186 [December, 1844. 



a very interesting fossil, the nearly perfect head of a Crocodile, already alluded 

 to, from the Cretaceous strata of New Jersey. To this relic Dr. Morton has 

 given the specific name of Clavirostris, and closes his paper with a list of all 

 the organic remains hitherto discovered in the same strata. 



In the fifth number there is a letter to Professor Espy from several of his 

 friends in this State, in which some facts are stated tending to corroborate 

 his theory that rain may be artificially produced in time of drought. This 

 number also contains a description of some new organic remains from the 

 Eocene of South Carolina by Dr. Ravenel, of Charleston ; a portion of 

 another voluminous paper on N. A. Coleoptera, by Dr. Melsheimer ; the 

 paper by Dr. Hallowell already referred to ; an analysis of sulphur springs 

 in the State of New York by Professor Reid, of the N. Y. College of Pharma- 

 cy; and some interesting observations by Dr. Morton, on a new series of 

 Ancient Egyptian Crania which he had recently received, the characters of 

 which he has been gratified to find fully bear him out in his results previ- 

 ously obtained from the larger collection which form the materials of his 

 Crania Egyptiaca. 



In addition to the different written communications which have been thus 

 hastily noticed, there are a number of others in a verbal form which have 

 been offered before the Society during the year : chiefly from Prof. Johnson 

 and Dr. Morton. The former has given some further results of his exten- 

 sive researches and experiments upon the habitudes and properties of coals 

 of this and other countries, and has greatly added to our knowledge of their 

 comparative value for the purposes of fuel and the arts. 



Between the 1st of December, 1843, and the 1st of the present month, the 

 Society has elected eight new members, and eleven correspondents. Ten of 

 the latter are residents in the United States, and one is foreign. 



And here the present Beport might be closed. But it would appear to be 

 doing injustice to the memory of two of our late fellow members — Dr. 

 Marmaduke Burrough, and Nathan Dunn — were I to omit the opportunity 

 here afforded me of devoting a few words to a notice of each. 



The former, as is well known to all present, passed abroad the greater 

 part of the active period of his life, and during his extensive travels, never 

 failed to acquaint himself with the natural productions of the various coun- 

 tries which he visited. His collections were made less for himself, than for 

 the purpose of affording gratification to his numerous friends, and of enrich- 

 ing the cabinets of those Institutions with which he was connected. But 

 none received so abundant a share of these treasures as the Academy. There 

 is scarcely a department of the museum which will not amply attest this 

 fact. The name of Dr. Burrough is associated with many recollections 

 of benefits conferred on this Institution, and his loss will ever be deplored 

 by her as that of one of her warmest supporters, and most disinterested and 

 active friends. 



From the executors of the late Nathan Dunn we have learned, with min- 

 gled feelings of pleasure and regret, that his will contains a bequest to this 

 Institution of $10,000, but that in consequence of circumstances which need 



