bost.
1841.

Genessee Farmer, Nos. 3 and 4. 1842.

From Henry Caiman.

General History of the Dichlamydeous Plants. By George
Don. 4to. vol. 4th. Lond. 1838. Audubon Fund.

North American Review, April, 1842. Exchange.

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Vol VIII.
No. 1. 4to. Philad. 1842. From the A. P. Society.

Flora of North America, by John Torrey and Asa Gray. Vol.
II. No. 1. 8vo. New York, 1841. From Thomas Lee, Esq.

April 20, 1842.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Storer communicated a paper from W. O. Ayres of
East Hartford, describing four fishes taken at Brookhaven,
L. I., which he regards as new.

65

Carcharias griseus. Color bluish gray above, white beneath.
Branchial orifices five on each side. Teeth numerous, and simi-
lar in each jaw, not arranged in regular series ; long and pointed,
spreading at base ; edges smooth. Nostrils oval, immediately an-
terior to the mouth. No spiracles discernible. Pectorals hori-
zontal ; first dorsal nearly straight on the anterior edge, concave
behind, free posteriorly. The inferior portion of the tail presents
two lobes. Length, 41 inches.

Myliobatis acuta. Length, 3 feet ; breadth across posteriorly 2
feet 5 inches. Body above smooth, destitute of spines ; color red-
dish brown, beneath whitish. Branchial apertures five on each side.
On the tail are two reversely serrated spines, one directly above
the other, the upper one 2.75, the lower 3.75 inches in length,
inserted 5.5 inches from the origin of the tail, which is very slen-
der and smooth to the tip ; no fins beneath.

Gasterosteus millepunctatus. Length, 1.8 inch ; depth, .4 inch.
Body very thin on the back, widening downwards ; compressed
behind the anal fin. Color greenish olive on the sides, clouded
with brown dots in clusters. Sides destitute of the plates which
characterize most species of the genus. Ventral fin represented
by a single serrated spine. At the anterior origin of the anal fin
is a spine, not quite so high as the ventral spine.

Fundulus fuscus. Length, 2.1 inch ; depth, .9 inch. Body
rather rounded. Color very dark brown, striped longitudinally
with narrow, lighter lines ; a black, vertical band in front of the cau-
dal fin. Mouth small ; teeth numerous, fine and crowded ; those
of the upper jaw on the intermaxillaries, a few on the pharyngeals,
none on the vomer. Scales large but not prominent.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson gave a verbal account of his dissec-
tion of a foetal Porpoise about three feet long. Several in-
teresting particulars were pointed out relating to the vis-
cera, which will be embodied in a paper for publication in
the Journal.

Dr. Abbot reported the following additions to the Cabi-
net of Birds :

Fulica Americana, Gmel. Cinereous Coot, female.
Anas acuta, Lin. Pintail Duck, male.
Icterus pecoris, Temm. Cow blackbird, male and female.

9

66

Fringilla melodia, Wilson. Song Sparrow, Brewer's variety,
alluded to at the last meeting.

A communication on the subject of preparing a Diploma
of membership was laid on the table until next meeting.

A Letter was read from the Recording Secretary resign-
ing his office. On motion the resignation was accepted.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel-
phia, for Nov. 1841. 8vo. pam. From the Academy.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, No. 18.
Vol. II. 1841. From the Society.

Principles of Geology. By Charles Lyell. 12mo. 3. 1842.

Courtis Fund.

Monographie des Coquilles Bivalves et Fluviatiles de la Riviere
Ohio, par C. S. Rannesque. 8vo. pam. 1820.

Principes Fondamentaux de Somiologie, par C. S. Rafinesque.
8vo. pam. 1814.

Circular Address on Botany and Zoology. By C. S. Rafinesque.
18mo. pam. 1816.

Statistica Generale di Sicilia ; da G. E. Ortolani e C. S. Ra-
finesque, 12mo. pam. 1810. All from S. S. Haldeman.

Description of the Geology of the State of New Jersey. By
Henry B. Rogers. 8vo. Philad. 1840.

Second, 3d, 4th and 5th Reports on the Geological Survey of Penn-
sylvania, by H. D. Rogers. 8vo. 4. Harrisburg, 1839 — 42.

From Prof. Henry D. Rogers.

In consequence of the anticipated meeting of American
Geologists on the succeeding week, and in order that an in-
vitation might be extended to them for the occasion, the
Society adjourned to meet on the 27th inst., to hear the
Anniversary Address, being one week in advance of the
regular annual meeting.

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec. pro tern.

67

April 27, 1842.

The Society met according to adjournment, and was
fully attended by members of the Society, and by members
of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists
who were present by invitation.

The President gave a brief history of the doings of the
Society for the past year.

There had been 26 meetings of the Society. Sixty written and
oral Reports had been made, besides numerous letters other than
those of a merely formal character. The Library had received
140 additional volumes, and had been removed to a commodious
room, convenient for holding the winter sessions of the Society,
and accessible at all times. The Treasury was in funds to meet
all the liabilities of the Society, the expenditures for the year
amounting to $1213.36.

The Anniversary Address was then read by Dr. Samuel
George Morton of Philadelphia. His subject was " The
Origin and Characteristics of the Aborigines of America,"
and was treated in an elaborate and highly interesting
manner.

Voted, unanimously, that the thanks of the Society be
presented to Dr. Morton for his eloquent and instructive
address, and that a copy be requested for publication.

The Society then adjourned.

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec. pro tern.

May 13, 1842.
Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Storer communicated another paper from W. O.
Ayres, being " Descriptions of four species of Fishes from
Brookhaven, L. I., two of which are believed to be new,"
viz.

Mustelus canis, (Squalus canis, Mitch.)
Trygon centroura, (Raia centroura, Mitch.)

68

Diodon nigro-lineatus. Length, 6.75 inches ; breadth across the
eyes, 1.75 inches, greatest breadth, 2.5 inches. Color above and on
the sides black, beautifully marked with somewhat irregular lines of
olive. From the head to the dorsal fin, they are longitudinal ; in front
of the eyes, transverse ; from the mouth, obliquely downward and
backward. On the sides are three nearly circular black spots.
Beneath, yellowish. Body covered with strong, flattened, rather
blunt spines. Rays, P. 20 ; D. 13 ; A. 12 ; C. 9.

Cottus variabilis. Length, 6.5 inches ; breadth, 1.3 inches.
Head rounded, with 8 spines on each side. Color very variable ;
head and back brown ; sides marked with bands or irregular
blotches of dark brown ; abdomen white, occasionally inclining to
greenish yellow, sometimes spotted black ; lower jaw generally
with brown or black spots. Rays, D. 9-14 ; P. 17 ; V. 4; A. 11;
C. 11.

Dr. Storer also announced the donation of some Fishes
from Dr. J. W. Mighels, of Portland.

Thanks were voted for these donations.

The Committee to audit the Treasurer's accounts, re-
ported that they had found them correct, and a balance of
$136.93 in the Treasury.

The Committee to prepare a Diploma of Membership
submitted a design which was adopted.

DONATIONS TO THE LIERARY.

History of British Zoophytes. By Geo. Johnston, 8vo. Edin.
1838.

Monography of the Family Unionida:, or Naiades of Lamarck,
of North America. By T. A. Conrad. 8vo. 11 Nos. Phil. 1835-8.

Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. By Andrew Smith.
4to. Nos. 1, 2, 3. Lond. 1838. From the Courtis Fund.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, II. Nos. 21.
to 54. From the A. P. Society.

Fifty-third Report of the Regents of the New York State Uni-
versity, 2. 8vo. New York, 1840-41. From the Albany Insti-
tute.

Memoir on a portion of the lower Jaw of the Iguanodon. By
Gideon Mantell. 4to. Lond. 1841. From the Author.

69

Memoir of William Maclure. By S. G. Morton. 8vo. pam.
1841.

Description of some new species of Organic Remains of the Cre-
taceous Group of the United States. By S. G. Morton. 8vo. pam.
1842.

Some Remarks on the Ancient Peruvians, by S. G. Morton. 8vo.
pam. Philad. 1842.

Descriptions of some new terrestrial and fluviatile Shells of
North America. By Tho. Say. 8vo. pam. 1840.

From S. G. Morton.

Descriptions of some new species of Quadrupeds inhabiting
North America. By J. J. Audubon and J. Bachman. 8vo. pam.
Philad. 1841. From the Authors.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Nos. 52 to 55. 8vo.
Lond. 1842. By Subscription.

June 1, 1S42

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

The President announced that he had seen a letter
from Rev. Charles Brooks, now in Paris, stating that
Messrs. Milne Edwards, and Geoffroy St. Hilaire, Profes-
sors at the Garden of Plants, had expressed a wish to enter
upon a system of exchanges with this Society. Where-
upon Voted, that the proffer be accepted.

On motion, it was Voted, that Dr. Jeffries Wyman, now
in England, be authorized to appear as the delegate of this
Society at the meeting of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, at its approaching session at Man-
chester.

Dr. Abbot reported the addition to the Cabinet of the fol-
lowing mounted birds, viz.

St. Domingo Cuckoo (Coccyzus Dominicus.)
Belted King-fisher (Alcedo Alcyon, Lin.) male.
Wilson's Sand-piper (Tringa Wilsonii, Nutt.) male.
Ash-colored Sandpiper (Tringa cinerea, Lin.)

The President communicated, from Dr. Tho. Savage, of

70

Cape Palmas, Africa, a paper, containing Notes on the
Black Ourang (Troglodytes niger) and upon specimens of
Fishes and Reptiles sent by him to the Society. The
paper was referred to the Publishing Committee.

Dr. Gould presented, in behalf of Mr. Mayo, specimens of
Helix Iloconensis, Neritina, Buccinum, and Columbella.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Catalogue of Books in the Collection of the Mercantile Library
Association of New York. 8vo. 1837. From the M. L. Association.

Magazine of Zoology and Botany. 8vo. 2. Edin. 1837-8. From
the Courtis Fund.

Description of an entire Head and other bones of a Mastodon.
By Wm. E. Horner and Isaac Hays. 4to. pam. Philad. 1840.
From the Authors.

Mr. Charles B. Sherman was elected a member of the
Society.

The following gentlemen, recommended by the Council,
were elected :

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Prof. Henry D. Rogers of the University of Pennsylvania, Phi-
ladelphia.

Prof. William B. Rogers of the University of Virginia, Char-
lottesville.

William McGillivray, Esq., A.M. F.R.S.E. Edinburgh.

C. F. P. Von Martius, Munich.

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.

Prof. Lewis C. Beck, Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J.
Samuel L. Dana, M. D. Lowell.
Douglass Houghton, M. D. Detroit, Mich.
Henry King, M. D. Washington, D. C.
Prof. Oliver P. Hubbard, Dartmouth Coll. Hanover.
Prof J. W. Bailey, Military Academy, West Point.
Rev. R. T. Lowe, Madeira.
John M'Clelland, M. D. Calcutta.
Henry C. Perkins, M. D. Newbury port.
Adjourned,

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec.

71

June 15, 1842.

Regular meeting, Mr. C. K. Dillaway in the Chair.

Dr. Storer communicated Descriptions of Acipenser rubi-
cundus, A. platyrhyncus, and Rutilus Storerianus, accompa-
nied with figures, which he had received from Dr. J. P.
Kirtland of Ohio.

Dr. K., in his description of A. rubicundus, observes, that the
varieties occasioned by age, sex, locality and other circumstances,
have occasioned him much perplexity. But, after five years' ex-
amination, he feels great confidence in considering the A. rubicun-
dus and maculosus of Le Sueur, and the Scotinus Ohioensis, and
macrostomus of Rafinesque, and the fish of which he had sent a
description to the Society under the name of " A. nudus" to be all
the same species.

The true Rutilus plagurus of Raf., Dr. K. had been able finally
to determine. The species formerly supposed by him to be such,
he now proposes to call R. Storerianus.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson read portions of the Letter from Dr.
Savage respecting the habits of the Chimpanzee, its food,
method of fighting, and flight from enemies, parental affec-
tion, &c.

He also mentioned some particulars in which the specimens of
crania sent to the Society did not conform to the description of the
osseous system given by Mr. Owen. The cranial sutures were
not persistent, but completely obliterated. Dr. O. states that the
Chimpanzee has but one suborbital foramen on each side, while
the Black Ourang has three or more ; but in the Society's spe-
cimens, the Ourang has but one, and the Chimpanzee has two.

Dr. Gould exhibited a series of specimens of a species of
Neritina, presenting very wide differences in coloring and
marking, the extremes of which would never have been
suspected to belong to the same species, some specimens
having black, others red, and others yellow for the ground
color, and others having two or the three colors intermixed
sometimes in bands, and sometimes in longitudinal marks.

72

Dr. G. also read a paper on Mytilus edulis, showing its
powers of locomotion, and exhibited specimens in illustra-
tion.

It is every where stated, that when the byssiferous mollusks be-
come once attached, they have no power to detach themselves.
So far from this, Dr. G. showed that they change place with great
facility. The specimen he exhibited had raised itself up the side
of a glass jar, three inches in a single night. To do this, the ani-
mal first stretched out its finger-like foot to its greatest extent, and
attached a fibre, and drew its body within the shell as much as
possible, by which the whole was raised about three fourths of an
inch. Numerous fibres were then fixed in a radiating manner,
until sufficiently secure, and then the whole of the pencil of radiat-
ing fibres forming the preceding attachment was thrown ofFin a mass,
at the foot, the ends being still held together by a sort of knot.*

In Griffith's Cuvier, it is advanced that the Byssus " consists of
an assemblage of muscular fibres, dried up in a portion of their
extent, but living and contractile at their origin." The differing
length of the threads, 2 or 3 inches, according as their point of
attachment is more or less distant, their indestructibility by mace-
ration in water, and some other particulars, would invalidate this
idea.

He alluded to a statement of Lamarck, that the shells of the
genus Modiola are always destitute of a byssus ; whereas, with
regard to the species found so abundantly on this coast, M. papu-
ana, Lk., this is notoriously an error.

A Letter from Dr. Locke of Cincinnati was read, in
which he announced that he had sent to the Society a suite
of casts of Trilobites, exhibiting the varieties found in Ohio,
and the adjacent region.

Dr. E. Hale read extracts from a Letter from Dr. Sav-
age of Cape Palmas, announcing further contributions to
our Cabinet, consisting of parts of the Chimpanzee not
before sent, also Fishes and Reptiles.

* In the Annalcs des Sciences for July and August, 1842, it appears
that the same fact has been observed by M. Marion de Proce of Nantes.
He erroneously states, however, that the fibres of the old attachment are rup-
tured, whereas they are cast off in a mass, as above stated.

73

The thanks of the Society were voted to Dr. Savage for
his many valuable donations, recently presented.

Dr. Abbot announced the following additions to the Cabi-
net of Birds, viz.

Charadrius semipalmatus ; female.
Ch. Helveticus ; male and female.
Strepsilus interpres ; female.
Scolopax grisea ; male.
Fringilla tristis ; male.
Tanagra rubra ; male.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Shells of the genera Nerita, Navicella, Trochus, Monodonta,
Truncatella, Auricula, Buccinum, from the Fejee Islands. From
T. J. Wkittemore.

Helicina, Caracolla, Helix and Cyclostoma from the same local-
ities. From /. P. Couthouy.

July 6, 1S42.

Mr. Whittemore was elected Chairman.

Dr. Cabot read a paper on the Meleagris ocellata.

The only specimen of this bird, known to naturalists is in the
Jardin des Plantes. This was taken by log-cutters in the Bay of
Honduras, and died on its passage to Europe. Plates are given in
the Naturalist's Library, and in the work of Temminck, both very
imperfect, but the description annexed in the former work is cor-
rect as far as it <K>es. This bird inhabits the region south of Texas
to the Isthmus of Panama, and in those countries takes the place of
the common or Wild Turkey of North America. Whether it is found
in South America is uncertain. Latham expresses doubts whether
it should be considered a distinct species ; a doubt which Dr. Cabot
says " no one who has seen the living bird could entertain for a
moment.'" The plumage is very different from the common Tur-
key, as are its form and motions also. The male bird is nearly
a foot shorter than the common Turkey. There is no pectoral
appendage. The tail consists of eighteen feathers, rounded at the

10

74

tips, and having an eye, like those of the Peacock, in the end of
each.

Dr. Storer gave some notices of the large Serpent pre-
sented by Dr. Savage of Mt. Vaughan, near Cape Palmas,
West Africa.

It is described and figured in Dr. Andrew Smith's Zoological
Illustrations of South Africa, as the Python Natalensis. He con-
sidered Dr. Savage's communication accompanying the Python
very valuable, not merely for the inieresting accounts contained
in it of the several individuals which had been met with, and the
manner of their capture, but also for the light he threw upon their
habits.

" The general habit of this serpent in seeking its prey," remarks
Dr. Savage, " is to lie in ambush near a frequented path or water-
ing place ; and, suspended from a tree, or with its tail fixed to
some other object, to dart upon the unwary animal. The attack
is so sudden and violent that the victim is often prostrated and
stunned, and then begins the dreadful process of constriction. A
bullock was so much injured in a recent attack, as to be supposed
beyond the possibility of recovery." Instances of its attack upon
man are very rare, and are probably never made but when the
animal is in a state of extreme hunger. The natives fear them
single-handed, but not in numbers. They seek them for food,
esteeming them highly on their bill of fare.

Dr. Storer also presented specimens, male and female, of
the Scaphiopus solitaries : Holbrook ; which he had received
from Dr. Andrew Nichols of Danvers.

They were found at Danvers. This is the only locality in
which they have as yet been found north of Carolina. Dr. S.
observed he had received two very interesting letters from Dr.
Nichols respecting these animals, but as Dr. N. would prepare a
communication upon the subject for the Journal of the Essex Co.
Natural History Society, he was not at liberty to read them at
present.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

There were laid on the table a part of the donation of Dr. Sav-
age, lately received — portions of the solid structures and cells of
Termites.

75

Shells principally from the West Indies, 28 species, 20 of which
are new to our Cabinet, viz. — 1 Columbella, 2 Mitra?, 2 Patella?,
2 Serpulac, Melania annulifera (Italy), Hyalam uncinata ? Petricola
lucinalis, Pholas, Gastrochama modiolina, Pyrgoma semicostata,
Modiola fusca and Acasta, from Dr. /. E. Griffiths of Maryland.

Also from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, 1 Columbella from the Sandwich Islands ; 1 Conus from
Ceylon.

On motion of Dr. Gould, the thanks of the Society were pre-
sented to Dr. Griffiths.

Dr. Gould presented a box of Minerals and Fossils.

Dr. Cabot presented a box of Shells from Yucatan.

Mr. Whittemore presented additional specimens of Shells from
the Fejee islands, Columbella, Melanopsis, Melampus and others, —
in all 88 specimens.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Second Report of the Proceedings of the National Institution
for the Promotion of Science. Washington, D. C. From J. P.
Couthouy.

The same. From the National Institute.

Address before the Geological Society of London. 8vo. pam.
by Roderick Impey Murchison, Pres. in 1842. From the Author.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadel-
phia, Vol. I. Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. From the Academy.

Naturalist's Library, Vol III. Gallinaceous Birds ; Vol X. Fly
Catchers ; Vols. IX. and XI. British Birds ; Vol. VII. Birds of Af-
rica. Audubon Fund.

North American Review, No. 116, for July, 1842. Exchange.

Silliman's American Journal of Science aud Arts. No. I.
Vol. XLIII. Editors.

Instructions and Observations on the use of the Chlorides of
Soda and Lime. By A. G. Labarraque. Translated by Jacob
Porter. 8vo. pam. 1842. New Haven. Translator.
Adjourned,

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec.

76

July 20, 1842.

The President in the Chair.

Dr. Storer read a description of a new species of fish.

Ilydrargira formosa. Back and sides greenish black ; the lat-
ter of which are crossed by numerous black bands ; a large black
spot upon the operculum ; a more or less regularly marked black
spot upon the posterior portion of the dorsal fin ; and an orange
colored caudal fin, margined at its extremity with black. This
fish was taken near the milldam in this city.

Mr. Whittemore read extracts from a late letter received
by him from J. G. Anthony, Esq., of Cincinnati, in which
be speaks of some fine Fossils lately found in that vicinity.

A new quarry abounding in strata of compact blue marl has dis-
closed some important facts with regard to Orthoceratites. They
are here found enveloped in what appears to have been a jelly-
like inflated mass, now flattened down. Occasionally, the envel-
oping mass seems to cover the whole striated portion of the Ortho-
ceras ; perhaps when perfect, it always did so. Specimens to the
number of ten or twelve have been found, some three feet long.

Dr. Cabot presented a list of Birds drawn up from per-
sonal observation, common to the region of Central Ame-
rica and the United States. It consists of about one hun-
dred genera.

Dr. Cabot read a memoir on the Paraqua Guan or Pha-
sianus motmot.

It is a gallinaceous bird domesticated by the natives of Central
America, and which it has been thought might easily be domesti-
cated in Europe and this country. Under the two names above
quoted, Latham and others describe two species, but Dr. Cabot
thinks they compose but one. The authority of Temminck is also
in favor of this opinion.

This bird is very common throughout Mexico, Central America,
and the northern part of South America. It lives principally in
trees, and feeds on leaves, insects, &c. The male cries in a most

77

loud and startling manner for some hours after sunrise, and before
dark in the evening. The Spanish name of the bird, Chicalacha,
shouted in a high key, and repeated rapidly, gives some idea of the
sound. The Indians take them young and rear them, and they
become very tame in confinement.

A letter was read from Professor Bailey of West Point,
acknowledging a notice of his election as corresponding
member, and enclosing a "Memoir on the existence of sili-
ceous spiculae in the exterior rays of Actinia," and sug-
gesting that such might possibly have been the origin of
some of the fossil spicula3 found in the infusorial strata of
the marine tertiary of Virginia; — also, memoranda on the
siliceous animalcules in Boston harbor."

Among them he found a new genus, which he proposes to call
Emersonia in honor of the President of this Society.

Genus Emersonia. Carapace siliceous, compressed. Central
portion oblong, separated by deep lines of constriction from the
two terminal, bi-cuspidate or auricled portions, forming chains,
which open in a zigzag manner.

E. elegans. Central portion nearly square, containing yellow
globules disposed in a circular group.

E. antiqua. Vide Bailey's Sketch of Bacillaria, pi. 2. f. 25.

The communication also enclosed a note on Cyclosis in plants.
Prof. B. has recently noticed this phenomenon in some plants in
which it has not been heretofore observed. The plants referred to
are Circsea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Eupatorium, and Cauli-
nia flexilis.

Dr. Gould exhibited some shells with living animals,
recently received from the West Indies.

They were packed in dry papers on the 12th June, at Matanzas,
and received and opened here on the 19th July ; and, on beino-
placed in water, immediately showed themselves alive and vigorous.
They were Neritae, Littorinae, Potamides and others. Dr. Gould
remarked upon the extreme acuteness of their sight, immedi-
ately perceiving the approach of a finger, and retreating instantly.

Dr. Abbot announced that Capt. Hunt, of the vessel in
which the articles destined for Dr. Savage had been ship-

78

ped for Africa, had refused to accept any compensation for
freight of the same ; and, on motion of Dr. Hale, the thanks
of the Society were voted to Capt. Hunt, for this instance
of liberality.

On motion of Dr. Gould, the gentlemen composing the
Association of Dental Surgeons, now in session in this city,
were invited to visit the Cabinet of the Society.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Mr. Bouve exhibited a series of Casts of Trilobites, presented
by Dr. Locke of Cincinnati. The casts are eighty in number, em-
bracing numerous varieties of Trilobites, and other fossils, Encri-
nites, Fucoides, &c. On motion of Mr. B. the thanks of the Soci-
ety were voted to Dr. Locke for this acceptable donation.

Several Jars containing Reptiles from Cuba, presented by Miss
Bartlett, of Roxbury.

A species of Cottus from East Hartford, Ct. From C. J. Olm-
sted.

Holothuria squamosa, and Halithea aculeata. From Jonathan
Johnson, of Nahant.

Chiton Indicus, and Ch. fuscus. From Dr. D. H. Storer.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Memoires du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Vols. 9 to 18, and
3 Nos. of Vol. 19. 4to. Paris. 1821 to 1830.

Organic Remains of a former World, by James Parkinson. 3
vols. 4to. London. 1833.

Manuel du Mineralogiste et du Geologue Voyageur. 12mo.
Paris. 1805. Courtis Fund.

The following gentlemen, nominated by the Council,
were elected Corresponding Members, viz.

J. C. Anthony, Esq., of Cincinnati.
Andrew Nichols, M. D., of Danvers.
Rev. J. H. Linsley, of Stratford, Ct.
Frederick Hall, L.L.D., of Washington, D. C.
Jacob Porter, M. D., of Plainficld, Ct.

Adjourned,

T. BDLFINCH, Rec. Sec.

79

August 3, 1842.
Regular meeting — Mr. T. T. Bouve in the Chair.

Mr. Dillaway gave a brief summary of the Papers con-
tained in the volumes of the Annales du Museum, recently
added to the Library.

The Secretary read a letter from Dr. N. C. Keep in be-
half of the Society of Dental Surgeons, expressing thanks
to the Society for the invitation to visit the Cabinet.

Dr. Storer announced that the care of the Reptiles would
henceforth devolve on Dr. Wyman, who had consented to
assume that duty.

Drs. Gould and Wyman were chosen a Committee to
ascertain the condition of the Insects belonging to the Soci-
ety, and to suggest what measures are necessary to ensure
proper care and attention to that portion of the Cabinet.

A Letter was received from the Secretary of the Ameri-
can Board for Foreign Missions, accompanying a box of
Insects from Western Africa. The thanks of the Society
were voted for this valuable donation.

Dr. Abbot announced the addition of the following birds
to the Cabinet, viz.

Turdus felivox, T. aurocapillus, Fringilla cyanea, F. nivalis,
F. Canadensis, F. erythrophthalma, F. Ludoviciana, Icterus acri.
pennis, Muscicapa crinita, M. atra, M. Acadica, M. ruticilla, Tota-
nus macularius.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Genera Filicum ; or Illustrations of the Genera of Ferns. By
VVm. J. Hooker. Nos. 1 to 9. 8vo. pam. London. 1838 to 1839.

Annals of Natural History, Nos. 56, 57, 58, for April, May,
June, 1842. 8vo. London ; also, Supplementary Nos. 47 and 54,
for September, 1841, and March, 1842. Courtis Fund.

Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabili, 4 vols. 8vo.
Parisiis, 1823. Dr. B. D. Greene.

A Monograph of the Limniades, or Freshwater Univalve Shells.
No. 1. Philad. By S. Stehman Haldeman. 8vo. Author.

80

Histoire de l'Academic Royale des Sciences, 1699 a 1731, 33
vols. 4to. Paris.

Histoire Naturelle des Mineraux. Par M. le Comte de Buffon.
5 vols. 4to. Paris. 1783. Courtis Fund.

Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 8vo. Paris. Vol. III. and 5 Nos.
of Vol. IV. 1835. Exchange.

Proceedings of the Botanical Society of London. Vol. I. No. 1.
8vo. pam. London. 1839. Bot. Soc. of London.

Saggio Storico dei Rizopodi Caracteristici dei Terreni Sopra-
cretacei, per Giovanni Michelotti. 4to. pam. Modena. 1841. -4m-
thor.

Monografia del Genere Murex ossia Enumerazione delle princi-
pali specie dei Terreni Sopracretacei dell' Italia, per G. Miche-
lotti. 4to. pam. Vicenza, 1841. Author.

August 17, 1842.

Regular meeting — Dr. Binney, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman enumerated the characteristics of a Batra-
chian Reptile of the genus Trachycephalus, sent by Dr.
Cragin from Surinam.

He also noticed a specimen of Mygale, and exhibited a sketch
representing the operculum which the animal is said to use for
closing the aperture of its dwelling. Dr. Binney asked if Dr. W.
had seen this operculum, as doubt of its existence had been ex-
pressed by Professor Hentz in his paper in the last number of the
Society's Journal. Dr. W. replied that he had seen a specimen
in the Museum of the Garden of Plants labelled " Nest of the My-
gale," and from this his sketch had been taken.

Dr. Cabot made some remarks upon a volume of the
Naturalist's Library respecting Gallinaceous Birds.

It is there stated that the Wild Turkey is to be found from the
North West Territory to Darien. Dr. C. thinks it does not go so
far south as Darien, and is not found west of the Rocky Mountains,
and but rarely west of the Mississippi. The Mandan Indians who
visited Washington, carried home a stuffed skin of the Turkey as
a curiosity. The Turkey is stated to be extinct in the north-east-

81

em parts of the United States, but the fact is otherwise. Dr. C.
purchased one in the market, brought from New Hampshire. It is
common in the western part of New York State.

Of the Argus polyplectron, this work asserts that the female has
not been described. Dr. C. has one, and will furnish a descrip-
tion of it. Tetrao urophasianns is spoken of as abundant on the
prairies, and much sought after by hunters. It is so unpalatable
that no hunter, unless pressed by famine, would eat it Tetrao
umbellus is stated not to be found south of the Gulf of Mexico
Nuttall says not south of Georgia.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson had recently been afforded an oppor-
tunity of examining a specimen of the Tunny or Horse
Mackerel.

According to Dr. Storer, the dorsal fin has 14 rays ; in this spe-
cimen there were but nine.

Dr. Gould remarked that the fin rays of most fishes are exceed-
ingly variable, and differ in number even on the two sides of the
same fish.

Dr. Binney confirmed this remark. He also stated that a Tunny
had recently been captured off New Brunswick, measuring 16 feet
in length. It is not a rare fish, as is usually supposed, but is rarely-
taken, because its flesh is not prized for food.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

The Botanical Text Book, by Asa Gray, M. D. 12mo. New
York, 1842. Author.

Naturalist's Library, Vol. II. on Ichthyology. l'2mo. London.
Exchange.

Rapport sur les Plantes Rares ou Nouvelles dans le Jardin de
Botanique de Geneve. Par M. De Candolle. 4to. pam. Geneve,
1824.

Troisieme, Quatrieme et Cinquicme Notices sur les Plantes
Rares dans le Jardin de Geneve. Par Wm. Aug. Pyr. et Alph. De
Candolle. 3 pam. 4to. Geneve Professor Asa Gray.

A Flora of the Northern and Middle Sections of the United
States, by John Torrey. Vol. 1st, 8vo. New York, 1824.
11

862

A Sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and Georgia. By
Stephen Elliott. 2 vols. 8vo. Charleston, S. C. 1821.

Flora Britannica, auctore J. E. Smith. Recudi curavit. J. J.
Romer. 3 vols. J2mo. Turici. Dr. B. D. Greene.

September 7 . i842.
Mr. Dillaway was chosen Chairman.

Dr. J. H. 8. Jackson gave some notices ol* the anatomy
of a Blackfish. Delphinus globiceps, Cuv. which was re-
cently harpooned near Craigie's bridge.

Dr. Wyman gave an account of a Platydactylus theco-
nyx from Santa Ornz, presented by Miss Gardiner at the
last meeting.

He also noticed Lieut. Wilkes1 " Analysis of the Exploring Ex-
pedition," to which Mr. Couthouy added many interesting facts
and remarks in relation to the Expedition during his connexion
with it.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Synopsis of the Cruise of the Exploring Expedition, by its Com-
mander, Chs. Wilkes. 8vo. pam. Washington, 1842. J. P. Cou-
thouy.

Revue des Fossiles du Gouvernement de Moscou. 8vo. pam.
Par G. Fischer de Waldheim. No. 1. Belemnites. Moscou, 1842.
Charles Cramer.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. II. No.
22, for May, June, and July, 1842. 8vo. pam. Amer. Phil. Soc.

Animal Chemistry, by Justin Liebig, with Notes, &c, by Prof.
J. W. Webster. 12mo. Cambridge, 1842. Exchange.

Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Vol. XVIII.
also, Part I. of Vol. XIX. 4to. London, 1838-42. Linncean Soc.

Proceedings of the Linnaoan Society of London, Nos. 1 to 10,
also 13 and 14. 12mo. pam. London. Linnaan Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr. Abbot presented a vertebra of a Cetacean, picked up on the
beach at Barnstable.

88

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson exhibited some ol* the parts of the Chim-
panzee presented by Dr. Savage.

The skeleton of a Chimpanzee, prepared by Dr. Lewis, was
deposited in the Cabinet by him.

Adjourned,

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec.

September 21, 1842.

The President in the Chair.

Dr. Gould read extracts from a letter lately received by
him from the Rev. Mr. Mason. American missionary at
Tavoy. Burmah. An abstract follows :

Some knowledge of the natural sciences is important to mission-
aries, apart from the consideration of the communications that they
may write home. On some it devolves to write dictionaries of for-
eign languages ; but how can they give proper definitions of the
objects of nature, without being first made acquainted with their
proper names ? Some become translators of the Bible, and the im-
portance of this knowledge to them is apparent. The Burman
translation abounds with unnecessary barbarisms, for the want of a
little knowledge of botany in the translator. In Matt, xxiii. 23,
" mint, anise and cummin" are transferred, three barbarisms to-
gether, and all unnecessary. For dill and cummin are constantly
in market, with good native names, and a plant allied to mint is
common. Camphire, Sansonia inermis, is disposed of in like
manner : a shrub that may be seen in almost every native garden :
and its leaves are constantly used by the Burmans, as by the Egyp-
tians, to dye the finger nails red. So with the coriander, the seeds
of which are always to be had in market ; and so with the acacia,
trees found almost every where, in town and country ; and so in
other cases. The palm of the scriptures which is the date palm, Phce-
nix dactylifera, has been rendered by the Fan palm, Borassus fla-
belliformis, a very different tree, though there are well known
Burman names for each. Missionaries may, however, be excused
for falling into some errors on these subjects ; for the books writ-
ten on them are often indefinite and confused in their statements.

84

and now and then contain downright error and contradiction.
There is a tree in the Jungles, which I suspect is the sycamore ;
but for want of a good systematic description of that tree, I cannot
be certain, and am afraid to adopt it, in the version. Yet I have
commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and Greek and Hebrew lexicons
that trnat on the word in sufficient abundance, and which tell every
thing about it, except what, for my purpose, is important to be
known.

Dr. Cabot furnished a list of birds common to this coun-
try and the region of Yucatan.

Dr. Abbot brought in, for the Cabinet, a Fork-tailed Fly-
catcher. (Mitscicapa savannah.}

It is a native of North and South America, but rarely found in
the United States.

AUDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr. Storer placed on the table three species of fishes, viz.

Argyriosus vomer, taken in a seine at New Bedford, and sent to
the Society by Mr. Horatio Leonard of that place. The only spe-
cimen Dr. S. has ever heard of as being taken in the waters of Mas-
sachusetts.

Esox minor, brought to him by Dr. Lernard of Sherburne. Dr.
S. had never seen it, although, in his Report, he states that an
Esox, with transverse bands, is known in the State.

Monocanthus brocchus. One specimen taken at Lynn, another
at Nantucket beach, are the only specimens Dr. S. has ever seen.

Dr. Gould presented, in behalf of Rev. Dr. J. J. Robert-
son, Episcopal missionary at Constantinople, some shells
from that locality, viz. 9 Clausiliee, 1 Helix, also 3 birds
and some insects from Abyssinia.

On motion of Dr. Gould, the thanks of the Society were
voted to Rev. Dr. Robertson for these specimens.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Nos. 59, 60, and 62 ;
for July, August, and September, 1842. Subscription.

85

Supplementary Plates to Zoological Journal. Nos. 1 to 5. 8vo
pam. London. 1825 — 1S35.

Zoological Journal, Nos. XIX. and XX. 8vo. pam. London, 1832,

Thesaurus Conchyliorum, or Figures and Descriptions of Shells,
by G. B. Sowerby, Jr., 8vo. pam. London, 1842. In Exchange.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Part XI.
1841. 8vo. ZonJ. Society.

Adjourned.

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec

October 5, IS 42.
Dr. Binney, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Binney made a report upon two works of Sig. Aliche-
lotti of Turin, recently presented by the author.

The first, a monograph of the genus Murex, is minute and care-
ful in its descriptions, qualities of the highest importance in a work
of this kind. The other volume is upon Rhizopoda, or microscop-
ic camerated shells. These shells, when first made the subject of
investigation by D'Orbigny, were considered as belonging to Ce-
phalopoda of as high an order of organization as the larger ani-
mals of that family. But later investigations by Dujardin repre-
sent them as internal shells belonging to infusorial animalcules,
and of the lowest grade of organization. This author's views coin-
cide with the latter opinion.

Dr. Gould remarked, that, in some recent microscopical
investigations with Dr. Wyman, on some of the Gastero-
podous mollusca, the conclusion had been forced upon them
that many of the Infusorial animalcules would be found to
occupy a place in the chain of being very little anticipated.

He hoped soon to present a full development of these observa-
tions. He made the general remark that he thought it not safe to

86

regard any of the forms of the invertebrate animals as mature,
unless that form had been detected in the parent state.

Dr. Gould gave verbal notices of a number of the Pro-
ceedings of the American Philosophical Society — also, no-
tices of Thesaurus Conchyliorum. No. 1, by G. B. Sower-
by, Jr.

He gave the latter work high praise, particularly remarking
upon the excellence of the figures. In respect to the reduced
figures, all on the same page are reduced in the same ratio, so as
to give a correct comparative view. The genus Helicina was
remarked upon as having been much increased of late with new
species. Lamarck enumerated 12 ; J. E. Gray added 16 ; this
writer makes 77 ; and yet has mentioned none from the islands of
the Pacific, from which source, numerous species have recently-
been brought. About one third of the species found in the Boston
cabinets are not found in this work, showing how much the num-
ber of actual species is yet to be extended.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr. Abbot announced the following additions in his department :

Baltimore Oriole, or Golden Oriole, male and female ; Icterus
Baltimore, Bonap.

Blue-bird, male and female, Ampelis sialis, Nuttall.

Black and White Warbler or Creeper, Sylvia varia, Latham.

Flicker, or Golden-winged Woodpecker, female, Picus armatus,
Linn.

Hairy Woodpecker, male, Picus villosus, Linn.

Downy Woodpecker, male and female, P. pubescens, Linn.

Tropic Bird, Phaeton wtherius, Linn.

Bartram's Tatler, Totanus Bartramius, Temminck.

Great or Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, Linn.

The last named presented by Dr. Abbot.

Mr. Bryant announced a donation from Mr. W. B. Reynolds, Jr.
consisting of 29 birds from Bengal, 15 fishes from the Ganges,
3 snakes, 1 crustacean. On motion of Dr. Wyman the thanks of
the Society were voted to Mr. Reynolds for this donation.

87

Shells from the Philippine Islands, as follows :
Helix pulcherrima, | H. cepoides,

H. polychroa, I H. florida,

H. concinna, H. mirabilis,

H. Valenciana, H. bizonata,

and three species not named. From Dr. J. C. Jay, of N. York.

A box containing fossils from Italy, was committed to Mr. Bouve
and, on motion, the thanks of the Society were voted to Sig. Mi-
chelotti for this valuable donation. From Sig. Michelotti.

Several specimens from Iowa territory, including Stalactite,
Marble, Lead ore, Fossils and Soil, the latter from Huron Co.,
Ohio, were committed to Mr. Teschemacher. Presented by Mr.
Asa Ward.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

An Address delivered before the Massachusetts Horticultural
Society, by J. E. Teschemacher. 8vo. pam. Boston, 1802. Au-
thor.

A Catalogue of the Phenogamous Plants of Columbia, S. C,
and its vicinity. By Lewis R. Gilley. 8vo. pam. 1835. Colum-
bia, S. C. Dr. H. I. Bowditch.

A Catalogue of the Mammalia of Connecticut. By James I.
Linsley. 8vo. pam. New Haven, 1842. Author.

October 19, 1S42.
Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

The President read a paper by F. Boott, of London, en-
titled -: Descriptions of Six North American Carices." It is
the beginning of a work which Dr. Boott has undertaken
and intends to continue, and which he has thus far exe-
cuted with great minuteness.

Mr. Teschemacher reported on some specimens of corn
from Texas, and some minerals from Iowa.

The corn (zea mays) from Texas, has several envelopes to each
kernel. Bonnafous, who has given a figure of it in his splendid
work, ranks it as a species. Mr. T. had planted a single seed

88

which was enclosed in a single envelope, by his own hand, purport-
ing to have come from the Rocky Mountains. When its seed had
arrived at maturity, it was naked, as maize usually is. The same
result has been witnessed by others ; if so, it cannot claim to be a
distinct species, or at least, no specific characters can be founded
on these envelopes.

