198 [April, 1847. 



Mr. Cassin read a " Description of a new rapacious Bird 

 in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia." Referred to Messrs, Harris, Townsend, and 

 Gambel. 



Dr. Morton read " A description of Fossil Remains from 

 the Eocene green sand of South Carolina. By Robert W. 

 Gibbes, M, D. ;" which was referred to Drs. Morton, Wilson 

 and Leidy. 



Dr. Leidy communicated an observation which he had 

 made in the human adult subject, of the existence of a spicu- 

 lum of bone developed between the lamina of the dura 

 mater, just over the point at which the trigeminus nerve 

 pierces that membrane, the purpose of which he supposes to 

 be, to protect the nerve from pressure as it passes over the 

 superior edge of the petrous portions of the temporal bone to 

 join the Casserian ganglion. 



Mr. Phillips offered the following, Avhich was adopted : 

 Resolved, That a copy of the Journal of the Academy, as 

 far as can be spared, be transmitted to Mr. Moricand, o* 

 Geneva, in exchange for several numbers of his ' Plants of 

 Brazil, lately presented to the Academy. 



On motion of Mr. Gambel, Resolved, That the Publication 

 Committee be authorized to commence the publication of a 

 new series of the Journal of the Academy, in quarto form. 



Meeting for Business, April 27, 1847. 

 Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



The Committee on Dr. Gibbes' paper describing fossil re- 

 mains from the Eocene green sand of South Carolina, re- 

 ported in favour of publication in the forthcoming number of 

 the Journal of the Academy. 



The Committee on M. Cassin's paper read at last meeting 

 reported in favour of publication. 



