188 Miscellanies. 



and comprises 44 pages. Its contents are : Anniversary Address, by 

 John L. Russell, M.D. j the Act of Incorporation, Constitution and Bye- 

 Laws of the Society ; Catalogues of its Officers and Books, and of the 

 Donors to the Library and Cabinet. 



The second number was published a few weeks since, and extends from 

 page 45 to page 108. It comprises the following papers : 



1. Familiar notice of some of t lie shells found in the limits of Essex Count}', 

 Mass., with reference to descriptions and figures ; by John L. Russell, page 47 to 

 page 76. 



2. Notice of the occurrence of specimens of Vespertilio pruinosus, Say, (Hoary 

 Bat;) by H. Wheatland. 76, 77. 



3. A sketch of the Geology and Mineralogy of the southern part of Essex County 

 in Mass. communicated to the Essex Co. Nat. Hist. Soc. April 24, 1839 ; by Wm. 

 Prescott. 78—91. 



4. Two new species of Musci, with figures ; by John L. Russell. 92, 93. 



5. Remarks on Hyla femoralis, observed in the north parish of Danvers, Mass. ; 

 by Andrew Nichols. 93—96. 



6. Notice of rare plants; with a description of a curious variety of Cladonia Un- 

 cialis ; by John L. Russell. 96 — 100. 



7. Remarks upon Scarabseus Goliatus and other African beetles allied to it ; by 

 Thaddeus Wm. Harris. 101—107. 



The Society was incorporated in February, 1836, by the Legislature of 

 Massachusetts. From the prefatory remarks in the second number it ap- 

 pears that the institution is in a prosperous condition, and has already 

 collected a considerable cabinet and library. Of the industry and ability 

 of the members, we have good evidence in the numbers before us. We 

 gladly welcome every new laborer in American Natural History ; for not- 

 withstanding what has been already accomplished, the field of discovery 

 is yet very far from being exhausted, and we hope that the honor of gath- 

 ering in the harvest may not pass from our own shores. 



July, 1839. 



5. " Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, held at 

 Philadelphia for promoting useful knowledge. Part 2, of Vol. 6, 

 neiv series (or Vol. 12, of the entire series): — p. 155 top. 337. 4to. 

 Philadelphia, 1839. 



This part of the Transactions of our most ancient and active scien- 

 tific body has just made its appearance. It contains several papers of 

 much importance, and well sustains the high character of the Society 

 from which it emanates. We annex a list of all the communications 

 comprised in it. 



Art. II. Descriptions of New North American Injects, and Observations on some 

 already described. By [the late] Thomas Say. Continued from Vol. IV, N. S., 

 p. 470. pp. 155—190.' 



III. Notice of a Vein of Bituminous Coal, recently explored in the vicinity of the 

 Havana, in the island of Cuba. By Richard Cowling Taylor, and Thomas G. 

 Clemson. 191—196. 



