398 Miscellanies. 
quim José da Costa de Macédo, perpetual Secretary of the Royal 
Academy of Sciences at Lisbon, transmitted a copy of his treatise 
on the early Portuguese navigators. ‘The same gentleman, in his 
official capacity, addressed a letter to the Academy, inviting corres- 
pondence with the Academy which he represents, and giving infor- 
mation that he had sent for the library the proceedings of the Royal 
Academy of Lisbon. These volumes have since been received, and 
form a valuable acquisition to the library —Sir Nicholas Carlisle was 
elected an honorary member.—Dr. Geddings, from the section of 
Zoology, reported a catalogue of the insects formerly referred to that 
section.—The first section reported as full an account as could be 
attained, of the late remarkable aurora borealis, which was ordered 
to be published.—Dr. Aiken, of the section of Botany, reported 
progress in the arrangement of plants. 
May 12.—Dr. Geddings reported upon several specimens refer- 
red to the section of Zoology at former meetings.—Prof. Ducatel 
reported upon the specimens presented by Mr. Trevallyn which 
had been referred to the section of Mineralogy.—Dr. A. H. Bay- 
ley, of Easton, presented a fine specimen of the Coluber eximius, 
(corn snake ;) Mr. Minifie the two forefeet of a kangaroo, from New 
Holland ; Rev. J. J. Chauche six specimens of South American 
birds ; Dr. W. E. Coale several specimens of Rana and Coluber.— 
A memoir was read by Richard Wilmot Hall, M. D. ‘on the use of 
water as fuel,” which was referred to the joint consideration of the 
sections of Physics and Chemistry.—Dr. Aiken proffered on deposit 
a large collection of geological specimens from the Erie Canal, which 
was accepted and the section of Mineralogy charged with superin- 
tending their removal to the museum of the Academy.—Mr. Fisher 
communicated the notice of a slight auroral display on the night of 
Sunday the Sth inst., and also information of the existence of a min- 
eral spring in the western part of the city, containing free carbonic 
acid, protocarbonate of iron, muriates of lime and magnesia, anda 
trace of vegetable matter. 
May 19.—Specimens were received from Dr. Cohen, Dr. Kee- 
ner, and Mr. P. T. Tyson, and several works for the library from 
Mr. Fisher.—Dr. J. W. Gratham, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, re- 
ported a table of meteorological observations made at that place for 
the month of April, 1836.—Dr. Coale, from the section of Mine- 
ralogy, reported that the geological specimens had been conveyed to 
the museum. The section was further charged with the duty of 
