285 



Dr. Pickering remarked that the clearness of the water made a 

 great difference in the depth to which light will penetrate, though it 

 will certainly penetrate to a considerable depth even in turbid water. 

 Fishes were obtained by Risso from great depths in the basin of Nice, 

 even from 3000 feet, which had the eyes very large. 



Messrs. Thomas W. Dupree and ■\yilliam T. White, of 

 Panama, were elected Corresponding Members ; and Messrs. 

 David H. Hayden and Erastus B. Bigelow, of Boston, Resi- 

 dent Members. 



December 18, 1861. 

 The President in the chair. 

 The following communications were presented : 



Dr. B. J. Jeffries called attention to the eyes of a Horse 

 Mackerel, which he exhibited. 



The entrance of the optic nerve, or " papilla," is oblong, its length 

 bemgsome six or eight times its breadth. The nerve before its entrance 

 into the sclerotica is round, and quite large, being composed, however, 

 of longitudinal folds. The papilla seems as if formed by one of these 

 folds passing through the sclerotica, it being as long as the diameter of 

 the nerve before its entrance. 



The cornea is partly set in the bony portion of the sclerotica ; its 

 anterior lamella being continuous to the fibrous portion of the scle- 

 rotica, with which it may be separated from the deeper lamella. 



The central portion of the crystalline lens does not become opaque, 

 like the cortical portion, upon immersion in alcohol. 



The capsule of the lens is firm and attached to the hyaloid and 

 processus ciliares by a strong fold or ligament, which is of special 

 interest in the present state of the question of anatomical relations 

 during the accommodation of the eye. This was thought to be of such 

 interest that the members of the Society were requested, when oppor- 

 tunity offered, to preserve specimens similar to the above for future 

 examination, the eyes of the larger fishes being specially suitable for 

 careful dissection. 



Mr. N". S. Shaler made the following communication on the 

 geology of Anticosti Island, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence : 



