190 



change of publications. Voted, that the Librarian be in- 

 structed to send a copy of the Journal and Proceedings to 

 the Academy, and request such of their publications as 

 relate to subjects of Nat. History in exchange. 



Dr. Cabot announced the donation to the Society of an 

 Eagle, mounted, from Increase S. Smith, Esq., of Hingham. 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY. 



Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., Nos. 86 and Supp. 87, for June, 

 1844. Courtis Fund. 



Thomson, Wm. Report on the Fauna of Ireland. Div. Inver- 

 tebrata. 8vo. pam. London, 1844. Author. 



Waterhouse, G. R. Observations on Classification of the Mam- 

 malia. 8vo. pam. London. Author. 



Waterhouse, G. R. Contributions to the Entomology of S. 

 America. 8vo. pam. London. Author. 



Alger's (F.) Phillips' Mineralogy. 8vo. Boston, 1844. Editor. 



North American Review, for July, 1844. 8vo. Boston. Editor. 



July 17, 1844. 

 The President in the Chair. 



Dr. Brewer called the attention of the Society to some 

 facts tending to clear up the confusion and errors in the 

 history of the Hermit Thrush, (Turdus solitarius, Wilson.) 



There are three distinct species which, by different authors, have 

 been strangely mixed up. Wilson described one as Turdus muste- 

 linus, tawny thrush. This is common, and is now known as T. 

 Wilsonii. The second is described by Wilson under the name of 

 T. solitarius, hermit thrush ; but under the same name he has also 

 given a figure of a third species, every way distinct. This last is 

 not described in either of the works of Audubon. 



Swainson recognizes three species, but has confounded them in 

 a most remarkable manner. The first, he describes as a new spe- 

 cies, Merula minor ; the second he describes as Merula solitaria, 

 but accompanies it with a plate of the third species ; while he con- 

 founds the third with T. Wilsonii. 



