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PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



[April, 1854. 



The Secretary read the following extract from a letter re- 

 ceived by him from Professor Agassiz, dated Cambridge, 

 January 9th, 1854. 



" As a preliminary step in preparing a monograph of the fossil sharks of 

 the tertiary of South Carolina, from the fine set of specimens you have placed 

 in my hands, 1 have carefully examined all the Sharks and Skates living upon 

 the coast of the United States. Eight genera, not contained in Dr. Storer's 

 synopsis, have been thus added to our fauna, with a number of species. The 

 first result obtained in comparing these with the fossils, both of Europe and 

 this country is, that the present Shark fauna, of North America, has the same 

 antique character which I have already noticed in other families ; or, in other 

 words, that the living Sharks and Skates, of North America, resemble those 

 of the tertiary 'period more than they resemble those now living along the 

 coast of Europe. Another result of the close affinity of the. tertiary Sharks 

 with those living upon the coast of the United States will be the necessity of 

 making more alterations in the determinations of the fossils as given in the 

 " Poissons Fossiles." Lamna contortidens, for instance, is an Odontaspis, of 

 which I know two living species now on this coast, yours and one observed in 

 large numbers, last summer, at Nantucket." 



Prof. L. P. Gibbes presented a paper for publication in the 

 Proceedings, on the Genus Porcellana, with drawings of six 

 species. Peferred to Curators. 



The committee appointed to procure a copy of the bust of 

 Stephen Elliott, reported progress. 



The Secretary informed the Society that a competent 

 draughtsman was engaged to prepare a copy of the bust of 

 the late Stephen Elliott, for the seals of the Society. 



Members Elected. 

 Hon. M. Kino. Eev. Dr. Lynch. 



John Kussell, Esq. ¥m. McKenzie Parker, Esq. 



Dr. ¥m. T. Wragg. Jos. T. Caldwell, Esq. 



APEIL 11th, 1854. 

 Yice- President L. E. Gibbes in the chair. 

 The Chair informed the Society that the meeting had been 



