Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 389 



given an excellent description of some of the plants, and Baron Huge), 

 Robt. Brown, Lindley, and Hooker, of others; many species however re- 

 main undescribed. 



Aug. 19th, 1840. — Geo. B. Emerson, Esq., President, in the chair. 



Dr. D. H. Stoker reported on the reptiles presented to the cabinet by 

 Dr. Savage of Western Africa. This collection consisted of thirteen spe- 

 cimens, each a distinct species, and only one of which was previously in 

 the cabinet ; they were all referrible to the genera Monitor, Agamo, and 

 Scincus, among the Saurians; Acontias, Crotalus, Naia ■■xiul Coluber^ 

 among the Ophidians ; there was but one Batrachian and that belonging 

 to the genus Hfjla. Three species of fish accompanied the collection, be- 

 longing to the genera Pseiius, Julis and Scams. 



Dr. F. A. Eddy exhibited a specimen of the plant known by the name 

 of " slink weed," which is supposed to have the property of inducing abor- 

 tion. He stated that a meadow in which this plant was common had 

 gone into disuse, from the fact that the cows habitually cast their calves 

 after feeding upon the herbage : this effect was attributed to the presence 

 of this plant. He believed it to be identical with Lythrwn verticilla- 

 tum, L. 



Dec. 16th, 1840. — Thomas Bulfinch, Esq., in the chair. 



Mr. J. E. Teschemacher made a verbal report on some botanical spe- 

 cimens from Arkansas and other western states, presented to the society 

 by Mr. Edward Tuckerman, Jr. He showed that the Ergrinum Arkan- 

 samim agreed in its botanical characters with E. Pcrofikianum from Er- 

 boul, excepting that the leaves in one are more uncinate than in the other. 

 Mr. T. exhibited dried specimens of the leaves of the Nepenthes distillato- 

 ria, or pitcher plant; this is a dioecious plant, allied to the Sarracenia of 

 this country. The cups formed by the leaves are constantly filled with 

 water secreted by glands on their inner surface ; also the fruit of the Cal- 

 amus rudentum or rattan. This is one of the Palmaceae, its fruit a cat- 

 kin, spathes numerous; ovarium 3 celled; berry one seeded. 



Dr. D. II. Storer exhibited a specimen of the Polyodon foliaceus, 

 Lacep. This is characterized by the form of the rostrum, which is long 

 and flat, extending some distance beyond the head, which is commonly 

 known by the name of " fadole," the use of which is not well ascertained. 

 It is however seen thrusting it into the mud in obtaining its food. 



Dr. A. A. Gould laid on the table the following species of shells from 

 the Altamaha river, in Georgia, presented to the Society by Jas. Hamil- 

 ton Couper : — Unio spinosus; U. Shepardionus ; U, obesus ; U. splen- 

 didus ; U. Hopeionensis ; U. dolabriformis ; U. lugubris ; — -also the 

 Anodonfa gibbosa of Say. 



Vol. XL, No. 2.— Jan.-March, 1841, ^ 50 



