148 ' [September, 



ment in the shallow bays, on the steep banks of the deeper thoroughfares, and 

 in the second from the Great Egg Harber river to Cape Island. Algae occur in great 

 abundance, parasitical on the common eel grass (Zostera marina,) which is eo 

 extensively dispersed in the bays, and on the bars in the vicinity of Beesley's 

 Point, and which grows with such luxuriance as seriously to obstructthe passage 

 of boats when the tide is out. I found Algae growing on the oyster beds, on 

 sand bars, mud flats, also on shells, sods, and such submerged substances 

 as afforded a resting place. 



The submerged portions of the ship Rhine, which went ashore last winter at 

 Corson's Inlet, are already literally covered with marine vegetation. 



From the want of a standard collection in the Academy, I am unable at pre- 

 sent, with my limited knowledge of the science, to determine satisfactorily 

 many of the species. Among the specimens on the table will be found : 



Fucus vesiculosus, Linn. Very common. 



Ectocarpus littoralis, Lyng. 



Ceramium rubrum, Ag. 1 '^- rj l 



^ ,. , A y parasitic on Zostera marina. 



C. diaphanum, Ag. J ^ 



Callithamnion polyspermum, Ag. 



Nemaleon ? 



Laurencia tenuissima, Grev. 



Polysiphonia, several species. 



Bryopsis plumosa, Ag. 



Lyngbia ? 



Ulva latissima, Linn. 



Rhabdonia Baileyi, Harvey. 



Ulva compressa. 



September 21s^. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



Dr. Leidy presented a paper from Prof. S. F. Baird and Charles 

 Grirard, intended for publication in the Proceedings, on the ^^ Charac- 

 teristics of some new Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution/' which was referred to Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Le Conte, and Dr. 

 Leidy. 



Dr. Le Conte presented a paper, intended for publication in the Pro- 

 ceedings, entitled *' Synopsis of the Scydmsenidse of the United States. '^ 

 Beferred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Fisher, and Dr. Zantzinger. 



Dr. Le Conte presented a second paper, also intended for publication, 

 entitled ' An attempt at a Synopsis of the genus Geomys Baf.," which 

 was referred to Dr. Wilson, Mr. Cassin, and Dr. Woodhouse. 



Dr. Leidy called the attention of the Society to a fragment of a jaw 

 containing two teeth of Tapirus Haysii. This species had been charac- 

 terized by him at a previous meeting, from a single tooth presented by 

 Dr. Hays to the Academy, and which at that time was the only portion 

 known. The present specimen is from the Post Pleiocene, near Natchez, 

 Miss., and was sent to Dr. Leidy by Mr. Wailes. 



September 2%tli. 



Mr. Ord, President, in the Chair. 



The Committee to which had been referred the following papers by 

 Dr. J. L.Le Conte, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



