rioundtn

(fi^^-y

Wi

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 eflbrt 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.

I

r — r^

PROCEEDINGS

Boston SocietB of JJatural ^istori).

VOL. II

1845 TO 1848.

BOSTON:

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY

BY FREEMAN AND BOLLES. 1848.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE 5 * ^^-"-^ ,

BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATUEAL HISTORY.

TAKEN FROM THE SOCIETY'S RECORDS.

January 1, 1845.

The President, A. Binney, Esq. in the Chair.

The President communicated the following paper from Professor C. B. Adams, of Middlebury College, Vermont : —

SPECIERUM NO VARUM CONCHYLIORUM, IN JAMAICA REPER- TORUM, SYNOPSIS, k C. B. Adams, Chim. et Hist. Nat. Prof. &c.*

PARS I.

Species Marin-e.

Marginella rubella. M. t. tenui, elongata, fasciis tribus rubellis ornata ; anf. 4 ; spira vitrea ; labro albo, maculis tribus rubellis ornato, aperturam supra angustante ; columella 4-pIicata. Diverg. 100° ; spirse long. .025 poll. ; long. tot. .35 poll. ; lat. .17 poll.

Erato (?) cypr-^oides. M. t. solida, alba ; anf. infra suturam fusco-canaliculatis ; spira plana, parva ; apertura lineari, pro-

* The following species were collected by the writer in Jamaica, principally in February and March of the present year, (1844.) His limited opportunities for consulting valuable books render it probable that he has brought forward some species which have been described elsewhere, and that he has used names already preoccupied. As he contemplates the publication of a more extended article on the subject, any information from those into whose hands this paper may come, will be thankfully received. He cannot omit to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr. Binney, especially, for the frequent use of his very rich and extensive library.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 1 JAN. 1845.

2

funde emarginata ; labro extra crasso, intus exile crenulato ; labio per totum transversim exile plicato. Long. .325 poll. ; lat. .2 poll.

MiTRA ALBo-ciNCTA. M. t. minima, fusiformi ; anf. 6, fascia superiore fusca, inferiore alba majori ornatis, slriis decurrentibus et costis latis spiralium anfractuum latitudine brevioribus — in- structis; canali brevi. Div. 40°; spirse long. .11 poll.; long, tot. .2 poll. ; lat. .1 poll. M. savignyi affinis.

MiTRA ExiGUA. M. t. minima, ovali-elongata, albida ; anf. 6, supra costellis plurimis et infra coslis latis — instructis, supra atropurpureis, infra fusco-maculatis ; ultimo infra sicut supra insculpto; canali brevi. Spirse long. .075 poll.; long. tot. .13 poll. ; lat. .06 poll.

CoLUMBELLA PURPURASCENS. C. t. parva, pallide purpurea, striis decurrentibus supra labrum in fauces productis ornala ; anf. 5.i ; apertura elongata ; columella supra excavata. Div. 50° ; spirse long. .09 poll. ; long. tot. .27 poll. ; lat. .13 poll.

CoLUMBELLA suBCosTULATA. C t. C pygmcBCB Sowb. affini, exiliore, costis minus elevatis, apertura latiore ; fusco irregu- lariter maculata et reticulata. Div. ib. ; spirse long. .165 poll.; long. tot. .285 poll. ; lat. .125 poll.

BucciNUM cANDiDissiMUM. B. t. parvula, alba, solida , anf. 6^, supra striis decurrentibus, costis (anf. cujusque 7 vel 8) ad suturam supra baud productis, latis, Isevibus — ornatis ; labro crassissimo ; labio calloso. Div. 50° ; spirse long. .275 poll. ; long. tot. .45 poll. ; lat. .23 poll.

BucciNUM coNCiNNUM. B. t. parva, nitida, flavo-fusca, fusco- maculata, maculis plerumque seriatis ; anf. 7, costis parvis, et striis decurrentibus ; labro solido et albo-varicato, intus 6-den- ticulato; apertura lacunata. Div. 40°; spira3 long. .12 poll.; long. tot. .225 poll. ; lat. .11 poll.

BucciNUM OBESUM. B. t. parva, lata, fusiformi, supra et infni acuminata, atra, albo-fasciata ; anf. 5, costis parvis prominulis, et striis decurrentibus baud costas superantibus — instructis ; labro incrassato sed acuto, intus 6-denticulato, supra sinuato ; labio subcalloso. Div. 45° ; spira; long. .11 poll. ; long. tot. .21 poll. ; lat. .11 poll.

Purpura nodulosa. P. t. solida, parva, rhombica ; anf. 5, nodulis seriatis, et striis subimbricatis decurrentibus, aterrimis, maculis albidis inter secundse et quartse serierum nodulos —

ornatis ; labro incrassato, intus 4-denticulato. Div. 45° ; spirae long. .32 poll. ; long. tot. .62 poll. ; lat. .32 poll.

Fusus MURicoiDES. F. t. parva ; anf. 6, singulatim coslis 9 vel 10 propinquis, et striis decurrentibus inequalibus partim granosis — instruclis; apertura violacescenle, angusta ; labro cras- so, intus albo-denticulato ; labio subrugoso ; canali brevi. Div. 40° ; spirse long. .32 poll. ; long. tot. .6 poll. ; lat. .25 poll.

Pleurotoma albo-maculata. p. t. parva, rubro-fusca ; anf.

7, infra longitudinaliter tuberculatis, supra tuberculis minoribus transversis et striis pluribus granosis decurrentibus — instructis ; tuberculis et granulis albis ; sinus ostio contracto ; canali brevis- simo. Div. 35° ; spirce long. .25 poll. ; long. tot. .48 poll. ; lat. .06 poll.

Pleurotoma albo-cincta. P. t. parva, rubro-fusca, anf. 6, supra carina albo-tuberculata, infra carina enodi — instructis, me- diis striatis, striis creberrimis subtilissimis decurrentibus ; anf. ultinno alteris carinis tuberculosis, et fascia alba ornato ; anf. etiam longitudinaliter costulatis, intersectionibus noduliferis ; ca- nali brevi. Div. 45° ; spirae long. .16 poll. ; long. tot. .28 poll. ; lat. .13 poll.

Pleurotoma nigrescens. P. t .parva, atro-violacescente ; anf.

8, sulco sinum sequente, exilissime decussato — instructis, ceterum granulosis, decussatis ; labro crassissimo ; sinu baud multum pro- fundo ; canali brevissimo. Div. 30° ; spirse long. .2 poll. ; long, tot. .3 poll.; lat. .11 poll.

Pleurotoma trilineata. P. t. minima, alba, lineis tribus pallide fuscis fasciata ; anf. 6J-, subangulatis, lineis pluribus eleva- tis decurrentibus, et costulis longitudinalibus — instructis ; labro crasso ; sinu profundo ; canali brevissimo. Div. 25° ; spirae long. .1 poll. ; long. .185 poll. ; lat. .075 poll.

Pleurotoma albida. P. t. parva, albida, linea flavo-fusca decurrente costulis interrupta ; anf 6, perconvexis, subangulatis, costulis crassis,et striis profundis decurrentibus minus ssepe costu- las superantibus — instructis ; sinu baud profundo ; canali sub- brevi. Div. 30° ; spirse long. .15 poll. ; long. tot. .26 poll. ; lat. .11 poll.

Pleurotoma multilineata. P. t. minima, flavido-fusca, albo-multilineata ; anf 6, singulatim costis 8 ad 10 latis, ad basim expansis, et striis creberrimis decurrentibus inequalibus — in- structis ; sutura profunda ; sinu magno ; canali brevissimo.

4

Div. 35° ad 25° ; spirse long. .11 poll. ; long. tot. .18 poll. ; lat. .08 poll

Pleurotoma albo-vittata. p. t. parva, flavido-fusca, fascia alba latissima — cincta ; sutura parum impressa ; anf. 6, baud multum convexis, singulatirn costis 8 vel 9 latis, et striis creber- rimis decurrentibus inequalibus — ornatis ; sutura baud multum impressa ; sinu magno ; canali brevissimo. Div. 33° ad 23° ; spirae long. .15 poll. ; long. tot. .25 poll. ; lat. .1 poll.

Pleurotoma candidissima. P. t. parva, candidissima ; sutura profunda ; anf. 5, supra subangulatis, singulatim costis 8 vel 9 robustis subcompressis, et striis decurrentibus baud crebris paral- lelis — instructis ; canali brevissimo. Div. 35° ; spirae long. .1 poll. ; long. .19 poll. ; lat. .085 poll.

Pleurotoma fusca. P. t. parva, fusca ; sutura profunda ; anf 5, singulatim costis 8 vel 9, et multis striis decurrentibus in- equidistantibus — instructis ; labro expanse ; sinu parvo ; canali brevissimo. Div. 35° ad 25° ; spirse long. .12 poll. ; long. tot. .22 poll.; lat. .1 poll.

Pleurotoma dubia, a P. multilineatd baud multum differt ; costse angustiores sunt, et ad basim compressse. Forsan var.

Pleurotoma minor. P. t. minima, solida, flavido-fusca, fasciis albis duabus aliquanto interruptis, (altera ad spiram pertinente, altera anf ultimum infra cingente,) — cincta ; anf 6, subnodulosis, singulatim costis 9 robustis convexis, striis latis decurrentibus — instructis. Div. 25°; spirae long. .11 poll.; long. tot. .16 poll.; lat. .07 poll.

Pleurotoma fusco-lineata. P. t. parva, albida, lineis pluri- bus fuscis irregulariter interruptis cincta ; anf. 7, singulatim costis 10 ad 12 et striis profundis decurrentibus baud costas superantibus — instructis ; sinu minime profundo ; canali brevissimo. Div. 25°; spirse long. .13 poll. ; long. tot. .2 poll. ; lat. .08 poll.

Pleurotoma elatior. P. t. minima, subconica, albida, fusces- cente, lineis flavido-fuscis decurrentibus inequalibus a costis inter- ruptis— ornata ; spira elongata ; anf 6, baud multum convexis, singulatim costis 12 baud robustis, et striis decurrentibus subpro- fundis, una profundiore — instructis ; sinu minime profundo ; ca- nali brevissimo. Div. 22° ; spirae long. .125 poll. ; long. tot. .19 poll. ; lat. .075 poll.

Cerithium ambiguum. C. lafondii, Kr., affine ; t. costis plu-

ribus, 20 ad 25, minoribus — instructa, prjEcipue elatiore minusque robusta.

Div. spirae long. long. tot. lat.

C. lafondii : 23° ; .57 poll. ; .8 poll. ; .8 poll.

»' ambiguum: 17°; .65 '' ; .8 " ; .2 "

Cerithium gibberulum. C. t. minima, tenui, nigrescente ; anf. 9, singulatim plicis 18, et slriis decurrentibus latis 5 vel 6, intersectionibus nodiferis — instructis ; anf. ultimo varice dorsali, plicis obsoletis et striis minoribus — instructo ; apertura emarginata. Div. 30° ad 25° ; spiral long. .17 poll. ; long. tot. .24 poll. ; lat. .085 poll.

Cerithitjm iota. C. t. minima, atro-rubra ; sutura profunda ; anf. 10, plicis decurrentibus tribus, (anf. ultimi 4,) et plicis longi- tudinalibus minoribus, intersectionibus nodiferis — instructis; canali brevissimo. Div. supra 25°, infra nihil ; spirse long. .095 poll. ; long. tot. .12 poll. ; lat. .03 poll.

Cerithium variabile. C. t. parva, solida, nigra, irregulariter albo-maculata ; sutura profunda ; anf. 9, convexis, striatis, striis creberrimis decurrentibus ; spirae anf. plicis 4 angustis decurrenti- bus, et plicis longitudinalibus, intersectionibus nodiferis — instruc- tis ; labro intus incrassato et crenato ; labio supra uniplicato ; canali brevi. Div. 30° ; spirae long. .34 poll. ; long. tot. .51 poll. ; lat. .2 poll.

Cerithium mutabile. C. t. parva, subtenui, nigra, rubescente, irregulariter albo-maculata ; sutura profunda ; anf. 9, baud mul- tum convexis, plicis decurrentibus pluribus, 3 majoribus, et plicis longitudinalibus inequalibus, intersectionibus nodiferis — instructis ; canali brevissimo. Div. 33° ; spiroe long. .22 poll. ; long. tot. .22 poll. ; lat. .15 poll.

Cerithium algicola. C. t. irregulariter albo et fusco-maculata, caerulescente ; varicibus albis vel fuscis, penultimo ab ultimo semi- anfractum distante, alleris f anf. distantibus ; anf. 10, subangula- tis, striis decurrentibus, pluribus exilioribus 5 majoribus granulosis, et plicis longitudinalibus — instructis ; labio supra uniplicato ; ca- nali brevi. Div. 35° ad 25° ; spirae long. .52 poll. ; long. tot. .73 poll. ; lat. .33 poll.

Cerithium bicolor. C. t. parva, solidiuscula, albida, fascia rubro-fusca — cincta ; anf. 15 (.?), planulatis, lineis 5 elevatis de- currentibus, supra (2 exceptis) obsoletis, et lineis elevatis longi- tudinalibus pluribus, intersectionibus nodiferis — instructis ; anf.

ultimo plica fusca cincto ; columella uniplicata, plica decurrente ; canali brevi. Div. 15° ; aperturse long. .08 poll. ; long. tot. .08 poll..?; lat. .13 poll.

RissoA ALBiDA. R. t. magna, diaphana, albida ; apice acutis- simo ; anf. 10, a costulis pluribus exilissimis, ad cujusque inferam partem obsoletis, et striis exilissimis decurrentibus, eleganter de- cussatis ; striis juxta suturam profundioribus, anf. angustantibus ; labio a labro supra sinu disjuncto. Div. 28° ; spirse long. .2 poll. ; long. tot. .31 poll. ; lat. .11 poll.

RissoA AFFiNis. Prsecedcnti affinis ; spira graciliore ; striis juxta suturam nullis ; costulis ad suturam infra productis. Forsan var.

RissoA scALARELLA. R. t. parva, solida, alba ; anf. 8, singula- tim costis 14 robustis ad extremitatem infra productis — instructis ; apertura infra late baud profunde siiiuata ; labro valde incrassato. Div. 22° ; spirse long. .1 poll. ; long. tot. .15 poll. ; lat. .06 poll.

RissoA TERVARicosA. R. t. teuui, diaphana, albida, interdum pallide fusco exilissime tessellata ; sutura profunda ; anf. 9, con- vexis, singulatim ter-varicosis, varicibus candidissimis, in seriebus tribus continuis, et striis exilissimis distantibus decurrentibus — ornatis. Div. 23°; spirse long. .17 poll.; long. tot. .225 poll, lat. .08 poll.

RissoA CRASsicosTA. R. t. magna, crassa, lactea ; anf. 7, cos- tulis 11 vel 12, latis, obliquis, supra suturam profundam trajectis, et striis pluribus exilissimis decurrentibus costulas superantibus — instructis ; labro perincrassato, infra baud sinuate. Div. 35° ; spirse Ion. .21 poll. ; long. tot. .3 poll. ; lat. .11 poll.

EuLiMA jAMAiCENSis. E. t. gracili, lactea, diaphana, fascia alba opaca suturali — cincta ; sutura lineari, subprofunda ; anf. 13, planis, Isevibus ; apertura minima ; labro expanse. Div. 20° ; spirse long. .23 poll. ; long. tot. .325 poll. ; lat. .1 poll.

Chemnitzia BABYLONIA. C. t. parva, lactea ; anf. (apice de- flecto excepto) 4, carinis duabus perelevatis decurrentibus, inter- vallis concavis^ — ornata ; anf. ultimo quadricarinato ; labro a carinis pectinato. Div. 20° ; spir» long. .05 poll. ; long. tot. .08 poll. ; lat. .03 poll.

MoNODONTA MAcuLo-STRiATA. M. t. parva, crassa, intus virescente, olivacea, extra maculis subradiantibus elongatis paucis irregulariter ornata ; anf. 65-, striis et lineis elevatis planulatis albo et nigro alternatim maculatis decurrentibus — instructis ;

labro intus subcrenulato, infrsL bi- vel tri-dentato ; umbilico pro- fundo. Operculo flavo ; anf. 15. Div. 100° ad 80° ; spirae long. .3 poll. ; long. tot. .48 poll. ; lat. .5 poll. ; umbilici diam. .1 poll.

MoNODONTA ANGULATA. M. t. parva, crassa, olivacea, rubes- cente, maculis parvis quadratis albidis ornata ; spira conica ; sutura minime impressa ; anf. 7, concavis, singulatim plicis 6 decurrentibus — instructis ; anf. ultimo acute carinato, infra plicis 8 cincto ; apertura subquadrata ; umbilico angusto, sub- profundo. Div. 75° ; spirae long. .16 poll. ; long. tot. .325 poll. ; lat. .32 poll. 3T. modulo affinis.

MoNODONTA LiviDO-MACuLATA. M. t. albida, maculis pluri- bus lividis fuscescentibus, magnis, ornata ; sutura profunda ; anf. 6, subangulatis, striatis, striis latis inequalibus decurrentibus ; apertura transversa, ovata ; labro infra bi- vel ter-emarginato ; umbilico profundo, bi- vel tri-carinato. Div. 90° ; spirae long. .45 poll. ; long. tot. .65 poll. ; lat. .75 poll. ; umbilici diam. .14 poll.

Turbo (?) pulchellus. T. t. minima, albida, maculis rubris quadratis inequalibus, majoribus nigrescentibus, serie decurrente dispositis, ornata ; sutura profunda ; anf. 5, mediis carinatis, lineis elevatis pluribus decurrentibus — instructis; labro tenui ; umbilico nullo. Div. 45° ; spirae long. .09 poll. ;' long. tot. .165 poll. ; lat. ,1 poll.

ScALARiA MODESTA. S. t. subcrassa, albida, baud nitente ; sutura profunda; anf. 9, costulis 11 robustis acutis retro sub- reclinibus, et striis decurrentibus exilissimis baud crebris — in- structis ; ultimo anfractu baud carinato. Div. 35° ; spira3 long. .275 poll. ; long. tot. .4 poll. ; lat. .175 poll.

Nerita prxcognita. N. t. crassa, olivacea, albo-marmorata ; anf. 3, superioribus convexiusculis ; ultimo costulis rotundatis crebris, striatis, numerum (a 20 ad 25) et latitudinem in diversis exemplis disparibus — ornato ; labro acuto, a costulis eleganter pectinate, intus juxta marginem polito, interius crasso et crenu- lato, et supra infraque bituberculato ; labio medio excavate et bidentato, alibi plicato vel noduloso. Operculo pallide murino, creberrime papillose. Long. 1.05 poll.; lat. 1.3 poll.

Neritina PYGMiEA. N. t. minima, tenui, fusca, loeviuscula ; spira vix elevata, apice prominulo ; anf 2^ ; apertura expansa ;

labro tenui ; labio candido, Isevi ; operculo flavido. Long. .1 poll.; lat. .13 poll.

FissuRELLA ELONGATA. F. t. cloDgata, tonui, diaphana, fusca, albido-maculata, costulis 20 radiantibus, totidem brevioribus al- ternatim dispositis, et 40 brevissimis marginalibus ornata ; incre- menti striis maximis ; anterius concava ; posterius convexa ; intus coerulescente ; fissura atro-marginata, media utrumque sinuata. Lon. .375 poll. ; lat. .2 poll. ; alt. .11 poll. Dec. ant. : Dec. post. : : 1 : 2.

Patella tenera. P. t. tenui, fragili, diaphana, albida, fusco- radiata, (radiis pleriimque 8) maculata, vel reticulata, exile decussata, anterius et posterius convexa ; margine acuto, exile pectinato. Long. .72 poll.; lat. .53 poll.; alt. .15 poll.; alt. exemp. long. .74 poll. ; lat. .55 poll. ; alt. .21 poll. ; dec. ant. : dec. post. : : 5 : 8.

Patella albicosta. P. t. crassa, atro-fusca, costulis 12 ele- vatis, totidem brevioribus, omnibus albis — instructa ; margine pectinato, juniorum fusco — et albo-maculato, seniorum albo. Long. .84 poll. ; lat. .7 poll. ; alt. .41 poll. ; dec. ant. : dec. post. : : 4 : 5.

Chiton squalidus. C. t. albida, atro-maculata, maculis max- imis, rugosa ; areis a costa robusta discretis ; valvis extremis costis 8 ad 10 mstructis ; margine membranaceo, setosa. Long. 1.15 poll.; lat. .7 poll.

Chiton costatiis. C. t. albido atroque maculata ; areis later- alibus elevatis, costulis 3 vel 4 papillosis instructis, posterius sub- spinosis ; areis dorsi mediis loevibus, transversim striatis ; inter areas declivitas est, profunde striata ; margine squamoso, alter- natim flavido-albo atroque. Long. 1.35 poll. ; lat. .75 poll.

Chiton squamulostjs. C. t. olivacea, linea pallide virente dorsali — ornata ; areis lateral ibus squamosis inequalibus prostra- tis — obtectis ; areis dorsi mediis sublaevibus, puncto-striatis ; margine exile squamuloso, alternatim cinereo-virescente viridi- que. Long. .7 poll. ; lat. .4 poll.

Chiton multicostatus. C. t. prcelonga, intus rubella, extus pallide virente, punctis albis et atro-virentibus, lineaque dorsali pallida ornata ; areis lateralibus perelevatis, costatis, costis 6 ad 8 nodosis ; areis dorsi costulis 20 gracilibus, compressis, — in- structis ; margine squamoso, alternatim virente alboquc. Long. .9 poll. ; lat. 42 poll.

Chiton purpurascens. C. t. prcelonga, purpureo-rubente, concentrice striata ; margine lato, exilissime squamuloso, caeru- lescente, alternatim pallidiore. Long. 1.1 poll. ; lat. 5 poll.

Chiton papillosus. C. t. minima, lata, virente,albido atroque crebre maculata, papillosa ; areis a costula gracili discretis ; margine exilissime squamuloso, alternatim virente albidoque. Long. .21 poll. ; lat. .13 poll.

Chiton erythronotus. C. t. parva, subelongata, flavido- alba, irregulariler rubro-maculata ; areis lateralibus costatis, costis nodulosis, areis dorsi striatis ; margine squamuloso. Long. .55 poll. ; lat. .3 poll.

Perna bicolor. p. t. convexa, intijs argentea, extra pallii impressionem aterrima, splendente ; impressione muscular! bilo- bata, parte altera majori suborbiculari, altera cuspidata ; liga- mentis 7, robustis. Long. 7 poll. ; alt. 1 poll. ; lat. .33 poll.

Arca tenera. a. t. albida, subtenui, elliptica, decussata, media compressa ; umbonibus planulatis, approximatis ; costulis radiantibus crenulatis ; striis concentricis pilearibus ; dentibus paucis; hiatu minimo. Long. .8 poll.; alt. .5 poll. ; lat. .4 poll.

Cardita ovata. C. t. ovata, lamellis decumbentibus inequali- bus et striis radiantibus profundis lamellas persecantibus — ornata ; lamellis posterioribus baud insectis, striatis ; margine vix crenu- lato.

Genus Thetis.

G. t. Astarte affini, sed dente laterali remota anteriore in utraque valva — instructa ; pallii impressione vix vel baud sinuata.

Thetis cerina. T. t. parva, lineis elevatis concentricis dis- lantibus et striis radiantibus ornata, cerina ; lunula vulvaque transversim rubro lineatis ; umbonibus minimis, acutis, pallide virentibus ; margine supra angulato, alibi rotundato ; pallii im pressione subsinuata. Long. .42 poll. ; alt. .39 poll. ; lat. .21 poll.

Thetis parva. T. t. minima, albida, lamellis elevatis ro bustis concentricis ornata ; umbonibus parvis, acutis ; margine supra angulato, alibi rotundato ; pallii impressione simplici. Long. .16 poll. ; alt. .14 poll. ; lat. .09 poll.

LuciNA GRANULOSA. L. t. parva, globulosa, alba, nodulis subquincuncialibus plerumque ornata ; dentibus lateralibus obso-

PEOCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 2 JAN. 1843.

10

letis, cardinalibus robustis. Long. .34 poll. ; alt. .31 poll. ; lat .35 poll.

LuciNA IMBRICATULA. L. pectini affinis, sed t. breviore, eras- siore, orbiculari, subequilaterali, costulis valde imbricatis ornata. Long. .9 poll. ; alt. .85 poll. ; lat. .5 poll.

LuciNA PULCHELLA. L. t. parva, subcordata, rubella, albo- marginata, striis obliquis parallelis, posterioribus undatis, ante- rioribus divaricatis — ornata ; dentibus lateralibus robustis. Long. .28 poll. ; alt. .28 poll. ; lat. .18 poll.

Amphidesma jayanum. a. t. orbiculari, flexuosa, baud hiante, lamellis concentricis crebris, interdum obsoletis, striisque radian- tibus exilissimis ornata ; (juniorum intus rubro-maculata ; senio- rum albidis vol flavis ;) interdum rubro-radiata ; dentibus 2, magnis, divaricatis, subremotis. Long. 1.41 poll. ; alt. 1.36 poll. ; lat. .7 poll.

Tellina decussatula. T. t. rosacea, supra albida, iridescente, exilissime decussata ; dente sinistra posteriore obsoleta. Long. 1 poll. alt. .65 poll. ; lat. .29 poll.

Tellina nitens. T. t. nitida, rosacea, zonis pallidis ornata ; parte posteriore elevata, infra angulata ; dentibus lateralibus anterioribus obsoletis. Lon. .75 poll. ; alt. .4 poll. ; lat. .17 poll.

PsAMMOBiA purpureo-maculata. P. t. brevi, posterius trun- cata, albida, maculis paucis purpureis coerulescentibus, interdum obsoletis, ornata ; ligamento brevi, crasso.

