115 



to the importance of collecting large numbers of every spe- 

 cies ; duplicates are in reality as valuable to the Institute 

 as unique specimens, for the purpose of exchange. On mo- 

 tion of Mr. Putnam the thanks of the Institute were unani- 

 mously voted to Mr. Ropes, for the valuable and interesting 

 collection of specimens of Natural History announced this 

 evening. Mr. Putnam, alluding to the other specimens on the 

 table, said that they consisted of a collection of QQ species 

 of Reptiles, Fishes, Crustaceans, Mollusks and Radiates 

 from Hong Kong, China, presented by Capt. W. H. A. Put- 

 nam, nearly all of which are new to the Institute's collection, 

 and some of them are undescribed. A collection of 9 spe- 

 cies of Holconotes, (viviparous fishes) from San Francisco, 

 and 13 species of Cyprinoids, (Shiners, &c.,) from Europe 

 and the western portion of America, have been received from, 

 the Museum of Comparative Zoology, consisting of types or 

 original specimens of species described by Prof. Agassiz, Mr. 

 Agassiz, and himself; also, specimens of a Blennioid fish 

 from Cape Palmas, Africa, presented by Dr. George A. 

 Perkins, and a few of the fishes presented some time since 

 by Capt. Charles Millet, from the Arabian Gulf. 



Mr. Putnam called upon the members to report any facts 

 which they might obtain relating to the army worm, as every 

 thing bearing upon the habits and history of this insect is 

 •eagerly sought after by entomologists, and stated that he had 

 learned from Mr. Packard, a student in the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology, who is engaged in preparing a paper upon 

 this subject, that no less than seven species of parasites of 

 .the worm had been discovered. 



After a short discussion on the army worm and the canker 

 worm, in which several members participated, the meeting 

 adjourned. 



