1854.] 



203 



From John C. Dalton, Jr., dated New York, 7th Nov., 1854, of same 

 tenor. 



From the Trustees of the British Museum, dated 2d Nov., 1854, ac- 

 knowledging the receipt of late numbers of the Proceedings. 



From the Natural History Association of Prussian Rhineland and 

 "Westphalia, dated 25th August, 1854, transmitting their publications 

 acknowledged this evening, and requesting exchanges. 



From the Royal Society of Sciences of Gottingen, dated 2d July, 

 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy. 



From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Bavaria, dated Munich, 



1854, stating that the publications of the Academy sent them are placed 

 in the private library of the King of Bavaria, and requesting duplicate 

 copies for that Society. Referred to the Committees on Publication and 

 Proceedings. 



From the Imperial Academy of Sciences of Vienna, dated 18th June, 

 10th Aug., and Nov. 3d, 1854, accompanying the donations acknowledged 

 this evening. 



From Dr. J. H. Molkenboer, dated Leyden, 12th June, 1854, ac- 

 companying the donations announced this evening. 



Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings 

 entitled, u Descriptions of new Coleoptera collected by Thos. H. Webb, 

 M.D., in the years 1850-1-2 while Secretary to the U. S. and 

 Mexican Boundary Commission." Referred to Dr. Zantzingcr, Dr. 

 Henderson, and Prof. Haldeman. 



Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication, entitled, " List of the 

 species of Pigeons of the genus Carpopbagus, Swainson, in the collec- 

 tions of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and of the U. 

 S. Exploring Expedition, Washington, D. C, with descriptions of new 

 and little known species." Referred to Col. McCall, Dr. Wilson, and 

 Dr. Woodhouse. 



Dr. Genth presented for publication a paper, entitled, " Herrerite 

 identical with Smithsonite." Referred to Dr. Wetherill, Dr. Rand, and 

 Dr. Bridges. 



Dr. Wetherill presented a paper for publication, entitled " Chemical 

 Notices.'' Referred to Dr. Rand, Dr. Bridges, and Dr. Genth. 



Dr. Wetherill called the attention of the members to the experiments 

 of Dr. Stenhouse upon the action of charcoal on animal substances in 

 promoting their rapid destruction, a fact first noticed by Mr. Turnbull, 

 of London. In the experiments of Dr. Stenhouse, small animals were 

 covered with powdered charcoal, and the soft parts were speedily de- 

 stroyed. No offensive odor was noticed, although the experiments were 

 conducted in the laboratory. Dr. Wetherill suggested the use of this 

 agent in the preparations of the skeletons of small animals. 



Mr. Cassin stated that at the present time, and for several weeks past, 

 the white-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) has been exceedingly 

 abundant in the neighborhood of this city, and noticed the fact that this 

 had been the case, notwithstanding that the weather had not been more 

 rigorous than usual at this season. This bird has not appeared here 

 until the present month, since the winter of 183G-7, when it and other 