He also reported upon some soil from Huron Prairie.
Ohio.

It is clayey and adhesive, and, therefore, likely to retain moist-
ure, and would probably prove, in a high degree, rich and fertile.
The power of soils for retaining moisture, results from the salts
and other substances contained in them, and is considered one of
the most important properties for productiveness. He objected to
the usual method of ascertaining the capacity of a soil for moist-
ure, by subjecting it to intense heat, and then weighing the resi-
duum ; for the loss of weight which is thus produced, may result
from the disengagement of nitrogen, and other gaseous constituents.

Dr. Storer reported on the specimens of fishes from the
Ganges, fifteen in number, presented by Mr. Reynolds at
the last meeting.

They belong to six different species, viz. : hates nobilis, Cuvier,
described by Shaw, Gen. Zool. vol. iv. p. 563, under the name of
Holocentrus calcarifer, from the spines on the operculum. Corius
polota, Hamilton, " Fishes of the Ganges," plate 38, fig. 31. La-
brus jaculator, Shaw's Zool. vol. xiv. p. 485, — derives its name
from the instinct which it possesses, of projecting drops of water on
insects, and thus securing them for its prey. Ophicephalus manu-
brius, Hamilton, pi. xxii. fig. 19. This species is said to be very
tenacious of life ; in China, it is carried about in water, and pieces cut
off for sale as they are wanted ; it brings a high price as long as
life lasts ; but is not valued when dead. Tetraodon jluviatilis,
Hamilton, pi. xxx. fig. 1. Cyprinus rohita, Hamilton, frequently
acquires the length of three feet, and is considered most excellent
food.

Dr. Storer also presented for the Cabinet a specimen of
Squalus mustclus. Lin. M. laevis, Cuvier. or " .Smooth
Shark'" of Pennant.

89

Dr. Wyman exhibited specimens of Brachycephalus ephip-
pium, Fitzanger, from South America.

Like other Brachycephali, the superior and lateral surfaces of the
head are covered with an expansion of the cranial bones, and on
the dorsal region it is in addition provided with a long plate, resem-
bling a saddle ; this last is formed by the expansion of the spinous
processes of the dorsal vertebra?, and represents, in a rudimentary
manner, the dorsal plates of the Testudinata.

He also exhibited preparations of the tegnmentary skele-
tons of the Scorpion. Cetonia and Dytiscus.

Dr. Gould called the attention of the Society to a pam-
phlet on the Mollnsca of Vermont, by Prof. 0. B. Adams,
of Middlebury College.

None but fresh water and land shells are found in Vermont ;
and of 87 species enumerated by Professor A., 28 have not yet
been found in Massachusetts ; 17 species belonging to Massachu-
setts are not enumerated as existing in Vermont, though TJnio radi-
atus, one of them, is known to be an inhabitant of that State. Prof.
A. distinguishes Pupa modesta from P. ovata ; Dr. G. regards the
former as the young of the latter. Pupa albilabris is named on
the authority of" Ward inedited" a deviation from the received rule
that no name can be recognized until published. This is the Cyclos-
toma marginata of Say ; but a change of name being requisite, P.
fallax, another of Say's names, has been adopted in the Report on
the Invertebrata of Massachusetts.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Genessee Farmer, No. 10, Vol. III. Rochester, 1842. 8vo. pam.
H Colman, Editor.

American Journal of Science and Arts, conducted by Professor
Silliman and B. Silliman, Jr. No. 2, Vol. XL11I. 8vo. New Haven.
Editors.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History, No. 61 of Vol. 9, and
63 of Vol. X. 8vo. pam. London, 1842. Courtis Fund.

Albany Gazette for Oct. 21, 1842. folio. Newspaper. Albany
Institute.

12

90

Report from Secretary of the Navy, communicating a Report
on the Second Invention of I. S. Eaton for preventing Explosion of
Steam Boilers. 8vo. pam. 184*2. Washington. W. R. Johnson.

Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,
Vol. VIII. Part II. 8vo. pam. Phil. 1842. Acad, of Nat. Sciences.

Adjourned.

THOMAS BLTLFiNGH. Secretary,

November 16, 1842.

Dr. Binney, Vice President, in the Chair.

Professor Gray gave an abstract of the Botanical Articles
in the Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Vols.
XVIII. and XIX. Part 1.

Dr. C. T. Jackson gave an account of some minerals
noticed by him in his Geological Survey of New Hamp-
shire during the last summer.

In the town of Cornish he discovered an ore containing anti-
mony, copper, silver, &c, in the following proportions, viz.

Copper,

28,339

Antimony, -

28,121

Iron,

11,095

Sulphur and loss,

28,050

Silver,

3,9000

100,000

This is a rich ore, and worth $1 90 per cubic foot.

In the same town was found an ore of antimony and copper
without silver. In Warren there exists, in a bed of Tremolite, an
ore of copper containing 20 per cent, of metal, and very abundant.
In Unity, there exists Polymignite ; in Cornish, Titanium ; in
Charlestown, Staurotide made passing into Andalusite ; and in
Grafton, Beryls of a fine quality.

91

Dr. Abbott gave notices of some recent additions to the
Cabinet of Ornithology, viz.

Strix asio, Lin. — Little Screech-owl.
Certhia familiaris, Lin. — brown creeper, male.
Parns atricapillus, Lin. — chicadee, or black-capped titmouse,
male.

Fringilla Savanna, Wilson — Savannah sparrow, male.
F. socialis, Wilson — Chipping sparrow, male.
F. Pennsylvanica, Lath. — White-throated sparrow.
Sitta Carolinensis, Lin. — White-breasled nuthatch, male.
Picus erythrocephalus, Lin. — Redheaded woodpecker.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Salices Americans. North American Willows. By Joseph
Barratr, M. D. 4to. pam. Middletown, Con. 1840. Author.

Notes of a Tour to the White Hills. By E. W. Southwick. 8vo.
pam. 1841. Author.

Mollusca. Fresh Water and Land Shells of Vermont. By C.
B. Adams. 8vo. pam. 1842. Author.

American Antiquarian Society's Fifty-Third Semi- Annual Re-
port. Svo. pam. Worcester, 1839.

Address before the American Antiquarian Society. By William
Lincoln. Svo. pam. Worcester, 1S35. Dr. Jacob Porter.

Iconographia Generum Plantarum, edidit Stephanus Endlicher.
Svo. Vindobonae. 1838.

Genera Plantarum secundum Ordines Naturalesdisposita. Auc-
tore Stephano Endlicher. Svo. Vindobonae, 1836 — 1S40.

Tentamen Pteridographiae. Auctore Carolo Bor. Presl. Svo.
Pragae, 1836. Courtis Fund.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. II. No.
23, for August, September, October, 1842. Svo. pam. A. P. Soc.

New Genesee Farmer, Vol. III. No. 11, for November, 1842.
H. Colman, Editor.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,
Nos. 17, 18, 19, Vol. I. for August, September, and October,
1842. 8vo. pam. Acad, of Nat. Sciences.

Memoires de la Soc. de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de

92

Geneve. Tome VIII. et Tome IX. lere partie. 4to. Geneve,
1841-42. From the Society.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History, No 64, for Novem-
ber, 1842. 8vo. pain. London Courtis Fund.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Specimens of Mammals, Fishes, Crustacea, Insects, &c. from
Martha's Vineyard. From L. M. Yale, M. D.

A suite of specimens of Sulphur from the vicinity of Mount
Etna. From John Randall, M. D.

Cranium of a Whale. From Capt, Wm. Cook of Provincetown.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Drs. Yale and Randall,
also to Capt. Cook, for their valuable donations.

A box was also received from Dr. F. W. Cragin of Surinam, a
corresponding member of the Society, containing 100 bird skins,
skin of the Giant Armadillo, (Dasypus giganteus,) crania of a Ja-
guar and of a Cebus, bird's nests, shells, seeds, &c.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Dr. Cragin for this
valuable donation, also for repeated instances of liberality in mak-
ing additions to the Cabinet.

Adjourned.

T. BULFINCH, Rec. Sec.

December 7 th, 1842.
The President in the Chair.

Dr. Gould exhibited a Crustacean, from Long Island
Sound, presented to the Society by Dr. Yale, which he had
figured and determined to be the Squilla empusa, of Say.

Three or four specimens of the same species had been recently
taken.

He also read a description of a new species of Crustacean
of the "genus Pasithoe (Goodsir) viz.

P. umbonata, Gould. Body oval, orbicular, hirsute, with a prom-
inent process arising from middle of back. Span of legs J inch,
it differs from the species described by Goodsir, in the circular

93

shape of its body, the absence of a projecting point from the poste-
rior segment, and the existence of an elevated umbo on the back.

He also exhibited specimens of Pyrosoma gigantea, referred to
him at a previous meeting, recently presented by Dr Yale.

Dr. Binney gave the results of his observations made
during two successive summers at Nahant, on the habits of
the Orthogariscas mola, or short sunfish.

He had found it common in our waters during the summer ; it is
very sluggish in its motions, and the surface of the body is usually
infested with numerous parasites. Dr. Binney had satisfied him-
self that these animals subsist on the Acalepha. He has fre-
quently found remains of the Medusae in their stomachs, and has
seen one captured while in the act of sucking in a large specimen
of one of these animals. Their slow movements, and inefficient,
jaws prevent them from pursuing a more active prey.

Mr. Bryant stated, that, while off our coast during the past sum-
mer, he had sometimes seen ten or twelve in the course of a day.

Professor Gray made some remarks on the Monograph
of Professor Choisy on the genus Cuscuta published in the
11 Mem. de la Soc. de Physique and d'Hist. Nat. de Ge-
neve."*

With regard to the plants to which they attach themselves, Pro-
fessor Choisy says that they have never been found on those pos-
sessing acrid or poisonous juices. Dr. Gray has seen a species on
the Cherry Laurel, (Cerasus Caroliniana,) the poisonous princi-
ple of which is Prussic acid. Though most commonly met with
on the Compositre and Leguminosse, Professor Decandolle had met
with it in one instance only upon one of the Grasses ; but in this
country at least, one genus of Grasses, (Leersia,) is occasionaliv
infested by these parasites. Six of the species of this country
described by Dr. Engelman appear not to have fallen under Profes-
sor C's observation. Cuscuta Gronovii of Choisy is identical with
the C. vulgivaga of Engelman ; and his C. glomerata is Dr. E's yet
unpublished C. adpressa.

Professor Gray also exhibited, under the microscope, specimens
of the papillae covering the achaena of the seeds of the genus Sene-
cio, which, when moistened, project from their extremities spiral

94

filaments. In the genus Blennosperma, (see Torrey and Gray;s
Flora of North America, Vol. II. p. 272,) these threads are of
great tenuity ; and in the genus Crocidium* they are broad and
flat.

Dr. Wyman reported upon a specimen ot a marsupial
animal from New Holland. This he found to be a rare
animal, called by the natives the " Nombite," and is the
Myrmecob'uts fasciatus. Waterhouse, and is described and
figured in Trans. Zool. Sec. Lond. Vol. I.

Dr. Storer exhibited a drawing of the Torpedo nobiliana,
Bonaparte, recently captured at Wellfleet, Cape Cod.

He had been well aware of a fish on our coast called by the fish-
ermen the " cramp fish,1' but having had no previous opportunity
to examine it, he had hitherto supposed it to be the Torpedo vul-
garis. This specimen agrees accurately with a description given
by Mr. Thompson, in the Annals and Magazine of Natural His-
tory, Vol. V.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Transactions of the Linnsean Society of London, Vol. XVIII.
Part 4. 4to. 1841. London.

Proceedings of the same, Nos. 11, 12. pp. 89 to 112. 8vo. Lon-
don. Linncean Society.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel-
phia, June and July, 1842. Nos. 15, 16, Vol. I. Acad, of N. S.

Sull' Ernie, Osservazioni di Placido Portal da Palermo 8vo.
pam. Napoli, 1842. Author.

Index plantarum quas Societas Imperial is Naturae Curiosorum
Mosquensis pro mutua Commutatione ofTert. 4to. pam. 1840.
Charles Cramer.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Specimens of Fusus, Achatina, Parluta, Achatinella three spe-
cks, Neritina, Bulla and Eulima, all from the Sandwich Islands,
From James J. Jarves.

Specimens of Paludina subcarinata. From J. G. Anthony of
Cincinnati.

95

Mycetopus siliquosa, Unio obtusus, Bulimus auris-muris, B. Ca-
[.ueira, B. Bahiensis, Cyclostoma hetianum, Helicina varia-

bilis, Anodonta anserina, all from Brazil. From Dr. A. A. Gould.

January 4. 18 13.

Dr. Gould was appointed Chairman.

Mr. E. S. Dixwell exhibited some specimens of lias lime-
stone from Meadville, Pa., in which were imbedded some
conical masses of about an inch in height, and somewhat
less at base.

He desired an opinion whether they were organic structures or
otherwise. They were committed to Mr. Bouve.

Dr. Abbot made a report upon some of the birds' skins
recently received from Dr. Cragin of Surinam. There
were five species, all new to our cabinet, viz.

Rhamphastos Tucanus, Lin.
Rhamphastos viridis, Lin.
Rhamphastos piperivorus, Lin.

Rhamphastos erythrorynchus, L.
Rhamphastos aricari, Lin.

Dr. A. also exhibited some skins of native birds recently added
to the Cabinet, viz.

Tringa alpina — Oxbird, (winter plumage.)
Sylvia icterocephalus — Chesnut-sided warbler, (male.)
Sylvia Americana — Parti-colored warbler, (male.)
Sylvia Canadensis — Black-throated blue warbler, (male.)
Sylvia trichas, Maryland yellow-throat, (male and female.)
Sylvia rubri-capilla — Nashville warbler.

Professor Gray exhibited a specimen of Car ex Fraseri-
a?ia, an American plant, which had been so long unnoticed
as to have been regarded as lost. It was rediscovered by
a party of which Prof. G. was one, on Grandfather Moun-
tain, North Carolina.

Dr. Wyman exhibited specimens of Eckinorynchus nodo-
stiS, Rudolphi, a parasite infesting the intestines of the
striped bass. {Labrax lineatus.)

96

To a space three inches in length and one in width were attach-
ed twenty or more of different sizes. In some instances the head
of the animal protruded, having pierced the intestine, while the
body remained within.

Baron Benjamin Delessert, of Paris, was elected an hon-
orary member.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

A Box of Crustacea from Terra del Fuego. From Joseph P.
Couthouy.

Specimens of the imbricated bony plates found beneath the skin,
on the humeral region of the Horse Mackerel, (Thynnus vulgaris).
From Dr. Toomey of Chelsea.

January 18, 1843.

Mr. Bouve was appointed Chairman.

Mr. Teschemacher reported on some slabs of slate with
dendritic markings, recently quarried in Newton.

The stone is a quartzose argillaceous slate, of a light gray color,
contrasting beautifully with the dendritic markings. These mark-
ings suggest the idea that they are the remains of Algae. Mr. T.
found no trace of organic matter in their composition ; on the other
hand, their metallic nature was established by obtaining a globule
of Manganese. He supposes the particles of Manganese to have
subsided, in the solution in which they were contained, and to
have assumed a dendritic form by pressure between the layers.
He in fact exhibited the same appearance, which he had obtained
by pressing manganese between two plates of glass. Similar
markings, though less noticeable, are found in the Roxbury pud-
ding-stone, and in a similar German sandstone.

Dr. Wyman read a Report on the Chimpanzee presented
by Dr. Savage. He compared the skeleton and all the vis-
cera, in detail, with those of man, and the onrang ontang.

He also exhibited, in behalf of Dr. Storer, the ovary of a striped
bass. From some unknown cause, the annual product of eggs

97

appeared not to have been excluded for six successive years ; and
the mass exhibited, on a cress section, as many layers, distinctly
marked at the line of junction.

Mr. Perkins exhibited splendid specimens of the Goliath
Beetle, {Goliaihus Drurii,) male and female. The female
is supposed to be the first which has ever been brought
across the Atlantic. On motion, it was voted, that a de-
scription, with figures, of these insects be prepared for our
Journal.

Mr. Bouve made a report upon the specimens (Conolites)
from Meadville, Pa. exhibited at the last meeting.

He had not been able to ascertain their nature, or to decide
whether the bodies were concretionary, crystalline, or organic.
He was of the opinion, that they were not organic. Nothing
of the kind is described in any work to which he had access. The
great want of books in our library on this branch of Geology was
greatly to be lamented.

He also gave some account of the Sulphurs and other minerals
of Vesuvius, recently presented by Dr. Randall.

Dr. Abbot continued his account of the birds' skins from
Surinam, and exhibited the following:

Psittacus menstruus, L.
Psittacus purpureus, L.
Psittacus passerinus, L.

Psittacus Guianensis, L.
Psittacus purpuratus, L.
Crimson & blue collared Parrot.

Seeds of the Aleurites grandiflora, from the Sandwich Islands
were presented by James J. Jarves.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Dec. 1842. 8vo. Lond.
Courtis Fund.

American Bacillaria, by J. W. Bailey, 8vo. pam. 1842. Au-
thor.

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society of Philadel-
phia, Vol. VIII. Part. II. New Series. 4to. Philad. 1842. From
the Society.

13

98

American Journal of Science and Arts, Vol. XLiV. No. 1.
From Messrs. Silliman.

Brevi Cenni sulla Condizione attuale delta Sardegna, autore G.
Michelotti. 8vo. pam. Torino. 1842.

Saggio Orittografico sulla Classe dei Gasteropodi Fossili dei Ter-
reni Terziani del Piemonte. S. Bellardi e G. Michelotti. From
Signore Michelotti.

Treatise on some of the Insects of New England which are inju-
rious to Vegetation. By T. Wm. Harris. From the Author.

Selections from the Scientific Correspondence of Cadwallader
Golden. 8vo. pam. i843. From the Editor, Professor Asa Gray.

Annals and Magazine of Nat. History, Nos. 66, 67. 8vo. Lond.
Courtis Fund.

Reply to Dr. Hare's Objections relating to Whirlwind Storms,
by W. C. Redfield. 8vo. pam. 1842. From the Author.

New Genessee Farmer, Vol. III. No. 12. 8vo. From H. Col-
man.

Fifty-fifth Annual Report of the Regents of the University of N.
York. 8vo. pam. Albany. 1842. From G. B. Emerson.

De Solariis in Supracretaceis Italise Stratis repertis. auct. J. Mich-
elotti. 4to. pam. 1841. From the Author.

February I, 1843.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Mr. Bouve reported on a specimen of lead ore from the
Southampton lead mines which he had found to be carbon-
ate of lead.

Dr. Gould exhibited a portfolio of British Zoophytes ele-
gantly preserved, which he had lately received from Dr.
Johnston of Berwick-upon-Tweed, accompanied with an
interesting letter.

Among other facts, Dr. Johnston states that he has kept various
species of Mollusca alive for ten months, in a jar of sea water stop-
ped with a cork, without changing the water. He ascribes the
prolonged purity of the water to the presence of a tuft of Coral-
Una officinalis. A growth of Conferva had sprung up in the mean

99

time. Dr. Gould stated that his own observations would give con-
firmation to this conjecture. Sea water would remain pure for
any length of time, if some marine vegetable were placed in it ;
otherwise it became putrid, and required to be changed every twen-
ty-four hours. It struck him, that the experiment of Dr. J. set-
tled the disputed question as to the vegetable or animal nature of
the Corallina. It must be a vegetable.

Dr. Wyman mentioned an experiment by Dumas, in which a
fish was kept alive in a closely stopped jar of water containing Con-
ferva. While the light acted upon the vegetable matter, a suffi-
cient quantity of oxygen was disengaged for the respiration of the
fish, the fish giving out enough carbonic acid for the nourishment
of the plant. When the light was excluded, the fish died.

Dr. Wyman made some remarks on some late experi-
ments of Doyere of Paris, made with a view to test the fact
first recorded by Lenenhoeck and Spallanzani. of the revi-
fication of animalcules after complete desiccation.

He has shown Spallanzani's experiments to be correct; and has
succeeded in reducing to dryness rotifers and tardigrades by the
complete evaporation of the drop of water in which they were
contained ; and, after exposing them to a heat equal to that of boil-
ing water, they were easily reanimated by being moistened with
distilled water. Dr. Wyman also stated that an experiment of his
own showed them to be equally capable of bearing extreme cold.
The water containing some, having been frozen for many days, the
animalcules were found alive and active in the water when thawed.

Dr. Abbot stated that, to his knowledge, seven specimens
of the Great Cinereous Owl, (Stri.v cinerea,) had been taken
in Massachusetts within the past year; a bird hitherto con-
sidered by ornithologists as very rare in our State.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr J. B. S. Jackson presented the teeth of Delphinus globiceps
fixed on a black tablet in their order, showing, in the upper jaw,
nine on each side, and, in the lower jaw, eight on one side and
ten on the other. He remarked that the jaw exhibited no trace of
the existence of the deficient teeth. Dr. J. also presented a very

100

beautiful figure of the animal drawn by Dr. W. T. Parker of South
Boston.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Acad, of Nat. Sciences, Philad. Nov. & Dec.
1842. 8vo. pam. From the Academy.

Twenty-second Annual Report of the Mercantile Library Asso-
ciation, New York. 8vo. pam. 1843. From the Association.

Instructions for collecting and preserving various subjects of
Natural History, with a Treatise on Insects, by J. T. Donovan. 8vo.
10. Lond. 1794—1801. Courtis Fund.

February 15, 1843.

Regular meeting — Mr. Bouve in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman remarked upon some articles in the num-
bers of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History com-
mitted to him, particularly a paper on the growth of Fungi
in Fruits.

Fungi attack both vegetable and animal structures, and late ex-
periments have shown that healthy fruits may be infected with
them by inoculation. Another paper in the same number, in a
notice of Agassiz' work on Freshwater Fishes, states, that fungi
also infest the ova of that class of animals. They are also found
in the cavities caused by certain diseases of ths lungs. To an
inquiry from Dr. Wyman whether he had made any observations
of their attacks on fruits, Mr. Teschemacher replied that he had,
some time since, traced the discoloration of the cuticle of the St.
Michaels pear to this source ; also, the mould that infests the
Gooseberry. All dark spots and scabs on fruits are probably of
the same origin. They destroy the cuticle, and prevent growth.
The Spores, diffused through the air, lodge wherever they find a
spot favorable to their developement.

A perfect specimen of the flower of the Cheirostemon. the
Arbol de Manitos of Mexico, preserved in alcohol, was pre-
sented by Mr. Lawrence.

101

Mr. Teschemacher stated that it belongs to the family Sterculi-
acece, tribe Bombaciae, and is the only known species of the genus
Cheirostemon, a name derived from its five stamens being arranged
in a palmate manner. He also exhibited its interesting structure,
and made some remarks on the mode of growth, &c.

Mr. Teschemacher presented specimens of Guano just
received from the coast of Peru, containing feathers, with
the request that they might be referred to the ornithologi-
cal section of the Society to ascertain, if possible, their
nature.

With reference to the opinion, entertained by some, that the Gua-
no had been accumulating from a period perhaps prior to the ori-
gin of the human race, Mr T. translated the following passage
from the " Memoriales Reales" of " Garcilasso de la Vega." Lis-
bon, 1609, p. 102. " On the seacoast, from below Arequipa as
far as Tarapaca, which is more than two hundred leagues of coast,
they use no other manure than that of marine birds, which exist
on all the coast of Peru, both great and small, and go in flocks
perfectly incredible, if not seen. They are reared on some unin-
habited islands which exist on that coast, and the manure that they
leave is of inconceivable amount. At a distance, the hills of it
resemble the mounds on some showy plain. In the time of the
Incas there was so much vigilance in guarding these birds that,
during the rearing season, no person was allowed to visit the
islands under pain of death, in order that they might not be fright-
ened and driven from their nests. Neither was it allowed to kill
them at any time, either on or off of the islands, under the same
penalty." Each district or territory also had a portion of these
islands allotted to it, the penalties for infringement of which were
very severe. From this extraordinary case it is probable that the
Incas did not permit any remarkable consumption of this valuable
manure beyond the annual additions ; and the consumption during
the depopulation of South America by the Spaniards could, by no
means, have equalled those annual deposits. Even the greatest
thickness of seven to eight hundred feet might, without extrava-
gant calculation, be deposited in about three thousand years at the
rate of two or three inches a year. The feathers do not appear

102

different from those of birds of the present day. Mr. Blake, a
member of our Society, who has visited these deposits, has a shell
found in the Guano, very much resembling the Crepidula fornicata
of this coast, but not in any way fossilized. On this coast it never
rains, so that the deposits of manure are not, like those on other
coasts, annually washed away.

Mr. Tescliemacher next exhibited dendritic appearances,
artificially produced, resembling, in their forms, those of
the Dendritic Manganese from Newton, Mass.

They were formed by laying finely pulverized earth on a slip
of glass, moistening it with a few drops of water, and then cover-
ing it with a thin plate of mica without further pressure. On the
gradual evaporation of the water, the particles of earth, under the
slight pressure of the mica, aggregated themselves into these den-
dritic forms.

Mr. Stoddard read a paper entitled " An Hypothesis to
explain the Changes of the Surface of the Earth," which,
on motion of Dr. Gould, was committed to a select Com-
mittee for examination and report. Dr. C. T. Jackson, Dr.
Binney and Mr. Emerson were chosen the Committee.

Dr. Binney said he had lately visited Washington, and
stated that an unfavorable impression which he had receiv-
ed of the value of the collections of specimens in Natural
History made by the late Exploring Expedition, and the care
bestowed on their preservation, had been entirely removed.

Rev. Francis Mason, missionary in Burmah, was elect-
ed a corresponding member.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History, for February, 1843.
Courtis Fund.

Description des Cancellaires Fossiles des Terrains Tertiaires du
Piedmont, per L. Bellardi. 4to. pam. Turin. 1841. Dr. C. T.
Jackson.

Histoire Naturelle des Rainettes, des Grenouilles et des Cra-
pauds, par Daudin. From S. S. Haldeman.

Illustrations of British Ornithology. By P. J. Selby. 8vo. 2.
Edin. Exchange.

103

March 1 , 1843.

Regular meeting — Dr. Binney, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman exhibited some specimens of Lingaatula,
parasites from the inner surface of the lung of a Boa, which
he had lately dissected.

One was about three inches long, others from an inch to an inch
and a half. They were alive when taken from the lung. Dr. W.
had nowhere met with a description of this species.

Dr. W. also exhibited some specimens of Ascarides from the
Cyclopterus lumpus, Lump fish. They were alive when taken,
although the fish had been completely frozen for two days

Dr. Wyman remarked upon a work on Frogs by Dau-
din presented to the Society by Mr. Haldeman.

It is an old work, and some of the statements respecting Ameri-
can species were gathered from rumor. The author says the Bull-
frog is common in the southern States, but rare in the north ; that
the inhabitants protect them, thinking they keep the waters pure ;
that one pair only inhabit a pond ; that they have holes in the bank
in which they live, only taking to the water when alarmed, &c.
Dr. W. had himself observed them in variable numbers in the
ponds at Mount Auburn, and other places.

The Librarian announced that he had received a sub-
scription paper, of which the following is a copy :

"Understanding that Audubon's work on the Quadrupeds of
America is to come out in numbers, and to be completed in five
years, at the expense of three hundred dollars, and thinking that a
copy should be in the Library of the Boston Society of Natural
History, the subscribers agree to pay each one tenth part of the
expense of a copy of that work for said Library.

G. B. Emerson, J. A. Lowell,

N. I. Bowditch, Geo. Parkman,

Amos A. Lawrence, Wm. Sturgis,

Amos Binney, F. C. Gray,

Geo. C. Shattuck, Jr. J. J, Dixwell.

104

It was thereupon voted, " That the thanks of the Society
be rendered to the gentlemen who have so liberally contrib-
uted to bestow upon it this valuable donation, and that the
Secretary be instructed to notify each of the gentlemen of
this vote."

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Report on the Geology of Connecticut. By J. G. Percival. 8vo.
New Haven. 1842. From the Author.

Agricultural Address. By Henry Colman. 8vo. pam. Roches-
ter. 1842. The Author.

Annals and Magazine of Nat. History, for March, 1843. Cour-
tis Fund.

March 15, 1843.
Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman was chosen Secretary, pro tern.

Dr. Gould read a paper on Zoological Nomenclature,
founded on the proposition recently made by the British
Association for a reformation in Zoological Nomenclature,
and upon Agassiz's "Nomenclator Zoologicus." (See Sil-
liman's Journal. Vol. XLV. p. 1).

Dr. Abbot exhibited the following specimens recently
added to the Society's collection of mounted birds, viz :

Strix asio, male,
Tringa pectoralis,
Cervus cristatus, male,
Vireo olivaceus,
Vireo flavifrons,
Muscicapa Cooperi,

Muscicapa ruticilla, female,
Caprimulgus vociferus,
Caprimulgus Virginianus,
Pyrrhula frontalis,
Fringilla purpurea, male,
F. graminea.

Dr. Binney read a critical notice of the species found in
the United States, which, at present, are described as con-
stituting the genus Pupa.

Having examined, with the aid of a microscope, well authenti-
cated specimens from most of the public and private collections in

105

the country, he had arrived at the conclusion that identical species
have, in many instances, been described under different names,
and that a very considerable deduction ought to be made from the
number of species now recorded. The number of species describ-
ed by American authors he found to be 18. On these species, he
submitted the following statement :

The original specimens of Cyclostoma marginata and Pupa f al-
ias, Say, are identical.

The original specimen of Mr. Say's P. placida, in the Collec-
tion of the Academy at Philadelphia, is Bulimus hordeaceus, of
Europe.

P. ovata and P. modesta, Say, are identical, the latter being an
immature stage. In this opinion Dr. Gould coincides.

P. procera, Gould, is identical with P. rupicola, Say.

P. curvidens, Gould; P. Tappaniana, Adams ; and P. pentndon,
Say, are identical. Thus six of the eighteen species are struck
out. Of the twelve remaining species, Dr. B. considered two
uncertain, viz : P. simplex, and P. carinata, Gould.

Dr. Binney further observed that there was another well charac-
terized species of Pupa which he had possessed for several years,
and which seemed to be very common in the North-Eastern and
Middle States, which had not yet been described. It was interme-
diate between P. ovata. Say, and P. milium. Gould, having, like
them, a heart-shaped or double-curved aperture, the animal also,
like theirs, having only two tentacles, and belonging evidently to
the genus Vertigo of Muller. He proposes for it a specific name,
and describes it as follows :

P. Gouldii. Testa minuta ovato-cylindrica , sub-castanea ; anfractibus
pluiibus quam quatuor, apice obtuso ; apertura sub-caudata, bilobata ; denti-
bus quinque armata, labro subreflexo.

Animal, with two tentacles only. Black above. Foot grey, short pos-
teriorly. Shell light chestnut, cylindrical ovate, whorls between four
and five, rather ventricose ; the last occupying nearly half the length of
the axis ; apex obtuse ; aperture lateral, composed of two unequal curves,
meeting in the centre of the outer lip, with five prominent white teeth,
viz : one upon the transverse margin, two upon the umbilical margin, and
two upon the labial margin ; lip thickened, not reflected ; umbilicus a little
open.

If this species should be received, and the views of Dr. Binney
14

106

should be acquiesced in as regards the other species, there would
remain eleven certain species, viz :

P.fallax, Say. Synon. P. marginata, Say ; P. albilabris, Adams.

P. armifera, Say.

P. contracta, Say.

P. rupicola, Say. Synonym, P. procera, Gould.

P. pentodon, Say. Synonyms, P. curvidens, Gould ; P. Tappan-
iana, Adams.

P. exigua, Say.

P. ovata, Say. Synonym, P. modesta, Say.

P. badia, Adams.

P. milium, Gould.

P. Gouldii, Binney.

Dr. Gould made some verbal remarks on Dr. Binney's
paper.

He concurred in most of Dr. B.'s conclusions. He allowed that
no one would be justified in making a species of such imperfect
specimens as Dr. B. had seen of P. simplex. Very few had as yet
been found ; but the characters of the entire specimens were so
distinct, that he felt confident it would prove a good species. P.
carinata, to be sure, was founded upon a single specimen, now
lost. But he did not think that a shell so peculiar in so many
respects could belong to any known species ; nor was he satisfied
that P. rupicola and P. procera were synonymous. The name P.
pentodon might well give place to one of the other names, inas-
much as it is a misnomer, the name having been given to the im-
mature shell, before the aperture was complete, and when only
five teeth were to be found ; or, it might be applied to the new spe-
cies described by Dr. B. The characters of the aperture agree
generally with P. curvidens ; but, if they are the same, there is an
extraordinary difference on account of locality ; the western speci-
mens, (P. pentodon,) being of a translucent spermaceti color, while
the eastern variety, (P. curvidens,) is a third smaller, opaque, and
covered with a thick, green epidermis.

Dr. Storer read a critical notice of De Kay's Report on
the Reptiles of New York, in which he made several cor-
rections of errors occurring in that report.

107

He observed that Dr. De Kay seems to have forgotten that my
Report was upon the Reptiles of Massachusetts. In my descrip-
tion of the " Cistuda Blandingii" I observed " it has been detected
as far north as Haverhill ;" to which De Kay adds, " New Hamp-
shire, in 44° north latitude."

Again, — under the head of Kinosternon Pennsylvanicum, Mud
Tortoise, Dr. De Kay says, " I find no mention of it in Storer's Re-
port on the Reptiles of Massachusetts, although it is cited in Hitch-
cock's Catalogue." If he had referred to the preface to that Re-
port, he would have found why it was not mentioned. In that pre-
face, I use these words : " The Testudo Pennsylvania is plainly
confounded with the Sternothcerus odoratus, a widely distributed
species."

Our author has fallen into another singular and altogether inex-
cusable error respecting the Triton millepunctatus. While en-
gaged in preparing my Report, I met with a beautiful little Sala-
mander, which I described to this Society as having all the upper
parts of the body, together with the feet, to the extremities of the
toes and tail, sprinkled with innumerable black points;" and hence
I called it " Salamandra millepunctata." I had an accurate figure
drawn, and thought I had found a new species, for the simple rea-
son that I could meet with no description to correspond with my
specimens. Dr. Holbrook, however, who visited this city while I
was laboring upon my Report, thought it had been described by
Dr. Harlan under the name of " dorsalis" from, as he describes
it, "a white dorsal line extending from the occiput over the tail,"
which Dr. Holbrook could not point out to me, and which none of
my specimens exhibited. Very reluctantly I published it in my
Report, under the name of " dorsalis" reserving to myself, how-
ever, the liberty of throwing out a few suggestions upon this sub-
ject.

Dr. De Kay, although Dr. Holbrook calls it " dorsalis" is unwil-
ling to call it by this name ; but introduces it as the " millepunc-
tatus" with the following remarks : " This species had originally
the misfortune to be so badly named, and the description, which
was taken from a changed cabinet specimen, gave such an imper-
fect and false idea of the animal, that we have adopted the name
originally applied by Dr. Storer, both as more descriptive in itself,
and as being the first true description of the species." I am much

108

obliged to Dr. De Kay for his course in this matter, and only wish I
could stop here. But I am compelled to go on. In his description
he also speaks of the belly being " punctured with black," and
again, " the punctures extend over the belly, inside of the legs, and
upper parts of the body and tail," and still, with these innumerable
little punctures before him, he gives his characteristics of the spe-
cies as follows : M Olive, with crimson spots ; the two colors above
and beneath distinctly separated ;" or, in other words, whiie his de-
scription agrees with mine, he loses sight of the true specific char-
acters, and supposes the word " millepunctatus'" to apply to a few
crimson spots upon the flanks, which, in Ms words, " vary from
one to ten in number."

The Legislature of Massachusetts, having recently placed
at the disposal of the Society, fifty copies of each of the
Zoological and Botanical Reports of the State, Messrs. Bin-
ney, Gould and Emerson were chosen a Committee to take
into consideration the best mode for their distribution.

On motion of the President, it was unanimously voted,
that a copy of the Society's Journal, and copies of the
State Reports be sent to Prof. Agassiz of Neufchatel.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

A specimen of Emys biguttata from Dr. Newcomb of Troy, N. Y.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Acad, of Nat. Sciences, Philad. for Jan. and
Feb. 8vo. pam. From the Academy.

Recherches d'Anatomie Comparee sur le Chimpanse, par W.
Vrolick. fol. Amsterdam. 1841. Courtis Fund..

North American Review, for April, 1843. 8vo. Bost. Exch.

Aprils, 1843.

Regular meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson. Vice President, in
the Chair.

Mr. Teschemacher reported on the Transactions of the
Imperial Mineralogical Society of St. Petersburg, 2 vols.

109

presented by Charles Cramer, Esq., committed to him at
the last meeting.

He noticed the octahedrons of Rutile ; the account of the large,
well known slab of Labradorite in the possession of the Duke of
Devonshire ; mentioned the history of the Sancy diamond ; and ex-
plained the magnificent colored plates contained in this work, of
the Siberian Emeralds in the Cabinet of the Emperor of Russia,
and of the Siberian Chrysoberyl or Alexandrite.

He made observations on the new minerals therein described,
viz. Cuboite, Perowskite, Volborthite, (a Vanadiate of Copper!)
Kammererite, Worthite, and Xenolite. Of this last he exhibited a
specimen from Mr. Alger's Cabinet, which he believed to agree,
both in external physical characters, and in chemical composition,
with Buchholzite, of which he also showed a small specimen, but
especially with the Buchholzite of Chester, Penn., the constituents
of which, according to Thompson's analysis, are : Alum : 52. 92 ;
silica, 46. 40, with a trace of iron. He also pointed out the new
localities mentioned in the works of Uwarowite, Malachite and Pyro-
phyllite. This last mineral he believed to be identical with the
Vermiculite from Millbury, of which he produced a specimen, and
exhibited its remarkable, and hitherto uninvestigated character of
sudden and enormous increase of bulk under the influence of heat.
Hermann's account of Pyrophyllite from its original locality
states the color to be a greenish hue. In the new locality men-
tioned in these Transactions, it is stated to be of a Tombac brown ;
consisting of shining, micaceous-like scales ; in which characters,
as well as in those before the blowpipe, it also completely coin-
cides with Vermiculite, which has not yet been analyzed. The
Pyrophyllite, being found in the Emerald district of the Ural moun-
tains, Mr. T. suggested the plausibility of this precious stone being
found in the Vermiculite locality of Millbury.

He mentioned the account of the quantity of gold and platina
collected in Russia during sixteen years ; noticed the very interest-
ing paper on the gold and platina washings of the Ural chain, as
well as that of the mineralogical tour in this district ; the paper on
the various Manganesian Minerals, and on the Crustacean and other
Fossils found in the neighborhood of St. Petersburgh ; and finally
characterized these Transactions as being of exceeding interest

110

and value to Mineralogists and Geologists, particularly in this
country.

Dr. Gould remarked briefly on a late publication, by Pro-
fessor Gray, of the Scientific Correspondence of Cadwalla-
der Colden, with Gronovius, Collinson, Linnaeus and others.

Dr. Wyman exhibited the anal pouches of the skunk,
{Mephitis Americana,) in which is secreted the offensive
fluid which the animal ejects as a means of defence.

They consist of two glandular sacs of an oval shape, about three
quarters of an inch in diameter, covered with a muscular envelope,
and opening into the rectum, quite near to the anus, by two papillae.
These last, when not protruded, are surrounded by a fold of mucous
membrane, and very nearly concealed by it. The fluid is ejected
by the contractions of the muscular covering. A small band passes
from each sac to the ischium, which rotates these bodies on them-
selves, and serves to bring their orifices to the anus. The fluid is
a peculiar secretion like that of the Civet, and not the urine, as is
commonly thought. The common opinion, that the animal scat-
ters it with its tail is erroneous. The fluid is limited in quantity ;
and, having been discharged, the animal is harmless until the sacs
are again filled by gradual secretion.

Dr. C. T. Jackson read a detailed notice of pamphlets
sent to the Society by M. Elie de Beaumont, containing his
instructions to the Geologists of the French Voyage of Dis-
covery in the North of Europe, and an Abstract of the Re-
sults of the Expedition. He also remarked upon a pamph-
let entitled, " Remarks on the Anthracites of the Alps by
Alphonse Favre, Jan. 21, 1841."

