Transactions of the Nnv-York Lycntm. 365 



President Mitchill communicated an account of his dis- 

 section of the Balenopterus acuto-rostratus lately exhib- 

 ited. 



A communication was received from Dr. Beckwith ac- 

 companying specimens of the natural wall in North Caro- 

 lina. 



Dr. Torrey reported that a mineral from Hudson, N. Y. 

 presented by Mr. Barnes, was a variety of Jade, called 

 Nephrite. It much resembles the Nephrite of Rhode-Island, 

 being infusible by the blow pipe. 



Dr. Torrey read a memoir on the Usnea fasciata, a new 

 cryptogamic plant from New South Shetland, with an ac- 

 companying letter from Dr. Mitchill. Pub. in No. XIII 

 this Journal. 



A communication was received from Major Delafield, de- 

 tailing information of a gun of ancient construction found in 

 the Chesapeake, covered with siliceous pebbles, forming 

 puddingstone. 



A valuable donation of books was received from Col. 

 Gibbs, and another from Dr. Dekay. 



The President read a communication on the progress of 

 Natural History during the recess of the Lyceum since May 

 last. 



Mr. Barnes read a description of a new species of Myti- 

 lus, from New South Shetland, which he names M. Antarc- 

 ticus. 



Dr. Torrey communicated an account of a new locality of 

 Stilbite and Laumonite. They occur in small crystals in a 

 cellular felspar near cold spring in the Highlands of New 

 York. The Stirbite was described in No. XII. The Lau- 

 monite is disseminated with the Stilbite, but is in much 

 smaller quantity. It occurs in small white four sided 

 prisms, nearly right-angled, with summits very obliquely 

 truncated. The lateral planes are distinctly striated longi- 

 tudinally. 



Mr. J. Cozzens read a paper on the acid existing in the 

 berries of the common sumac, (Rhus glabrum) detailing the 

 experiments by which he has ascertained it to be malic acid 

 in nearly a p«re state. 



Dr. Torrey laid on the table specimens to illustrate his 

 intended paper on the minerals of Sparta, N. J. 



