438 [Decembee, 



acknowledging the receipt of tlie Proceedings, Vol. 5, Nos. 9 L2, Vol. 

 6, Nos. 1 and 2, and of the Journal, new series, Vol. 2, Part 2; also 

 transmitting their Bulletin and Transactions. 



From Prof. Baird, dated Washington, Nov. 26, 1853, transmitting 

 the collection of Serpents and Crawfishes acknowledged this evening. 



From Mr. Charles Gillman of Brunswick, Maine, dated Nov. 29, 

 1853, in relation to obtaininor a specimen of Moose (Cervus alecs) for the 

 Museum, an opportunity of which was now offered him. Referred to 

 the Curators. 



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

 ceedings, entitled " Descriptions of new Coleoptera, from Texas, chiefly 

 collected by the U. S. Boundary Expedition.'' Pteferred to Dr. Leid}-, 

 Dr. Hays and Dr. Hallowell. 



Dr. Leidy presented a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled 

 " On Bathygnathus borealis, an extinct Saurian from the new Red 

 Sandstone of Prince Edward's Island." Referred to Mr. Lea, Dr. 

 Ruschenberger and Dr. Coates. 



On leave granted, Mr. Foulke offered a Resolution, instructing the 

 Curators to enquire into the expediency of keeping the Museum open 

 on more than two days in the week, and of granting the privilege of 

 giving tickets of admission to subscribers to a fund for meeting the ex- 

 penses of so doing. 



December 13 th. 

 Mr. Ord, President, in the Chair. 



A letter was read from the Hon. J. K. Kane, dated Philada., Dec. 

 11, 1853, transmitting a copy of Dr. Kane's new work on the Grrinnell 

 Arctic Expedition. 



Mr. Lea called the attention of the members to the specimen of Gneiss 

 bored by Pholas dactylus, and containing the shell. The specimen is 

 from the coast of France, and was procured by M. Cuyot, who had first 

 noticed the fact of Gneiss Rock being bored by this animal. The spe- 

 cimen proves that the boring action must have been of a mechanical 

 character and not chemical, as had been supposed by Deshayes. M. 

 Cu3'-ot was satisfied that it resulted from the animal twisting itself 

 around in the rock. 



Dccemher 20th. 

 The President, Mr. Ord, in the Chair. 



Mr. Conrad presented a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled 

 *' Monograph of the genus Argonauta, with descriptions of five new spe- 

 cies," which waa referred to Mr. Phillips, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Le Conte. 



Mr. Conrad also presented two other papers for publication in the 

 Proceedings, entitled ''Synopsis of the genus Cassidula, and description 

 of a proposed new genus, Athlcta," and " Omissions and corrections to 

 a Synopsis of the North American Naiades," both of which were re- 

 ferred to the Committee on the first paper. 