ADDITIONS TO THE CAEINET.

A letter was read from Dr. F. W. Cragin, dated Paramaribo,
February 3, 1843, announcing his having sent to the Society 12
jars of reptiles and other specimens.

On motion of Dr. Binney, the thanks of the Society were voted
to Dr. Cragin for this renewed instance of his friendliness and libe-
rality. The articles sent were committed to Drs. J. Wyman,

Ill

J. B. S. Jackson and Abbot, to each such as fall within their respect-
ive departments.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Voyages en Scandinaive, &c. Observations sur le Phenomene
Diluvien dans le Nord de I'Europe, par MM. A. Brongniart et Elie
de Beaumont. 8vo. pam. Paris, 1840. From the Authors.

Annual Report of the Superintendent of Salt Springs in Onon-
daga Co. New York. 8vo. pam. 1843. From Rev. J. P. B. Sto-
rer.

Schriften der Russischen Kaiserl. Mineralog. Gesellschaft. 8vo-
2. St. Petersburg, 1842. From the Imperial Miner alogical Soc'y.

Transactions of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec,
Vol. IV. Part I. 8vo. 1843.

Report of the Council of the Lit. and Hist. Society of Quebec,
for the year ending January, 1843. 8vo. pam. From the Society.

Silliman's American Journal of Science, Vol. XLIV. No. 2.

From the Editors.

April 19, 1843.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

A letter from Rev. Rufus Anderson, Secretary of the
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,
addressed to Dr. Gould, was read, enclosing a copy of a
letter from Rev. Dwight Baldwin, M. D. dated Lahaina,
Maui, one of the Sandwich islands.

Accompanying Dr. B.'s letter were four roots of the Taro, one
bunch of Bananas, two ripe Breadfruits, and a considerable num-
ber of the nuts of the Candle Tree ; also, some leaves and flowers
of the latter, and leaves of the Taro and Breadfruit. Dr. Ander-
son presents to the Society the above-named specimens, reserving
a specimen of each for the museum of the A. B. C. F. M.

On motion of Dr. Gould, the thanks of the Society were
voted to the A. B. C. F. M. for this valuable donation. The
specimens were committed to Mr. Teschemacher.

112

Mr. Bouve communicated a letter from Rev. Gordon
Winslow, dated Annapolis, Md. March 27th. accompany-
ing a box of Minerals and Shells, recent and fossil, from
that locality, and promising future contributions. Thanks
were voted to Mr. W. for these specimens.

Dr. S. L. Abbot communicated a note from Dr. Cotting.
accompanying a donation of a suite of Fossil Shells, illus-
trative of the supercretaceous strata of Europe, arranged,
ticketed and catalogued by Dr. C. according to specimens in
the cabinet of the Lowell Institute, labelled by Mr. Lyell.
The thanks of the Society were voted to the donor.

The President laid on the table a Lycopodiaceous plant,
from Mexico, presented by J. J. Dixwell, Esq.

Dr. Gould presented a number of Fossil Shells from the
vicinity of Darien, Georgia, sent to him by Mr. Couper of
that place.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Magazine of Zoology and Botany for April, 1843.
Courtis Fund.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. II. No.
25. Philadelphia. 1843.

Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. VIII.
Part 3. 4to. 1843. From the Society.

Entomologists' Useful Compendium. By Geo. Samouelle.
12mo. Lond. 1819. Exchange.

May 4, 1843.

In consequence of the absence of manv of the officers
and active members to attend the meeting of the Associa-
tion of American Geologists and Naturalists, at Albany, it
was Voted, to postpone the business of the annual meeting
until the next regular meeting.

II. I

Annual Meeting, May 17, 1843.
The President in the Chair.

The President read a paper, embodying the Reports of
the Curators, the Librarian and the Treasurer, for the past
year.

The Curator of Comparative Anatomy reports, that the
general condition of the specimens in his department is
good.

Valuable donations have been received from Drs. Sav-
age, W. Lewis, Jr., D. H. Storer, F. W. Cragin, J. B. S.
Jackson, N. B. Shurtleff, and Capt. Cook, of Provincetown.

The Curator of Herpetology reports the favorable state
and regular increase of his department, and mentions in a
recent donation from Dr. F. W. Cragin, of Surinam, the
tadpole of the Rana paradoxa or Jakia, the largest tadpole
known ; which in this state is much larger than when
adult.

The Curator of Ichthyology reports, that he has been
able to obtain, since the last annual meeting, specimens of
Argyriosus, of a Mustelus, of an Esox, and of a Monocan-
thus new to our Fauna, and a species of Torpedo which
is new to science. "This last discovery," he says, ::is
exceedingly gratifying to me. It is the only specimen
which has fallen into the hands of a naturalist. I have
called it Torpedo occidentalism

Donations have been made to this department during the
past year by Dr. F. W. Cragin, of Surinam, Mr. J. G. An-
thony, of Cincinnati, Mr. Olmsted, of E. Hartford. Conn.,
Mr. Horatio Leonard, of New Bedford, Dr. Lei and. Dr.
Toomey, of Chelsea, and Mr. W. T. Reynolds.

The Curator of Ornithology reports:

11 During the past year, the additions to the collection of birds
has been as follows, viz. : To the number of mounted birds of
Massachusetts 66 specimens, comprising 56 species, the duplicates
15

114

being different in sex from the others — making the whole number
of mounted birds of our State, in our possession, 172, including
131 species. We have had donations of foreign bird-skins, un-
mounted, to the number of 147 — making the whole increase, in
this department, during the past year, 213. Our whole collection
consists of 753 specimens. The most important donations, since
the last annual meeting, have been from Dr. F. W. Cragin, of Suri-
nam, and Mr. W. T. Reynolds, of this city."

Valuable donations in the department of Entomology
have been made by Dr. Savage, of Cape Palmas, and Dr.
Yale, of Martha's Vineyard.

The Curator of Conchology reports the addition, during
the past year, to the catalogue, of 84 species :

Nine species from Brazil, presented by the Curator ; 7 from
Greece, by Rev. Dr. Robertson ; 8 from the Sandwich Islands, by
Mr. J. J. Jarves ; 17 from Santa Cruz, by R. E. Griffiths, Esq., of
Maryland ; 24 from the Feejee Islands, by T. J. Whittemore, Esq. ;
5 from the Philippine Islands, by Dr. J. C. Jay, of New York. The
remainder were contributed by Messrs. E. R. Mayo, J. P. Couthouy,
A. Binney, D. H. Storer, Dr. Cabot, and the American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

The names of about 120 species have been ascertained and la-
bels attached.

The Curator of Botany reports few additions in his de-
partment during the year past. The most valuable were
presented by the American Board of Commissioners for For-
eign Missions.

The Curator of Geology reports :

That at the commencement of the year, the collection under his
charge consisted of not far from 600 specimens. Donations have
been received from Prof. Locke, of Cincinnati, Dr. Cotting, Dr.
Gould, Prof. Emmons and Rev. G. Winslow. A few valuable
specimens have been purchased. The Geological Cabinet now
consists of about 1000 specimens, of which about 200 are Silurian,
50 Carboniferous, 25 new red sandstone, 50 Cretaceous, nearly
500 Tertiary, 50 of unstratified rocks, lavas, &c, and the remain-

116

der yet undetermined. A few days prior to our last annual meet-
ing, the State collection, deposited in the hall of the Society and
under the charge of the Geological Curator, was increased by
the reception of about 1100 new specimens, collected by Prof.
Hitchcock in his re-survey of the State. These have been added
to the rest of the collection, in the order corresponding to the full
catalogue annexed to the Professor's final report.

In addition to the donations abovementioned, Fossils have been
received from Signor Michelotti ; specimens of slate, with dendri-
tic markings, from the late William Pratt, Jr. Esq. ; and other spe-
cimens, from Mr. A. Ward, Mr. Couper, of Darien, Ga., and Dr.
John Randall, of this city.

No report from the Curator of Mineralogy, who is absent
in Europe, was prepared.

The Librarian reports the addition, by donations and
exchange, during the past year, of 105 vols, and 55 pam-
phlets, making the library to consist in all of 1071 vols,
and 250 pamphlets. He has also 50 copies of each of the
Legislative Reports of Messrs. Storer, Dewey, Harris and
Gould, on the Natural History of Massachusetts, presented
by a resolve of the Legislature.

The donors to the Library, during the past year, have been
Messrs. S. G. Morton, J. J. Audubon, John Bachman, Henry Col-
man, J. P. Couthouy, R. I. Murchison, Benjamin Silliman, J. G.
Palfrey, B. D. Greene, S. S. Haldeman, G. Michelotti, Asa Gray,
Charles Cramer, J. E. Teschemacher, J. W. Bailey, T. W. Har-
ris, W. C. Redfield, G. B. Emerson, C. T. Jackson, J. G. Percival,
Thomas Lee and Edward Doubleday.

The Treasurer reports the

Current expenses of the Society for the past year, - 8656 38

Excess of expenditure over income last year, - - 75 07

731 45

To meet which there has been no other source of income

than that arising from fees of members, - 473 00

Leaving deficit on this account of - - ■ $258 45

116

Balance of the Courtis fund and income this year, - 816 00

Expenditures charged to this account, - 512 47

Balance in favor of the Society on this account, - - $303 53

The meetings of the Society, though less numerous than
usual, being only 22, have not often been wanting in in-
terest. Many valuable communications have been received
and read. Some of these have already appeared, and
others may be expected in the Society's Journal. More
than sixty reports of greater or less length, and all inter-
esting, have been made by the active members of the So-
ciety.

Of these, 18 have been upon subjects of Comparative Anatomy,
6 upon Ichthyology, 12 upon Ornithology, besides notices of pre-
pared specimens, 13 upon Conchology, 5 upon Botany, 6 upon
Geology and Mineralogy, and several upon Books.

Then followed the Annual Address, from Dr. J. Wyman,
a learned and interesting discourse on the progress of Sci-
ence in the various branches of Natural History during the
past year.

At the close of the Address, it was Voted, " That the
thanks of the Society be presented to Dr. Jeffries Wyman,
for his interesting and instructive Address, and that a copy
be requested for publication."

The Committee for the nomination of Officers, for the
ensuing year, announced that G. B. Emerson, Esq., who
has filled the office of President, and E. S. Dixwell, Esq.,
who has been Corresponding Secretary, each for the term
of six years, have severally declined a reelection to those
offices.

The Society then proceeded to the election of Officers,
for the ensuing year, and the following gentlemen were
unanimously chosen :

117

President.
Amos Binney, Esq.

Vice Presidents.
Charles T. Jackson, M. D.
D. Humphreys Storer, M. D.

Sewetaries.
Augustus A. Gould, Corresponding Sec.
Thomas Bulfinch, Recording Sec.

Treasurer.
John James Dixwell.

Curators.
J. E. Teschemacher, Botany.
T. William Harris, M. D., Entomology.
Jeffries Wyman, M. D., Ichthyol. and Herpetol.
Andrew E. Belknap, Esq., Conchology.
Martin Gay, M. D., Mineralogy.
Thomas T. Bouve, Geology.
Samuel L. Abbot, M. D., Ornithology.
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D., Compar. Anat.

Librarian.
Charles K. Dillaway.

Cabinet Keeper.
Henry Bryant.

June 7, 1843.

Regular meeting — Vice President, D. H. Storer, in the Chair.

Dr. Gould presented a paper entitled " A Catalogue of
the Marine, Fluviatile, and Terrestrial Shells of the State
of Maine and adjacent Ocean," by J. W. Mighels, M. D.,
Portland, March, 1843.

118

The paper contains many valuable remarks on the habits and
distribution of species. The whole number of species enumerated
is 228, belonging to 81 genera — besides 3 fossil species, Nucula
Portlandica, N. antiqua and Bulla occulta, he gives 37 species not
yet found in Massachusetts or its waters, most of which had been
recently discovered and described by himself. Among them he
enumerates Solen Caribceus, Terebra dislocata and Area — species
of a much more southern habitat. Dr. M. thinks their presence on
the coast of Maine is accounted for by the fact that a southerly
current sets upon it during a part of the year. Dr. M. considers
the shell formerly described by him as Pecten tenuistriatus, the
young of P. Magellanicus, and Chiton fulminatus Couth, as iden-
tical with C. lavigatus Fleming.

Dr. Gould also read extracts from a paper lately received
by him from Rev. Francis Mason, Missionary in British
Burmah and a Corresponding Member of the Society.

It gave an account of the geographical, botanical and geolog-
ical features of Tavoy and Mergui, accompanied by a map, and
specimens of the rocks ; the principal of which are Granite, Sand-
stone, Clay Porphyry, Clay Slate, Chlorite Slate, Mica Slate, Lime-
stone with veins of Trap, and Lignite. He mentions isolated
masses of mural, mountain limestone, in one instance several hun-
dred feet high, abounding with cylindrical pits a few feet in diame-
ter, of unknown depth ; which Mr. M. thinks may resemble the
wells described by Mr. Murchison in the limestone of Wales. A
series of Hot Springs runs parallel with the slate strata, and they
are always found near the junction of the slate with the granite, or
in the granite itself. The hottest of the springs mentioned by Mr.
M. is at Pai, among granite rocks, through which water bubbles up,
at a temperature of 198° Fahr. The water of all of them is free
from sulphurous smell, and no mineral has yet been detected in
solution. One, however, at the junction of slate with a trap dyke,
is strongly impregnated with sulphuretted Hydrogen.

Sometimes the sides of the hills and the ravines between them
are covered with diluvial and alluvial pebbles, among which Tin is
found, but never at a greater depth than 8 or 10 feet below the
surface. The principal deposit of Tin is evidently in the rocks of
the neighboring mountains

119

The notes upon botanical subjects are full and interesting.
Among other observations, Mr. M. thinks he has discovered the
tree which furnishes the Siam Gamboge, a point hitherto undeter-
mined. He has no doubt that it is the Garcinia pictoria of Rox-
burgh. He mentions several other trees which afford a yellow
resin of inferior quality, more or less resembling Gamboge, and
also several trees which afford Kino, or a gum resembling it. The
paper was referred to the Publishing Committee.

Dr. Wyman exhibited the prepared sternum of a male
Trumpeter Swan, (Cygnus buccinator.}

The keel of this bone contains a remarkable cavity, extending
its whole length, designed to receive the trachea, which traverses
it from top to bottom, and then is folded upon itself, and returns by
the opening at the top into the chest. It only exists in the male.

Dr. Abbot exhibited the nest and eggs of the Northern
Humming-Bird. (Trochilus colubris.)

Mr. Snelling laid on the table a Catalogue of Seeds brought
home by the Exploring Expedition, furnished him by Capt.
Wilkes. He offered selections from them to gentlemen de-
sirous of attempting their cultivation.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Four jars of Fishes and Reptiles from Calcutta, from J. L. Dim-
mock, Esq.

Two jars of Reptiles and Fishes, from California, from Dr. N.
B. Shurtleff.

A Ray, (Raia ocellata) from Rev. Mr. Linsley, of Stratford,
Conn.

A seed vessel, from R. B. Lincoln, Esq.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Entomologist, Nos. 12 — 26. Conducted by Ed. Newman. 8vo.
London. 1841-2. Editor.

Proceedings of Academy of Nat. Sciences at Philadelphia. Svo.
Vol. I., Nos. 24, 25, for March and April, 1843. Academy of
Nat. Sciences,

120

Annals and Magazine of Nat. History. Vol. XL, No. 71, foi
May, 1843. 8vo. London. Courtis Fund.

Engraved Heads of Joh. Casp. Bauhinus, Casparus Bauhinus,
Joan. Bauhinus and Hieron. Bauhinus. Prof. Asa Gray.

Fourth Report on the Agriculture of Massachusetts. By Henry
Colman. 8vo. Boston, 1841. John A. Bolles.

Army and Navy Chronicle. Vol. I., No. 20. 1 sheet. 8vo.
1843. National Institute.

June 21, 1843.
Regular meeting — The President in the Chair.

Dr. Binney, on taking the Chair, returned thanks to the
Society for the honor conferred upon him in electing him
President.

Dr. D. H. Storer read a paper upon such parts of Dr.
De Kay's Report on the Fishes of New York as related to
Fishes found in Massachusetts.

Dr. S., after speaking of the great amount of information con-
tained in the work, proceeded to mention some of the defects and
errors which he had noticed, confining his remarks to such species
as are found also in Massachusetts, and promising promptly to re-
tract any thing which should be shown to be unjust.

Page 16. Pileoma semif as datum. Both the description and
figure of this fish place it in the genus Etheostoma of Rafinesque.

Page 20. Boleosoma tessellatum. Dr. S. read a description of
this fish before this Society, in April, 1841, which was published,
with a figure, in the Society's Journal, January, 1842, under the
name of Etheostoma Olmstedi, from its discoverer, Mr. C. H.
Olmsted. Personal friendship, as well as the common rules of
scientific etiquette, forbid that the scientific name should be thus
unceremoniously changed.

Page 32. Pomotis appendix. The specific name being derived
from a generic character, u opercle with an elongated membrane
at its angle,11 will doubtless be hereafter changed.

Page 61. Uranidea quiescens. This is the Coitus viscosus of
Haldeman.

121

Page 153. Gunnellns mucronatus. Mr. Yarrell, with the Amer-
ican fish before him, pronounces it to " be in every respect so sim-
ilar to the British Gunnel, (Murcenoides guttata) that there is little
doubt it is the same species.1'

Page 162. Lophius Americanus. Until some one has, on com-
parison, pointed out some differences between our fish and the L.
piscatorius of Linneus, Pennant and others, we must continue to
regard them as identical.

Page 168. Batrackus tau. This species cannot be identified
with the description while living, because the two lines which form
the T only appear in the dried specimen.

Page 174. Ctenolabrus uni-notatus is merely a variety of the
common Burgall, as may be readily seen in the fish-market.

Page 194. Labeo gibbosus, and page 199, Catostomus tuber-
culatus. So far from having claim to be arranged under different
genera, Mr. W. O. Ayres, of East Hartford, Conn., has determined
that they are not even distinct species.

Page 204. Stilbe chrysoleucas. Dr. De Kay has separated this
fish from Leuciscus and formed a new genus, because he says
there is " a short spine before the dorsal fin, which is short. Anal
fin long." Klein characterizes the anal fin of Leuciscus as " short."
Nor has Dr. S. been able to find the vestige of a spine in eleven
specimens which he has recently examined. In all other respects
it is clearly a Leuciscus, and the L. chrysoleucas.

Page 216. Fundulus fasciatus. This is an Hydrargira of Le
Sueur. Dr. S. dissents from Dr. De Kay as to the imperfect elab-
oration of this genus.

Page 233. Fistularia tabacaria. The two specimens alluded
to as having been obtained by Dr. Smith from Martha's Vineyard,
have long been in the possession of the Society. One of these
Dr. S. described in his report as the F. serrata. The identical
specimen was sent to Dr. De Kay, who also described and figured
it (p. 232,) as F. serrata.

Page 243. Osmerus viridescens. In his catalogue, Dr. S.
gave this as the O. eperlanus of Artedi, on the authority of Cuvier ;
and he has yet to learn that it is distinct from the European smelt.

Page 244. Baione fontinalis. This new genus has been formed
upon what was unquestionably a young brook trout. (Sahno fon-
tinalis. )

16

122

Page 250. Clupea elongata. In the description of the herring
which has been copied from Dr. Storer's Report, without credit, an
error has been unfortunately transferred. Instead of the eyes
being " two diameters apart," it should be, "distance between the
eyes less than the diameter of the eye."

Page 258. Alosa tyr annus. While it is not easy to see why
Peck's prior name " serrata'" is more " absurd and unmeaning"
than " tyr annus" it is not a little surprising that the very accepta-
ble and appropriate one of Dr. Mitchell, " vernalis" was not re-
tained.

Page 269. Amia occidentalis. This must be the Amia calva
of Kirtland, published Nov. 1840, in the Boston Journal of Natural
History.

Page 283. Lota inornata. Dr. S. read a description of this
fish April, 1841, under the name of Lota brosmiana, which was
published, with a figure, in the Society's Journal, Jan. 1842.

Page 289. Brosmius vulgaris.' Dr. De Kay is right in regard-
ing this as distinct from the European fish. But when he says
that " the Cusk of Storer is uniform dark slate," he overlooks the
description of an adult fish on the following page, which reads
" the color is brown upon the back, with yellowish sides and white
abdomen."

Page 305. Lumpus Anglorum. Dr. De Kay says, " the dorsal
lump without any vestige of rays ; at least I find none in two which
I examined," though Dr. S., in the Report which must have been
before him, states that the " ridge is formed of distinct rays." A
dried specimen was exhibited, in which eight rays were perfectly
visible, and could not have escaped a slight dissection.

Page 310. Anguilla tenuirostris. The description of this spe-
cies is admirable; but it is the Murcrna Bostoniensis of Le Sueur.
No other species is ever seen in Boston market, where Le Sueur
found his specimen, and named it accordingly.

Page 319. Syngnathus fasciatus. This species was described
and figured by Dr. S. several years ago, under the name of S.
Peckianus. A careful comparison of the terms of description
will exhibit no differences except as to the length of the head.
Dr. S. exhibited several specimens to show the great differences in
the proportionate dimensions of the head, rostrum and body.

Page 321. Syngnathus viridescens. Already described by

123

Dr. S. as S.fuscus. A mere difference in a shade of color, such as
is here noticed, is of no importance as a specific character.

Page 341. Lacf.ophrys camel inus. This genus appears to be
altogether unnecessary.

Dr. C. T. Jackson reported on a paper committed to him
and others for examination, entitled "ati Hypothesis to ex-
plain, &c. the changes of the surface of the earth/' By
Charles Stoddard.

Dr. J. considers the theory of paroxysmal elevations of the
earth's crust as satisfactorily proved, in opposition to the theory of
gradual change proposed by Mr. Lyell, and that it only remains to
examine into the causes of the paroxysms. Here we have three
sets of causes to examine : 1st. the expansion of the internal mat-
ter of the globe ; 2d. its secular refrigeration ; 3d. a change of in-
clination of the earth's axis. The last is the power appealed to by
the author of the paper before us. This hypothesis is eminently
popular, for it seems to be illustrated by what we know of the
forces acting on a revolving sphere composed of soft and yielding
materials. Dr. J. remarks, " he does not know where it origina-
ted, but finds it is a common opinion among the people of New
Hampshire and Maine, insomuch that he has often heard it ad-
vanced as a new theory by many different men."

Viewing the earth as a globe of molten matter, having a com-
paratively thin crust of solid materials, it is easy to conceive that
with each change of axis of the revolving globe the surface would
be elevated or depressed, and a force exerted adequate to the rup-
ture of the earth's crust, and sufficient for the elevation of chains
of mountains and whole continents at a single operation. The hy-
pothesis, therefore, suggests an adequate cause of the phenomena
to be explained.

The thesis under examination, Dr. J. remarks, is an ingenious
and well written expose of this hypothesis. The principal objec-
tion to it is, that the author has not shown any cause adequate to
produce a change of axis of rotation of the earth. Dr. J. con-
cluded by expressing his wish that the author would continue his
researches upon the subject, and by recommending that an abstract
of the paper be inserted in the Proceedings of the Society.

Dr. C. T. Jackson made a verbal communication on re-
searches made by himself and Mr. A. A. Hayes, of Rox-

124

bury, respecting the saline and other ingredients of Zea
mays, and other grains, exhibiting specimens of seeds to
which Mr. Hayes' test of sulphate of copper, for the detec-
tion of the limits of the phosphates, had been applied. He
also exhibited specimens to which tincture of iodine had
been applied, which indicated the extent of the starch in
each kind of grain and in several other plants. Mr. Hayes'
discovery of the limits of a salt of the peroxide of iron
was demonstrated by soaking Indian corn in sulphydrate
of ammonia.

The relative proportions of oil in the different varieties
of corn was shewn by sections of the kernel, also the rela-
tive proportions of the zeine of Gorham or the gluten of
corn. The causes of the peculiar explosion and evolution
of the starch and gluten of corn in parching, was explained
by the decomposition of the oil in the cells of the transpa-
rent portions of the grain.

Dr. Jackson had observed, in April, 1840, while analyzing the
ashes of Indian corn, that after combustion of the corn in a plati-
na capsule, at a high temperature, the platina was rendered brit-
tle, and was in part converted into a phosphuret of that metal. On
examining into the cause of this, he discovered phosphoric acid
united to some volatile or destructible base, mixed with the phos-
phates of lime and of magnesia.

His subsequent researches satisfied him that the volatile base in
question was ammonia, which he separated by the action of potash
and lime, at a temperature below that required for charring the
grain.

By the action of nitric acid, he burnt out the carbonaceous mat-
ter from the ashes of corn, and procured a considerable quantity
of glacial phosphoric acid. In all these experiments, thus far, the
whole grain was employed.

In May, 1842, Mr. A. A. Hayes, of Roxbury, exhibited to the
chemical association some specimens of southern corn, which had
been cut in two and soaked in a solution of sulphate of copper ;
and this test most beautifully marked out the limits of the phos-
phates in that grain. Profiting by this interesting experiment, and
observing that the phosphates were indicated only in the cotyledon
of corn, Dr. Jackson dissected out the cotyledons, analyzed them

125

separately, and glacial phosphoric acid, phosphate of lime, phos-
phate of magnesia and ammonia were obtained. The proportions
in the ashes of the whole corn was but 1 per ct. of phosphates of
lime, magnesia and free phosphoric acid, and a little silica.

The cotyledons taken separately gave 6.4 per ct. of fusible mat-
ter, which ran freely when melted. It consisted of

Phos lime, 2.4

Phos. acid, - - - 3.2

Phos. magnesia, - - 0.8

He also made an extensive series of researches on other seeds,
both of the Monocotyledonous and Dicotyledonous plants, which
determined the existence of the phosphates exclusively in their
cotyledons. The specimens to which Mr. Hayes' test had been
applied, and which were exhibited to the Society, were peas and
beans of various kinds, squash and pumpkin seeds, horse chesnuts,
the common chesnut, pea-nut, barley, oats, wheat, rye, buck-
wheat and cocoa-nut ; also potatoe tubers and turnip bulbs. In all
these the existence of phosphates was demonstrated.

In almonds, walnuts, butternuts, and most oily seeds, the sul-
phate of copper fails to demonstrate the presence of phosphates.

The application of tincture of iodine proved the presence and
limits of starch in the turnip, and in several other plants which
were exhibited.

A sample of the hard and transparent portion of Indian corn,
from which the oil and zeine had been removed by alcohol and
ether, was proved by the iodine test to be starch. It was observed
that weak tincture of iodine does not color this portion of the corn
until the oil is removed. If strong tincture of iodine is employed,
the alcohol removing the oil causes the freed starch to take the
blue color.

Beans and peas, consisting mostly of legumine, discovered by
Braconnot, do not take a blue color like the starch containing
grains, but become dark brown.

Specimens of various germinated and growing plants were also
tested before the Society. In the potatoe sprout the starch was
traced up into the plumule about half an inch, where it disappeared,
and dextrine was present, the starch having undergone a metamor-
phosis into that substance. Similar experiments were tried on In-

126

dian com, which had been grown about two inches high, in pure
powdered quartz. The changes which the seed had undergone
were quite interesting, and it was seen, by the iodine test, that the
starch of the albumen had been absorbed, and was changed in the
plumule into dextrine and sugar. The portion of the corn, where
the oil exists with starch and gluten, had begun to change, and
iodine instantly forms a blue compound with the starch. On ap-
plying the sulphate of copper, the presence of phosphoric acid in
the radicle and plumule, and a little around it, was readily proved.

On testing germinated English beans, the presence of phos-
phates was demonstrated in the cotyledons, but iodine did not
prove the formation of starch from the legumin. The same ex-
periment was performed with the common bean, with the same re-
sults. It will be interesting to study the changes which legumin,
(a substance now supposed to be identical with caseine,) undergoes
in the process of germination. As yet, we know of no chemical
researches on its transformations in the living plant.

Dr. J. had observed that cucurbitaceous plants contained nitrate
of potash, and had consequently directed its application around
the roots of such vines. Observations on such plants grown on
nitrous ground, where old barns had been removed, proved the
value of that salt as a manure for squashes, pumpkins and melons.

Many important and interesting agricultural principles are to be
discovered by investigations similar to these above noticed, but it
may not be appropriate to lay any other facts before this Society
than such as appertain to Natural History. It is evident that
Organography and Physiology may derive much aid from the
application of chemical tests to plants and their fruits. The sub-
ject is yet in its infancy, and we have much to expect when it
shall become more mature.

Dr. Jackson exhibited to the Society a buff-coloured salt
of lead, obtained by him, in 1841, from the maple sugar
of commerce, by adding to its solution sub-acetate of lead.

This salt is humate of lead, and demonstrates the existence of
humic acid in maple sugar, in which it was combined with ammonia
and lime. March 18th, 1842. —Flavin g procured some maple
sugar made with care at Northampton, he repeated his researches,
and discovered in it humic acid, apocrenic acid and crenic acid.
These acids were proved to be combined, in part, with ammonia,

127

which was separated by the action of hydrates of potash and of
lime abundantly. Lime was also discovered in combination with
crenic acid.

The same researches were made on brown, beet and cane
sugars, and the same acids and ammonia were discovered, but in
less quantity.

Mr. R. Soule, Jr., while a pupil in Dr. Jackson's Laboratory,
made an examination of exhausted bone-black, to ascertain what
coloring matters ore retained by it. The substances detected con-
firm the researches of Dr. J. respecting the coloring matters of
brown sugar. They were lime, apocrenic acid, crenic acid, humic
acid, extract of humus and humin.

These facts were mentioned in his public lectures at the time, and
they have been alluded to in the North American Review, in
a notice of Prof. Hitchcock's Survey of Massachusetts.

We would call attention to this, because the same discovery has
very recently been announced by Herman, of Moscow, and has
been noticed in the New England Farmer as a discovery of much
interest. The discovery is properly American, and Mr. Herman's
researches have, independently, reached the same result, which
must be regarded as confirmatory of Dr. J.'s.

He would remark, however, that he has, during the two past
seasons, demonstrated, by the analysis of maple sap, that the
organic acid which it contains is the glucic acid, which is in com-
bination with lime as a biglucate. This is readily converted into
crenic, apocrenic and humic acids by heat. Hence its origin in
sugar. Specimens of all the substances mentioned in this commu-
nication were laid upon the table.

Dr. Jackson remarked, that he had satisfactorily proved, that the
gluten of Indian corn, or the zeine of Gorham, contained 5 per ct.
of nitrogen, which was naturally overlooked at a time when the
means for exactly separating that element were unknown. Corn
also contains 6 per ct. of oil.

The following reflections naturally suggest themselves, on con-
sidering the ingredients of Indian corn :

1st. The phosphates of lime and of magnesia are essential
ingredients of animal bones and of several different fibrous organs.

2d. Phosphate of ammonia exists in the albuminous and fibrous
cerebral and nervous matters of animals.

128

3d. Nitrogen, so essential to animals, which is not absorbed in
any other way than by the food received through the digestive
organs, exists in the glutinous part of this grain.

4th. Starch, the matter which so readily undergoes transforma-
tions into other carbonaceous ingredients, exists in the corn, and is
one of the most nutritive ingredients, capable of being converted into
fat, or into any other matter having carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
for their elements.

5th. The oil of corn is ready formed fat, requiring but little
change in the animal economy.

7th. The peroxide of iron of corn, furnishes the red globules of
the blood with that important ingredient, the transporter of oxygen,
which gives the blood its renovating properties.

These ingredients, common also to other cereal grains, explain
to us why they have been justly called the " staff of life."

Analysis of the Raspberry Bush :

Having noticed that the raspberry bush sprung up wherever
fields had been burnt over, and also by the side of decomposing
stone walls, Dr. J. was led to analyze it, with the expectation of
finding an unusual amount of potash.

The following are the results of the analysis of the Rubus stri-
gosus : 1000 grains of the dry raspberry bushes were burnt in a
platina dish, in a muffle, and the ashes collected in this manner
were found to be burnt perfectly free from carbon. The amount
of ashes from 1000 grains of the bushes was 16.2 grains, or 1.62
per ct. It was easily melted, and flowed in the capsule. The
fused ashes, analyzed in the usual manner, yielded

Silicic acid, - - - 0.25 or per ct. 0.025

Phosphate of Lime, 3.65 " 0.365

Carbonate of Lime, 3.40 " 0.340

Potash, .... 5.24 " 0.524

Soda, 0.50 " 0.050

Ox. Manganese, - - 1.00 " 0.100

14.04 1.401

Carbonic acid, - - 2.16

16.20

129

Dr. Gould presented, on behalf of Dr. Mighels, a paper,
entitled " Descriptions of seven species of shells regarded
as new," by J. W. Mighels, M. D., Portland. Me.

Astarte Portlandica. A. testa parva, solida, per-inequilate-
rali ; umbonibus elevatis, approximates, recurvis ; lunula angustata ;
intus livida ; marginibus simplicibus. Long. 2-5 ; alt. 9-20 ; lat.
1-5 poll. Casco Bay.

Bulla pertenuis. B. testa minuta, cylindracea, albida, hyali-
na ; anfractibus quatuor ; spira elevata ; labro superne recto, infra
rotundato; apertura superne angustata, infra lata. Long. 8-100 ;
lat. 4-100 poll. Casco Bay.

Limnea ampla. L. testa ampla. subovata; anfractibus quipque,
convexis, superne geniculatis ; sutura valde impressa ; spira brevi ;
apertura lata ; umbilico profundo ; columella valde plicata. Long.
1.3; alt. 8; lat. 1 poll. Habitat, Second Eagle Lake, Maine,
N. lat. 47°.

Phasianella sulcosa. P. testa minuta, ovato-conica, lrevi ; an-
fractibus quatuor subconvexis, transversim sulcatis ; sutura impres-
sa ; apertura ovato-oblonga, intus transversim fasciata. Long.
1-10; lat. 1-20 poll. Casco Bay.

Margarita minutissima. M. testa minutissima, globoso-subo-
vata ; anfractibus tribus, convexis, longitudinaliter sulcatis; spira
brevi, obtusa ; sutura valde impressa ; apertura orbiculari : umbil-
ico magno, profundo. Long. 1-50; lat. circa 1-50 poll. Casco
Bay.

Delphinula ? coarctata. D. testa parva, subdiscoidea, imper-
forate ; anfractibus tribus, convexis, longitudinaliter minutissime
striatis ; ultimo anfractu maximo ; sutura canalicular ; apertura
integerrima, circulari, intus flavidula. Long 1-5; lat. 1/5 poll.
Casco Bay.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr. Gould presented a section of the trunk of a Californian tree,
and a gigantic Aculeusof some tree from Cuba, committed to Prof.
Gray.

Dr. Binney, on behalf of Mr. Anthony, of Cincinnati, presented
specimens of Melania varicosa.

B. X. Cumings, Esq., presented some specimens of coal plants.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 17 OCT. 1S43.

130

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Haldeman, S. S. Monograph of the Fresh Water Univalve
Mollusca. No. 6. 8vo. Pam. Philadelphia. 1843. Author.

N. American Review for July. 1843. 8vo. Boston. By
Exchange.

July 5, 1843.

Regular meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in

the Chair.

Mr. W. O. Ayres, of E. Hartford, Conn., presented,
through Dr. Storer, the following general description of a
new species of Leuciscus; observing that he should, at
some future time, furnish the Society with a detailed ac-
count, together with a figure of the species, for publication
in the Journal of the Society.

Leuciscus nasutus. — Body elongated, rounded anteriorly, com-
pressed towards the tail. Head destitute of scales, pointed. Mouth
small, semicircular, situated beneath the projecting snout. Color
above and on the sides, very dark brown ; beneath light, almost
white. Nostrils anterior to the upper portion of the eye. Lateral
line nearly straight. Dorsal and anal fins trapezoidal ; dorsal sit-
uated posterior to the ventrals. Pectorals and ventrals rounded.
Caudal lunate. Length of the largest specimen hitherto obtained,
five and a quarter inches. Inhabits rapid streams. Connecticut
and Massachusetts.

Dr. Storer remarked that he had lately obtained a flat-
fish, which was very rarely taken in#our waters, and had
not as yet been described. Its specific characters are as
follows :

Platessa glabra. — Body perfectly smooth. Color above greyish,
mottled with dark brown. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins, reddish
yellow, with well-marked, nearly black spots, more or less oval,

131

differing in their size. The eyes are less prominent than those of
the P. plana. Between the eyes is a smooth ridge, covered by the
common cuticle of the head as far back as the posterior angle of
the orbit of the upper eye. From this point it becomes naked and
rough, and is continued back to the superior angle of the opercu-
lum, where it is much larger than at any other point, and termi-
nates in an obtuse point. The posterior extremities of the ventrals
do not reach the anal fin. The teeth are cylindrical, slightly con-
ical at their points. The hyoid bone has numerous blunted teeth.
The fin rays are D. 54, P. 9, V. 6, A. 39, C. 16. Inhabits Boston
harbor in company with P. plana.

Mr. Charles H. Olmsted, of E. Hartford, Conn., present-
ed to the Cabinet, through Dr. Storer, specimens of the
Leuciscus nasutus and L. comutits, taken by him at Bland-
ford, Hampden Co., Mass.

Dr. Wyman exhibited some microscopic sections of the
teeth of the Duck-bill Gar, (Lepidostens platyrhinus,) and
of L. oxyurus. He pointed out the analogies which exist
between the structure of the teeth of the Lepidostei and
those of the Labyrinthodonts, described by Prof. Owen, in
his Odontography.

Like those of the Labyrinthodonts they are characterized by
processes of the pulp-cavity radiating towards the circumference,
and by prolongations of the cementum towards the centre of the
tooth, enclosing between them the " dentine.'1 In the Labyrintho-
donts the prolongations of cementum are more or less undulating,
except in the L. lejjtognathus, where they present almost precisely
the conformation met with in the Lepidosteus oxyurus. Of the ex-
istence of such a structure in fishes, Prof. Owen does not appear
to have been aware, since he says, " such a disposition of the ex-
ternal substance may be traced at the base of the teeth of a few
fishes, but is more conspicuous in the fang of the Ichthyosaurus."
If the sections of the teeth of the Gars be compared with that
of the tooth of the Ichthyosaurus, given by Prof. Owen, it will be
at once seen, that the former present the same plan, but far more
extensively carried out. Other analogies with the Labyrinthodonts
17*

132

were found in the osteology of the Gars, but of these he proposes
to speak in a future communication.

Dr. Abbot laid on the table a mounted specimen of Nu-
menius Hudsonicus, Hudsonian Curlew, shot in Chelsea,
Mass., in the month of May. This breeds so far north that
its nest and eggs are unknown. It is not uncommon here
in its northern and southern migrations, flying in small
flocks.

Mr. Bouve presented a specimen of Chalcedony, found
by him at Nahant.

This mineral has not been found heretofore in the trap-rocks of
this vicinity. Prof. Hitchcock, in his Survey of the Geology of
Massachusetts, notes this fact as singular, since Chalcedony is of
frequent occurrence in similar rocks, in the western part of the
State.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Wallich, N. Plantae Asiaticae Rariores. 3 vols. Folio. London.
1830. J. P. Cushing, Esq.

Silliman's Amer. Journal of Science and Arts. No. 1. Vol. XLV.
8vo. New Haven. 1843. Editors.

July 19^, 1843.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Gould read a notice of " Monograph of the Fresh-
water Univalve Mollusca of the U. S., by S. S. Haldeman.
No. 6. Genus Physa."

M This number, in its mechanical execution, fully sustains the
reputation of the preceding numbers of this beautiful work. The
author has seen fit to change the title of the work, for reasons,
which would seem insufficient, on account of the perplexity in re-
ference which will ensue. It is very doubtful whether he has suc-
ceeded in defining the limits of the very variable species of this
genus. In illustration of this, there needs only to be mentioned

133

the fact, that the animal he has given, is, in truth, the animal of P.
ancillaria, and not that of P. heterostropha, as he states ; at least,
of all the specimens of this omnipresent species, which I have ob-
served, I have never seen an animal like that of the figure ; whereas
it is like the few specimens of P. ancillaria, which I have met
with, and which is described in the ' Report on the Invertebrata of
Mass.,' to be lemon yellow."

