178 



the progress of geology ; the present active researches of 

 scientific travellers in all parts of the world, will, in a few 

 years, fill up the blank portions. 



Mr. Putnam presented two living specimens of Scaphi- 

 opuSf taken on May 1, at Cambridge, Mass. 



At the present time they are to be found in considerable numbers, 

 as it is their spawning season. The spawn is smaller and darker than 

 that of the common toad, and placed around a spike of grass. They 

 have also been found in Dan vers, Mass., these being the only localities 

 in the State so far as he knew. They are nocturnal in habit, spawning 

 in the morning and on land, and dig rapidly into the ground ; thev 

 swim with the right and left feet alternately, and the male clasps tife 

 female around the thighs. 



May 15, 1861. 

 Dr. A. A. Gould in the Chair. 



In the absence of the Recording Secretary, Dr. J. C. 

 White was appointed Secretary ji^ro tempore. 



On motion of Mr. Pickering the act passed by the last 

 General Court, granting to this Society power to hold a large 

 amount of property, was accepted and placed on record. 



Mr. Scudder presented by title a paper, entitled — 



Notice of some North American species of Pieris. By 

 Samuel H. Scudder. 



Pieris oleracea, Boisd. Spec. Gen. i. 518. 



Pontia oleracea, Harris, New England Farmer, viii. 402. 



Pontia oleracea, Harris, Ins. Injurious to Vegetation, first edition, 

 p. 213 ; second edition, p. 233. 



Pontia oleracea, Harr. Agassiz' Lake Supenor, p. 386, pi. 7, fig. 1. 



Pieris cruciferarum, Boisd. Spec. Gen. i. 519. 



Pontia casta, Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. iv. 288, pi. 3, fig. 1. 



The butterflies described by Harris, Boisduval, and Kirby, under 

 the above-mentioned names, are one and the same insect. It is 

 found inhabiting the northern and eastern portions of North America, 

 reaching south but rarely as far as Pennsylvania, and extending to 

 the east to Nova Scotia, west at least as far as Lake Superior, while 

 to the north it is found up to the Great Slave Lake, in the Hudson 

 Bay f ompany's Territory, and even, according to Kirby, to lat. 65° 

 N. on McKenzie River. 



