163 



Mr. Forshey forwarded with the preceding communica- 

 tion, a drawing of a cranium of an unknown animal, from 

 the cabinet of W. P. Mellen, Esq., of Natchez, Miss., said 

 to have been found in " the great mound near Lelsentoun, 

 nine miles east of Natchez. 



Mr. Forshey suggested that this cranium is that of the polar 

 bear, and Prof. Wyman remarked, that it certainly bore a con- 

 siderable resemblance to it, but as the drawing presented only a 

 lateral view, it was desirable to have a vertical drawing exhibiting 

 the sutures, and also a view of the base, before a satisfactory 

 opinion could be adopted. The identity of this cranium with 

 that of the polar bear might have some bearing upon the northern 

 origin of the races by which the tumulus was raised. 



Prof. Jeffries Wyman exhibited two species of entozoa, 

 from the muscles of a rattlesnake. He had not been able 

 to ascertain whether they had been before observed, but 

 proposed to make further investigations in relation to them. 

 They were contained in a small cyst, and coiled up in an 

 oblong spiral form ; in their general appearance resembling 

 the genus Ascaris. 



DONATIONS TO THE CABINET. 



Several jaws of reptiles, fishes and mollusks. From Lieut. 

 Charles Henry Davis^ U. S. Navy, of the coast survey. 



Cranium of the Manatee of Cuba, (Manatus.) From Mr. 

 Bartlett, of Sagua la Grande, Cuba. 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY. 



Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- 

 phia, Vol. III., Nos. 1, 2, and 3. January to June, 1846. From 

 the Society. 



Report of the Joint Committee of the Library of the Congress 

 of the United States, on the expediency of publishing additional 

 copies of the Scientific works of the Exploring; Expedition. 

 Washington, June, 1846. From the Hon. R. C. Winthrop. 