At the request of Dr. Gould, Mr. Thomas McCulloch, Jr.,
of Halifax, Nova Scotia, read a paper "On the importance
of Habit, as a guide to accuracy in systematical arrange-
ment : illustrated in the instance of the Sylvia petechia of
Wilson and all subsequent writers."

The S. petechia differs little in external development from the
true Sylvicola?, but, as shown by the evidence of habit, belongs to
the small genus Seiurus of Swainson. The characteristics of this
genus are chiefly indicated by habit; and these, by the bird above-
mentioned, are exhibited quite as forcibly as by either of its con-
geners. Mr. McCulloch gave in support of his opinion, a minute
and interesting detail of the habits of the bird, as observed by him-
self at various seasons, particularly at the pairing season. He
concluded by expressing his regret at the necessity of disturbing,
in any case, scientific arrangements which have long been acqui-
esced in, but, at the same time, his conviction that accuracy, in this
instance, requires the change.

On motion of Dr. C. T. Jackson, the thanks of the Soci-
ety were presented to Mr. McCulloch, for his communica-
tion, and a copy was requested for publication in the Jour-
nal of the Society.

The President, to whom had been committed a paper en-
titled ': Descriptions of seven species of shells, regarded as
new by Dr. J. W. Mighels, of Portland," reported thereon,
expressing a doubt whether all the species described by Dr.
Mighels, would prove to be new, but recommending the
publication of the paper in the Journal.

134

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

A note was read from Dr. Bass, Librarian of the Boston Athenae-
um, accompanying a deposite, on behalf of that institution, of the
Cranium of an African Elephant, the under jaw of the Hippopota-
mus, and the horns of a Sicilian ox.

Dr. Gould, on behalf of J. M. Batchelder, of Saco, Me., pre-
sented a vertebra and bone of the forearm of a whale, lately found
in the Saco river. They were probably recent.

Dr. Gould laid on the table specimens of Helix, (Streptaxis)
Blandingii of Lea, and Nucula recurva, Conrad, from Africa, pre-
sented by Mr. George Perkins.

ADDITIONS TO TIIE LIBRARY.

D. H. Storer. Description of a New Species of Torpedo. 8vo.
Pam. New Haven. 1843. Author.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Nos. 73, 74, for
July. 8vo. Pam. London. 1843. Courtis Fund.

Chambaud et Bory de St. Vincent. Nouvelle Flore du Pelo-
ponnese et des Cyclades. Folio. Paris. 1838. Audubon Fund.

Reliquiae Baldwinianae : Selections from the Correspondence
of the late Wm. Baldwin. Compiled by Wm. Darlington. 12mo.
Philadelphia. 1843. Compiler.

Notices of some works recently published on the Nomenclature
of Zoology. By A. A. Gould, M. D. 8vo. Pam. New Ha-
ven. 1843. Author.

August 2?id, 1843.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

The President announced to the Society the decease of
their associate and former Vice-President, the Rev. F. W.
P. Greenwood, as follows : —

Gentlemen,— It is my painful duty to announce to the Society,
the decease of the Reverend Dr. Greenwood, one of its foundation

135

members, and for several years one of its vice-presidents, which
event occurred at an early hour this morning.

Our distinguished associate and friend has been taken from us
after a long illness, which has for several years indicated the near
approaching termination of his life, and has lately incapacitated
him for any active participation in our labors. There are some of
us, however, who remember him as he appeared in this place, and
who will not soon forget the lively interest which he manifested in
our progress, the evident pleasure with which he was wont to listen
to the communications which are accustomed to be made here, and
the deep love of nature which was impressed upon his natural cha-
racter, and strengthened by study and reflection. Long may we
cherish these recollections, for in him we beheld the pure-minded
Christian naturalist ; one who, looking beyond the mere utilities,
and even the intellectual gratifications of science, saw in the works
of nature new reasons for adoring the Author of nature ; and whose
every advancement in the path of Natural History, increased his
devotion and reverence for the Deity.

It is not however my intention to pronounce his eulogy ; others
will do it in more appropriate terms than I could ; but in speaking
of his connection with this institution, I may be permitted to say,
that no one possessed a taste for the study of natural objects, more
refined and cultivated than his ; no one could appreciate more cor-
rectly the importance of the new views of life and organization
constantly opening to us ; and no one made a better application of
the lessons of piety and humility drawn from them, to his own life
and character, than he.

I cannot better close these few remarks, than in wishing that in
these respects, each and all of us may keep in view his example.

Dr. Storer proposed the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted.

" That this Society have learned, with deep regret, the decease
of their late distinguished associate, Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood ;
who had endeared himself to us all by the umblemished purity of
his character, no less than by the congeniality of his tastes."

<l That our deep sympathy is extended to the widow and family
of our deceased friend, and that, if grateful to their feelings, we
will, as a Society, follow his remains to the grave."

136

Dr. Storer read a letter from Dr. Andrew Nichols, of Dan-
vers, Mass., accompanying a specimen, which Dr. S. pro-
nounced to be the Bnfo lentiginosus of Shaw.

Dr. N. has known them more than forty years, by their amative
croak, which he describes as " a shrill monotone, continued a sec-
ond or more, thrice as long and more trilling, in about the same
high, falsetto voice, as the Hylodes Pickeringii : " and adds, " there
is no sound in bog, pond, fen, forest or air, at all like it." Many
years ago he happened to see one in the act of uttering the well-
known sound. From that time to the present, though he has every
season heard them, he has never seen another singing. S. P.
Fowler, Esq., of Danvers, captured the specimen now sent, imme-
diately after seeing it sing.

Mr. James Elliot Cabot was unanimously elected a mem-
ber of the Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE CAEINET.

From Rev. J. H. Linsley, of Stratford, Conn., through Dr.
Storer, —

Emys terrapin, Leuciscus atromaculatus.

Hydrargyra ornata, " pulchellus.

Leuciscus chrysoleucas. " atronasus.

" cornutus. Larvae of Lepidoptera.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Figures of Molluscous Animals. By Mrs. E. Gray. 8vo.
London. Vol. I. Mrs. Gray.

List of the Specimens of Mammalia in the Collection of the
British Museum. 12mo. London. 1843. British Museum.

Gualteri Charletoni Exercitationes de DifTerentiis et Nominibus
Animalium. Fol. 2d ed. Oxonise. 1677. John E. Gray,
Esq.

Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. Auc-
tore A. P. De Candolle. Part VII. 8vo. 1838. Paris.
Dr. B. D. Greene.

On motion of Dr. Gould, thanks were voted to Mr. and
Mrs. Gray for the above donations.

137

August -[6th, 1843.
Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Binney presented, on behalf of Mr. J. G. Anthony, of
Cincinnati, Ohio, two specimens of Unio, viz. : U. Sayi,
and U. siliquoideus : also, on behalf of Mr. S. S. Halde-
man, "Indice d' Ittiologia Siciliana."

Dr. Gould announced the arrival of Dr. F. W. Cragin
from Surinam, with numerous contributions to the Cabinet,
procured at the expense of much labor and money, and
proposed that suitable acknowledgments be made for the
same.

Dr. Storer enforced the suggestion : and it was voted,
that the thanks of the Society be rendered to Dr. Cragin
for this and former instances of his liberality and coopera-
tion, and that the Corresponding Secretary communicate
fully to him our sense of obligation.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Geological History of Manhattan, or New York Island. By
Issachar Cozzens, Jr. 8vo. N. Y. 1843. Author.

Annals and Magazine of Nat. History. No. 75, for Aug. 1843.
8vo. London. Courtis Fund.

Audubon's Quadrupeds of America. Nos. 1 to 15. Folio.
1843. Subscribers : — N. I. Bowditch, Geo. B. Emerson, Amos
A. Lawrence, Amos Binney, G. C. Shattuck, Jr., John A.
Lowell, George Parkman, Wm. Sturgis, F. C. Gray, J. J. Dix-
well.

September 6th, 1S43.

Regular meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice-President, in

the Chair.

Dr. Gould stated, that since the publication on the cover
of the Journal, Vol. IV., No. 1, of the specific characters of

138

some shells supposed to be new, he had ascertained that
the following had been previously described, viz. :

Helix penicillata is said to be the young H. gihus, Fer.
Helicina glabra is H. nit.ida, Pfeiffer.
Pupa carinata is the young of P. procera, Gould.
Siphonostoma lit.uus, is Cylindrella elegans, Pfeif.
Cyclostoma clathratum is C. rugulosum, Pfeif.
Cyclostoma Mahogani is C. Sagra, D'Orbigny, and C. pictum,
Pfeif.

Cyclostoma bicolor is C. auricula turn, D'Orb.

The following do not appear to have been elsewhere
described, viz :

Siphonostoma porrectum. Testa gracillima, fusiformi, glabra,
pellucida, maculis lacteis subquadratis obscure tessellata ; anfracti-
bus ad 24, ultimo disjuncto et valde porrecto ; apertura campanulata,
subquadrata, peristomate albo, reflexo. Long. 3-5 ; lat. 7-100 poll.
Habitat, Cuba.

Cyclostoma catenatum. Testa conico-turrita, fulvo-virides-
cente ; anfractibus quinque convexis, striis elevatis volventibus,
fusco articulatis ; apertura sub-orbiculari, anfractu penultimo dis-
juncto ; peristomate reflexo, postice dentato ; operculo albo, calca-
reo. Long. 1-2 ; lat. 2-5 poll. Habitat, Cuba.

Conus castrensis. C. testa laevi, conica, antice admodum con-
stricta ; spira planulata, apice mamillata,flammulis radiantibus cas-
taneis notata ; anfractibus 10, supra concavis, ultimo colore albo,
lineis et maculis angulatis castaneis reticulata ; basi castanea.
Long. 3 : lat. 1 1-2 poll. Habitat, ( ?)

Dr. Gould also presented the conclusion of his " Mono-
graph of the Pupadse of the United States," which treated
of the following species, viz. : P. ovat't, modesta, Goi/ldii,
penlodon, Tappaniaua, rvpicola and fallax ; to which he
added descriptions of two foreign species, viz:

Pupa servilis. Testa parva, ovato-oblongata, glabra, rufescente,
umbilicata ; anfractibus quinque convexis ; apertura semi-elliptica,
dentibus quinque armata, quorum unus contortus postice affixus,
unus ad basin, duo ad labium; labro reflexo. Long. 1-10; lat.

139

1-20 poll. Inhabits Cuba and Santa Cruz, and is closely allied
to P. rupicola, Say.

Pupa lyrata. Testa parva, plerumque sinistrorsa, castanea,
late umbilicata ; anfr. 5 convexis, costulis flexuosis ad 20 concinne
clathratis ; apertura sub-orbiculari, eampanulata ; postice dentibus
duobus lamellosis, in faucibus duobus aliis armata. Long. 22-200;
lat. 13-200 poll. Inhabits one of the Sandwich Islands.

Dr. Gould had examined the shells not long since an-
nounced as having been received from the Rev. Francis
Mason, missionary at Tavoy, in British Burmah. The
collection proves to be highly interesting ; a large, propor-
tion of the shells appearing to be hitherto undescribed, some
of which he proceeded to characterize, viz.

Helix procumbens. Testa discoidea, supra planulata, subtus
convexa, epidermide pallide cornea, late umbilicata ; anfr. quatuor,
ultimo deflecto ; apertura rotundata, labro reflexo, albo. Diam.
3-4 ; alt. 1-4 poll.

Belongs to the group of which H. planulata is the type.

Helix infrendens. T. orbiculata, depresso-conoidea, corneo-
virescente, subcarinata, supra rugose striata, infra glabra, nitida,
regione umbilicali indentata ; anfr. 7 convexis, sutura impressa ;
apertura coarctata, labro vix reflexo, dentibus tribus pliciformibus
instructa. Diam. 2-5 ; alt. 1-5 poll.

Very closely allied to H. Rangiana, Fer.

Helix (Caracolla) gabata. Testa albido-cornea, supra planu.
lata, infra valde convexa, lata et profunde umbilicata ; anfr. 4 1-2,
leviter striatis, ultimo carina castanea circumdato; apertura sub-
quadrata, labro albo, reflexo. Diam. 4-5 ; alt. 7-20 poll.

Much like H. scabriuscula in form and aperture, but quite dif-
ferent as to surface, color, and umbilicus.

Helix (Caracolla) retrorsa. Testa orbiculata, sinistrorsa,
utrinque convexa, pallide castanea, arete umbilicata ; anfr. 5, lineis
longitudinalibus et volventibus minute rugosis, ultimo carinato ;
apertura rotundata, labro acuto. Lat. 1 3-4; alt. 1 poll.

Young specimens might be confounded with H. Himalana, Lea,
which is much more rounded, the surface smoother, the carina
quite indistinct, and the umbilicus smaller.

Helix (Caracolla) anceps. Testa lenticulari, pallide cornea

140

acute carinata, supra striata, subtus nitida, vix perforata ; anfr. 6,
supra planulatis, sutura submarginata ; apertura lunulari, labro
simplici, angulata. Diam. 7-10 ; alt. 7-20 poll.

In general form, color and sculpture it resembles H. acies, Fer.,
but is much smaller and not umbilicated.

Vitrina PRiESTANS. Testa depressa, fragili, nitida, straminea ;
anfr. tribus, striis incrementi et striis volventibus reticulatis ; aper-
tura sub-coarctata. Lat. 4-5; alt. 2-5 poll.

The largest species yet described.

Bulimus atuicallosus. Testa solida, imperforata, oblongo-
ovata, vix striata, sulphurea ; anfr. 7 convexiusculis, ad suturam
constrictis ; apertura lunato-ovali, basi sub-effusa, labro albo, re-
flexo, marginibus callo atro junctis. Long. 2 1-3 ; lat. 1 poll.

Allied to B. vittatus, Dryas, &c, from Philippine Is. The co-
lors of the aperture are distributed as in B. iostoma.

Clausilia insignis. Testa fusiformi, sinistrorsa, solida, castanea ;
anfr. 9 convexis, leviter striatis ; apertura purpurea, rotundata, la-
mellis duabus fortibus postice, quinque tenuibus, per testam appa-
rent bus, intus instructa ; labro valde reflexo. Long. 1 ; lat. 1-5
poll.

Allied to C. Macarana, and is the largest and most ponderous
species known.

Cyclostoma pernobilis. Testa depresso-conica, apice acuta,
late umbilicata ; anfr. 6 subdepressis, striis incrementi conspicuis
et striis volventibus rugulosis, ultimo carina costali albida cincto ;
apertura magna, intus cserulescente, labro crasso, expanso, vivide
sanguineo : coloribus piceis et lutescentibus superne varie nube-
culata ; infra albida, lineis piceis volventibus interrupta. Alt. 1 ;
lat. 2 poll.

This superb species closely resembles C. involvulus, Sowb.

Cyclostoma sectilabrum. Testa turrita, spira acuminata, arete
umbilicata, brunnea ; anfract. 8 sub-ventricosis, vix striatis, penulti-
mo sub-gibbo; apertura sub-orbiculari, intus rubescente,peritremate
duplici, incrassato, albo, prope angulum posticum canali parvo in-
terrupta. Alt. 1 ; lat. 2-5 poll.

Resembles C. altum, Sowb., but has the fissure of the peritreme
on the opposite side. C. croceum, Sowb., may be a faded specimen
of this shell.

Unio Tavoyensis. Testa rotundata, solida, sub-equilaterali,

141

fusca, postice dilatata, sub-angulata ; umbonibus elevatis, una cum
latere postico corrugatis ; dentibus cardinalibus pyramidatis, late*
ralibus flexuosis : impressionibus musculorum profundis ; margarita
albido-incarnata. Long. 2 ; alt. 1 1-2 ; lat. 4-5 poll.

Closely allied to U. corrugata, Lam., which is less rounded and
less corrugated.

Unio CRisrATA. Testa ovali-elongata, inequilaterali, antice ro-
tundata, postice subrostrata, costaque umbonali ; umbonibus parvis ;
colore virescente, fusco variegata ; rugis angulatis radiantibus un-
dique crispata. : intus livida ; dentibus parvis obtusis. Long. 1 7-10 j
alt. 9-10; lat. 1-2 poll.

Unio foliacea. Testa, parva, compressa, fragili, fusco-vires-
cente, inequilaterali, transverse oblongo-ovata, postice sub-angulata. ;
umbonibus parvis, subtilissime corrugatis ; dentibus exilibus, rectis,
ad marginem parallelis ; margarita livida, iridescente. Long. 1 3-5 ;
lat. 1-2; alt. 9-10 poll.

Closely allied to U. Bengalensis and Corrianus Lea.

Unio exolescens. Testa transverso-oblongata, inequilaterali,
sub-compressa, fusco-virescente ; postice dilatata, sub-biangulata ;
umbonibus sub-elevatis ; dentibus cardinalibus parvis, obliquis, inter-
dum exoletis ; lateralibus remotis, rectis; margarita livida vel fer-
ruginea. Long. 2 3-4 ; alt. 1 1-4; lat. 3-5 poll.

In form and color resembles some stinted varieties of U. compla-
natus.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson stated that the female Chimpanzee,
which had lately been exhibited at the Boston Museum,
having died, the internal organs had been obtained for the
Society.

ADDITIONS to the library.

Linsley, J. H. Catalogue of the Birds of Connecticut. Pam.
8vo. Author.

Proceedings of the Academy of Nat. Sciences, at Philadel-
phia. Nos. 26—29. 8vo. Pam. Academy of Natural Sci-
ences.

142

September 20th, 1843.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Binney read a paper "On the influence of physical
causes on the geographical distribution of the genera and
species of terrestrial mollusks of the United States."

In this paper the author first gave a concise description of the
great geographical divisions of the territory of the United States,
which he divided into the three distinct regions, viz.

1. The Pacific Region, — that lying between the Pacific Ocean
and the Rocky Mountains.

2. The Central Region, — that between the Rocky Mountains
and the Alleghany Mountains, including the whole country watered
by the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

3. The Atlantic Region,— lying between the Alleghany Moun-
tains and the Atlantic Ocean.

He then discussed the question, whether merely geographical
features exercised any influence on the distribution of the terres-
trial mollusks, and arrived at the conclusion, that unless combined
with climatal causes, they offered scarcely any obstacle to their
extension. The Rocky Mountains, rising above the limits of per-
petual frost and snow, were considered to form an impenetrable
barrier ; while the Alleghany Mountains, of moderate elevation, and
covered to their summits with forests, were traversed in every direc-
tion by these animals, so that the same species are for the most
part found on both sides of them. Hence he inferred that the
country west of the Rocky Mountains, constitutes a distinct zoolo-
gical region, and the country between these mountains and the
Atlantic Ocean another.

The other causes considered were the following : — Climate
Elevation, Geological Struclure, Vegetation, Humidity and Dry
ness, which were classed as primary and constant causes ; and In
undations, Fires, Agriculture, Increase of Domestic Animals
Proximity of the Sea, Commercial intercourse with Europe, Ex
cessive Heat or Cold of particular seasons, and Oceanic currents
which were set down as accidental or secondary causes. After

143

stating the effects of these, the author proceeded to suggest, as the
result of his observation, that the facts known in relation to the sub-
ject, would authorize the belief that the country is divided (so far as
concerns these animals,) into several distinct zoological sections,
each more or less perfectly defined, and each inhabited by certain
species peculiar to itself. These he indicated as follows: —

Sect. 1. — The peninsula of Florida.

Sect. 2. — The Alluvial Region of the southern Atlantic coast and
of the Gulf of Mexico.

Sect. 3. — The Southern Inland Section, comprising the territory
between the preceding and the river Ohio, and the State of Vir-
ginia.

Sect. 4. — The Southern Inland Section, lying between the Ohio
River and the great Lakes, and embracing the middle Atlantic
States and a part of New England.

Sect. 5. — The Northwestern Section, west and northwest of the
great Lakes.

Sect. 6. — The Northeastern Section, between the river St. Law-
rence and the Atlantic Ocean.

The physical features of each of these sections, were described,
and catalogues of the species inhabiting each were given, — and
the author concluded with some general remarks concerning the
introduction of foreign species.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr. Gould presented, on behalf of Dr. Wright, of the U. S. Navy,
a skull of Diomedea exulans, Wandering Albatross, from Van
Dieman's Land ; also a skin of a Galeopilhecus, from Manilla ?

From Mr. Brazer, Fossils from Alabama, consisting of Shark's
teeth, and a fragment of the Jaw-bone of a reptile, with teeth,
from the marl of Alabama river. Three consecutive vertebrae of
a Saurian, from Lowndes Co., Ala. ; Encrinites from Prairie Bluff,
on Alabama river, and a Coprolite. Also valves of Unio.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Magazine of Nat. History. No. 76, for Sept. 8vo.
Pam. London. 1843. Courtis Fund.

144

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Part X.
8vo. 1842. Zoolog. Soc.

Reports of the Council and Auditors of the same. 8vo. Pam. 1843.
N. A. Review for Oct. 1843. 8vo. Boston. Exchange.

October Mh, 1843.

Regular meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the

Chair.

Dr. Gould continued his account of the Shells from Bur-
mah, received from the Rev. Mr. Mason.

Paludina doliaris. Testa tenui, conico-globosa, luteo-virides-
cente, arctissime umbilicata ; anfract. 5 ventricosis, striis minu-
tissimis reticulatis, costulis numerosis inequalibus, purpureis, cinctis;
apertura sub-circulari ; columella reflexa, non appressa, alba ; labiis
postice disjunctis. Long. 11-10; lat. 9-10 poll.

Differs from P. Burroughiana and elongata in form and aper-
ture ; but is nearly allied to P. subcostata, Griffith's Cuvier.

Paludina petrosa. Testa solida, imperforate, subglobosa, apice
erosa, saturate viridi, rufo fasciata ; anfract. 3, ultimo amplo, sutura
praecipue marginata. ; apertura semi-circulari, columella late planu-
lata. rufescente ; intus nigrescente vei holoserica ; operculo apice
subcentrali, dementis concentricis.

Resembles Anculotus or Littorina, but its place is determined
by the operculum.

Melania eatana. Testa turrita, solida, fusco-virescente, apice
erosa, anfract. 6 — 7, planulatis, postice sub-coronatis, costulis longi-
tudinalibus et volventibus gemmularum series tres efformantibus ;
apertura angusto-ovata, postice coronata, intus coerulescente, co-
lumella alba. Long. 1 ; lat. 2-5 poll.

Very closely resembles M. Hydeii, Conrad.

Modiola varicosa. Testa fragili, lucida, inequilaterali, trans-
verse ovato-oblongata, sub-falcata ; colore luteo-viridescente, supra
costa umbonali maculis venosis obliquis notata ; margarita argentea,
ad umbones purpurea. Long. 1-2 ; lat. 7-20 ; alt. .5.

A beautiful and delicate shell, which I suspect to be an inhabit-
ant of brackish, or even fresh water.

145

Dr. Storer reported on the Papers of the Rev. R. T. Lowe,
recently presented to the Society by the Author. He com-
plimented them highly for their scientific accuracy, and the
exquisite beauty of the figures.

Dr. Abbot reported upon some of the birds from Surinam,
presented by Dr. F. W. Cragin. He remarked upon their
structure and habits, and exhibited the following species,
which were in excellent condition.

Galbula albirostris, White-billed Jacamar.

" paradisea, Paradise "

" grandis, Great "

Alcedo bicolor, Rufous and Green Kingfisher.

Trogon Curucui, Red-bellied Curucui.

" viridis, Yellow-bellied "

Cuculus tranquillus, Wax-billed Barbacou.

Bucco Tamatia, Spotted-bellied Tamatia.

Momotus Brazil iensis, Brazilian Motmot, 2 specimens.

Columba speciosa, Scallop-necked Pigeon, 2 specimens.

" Martinica, Copper-colored Ground Dove.

ruffina, Russet " " Male.

" passerina, Ground Turtle. Male.

•' frontalis, Grey-fronted Pigeon, 2 specimens.

Tinamus variegatus, Variegated Tinamou, 2 specimens.

Perdix Guianensis, Guiana Partridge, 2 specimens.

Mr. F. Alger, member of the Society, read an interesting
paper on the identity of the Beaumontite of M. Levy, and
the Lincolnite of Prof. Hitchcock, with Heulandite, and
illustrated his remarks by differently modified crystals of
these substances, specimens of which he laid before the
members. #

The derivation of the secondary forms of the Beaumontite, from
the primary right oblique-angled prism of Heulandite, was very
clearly proved, and the source of fallacy pointed out, by which Mr.

• Mr. Levy read his paper before the Academy of Sciences, Paris, and an
abstract of it may be seen in the Lond. and Edinb. Mag. for February. 1840.
Prof. Hitchcock's account may be found in his Final Report on the Geologi-
cal Survey of Massachusetts.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 18 NOV. 1843.

146

Levy had been led to describe the mineral as new. It was shown
to agree in all its chemical, external, and crystallographical char-
acters, with Heulandite, as found in Nova Scotia, where it offers
a peculiarity in its crystalline form, not before observed, excepting
in the Beaumontite. This peculiarity is in the near approximation
of the crystals to a right square prism, (supposed by Mr. Levy to
be the primary form,) by the undue extension of the replacements
on the acute lateral edges of the common crystals of Heulandite.
The gradual changes by which the ultimate figure is produced,
was beautifully exemplified in the crystals from Nova Scotia, while
they are not seen in the Beaumontite. The supposed Beaumontite
occurs with Haydenite, near Baltimore, and it has hitherto been
highly esteemed among mineralogists. The Lincolnite, named by
Prof. Hitchcock, in honor of the late Governor of Massachusetts,
occurs in the trap-rock of Deerfield, Mass., and in the gneiss at
Bellows Falls. It was shown to differ from the ordinary crystals
of Heulandite, only by the absence of the replacements upon the
obtuse solid angles of the right oblique angled prism ; a peculiarity
which, Mr. Alger remarked, was not confined to those crystals, as
others similar to them had lately been found on New York Island,
and at Suckasunny, New Jersey. From measurement with the
common goniometer, Prof. Hitchcock had found a difference of 10°
in the incidence of planes M on T, which led him to figure and
describe it as a new species. But Mr. Teschemacher, whose accu-
racy in the use of the reflecting goniometer is well known, has
measured the same crystals, at Mr. Alger's request, and found them
to agree precisely with the recorded angles of Heulandite.

A copy of Mr. Alger's paper was requested for the Jour-
nal of the Society.

Professor Charles Brooks was unanimously elected a
member of the Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr. Wyman, on behalf of Mr. Brazer, presented the cranium of
a Lepidosteus and of a Beaver, (Castor fiber.)

Dr. Gould, on behalf of Dr. Dodd, U. S. Navy, presented two
bottles containing fishes from the Grand Banks ; and in behalf of

147

Mr. E. R. Mayo, a Cyclostoma, from Madagascar ; also from an
unknown donor, a piece of petrified wood, from Shreveport, La.

Dr. Storer presented, on behalf of Mr. H. W. Abbot, a beautiful
specimen of Trichiitrus Upturns, Silvery Hair-tail, from Mobile
Bay. Also from Rev. Zadock Thompson, a bottle of Fishes.

Thanks were voted to Messrs. Brazer, Abbot, Thompson,
and Dr. Dodd, for their donations.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

History of Vermont. By Zadock Thompson. 8vo. Burling-
ton. 1842. Author.

Mollusca. Fresh Water and Land Shells of Vermont. By C.
B. Adams. 8vo. Pam. 1843. Z. Thompson.

Catalogue of Vermont Plants. By Wm. Oakes. 8vo. Pam.
1843. Z. Thompson.

Proceedings of the Amer. Philosophical Soc. Vol. II. No. 27.
May, 1843. 8vo. Pam. Philadelphia. A. P. Society.

Erichson, G. F. Genera et Species Staphylinorum Insectorum
Coleopterorum Familioe. Pars I. 8vo. Berolini. 1839.

Spinola, M. Insectorum Liguriae Species.

Bristol Institution. Proceedings of 13th Annual Meeting. 8vo.
Pam. 1836.

On certain Crystalline Forms of Sulphate of Strontian, found at
Pyle Hill, near Bristol. 8vo. Pam. 1840.

Abstract of a Memoir on Physical Geology. By W. Hopkins.
8vo. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) 1826.

Catalogue of Hemiptera, in the collection of Rev. F. W. Hope.
8vo. Pam. London. 1837. Nos. 1 and 2. With Latin Descrip-
tions by J. O. West wood. All from Rev. T. S. Savage.

Silliman's Amer. Journal of Science. No. 2. Vol. XLV., for
July, Aug. and Sept. 1843. 8vo. N. Haven. Editors.

Lieut. Fremont's Report of his Exploring Expedition to the
Rocky Mountains. 8vo. Pam. Washington. 1843. Hon. R. C.
Winthrop.

Proceedings of Amer. Philosophical Soc. No. 26. Vol. II.
8vo. Pam. Philadelphia. 1843. A. P. Society.

148

October iSth. 1843.

Regular meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice-President, in

the Chair.

Mr. G. B. Emerson made some remarks upon the Report
of the Regents of the University of New York, committed
to him at a former meeting. He spoke chiefly of the want
of attention to the subject of Natural History in the New
York system of education.

Mr. E. was sorry to see that the subject was much neglected.
He attributed this, in part, to the want of suitable books ; none
having appeared since the work of Smellie, so suitable for the pur-
pose, as the American edition of this work, edited by Dr. Ware,
greatly enriched by the valuable notes of the editor. At present,
this is the best text-book we have. But this is entirely inadequate
to supply the want at present felt. Children in New England want
a book of instruction in Natural History which draws its illustra-
tions from objects seen every day about us, and familiar to all, and
not from foreign examples, whose very names are entirely new.
Mr. E. expressed a hope that before long such a work would be
prepared by some one of this Society, and anticipated that it would
be far more valuable for New England schools than any now
existing.

Dr. Slorer exhibited beautiful drawings of SphyrcBna
borealis and Caranx chrysos, from specimens which he had
lately received.

He was not aware that either of these existed in our waters at
the time his Report on the Fishes of Massachusetts was madu.
The former of these species was sent to him by Dr. Yale, from
Holmes's Hole ; the latter was taken in Boston, from one of the
bridges leading to Charlestown. Both are described by Dr. De
Kay as New York fishes.

Dr. Gould reported on papers of the Rev. R. T. Lowe
relating to the plants and land shells of Madeira.

He dwelt upon some detailed experiments made by the author.

149

with a view to ascertain the nature of the respiratory system of the
animals of Melampus and Pedipes. These experiments were nu-
merous and conducted with great care, yet they led the author to
a result which subsequent observation has shown to be false, in
consequence of not reversing his experiments. Finding that the
animal could sustain life for a week or more when confined in a
bag under water, so as to prevent all access to the surface, he
inferred that it was a water-breathing animal ; but it is also a fact,
that some animals known to be air-breathing, can endure a like or
longer confinement under water, sustained by supplies of air, which
they inspire and retain, till a renewed opportunity of rising to the
surface is afforded.

Several matters of business were disposed of.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Specimens from the Infusorial Strata of Richmond, Va.

Specimen of Posidonia Keuperi, from Prof. W. B. Rogers.

Cranium of an African Leopard from Dr. T. S. Savage.

Beautiful specimens of Fluor Spar, covered with crystals of
Quartz ; specimens of Galena and other minerals, from Mr. Nathan
Metcalf, Jr.

A Crustacean, from Dr. James Jackson.

Specimens of about fifty species of wood, from Surinam,
with the native names annexed, from Dr. F. W. Cragin.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Messrs. Rogers
and Metcalf for their donations.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Fifty-sixth Report of the Regents of the University of New York
State. 8vo. Albany. 1843.

R. T. Lowe's Description of a new Genus of Acanthopterygian
Fishes. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) '1838.

Fishes of Madeira. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) 1836.

Synopsis of the same. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) 1837.

Supplement to Synopsis. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) 1839.

Additional Observations on Alepisaurus. 4to. Pam. 1S35.

150

Novitiae Florae Maderensis. 4to. Pam. 1838.

Primitise Faunae et Floras Maderse et Portus Sancti. 4to. Pam.
1831.

Description of the Animal to which belongs the shell Helicoli-
max Lamarckii. Ify R. T. Lowe. 8vo. London.

Remarks on the Nature of the Respiratory Organs in certain
Littoral Mollusca of Madeira. By Rev. R. T. Lowe. . 8vo. Pam.
London.

On the Genera Melampus, Pedipes and Truncatella. By Rev.
R. T. Lowe. 8vo. Pam. London.

Notes on the Morbid Appearance in the Dissection of the Chim-
panzee. 8vo. (2 leaves and 2 plates.) 1836. London.

Description of two species of Araneidae. 8vo. Pam. London.
By Rev. R. T. Lowe. All from Rev. R. T. Lowe.

Description of 12 new species of Unioncs. By Isaac Lea. 8vo.
(1 leaf.) 1843. Philadelphia. Author.

Annals and Magazine of Nat. History. No. 77, for Oct., 1843.
8vo. London. Courtis Fund.

Reply to the Accusations of J. D. Dana. By Joseph P. Couth-
ouy. 8vo. Pam. New Haven. 1843. Author.

November 1st, 1843.

Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Abbot continued his report upon the South American
birds, of Dr. Cragin's donation, and exhibited the following
species, viz :

Lanius Cayanus, Cayenne Shrike, two specimens, adult and
young. L. rubiginosus, Rusty Shrike. Tanagra Cayana, Rufous-
headed Tanager, male. T. punctata, Spotted Green Tanager.
T. atro-coccinea, Marone Tanager. Muscicapa ( ), Orange-
crowned Fly-catcher, Lath., two specimens. Ampelis pompadora,
Pompadour Chatterer. Pipra albifrons, White-faced Manikin.
P. pareola, Blue-backed Manikin, young male. P. pectoralis,
Gold-breasted Manikin.

151

Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jr., read a paper on a species of Ortyx
discovered by him in Yucatan, the male of which had been
recently described by Mr. Gould, of London, under the
name of O. nigrogularis, but previously characterized by
himself in Stephens' Incidents of Travel, &c, Vol. I., Ap-
pendix, p. 474.

He gave a full account of its habits, note, &c, and stated that
Mr. Gould's measure of the bird (8 inches,) was too short, being
probably taken from a dried skin. The shortest he measured was
8£ inches, and some were as much as 8f inches. The color of the
eye is hazel.

The Female is 8 to 8J inches long. Tarsus 1J inch. Middle
toe, 1^ inch. Tail, 2J to 2f inches long, and consists of twelve
feathers, rounded. Bill 9-16 inch, nearly black. Top of head,
back of neck, back, rump, upper tail coverts, dark brown with
buff, reddish brown, and black, intermixed ; edges of wing coverts,
very light buff, almost white. Throat, chin, line across the fore-
head and between bill and eyes to cheek, line over eyes and along
superciliary ridge to nape, deep buff or yellowish brown. Feathers
of breast, flanks and belly not fringed with black, as in the male,
but having a light reddish color at the part nearest the quill, then a
mark like the crown of a bicuspid tooth, of very dark brown, on
some feathers almost black ; then a large spot of very light buff,
on some feathers, white ; and then a slight tip of dark brown, on
the margin. The light spots on the breast are much smaller than
those on the abdomen. Large spots of reddish and dark brown on
the flank feathers. Under the tail-coverts, nearly white, with a
lanceolate spot of dark brown or black along the middle of each.
Legs light flesh-colored. Primaries, ash brown, fourth and fifth
longest.

A paper from Dr. T. W. Harris was read, entitled :: De-
scription of an African Beetle, allied to Scarabseus Poly-
phemus, with remarks upon some other insects of the same
group.''

Dr. H. had enjoyed the rare opportunity of seeing all the Goliath
beetles brought from western Africa by Dr. Thos. S. Savage and
Mr. Geo. Perkins. Among them were several males and a female

152

of this rare and noble species, the latter of which was before un-
known, together with both sexes of another scarcely inferior to it
in size and beauty; and at the request of Dr. S., he had prepared
descriptions of them. They both belong to the sub-genus Mecy-
norhina of Hope.

M. Polyphemus. Opaque, velvet green, above ; top of the head,
five longitudinal stripes on the thorax, three rows of rounded spots
on each elytron, a spot on the scutel, two large square spots on
the podex, and the sides of the breast, pale buff-colored ; margin of
the clypeus, horn, antennae, and tarsi, black.

Male. — Head, three-horned ; the anterior horn curved upwards,
forked, and denticulated at the end ; the lateral horns elevated per-
pendicularly, compressed and denticulated. Intermediate stripe on
the thorax abbreviated behind, anterior femora six-toothed inter-
nally, and notched at the base. Body beneath, except the sternum
and abdomen, covered with a yellowish, velvet-like pile. Length,
exclusive of the horns, 2J inches; central horn, f of an inch, or
more.

Female. — Clypeus narrowed before, and widely emarginated on
the anterior edge. Thorax grossly punctured ; the intermediate
vitta obsolete. Body beneath entirely green, polished, grossly
punctured, and scarcely clothed with tawny hairs. Length, 2^-
inches.

M. Savagii. Thorax opaque velvet-green above, with five broad
yellowish stripes ; scutel green, with a broad )rellowish stripe in the
middle ; elytra velvet-black, with three rows of tawny spots on each
elytron, and an indented stripe of the same color on the suture, the
marginal and subsutural spots confluent from the base to the mid-
dle ; head of the male and central horn above, two spots on the
vertex of the female, two square spots on the podex, and sides of
the breast, yellowish gray ; sternum, abdomen, and legs, dark
green, and polished ; horns and margin of the clypeus, anterior
and intermediate tarsi, black ; posterior tarsi pale rufous, with the
articulations and claws black.

Male. — Head three horned ; the anterior horn horizontally ex-
tended, and forked at the end ; lateral horns smooth and tapering,
extended forwards and outwards ; anterior femora with three une-
qual robust teeth on each side, those on the outer edge abruptly
bent downwards. Length nearly 2 inches ; horn more than half
an inch.

153

Female. — Clypeus quadrate, truncated before; sides of the breast
covered with a yellowish gray substance, intermixed with coarse
hairs. Length, ljjf inches.

Dr. H. accompanied these descriptions with an account
of the characters of the sub-genera, into which the Goliath
beetles had been distributed, and subjoined the notes of Dr.
Savage relative to their habits, food, and habitat. Dr. S.
says that he " has seen Professor King's G. regius, which is
no more nor less than the female of Drurii; of this I am
as certain as that the princeps of Hope is the female of
Cacicus"

Dr. Gould exhibited about 50 species of Shells, received
from Dr. Savage, from Cape Palmas.

There were among them several new species, which he should
hereafter describe. A valve of Unto ochraceus was among them.
He had once before received a valve of U. complanatus from the
same region, which was supposed by the person who brought it to
have been indigenous there. These instances show with how much
caution the alleged localities of shells should be regarded.

Dr. Henry J. Bigelow was elected Cabinet keeper in the
place of Dr. Henry Bryant, resigned. Several matters of
business were disposed of.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson presented a mass of Egg cases of Buccinum,
fished up at Marblehcad, Mass.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Constitution and By-Laws of the Northern Academy of Arts and
Sciences. Pam. 1843. From the Academy.

Meteorological Register for 1822 — 25, by Joseph Lovell ; also
from 1826—30, by Tho. Lawson. Svo. Philad. 18-40. From
Hon. R. C. Winthrop.

Monograph of the species of the genus Pupa, found in the U. S.
By A. A. Gould. 8vo. Pam. From the Author.

PROCEEDINGS E. S. N. H. 18* DEC. 1S43.

154

November 15th, 1843.
Regular meeting — the President in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman, communicated through the President, a
paper on the anatomical structure of the genera Tebenno-
phorus, Binney, and Glandina, Say.

The paper gives all the details of a minute dissection of
every organ, but the following are the main anatomical
features by which the genera are characterized. The spe-
cies examined were Tebennophorus Carolmensis, Bosc, and
Glandina gians, Say.

Tebennophorus. On making a longitudinal section through the
shield, along the back, there is found between the shield and the
viscera, a large cavity occupying the whole extent of the dorsal
and lateral region. It has no communication with the respiratory
sac, nor does it communicate externally with the air. Its internal
surface is lined by a thin, smooth, delicate membrane, enveloping
the viscera, so as to unite them into a single mass, and from them
it is reflected upon the tegumentary parietes, like the peritoneum
of the higher animals. In the Limaces, the membrane by which
the viscera are invested, is attached by a loose cellular tissue to the
parietes, so that no similar cavity can be said to exist. In Teben-
nophorus, there is no cavity in the cuirass for a calcareous body,
as in Limax.

