57 



Dr. Cabot exhibited a unique specimen of a hybrid duck, a 

 cross between the Golden eye and the Hooded Merganser {Clan- 

 gula Americana and Mergus cucullatus.) This hybrid preserves 

 the distinctive characters of each of the parent stock, although 

 they belong to distinct genera. Dr. Cabot remarked upon the 

 peculiarities of the bird, and gave some of its anatomical mea- 

 surements, but deferred a full report upon the specimen to a 

 future meeting. 



Dr. J. B. S. Jackson exhibited and presented to the Society a 

 large collection of objects which he had recently obtained in the 

 western country. Amongst these were specimens of the Mistle- 

 toe, growing upon the locust tree {Rohinia pseudacacia,) upon 

 the banks of the Ohio, near Louisville. Dr. Jackson was in- 

 formed that it is most common there upon the locust, maple, and 

 elm, and that it is rarely if ever seen upon the oak, which is 

 generally supposed to be its favorite tree. At sixteen miles be- 

 low Louisville, it is so abundant that the trees are quite green 

 with it all winter. 



Dr. Jackson stated, on the authority of the guides to the 

 Mammoth Cave, Ky., that craw-fish with well developed 

 eyes, had been found in the waters of the cave, and that the 

 blind fish had been found in the waters of Green River, 

 outside of the cave, both alive and dead ; evidence of a 

 communication of Green River with, or its passage through 

 the cave. 



A letter was read from Dr. Samuel Kneeland, Jr., giving 

 notice to the Society of his resignation of the office of 

 Curator of Comparative Anatomy. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Dr. Kneeland, 

 for his faithful services as Curator, and the Corresponding 

 Secretary was requested to express to him the sincere regret 

 of the Society at his departure from Boston. 



Prof. Jeffries Wyman, after resigning the office of Cu- 

 rator of Herpetology, was elected Curator of Comparative 

 Anatomy, in place of Dr. Kneeland. 



