76 



July 20, 1842. 



The President in the Chair. 



Dr. Storer read a description of a new species of fish. 



Ilydrargira formosa. Back and sides greenish black ; the lat- 

 ter of which are crossed by numerous black bands ; a large black 

 spot upon the operculum ; a more or less regularly marked black 

 spot upon the posterior portion of the dorsal fin ; and an orange 

 colored caudal fin, margined at its extremity with black. This 

 fish was taken near the milldam in this city. 



Mr. Whittemore read extracts from a late letter received 

 by him from J. G. Anthony, Esq., of Cincinnati, in which 

 be speaks of some fine Fossils lately found in that vicinity. 



A new quarry abounding in strata of compact blue marl has dis- 

 closed some important facts with regard to Orthoceratites. They 

 are here found enveloped in what appears to have been a jelly- 

 like inflated mass, now flattened down. Occasionally, the envel- 

 oping mass seems to cover the whole striated portion of the Ortho- 

 ceras ; perhaps when perfect, it always did so. Specimens to the 

 number of ten or twelve have been found, some three feet long. 



Dr. Cabot presented a list of Birds drawn up from per- 

 sonal observation, common to the region of Central Ame- 

 rica and the United States. It consists of about one hun- 

 dred genera. 



Dr. Cabot read a memoir on the Paraqua Guan or Pha- 

 sianus motmot. 



It is a gallinaceous bird domesticated by the natives of Central 

 America, and which it has been thought might easily be domesti- 

 cated in Europe and this country. Under the two names above 

 quoted, Latham and others describe two species, but Dr. Cabot 

 thinks they compose but one. The authority of Temminck is also 

 in favor of this opinion. 



This bird is very common throughout Mexico, Central America, 

 and the northern part of South America. It lives principally in 

 trees, and feeds on leaves, insects, &c. The male cries in a most 



