Transactions of the New-York Lyceum. 365 
President Mitchill communicated an account of his dis- 
section of the Balenopterus acuto-rostratus mony exhib- 
ite 
A communication was ‘received from Dr. Beckwith ac- 
companying specimens of the natural wall in North Caro- 
lina 
Dr. Tor rey reported that a mineral from Hudson, N. Y 
presented by Mr. Barnes, was a variety of Jade, called 
Nephrite. It much resembles the N ephrite of Rhode-Island, 
being infusible by the blow pipe. 
Dr. Torrey read a memoir-on the Usnea fasciata, a new 
cryptogamic plant from New South Shetland, with an ac- 
companying letter from Dr. Mitchill. Pub. in No. XIII 
this Journal. 
A communication was received from Major Delafield, de- 
tailing information of a gun of ancient construction found in 
the Chesapeake, covered with siliceous pebbles, forming 
pyawesions, 
valuable donation ‘of books was received from. Col. 
cis and another from Dr. Dekay. 
e President read a communication on the progress of 
Natura History during the recess of the Lyceum since May 
last. 
Mr. Barnes read a description of a new species of Myti- 
lus, from New South Shetland, which he names M. Antarc- 
ticus. 
Dr. Torrey communicated an account of a new locality of 
Stilbite and Launionite. "hey occur in small crystals in a 
cellular felspar near cold spring in the Highlands of New 
York. ~The Stibite was described in No. XII. The Lau- 
monite is disseminated with the Stilbite, but is in much 
smaller quantity.. It occurs in small white four sided 
prisms, nearly right-angled, with summits very obliquely 
truncated. The lateral planes are distinctly striated longi- 
tudinally. 
Mr. J. Cozzens read a paper on the acid existing in the 
berries of the common sumac, (Rhus glabrum) detailing the 
experiments by which he has ascertained it to be matic acid 
in‘nearly a pure state 
Dr. Torrey laid on the table peeeisene) to illustrate his 
intended paper on the minerals of Sparta, 
