Miscellanies. 397 



The following donations were received and referred to the differ- 

 ent sections, viz. From Prof. Ducatel, a circular steel plate, mark- 

 ed with various colors, by the agency of galvanism, by M. Nobili of 

 Florence, referred to section 1st. — From Dr. J. K. W. Dunbar and 

 Dr. Edward A. Warrell, a cougar (Felis concolor,) prepared by them ; 

 referred to section 4th. — From Dr. P. Macauley, a fossil vegetable 

 from the Virginia coal mines ; referred to section 3d. 



Feb. 4. — Donations were received and referred as follovi^s. From 

 Messrs. Alexander and Ducatel, a copy of their report on the new 

 geographical and geological Map of the state, for 1835; deposited 

 iathe Library. — From Dr. Macauley, a series of minerals and fos- 

 sils from the coal formation of Virginia, which having been examin- 

 ed and labelled, were referred to the curators to be placed in the 

 cabinet. — From Dr. Dunbar, two Vols, of the Transactions of the 

 American Philosophical society ;" deposited in the Library. — From 

 Mr. George W. Andrews, a copy of " the Manual of the Practical 

 Naturalist ;" deposited in the Library.— From Dr. Geddings and 

 Dr. Dunbar, a Cougar; referred to section 4th. 



A report on Mr. Allen's paper, read at last meeting, was received 

 from Mr. W. R. Fisher of the section of chemistry, which was read 

 and ordered to be filed with the original paper. — Prof. Ducatel, gave 

 a lecture on the chemical phenomena, which occur during respira- 

 tion, and offered some strictures on the explanation of that function, 

 as described in " the treatise on Vegetable and Animal Physiology, 

 by P. Mark Roget, M. D." 



Feb. 11. — Dr. W. E. A. Aikin deposited in the Library, " Ren- 

 nie's Elements of Mechanics." — Mr. W. R. Fisher, read a lecture 

 on " the detection of Arsenic, in Medico-legal investigations," which 

 was accompanied by experimental illustrations, of many of the pro- 

 cesses and phenomena described. — Dr. T. Edmondson, Jr., reported 

 a meteorological table for the month of Jan. 1836. — Mr. Jas. Green, 

 of the first section, made a report on the steel disk, referred to that 

 section at a former meeting. The experiments of Mr. Green, had 

 afforded him various brilliant colors, resembling in beauty and inten- 

 sity, those produced by the process of M. Nobili, although not arrang- 

 ed with the same precision, in regular forms. The process of the 

 author of this species of galvanic etching, has not been disclosed, but 

 there is a prospect, that the continuance of Mr. Green's investiga- 

 tions, will enable him, if not to discover a means identically the same, 



