JOURNAL 



OF THE 



Academy of Natural Sciences 



OF 



PHILADELPHIA. 



No. 1. MAY. 1817. Vol,. I. 



THE members of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia, desirous of acquiring knowledge themselves, 

 and extending it among their fellow citizens, have for 

 some years been accustomed to meet at leisure hours for 

 the purpose of communicating to each other such facts 

 ^nd observations, as are calculated to promote the views 

 of the society. By degrees, a collection of subjects in na- 

 tural history was made, and has increased until a museum 

 has been formed, which is already very valuable, and 

 which is daily increasing. 



In further pursuance of the objects of their institution, 

 the Society have now determined to communicate to the 

 public, such facts and observations as, having appeared 

 interesting to them, are likely to be interesting to other 

 friends of natural science. They do not profess to make 

 any periodical communication; but well knowing how de- 

 sirable it is, that persons engaged in similar pursuits, 

 should be made acquainted as early as possible with what 

 has been done by their fellow- labourers in the fields of 

 science elsewhere, they mean to publish a few pages 

 whenever it appears to them that materials worthy of pub- 



VoJ. L A 



