4^ 



wounds inflicted by them almost certain to fester. In other 

 respects agreeing with Nuttall's description, but liaving a 

 woolly head, distinct, though small, and depressed in the 

 centre of the plant. 



There were no flowers upon the specimen, but the scars 

 left by them existed. On the scars several seeds remained 

 exactly as may be seen in other Melocacti, the fruit of which 

 has dried off*. The scars were behind the fascicles of spines, 

 near the axis, and not in the centre of the fascicle as in 

 Echinocactus, and from their close proximity to the woolly 

 head, were probably immersed in the edge of it. Nuttall 

 had stated that they are seldom laterally clustered ; there 

 were, however, two young plants laterally attached to the 

 specimen. 



From these facts IMr. Teschemacher was of opinion that 

 the plant should be restored to the genus Melocadus in 

 which Nuttall originally placed it. Tlie native name of the 

 plant is C hoy as. 



Mr.. Teschemacher also exhibited and remarked upon a 

 large collection of ferns and club-mosses, sent to the Society 

 from the Sandwich Islands by George Brown, U. S. Com- 

 missioner. 



Dr. Gould, in behalf of the Committee to whom was re- 

 ferred the Communication from the Association of American 

 Naturalists and Geologists concerning nomenclature, re- 

 ported its approval of the code of rules recommended by 

 that body, with some suggestions of amendment. The Com- 

 mittee was directed to communicate their report, with the 

 suggestions, to the Association. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson reported upon the copper ores of 

 Cuba presented by Mr. George Ditson. 



A letter was read from Prof. Agassiz, of Neufchatel, an- 

 nouncing his intention of visiting this country, and of bring- 

 ing with him a large collection of fossils, and other specimens 

 of foreign natural history, to exchange for North American 

 productions. 



