1853.] 403 
The Report of the Corresponding Seerctary was read and adopted. 
The following amendment to Article I, Chapter 8, of the By-Laws 
was adopted : 
“‘ Any Specimen belonging to the Academy and not presented under 
restrictions, may be loaned to Members and Correspondents, for purposes 
of scientific investigation, by consent of three-fourths of the Curators, and 
for a period not exeeeding three months: any person to whom specimens 
may be loaned, shall first deposit with the Curators a sum, in eash, not 
less than fifty dollars, which they may deem necessary to ensure the safe 
return of the specimens; and he shall also be subjeet to a fine, equal in 
amount to one-third of the security given, for each month that the speci- 
mens may be retained beyond the time specified for their return, The 
specimens loaned, together with the date at which their return may be 
due, shall be reported to the Academy by the Curators, at the meetings 
for business in March, June, September and December.” 
ELECTIONS. 
Mr. Percival Collins, and Dr. S. Wier Mitchell, both of Philadelphia, 
and Hdward I’. Sanderson, Esq., of New York, were elected Members ; 
And the Rev. Charles Fox, of Michigan, Philo Aye a Koy gst eu Boy 9 
Racine, Wisconsin; J. 8. Newberry, M. D., of Cleveland, Ohio, and the 
Rey. A. C. Barry, of Racine, Wisconsin, were elected Correspondents. 
October 4th. 
Vice-President Bripces in the Chair. 
Letters were read 
From Dr. R. W. Gibbes, dated Columbia, S. C., September 16, 1853, 
transmitting a cranium and other Indian remains. 
From the New York Lyceum of Natural History, dated Sept. 27, 
1858, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, No. IX, Vol. 6. 
From the Royal Mineralogical Society of St. Petersburg, dated Dee. 
8, 1852, acknowledging the receipt of a late number of the Journal, and 
transmitting the volumes of their Transactions announced this evening. 
October 11th. 
Dr. RuscHENBERGER in the Chair. 
Major Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, 
entitled ‘‘ Descriptions of three new species of Arvicola, with re- 
marks upon other North American Rodents,’’ which was referred to Dr. 
Hallowell, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. b. H. Coates. | 
A letter was read from the Secretary of the Geological Society of 
Germany, dated Berlin, 10th July, 1855, accompanying volumes of their 
publications, and desiring those of the Academy in exchange. 
Also a letter from the Secretary of the Trustees of the New York 
Lyceum, dated Albany, October 4th, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of 
No. X, Vol. 6, of Proceedings. 
