318 



To the Cabinets — from U. k^. SpofFord of Essex ; Mr. 

 Norris of Chicago, 111.; Abraham F. Bosson ; E. E,. Beadle 

 of Hartford, Conn.; Samuel Hultman ; N. Weston, Jr.; 

 Henry L. Williams ; Henry IngersoU Bowditcli of Boston ; 

 James Mc'Murphy ; Amos Trask ; Charles K. Stevens of 

 Lawrence ; N. Vickery of Lyini ; Charles H. Norris ; 

 Thomas Trask ; Henry M. Brooks ; William F. Nichols ; 

 Charles A Putnam ; Miss A. M. Lowe. 



These contributors to the Library and Cabinets had made 

 their several donations since the eight of October. 



Several letters lately received by the Secretary were duly 

 noticed, among which were from Dr. Simeon Shurtleif of 

 Westfield and Mr. Charles K. Stevens of Lawrence, res- 

 pecting exchanges of specimens. 



Dr. Richard H. Wheatland mentioned that the Institute 

 had recently received a valuable and interesting collection 

 of European Fishes and Reptiles from F. W. Putnam, com- 

 prising some sixty species. They were collected in Central 

 Europe, the principal portion however in Germany, several 

 of the Fishes, he said, were taken from the River Neckar, 

 and were particularly interesting, on this account, as coming 

 from one of the localities where Linnceus was accustomed to 

 collect and conduct his researches. 



He also mentioned, having found during the j)ast few 

 weeks, in the vicinity of the almshouse in South Danvers, 

 several specimens of a little fish supposed to be as yet unde- 

 scribed and which belongs to Agassiz's family of Etheosto- 

 moids. They aresmall fishes very active in their habits, and 

 living near the bottom of the pond ; no other specimen 

 of this family having been observed in this part of the state. 



He also stated that, during the excursion of the Institute 

 to Marbleliead in September last, he found some specimens 

 of minnows (^Fundulus sp.') which differed materially from 

 those usually observed. 



