PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 55 
and Great Horned Owl, which begin their courtships as early as Feb- 
ruary, choose their eyries, and the former commences incubation. 
Blue Birds frequently pair before the end of the month, and taking 
possession of breeding boxes or holes in trees, guard them carefully 
against intruders.—J. A. A. 
The Robins often lay the eggs for their first brood in March, in the 
vicinity of Salem.—Enps. 
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
N ACADEMY OF sae AND SCIENCES, Boston. Jan. 8, 1867. 
The Show! ing papers were rea 
Thermogenesis, or Theory si aia by Dr. J. D. Whelpey, of 
ston. 
The Object and Method of Mineralogy, by T. Sterry Hunt, of Mon- 
treal, Canada 
n the Inequalities produced in the Moon’s Motion by the Secular Va- 
riation in the position of the Ecliptic, by G. W. Hill, of Cambridge. 
Essex INSTITUTE, Salem.. Jan. 7, 1867.—The following paper was 
presented : 
A Catalogue of the Birds of No rth America contained in the Museum of 
the Essex Institute, with which is incorporated a List of the Birds of New 
England, with oat critical notes, by Elliott Coues, oan Da Ue 
Mr. C. Cooke made some remarks on the Sea o (Lodoicea sechel- 
larum); and i. E. Bicknell exhibited n samea the mi- 
croscope, of the poison fangs of the Rattlesnake. 
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, Chicago. Annual Meeting, Jan. 8, 1867.—Dr. 
William Stimpson was appointed Director of ved » Museum, to fill the 
. Kennico 
The President, Geo. C. Walker, ~~ delivered h his annual address. 
The Secretary then submitted his 
The ee resolutions were canaens . 
HEREAS, r the Illinois General Survey has been too small to al- 
low of a sufficient! y rapid examin z 
That this 
Resolve the great ortance of this 
work, and | its hope mas the appropriation will be Increased to a degree that will carry on 
Resolved. he Gt 1A bly be respectfully requested to 
favor the fr of the appropriation. 
Boston SOCIETY or NATURAL History. January 2, 1867.—Mr. Ho- 
race Mann exhibited a large panoramic photograph of the crater on 
the summit of Haleakala, the mountain of East Maui, Hawaiian Is- 
