192 Intelligence and Miscellanies. 



Dr. Mitchill read a description of a new species of fish, 

 presented by him at a former meeting, which he proposed 

 to call " Diodon carinatus.' 1 '' (See Ann. of the Lye. vol 2. 

 p. 264.) He read also a paper detailing some experiments 

 made with a fluid, prepared for the destruction of injurious 

 insects inhabiting trees as caterpillars, &c. The same gen- 

 tleman exhibited a skull from Chili, exhibiting the peculiar 

 artificial flattening of the occiput. 



A collection of Alpine plants from the valley of Chamou- 

 ny, was received from Dr. N. Niles — and minerals from Mr. 

 Davis of Westfield, Mass. 



June. — A collection of minerals, reptiles and insects, was 

 received from Dr. Porter, of Plainfield, Mass. 



Dr. Mitchill read a paper, containing some additional re- 

 marks on the solanum laurentii, with drawings. This pota- 

 toe, which Dr. M. calls St. Lorenzo potatoe, has been placed 

 under Solanum, as S. montanum, by Ruis andPavon, (Flora 

 Peruv :*) and as S. tuberosum minus, by Feuillee, (Obs.) 

 who observed its habitat. Dr. Hooker places it as Wither- 

 ingia Montana, Mountain Witheringia, or St Lorenzo pota- 

 toe. The specimens of Dr. M. were brought from the Moun- 

 tains of St. Lorenzo island, in Callao Bay. They are found 

 on the Maine also. 



Dr. Van Rensselaer presented serpentine, amianthus, and 

 granite, found, in situ, on the island of New York. Also 

 some primitive rocks in a state of decomposition, from the 

 same island. 



This locality of serpentine, which hitherto seems to have 

 escaped general observation, is only three miles from the 

 city, and covers an extent of perhaps forty acres, near to the 

 Hudson River. Serpentine bowlders have been repeatedly 

 found on the eastern parts of the island, and were probably 

 Garried from the present locality. Observation has not yet 

 determined whether this is an extensive bed — or whether it is 

 connected with the Hoboken and Staten Island range of ser- 

 pentine, in a line with which it lies : and of which it probably 

 forms a part. The rock, if properly quarried, would, in all 

 probability, yield a stone valuable for economical purposes, 

 in building, fencing, &c. 



* A splendid copy of which has lately been presented to our library. 



