Miscellanies. 397 
of the “ Proceedings of the Imperial Mineralogical Society of St. 
Petersburg.” —T he library was also enriched by the receipt of fifty 
nine numbers of the “ Iconographie du Regne Animal.” 
April 21.—Numerous donations of books were received froin Mr. 
E. Durand, of Philadelphia, and Dr. W. E. Coale ; Dr. Edmond- 
son presented six printed copies of the meteorological table for Feb- 
ruary last; Drs. Geddings and Riley presented for the cabinet a 
pair of Flickers ““Picus auratus.”—A communication in German, 
printed by order of the Prussian Government, containing a method 
for the propagation and domestic breeding of leeches, was 
from Baron de Roenné, Prussian Minister, read and ordered to be 
translated for the library. 
April 28.—Specimens were received from Mr. Minifie and Dr. 
Riley ; and from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, 
a copy of the notice of that Academy recently published by them.— 
Dr. Geddings, chairman of the section of Zoology, reported pro- 
gress in his examination of the foreign and indigenous insects, refer- 
red at a former meeting.—Mr. Fisher invited the attention of the 
Academy toa description of the aurora borealis, which was seen on 
the 22d of this month. The paper was referred to a committee of 
the section of Physics, with instructions to collect all the observa- 
tions and facts connected with its appearance in this city, and report 
to the next meeting. —Dr. Geddings described the marine animal 
recently taken at Carpenter’s point in the Chesapeake bay. The 
fish is described to be of the genus Delphinus—subgenus Delphin- 
apterus leucas—known as the Beluga.—Mr. Fisher presented for 
the use of the cabinet an alcoholic solution of the arseniate of Ba- 
ryta, which has been highly recommended for the preservation of 
cabinet specimens, especially the plumage of birds. This salt was 
prepared by fusing together ata moderate heat ina sand cruci- 
ble, in their atomic proportions, crystallized nitrate of Baryta and 
arsenious acid, rade into a paste with nitric acid. ‘The process is 
simple, and attended with far less trouble and expense than when 
the ordinary process described in the books is employ red.—Mr. Quin- 
by was appointed lecturer for the regular evening. 
May 5.—Specimens were received from Dr. Kedsec; Dr. Ged- 
dings, Dr. Riley, Joseph King, jr. Esq., and A. Trevallyn, Esq., 
of England, and a copy of the Statistical View of the United States, 
prepared under the direction of the Secretary of State, was trans- 
mitted by the Hon. R. H. Geldsborough, of the Senate.—Don Joa- 
