OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 181 



" Since the above observations were made, I have learned that these 

 oil globules are briefly described by Von Siebold. See Dr. Burnett's 

 Translation of Von Siebold's Anatomy of the Invertebrata, pp. 310 

 and 334. This author regards them as fat-cells, and, after stating that 

 they occur in many crustaceans, adds the following remarks : ' The 

 fat which these cells contain plays a part, probably, in digestion and 

 assimilation ; for with these animals the excess of nutriment is de- 

 posited as fat to be used in times of need, as, for example, during the 

 act of moulting. This explains why the quantity found is so variable, 

 or even may be entirely wanting.' I cannot find that they are de- 

 scribed by other authors, nor are the appearances which they present 

 in the crustaceans of the Cochituate represented in any of the figures 

 I have seen." 



Professor Horsford exhibited the organic matter obtained 

 from thirty-six barrels of Cochituate water ; also similar matter 

 taken from the aqueduct above the Brookline reservoir. 



Professor Horsford remarked, that the protosalts of man- 

 ganese are sometimes colorless, and sometimes red. This 

 color has been attributed to a trace of cobalt combined with 

 it, while the pure manganese has been considered colorless. 

 It has been found that the pure ore is in reality red, while, 

 when combined with nickel, the compound is colorless. 



Four' bundred and tenth, meeting. 



January 31, 1855. — (Quarterly Meeting. 



The President in the chair. 



Dr. Gray presented, in behalf of the author, the follow- 

 ing paper, entitled, " Notices of some New Mosses in the 

 Collection of the United States Exploring Expedition under 

 Captain Wilkes, by William S. SuUivant." (Continued from 

 page 81.) 



"25. Neckera PHYLLOGONioiDEs (n. sp.) : perpusilla, nitidissima ; 

 caule repente radiculoso squamiformi-folioso ; ramis vix uncialibus 

 erectis distantibus simplicibus frondiformibus lineari-lanceolatis com- 

 planatis ; foliis patenti-divergentibus bifariam arctissime imbricantibus 

 lineari-elongatis rectis e basi ultra medium complicatis dehinc exacte 



