Anniversary meeting of the Linnean Society. 299 
| but chiefly on Physical Sciences, Geology, or Paleontology. In 
Biology there is nothing beyond a few abstracts for the purpose 
securing priority of names, or short communications of very 
little importance. 
The diminished proportion of Natural History papers in the 
later volumes of the Philosophical sing toe publications is fully 
accounted for by the activity of another Society in the same city 
devoted exclusively to Natural Science. This Academy of Nat- 
ural Sciences of Philadelphia was established early in 1817, and 
immediately began the publication of the ‘Journal of the Acad- 
emy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia,’ in 8vo, issued in parts 
at irregular intervals, with a few plates. The first series of 8 
Vols., from 1817 to 1842, was chiefly a receptacle for short papers 
In almost all branches of Zoology, as well as in Geology and 
_ Mueralogy, with a very few botanical contributions by T. Nut- 
tall, G. Elliot, L. D. de Schweinitz, and S. W. Conrad, all of lit- 
_ tle importance. : 
_, In 1841 the Academy commenced publishing their Proceed- 
- igs in 8vo, -at short intervals, forming 8 vols., for the years 
_ 1841 to 1856 inclusive, and since then one volume (not num- 
ered) for each year, from 1857 to 1865, the last received. They 
_ contain short communications, abstracts of the longer papers in- 
tended for the Journal, and some entire papers of greater length, 
with a few illustrations, woodcuts, or lithographs ; and in some 
of the earlier volumes J. Cassin’s Ornithological papers are ac- 
Companied by colored plates. In these 17 vols., will be found 
avaluable record of observations and numerous descriptions of 
asi 
larly mentioned the papers in Ornithology by J. Cassin, Erpe- 
tology by E. Hallowell, Malacology and Conchyliology by L 
wea and 'T. A. Conrad, and Entomology by J. L. Leconte and r 
f el’s plants, a paper by M. J. Berkeley and M._ ae 
of Gambel’s plan E. Torna, moaeianie of Heermann’s — x 
I observe that the date of issue of the res 
outes r is given ne ROOM 
iki ie ae Pe eabd with a view to fixing a 
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