396 



and thence pass by the hepatic veins, and inferior cava to the 

 right side of the heart, and do not gain access to the latter from 

 the lungs, in which case they would be obliged to stem the tor- 

 rent of the pulmonary artery. 



Mr. Sprague presented two specimens of the glow-worm, ob- 

 tained at Cohasset, Mass. ; their light, which proceeded from the 

 under surface of the tail, remained for fifteen minutes after death. 



Dr. Kneeland presented some crustacean parasites from the 

 skin of a sun-fish, Orthagoriscus mola, which he had obtained at 

 Cohasset. A Lerncea, in large numbers, was attached around the 

 dorsal and anal fins, its stem being plunged from one to two 

 inches into the flesh ; attached to these stems were numerous 

 Cirripeds of the genus Cineras, and also several polyp growths. 

 Other crustacean parasites, of the genus Cecrops, from the same 

 fish were exhibited ; the gills, intestines, and muscles are also 

 generally infested with other species. The jaws of the fish, and 

 also a piece of the remarkably elastic flesh, were presented. 

 The specimens were referred to Dr. J. C. White to report upon, 



A letter was read from Dr. Isaac I. Hayes to the 

 President, announcing his intention of making another 

 attempt to reach the North Pole of the earth ; and ask- 

 ing for the influence of the Society in behalf of this 

 object. The letter was accompanied by the report of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia on the 

 same letter. On motion of Prof. Parsons, the subject 

 was referred to a Committee to be nominated by the 

 President and reported on at the next meeting. 



The President read a communication from Prof. Tread- 

 well, of Cambridge, giving a detailed account of the 

 feeding and growth of the American robin, ( Turdus 

 migratorius, Linn.) during a period of thirty-two days, 

 commencing from the 5th of June. 



When caught the two birds experimented on were quite young, 

 their tail-feathers being less than an inch long, and the weight of 

 each about twenty-five pennyweights, less than half the weight 



