77 



loud and startling manner for some hours after sunrise, and before 

 dark in the evening. The Spanish name of the bird, Chicalacha, 

 shouted in a high key, and repeated rapidly, gives some idea of the 

 sound. The Indians take them young and rear them, and they 

 become very tame in confinement. 



A letter was read from Professor Bailey of West Point, 

 acknowledging a notice of his election as corresponding 

 member, and enclosing a "Memoir on the existence of sili- 

 ceous spiculae in the exterior rays of Actinia," and sug- 

 gesting that such might possibly have been the origin of 

 some of the fossil spicula3 found in the infusorial strata of 

 the marine tertiary of Virginia; — also, memoranda on the 

 siliceous animalcules in Boston harbor." 



Among them he found a new genus, which he proposes to call 

 Emersonia in honor of the President of this Society. 



Genus Emersonia. Carapace siliceous, compressed. Central 

 portion oblong, separated by deep lines of constriction from the 

 two terminal, bi-cuspidate or auricled portions, forming chains, 

 which open in a zigzag manner. 



E. elegans. Central portion nearly square, containing yellow 

 globules disposed in a circular group. 



E. antiqua. Vide Bailey's Sketch of Bacillaria, pi. 2. f. 25. 



The communication also enclosed a note on Cyclosis in plants. 

 Prof. B. has recently noticed this phenomenon in some plants in 

 which it has not been heretofore observed. The plants referred to 

 are Circsea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Eupatorium, and Cauli- 

 nia flexilis. 



Dr. Gould exhibited some shells with living animals, 

 recently received from the West Indies. 



They were packed in dry papers on the 12th June, at Matanzas, 

 and received and opened here on the 19th July ; and, on beino- 

 placed in water, immediately showed themselves alive and vigorous. 

 They were Neritae, Littorinae, Potamides and others. Dr. Gould 

 remarked upon the extreme acuteness of their sight, immedi- 

 ately perceiving the approach of a finger, and retreating instantly. 



Dr. Abbot announced that Capt. Hunt, of the vessel in 

 which the articles destined for Dr. Savage had been ship- 



