2 [March, 1841. 



STATED MEETING, March 2. 

 Vice President Morton, in the Chair. 



DONATIONS TO MUSEUM. 



Picns Nuttalii, (Audubon,) California. 

 Icterus tricolor, (Audubon,) California. 

 Podiceps cornutus (young female,) and a box of Insects from 

 China. From Mr. W. Gambel. 



DONATIONS TO LIBRARY. 



Philosophy of Plants, by Decandolle and Sprengel. Pur- 

 chased by order of the Academy. 

 Discourse on the Objects and Importance of the National 

 Institution for the promotion of Science, established at 

 Washington, 1S40. By Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of 

 War. From Mr. Francis Markoe, Jr. 

 Written Communications. Dr. Morton read a letter 

 dated Monrovia, Africa, December 20, 1840, from Dr. S. M. 

 E. Goheen, acknowledging the reception of his notice of 

 election as correspondent of the Academy. 



Also a letter from Alexander Maclure, Esq., dated New 

 Harmony, Indiana, February ISth, 1841, stating the recep- 

 tion by Dr. D. D. Owen and himself of their notices of elec- 

 tion as corresponding members. 



The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Mr. 

 Francis Markoe, Jr., accompanying the Discourse of Mr. 

 Poinsett, and the Constitution and By-laws of the National 

 Institution, presented this evening ; and expressing a wish 

 for the co-operation of the Academy in the objects of the Na- 

 tional Institution. Also a letter from Dr. George Engelman, 

 dated St. Louis, Missouri, February 13th, 1841, acknow- 

 ledging the reception of his notice of election as a correspon- 

 dent of the Academy. 



Verbal Communications. Dr. George C. Leib made 

 some remarks upon the "construction of the nictitating 

 membrane of the Eye," and exhibited specimens obtained 



