1848.] 7 



Mr. Cassin read a paper, containing " Descriptions of new species of 

 Birds of the genus Cynnocorax Boie, specimens of which are in the 

 collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia," which 

 was referred to the following Committee, viz., Dr. Wilson, Mr. 

 Gambel, and Mr. Townsend. 



Professor Henry D. Rogers exhibited and explained his Geological 

 Map of Pennsylvania, and also a " Section of the Southern Anthracite 

 coal basin at Pottsville." 



Dr. Leidy mentioned to the Society, that he had examined the hair 

 of the Hottentot boy, and that his observations corroborated the state- 

 ment of Dr. Morton, made at last meeting, that it was much com- 

 pressed or flattened. Transverse sections varied in outline from an 

 oval to a very compressed lenticular form. 



February 29th, 1848. 



Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



The Committee on Mr. NuttalPs paper, read 1st and llth insts., 

 reported in favour of publication in the Journal and Proceedings. 



Descriptions of Plants collexted by Mr. William Gambel in the Rucky Mountains 

 and Upper Calif ornia. By Thomas Nuttall. 



*GAMBELlA.t 

 Natural order, ScROPHULARiNiE. Tribe, ANTiRRHiNEiK. 



Calyx 5-parted, nearly equal. Corolla hypogynous, the tube cylindrical, sac- 

 cate at the base, orifice narrowly pervious, the border bilabiate, the palate rather 

 prominent, smooth, upper lip erect; the lower spreading, all the segments nearly 

 equal and oblong. Stamina four, arising from the base of the corolla tube, in- 

 cluded, didynamous :' no sterile filament: anthers bilocular, oblong Ovarium 

 bilocular, with many ovules, seated upon a glandular torus. *7^/e simple, cla- 

 vate, entire. Capsule subglobose, 2-celled, opening below the summit by two 

 or three irregular apertures. Seed, [not seen.] — A spreading bush, with verti- 

 cillate, entire, coriaceous leaves, and axillary and terminal conspicuous scarlet 

 flowers. Allied to Galvezia, but with a prominent palate and a saccate spur at 

 the base of the corolla. 



G. speciosa. 



Hab. In the island of Santa Catalina on the coast of California. Flowering 

 in the month of February. 



*CROSSOSOMA.t 



Calyx 5-leaved, imbricated, somewhat coriaceous and persistent, the leaves 

 unequal and concave, with colored margins. Corolla of 5 subsessile, oval petals. 

 Stamina perigynous, about 25, on a fleshy disk; anthers adnate. Urarics two 



fin honor of Mr. William Gambel, a naturalist, who has explored Upper Cali- 

 fornia, and made an interesting collection of the plants of that country. 



J From xpoaao^ f'-ugc, and ffw^a a body; in allusion to the fimbriate arillus. 



