360 



Dr. B. S. Shaw exhibited specimens of a species of 

 Coccus, supposed to be new, wliich has infested the grape 

 vine in the west part of Boston, the present year. The 

 specimens exhibited were the mother insect, inclosed in a 

 secretion of a cottony substance, and the young male and 

 female. The former is found on the stems of the vine, the 

 latter on the leaves. After the eggs are deposited, nothing 

 is found of the mother, but a dry, empty shell, attached to 

 one side of the cotton. The young are very destructive to 

 the foliage of the vine. 



Dr. Burnett said that in his opinion the insect exhibited 

 was a new comer, and, probably, as yet undescribed. In 

 former years he had studied carefully the insects on grape 

 vines, but had never met with this species before. 



Dr. Samuel Cabot said that he had recently seen at Nan- 

 tucket the lower jaw of a Spermaceti Whale, which exhibited 

 a singular deformity. It was bent laterally upon itself to 

 such a degree, that the extremity passed across beneath 

 the jaw to the other side. If straightened, the jaw would 

 have been about six feet long. There was no mark to 

 indicate that this condition was the result of violence. The 

 teeth were very large. It was difficult to understand how 

 the animal, under such unfavorable circumstances, could 

 obtain its food. No history was obtained of the specimen. 



Dr. Burnett stated on the authority of Prof. Ackley, of 

 Cleveland, that the male Muskalonge, (^Esox nobilior,) is 

 known to perform an act of copulation in fecundating the 

 eggs of the female. The female, turning on her side, offers 

 her abdomen to the contact of the male, who, after taking 

 a circuit, swims against her with considerable force. The 

 female then retires and deposits her eggs in the sand. After 

 which, the process is repeated. 



Dr. Cabot thought that the object of the act in question 