The respiratory cavity presents a very remarkable variation from
that of the Limaces, in being attached to the viscera, and in having
no connection whatever with the shield. In the Limaces the shield
contains two cavities, one of which secretes and contains the calca-
reous body or rudimentary shell, and the other the organ of respi-
ration, the heart and kidneys.

Glandina. In the general characters of its organization, it re-
sembles that of the genera Limax and Helix, but differs from them
in the existence of an additional pair of tentacles and a correspond-
ing modification of the nerves distributed to them ; — in the arrange-
ment of the teeth upon the tongue ; — in the complicated form of
the stomach, and in some other characters of less importance. With

155

the genera Achatina and Bulimus, it is more intimately allied and
has been confounded with them. The buccal pouch is many times
longer than its breadth, while in all the above genera it is ovoidal.
There is no horny beak at the entrance of the mouth. The teeth
are arranged en chevron instead of transversely, and there is no
teeth on the median line. It has the anterior portion of the mem-
branous part of the stomach terminating in a cul de sac. The sa-
livary glands form a distinct collar around the oesophagus, and are
not separate as in the other genera. In Bulimus and Achatina the
anterior lobe of the liver is largest; in Glanclina it is smallest.
There appears to be but one bile duct in the latter, while there
exist two large ones in the smaller. The third pair of tentacles, so
prominent in Glandina, are very slightly developed in Bulimus and
do not exist in Achatina. In the two former, they are provided
with a special nerve. In Achatina, the male organ is enveloped
in a large and muscular sheath, which does not exist in any of the
other genera.

Dr. Cabot exhibited three birds from Yucatan, which he
regarded as new. and of which he read descriptions.

Corvus vociferus. Male, about 16 inches long. Tail, 1J
inches. Bill, 1-J- inches along ridge, and 1J along gape; J
inch diameter at base. Nostrils rounded, partially covered with
bristly hairs. Tarsus, If inches. Middle toe, 1J inches
long. First primary shortest ; 5th, longest. Dark brown on
head, chin, neck, back and upper part of tail. A steel grey
spot on cheeks. Tail consists of 12 feathers, all tipped for about
one-third their length, with white, except the middle ones, which
have merely a white mark on each side the shaft, near the tip.
Under parts and flanks are white. Bill, black. Iris, brown.

Female, 15J inches in length ; brown, lighter than the male.
Bill, yellow.

Oriolus musicus. Male, 9 J inches long. Tarsus, 1 1-16
inches long. Bill, J of an inch along gape ; -J along ridge.
Tail, 4J inches long. Head, neck, cheeks, breast, belly, rump,
tertiaries, and nearly the whole length of the two outer tail feathers,
and the lower part of the third, and sometimes a stripe on the
fourth, bright chrome yellow. Face, throat, primaries, second-
aries, back, and four, sometimes six tail feathers, black. Legs,

156

bluish. Bill, black, except base of lower mandible, which is
bluish.

Female, 8g inches long, marked like the male, but not so
brilliant. Irides, hazel. Tail consists of 12 feathers.

Momotus Yucatacensis. Black-th mated Motmot. 15 to 15f
inches long. Bill, 2-J inches long ; gape, If inch along ridge,
J inch broad, 7-16 of an inch through at base from above down-
wards. About 50 serrations can be counted on each edge of upper
mandible, and 32 on each edge of lower. A strongly marked ridge
runs along roof of mouth to within f inches of point of bill. Tar-
sus, J of an inch long. Tail, 8J inches long, bare part of two
central tail feathers, about 2 J inches. Along top of head, upper
part of back, rump, cheeks, breast and sides of neck, reddish green
or olive. In middle of back is a spot of bay. A stripe of very
light blue, like some of the salts of copper, passes from base of bill
almost to nape, along each side of head. A black stripe extends
under each eye to neck. Another black stripe passes down mid-
dle of chin to upper part of breast, growing broader as it descends,
and mixed with light blue on chin, and bordered on each side with
the same color. Abdomen, under tail coverts and flanks, bright
rufous. Primaries and tail light green, changing to blue in some
lights, tipped, and more or less bordered with black. 1st primary,
longest ; 4th, shortest. Ten tail feathers. The expansion at end
of two middle tail feathers, about half bright pale green varying to
blue, and the other half black. Eyes, hazel. Legs and bill nearly
black.

Mr. Bouve reported upon some fossil shells from the
Tertiary of Europe, which had been committed to him,
and made some remarks upon the prevalence of the differ-
ent strata of this class in Great Britain, as also of their
paleontological contents.

In relation to what has been published upon the subject, he took
the opportunity of calling the attention of any present, who might
not be aware of the fact, to the discrepancy in the difle rent accounts
of the English Tertiary, found in the most popular works. For
instance. In Mantcll's Wonders of Geology, the author, remarking
upon the Miocene (Tertiary) deposits, states that there are no good

157

types of this group in Great Britain ; and in the Elements of Ge-
ology, by Mr. Lyell, it is also said that in England the Miocene
strata are wanting, the Tertiary being limited to the Eocene and
the Pliocene. In the Principles of Geology, edition of 1842, the
Coralline Crag of Suffolk, and the Red Crag, succeeding, two ex-
tensive deposits, are both ranked as belonging to the strata, said in
the other cases to be wanting — the Miocene. Now there is nothing
to show in this last published edition why the author makes a state-
ment so different from that in his Elements and in other works.
The reader of these only, is therefore left in doubt as to the cor-
rectness of either. A satisfactory explanation is, however, con-
tained in an address delivered by Prof. Buckland before the Geolo-
gical Society of London, in 1840. An account being there given
of a visit made by Mr. Lyell to Norfolk and Suffolk, for the pur-
pose of determining, with the assistance of others who accompanied
him, the age of the deposits there, by a comparison of their fossil
shells with the recent. It was found that the number of extinct
species, in both the Coralline and Red Crag, brought them both
within the limits of the Miocene, and that the views before held by
geologists had been erroneous.

Dr. Storer read extracts from a letter of Mr. S. S. Halde-
man, as follows: — "I have a third undescribed species of
Percina. from the Susquehaimah. which may be charac-
terized as follows/'

" P. bimaculata. Light yellow, sides transversely and irregularly
branded with black, and dorsal fins clouded with brown, a distinct
black spot at the extremity of the lateral line. Slender, lateral
line sub-rectilinear, above the middle ; ten or twelve irregular trans-
verse bands upon the back and side ; rays of the second dorsal and
caudal fins crossed by bands of dark brown.

D. 15— 15 : P. 13 : V. 6 : A 11 : C 17.

The length of the pectoral fins deserves mention as a generic cha-
racter."

Dr. Gould read descriptions of shells received from Drs.
Savage and Perkins, from Africa. They are as follows: —

Helix (Caracolla) pellucida. Testa fragili, pellucida, pallide

158

cornea, orbiculari, carinata, vix perforata : spira depressa, sub lente
striis subtilissimis decussata ; infra convexa, nitida : anfractibus
6 subconvexis, externis prope suturam excavatis : apertura lunata,
labro angulato. Lat. 17-20 ; alt. J poll.

Bulimus rubicundulus. Testa oblongo-conica, tenui, rosaceo-
erubescente ; anfractibus 7 convexiusculis, ultimo obsolete carinato.
sutura marginata, albida, eleganter crenulata ; apertura ovata, col-
umella tenui, labro subreflexo, intus sub-incrassato. . Long. 1J ;
lat. 7-10 poll.

Allied to B. Boholenis Brod., and is colored like some varieties
of B. concinnus, Brod.

Bulimus interstinctus. Testa ovata, apice mamillata, imperfo-
rata, pallide incarnata, striis liturisque purpureis et pallidis hie et illic
variegata; anfractibus 7 ventricosis, ultimo magno, partem dimidiam
spira? sequante ; sutura marginata, albida, notissime crenulata : aper-
tura parva, sub-quadrata ; columella rosacea, evolvente, postice sinu-
ata; labro acuto, intus callo rosaceo incrassato. Long. If; lat. 9-10.

Achatina. torrida. Testa ovoidea, apice mamillata, rufo-
castanea : anfractibus 7 ventricosis, striatis, ultimo magno, basi
deorsum contracta ; sutura marginata, perspicue crenulata ; aper-
tura parva, ovata ; columella alba, fusco-marginata, basi leviter
truncata. ; labro simplici, fuscescente, intus albo, incrassato. Long.
3 J; lat. 1J poll.

Allied to A. Saulcydi, Guerin, a reversed species.

Achatina involuta. Testa turrita, elongata, apice mamillata,
imperforata, fuscescente ; anfractibus 12 leviter striatis, quatuor
superioribus sub-equal ibus, ultimo carinato ; sutura impressa, minu-
tissime crenulata ; apertura ovata, spira? partem sextam aequante,
columella arcuata, involuta, tubulum efTormante. Long. 1 1-10 ;
lat. J poll.

Allied to A. octona, decollata, &c.

Pupa pumilio. Testa obovata, ventricosa, sursnm aucta, apice
rotundata, imperforata, albida, nitida : anfractibus 7 planulatis, le-
viter striatis, ultimo deorsum attcnuata ; sutura lineari ; apertura
parva, semi-elliptica, lamella unica postica, cum labro continua, et
plica umbilicali angulata imped ita ; peritremate albo, undulalo,
leviter et inequaliter reflexo. Long. 13-20; lat. 7-10 poll.

Pupa capitata. Testa cylindracea, apice rotundata, albida, im-
perforata ; anfractibus planulatis, concinne oblique striatis, ultimo

159

deorsum attenuata, basi carinata, externe et sub sutura umbilicali
indentata ; sutura conspicua ; apertura angusta, protensa, subovali,
basi sub-angulata, lamella postica, altera columellari, dentibus
quatuor inequalibus, plicaque umbilicali dentifera ringente ; peritre-
mate Candida, reflexa. Long. 11-20 ; lat. J poll.

Melania mutans. Testa turrita, spira elongata, saturate fusca,
decollata ; anfractibus superstitibus 8 planulatis, plicis longitudi-
nalibus ad 16 et lineis volventibus decussantibus compresso-granu-
Iatis, vel eorum vice, carinis compressis, acutis, flavescentibus, plus
minusve eminentibus cinctis ; ultimo basi striis ad 12 deorsum di-
minuendis spiraliter exarato ; apertura angusta, elliptiga, basi me-
diocriter effusa, intus coerulescente, fusco variegata ; columella
lutescente ; labro acuto. Long. 1 h ; lat. 9-20 poll.

Possibly the same as M. qiiadriseriata, Griffith's Cuv.

December 6th, 1843.
The President in the Chair.

Dr. Storer read a letter from Maj. Le Conte, tendering for
publication in the Journal a Monograph of the Histeridse,
which that gentleman has in preparation. The offer was
thankfully accepted.

Dr. S. alluded to some errors which had occurred in his
paper in the number of the Journal recently published.

" An error occurs on page 80, Vol. IV., No. 3, which should be
corrected, —because it might be inferred from the text, as it now
stands, that a mistake, which Mr. Ayres has pointed out, did not exist.
The asterisk, instead of being placed where it is, should occur in
in the first line of the page, offer the period. And ' Mr. Ayres '
should be substituted for ' De Kay,' in the note."

Dr. S. also remarked, that the species of flat fish, known in our
market as the " turbot" and which had been supposed to be the
Pleuronectes aquosus, Mitchill, — but which Mr. Ayres, in his late
communication, in an article upon the " Fishes of Brookhaven, L. I.,
considered a new species, he had been enabled, by Dr. De Kay's

160

Report, satisfactorily to determine to be the Pleuronectes oblongus,
Mitchill, — of which the Platessa ocellaris, DeKay, is a synonym.

Dr. Cabot exhibited the male and female Thibetian Poly-
plectron (P. Tibctanus.)

The male differs from the description in the Naturalist's Library,
in having a crest, and in being marked with spots of black, instead
of undulated bands.

Temminck's description of the female is obviously wrong, that is
to say, if we suppose the present specimen to be an adult. We
find on the ' wings and wing coverts, lanceolate, black spots, with
some bright reflections, instead of round, brilliant spots, as in the male.
Spots near tip of tail only on the outer side of shaft, instead of on
both sides, and surrounded with black only, without the yellowish
white. Length between 17 and IS inches. This bird was bought
in Canton, by Mr. R. B. Forbes, and presented by him to me.

Dr. Gould read descriptions of two species of A nod on,
from the river Sal wen, in British Burmah, sent him by
Rev. F. Mason.

A. Salweniana. T. trapezoidea, compressa, subtenui, retro
dilatata, postice truncata, colore picea ; supra costam umbonalem
radiatim plioata : umbonibus parum elevatis ; margine superiori
recta, compressa, ligamentum occultante, ante umbonibus excavata ;
utraque valva processu dentiformicardinali, uno ante altero aptante,
instructa ; cavitate minime profunda ; impressionibus muscularibus
minime impressis ; margarita sub-livida. Long. 5J ; lat. 1 J ; alt.
2J poll.

Resembles small specimens of Alas, complanata, but is much
less ponderous.

A. inoscularis. T. transverse oblonga, sub-ovata, solida,subven-
tricosa, picea : umbonibus parum elevatis ; margine supra brevi,
recto, ad angulum posticum rotundato, postice subtruncato ; infra
arcuata ; utraque valva processu cardinali crassa, dentiformi, in-
structa, uno ante allero aptante ; margarita albida ; impressione mus-
culari antico profundo. Long. 3; lat. If ; alt. 1-J poll.

Very closely allied to A. cdentula, Say, but is a more solid shell,
and the cardinal apophyses are more elevated and stronger.

161

The prominent toothlike apophyses of these shells, render their
position among the genera of Naiades, as now received, somewhat
equivocal ; uniting, as they do, Alasmodon and Anodon ; and they
strengthen the idea entertained by many, that the modifications in
the number, position, or absence of teeth, according to which the
genera are now founded, are so gradual as to authorize us to regard
them as merely sub-genera of one grand genus. Should this view
be adopted, and to it Dr. G. is much inclined, he believes that an-
other subgeneric group might be instituted, equally as characteristic
as any now received ; and proposes as follows :

Subgenus Pseudodon. Hinge margin with a tooth-like apophysis
on each valve, the surface of which is not fractured , but smoothly cov-
ered with enamel, fitting into corresponding undulations in the oppo-
site valve, that on the right valve closing in front of that on the left.

Anod. inoscularis would be the type of this group, and to it
would belong A. Salweniana, edentula, Steicartii and perhaps
some others.

Dr. Gould read a letter lately received from Mr. McClel-
land, of Calcutta, acknowledging the notice of his election
to Corresponding membership.

Mr. Emerson read portions of a letter from Hon. H. Bar-
nard, of Nantucket, accompanying specimens of the nut of
Laodoicea Seychella?*um, and also a mass of Resin which
"exudes from a tree very similar to our white pine. It
came from the west coast of Central America, and is used
for such purposes as we use our pitch pine."

Dr. C. T. Jackson gave an abstract of Lieut. Fremont's
Report of his Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains.

The narrative abounds in incident, and the facts collected are
very interesting. The river Platte was traced to its sources in the
Rocky Mountains, the highest peak of which was ascertained to be
13,570 ft. above the sea. The rock formations are limestone and
sandstone to 109° west longitude, where they rest immediately
upon the granite. About 350 species of plants were collected.

Dr. C. T. Jackson announced that he had recently made
a chemical analysis of the Pink Scapolite, of Bolton, in
which he had discovered oxide of Cerium, — to which the
mineral apparently owes its beautiful color.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 19 MAY, 1844.

162

He stated also that he had analyzed a mineral, which
Prof. Hitchcock had found among some minerals which he
collected in Worcester county, though he did not know in
what town it occurred.

Prof. H. supposed it to be Yttrocerite, from its resemblance to
specimens received from Mr. Tamnau, of Berlin, and from some
tests he had applied. This mineral does not agree exactly with
the description of the foreign Yttrocerite, although it contains the
Fluorides of Yttria and Cerium. Dr. J. thinks it may have been
obtained in Bolton or Boxborough. Analyses of these minerals
will be communicated to the Society at a future meeting.

Dr. J. also remarked that he had been engaged in the ex-
amination of the composition of Red Cedar (Jiiniperas Vir-
ginia?ia), with a view to ascertain the nature of its anti-
septic properties.

He had discovered in it a peculiar red coloring matter of a resi-
nous nature, combined with a peculiar oil and tannin. This pe-
culiar matter can be extracted by means of boiling alcohol, and
may then be infused into other kinds of wood, to which it would
probably communicate its antiseptic properties, and would render
cabinets and boxes thus imbued with it, free from the attacks of
moths and other insects. He proposes also to examine the anti-
septic principle in the Locust and other trees. It is remarkable
that no researches have hitherto been made in this important sub-
ject, which can only be properly investigated by chemists.

Dr. ShurtlefT, in behalf of the committee for procuring a
suitable apparatus for destroying, by means of heat, in-
sects pernicious to the collections, reported that they had
procured an apparatus, which, on trial, was found to an-
swer the purpose perfectly.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Dr. ShurtlefT,
to whose invention and supervision the Society feels much
indebted.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

A box of valuable Brazilian Insects, from Dr. R. J. Dodd, U. S. N.

Specimens of various species of wood, with leaves, fruit, &c,

about 60 species, from the Sandwich Islands, from Jos. P. Couthouy.

163

December 20, 1843.
Regular Meeting — Dr. Gould in the Chair.

Prof. H. D. Rogers, of Philadelphia, gave an interesting
account of the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky.

He mentioned particularly the incrustations of Sulphate of
Lime, which assumes the form of fibrous, columnar crystals, pro-
jecting from the walls and ceiling. At first in clusters, and re-
sembling in shape rosettes, they afterwards become longer and
curved. Prof. Rogers explained the probable manner of their for-
mation, which he considered analogous to that of the fibrous col-
umns of ice common in clay banks.

Dr. H. J. Bigelow mentioned similar smaller formations, which
he had seen in one of the great pyramids, on the walls of a cham-
ber lately opened, specimens of which he had procured on the spot.
They exhibit the same fibrous and columnar structure as those of
the Kentucky Cave, and probably owe it to the same cause. They
are crystals of common salt.

Dr. Cabot mentioned the occurrence in Yucatan of cavities in
the earth called Senotes, resembling closely in their structure the
hollow spires or pinnacles in the Mammoth Cave, described by Prof.
Rogers. These spires are supposed to be produced by dropping wa-
ter wearing away the floor on which it fell, and carving niches and
buttresses on the walls. In the Senotes the water is apparently at
the same level in all ; from which circumstance, together with the
fact that those immediately on the sea coast are brackish, Dr. Cabot
was led to suspect an underground communication, by infiltration,
with the ocean.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Specimens of Lichens and Mosses, collected by Dr. Porter, of
Plainfield, Conn., and presented by him. The thanks of the Soci-
ety were voted to him for the donation.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Collections of the American Statistical Association, Vol. I., Part
I. 8vo. pamph. 1843. From the Association.

Zuccarini, Dr. J. G. — Monographic der Americanischen Oxalis
Arten. 4to pamph. From Prof. Gray.

Annals and Mag. of Nat. History. Nos. 79 and 80.

System of Nature, by Edward Newman. 8vo. London, 1843
From the Author.

North American Review, for January, 1844. Exchange.

164

January 3, 1844.

Regular Meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in

the Chair.
Dr. Cabot read descriptions of three new species of
Woodpecker, from Yucatan, viz. : Picus dubius, P. parvus
and P. Yucatanensis, and exhibited the specimens. The
descriptions are as follows, viz.

Picus dubius. Cabot.
Male, 9f inches long. Bill 1 J inch along ridge ; If inch along
gape. Tarsus | of an inch long — Tail 3J inches long, of 10
feathers. First primary shortest, third and fourth longest. Whole
top of head and neck bright vermilion. A white band, J inch
wide across forehead. Spot of bright vermilion at base of bill,
above nostrils. Back, wing coverts and secondaries black, crossed
with about thirty transverse white bands. Upper tail coverts white.
Lower tail coverts black and white, in wavy lines. Tail feathers
black, except two outer ones, which are tipped and spotted on
outer edge with dull white. Cheeks, line over eyes, chin, breast
and flanks light cinereous ; almost white on chin, darker on breast
and sides of neck. Abdomen light vermilion. Bill horn-black.
Legs slate color. Iris reddish.

Picus parvus. Cabot.
Male — Length 6J inch. Bill jj of an inch. Tarsus £ of an
inch. Tail 2J inches, consisting of 10 feathers. Crown red, with
a light spot near quill of each red feather. Back, wing coverts,
secondaries and primaries, black barred with white. Cheeks
black, with a white stripe from base of bill to ear. White line
over eye. Chin, throat and breast, white ; breast marked with
black spots. Vent and under tail coverts white, banded with black.
Upper tail coverts black. Two outer tail feathers barred with
black and white. White marks on outer edge of third feather.
Rest of tail black. Legs bluish black. Bill horn-colored. Iris
hazel. 1st primary shortest, 2d longest.

Picus Yucatanensis. Cabot.
Male — Length 8J inches. Bill 1 inch along gape, J along ridge.
Tail 3 inches, of 10 feathers. Tarsus § inch. 1st primary short-

165

est, 3d and 4th longest. Top of head cinereous black. Hind
head, nape, along superciliary ridges to base of bill scarlet. A
patch of the same from base of lower mandible along ramus to
angle of lower jaw. Space between eye and bill, and extending
under eye to side of neck, greyish with darker bars, growing more
distinct towards neck. Chin black, spotted with white. Neck,
breast, abdomen, upper and under tail coverts and flanks olive,
transversely barred with yellowish white. Back, upper wing coverts,
outer edge of secondaries and outer edge of primaries olive. Two
outer tail feathers yellowish, others black with some yellowish near
upper part. Iris hazel. Legs bluish. Bill horn-color.

Dr. C. T. Jackson read a description and analysis of
Yttrocerite, from Worcester County, Mass.

It was found by Prof. Hitchcock among some geological speci-
mens from Worcester Country. The precise locality is unknown.
This mineral was suspected to be Yttrocerite from its resemblance
to a specimen of that mineral from Sweden, sent to Prof. H. by
Frederic Tamnau, of Berlin. A brief notice of it was read by
Prof. H. at the last meeting of the Association of Geologists and
Naturalists at Albany. Since that time a portion of the specimen
had been sent to him for description and analysis.

It occurs in narrow veins in quartz and albite, containing silvery
white mica and a few red garnets, and pink fiuor spar.

Thickness of the veins from 3 to 4 millimetres. They run ir-
regularly through the rock, and invest the quartz in very thin
layers. The mineral also penetrates the felspar and fluor spar
communicating a pink color.

It is massive, with some traces of crystalline structure.

Color — Violet blue, inclining to grey or lilac. Thin laminae on
the quartz translucent and of a delicate pink color.

Hardness — 4J of the scale of Mohs.

Specific Gravity — 3.076.

Lustre — pearly ; streak and powder greyish white. Before the
blowpipe, alone on charcoal, turns yellow ; fuses, at a full red
heat, into a greenish yellow porous glass or slag, which becomes
lighter colored when cold.

With carb. soda O. fl. fuses into a yellow green opaque enamel.
R. fl. becomes nearly white when cold, but remains opaque.

With borax dissolves readily into a transparent glass, which is

166

orange red while hot and colorless when cold. With salt of phos-
phorus it fuses into an opaline glass, which is orange red while hot
but colorless when cold.

In this glass white particles of silica remain undissolved, and
communicate to it a milky opalescence.

When a fragment of the mineral is fused with salt of phospho-
rus, there remains in the bead a skeleton of silica.

With gypsum the mineral fuses readily and forms a greenish
yellow enamel, which becomes lighter colored in R. fl.

When the pulverized mineral is made into a paste with sulphu-
ric acid in a plaiina crucible, and a waxed plate of glass, with let-
ters marked through the wax is placed upon it ; on application of
heat to the crucible the letters become rapidly and deeply etched
in the glass, demonstrating the presence of fluorine.

The above characters shew that this mineral differs somewhat
from the Yttrocerite of Sweden, but these differences arise from
the presence of some additional foreign matters as will be seen by
the following analysis :

One gramme of the mineral was crushed to powder in a steel
mortar, and then rubbed to impalpable powder in one of agate.

It was then dissolved in chlorhydric acid and formed a lemon
yellow solution, leaving a portion of silicate of cerium undissolved.

The solution was then analyzed according to the directions of
Berzelius, by means of a crust of crystals of sulphate of potash,
which threw down a white powder of sulphates of potash cerium
and yttria. The yttria salt was then dissolved out by a concentra-
ted solution of sulphate of potash, and the cerium salt collected
was dissolved in boiling water, and the oxide of cerium precipita-
ted by means of a solution of pure potash. The lime was separa-
ted as a sulphate and the alumina was precipitated by carbonate of
ammonia. The fluorine was determined by the difference in
weight of the mineral, and the results obtained.

Oxide of lanthanium is inferred to be present from the color of
the cerium obtained, no accurate process for its proportional sepa-
ration yet being made known.

The results of the analysis on 1 gramme were as follows :

Lime, — .347

Yttria, = .155

Oxides of Cerium and Lanthanium, . = .133

167

Alumina and Oxide of Iron, .

=

.065

Silex and Silicate of Cerium,

=

.106

Fluorine by difference,

=

.194

1 • —

It is mixed with fluor spar in the thick part of the vein.

This rare mineral is now proved to occur in this country, and it
may interest mineralogists to know that it probably will be found
in Boxborough or Bolton in this state, since I have found other ce-
rium minerals at those places, associated with the scapolite and
petalite at the lime quarries.

The albite in which the yttrocerite occurs is like that found at
the Boxborough lime quarries.

Dr. J. also read a description and analysis of the pink
Scapolite, of Bolton, which is composed of the following
ingredients :

Silicic acid, 45.94

Alumina,

Lime,

Soda,

Lithia,

Potash,

Magnesia,

Oxide of Cerium, ,

Water,

99.95

This mineral occurs in abundance at Whitcomb's lime quarry,
near the junction of the white, granular limestone with gneiss rock
at the top of the quarry.

The cavities in the pink scapolite are frequently filled with a
yellow powder, which on analysis was found to be a hydrous ce-
rium ochre.

One grain of this substance contains of

Oxides of Cerium and Lanthanum, . . 0.2

Yttria, 0.1

Scapolite, ...... 0.7

It dissolves readily in muriatic acid and forms a lemon yellow so-
lution ; with borax forms easily a transparent glass — orange red
while hot, and pale delicate green when cold.

28.84

. 14.81

5.43

. 1.58

0.64

. 0.21

2.00

. 0.50

10J inches.

14

i<

7

tc

71

it

6|

t<

168

January i7, 1844.

Regular Meeting — The President in the Chair.

Dr. Storer laid on the table a specimen of Limulus Poly-
phemus, of large size, picked up on the beach at Nahant.
The dimensions are as follows, viz. :

Greatest width, ....

Length without tail, .

Across abdomen, ....

Length of carapace, .

Distance between the eyes,

Weight (tail wanting.)

Dr. Storer, on behalf of Mr. S. S. Haldeman, presented
a paper containing descriptions, with beautiful figures, of
several species of Aphis, inhabiting Pennsylvania, as fol-
lows :

The following species are left in the genus as originally estab-
lished, and they are not all characterized from mature individuals.
A considerable number have been described by Rafinesque, who
also instituted several sub-genera ; but as far as I have been able
to consult his papers, he has not noticed those here given.

1 . A. quercus-monticula : brick red, varied with light yellow-
ish ; antennae and legs pale, annulate with black ; abdomen flat
above, sometimes pale green ; appendages short, two-jointed ; eyes
round and projecting. Varies considerably.

2. A. rubecula : deep brick red, outer extremities of the
thighs and legs black ; appendages long and taper.

3. A. castanea-vesca : body flat above, appendages obsolete ;
young white, legs and antennae black, two marginal and two dorsal
rows of large black spots ; adult nearly black, with the spots ob-
solete

4. A. bicolor : light yellowish green; head, antennae, appen-
dages, mesothorax, legs (except the anterior femora and part of
the leg) blackish.

5. A. marginipennis : light brown, covered with white down ;
thorax dark, abdomen large and inflated, appendages short ; ros-
trum and antenna) corneous, with the extremity black ; eyes prom-

169

inent, reddish brown ; wings large, external margin brown. Fe-
male (fig. 6) black, somewhat hirsute ; legs brown, ciliated ; head,
antennae and thighs, pale corneous. A large species. Hab. Pinus
mitis.

6. A. pilosa : grey, with a short dense pile, which is wanting
upon the numerous circular black spots of the surface ; base of the
antennae and femora corneous ; feet and tibiae black, except a
small testaceous portion next the knee joint of the 2d and 3d pairs.
Perhaps Aphis salicis, Lin. as it occurs upon an exotic species of
salix.

7. A. discolor : black, abdomen brownish yellow ; anterior
legs brown ; appendages short.

Dr. Binney reported that the Crustacean, committed to
him at a recent meeting, proved to he the female of Li-
thodes arctica, a species common to the northern parts of
Europe and the corresponding coast of N. America.

It is the second specimen recorded as taken upon our shores.
It was taken from the stomach of a codfish near Nahant, and from
the fact of another specimen having been taken in the same neigh-
borhood, from the stomach of the same species, and both hardly
altered by the action of that organ, it may be reasonably inferred
that its habitat extends from Greenland to our own vicinity. Both
specimens were procured in the winter. The cast off shells have
never been noticed thrown up on our shores, while those of other
species are common.

Mr. Perkins presented a specimen of Vegetable Tallow,
brought by him from Africa.

Mr. Teschemacher remarked that he supposed it to be the Shea
butter, a substance which he had seen mentioned as collected by
Dr. Stanger on the late expedition to the Niger, and which is sup-
posed to be the inspissated juice of Bassia Parkii, specimens of the
dried fruit of which were lately presented to the Linnean Society
of London, by Mr. Smith, of Kew. Mr. T. has seen in a late pub-
lication that this plant has flowered in some of the conservatories
in England.

This substance was referred for chemical examination to Dr. C.
T. Jackson.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 19* MAY, 1844.

170

Mr. P. also presented a specimen of African Cotton.

It is the produce of a large tree, and is found on the ground
when the seed vessels drop. Mr. Teschemacher observed that
the seed indicated the tree to be of the Malvaceous family ; the
staple, although fine and silky, was very short and weak.

Mr. Teschemacher reported on some papers in the Acta
Curiosorum, presented by Dr. A. Gray, on the system of
Crystallography, by M. L. Frankenheim.

On the Jura Limestone, of Kurkowitz, by E. F. Glocken.

Mr. T. observed that it contained a minute and excellent detail
of the locality, and that it was remarkable for giving an account,
with a plate, of dendritic deposits of maganese, in sand stone, ex-
actly resembling those presented lately to this Society by G. B.
Emerson, Esq., which were obtained in digging a well at Newton,
in this vicinity, and on which Mr. T. made a report. The star-
like appearances, and the lines exhibited in the plate, might be sup-
posed to have been copied from those found at Newton. The
writer of the paper hints at the possibility of their being produced
by electricity.

The only fossil shell he found was a species of aplychus.

Dr. Cabot stated, that he had lately found in the market
a specimen of what he considered to be the common Amer-
ican Deer, Cervus Virginianus, but possessing palmated
horns of large size, of which he exhibited a sketch.

He had not found this anomaly anywhere described, and sug-
gested that their occurrence in this instance might serve to indicate
a variety.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Fossils from New Jersey, from Prof. H. D. Rogers.
Several phials, containing African ants, from Dr. T. S. Savage,
of Cape Palmas.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Herbarium Diluvianum, collectum a Johanne Jacobo Scheuch-
zero, M. D. Lugduni, 1723. From Dr. Binney.

Zoological Contributions, No. 2. 8vo pamph. From S. S.
Haldeman.

Schembri Antonio — Catalogo Ornitologico del Gruppo di Malta.
8vo. pamph. From the Author.

171

February 7, 1844.

Regular Meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the

Chair.

Mr. Bouve reported on some fossils from the green sand
of New Jersey, presented by Prof. Rogers.

There were vertebrae of the mosasaurus and crocodile, and some
shells of kinds already represented in our cabinet. He also ex-
hibited a specimen of limestone, from Kittaninny valley, N. J.,
which had been altered by igneous action, and in connection gave
an account of the geological character of that district.

Dr. Gould gave a favorable notice of a pamphlet of S.
S. Haldeman, on the nomenclature of Zoology.

Dr. Abbot continued his report on the Surinam birds
presented by Dr. F. W. Cragin, describing their habits and
structure. He exhibited the following species, viz. :

Tanagra melanopsis, Black-faced Tanager — male ; Sylvia ces-
tiva, Summer Yellow-bird ; S. Cayana, Cayenne Warbler ; also a
variety of the same ; Turdvs cinnamoneus, Black-breasted Thrush ;
Cassicus crislatus, Greater-Crested Cassican; C.icteronotus, Yellow-
backed do.; C. /jtf77Z0/77i0ws,Crimson-rumpeddo. ; Oriolus x author -
nus, Lesser Bonana Oriole ; Certhia carulea, Blue Creeper ; C. cy-
anea, Black and Blue do. ; C. spiza, Black-Headed do. ; Hirundo
purpurea, Purple Martin — male and female ; H. leucoptera, White-
winged Swallow ; Caprimulgus Virginianus, Night Hawk — male
and female.

Dr. Abbot also reported on a Catalogue of the Birds of Malta
and the adjacent islands — " Catalogo Ornitologico del Gruppe di
Malta, Antonio Schembri." It is not a mere catalogue, but con-
tains notices of the species registered, and mentions among other
rare visitors the Snow Bunting, PJectrophanes nivalis, and the Puf-
fin, Mormon arcticus — both northern species.

Dr. C. T. Jackson reported on a Vegetable fat, brought
from the western coast of Africa by Mr. Perkins.

This singular substance is said to be the spontaneous exudation
of some tree unknown to the gentleman who presented the speci-
men to the Society.

172

It occurs in large masses. Sub-crystaline or massive ; color
white, inclining to yellow, resembles in appearance and feel some
varieties of hard soap, but is very light, floating on the surface of
alcohol but sinking in ether.

It melts at the temperature of 90° F. remains fluid when cooled
down to 67°, but on crystalizing, the temperature rises suddenly
to 80o.

It is not a volatile oil, but may be distilled over with alteration
of its composition, becoming very strongly empyreumatic and
disagreeable.

Soluble in hot alcohol and precipitable by water.

Soluble in boiling ether, but lets fall a heavy fixed oil on cool-
ing, and then crystaline stearin in the form of a white flocculent
mass.

Saponifies readily with pure potash and forms a soft soap. Salt
separates a harder soap, but not so hard as the animal fats produce.

It is then a concrete oil, containing a large proportion of stearine
with elaine.

Its ultimate analysis will prove it to consist of carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen.

No ammonia is disengaged from it by potash, hence it does not
contain nitrogen.

Its use in the arts is evident from its composition. It will prove
valuable both for soap making and for fuel for lamps, for it will
yield both oil and hard fat or stearine.

The Secretary gave some notices of the Herbarium Dilu-
vianum of Scheuchzer, an author of the date of the early
part of the last century.

This author thought that he had discovered the fossil remains of
man, which he called "Homo Diluvii testis." These remains
were afterwards shown by Cuvier to be those of a gigantic extinct
salamander. The work is instructive, as showing the difficulties
and delusions in the path of early geologists.

173

February 21, 1844.

Regular Meeting — The President in the Chair.

Mr. Stodder gave a notice of the Report on the Mineral-
ogy of New York.

He dwelt particularly on that part of the work which gives an
account of the saline and mineral springs of that state. The ori-
gin of these was inquired into, and the various theories on the sub-
ject stated and examined.

Mr. James Hall, of New York, corrected some of the statements
of the work, and added some facts of his own observation. In
particular the occurrence of a knob of serpentine discovered by
himself in the neighborhood of Syracuse, being the only mass of
igneous rock known in the vicinity of the salt springs.

Mr. Hall exhibited a geological map of the middle portion of
the United States, as far west as the Mississippi, compiled from his
own observations and information furnished by other geologists.
He also exhibited fossils from various localities, calling attention to
the fact, made obvious from the specimens shown, that fossils of
the same species are found of larger dimensions and fuller devel-
opment as we proceed westward.

Dr. Gould read portions of a letter from Rev. Mr. Mason,
of Burmah, a Corresponding Member of the Society, ac-
companying some specimens of shells and seeds from that
region.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

A species of Raia, from Porto Rico, presented by /. Tyler, Jr.
Esq., of this city, was referred to Dr. Storer. The thanks of the
Society were presented to the donor.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Mineralogy of New York, by Lewis C. Beck, M. D. 4to. Al-
bany, 1842. From the Author.

Zoological Contributions, No. 3. 8vo pamph. From S. S. Hal-
deman.

174

March 20, 1844.

Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. S. L. Abbot reported the addition to the Cabinet of
the following mounted birds of Massachusetts :

Crested Titmouse, Parus bicolor.

Summer Red-bird — male, Tanagra (estiva.

Sharp-tailed Finch, Fringilla caudacuta.

Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla palustris.

Brown Titlark, Anthus spinoletta.

Shore Lark, Alauda alpestris.

Purple Gallinule, Gallinula marlinica.

American Bittern, Ardea minor.
Carolina Turtle-dove — male and

female, Columba Carolinensis.

Pied-bill Dobchick — male, Fodiceps Carolinensis.

Ring-neck Duck — male, Fuligula rufdorques.

The last two were presented by Mr. George Licb, of Philadel-
phia. The turtle doves by Dr. T. M. Brewer.

Dr. Gould exhibited a Helix, sent him from Dr. T. R.
Ingalls, of Greenwich, N. Y.

Dr. G. identified it with H. lucida of Europe ; this adds another
to the introduced species. He also described two species of Helix
from the Sandwich Islands, which he named Helix setigera and H.
stellula.

H. setigera. Testa discoidea, parva, tenui, fusco et luteo tes-
sellata; supra planulata, apice indentata ; anfractibus quinis, cla-
thris creberrimis setigeris aliquando denudatis insignibus ; subtus
late umbilicata ; apertura lunata, lamellis duabus internis conspic-
uis volventibus.

II. Stellula. Testa parva, discoidea, supra planulata, subtus
convexa, utroque umbilicata, fusca interdum luteo maculata, anfrac-
tibus quatuor triquetris, costibus frequentibus elevatis, acutis, ad
periphcriam carinatam stellatis ; apertura rhomboidea, lamella
unica interna, elevata, volventc instructa ; labro simplici.

Dr. Cabot read a letter from Dr. Bachman, in answer to

17.5

inquiries made with regard to a specimen of deer with
palmated horns, to which the attention of the Society was
called at a previous meeting.* Dr. Bachman considered
them merely variations from the normal condition, and
that the individual was a specimen of Census Virginianus.
The following gentlemen were elected to corresponding
membership :

George Lieb, of Philadelphia.

Spencer F. Baird, of Carlisle, Penn.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Michaux N. American Sylva. Edited by Thos. Nuttall. Parts
I. and II. of Vol. IV. 8vo. Phil. 1842.

Schembri, Antonio ; Quadro Geografico Ornitologico, ossia
Quadro comparativo della Ornitologia di Malta, Sicilia, &c. Pre-
sented by the Author.

April 3, 1844.
Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Binney mentioned the fact that the piers of the
bridge erected at E. Boston, about nine years since, were
so far eroded by marine animals as to have become reduced
to one fourth the original size, and suggested that the sub-
ject was deserving the attention of the Society.

Dr. Gould remarked, that the animal by which the ero-
sion was effected was the Limnoria terebrans, noticed in the
Report on the Invertebrata of Massachusetts, where the
best method for guarding against its depredations is pointed
out.

DONATION TO THE CABINET.

Skin of a Wolverene, taken on the Fish river, near Houlton,
Maine, from Major Townsend, U. S. Army.

A seed vessel of from Dr. J. B. S. Jackson.

*Jan. 17th, 1844.

176

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Silliman's Journal, for April, 1844, from the Editors.

Audubon, J. J. — plates 21 — 25 of Quadrupeds of North Amer-
ica, from Subscribers.

Deshayes, G. P. — Description des Coquilles fossiles des environs
de Paris ; 4to. 2 vols. Plates. Paris, 1824—1835. Courtis
Fund.

April 17, 1844.
Dr. Binney, President, in the Chair.

The Secretary being absent, Dr. Wyman was chosen
Secretary pro tern.

