171 



February 7, 1844. 



Regular Meeting — Dr. C. T. Jackson, Vice President, in the 



Chair. 



Mr. Bouve reported on some fossils from the green sand 

 of New Jersey, presented by Prof. Rogers. 



There were vertebrae of the mosasaurus and crocodile, and some 

 shells of kinds already represented in our cabinet. He also ex- 

 hibited a specimen of limestone, from Kittaninny valley, N. J., 

 which had been altered by igneous action, and in connection gave 

 an account of the geological character of that district. 



Dr. Gould gave a favorable notice of a pamphlet of S. 

 S. Haldeman, on the nomenclature of Zoology. 



Dr. Abbot continued his report on the Surinam birds 

 presented by Dr. F. W. Cragin, describing their habits and 

 structure. He exhibited the following species, viz. : 



Tanagra melanopsis, Black-faced Tanager — male ; Sylvia ces- 

 tiva, Summer Yellow-bird ; S. Cayana, Cayenne Warbler ; also a 

 variety of the same ; Turdvs cinnamoneus, Black-breasted Thrush ; 

 Cassicus crislatus, Greater-Crested Cassican; C.icteronotus, Yellow- 

 backed do.; C. /jtf77Z0/77i0ws,Crimson-rumpeddo. ; Oriolus x author - 

 nus, Lesser Bonana Oriole ; Certhia carulea, Blue Creeper ; C. cy- 

 anea, Black and Blue do. ; C. spiza, Black-Headed do. ; Hirundo 

 purpurea, Purple Martin — male and female ; H. leucoptera, White- 

 winged Swallow ; Caprimulgus Virginianus, Night Hawk — male 

 and female. 



Dr. Abbot also reported on a Catalogue of the Birds of Malta 

 and the adjacent islands — " Catalogo Ornitologico del Gruppe di 

 Malta, Antonio Schembri." It is not a mere catalogue, but con- 

 tains notices of the species registered, and mentions among other 

 rare visitors the Snow Bunting, PJectrophanes nivalis, and the Puf- 

 fin, Mormon arcticus — both northern species. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson reported on a Vegetable fat, brought 

 from the western coast of Africa by Mr. Perkins. 



This singular substance is said to be the spontaneous exudation 

 of some tree unknown to the gentleman who presented the speci- 

 men to the Society. 



