308 [November, 



November 5th, 1851, requesting certain numbers of the Proceedings of 

 the Academy necessary to complete the series in the Library of that 

 Institution. 



From Dr. J. L. Burtt, U. S. N., dated U. S. Naval Hospital, New 

 York, November 8th, 1851, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of 

 election as a Member. 



Dr. Leidy presented a list of minerals offered by the Bavarian Govern- 

 ment, and also a list of minerals of this country desired by the same 

 in exchange. Referred to the Mineralogical Committee. 



Dr. Leidy called the attention of the members to some fossil bones from the 

 Miocene formation of Virginia, which he characterized as having belonged to two 

 species of Whale, as follows : 



Bai.aena pal^atlantica, Leidy. This species is proposed upon a fragment 

 of a lower jaw, a dorsal vertebra, and the zygomatic portion of the temporal bone. 

 The specimens were discovered by Dr. R. Eppes in Virginia, and presented to 

 Prof. W. E. Horner, to whom they belong. They were found in association with 

 Pecten Jeffersonius, Venus tridacrioides, etc. The fragment of lower jaw, 8i 

 inches long, is stout in its proportions, is relatively straight, with no tendency 

 to curve downwards. In section it is vertically ellipsoid, but becomes more 

 cylindroid anteriorly. Internally it is convex, externally demicylindroid. The 

 upper margin is elevated, obtuse, and irregular. Just within it, in the specimen, 

 situated about two inches apart, are three gingeval foramina, about four lines in 

 diameter, and slightly oblique forwards in their direction. External to the up- 

 per margin at the anterior half of the specimen, about one inch apart, are two 

 large labial foramina, one four lines, the other five ^lines in diameter, directed 

 very obliquely forward. 



Measurements of the fragment. 



Post. Ant. 



Vertical diameter, 4Hnches, 3| inches. 



Transverse " 2J " 2 " 10 lines. 



The dorsal vertebra indicates an adult animal. Its articular faces are flat and 

 compressed circular. The transverse processes and neural arch are broken 

 away. 



Measurement Si 



Balaena prisca, Leidy. This species is proposed upon a fragment of a lower 

 jaw and a caudal vertebra, found in association with Crocodilus antiquus, Pecten 

 Jeffersonius, &c., in Westmoreland county, Virginia. The specimens were ob- 

 tained by Mr. Robert H. Nash, and presented by him to the Academy. 



The fragment of lower jaw, fourteen inches long, is of much more slender pro- 



