438 [DECEMBER, 
acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 5, Nos. 9—L2, Vol. 
6, Nos. 1 and 2, and of the Journal, new series, Vol. 2, Part 2; also 
transmitting their Bulletin and Transactions. 
From Prof. Baird, dated Washington, Nov. 26, 1853, transmitting 
the collection of Serpents and Crawfishes acknowledged this evening. 
From Mr. Charles Gillman of Brunswick, Maine, dated Nov. 29, 
1853, in relation to obtaining a specimen of Moose (Cervus alecs) for the 
Museum, an opportunity of which was now offered him. Referred to 
the Curators. 
Dr. Le Conte presented a paper meaiea for publication in the Pro- 
ceedings, entitled “ Descriptions of new Coleoptera, from Texas, chiefly 
collected by the U. S. Boundary Expedition.” Referred to Dr. Leidy, 
Dr. Hays and Dr. Hallowell. 
Dr. Leidy presented a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled 
“On Bathygnathus borealis, an extinct Saurian from the new Red 
Sandstone of Prince Hdward’s Island.’ Referred to Mr. Lea, Dr. 
Ruschenberger and Dr. Coates. 
On leave granted, Mr. Foulke offered a Resolution, instructing the 
Curators to enquire into the expediency of keeping the Museum open 
on more than two days in the week, and of granting the privilege of 
giving tickets of admission to subscribers to a fund for meeting the ex- 
penses of so doing. 
December 138th. 
Mr. Orp, President, in the Chair. 
A letter was read from the Hon. J. K. Kane, dated Philada., Dec. 
11, 1858, transmitting a copy of Dr. Kane’s new vers on the Grinnell 
Arctic Expedition. 
Mr. Lea called the attention of the members to Me specimen of Gneiss 
bored by Pholas dactylus, and containing the shell. The specimen is 
from the coast of France, and was procured by M. Cuyot, who had first 
noticed the fact of Gneiss Rock being bored by this animal. The spe- 
cimen proves that the boring action must have been of a mechanical 
character and not chemical, as had been supposed by Deshayes. M. 
Cuyot was satisfied that it resulted from the animal twisting itself 
around in the rock. | 
December 20th. 
The President, Mr. Orp, in the Chair. 
Mr. Conrad presented a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled 
‘‘ Monograph of the genus Argonauta, with descriptions of five new spe- 
cies,’’ which was referred to Mr. Phillips, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Le Conte. 
Mr. Conrad also presented two other papers for publication in the 
Proceedings, entitled ‘‘ Synopsis of the genus Cassidula, and description 
of a proposed new genus, Athleta,” and “ Omissions and corrections to 
a Synopsis of the North American Naiades,” both of which were re- 
ferred to the Committee on the first paper. 