PsAMMOBiA AFFINIS. PrBBcedenti affinis, sed t. fusca, atro- purpureo biradiata, exilissime decussata. Long. .66 poll. ; alt. ,51 poll. ; lat. .25 poll.

PsAMMOBiA BIRADIATA. PrsBcedenti affinis, sed t. anterius longiore, candidissima, radiis 2 sanguineis latis, brevibus, ornata. Long. .49 poll. ; alt. .38 poll. ; lat. .18 poll.

PsAMMOBiA CERiNA. P. t. parva, carina, tenui, anterius pro- cera et circulari, posterius angulata (angulo baud multum trun- cato,) concentric exilissime striata ; dentibus parvis, prominen- tibus. Long. .39 poll. ; alt. .31 poll. ; lat. .17 poll.

11

PARS II.

Species terrestres.

Cyclostoma duffianum. C. t. magna, discoidea, rubella albaque ; anf. 4:2, cylindraceis ; umbilico lato, profundo ; mar- gine simplici. Div. 150° ; lat. max. 1.9 poll. ; lat. min. 1.45 poll. ; alt. .87 poll. Gulielmo Duff, armig., conchyliorum Jamai- censium doctissimo, ha3c species dedicatur.

Cyclostoma hillianum. C. t. sub-depressa, Candida, fasciis angustis fuscis interruptis ornata, decollata, anf. reliquis 5, vix- connexis, aculeis elongatis decussatim seriatis — elegantissime insculptis ; apertura ab anf. penultimo remota ; labro latissime planulato, plicato ; umbilico lato, profundo ; operculo albo, lamella spirali procera ornato. Div. 110° ; alt. .32 poll. ; lat. max. .47 pol. ; lat. min. .37 poll. ; Ricardo Hill, armig., rerum naturalium Jamaicensium doctissimo, hsec species dedicatur.

Cyclostoma lima. C. UncincB affine, t. perexiliiis decussate, aculeis brevioribus, subtus costulis revolventibus majoribus in- structa ; labro nunquam crenulato. Div. 56° ; alt. .9 poll. ; lat. max. .7 poll. ; lat. min. .45 poll.

Cyclostoma bronnii. C. t. fusca, interdum subalbida, decol- lata ; anf. 2^ perditis ; anf. reliquis 4, supra exile crenulatis, striis longitudinalibus exilissimis parallelis creberrimis— eleganter insculptis ; labro crassiusculo, supra in triangulum parvum con- cavum producto ; operculo albo, sub-duplici. Div. 58° ; alt. .67 poll. ; lat. max. .5 poll. ; lat. min. .35 poll.

Cyclostoma fusco-lineatum. C. t. prsecedenti affini, fasciis angustis fuscis interruptis ornata, sutura baud multum crenulata, labro minore. Forsan var. ? alt. .55 poll. ; lat. max. .4 poll. ; lat. min. .3 poll.

Cyclostoma pulchrius. C. t. fascia lata, rubro-fusca, or- nata, decollata; anf. 2^ perditis; anf. reliquis 4, exilissime regulariter et elegantissime decussatis ; labro crasso, rotundato, albo ; umbilico perangusto. profundo ; operculo tenui. Div. 48° ; alt. .56 poll. ; lat. max. .38 poll. ; lat. min. .3 poll.

Helicina leana. H. t. perdepressa, pallide rufa, vel albida ; epidermide exilissime hirsuta ; anf. 4J-, baud multum convexis, striis decurrentibus exilissimis — ornatis ; anf. ultimo baud angu- lato; apertura a labri dentibus duobus obtusis supra et infra

12

contracta; operculo tenui. Div. 135°; alt. .13 poll.; lat. max. .27 poll. ; lat. min. .22 poll.

Helicina lineata. H. t. depressa ; anf. 4^, lineis elevatis parallelis distantibus decurrentlbas — orriatis ; anf. ultimo a linea major! subangulato ; apertura H. hance simili. Div. 112° ; alt. .09 poll. ; lat. max. .15 poll. ; lat. min. .13 poll.

Helicina solitaria. H. t. depressa, rubra, fuscescente ; anf. 4|-, leevibus ; ultimo nunquam angulato ; apertura semicirculari ; labio infra emarginato ; columella acuta ; labro subtenui, extra flavo ; operculo tenui. Div. 115°; alt. .22 poll.; lat. max. .35 poll. ; lat. min. .31 poll.

Truncatella succinea. T. t. magna, succinea-rubente, de- coUata ; anf. 5 vel 5|- perditis , anf. reliquis 3^ vel 4, costis crebris (ultimi obsoletis) — ornatis ; apertura albida ; operculo convexo, calcareo, corneo-marginato. Div. 22° ; spirse long, post decoll. .2 poll. ; long. tot. .31 poll. ; lat. .13 poll.

Truncatella cumingii. T. t. parva, succinea, rubente, scala- riformi, decollata; anf. 4. perditis; anf. reliquis 4, singulatim costis 9 robustis acutis — ornatis ; operculo subcorneo. Div. 22^* ad 18° ; spirse long, post decoll. .12 poll, antea .18 poll. ; long, tot. .17 poll.; lat. .08 poll.

Truncatella scalariformis. T. t. solida, elongata, decollata ; anf. 4 vel 5 reliquis, singulatim costis 10 robustis et slriis decur- rentibus exilissimis — ornatis. Div. 20°; long, post decoll. .16 poll. ; lat. .08. poll.

Pedipes globulosus. p. quadridens? Pfr. P. t. globulosa, crassa,castanea ; lineis elevatis, inequalibus, inequidistantibus, de- currentibus,ornata ; labro acuto,inlLis incrassato, supra unidentato ; labio supra dente maxima, lamelliformi, transversa, ornato ; colu- mella bidentata ; dentibus et columella albis. Div. 90° ; spirse long. .08 poll.; long. tot. .19 poll. ; lat. .14 poll.

Succinea contorta. S. t. cornea ; spira minima ; anf. 2^, perconvexis, perobliquis ; apertura maxima, obliqua, elliptica. Div. 80° ; spirce long. .08 poll. ; long. tot. .23 poll. ; lat. max. .21 poll. ; lat. min. .1 poll.

BuLiMUS octonoides. B. t. parva, albida, elongata ; anf. 7, perconvexis ; labro tenui ; columella recta ; B. ociono simili, speciei quam Gen. Achatina habeat. Div. 22° ; spiric long. .22 poll.; long. tot. .31 poll.; lat. .1 poll.

BuLiMUS PALLiDus. B. t. parva, tenui, diaphana, cornea, elon-

13

gata ; anf. 5, convexis ; labro tenui ; columella recta. Div. 35° ; spira3 long. .16 poll. ; long. tot. .27 poll. ; lat. .13 poll.

BuLiMUs PROCERUS. B. t. parva, nitida, tenui, diaphana, flavido-fusca, perelongaia ; anf. 8 ad 10, baud multum convexis ; labro tenui ; columella torta. Div. 18° ad 14° ; spirse long. .5 poll. ; long. tot. .63 poll. ; lat. .14 poll.

BuLiMUS L^viuscuLUS. B. t. minima, tenui, nitida, diapbana, ovaia, elongata ; anf. 6, baud multum convexis ; striis paucis, disiantibus, exilissimis, longitudinalibus — ornatis ; apertura elon- gata, supra angusta, acutaque ; labro tenui, infra retracto ; colu- mella torta. Div. 18° ; spirse long. .16 poll. ; long. tot. .25 poll. ; lat. .075 poll.

Bdlimus striatella. B. t. parva, tenui, nitida, diapbana, elongata ; anf 7, convexis, striis robustis, parallelis — ornatis ; apertura lata ; labro tenui ; columella baud multum torta. Div. 30° ; spirj3e long. .15 poll.; long. tot. .2 poll. ; lat. .07 poll.

AcHATiNA IOTA. A. t. minima, gracili, cornea ; anf 4, latis- simis, Isevibus ; apertura elongata, supra acutissima ; columella arcuata. Div. 12°; spirse long. .08 poll.; long tot. .135 poll; lat. .045 poll.

AcHATiNA PELLUCENS. A. t. parva, nitida, gracili, cornea, striis exilissimis longitudinalibus, supra crebris, infra distantibus — ornata; anf. 7; labro tenui, infra retracto; columella arcu- ata. Div. 14° ; spirse long. .19 poll. ; long. tot. .27 poll. ; lat. .07 poll.

AcHATiNA cosTTJLATA. A. t. parvsL, conica, tenui, diapbana, fuscescente, atro-fusco bifasciata ; sutura profunda ; anf 8, supra subangulatis, costulis gracillimis crebris — instructis ; labro tenui, infra retracto ; columella baud multum arcuata. Div. 20° ; spirse long. .23 poll. ; long. tot. .335 poll. ; lat. .1 poll.

AcHATiNA PHiLLiPsii. A. t. tonui, diapbana, elongata, subfusi- formi, pallide fuscescente, lineis atro-fuscis paucis distantibus longitudinalibus — ornata ; anf 7, supra a linea infra-suturali im- pressis, striatis, striis distantibus ; labro tenui, infra retracto ; columella baud multiim arcuata. Div. 20° ; spirse long. .5 poll. ; long. tot. .73 poll. ; lat. .13 poll.

AcHATiNA PROPiNQUA. Prsccedenti affinis, forsan var. ; sed t. lineis longitudinalibus crebris instructa, sine linea infra-suturali ; anf. 6 ; columella recta. Div. 18° ; spirse long. .32 poll. ; long, tot. .48 poll. ; lat. .13 poll.

14

AcHATiNA viciNA. Forsan A, Phillipsii var. ; sed t. striis longitudinalibus crebris — instructa, nunquam fusco-fasciata ; linea infra-suturali a sutura plus remota, spira breviore. Div. 22° ; spirse long. .3 poll, ; long. tot. .54 poll. ; lat. .175 poll.

AcHATiNA GRiFFiTHSii. A. t. tenui, diaphana, pallide fusces- cente, lineis atro-fuscis longitudinalibus paucis distantibus — or- nata ; anf. 7J a linea infra-suturali impressis, costulatis, costulis creberrimis baud multum elevatis et rotundatis ; apertura elongata, supra acuta, infra subcanaliculata ; labro tenui, medio angulato, infra valde retracto ; columella valde contorta. Div. 28° ; spirse long. .46 poll. ; long. tot. .81 poll. ; lat. .275 poll.

Cylindrella (?) PYGM^A. C. t. minima, conica, gracillima, regulariter striata, striis latis ; anf. 7, convexis ; apertura ob- liqua ; labro baud late reflexo. Div. 10° ; spiras long. .195 poll. ; long. tot. .35 poll. ; lat. .04 poll.

Cylindrella cumingii. C. t. magna, Candida, subfusiformi, longissima, heterostropba, costulis minimis obliquis regularibus rotundatis creberrimis — ornata, late decollata ; anf. 10 vel 11 perditis, superis perconvexis ; anf. reliquis 8 vel 9 ; apertura el- liptica, in faucibus valde contracta, in labrum latissimum acutum expansa ; anf. ultimo carina semi-revolvente aperturam subeffusam faciente — instructo. Div. supra 10° ; long. tot. 1.4 poll. ; post decoU. long. 1.15 poll. ; lat. .19 poll.

Cylindrella cylindrus. C. t. rubra, cylindracea, praecedenti similiter sed exilius insculpta, late decollata ; anf. reliquis 12, baud multum convexis ; apertura subovata, in labrum subtenue expansa ; anf. ultimo acute carinato. Long, post decoU. .82 poll. ; lat. .15 poll.

Cylindrella seminuda. C. t. parva, albida, subfusiformi, late decollata ; anf. 10 vel 11 perditis ; anf. reliquis 9 supra sub- angulatis, mediis planulatis, costatis, costis pluribus prominenti- bus ; anf. superis mediis obsolete costatis ; anf. ultimo bicarinato ; apertura ab anf. penultimo late disjuncta ; labro expanso, tenui. Long, post decoll. .33 poll. ; lat. .09 poll.

Pupa fusiformis. P. t. fusiformi, nitida, exilissime striata, opaca, cinerea, decollata ; anf. 5 vel 6 perditis, planulatis ; anf. 8 reliquis, baud multum convexis, albo-fasciatis, fascia infra-suturali ; labro solido, albo, rotundato, sinuoso, supra baud continuo ; umbilico angusto. Long, post decoll. .8 poll. ; lat. .27 poll.

15

PiTPA NOBiLioR. P. t. magna, crassa, opaca, straminea, striis obliquis creberrimis parallelis eleganter insculpta, infra cylindra- cea, supra tereti ; spira longissima, decollata ; anf. perditis 15 ! anf. reliquis 10 ; labro lato, crasso, continuo, albo, anf. penultimo appresso. Long, partis amissse .6 poll. ; long, post decoll. 1.18 poll. ; tot. 1.78 poll. ; lat. .37 poll. Species nobilis, notabilis !

Pupa obesa. P. t. tenui, diaphana, pallide fuscescente, sub- fusiformi, striis obliquis costiformibus ornata, supra concave et breviter tereti, decollata ; anf. 6 vel 7 perditis ; anf. 7 vel 8 reliquis ; labro tenui, albo, reflexo, continuo, ab anf. penultimo disjuncto. Long, partis amissse .13 poll. ; long, post decoll. .57 poll. ; lat. .235 poll. — Var. densestriata, t. majore, striis exilis- simis creberrimis ornata.

Pupa rubella. P. cylindro, Desh. affinis ; sed t. minore, ar- denter rubra ; spira supra graciliore ; anf. 14 perditis, 8 reliquis ; labro tenui, ab anf. penultimo disjuncto. Long, partis amissse .43 poll. ; long, post decoll. .7 poll. ; lat. .3 poll.

Pupa tenuidens. P, ovatcB^ Say, affinis, et magnitudinis ejus- dem ; apertura supra dente magna lamelliformi intus producta, infra altera simili, minore, opposita ; duobus alteris, una utrinque, oppositis.

Helix pekacutissima, H. t. magna, imperforata, lenticulari, subtenui, fusca, exile sagrinata ; anf. 5 ; inferis supra concavis ; ultimo medio in angulum acutissimum lamelliformem expanso, subtus convex© ; apertura perdepressa, infra H. sinuatcB MiJll. similiter 4-dentata ; labro medio acute angulato. Div. 140° ; alt. .6 poll. ; lat. max. 1.6 poll. ; lat. min. 1.43 poll.

Helix nemoraloides. H. nemorali affinis ; sed t. subtijs valde planulata ; apice plus elevata ; anf. 5 ; anf. ultimo fasciis tribus fuscis semper ornato ; superis bifasciatis. Magnit. sicut in H. nemorali.

Helix subconica. H. t. tenui, late subconica, imperforata, flavido-fusca, atro-fusco varie lineata ; anf. 5, baud multum con- vexis, exile striatis ; anf. ultimo subangulato, subtus convexo ; apertura subrectangulari, curviter depressa ; labro tenuissimo ; columella recta, acuta. Div. 100° ; alt. .43 poll. ; lai. max. .67 poll. ; lat. min. .57 poll.

Helix subpyramidalis. H. t. tenui, late subconica, diaphana, pallide cornea ; apice subacuta ; sutura profunda ; anf. 6, planu- latis, superis infra obtuse angulatis, ultimo medio angulato, subtus

16

convex© ; labro tenuissimo ; umbilico angusto, profundo. Div. 90° ; alt. .2 poll. ; lat. max. .27 poll. ; lat. min. .24 poll.

Helix depressa. Prsecedenti affinis ; sed t. perdepressa ; apice obtusa ; umbilico latiore. Div. 155°; alt. .1 poll.; lat. max. .25 poll. ; lat. min. .22 poll.

Helix sincera. H. t. parva, depressa, diaphana, pallide cor- nea, costulis crebris ornata ; anf. 4J-, perconvexis ; anf, ultimo rotundato ; apertura sub-orbiculari, ab anf. penultimo valde in- vasa ; labro tenui ; umbilico lato. Div. 160° ; alt. .075 poll. ; lat. max. .15 poll. ; lat. min. .13 poll.

Helix opalina. H, t. parva, perdepressa, supra convexa, diaphana, nitida, pallide cornea, exilissime striata, infra indentata, baud umbilicata ; anf 5, supra a linea subsuturali impressis ; apertura infra carina Candida intus decurrente calloque umbilicari Candida — instructa ; labro tenui. Div. 145°; alt. .135 poll. ; lat. max. .3 poll. ; lat. min. .26 poll.

Helix pellucida. H. t. parva, pallide cornea, diaphana, exi- lissime et creberrime striata ; spira late conica ; anf. 6, percon- vexis ; ultimo magno, rotundato ; apertura suborbiculari, ab anf. penultimo valde invasa ; labro tenuissimo ; umbilico parvo. Div. 110° ; alt. .2 poll. ; lat. max. .28 poll. ; lat. min. .25 poll.

Helix peraffinis. Prsecedentis var. ? sed t. spira depressa, convexa ; umbilico multo latiore. Div. 140° ; alt. .17 poll. ; lat. max. .3 poll. ; lat. min. .25 poll.

Helix arboreoides. H. t. discoidea, tenui, nitida, diaphana, pallide cornea, exilissime striata ; anf 7, angustis, a linea sub- suturali impressis ; ultimo rotundato, subtus late et profunde in- dentato ; apertura sub-ovata, ab anf penultimo valde invasa ; labro tenuissimo. Div. 140° ; alt. .3 poll. ; lat. max. .59 poll. ; lat. min. .51 poll.

Helix tenerrima. H. t. tenuissima, subglobosa, diaphana, fusca, pallide virente, imperforata ; anf. 5, convexis ; ultimo maximo, inflate, subtus convexo ; apertura magna, suborbiculari ; labro tenuissimo; columella infra expansa. Div. 115°; alt. .5 poll. ; lat. max. .72 poll. ; lat. min. .56 poll.

Helix dioscoricola. H. t. minima, tenui, subglobosa, imper- forata, anf 3, perconvexis ; ultimo rotundato, subtus anguste in- dentato ; labro tenui. Div. 70° ; alt. .05 poll. ; lat. max. .06 poll. ; lat. min. .05 poll.

17

Helix jayana. H. epistylium^ Mull., affinis ;

H. jayana ; H. epistylium ;

dente una lamelliformi longis- dentibus tribus, obliquis, tortis,

sima ; brevibus ;

t. laiiore, subtus latissime et t. angustiore, subtus percon-

profunde indentata ; vexa, anguste indentata ;

anf. 94. anf. 9.

Alt. .9 poll.; lat. max. 1.18 Alt. .1 poll. ; lat. max. .1 poll. ;

poll. ; lat. min. 1.1 poll. lat. min. .9 poll.

PARS III.

Species fluviatiles.

PALUDiNA RivuLARis. P. t. minima, Isevi, cornea, elongata ; spira conica, acuta ; anf. 6 ; apertura ovata. Div. 30° ; spirae long. .07 poll. ; long. tot. .11 poll. ; lat. .05 poll.

Melania spinifera. M. t. minima, cornea ; anf. 6, angulatis, angulo spinifero ; ultimo subtus striis exilissimis revolventibus insculpto ; apertura supra et infra angulata. Div. 45° ; spirse long. .09 poll. ; long. tot. .17 poll. ; lat. .1 poll.

Planorbis dentiferus. p. dentato, Gould, affinis ; t. anf. 4, ultimo quam penultimo, baud multo latiore ; sed P. dentatus ulti- mum maximum habet, (v. fig. Gouldianam) ; dentium labialium dextra bifida, magna ; dentibus sicut in specie Gouldiana dis- positis.

Mr. Phineas W. Blunt was elected a member of the So- ciety.

Donations to the Cabinet.

Phials containing specimens of sugar, and molasses or syrup made from the cornstalk, from Dr. C. T. Jackson, received by him from Mr. Ellsworth, Commissioner of Patents, Washington.

A collection of marine and terrestrial shells, from Jamaica. From Prof. C. B. Adams.

A large slab, containing beautiful specimens of Fucoides. From Prof. Henry D. Rogers.

proceedings B. S. N. H. 3 JAN. 1845.

18

Additions to the Library.

A Report on American Coals, and their comparative power and efficiency in generating Steam, and for other purposes. By Prof. Walter R. Johnson. 8vo. Washington. From Hon. R. C. Winthrop.

A Final Report on the Geology of New Hampshire. By Dr. C. T. Jackson. 4to. 1844. From the Author.

A Public Discourse, in Commemoration of Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL. D., late President of the American Philosophical Society, &c. &c. By Robley DungUson, M. D. Philadelphia, 1844. From the Society.

Memoirs of William Maclure. By Samuel G. Morton, M. D., &c. Philadelphia, 1844. From the Author.

List of Specimens of Myriapoda in the British Museum. 18mo. London, 1844. From the British Museum.

List of Specimens of Birds in the same. Part I. 18mo. London, 1844. From the same.

Catalogue of Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Amphisbseneans in same. 18mo. London, 1844. From the same.

January 15, 1845. The President in the Chair.

The President communicated a paper from Dr. J. W. Mighels, of Portland, Maine, a Corresponding Member, enti- tled " Descriptions of Shells from the Sandwich Islands, and other localities." In this paper the author characterizes the following species, which he supposes to be hitherto unde- scribed.

Helix intercarinata. Shell depressed, subdiscoid, brown, mottled with a darker color ; umbilicus deep ; whorls five, con- vex, with fine, raised incremental striae ; aperture semilunate, with two thin, elevated, keel-like lamina3, placed longitudinally

19

upon the intruded body whorl, and extending into the depth of the shell, — and five equidistant teeth within the external lip, which is simple and thin. Diameter, -^-^ inch. Hob. Oahu.

Helix subrutila. Shell orbicular, depressed, pellucid, smooth, shining, yellowish, imperforate, subcarinate ; whorls five, slightly convex ; aperture semilunate, slightly gibbous, lip simple, thin. Diameter, -^^ to y%- inch. Hah. Oahu.

Helix tiara. Shell low turbinate, yellowish, with dark brown zig-zag lines crossing the whorls, when young and fresh ; umbi- licus wide and deep ; incremental striae rather coarse ; whorls five to six, convex ; aperture circular, modified by the last whorl ; lip simple, acute. Diameter, about ^ inch. Hah. Kauai.

Helix jugosa. Shell depressed, subdiscoidal, reddish brown ; umbilicus broad and deep ; whorls five, convex, with numerous, raised, incremental lines ; aperture circular, modified by the last whorl, with a thin, elevated lamina, extending into the depth of the shell ; lip simple, thin. Diameter, /^ inch. Hah. Waioli.

Helicina laciniosa. Shell orbicular, convex, reddish brown, interspersed with irregular light spots ; whorls five, more or less flattened, with two or three raised lines, revolving over the mid- dle of the outer whorl ; aperture semilunar ; lip simple, acute. Diameter, /g- inch. Hah. Oahu.

Helicina rotelloidea. Shell orbicular, low conical, convex at the base, sometimes reddish brown, sometimes greenish, with obscure light spots, surface smooth ; whorls about 3^, convex ; aperture semilunate ; lip simple, acute. Diameter, from y^ to ■^^ inch. Hah. Oahu.

Pupa admodesta. Shell minute, ovate, greenish brown ; whorls 3^, convex ; incremental strise very fine ; aperture circu- lar, unarmed ; lip simple, thin, slightly inflected ; umbilicus small. Length, ^-^ inch, diameter, ^\j inch. Hah. Oahu.

Bulimus armatus. Shell sinistral, rarely dextral, conical, brown, or yellowish, sometimes with a light, revolving band be- low the suture, perforate ; whorls five, convex ; aperture oblong- ovate, with a thin, flexuous, lamellated tooth on the transverse lip, and a small tooth or fold on the columellar lip ; outer lip thin, slightly reflected. Length, \ inch, diameter, \ inch. Hah. Hawaii.

BuLiMUS PUMICATUS. Shell dextral, conical, polished, glossy, light horn color, imperforate ; whorls seven, slightly convex ;

20

aperture, oval, small, with a delicate fold on the left side ; lip simple, acute. Length, i inch, diameter, ^^^j inch. Hab. Oahu.

BuLiMUS scuTiLUS. Shell dextral, cylindrical, turreted, white, polished, imperforate ; whorls six, convex ; aperture elongate- oval ; lip simple, acute. Length, /g- inch, diameter, -3^5- inch. Hab. Oahu.

BuLiMus CLAUsiNus. Shell dextral, ovate-conic, thick and solid, white, smooth, glossy, sometimes with an obscure, narrow, yellowish band, revolving with the suture and passing over the middle of the body whorl ; whorls five, convex ; aperture subo- vate ; lip yellowish, thickened, coalescing with the body whorl and forming an enamel on the left side of the aperture. Length, about -^Q inch, diameter, f inch. Hab. Hawaii.

Partula virgulata. Shell ovate-conic, light fawn color, beau- tifully adorned with dark brown bands, more or less numerous, imperforate ; whorls five, convex ; incremental striae delicate ; aperture oblong; lip reflected, slightly inflected. Length, 1 inch, diameter, f inch. Hab. Waianai.

Achatina accineta. Shell dextral, conical, horn color, smooth, polished, imperforate ; whorls six, convex, with an impressed revolving line just below the suture ; aperture semi- ovate ; lip simple, acute. Length, ^-^ inch, diameter, fg- inch. Hab. Oahu.

Achatina tdrricula. Shell cylindrical, turreted, sometimes dark, sometimes light brown, imperforate ; whorls ten, convex, more or less distinctly striate transversely ; incremental strios coarse ; aperture oblong ; lip simple, acute. Length, 2| inches, diameter, f inch. Hab. Oahu.

Achatinella nubtlosa. Shell dextral, ovate, conic, thin, variously mottled with dark brown on a light ground, imper- forate ; whorls six, convex ; aperture semicircular ; lip simple, acute. Length, -^^ inch, diameter, | inch. Hab. Oahu.

