193 



over Limestone, but nevertheless contains no trace of Car- 

 bonate of Lime, for the reason that it has been washed out 

 by rains or destroyed by vegetable acids. 



Mr. Wells replied, that he had been led to his opinion 

 of the drift origin of the soils in question by the nature of 

 the minerals contained in them. 



Dr. Cabot read a letter from Dr. John Gundlach, Carde- 

 nas, Cuba, acknowledging the receipt of his diploma as Cor- 

 responding Member, and transmitting descriptions of five 

 new species of birds and other Ornithological notes of Cu- 

 ban species ; also presenting in the name of Seuor Juan 

 Lembeye his work on the Birds of Cuba. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. Lembeye 

 for his donation. 



March 17, 1852. 

 The President in the Chair. 



Mr. H. R. Storer read a paper on the botanical charac- 

 ters and the medical properties of the family Compositcc, 



Mr. W. O. Ayres read a description of a new species of 

 Polyp from Long Island, allied to Tubularia, under the 

 name of Globiceps tiarella Ayres. 



The generic characters may be thus expressed. Polypidom 

 rising from a creeping root, branched. Short stems from the 

 branches, supporting each a single polyp. Polyp encircled by 

 three rows of arms, basal, medial, and near the summit ; the 

 arms of the upper rows ending in globular heads. Polyp not 

 retractile within the tube. 



The peculiar form of the arms suggests a generic name — 

 Globiceps. The species, from its triple crown of arms, may be 

 called G. tiarella. 



FROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. 13 JUNE, 1852. 



