149 



with a view to ascertain the nature of the respiratory system of the 

 animals of Melampus and Pedipes. These experiments were nu- 

 merous and conducted with great care, yet they led the author to 

 a result which subsequent observation has shown to be false, in 

 consequence of not reversing his experiments. Finding that the 

 animal could sustain life for a week or more when confined in a 

 bag under water, so as to prevent all access to the surface, he 

 inferred that it was a water-breathing animal ; but it is also a fact, 

 that some animals known to be air-breathing, can endure a like or 

 longer confinement under water, sustained by supplies of air, which 

 they inspire and retain, till a renewed opportunity of rising to the 

 surface is afforded. 



Several matters of business were disposed of. 



ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET. 



Specimens from the Infusorial Strata of Richmond, Va. 



Specimen of Posidonia Keuperi, from Prof. W. B. Rogers. 



Cranium of an African Leopard from Dr. T. S. Savage. 



Beautiful specimens of Fluor Spar, covered with crystals of 

 Quartz ; specimens of Galena and other minerals, from Mr. Nathan 

 Metcalf, Jr. 



A Crustacean, from Dr. James Jackson. 



Specimens of about fifty species of wood, from Surinam, 

 with the native names annexed, from Dr. F. W. Cragin. 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Messrs. Rogers 

 and Metcalf for their donations. 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY. 



Fifty-sixth Report of the Regents of the University of New York 

 State. 8vo. Albany. 1843. 



R. T. Lowe's Description of a new Genus of Acanthopterygian 

 Fishes. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) '1838. 



Fishes of Madeira. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) 1836. 



Synopsis of the same. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) 1837. 



Supplement to Synopsis. 4to. Pam. Cambridge (Eng.) 1839. 



Additional Observations on Alepisaurus. 4to. Pam. 1S35. 