Achatinella vestita. Shell sinistral, acuminate-conical, light brown, or white, with beautiful, narrow, dark brown bands, more or less numerous, imperforate ; whorls six, convex ; aper- ture semilunate ; lip reflected. Average length, 1 inch, di-ume- ter, ^ inch. Hab. Waianai and Hawaii.

Achatinella viridans. Shell dextral, elongate-conic, green, with light streaks intermixed, imperforate ; whorls five, convex, with a revolving, slightly impressed line below the suture ; aper-

21

ture subovate, stained with a pink color just within the margin ; lip slightly thickened. Length, | inch, diameter, — inch. Hab. Oahu.

AcHATiNELLA MUSTELiNA. Shell dcxtral, conical, dark brown, with a light revolving band at the suture, perforate ; whorls seven, convex; aperture oblong; lip simple, acute. Length, 1 inch, diameter ^% inch. Hab. Waianai.

AcHATiNELLA ciNGULA. Shell dcxtral, ovate-conic, horn color, smooth and polished, with a narrow brown band accompanying the suture, imperforate ; whorls seven, convex ; aperture small, subovate ; lip simple. Length, ^i- inch, diameter, ^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

AcHATiNELLA VENUSTA. Shell sinistral, conical, body whorl large and tumid, reddish yellow, beautifully ornamented with black zig-zag lines, more or less numerous and regular, per- forate ; whorls six, convex ; aperture subovate ; lip simple, acute. Length, f inch, diameter, -^^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

AcHATiNELLA TiCTA. Shell sinistral, short, thick, conical, light yellow, with black zig-zag lines, more or less numerous, per- forate ; whorls six, convex ; aperture campanulate ; lip simple, acute. Length, /^ inch, average diameter, f inch. Hab. Oahu.

AcHATiNELLA INORNATA. Shell dcxtral, elevated, turreted, sometimes straw-colorcd, sometimes dark brown, unadorned, perforate ; whorls seven, convex ; aperture subovate ; lip simple, acute. Length, f inch, diameter, -^^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

SucciNEA PATULA. Shell ovatc, pellucid, fragile, yellowish ; last whorl very large, composing almost the whole shell, there being only about half a volution above it, forming a minute knob ; aperture oval, very large and open ; lip very thin. Length, ^ inch, breadth, |- inch. Hab. Oahu.

SucciNEA CADUCA. Shell sub-ovate, very thin and fragile, horn color ; whorls about two and a half, the last very large ; spire rather prominent; aperture elongated-oval; lip thin. Length, ^^^j inch, breadth, ^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Physa UMBiLicATA. Shell subovate, gibbous, reddish brown; whorls about three and a half; aperture campanulate, oblique ; columella fold prominent ; outer lip rather thick ; umbilicated. Length, -^^ inch, breadth, jjj inch. Hab. Oahu.

Physa producta. Shell elongate-oval, thin, fragile, pellucid, horn color, imperforate ; whorls four ; suture well impressed ;

22

aperture pyrlform, half the length of the shell ; columella fold conspicuous ; lip thin. Length, ^^^ inch, breadth, ^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Paludina porrecta. Shell elongated, turreted, thin, smooth, greenish, imperforate ; whorls six, very convex ; suture deep ; aperture ovate ; lip continuous. Length, ^^^ inch, diameter less than i\ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Paludina anthracina. Shell elongate-conic, thin, smooth, brown, covered with a black pigment, imperforate ; whorls five, convex ; aperture subovate ; lip continuous, acute. Length, ^j inch, diameter, y^g- inch. Hab. Tortola.

Sigaretus filicatus. Shell orbicular-ovate, rather thick, white, umbilicated ; whorls about two, the last two of which composes nearly all the shell ; external surface beautifully sculp- tured, being covered with triangular ribs placed longitudinally, and numerous transverse strise ; aperture rounded oval. Length, I inch, breadth nearly equal to the length. Hab. Zanzibar, eastern Africa.

Solarium implexum. Shell depressed, subdiscoid, grayish white, with a few brown spots ; whorls three, flattened, with five rounded, revolving ridges on each, intersected by numerous, im- pressed, transverse striae ; aperture circular ; umbilicus large and deep. Diameter, y\ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Solarium cyclostomum. Shell orbicular, convex, ash colored or greenish ; whorls four to five, convex, with five, revolving ridges, intersected by impressed transverse striae ; suture, deep ; aperture circular ; umbilicus deep ; operculum horny, spiral. Diameter, f^j inch. Hab. Oahu.

Turbo rubricinctus. Shell minute, orbicular-conical, white, with numerous, impressed, revolving bands of a superb vermilion color, imperforate ; whorls four, convex ; aperture circular. Diameter, ^V ifich. Hab. Oahu.

Cerithium gracilentum. Shell turreted, fusiform, brown and white, spotted or banded, whorls ten to twelve, flattened, with four unequal, acute, elevated revolving ridges on each ; aperture sinistral, subovate ; canal tubular, deflected, twisted. Length of the largest, -^^ inch, diameter, ^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Cerithium maculosum. Shell conical, white, with zig-zag lines and spots, polished ; whorls six, angular, tuberculated, trans- versely striated ; aperture ovate, ending in a notch. Length, about ^ inch, diameter, -i inch. Hab. Oahu.

23

Cerithium laciniosum. Shell conical, rather thick, yellowish white, with a few, irregular, brown spots ; whorls six, flattened, depressed in the middle, longitudinally plicate, transversely stri- ate ; aperture ovate ; canal short, slightly deflected. Length, 4- inch, diameter, -^ inch. Hah. Oahu.

Pleurotoma CRASSILABRU3I. Shell short, thick, solid, white, covered with coarse, tortuous ribs, and fine, crowded, transverse, striae ; whorls eight, angular, tuberculated in the middle ; spire tapers rapidly above the penultimate whorl, and ends in a sharp tip ; aperture narrow, half the length of the shell, striated inter- nally; lip thick ; fissure distinct ; canal short. Length, y^ inch, diameter, -^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Pleurotoma rugosa. Shell thick, solid, covered with coarse ribs, and rather coarse transverse striae ; whorls seven, convex ; suture accompanied with a purple line on a straw-colored ground ; aperture narrow, striated internally ; lip thick ; fissure well marked ; canal very short. Length, ^\ inch, diameter, -f^ inch. Hah. Oahu.

Pleurotoma acuminata. Shell small, wax colored, with tor» tuous ribs ; whorls seven, slightly convex ; spire rapidly tapering, ending in a sharp point ; aperture one third the length of the shell, smooth internally ; lip thin ; fissure deep ; canal veiy short. Length, ^^^ inch, diameter, y\ inch. Hah. Oahu.

Pleurotoma coronata. Shell thick, solid, white, shining, with strong ribs, ending at the suture in projecting points, transverse striaj microscopic ; whorls four, flattened, angular ; aperture half the length of the shell, unarmed ; lip thickened ; fissure well marked ; canal short. Length, -^-^ inch, diameter, ^\ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Pleurotoma micans. Shell small, white, pellucid, smooth and glistening, with obscure brown spots ; whorls six, convex ; aperture half the length of the shell ; lip acute ; fissure super- ficial ; canal short. Length, y\ inch, diameter, -^\ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Pleurotoma pumila. Shell small, purple, surface granulated ; whorls four, convex ; aperture narrow, one third the length of the shell ; right lip thickened, with four or five small teeth pro- jecting inwardly ; fissure well marked ; canal very short. Length, -^jj inch, diameter, ^^.j inch. Hah. Oahu.

Pleurotoma sinuosa. Shell short, thick, tumid, yellowish.

24

surface granulated ; whorls six, rather angular ; suture deep ; aperture striated internally ; lip thickened ; fissure well marked ; canal somewhat elongated, slightly tortuous, giving the shell a slight gibbous appearance. Length, -^ inch, diameter, -fg- inch. Hah. Oahu.

Pleurotoma todilla. Shell small, surface granulated, dull white, with microscopic, brown spots ; whorls six, convex ; apex obtuse ; aperture narrow, less than half the length of the shell, striated internally ; lip thickened ; fissure superficial ; canal short. Length, -f-^ inch, diameter, -^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Pleurotoma circumsecta. Shell small, reddish brown, adorned with rounded, slightly tortuous, longitudinal ribs ; whorls five, tumid in the middle ; suture well impressed, with a contiguous impressed line ; aperture rather wide, unarmed, one third the length of the shell ; lip sharp ; fissure well marked. Length, ■^^ inch, diameter, -^-^ inch. Hah. Oahu.

Pleurotoma obnubila. Shell small, whitish, with elongated brown spots, surface smooth, with a ie'w transverse striaB on the extremity of the last whorl ; whorls six, flattened ; aperture one third the length of the shell ; lip slightly thickened ; fissure su- perficial ; canal short. Length ^^^^ inch, diameter, -^ inch. Hah. Oahu.

Triton lacunatum. Shell small, short, thick, yellowish ash color, with coarse longitudinal and transverse raised lines, and varices extending on both sides from the apex to the base ; whorls seven, convex ; suture impressed ; aperture oval, stained with purple, with purple lines extending into the depth of the shell, and armed with a series of teeth just within the margin of the right lip ; canal short, narrow, deflected. Length, f inch, long- est diameter, -f , inch. Hah. Oahu.

Cypr.^a semiplota. Shell ovate, ventricose, short, thick, smooth, light brown, with numerous, obscure white spots ; base tumid, white ; aperture yellowish, narrow. Length, | inch, breadth, y\ inch. Hah. Oahu.

Cypr^a insecta. Shell elongate-oval, subrostrate, white, stri- ated transversely, striae extending into the aperture, with a longi- tudinal, dorsal impression ; aperture white, narrow. Length, /^ inch, breadth, y\ inch. Hah. Oahu.

CypRiEA spiiiERULA. Shell very small, globular, white, with an impressed dorsal line, and numerous transverse, impressed lines

25

extending into the aperture ; base very convex ; aperture white. Length, ^^ inch, breadth, equal to the length. Hab. Oahu.

Cyp. unifasciata. Shell oblong-ovate, subrostrate, smooth, glossy, light slate color, with a broad, interrapted band of a dark brown color passing over the middle of the shell ; aperture rather narrow, white, with a fine purple stain at the extremities. Length, nearly 4 inch, breadth, ^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

CyPRiEA sPADix. Shell elongate-ovate, rostrate, smooth, pol- ished, brown or bay color ; base convex, white ; aperture narrow, yellowish, especially at the extremities. Length, | inch, breadth, ^ inch. Hab. Oahu.

Mr. Binney stated that Dr. Gould, a few other gentlemen and himself, had engaged Mr. John Bartlett, a person well qualified for the task, to make a zoological exploration of the extreme southern part of the peninsula of Florida, with a view of ascertaining its productions in reference to the geographical distribution of both terrestrial and marine spe- cies. Mr. Bartlett's first remittances had arrived. Mr. Binney had examined the land shells ; they are such as to confirm fully the supposition formerly advanced by him that, in respect of the terrestrial mollusks, the southern district of Florida is distinguished from the other districts of the Uni- ted States, and approximates in zoological character to the Antilles, which it approaches so nearly, geographically. Of seven genera, two, Cyclostoma and Siphonostoma are com- mon to it and the Antilles, and the species of these genera are probably the same that have been already noticed in Cuba. There are several forms of Bulimus and Pupa peculiar to this district, the Antilles, and the more southern coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, and one form of Helix com- mon to it and the island of St. Croix. Of twenty-four species, at least one half are common also to the island of Cuba. Mr. Binney proposed to give a more particular account of these mollusks hereafter.

Dr. C. T. Jackson made some remarks upon Prof. W. R. Johnson's Report on American coals. He explained the processes employed by Prof. Johnson in his various experi-

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 4 JAN. 1845.

26

ments, all which he considered ingenious and well adapted to the purpose. The R^eport was pronounced to be the re- sult of an elaborate and thorough examination of the subject, and to present facts of great importance, in determining the economical value of American Coals.

Mr. Blake presented for the cabinet some curious globular masses of Quartz, concerning which he made the following remarks: —

On a plain situated in the valley of Quilca^ in South Peru, near the city of Arequipa, and about thirty-four miles from the coast, are to be found, scattered over the surface and imbedded in the loose soil, a vast number of quartz balls like the one exhibited, varying in size from one inch to four inches in diameter. The exterior is dark reddish brown, and presents a rough surface showing no marks of abrasion. When broken they are found to be pure white quartz. The structure is crystalline in all of them, while in some the crystals are well defined with slight interstices between them, and a few have been found hollow, the central cavities being lined with crystals.

So remarkably similar, and so nearly globular are these balls that many of the inhabitants of the country believe them to be the work of art, and ascribe their origin to the ancient Peruvians, a supposition the absurdity of which is evident on the slightest in- spection. The plain over which they lie scattered is made up of the debris of the neighboring mountains ; — the lofty porphyritic peaks of the Andes flanked by sand-stone and gypsum.

Dr. Gould read a paper, containing descriptions of species of land shells, from the Sandwich Islands, supposed to be hitherto undescribed.

AcHATiNA ADUSTA. Testa turrita, apice pyramidata, iniperfo- rata, soUda, fusco-nigricante, sursum pallescente ; anfr. 7 con- vexis, levitcr striatis, ultimo subcarinato ; apertura ovali, intus opalina, labro simplici, acuto, nigro ; columella eburnea, antice in dentem producta. Long. 1^, lat. f poll.

A singular shell, partaking of the characters of both Achatina and AchalineUa. Occasionally, instead of being totally black, there are bands of yellow.

Stomatella concinna. Testa parvula, auriformi, tenui, striis

27

regularibus, rosaceo catenatim pictis, cincta ; labio postice dis- juncto, revoluto ; columella obsolete perforata ; intus rosacea, nitida ; anfr. tres. Long. ^-, lat. j^ij poU.

A minute and very beautiful species, which cannot be con- founded with any other.

Trochus verruca. Testa parva,solida,globoso-conica, nitida plus minusve rosacea : anfr. 6 rotundatis, ultimo costulis vol- ventibus 12 subequalibus, maculis saturatioribus catenatim slg- natis cincto ; apertura circulari ; columella planulata, antice sub- producta : umbilico parvo. Long. ■^, lat. ^ poll.

Its specific name suggests its general appearance.

Trochus (Monodonta) gemmatus. Testa parva, conico- globosa, rubella vel cinerascente : anfr. 4 rotundatis, ultimo costulis ad 10, e granulis nitidis interdum radiatim saturatiori- bus compositis, cincto : sutura canaliculata : umbilico expan- se, canali et carina circumdato ; apertura rotundata, basi pli- cata, ringente, labro costulis crenulato, intus sulcato. Long. ^^ lat. I poll.

CoLUMBELLA PALUMBINA. Tcsta ovato-turbinata, nitida, al- bida, ferrugineo marmorata, et transverse lineata ; apertura ringente ; labro inflexo, denticulate ; columella biplicata, granu- losa, interdum rosaceo tincta. Long, f , lat. y^^ poll.

Like turturina^ but much smaller, and having, instead of re- volving strise, regular revolving lines, always developed near the lip, and passing more or less backward.

Cypr^a gemmula. Testa parva, ovato-globosa, nitida, cos- tulis numerosis interdum divaricantibus, undique elegantissime rugosa : dorso minime sulcato : colore rubida, dorso utrinque maculis duabus rosaceis fere confluentibus, lateribus rosaceo asperso : subtus alba, apicibus rosaceo tinctis. Long. -J-, lat. WV poll.

Allied to C. tremeza^ Duclos.

AcHATiNELLA RADiATA. Tcsta solida, ovato-conica, lineolis castaneis, flavidis et albidis longitudinaliter picta, interdum fascia mediani vel basali alba ; anfr. 6 convexis ; sutura marginata, albida ; apertura ovata, peristomate reflexo, flavido ; plica lata ; umbilicata. Long, |, lat. /g- poll.

In size and marking somewhat resembles Bulimus radiatus, but the lines are finer and more numerous.

AcHATiNELLA RUBENS. Tcsta elougato-ovata, crassa, stra-

28

minea, apice castanea, antice erubescente : anfr. 6 convexis, sutura impressa, epidermide fusco hie et illic obtectis ; apertura ovata, labro simplici intus incrassato, rosaceo, fauce alba, plica tenui ; imperforata. Long, f , lat. f poll.

A plain species, but well marked by its colors, especially by that of the aperture.

AcHATiNELLA NucLEOLA. Tcsta solida. impcrforata, ovato- globosa, livido-castanea, apice pallida, ad suturam et anlice albida : anfr. 6, postice subtabulatis : apertura rotundata, labro simplici; columella excavata,callo obtecto : plica parva. Long. /^, lat. -1- poll.

A small, solid species, of a livid hue, whitish at tip and the neighborhood of the suture, and milk white just before the termi- nation of the whorl at the aperture.

AcHATiNELLA MICROSTOMA. Testa ovata imperforata, solida, epidermide fusco-virescente : anfr. 6, ultimo ventricoso ; apertura parva, ovato-rotundata, fauce livida ; labro simplici, intus incras- sato ; columella profunde sinuosa, callo crasso obtecta ; plica valida. Long, f , lat. /^ poll.

Distinguished by its ovate form, dusky green exterior, and small, strongly fortified aperture.

AcHATiNELLA FULiGiNOSA. Tcsta impcrforata, ventricoso-ova- ta, apice acuta, tenui, pallide virescente, epidermide nigricante induta ; anfr. 6, supra sub-tabulatis, striis incrementi, et striis volventibus inequalibus decussatis : apertura parva, semilunari ; labro simplici, intus incrassato, fauce cserulescente ; plica acuta. Long. iV, lat. I poll.

Its ventricose form, coarse revolving striae and blackish epi- dermis, distinguish it.

AcHATiNELLA STRiATULA. Tcsta parva, ovato-elongata, nitida, viridi, longitudinaliter concinne et creberrime striato-costata : anfr. 7 convexis, ultimo partem dimidiam spirae aequante ; aper- tura angusta, semilunari ; labro albido, incrassato. Long. /^, lat. ^\ poll.

Not unlike Bulimus ohscurus in general appearance. Distin- guished from several similar species, by its more slender form and by its beautifully barred surface.

29

February 5, 1845. Dr. A. A. Gould in the Chair.

Dr. Gould read extracts from a letter from Mr. James Hall, Geologist of New York, making corrections in the report of his remarks at the meeting of the Society on the 21st February last, published in the Proceedings, page 173. The knob of Serpentine in the neighborhood of Syracuse, N. Y. was stated to have been first noticed by Professor Vanuxem, and not as there reported, by Mr. Hall himself.

A letter was read, addressed to the President of the Society, by John J. Dixwell, Esq. executor, giving notice that by the last will and testament of the late John Parker, Esq. a be- quest of two thousand dollars had been made to the Society, which sum the executors were ready to pay to such person as the Society might authorize to receive it in its behalf. The following votes were then passed :

Voted, That the Society will accept the legacy of two thousand dollars bequeathed to it by the late John Parker, Esq.

Voted, That the President be authorized to receive from the executors the amount of the legacy bequeathed to this Society by said will, and to execute to said executors, in the name and behalf of this society, a receipt or other in- strument in full discharge and satisfaction of the same.

Voted, That the Secretary be requested to communicate to the representatives of Mr. Parker the high sense which this Society entertains of the honorable motives which dic- tated the bequest, and their grateful acknowledgment of the liberal aid thus rendered to the Society, and to the cause of science.

Voted, That the President be directed to pay over the amount of said legacy to John J. Dixwell, Esq. Treasurer of this Society, to be by him permanently invested in such securities as he may think proper, with the concurrence of

30

the Financial Committee, in the name of " The Boston So- ciety of Natural History."

The Chairman announced the donation of about fifty volumes of books, mostly relating to Natural History, which had been received since the last meeting, from Dr. Francis Boott, of London. It was then

Voted, That the Recording Secretary be requested to express to Dr. Boott the thanks of the Society for this val- uable addition to its library ; and also that the fact of the donation be announced in the public papers.

The Treasurer called the attention of the Society to the state of its finances. It appeared that for several years past, the annual contributions from members, on which the Society relies for the means of paying its current expenses, had fallen off by the secession of many who had formerly been members. It was proposed that an earnest eflfort should be made to add one hundred new members to the Society ; and it was voted to refer the subject to the Presi- dent, and Messrs. Bulfinch and Bouve.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Professor Emmons's Report on the Taconic System of New York. From the Author.

Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, conducted by Prof. Emmons and A. Prince. From the Editors.

DR. FRANCIS BOOTT's DONATION.

Lamarck. Histoire Naturelle des Animaux sans vertebres. 5 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1815.

Linnsei Fauna Suecica. 8vo. Ludg. Bat. 1746.

Latreille. Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum. 4 vols, in 2. 8vo. Paris, 1607.

Smith, J. E. Introduction to Botany, with Notes, by Dr. J. Bigelow. 8vo. Boston, 1814.

Samouelle, G. Entomologist's Companion. 8vo. London, 1819.

31

Berkcnhoiit, J. Synopsis of the Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 vols. 12mo. London, 1795.

Buchoz, I. P. Histoire des Insectes. 2 vols. 12mo. Paris, 1809.

Linna3i, C. Hortus Upsalensis. 8vo. Vol. I. Stockholmiae, 1748.

Cleveland, P. Elementary Treatise on Mineralogy and Ge- ology. 8vo. Boston, 1816

Kirby, W. and Spence, W. Introduction to Entomology. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1816.

Swartz, Olof. Methodus Muscorum lUust. 4to pamph. Up- saliae, 1781.

Clarke, E. D. Gas Blow Pipe. 8vo. London, 1819.

Rennie, R. Essay on the Natural History and Origin of Peat. 8vo. pamph.

L'Abbe Dubois, &:c. Rapport fait sur les divers Concours pour la culture des Pommes de Terre, &c. 8vo. pamph. Paris, 1818.

Richard, L. C. Analyse des Fruits. 12mo. pamph. Paris, 1808.

Catalogue of Plants in the Botanic Garden at Liverpool. 8vo. Liverpool, 1808.

Launy, L. de. Mineralogie des Anciens. 2 vols. 8vo. Bruxelles, 1803.

Bartram, W. Travels in North America. 2d ed. 8vo. London, 1794.

Henderson, E. Iceland ; or Journal of a residence in that Island. 2 vols. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1818.

Hooker, W. J. and Taylor, T. Muscologia Britannica. 8vo. London, 1818.

Barrow, J. Voyages into the Arctic Regions. 8vo. London, 1818.

Reaumur. Memoires pour servir a I'Histoire des Insectes. 6 vols. 4to. Paris, 1734.

Levaillant, F. Voyage en Afrique. 3 vols. 4to. Paris, 1783-1785.

Sparrman, A. Voyage to the Cape of Good Hope. 2 vols. 4to. London, 1781.

Bauhini, C. Pinax Theatri Botanici. 4to. Basileae, 1671.

32

Evelyn, J. Sylva, or a Discourse on Forest Trees, &c. Long 4th. London, 1689.

Whitehurst, J. Original state and formation of tlie Earth. 4to. London, 1792.

Petro Pena et M. de Lobel, Medic is. Accessio ad priscorum prsesertim Dioscoridis, et recentiorum Materiam Medicam. Long 4to. Antverpise, 1576.

M. de Lobel. Insulani Plantarum seu Stirpium Historia. Long 4to. Antverp. 1576.

Malpighi, M. Opera Omnia. Folio. Londini, 1687.

Dillenius, J. J. Historia Muscorum. 4to, Oxonii, 1741. Iterum Edinburgi, 1811.

Barrelienus, A. P. J. Plantse per Galliam, &c. observatae. Fol. Parisiis, 1714.

February 19, 1845.

Regular meeting of the Society — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Binney presented a paper from Dr. James Deane, of Greenfield, Mass. entitled '' Illustrations of Fossil Foot- marks." It was accompanied by a reduced fac simile draw- ing of a slab about six feet in diameter, containing upwards of one hundred perfect tracks, being completely intersected by rows of the tracks of four or five varieties of gregarious birds, said to be by far the most interesting specimen, both in point of the number and perfection of the impressions, yet discovered. The paper was referred to the Committee of Publication.

Dr. Binney also announced the reception of a cast of a very perfect Ornithichinites giganteus, from Mr. Marsh, of Greenfield.

Mr. Bouve exhibited a collection of Fossils from the Ter- tiary of Claiborne, Alabama, and a few from Prairie Bluff', pre- sented by Mr. C. S. Hale, of Mobile. The collection is a very

33

valuable one, both in regard to the number and perfection of the specimens.

The thanks of the Society were voted to Messrs. Marsh and Hale. Dr. Bacon reported on a mass of copper ore from Lake Superior. It was chrysocolla, and contained about 30 per cent, of metallic copper.

Dr. C. T. Jackson reported upon " Forbes's Travels in the Alps." He gave a sketch of his theory of the move- ment of glaciers, as deduced from his observations and measurements. Mr. Whitney offered some objections to the theory, and the work was recommitted to him, with a request that he would communicate to the Society his own observations, made during the last year.

Dr. Gould read a communication from Professor J. W. Bailey, of West Point, entitled " Notes on the Infusoria of the Mississippi river."

" A bottle full of water was recently placed in my hands, which had been col'ccted about a month before, from the IMississippi river, at St. Louis, by Lieut. L. H. Allen, of the United States army, who brought it away as a specimen of the water ordina- rily used at that city, for drinking. Having long supposed that the waters of the Missouri must at times be loaded with great quantities of the minute fossil Polythalamia, which are so abundant in the cretaceous marls of a portion of the river which it traverses, I was led to seek for them in the sediment from the water from St. Louis, as at this place the turbid w^aters of the Missouri still impress their own character upon the Mississippi.

