13 



PoDicEPS CRISTATUS. Common. p. coRNUTUS. Abundant in 

 the fall of the year about Lake Michigan, and the larger streams 

 that empty into it. P. auritus. Reported in the State, though 

 I have not seen it. 



PoDiLYMBUS Carolinensis. Found only occasionally.* 



Dr. Brewer also read a letter from Mr. Wm. Hopkins, of 

 Auburn, N. Y., giving a list of some birds obtained there, 

 part of which are sea birds, and others supposed to be in- 

 habitants only of other regions, as follows : — 



Large White Egret, Egretta alba. 



Glossy Ibis, Ihis Ordi. 



Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps rubricollis. 



Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius. 



Kittiwake Gull, Rissa tridactyla. 



Mealy Redpoll, Linaria horealis. 



Large-billed Guillemot, TJria Brunniclii. 



Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carlo. 



Prof. J. Wyman gave an account of observations upon 

 the Surinam Toad, Pipa Amer^icana, lately presented to 

 the Society by Dr. Cragin, as follows : 



As yet, no complete description of this animal has been given, 

 though it is not uncommon in collections. The eggs, when dis- 

 charged, are not permitted to escape into the water, as is the 

 case with the allied species, but are received by the male, after- 

 wards deposited upon the back of the female, and there impreg- 

 nated, when the skin thickens between them, rises, and partly 

 surrounds each egg, forming a kind of sac or pouch. The dark 

 cuticle is found to be prolonged some distance into the pouch, 

 which is covered by a thin operculum, formed of a layer of gela- 

 tinous substance, in a dried state, probably a portion of the gela- 

 tinous matter which previously surrounded the egg. 



* The abundance and variety of our water-fowl may be inferred from the fol- 

 lowing result of a short himting excursion, only a few miles from this city: — 

 6 Coot, 5 Eing-neck, 1 Tufted duck, 3 Green-winged Teal, 5 Blue do., 2 Shovel- 

 ler, 1 Dusky, 4 Gadwall, 4 Crested ^Merganser, 6 Buffle-head, 6 Widgeon, 15 Mal- 

 lard, 1 Eedheaded,3 Ruddy, 8 Summer ducks. 



