lliptical, or lenticular, transparent, and measured the 1-1666th of an inch when round. The following day, upon examining some of the cells, which had been preserved between two slips of glass hermetically sealed, the crystals had disappeared, and the nuclei had become distinctly and opaquely granular. Acetic acid rendered the granular matter more translucent, and brought into view the nucleolus, which, not being visible the preceding day, probably served as the nucleus of the crystalline body. The animal, when examined, was in a state of hybernation, at which period organic activity is reduced, which would predispose to the crystallization of any salt in solution in an organic cell, for it appears that the frequency of the existence of crystalline bodies in the organic kingdom, is, to a considerable extent, dependant upon an inverse ratio of activity of life. Dr. Morton then resumed the subject of the plurality of origin of the human race. In evidence of its orthodoxy, and of its being in accordance with a liberal interpretation of the Pentateuch, he adduced the last edition of the work of the Rev. Dr. John Pye Smith, on the Relations of Geology and Revelation. This author designates the Deluge as a local phenomenon, and circumscribes its limits. Geologists are in general convinced that it was not universal, As regards the opinion that the various races of the human family were primordially distinct, Dr. Morton is convinced that the tendency of investigation goes every year to strengthen it. In other words, Man was aboriginally suited by his Creator for the various localities in which he has placed him. Dr. M. also read some interesting quotations from Dr. Pye Smith's work, in further support of this opinion. Mr. White, of England, fifty years since, also maintained that the plurality of the human race was in accordance with the text of Genesis, and Mr. E. King strenuously takes the same ground. In 1835, Rev. Dr. Thomas Arnold remarks in a letter to Archbishop Wheatley, "that he fears the physiological question is not yet settled." Dr. Morton distinctly disclaimed any desire to enter into controversy on the biblical view of the question; but he was glad to show, from clerical authors, that the naked facts of zoological science, and the statements of Genesis, are in harmony with each other. April 16th. DR. MORTON, President, in the Chair. Dr. Leidy read a description of new species of Entophyta, which was referred to Drs. Bridges and Zantzinger, and Mr. Powel. A letter was read from Mr. James Deane, dated Greenfield, Mass., April 8, 1850, in reference to the publication in the Journal of the Academy, of a paper by him on the Sandstone fossils of the Connecticut valley. Referred to the Publication Committee. Two communications were read from the Geological Society of London, dated Somerset House, 8th Nov. and 22d Nov., 1849, severally acknowledging the receipt of late numbers of the Proceedings, and of Part 3, new series of the Journal. A communication from the Royal Society of Van Dieman's Land was read, dated Hobart Town, 15th September, 1849, presenting a copy of Part 1, Vol. 1, of their Proceedings, a collection of seeds of 150 species of plants, indigenous to Tasmania, and a specimen of Phascolomys wombatus, and also requesting that a correspondence and a sys. tem of exchanges be opened between the two Societies. Whereupon, on motion of Dr. Leidy, it was Resolved, That the Academy will reciprocate the favor extended to it by the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land, and that the Curators be empowered to act accordingly. Mr. Peter A. Browne said that he had recently had an opportunity of examining the hair on the head of a human foetus of five months, and found it wanting in several peculiarities of the adult hair. On motion, it was Resolved, That the 8th volume of the Journal of the Academy be presented to Hugh E. Strickland, Esq., of England. April 23d. DR. MORTON, President, in the Chair. Letters were read: From the Zoological Society of London, dated Dec. 22d, 1849, ac knowledging the receipt of recent numbers of the Proceedings of the Academy, and also of parts 1, 2 and 3 of vol. 1 of the Journal. Two letters from the "K. L. C. Akademie der Wissenschaften," dated severally Breslau, 13th and 17th December, 1849, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy. Also two letters from the "Institute Royal des Sciences, &c. des Pays Bas," dated Amsterdam, December, 1849, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy, and presenting a copy of its Memoirs, 3d series, vol. 1, parts 3 and 4, its Journal of the same, vol. 3, parts 1 and 2, and Annuaires of the same for 1847, '48 and '49. Dr. Leidy read a paper, intended for publication in the Journal, describing the following new American species of Annelida abranchia: Length 3 lines. 