It is still my belief, that during the season of floods, these fos- sils may be detected in the sediment of the Missouri, although on this occasion I failed to find any trace of these animalcules of former days. The amount, however, of microscopic beings of the present epoch which I found in this water was truly sur- prising; and as the bottle had been carefully corked when the waters were collected, and had not been opened until its arrival at West Point, whatever organisms it contained undoubtedly be- longed to species inhabiting the Mississippi. The number of in- dividuals'had doubtless increased by reproduction ; but no spe-

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 5 FEB. 1845.

34

cies could have been introduced from the time it was first collected up to the time of its examination by me. This is con- firmed by the fact, that several of the species are entirely differ- ent from any occurring in the eastern portions of the United States,

Having thus unexpectedly an opportunity to study the recent animalcules of so interesting a locality, I examined them care- fully ; and I now offer the following results of my observations as a slight contribution to the knowledge of the geographical dis- tribution of Infusoria :

1st. The water of the Mississippi, at St. Louis, abounds in soft, as well as siliceous-shelled Infusoria.

2d. The species observed by me, as far as I could identify them with species described by Ehrenberg, were the following, namely :

Micrasterias boryana, " elliptica,

" tricycla,

Navicula amphirhyncus, " sigma.

Oxytricha ?

Rotifera vulgaris,

Stylonichia ?

Arthrodesmus acutus,

" quadricaudatus,

Chcetonotus larus, Coleps hirtus, Euglena triquetra ? Eunotia westermanni, Fragillaria constricta,

" rhabdosoma,

Furcularia gibba, Surirella campylodiscus,

Gallionella distans, Synedra ulna.

3d. All these were observed by me in a living state, and most of them were in g.rcat abundance, and from their activity as well as other characters they appeared to have suffered no injury from transportation.

4th. The remarkable Surirella campylodiscus which abounds in the water from St. Louis, has not before been found in the United States, but is mentioned by Ehrenberg (Verbreitung, &c., p. 100,) as a Mexican species.

5th. No traces of any Phytolitharia were seen ; neither was the cosmopolite species Pinnularia viridis detected.

6th. The inhabitants of St. Louis consider the water which they drink as remarkably wholesome, and are surprised that strangers wish to have it filtered for their use. Whatever its effect on health may be, it is certain that it contains a suflicient amount of animal matter to be somewhat nutritious.

35

7th. These observations prove that the waters of the Mississippi, like those of the Nile, are crowded with organic life, and to this, as Eiirenberg has proved, with regard to the Nile, is prob .bly due, in no small degree, the fertilizing power of its sediment.

8th. The minute indestructible shells of the fluviatile silicerus infusoria, must be borne to immense distances by the powerful current of the Mississippi, and it is even probable that they may be carried into the Gulf of Mexico, to be there deposited, in company with recent marine species.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

A bottle containiug fishes and reptiles. From G. W, Colla- more.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 8vo. pamph. Nos. 120 to 134. For 1843 and 1844. From the Zoological Society.

Reports of the Council and Auditors of the Zoological Society of London. 8vo. pamph. 1844. From the same.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- phia. Vol. ii. No. 6, for Nov. and Dec. 1844. From the Aca- demy.

March 5, 1845.

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

Mr. Bouve read a notice of tlie Final Report upon the Geological Survey of the State of New Hampshire by Charles T. Jackson, M. D.

Dr. Cabot placed upon the table mounted specimens of birds from Dr. Cragin's collection, among them Caciciis hcemorrhous and Cacicus icteronotns.

36

Mr. Richards mentioned certain experiments made by him on heated tar. He had plunged his hand into tar at the temperature of 194° Fahrenheit, and had held it in that situation, for several seconds, without a painful sensation of heat. He stated, on the authority of others, that the same result had followed when the tar was heated to 212°. He asked an explanation of the fact. Dr. C. T. Jackson sug- gested that the low conducting power of the tar might be the cause, and proposed that a series of observations should be made to ascertain the relative power of tar, as compared with water, for conducting caloric.

John B. Walker, M. D., Mr. William A. Parker, and Mr. Franklin Darracott, were elected members.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Muscicapa coronata, from Yucatan, male and female. By Dr. Cabot.

Skeleton of a box tortoise.

Palate and pharyngeal bones of a parrot-fish.

A bird called by the natives Devil-Bird, from its note which is thought by them to be of ill omen. All from the Cape de Verd Islands. By Dr. C. J. Bates.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Conrad, T. A. Fossils of the Miocene Formation of the United States. 8vo. pamph. From the Author.

Gray, G. R., Genera of Birds, No. 10. 4to. London, 1845. Audubon Fund.

Gould, John. Monograph of the Odontophorina), or Partridges of the United States, No. 1. Folio. London, 1845. Audubon Fund.

37

March 19, 1845. Charles T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. A. A. Gould read descriptions of shells collected by Dr. Charles J. Bates, Assistant Surgeon U. S. Navy, on the coast of Liberia.

Pholas branchiata. Testa oviformi, clausa, postice acumi- nata, areolis tribus triangiilaribus partita : areola antica plicis numerosis conceritricis serratis : mediali transverse subtiliter stri- ata : postica lamellis corneis flexilibus imbricatis instrucla : dorso scutis tribus obtecto, unico magno umbonali, orbiculari ; duobus marginalibus lanceolatis, duobus quoque ventralibus ; apophysi exili, flexuoso-falciformi. Long. 1^ ; lat. ^^- ; poll.

PsAMMOBiA FiGLiNA. T. crassa, sub-ovali, sub-equilaterali, rufo-cinerea ; antice rotundata ; postice hiante, sub-rostrata, valde flexuosa, apice emarginata ; valvis concentrice laminoso- striatis, radiatim lineolatis ; natibus elevatis, attigentibus ; denti- bus cardinalibus divaricatis ; intus alba, punctis numerosis inden- tata. Long. 3-i- ; alt. 2} ; lat. If poll.

Tellina rubicunda. T. tenui, transversa, inequivalvi, natibus postmedianis, antice semi-elliptica, postice triangular!, flexuosa, apice truncata, concentrice et radiatim minutissime striata ; valva dextra pianulata, postice areolam triangularem lamellosam haben- te ; valva sinistra convexa ; colore dilute rosacea, albo radiata. Long. 1 ; alt. f ; lat. ^ poll.

Resembles T. donacina in shape and coloring, but is larger, and is also distinguished by the triangular area of coarser sculpture on the right valve.

NucuLA BicuspiDATA. T. alba, transverse elongato-ovata, sub- cylindrica, antice rotundata et triplicata, postice producta, tri- carinata, bicuspidata ; valvis oblique concinne striatis, prceter spatio excavate inter carinas serratas ; cardine dcntibus anticis ad 12, posticis ad 26. Long. | ; alt. J poll.

Nassa turbinea. Testa solida, ovata, apice producta, albida ; anfr. 9 sub-tabulatis, plicis numerosis acutis et striis volventibus profundis ad 13 decussatis ; basi spiraliter striata ; apertura parva, stricta, angulato-ovali ; labio acuto, crcnulato, intus sulcato ; callo columellari erecto, granulate. Long, -j^ ; lat. ^ poll.

38

Nassa elata. T. elongato-conica, cinereo-albida ; anfr. 8 tabulatis, marginatis, posterioribus plicatis, penultimo glabro, ulti- mo antice striate ; apertura angusta, ovali, alba ; labro acuto, antice crenulato, intus striate. Long. i-§ ; lat. /^ poll.

Helix hepatizon. Testa depresso-conica, crassa, rubro- castanea, canescente, sub-perforata ; anfr. 5i convexis, striis in- crementalibus et striis volventibus argute reticulatis ; sutura impressa ; apertura sennicirculari, contracta, periston:iate incras- sata, intus cerasina. Lat, l-f^ ; alt. f poll.

Found near the mouth of the Gaboon river.

James Deane, M. D., of Greenfield, Mass. ; C. B. Adams, M. D., of Middlebury, Vt., were elected corresponding mem- bers.

donations to the cabinet.

Mounted specimens o^ Hirundo serripennis and fulva, Troglo- dytes hewickii, Trichas Philadelphia^ Fringilla lincolni. By ex- change.

A specimen of petrified wood. From Dr. S. P. Kirtland, of Ohio.

additions to the library.

Audubon and Bachman. Quadrupeds of America. Plates 46 to 50. Folio. Suhscrihers.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds, No. IL 4to. London, 1845. Auduhon Fund.

April 3, 1845. Mr. Binney, President, in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman exhibited the shell of Kinixis homeana^ Bell, from Cape de Verd Islands, presented by Dr. Bates. Dr. W. remarked that Mr. Bell described this species as a native of West Africa, while Dumeril and Bibron, probably incorrectly, speak of it as belonging to South America.

Dr. Storer exhibited numerous drawings of fishes, made

39

by Dr. C. J. Bates, U. S. N., and presented by him to tlie Society. They were drawn chiefly from specimens observed by him on the west coast of Africa. Dr. Storer remarked that the drawings and accompanying descriptions, though not the results of the labor of a professed naturalist, were quite sufficient to give a clear idea of the objects described. They showed, too, that any careful and intelligent person may. by close attention and perseverance, render essential services to Natural History, especially when possessing a facility for drawing. From cursory examination, it appeared probable that there were among them several new and inter- esting forms.

Letters from Dr. G. A. Perkins, of Liberia, corresponding member ; George Brown, U. S. Commissioner at the Sand- wich Islands ; and Mr. George Ditson, of Cuba ; respectively, announcing donations, were read.

Dr. Bacon remarked upon a specimen of petrified wood, recently presented by Dr. Kirtland, that, its character having been doubted, he had examined longitudinal and horizontal sections with a microscope, and had ascertained conclusively that it is a portion of a true fossil tree belonging to the natural family of palms.

D. S. Smalley, of Jamaica Plain ; Waldo Higginson, of Boston ; Asa B. Snow, M. D. ; Dr. Daniel D. Slade, Cam- bridge, were elected members.

Walter Channing, M. D., Samuel Wigglesworth, M. D., former members, were, at their request, restored.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

A box of shells. From Dr.G. A. Perkins, of the Liberia mission. A box of shells, and another of minerals. From George Broiim, U. S. Commissioner, Sandwich Islands.

Specimens of minerals. From George Ditson, Cuba.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Delessert Benj. Musee Botanique. 8vo. Paris, 1845. From the Author.

40

Navigantlum et Itinerantium Bibliotheca. Folio. From George Brown, Esq.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. No. 21 and 24. 1842. From the Society.

April 16, 1845. D. H. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. Wyman placed upon the table a specimen of the mole-cricket, Gryllotalpa vulgaris, taken by him in Virginia. This species takes its name from its habit of burrowing in the earth, for which purpose its first pair of legs is modified in form, presenting a striking analogy to those of the mole. He exhibited this structure in detail. Dr. Wyman also ex- hibited specimens of the blue-bottle fly, in the different stages of development.

A letter from Dr. Kirtland was read.

Caleb Reed, and F. S. Ainsworth, were elected members.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

American Journal of Science. Vol. xlviii. No. 2. From the Editors.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds. 4lo. No. 12. Audulon Fund.

May 7, 1845.

Annual Meeting.

Amos Binney, the President, in the Chair.

The Secretary read the record of the last annual meeting.

The President, then, addressed the Society, reviewing its

progress for the past year, and giving a statement of its con-

41

dition and prospects. He enforced the necessity of more ample accommodations for the museum, and recommended that an appeal should be made to the liberality of the public, with a view to raise the sum of ^ 30,000. In aid of such an appeal, he gave a short history of the Society, showing how much it had accomplished, how great its influence had been on the cultivation of the Natural Sciences in New England, the extent of its necessities, and the nature of its claims on the friends of learning in the city and State. This address, having been printed in a separate form, is omitted here.

Professor Charles Brooks, then read a discourse on the History of Philosophical Zoology, from the earliest times to the present day.

The Reports of the Curators and Librarian were then read, showing a respectable increase in every department of the museum and in the library.

The Report of the Treasurer exhibited the financial con- dition of the Society as follows :

Amount of investment for permanent fund, Cash on hand, ......

Total,

The amount of admission fees and annual assess- ments, received during the year, is,

The amount of ordinary expenses is.

Deficiency supplied from income of permanent fund, .......

Add deficiency of former years.

Total amount diverted, from income appropriated

to the library and museum, . . . $470 10

A letter from John J. Dixwell, Treasurer, was read, de- clining a reelection, and concluding in the following words :

" I cannot retire from the office which I have held during the past six years, without expressing my warmest thanks for the

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 6 MAY, 1845.

8 12,000 428 88

$ 12,428 88 456 598 88

142 88 327 22

42

indulgence with which my efforts have been received by the Society, and the urbanity which has been extended to me by all its members, nor without offering an earnest prayer that the beautiful science of Nature, exhibiting as it does the Divine love and wisdom of the Creator, may continue to be illustrated by your Society, with renewed zeal and untiring diligence."

On motion of Dr. Charles T. Jackson, it was then Voted, That we sincerely regret the retirement of Mr. Dixvvell from the office which he has so long and so ac- ceptably filled ; and that the thanks of the Society be pre- sented to him for the faithful and satisfactory manner in which he has performed the duties of its Treasurer for six years past.

The Society then proceeded to ballot for the choice of officers for the year ensuing, and 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 Bulfiach.

Treasurer^ Patrick T. Jackson, Jr.

Curators^ J. E. Teschemacher, Botany^ T. William Harris, Entomology, Jeffries Wyman, Ichthyology Sf Herpetology,

Martin Gay, Mineralogy,

N. B. Shurtleff, Comparatioe Anatomy,

Thomas T. Bouve, Geology, Samuel Cabot, Jr., Ornithology, Edward Tuckerman, Conchology.

43

Librarian, Charles K. Dillaway.

Cahinel Keeper, Henry J. Bigelow.

On motion of Dr. J. V. C. Smith, it was unanimously Voted, That tlie thanks of the Society be tendered to

Rev. Prof. Brooks, for the learned and interesting address

which he has delivered on this occasion.

On motion of Dr. Storer, it was

Voted, That the President be requested to publish, for the use of members and others, and in aid of the effort to raise funds, the address which he has made this day.

Voted, That, in the opinion of the Society, the time has now arrived when a strenuous effort should be made to raise sufficient funds to ensure the prosperity and permanence of the institution.

Voted, That a committee be appointed, to act personally, or through others to be selected by them, to solicit contri- butions for the purpose of erecting a building for the use of this Society.

The following gentlemen were elected to compose this Committee :

Amos Binney, Charles T. Jackson, D. H. Storer, A. A. Gould, Charles Brooks, Benjamin A. Gould.

The Pveport of the Treasurer, and his accounts to this time, were referred to B. A. Gould and T. J. Whittemore, who, having examined them, reported the accounts to be correctly kept, the expenditure properly vouched, and the balance of cash to correspond with that stated by the Treas- urer and held temporarily by the President, viz., $ 428 88.

44

The President read a letter from the Secretary of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists, com- municating a Report of a Committee of that body, laid before it at its late session at New Haven, on the subject of the nomenclature of Zoology, which Report was ordered by a vote of the Association to be submitted to this Society for consideration. It was voted to refer the papers to a com- mittee composed of the following persons : A. A. Gould, Jeffries Wyman, and S. L. Abbott.

June 4, 1845. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the Chair.

Mr. Teschemacher remarked that he had just received, from St. Diego, California, a living specimen of Melocactus viridescens, of Nuttall's MSS., communicated to Messrs. Torrey and Gray, and published by them, in their invaluable work on the plants of North America, as an Echinocactus, The difference of opinion, between these authors and Mr. Nuttall, as to the generic character of this plant, arose, probably, from the assertion of the latter that the flowers proceeded from the upper clusters of spines ; whereas the flowers of Melocactus proceed from the woolly head, char- acteristic of this genus, in which they are usually imbedded. But Nuttall also states that the fruit is smooth. This is a character of Melocactus, the fruit of Echinocactus being generally more or less scaly from the remains of the sepals. PfeifTer says, " rarissime loevis."

The specimen was stated to be about 5 inches high, and 9 inches in diameter ; the spines radiating, very crowded, and transversely striate, four of tliem (Nuttall says three) in each fascicle larger than the rest, but tlie upper and lower spines the largest. The spines somewhat poisonous, and

4^

wounds inflicted by them almost certain to fester. In other respects agreeing with Nuttall's description, but liaving a woolly head, distinct, though small, and depressed in the centre of the plant.

There were no flowers upon the specimen, but the scars left by them existed. On the scars several seeds remained exactly as may be seen in other Melocacti, the fruit of which has dried off*. The scars were behind the fascicles of spines, near the axis, and not in the centre of the fascicle as in Echinocactus, and from their close proximity to the woolly head, were probably immersed in the edge of it. Nuttall had stated that they are seldom laterally clustered ; there were, however, two young plants laterally attached to the specimen.

From these facts IMr. Teschemacher was of opinion that the plant should be restored to the genus Melocadus in which Nuttall originally placed it. Tlie native name of the plant is C hoy as.

Mr.. Teschemacher also exhibited and remarked upon a large collection of ferns and club-mosses, sent to the Society from the Sandwich Islands by George Brown, U. S. Com- missioner.

Dr. Gould, in behalf of the Committee to whom was re- ferred the Communication from the Association of American Naturalists and Geologists concerning nomenclature, re- ported its approval of the code of rules recommended by that body, with some suggestions of amendment. The Com- mittee was directed to communicate their report, with the suggestions, to the Association.

Dr. C. T. Jackson reported upon the copper ores of Cuba presented by Mr. George Ditson.

A letter was read from Prof. Agassiz, of Neufchatel, an- nouncing his intention of visiting this country, and of bring- ing with him a large collection of fossils, and other specimens of foreign natural history, to exchange for North American productions.

46

Letters from Ezra Weston and George Ditson, accom- panying donations, were also read.

T}ie following gentlemen were elected members : Lemuel Stanwood ; Franklin H. Story, Jun. ; Henry G. Andrews ; George B. Blake ; Thomas C. Amory, Jun. ; Waldo Flint ; George H. Kuhn ; and Joseph Hobbins, M. D.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Large specimen of Mytilus from Monterey, California. By J. E. Teschemacher.

Numerous bottles of reptiles and other animals, from Surinam. By Dr. F. W. Cragin., of Surinam.

An engraved portrait, in a frame, of Sacaze-Gaston, a self- taught botanist, of the department of Basses-Pyrenees, France. By Ezra Weston.

June 18, 1845. The President in the Chair.

Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jun., remarked that among the birds of Surinam lately received from Dr. Cragin, he had noticed,

Himantopus nigrocollis, The black-backed stilt, Anhinga Caj'olinensis, The black-bellied darter, which are also natives of the United States.

He had also recently procured in the market Scolopax noveboracensis, the read -breasted snipe, in its winter plu- mage, in which it very rarely occurs in this region.

Dr. Jeffries Wyman mentioned that among the specimens presented by Dr. Cragin, there were two of monstrosities. He proposed that these should be deposited with the Society for Medical Improvement, whose collection of monstrosities,

47

exhibited anatomically, he described as surpassing, in extent and value, any of a similar kind in this country, or even in Europe, with the exception of that at Berlin. It was then

Voted, That the specimens be deposited with tlie Society of Medical Improvement, in the name and as the donation of Dr. Cragin, and that Dr. Cragin be informed of the dis- position thus made of them.

Dr. Wyman made some observations upon a specimen of Simla pit hecia received from Dr. Cragin.

Edward Winslow, Jacob Sleeper, Joseph M. Wightman, Paschal P. Pope, and Samuel Austin, Jun., were elected members of the Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds. 4to. Part. xiv. Audubon Fund.

Hooker, W. I. Genera Fiticum. Parts x, xi, xii. Courtis Fund.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History. No. 100. June, 1845. The same.

Report of Commmissioner of Patents for 1844. Svo. Wash- ington, 1845. From Charles Slodder.

July 2, 1845. The President in the Chair.

Dr. D. H. Storer read a description of a hitherto un- described species of fish, received from Mr. S. C. Clark, of Chicago, with drawings taken from the living fish.

Etheostoma c^rulea. Body oblong. Head slightly gibbous anterior to the eyes, which are prominent. When alive, reddish

48

above, orange-colored upon the lower portions of the sides, with nine or ten transverse blue bands, which are not perceptible through the red upon the back. Anterior dorsal yellow, margined with blue ; posterior dorsal with a longitudinal blue band at its base and margin ; ventral, anal and caudal fins, bluish ; pectorals light yellow. A blue blotch upon the cheeks.

Rays. D. 10, 13 ; P. 13 ; V. 1, 5 ; A. 9 ; C. 16.

Length, 2^- inches. Fox River, Illinois.

Dr. Storer, also read descriptions of the following species of fishes, received, together with drawings, from Mr. Charles A. Hentz, of Florence, Alabama.

Leuciscus croceus. Body oblong, convex in front of the dor- sal fin. Lateral line straight. Head large. All upper part of body greenish ; throat flesh-colored. An indistinct brown band runs through the centre of the sides from the operculum to the base of the tail ; at its termination is a small black blotch. Sur- face covered with a slimy secretion. Fins orange.

Rays. D. 8 ; P. 14 ; V. 8 ; A. 7 ; C. 19.

Length, 3J- inches. Alabama.

L. PROLiXDS. Body much elongated. Head flattened above. Lateral line descends obliquely to a point above posterior ex- tremity of the pectorals, thence pursues a straight course to the tail. Top of head brown, with numerous minute tubercles ; back greenish. Upper part of sides blue with lilac tints, lower part white. Dorsal fin brown, the others yellowish.

D. 9 ; P. 14 ; V. 8 ; A. 9 ; C. 16.

Length, 4 inches. Alabama.

L. oBEsus. Body short. Head large. Abdomen convex. Dorsal ridge green ; sides yellow, with deep lilac intermixed, so as to appear like a longitudinal band of the latter color ; lower part of sides bluish ; top of head fuliginous. Pupils black, irides golden. Lateral line assumes the curve of the body.

Length 3^ inches. Florence, Alabama.

L. GiBBosus. Body convex above. All upper parts of body green ; lower part of sides light lilac. Fins greenish-yellow. Opercles light with lilac tints.

Length, 4 inches. Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Etheostoma tessellata. Body oblong. Head gibbous, less

49

than one fourth the length of the body. Lateral line straight. Top of the head and upper portion of the sides, of a greenish- brown color ; eight or ten transverse bluish bands upon the sides. The intervals between these bands are yellowish, and in their centres is a bluish rhomb. A black blotch at the base of the tail. The lips, opercles and rays of the first dorsal, gamboge yellow. Caught in running water.

D. 12, 13; P. 13 ; V. 6 ; A. 12 ; C. 17.

Length, 3 inches. Florence, Alabama.

Etheosto.-\ia cinerea. Body, oblong, compressed. Head gibbous directly over the eyes. The upper portion of the sides of a light yellow color, crossed longitudinally by three or four cinereous interrupted narrow bands, one or two of which com- mence at the snout, the others arise back of the head, and are lost anterior to the tail. Beneath these bands, is a series of lon- gitudinally arranged oval blotches, of a similar color, and from these blotches descend, obliquely, backwards and downwards to the abdomen, narrow, cinereous lines. Lower portion of sides yellowish white. First dorsal margined with red ; second dorsal and anal variegated with red. Caught in deep, still water.

D. 11, 13 ; P. 15 ; V. 6 ; A. 10 ; C. 17.

Length, 3 to 4 inches. Florence, Alabama.

A paper, by Dr. J. P. Kirtland, supplementary to his former papers, was read, containing descriptions of the fishes of Ohio, in which the following new species occurred.

ExoGLossuM DUBiUM. Head somewhat elongated ; eyes small, prominent ; upper-jaw projects two lines beyond the lower, which is small, semicircular, and mosdy concealed by the projection of the upper when the mouth is closed ; lips circular, the lower re- flected after the manner of the Catostomi, only smaller and less fleshy. Body gibbous on the back, before the dorsal fin cylin- drical, slightly compressed on the sides. Abdomen full. Scales small oval. Dorsal and anal fins, trapezoidal ; caudal fin bilobed, the upper lobe acuminate, the lower obtuse. Pectoral fin fal- cate, subovate.

Color. Irides golden yellow, head and back olive, operculum iridescent, sides dusky, abdomen white, fins fulvous.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 7 JULY, 1845.

50

Lengthy from 4 to 6 inches. Hob. Yellow-Creek, Poland, Trumbull Co., Ohio.

D. 8 ; C. 20 ; A. 7 ; V. 8 ; P. 14.

Mr. James D. Dana, of New Haven, corresponding mem- ber, made some interesting remarks concerning the growth of corals, madrepores, sponges, &c., derived from his own observations during the late exploring expedition. At his request, the Society voted to allow him the use of any speci- mens in their collection, to aid him in illustrating and perfect- ing his forthcoming work on the corals and other allied families, with the privilege of removing them to his own residence.

Dr. Storer made some remarks on a specimen of the ray family, Myliobatis guttata, a beautifully preserved specimen of which was presented by John Tyler, Jun.

George Heaton, M. D. ; George Hayward, Jun., M. D. ; Edward Hall, M. D. ; Abiel Chandler ; S. N. Dickinson, were elected members.

Rev. William Dean, Missionary to China ; M. W. Dicke- son, M. D., Natchez, Mississippi ; B. C. L. Wailes, Wash- ington, Mississippi ; Joseph Leidy, M. D., Philadelphia, were elected corresponding members of the Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Audubon and Bachman. Quadrupeds of N. America. Folio Plates 56 to 60. Subscribers.

Von Martius. Systema Materise Medicae Vegetabilis Brasili ensis. 8vo pamph. Lipsise, 1843. From Asa Gray.

Brisseau de Mirbel. Anatomische und Physiologische Unter suchungen iiber den Stamm der Dattelpalme. 4to pamph. 1843 From the same.

