1849.] 193 



August 7th. 



Dr. Bridges in the Chair. 



The Chairman read the following letter addressed to him by Dr. C. 

 D. Meigs, dated New Haven, Connecticut, Aug. 4th, 1849, relating 

 some experiments which he made to ascertain the effects of deep-sea 

 pressure on the uterus of the Cetacea; and which resulted in confirm- 

 ing the views which he expressed in his paper on this subject, publish- 

 ed in the last number of the Journal of the Academy, (New Series, 

 Vol. I. Part 3.) 



" Yesterday, (May 3d,) I obtained permission to use the custom house boat, a 

 small sloop, to go out into the sound for the purpose of trying my experiment on 

 the effect of sea-pressure on the uterus. 



I was fortunate in having as companion for the excursion, Mr. Theodore W. 

 Werner, of the Coast Survey, a gentleman who is occupied in this part of tlie 

 country, and was for a long time one of Mr. Haslar's assistants. I had a gum- 

 elastic bag, shaped very much like the uterus in question. It was fitted with a 

 smooth neck, or goidot, stopped with a velvet cork that fitted accurately. 



Mr. Werner was of opinion that the cork would not escape, but rather be 

 driven in; in which he coincided with yourself and others. The wind being 

 light, we could not find water over 9^ fathoms. 



Mr. Werner calculated that the pressure at 60 feet below the surface would be 

 over 1000 pounds. 



We threw the sloop in stays, and hove the dipsy overboard, which carried the 

 uterus to the bottom. It came up with the cork undisturbed ; a second and third 

 trial were followed by the same result. On the fourth trial, having inflated the 

 uterus, and adjusted the cork very lightly, it came up, having lost the stojiper. 



Now, you will please observe, that the experiment was a very fair one, for as 

 the throat of the bottle was tied to the dipsy line, the cork necessarily looked 

 downwards, and if floated at all, it must float towards the throat of the bottle. 



I threw it over again, and by the time it reached the bottom, the cork was 

 driven out with violence, and the whole of the air came rushing to the surface, so 

 as to make me think, when I saw it coming from below, that a Dolphin was shoot- 

 ing upwards to the surface. 



Mr. Werner was very much gratified with the result, and I assure you I was 

 not less so ; and I conclude that it justifies me in the rationale I have given of the 

 (Economical purpose of the double cervix of the Cetacean female." 



The Publication Committee announced the publication of Part 3, 

 Vol. I., New Series of the Journal of the Academy. 



August 14///., 

 Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



A paper entitled " On several new Hymenoptera, of the genera 

 Ampulex, Sigalphus, Chelonus and Dorylus, by S. S. Haldeman," was 

 read and referred to a Committee consisting of Drs. Leidy, Zantzinger 

 and Keller. 



The Chairman read an extract of a letter from Maximilian, Prince 



PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PlIILADELPHIA. — VOL. IV. NO. X. 27 



