258 



A communication was read from Mr. John C. Jones, 

 of West Newton, presenting a specimen of Geococcyx 

 {Mexicanus}) — a bird from the coast of Alta California, 

 known among the natives by the name of Correro Camino, 

 or Road-Runner — and giving a description of some of 

 the peculiar habits of this bird. 



The President exhibited some fossil impressions of rain- 

 drops, and a very distinct impression of a bird's foot, from 

 the Connecticut River Sandstone, and made some remarks 

 upon them, as illustrating the observations of Prof. Wyman, 

 reported at the last meeting. 



Mr. C. J. Sprague exhibited specimens and drawings of 

 the Cordyceps (Sphoeria) militarisj Fries. 



This species of fungus is common in Europe, and not un- 

 common in this country ; but it is interesting, from the fact of 

 its being one of those which grow upon the larvse and pupse of 

 insects. The specimens were both found at the roots of the 

 Hamamelis Virginica in loose, black mould. There is another 

 species C. entomorrhiza, which is found at the south. They both 

 belong to the small tribe of the vast genus SpJiceria^ Cordyceps, 

 elevated by Fries into a distinct genus. Mr. Sprague also exhib- 

 ited, in elucidation of a few remarks upon the habits of these 

 fungi, a specimen of S. Lactifluorum, from Maine, which entirely 

 covered and transformed a species of Agaricus. The gills were 

 not at all developed, and the whole plant was studded with the 

 rose-red papillose perithecia of the SpJioeria, shedding their 

 copious white sporidia. 



Prof. Jeffries Wyman read a part of a memoir on the 

 Footprints discovered by Prof. Henry D. Rogers, in the 

 Carboniferous Strata of Pennsylvania. (Vide Proceedings 

 of meeting of April 4, 1855.) He gave an analysis of 

 the anatomical characters by which Reptiles and Fishes 

 are distinguished from each other, and attempted to dem- 

 onstrate, that although there are but few osteological char- 



