125 



July 7th, 1854 ; K. Bayerische Akademie der Wissen- 

 schaften, dated July 30th, 1854, asking that missing plates 

 of the Society's Journal may be supplied to them ; K. 

 Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Wien, dated March 11th, 

 July 18th, and August 10th, 1854, presenting its publica- 

 tions. 



Prof. B. Jaeger, of Providence, present by invitation, 

 made a few remarks, and presented a copy of his work on 

 the '' Life of North American Insects." The thanks of the 

 Society were voted for the gift. 



The Committee appointed to nominate officers for the two 

 vacant Curatorships, reported, — That they nominate Dr. J. 

 Nelson Borland to fill the Curatorship of Herpetology ; and 

 Dr. Borland was accordingly elected. 



Mr. Roswell Field, of Greenfield, and Pvev. P. H. Green- 

 leaf, of Madison, Indiana, were elected Corresponding Mem- 

 bers, and jMessrs. Charles L. Andrews, and L. M. Sargent, 

 Jr., of Boston, P^^esident Members. 



Becemher 20, 1854. 



The President in the Chair. 



Prof. J-. Wyman referred to the commonly received ex- 

 planation of the manner in which birds retain their position 

 in roosting. Bovelli attributed the bending of the toes to 

 the mechanical action of the salient angles, over which the 

 flexor tendons passed. Prof. Wyman thought this gave, at 

 best, but a partial explanation ; for, while roosting, the body 

 requires to be accurately balanced, since, at every act of 

 respiration, the centre of gravity must necessarily be changed, 



