1862.] g^Y [Harris, 



it a deception, and said that he knew of no bird in the collection of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences upon whose head such carvings 

 could be executed. To satisfy these gentlemen of the correctness of 

 his statement, Dr. Harris sent an order to the artist in Canton, and, 

 after waiting about a year and a half, had the pleasure of receiving 

 the skull carved as here exhibited, a convincing proof that the Chi- 

 nese are sometimes honest in their representations, and do even at 

 the present day make new discoveries. So rare are these carvings, 

 that very few of our residents in China have ever seen them, or even 

 know of their existence, and it is believed that but two or three 

 persons in America have as yet come into possession of the jewelry 

 made from them. The skull, as exhibited, is no doubt the only 

 specimen of the kind in existence, and shows the character of the 

 material of which the carvings are made, as no clarifying process has 

 been used to change its natural appearance. 



Whether any other of the Buceri have ivory-like plates of the 

 same character and equal thickness, Dr. Harris is unable to state. 

 Some of them have very large and peculiarly shaped yellow-colored 

 protuberances on their heads; but many of these are quite thin. In 

 others the "horn," as it is called, is exceedingly light, and composed 

 of true bone, covered with a thin, horny plate, as in the Buceros 

 buccinator. The Helmet Hornbill, it is believed, is not found in 

 China, but is imported from India, Americans long resident in the 

 former country having never seen it. It may possibly exist in the 

 southernmost part of the empire, or may migrate thither in the hot 

 season. 



The material of which this carving is made is very brittle, and 

 can only be cut during the damp, rainy season. It is no doubt this 

 fragility which has caused the artist to toughen them by chemical 

 clarification, in order to preserve them when worn as ornaments. 



Pending nominations Nos. 456 to 465 were read. 



Judge King oiFered the following resolution, which was 

 unanimously adopted : That the Vice-President of the So- 

 ciety now presiding, the Hon. George Sharswood, be autho- 

 rized to represent the Society to sign and execute all the 

 powers and procurations necessary to preserve and obtain the 

 legacy given to the Society by Andre Francois Michaux, and 

 to constitute Mon. Germain, notary at Pontoise, the agent 

 and attorney of the Society for that purpose. 



And the Society was adjourned. 



