September, 1841.] 79 



Obs. This species is a valuable acquisition to Malacology, as it 

 enables us to place the genus Ancylus among the Limneans, where 

 it has hitherto held but a doubtful place. Any one who has exa- 

 mined the animal of Ancylus, cannot have failed to observe its 

 similarity to Planorbis ; and some authors assert that it ascends to 

 the surface of the water to breathe air. This I doubted, because 

 the species with which I am familiar, inhabit the interior of bivalve 

 shells, or the surface of stones in rapid water ; whence it is impos- 

 sible for them to rise to the surface, and regain their previous 

 position. I hence infer that they breathe water, as well as the 

 Physa above described, inhabiting as it does, the middle of a river, 

 in rapids nearly two feet deep at low water, and without objects 

 rising above the surface. It is highly probable that air-breathing 

 Ancyli exist; and it is even possible that the same organ may be 

 adapted to the respiration of both air and water. 



Verbal Communications. Professor Johnson offered some 

 remarks on the specimens of Anthracite and Fossil charcoal 

 presented by him this evening. These observations are ne- 

 cessarily reserved for a future number. 



STATED MEETING, September, 14, 1811, 

 Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



DONATIONS TO CABINET. 



Collection of exotic .Birds stuffed and mounted, presented 

 by Dr. James A. M'Crea, viz. : 



Oriolus melanocephalus; Alcedo ispida ; Merops viridis, (2 

 specimens;) Psittacus Bengalensis; Fringilla Bengalensis; 

 Alcedo Smyrnensis ; Tanagra rubra ; Muscicapa ruticella ; 



