326 [June, 



From tlie Wurtemberg Society of Natural Sciences, dated March 8th, 

 1853, acknowledging the receipt of late Nos. of the Proceedings. 



From the A.morican Philosophical Society, dated June 21, 1853, also 

 acknowledging the receipt of the last No. of the Proceedings. 



A paper was presented from Prof. Baird and Mr. Chas. Girard, 

 intended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled '' Descriptions of 

 some new Fis-hes from the River Zuni." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. 

 Henderson and Dr. Le Conte. 



Mr. Cassin presented a " Catalogue of the Hirundinidae in the Col- 

 lection of the Academy of Natural Sciences," intended for publication, 

 which was referred to Dr. Wilson, Dr. Le Conte and Mr. Phillips. 



Mr. Cassin presented a second paper for publication in the Proceed- 

 ings, describing new species of Swallows and Parrots in the Collection 

 of the Academy. Referred to same Committee. 



Major Le Cunte exhibited a single valve of Dipsas plicatus, in which 

 the shell had been opened, and small images of lead inserted, which the 

 animal had covered with nacre, forming artificial pearls. 



Dr. Le Conte made some remarks on the specimens of Scalops in the Col- 

 lection of the Academy, and pointed out the want of uniformity in the generic 

 characters separating that genus from Talpa. 



In many of our species the number of teeth is the same as in Talpa europaea, 

 the only differences being in the size of the first and fourth teeth ; the latter of 

 which is much elongated in the European mole, while in ours it is either of the 

 same size or scarcely perceptibly larger than the adjacent teeth. 



In Scalops aquaticus alone does the dentition show any decided modification ; 

 the teeth are here only 36 in number; their form and situation are already well 

 known, and are described in all systematic works; the anterior upper tooth 

 is enlarged, as in the other American moles, but to a still greater extent. 

 The hind feet are also webbed, almost to the root of the nail, while in the others 

 the toes are separated as in Talpa. 



The form of the snout is also mentioned among the generic differences. In 

 Talpa the snout is broad and depressed and the nostrils are terminal. In Scalops 

 aquaticus, the snout is moderately depressed and the nostrils superior. In S. 

 Townsendii and aeneus, the snout is much elont^ated, slender, and the nostrils are 

 superior. In S. Breweri, the snout has the same slender form as in the two last 

 mentioned, but the nostrils are entirely lateral. 



In view of the unsatisfactory nature of these differences, Dr. Le Conte be- 

 lieves that it is better to suppress the genus Scalops, and place all the species 

 under Talpa, than still farther to subdivide the group into genera. Talpa may 

 then be divided into three groups : 



1. Dentes 44, 4to superiore et 5to inferioribus maiore ; rostrum latum depres- 

 sum, naribus terminalibus ; pedes postici non palmati. 



To this group belong Talpa europoea and T. coeca, both European; and dif- 

 fering in the size of the incisor teeth, the middle of which are larger than the 

 lateral ones in T. cceca, while all are equal in T. europaea. 



There is in the Academy a specimen labelled " Scalops Breweri," which 

 belongs to this division, and by description approaches to Talpa cceca, in the 

 increased size of the middle incisors. In comparison with T. europcea, besides 

 the difference in the incisors, the four small teeth following the long canine-like 

 teeth of the upper jaw, show great differences. In th(? one under consideration, 

 the three anterior ones are equal and very small, and the fourth is larger and 

 simply compressed, not lobed, though declivous posteriorly. In the lower jaw, 

 the enlarged canine-like 5th tooth is follovved by four small simple and equal 

 teeth; then follow the ordinary cuspidate teeth, which pres^^nt no appreciable 