Von Martius, C. F. P. Bericht iiber das Guano. 8vo pamph From the same.

51

July 16, 1845.

Mr. Binney, President, in the Chair.

Dr. D. H. Storer read a description of a fish from Ala- bama river, forwarded, with a drawing, by Charles A. Hentz, Florence, Alabama.

P^ciLiA OLiVACEA. Body oblong, head flattened above. All upper portion of the body olive-colored, sprinkled with minute black dots ; a light spot on the top of the head ; a broad black band, commencing at the angle of the jaws, is continued the whole length of the body to the caudal rays ; throat and abdomen white. Fins yellowish green. Caudal rounded, spotted like the upper portion of the body. Caught at all seasons, swimming on the top of the water, catching at floating objects. Commonly called Top minnow.

D. 9 ; P. 13 ; V. 6 ; A. 12 ; C. 19.

Length 2^ inches. Florence, Alabama.

Dr. Storer mentioned that he had recently obtained a specimen of Prionotus tribulus, Mitch., from the waters of Massachusetts Bay. He had never before been able to ob- tain authentic evidence of the existence of this fish in Mas- sachusetts. The specimen was presented to the Society by the Hon. Daniel Webster, who procured it in an early morn- ing visit to the Boston market, where his accurate knowledge of our fishes enabled him at once to distinguish it as a spe- cies he had never before seen. It was taken north of Cape Cod.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson exhibited a collection of marine ob- jects and fossils, collected by him during a recent visit to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

Dr. Jeflfries Wyman stated that, while examining micro- scopically the structure of Actinia, he had noticed, in the extremities of the tentacles, the existence of minute spiculae, having an elongated form slightly curved, with the extremi- ties rounded. He had found similar spiculae existing in

62

nearly all the tissues of the body, especially in the integu- ments, and in the coats of the stomach. They were diiTused through the tissues in the same manner as the spiculse in sponges and other allied substances.

A paper, by Joseph Leidy, M. D., of Philadelphia, cor- responding member, on the Anatomy of Littorina anguli- fera, was read. It was accompanied by drawings, and was referred to the Committee of Publication.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson stated that, when recently at Nan- tucket, he had examined, as well as he could, on the spot, the anatomy of several specimens of swell-fish, Tetraodon turgidus, and he had reason to suppose, contrary to the opinion of others, that the part of the animal which is in- flated, is truly the stomach. The observations, however, were made under unfavorable circumstances, and the result being unexpected, he desired not to commit himself as to this opinion, until he could have an opportunity of a more careful investigation.

August 6, 1845. Dr. A. A. Gould in the Chair.

Dr. D. H. Storer mentioned that he had received a letter from Prof. J. P. Kirtland, of Cleveland, Ohio, dated July 17, 1845, mentioning some facts which might be interesting to ornithologists. At the date of the letter, flocks of the pine- finch, Fringilla pinea, were flying about his garden, and also the Bohemian wax-wing, Bomhycilla garrula, thirty or forty specimens of which had been taken.

Dr. Storer read a letter from Dr. Richard Parnell, author of a prize essay on the fishes of the Frith of Forth, an- nouncing that he was giving his attention to the fishes of the West Indies.

63

DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM.

Fossils from Trenton Falls, New York. By Dr. S. L. Ahbott, A Pelican from Bombay. By Willimn Ballard^ Esq. Specimen of Mcnobranchus. By D. C. Clark, Chicago. A large number of ncsls with eggs. By Mr. Ogden. Skins of Ti/rajinulajlavi-ventris, minima., fusca, acadica, virens and traillii. From Prof. S. F. Baird, Carlisle, Penn. Skin of Picus varius. By Moses Kimhall. Skin of Arclomys monax. By Mr. Ogden.

August 20, 1845.

D. H. Storer, Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. A. A. Gould read descriptions of recent shells col- lected by Mr. John Bartlett in the everglades of Florida.

Unio paludicolus. Testa transversa, ovato-rhomboidea in- equilaterali, antice roiundata ; margine ligamentali arcuata ; natibus prominulis, erosis ; epidermide rufo-castanea ; dentibus cardinalibus obliquis, pyramidatis ; lateraiibus lente arcuatis ; margarita cupreo-coriiscante. Long. If ; alt. -^^j poll.

In shape and size closely resembles TJ. Jieterodon.

Unio papyraceus Testa fragili, valde inequilaterali, trans- verse ovato-oblongata, sub-cylindracea ; postice subrostrata, supra angulata ; natibus parvis, eleganter undulatis ; epidermide levi- gata, luteo-castanea, radiatim lineolata ; cardine invalido ; dente cardinali longitudinali, compressa ; laterali tenui, recta ; margarita argentea. Long. If ; lat. -/jy ; alt. 1 poll-

In shape, delicacy, and even its color, it is not unlike Anod. couperiana, Lea.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson made some remarks upon the skele- ton of a whale recently exhibited in this city, and compared it with the Rorqual du Cap of Cuvier. The individual was taken off the coast of Maine, last July, and the skeleton was prepared and set up with much labor and expense, though by persons totally unacquainted with anatomy.

54

The whole length of the skeleton was said to be 40 feet, and the number of vertebrae was 51, the terminal one having perhaps been lost. The cervical vertebrae were all separate, and so they are in the Rorqual du Cap, excepting a fusion of the upper part of the wings of the second and tiiird. This fusion may have originally existed, and the evidence been apparent in the present specimen ; but Dr. Jackson not being aware of the observation, at the time, in respect of the rorqual, had not given his attention to this point in the skeleton. The number of ribs, on the right side, was thirteen, and on the left side fourteen ; in the rorqual, fourteen on each side. Only one of the baleen plates was exhibited ; this measured only thirty inches in length, although it was said to be one of the longest. The skeleton wanted the bones of the pelvis, and belonged to a female nearly adult.

Rev. E. E. Hale gave a relation of an ascent recently made by him to the top of Mount Katahdin, in Maine.

Mr. Hale found on the summit but eight phanerogamous plants which are not found below that elevation. All of these prove to be common to Katahdin and Mount Washing- ton. Katahdin is nearly one hundred miles farther north than Mount Washington, and the climate of the summits is probably about the same.

The plants referred to are :

Arenaria greenlandica, Empetmim nigrum,

Solidago virgaurea [alpina,] Juncus trifidus,

Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex washingtoniana,

Diapensia lapponica, Prenanthes thesoidea.

Mr. Hale also observed the Lycopodium anotinum.

Dr. J. Wyman announced some observations recently made by him, on the perforation of shells by the animal of Natica heros.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Catalogue of Plants in the Cabinet of the Providence Franklin Society. From S. T. Olne.y.

55

Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Nos. 101, 102 and 103. Courtis Fund.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds. 4to. No. 16. Auduhon Fund.

Sept. S, 1845. The President in the Chair.

Dr. S. Cabot, Jr., c6mmunicated a hst of birds observed by him, during a late visit to the Magalloway River, one of the sources of the Androscroggin, including only such as he had ascertained to have their breeding places in that vicinity. These were :

Mergus serrafor, Anas sponsa,

" cucidlatus, Fuligula clangula.

Anas obscura,

He also exhibited a specimen of Orismia canivetii, Les- son, concerning which he had lately noticed a remark in M. Lesson's work, to the effect that the species is very rare, and that the author had never seen a perfect specimen. Dr. Cabot procured his in Yucatan.

Prof. Asa Gray read a paper prepared by himself and Dr. George Engelmann, entitled, " Plantce LindhehneriancB : an Enumeration of the Plants collected in Texas, and dis- tributed to Subscribers, by F. Lindheimer ; with Remarks, and Descriptions of New Species.^^ It was referred to the Publishing Committee. In it the following new genera and species were characterized :

New Genera Proposed.

Thysanella. Floras dioico-polygami. Perigonium penta- phyllum petaloideum ; phyllis omnibus erectis margine scariosis et eroso-fimbriatis, duobus exterioribus cordato-sagittatis post anthesin auclis, interioribus minoribus ovato-lanceolatis, pectinato- fimbriatis. Stamina 8 : filamenta filiformia perigonium adse- quantia. Ovarium (infertile) trigonum : styli 3 filiformes ; stig- matibus simplicibus. — Herba ramosa, glabra (bipedalis) in

66

arenosis Georgise vigens, caulibus virgaiis strictis ; foliis angusto- linearibus elongatis acutatis striatulis sessilibus ; ochreis truncatis setis capillaribus longissime barbatis ; floribus (incarnatis) race- moso-spicatis ; spicis solitariis vel geminis, paniculatis, dense imbricatim ochreato-brachteatis ; ochreis oblique truncatis in acumen aristiforme productis ; pedicellis in medio articulatis.

Brazoria. Calyx late campanulatus, bilabiatus (labio superiore breviter 3-lobo, inferiore 2-lobo,) per anthesin inflatus, post an- thesin e surrectione labii inferioris clausus, indistincte nervosus, reticulato-venosus. Corolla tubo longe exsuto, fauce inflata ; limbi bilabiati labio superiore erecto subgaleato breviter bilobo vel integro, inferiore profunde trifido, lobis rotundatis patentibus seu recurvis. Stamina 4, sub labio superiore adscendentia : filamentum supra medium corollas adnata, ubi pilosa, inferioribus eminentibus : antherse approximate ; loculis distinctis divaricanti- bus ad rimam pi. m. ciliatis. Stylus glaber, apice eequaliter bifido, lobis subulatis. Achenia sicca. — Herbse annuse, Texanse, facie foliis et inflorescentia Physostegise. Corolla incarnata, fauce luteola.

Species

Ranunculus texensis,

" trachyspermus,

Hypericum gymnanthum,

Sida lindheimeri,

Gaura lindheimeri,

Helianthus prcecox,

Cuscuta cuspidata,

Solanum texense,

Scutellaria cardyophylla,

Monarda lindheimeri,

Pilinophytum lindheimeri,

Sagittaria stolonifera,

Spiranthes vernalis,

Scilla angusta,

Spartina junciformis,

Scirpus olneyi,

Vesicaria auriculata,

Mammilaria similis, " sulcata,

Described.

Echinocactus setispinus,

" lindheimeri,

Cereus csespitosus, Asclepias lindheimeri. Gonolobus cynanchoides, Lithospermum breviflorum, Eutoca strictiflora, " patuliflora, Brazoria scuttellarioides, Dipteracanthus micranthus, " drummondii,

" linearis,

" nudiflorus.

Polygonum cristatum, Arislolochia longiflora, Euphorbia arkansana,

" bicolor,

Aphora humilis, Tragia brcvispica, Sisirincum minus.

57

Prof. Gray exhibited specimens of a new manner of en- graving on stone, well adapted for botanical and other natural history illustrations. The cost was stated to be very low compared with copper-plate engravings.

A paper containing an elaborate description and drawings of the anatomy of the animal of Helix alholabris, Say, by Joseph Leidy, M. D., of Philadelphia, Corresponding Mem- ber, was read, and referred to the Publishing Committee.

A letter from Dr. C. T. Jackson, dated at Copper Harbor, Lake Superior, Aug. 12, 1845, was read. Dr. J. described a large block of native copper discovered by Major Camp- bell on the lake shore, about 40 miles west of Keweenan Point. It measured 3 feet 4 inches in length, by 2 feet 5 inches in width, and 7 to 10 inches in thickness, and weighed about 2000 lbs. Its surface is deeply cut by grooves of abrasion, and is covered with fine drift scratches. It was found among loose blocks of sienite on the beach, nearly covered by gravel. Dr. J. considered it to be a valuable geological specimen illustrative of drift phenomena.

Dr. J. also related some particulars concerning the vein of black oxide of copper near Fort Wilkins. The ore occurs in bunches 5 or 6 feet long, and generally S inches thick in the middle. The bunches run out into dead vein-stone of cal- careous spar. The principal ore in the mine was stated to be the black siliceous oxide, mixed with or covered by chry- socolla or green hydrous silicate of the oxide of copper. Laumonite and analcime abound also in the vein. Dr. Jack- son supposed the chemical action producing the various minerals to be as follows. They resulted from the action of lime on gelatinous silicate of alumina. The oxide of copper was precipitated from the gelatinous silicate by the action of lime, and black silicate resulted from the influence of heated water, while green silicate formed when the water was cold : when lime predominated, the black oxide was precipitated pure ; but when there was a deficiency of it, the silex combined with the oxide of copper. Laumonite

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H, 8 OCT. 1845.

68

was formed by the combination of silica, alumina and lime in water. The laws governing this action, he considered to be perfectly obvious to the chemist.

A letter from M. Lienard, dated Port Louis, Mauritius, June 25, 1844, recently received by the hands of Mr. Samuel, was read. It announced that M. Lienard had sent by Mr. S. specimens of Pedum, and a head of the Histi'iophorus iiidicus, for the Society. These specimens, however, were not forthcoming. M. L. intimated his in- tention of sending a box of shells, and several of his own publications concerning the meteorology of Mauritius.

A letter from Mr. Tuomey, containing a list of fossil shells sent by him to the Society, was read.

The following gentlemen were elected corresponding members : S. C. Clark, Chicago, Illinois ; A. Clapp, New Albany, Indiana.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Fossils from Gay Head. From J. B. S. Jackson. A box of fossil shells, from the tertiary strata near Petersburg, Virginia. From M. Tuomey.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Audubon and Bachman. Quadrupeds of N. America. Plates 50 to 55. Subscribers.

Ruschenberger's First Books of Natural History. From the Author.

SepL 17, 1845. The President in the Chair.

A letter from Rev. Francis Mason, missionary in Tavoy, Burmah, was read. It contained notices of the Zoology of

59

that region, and particularly of the habits, localities, &c., of the animals of the land shells formerly sent by him, of which he gave also the native names. He announced that he had collected a number of species not previously seen by him.

A letter from A. G. Salisbury, dated Syracuse, N. Y., Sept. 4, 1845, accompanying specimens of sulphate of Hme, was read. The specimens were described to be artificial crystallizations of tiie salt of lime obtained from the cisterns of salt-works, in which tlie brine, before being drawn off for evaporation, is settled by the aid of steam. They adhere to the sides of the cistern. The specimens themselves had not arrived.

Dr. J. Wyman read descriptions and presented drawings of two species of Linguatula, which were referred to the Publishing Committee. The two species described are :

Linguatula armillata. Body cylindrical, slightly flattened on its anterior face, and surrounded by about 20 distinct rings, separated from each other by a wide interval.

From the intestines of PyUion hivittata.

L. clavata. Cylindrical, largest in its anterior fourth, dimin- ishing towards the tail which is slightly dilated. Tegument with indistinct annuli, not imbricated, and deficient at both extremities. Anus terminal. From the lungs of a South American Boa. It may prove to be Linguatula suhcylindrica of Diesing.

A paper, by Dr. Joseph Leidy, of Philadelphia, Cor- responding Member, was read On the Existence of the Sack of the Dart and of the Dart in several Species of North American pneumobranchiate Mollusks. It was referred to the Publishing Committee.

Dr. Leidy stated that he had recently dissected two specimens of Tehennophorus caroUniensis, in which he had the good fortune to discover the sack of the dart, with the contained dart. The sack was found situated at the junction of the neck of the oviduct ^vith the spermatheca, was about 3 lines long and 2 in thickness, muscular in structure, and lined internally with mucous

60

membrane. The sack is the ccecum marked g in Dr. Wyman's plate of a dissection of the same animal published in the Society's Journal. On the bottom of the sack, in both individuals, there was a papillary eminence, to the summit of which, in one indi- vidual, was attached the dart. It was about 2 lines in length, shaped like a cock's spur, the point being bent upwards towards the cavity of the neck of the oviduct. It is hollow, and composed of carbonate of lime, effervescing and soluble in weak chloro- hydric acid.

Dr. Leidy also stated that he had repeatedly seen the dart in Planorbis parvus, but had sought for it in vain in other species.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Collection of fossils from the limestone strata near Louisville, Ky. From Jedediah Cohb, 31. D., Louisville.

Fossils from the upper Missouri. From T. Sprague, Hingham.

Two shrew moles, Scalops aquaticus ; one in while pelage. From Joseph Barratt, M. D., Middletown, Conn.

October I, 1845. Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jun., in the Chair.

Dr. J. B. S. Jackson read a paper on the fossil bones of Mastodon giganteus, disinterred from a marl pit on Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey, and now exhibiting in this city.

Dr. Jackson remarked, that the locality where the bones were procured, is fully described in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, D c, 1844. The chief point of interest is the mounted skeleton, this being far more perfect than any that has yet been seen, though less so, it is said, and altogether less interesting, than the one now exhibited in New York ; the feet, the sternum and a few of the caudal vertebrae only are

61

wanting. Several skeletons were found in the same bog, and, according to the owners who dug them out, and who are evidently trustwortiiy men, they were all found lying in a confused state, except the one in question, which was found at some distance from the others, upon its side, the bones being in a natural and undisturbed position. Supposing, then, that all the bones belonged to the same individual, and, also, from the soundness of their structure, that none of the larger vertebra) are wanting, this speci- men shows what seems never before to have been observed, the true number of the dorsal vertebrce in Mastodon giganteus, Cuvier remarked (Ossemens Fossiles) that there were 19, but perhaps, said he, one may be wanting, and then the number would be the same as in the elephant ; now in the present case there are just 20. The skeleton of the so called Missourium has been re- constructed under the direction of Prof. Owen, and put up in the British Museum as that of a Mastodon, and, from the full-length drawing which Mr. Lyell had made of it, and which he has recently brought out with him to use in his lectures before the Lowell Institute, it appears that on the left side, this being the front view, there are but 18 ribs, these last, in a perfect skeleton, of course, determining the number of the dorsal vertebra?. Of the cervical vertebra? of the skeleton now here, there are 7, of the lumbar 3, of the sacral 3, and of the caudal 23, besides those that are wanting, the tail probably descending to the knee-joint or below it, and being considerably longer than it is represented in the drawing above referred to. The length from the inter- maxillaries to the pelvis, inclusive, is 14 feet, and the greatest height 10 feet 8 inches ; but much allowance must be made for these measurements. The skeleton is that of a young adult, and, from the small size of the proper tusks, and the absence of any in the lower jaw, the individual was probably a female, the length of the tusks beyond the intermaxillaries being 25 inches, and the greatest circumference 11 inches. A curious fact is mentioned by the owners, that, about in the situation of the stomach, a bushel or more of small twigs, about an inch in length, were found, most of which fell into a powder on exposure to the air, though a small specimen was preserved, and may be seen in the collection ; the same has been observed in some other cases.

There are also in the collection two other crania which are immature, but perfect, except the tusks, and of these Dr. J. gave

62

the measurements and the internal capacity, this last being 282 cubic inches in one, and 287 in the other ; the cranium of an African elephant, in the Society's Cabinet, measured 338 inches. The next specimen noticed was the lower jaw of a young indi- vidual, showing the alveoli for the inferior tusks, 20 lines in depth, and about f of an inch in diameter at the outlet.

Prof. Owen states that in the M. giganieus the first and second molars have two ridges, the third and fourth have three, and the last has four or five, {Annals of Nat. Hist. vol. xi.) ; and it may be inferred that he regards five as the whole number of teeth. Now, the present collection demonstrates that, in the lower jaw at least, the true number is six, the two first having two perfect ridges, the three next having three, and the last four, with a marked talon, or single point at the posterior extremity. The lower jaw of the calf, with the three others belonging to the crania above men- tioned and to the skeleton, form a series in which the correspond- ing teeth are satisfactorily made out, and, as the calf had never shed one, and the skeleton had evidently got its last, we may be sure that we have the whole number. In the calf there are three teeth, and one in the socket, the first measuring \^ inches in length and | of an inch transversely ; with regard to the second tooth, it should be stated that, besides the two proper ridges, there is a third which should perhaps be included, though imperfectly developed, and having no corresponding fang. The youngest cranium has two teeth with three ridges, and one in the sockets, the oldest three, with three ridges on the right side, and one in the socket, the left anterior having fallen out ; and the skeleton one with three ridges, and one with four and a talon, this last tooth being 6f- inches in length. The upper molars correspond with those in the lower jaw, so far as observed, but as the cranium of the calf was not procured, the existence of the two first teeth can only be inferred. Amongst the loose bones which make up the remainder of this collection, is a three-ridged tooth, evidently from the socket, as it is not at all worn, showing the formation of the crown before the fangs have begun to develop. Two styloid bones arc also seen, about 8 inches in length, and these have never before been observed, so far as Dr. J. is aware.

A very large tooth of a Mastodon^ brought from Burmah, now in the Society's Collection, has seven distinct ridges and a talon.

63

A letter from James Brown, Esq., accompanying a box of British moths presented by Mrs. B. F. Foster, was read.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

A box of British moths. Collected and presented by Mrs. B. F. Foster, of Chelsea, England, through James Brown, Esq.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Hooker, W. J. Species Filicum. Parts i. ii. iii. 8vo. London. Courtis Fund.

Lyell, Ch. Travels in North America. 2 vols. 12mo. From the same.

Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 2 parts. From the Entomol. Society.

Catalogue of the Shells of the United States, in the Cabinet of C. M. Wheatley. 12mo pamphlet. From the Author.

October 15, 1845.

D. H. Storer, M. D., Vice President, in the Chair.

Dr. S. Cabot, Jun., stated that a specimen of Silvia agilis, Wilson, a bird not known to have been met with before in this State, had been shot at Brookhne.

The second part of the fifth volume of the Society's Journal was announced to have been published, and copies were placed on the table.

A list of the species of the short-tailed crabs, Dec^poda BRACHYURA, in the coliection made by Mr. Bartlett on the South- ern shores of the peninsula of Florida, between Cape Florida and Charlotte Harbor, and the adjacent keys, as prepared by Dr.

64

Lewis R. Gibbes, of Charleston, S. C, was transmitted by Dr. Binney. The list is made in aid of our knowledge of the geo- graphical distribution of the Crustaceans.

Mithrax hispidus, Plerbst,

" sculptus, Lam., Zantho mercenaria, Say, Lupea Seboe, M. Edwards,

" dicantha. Leach, Dromia lator, Parra, Albunea symnista, Fab., Grapsus lividus, M. Edwards,

" cruentatus, Lat., Ranilia muricata, M. Edwards, Eriphia gonagra. Fab.,

Pericera cornuta, Herbst, " bicornuta, Lat., Sesarma cinerea, Bosc,

" Pisonii, M. Edwards, Calappa marmorata. Fab., Ocypoda arenaria, Lat., Panopeus Herbstii, M. Edwards, Hepatus fasciatus, Say, Libinia dubia, M. Edwards, Gelasimus vocans. Say, Cardisoma guanhumi, Marg.,

Chorinus heros, Herbst,

together with several other undetermined species.

Drs. Gould and Cabot were appointed a Committee to consider the expediency of memoriahzing the Navy Depart- ment on the subject of employing a naturalist on board the vessel commissioned for the survey of the coast of Oregon and Columbia River.

Joseph Barratt, M. D., of Middletown, Conn., was elected a corresponding member.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Cuvier, G. Lecons d' Anatomic Comparee. 2d edit. Paris. tome 8. Courtis Fund.

Virlet D'Aoust. Memoire sur les filons en general. Pamph. 8vo. Paris, 184L From the Author.

Virlet d'Aoust. Notes sur quelques Phenomenes de Deplace- mens dans les Rochers, etc., etc. Pamph. 8vo. Paris, 184L From the same.

Jacquemont, Victor. Voyage dans I'lnde pendant les annees 1828 a 184L 6 tomes. 4lo. Paris, 184L Auduhon Fund.

65

November 5, 1845.

The President in the Chair.

A communication from Prof. Jeffries Wyman, on the sub- ject of the fossil skeleton recently exhibited in New York as that of a sea-serpent under the name of Hydrarchos Silli- mani, was read.

Prof. Wyman stated that, during a recent visit to New York, he had an opportunity of examining the fossil remains exhibited in Broadway under the name of Hydrarchos Sillimani, and pur- porting to be those of an extinct marine serpent. These remains consist of a head and vertebral column, measuring in all 114 feet, of a few ribs attached to the thoracic portion of the latter, and of parts of supposed paddles.

I. The head. This is five feet seven inches long, or one twenti- eth of the entire length of the whole animal. That part purport- ing to be the cranium proper, and which serves more especially to protect the brain, consists apparently of a single bone, and is destitute of any visible sutures, is a little more than one foot long, about five inches wide, and has, attached laterally by cement, two bones forming incomplete zygomatic arches. Inferiorly it is so much covered with cement that little or nothing can be seen of its surface. Posteriorly there are no condyles, nor any fora- men for the passage of the spinal marrow ; in fact, no foramina are anywhere visible. This absence of sutures and foramina naturally leads to the supposition that it is not the true cranium, but may be some bone or fragment not in its natural position. The size of the supposed cranium is obviously too small for lodging the brain of an animal 114 feet long, inasmuch as its cavity, if it had one, could exceed but little that of the spinal canal which is visible in some of the vertebrae. The upper jaw is narrow and elongated, so that the whole head, with its broad zygomatic arches, has something of the general outline of that of an Ichthyosaurus. The jaw has been crushed by violence, as is obvious from the broken edges of the pieces ; and, in one instance at least, a fragment, containing a tooth, is in an inverted position.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. II. 9 NOV. 1845.

66

These are all held together by the natural matrix in which the whole was originally imbedded. Near the union of the upper jaw with the cranium, are some sutures, but not sufficiently ex- posed to enable one to identify them. At the tip of the jaw, there is a fragment of bone without teeth or alveoli, and differing in the appearance of its texture from the bones adjoining; this is, probably, a fragment which has found its way to its present lo- cality by accident, and is retained there by the matrix. The lower jaw corresponds with the upper in its elongated form, but the condyles and processes are wanting.

