6 



of leaves of the white pine, so loosely arranged that it was 

 found necessary to sew them together in order to preserve it. 

 The eggs, five in number, in shape are an oblong ovoid, ^ of an 

 inch in length by y^g in breadth ; their ground color is a bluish 

 white, irregularly marked with dots and small blotches of reddish 

 brown. 



In the same locality, the present summer, there have been 

 found, by Mr. Wells, the nest and eggs of the Prairie Warbler, 

 Sylvicola discolor; the Chestnut-sided Warbler, S. icterocephala ; 

 the Black-throated Green Warbler, S. viretis ; and the Black 

 and White Creeper, Mniotilta varia. 



Mr. Wells has also observed a pair of the Solitary Vireo, V. 

 soUtarius, which were evidently breeding in the vicinity. This 

 is a rare bird, and is not given in Peabody's Birds of Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Prof. Agassiz stated that, for several months past, he had 

 been engaged in an investigation into the Geographical Distribu- 

 tion of the Turtles in this country. For a correct determination 

 of specific differences, it became necessary to collect specimens 

 from all parts of the country as extensively as possible, and he 

 had succeeded in obtaining specimens of nearly all the species 

 existing in North America, and had been able to trace their 

 geographical distribution very completely. Ample materials for 

 a thorough survey had been placed in his hands through the 

 ready assistance of his friends and correspondents, and by the 

 officers of the Smithsonian Institution, who have put at his dis- 

 posal their valuable collection. He had examined the specimens 

 obtained by the government surveying expeditions of the several 

 Rocky Mountain I'outes, and had received numerous specimens 

 from the States in general, including Texas and California. He 

 believed he had, at the present time, all but three species to be 

 found in the United States proper, alive in his yard. 



The results to which he had arrived establish the fact, that 

 several species, which have been supposed identical throughout 

 their whole geographical range, are really distinct ; whilst others 

 which have been described as different species, the young alone 

 in some instances having served for description, have been found 

 to be one and the same. He particularly called attention to the 



