362 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



observations on the binocular combination of visual spectra, 

 and offers, he thinks, a conclusive argument against the the- 

 ory maintained by Brewster, and which has been so widely 

 accepted. 



Four hundred and seventy-fifth meeting. 



January 25. 1860. — Stated Meeting. 



The President in the chair. 



The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Profes- 

 sor George C. Swallow, in acknowledgment of his election 

 as an Associate Fellow of the Academy. 



Mr. Chauncey Wright and Mr. Simon Newcomb, of the 

 Nautical Almanac Office, Cambridge, were elected Fellows in 

 Class I. Section 1, Mathematics. 



Professor Agassiz, followed by Professors Parsons, W. B. 

 Rogers, and others, discussed several points in natural history 

 and geology in reference to their bearing upon the origin and 

 distribution of species. 



Professor Gray communicated, from the author, the fol- 

 lowing : — 



Characters of some New Grasses collected at Hong Kong- and 

 Vicinity by Mr. Charles Wright in the North Pacific Explor- 

 ing Expedition. By Colonel William Munro, C. B., &c., 

 of the British Armv. 



1. Berghausia mutica (sp. nov.) : racemo decomposito ; pedicellis 

 apice barbatis ; spiculis muticis scahro-puheris ; foliis linearibus utrin- 

 que attenuatis margine pilis longis fimbriatis, vaginis glabriuscuHs 

 apice longe fimbriatis. — An Miquelia harhata, Nees in Rel. Mejen. ? 

 A Berghausia patida differt floribus majoribus, ai-ista nulla, pedicellis 

 etc. multo longioribus et dissitis. 



Hong Kong. 



2. Berghausia patula (sp. nov.) : racemo decomposito ; pedicellis 

 apice barbatis ; spiculis hirsutis seta simplici basi non torta aristatis ; 

 foliis lineari-lanceolatis utrinque attenuatis. — Gluma valde varians. — 