The teeth, organs of great importance in determining the natural affinities of any animal, are many of them in a complete state of preservation, and some so completely exposed as to be studied with great ease. Through Dr. Koch's kindness. Prof. W. was enabled to give them a satisfactory examination. The crowns are laterally compressed, of a somewhat triangular form, but deeply indented on the edges, and all which were sufficiently exposed for examination, were implanted into the double alveoli of the jaw by means of double roots. Here is the most positive evidence that the individual to which they belonged was no reptile, but a warm-blooded, mammiferous animal ; for, according to the odontological rule, no animal not mammiferous ever pos- sesses a tooth with double roots, implanted into double alveoli or sockets. The teeth of sharks are no exception, for, although there exists in them an approximation to a double root, they are attached to the jaw by ligament only.

II. Vertebral column. This consists of a series of bones which Gould never have belonged to the same individual, as is obvious from the fact that they manifest different degrees of ossification, and must, therefore, have belonged to individuals of different ages. The plates attached to the extremities cf the bodies of the vertebrae are, in some instances, perfectly coossified, in others not, or, in some eases, detached, leaving the imperfectly ossified surface exposed. In some of the vertebral bones the spinal canal is represented by a cast of its cavity, which, as already stated, would nearly equal the diameter of that of the supposed cranium, which it could never do in a warm-blooded animal, especially a cetacean, where the brain acquires a high degree of development. The bodies of the vertebra? and the ai'ticulating processes, do not

i

67

present any of the characters of an ophidian reptile, the ball and socket joint of the bodies and the double articulating processes being in all cases wanting. The processes of the vertebra?, how- ever, are in general so imperfect, that this last assertion must be taken with some limitation. It is also worthy of notice that some of the vertebra? have the appearance of having been imbedded in a matrix, while others are so clean and comparatively recent in their appearance, that it seems impossible that they should have been thus imbedded.

III. Ribs. These are few in number, and are not supposed to be anything more than an incomplete set. Some of the more perfect ones present two articulating surfaces, one at the head and the other at the tubercle, like those of most animals, but entirely unlike those of the serpents. They are remarkable for their flattened, club-shaped extremities, to which there is, however, something analogous in the herbivorous cetaceans.

IV. Paddles. These are composed of two kinds of pieces ; one of which possibly consists of the long bones, naturally form- ing a part of an anterior extremity ; but which he could not identify on a cursory examination. The other pieces consist not of bones, but of casts of the cavities of a earner ated shell, a species of Nautilus, of which specimens, brought from the State of Ala- bama, and now in the Cabinet of the Academy of Natural Sciences, were shown to Prof. W. by Dr. Morton, of Philadelphia. These could not fail to strike the eye at a glance, when examined by any one acquainted with the forms of fossil nautiloid shells.

From the facts above stated. Prof. Wyman considered it to be evident to those who have any acquaintance with fossil osteology, 1st, that these remains have never belonged to one and the same individual ; 2d, that the anatomical characters of the teeth indi- cate that they are not those of a reptile, but of a warm-blooded mammal.

As to the precise species to which they belonged, it is not so easy to decide. The late Dr. Harlan, of Philadelphia, to whom the fossil osteologist is so much indebted, several years since, described some bones and a portion of a jaw, brought from Ala- bama, which he considered as those of a reptile, and to which he gave the name of Basilosaurus, believing that they belonged to a gigantic Saurian. The subsequent examinations of Prof. Owen,

66

These are all held together by the natural matrix in which the whole was originally imbedded. Near the union of the upper jaw with the cranium, are some sutures, but not sufficiently ex- posed to enable one to identify them. At the tip of the jaw, there is a fragment of bone without teeth or alveoli, and differing in the appearance of its texture from the bones adjoining; this is, probably, a fragment which has found its way to its present lo- cality by accident, and is retained there by the matrix. The lower jaw corresponds with the upper in its elongated form, but the condyles and processes are wanting.

The teeth, organs of great innportance in determining the natural affinities of any animal, are many of them in a complete state of preservation, and some so completely exposed as to be studied with great ease. Through Dr. Koch's kindness. Prof. W. was enabled to give them a satisfactory examination. The crowns are laterally compressed, of a somewhat triangular form, but deeply indented on the edges, and all which were sufficiently exposed for examination, were implanted into the douhle alveoli of the jaw ly means of douhle roots. Here is the most positive evidence that the individual to which they belonged was no reptile, but a warm-blooded, mammiferous animal ; for, according to the odontological rule, no animal not mammiferous ever pos- sesses a tooth with double roots, implanted into double alveoli or sockets. The teeth of sharks are no exception, for, although there exists in them an approximation to a double root, they are attached to the jaw by ligament only.

II. Vertebral column. This consists of a series of bones which could never have belonged to the same individual, as is obvious from the fact that they manifest different degrees of ossification, and must, therefore, have belonged to individuals of different ages. The plates attached to the extremities cf the bodies of the vertebree are, in some instances, perfecdy coossified, in others not, or, in some cases, detached, leaving the imperfectly ossified surface exposed. In some of the vertebral bones the spinal canal is represented by a cast of its cavity, which, as already stated, would nearly equal the diameter of that of the supposed cranium, which it could never do in a warm-blooded animal, especially a cetacean, where the brain acquires a high degree of development. The bodies of the vertebrae and the ai'ticulating processes, do not

67

present any of the characters of an ophidian reptile, the ball and socket joint of the bodies and the double articulating processes being in all cases wanting. The processes of the vertebra?, how- ever, are in general so imperfect, that this last assertion must be taken with some limitation. It is also worthy of notice that some of the vertebra? have the appearance of having been imbedded in a matrix, while others are so clean and comparatively recent in their appearance, that it seems impossible that they should have been thus imbedded.

III. Rihs. These are few in number, and are not supposed to be anything more than an incomplete set. Some of the more perfect ones present two articulating surfaces, one at the head and the other at the tubercle, like those of most animals, but entirely unlike those of the serpents. They are remarkable for their flattened, club-shaped extremities, to which there is, however, something analogous in the herbivorous cetaceans.

IV. Paddles. These are composed of two kinds of pieces ; one of which possibly consists of the long bones, naturally form- ing a part of an anterior extremity ; but which he could not identify on a cursory examination. The other pieces consist not of bones, b'Jt of casts of the cavities of a camerated shell, a species of Nautilus, of which specimens, brought from the State of Ala- bama, and now in the Cabinet of the Academy of Natural Sciences, were shown to Prof. W. by Dr. Morton, of Philadelphia. These could not fail to strike the eye at a glance, M'hen examined by any one acquainted with the forms of fossil nautiloid shells.

From the facts above stated. Prof. Wyman considered it to be evident to those who have any acquaintance with fossil osteology, 1st, that these remains have never belonged to one and the same individual ; 2d, that the anatomical characters of the teeth indi- cate that they are not those of a reptile, but of a warm-blooded mammal.

As to the precise species to which they belonged, it is not so easy to decide. The late Dr. Harlan, of Philadelphia, to whom the fossil osteologist is so much indebted, several years since, described some bones and a portion of a jaw, brought from Ala- bama, which he considered as those of a reptile, and to which he gave the name of Basilosaiirits, believing that they belonged to a gigantic Saurian. The subsequent examinations of Prof. Owen,

68

however, demonstrated that they were not saurian but cetacean bones, and he gave to them the name of Zeiiglodon ceii, the generic name being derived from the peculiar form of the teeth, which consist of two roots yoked together by the crown. The crowns of the teeth which fell under the observation of Prof. Owen, were imperfect, and it is therefore impossible to say how far they are identical with those of the animal of which we have been speaking. The latter do, however, present a complete re- semblance to the teeth described and figured by Prof. Gibbes, of Columbia, S. C, in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, for June, 1845, under the name of Dorudon serratus. These last have been compared by Prof. G. with those of a Zeuglodon at Albany, in the State Cabinet, and in speaking of them, he says, " I was much struck with the similarity in their general characters with those of Dorudon." " The teeth of the Zeuglodon are solid, of a dense structure and very strong, and resembling those of the cetacea ; while the liollowness of those of the Borudon approximate it to the saurians." Other differences of less importance are referred to by Prof. G. The Hydrarclws and Dorudon are unquestionably members of the same genus ; and if the bones at Albany are those of the Zeuglodon^ it is highly probable that it is to this genus that the preceding must be referred. The character of " hollowness" does not appear to be sufficient to establish generic distinctions, unless it can be shown that it is not the result of imperfect development, or that it is not the consequence of the ossification of the teeth being incom- plete. We have not, as yet, a perfect series of the teeth of the Zeuglodon^ and are therefore ignorant what are the varieties of form which such a series would present in different parts of the same jaw. The figures and descriptions of Prof. Gibbes are of great value, being the only perfect representations of individual teeth which have as yet appeared, and it is to be hoped that his future researches may enable him to complete the osteological description of these interesting remains.

A connmunication vi^as received from Lewis R. Gibbes, M. D., of Charleston, S. C, enclosing a Catalogue of the species of Crustaceans contained in the Cabinet of this So- ciety, as recently examined and determined by him. Viz.

69

CATALOGUE

Of the Collection of Crustaceans in the Cabinet of the Boston Society of Natural History. Sept. 1, 1845.

PODOPHTHALMIA. Decapoda.

BRACHYURA.

OXYRHINCA.

I. Stenorhyncus, Lam,

1. plxalangium^ Penn.

II. Inachus. Leach.

2. Scorpio^ F'ab.

3. thoracicits, Roux, male.

III. Libinia, Leach.

4. canaliculata, Sat/, male and fern.

5. dubia, M. Edw.

IV. Pisa, Leach.

6. telraodon, Pcnn., 4 males, 1 fem.

V. Periccra, Lat.

7. cornuta, Parra ?

8. bicornuia, Lat.

VI. Lissa, Leacli.

9. Jissirostra, Say, male.

VII. Maia, Lam.

10. verrucosa, 31. Edw., female

VIII. Miihrax, Leach.

11. hispldu.s, Herbst.

IX. Chorinus, Leach.

12. heros, Herbst.

X. Acanlhonyx, Lat.

13. lunulatus, Lat., male.

XI. Lambrus, Leach.

14. mediterraneus, Rou.t, male.

15. long-imanus, L., male.

XII. Crypiopodia, M. Edw.

16. fornicata, Fab., male.

CYCLOMETOPA.

XIII. Carpilius, Leach.

17. coralliniLS, Pabr., male and f.

XIV. Xantho, Leach.

18. mercenaria, Say.

XV. Pseudocarcinus, M. Edw.

19. Ruviphii, Pabr.

XVI. Plaiycarcinus, Lat.

20. irroratus, Say, male and fem.

XVII. Eriphia, Latr.

21. spinifrons, Herbst, m. and fem.

22. gonagra, Pabr., male and fem.

XVII I. Panopeus, M. Edw.

23. Hcrbstii, M. Edw.

XIX. Carcinus, Leach.

24. mcEnas, Baster, male and fem.

XX. P]at}-onichus, Lat.

2.5. ocellalus, Herbst, male

XXI. Portunus, Fab.

26. Rondelelii, Risso, male.

27. corruiratus, Penn.^m. and fem,

25. pUcatus, Risso, male and fem.

XXII. Lupea, Leach.

29. tranqucburica, Fab. male.

30. Sebcc, M. Edw.

31. dicantha, Lat.

CATOMETOPA.

XXIII. Thelphusa, Lat.

32. indica, Lat., male and female.

XXIV. Cardisoma, Lat.

33. guankumi, Lat., male.

XXV. Boscia, M. Edw.

34. dentata, Lat., female.

XXVI. Grapsus, Lam.

35. pictiis, Lat., male and female.

36. varius, Lat., female.

37. cruentatus, Lat. 3S. lividus, M. Edw.

XXVII. Gecarcinus, Lat.

39. ruricnla, L., male.

40. lateralis, Preni., female.

XXVIII. Gelasimus, Lat.

41. rocans, Lat., male and female. XXIX Ocypoda, Fab.

42. arenaria, Latr., male and fem.

43. rhombea. Fab., female. XXX. Gonoplax, Leach.

44. rhomboides, Fab., male.

70

XXXI. Sesarma, Say.

45. Pisonii, M. Edtc, female.

46. qfricana ?, M. Edw., m. and f.

47. cinerea, Bosc.

XXXII. Plagusia, Lat.

48. squamosa, Herbst, male.

XXXIII. Nautilograpsus, M. Edw.

49. minutus, 'F'ab., male and fern.

OXYSTOMA.

XXXIV. Calappa, Fab.

50. granulata, Li., male and fem.

51. marmorata. Fab.

XXXV. Dorippe, Fab.

52. lanata, Bosc, male.

XXXVI. Flatymera, M. Edw.

53. Gaudichaudii, M. Edw., f. y'ng.

XXXVII. Leucosia, Fab.

54. craniolaris, L., female. XXXV^III. Cymopolia, Roux.

55. Caronii, Roit:v, male and fem. XXXIX. Hepatus, Lat.

56. fosciatiis, Liot., male. XL. Ilia, Leach.

57. nucleus, Herbst, male and fem.

ANOMOURA.

XLI. Dromia, Fab.

58. vulgaris, M. Edw., m. and f.

59. lator, Parra. XLII. Lilhodes.

60. arctica, Lam. XLIII. Remipes, Lat.

61. tcstudinarius. XLIV. Ranilia, M. Edw.-

62. muricata, M. Edw. XLV. Albunea, Fab.

63. symnista. Fab.

XL VI. Hippa, Fab.

64. emerlta, L. XLVII. Pagurus, Fab.

65. Bernhardus, L.

66. granulatus, O'ivier.

67. longicarpus, Say,

68. pollicaris, Say. XLVIII. Cenobita, Lat.

69. Dio.srenes, Lat.

MACROURA.

XLIX. Scyllarus, Fab.

70. sculptus. Lam. ' L. Thenus, Leach.

71. orientalis, Fab. LI. Palinurus, Fab.

72. vulgaris, Lat.

73. argus, Lat. LII. Astacus, Fab.

74. Bartonii, Fab.

75. ajfinis, Say. LIII. Crangon, Fab.

76. septemspinosus. Say.

77. cataphr actus, Oliv.

LIV. Sicyonia, M. Edw.

78. sculpt a, M. Edw. LV. Galathea, Fab.

79. squavimifcra, Leach. LVl. Palemon, Fab.

80. carcinus. Fab.

81. jamaiccnsis, Herbst.

82. scrratus, Pcnn.

83. squilla, L.

84. locusta, Fab. LVII. Peneus, Lat.

85. caramote, Rlsso.

86. setiferus, L.

PODOPHTHALMIA. Stomapoda.

[II.	Squilla, Fab.	LIX. Gonodactylus, Lat
87.	scabricauda, Lat.	91. scyllarus, Fab.
88.	mantis.	92. chirugra, Fab.
89.	dubia, M. Edw.
90.	Desmarestii, Risso.

The specimens labelled as Remipes tcstudinarius, Albunea sijmnista, and Gono- dactylus scyllarus, agree in general with the descriptions given by M. Edwards under those names, but differ in several particulars.

There are also in the Cabinet several undetermined, and probably undescribed, forms.

71

Dr. D. H. Storer made some remarks on a living specimen of Torpedo occidentalism tiie C7'amp-fish or torpedo.

Dr. Storer stated that, since the last meeting of the Society, a living specimen of the cramp-fish or torpedo, Torpedo occiden- dentalis, had been exhibited here, and that he, with Dr. J. B. S. Jackson, had had an opportunity of testing its electrical properties. He visited it while it was still in the well of the vessel in which it had been brought here, and it gave, when lifted upon the wet deck, a very distinct shock. This shock was scarcely perceived if the fish was quiet ; it was most marked when the portion directly over the electrical organs was excited. The most power- ful effect was produced by seizing the tail with one hand, and grasping that portion of the pectoral fins which was supplied with nerves from the fifth pair ; here, quite a shock was perceived in the arms as high as the elbows. If such effects are produced when the fish is removed from its native element, Dr. S. did not doubt that, when struck by a harpoon while in the water, it might have the power to benumb perfectly, but temporarily, the arms of the fisherman employed in its capture. This fish was seen near the shore at Provincetown, the latter part of October, ap- parently benumbed ; and a rope being attached to its tail, it was readily dragged on shore. Although this is undoubtedly a south- ern fish, Dr. S. had never known it to be taken on the eastern coast of Cape Cod, or, in other words, out of Cape Cod Bay. It appears to have been seen, as yet, only on ihe eastern shore of CaJDe Cod Bay, between Provincetown Harbor and Orleans, an extent of about thirty miles : and is found in greater numbers upon the east- ern shore of Long-point, a small neck of land, west of the town of Provincetown, than at any other place. Capt. Atwood informed Dr. S. that at least a dozen specimens have been taken there this season, from the early part of September to this date, Nov. 1st. At Wellfleet they are found, but not in such numbers ; and Dr. S. had heard of a specimen having been taken at Orleans. Capt. At- wood has known only two specimens to have been taken with the hook, while fishing for other species. They are almost always met with just at the margin of the shore, and are taken mostly for the sake of the oil in their livers.

Dr. Storer also observed that he had received, through

72

the politeness of Dr. Wheatland, of Salem, the specimen of Batistes, belonging to the Salem Natural History Society, which was taken there in August, of the present year. It proves to be the Batistes awantiacus, Mitchill. Dr. S. had never known a specimen to be taken before in the waters of Massachusetts. He exhibited a drawing of a specimen taken by Dr. Bates in Portland harbor, Me., and, of course, knew that it must have passed through our waters, it being a southern species. He also exhibited a drawing of this specimen (taken at Salem).

J. C. Fremont, Esq., U. S. Army, was elected a cor- responding member.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Marl fossils, viz., Planorhis 'parvus^ campan7ilahis, and hicari- Jiatus, Physa ancillaria^ Limnea galbana, Paludina decisa, and limosa, all of Say ; and Vahata bicarinata, Lea, with a Cyclas^ from White Pond, Warren Co., N. J. From /. Leidy, M. D.

Numcnius liudsonicas. From Dr. Cabot.

Corvus picus, L., from N. W. of ]\Iichigan, and Bombycivora gan'ulus, from Cleveland. From W. Case, Esq. of Cleveland, Ohio.

Lymnea emarginata. Say, and L. jiigidaris, Say, Paludina ponderosa., Say, Unio IcEvissima, triangularis, and formosa, Alasmidonta corrugata. From Lake Superior. From the same.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Adams, C. B. First Annual Report on the Geology of the State of Vermont. 8vo, pp. 90. Burlington, 1845. From the Author.

Phillips, John. A Treatise on Geology. 12mo. Edinburg, 1837. Courtis Fund.

De La Beche, H. T. A Geological Manual. 8vo. Phila- delphia, 1832. Courtis Fund.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds. No. 18. Folio. Courtis Fund.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History. No. 105, Oct., 1845. Same.

73

The Literary Record and Journal of the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania College. No. 12. 8vo pamph. Oct., 1845. From Prof. S. F. Baird.

'-• A r. M ri-.-T'. T^--^:

A

November 19, 1845.

A. A. Gould, M. D., in the Chair.

Dr. D. H. Storer read a description of a new species of Syngnathits, brought from the western coast of California by Capt. Phelps.

Syngnathus californiensis. Reddish brown, lighter beneath : the lower portion of the sides irregularly dashed with white ; 19 transverse plates anterior to the vent, and 47 plates posterior to it. From the tip of the tubular mouth to the posterior edge of the operculum, the length is rather more than one seventh the length of the fish. The greatest depth of the jaws is rather less than one half the depth of the head. The dorsal fin commences on the anterior third of the body, and the height of its rays is less than one third the depth of the body.

D. 42 ; P. 13 ; A. 3 ; 0. 10.

Mr. J. E. Teschemacher made some remarks on a collec- tion of Russian minerals lately presented to the Society by Charles Cramer, Esq., of St. Petersburg. He pronounced the specimens to be interesting and to constitute a valuable addition to the Society's collection.

Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jun., exhibited a specimen of Pica melanoleuca, magpie, from the North-West part of Michi- gan, presented to the Society at the last meeting.

Having been struck with some apparent differences in the measurements of this specimen and European specimens of the same bird, Dr. Cabot had instituted a careful comparison between

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 10 DEC. 1845.

74

ihem, using for the purpose three foreign specimens from his own cabinet, and the one under consideration. He found the measure- ments to be as follows :

Measurements.

N. American I European specimen. | specimen.

Length of bill along the gape, . Diameter of bill from above downwards

directly in front of nasal depression, From middle of nostril to end of bill, Horizontal diameter of bill at nostrils, . From bifurcation of rami to tip of lower

mandible,

Wing, from flexure to tip, .

Length of tarsus,

Length of tail, ..... Average length, according to Aud. & Temm.

inches.

L75

.55

L12

.45

.85

8.25

L85

10.75

18.50

inches.

1.56

.56

1.06

.50

.75

7.62

1.85

10.00

18.00

The 5th primary is longest in the American, the 4th and 5th in the European. The white markings on the inside of the primaries are much less distinct in the American than in the European specimens, and the green color on the wings is more prevalent. Although he would not assert that he considered these differences sufficient to constitute the American bird a dis- tinct species. Dr. Cabot believed there was better cause for so doing than in the case of Corvus corone of the United States, which Mr. Audubon had described as distinct from Corvus corone of Europe, under the name of Corvus americanus.

Dr. Cabot also exhibited, and read a description of, a new species of Humming-bird.

He stated that he had examined all the books to which he could get access, without finding any description of this bird ; but thought it probable that it might be among the many species lately described in periodical publications which he had not seen.

TiiocHiLUS YUCATANENSis. Length 4 inches. Bill f of an inch. First primary longest ; primaries curved, broadest at their tips. Tail, somewhat forked, rather more than 1 J inch long, consists of iO feathers. Bill light yellowish at base and along centre of man-

76

dibles, dark horn-color at tip and half way along sides. Male brilliant shining emerald on chin, throat and upper part of breast. Head, upper part of neck and back dull golden green with some metallic reflections. Lower part of breast, belly, under tail cov- erts, central and upper part of tail feathers light bay. Tips and both sides of central tail feathers and outer side of lateral tail feathers dark golden green with metallic reflections. Vent white. Female nearly the same as male, but rufous instead of bright emerald on chin, neck, &c., and less white about vent. This is the most common humming-bird found in Yucatan. It was seen in numbers about the acacias which grew upon the tops of the ruined buildings, where the specimens, from which the above description was taken, were procured.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Teschemacher, J. E. Essay on Guano. Pamph. 8vo, pp. 51. Boston, 1845. From the Autlior.

Chapman, A. W., M. D. List of Plants growing spontaneously in the vicinity of Quincy, Florida. Pamph. 8vo. 1845. From the Author.

Menke, C. T. Molluscorum Novte HoUandia? Specimen. 4to. Hanoverian, 1843. From Dr. J. Torrey.

Gibbes, Robert W., M. D. Descriptions of the Teeth of a New Fossil Animal from the green sand of South Carolina. Pamph. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1845. From the Author.

Von Osersky, A. Geognostische Umriss des Nord-Westlichen Ehstlands. Pamph. 8vo, pp. 65. St. Petersburg, 1844. From the Author.

Von Osersky, A. Mineralogisch-Chemische Abhandlungen. Pamph. 8vo, pp. 42. St. Petersburg, 1844. From the same.

Saunders, W. W. Addresses before the Entomological So- ciety of London. 1842 and 1843. pamph. 8vo. From the Entomolog. Society.

Newport, George. Addresses before the Entomological So- ciety of London. 1844 and 1845. Pamph. 8vo. From the same.

Journal of Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Lon- don. For 1841. From the same.

T6

British Coleoptera delineated, &c. 8vo. London, 1840. From E. S. Dixwell

Essai d' une Carte Geologique du Globe terrestre. From the Geological Society of France.

December 13, 1845. The President in the Chair.

Dr. D. H. Storer read a description of a new species of Leptocephalus, drawn up from a specimen belonging to the Essex Natural History Society, and lent to him for that purpose by Dr. Wheatland, of Salem. He also exhibited the specimen, which was taken at Cherryfield, Maine.

Dr. S. remarked that, up to this time, only one species of this genus had been known, Lepiocephalus Morrisii, Pennant, which is found off the coast of England and in the Mediterranean Sea. The genus is, therefore, new to this continent. The description is as follows :

Leptocephalus gracilis. In spirits, of a rusty brown color, translucent ; the vertebral column and ribs perceptible throughout its whole length. Head small, snout pointed. Eyes circular, pupils black, irides silvery. Length of the fish four and a half inches ; of head one quarter of an inch ; the greatest depth of the body slightly exceeds the length of the head. Jaws equal.

Pectorals wanting. The dorsal and anal fins, which require the microscope to be distinguished, are continued to the pointed tail, which is formed by their junction. Small black points are noticed upon the margin of the dorsal and anal fins, and also along the lateral line, by means of the glass.

It will be perceived by the above description, which is neces- sarily very imperfect, the specimen having been preserved in spirit, that this species resembles somewhat the L. Morrisii, of Pennant, but the relative proportions of the parts in each, point

w

them out as distinct species. In Yarrell's figure of the L. Mor- risii, the length of the fish is 3^ inches, while the head is ^ of an inch long, or j^^ the whole length, and the greatest depth of the body is nearly ^ of an inch, or j\ its length. In our species, the entire length of the head is -^\ its whole length, and the depth of the body is also about j\ of its whole length.

