162 MINUTES OF MEETINGS. 



gonus alhus as given by Agassiz, in his '^ Lake Superior." 

 He believed that that fish did not exist in Lake Erie. 

 Leseur obtained his specimen of alhus from our lake, and 

 although his description is meagre, there is no reason for 

 doubting to what fish he referred. In Mr. Kirkpatrick's 

 opinion there was something mixed up in the description 

 of Salrno namacush. The Lake Superior and Huron fish 

 differed from the Lake Erie ones in several points, and this 

 species and S. arnythesthius, may yet prove distinct. 



Several of the members stated that it was the common 

 opinion among the lake fishermen, that the White Fish fed 

 on small molluscs, and that it used its mouth somewhat in 

 the manner of the suckers — Gatostomus- Its lips bear 

 considerable resemblance to those of the latter fishes, and 

 as nothing is ever found in its stomach but mucus-like 

 matter, that bears some resemblance to partly digested 

 shell-fish, this idea may be the correct one. 



Adjourned until Friday evening, December 2, 1859, at 7 

 o'clock. 



John Kirkpatrick, Sec'y. 



Cleveland, December 2, 1859. 



The Academy met in the Medical College, the President, 

 J. P. Kirtland, in the chair. 



Dr. J. S. Newberry gave a short account of his travels in 

 New Mexico, on both sides of the Rocky Mountains. West 

 of this range the rocks are cretaceous, with one small 

 patch of tertiary in the Navajo country. High among the 

 mountains the country is beautiful, with abundance of 

 flowers. Agricultural progress, as a' general thing, rather 

 poor. The only species of native wild grape seen by the 

 Doctor resembled our winter grape, V. riparia^ but Euro- 

 pean grapes are extensively cultivated, and do very well. 

 El Paso is the best wine region, but the culture of the vine 



