150 Miscellanies. 



general had sustained, was unanimously passed by the Society. A 

 resolution was also passed, that Dr. Samuel Akerly be requested to 

 draw up a biographical memoir of the late Dr. Mitchill. 



J^ovembe7\ — Dr. Gale exhibited for inspection specimens of seve- 

 ral different alloys of sodium and potassium, a number of which were 

 liquid at the ordinary temperature, (60° Fah.) ; one, containing 12 

 parts of potassium and 1 of sodium, was so light as to float on naph- 

 tha, and congealed at the freezing point of water. Dr. G. stated, 

 that this alloy was a remarkable instance of expansion, from the union 

 of two different bodies, and that from the liquidity of the alloy we 

 should infer, according to the laws of caloric, that much heat would 

 have been absorbed, and consequently a considerable diminution of 

 temperature would follow ; on the contrary, an elevation of temper- 

 ature was the consequence of the union. 



During the present year many valuable donations have been re- 

 ceived, and the following gentlemen elected as members. 



Resident. — S. T. Carey, Dr. Thomas D. Devan, Benjamin Pike. 



Corresponding. — Wm.R. Clapp, Philadelphia; Prof. Dohereiner, 

 Jena; FroL Breithaupt, Freiburg; Mr. McGillivr ay, Edinburgh; 

 Don Claudius Gay, Valparaiso. 



Abstract for 1832. 



January. — Dr. Perrine, U. S. Consul at Campeachy, read a paper 

 on an article used in the manufacture of cordage, and brought to our 

 market under the -name of Sisal Hemp. It is stated, by the author, 

 to be a species of Agave, {Agave Americana,) growing wild in great 

 abundance in Yucatan. 



Prof. Torrey read a paper from the Rev. L. De Schweinitz, enti- 

 tled " Remarks on European plants, which have been more or less 

 naturalized in the United States." 



Mr. Cooper communicated a paper on the anatomy of the Wild 

 Swan (Cygnus Bewickii) of Long Island, and exhibited parts of the 

 skeleton of this animal. 



Dr. Feuchtwanger read a paper on Lucullite or black marble. 



Dr. Akerly exhibited for inspection numerous relics from a temple 

 in the ancient city of Palenque, in Central America. 



February. — At the anniversary meeting, on the evening of the 

 27th inst., the following gentlemen were elected officers of the soci- 

 ety for 1832. 



