AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 421 



or less imperfect, and subsequent power for effort would be 

 diminished. 



Mr. Judd moved that a committee, consisting of Dr. Water- 

 bury and two others, be appointed to visit the keepers of the 

 railroad and other stables in this city, and make such further in- 

 quiries as might be in their power in reference to the cheapest 

 food for horses as the present prices of hay, oats, corn, barley, 

 ship stuffs, &c., and report at tlie next meeting of this Club, 

 Tuesday, Feb. 19. The motion was adopted, and a committee 

 appointed, consisting of Dr. Waterbury, Dr. Field and Mr. 

 Clapp. [We shall look for an interesting and valuable report 

 from this committee.] 



The discussion of Windmills was passed over for the day 



EGYPTIAN CURIOSITIES. 



Dr. Deck exhibited a very singular specimen of a flower for 

 which no place in natural history has yet been assigned. The 

 doctor has had it nine years, and exhibited it a thousand times 

 by dipping it into w^ater for a few minutes, when it gradually ex- 

 pands or blossoms. It is, when open, about one inch in diameter. 

 Its age is unknown. It was presented to the doctor for his medi- 

 cal services in Egypt, by an Arab who asserted that he had taken 

 it from the breast of an Egyptian mummy, a female high-priest, 

 and it was considered a great rarity. It has the appearance, in 

 its dry state, of a small, dry poppy head, but when expanded by 

 soaking in water, it has the appearance of a beautifully radiated 

 starry flower, resembling the crysanthemum. It was carefully 

 examined by the many naturalists present, but all failed to dis- 

 cover its proper classification; so it still remains "a flower 

 without a name." The doctor also exhibited some curious speci- 

 mens of Egyptian insects and reptiles preserved in spirits. One 

 is a frog no larger than could be covered by a shilling. 



Mr. Couzzens, of Dobbs' Ferry, who exhibited at the Crystal 

 Palace, at the late Fair of the American Institute remarkable 

 grapes from vines, some berries of which measured three inches 

 and a half in circumference, exhibited a bottle of wine made 

 from them by him. The Club tasted it, but as it was found to be 

 in fermentation, of course its real value could not be found. 



William Lawton, of New Rochelle, exhibited some of his wine, 

 or cordial, made of the pure juice of his blackberries. The Club 

 pronounced it very good. 



