396 Miscellanies. 



son for examination. — Dr. Geddings, delivered a lecture upon the 

 respiration and circulation of fishes, which he illustrated, by draw- 

 ings, preparations and dissections. — A committee was appointed to 

 prepare a system of classification, by which the various departments 

 of the sciences may be assigned to the members according to some 

 fixed order. 



Jan. 28. — The following system of classification, was reported by 

 the committee, charged with that duty at the last meeting, and adopt- 

 ed, and the members were subsequently assigned to each class re- 

 spectively, by the President. It is expected that every member 

 will enrol himself, under one class at least, but he may co-operate 

 with as many of the classes as inclination will permit. Each class 

 is considered a standing committee, upon the particular department 

 of Natural Science, whose title it bears, and all communications and 

 specimens submitted to the Academy are to be referred to that class, 

 having particular cognizance of the subject. 



1st. Class. — Mathematics, astronomy and physics, the latter in- 

 cluding natural philosophy and mechanics. 



2nd. Class. — Chemistry. 



3rd. Class. — Mineralogy and geology, including physical geogra^ 

 phy and the history and classification of fossil remains. 



4th. Class. — Zoology, embracing the comparative anatomy and 

 physiology of animals. This class is further divided into six sec- 

 tions, viz. 



1 . History and classification of mammalia. 



2. " " birds. 



3. " " reptiles. 

 .4. " " fishes. 



5. " " insects, including Crustacea. 



6. " " raollusca, including conchology 

 and the zoophytic productions. 



5th. Class. — Botany, including vegetable physiology. 



The first named member of each class, is chairman of that class, 

 and at present the chairmen are, 1st. class, B. H. Latrobe; 2d. do. 

 J. T. Ducatel, M. D. ; 3d. do. P. T. Tyson ; 4th. do. E. Geddings, 

 M. D. ; 5th. do. W. E. A. Aikin, M. D. 



A paper was received from T. Phillips Allen, corresponding mem- 

 ber, residing in North Carolina, " on the chemical composition of the 

 Prussian Blue of commerce," which was read and referred to the 

 section of chemistry. 



