334 [Dec. 1847 



Total length, skin of adult, from tip of bill to end of tail about 8 inches, 

 wing 4.1-10, tail 4 inches. 



Hab. Bogota in New Grenada. 



Resembles Icterus xanthornus, (Linn.,) more than any other species with 

 which I am acquainted or have found described, but is larger, and has the 

 mask much broader. 



In I. xanthornus, the gular black scarcely exceeds the width of the under 

 mandible, but in the species now described, it fully includes the eyes and 

 the whole base of the bill.'' I. xanthornus has also white markings on the 

 wings, which is not the case in any stage of plumage represented by the five 

 specimens now described. 



I have named this beautiful species in honor of Jacob P. Girard, Jr., Esq.. 

 of the city of New York, author of "The Birds of Long Island," and other 

 important contributions to American Ornithology. 



The following Reports were then read, and ordered to be 

 published : 



REPORT 



OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY 



For the years 1846 and 1847. 



It has now been two years since the last annual Report of the Record- 

 ing Secretary was laid before the Academy. This paper will therefore 

 include a brief statement of the Transactions of the Society for the two years 

 past. 



During the year 1846, twenty-six Correspondents and five Members were 

 elected. Twenty communications, written by the following named gentle- 

 men, have been published in the Proceedings, viz. : One paper by Mr. T. A. 

 Conrad, entitled, " Descriptions of new species of Fossil and recent Shells 

 and Corals ;" one by Mr. Locke, " On an Asterias from the Blue Limestone 

 of Cincinnati;" one by Mr. Edward Harris, " On the difference of level be- 

 tween the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and those of the Atlantic Ocean,' 

 one by Robert W. Gibbes, M. D., of Columbia, S. C, " On the Fossil 

 Squalidse of the United States ;" one by Mr. William Gambel, being " Re- 

 marks on the Birds observed in Upper California ;" two by Samuel Geo. 

 Morton, M. D., viz. a " Description of two new species of Fossil Echino- 

 dermata, from the Eocene of the United States," and " A description of two 

 living Hybrid Fowls, between Gallus and Numida;" two by Edward Hal- 

 lowell, M. D., viz., "Description of a new species of Bat, from Western 

 Africa," and "On the Anatomy of Harpyia destructor, Cuv., or Harpy Eagle 

 of South America;" one by F. E. Melsheimer, M. D., being " Descriptions 

 of new species of Coleoptera of the United States;" one by Mr. John S. 



