1853 ] 225 



2. P. penicillatus WooJhouse. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, 6, 200. New 

 Mexico. 



3. P. parvus Lee. Cricetodipus parvus Peale. U. S. Exp. Exp. Mam., 

 p. 5Z, pi. 13, fig. 2. 



A specimen procured by me in the Desert of the Colorado of Southern Cali- 

 fornia, differs only from Peale's original specimen from Oregon in having the 

 whiskers partly black; it is apparently a more adult specimen, thouirh not 

 larger than the one in the Exp. Exp. Collection. An error occurs in Peale's 

 description and measurement, where the tail is stated to be longer than the body; 

 it is in reality a little shorter than the head and body, reaching just in front of 

 the ears, when laid along the back. 



Dr. Charles M. "Wetherill presented to the notice of the Society speci- 

 mens of fused Asphalte from Hillsboro', New Brunswick, which variety 

 of Asphalte lie had characterized as Melan- Asphalt, in a paper read be- 

 fore the American Philosophical Society in July last. Dr. W. remarked 

 that Chemists, who had pronounced this variety of Asphalt infusible, 

 had not properly experimented with it. He had recently fused it in a 

 Grerman flask ; it flowed with a level surface and was poured out, after 

 which it hardened. It is remarkably electric both before and after 

 fusion. 



January l^tli. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



A letter was read from the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 dated Washington, Dec. 20, 1852, acknowledging the receipt of late 

 numbers of the Proceedings. 



Dr. Hallowell read a paper intended for publication in the Proceed- 

 ings, " On some new Reptiles from California ;'' which was referred to 

 Dr. Ruschenberger, Dr. Heermann and Dr. Woodhouse. 



Dr. Le Conte called the attention of the members to a description, 

 with a plate, by Wesmael, of the Mexican Ant, in the Bulletin de 

 TAcad. Royale de Bruxelles. Wesmael considers the characteristics 

 Bufliciently well marked to form a new sub-genus, Myrmecocystis. 



Dr. Bridges, on behalf of the Publication Committee, announced the 

 publication of Part 3, Vol. 2, New Series of the Journal, 



Dr. Kane asked that an estimate be made of the expense, &c. of ma- 

 terials necessary for the preservation of objects of Natural History in 

 the proposed Arctic Expedition. Referred to the Committee previously 

 appointed to confer with Dr. Kane. 



January 2btJi. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



The Committee on Dr. Le Conte's paper, describing new ColeopterE 

 of the United States, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



