’ 
| 
. : Boston Society of Natural History. 391, 
Dr. H. had recently found a Si/ene growing on earth thrown out from 
a newly dug drain, and had since observed it on the corn-fields, near by.. 
It proves to be Silene noctiflora, Sowerby. It flowers in the evening, and 
Mr. Sowerby says the same flowers open for several successive evenings 
until they are impregnated. Do H. nds this to be not true. Eaton says 
the teeth of the calyx tube are equal; but they were alternately longer and 
shorter. This plant may be considered as naturalized among us. 
Beck pronounces the Lathyrus maritimus, Bigelow, to bs Pisum mari- 
timum ; but Dr. H. is confident that Dr. Bigelow is corre 
r. A. A. Haves, presented a specimen of native nitrate of soda from 
Tamarugal in Peru. It contains sulphate of soda, chloride of sodium, Lo- 
date of soda, and chloriodide of sodium. In presenting this specimen 
With its analysis, Mr. Hayes makes the first public announcement of the 
discovery of Iodate of soda, as a new chemical species. 
Mr. C. B. Apams, enumerated the minerals in the collections from Cal- 
ifornia by Mr. Kelly, and from Nova Scotia by Rev. Mr. Prior, and made 
various remarks respecting them, to designate their peculiarities and value. 
August 15, 1838.—Dr. T. W. Harris, in the chair. 
Dr. Jerrrizs Wyman, exhibited a foetal kitten contained in its mem- 
branes, showing the peculiar manuer in which the placenta encircles the 
fetus like a zone. Also the uterus of a mouse, showing its bead-like ap- 
pearance when impregnated. Also the egg of the snapping turtle near 
the close of incubation, showing the passage of the umbilical vessels 
through a hole in the sternum. These are finally cut off and the aperture 
closed by a peculiar muscle. 
r. T. M. Brewer, remarked further on the goldfinch alluded to at a 
preceding meeting ;—that on 22d July he again observed the bird at its 
nest, where there were four eggs. This was three weeks earlier than 
usual, and the cow-bunting leaves us three weeks earlier still. 
Mr. E. Tuckerman, Jr., presented some plants not yet catalogued, as 
belonging to this country, they were Cladonia vermicularis, Cetraria 
valis, 2 ne a Parmelia, all from the White Mountains. 
. W. Harris read a paper entitled ‘‘ Remarks on the N. Ameri- 
ma insects belonging to the genus, ae hrus of Fabricius, with descrip- 
tions of some newly detected species.” He proceeded to show that the ge- 
hus Scaphinotus, Dejean, is established on very insufficient charaaere 
Those of Spheroderus are somewhat better. The same also with Mr, 
Newman’s genus Jrichroa. He concludes that the insects placed in Cy- 
chrus, Spheroderus, Irichroa and Scaphinotus, are more closely related 
to each than to any other genus, a can constitute merely subgenera. 
The following are si new species 
Cycurus ANDREWS! ck ; sborhs deep greenish blue, heart-shap- 
ed, narrowed behind, aa slightly margined at the sides; elytra deep blue, 