Mr. Bouve gave an analysis of a work referred to him
at a previous meeting, entitled Coquilles fossiles des envi-
rons de Paris.

Dr. S. L. Abbot announced the addition to the Cabinet
of the following mounted specimens of Massachusetts
Birds :

Pileated Woodpecker — male,
Canada Fly-catching Warbler —

male,
Bay-breasted Wood -Warbler —

male,
Chestnut-sided Wood-Warbler —
female,

Black-throated green Wood-War-
bler— male,
Blackburnian Wood-Warbler —

male,
Black and Yellow Wood- Warbler

— male,
Pine Creeping Wood- Warbler —

male,
Golden-winged Swamp Warbler

— male,
House Wren,

Picus pleatus.
Myiodioctes Canadensis.
Sylvicola castanea.

icterocephala.

virens.

Blackburnioe.

maculosa.

pinus.

Helenaia chrysoptera.
Troglodytes csdon.

177

He also reported the addition to the Cabinet of the following
mounted birds from Yucatan, viz. :

Lesser Ani.
AVhite-fronted Parrot.
Peruvian Jay.

Black-throated Quail — male.
Yucatan Motmot.

Crotophaga Ani.
Psittacus leucocephalus.
Corvus Peruvianus,
Ortyx nigrogtUaris, Gould.
Momotus Yucatacensis, Cahot.

All the above specimens were received from Dr. Cabot, in ex-
change for duplicates in the collection of the Society.

He announced that 19 specimens of birds, from Dr. Cragin's
donation, had been mounted and placed in the collection.

Dr. Abbot announced the donation of a valuable collection of
birds' eggs, from Dr. T. M. Brewer. Rallus crepitans, Quiscalus
major, Tardus polyghttus, Fringffia passerina, Icterus spurius.
Troglodytes palustris, Muscicapa crinita — American species.
Tardus morula, Eniberiza dirineUa, Vanellus cristatus, Lamm
collurio, Passer domesticus, Tardus musicus, Perdix rubra, Perdix
coturnix — European species.

The President read a letter from the Baron Delessert,
acknowledging his election to corresponding membership.

Dr. Gould announced the donation of several species of
minerals of Nova Scotia, from Mr. Tlio. McCulloch.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Owen, Richard. Lectures on the comparative Anatomy, &c. of
Invertebral Animals. 8vo. London, 1843. From Audubon Fund.

Newport, George. Address before the Entomological Soc. of
London. 8vo. pam. 1844. Author.

57th Annual Report of Regents of University of N. York. 8vo.
Albany, 1844. T. R. Beck.

Linsley, J. H. Catalogue of Reptiles of Connecticut. 8vq.
pam. New Haven. Author.

Browne, P. A. Essay on Solid Meteors. 8vo. pam. Philadel-
phia. Author.

Annals and Mag. of Nat. History, No. 84, for April, 1844. 8vo.
London. Courtis Fund.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 20 OCT. 1S44.

178

Dana, J. D. System of Mineralogy. Svo. N. York and Lon-
don, 1844. Author.

Review of the same. Svo. pam. New Haven, 1844. Author.

Proceedings of Amer. Philos. Society, Vol. IV., No. 28. 8vo.
pam. Philadelphia. A. P. Soc.

Annual Meeting, May 1, 1844.

The President in the Chair.

The President gave some notices of the early history,
progress, and present state of the Society. He stated the
pressing necessity for enlarged accommodations for the
Collections and Library, and his belief that an appeal
should now be made to the public for aid. He then read
the Reports of the Curators, Librarian and Treasurer, of
which the following are abstracts.

Entomology. — The collection of insects in the hall has been in-
fected to an alarming extent by the Anthraenus. This has induced
the Curator to retain a large portion of the collection in his own
keeping, which, with the utmost vigilance and at no little trouble,
he has succeeded in saving from destruction. He earnestly re-
commends that tight glass cases be provided, as the only effectual
means of preserving the insects.

Mineralogy. — The most valuable specimens, about 600 in num-
ber, are arranged in the glazed cases. These will, in general,
compare favorably with corresponding specimens in most cabinets.
They are arranged on the chemical system of Beudant. There
are also many valuable specimens in the drawers. The principal
donations have been a box from Rev. Mr. Winslow, of Maryland,
and Mr. Thomas McCulloch, of Halifax.

Ichthyology. — The fishes are all scientifically arranged, in good
preservation, and good condition for study. There have been ad-
ded several species from Connecticut, by the late Rev. J. H. Lins-
ley ; Leuciscus nasutus, by W. O. Ay res ; Trichiurus Upturns, by
H. W. Abbot ; Platessa glabra, Sphyrana borealis and Caranx
chrysops, by the Curator, — the first a new species, and all previ-
ously unknown in the waters of Massachusetts.

Herpetology. — Numerous additions have been made by Mr. J. L.

179

Dimmock, Dr. N. B. Shurtleff, Rev. J. H. Linsley, Dr. F. W. Cra-
gin, and Dr. Thomas S. Savage. Dr. Cragin's donation consisted
of 23 jars, containing nearly 100 specimens of Saurian, Ophidian
and Batrachian reptiles, all in excellent preservation. It is greatly
to be regretted that so rich and valuable a collection must remain
in comparative obscurity until more ample apartments are provi-
ded for the cabinet.

Ornithology. — There have been obtained 23 specimens of the
birds of Massachusetts, comprising 20 species. These have all
been mounted and placed in the cases. Fifteen species of birds'
eggs have been presented by Dr. T. M. Brewer. Nineteen skins,
from Dr. Cragin's donation, and 5 Yucatan species, from Dr. Cabot,
have been mounted. The whole collection has been baked, and is
quite free from insects. The names of most of the species re-
ceived from Dr. Cragin have been ascertained, and labels attached.
The whole number now mounted is 233, of which 195 are birds
of Massachusetts, unmounted skins 592 ; in all 825.

Geology. — The principal donations have been, fossils from the
cretaceous formations of Alabama, by James Brazer ; from New
Jersey green sand, by Prof. H. D. Rogers ; shells, from Wilming-
ton, N. C, by Dr. Gould ; silurian remains, from Nova Scotia, by
T. McCulloch. * The cabinet contains about 1000 specimens, about
one half of which are tertiary, the remainder of the older forma-
tions ; a large number are yet undetermined, and must remain so
until the library is better supplied with works on Paleontology.

Comparative Anatomy. — Few additions have been made, but ar-
ticles of value are in preparation. Every specimen in the cabinet
has been freed from insects by being subjected to over 180° Fahr.
in the society's steam oven, and future ravages prevented by the
free application of poisonous washes.

Library. — There have been added 26 vols, and 68 pamphlets,
among which are the " Plantse Asiatica3 rariores " of Dr. Wal-
lich, by J. P. Cushing, Esq. ; and the " Quadrupeds of America,"
of Audubon, by several subscribers. The several works are spe-
cified, from time to time, in the Society's " Proceedings."

Treasury. — Income from the Courtis Fund, - - $604 00
On hand, May 1, 1842, 212 00

$816 00

- 116 49

- 170 00

- 225 98

512 47

180

Of which there has been expended :
For the Library,
For the Cabinet,
For the Journal,

Balance on hand, $303 53

Income from assessments, 473 00

Ordinary Expenses, 656 38

Deficit, $183 38

In two years, a debt of $258 45 has been incurred, in conse-
quence of members having withdrawn, either from the necessity
of economizing, or from a want of interest in its objects. These
vacancies have not been filled by the accession of new members.
The Treasurer urges the necessity of instant and active exertions,
to draw to the support of the Society a large number of new mem-
bers, who will give the aid of their money, if not of their time
and talents.

The Annual Address was then given by Prof. Asa Gray,
of Harvard University. It gave an abstract of the recent
progress and present state of Vegetable Physiology, and
was listened to with profound attention by a numerous
audience.

Voted, that the thanks of the Society be presented to
Prof. Gray, for the eloquent and appropriate address deliv-
ered before it this day, and that he be respectfully requested
to communicate a copy for publication.

Voted, that the President be requested to prepare a sketch
of the doings of this annual meeting, together with his re-
marks on the wants and claims of the Society, to be circu-
lated extensively in a pamphlet form, among the members
and friends of the Society.

Mr. Bulfinch and Dr. J. B. S. Jackson were chosen a
committee to procure an Address for the next annual meet-
ing.

The Society then proceeded to ballot for officers for the

181

ensuing year. Mr. Belknap and Mr. Abbot having declined
a reelection as Curators, the following gentlemen were
unanimously chosen.

President.
Amos Binney.

Vice Presidents.
Charles T. Jackson,
D. Humphreys Storer.
Corresponding Secretary.
Augustus A. Gould.
Recording Secretary.
Thomas Bulfinch.

Treasurer.
John James Dixwell.
Curators.
Botany. — J. E. Teschemacher.
Entomology. — T. W. Harris.
Ichthyology and Herpetology. — Jeffreys Wyman.
Conchology. — Augustus A. Gould.
Mineralogy. — Martin Gay.
Comparative Anatomy. — N. B. Shurtleff.
Geology. — Thomas T. Bouve.
Ornithology. — Samuel Cabot, Jr.
Librarian.
Charles K. Dillaway.

Cabinet Keeper.
Henry J. Bigelow.

On motion of Dr. C. T. Jackson, it was voted, that the
thanks of the Society be presented to Dr. Abbot for his
efficient and valuable services for two years past as Curator
of Ornithology.

The meeting was then adjourned.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., No. 83, for March, 1844. Lon-
don. Courtis Fund.

182

Proceedings of Amer. Philos. Society, Vol. IV., No. 29. 8vo.
pam. Philadelphia. A. P. Soc.

Audubon's Quadrupeds of America — Plates 26 to 30. Subscri-
bers. (See page 137 of this vol.)

May 15, 1844.
Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

The Secretary presented, in behalf of G. H. Snelling,
Esq., a phial containing sand from the Desert of Sahara,
collected by Commander Nicholson. Dr. C. T. Jackson
took charge of it for examination.

Dr. Storer stated, that he had received a letter from Mr.
John L. Le Conte, of New York, informing him that he
had prepared a monograph of the genus Scarites, contain-
ing six American species, for which he asks insertion in
our Journal. He has added also several new species of
insects from Missouri, viz., one Cicindela, two Calosoma,
one Dytiscus, a new genus of Heteromera, and a magnifi-
cent Lamia, nearly two inches long.

The subject of Mr. F. S. Stallcknecht's bill for services,
in relation to the exchange of our Journal with scientific
bodies abroad, was called up, and after debate it was
voted, that the Treasurer be authorized and instructed to
pay him fifty dollars.

Voted, that the Librarian be requested to prepare a list
of the Societies to which the Journal is sent in exchange;
and also to state if publications in return for it are duly
received. Voted, also, that the Corresponding Secretary be
requested to propose an exchange of the Journal for the
" Comptes rendus" of the French Institute.

Drs. J. B. S. Jackson, J. Wyman and H. J. Bigelow were
chosen a committee to consider what profitable disposition
may be made of the Solar Microscope belonging to the So-
ciety.

Dr. Abbot requested permission to use the Hall of the
Society for a course of lectures which he proposes to give
on Ornithology. Voted unanimously.

183

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Transactions of Amer. Philos. Society, Part I., Vol. IX. 4to.
Philadelphia. A. P. Soc.

Annals and Mag. of Nat. History, No. 85, for May, 1844.
Courtis Fund.

Gray's (G. R.) Genera of Birds, No. 1. Long 4to. London,
1844. Audubon Fund.

June 5, 1844.

Dr. D. H. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Cabot announced the addition of the following speci-
mens of birds, new to the collection, viz. : Caculus Amer-
icanus, female ; Sylvia coronata, male and female ; Trog-
lodytes brevirostris, male ; Fringilla 'palustris ; Sylvia
Americana : — also the following duplicate specimens, viz. :
Sylvia parus, S. coronata, (male and female,) S. varia,
(male,) S. icterocephala, (male,) & marilandica, (male,)
Vireo olivaceus, (two males,) Troglodytes brevirostris,
(male,) Tanagra rubra, (male.) Tardus Wilso?iii, (male,)
Picus auratus, (male.)

On motion of Dr. Cabot, Voted, that it be recommended
to the Curators to publish, from time to time, in the Pro-
ceedings, lists of duplicate specimens, which it may be
considered expedient to offer in exchange.

Dr. Cabot exhibited a specimen of Colurnba Trudeauii,
Audubon, which he had procured in Yucatan. He had
exhibited this dove to Mr. Audubon, in the summer of 1842,
and had been informed by Mr. A. that the species was
already described. He saw, therefore, with surprise, Mr.
A.'s descriptions and figure in his late number of the
" Birds of America," where it is announced as a new spe-
cies.

Dr. Gould reported on Part I., Vol. IX., of the Transac-
tions of the Philosophical Society. A paper by Mr. I. Lea,
describing shells supposed to be new, was particularly no-
ticed. The descriptions are brief, and drawn from the

184

shells alone, the animal being in all cases omitted. Con-
sidering the great variations which species of Melania are
known to exhibit, Dr. G. thought there was reason to ap-
prehend that many of the supposed species would prove
merely varieties.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson called the attention of the Society
to the injury which the button-wood tree has for several
years past undergone, from some unknown cause ; and
suggested the propriety of appointing a Committee to in-
vestigate the subject. Rev. J. Lewis Russell was chosen a
committee, with the request that he would communicate
the result of his observations for publication.

Dr. Storer read a letter from Mr. J. P. Couthouy, relating
to the termination of the controversy between him and Mr.
James D. Dana, in which Mr. D. acquitted him from the
charge of plagiarism he had previously made against Mr. C.

The report of the Librarian on the state of the exchange
list of the Journal was read, and it was Voted, that the
Corresponding Secretary write to Societies which have been
remiss in forwarding their publications, enquiring whether
they wish to continue the exchange, and notifying them of
the non-reception of their publications.

Voted, that the future meetings of the Society, during
the summer, be held in the Hall of the Society, at 4 o'clock,
P.M.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annual Report of Commissioner of Patents, (Congressional
Doc.) 8vo. pam. R. C. Winthrop.

Forskall, P. Flora iEgyptiaco Arabica. 4to. Haunise, 1775.
Amos Binney.

June 19, 1844.

Dr. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

A communication from Mr. J. E. Teschemacher was read,
as follows :

There are in this State very extensive palm-leaf manufactories,

185

in which the sweepings and dust, arising from splitting the leaf,
accumulate to a large amount, and are thrown away as useless. I
here present two specimens of vegetable wax, extracted from these
sweepings, one of which has been melted in hot water. Also the
two proximate ingredients, Cereine and Myricine, into which I have
separated it, in order to prove its identity. The Cereine is origi-
nally deposited in a white gelatinous mass. This I have melted.

That this wax is the glossy covering which is spread by nature
over the surface of the leaf and stem, may be seen on inspecting
the two specimens of leaf, one previous to, and the other after my
operation to deprive it of the wax. The so called wax of the
common Myrica cerifera, as is well known, is a vegetable tallow,
containing Stearine and the other ingredients of fat.

I am of opinion, though without having made any detailed and ex-
act experiments, that from these sweepings may be extracted suffi-
cient wax to pay a good profit ; for from what I have tried, I can-
not imagine the expense would exceed 40 or 50 per cent, of the
value of the wax made. It can easily be made of a pure white
color.

Dr. Storer presented from Mr. J. Le Conte a paper entitled
"Monograph of American Histeroides," for publication in the
Journal. Twenty-five species are characterized as new, viz. :

P. coarctatum. Elytris striis quatuor integris aequalibus, quinta
et suturali abbreviatis, hac breviore. Habitat in provinces Austral-
ibus.

P. gracile. Syn. : Hister frontalis, Say.

P. attenuatum. Fronte excavato. Elytris striis dorsalibus
quatuor primis et suturali integris, quinta e serie punctorum con-
stituta. Hab. in prov. Australibus.

Omalodes borealis. Thorace lateribus punctatis, stria margini
valde approximata. Elytris striis dorsalibus quatuor, marginali
valde abbreviata, suturali nulla. Tibiis omnibus 4-dentatis. Hab.
ad Insulam longum, Nov-Eboraci.

O. Harrisii. Punctatus. Thorace bistriato, striis integris, ap-
proximatis. Elytris striis omnibus integris. Tibiis anticis 4-den-
tatis. Hab. in Pennsylvania.

Hister fcedatus. Syn. : H. melanarius, Dej. Cat.

H. decisus. Thorace punctatissimo, striis inequalibus. Elytris

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 20* OCT. 1844.

186

striis profunde punctatis, quatuor primis dorsalibus integris, margi-
nali dislocato-interrupta. Tibiis anticis crenato-denticulatis. Hab.
in Georgia.

H. spretus. Thorace margine postico punctata, striis subae-
qualibus, insterstitiis lasvi. Elytris striis tribus integris, quarta et
suturali abbreviatis, quinta pene obsoleta, marginali dislocato-inter-
rupta ; tibiis anticis 2 seu 3-dentatis. Hab. Georgia.

H. curtatus. Thorace striis inequalibus. Elytris striis dorsal-
ibus quatuor integris, marginali utrinque valde abbreviata. Tibiis
anticis 3-dentatis ; dente anteriori emarginato. Hab. Pennsylvania.

H. dispar. Thorace striis inequalibus, exteriore brevissima.
Elytris striis dorsalibus tribus, cum suturali integris. Tibiis anti-
cis 3-dentatis. Hab. Georgia.

H. cognatus. Thorace lateribus punctatis, stria marginali pos-
tice abbreviata, Elytris striis quatuor integris, quinta et suturali an-
tice abbreviatis. Tibiis anticis 5-dentatis. Hab. Nov-Eboraco.

Epierus minor. Thorace punctate Elytris punctulatissimis,
striis omnibus integris, punctatis, lateralibus duabus. Tibiis anticis
ciliatis. Hab. in provinces Australibus.

Tribalus Americanus. Punctatissimus ; elytris striis obliteratis
lateralibus duabus, tibiis inermibus. Hab. in Georgia et Carolina

Paromalus affinis. Punctatus. Elytris striis dorsalibus, ex
cepta prima, obso'etis ; tibiis anticis subquadridentatis. Hab. Nov
Eboraco.

Saprinus imperfectus. Fronte impressa ; thorace disco, ely
trisque antice impunctatis ; stria suturali utrinque abbreviata. Ti
biis anticis crenato-dentatis. Hab. Pennsylvania.

S. piceus. Thorace antice, lateribusque punctato, medio pos
tice Isevissimo. Elytris punctatis, macula magna basali prope su
turam ircvi. Tibiis anticis crenatis. Hab. ad oris maris.

S. minutus. Thorace disco lasvi, lateribus late, margineque
postico anguste punctatis. Tibiis anticis 5-dentatis. Hab. in excre-
mentis bovinis.

S. impressus. Thorace antice utrinque grande et profunde im-
presso, disco lsevi, marginibus punctatis. Elytris postice et late-
ribus punctatis. Tibiis anticis dentato-spinosis. Hab. Georgia.

S. deletus. Ubique punctatus. Thorace aequali. Elytris vix
macula impunctata ad basin, stria suturali fere obliterata, brevis-
sima ; tibiis anticis 4-dentatis. Hab. Georgia.

187

S. Oregonensis. Ater ; fronte marginato. Thoracis lateribus
margineque antico et postico punctatis. Elytris postice introrsum
punctatis. Tibiis anticis crenatis. Hab. Oregon.

S. bigener. Thorace lateribus punctato-subrugosis, disco parvo
laevi. Elytris postice punctatis. Tibiis anticis 4 dentato-crenatis.
Hab. in cadaveribus piscium.

Onthophiltjs pluricostatus. Thorace lineis sex elevatis, pri-
ma antice, tertia postice paulo abbreviatis. Elytris costis 14 ele-
vatis. Hab. Georgia.

O. nodatus. Thorace lineis sex elevatis, prima antice abbrevi-
ata, secunda integra, tertia postice paulo abbreviata. Elytris cos-
tis octo elevatis. Hab. Georgia.

ABRiEiis aciculatus. Aciculatus. Thorace antice vix emar-
ginato. Elytris stria basali obliqua. Hab. Georgia et Carolina.

A. simplex. Puncticulatus. Elytris stria rudimentali vix con-
spicua. Hab. Georgia et Carolina.

A obliquus. Punctatus. Elytris stria basali obliqua, abbrevi-
ata. Hab. Carolina.

A fimetarius. Grosse punctatus. Elytris stria obliqua abbre-
viata basali obsoletissima. Long. lin. J. Hab. Georgia.

Dr. Gould communicated, on behalf of Dr. J. W. Migh-
els, some specimens of shells, with descriptions :

Pupa costulata. Shell ovate-conic, scalariform, light yellow-
ish brown, thin and fragile, whorls four, convex, the last two prom-
inently ribbed, the first two smooth ; suture distinct ; aperture
semi-circular, slightly oblique, unarmed ; lip simple or modified by
the last rib ; umbilicus distinct. Length, 2-15 inch ; breadth near-
ly 1-10. Hab. Portland.

Helix submerts. Shell conic-globose, smooth, incremental
striae distinct, apex subacute ; spire elevated, whorls five and a
half, suture distinct, epidermis dark chesnut or mahogany colored,
mottled, with an interrupted white zone around the body whorl ;
convex beneath, umbilicus minute, the region white ; lip simple,
thickened within ; internal lip blending with the last whorl, and,
with the inner margin of the outer lip, of a beautiful rose tint.
Height, 1-2 inch ; breadth the same; depth, 2-5 inch. Hab. Key
West, Florida.

Osteodesma .eruginosa. Shell irregular oval, thin, semi-per-

188

laceous, opaque, inequilateral ; rounded anteriorly, elongated and
truncated posteriorly ; beaks prominent, umbonial region tumid,
compressed posteriorly ; epidermis thin, wrinkled, of a rusty brown
color, with raised lines of a darker color radiating from the beak.
Width, 3-5 inch ; height, 1-3 ; depth, 3-8 inch. Hab. Gulf of
St. Lawrence.

Tellina elucens. Shell sub-oval, thin, white, shining ; incre-
mental strise fine and delicate ; inequilateral, short and somewhat
pointed behind ; produced, widened and rounded before ; one car-
dinal tooth in each valve, lateral teeth obsolete. Width, 2-5 inch ;
height, 1-4 ; depth, 1-10 inch. Hab. Casco Bay.

Mytilus minganensis. Shell oblong-oval ; beaks terminal,
slightly curved ; basal and ligament margins equally curved, great-
est width nearly central ; rounded anteriorly ; epidermis dark red-
dish brown ; deep blue internally ; muscular impressions violet,
iridescent. Length, 2 1-4; breadth, 1 3-10 inches. Hab. Gulf
of St. Lawrence, at Mingan.

Bulla incincta. Shell small, cylindrical, opaque, white ;
whorls three, the first slightly depressed, the last distinctly girded
above the middle ; epidermis yellowish ; spire obtuse, elevated ;
suture canaliculate ; aperture narrow behind, wide and rounded
before ; right lip sharp, entire, advanced in the central region,
with a fissure posteriorly. Length, 3-25; breadth, 3-50 inch.
Hab. Casco Bay.

Cypricardia nodulosa. Shell oblong, very inequilateral, tumid
and rounded anteriorly ; produced, compressed and pointed posteri-
orly ; beaks elevated, delicately pointed and curved forward ; color a
light yellowish brown, with numerous dark colored spots, distributed
irregularly ; surface with about eighteen strong, nodulous ribs radia-
ting from the beaks ; interior white, with a tinge of purple posteriorly ;
two flat, sub-conical cardinal teeth, under and anterior to the beak
in the right valve, one tooth, with a groove in the left ; a thin lami-
na and pit in each valve behind and near the beaks, with a distinct,
elongated, distant lateral tooth in each valve, with alternate, cor-
responding grooves. Width, 1-10; height and depth 2-5 inch.
Hab. Key West, Florida.

Cypricardia corrugata. Shell angular, oblong, very inequilat-
eral, much inflated, thick and solid; irregularly rounded before;
attenuated, produced and obliquely truncated behind; beaks ob-

189

tuse, slightly elevated, nearly terminal ; color dirty white ; liga-
ment mostly external, lines of growth coarse, and corrugated ; in-
terior white, with a stain of purple on the posterior and hinge mar-
gin ; three unequal cardinal teeth in each valve ; a strong, project-
ing, triangular, flat tooth in the left valve, with a corresponding
disunion in the right. Width, 1 3-5; height, 9-10; depth, 2-5
inch. Hab. Zanzibar.

Pleurotoma insculpta. Shell slender, turretted, surface can-
cellated ; whorls eight, angular ; suture impressed, with an ap-
proximate, raised, revolving line ; aperture about one third the
length of the shell ; fissure distinct, broad ; canal short and wide ;
color white, excepting two or three of the upper whorls, which are
reddish brown. Length, 7-10; width, 1-4 inch. Hab. Key West,
Florida.

Schizosto3Ia cylindracea. Shell nearly smooth, cylindrical,
thick, with slight revolving undulations ; epidermis olivaceous ;
spire ovate-conic, eroded ; whorls three or four, flattened, shoul-
dered ; suture distinct, aperture oval ; fissure deep and wide. Plab.
Warrior River, Alabama.

Schizostoma cuRTA. Shell short, sub-globose, smooth, thick and
solid ; epidermis dark green, with two or three revolving bands of
a darker color ; spire short, obtuse, eroded ; whorls three or four,
flattened in the middle ; suture superficial ; aperture pear-shaped ;
fissure distinct. Hab. Warrior River, Alabama.

Dr. Gould added, that he regarded the Pupa costulata as
being the Helix harpa of Say, — the only Helix that author
described which had not been previously re-discovered.
Mr. Say found his specimen in the Northwest Territory ;
and it is not a little singular that the shell should come to
light again at so wide a distance in the northeast. He had
also received the Cypricardia nodulosa from Mr. Conrad, un-
der the name of Carditamera Floridana.

Dr. Storer mentioned the formation of a Natural History
Society at Portland, and suggested the donation of our
Journal and Proceedings. The Secretary was directed to
correspond on the subject.

The President communicated a letter from the Royal Acad-
emy of Literature and Science of Munich, offering an ex-

190

change of publications. Voted, that the Librarian be in-
structed to send a copy of the Journal and Proceedings to
the Academy, and request such of their publications as
relate to subjects of Nat. History in exchange.

Dr. Cabot announced the donation to the Society of an
Eagle, mounted, from Increase S. Smith, Esq., of Hingham.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., Nos. 86 and Supp. 87, for June,
1844. Courtis Fund.

Thomson, Wm. Report on the Fauna of Ireland. Div. Inver-
tebrata. 8vo. pam. London, 1844. Author.

Waterhouse, G. R. Observations on Classification of the Mam-
malia. 8vo. pam. London. Author.

Waterhouse, G. R. Contributions to the Entomology of S.
America. 8vo. pam. London. Author.

Alger's (F.) Phillips' Mineralogy. 8vo. Boston, 1844. Editor.

North American Review, for July, 1844. 8vo. Boston. Editor.

July 17, 1844.
The President in the Chair.

Dr. Brewer called the attention of the Society to some
facts tending to clear up the confusion and errors in the
history of the Hermit Thrush, (Turdus solitarius, Wilson.)

There are three distinct species which, by different authors, have
been strangely mixed up. Wilson described one as Turdus muste-
linus, tawny thrush. This is common, and is now known as T.
Wilsonii. The second is described by Wilson under the name of
T. solitarius, hermit thrush ; but under the same name he has also
given a figure of a third species, every way distinct. This last is
not described in either of the works of Audubon.

Swainson recognizes three species, but has confounded them in
a most remarkable manner. The first, he describes as a new spe-
cies, Merula minor ; the second he describes as Merula solitaria,
but accompanies it with a plate of the third species ; while he con-
founds the third with T. Wilsonii.

191

In De la Sagra's work on Cuba, all three species are thrown to-
gether, and called Merula minor. In Audubon, correct descrip-
tions are given of two species, but the habits, locality, &c. of the
third, are given as those of M. solitaria.

The specific marks of the three species may be briefly summed
up:

Merula Wilsonii. Uniform foxy color ; breast clouded rather
than spotted ; common in New England and to the north ; not
found in Pennsylvania except in its migrations ; nests in bushes ;
eggs blue, unspotted.

Merula solitaria. Rufous brown, back tinged with olive ; tail
rufous without the olive ; cinnamon spot on the under part of wing ;
breast deeply spotted on a white ground ; tail slightly forked.
Passes north early in April ; a northern species, rarely breeding
so far to the south as Massachusetts ; nests on the ground ; eggs
bright green, unspotted.

Merula olivacea, Brewer. Back uniformly olive brown, no
tinge of rufous ; tail uniform with the back ; ground color of breast
salmon, strongly spotted ; tail even ; nests on trees ; eggs spotted
with brown, on a blue ground ; most abundant in the State of Penn-
sylvania and to the south.

A paper from Mr. J. E. Teschemacher was read, as fol-
lows :

"A parcel of the Beryls from Ackworth, N. H., having arrived
here lately, I have had an opportunity of examining them in quan-
tity, and have found, on the smoky quartz in which many are em-
bedded, the mineral Uranium, both in green and yellow cubic
crystals and in the state of yellow oxide. This not being men-
tioned in the recent works of Dana and Alger, is reason for think-
ing the locality new for Uranium.

Whether the dark yellow color of many of these Ackworth
beryls, particularly those in the dark quartz above mentioned, may
not be derived from this substance, is perhaps worth enquiry ; but
the chief purport of this communication is to draw attention to the
fact, that all the appearances of this mineral, Uranium, at Ack-
worth, are so very similar to those of its appearance in the Tour-
maline locality at Chesterfield, that a close comparison of the two
localities would seem to be an object of considerable interest to

192

the well practised geologist and mineralogist. These two places
also afford small quantities of a mineral which I consider as new,
and which is now under analysis. Ackworth is, I believe, about
90 miles N. N. E. from Chesterfield."

The following persons were elected Corresponding Mem-
bers, viz. :

Dr. J. Lawrence Smith, of Charleston, S. C.
Prof. E. Mitchell, of Chapel Hill, N. C.
Mr. Tuomey, Esq., of Petersburg, Ya.
Dr. J. W. Mighels, of Portland, Me.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Mr. Bouve presented, in behalf of Mr. Nathaniel Brewer, nine
silurian fossils, viz. : Asaphus longicaudatus, 3 specimens ; Hy~
panthocrinus ccdatus ; Caryocrinus ornatus ; Calymene — ; Gor-
gonia reticulata.

Dr. Gould presented, in behalf of Dr. WJieatland, of Salem,
several specimens of Land Shells ; — and from J. G. Anthony, a
specimen of Scorpion, from Little Rock, Arkansas.

Thanks were voted to the donors.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Mag. of Natural History, No. 88, for July, 1844.
London. Courtis Fund.

Gray's Genera of Birds, Nos. 2 and 3. London. Audubon
Fund.

Silliman's Amer. Journal of Science and Arts, No. 1, Vol.
XL VII, for July, 1844. 8vo. New Haven. Editor.

Audubon's Quadrupeds of America — Plates 31 to 35. Subscri-
bers. (See page 137.)

Proceedings of Acad, of Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, No. 1,
Vol. II. A. N. Sc.

Morton, S. G. Inquiry into the distinctive characteristics of the
Aboriginal Race of America. 2d Edition. 8vo. pam. Philadel.
1844. Author.

Morton, S. G. Crania jEgyptiaca. 4to. Philadelphia, 1844.
Author.

193

August 7, 1844.

Dr. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

Rev. J. L. Russell read a report of his observations and
conclusions respecting the disease of the button wood tree.
After a general description of the phenomena attending the
loss of the foliage, and mentioning the causes to which it
has been attributed, such as worms gnawing the leaves,
aphides, psoci, scolyti, fire blight, &c., he proceeds :

In order, if possible, to discover the cause, I cut some healthy-
twigs of the previous summer's growth, on March 7th, and found,
that even then, many of the buds were already dead, and below
these, and some of the other buds also, a streak of incipient decay
was to be seen. This streak of decay, examined by a powerful
achromatic lens, exhibited no presence of fungi, or, indeed, any
immediate cause of death to the tissue. In some of these buds I
found ova of insects, — and in a dead spot on a twig, beneath the
bark, I extracted a very minute larva ; and from a sketch of it
which I showed Dr. T. W. Harris, it was pronounced as probably
that of a Psocus, an insect infesting only diseased or decayed wood
and bark. It is to be observed, also, that on the decay of the bark
and buds, innumerable minute swellings are to be found on the ex-
terior of the twigs, which are a species of Fungus, also always
present in the decaying wood or bark of a great variety of trees
and shrubs, belonging to the genus Stromatosphceria, but as in the
case of the Psoci, not the cause of the disease.

The winter of 1843-4 was unusually cold, and destroyed vast
numbers of fruit trees in some sections of the vicinity of Boston.
These fruit trees exhibited a similar appearance to that of the But-
tonwoods, except that in their case the result has been fatal. Young
peaches, cherries, pears, have gradually died, even after leafing,
flowering and setting their fruit. In fact they were winter killed.
I think that this is the condition of the Buttonwood trees about Bos-
ton. Well-ripened wood is always essential to vigorous health in
perennial vegetation. For several years no such young wood has
been seen in these trees. Neither have they produced any flowers
since the disease was noticed, excepting a few in the year 1842.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 21 NOV. 1844.

194

Now these flowers, and the button balls, (seeds,) are produced on
the twigs of the previous summer. These twigs being uniformly-
killed, an entire new growth is made from adventitious buds, burst-
ing from the base of the twigs. From these, sometimes grow
shoots three or four feet long, as they did this past summer. The
disease, then, is in the young growth, and until a mild winter, or
other circumstances, favor the ripening of the shoots, the trees will
suffer. Severity of winter does not necessarily destroy a young
growth ; one of the most certain causes is the continued growing,
produced by warm autumnal weather protracted beyond the usual
period, especially if it be moist or rainy, succeeding a dry summer.

It is difficult to determine when these trees were first winter
killed. Dr. Harris, to whom allusion has been previously made,
thinks this occurred about five years ago, and from a freezing and
very cold storm late in the spring, when the leaves were pushing
forth. That we have late severe weather is familiar to every one ;
and I find, according to my diary, that so late as May 2d, in 1837,
after the foliage of the Horse Chesnut, (Jlsculus hippocastamim, W.)
had expanded in Salem, there was a very severe freezing and con-
siderable ice.

But the interesting question occurs, — Will the trees die ? I an-
swer, probably not. The great vigor in the larger limbs will even-
tually enable them to survive, until favorable circumstances facili-
tate the ripening of the young wood. Doubtless some will perish,
and I have noticed several fine old shade trees destined for death.
But these have been generally exposed to some previous injury, —
such as cutting away the roots, — or else had been planted in some
unfavorable situation. It seems to me, that whoever would save
his trees should let them alone, trusting to the natural causes of
vital and vegetative principles to renovate them ; and that severe
pruning, or wholly depriving them of their branches, cannot pro-
duce any good end, and may prove fatal.

Dr. Storer exhibited a very singular specimen of the Pla-
tessa oblo?iga, Mitchill, (P. ocellaris, DeKay.) Both sides
were colored and the head distorted. The upper eye was
situated directly upon the top of the head, and about a
quarter of an inch back of the eyes was a large arch, from
the anterior angle of which arose the dorsal fin. He re-

195

marked that a similar deformity had been noticed and fig-
ured by Yarrell, when describing Pleuronectes rhombus.

Dr. S. also presented a beautiful specimen of Pleuro-
nectes maculatus or aquosus, Mitchill, called by the fisher-
men, on account of its translucency, the Watery Flounder.

From Mitchill's inaccurate figure, Dr. S. had been led to sup-
pose this fish to be the Platessa oblonga, and he had so arranged it
in his " Fishes of Massachusetts ;" but had been corrected by the
good description and figure of this fish by Dr. De Kay. The speci-
men now presented was the first he had heard of as being taken in
the waters of this State. It was caught at Provincetown.

Dr. Storer also stated that a Sunfish, Orthagoriscus molo^
weighing from 300 to 400 pounds, had been recently taken
at the upper south bridge, in this city, where it had strayed
and was harpooned.

A specimen of Copper Ore, from Lake Superior, was pre-
sented by R. Gale, Esq.

Henderson Inches, Esq. and B. A. Gould, Jr. were elect-
ed members.

August 21, 1844.
Dr. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman exhibited specimens of male and female
Ichneumon Wasp ; also their larvae, inhabiting the pupae
of a Vanessa. Of numerous specimens which he had ex-
amined, more than one half were infested with these larvae,
in different stages of development.

Prof. Lewis R. Gibbes, of Charleston, S. C, read a de-
scription of a new species of Salamander, recently discov-
ered by him in the neighborhood of Charleston, S. C. Its
characters are as follows :

Salamandra melanosticta. Toes four ; inferior surface sil-
very white, dotted with jet black spots ; snout yellow ; tail twice
the length of the body.

The description, with a beautiful drawing, was placed
in the hands of the Publishing Committee.

196

September 4, 1844.

Dr. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman mentioned, that, on a late visit to the Ma-
galloway River, he had noticed, in the river bed, mounds
of pebbles, two or three feet in diameter, which he was told
were heaped up by a fish called the Chub, at its breeding
season, and that its eggs were deposited among the stones.
He referred to the statement of a similar fact with regard
to the Lamprey Eel, in Dr. Storer's report, and remarked
that he was not aware of any other instance of the kind.

Dr. W. also mentioned that Dr. H. J. Bigelow had observed, in
the same river, specimens of fresh water sponge, (Spongia fluvi-
atilis.) The masses were generally of a flat form, half an inch
thick and six or eight inches in diameter. Spiculse were found in
it as in marine sponge. Lamarck maintained that fresh water
sponges were devoid of spicula, but later observations have dis-
proved this.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Two living specimens of Agama, from Texas ; and a phial con-
taining eggs, 18 of which were deposited by one individual. Also
Gophers, from Florida. From Capt. Gerry, U. S. N.

Specimens of Vegetable Ivory. From Mr. John A. Lerow.

Cranium of a Woodchuck, with a remarkable distortion and pro-
longation of the incisors. From Mr. Wright, through Mr. Ogden.

A beautiful Trilobite, embedded in a fragment of limestone,
picked up on Long Island, in Boston Harbor. By Mr. Ogden, in
behalf of a friend.

Thanks were voted to the donors.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Gray's Genera of Birds, No. 4. Subscribers. (See page 137.)
Proceedings of Amer. Philos. Soc, No. 30, for April. June,

1844. A. P. Soc.
Almanach der Koniglichen bayerischen Akademie der Wissen-

schaften. 12mo. Munchen, 1843. Akademie.

197

September 18, 1844.
Dr. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

Some conversation arose on the subject of the mounds in
the Magalloway River, mentioned at the last meeting, sup-
posed to have been built by the fishes, for the purpose of
depositing their eggs within the pile.

Dr. Bigelow stated, on the authority of an experienced
angler, that the stones are removed by the fish, for the pur-
pose of depositing the spawn in the cavity thereby left in
the sand.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson exhibited a parasitic Worm, one of
several found in the Python Natalensis.

Dr. J. also reported on the cranium of a Woodchuck,
presented at the last meeting. He supposed the elongation
of the incisors had arisen in consequence of an injury to
the jaw, by which the direction of the teeth had been
changed, and thus their opposition being destroyed, the
usual wearing away of their points had not taken place.
The marks of disease were perceptible on the jaw.

Dr. Storer exhibited a figure of Scomber zonatits, Mitch-
ill, from Wellfleet harbor. The fish was taken in a pool
left in the mud by the bottom of a vessel, and was the only
specimen he had known to be taken in Massachusetts waters.

Mr. Henry M. Parker was proposed for membership.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Operculated tube of a Spider, (Cteniza nidulans) from Jamaica.
By Dr. J. B. S. Jackson.

Beautiful specimen of Sponge, from the Mediterranean, attached
to a stone. By Edward Cod man, in behalf of Edward Lamb, Esq.

Body of a young Albatross ? found in African guano. By Hen-
ry Sheaf e.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., Vol. XIV., No. 90, for Sept.
1844. Courtis Fund.

Gray's Genera of Birds, No. 5. London. Subscribers. (See
page 137.)

