321 



N. W. and its absence in the case of those moving from the op- 

 posite quarters, they have been continued far too short a time, and 

 have been too local to warrant any positive reference of a general 

 kind. The development of Ozone in the air being probably 

 dependent on temperature, relative dryness, solarization, elec- 

 tricity and other physical conditions which are perpetually 

 changing, we cannot hope to read precise laws in regard to its 

 production and disappearance without long-continued and varied 

 observations. Yet, from the marked contrast in respect to mois- 

 ture, and other properties between our great continental and our 

 oceanic winds, it seems not improbable that some such opposite 

 relations to Ozone as above indicated may be found actually to 

 obtain. 



Dr. A. A. Hayes observed that an extraordinary accumulation 

 of atmospheric electricity had been frequently noticed when the 

 wind was north. 



Dr. Thomas M . Brewer read a paper on the short-eared 

 owl of North America, in which he noticed certain differ- 

 ences between that species and the short-eared owl of 

 Europe, Brachyotus palustris, Gould, and the South Amer- 

 ican variety, B. Galapagoensis, Gould. 



Dr. Brewer proposed for the North American bird the name 

 of Brachyotus Cassinii^ in honor of the author of " Illustrations 

 of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Eussian 

 America." The B. Cassinii differs chiefly from the B. palustris 

 in its larger size, darker color, and constant variations in the 

 habits of the living birds ; from the B, Galapagoensis in the 

 deeper shade of fulvous in the latter species. The supposition 

 of specific differences between the Southern and the Northern 

 short-eared owls of America, is strengthened by the fact that 

 they are found in entirely different localities, and that there is a 

 long interval between them. 



Mr. Charles L. Andrews read a paper entitled '• Contri- 

 butions to the Mycology of Massachusetts." 



Mr. Andrews remarked that Mycology, although beset with se- 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H. VOL. V. 21 APRIL, 1856. 



