resi asinine cdeainbaeestinsee 
Boston Society of Natural History. 387 
but one grew before, surely he deserves well of his country, who indi- 
rectly converts barren sands into fruitful fie 
August 1, 1838.—Mr. J. E. Tescuemacuer, in the chair. 
After the reading of the records of the preceding meeting, Rev. Mr, 
Malcom who was present, remarked in relation to the fossils brought by 
him from Burmah, that they are found only at a small stream below the 
city of Ava, where the region is perfectly sterile. The soil is clayey, and 
the bones are very numerous and lie in abundance upon the surface. 
The place abounds with petroleum wells, and this article is the only pro- 
duct from whence the inhabitants derive their support. 
He remarked that the Spongia patera was found only at Singapore, 
and always grows below low water mark, and is fished up by divers. 
A specimen of Burman tea was presented by him. It is raised in the 
interior and compressed into globular masses of four or six inches in di- 
ameter, some substance, said to be blood however, being mixed in to 
cause their cohesion. These are brought to the sea ports on the backs 
of mules and sold at ten cents per pound. The Burmans use no other 
tea, and yet Mr. M. found it to be unknown at Calcutta. He pronounced 
it an excellent tea. 
Mr. C. B. Avams, read a paper entitled “‘ Remarks on some species of 
Shells found upon the southeastern shore of Massachusetts.” ‘They were 
the results of his observations in several visits to that region, and contain 
many interesting facts as to the habits, localities, and varieties, and sev- 
eral important characteristic additions to the original descriptions. 
Cotumpetia avara, Say, Differs a little from Say’s description ; 
Coste 14 to 18 on the body whorl; young shells are carinate at the ter- 
mination of the coste. Found at New Bedford and vicinity, Falmouth, 
Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, but not north of Cape 
Buccinum visex, (Nassa vibex, Say.) Number of revolving lines on the 
body whorl more frequently 9 or 10; as many as3t» 5 teeth on the inner 
side of labrum. Rare. He had found five specimens about New Bed- 
ford. Mr. P. G. Seabury had found others. They are all old and some- 
what cretaceous, but in some the rufous bands are distinctly marked. It 
has not been found north of Cape Cod. 
Buccinum trivirrarum, (Nassa trivittata, Say.) The two u 
bands of rufous are double, being on each side of one of the peeckving 
lines, and the third is often triple; the upper band is darkest, but in many- 
cases the bands from which the speci#s derives its name are wanting. It 
is generally covered with a dirty cinereous pigment. Abundant at Nan- 
tucket, not eee at New Bedford, and occasionally found living at 
and near Boston 
B. osso.etum, (Nassa obsoleta, Say.) The cancellate and granulated 
appearance iientioned both by Say and Kiener (B. oliviforme) is not a 