1. Nais gracilis, Leidy. 50 articulations. Length 5 lines. Strephuris, n. g., Leidy. Podal spines alternating with setæ, in two rows; 4. S. agilis, Leidy. Length 1 to 1 inches. 5. Aeolosoma venustum, Leidy. 8 articulations. Length 1-40th inch. 6. Enchytraeus vermicularis, Henle. 7. E. socialis, Leidy. Articulations not over 52. Length 5 to 10 lines. 8. Lumbriculus limosus, Leidy. 170 to 224 articulations. Length 2 to 4 in. Referred, on motion, to a committee consisting of Drs. Hallowell and Morton, and Prof. Haldeman. April 30th. DR. MORTON, President, in the Chair. The committee to which was referred Dr. Leidy's paper on some new Entophyta, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. ECCRINA. Descriptions of new Entophyta growing within animals. By JOSEPH LEIDY, M. D. (Gen. Nov.) Characters same as Enterobryus,f except that it divides into numerous cells at the free extremity. Ecerina longa. Filaments long and delicate, hyaline, or faintly brownish, at first forming a simple curve, or a single spiral turn, and then passing in a straight line to the free extremity. Peduncle very short. Frond cell usually filled with globules, and a few granules, except at free end where it is usually filled with granules to the exclusion of the globules. End cells as high as thirty in number, at first consisting of elongated divisions of the frond cell contents, but becoming distinct elliptical cells, from two to three times longer than the breadth; contents usually granular, occasionally with a few globules. End cells finally separating from the parent. Length from three to seven lines, breadth 1-2000th to the 1-517th in., not usually corresponding to the length. End cells 1-517th to the 1-357th in. in length. Habitat.-Grows in very great profusion from the mucous membrane of the posterior part of the intestine of Polydesmus virginiensis. (Dr. L. exhibited to the Academy a preserved fragment of mucous membrane, with filaments of this species six lines in length growing from it.) Eccrina moniliforma. Filaments hyaline or yellowish, forming a double or treble spiral. Peduncle short. Frond cell filled with globules and granules, except towards its free extremity, where it is filled with granular matter divided into distinct and separate masses, usually a little shorter than broad, and containing each a globular nucleolated nucleus. Divisions progressively passing towards the end into globular cells with granular contents. Divisions and globular cells from 20 to 50 in number. Length from 1 to 1 lines, breadth average 1-1500th in. cell contents and globular cells from 1-1875th 1-1500th in. 1-3750 in. Divisions of frond Habitat.-Grows in moderate quantity from the mucous membrane of the intestine of 50 per cent. of Polydesmus granulatus. Arthromitus nitidus. Filaments very long, hyaline, grows usually in twos or fours, pointed at the origin, rounded at the termination. Articuli very distinct, length equal to the breadth of the filament. Sporuli formed within the articuli, solitary, usually oblique, oval, amorphous. Length 1 line by 1-5000th in. broad. Spores 1-7.111th in. long, by 1-12.500th in. broad. Habitat.