52 



and a Woodpecker of unknown species, — from Mr. J. C. 

 Leighton ; Athene cimicuJaria, Burrowing Owl ; and an 

 Owl and a Hawk, of unknown species, from Mr. Moses 

 Kimball, in exchange. 



April 16, 1851. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Ayres presented the description of a Holothurian, 

 which he believed to be new, and for the reception of which 

 a new genus is requisite, with the following characters. 



Body stout and firm, with a smootli skin ; suckers arranged 

 in fixe rows, of which lliree are more strongly marked than the 

 other two, with a few suckers scattered between ; tentacula ten, 

 thin and membranous, wide, with many very short branches 

 giving a botryoidal appen ranee ; oral circle of ten pieces, similar 

 in shape to those of PsoJus but less rigid ; intestine of remark- 

 able length, stomach muscular ; respiratory trees much branched, 

 greatly developed ; genital tu!)es undivided. The form of the 

 tentacula suggests the generic name 



BOTIIYODACTYLA. 



As the species is one of the largest yet found on the coast of 

 New England, it may be called B. grandis. All the specimens 

 received have been brought by the fishermen from George's 

 Bank, drawn up by their hooks from about thirty fathoms. It 

 appears to be quite abundant on the Bank, more so than any 

 other according to our present knowledge. 



The largest specimens are about six inches in length and 

 three in breadth when at rest, and are doubtless capable of greater 

 elongation. They are of a dark purplish brown, and when the 

 animal is in motion, with its pale red tentacula and brighter 



