392» Miscellanies. 



least do., 2 feet 9| inches ; greatest length, 1 foot 3 inches; weight, 

 6 pounds. At a distance, it had the appearance of a large bundle 

 made of very dirty silk. ; near at hand, it resembled dirty white 

 buckskin, or kid. It rested on the ground, its point of attachment 

 being a very short, black stipe, around which the skin had the fur- 

 rovved appearance of a handkerchief drawn together to tie at the cor- 

 ners. The surface, examined under a microscope, had the appearance 

 of common white leather. The covering, or peridium, is twofold ; 

 the external layer is rather thin, and almost imperceptibly scaly ; the 

 inner, rather tough and thick. The substance within was of a close, 

 soft, leathery, approaching to a fleshy consistence, having but little 

 firmness. After having been kept a short time it became exceedingly 

 offensive ; it however ceased to be so after the third or fourth day. 



Berkely says that the hovista sometimes attains the size of many 

 feet in circumference, and when wounded, it heals by forming a web 

 in the interstices, somewhat analogous to the veins of the truffle. 



Oct. 15, 1839. — C. K. DiLLAWAY, Esq., in the chair. 



Dr. D. H. Storer read a communication from Dr. J. P. Kirtland, 

 of Ohio, describing fifteen species of fishes, accompanying which 

 were colored drawings. The species are as follows : Luxillus elon- 

 gatus, Semotilus bigutiatus, Semotilns cephalvs, Amia colva, Lux- 

 illus dissimilis, Petromyzon argenteus, Icthelis aurita, Icthelis 

 nitida, Coregonus Artedii, Lota maculosa, Catostomvs aureolus, 

 Etheostoma blenioides, E. caprodes, Scicena oscula, and CycJila fas- 

 data. Of these species five are new, and ten have not before been 

 figured. Dr. Kirtland hopes to continue these communications till all 

 the fishes of the western waters have been described. 



Dr. T. M. Brewer stated that recently he had an opportunity to 

 examine the habits of certain birds, while on an excursion through the 

 States of New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. His attention 

 had been more particularly turned to the habits of the Hirundo falva, 

 (Vieillot,) variously known as the Republican, Rocky Mountain, Cliff, 

 Eave and Square-tailed Swallow. He had found their nests in Jaf- 

 frey, N. H., to the number of one hundred and twenty, disposed in a 

 single line, and completely occupying the eaves on one side of an old 

 wooden church. A (ew were engaged in feeding their young as late 

 as Aug. 20. The note, both of the young and the parent, is a sharp 

 and shrill twitter, as loud and piercing as that of the canary bird. 

 They made their first appearance in Jafli'rey, also in New Ipswich, 

 during the present season. They have however been observed for 

 several years in Nelson, N. H., from which place probably emanated 

 the colonies of more recent date. This bird was first described by 