-Grows in considerable quantity with a profusion of young of Entero * Εκκρινω segrego. †Proc. Acad. Oct. 9, 1849. bryus elegans from the mucous membrane of the posterior portion of the rectum of Julus marginatus. Remarks. Since I established the genus Arthromitus I have observed the formation of its sporuli. These originate in the amorphous matter of the articuli, apparently by a very gradual aggregation and condensation of the contents. They are always single, and usually lie oblique, and frequently alternate with each other in this position in the different articuli. When they first appear they are larger than when fully formed, are frequently bent, or clavate in form, and very indistinct, but as they ripen they become more regular, oval, distinct, and quite refractile of light. Usually they are observed at the extremity of the filaments only, but frequently they are found existing in the whole length of the latter. A species of Arthromitus, and also of Cladophytum is found in the intestine of Polydesmus virginiensis. The Higrocrocis intestinalis found by Valentin in the Blatta orientalis, I could not find in our domestic cockroach, although I found numerous simple, phytoid, inarticulate filaments, growing from an oxyuris infesting this animal. The committee on Dr. Leidy's paper, describing some new American Annelida abranchia, reported in favor of publication in the Journal. The following amendment to Art. 1, Chapter 6th, of the By-Laws, proposed by Mr. Moss, was adopted: There shall be sixteen standing committees," (instead of fifteen.) The object in the amendment being to make the Committees on Geology and Mineralogy distinct. Proc. Acad. Oct. 9th, 1849. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM. IN MARCH AND APRIL, 1850. March 5th. A small collection of minerals; presented by Mrs. Commodore Hull, through Dr. Elwyn. Mr. Joseph Culbertson, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, presented the specimens of Mericoidodon and Poëbrotherium, and also other (undetermined) mammalian fragments, formerly deposited by him in the Academy. March 12th. Columba Skeleton of Numenius phaopus, Falco Fulica atra, Gallinula chloropus, Fringilla carduelis, Anas crecca, Scolopax lapponica, S. calidris? Tringa fugax, T. -? Ardea minuta, (total 14.) Presented by Mr. Goadby, of London. Several specimens, in spirits, of Scarabæus centaurus, and S. chideon, from Africa. From Mr. Elliott Cresson, of Philadelphia. March 19th. Six skeletons of Birds. From Mr. Goadby, of London. Beautiful specimen of native silver, from Peru. Deposited by Dr. Elwyn. April 2d. The following were presented by M. Edouard Verreaux, of Paris : Three skeletons of Birds, (Amadina, Parus and one undetermined); 3 heads of do., (1 Phaleris, 2 Phænicophæus); 13 species, 33 specimens of recent shells from Egypt; 15 do. 150 do. do., Marquesas Islands; 9 do. 105 do. do., Otaheite; 11 do. 82 do. do., France, of the following genera, Unio, Dreissena, Pisidium, Clausilia, Succinea, Vitrina, Cyclas, and Limnea; 5 species, 30 specimens of Fossil Shells, from Maestricht; 2 do. 2 do. do., the Miocene of France; 246 do. 270 do. do., the Eocene of France; 2 do. 2 do. do., the Cretaceous of France. 1 specimen of Sulphate of Strontian, from Sicily. The following skins of Mammalia were presented by H. E. Strickland, Esq., of England: 1 Fox, procured by Mr. S. at Smyrna, in 1835; 1 Felis, India?; 1 Lepus timidus, (Lin.), alpinus, (Auct.) Norway; 1 do. hybridus, (Pall) Crimea; 1 do. hibernicus, Ireland; 1 do. alpinus, (timidus, Lin.) Scotland; 1 mammal from the Cape of Good Hope; 1 Ornythorhynchus paradoxus, New South Wales; 2 Sciurus vulgaris, Switzerland; 2 Mus sylvaticus, Gloucestershire: 1 mammal, Australia; 1 Vespertilio pipistrellus, Gloucestershire; 1 Vespertilio noctula, Britain; 1 do., India? or Mauritius?; 2 Sorex araneus, Gloucestershire; 1 Musk Rat, Mauritius; 1 Plecotus auritus, Gloucestershire. Four Sterna of Birds; (Falco, Sturnus, Lanius ;) 2 Skeletons: (Sciurus cinereus, S. Hudsonius.) Presented by Dr. A. O. Blanding. Mass of native Gold; fragments of do.; gold dust of fine quality; gold obtained by amalgam with mercury; and auriferous sand. From the American river, Feather river, and other localities in California. Collected and presented by Dr. A. Heerman. Forty-three species Fungi; 46 do. Musci and Hepatici; 29 do. Lichenes; 13 do. Phanerogamia, from South Carolina. Presented by H. W. Ravenel, of South Carolina. Egg of Apteryx australis? Deposited by Dr. T. B. Wilson. Exogyra costata, very perfect, near Woodbury, N. J. Presented by Mr. S. B. Fisher, of Pottsville. Collection of Insects; from Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Presented by Geo. B. Wood, Jr. |