Dr. Storer stated that of the American genus Prionotus, Cuvier and Valenciennes had described four species, of which three had been already noticed in the waters of Mas- sachusetts. He had not expected to be able to include the fourth, P, punctatus, among our fishes, as it was supposed to be exclusively a southern species. He had, however, recently obtained it, and could now assert that all the known species are found in the waters of our State. He had also recently obtained an undescribed species, of which he gave the following description :

Prionotus pileatus. Color, above reddish brown, beneath yel- lowish white. The first dorsal fin is crossed by two oblique white lines, with a black blotch upon the connecting membrane, between the fourth and fifth rays, above the upper oblique line. The entire head is roughened by raised strisD. The lateral projections of the snout are prominent, and margined with very strong crenu- lations. Two distinct spines at the anterior superior angle of the eye. Opercular spine of moderate size, not elevated at its base above the opercular plate. Preopercular spine large, naked at its posterior extremit}'-, raised and crenulated along its whole outer edge. Length of the head equal to ^ of the length of the body. Length of the pectoral fins equal to nearly -^ the length of the head. The caudal fin is quite deeply emarginated, the outer rays projecting.

D. 10, 13 ; P. 13 ; V. 6 ; A. 12 ; C. 12|. Length 12^ inches.

Massachusetts Bay.

This species diflJers from the other species of this genus, in the following particulars, viz. :

From the P. lineatus, in the greater prominence of the sides of the snout, and in the larger size of their crenulations ; in the striations of the head being more delicate ; in having two welt

78

marked spines at the anterior superior angle of the eye ; in the preopercular spine being larger ; and in the absence of the second lateral line.

From the P. CaroUnus, in having the strioe about the head more rough, and in not having the extremities of the free rays of the pectoral fins palmated.

From the P. punctatuSf in the absence of the smoothness of the strise over the head generally, and of the two small spines on the side of the mouth, the one back of the lateral lobes of the snout, and the other just above the angle of the jaws ; and of the denticulations at the sides of the spines situated at the anterior superior angle of the eyes ; by the less length of the pectorals and by the emargination of the caudal fin.

From the P. trihulus^ in the absence of the spine upon the sub- orbitar bones ; in having the spines generally upon the head less prominent and sharper, and in having the pectorals shorter in proportion to the length of the body.

A description of a new species of Argyreiosus, by Mr. J. M. Batchelder, of Saco, Maine, communicated through Dr. Storer, was read.

Argyreiosus unimaculatus. Body nearly circular, much compressed. Breadth l^^y inches. Profile nearly vertical. Lower jaw the longer and hooked. Eyes -^^ of an inch in dia- meter. A filament, ^ of an inch in length, arises on the back in a vertical plane with the origin of the pectoral fin : -^^ of an inch back of this, are three very minute spines. Several finlets upon the back and abdomen. Pectoral fins -f-^ of an inch long. Caudal fin deeply forked.

Color, in parts above the lateral line, dark ; below it, silvery : upon the lateral line, which passes in nearly a right line from the superior angle of the gill covers to the base of the caudal rays, is a nearly circular black spot, the anterior edge of which is just touched by the pectoral fin when depressed.

D. } P. ? V. ? A. ? C. 14 rays. Length 1^=^ inches to the base of the caudal fin.

The specimen above described, was taken, with six others, in shallow water, on the beach at Saco, Maine. After having been

preserved a year in spirits, it was sent to Mr. Batcheldcr, who prepared from it the above description.

Prof. H. D. Rogers submitted to the Society some verbal remarks upon the bones of the Zeuglodon, recently exhibited in Boston, under the name of Hydrarchos, by their proprie- tor, Dr. Koch.

Prof. R. mentioned, that, among the loose bones not arranged with the skeleton, he discovered two specimens of the Cochlea of the ear, and he described them as approximating very closely, in form and structure, to the similar bone in the organ of hearing of the whales. They are about the size of a small lemon, and dis- play that variety of the whorled or convoluted form of the cochlea peculiar to the cctacea. This analogy, and their wide deviation from the type of the organ as found in reptiles, he regarded as an interesting confirmation of the decision of Prof. Owen, of London, that this animal, the Basilosaurus of Harlan, is no saurian^ but a true cetacean. It was furthermore stated that the two cochleae were of different dimensions, and therefore, since no animal has ears of unequal dimensions, this fact is an evidence of their having belonged to two distinct individuals.

A paper from Professors Henry D. and William B. Rogers, on two remarkable Boulder Trains, in Berkshire Co., Mass., was then read by the first named gentleman.

After referring to the importance of the phenomena in connec- tion with the interesting question of the origin of the drift, and mentioning the descriptions already given by Dr. Reid and Dr. Hitchcock, tbe authors proceed to detail their observations made in August last, and to present their own explanation.

These Boulder Trains they describe as starting from the sum- mit of a high ridge in Canaan, New York, each from a particular depression ; ranging in a direction about S. 35° E., across other even higher ridges and their intervening valleys ; the longer train a distance of twenty miles, and the shorter ten miles, about half a mile asunder, and neither of them more than 300 or 400 feet in breadth. The blocks are of great size, from 5 to 20 feet in dia- meter, are angular and free from diluvial scratches, and, unlike the rounded boulders, are confined to the surface. They all con-

80

sist of a single kind of rock, identical with that in the crest of the ridge whence they originate.

After exhibiting the inadequacy of either the iceberg or glacier hypothesis to account for their production, the authors proceed to show how all the phenomena may be explained by the theory they have elsewhere advocated, of a sudden discharge of a portion of the Arctic Ocean southward across the land. They discuss the important functions of the wave of translation, show its sur- passing velocity and great propulsive power, and trace the in- fluence of vehement earthquakes near the Pole, in dislodging the northern waters and ice, and maintaining in the rushing flood, these vast and potent waves. They then suggest that, at a certain stage of the inundation, the ice, previously floating free, would impinge with irresistible violence against the tops of the submersed hills, and that the Canaan mountain stood precisely in the position to take the brunt of a part of the ice-driving flood, as it swept down the long high slope of the distant Adirondack, and across the low, broad valley of the Hudson.

They next proceed to show that, at the instant when some enormous ice-island struck the crest of the mountain, and scooped the trench which we there behold, a great vortex was produced by the obstruction, thus suddenly thrown in the path of the current, which, endowed with an excessive gyratory or spiral velocity, was capable of sustaining and carrying forward the greater part of the fragments. As in the instance of the waterspout and whirlwind, the functions of whose motion they discuss, the whirlpool would gather into the rotating column the projected blocks, and strew them in a narrow path, in the line along which its pendant apex would drag the ground.

The paper terminated with an application of this idea in detail, to the explanation of each important feature of these Trains : to their deflections from a straight line, the intermission in the bould- ers at certain places in the Train, and to the fact that some of the blocks have been violently broken at the moment previous to their final rest.

The paper was referred to the Publishing Committee.

Mr. Bouve exhibited, and remarked upon, a beautiful col- lection of tertiary fossils, recently presented by M. Tuomey,

Esq., of Petersburg. Va. The following is a list of the species :

CRETACEOUS.

Anomia argcntaria, Morton. Exogyra coslata, Say.

I Belemnites americanus.

I

Cardita planicosta, Lam. Turntella Mortoni, Conrad. Ostrea compressirostra, Say. " sellaeformis, Conrad.

EOCENE.

Cucullcna gigantea. Scutella Lyelli, Conrad.

" macrophora, Raveuel.

MIOCENE.

ADomia ephippium, Lin. " RufRiii, Conrad. Astarte concentrica, Conrad.

" undulata, Say. Cardita granulata, Say. " tridentata, Say. Cardium sublineatuin, Conrad. Carditamera arata, Conrad. Chama corticosa, Conrad. " congrcgata, Conrad. " arcinella, Lam. Crepidula fornicala, Say. " costata, Morton. " spinosa, Conrad. Crassatella undulala, Say. Cytherea reposta, Conrad. " Sayan a, Conrad. Fissurella redimicula, Say. Cyrena densata, Conrad. Dispotaea ramosa, Conrad. Artemis acetabulumj Conrad. Area lienosa, Say. " limula, Conrad. " incilis, Say. Pectunculus subovatus, Lam.

" lenliformis, Conrad.

" aratus, Conrad.

" tricenarius, Conrad.

" parilis, Conrad.

" tumulus, Conrad.

Venus tridacnoidcs, Ijam. " Mortoni, Conrad. " Rileyi, Conrad.

Venus capax, Conrad.

" mercenaria, Conrad.

" cribraria, Conrad.

" alveata, Conrad. Fulgur contrarius. Natica heros, Say.

" duplicata, Say, Oliva littcrata, Lam.

" canaliculata, Lea. Dentalium denlale, Lin. Solarium. Mactra congesta, Conrad.

" lateralis, Say. Ostrea disparilis, Conrad.

" sculpturala, Conrad.

" subfalcata, Conrad.

Ostrea .

PanopcTa reflexa, Say. Perna maxillata, Lam. Plicatula murginata, Say. Pecten Mortoni, Rav.

" eboreus, Conrad.

'' Jeffersonius, Say. Teredo fistula, H. C. Lea. Petaloconchus sculpturata. Lea. Conus adversarius, Conrad.

" diluvianus. Cypra;a caroliniana, Conrad. Fasciolaria mutabilis, Conrad.

" rhomboidea, Rogers.

Fusus quadricostatus, Say. Buccinum Tuomeyi, Lea. Turritella alticostata.

Dr. Gould stated that he had received, for the Society, from Thomas A. Green, Esq., of New Bedford, three living specimens of Pholas costata ^ and three of Pholas truncata,

Say.

82

They were taken by the mud machine, at the end of the Long Wharf, in New Bedford. Mr. G. thinks they were at a depth of perhaps two feet in the mud, and, from the number obtained in half an hour's search, he believes them to be abundant.

Dr. Gould regarded this as a very interesting discovery. He was not aware that P. costata had been heretofore found alive this side of the Gulf of Mexico, though a bed of dead shells was discovered by Prof. C. B. Adams in the vicinity of New Bedford six or eight years ago, which at the time excited surprise, these vestiges of an animal, supposed to belong to a warm climate, not then known to live within more than a thousand miles, show- ing that the animal must have flourished there at no very dis- tant period.

The animal is of a Caucasian hue, and its siphonal tubes, which are united, are capable of great extension, certainly to four times the length of the shell, maintaining its full size, and of being moulded to every possible shape. In one animal the siphon was beautifully stippled near its tip with mohagany brown. The foot is about an inch long, its adhering surface not unlike the sole of a sharp-pointed shoe in shape. The accessory portions of the hinge are not calcareous, but pergamineous, consisting of two triangular pieces united base to base, one nearly an inch long, spear-pointed, filling the anterior fissure, and another small, nearly equilateral, shutting down posteriorly.

P. iruncala is described by Say as If inches in length ; whereas the New Bedford specimens are 2J- inches in length, and of proportional width. He gives South Carolina as its habitat, and Dr. G. was not aware that it had been before found to the north- ward of that locality.

The animal is of a dark, smoky, almost inky color. The siphon less extensive than that of P. costata^ and whether more or less extended, always maintains a tapering form, and is every- where circularly and coarsely corrugated. The respiratory ori- fice is seen to be striped alternately black and white, the latter stripes marking the presence of fourteen tentacular organs. The foot is oval, one third longer than broad. The supplement ary valve is single, calcareous, halberd-shaped, pointed anteriorly, rounded posteriorly and contracted at the sides ; marked with lines of growth, parallel to its margin, and channelled on the median line.

8S

John Curtis, M. D. of Lowell, was elected a member. John L. Le Conte, of New York, was elected a corres- ponding member.

DONATIOr^S TO THE MUSEUM.

Specimens of Pholas costata and Pholas truncata. From New Bedford harbor. By T. A. Greene, Esq.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

American Journal of Agriculture and Science. Conducted by E. Emmons, M. D. and A. J. Prince, M. D. Vol. ii. No. 2. For Oct., Nov., and Dec, 1845. 8vo. Albany. From the Editors.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History. For Nov. 1845. 8vo. London. Courtis Fund.

Audubon, J. J., and Bachman, J. North American Quadru- peds. Plates 65 to 69. folio. From Subscribers.

Brown, B. B. Meteorological Observations for the years 1841 to 1S44, inclusive. 8vo. pamph. St. Louis, 1845. From the Author.

Gray, G. R. Genera of Birds. Part 19. November. Folio. London, 1845. Audubon Fund,

Magallotti. Lettere Scientifiche ed Erudite del Conte Lorenzo Magallotti, Gentiluomo Trattenuto. 4to. Venezia, 1740. From A. Binney.

Versoris, Johannes. Physica, sive circa Libros Aristotelis Philosoph. Questiones, &c. Black-letter 4to. 1489. From the same.

1z December '^T, 1845.

The President in the Chair.

Dr. A. A. Gould made some verbal remarks on certain characters in the shell distinctive of Lottia and Patella.

84

In the genus Lottia of Gray, (Patelloideo^ Quoy,) we have a remarkable instance, where animals, differing widely in the arrangement of their respiratory organs, have, so far as hitherto observed, an entire similarity of shells. So much so, that M. Quoy, who described the animal, says that it is absolutely im- possible to distinguish the shell from that of Patella; and also, that here is a marked exception to the general rule, that an ani- mal having the respiratory apparatus non-symmetrical will have a non-symmetrical shell.

By a careful examination of several well established species, and numerous individuals, of this genus. Dr. G. thinks he has de- tected a character which will nullify both the above remarks, and enable us, by the shell alone, to distinguish the two genera in the majority of cases.

If we examine the anterior portion of the shell, corresponding to the left side of the animal, we shall find a faint groove or undulation passing, in direct continuation of the lateral margin of the cervical portion of the muscular impression, to the margin of the shell, thus taking nearly the diagonal line of the shell from its apex. This is quite decided in L. gigantea, Gray, L. icstudinaria, i., and in our own L. testudinalis, Mull. But in other species it is detected with difficulty, sometimes merely by the play of light as the shell is turned horizontally around. Nothing of the kind, whether dis- tinct or faint, will ever be found corresponding to it on the opposite side ; nor is it found in any species of true Patella that Dr. G. has yet examined. In some specimens, and probably in some species, this groove may not be visible ; but wherever it is discovered, the shell may safely be referred to the genus Lottia.

To constitute this a perfectly satisfactory diagnostic mark, we ought to be able to refer to some organ of the body as its cause, as we can for the groove in Sij)honaria. But the branchial plume is here on the opposite side ; and there is no organ, so far as Dr. G. has learnt, which corresponds to this mark ; and while we cannot yet account for it on anatomical grounds, yet its presence is too constant to be regarded as merely accidental.

Mr. J. E. Teschemacher exhibited three specimens of ferns, from the Sandwich Islands, of the genus Depairia of Hooker, and made the following observations.

This very curious and elegant genus of ferns, bearing its deli- cate pateriform sori on the margin of the leaf, was first separated as a genus by Hooker, in Hooker &i Greville, Icon. Filicum, where in tab. 154, D. Macrei is beautifully figured. Kaulfuss, in his Enum. Filicum, p. 225, had previously arranged a proliferous De- pairia with Dicksonia^ as Dicksonia prolifera^ but the fructifica- tion differs too essentially from Dicksonia to permit this arrange- ment. From Cihotium also, with which Presl has joined it, the habit and fructification differ. Depairia of Hooker will therefore probably remain a good genus. In the Species Filicum of Hooker now in course of publication, he transfers the specific name pro- lifer a to his D. Macrei^ which he calls a synonym, and states that " Kaulfuss, who first described this handsome plant, observes that its rachis ' is proliferous, w-liich is not apparent in my spe- cimens.' " He also describes a new species, D. Maihewsii.

It is evident, however, from the specimens now exhibited, that D. Macrei and D. prolifcra are by no means synonyms. This genus would then consist of 1, i). Macrei^ as described by Hooker ; 2, D. prolifera [Dicksonia prolifera of Kaulfuss] which may be described. Frond bi ?-pinnate, rachis proliferous, not glabrous, pinnai opposite, elongate, acuminate, deeply pinnatifid, quite approximate, segments lanceolate acuminate, veins both simple and forked, those at the base of the frond nearly all forked, sori at the termination of the forked veins, usually on the uppermost, but rarely on both veins. The whole outline and appearance quite distinct from either of the other species. It seems proba- ble that a microscopic examination of living specimens would exhibit other striking distinctions between these three species, the evidence of which, in dried specimens, is not sufficiently marked to direct a mature judgment. Thus the sori appear more sessile in D. prolifera than in D. Macrei. The rachis also of D. proli- fera is now partially covered with sporules, so as to give it a rufous appearance ; they could not, however, attach themselves thus, if the rachis was like that of D. Macrei^ glabrous.

3. D. Mathewsii as described by Hooker. Mr. T.'s specimen of this species is from the mountain Punkohala Waioli.

Dr. Cabot, in behalf of Dr. Storer, exhibited a drawing of Trichiurus lepturus, taken from a specimen 40 inches

86

in length ; the only perfect specimen which Dr. S. has seen from the waters of Massachusetts Bay.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Fremont, J. C. Capt. U. S. Army. Report of the Ex- ploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains in the year 1842 ; and to Oregon and North California in 1843 and 1844. 8vo. Washington, 1845. From the Hon. R. C. WintJirop.

Johnson, Walter R. Report on the Coals of the United States. Duplicate. 8vo. Washington, 1845. From Hon. R. Choate.

Valenciennes, M. A. Observation d'une espece de ver de la cavite abdominale d'un lezard vert-piquete, le Dithyridiuni la- certcB. Comptes Rendus. Sept. 1844. Pamphlet, 8vo. From J, E. De Kay, M. D., of New York.

Valenciennes, M. A. Nouvelles Observations sur Porgane electrique du Silure electrique, (Malopterus electricus, Lace- pede.) Comptes Rendus, Aout, 1844. From sa?ne.

Valenciennes, M. A. Description de quelques dents fossils de Poissons. 4to. pamph. 1844. From same.

Valenciennes, M. A. Nouvelles Recherches anatomiques sur Le Nautile {Nautilus pompilius) Comptes Rendus. Jan. 1841. 4to. pamph. From same.

Valenciennes, M. A. Recherches sur la Structure et la Na- ture du Tissu Elementaire des Cartilages. 4to pamph. Nov. 1844. From same.

Valenciennes, M. A. Observations sur les machoires Fos- silcs des Couches oolithiques de Stonesfield, nommees Didelphis Prevoslii et Didelphis Bucklandi. Pamph. 4to. Comptes Ren- dus. Sept. 1838. From same.

Valenciennes, M. A. Memoire sur le genre " Ictides,'^'' etc. etc. An. des. Sc. Nat. 1825. 8vo. pamph. From sa7?ie.

Microscopical Journal and Structural Record, for 1841 and 1842. Edhed by Daniel Cooper, M. D., &c. 2 vols. 8vo. London. Courtis Fund.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- phia, from May to October, 1845. 8vo.

Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, from May to August, 1845. 8vo.

87

1

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Ammonite from the lias of England, fine specimen. From Nathaniel Breioer, Esq.

January 7, 1846.

Dr. A. A. Gould in the Chair.

Mr. Francis Alger exhibited certain minerals, and read a paper concerning them, which was referred to the Publishing Committee. The following is an abstract of it.

Mr. Alger announced that he had discovered Phacolite among specimens of minerals from New York Island. The crystals are beautifully perfect, double six-sided pyramids, implanted on car- bonate of lime. They are of a wax-yellow color, have also a waxy lustre, and are translucent. This mineral, he observed, had been regarded by some as a species distinct from Chabasite, but it is now, principally on the authority of Tamnau, of Berlin, admitted to be only a variety of that mineral, derived from the same primary rhombohedron. Mr. A. remarked that the New York crystals were very interesting, from the fact that they showed the incipient modifications by which the ultimate double six-sided pyramids were produced from the rhombohedron, thereby clearly proving the Phacolite to be a secondary to the primary form of Chabasite. This he had not observed in any of the specimens from Bohemia or Ireland. It should nevertheless be remembered that the analyses of Phacolite, by Anderson and Rammelsberg, make it differ somewhat from common Chabasite, one being a bisilicate of alumina, -f- bisilicate of lime, potash and soda, + six atoms water ; the other, a tersilicate of the first term, and a simple silicate of the second, along with three atoms water.

Yttro-cerite. Mr. A. had found this very rare mineral in the limestone from Orange county. New York. It presents all the characters of the mineral from Finbo, in Sweden, and cannot be

88

distinguished from it in hand specimens. It is associated with Brucite, but is very scarce. Mr. A. gave his reasons for con- sidering Dysluite as identical with Aiitomalile, They pass into each other, and the differences in hardness, color, specific gravity and pyrognostic characters, can thus be accounted for by the well-known fact of the isomorphous replacement of the constitu- ents of certain m.inerals, the crystalline forms of which remain the same. Specimens are seen, in which the bright and perfect crystals of Automalite gradually lose their lustre, and become porous, brittle and soft ; thus assuming the characters of Dysluite.

Oitrelite^ of MM. Desclozeaux and Damour, identical with Phyllite, of Dr. Thomson. This fact was pointed out by Mr. A. on the grounds of similarity in chemical composition, as well as in physical and crystallographical characters, so far as these latter have been determined. They both occur in small disks or plates, very thin, and the most perfect of them having the form of com- pressed or flattened rhomboidal tables. A specimen of Ottrelite, which he had received from Mr. Markoe, and another of Phyliite, from the hands of Prof Nuttall, enabled Mr. A. to compare them carefully with each other ; and he had no hesitation in declaring them to be the same mineral. Damour's analysis shows the iron to be in the state of protoxide ; and it, probably, exists in the same state in Phyliite, though it is put down as peroxide in Dr. Thomson's analysis. The name Ottrelite should give place to that of Phyliite, on the ground of the priority of the latter, and because it expresses so well the ordinary appearance of the min- eral. Brooke had supposed Phyliite to be identical with Gigan- tholite. If we compare the analyses of Gigantholite and Ottrelite, their identity is much more clearly shown, so that it would appear that all three should be classed together.

Polyadelphite. Mr. A. remarked that Dana, in the new edition of his mineralogy, had included this mineral under the species garnet. The correctness of his opinion was now further shown by the circumstances of its occurrence at the locality which Mr. A. had visited the last year. The two minerals occur together, and pass into each other, in the same manner as Dysluite and Automalite. It differs but little in composition, compared with the brown garnet from Franklin, analyzed both by Dr. Thomson and Seybert.

I

g9 at jru.*^.^."^*|

In a former number of these Proceedings, an abstract is given of a paper read before the Society, by Mr. Alger, on the Identity of Beaumontile and Lincolnite with Heulandite. The identity of the first with Heulandite is not now disputed ; but Prof Hitch- cock having miyntained that the crystals in Mr. Alger's possession were, possibly, not the mineral which he (Prof H.) had called Lincolnite, but might be Heulandite, ]\Ir. Alger reaffirmed his first opinion, and gave additional reasons for its correctness.

Dr. S. Cabot, Jr., stated that he had recently received a pair of canvass-back ducks, shot near Nevvburyport. He had known only one previous instance of these birds being taken in this vicinity, to wit, at Fresh Pond, by Capt. N. J. Wyeth.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Specimens of Bulimus ovatus, B. planidens. Helix similaris, and others, from the Organ Mountains, near Rio Janeiro. From Mrs. Alexander H. Everett.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

SuUivant, W. S. Musci Alleghanlenses. 12mo. pamph. Co- lumbus, Ohio, 1845. From Prof. Asa Gray.

Gray, Asa. Review of the above work. From the same.

Leonhard, Gustav. Handworterbuch der Topographischen Mineralogie. 8vo. Heidelberg, 1843. From Francis Alger.

Phillips, John. Memoirs of William Smith, LL. D. 8vo. London, 1844. From the same.

Silliman, B,, Jr. Report on the Chemical Examination of several Waters for the City of Boston. 8vo pamph. Boston, 1845. From the Author.

Verhandlungen der Kaiserlichen Russischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft. 8vo. 3 pamphlets. St. Petersburg, 1842, 1843 and 1844. From the Imperial Mineralogical Society of St. Petersburg.

PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 11 JAN. 1846.

90

January 21, 1846. The President in the Chair.

Rev. Edward E. Hale gave a short account of the recent Journey of Discovery under the command of Capt. Fremont, and of its scientific resuhs, which he considered to possess extraordinary interest.

Capt. Fremont's party, consisting of thirty-nine men, left Kansas, a frontier village of Missouri, on the 31st of May, 1843. Varying from the route of the year before, and that pursued by the emi- grants, they advanced towards the Rocky Mountains by the Republican Fork of the Platte River. Appointing a rendezvous at St. Vrain's, Lieut. Fremont and a light party made a detour of a hundred miles to the southward, hoping to find a more southerly pass through the eastern ridge of the mountains, than that usually followed.

In this expectation he was disappointed. Having collected his whole party again, they continued westward, across the Laramie plains, by a new route ; and, by another detour, he, with a light party, visited the Great Salt Lake, a saturated solution of salt, on which he and his crew were probably the first navigators. He rejoined his party at Hall's, on the Snake River, and thence followed very nearly the great emigrant road to the mouth of the Columbia. This road is now marked out with perfect distinct- ness, and is constantly travelled. From the Columbia, he under- took, in mid winter, to travel south to California : not near the sea coast, as a party under Mr. Eld, of the Exploring Expedition, had done, but eastward of the Cascade chain of mountains, and be- tween one and two hundred miles from the coast. His objects were to visit St. Mary's Lake, to find the great rivers Sacramento and Buenaventura, which are laid down, on the maps, as draining all northern Mexico and southern Oregon.

This bold and dangerous portion of his journey establishes a very important geographical fact. No such rivers exist as the Sacramento and Buenaventura of the maps. They drain only a district lying near the coast, while the greater part of the north of Mexico and the south of Oregon is not drained by waters running into the Pacific. The Columbia is the only river which

91

breaks the Cascade chain of mountains, for a long distance on the Pacific coast. For twelve degrees south of its mouth, no river flows into the ocean but those which rise on the west side of these mountains, the range of which thus connects, without inter- ruption, with the Sierra Nevada of California.

