Ac AUA i*j :sc; 



1851.] 139 



January *ith^ 1851. 

 Dr. Morton, President, in the Chair. 



A letter was read from the Minister of Public Works of France, 

 dated Paris, Sept. 4, 1851, accompanying; No. 3, 4th series, of the 

 Annales des Mines. 



Also a letter from Mr. George R. Giiddon, dated Philadelphia, Jan. 

 3, 1851, requesting the loan, for a short time, of the Egyptian Mummy 

 deposited in the Museum of the Academy by Mr. J. L. Hodge. Re- 

 ferred to the Curators. 



Dr. Woodhouse read a communication intended for publication, 

 entitled ''Description of the N. American Jackall, Canis frustror.^' 

 Referred to a Committee consisting of Dr. J. C. Fisher, Dr. Townsend, 

 and Dr. Leidy. 



Dr. Leidy read a communication from Mr. Richard C. Taylor, in- 

 tended for publication in the Journal, entitled " Substance of Notes 

 made during a Geological reconnoisance in the Auriferous Porphyry 

 region next the Caribbean Sea, in the Province of Veraguas and Isth- 

 mus of Panama ;" which was referred to the following Committee, 

 viz : Dr. Elwyn, Dr. Morton, and Mr. Ashmead. 



The Secretary read an extract from a letter addressed to Dr. Morton 

 by Dr. John Evans, dated St. Louis, Dec. 19, 1850, in relation to an 

 intended Expedition to Missouri and Oregon. 



The Chairman called attention to the enormous development in the 

 size of the specimen of the common domestic cat presented by him 

 this evening, as the result of emasculation. The following are the 

 dimensions, weight, &c. : 



Length from tip to tip 3 feet; circumference at middle 19^ inches; 

 weight 42 pounds; color black mixed with white. 



The following Resolution, offered by Dr. Fisher, was adopted : 

 Resolved, That the President, Vice President, Secretaries and Librarian, 

 be a Committee to address the Commissioner of the Land Office at 

 Washington, and solicit an appropriation sufficient to carry out the 

 views of Dr. John Evans of Miseouri, as expressed in his letter read 

 this evening:. 



o" 



January 14<t/i. 

 Vice President Bridges in the Chair. 



Dr. Morton referred to some communications which he had recently 

 made to the Society, on the races of Dogs, showing their origin from 

 various species of dogs and wolves. He had endeavored to obtain in- 

 formation from persons whose frontier position as officers of the army, 

 &c., afforded them suitable opportunities for this purpose, and read 

 a letter from the Hon. H. H. Sibley, M. C, from Minesota of which 

 the following is the substance. 



The Indian Dog differs much in size and appearance among differ- 



I'ROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OK PIIlLADELrillA. VOL. V. NO. VII. 19 



