271 



Annals and Magazine of Natural History. No. 27, for March, 

 1850. Courtis Fund. 



Zoology of the Voyage of H. M. S. Sulphur. 2 vols. 4to. 

 London, 1844. Deposited hy Republican Institution. 



L'Histoire de la Nature des Oyseaux, &c. Par Pierre Belon 

 du Mans. Long 4to. Paris, 1555. From J. W. Thornton. 



April 3, 1850. 

 The President in the Chair. 

 Present, thirty-four members. 



Dr. Durkee presented a number of dried specimens of 

 American Marine Algae. He read a paper, giving an ac- 

 count of their structure, chemical constituents, habits, and 

 distribution, concluding with some statistics of the manu- 

 facture and commercial value of Kelp. His observations 

 were illustrated by the specimens presented, and others 

 which he exhibited, as well as by drawings on the black- 

 board. 



He was followed by the Rev. John L. Russell, who 

 touched upon certain points not fully treated by Dr. Durkee, 

 giving an account of the recent opinions of botanists as to 

 the nature of the process of reproduction in these plants. 

 In reply to a question from Mr. Desor, he said, that Con- 

 ferv8e do not grow in fresh water of any considerable depth. 

 Having alluded to the opinion that the Edible Swallow's 

 nest is composed principally of a substance derived from 

 Algae, Dr. Cabot stated, that recent observations have 

 shown that these nests are principally composed of the 

 secretion of the salivary glands of the Swallow. A sub- 

 stance similar in character is a component part of all Swal- 



