216 [June, 1847. 



A letter was read from Prof. Andreas Retzius, dated 

 Stockholm, April 25, 1847, acknowledging the receipt of his 

 notice of election as a Correspondent of the Academy, and 

 communicating the result of Prof. Muller's examination of the 

 Hydrarchos of Dr. Kock, which he is satisfied is identical with 

 the Basilosaurus of Harlan, (Zeuglodon cetoides, Owen ;) a 

 fact long since announced by this Society, and published in 

 its Proceedings. 



Prof. Retzius also stated that he had detected a cutaneous 

 gland in the Fox, (Canis vulpes) near the root of the tail, 

 opening on the surface, and emitting an agreeable odour. He 

 considered this gland characteristic of the genus Vulpes, and 

 desires further investigation of the subject. 



Prof. Hare made some observations on the weather of the 

 past spring, referring particularly to the great prevalence of 

 easterly winds, and their unnsual and remarkable aridity, and 

 as a consequence, the retarding of vegetation. 



He also expressed his conviction that rain only occurred 

 when two strata of clouds existed ; if only one was present, 

 its moisture would be absorbed by the surrounding atmos- 

 phere. 



Mr. Gliddon remarked that the casts of Egyptian tablets, 

 presented this evening, were those of ordinary funereal tablets, 

 which were frequently found with the mummies, deposited 

 by the friends of the deceased. They probably belonged to 

 the 18th or 19th Dynasty. 



