1853 | 
2. P.penicillatus Woodhouse. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc., 6, 200. New 
Mexico. 
3. P.parvus Lec. Cricetodipus parvus Peale. U. S. Exp. Exp. Mam., 
De O35, pl. 135 fie. 2. 
A specimen procured by me in the Desert of the Colorado of Southern Cali- 
fornia, differs only from Peale’s original specimen from Oregon in having the 
whiskers partly black; it is apparently a more adult specimen, though not 
larger than the one in the Exp. Exp. Collection. An error occurs in Peale’s 
description and measurement, where the tail is stated to be longer than the body; 
it is in reality a little shorter than the head and body, reaching just in front of 
the ears, when laid along the back. 
Dr. Charles M. Wetherill presented to the notice of the Society speci- 
mens of fused Asphalte from Hillsboro’, New Brunswick, which variety 
of Asphalte he had characterized as Melan-Asphalt, in a paper read be- 
fore the American Philosophical Society in July last. Dr. W. remarked 
that Chemists, who had pronounced this variety of Asphalt infusible, 
had not properly experimented with it. He had recently fused it in a 
German flask; it flowed with a level surface and was poured out, after 
which it hardened. It is remarkably electric both before and after 
fusion. 
January 18th. 
Vice-President Bripe@xs in the Chair. 
A letter was read from the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 
dated Washington, Dec. 20, 1852, acknowledging the receipt of late 
numbers of the Proceedings. 
Dr. Hallowell read a paper intended for publication in the Proceed- 
ings, ‘On some new Reptiles from California ;”? which was referred to 
Dr. Ruschenberger, Dr. Heermann and Dr. Woodhouse. 
Dr. Le Conte called the attention of the members to a description, 
with a plate, by Wesmael, of the Mexican Ant, in the Bulletin de 
lAcad. Royale de Bruxelles. Wesmael considers the characteristics 
sufficiently well marked to form a new sub-genus, Myrmecocystis. 
Dr. Bridges, on behalf of the Publication Committee, announced the 
publication of Part 3, Vol. 2, New Series of the Journal. 
Dr. Kane asked that an estimate be made of the expense, Xc. of ma- 
terials necessary for the preservation of objects of Natural Eistory in 
the proposed Arctic Expedition. Referred to the Committee previously 
appointed to confer with Dr. Kane. 
January 25th. 
Vice-President BripGes in the Chair. 
The Committee on Dr. Le Conte’s paper, describing new Coleoptera 
of the United States, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 
