1852.] 147 



Septemher 7th, 1852. 



Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 

 Letters were read 



From the Secretary of the Trustees of the New York State Library, 

 dated Albany^ September 14th, 1852, acknowledging the receipt of the 

 Proceedings of the Academy, Vol. 6, No. 3. 



From the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society, dated 

 August 20th, 1852, also acknowledging the receipt of a late number of 

 the Proceedings. 



Dr. Le Conte read a paper, intended for publication in the Proceed- 

 ings, entitled "Description of a new species of Sciurus," which was re- 

 ferred to Dr. Ruschenberger, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Camac. 



Dr. Le Conte presented a second paper, also intended for the Pro- 

 ceedings, entitled "Catalogue of the Melyrides of the United States, 

 with descriptions of new species.^' Referred to the same Committee. 



Mr. Cassin announced to the Society the return of Adolphus L. Heermann, 

 M. D., a member of this Society, after a residence of nearly three years in various 

 parts of California. Dr. H. visited that country for the express purpose of in- 

 vestigating its ornithology, and making collections in that, and in other depart- 

 ments of natural history, which he has done with great judgment and unrivalled 

 zeal, and has brought home the most extensive and valuable collection of birds 

 ever made in that country, with many other interesting objects. 



Dr. Genth made some remarks on two series of very interesting salts, dis- 

 covered by him about five years ago. They have conjugate bases, containing 

 cobalt and ammonia. The salts of one of the bases have red colors of different 

 shades between carmine and cherry-red ; those of the other base are orange- 

 colored. The red salts are very easily decomposed. The two bases and about 

 fifty different salts have been made, most of them in beautiful crystals. Dr. 

 Genth stated that (as his time is very limited) Dr. Wolcott Gibbs, of New 

 York, who has already prepared some of these salts, independently of his own 

 experiments, has promised him, at his request, to join his labor in completing 

 this investigation, after which both chemists intend to publish their results 

 under their joint names. 



September 14ith. 



Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



Letters were read 



From Mr. G. "W. Fahnestock, dated Philadelphia, September 8th, 

 1852, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Member. 



From Dr. Gr. G. Bischoff, dated Reading, Pa., June 11th, 1852, ac- 

 companying his donation announced this evening. 



Mr. Ashmead called the attention of the members to the collection of marine 

 Algae presented by him this evening. He said it was remarked by Harvey in the 

 " Nereis Boreali-Americana," that after passing New York, the almost unbroken 

 line of sand is nearly destitute of Algse. " I have not," he adds, " received any 

 collection of sea plants made between Long Branch and Wilmington." 



However barren of Algae may be the shifting sands along the coast of New 

 Jersey, the floating spores have been carried into the inlets, and found a lodg- 



PROCBBD. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OP PAILADELPHIA. VOL. VI. NO. V. 24 



