174 [October, 



Also a note from Prof. Diinglison, dated Philadelphia, October 9, 

 1854, transmitting the donations to the library from Prof. Briicke, of 

 Vienna, announced this evening. 



The following papers intended for publication in the Journal, were 

 presented, viz., " Descriptions of Fishes of South Carolina, by J. E. 

 Holbrook, M. D." Referred to Dr. Hallowell, Mr. Vaux, and Mr. 



Cassin. 



" Planta? Heermannianae Californicae j descriptions of New Plants 

 collected in South California, by Dr. A. L. Heermann, Naturalist at- 

 tached to the survey of the Pacific R. R. route, under Lieut. R. J. 

 Williamson, U. S. A. ; with remarks on other plants, heretofore 

 described, belonging to the same collection. By E. Duraud and Theo- 

 dore Hilgard, M. D." Referred to Maj. Le Conte, Dr. Bridges and Dr. 

 Zantzinger. 



The following papers intended for publication in the Proceedings, 

 were presented : 



" Observations on the Vespertilio leporinus, Linn., by John Le 

 Conte ;" and 



11 Descriptions of four new species of Kinosternum, by John Le 

 Conte ;" both of which were referred to Dr. Bridges, Mr. Cassin and 

 Col. McCall. 



" On Urnatella gracilis, and a new species of Plumatella, by Joseph 

 Leidy, M. D." Referred to Dr. Bridges, Dr. Zantzinger and Dr. Rand. 



"Notices of new Reptiles from Texas, by Edward Hallowell, M.D." 

 Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Leidy, and Col. McCall. 



October 24th. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



A letter was read from Mr. S. Drincker, dated Canton, May 24th, 

 1854, transmitting donations to the Museum of the Academy. 



A letter from Mr. Henry Pratten, dated New Harmony, Indiana, 

 Oct. 14, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a 

 Correspondent. 



A letter from Prof. J. P. Kirtland, dated East Rockport, Ohio, 

 transmitting a collection of Reptiles from that State. 



A letter from the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium, dated 

 Brussels, 12th October, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of late Nos. 

 of the Proceedings and Journal. 



Mr. Joseph Jones, of Georgia, read a paper, intended for publication 

 in the Proceedings, entitled : " Abstract of experiments upon the phy- 

 sical influences exerted by living organic and inorganic membranes upon 

 chemical substances passing through them by endosinosis," which was 

 referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Carson and Dr. Bridges. 



Major Le Conte stated that having visited, during the last spring, an island on 

 the coast of Georgia, known as Colonel's Island, he had been enabled to pro- 

 cure from the original locality authentic specimens of Magnolia pyramidata, 

 mentioned in Bartram Travels, p. 5. On comparison with other specimens, he 

 is convinced that it is merely a variety ot M. grandiflora ; which varies in the 



