cclv 



After transacting the business of the evening, the following 

 elections were made : Prof. F. M. Crunden, O. C. Bates, and B. 

 I. Van Court, were elected Associate Members ; and G. Hilgard, 

 and I. Weber, of Belleville, Ills., and John Koelle, of Berkner 

 Station, Ills., were elected Corresponding Members. 



February 19, 1877. 



C. V. Riley, President, in the chair. 



Eight members present. 



Dr. Engelmann presented several botanical publications to the 

 Academy in behalf of Agostino Todaro, of Palermo : also a num- 

 ber of concretions, resembling unio shells in form, from Walter 

 H. Darby. 



Dr. Engelmann stated that a specimen of Agave Shawii^ de- 

 scribed by him in former papers, is now in bloom in the green- 

 house of Mr. Shaw. This plant came from the Mexican boundary 

 line south of San Diego. The scape has been growing since 

 August last, and is now about 7 feet high and nearly 3 inches 

 through. Although the individual flowers are not showy, the 

 plant as a whole is very striking in appearance. 



Judge Holmes gave an interesting resume of recent researches 

 on the geographical distribution of animals, and was requested 

 to prepare a paper on the subject for publication in the Trans- 

 actions. 



Prof. H. C. Ives and Charles Taylor were elected to associate 

 membership. 



March 5, 1877. 



C. V. Riley, President, in the cliair. 



Ten members present. 



Mr. Hilder introduced to the Academy Mr. F. W. Sidney- 

 Hamilton, late of the British navy, who entered into an interest- 

 ing relation of his observations and experiences in Southeastern 

 Africa. He stated that about five years ago he had taken a 



