1855.] 345 



Nov., 1854, transmitting the publications of that Institution, announced 

 this evening. 



From the Imperial Academy of Sciences of Vienna, dated 18th Oct. 

 and 30th Nov., 1854, also transmitting its publications. 



From the Wurtemburg Natural History Society, dated Stuttgart, 23d 

 March, 1855, transmitting their publications, and acknowledging the 

 receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 6, Nos. 8 12, Vol. 7, Nos. 1 and 2. 



From Dr. Wm. P. Gibbons, dated San Francisco, California, trans- 

 mitting a printed description and a figure of a crab, from the coast of 

 California, supposed by him to be new, and desiring its republication in 

 the Proceedings. Referred to the Committee on Proceedings. 



Dr. Le Conte presented for publication in the Proceedings, the fol- 

 lowing papers : 1. " Notes on the Amarae of the United States ;" and 

 2. " Synopsis of the Hydrophilidae of the United States." Referred to 

 Mr. Guex, Dr. Zantzinger and Mr. Schafhirt. 



Mr. C;issin presented for publication in the Proceedings, a paper, en- 

 titled " Descriptions of some of the new Marine Invertebrata from the 

 Chinese and Japanese Seas. By Wm. Stimpson, Zoologist to the U. S. 

 Surveying Fixpedition to the North Pacific, Japan Seas, &c; Lieut. John 

 Rodgers, Commander." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Bridges and Mr. 

 Cassin. 



Dr. Hallowell called the attention of the members to the fact noticed 

 by Mr. S. Ashmead, that the Coluber eximius has the faculty of vibrating 

 its tail, when irritated, so as to produce, by striking a solid body, a sound 

 similar to that of the rattlesnake. The living specimen on the table this 

 evening produced the sound so distinctly as to be heard by all the 

 members present. Dr. Hallowell also stated that Mr. Ashmead had 

 noticed a similar noise produced by the black snake, by vibrating its tail 

 among dry leaves. Dr. Le Conte confirmed the latter observation of Mr. 

 Ashmead. 



Mr. Lea read a letter from Dr. Ruschenberger, dated U. S. Flag Ship 

 Independence at sea, April 24, 1855, announcing that he had transmitted 

 for the Museum a skeleton of the Guanaco, several crania, and various 

 other objects of Natural History. 



June 19th. 

 Vice President Bridges in the Chair. 



Letters were read 



From the American Philosophical Society, dated June 15th, 1855, 

 acknowledging the receipt of the last number of the Proceedings. 



From Dr. H. W. Kennedy, dated Buenos Ayres, April 17th, 1855, 

 accompanying donations to the Cabinet, announced this evening. 



June 26th. 



Vice President Bridges in the Chair. , 



The Committees to which were referred papers presented by Dr. Le 

 Conte, 12th inst. ; and by Mr. Stimpson, presented same date, reported 

 in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



