72 . [May, 



Dr. Leidy remarked that the honey was contained within the stomach, which, 

 with the abdomen, was enormously distended, assuming a globular condition. 

 The pergamentaceous segments are widely separated and appear as black bands 

 upon the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the translucent abdomen. The thorax 

 and head are about two lines long ; the distended abdomen 4^ lines in diameter. 

 All the other viscera of the abdomen are completely obliterated, and even the 

 tracheal vessels have entirely disappeared, which is an important physiological 

 fact, as by the supply of oxygen being cut off, none of the honey is consumed 

 in the process of respiration. On the outside of the basement membrane of 

 the stomach, is a single layer of branching fibres, (muscular ?) The striped 

 muscular fibres connecting the abdominal segments together, are collected in 

 very thin bands with wide intervals, and are exceedingly elongated. 



A paper by Dr. Woodhouse was presented, entitled ^' Description of a 

 new species of Lepus " (L. larreae,) and intended for publication ; which 

 was referred to Dr. Fisher, Dr. Watson and Dr. Zantzinger. 



Also a second paper by the same, describing a new species of Ecto- 

 pistes, (E. marginella,) which was referred to the same Committee. 



Mr. Lea read a paper entitled " Description of a fossil Saurian of the 

 New Red Sandstone of Pennsylvania, with some account of the Forma- 

 tion ;" which being intended for publication in the Journal, was 

 referred to Mr. Aubrey H. Smith, Mr. W. P. Foulke, and Mr. Vaux. 



3Ia7/ ISth. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



A letter was read from the Secretary of the Trustees of the New 

 York State Library, dated Albany, May 12th, 1852, acknowledging the 

 receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. vi. No. 1. 



Mr. Lea read a paper intended for publication in the Journal, *' On 

 some new Fossil Molluscs in the Carboniferous Slates of the Anthracite 

 Seams of the Wilkesbarre Coal Formation,'^ which was referred to Dr. 

 Wilson, Dr. D. D. Owen and Dr. Leidy. 



Dr. Owen read a paper entitled " Notice of a Mineral from Califor- 

 nia,^' which being intended for publication in the Proceedings, was re- 

 ferred to Dr. C. M. Wetherill, Mr. Vaux and Dr. Rand. 



Dr. Bridges read some additions to a paper lately presented by Mr, 

 C. Girard, on the North American Astaci ; which were referred to the 

 Committee on the former portion of the paper. 



J/ay 25th. 



The President, Mr. Ord, in the Chair. 



The Committee on Mr. Dana's continuation of his descriptions of the 

 Crustacea of the Exploring Expedition, reported in favor of publication 

 in the Proceedings : 



