1852. 107 
June Sth. 
Vice President Brings in the Chair. 
Dr. LeConte presented for publication in the Journal, a paper entitled 
« Synopsis of the species of Pterosticus Bon., and allied genera inhabit- 
ing temperate North America,” which was referred to a Committee con- 
sisting of Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Leidy and Mr. Kilvington. 
June 15th. 
Major Joun LEConrezE in the Chair. 
A letter was read from the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 
dated Washington, June 9th, 1852, acknowledging the receipt of late 
numbers of the Proceedings of the Academy. 
Dr. Charles M. Wetherill read a paper entitled ‘ Chemical investi- 
gation of the Mexican Honey Ant,” which being intended for publica- 
tion in the Proceedings, was referred to a Committee consisting of Dr. 
Leidy, Dr. Genth and Dr. LeConte. 
June 22d. 
Vice President Bripaes in the Chair. 
A letter was read from the Geological Society of London, dated 1st 
May, 1852, acknowledging the receipt of the Journal and Proceedings. 
Also letters from the Trustees of New York State Library, dated 
Albany, June 15, 1852, and from the Corresponding Secretary of the 
Academy of Arts and Sciences, dated Boston, June 16, 1852, severally 
acknowledging the receipt of late numbers of the Proceedings. 
Also a letter from the Librarian of the American Academy, asking 
for certain numbers of the Proceedings, to complete the series of the 
same in that Institution. 
Dr. Genth read a paper “On some Minerals which accompany Gold 
in California ;’” and a second paper entitled “On Strontiano-Calcite, a 
new mineral ;”’ both of which were referred to a Committee consisting of 
Dr. LeConte, Dr. Wetherill and Mr. Ashnaead. 
Mr. Cassin asked the attention of the Academy to the collection of Birds 
presented by E. K. Kane, M.D., of the United States Navy, late Surgeon to 
Grinnell’s Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin, and collected by him 
during the absenze of the Expedition in the Arctic regions. 
Nearly all of the specimens are unusually valuable and interesting on account 
of their representing species in much more mature plumage than is commonly 
seen either in Museums or in recent specimens obtained so far south as Phila- 
delphia. This circumstance is of course readily accounted for, as all the 
species in the collection are only to be met with while in summer plumage in 
the remote regions visited. by the Expedition, and their interesting character 
may be inferred from that fact. 
Mr. C. regarded the specimens of the Brant (Bernicla brenta, Pallas) and of 
_ the Ivory Gull (Larus eburneus, Phipps) as of especial interest. 
