32 



Dr. Brewer requested, through Dr. Storer, leave to take 

 from the Cabinet, an egg of Sylvia Delajieldii, lately pre- 

 sented by Dr. Kirtland. 



The President communicated a letter from Hon. R. C. 

 Winthrop, in reply to our application made through him, 

 for a portion of the collections sent home by the Explor- 

 ing Expedition. 



Enclosed was a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, promis- 

 ing that when a final disposition of the articles is made, the appli- 

 cation of the Boston Society shall have very respectful attention. 



The President mentioned an incident of late occurrence 

 at Hingham, which he had learned from Rev. Dr. Green- 

 wood. 



A countryman at work in the fields heard a sound which pro- 

 ceeded from the bushes near by. Approaching, he saw a black 

 snake in a coil round a victim. He threw a stone, which, hitting 

 the snake, induced him to relax his hold and make off, leaving a 

 rabbit, which had been enfolded in his coil, severely crushed. The 

 snake was pursued and killed, and in its body were found fifteen 

 eggs of the quail, whole, and some of them containing the young 

 bird. The snake was seven feet long. 



The President also mentioned having made the acquaint- 

 ance at Hingham of Mr. Sprague, a modest and very inge- 

 nious man, who had, for the gratification of his taste, made 

 a collection of many species of birds, prepared and set up in 

 the most skilful manner by himself, with drawings, beauti- 

 fully colored, of the same. 



They were particularly commended for their freedom from ex- 

 aggeration, a charge which has sometimes been thought to lie 

 against the figures of Audubon. 



Dr. Gould presented a shell received by him from Dr. 

 Kirtland of Ohio. 



It is the Paludina jjonderosa, a reversed specimen ; the same 

 shell which Dr. Kirtland formerly designated as the Paludina 

 heterostropha, and described as such in Silliman's Journal. 



Mr. Dill away, in behalf of Mr. Travelli, presented a 



