39 



by Dr. C. J. Bates, U. S. N., and presented by him to tlie 

 Society. They were drawn chiefly from specimens observed 

 by him on the west coast of Africa. Dr. Storer remarked 

 that the drawings and accompanying descriptions, though 

 not the results of the labor of a professed naturalist, were 

 quite sufficient to give a clear idea of the objects described. 

 They showed, too, that any careful and intelligent person 

 may. by close attention and perseverance, render essential 

 services to Natural History, especially when possessing a 

 facility for drawing. From cursory examination, it appeared 

 probable that there were among them several new and inter- 

 esting forms. 



Letters from Dr. G. A. Perkins, of Liberia, corresponding 

 member ; George Brown, U. S. Commissioner at the Sand- 

 wich Islands ; and Mr. George Ditson, of Cuba ; respectively, 

 announcing donations, were read. 



Dr. Bacon remarked upon a specimen of petrified wood, 

 recently presented by Dr. Kirtland, that, its character having 

 been doubted, he had examined longitudinal and horizontal 

 sections with a microscope, and had ascertained conclusively 

 that it is a portion of a true fossil tree belonging to the 

 natural family of palms. 



D. S. Smalley, of Jamaica Plain ; Waldo Higginson, of 

 Boston ; Asa B. Snow, M. D. ; Dr. Daniel D. Slade, Cam- 

 bridge, were elected members. 



Walter Channing, M. D., Samuel Wigglesworth, M. D., 

 former members, were, at their request, restored. 



DONATIONS TO THE CABINET. 



A box of shells. From Dr.G. A. Perkins, of the Liberia mission. 

 A box of shells, and another of minerals. From George Broiim, 

 U. S. Commissioner, Sandwich Islands. 



Specimens of minerals. From George Ditson, Cuba. 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY. 



Delessert Benj. Musee Botanique. 8vo. Paris, 1845. From 

 the Author. 



