^ [Jan. 



supra-oesophageal ganglia. The presence of this organ in other species 

 or genera, he had not yet had an opportunity of determinino-. (See 

 Plate, Fig. 4.) 



Dr. Pickering mentioned in confirmation of the Balani possessing 

 the faculty of vision, that in their native situations, he had frequently 

 observed them suddenly retract their cirrhi, and close the opercula, 

 when the hand was passed over and above them. 



January 18th, 1848. 



Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



Mr. Peter A. Browne read a paper, entitled " Reasons for believing 

 that animal torpidity is influenced by the annihilation, or interruption, 

 of electrical currents ;" which was referred to Dr. Bridges, Professor 

 Johnson, and Dr. Pickering. 



A letter was read from Henry Denny, Esq., dated Philosophical 

 Hall, Leeds, December 7th, 184-7, addressed to the Secretary of the 

 Academy, presenting several numbers of the Proceedings of the Geo- 

 logical and Polytechnic Society of the West Riding of Yorkshire. 



On motion of Mr. Tovvnsend, the Corresponding Secretary was 

 directed to present the thanks of the Society to Mons. A. Bovy, the 

 artist of a beautiful medallion of Baron Cuvier, presented by him 

 this evening through Mr. A. Vattemare. 



On motion of Dr. Leidy, the Corresponding Secretary was instructed 

 to inform Mr. Vattemare, that the Academy was prepared to com- 

 mence a system of exchanges of objects of Natural History, with the 

 Museums of Europe, as soon as lists of the especial wants of the latter 

 were made out and furnished to the Society. 



January 2Wi, 1848. 



Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



On motion of Professor Johnson, it was Resolved, That a new and 

 revised edition of the "Notice of the Academy," be prepared under the 

 superintendence of the author, in such manner as to give a condensed 

 view of the present state, as well as past history of the Institution, and 

 that five hundred copies be printed for the use of the Academy. 



On motion of Dr. Bridges, Resolved, That Peter A. Browne, Esq., 

 be requested to present to the Library of the Academy, a copy of his 

 paper, entitled " Reasons for believing that animal torpidity is in- 

 fluenced by the interruption or annihilation of electrical currents." 



The following Committees were elected for the ensuing twelve 

 months : 



Geological and Miner alogical. 



J. Price Wetherill, T. A. Conrad, 



Samuel George Morton, William S. Vaux, 



Thomas B. Wilson, Samuel Ashmead, 



John Lambert. 



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