25 [Sheafe. 



ules to the bottom. This dispenses in a great measure with 

 the use of mercury. Attached to the furnace is the spray- 

 chamber through which all smoke and other aeiiform pro- 

 ducts of combustion pass, so that nothing emerges from the 

 smoke flue, except in the gaseous form. The air issuing from 

 this flue can be breathed without discomfort. 



Mr. F. "W. Putnam narrated an instance of the assump- 

 tion of the male plumage by a pea-hen, which had laid eggs, 

 and had been in possession of one gentleman for seventeen 

 years. The change began to take place three years ago, and 

 was progi-essing up to the time of her death, when she pre- 

 sented the appearance of a young male in his second moult. 

 The spurs Avere one-fourth of an inch in length. 



An analogous change had also been noticed by others in 

 certain fishes, particularly by the female trout in old age. 



A communication was presented by the Secretary from 

 Mr. Bradley Horsford of Springfield, on the dissection of the 

 mineral Chiastolite, which was referred to the Publishing 

 Committee. 



Prof Felipe Poey of Havana, and Mr. George W. Tryon, 

 Jr., of Philadelphia, were elected Con-esponding Members. 



The following gentlemen were elected Resident Mem- 

 bers : — Drs. H. B. Inches and R. W. Hooper, and Messrs. 

 Joseph S. Fay, Jr., Henry H. Fay, IS'athaniel Thayer, Peter 

 C. Brooks, Joseph Vila, Jr., James Beck, Charles W. Gal- 

 loupe, Sereno D. Kickerson, Henry F. Durant, A. W. Spen- 

 cer and Edmund F. Cutter. 



DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM. 



January 20. Chinese and Loo Choo Crania, by Dr. J. N. Borland. 



February 3. 346 specimens of 296 species of mounted birds from the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, collected on various expeditions of the U. S. Government; 

 300 specimens of mounted foreign birds, by Dr. H. Bryant; 15 varieties of 

 pigeons, by Mr. Gidney; a mounted Heron, by Dr. J. N. Borland; 33 crania of 

 native birds and 3 crania of mammals, by Mr. W. H. Dall. 



February 17. A valuable collection of fossil Echinodermata, made by Dr. A. 

 Krantz of Bonn, presenting good types of nearly every' group in the class, in 

 •which the American Museums are deficient, embracing specimens from all the 

 foi-mations from the Silurian upAvards; also, a small collection of Echinodenns 

 of living species, dry and in spirits, named by Mr. Alex. Agassiz ; a full series of 



