2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



was visible, it having been discovered in July, 1847. When last seen, 

 its distance from the earth was three hundred millions of miles, and 

 from the sun three hundred and fifty millions ; yet it was still bright 

 enough to admit of pretty good determinations. 



" A scintillation or twinkling of its central light was frequently re- 

 marked, an indication, perhaps, of a solid nucleus." 



Professor Agassiz related some observations he had made up- 

 on the form of the extremities in the embryonic state of birds. 



Dr. C. T, Jackson stated that he had obtained a considera- 

 ble quantity of foliated tellurium from specimens of gold ore 

 foimd near Frederick, Virginia. 



Mr. Cole read a letter from Mr. Spencer of Canistota, New- 

 York, detailing the history of his attempts at constructing 

 achromatic microscopes, and of the improvements he had effect- 

 ed : — referred to the Rumford Committee. 



Miss Maria Mitchell of Nantucket, the discoverer of the 

 comet which bears her name (Vide Proceedings, Vol. I. p. 

 183), was chosen an Honorary Member of the Academy. 



Dr. Joseph Leidy of Philadelphia was elected a Correspond- 

 ing Member. 



At the annual election, the following officers were duly elect- 

 ed for the ensuing year : — 



Jacob Bigelow, M. D., . . President. 

 Edward Everett, LL. D., Vice-President. 



Asa Gray, M. D., Corresponding Secretary. 



A. A. Gould, M. D., . . . Recording Secrctai^y. 



J. Ingersoll Bowditch, . Treasurer. 



John Bacon, Jr., M. D., . . Librarian and Cabinet-Keeper . 



The Standing Committees were filled as follows : — 



Rumford Committee. 



Eben N. Horsford, Benjamin Peirce, 



John Ware, Joseph Lovering, 



Francis C. Lowell. 



Committee of Publication. 



Asa Gray, Louis Agassiz, W. C. Bond. 



Committee on the Library. 



A. A. Gould, D. H. Storer, Benjamin Peirce. 



