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2 



March 16, 1859. 



T. T. Bouve, Esq., in the Chair. 



Mr. T. J. Whittemore presented some living speci- 

 mens of Helix aspersa from Rochelle, France, and said 

 he hoped that some of the members would attempt to 

 preserve them. They can be kept alive until vege- 

 tation springs up by keeping them warm and feeding 

 them with damp bread. They are used as food by the 

 peasantry of France. 



A fine specimen of cannel coal from the Western Min- 

 ing and Manufacturing Company's mines on Big Coal 

 River, a tributary of the great Kanawha, Boone Co., 

 Virginia, was presented by Mr. Joshua W. Richardson, 

 of Boston. 



The principal deposits are contained in two veins of an average 

 thickness of 40 inches ; they lie in the mountain 140 to 160 feet 

 above the level of the valley, and about 20 feet apart ; the incli- 

 nation of the deposits being only 1 foot in 70 affords sufficient facil- 

 ities for drainage. The deposit is columnar in its structure, with a 

 horizontal lamination admitting of cleavage both ways, so that it 

 is easily mined by means of the pick and wedge. For purity it 

 is probably unsurpassed ; it is in demand chiefly for the manufac- 

 ture of coal oil, though it is excellent as fuel. The thanks of the 

 Society were presented for the donation. 



Dr. C. F. Winslow presented the animal of a gigantic 

 clam from Puget Sound, said to be able to project its 

 tube from eighteen to twenty-four inches. It is eaten by 

 the Indians. He stated that he had specimens of the 

 shells measuring about 5x4 inches. Dr. Gould thought 

 the species was probably Panopcea generosa, Gd. 



Dr. Kneeland exhibited specimens of copper from Lake 

 Superior, illustrating the remarks of Dr. Jackson at the 



