126 [August, 



about seven-eighths of an inch ; articulated rays higher at their commencement 

 than the spinous. Dorsal groove continuous to the end of the fin ; pectorals long 

 and pointed first short and spinous ; anal, first three short and spinous; the 

 posterior half in a groove similar to the dorsal ; scales smaller in front of ven- 

 trals and along the base of the anal and caudal ; space free of scales extending 

 from base of the pectorals around the vaginal orifice about one-third of an inch 

 wide. Head light ash color or mottled with brown; belly silver white; eight 

 or ten diffused light brown transverse bands across the sides; dorsal with dark 

 patches; dark bands across the tail, and along the anal. Length, 15 inches; 

 width, 6 inches ; weight, 3 pounds. 

 D. 34 ; P. 24 ; V. 6 ; A. 30 ; C. 23. 



Pacuylabrtjs, Gibbons. 



Head medium size, one fourth of entire length of the body: snout very pro- 

 tractile ; lips very thick; cheeks and opercula covered with scales, latter mem- 

 branous round the edges; teeth conical, few, a single row in each jaw ; bran- 

 chiostegal rays six: nostrils large, double, anterior one closed with a valve; 

 dorsal commences behind the pectoral, and opposite the ventrals; scales of 

 medium size; lateral line nearly concurrent. . 



P. variegatus, Gibbons. Body subcompressed ; dorsal outline somewhat 

 depressed along the spinous portion of the fin; curve of the belly regular; head 

 covered with mucous ducts; six rows of small, semiconcentric scales on the 

 cheeks ; the superior row commencing at the upper angle of the preopercula and 

 terminating at the angle of the jaw ; head naked above this limit; eyes large, 

 furnished with a nictitant membrane ; i rides white ; tail long and thick, widen- 

 ing at the base of the caudal; dorsal with 10 spinous rays, first short, 2d double 

 the length of 1st; 3d, 4th, 5th, still longer; the remaining ones about, an inch 

 long; articulated rays 1.75 in. long at their commencement, half an inch at 

 their termination ; rounded; pectorals subquadrangular ; 1st short and spinous ; 

 1st 3d of anal short and spinous; about 30 longitudinal narrow silver lines; 

 scales very small about the base of the caudal and anal fins. About 83 scales 

 along lateral line ; lips flesh color; head transparent gray and dark brown; back 

 lead color, with metallic tints ; color lighter down the sides. Extreme length 

 14 inches, width 6 inches, weight 1.75 pounds. 



D. 34 ; P. 23 ; V. 6 ; A. 33 ; C. 20. 



ELECTION. 



Col. Victor Motschulsky, of St. Petersburg, and Alexander Von 

 Nordmann, of the same city, were elected Oorresjjondents ; and the Rev. 

 J. Brinton Smith, of Kingsessing, was elected a Member. 



August 1. 

 Mr. Cassin in the Chair. 



A letter was read from Mr. E. George Squier, dated New York, July. 

 18, 1854, transmitting the volume of Transactions of the American 

 Ethnological Society, acknowledged this evening. 



Also a communication from the Royal Bavarian Academy, dated 

 Munich, May 12th, 1854, transmitting the publications from that 

 Society, announced . this evening ; also acknowledging the receipt of 

 certain Nos. of the Journal and Proceedings. 



Dr. Leidy presented a paper from Mr. Charles Girard, intended for 

 publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Descriptions of New Fishes 

 collected by Dr. A. L. Ileermann, naturalist attached to the Survey of 



