392 | Miscellanies. 
least do., 2 feet 93 inches; greatest length, 1 foot 3 inches; weight, 
6 pounds. Ata distance, it had the appearance of a large bundle 
made of very dirty silk; near at hand, it resembled dirty white 
buckskin, or kid. It rested on the ground, its point of attachment 
being a very short, black stipe, around which the skin had the fur- 
rowed appearance of a handkerchief drawn together to tie at the cor- 
ners. The surface, examined under a microscope, had the appearance 
of common white leather. The covering, or peridium, is twofold; 
the external layer is rather thin, and almost imperceptibly scaly ; the 
inner, rather tough and thick. The substance within was of a close, 
soft, leathery, approaching to a fleshy consistence, having but little 
firmness. After having been kepta short time it became exceedingly 
offensive ; it however ceased to be so after the third or fourth day. 
Berkely says that the bovista sometimes attains the size of many 
feet in circumference, and when wounded, it heals by forming a web 
in the interstices, somewhat analogous to the veins of the truffle. 
Oct. 15, 1839.—C. K. Dittaway, Esq., in the chair. 
Dr. D. H. Storer read a communication from Dr. J. P. Kirtland, 
of Ohio, describing fifteen species of fishes, accompanying which 
were colored drawings. The species are as follows: Luzillus elon- 
gatus, Semotilus biguttatus, Semotilus cephalus, Amia colva, Luz- 
illus dissimilis, Petromyzon argenteus, Icthelis aurita, Icthelis 
nitida, Coregonus Artedii, Lota maculosa, Catostomus aureolus, 
Etheostoma blenioides, E. caprodes, Sciena oscula,; and Cychla fas- 
ciata. Of these species five are new, and ten have not before been 
figured. Dr. Kirtland hopes to continue these communications till all 
the fishes of the western waters have been described. 
Dr. T. M. Brewer stated that recently he had an opportunity to 
examine the habits of certain birds, while on an excursion through the 
States of New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. His attention 
had been more particularly turned to the habits of the Hirundo fulva, 
(Vieillot,) variously known as the Republican, Rocky Mountdin, Cliff, 
Eave and Square-tailed Swallow. He had found their nests in Jaf- 
frey, N. H., to the number of one hundred and twenty, disposed in 4 
single line, and completely occupying the eaves on one side of an old 
wooden church. A few were engaged in feeding their young as late 
as Aug. 20. The note, both of the young and the parent, is a sharp 
and shrill twitter, as loud and piercing as that of the canary bird. 
They made their first appearance in Jaffrey, also in New Ipswich, 
during the present season. They have however been observed for 
several years in Nelson, N. H., from which place probably emanated 
the more recent date. This bird was first described by 
