1853.] 433 



November 1, IS 53. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



Communications were read 



From the American Philosophical Society, dated Oct. 7th, 1853 ; from 

 the Institute of France, dated Paris 22d Sept., 1853 ; from the Royal 

 Academy of Sciences of Amsterdam, dated 4th Oct., 1853, severally ac- 

 knowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy. 



From the E-oyal Bavarian Academy, dated Munich, 4th June, 1853 -, 

 from the "VYurtemburg Society of Natural History ; from the Imperial 

 Academy of Sciences of Vienna, dated 14th Feb. 1853 ; from the Acad- 

 C. L. C. Nat. Curiosorum, dated Breslau, 20th April, 1853 ; from 

 Prof. E. Grube, of Dorpat, through Prof. Fliigel, of Leipsic, dated July 

 8th, 1853, severally transmitting donations to the Library announced 

 this evening. 



From Commander Marston, U. S. Navy, dated Philadelphia, Oct. 19, 

 1853, accompanying specimens of colored clay dredged from the bottom 

 of the Delaware Biver near the Navy Yard. 



From Dr. Samuel Webber, of Charlestown, New Hampshire, dated 

 Oct. 12th, 1853, addressed to Dr. Elwyn, transmitting specimens of 

 fishes infested with a species of Distoma. 



From the Bev. Charles Fox, dated Detroit, Michigan, Oct. 14, 1853, 

 acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. 



From Mr. Wm. E. Moore, dated Fort des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 15th, 

 1853, desiring exchanges. Referred to the Curators. 



Dr. Leidy stated that the nodular bodies imbedded in the tails and fins 

 of the fishes presented by Dr. Webber of Charlestown, N. H., were most 

 probably indurated entozoon sacs. Many ponds and lakes contain a mi- 

 nute worm, resembling in general form a tadpole, belonging to the genus 

 Cercaria. The species, after living for some time in the water, attach 

 themselves to fishes and other living animals, and after losing the tail, 

 form for themselves cysts in the integuments, and subsequently become 

 transformed into a parasitic worm of the genus Distoma. 



N'ovemher Sth. 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



A letter was read from the Bev. A. Constantine Barry, dated Eacine, 

 Wisconsin, Oct. 28th, 1853, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of 

 election as a Correspondent. 



Also a letter from Dr. Wagner, dated Munich, October 18, 1853, ac- 

 knowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. 



Dr. Leidy read the following letter from Dr. Bobt. W. Gibbes, of 

 Columbia, S. C. 



" For many years I endeavored to procure for my friend Dr. Morton, skulls 

 from the ancient mounds of South Carolina, but the bones were always found 

 decayed. I have opened many of them in different parts of the state, and found 

 stone relics in good preservation, but the bones usually in fragments. The long 

 bones are sometimes perfect, but the crania are generally in a crumbling state. 



PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VI., NO. XII. 60 



