LXXX1II 



thanks of the Institute be presented to Messrs. Choate and 

 Richards for their interesting and instructive remarks 

 and explanations of the machine. 



Monday, December 12. Evening meeting. 

 The President in the chair 

 Letters were announced from : 



New Hampshire Historical Society ; Maine Historical Society ; Massa- 

 chusetts Historical Society, acknowledging the receipt of publications : A. L. 

 Babcock, of Sherborn and A. B. Burton, of Bethleham, N. PL, relating to 

 exchange of specimens : Dr. Wm. Wood, President of the Portland Society of 

 Natural History ; Lt. J. S. Allanson, 1st New York Engineers ; Prof. S. F. 

 Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, on business : Rev. Joseph Banvard, 

 of the Worcester Society of Natural History ; Rev. E. C. Bolles, of Portland, 

 Me.; Prof. A. E. Verrill, of Norway, Me.; J. A. Allen, of Cambridge ; W. 

 H. Dall, of Chicago, 111., relating to the publications. 



F. W. Putnam read a letter from William Hoxie, of 

 Newburyport, in which Mr. Hoxie stated that he had 

 found the following birds breeding in Byfield Parish 

 during the past season — Scolecophagus ferrugineus Sw. 

 (Rusty Blackbird), Myiodioctes canadensis Aud. (Canada 

 Fly-catcher) and Antrostomus vociferics Bonap. (Whip- 

 poor-will). 



George D. Wildes read a memoir of the late Captain 

 William Nichols^ of Newburyport, a noted Privateersman 

 during the war of 1812 and one of the most enterprising 

 and daring navigators of that period. 



On motion of Mr. Goodell the thanks of the Institute 

 were tendered to Mr. Wildes for his interesting communi- 

 cation, and a copy was requested for publication in the 

 Historical Collections. 



Mr. Putnam mentioned that in a collection of Reptiles 

 received from J. A. Allen, of Springfield during the past 

 season, there was a specimen of the Celuta arnoena B. & G. 

 (Worm Snake). Mr. Allen had for several years past 

 been confident that he had seen this species near Spring- 



