16 



Dr. Gould read a paper on Ellis's work on Corallines. 



It is little more than a century since the Zoophytes were consi- 

 dered the undoubted subjects of the vegetable kingdom. The only 

 dissenters from this opinion were the mineralogists, some of whom 

 held that they were composed of the calcareous sediments of the 

 ocean, moulded into form by crystallization. Ferrante Imperato, 

 an apothecary of Florence in 1600, has the honor of first announc- 

 ing the theory that Corals and Madrepores are of animal origin. 

 The idea excited so little attention that when Peysonnel, in France, 

 127 years after, arrived at the same conclusion, it was with him 

 an original discovery, and received as not entitled to credit. Him- 

 self and his discoveries were forgotten and neglected, till Abra- 

 ham Trembley in 1741 demonstrated the reproductive powers of 

 polypes found in fresh water. Jussieu and Reaumur pursued the 

 investigation, and declared their belief in the animal theory. The 

 theory was not, however, generally admitted till John Ellis pub- 

 lished his work in 1752. Of this work, the highest opinion is pro- 

 nounced by competent critics, as one nearly complete in itself and of 

 great accuracy. His proofs are drawn from the actual existence 

 of the polypes, their union with their solid residences, the animal 

 odor yielded on burning them, and their mode of reproduction. 

 His inference that sponges and corallines (Corallina) are also of 

 animal origin is not fully confirmed by late observations. Paper 

 on file. 



Mr. S. L. Abbot made a report on specimens of birds pre- 

 sented to the Society by the Hon. Mr. Amos of Bengal. 



Of the one, he remarks, it is not an Indian Jay, as Mr. Amos 

 styles it, but a Bee-eater or Merops. Its specific name he had not 

 ascertained, not having found it described by BufFon, Cuvier or 

 Latham. This genus of birds, Merops, is, with the exception of 

 one species, confined to Asia, Africa, and the islands of tropical 

 latitudes. They feed on wasps and bees, which they take on the 

 wing. Tn this specimen the bill is curved from the base, and is 1J 

 inches long to the feathers at base. Superior mandible dark-co- 

 lored and grooved nearly throughout its whole extent. Inferior 

 yellow, darker at tip, with a stripe of dark along the centre from 

 base one half its length. Nostrils oval, pervious, partly covered 

 by feathers at base of bill. General color of plumage above, olive 



