388 Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 



ner. The body or central portion of the hyoid bone is transformed into a 

 bony box of an ovoidal shape, the parietes being very thin and elastic. 

 Posteriorly this box is provided with a large opening of a quadrangular 

 shape ; on each side of this orifice are two articulating surfaces for the 

 cornua of the hyoid bone. The following are the dimensions of the box, 

 antero-posterior diameter, 2f inches; vertical, 2} inches; transverse, 2]-. 

 According to the dissections of Cuvier, the right ventricle of the larynx 

 communicates freely with the cavity of the bone; the left ventricle ter- 

 minating at the bone without entering it, so that the vocal organs were not 

 symmetrical, presenting a remarkable exception to the characters of the 

 organs of animal life. It is to this remarkable modification of the organs 

 of voice, that the howlers are indebted for the power which they possess of 

 making those loud, hoarse and disagreeable sounds which are capable of 

 being heard at the distance of half a league. They are in the habit of 

 congregating in trees at sunrise and sunset or at the approach of a storm, 

 and of uttering prolonged and frightful howls. 



July 15th, 1840. — C. K. Dillawav, Esq., in the chair. 



Dr. D. H, Storer read descriptions of eleven species of fishes from the 

 western rivers, by Dr. J. P. Kirtland, of Ohio, each <iescription being ac- 

 companied by an accurate drawing. The names of the species were as 

 follows; Ammocetes conrolor, Raf ; Coregonus alhus, Les. ; Esox rcticu- 

 latus, Les. ; Esox cstor, Les. ; Rostra edcntata, Raf ; Notims jiavus, 

 Raf ; Rutilus Stnreri, Kirt. ; Pif/ielorlus nebulosus, Les. ; Saliiio namy- 

 cush, Pen. ; Pimcplialh pi-omelas, Raf ; Labrax . 



An elaborate review of Richard's work on the Coniferee, was read by 

 Geo. B. Emerson, Esq., president of the society. 



Dr. J. Wyman, exhibited specimens of wood, pine cones, and acorns, 

 taken from an excavation in Lowell, near the junction of the Concord and 

 Merrimack rivers. They were found buried in saud at the depth of about 

 25 feet, several feet below the level of the surface of these rivers. Large 

 trunks of pine trees were found in the same locality, also large quantities 

 of leaves arranged in layers or strata. One of the most interesting objects 

 met with in this locality, was the epidermis from the shell of a Unio, this 

 preserving its shape entire, although the shells had disappeared. These 

 cuticular coverings were found in great numbers; but in no instance was 

 the shell found in connection with the epidermis, this portion having prob- 

 ably been decomposed. 



J. E. Teschemacher, Esq., made a report on some seeds and plants 

 from New Zealand, which had been forwarded to Thos. A. Greene, Esq. 

 of New Bedford; these plants and seeds were referrible to the following 

 genera, Ipngon, Mangleria, Pelropliila, Leptospermiim, Melaleuca, Ver- 

 iicordia, Acacia and Tricliinium. The flora of New Zealand is not yet 

 generally known in Europe by botanical description. Dr. Endlicher has 