198

October 2, 1844.
Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. C. T. Jackson had recently made a tour to Lake Su-
perior for scientific purposes, and laid before the Society
some of the specimens he had obtained. These were the
skins of fishes, whose local names were Trout, Pike, White
Fish, Boney Pike. Siskewit and Mullet ; several shells,
among which were two species of Anodon, Unio purpureus,
Say : Limnea jugularis, Say : and a few odd valves of Unio.

Dr. Gould thought it worthy of note, that one or more
species of Unio, which are chiefly confined to the region east
of the great mountain range, should be found so far to west-
ward. He had never heard of their having been before
found west of the limits of New York.

Dr. J. also presented the skins of a Raven and a Canada
Jay, in behalf of Mr. C. C. Douglass ; and a Bat from that
region, in behalf of Capt. B. A. Stannard, of the brig Astor,
of Cleveland.

Dr. Wyman presented, in behalf of Mr. T. J. Crawford,
of the White Mountains, a Salamander, resembling JS. sym-
metrica, but distinguished by spots on the back.

Dr. Storer presented, in behalf of Capt. E. H. Faucon,
specimens of Barnacles, from the bottom of ship Clarkson,
of Nantucket, absent 45 months, on a whaling voyage, in
the Indian Ocean.

Thanks were voted for these several donations.

Henry M. Parker, Esq., was unanimously elected a mem-
ber.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

North American Review for Oct. 1844. Editors.

Silliman's American Journal of Science and Arts, Vol. XLVI1,
No. 2. Editors.

Gray's Genera of Birds, No. 6. Subscribers. (See page 137.)

Annals and Mag. of Nat. History, No. 91, for Oct. 1844. Cour-
tis Fund.

199

Gray, John E. List of Specimens of Birds in British Museum,
Parts I and III. 12mo. London, 1844. Editor.

Gray, John E. List of Specimens of Mammalia in British Mu-
seum. Editor.

Gray, John E. List of Specimens of Myriapoda in British Mu-
seum. Editor.

Gray, John E. List of Specimens of Tortoises, Crocodiles and
Amphisbacnians in British Museum. Editor.

November 6, 1844.

Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

The description of a new fish, from the continuation of
Dr. Kirtland's paper on the Fishes of Ohio, was read :

Leuciscus Storerianus. Head small, quadrangular, flattened
between the eyes, angulated above the nostrils, which are separated
by a longitudinal sulcation. Nose obtuse, somewhat conical, pro-
jecting beyond the mouth. Nostrils large, on a line with the eye.
Eyes oblong oval ; iris silvery and slightly gilt on inner margin ;
pupils black. Operculum and prceoperculum smooth, lustre bright,
silvery. Mouth diagonal, and, when closed, the lower lip is nearly
concealed beneath the snout.

Body elongated, slightly compressed laterally. Back rises rap-
idly from the head to the dorsal fin, from thence to the tail it slopes
more gradually and uniformly. Abdomen expands beneath the
pectoral fin, and continues of the same size to the vent ; it then
rapidly diminishes to the tail. Lateral line straight, except that
near its base it curves as high as the upper edge of the operculum.

Dorsal fin elevated, trapezoidal ; caudal elongated, bilobed, with
the tip of each lobe acute ; anal fin falls short of the dorsal ; ven-
tral horizontal, and reaches to the vent; pectoral falcate, nearly
horizontal, not attaining to the ventral by half an inch.

Length 8 inches ; head 1 3-8 inch ; tail 1 5-8 inch ; depth of
body at the commencement of the dorsal fin 1 5-8 inch.

Color. Back and upper surface of body and head olivaceous ;
sides silvery and of a brilliant metallic lustre, with a brownish band
extending the whole length of the lateral line ; pectoral and ven-
tral fins yellowish, anal white and translucent ; three or four exte-

200

rior rays of the caudal fin sometimes milky and opaque, and the
intervening dusky.

D. 9 ; C. 23 ? ; A. 9 ; V. 9 ; P. 15. Hab. Lake Erie.

Dr. C. T. Jackson read a paper communicated by Rich-
ard Soule, Jr., giving an account of experiments on the juice
of Cornstalk, made Sept. and Oct. 1844, an abstract of
which is as follows :

Having failed to procure some stalks which had been prepared
by cutting off the embryo ears, some stalks of vigorous growth
were taken from a field of White Virginia Corn, which had pro-
duced no ears, having sprung from seed sown broad cast.

Eighty-one pounds, crushed between iron rollers, yielded three
gallons of clear juice, of a density of 6° of Beaume's hydrome-
ter. This was evaporated over muriate of lime to 9° Beaume
and allowed to stand over night, when a copious green precipitate
was found. It was again heated, clarified by white of eggs, strained
and evaporated to the proof point of crystallization. After stand-
ing twelve hours no crystals were yielded, and it remained a dense
sweet syrup, with a perceptible flavor of acidity. It weighed 2,f lbs.

A portion of this was diluted ; treated, when hot, with clear lime
water. A copious brown precipitate soon fell, which I took to be
apocrenate of lime. This was separated by filtration, and the syrup
evaporated again to the proof point, but no crystals could be obtained.

It was now suspected that the syrup contained nothing but grape
sugar ; and upon comparing it with syrup made by the action of
sulphuric acid on starch, and subjecting the two to similar tests, the
suspicion was proved to be correct.

The experiment cannot be regarded as decisive, because the
stalk was not cultivated with suitable preparation for the production
of sugar. It may be doubted whether a stalk, which, from any
cause, does not produce an ear, contains juices in the same state*
as regards saccharine matter, as stalks which have put forth ears
that have been subsequently removed.

The syrup was also examined to see if it contained ammonia,
and the crenic, apocrenic and humic acids, after the manner pointed
out by Dr. C. T. Jackson, in his report on the Geology of Rhode
Island, and they were all found. Extract of humus might doubt-
less have been found, if any method were known of separating it
from such a mixture.

201

Dr. Storer presented a paper which had been forwarded
to him, entitled " Descriptions of sonic new species of Co-
leopterous Insects inhabiting the United States, by John L.
Le Contc." The following species are characterized and
figured :

Scarites substriatus, Haldeman, S. otus. Nob. Ms.

Scarites ephialtus. Mandibulis totis oblique striatis ; capite
antice rugoso : impressionibus frontalibus rugosis. Long. lin. 14J ;
lat. 4J. Hab. in provinciis Australibus.

Scarites intermedius. Mandibularum sulco valde profundo,
indiviso, laevi. Impressionibus frontalibus laterioribus, rugosis, pro-
fundioribus. Long. lin. 12 ; lat. 3J. Hab. in provinciis occiden-
talibus.

Scarites subterraneus, Auct. Hab. ubique.

Scarites affinis. Mandibulorum sulco linea obliqua elevata
diviso, lasvi ; impressionibus frontalibus rugosis, linea obliqua selita
satis distincta. Long. lin. 9 ; lat. 2j. Hab. ubique.

Scarites patruelis. Mandibularum sulco profundo, excavato,
laevi ; impressionibus frontalibus profunde rugosis. Long. lin. 6J ;
lat- 2J. Hab. Georgia.

Cicindela Audubonii. Viridis ; capite thoraceque aineo-mican-
tibus ; elytris margine laterali aureo, fascia media sinuata, abbre-
viata, gutta postica submarginali, lunulaque terminali albis. Hab.
flum. Yellow-Stone.

Calosoma lepidum. Nigrum ; elytris nigro-brunneis, profunde
striatis, transverse rugosis, foveisque viridi-aeneis triplici serie.
Hab. Missouri.

Calosoma triste. Nigrum ; elytris obsoletissime punctato-stri-
atis, punctisque majoribus triplici serie impressis. Hab. Missouri.

Dytiscds marginicollis. Ellipticus ; supra viridi-olivaceus, in-
fra brunneus ; thoracis limbo, scutello, elytrorum margine, pedi-
busque testaceis. Hab. flum. Missouri.

Lamia Bellii. Nigra ; transverse albo fasciata. Hab. Mis-
souri.

Dr. Gould read an interesting letter from Rev. Francis
Mason, missionary at Tavoy, acknowledging a notice of
his election as Corresponding Member, containing some ac-

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. ^U<i- MARCH, 1845.

LIBRARY,?

202

count of the state of science there, and many zoological
and botanical notices :

The province of Tavoy and the other adjacent provinces are
almost entirely unexplored. They were visited by Dr. Wallich
many years ago, and some of his botanical discoveries were publish-
ed in his " Plantae Asiaticse rariores," a copy of which never has
reached that coast. Dr. Griffiths also made an excursion there,
and made extensive collections, but no account of them has ever
been given, so that the flora is yet almost wholly unknown.

Somewhat more has been done in zoology, and yet very little
certain information is abroad concerning even the quadrupeds.
There are five- or six species of deer, but not one of them is iden-
tified with certainty. The name of the most common monkey is
not known positively. A British officer had not long since written
that he had procured a monster from a Karen, such a beast as no
one had before seen. It proved to be a Tapir, the first that had
been seen on the coast by Europeans, though Mr. M. bad been
aware of its existence, from native descriptions, for many years.

Several collections of birds had been made and carried to Ben-
gal, but he was not aware that collections of either the reptiles, in-
sects or shells had been made. Mr. M. was collecting in the two
latter departments.

He alluded to a remarkable ciimatal difference between this and
the opposite, or Coromandel coast, as indicated by the vegetation.
Several plants were mentioned, which, in the latter place, grow on
elevated land, but which are found at a level with the sea in Tavoy.
He accounts for this difference by the fact, that on the Coromandel
coast, the monsoons in the summer season blow overland from the
south-west ; while it is a sea breeze, and accompanied by 200 or
300 inches of rain, in Tavoy. On the other hand, in the winter, the
Tavoy wind comes overland from the mountains of China, while it
is a sea breeze on the opposite coast; so that the cold season, as
well as the hot season, is rendered cooler.

He mentioned that, as the business of collection was consid-
ered somewhat anti-missionary, very little assistance could be ob-
tained from others ; but that he should avail himself of such
opportunities as would not interfere with his proper duties, to col-
lect objects for the Society.

203

Dr. C. T. Jackson exhibited specimens of the following
minerals, which he had obtained during his recent explo-
rations on Keweenan Point, Lake Superior :

Datholite, from a large vein in trap rocks, in large and brilliant
crystals, having a violet tint near their edges, owing to the presence
of oxide of manganese. The crystals of this mineral also fre-
quently contain delicate scales of brilliant metallic copper enclosed
within them. Prehnite, which also abounds in large veins in the
trap rocks of the same region, contains metallic copper in the
midst of the crystals.

This metal is also found in calcareous spar, and in nearly all
the veins which traverse the amygdaloidal trap, and the contiguous
conglomerate rocks.

A few specimens of native copper and silver, from a vein in the
amygdaloid of Eagle river, were exhibited, and it was remarked
that the copper, besides containing a certain proportion of silver
combined with it in the state of an alloy, had a number of patches
of pure silver intermixed with it, appearing as if it had been seg-
regated from the alloy during its cooling from a melted state.
It not unfrequently happens, that pieces of copper and silver are
united only at their edges by interfusion, without being alloyed be-
yond those limits. Sometimes small veins of the silver traverse
masses of solid metallic copper. In one piece it was observed,
that at one end of a piece of copper the silver was in separate
patches and veins, and at the other the metals were combined as
an alloy. It is difficult to explain these singular phenomena, and
chemical art has not succeeded in imitating them ; for when silver
and copper are melted together, they intimately unite, and the sil-
ver disappears from view. There can be no doubt, however, that
the metals found in the Lake Superior amygdaloidal trap, have
been fused at as high a temperature as was required to liquify the
rocks in which they are found, for they bear evident marks of en-
tire fusion, and are as vesicular as the common lavas of Vesuvius,
Etna, and Peak of TenerifTe.

At some future meetings, a more full account of the mines of
Lake Superior may be laid before the Society.

Dr. Storer announced that he had received the following
Fishes, from Mobile Bay, from Geo. W. Abbot, Esq., viz. :

204

Sargus rhomboideS) Mic?%opogon costatus, Grystes salrno-
ides, and two species of Pomotls.

Dr. Jackson stated that Prof. Emmons had expressed a
desire to address the Society, on the subject of the views
of Prof. H. D. Rogers on earthquake agency in geological
formations.

It was voted that Dr. J. be requested to notify Prof. E.
that the Society would gladly hear an exposition of his views.
The following persons were elected as Corresponding
Members :

Benjamin A. Stannard, of Cleaveiand, Ohio.
C. C. Douglass, of Detroit, Mich.
Geo. A. Perkins, M. D., Missionary at Cape Palmas,
Africa.
James G. Richards and Thomas Daniel were nominated
for membership.

Nov. 20, 1844.

Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Gould presented a paper from Mr. Henry C. Lea, of
Philadelphia, entitled " A Description of some new species
of Marine Shells inhabiting the Coast of the United States."
It was accompanied with figures of the Shells, which are
characterized as follows :

Pholas semicostata. Testa subtriangulari, postice producta, et
acuta, antice oblique truncata, tenui, albida, diaphana, antice in-
flata et costata ; costis transversalibus, muricatis, magnis, crebris,
postice obsoletis ; sulco uno longitudinali, e natibus decurrente ;
margine basali curvato ; margine dorsali vix recto ; natibus valde
inflatis ; lamina dorsali parva ; cochlea ligulata, acutissima, incur-
va. Long. ,17; lat. ,32; diam. ,16 poll. Hab. South Carolina.

Bulla biplicata. Testa cylindrica, subquadrata, crassa, albi-
da, polita, eburnea ; spira occulta; anfractu ultimo superne callo-
so, inferne striis transversis parvis ; apertura superne arctata,
ovata ; columella plica magna et parva. Long. ,15 ; lat. ,07 poll.
Hab. Cape May.

205

Littorina lunata. Testa quadrangulari, imperforate, crassa,
costata, lutescente vel brunnea ; spira elevata, conica, acuta ; su-
turis inconspicuis ; anfractibus quatuor, planis, costis transversis
magnis crebris ; anfractu ultimo angulato, usque ad basin costato ;
apertura oblique elliptica ; labro acuto, undulato ; columella in-
ferne latissima, plana. Long. ,07 ; lat. ,05 poll. Hab. Cape May.

Cingdla roeusta. Testa ovato-acuminata, perforata, lajvi, cras-
sa, alba ; spira brevi, sub-acuta ; suturis impressis ; anfractibus
quinque, ad suturam superiorem subangulatis ; anfractu ultimo ro-
tundo ; basi Isevi ; perforatione arctata, profunda ; apertura ovata,
magna. Long. ,10 ; lat. ,07 poll. Hab. Cape May.

Cingula modesta. Testa ovata, imperforata, lsevi, tenui, dia-
phana, viridicornea ; spira brevi, ovata, haud acuta. ; suturis par-
vis ; anfractibus quatuor, planulatis ; anfractu ultimo rotundato ;
basi laevi ; apertura ovata., superne acuta, inferne rotundata. Long.
,10 ; lat. ,06 poll. Hab. Brooklyn, Long Island.

Cingula turriculus. Testa elevala-ccnica, perforata, laevi,
crassa, fulva ; spira valde exserta, conica, obtusa ; suturis parvis ;
anfract. 6, convexis ; anfr. ultimo, sub-bullato ; perforatione parva,
arctata, lunata ; apertura ovata ; columella crassa, anfractu ulti-
mo pene disjuncta. Long. ,12; lat. ,05 poll. Hab. South Carolina.

Dr. Storer presented a paper from William O. Ayres, of
East Hartford, Ot., entitled uAn Attempt to prove that
Coitus cognaivs, Richardson. C. viscosus, Haldemann. and
Uranidea quiescens, Dc Kay, are one species, and identical
with Coitus gobio of Linnaeus."

A very minute comparison is instituted of the external
characters and internal anatomy of the American and Euro-
pean fishes, and also of the several descriptions given of
them by authors. The paper was referred to the Publish-
ing Committee.

Mr. Edward Tuckerman presented a paper entitled "A
further enumeration of some alpine and other Lichenes of
New- England."

The author's observations have been made chiefly in the limited
district of the White Mountains. He compares the Lichenes of
this district with those of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Scotland,
though he considers that it might have been more properly com-
pared with a particular district in one of those countries, as Dovre,

206

in Norway — for which, however, he had not the necessary authori-
ties. Excluding the Leprarire, Spilomata, and Variolarise, and re-
ducing, according to the Friesian method, a large number of spe-
cies to varieties, he had been able to determine about 165 species ;
which, probably, includes the largest part of the Lichenes of this
small district. The following table shows the comparative condi-
tion of the species of each genus in the two districts above named,
so far as known :

Tribes.

Genera.

No. of species No. of species
in the Euro- in N. Eng-
peanDist's. land.

Of which pe-
culiar to
N. Engl'd

Parmeliaceae, .

Lecidinese, . .

Graphidiese,

Caliciece, . .
Sphaerophorese,

Endccarpese, .

Verrucarieee, .

1 Usnea, .

2 Evernia, .

3 Ramalina;

4 Cetraria,

5 Nephroma,

6 Peltigera,

7 Solorina,

8 Sticta, .

9 Parmelia,

10 Gyalecta,

11 Stereocaulon,

12 Cladonia, .

13 Beeomyces, .

14 Biatora, . .

15 Lecidea,-. .

16 Umbilicaria,

17 Opegrapha, .

18 Leeanaetis, .

19 Coniocybe, .

20 Calicium, .

21 Sphserophoron

22 Siphula, . .

23 Endoearpon,
[24 Pertusaria, .
.25 Thelotrema,

2G Segestria, .
27 Verrucaria, .

07

290

163

The species noticed in the paper are, Usnea longissima. Ever-
nia ochroleuca. Cetraria nivalis. Pelligera malacea. Sticta glo-
merulifera. Parmelia incurva, amkigua, aleurites, detonsa, hy-
poleuca, rubiginosa, lanuginosa, straminea, murorum, oculata, ver-
rucosa,, Stereocaulon corallinum, paschale, denudatum, condensation.

207

Cladonia ccespiticia, delicata, Jimlriata. Biatora placophylla^rivu-
losa. Lecidia sorediata. Umbilicaria pustulata. Opegrupha atra.
Calicium subtile, trachelinum. Epkebe pubescens.

Mr. Tuckerman also communicated memoranda of a glacier, or
field of ice, observed by Mr. C. W. Goddard and himself, on the
4th November, 1844, just below the summit of the Peak of Mt.
Washington, on the western declivity. It was 80 feet long, 20
feet wide, and, at its upper edge, a foot thick. Its inclination was
about 45°. The whole of the mountain was, at the time, covered
with snow, which, throughout the alpine district, lay pretty thick.
The upper part of the peak of the mountain was covered with ice,
thinly sprinkled with snow.

Dr. C. T. Jackson communicated a paper from Mr. A.
A. Hayes, containing analyses of specimens of meteoric
iron, furnished him for the purpose by Dr. Jackson.

The object particularly in view, in making the analysis, was to
ascertain the presence of chlorine, as observed by him, and pub-
lished in the American Journal of Science, Vol. 34, 1838. The
result was, a confirmation of Dr. Jackson's discovery, and the es-
tablishment of the fact of the existence of chlorine as a constituent
part of meteoric stones.

Dr. Jackson also communicated a paper, entitled " Re-
marks on the Alabama Meteoric Iron, with a chemical anal-
ysis of the drops of green liquid which exude from it."

Dr. Jackson stated, that he made an analysis of the Alabama
meteoric iron, in August, 1S34, and published the results of that
analysis, in 1838. The discovery of the combination of chlorine
with nickel and iron, was then first announced, and was a new
and interesting fact in the science of meteorites. Professor C.
U. Shepherd had since confirmed the discovery, by experiments
on meteoric iron from Buncombe, N. C, but seemed to doubt the
origin of the chlorine. Dr. Jackson stated that no one who had
seen his specimen could doubt, for chlorohydrates of nickel and
iron are copiously effused from the interior of the mass, and from
every point of the cut and polished surface. Drops of a grass
green liquid, from the size of a pin's head to that of a pea, are
continually forming upon it, and run down upon the shelf of the

208

cabinet, leaving a thin shell of the peroxide of iron in the place of
the drops. With the utmost care, and with the use of layers of
varnish, he had not been able to keep the surface bright longer
than a few days. The natural surface of the stone does not give
out drops of the chlorohydrates, for the chlorine has long been ex-
hausted therefrom. The results of two analyses, by Dr. Jackson,
were as follows :

I. 2.

Chlorohydric acid, . . 0.8216 . . . 1.6468
Protoxide of iron, . . . 1.7000 . . . 3.2318
Oxide of nickel, . . . 0.6000 . . . 2.0000

3.1216 6.87S6

Mr. Stodder reported on a pamphlet committed to him,
entitled "An Essay on Solid Meteors, by Peter A. Browne,
LL. D."

The author advances an hypothesis of the composition of these
bodies, which Mr. S. considered the most plausible which has been
offered, viz : that solid meteors are composed of the native metals,
and the metallic bases of the earths, and alkalies. That these ele-
mentary substances, on entering our atmosphere, combine with
the oxygen of the air, for which they have a strong affinity, and
thus present the phenomena of ignition, combustion, and explosion,
which usually attend their appearance. Mr. S., after examining
the various theories on the subject, expressed his opinion, " that me-
teors are bodies moving in space, their origin independent of any
other known member of the solar system, and identical with shoot-
ing stars. He did not, however, agree with the author in believ-
ing that mere contact with the atmosphere is capable of producing
their ignition, nor does he consider it proved that the condensation
of air in their passage through it is sufficient to account for this
effect. He remarked, in closing, " there is one substance found in
meteoric stones, in combination with others, which, if it existed in
them uncombined, would be adequate to account for all the phe-
nomena, wherever air should be present. This substance is prot-
oxide of iron. It is never found on ihe earth, except in combina-
tion, for it takes fire instantaneously by contact with the air, and
becomes per-oxide. The great objection to admitting this sub-

209

stance to be the agent of the heat of meteors, is the difficulty of
accounting for the products of combustion. We find no per-oxide
of iron in meteorites."

Mr. B. A. Gould. Jr.. in connection with the subject of me-
teorites, and with the supposed periodical display of falling
stars, on the night of the 13th November, annually, re-
marked,

"That he had, for several successive years, kept watch on that
night, from twilight until day-break, and especially on the night of
the 13th of the current month. He had not perceived any unusual
frequency of falling stars, having been able to notice only six in an
hour on the last occasion, a number smaller than the average ob-
servable on most clear nights of the year."

James B. Richards and Thomas Daniel were elected
members of the Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Mantell, G. A. Medals of Creation, or First Lessons in Geol-
ogy. 2 vols. 12mo. London, 18-14. Audubon Fund.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds. Part 7. London, 1844, Au-
dubon Fund.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History, for November, 1844.
Courtis Fund.

Morton, S. G., M. D. On a supposed new species of Hippopo-
tamus. Author.

Report of Committee to visit Missions in the Levant. By Rufus
Anderson. 8vo. pam. 1844.

Thirty-first Annual Report of the American Board of Commis-
sioners for Foreign Missions. 8vo. pam. 1844. The Board.

December 4, 1844.

Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Mr. Kmerson read the introduction of a paper communi-
cated by John Lewis Russell, Corresponding Member of
the Society, entitled " Musci of Eastern Massachusetts."

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 22* MARCH, 1845.

210

The paper contains descriptions of 120 species and varieties,
determined from specimens collected in the vicinity of Boston, by
the author and his friends. It was referred to the Publishing Com-
mittee.

Dr. Cabot exhibited specimens, and made some remarks
upon tho habits of the male and female of Pyrrhida raptor
— the native name Trapin, from Yucatan. He also noticed
the birds from near Lake Superior, presented at a former
meeting, by Mr. Douglass, viz :

Corvus cor ax, . . Raven.

Garrulus Canadensis, Canada Jay.

Picus arcticus, . . American three-toed Woodpecker.

Dr. Asa Gray read a paper, entitled " Characters of some
new genera and species of plants of the natural order Com-
positee, from the Rocky Mountains and Upper California."
In this paper the following genera and species were charac-
terized :

Genus Monoptilon. Torrey fy Gray.
Composit3B-Asteroide« : Subtr. Asterinea? : Div. Astereas.
Capitulummultiflorum, heterogamum ; fioribus radii 1-serialibus
[igulatis feemineis, disci tubulosis hemaphroditis, omnibus fertilibus.
Involucrum fere uniseriale Erigerontis. Recaptaculum convexum,
nudum. Corolla? tubus radii et disci sparse hirtus : ligulae obcva-
to-oblongae. Stili Asteroidearum ; rami fl. hermaph. Appendi-
colo triangulari obtuso terminati. Achenia oblongi-obovata, leviter
obcompressa, sparsim hirtella, binervia (ad margines) vel in radio
trinervia. Pappus coniformis, duplex ; exterior e coronula brevis-
sima crenulata persistente ; interior seta capillaris unica, caduca,
discum adcequans, basi scabrida, apicem versus sensim clavatimque
plumosa ! Herba annua, exiguua, depressa, villoso-pubescens ; foliis
sparsis oblongo-vel lineari-spathulatis, integris ; capitulis subsessil-
ibus vel bracteatis. Flores disci flavi, ligulae ut videtur albae, creru-
leo vel lilacino tinctas.

Species M. Bellidiformis. Torrey fy Gray.

Genus Amphipappus. Torrey fy Gray.
Compositae-Asteroideae : Subtr. Asterineae : Div. Chrysocomece.
Capitulum plerumque 7-florum heterogamum ; nempe, flore radii

211

unico, ligulato, fsemineo, fertili, et floribus disci 4-6 tubulosis, her-
maphroditis, sed sterilibus? Involucrum obovoideum ; squamis
6-7 subaequalibus, chartaceis, ovalibus, concavis, subcarinatis, ap-
presso-imbricatis. Receptaculum angustum, subalveolatum. Li-
gula brevis, obovata, discum vix excedens : corolla fl. disci e tubo
gracili infundibuliformis, limbo profunde 5-fido ; laciniis lineari-ob-
longis revolutis. Styli rami breves Linosyridis ; appendiculo ovato-
deltoideo superati. Achenium radii oblongo-obconicum vel obcom-
pressum, villosum, pappo uniseriali paleaceo (e squamellis pluribus
setaceis nunc basi, nunc fere ad apicem saepius in phalanges vario-
modo concretis,) achenio dimidio breviore superatum. Achenia
disci, ut videtur infertilia, turbinata, glabra, pappo piloso uniseriali
elongato instructa ; setis rigidulis, denticulatis, valde incequalibus ;
majoribus imo saepe subcomplanatis et ramosis, seu potius cum mi-
noribus nonnullis pi. m. concretis. — Frutex ramosissimus 1 2-pe-
dalis, glabriusculus. Folia alterna, brevia, spathulata, mucronata,
vix puncticulata, integerrima, sessilia, vel in petiolum brevem at-
tenuata. Capitula numerosissima, in corymbis fasciculisve aggre-
gata more Solidaginis § Euthamiae, vel Gutierreziae, sed squamas
involucri nee ad apicem herbaceae, nee forsan glutinosse. Flores
aurei.

Species A. Fremontii. Torrey fy Gray.

Genus Calliachyris. Torrey fy Gray.

Compositae-Senecionideae : Subtr. Helenieae : Div. Madieae.

Omnia Callichroae subgen, Calliglossce, Torr. fy Gray; sed
pappus palaceus; paleis 10-12, subaequalibus, lanceolato-ovatis,
subulato-aristatis, corolla paulo brevioribus, basi pilis 2-3 elongatis
utrinque instructis. Corollae tubus pilosus. Herba annua vel bien-
nis ; facie omnino Callichroae (Calliglossac) Douglasii.
Species C. Fremontii. Torrey 8c Gray.
Genus Anisocoma. Torrey fy Gray.

Compositae-CichoraceaB : Subtribe Scorzonereae.

Capitulum pluriflorum. Involucrum cylindraceum ; squamis
subcariosis, adpressis, obtusis ; interioribus 5-7 lineari-oblongis,
subaequalibus ; exterioribus 4-6 multo brevioribus, subrotundis, im-
bricatis et quasi calyculatis. Receptaculum planum squamellis
nonnullis piliformibus inter flores exteriores onustum. Achenia tur-
binato-fusiformia, sericeo-pilosa, erostria. Pappus duplex ; exterior
coroniformis, crenulatus, persistens ; interior e .setis denis rigidulis

212

uniserialibus, basi nudis, supra medium phimosis constans, decidua,
inaequalis; nempe setis 5 corollam subaequantibus, et 5 alternanti-
bus iisdem dimidio brevioribus. Herba annua, (biennisve ?) gla-
bra, acaulis, foliis radicalibus linearibus pinnatifidis, lobis brevibus,
hinc inde mucronato-denticulatis. Scapi simplices, nudi, spitha-
maei, monocephali, foliis multo longiores. Capitulum unciale. Flo-
res lutei : pappus niveus.

Species A. Acaulis. Torrey 8f Gray.
Pyrrocoma foliosa. Torr. fy Gr. Humilis, e radice crassa
perpendiculari multicaulis, glabrata ; caulibus confertim foliosis ;
foliis oblongo-lanceolatis (1-2-uncialibus,) integerrimis, mucronato-
cuspidatis ; summis in squamas involucri lanceolatas, acuminatas,
mucronato-setigeras, sensim transeuntibus ; ligulis numerosis ex-
sertis; corolla fl. discipappo aequilonga. Oregon.

Aplopappus tortifolius. Torr. Sf Gr. Fructiculosus, lana
decidua tectus et pube brevissima scabridus ; ramis inferne foliosis,
apicein peduncuium longum nudum monocephalum productis ; foliis
coriaceis semi-amplexicaulibus, elongato-lanceolotis, spinuloso-den-
tatis lobatisve, undulatis, vario modo tortis ; squamis involucri hem-
ispheric! subulato-lanceolatis, imbricatis, granuloso-scabridis, ex-
timis tomentoso-canescentibus ; ligulis (ut videtur flavis) 30-40 lin-
earibus, praelongis ; pappo rufescente ; acheniis sericeo-villosis.
Upper California.

Actinella grandiflora. Torr. Sf Gr. Depressa, villoso-to-
mentosa ; caulibus numerosis e caudice crassa, simplicibus (4-5
uncialibus,) sparsim foliatis, monocephalis ; foliis radicalibus pin-
nato-partitis demum glabratis, segmentis linearibus integerrimis
vel 2-3 fidis, caulinis supremis linearibus fere integris ; squamis in-
volucri valde lanati biseriatis, linearibus, aequalibus, pappi paleis
circ. 6, augusto-lanceolatis, acuminatis, corollam disci subaequanti-
bus. Capitulum ratione pi. magnum, eaque Gaillardiae aristatse
emulans. Rocky Mountains.

Dr. Gould called the attention of the Society to a speci-
men of lime-stone, from Lake f^rie, containing numerous
conical masses, whose nature and origin have not been
made out satisfactorily. He pointed out their resemblance
to recent Balani, of the genus Conia. The resemblance in
form and strise, and mode of aggregation, was striking,

• 213

and seemed to show clearly, that the cones in question
were none other than fossil Balani.

Mr. Milton D. Whipple of Lowell was elected a member
of the Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET.

Stalactites from Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn.

December 18, 1844.

J. E. Teschemachei'j Esq., in the Chair.

Mr. B. A. Gould, Jr., read an extended notice of the con-
tents of recent numbers of the Memoires de la Societe de
Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve with a synop-
sis of the biographies of Messrs. Huber and Decandolle.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Forbes, J. D. Travels through the Alps of Savoy, &c. 8vo.
Edinburgh, 1843.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds. Part 8. Audubon Fund.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History, for December, 1844.
Courtis Fund.

Erratum.— Page 151, 11th line from the bottom, for " Under the tail-coverts," read
"Under tail-coverts." Page 155, 20th line, for "Tail 1£ inches," read "Tail 7£
inches." 9th line from bottom, for " lighter than the male," read " lighter than in the
male." Page 156, 10th line, for " 3-8 inches," read « 3-8 of an inch." 22d line, for
'•' 1st primary longest ; 4th shortest," read "4th primary longest; 1st shortest".

INDEX TO VOL. I

Abneus acieulatus, 187.

fimetarius, lo7.

obliquus, 187.

simplex, 187.

Achatina involute, 158.

torrida, 158.

Acipenser maculosus, 71.

rubicundus, 71.

Actinella grandiflora, 211.
Addresses, Annual, 67, 116, 180.
Adams, C. B. Descriptions of J\ew Eng-
land Shells, 48.

Alger, Francis. On Identity of Beau
montite and Lincolnite with Heuland-
ite, 145.

Ampliipappus, 210.

Anculotus kirtlandianus, 5.

Aniscoma, 210.

Anodon inoscularis, 160.

salweniana, 160.

Apiopappus tortifolius, 211.

Aphis bicolor, 168.

discolor, 168.

castanea-rosea, 168.

marginnipennis, 168.

pilosa, 168.

quercus-monticula, 168.

rubecula, 168.

Argynosus vomer, 84.

Arsenic, 18.

Ascarides, 103.

Astarte portlandica, 129.

Asterias aurantiaca, 40.

Ayres, W. O. On Fishes of Long Island,
58, 64, 67. — New species of Leuciscus,
130. — Identity of Cottus gobius and
other fishes, 205.

Bachman, John. Observations on, and
new species of Scalops,S5. &6

Bailey, J. W. On Siliceous Spiculse in
the exterior rays of Actinia, 77. — On
Siliceous Animalcules of Boston har-
bor, 77.

Binney, Amos. On the Limacidae of the
U. S. 51. — Notice of Orthagoriscus
mola, 93. — Critical examination of the
species of Pupa found in the U. S., 105.
Remarks on decease of F. W. P. Green-
wood, D. D., 135.— On geographical
distribution of Land Mollusks in the
U. S., 142.

Boott, Francis. American carices,87.

Brewer, Thomas. Errors in history of
Hermit Thrush and other Merulse, 190.
Bufo lentiginosis, 136.
Bulimus atricallosus, 140.

interstinctus, 158.

rubicundulus, 158.

Bulla incincta, 188.

occulta, 50.

pertennis, 129.

puncto-striata, 49.

Buttonwood tree, 1C4, 193.

Cabinet, Donations to — by
Abbott, H. W., 147, 204.
Adams, C. B., 57.
Amos, A., 60.
Andrews, W. W., 59.
Anthony, J. G., 94, 129, 137, 192.
Archer, Francis, 33.
Ashmun, Lewis, 57.
Atheneum, Boston, 1, 134.
Ayres, W'. O., 28.
Barnard, H., 161.
Bartlett, JMiss, 78.
Barton. J. W., 5,
Bolles,J. A., 53.
Board of Commissioners for Foreign

Missions, 79.
Bowditch, H. I., 46, 87.
Brazer, Mr.. 143, 146.
Brewer, N.,'l92.
Brewer, T. M., 174.
Bryant. H. J., 17,28.
Cabot, S. Jr., 75.
Carley, S. T., 37.
Cook, W., 92.
Cotting, Dr., 112.
Couper, J. Hamilton, 112.
Couthouy, J. P., 26, 31, 34, 40, 48, 58,

72, 96, 162.
Cragin, F. W.. 92, 110, 137, 145, 149,

150, 171, 177.
Cummings, B. N., 129.
Cunningham, A. &. C. 28.
Curtis, W. A., 13.
Dearborn, H. A. S., 212.
Dimmock, J. L., 119.
Dodd, R. I., 146, 162.
Eddy, F. A., 36.
Gale, R., 194.
Gerrv, Capt., 196.
Goufd, A. A., 75, 95, 129.
Greene, T. A., 14.

216

Cabinet, Donations to — by (Continued)
Griffith, R. E., 75.
Haldeman, S. S., 47.
Harris, T. W., 29.
Holt, T. A., 42.
Jackson, C. T., 39.
Jackson, James, 149.
Jackson, J. B. S., 153, 197.
Jarvis, E., 30.
Jarvis, J. J., 94, 97.
Jay, J. C, 87.
Johnson, Jonathan, 78.
Johnson, W. R., 42.
Kirtland, J. P., 37.
Lamb, Edward, 197.
Lawrence, S. A., 17.
Leib, G., 174.
Lerow, J. A., 196.
Lillie, J. E., 37.
Linsley, J. H., 136,119.
Locke, John, 72, 78.
Mayo, E. R., 70.
McCauley, D. T., 3.
McCullough T., 177.
Metcalf, N., 149.
Michelotti, Giov., 87.
Mighels, J. W., 68.
Ogden, M., 196.
Olmsted, C. J., 78,131.
Park, T. B., 31.
Perkins. G. L., 28, 134.
Perkins, E. S., 47.
Perkins, H. C, 56, 62.
Porter, Jacob, 163.
Pratt, W. Jr.. 38.
Preston, J P., 13.
Randall, J., 92.
Reynolds, W. T., 86.
Robertson, J. J., 84.
Rogers, H. D., 170.
Rogers, W. B., 149.
Savage, T. S., 54, 73, 149, 170.
Sheafe, Henry, 197.
Shurtleff, N. B., 119.
Snelling, G. H., 182.
Spooner, J. P., 62.
Storer, D. H., 45.
Sturgis, Capt., 46.
Teschemacher, J. Ev 62.
Tillson, J., 37.
Thompson, Z., 28, 147.
Toomey, Dr., 60, 97.
Townsend, Major, 175.
Travelli, M., 33.
Tyler, J., 173.
Ward, A., 87.
Warren, J., 13, 21.
Wheatland, Dr., 192.
Whittcmore, T. J., 26, 31, 35, 38, 73, 75.
Winslow, S., 112.
Wood, Dr., 38.
Wright, Dr., 143, 196.
Wyman, Jeffries, 3.
Yale, L. M., 92.
Cabot, Sam'l, Jr. On Meleagns ocella-
ta, 73— Phasianus motmot, 76— Wild
turkey, 80— Ortyx nigrogularis, 151 —

New birds of Yucatan, 155, 164— Pal -
mated horns in Curvus virginianus, 190,
194 — Senotes of Yucatan.

Calliachyris, 210.

Calosoma lepidum, 201.

triste, 201.

Caranx chryso, 148.

Carcharias griseus, 65.

Carditamera floridana, 188.

Carex fraseriana, 98.

Corocolla. See Helix.

Cemoria princeps, 49.

Cetraria oakesiana.

Chalcedony, 132.

Chiton mendicarius, 49.

Chub, 196, 197.

Chlorine in meteoric iron, 206, 208.

Chlorophyllite, 45.

Cicindela auduboni, 201.

Cingula latior, 50.

Clausilia insignis, 140.

Coluber constrictor, 32.

Columba trudeauii, 183.

Conulites, 95, 97, 212.

Conus castrensis, 138.

Corvus vociferus, 155.

Cotton. African tree, 170.

Cottus cognatus, 205.

gobio, 205.

variabilis, 68.

viscosus, 205.

Couthouy, Joseph P. On Lagoon Isl-
ands in the Pacific Ocean, 52, 53, 54.

Cribella oculata, 40.

Cyclas minor, 48.

nitida, 48.

Cyclostoma auriculatum, 138.

bicolor, 138.

catenatum, 138.

clathratum, 138.

mahogani, 138.

pictum, 138.

— pernobilis, 140.

rugulosum, 138.

sagra, 138.

— sectilabrum, 140.

Cymbium maculatum, 40.

Cypricardia corrugata, 188.

nodulosa, 188.

Delphinus globiceps, 99.

Delphinula coarctata, 129.

Diodon nigro-lineatus, 68.

Donations. See Cabinet and Library.

Dytiscus marginnicollis, 205.

Echinorachnius placenta, 40.

— parma, 40.

Echinoryncus nodosus, 95.
Election of Officers, 117, 181.
Emerson, G. B. On School instruction in

Natural History, 148.
Emersonia antiqua, 77.

elegans, 77.

Epeirus minor, 186.
Esox minor, 84.

217

Fasciolaria Jigata, 50.
Fundulus fuscus, Go.
Fusus cancellatus, 50.

Gastcrosteus millepunctatus, 65.

Gay, Ma rti n. On the poison of arsenic, 18.

Gibbs, Lewis R. On a new species of
Salamander, 195.

Glandina glans, 154.

Gould, A. A. Testacea of Mass., 6. —
Mytilusedulis,72.— Neritina, 71. —Veg-
etable character of Corallina, 99. — Zo-
ological nomenclature, 101. — Descrip-
tion of new species of Shells, 138, 139,
144, 157, 160, 174.— Pseudodon, n. g.
161. — Monograph of Pupadae of U. S..
138.

