NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 183 



Prof. Gill offered a communication on a new generic type of the family 7a- 

 piridce, of which two skulls, representing adult and very young individuals, 

 are contained in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. The former in- 

 dicates that the species attains a size superior even to that of Tapirns ameri- 

 canus, and that it is consequently much larger than the Tapir of Roulin. Both 

 skulls were obtained, by Dr. W. S. White, on the Isthmus of Panama. The 

 outline of the skull resembles that of the Pinchaque, (T. Roulinii, Fischer, 

 1829, = T. villosus, Wagner, = T. andicola, Gloger, 1842, = T. pinchaque, 

 Goudot,) but the new type is distinguished at once by the peculiar develop- 

 ment of the supramaxillaries, which are swollen above and in front of the 

 infraorbital foramina, and thence extend upwards and backwards into a 

 squamous portion which embraces with its fellow a thick, bony, nasal sep- 

 tum continuous with the vomer, and which is elevated to a line with the 

 forehead, and has a widened upper edge, which still further enlarges behind 

 and embraces the nasal bones. The grooves for the muscles of the proboscis 

 are in front straight, entirely confined to the frontals, and do not encroach on 

 the supramaxillaries ; while behind they describe a spiral curve around a pit 

 between the nasals and frontals. Other peculiar characters exist and will be 

 hereafter illustrated. The species may be named Elasmognathus Bairdii. 



Mr. Glenn, of the Museum of Comparative Anatomy and Zoology of 

 Cambridge, exhibited to the Academy various beautiful microscopic 

 preparations made by him. 



October \lth. 

 The President, Dr. Bridges, in the Chair. 



Twenty- two members present. 



The following papers were offered for publication : 



" Observations on American Fossils, with descriptions of new spe- 

 cies." By T. A. Conrad. 



" Third Contribution to the Herpetol >gy of Tropical America," 

 and "A Contribution to the knowledge of the Delphinidce." By Prof. 

 E. D. Cope. 



October 24th. 



The President, Dr. Bridges, in the Chair. 



Eighteen members present. 



The following papers were offered for publication : 

 " On species of Galeruca and allied genera," and " Prodromus of the 

 Anobiini inhabiting North America." By Dr. John L. LeConte. 

 " Notes of a study of the family Icteridae." By John Cassin. 



October 31st. 

 The President, Dr. Bridges, in the Chair. 



Seventeen members present. 



The resignation of Dr. Band as Recording Secretary was accepted, 

 and Dr. H. C. Wood, Jr.. was unanimously elected. 

 1865.] 



