1850.] ^ 21 



March 5th. 



Dr. Elwyn in the Chair. 



A communication was read from the American Philosophical 

 Society, dated March 2d, 1850, acknowledging the receipt of Part 4, 

 Vol. 1, of the Journal of the Academy. 



A letter from H. W. Ravenel, Esq., dated Black Oak, South Caro- 

 lina, Feb. 26th, 1850, stating his intention to forward without delay a 

 package of South Carolina plants for the Academy, and making in- 

 quiries respecting exchanges. Referred to the Botanical Committee. 



Dr. Morton presented the following letter from Elliot Cresson, Esq., 

 of Philadelphia, addressed to the members of the Academy, dated 

 March 5th. 



"It will doubtless be gratifying to you to learn that the attention of scientific 

 men is turned, with deep interest, upon the long neglected continent of Africa: 

 and it is equally due to you and to the distinguished gentlemen who have made so 

 liberal an offer, to state that Hon. John Short, of Cincinnati, and Professor Charles 

 Short, of Louisville, have most munificently offered to bear all the expense of a 

 botanical mission to Africa, provided a person of proper zeal and other qualifica- 

 tions can be obtained for the service. Professor Christy, of Oxford, Ohio, has 

 also expressed to us his wish to make a geological survey of Africa." 



The letter was, on motion, referred to the Zoological Committee. 

 The following, from the same, was also read. 



Extract from a letter from Senator Stephen A. Benson to Elliott Cresson, dated 

 Bassa Cove, Republic of Liberia, October 2Bth, 1849. 



"I had almost forgotten to tender you my thanks for the pamphlet forwarded 

 to me, containing some observations on the Hippopotamus Liberiensis. This 

 animal inhabits all the larger rivers of Liberia, and I have known seven in all to 

 be killed by the natives living near the St. John's river, but have never seen but 

 one myself. This one was shot by a native in 1835, on an island in this river 

 opposite Bexley, and so far as I can now remember, it corresponded with the de- 

 scription given by Dr. Morton and his correspondents. The natives say that 

 they are to be frequently seen upon the islands opposite and above Bexley." 



March \2th. 

 Mr. Pearsall in the Chair. 



A note was read from Elliott Cresson, Esq., dated Philadelphia, 

 March 8ih, 1850, presenting a collection of Coleopterous insects from 

 Liberia. 



A letter from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, dated 

 Boston, March 6th, 1850, acknowledging the receipt of Part 4, Vol. 1, 

 new series of the Journal, and requesting a copy of the first series, and 



PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. V. NO. II. 4 