Gray, Asa. On Cuscuta, 93. — Carex fra-
seriana, 95. — Annual Address, 130.- —
New genera and species of Rocky
Mountain plants, 210.

Greenwood, F. W. P. Notice of his
decease, 135.

Guano, 10, 101.

Haldeman, S. S. Undescribed species
of Percina, 157. — Descriptions of new
species of Aphis, 168.

Hall, James. On the Geology of Ni-
agara Falls, 52.

Harris, T. W. On an African beetle
allied to Scaraboeus polyphemus, 151.

Heli:ina glabra, 138.

nitida, 138.

Helix anceps, 139.

gabata, 139.

gilvus, 139.

harpa, 188.

infrendens, 139.

lucida, 174.

pellucida, 157.

penicillata, 138.

procumbens, 139.

setigera, 174.

stellula, 174.

submerus, 187.

Hentz, M. N. Monograph of Araneides
of U. S., 41.

Hister cognatus, 185.

curtatus, 185.

decisus, 185.

dispar, 185.

fcedatus, 185.

spretus, 185.

Humic acid, 9.

Hurricanes, 15.

Hydrargira formosa, 76.

Jackson, C. T. On Humic acid, 9
Glairine, 9. — Guano, 10. — Source of
potash in plants, 9. — Ammonia in rain, 9.
On ore of silver, copper &. antimony, 90.
Analysis of Zea mays, 124. — Humic
acid in maple sugar, 126. — Coloring

matter of brown sugar, 129. — Analysis
of raspberry bush, 128; do. of pink
scapolite, 162, 167 5 do. red cedar, Ju-
niperus virginianus, 162; do. of ittro-
cerite, 171 ; do. juice of cornstalk, 200;
do. Alabama meteoric iron, 207. —
Vegetable chemistry, 124 to 128. — Veg-
etable tallow, 171. — Minerals of Lake
Superior, 203.

Jackson, J. B. S. On Delphinus globi-
ceps, 99.

Janthina fragilis, 14, 21.

Johnson, Walter R. On foliated ga-
lena, 43. — Remarks on certain fossils,
44.

Kirtland, J. P. On the fishes of Ohio,
1, 71, 99.

Lamia bellii, 201.

Lea, Henry C. New species of shells,

61. 104.
Le Conte, John L. Descriptions of

new Coleopterous insects, 182, 201.—

Monograph of American Histeroides,

18-6:
Lepidosteus platyrhinus, 131.
Leuciscus nasutus, 130.

storerianus,

Letters from

Anthony, John G., 5, 76.

Archer, Francis, 12, 46.

Amos, J., 13, 60.

Academy, Royal Bavarian, 189.

Baird, Spencer F., 12.

Board of Foreign Missions, 79.

Couthouy, Joseph P., 12.

Delessert, Benjamin, 177.

Institut Histonque, Paris, 43.

Jarvis, Ed., 60.

Locke, John, 72.

Mason, Francis, 201.

Michellotti, Giovanni, 60.

McLelland, John, 161.

Navy, Secretary of, 32.

Society, Zoological of London, 43.

Geological of France, 47.

of Dental Surgeons, 79.

Savage, Thomas S., 54, 72.

St. Hdaire Auguste, 38.

Tuckerman, Edward, Jr., 51.

Torrey, John, 59.
Library, Donations to — by

Academy of Natural Sciences of Phil-
adelphia, 35, 42, 63, 66, 75, 91, 94,
108, 141, 153, 192.

Academy of Sciences, Royal Bava-
rian, 146.

Abbott, J. H., 7.

Adams, C. B., 91.

Alger, Francis, 2, 190.

Association, American Statistical, 163.

Association, Mercantile Library, 101.

Audubon, J. J., 69.

Bachman, J., 22, 69.

218

Library. Donations to — l>v [Continued)
Bailey, J. W., 97.
Barrett, Joseph, 91.
Beck, Lewis C, 173.
Beck, T. R., 177.
Bellardi, S., 98, 102.
Bigelow, Jacob, 24, 25, 26.
Binney, Amos, 5, 103, 170. 18 L
Bolles, J. A., 120.
Bowditch, N.. Sons of, 17.
Bowditch, N. I., 103.
Bowditch, H. I., 87.
Bonaparte, C. L., 35.
Browne, P. A., 177.
Bulfinch. Thomas, 30.
Colman, H., 2, 63, 64. 89. 91 . 98. 104.
Cozzens, S., 137.
Cramer, Chs., 29. 82, 94.
Couthouy, J. P./ 59, 75. 82.
Curtis, C. P. Jr., 7.
Cushing, J. P., 122.
Dana, J. D., 150, 178.
Darlington, W., 134.
De Beaumont, E., 111.
Dixwell, J. J., 103.
Doubled ay, E., 47.

Eddy, F. A., 63.

Emerson, Geo. B., 7, 98, 103.

Emmons. Ebenezer, 24, 30.
Fowle, W. B., 59.
Gould, A. A., 134, 153.
Gray, Asa, 81, 98, 120, 163.
Gray, F. C, 103.
Gray, J. E., 136, 199.

Gray, Mrs. J. E., 136.

Greene, B. D., 79, 82, 136.

Greenwood, F. W. P., 11.
Haldeman, S. S., 13, 33, 57. 59, 63, 64,
79,102,137,170,173.

Hall, James, 54.

Harvey, Henry, 47.

Harris, T. W., 98.

Hayes, Isaac, 70.

Horner, W. E., 70.

Institute, Albany, 54, 68, 89.

Institute, National, 17, 75. 120.

Jackson, C. T., 30.

Johnson, W. R., 90.

Lapham, J. A., 2.

Lawrence, A. A., 103.

Lea, Isaac, 150.

Lee, Thomas, 29, 64.

Linsley, J. H., 87, 141, 177.

Lowe, R. T., 150.

Lowell, J. A., 103.

Lyceum of Natural History, N. Y., 30.

Mantell, G., 68.

Massachusetts, Legislature of, 30, 62.

McClelland, J. B., 63, 54.

Michellotti, Giov., 80, 98.

Missions, Foreign, American Board of
Commissioners for, 75, 111, 209.

Murchison, R. I., 75.

Morton, S. G., 69, 192, 209.

Museum, British, 136.

Newman, E., 28,47,163,119.

Newport, George. 177.

Library, Donations to — by [Continued)

Owen, J., 30.

Parkman, G., 103.

Passerini, Carlo, 38.

Percival, J. G., 104.

Pickering, J., 22. 17.

Porter, P., 94.

Porter, J., 77. 91.

Redfield, W. C, 22, 98.

Rogers, H. D., 66.

Savage, T. S., 147.

Schembri, A., 170, 175.

Shattuck, G. C. Jr., 103.

Silliman, B., )7, 17, 33, 62, 75, 89.

Silliman, B. Jr., ] 98. 115, 147, 176, 192.

Society, American Philosophical, 17,
24, 30, 63, 64, 66, 68, 91, 97.
112, 147, 182, 183.

Botanical, London, 53, 80.

Imperial Mineralogical, St. Pe-
tersburg, 111.

Linnsean, London, 82, 94.

Literary and Historical. Que-
bec, 59, 111.

Natural History, Calcutta, 54.

Natural History, Liverpool. 33.

De Physique et D'Hist. Nat.

de Geneve, 91.

Zoological, London, 85. 14-1.

Southwick, E. W., 91.

Storer, D. H., 1, 134.

Storer, J. P. B., 1, 111.

Sturgis, W., 103.

Teschemacher, J. E., 87.

Thompson, Wm., 42, 190.

Thompson, Z., 28, 146.

Warden, D. B., 37.

Waterhouse, G. R., 190.

Westerman, Dr., 27.

Winthrop, R. C.; 12, 134, 147, 153, 184.
Limnea ampla.

Jdecollata, 49.

Limnoria terebrans, 175.

Limulus polyphemus.

Linguatula, 103.

Linsley, J. H. On Hurricanes, 15.

Limax agrestis, 51.

campestris, 52.

flavus, 51.

hortensis, 51.

Lithodes arctica, 169.
Lota brosmiana, 20.

McAuley, D. T. Donation of four-
horned and Fezzan sheep, 3.

Margarita, minutissima, 129.

varicosa, 49.

Mason, Francis. On Plants of Bur-
mah, 83. — Geological and botanical
features of Tavoy, 118. — Remarks on
Province of Tavoy, 202.

McCullogh, Thomas, Jr. On impor-
tance of habit in distinguishing species.
133.— Sylvia petechia, 173.

Mecynorhina polyphemus, 152.

savagii, 152.

Meetings, annual, 117. 181.

219

Melania, bataiia, 14k

mutans, 158.

rogersii, 5.

varicosa, 144

Moleagris ocellata, 73.
Merula wilsonii, 191.

solitaria, 191.

olivacea, 191.

Members elected.

Bolles, John A., 3b'.

Brigham, E. D., 34.

Brooks, Charles, 146.

Codman, Edward, 39.

Curtis, Benj. Rv 40.

Cabot, James E., 136.

Daniels, Thomas, 209.

Eastburn, John H., 7.

Fenno, J. B., 22.

Gould, B. A., Jr., 195.

Inches, Henderson, Jr., 195

Keith, Owen S., 22. '

Loring, W. J., 14.

May, S. J., 22.

Parker, Henry M., 198.

Richards, J. B., 209.

Sherman, Charles B., 70.

Soule, Richard, Jr., 18.

Stodder, Charles, 22.

Whipple, Milton D 211

Whitney, J. D., 5.
Members, Corresponding.

Anthony, John G., 78.

Archer. Francis, 18.

Beck, Lewis C, 70.

Bailey, J. W., 70.

Bai/d, Spencer F., 175.

Dana, Samuel L., 70.

Douglass, C. C, 204.

Doubleday, Edward, 18.

Hall, Frederick, 78.

Houghton, Douglass, 70.

Hubbard, Oliver P., 70.

King, Henry, 70.

Leib, George, 175.

Lowe, R. T., 70.

Linsley, J. H., 78.

Mason, Francis.

McLelland, John, 70.

Miller, Frederick. 26.

Mighels, J. W., 192.

Mitchell, E., 192.

Nichols, Andrew, 78.

Olmsted, Charles H., 38.

Perkins, G. A., 204.

Perkins, Henry C, 70.

Porter, Jacob/78.

Smith, Increase S., 38.

Smith, J. Lawrence, 192.

Sprague, Isaac, 38.

Stannard, B. A., 204.

Tuomey, M., 192.
Members, Honorary.

De Candolle, A. P.. 47.

Von Schlectendal. D. F. L. 47.

Murchison, R. J 47.

West wood, J. O.. 47

Link. H. F., 47.

Mt.MBtus, Honorary — ( Continued.)

Gray, Asa, 47.

Torrey, John, 47.

McLeay, W. S., 47.

Griffith, Edmund, 47.

Audubon, John J., 47.

Rogers, Henry D., 70.

Rogers, William B., 70.

McGillivray, Wm, 70.

Von Martius, C. P. F., 70.

Delessert, Benjamin, 96.
Mighels. J. W. Descriptions of New

England Shells. — Catalogue of Shell*

of Maine, 118.— New Shells of Maine,

129.— New Shells, 187.
Momotus, yucatanensis, 155.
Monocanthus brocchus, 84.
Monoptilon, 210.
Morton, Samuel G. On the origin

and characteristics of the Aborigines of

America. — Annual Address, 67.
Miliobatis acuta, 65.

bispinosus, 53.

Mosses of Massachusetts, 13, 209.
Mygale caroliniensis, 42.

gracilis. 42.

solstitialis, 42.

truncata, 41.

unicolor, 42.

Mya truncata, 48.
Mytilus edulis, 72.

Nelumbium lutcum, 2.

minganensis, 188.

Niagara Falls, Geology of, 52.
Nichols, Andrew. On Bufo lentigo-

nosus, 136.
Nucula antiqua, 50.

cascoensis, 48.

delphinodonta, 48.

Officers chosen, 117, 181.
Omaloides borealis, 185.

harrisii, 185.

Onthophilus pluricostatus, 187.

nodatus, 187.

Ophiura aculeata, 40.

— . bellis, 40.

Oriolus musicus. 155.
Ornithoryncus, 29.
Orthagoriscus mola, 93, 195.
Orthoceratites fossil, 76.
Orycteropus capensis, 29.
Orycterotherium oregonense, 51 , 62,
Osteodesma aeruginosa, 187.

Paludina doliaris, 144.

petrosa, 144.

Parmelia halseyana, 13.
Paromalus affinis, 186.
Pasithcea umbonata, 92.
Pecten tennicostatus, 49.
Percina bimaculata. 157.
Perkins, H. C. Fossil bones from Or-
egon, 57, 62.

220

Phasianella sulcosa, 129.
Philomycus dorsalis, 52.
Physa i'ragilis, 49.
Picus dubius, 164.
■ ■ parvus, 164.

■ yucatanensis, 164.

Platanus occidental, 184, 193.
Platessa glabra, 130.
Platysoma alternatum, 185.
coarctatum, 185.

■ gracile, 185.
Pleurotoma insculpta, 188.

■ violacea, 50.

Polyplectron tibetanus, 160.
Pomotis rubricauda, 36.
Pupa capitata, 158.

carinata, 138.

costulata. 187.

gouldii, 105.

lyrata, 139.

■ procera, 138.

pumilio, 158.

servilis, 138

Pyrrocoma foliosa, 211.
Python natalensis, 74.

Rafflesia manilana, 27.

Reports, verbal — bv Abbott, J. L., 8,
16, 17, 22, 29, 40, 56, 62, 65, 69, 91, 95,
97, 145, 150, 171, 174, 176.— Bacon,
Dr., 7, 10.— Bulfinch, Thomas, 10, 21.
172. — Bigelow, H. J., 14. — Bryant;
Henry J., 19— Bouve, M., 97, 171,
176.— Couthouy, J. P., 48, 52, 53—
Dixwell, E. S., 95.— Dillawav, C. K..
35, 79— Emerson, G. B., 14— Eddy,
F. A., 36, 60— Gay, Martin, 8, 22, 35,
145— Gould, A. A., 40, 61, 99, 149,
173.— Gould, B. A. Jr., 208, 213—
Gray, Asa, 90, 93.— Greene, T. A., 11.
Greenwood, F. W. P., 10, 32, 39—
Hall, Frederick, 52, 59.— Jackson, C.
T., 62, 161.— Jackson, J. B. S., 19, 65.
Robinson, Mr.. 14. — Sherwin, Mr., 12.
Stodder, C, 173, 208— Storer, D. H.,
28, 62, 145, 168— Teschemacher, J. E.,
34, 170— Whittemore, T. J., 11— Wy-
man, Jeffries, 11, 99, 103. 107.

Reports and Reviews, written — by
Abbott, S. L., 57.
Binney, Amos, 85, 133, 169.
Bouve, M., 156, 171.
Bowditch, J. Ingersoll, 15.
Brewer, Thomas, 31.
Bryant, H. J., 60.
Gould, A. A., 16, 62, 86, 89, 132.
Harris, T. W., 27.
Jackson, C. T., 22, 123, 161.
Shurtleff, N. B., 29.
Storer, D. H., 28.
Teschemacher, J. E., 108.
Whittemore, Thos. J., 11.
Wyman, Jeffries, 96, 99.
Rogers, Henry D. On Mammoth

Cave, 163.
Russell, J. L. On the Hepatic Mosses

of Massachusetts, 13, 209.— Disease of
Buttonwood tree, 193.
Rutilus plagurus, 71.
■ storerianus, 71.

Salamandra melanosticta, 195.

Sapnnus bigenea, 187.

deletus, 186.

imperfectus, 186.

impressus, 186.

minutus, 186.

oregonensis, 187.

piceus, 186.

Scalops aquaticus, 40.

— breweri, 37.

latimanus, 37.

townsendi, 37.

Scaphiopus solitaria, 74.

Scarites affinis, 201.

ephialtus, 201.

intermedius, 201.

— patruelis, 201.

substriatus, 201.

subterraneus, 201.

Schizostoma cylindracea, 188.

■ curta, 188.

Scomber zonatus.

Scotinus ohioensis, 71.

macrostomus, 71.

— ■ nudus, 71.

Silvia delafieldii, 55.

Siphonostoma elegans, 138.

lituus, 138.

porrectum, 138.

Solaster endeca, 40.

paposa, 40.

Soule, Richard, Jr. Analysis of juice
of corn stalk.

Sphyrsena borealis, 148.

Spongia fluviatilis, 196.

Squilla empusa, 92.

Stenoryhincus leptonix, 2.

Stodder, Charles. A theory to ex-
plain the changes of the earth's sur-
face, 123.

Storer, D. Humphreys. On Fishes
of Massachusetts, 36, 40, 53, 54, 84,
148— Fishes of the Ganges, 88.— Tor-
pedo nobiliana, 94. — Critical notices of
Fishes of New York, 107, 120, 159—
Deformity of platessa oblonga, 194. —
Scomber zonatus. 197.

Tallow, vegetable, 169, 171.

Tebennophorus, 51.

. caroliniensis, 51, 154.

Tellina elucens, 188.

Teschemacher, J. E. On Plants of
Illyria, 5. — Phosphate of Uranium, 15.
New Rafflesia, 27. — Fossil ferns of
Mansfield, 62.— Zea mays of Texas,
87. — Dendritic markings on Argilla-
ceous Slate, and artificial production of
same forms, 96, 102, 170.— Injury to
fruits by Fungi; 101.— Guano, 101.—

221

Vegetable tallow from Bassia parkii,
169.— Wax of the Palm leaf, 185.—
Uranium in beryls of Ackworth, 191.

Thracia truncata/48.

Tribalus amerieanus, 186.

Trochus occidentals, 49.

Tuckerman, Edward. Notices of N.
England Lichenes, 13, 205. — Ice on
Mount Washington, 207.

Turritella reticulata, 50.

costulata, 50.

Uranidea quiescens, 205.
Uranium, phosphate of, 15»

in beryls, 191.

Unio crispata, 141.

— — exolescens, 141.

Unio foliacea, 141.
tavoyensis, 141.

Vitrina prcestans, 140.

Wyman, Jeffries. On Cranium of a
Seal, 2.— Echinoryncus nodosus, 95. —
Rotifer and tardigrade animalcules, 99.
Linguatula from a Boa, 103. — Ascari-
desfromCyclopterus, 103. — Anal pouch
of Mephitis, 110. — Analogies of the
teeth of Lepidostei and Labyrintho-
donts, 131. — Spongia fluviatilis, 196. —
Anatomy of Tebenophorus caroliniensis
and Glandina glans, 154. — Annual ad-
dress, 116.

Yttrocerite, 162, 165, 171.

REMARKS

MADE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY,

JUNE 2, 1845;

SHOWING THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE SOCIETV, ITS INFLUENCE ON

THE CULTIVATION OF THE NATURAL SCIENCES IN NEW ENGLAND,

ITS PRESENT CONDITION AND WANTS, AND ITS CLAIMS

UPON THE LIBERALITY OF THE PUBLIC.

BY THE PRESIDENT.

BOSTON:

FREEMAN AND BOLLES.
1845.

The following remarks were made at the recent Annual Meeting of the Boston
Society of Natural History in the performance of a customary duty, and without
any expectation of their appearing in print. Their principal object was to induce
the Society to make an effort to ensure its own permanency by an appeal to the
liberality of the public. The recommendation to this effect having been adopted
by the Society, it has become necessary to lay before those persons who would be
likely to aid it, a short exposition of the history, condition, prospects, and neces-
sities of the institution, together with a summary of what it has already accom-
plished, what it desires to effect, and of its particular claims to public patronage
and aid. The Committee, thinking that these remarks are sufficiently full for these
purposes, have requested permission to publish them with a view to their general
circulation among the friends of learning in this city. This request has been
granted in the hope that they might contribute in some small degree to the success
of the effort now being made by the Society.

Boston, June 20, 1845.

REMARKS.

Gentlemen,

The occurrence of another annual meeting brings with it
the associated duty of reviewing the history of our institution
for the past year, and of making a general and brief survey
of its condition and prospects. I perform this duty with
unusual pleasure at this time, because I am able to state, that
during the year, the Society has suffered no interruption of
harmony among its members, and has not to regret any dimi-
nution of its accustomed activity in the cultivation of scien-
tific knowledge. I may indeed say more than this, and may
with propriety congratulate you that this anniversary finds
the Society in a position more than ever indicative of future
prosperity ; and that events have occurred tending to show
the honorable place which it holds in the estimation of the
public. I may encourage the hope, and even the expecta-
tion, that it is destined to maintain an elevated rank among
the scientific institutions of the country, and that its capacity
for usefulness in our own community, one of the principal
objects of its establishment, will ere long be much increased
by the possession of enlarged means and appliances.

For details regarding the condition of the Library and
Museum, I refer to the reports of the gentlemen respectively
charged with the care of them, which I shall presently read.
From these you will learn the extent and value, and also the

deficiencies and wants of the respective collections. You
will perceive, that although there are great deficiencies in
some departments, and none are complete, yet that a respect-
able commencement has been made in all. From the suc-
cess which we have thus far had, it cannot be doubted, that
with occasional aid from our own means, and with the nu-
merous donations we continue to receive from our friends,
the society will gradually come into possession of a very
valuable Library and Museum. These already bear a favor-
able comparison with those of similar institutions in the
United States, and we know that the Museum could at once
be largely increased had we the means of properly preparing
and exhibiting its contents.

From the report of the Treasurer it appears, that the ordi-
nary expenses of the year have exceeded the ordinary income
by the sum of $142,88, which amount has been paid out of
the income of the permanent fund, and has been thus diverted
from the increase of the Library, to which it should have been
devoted. The whole amount so diverted from its legitimate
uses, consisting of the aggregate annual deficits for five years
is $470,10. This sum has thus far been lost to the Library,
but I trust that the improved condition of the Society's funds
will soon enable it to restore what has been temporarily used,
both principal and interest. The members will not infer
from these remarks that the Society has incurred a real
debt, as commonly understood. It is entirely free from debt;
but, money intended for one use has been applied to another ;
and the income of the sum of $2000, lately received under
the will of one of our benefactors will go far to relieve the
library fund of any other than the proper claims upon it,
even should no increase of means from other sources be
realized.

The amount of the permanent fund, is, at this time,
$12,000; securely invested, and in the care of able and
faithful trustees. The income, alone, of this fund, is disposa-

ble, and is, by a standing arrangement, appropriated to the
support of the Society's Journal, to the increase of the
Library, and to the maintenance and improvement of the
Museum. This wise disposition of it, has been strictly ad-
hered to, except when necessity has compelled a diversion of a
part of it, as before noticed. It is essential to our prosperity
and good name, that this necessity should never again exist.
The only property of the Society, other than the above, is its
Library and Museum.

In this connection, it is proper that I should announce to
you, that our Treasurer, Mr. John J. Dixvvell, declines a reelec-
tion. The Society is much indebted to him for the system-
atic and business-like manner, in which he has conducted
its financial affairs, and for the lucid statements of them,
which he has from time to time made. I only express the
sentiment of all the members, in bearing witness, to the abil-
ity and fidelity with which he has served us, and, in saying
that, we have received the intimation of his wish to retire,
with much regret.

The meetings, during the year, have been held regularly,
and, in general, have been well attended. The amount of
original investigation, among us, has been as great as in any
former year, and the pages of the Journal, and the printed
record of the proceedings, give evidence of unabated interest,
both among members and correspondents. The Society ap-
pears to enjoy the favorable consideration of learned foreign
societies and naturalists, as is shown by the increase of their
communications with us. The history of the year, is, of
course, in these respects, very much like the history of every
past year ; but there are two events of su Jicient importance
to deserve particular notice.

By a provision of the last will and testament of the late
John Parker, the Society has become the recipient of his
bounty, to the amount of ,$2000, which sum, in gratitude to
the donor, has been constituted a permanent fund, under the

name of the Parker Fund. In addition to the benefit which
we derive, immediately, from this opportune and judicious be-
quest, which was not suggested by any one connected with
the Society, but, on the contrary, was the spontaneous result
of a wish to do good, I consider that we have a higher ad-
vantage presented to us, in prospect, by the evidence which
this event affords of the estimation in which the Society is
held, by gentlemen of liberal and enlightened views, and that
we may look upon it, as an earnest of the aid we shall occa-
sionally receive from persons of a similar character. Mr.
Parker was never a member of this Society. He had only
a general acquaintance with its scope and objects, and these
he considered to be entitled to his approbation. It is gratify-
ing to us, that this bequest was one of a class eminently
characterized by good judgment in the selection of the ob-
jects, and by usefulness to the parties benefited. The Soci-
ety will ever remember the name of Mr. Parker, among the
first of its friends and benefactors. The other event, alluded
to, is, an important donation of valuable books, relating to
botany and other branches of natural history, from Dr. Fran-
cis Boott, F. R. S. of London. The Society appreciates, sen-
sibly, this mark of confidence and interest from a gentleman,
particularly qualified, by the nature of his own studies, to un-
derstand its scientific claims and deserts, and to give that di-
rection to his bounty, most productive of usefulness.

But, in particularly mentioning these most prominent in-
stances of liberality, I would not be understood to depreciate
the value of smaller donations, or the liberal intentions of their
donors. The Society has been constantly cheered by such
indications of a general wish to promote its views. Nume-
rous additions to the cabinet and library have been received,
and as the little rills which give refreshment and comfort, in
their course, unite to form large rivers, so the aggregate of
these minor contributions is, gradually, forming collections of
great scientific value and interest. I may remark, here, that

if our friends do not see, in the cases, all the objects which
they have given, it is because there is no room for their exhi-
bition. They are deposited out of sight, but nothing that is
useful or valuable, is lost or neglected. The Society looks,
confidently, for a day of restoration, when the numerous ob-
jects, hid in boxes, drawers, and barrels, may be brought into
view, and exhibited in a manner worthy of their donors and
of science.

At the last annual meeting, I took occasion to call the at-
tention of the Society to the inadequacy of our accommoda-
tions in this hall. I alluded to the crowded state of the cases
and drawers, to the great number of interesting objects kept
out of sight, to the inconvenience of access to them, and the
impossibility of bestowing upon them the attention requisite
for their preservation. 1 spoke of our inability to exhibit
objects in the manner most useful to students, and of the loss
occasioned to the Society by the retention of valuable objects
by persons who would willingly present them to us, if we
could dispose of them in a suitable style. I lamented the
necessity of removing the Library to another building, and of
holding our meetings elsewhere. I suggested that all experi-
ence had shown that such collections cannot be kept in good
order without the constant services of a competent and faith-
ful taxidermist, and I asserted the opinion that, if the Society
would sustain itself, it must, at some propitious moment, make
a serious and united effort to obtain funds sufficient to pro-
cure a building large enough for all its wants, both immediate
and prospective, and such an increase of income as would
insure its future support. The mode of acquiring these which
I had in view was, of course, by an appeal to the liberality of
a community ever proverbially ready to sustain useful public
institutions, and it seemed to me that there were only two
conditions necessary to insure success in such an effort ; the
one; such a prosperous state of the productive industry of the
country as would justify liberal men in being liberal, and the

8

i

other, the ability, on our part, to maintain a claim to the ex-
ercise of their liberality in our behalf.

During the last year the Society has felt more sensibly than
ever the inconveniences and evils which I have named ; its
wants have become more apparent, and the necessity of a
change is now seen by all. I have reflected a good deal
upon the subject, and I am persuaded that the present is a
favorable time for an effort, and that, by the united exertion
of its friends, and a discreet application in the proper quarters,
every reasonable wish of the Society may be gratified. The
general prosperity of the community cannot now be a matter
of doubt. The large sums which have been raised during the
last year to endow several most deserving literary and chari-
table institutions, show that the munificent spirit which so em-
inently characterizes our city is not dormant. It remains only
to inquire whether we have confidence in the utility of our So-
ciety, as constituting one of the means of intellectual progress,
or as forming one of the elements of public good, or even for
the lower merit of affording an unobjectionable kind of public
amusement, to enable us to ask for public approbation and
aid. To this inquiry I would urge an immediate reply, and
early action if the reply be in the affirmative.

For myself, I entertain no doubt of the validity of our
claims. I might, in aid of them, suggest some general consid-
erations, showing the importance of the study of Natural His-
tory. I might speak of the object of these studies, which is
the discovery of the plan of the creation, of " those ultimate
truths, by which alone unaided reason can know the Creator."
I might show that the most weighty arguments of natural
religion are drawn from it, that it tends to form habits of
system and order, of careful observation, and accurate dis-
crimination ; and that it fortifies our love of truth. I might
ask what more certain protection our children can have from
the contamination of bad influences, than an interest in some
department of Natural History ; or how the leisure hours of the

people, and the public holidays can be better spent than in
visiting collections of objects, such as the great museums of
natural history contain ? But this I consider to be unneces-
sary. That the importance of the investigations in the
natural sciences, which are occupying the time and the
thoughts of many of the most gifted men of the age, should
not be appreciated in our intelligent community, is not pos-
sible. That the results of these investigations, which are in-
fluencing our opinions of our own being and of life ; that are
modifying our religious belief; that in conjunction with the
discoveries of astronomical science, though operating in an
opposite direction, are opening to us the most enlarged and
glorious views of the power and goodness of the Creator of
all, should be overlooked here, I cannot believe. Thanks to
the studies which our Society encourages, every intelligent
person of the present time regards as familiar facts, wonders
such as the ancient philosophers did not, in the utmost stretch
of their imaginations, conceive, and is capable of understand-
ing the importance of the developments now making from
time to time.

If it be asked in what way we have contributed to the pro-
gress of these sciences, how we have aided in the advance,
we can ask the inquirer to look back and see what has been
the history and influence of this Society.

The Boston Society of Natural History was founded by a
few gentlemen, who were drawn together by a similarity of
tastes and pursuits, for the purpose of increasing their own
knowledge by frequent intercourse with each other. They
did indeed hope that they might awaken among our citizens
an interest in the natural sciences, and thus extend the use-
fulness of the institution beyond its own limits ; but this
hope was, in consequence of former failures, only a faint one.
Its founders were mostly young men, and they cannot be said
to have had the countenance and aid of their seniors to any
considerable extent ; for the new experiment was supposed
2

10

to be destined to the same result as those that had preceded
it. At the time of its establishment there was not, I believe,
in New England, an institution devoted to the study of Natu-
ral History. There was not a college in New England, ex-
cepting Yale College, where philosophical geology of the
modern school was taught. There was not a work extant,
by a New England author, which presumed to grasp at
the geological structure of any portion of our territory of
greater extent than a county. There was not in existence a
bare catalogue, to say nothing of a general history, of the an-
imals of Massachusetts, of any class. There was not within
our borders a single Museum of Natural History, founded ac-
cording to the requirements, and based upon the systems of
modern science, nor a single journal advocating exclusively
its interests. We were dependent chiefly upon books and
authors foreign to New England, for our knowledge of our
own Zoology. There was no one among us who had any-
thing like a general knowledge of the birds which fly about
us, of the fishes which fill our waters, of the shells of our
beaches, or of the lower tribes of animals that swarm both in
air and in sea. Some few individuals there were, who were
distinguished by high attainments in particular branches, and
who formed honorable exceptions to the general indifference
which prevailed ; but there was no concentration of opinions
or of knowledge, and no means of knowing how much or how
little was known. The laborer in Natural History worked
solitary and alone, without aid or encouragement from others
engaged in the same pursuits, and without the approbation of
the public mind, which, unenlightened as it was, yielded no
honor to persons occupied with such studies, but on the con-
trary, regarded them as busy triflers.

What is the condition of things now, and to what is the
change owing ? There is now a considerable number of insti-
tutions devoted to Natural History, and nearly all of them are
the direct offspring of this Society, having been founded by

11

its members. The geological structure of New England is
now as well understood as that of any equally large part of
Europe. Geological surveys of each of the six New England
States have been authorized by their governments, and in five
of them the work has been performed by members of this
society.1 The project of the geological and zoological sur-
veys of this commonwealth, was from its inception to its ac-
complishment, the work of members of this Society ; they
proposed it, advocated it, urged it, and finally carried it into
execution. It was the first of the kind fully completed, and
we are happy in believing that, as models for those which
were to follow, the volumes which resulted were not unwor-
thy of imitation. Its accomplishment formed an era in the
progress of natural history in the United States, the effect of
which is not likely to cease in our day. There is, at this
time, in the community, scarcely a gentleman of general intel-
ligence and reading who is not acquainted with the leading
doctrines of geology ; and the public itself no longer views
its developments with incredulous doubt, but receives them as
a part of the accredited facts of science.

We have now not merely catalogues, but elaborate works,
upon the Zoology of Massachusetts. The mammalian ani-
mals of our state, its birds, its reptiles, its fishes, its testa-
ceans, its insects, and others of its invertebrate animals, have
been scientifically described and amply illustrated by members
of this Society, in volumes which are a part of the standard
stock of knowledge, and which are now as essential to the
student of American zoology as the works of Linnaeus and
Lamarck. A general work on the Ichthyology of the United
States, has recently been prepared by one of our members,
which does great credit to him and to the science of the
country, and elaborate works in other departments are known
to be in preparation.

1 A work of acknowledged merit on the Geology of Nova Scotia, by two of our
members, had already been published.

12

In botany, which had been successfully cultivated here
before the Society was instituted, less remained to be done,
but the difficult departments of the lichens and mosses have
been satisfactorily elucidated by two of our members, and
we are in daily expectation of a work on the forest trees
of our State by another, whose ability is a sure guaranty
of its merit. We have also among us chemists of general
reputation, thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the chemical
philosophy of the day, whose labors anticipating in important
particulars, some of the recent discoveries of distinguished
European chemists, have already exerted a wide-spread influ-
ence on our agricultural interests, and who are still engaged
in original investigations.

The Journal of the Society, which has now reached its
fifth volume, is full of contributions to the natural history of
the United States ; their merit is acknowledged, and they
will afford invaluable materials, not elsewhere procurable, to
the future natural historian of the country. We are no
longer obliged to look to foreigners for information upon our
natural history, but on the other hand, learned foreign natu-
ralists are coming among us to learn the results of our
labors, and we are doing our part to pay back the long accu-
mulating debt of knowledge which we owe to the science of
Europe. By concentration we have learned to respect each
other, and to know the value of our own acquirements. We
have created an esprit du corps among our naturalists, and
have given the weight of combination, and of concert to the
interests of science. Our influence is thus widened, and our
usefulness increased, and by acting together we are able to
command for the science of the country acknowledgment and
respect.

The Society has been conducted in the most liberal spirit,
and has been always open to the admission of every respect-
able person. Young men have been welcomed equally with
those of mature age and of acknowledged standing, and we

13

have thus, in some instances created, and in others encour-
aged and directed, a taste for the study of the natural sciences
in individuals who otherwise would have given their attention
to very different pursuits. The result of this judicious policy
has been the training of an active corps of young naturalists,
some of whom have already given ample evidence of their
ability to achieve for themselves a high reputation. Its effect
on the Society has been a constant infusion of new strength,
so that instead of becoming inactive and dormant, like many
similar institutions when the original members have relaxed
their zeal, it has, on the contrary, found numerous recruits
ready to take the place of old members, and has itself become
more and more active.

Such, I conceive, to be some of the results of the establish-
ment of this Society ; and they are the legitimate and honor-
able results of industry and zeal well directed. They con-
stitute as good a case, I believe, as can be made by any
institution among us. With such facts we may go before
the public, confidently relying that those who are willing to
aid such undertakings as tend to elevate the moral and intel-
lectual character of the city, and those who are ever ready to
bestow, in benefits to the community, some part of the ample
means with which Providence has blessed them, will extend to
us, as they have to others, a helping hand in this our time
of need.

I will, in conclusion, state what, in my judgment, is the
extent of our wants, and how much we should aim to accom-
plish. Gentlemen who have visited Europe will remember
the extensive Museums of Natural History which exist in all
the capital cities, and in many of the larger provincial towns.
They will recollect with how much interest these are visited
by intelligent strangers, how much they contribute to the
public amusement, what rich sources of knowledge they afford
to men of science, and how carefully they are fostered by
government, as a means of promoting the public knowledge

14

and enjoyment. Our object is to establish, in our own city,
a Museum of this kind, second to none in Europe, except
those in the larger capitals, and which shall be essentially and
for all useful purposes, public ; that is to say, one that shall
always be open to the public, subject only to such restrictions
as may be necessary for its care and safety. We would have
this Museum a place of deposit for specimens of the natural
products, first of our own State, and then of the United States,
so that its shelves and cases should illustrate every department
of North American Natural History. We would direct our
principal efforts to those collections which are not perishable
by exposure, and would desire to gather a general and com-
plete collection illustrative of North American geology, the
utility of which will be apparent on reflecting that such a col-
lection is not in existence. We would form also a collection
of North American minerals, of which a complete series
can as yet be found only in Vienna, giving particular promi-
nence to the ores used in producing the metals, and to such
other minerals as are valuable in the arts. We would greatly
increase our already valuable collection of shells, which will
commend itself to all as one of the aids of the geologist, and
as comprising some of the most beautiful objects in nature.
We would collect together many of the scattered fossil re-
mains of the gigantic animals which inhabited our continent
before the existing races dwelt upon it, and would also pre-
serve the skeletons of the native animals now living. These
comprise the objects which are least perishable and which
when once procured could be preserved without much ex-
pense. We would at the same time, as fast as our means
would allow, assemble together the representatives of North
American zoology, and would adorn our halls and render
them attractive by collections of our birds, reptiles, fishes,
insects, and other animals of the lower orders. We would,
in short, establish such a Museum as the present condition of
science calls for, such an one as the high character of our

15

community would lead strangers to expect to find here, and
such an one as we, " citizens of no mean city," should be
proud of.

We ask of our fellow-citizens only the means of lodging
such collections, and of keeping them in a state fit for exhibi-
tion, for we can procure the collections themselves, and in a
few years render them very complete. Indeed the objects
already in our possession would occupy thrice the space we
now have. We have the skins of many curious quadrupeds,
which should be mounted or displayed. We have some hun-
dred species of birds ; barrels of fishes and reptiles ; a beau-
tiful collection of crustaceans, thirty or forty thousand insects,
and numerous shells, minerals and fossils, none of which can be
shown. We know of many more which we might have, could
we accept them without doing injustice to those who have
already remembered us, and without discouraging those dis-
posed to aid us. We are ourselves discouraged by the extent
of donations of this kind pressed upon us, which we are una-
ble to receive and make useful.

For the purposes we have in view, we do not wish for a
building of architectural pretensions ; the plainest structure
of brick, in the most retired situation, would serve us as well
as the most costly edifice. What we need is room and light,
and as much as is possible of both. Abundance of well-
lighted wall-surface is essential to our purposes. To compare
what we have, with what we ought to have, I would say, that
we need as much room as we now have for a geological col-
lection alone, as much more for a mineralogical collection, as
much more for a museum of comparative anatomy, as much
more for a collection of birds, and as much more for the other
departments. Besides which, we need a hall for our meet-
ings, which might at the same time be used as a library.
The sum required cannot be safely estimated at less than
$20,000 for the land and building, and $10,000 for a fund,
the interest of which should support a taxidermist, who should

16

have the care of all the collections. This sum is large, but
we live in a time of enlarged liberality, and may hope to col-
lect it. With the increased accommodations and means of
usefulness which this sum would give us, with our present
fund unembarrassed and devoted to our Library and Journal,
and with an active body of naturalists industriously occupied
in illustrating the natural history of the country, we might
hope soon to return to the community, in value though not
in kind, some equivalent for the aid received from it.

As a token of the past and a pledge of the future zeal of
our members, as well as of their ability to sustain the institution
when once placed upon an independent footing, it may be
stated that, according to an estimate recently made by the
treasurer, the amount contributed to it, in money, books, and
other articles of value, since its foundation, is not less than
$30,000. This has been given almost entirely by its own
members, and mostly in small sums by men of small means,
excepting, however, the noble bequest of Mr. Ambrose Cour-
tis, one of our early members, on whose memory the Society
must always look with gratitude as our munificent helper
at a period of our existence when even small sums were trea-
sures.

I close my remarks, already perhaps too much extended,
with the recommendation that such an effort as I have sug-
gested, should be now made. We may fail in it, but if we
do, we nevertheless shall have done our duty both to the Soci-
ety and as citizens, and shall have made a worthy exertion to
give to our city a new claim to respect, by elevating the natu-
ral sciences to the same estimation here which they enjoy in
enlightened communities of the old world.