378 [August, 
3. Portions of three teeth, and fragments of two tympanic bones of a species 
of spermaceti whale, from the sands of Ashley River. The best preserved por- 
tion of a tooth in its perfect condition appears to have been about five inches in 
length, and at its middle it measures four and three-quarter inches in circumfer- 
ence. For the species the name Physeter antiquus is proposed. 
4. Quite lately I received from Prof. Holmes fragments of both sides of a lower 
jaw, two teeth, and a portion of a rib of a cetacean, from the miocene formation 
of Virginia. The species belonged to the family Delphinidae, and probably ap- 
pertains to a new genus. The more perfect of the two teeth appears to have 
been about five inches in length, and it is curved conical. The fang is quadrate 
and hollowed, and the surface of the tooth, nearly to the end of the crown, which 
appears not to have been covered with enamel, is annularly and longitudinally 
corrugated. The greatest circumference of this tooth is three inches in length, 
and nearly straight. For the animal I propose the name of Orycterocetus quadra- 
tidens. 
August 9tli. 
Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 
A letter was read from Samuel Y. Merrick, Esq., acknowledging the 
receipt of his notice of election as a Member. 
Also a letter from James M. Hamilton, Esq., dated New York, Aug. 
6, 1853, addressed to Mr. R. E. Peterson, in relation to the Hamilton 
Lands. Referred to the Committee on the subject. 
Mr. Charles Girard made a communication, on behalf of Prof. Baird and 
himself, upon a species of frog, and another of toad, which they had recently de- 
scribed from specimens in the Herpetological Collections of the U. S. Explor- 
ing Expedition. Both of the species were obtained in Oregon, the frog on Puget 
Sound, and the toad on Columbia River. He characterised them as follows : 
Rana pretiosa, B. and G. Ground color above reddish-brown, blotched with 
black. A deep brown vitta extending from the eye to the shoulder in passing over 
the tympanum, and below which is a yellowish one passing over the angle of 
the mouth. Beneath dull greenish-yellow. Vomerine teeth disposed in two 
roundish groups, between the inner nostrils. Tympanum very distinct, rather 
small. Feet underneath granulated. Fingers slender and tapering. Toes webbed 
to their tip. A small and flattened horny processus at the base of the inner toe, 
and a minute conical metatarsal tubercle situated between the fourth and fifth 
toes. Skin finely granular on the anterior portion of the back, more coarsely 
posteriorly, and also on the sides of the abdomen. Two dorsal series of pores, 
one on each side of the back, but not very conspicuous. 
Obs. Is distinguished from R. aurora in havinjj proportionally much shorter 
leiis, especially the hind ones ; also by the palmation of the toes, the membrane 
of which extends to their very tip, whilst mR. aurora the tip of the tees extends 
beyond thpir membrane. The granulation of the body and inferior surface of the 
feet is another feature by which both species differ. 
BuFo coLUMBTENSis, B. and G. Ground color light greenish, with large and 
irregular black blotches and reddish dots : a dorsal white vitta ; an oblique black 
patch under the eye. Beneath of a soiled yellow, maculated. First finger equal 
to the second in length. Upper surlace of head without elevated ridges and 
grooves; skin in this region rather thin, and firmly adhering to the skull. Pa- 
rotids oblong, quite small. Tympanum small, very distinct. Toes webbed to 
nearly their tip. Two large metatarsal tubercles. A membranous ridge along 
the inn'M- edge of the tarsus. Skin glandulous. 
055. May be distinguished from B. boreas by the relative size of the first 
1853.] 379 
and second fingers, which, in the present species are equal in length, whilst in 
B. boreas the first is longer than the second. The nnembranes uniting the toes 
are more deeply ernarginate in B. coltnnhiensls, and in which also the sole of the 
foot is granular instead of being smooth. 
August 16th. 
Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 
A communication was read from the Royal Bavarian Academy, dated 
Munich, 6th Nov., 1853, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, 
vol. 5, Nos. 9 12 ; vol. 6, Nos. 1 and 2 ] and Journal, new series, 
part 2 of vol. 2 ; and requesting certain Nos. of the Proceedings defi- 
cient in their series; also transmitting their publications announced this 
evenino;. 
Mr. Girard presented two communications by Prof. Baird and him- 
self, intended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled "Descriptions 
of Fishes collected by Captains K. B. Marcy and G-e'orge Mc'Clellan, in 
Arkansas,^' and " Descriptions of new species of Fishes, collected by 
Mr. John H. Clarke, on the United States and Mexican Boundary 
Survey, under Lieut. -Col. James D. Graham ;" both of which were re- 
ferred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Buschenberger and Dr. Hallowell. 
The following communication was read from Dr. D. D. Owen, dated 
New Harmony, Ind., August 1, 1852 : 
* After submitting my paper read before the Academy of Natural Sciences, 
and printed in the Journal, 2d series, vol. 2, pi. 2, Jan. 1853, on a supposed 
new earth, or a modification of a new one, 1 supplied Dr. Genth with a portion of 
the mineral, with a request that he would examine it, and let me know thrt 
result. 
Dr. Genth had no time during my stay in Philadelphia to enter fully into the 
investigation, but since my return to the west he addressed a letter to me on the 
subject, which reached this place during my absence from home, which I left on 
the 15th of June last, and did not return until lately, when the letter was re- 
ceived. 
I beg leave now to submit the result of his conclusions in regard to it, which 
are very likely correct, though some of the reactions which I obtained require 
further investigation, which I propose to undertake when the work I am now en- 
gaged on shall have been completed. 
Extract of a letter from Dr. Genth to Dr. D. D. Owen : 
" I have just completed the experiments wath your thalia,and have come to the 
conclusion that it is nothing but magnesia. Magnesia shows sometimes such a 
strange behaviour with reagents, that one is inclined to think it a new earth. I 
had the same case wuth my analysis of Kammerite (Rhodophyllite.) It is possi- 
ble that the relations which exist in the mineral had not been destroyed, and that 
you have a solution of the mineral, for instance, a solution of aluminate of mag- 
nesia. I separated both w.th acet. of potash, and free acet. acid and carb. of baryta. 
The only strange reaction was, that it fell down with NH40,0 in presence of 
NH4CI, but I find it now in all the magnesian minerals which I examine in a 
similar manner. 
From the oxalate of your thalia T prepared the pure earth. With cobalt solu- 
tion before the blowpipe gave it a flesh-colored mass. Dissolved readily in very 
dilute acid, and gave no precipitate with ammonia, in presence of chlorid ^ 
of ammonium, and all the reactions of magnesia. The sulphate gave witi* 
sulphate of ammonia the well known double salt in oblique rhombic prisms. Tiitr-