388 . Mew-York Lyeeuni of Natural Hislory, 



ings, and a description of a variety of the Balena mysticetm^ 

 taken near Sandy Hook, in 1621 > 



July t. — Dr. Dekay read a continuation of his former re- 

 Bfiarks on the anatomy of fishes, accompanied by preparations. 

 Di*. Akerly read a dissertation on the language of signs, more 

 particularly with reference to those used by the native In- 

 dians of North America.* 



July 14. — Mr. Barnes resumed his observations on North 

 American shells, and exhibited several rare and new species 

 from the coast of Peru. Dr. Dekay read a memoir on some 

 fish received from South America, through, and presented 

 by, Mr, Vache. The memoir was accompanied by several 

 highly finished drawings. 



July 21. — A paper by Professor Dewey of Williams Col- 

 lege, Mass. written in 1817, was presented to t\. ^Lyceum. 

 His observations on the fluids contained in quartz crystals 

 coincided in a singular manner with those subsequently made 

 by Dr. Brewster of Edinburgh. Mr. Barnes concluded his 

 observations on North American shells, and the Society ad- 

 journed to meet on the 1st of Sept. following. 



Sept- 1. — Dr. Dekay communicated a paper on the Salt 

 Springs at Salina, N. Yo with observations on the manufac- 

 ture of salt, as practised at that place. He also read a de- 

 scription of the Gum Aearoides from Botany Bay, exten- 

 sively used as a medicine in the eastern states. 



Sept. 8> — A specimen of iron ore from Verona, N. Y, was 

 i-eceived from Mr Stephen Smith of Salina. It proved on 

 examination to be the brown hematite with ori^anic remains 

 imbedded (Entrochites). Dr. Dekay presented a speci- 

 men and description of a new and remarkable species of 

 Coluber from Mobile, to which he gave the name of C^ sayii. 



Sept- 1». —The President read a description of a supposed 

 lie# species of Ray, (Cephalopterus W^ampyrus,) taken at the 

 mdulh of Delaware Bay, and now exhibiting in this city. — 

 Vid6 p. 23 of the Annals. A communication from 

 Mr. W. Lewis was read respecting the successful cultivation 

 bf Tea on the river Amite, near New-Orleans. Specimens 

 of the tea accompanied the communication. 



Sept. 22. — Dr, Torrey read descriptions of new and rare 

 plants from the Rocky Mountains, collected in 1820, by Dr. 

 Edwin James. Vide p. 30 of the Annals. Mr. Barnes an- 

 jiounced the discovery of copper iia the form of blue and 



* This and several other papers mentioned in this notice have ap- 

 l^aied in former numbers of this Journal. 