Capt. Fremont was unable, therefore, to follow a watercourse to the Pacific, as he had hoped, and instead of this, was compelled to cross with his whole party the high range of this Sierra, in mid winter. He effected this between January 19th and March 6th, without losing a man. The lowest point of the pass which he followed, is nearly eight thousand feet above the sea. His Indian guides thought the undertaking madness, and all deserted him successively. As his provisions were failing also, it may be considered as a most daring and triumphant effort.

He refitted at Nueva Helvetia, travelled southwards till he could turn, by Walker's pass, the southern flank of this range of the Sierra, then, by the Spanish caravan trail, worked his way northeasterly again, until near the Salt Lake, whose southern waters he visited, and thence returned home by the waters of the Smoky Hill Fork, making a survey of the head waters of the great rivers of the Mississippi, as he passed. He arrived at Kansas again, July 31st, 1844.

The distance thus travelled on horseback, with a few light wagons for instruments, and a mountain howitzer, was five thou- sand one hundred and nine miles.

The geographical discovery, the principal feature of which has been noticed, is, undoubtedly, the most valuable scientific result of the expedition. From the time when he left the Salt Lake, till he returned to it, he was travelling around the three sides of a triangle whose area is some two hundred thousand square miles. Of this district little is known, though the hunters and trappers give terrible accounts of its sterility. But Capt. Fremont, in travelling wholly around it, proved that its waters do not discharge from it in any direction into the ocean. For he traced the ranges of mountains which separate it from the Missis- sippi, the Colorado, the Columbia and the Sacramento.

This basin presents some analogy, therefore, with that of the Caspian Sea in Asia. It may possibly prove that the Salt Lake is the result of its system of rivers.

92

The older maps have laid down the fact that here were lakes and streams not communicating with the sea. But the full limits of this mediterranean desert have never before been know^n.

Capt. Fremont is a botanist, and speaks with becoming enthu- siasm of the vegetable wonders of western America. Unfortu- nately, a great part of his collections was lost or injured. The remnant has been carefully arranged by Dr. Gray, who has published, in the Journal of this Society, a Conspectus of the Com- positse, prepared by himself and Prof. Torrey.

Referring in general to the Report for descriptions of botanical novelties, it is worthy of attention that Capt. Fremont describes five esculent roots and plants, used by the natives, and as yet wholly unknown in our gardens, These are : Fsoralea esculenta, Valeriana edulis, Catnassia esculenia, Circium Virginianu?n, Erodium cicutarium ; besides the root of Anellium graveolens, which, it seems, is the yampah of the Indians. The Digging Indians, who seem to be at the lowest limit of civilization, subsist almost wholly on these and on worms ; and Capt. Fremont and his men were at times glad to follow their example, adding, in one instance, red ants, which, it seems, give a pleasant acid relish.

The work contains, also, important contributions to the zoology of the country, especially in enlarging our knowledge of the history and migrations of the buffalo, and its present numerical condition. There are also frequent notices of the mountain sheep, and other animals, as yet but little known.

The volcanic nature of a great part of Oregon, and the nume- rous and interesting fossils discovered, give an important character to the geological results of the expedition. Hot springs are mentioned in several instances. One, in California, had at the surface a temperature of 209° in mid winter.

The whole book is written with spirit, and it is highly entertain- ing. Capt. Fremont shows himself, with all modesty, to be a daring and intelligent man.

Prof. Asa Gray stated that there had been recently placed in his hands specimens of earthy matter, filled with finely broken fragments of branches of trees, which were said to have been found occupying the place of the stomach in the skeleton of the Mastodon exhumed on Schooley's Mountain,

93

N. J., and lately exhibited in this city. As similar observa- tions are said to have been made in several instances, Prof. Gray was induced to examine the substances brought to him.

The wood evidently consisted of branchlets of one, two and three years old, broken, quite uniformly, into bits of half an inch or so in length, with only, now and then, traces of the bark re- maining on the wood. The wood was not at all fossilized, and was but slightly decayed. From the appearance of the branch- lets examined. Prof. Gray inferred that they belonged to some coniferous tree or shrub, and, probably, to a kind of spruce or fir, rather than to a true pine. This inference was borne out by the examination of thin slices of the wood by the microscope. The woody fibre was very beautifully and distinctly marked with the circular discs that are characteristic of all coniferous wood. The structure agreed quite perfectly with that in similar branchlets of the common hemlock spruce.

Dr. S. Cabot remarked upon the internal organization of a male specimen of Fuligula spectabilis, lately procured by him in Boston market.

Dr. C. mentioned some external appearances, which have not been described in the accounts heretofore given of this bird. The color of the legs and toes is bright yellow (not orange.) Two of the inner tertiaries are deeply scooped out, as it were, on their extremities, and seem inclined to stand up, on their edges, from a twist in their shafts, somewhat like those of the Mandarin duck.

The superior larynx is I- of an inch long, by f across. The trachea is 7| inches in length, to the bifurcation of the bronchial tubes. At the lower end of the trachea, is a rounded bony box, J-f of an inch in its transverse diameter, and j\ in its perpendicular diameter on the left or largest side. The left bronchus is 1^ inches long, and considerably dilated in its central parts. The right bronchus is 1| inches long, calibre equal throughout. The whole length of the alimentary canal is 86 inches. Half way between gizzard and anus, there was found a small appendix, | of

94

an inch in length, and | of an inch in width when flattened out, entering the intestine at a right angle, and communicating with it by an orifice somewhat smaller than the calibre of the appendix itself. The coecal appendices were about 6^ inches in length. The gizzard was very large and strong, being 2| inches in its longest diameter, and having muscles 1 inch in thickness ; it con- tained fragments of shells broken into small pieces ; its lining membrane was very tough and hard, being |^ of an inch in thickness.

DONATIONS TO THE CABINET.

Numerous specimens of minerals and fossils, collected in Col. Kearney's Expedition in the Territory at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. From Lt. J. H. Carlton, U. S. Dragoons, and Mr. Henry Loring, Jr.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

American Journal of Science and Arts. Second Series, No. 1. Jan., 1846. From the Editors.

Magazine of Horticulture. For Jan., 1846. From the Editors.

February 4, 1846. The President in the Chair.

The President read a letter from George Lister, M. D., of Washington county, Alabama, concerning the fossil bones collected there by Dr. Koch, and since exhibited in this and other cities, as the remains of an extinct animal, under the name of Hydrarchos. The circumstances which elicited this letter, were as follow. It was stated, by Dr. Koch, that the bones had been found together, in a position which proved that they belonged to one individual, and that the vertebrae formed a complete and integral series, arranged in the order in which they were lying when discovered. This

95

assertion was shown, by Prof. Wyman, in a paper read before this Society, to be a mere fabrication, and the condi- tion and character of the various bones were cited as evi- dence that they could not have belonged to one individual, and that their arrangement was entirely factitious. Of this, there could be no doubt among persons competent to form a correct opinion, but, as it was desirable to know how far Prof. Wyman's judgment was confirmed by the history of the discovery of the fossils themselves. Dr. Lister, a gentle- man living near the locality of Dr. Koch's discoveries, was applied to for information. His reply was put into the hands of the President, and Dr. Lister had authorized such use to be made of it as might be useful.

Dr. Lister's letter is dated Old Court House, Washington county, Alabama, December 7th, 1845. The writer states that there is a tract of fertile woodland prairie, with a black soil, ex- tending from Mississippi, in a southeast direction, through Ala- bama. Its whole length is about one hundred and fifteen miles. It is covered, here and there, in many places, by sharks' teeth, marine shells, and the bones of aquatic animals, all of which are evidences of a deposit, made at the bottom of an estuary or arm of the sea. Such bones as those of the Hydrarchos, and par- ticularly the vertebrae, can be collected in great numbers by any one who will take the trouble, as Dr. Koch did, to hunt out the various parts ; but it is very uncommon, and almost impossible, to discover the bones of one individual, or any considerable part of them, in their natural arrangement.

It was in this prairie, near the Old Court House, in Washington county, that Dr. Koch found a considerable portion of the bones now constituting the Hydrarchos, lying upon, or near, the surface of the earth. They were not lying in their natural position, so as to constitute an unbroken series, but were scattered here and there. Some days after finding some of the bones of the anterior extremities, and some ribs and vertebra?, he went into the State of Mississippi, hoping to discover a cranium. In this he was un- successful ; but after his return, he found the bone supposed by him to be a cranium, and the lower jaw, in a heap of stones,

96

where they had been thrown by the negroes when the land was cleared for cultivation. He also procured others of the bones in Clark county, at a place twenty miles distant, and some wagon- loads of them at another place seven miles distant from the spot where he got the most interesting part of them.

Dr. Lister was not present at the actual exhumation of the bones ; but, on the invitation of Dr. Koch, he examined them at the Court House, and saw enough to convince him that Dr. Koch could have made his skeleton three hundred feet long, as easily as one hundred and fourteen feet.

Dr. Lister adds that the people of his neighborhood had been very much amused by the accounts of the wonderful animal which had appeared in the New York newspapers, and by the various opinions which had been pronounced upon it by learned gentlemen.

A letter, addressed to the President by Mr. John Barllett, now engaged in a zoological exploration in the south-western States, dated Natchez, January 10, 1846, was read.

Mr. Bartlett said that he had received authentic information that the bones of Zeuglodon are found near Natchez, in a blue clay of the tertiary beds. He had seen, in the possession of C. G. Forshey, Esq., of Vidalia, La., vertebras of the same animal, procured from a stratum of marl, among the older tertiary beds of Ouachita Bluff, eighty feet above the level of Ouachita River. The shells associated with them, at the last-mentioned locality, are, Ostrea, Peclen, Isocardia, FissureUa, and Dentalium. This observation seems to confirm the original opinion of Dr. Harlan, that the Zeuglodon belonged to the tertiary era, an opinion that has been latterly superseded by the belief that its remains were derived from the cretaceous strata. It is probable that its sup- posed position in the latter, rather than its zoological affinities, led Dr. Harlan to consider it to be a saurian, and not a cetacean, as it is now acknowledged to be.

Dr. N. B. ShurtlefF informed the Society that the splendid and most valuable skeleton of Mastodon giganteum, ex- humed in August, 1845, from a marl-pit, six miles west of Newburg, Orange county, New York, had arrived in the

97

city. He knew that the members, and all friendsof science would be gratified to learn that it had been purchased by a scientific gentleman, with a view of giving it a permanent place among us. By the hberality of the proprietor, it would be accessible to naturalists for scientific purposes, and would always constitute an object of great scientific interest. This munificent purchase enabled us to claim for Boston the honor of possessing the two most perfect and the only au- thentic integral skeletons of the Mastodon. The one, a female, the subject of Dr. J. B. S. Jackson's notice, on pp. 60 — 62 of this volume, soon to be placed in the halls of Harvard College, and the other, a male, now in preparation for its owner. Dr. ShurtlefT announced the proprietor to be Dr. John C. Warren.

Dr. S. said that it was not his intention to give a detailed description of the skeleton, as that would be done in a short time by a distinguished anatomist. He would mention, however, that its height is eleven feet, its length, in a straight line from the most anterior part of the cranium to the most posterior part of the pelvis, is fourteen feet four inches, and the extreme width of the pelvis six feet two inches. The bones are in a remarkable state of preservation, and have very nearly the appearance of recent specimens. With the exception of a few phalangeal and caudal bones, and the posterior portion of the sternum, the skeleton is entire.^

Dr. ShurtlefT being himself engaged in articulating and mount- ing the skeleton, thought it might be interesting to mention the manner of doing it. The missing bones are replaced by imita- tions. In restoring the absent phalangeal bones, the correspond- ent ones of the opposite side, which fortunately were perfect, offered the means of doing so correctly, by using reversed models of them. The deficient portion of the sternum is copied from that of the Asiatic elephant belonging to the Society. The caudal vertebra3 are supplied, in part by models from another

1 A description of this skeleton is given in the American Quarterly Journal of Agriculture and Science, vol. ii. p. 203. The number of the dorsal vertebrae is there erroneously stated lo be nineteen. The actual number is twenty.

98

skeleton, and in part by others made according to Dr. S.'s judg- nnent. In forming the imitation-cartilages of the ribs, Dr. S. attached six of them to the sternum, that being the number of true ribs in the Society's skeleton of the elephant, and the infer- ence being a fair one that, the number of dorsal vertebrae and ribs being the same in the Mastodon and elephant, the number of true ribs would also correspond.

The skeleton is to be placed on a platform in the shape of a double cross, and to be supported by strong iron rods, arranged so as to be nearly out of sight when the skeleton is viewed laterally : viz., the anterior part of the chest by a rod in the shape of an in- verted II between the anterior extremities, to which each of these is attached by a clamp ; while its weight is sustained by an iron T secured to the carpus ; and the posterior part of the trunk by iron bars crossing each other in the shape of an X, and attached above by bolts to the lower part of the pelvis, and below to the cross. Each posterior extremity is sustained in position by an iron T screwed to the tarsal bones, while the head of the femur is secured in the acetabulum by a strong bolt ; the head is made firm by two cross bars (similar to those used for the posterior part of the skeleton,) attached above to the most anterior part of the cranium, and below to the platform and between the fore feet. Two other rods, placed longitudinally, are arranged so as to serve as braces.

In mounting this skeleton, every exaggeration has been studi- ously avoided, it having been the endeavor of Dr. S. to put the bones as nearly as possible in their natural position as indicated by their articulating surfaces and by analogies.

Dr. S. also mentioned that the skeleton of the largest Asiatic elephant hitherto brought to this country, would soon be mounted, and remain permanently in the city.

Dr. Gould exhibited a collection of shells, sent from Tavoy, in Burmah, by the Rev. Mr. Mason. Among them he distinguished and characterized the following undescribed species :

Helix saturnia. Testa magna, lenticularis, pallide rubido- cornea, ad peripheriam costato-carinata, late et profunde umbili- cata : anfr. 5 planulatis, spira depresso-conica, sutura nr^^ ^m.

99

marginata : subtus convexa, costulis obsoletis cincta : apertura ampla, rhomboidea, peristomale revoluto.

Diam. 2 ; alt. li poll. Hab. Tavoy.

In size and form it is like H. lampas from Jamaica ; but differs especially in having a broad, deep umbilicus.

Helix refuga. Testa sinistrorsa, discoidea, supra plana, infra concava, viridi-cornea : anfr. 6 arete volutis, confertim striatis, ultimo prope aperluram deflexo ; sutura impressa : apertura per- obliqua, subcordiformi, peristomate albo, reflexo, callo sinuoso connexo ; fauce lamella alba, flexuosa, ad anfractum penultimum volvente.

Diam. -^ ; alt. -^ poll. Hab. Tavoy.

This remarkable shell is almost exactly like H. carabinaia, Fer., except that it is reversed, and has no lamellae revolving within the outer lip.

Helix ho^^esta. Testa orbicularis, depressa, subcarinata, tenuis, nitida, submargaritacea, straminea vel albida, sub-perfo- rata, subtus lineis subtilibus volventibus striata : anfr. 5 convexis ; sutura lineari, marginata : apertura lunala, labro simplici, acu- tissimo, ad umbilicum reflexo.

Diam. -^^ ; alt. } poll. Hab. Tavoy.

A plain, simple shell, resembling H.fusca more than any other species I have seen. It is, probably, a Nanina.

BuLiMUS MONiLiFERUS. Tcsta conico-oblongata, plerumque sinistrorsa, Isevis, luteo-cinerea, flammulis longitudinalibus, fascia suturali lineari, et fascia subsuturali interrupta fuscis ; regione umbilicali fusca, fascia lutea divisa : anfr. 7, ultimo subcarinato ; apertura subovata, basi angulata, sub-effusa ; labro reflexo, rubro- purpureo, ad columellam dilatato ; fauce purpurea.

Long. 1| ; lat. y\^ poll. Hab. Tavoy.

Differs from B. contrarius and B. Iccvus^ Mull., by its angular aperture, and the color of its lip and throat. The interrupted line, just in front of the suture, exists in all the specimens I have seen. It does not always occur reversed.

Pl'PA mellita. Testa parva, subfusiformis, pcllucida, nitida, straminea, apice obtusa : anfr. 7 convexis ; sutura impressa, den- ticulata : apertura ampla, subquadrata, plica columellari, plica basali, plica labiali et lamella posteriori ringens : peritremate un- dulata, reflexa, alba.

100

Long, ^jj ; lat. -^^ poll. Hab. Tavoy, in hortis.

The general aspect of the shell is not unlike that of Achatina octona, in company with which it was found.

SucciNEA SEMisERicA. Testa fragilis, ovalis, a tergo depressa, postice straminea, antice albido-sericea, longitudinaliter plicoso- striata : anfr. 2^, ultimo maximo ; apertura ovata, patula faciem inferiorem fere adequante.

Long. ^ ; lat. -^^ ; alt. -2% poll. Hab. Tavoy, in hortis.

Its shape is like S. tigrina, Fer., and it is well characterized by the peculiar silky-white or pearly surface of the anterior half of the shell.

Melania Herculea. Testa ponderosa, elongato-conica, fusco- viridis, decoUata : anfr., numero integro ad 15, superstitibus 2-5, planulatis, infra suturam constrictis, plicis profundis 4-nodosis longitudinal ibus ; ultimo subcarinato, basi striis crassis cincto : apertura subrhomboidali, antice producta, callo columellari rotun- dato, crasso, fauce plus minusve fusco.

Long. 3 poll. ; lat. 1 poll. Hab. Tavoy River.

This is the largest Melania with which I am acquainted, and is very massive. It differs from the large Melania found about Calcutta (of which, also, I am unable to find any description,) by its larger size, darker color, more numerous folds, which bear about four tubercles each, instead of having usually only a median carina bearing acute tubercles.

Amnicola cincta. Testa minuta, tenuis, ovato-oblongata, im- perforata, pallide cornea, decollata : anfr. (superstitibus) 3, ven- tricosis, ultimo magno, subcarinato, lineis volventibus, et interdum fascia fusca, cincto : apertura ovata, basi admodum producta, labro simplici.

Long, baud j^^ poll. Hab. fluv. Tenasserim, Burmah.

Nucula turgida. Testa alba (dealbata,) sub-equilateralis, sub- rhomboidea, postice acuta, antice rotundata, ventricosa, margine ventrali pendente, ubique lamellis concentricis oblusis reflexis confertis ornata : natibus prominentibus ; cardine dentibus 21 utroque latere instructa.

Long. 4 ; lat. -^ ; alt. 3/^ poll. Hab.

This must resemble closely N. tiunida, Reeve, but is in no wise angular anteriorly.

101

Dr. Gould also described a species of Bulimus, from the Organ Mountains, Brazil, lately presented to the Society by Mrs. A. H. Everett.

Bulimus turnix. Testa oblongo-ovata, a tergo compressa, nitida, cervina, flammulis albidis quodammodo seriatis marmo- rata, longitudinalitcr striata, lineis granulosis volventibus decus- sata : anfr. 5 convexis, ultimo magno : apertura ovali, peristomate valde revoluto, rosaceo : columella obliqua, pliciformi : umbilico obliquo, rimato.

Long. 2} ; lat. ii X t'o ; apert. l-fu poU-

Its surface is covered with shining, longitudinally compressed granules, like B. goniosloma, and evidently belongs to the same group ; but, in other respects, it is more like B. pudicus and B. Bolivarii. Few exceed it in beauty.

Information having been received that the authorized edition of the scientific portion of the history of the late U. S. Exploring Expedition would consist of only one hun- dred copies, a number entirely inadequate to supply the wants of the scientific public ; it was

Voted, That the interests of science require that an effort should be made to induce the Government to enlarge the edition very considerably, so that the work may be procured by institutions and individuals, other than those to whom copies may be presented by law ; and Dr. A. A. Gould and Dr. Samuel Cabot, Jr., were appointed a committee to address the proper authorities in this behalf.

J. H. Carlton, Lt. U. S. Army, was elected a correspond- ing member, and Mr. Henry Loring, Jr., of Boston, a mem- ber of the Society.

ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Annual Report of the Kentucky Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. 1846. Donor unknown.

Morris, J. E. Contributions towards a History of Entomology in the United States. 8vo pamph. Washington, 1844. From the Author.

102

February 18, 1846.

The President in the Chair.

A letter from J. G. Norwood, M. D., of Madison, Indiana, communicated by Prof. H. D. Rogers, was read.

Dr. Norwood announced the discovery of fossil fishes, at a locality sixteen miles north of Madison. They are, probably, of the genus Ceplialaspis. He believes them to be the first fossils of the kind found in the west, and hopes that they may aid in determining the western equivalents of eastern and foreign forma- tions. He expressed an intention of publishing a description of the fossils and of their position.

A letter from W. H. Barris, of Ellsworth, Trumbull county, Ohio, was read. It accompanied a crystal (hemi- trope) of Selenite, found, imbedded in a stratum of blue clay, in that vicinity.

A paper was read, communicated by Prof. C. B. Adams, containing descriptions of undescribed species of shells, from the island of Jamaica, viz.,

Planorbis pallidus. p. t. dextra convexa, apice depressa, sinistra, concava ; anfractibus vix tribus, ultimo maximo ; aper- tura maxima, transversa.

Diam. .4 ; alt. .125 poll. Hab. Jamaica.

Cyclostoma MARiTiMUM. C. t. clougata, decollata, aurantia, costulis exilibus plurimis eleganter ornata ; sutura exile crenulata ; anfractibus duobus perditis, septem reliquis ; umbilico minimo ; apertura ab anfractu penultimo disjuncta, supra angulata et auri- culata ; labro acuto.

Div. 30°. Alt. .63 ; lat. .27 poll. Hab. Jamaica.

Helicina affinis. H. soUtarice, nob., affinis, sed t. spira conica baud convexa, instructa ; labro reflexo, infra angulato, baud scisso. Hab. Jamaica.

Pupa rosea. P. cylindro, Desh., afiinis, sed t. rosacea, costu- lis parvulis distantibus ornata. Hab. Jamaica.

103

Lima pellucida. L. t. tenuissima, hyalina, costulis quadra- ginta tenuissimis instructa.

Long. .41 ; alt. .63 ; lat. .25 poll. L. Loscomhii, Sowb., afE- nis. Hab. Jamaica.

Dr. Gould read a letter from Prof. James Hall, announcing that he had in his possession a fossil skull of a large Rodent, found in Wayne county, New York, which he proposed to describe and offer the description to this Society.

Dr. D. H. Storer laid upon the table a Synopsis of the Fishes of the State of Ohio, prepared from the papers of Prof. J. P. Kirtland, published in the Journal of this Society.

Dr. S. remarked that, as this series of descriptions is now com- pleted, it had become desirable to know their results, and these he had endeavored to exhibit in the paper now offered. Besides being a synopsis of the families, genera and species of the fishes of that State, so far as they are at present known, he had given to it the character of an index, by appending to it a reference to the volume and page of the Journal where the description of each species may be found. He hoped thus to abridge the labors of the student, who would otherwise be obliged to extend his search through eleven different numbers of the Journal.

FERCIDiE.

Perca flavescens, . Etheostoma variata, " maculata.

" caprodes, .

" blennioides,

Labrax multilinealus, . Lucioperca americana, Cenlrarchas hexacanthus, " aeneus,

" fasciatus, .

Pomolis macrochira, " vulgaris, " nitida.

TRIGLID^.

Cottus gobio, . Gasterosteus inconstans,

SCIENID^.

Corvina oscula, . . . III. 350. VI.

Vol.	Page.	Plate.	Fig.
V.	335.	XXVII.	2.
III.	274.	((	«
((	276.	((	3.
"	346.	V.	3.
K	343.	VI.	1.
V.	21.	VII.	1.
IV.	237.	IX.	2.
III.	480.	XXIX.	2.
IV.	239.	XI.	1.
V.	28.	IX.	1.
III.	469.	XXVII.	3.
<'	470.	XXVIII.	2.
IC	472.	XXVIII.	1.
V.	342.
III.	273.	II.	1.

104

Vol. Page. Plate. Fig.

SILURID^.

Pimelodus nebulosus,

" cxipreus,

" ccEFulescens,

" limosus,

Notiirus flavus,

CYPRIMD^.

Leuciscus elongatus, . «' dissimilis,

" biguttatus, .

" cephalus,

" erythrogaster,

" crysoleucas,

«' compressus,

" plagyrus, " kentuckiensis,

«' Storerianus,

'= dorsalis,

" diplemia,

Pimephales promelas, . Catostomus aureolus, " communis,

" bubalus,

" elongatus,

" Duquesnii,

" anisurus, .

" melanops,

" nigricans, .

Sclerognathus cypriuus, Exoglossum dubium, . Hydrargira limi, .

ESOCID.E. Esox reticulatus, . . .IV. 233. X. 2.

» eslor, ... V. 337. XXVIII. 3.

SALMONID^.

Salmo fontinalis, . . . IV. 3Q5. XIV. 2.

" namycush, ..." 25. III. 2.

Coregonus albus, . . . III. 477. XXVIII. 3.

Artedi, ... IV. 231. IX. 1.

CLUPEIDJ3. 1 Pom6lobus chrysochloris, . . IV. 307. XV. 3.

V.	330.	XXVI.
((	339.	XXIX.	2.
C(	333.	XXVII.	1.
((	340.	XXIX.	3.
«	332.	XXVI.	2.
III.	339.	IV.	1.
(C	341.	IV.	2.
(t	344.	V-	1.
({	345.	((	2.
IV.	23.	11.	2.
((	305.	XV.	1.
u	306.	"	2.
V.	26.	VIII.	2.
((	27.	((	3.
((	30.	IX.	2.
((	274.	XXII.	1.
(C	276.	((	3.
III.	475.	XXVII.	2.
III.	349.	VI.	2.
V.	265.	XIX.	1.
"	266.	((	2.
ct	267-	C(	3.
(C	263.	XX.	1.
((	269.	C(	2.
((	271.	((