JOURNAL OP PROCEEDINGS. 261 



tail, 2.02 ; tarsus, 0.80; middle toe, 0.88 ; claw, 0.25 ; hind toe, 0.G0 ; claw, 

 0.225 ; bill above, 0.68 ; along gape, 0.70 ; goneys, 0.40 ; head, 0.78. Male. 

 Habitat: Carroll County, Illinois. 



This bird very much resembles Icterus spurius, Bon. ; but in several 

 particulars does not correspond with either of the figures given by Wil- 

 son. The bill is not so much arched in the middle as there represented. 

 The first quill is equal to the fourth, instead of being intermediate between 

 the fourth and fifth. The legs and feet are decidedly blue in life, and in 

 the dried specimen are black, instead of yellow as represented in the table 

 at p. 548 of Vol. IX. Pacific KR. Report, as well as the lower jaw, which 

 still retains at the base a blue cast. But then the coloration agrees with 

 Wilson's description. The lateral toes are equal, and reach much beyond 

 the base of the middle claw. The throat is as deep a black, and yet it 

 does not extend to the upper mandible as represented in both of Wilson's 

 figures. 



Mr. Shimer further observes, that he had obtained among the common 

 purple finches in Carroll County, one that corresponded with the Carpoda- 

 cus Californicus, Baird ; even the wing formula, upon which Prof. Baird 

 places much stress, agreed exactly. He forwarded the specimen to Prof. 

 Baird, who was inclined to think it accidental. But might not the descend- 

 ants of such continue to possess these characters, and eventually many of 

 them be found in particular localities, and thus new species be created out 

 of those derived from the same parent stock, and still breeding together 

 under circumstances of association, and being the same species in reality? 

 Among the snow-birds (Junco hy emails), he had found specimens of all 

 shades and characters, some very similar to J. Oregonus, others more like 

 J. clnereus, &c; so he thought there were more species than could be sus- 

 tained. The titmice were in the same condition. At the request of Prof. 

 Baird, he had endeavored to secure for him a large suit of specimens for 

 identification of their affinities ; but he felt confident some specific names 

 would have to be dropped. Having sent a large number of specimens of 

 Anser to Prof. Baird, he had received from him an acknowledgment that 

 his Anser frontalis is but an immature stage of Anser gambelii. 



Mr. Shimer stated also, that, during the summer, he had made a thor- 

 ough Investigation of some enemies of the chinch-bugs. Chinch-bugs 

 were very abundant in that region, destroying a great portion of the crops 

 in many sections. He had found the larva of a species of Chrysopa, and 

 of at least one species of Hijpodamia, feeding on them in great numbers. 

 Mr. B. D. Wash, of Rock Island, had supposed such was the case; but 

 he had himself actually seen the larva feeding on them ; and he had bred 

 a number of them to the perfect state. He had also seen the larva of the 

 cucumber-bug feeding on the root of the vines. 



Dr. Engelmann presented the results of his meteorological 

 observations at St. Louis for the year 1864, with a table and 

 diagram showing the comparison with former years; and also 

 a table and diagram of the stage of the Mississippi River for 

 the year 1864, showing the comparison with former years, re- 

 duced from daily observations made by T. J. Homer, Esq., 

 City Engineer. 



Dr. Engelmann was requested to furnish an abstract, with 

 tables and diagrams, for publication in the Transactions. 



Dr. Wislizenus submitted a report of his observations on 

 Atmospheric Electricity, Temperature, and Relative Humid- 

 ity, for the year 1864, giving the results as compared with 

 his observations of former years, illustrated by diagrams. 



Dr. Wislizenus was requested to furnish an abstract, with 

 tables and diagram, for publication in the Transactions. 



