148 



October iSth. 1843. 



Regular meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice-President, in 



the Chair. 



Mr. G. B. Emerson made some remarks upon the Report 

 of the Regents of the University of New York, committed 

 to him at a former meeting. He spoke chiefly of the want 

 of attention to the subject of Natural History in the New 

 York system of education. 



Mr. E. was sorry to see that the subject was much neglected. 

 He attributed this, in part, to the want of suitable books ; none 

 having appeared since the work of Smellie, so suitable for the pur- 

 pose, as the American edition of this work, edited by Dr. Ware, 

 greatly enriched by the valuable notes of the editor. At present, 

 this is the best text-book we have. But this is entirely inadequate 

 to supply the want at present felt. Children in New England want 

 a book of instruction in Natural History which draws its illustra- 

 tions from objects seen every day about us, and familiar to all, and 

 not from foreign examples, whose very names are entirely new. 

 Mr. E. expressed a hope that before long such a work would be 

 prepared by some one of this Society, and anticipated that it would 

 be far more valuable for New England schools than any now 

 existing. 



Dr. Slorer exhibited beautiful drawings of SphyrcBna 

 borealis and Caranx chrysos, from specimens which he had 

 lately received. 



He was not aware that either of these existed in our waters at 

 the time his Report on the Fishes of Massachusetts was madu. 

 The former of these species was sent to him by Dr. Yale, from 

 Holmes's Hole ; the latter was taken in Boston, from one of the 

 bridges leading to Charlestown. Both are described by Dr. De 

 Kay as New York fishes. 



Dr. Gould reported on papers of the Rev. R. T. Lowe 

 relating to the plants and land shells of Madeira. 



He dwelt upon some detailed experiments made by the author. 



