bay, &e: it blossoms in July and August, the whole plant is yellowish, size about one foot.

18. Panicum uniflorum. Chaff smooth, leaves ovate lanceolate pubescent, striated above, pale underneath, neck bearded, sheaths striated pilose: a single terminal flower pedunculated upright, valves smooth, obtuse. Obs. Found in woods near Flatbush, Long-Island. Annual. Size half a foot. 19. Polygonum arenarium. Smooth, stem upright round flexuose striated branched, branches slender erect; leaves linear oblong acute serrulate, sheaths red brown lacerated; flowers axillar solitary nearly sessile erect; seeds trigone.-Obs. It grows on the downs and the sandy shores of Long-Island. Sandy Hook, &c: next to P tenue of Michaux, yet very different. It belongs to the real genus Polygonum, having the perigone five parted, a little unequal, two divisions inside, eight stamens, three styles, &c. Annual, Size about a foot, flowers small, greenish, blossomlug in July and August; a rare species.

20. Scutellaria nemorosa. Pubescent, stem and branches straight, leaves on short petiols ovate rhomboidal nearly acute, serrate crenate, ciliolate, base entire acute; racemes nearly distichal, bracteas ovate entire.-Obs. A fine rare plant growing in woods near Flatbush Long-Island. Stem from one to two feet high, square, leaves large and nerved, flowers blue, large, blossoming in June and July, culis entire, with a long appendage, seeds black and granulated. Perennial.

14. FIRST DECADE of new North-American Fishes.

1. Sp. Anguilla chrisypa. Jaws obtuse, the lower rather longer, head depressed; body acute posteriorly olivaceous brown as well as the head and fins, except the sides of the head the breast and anal fins which are of a gilt yellow, lateral line beginning before the gill, and a little ascending, pectoral fins oboval, dorsal fin beginning near the anal fin, tail very obtuse. Obs. Vulgar names GoldEel, Silver-Eel, Lake-Eel. Gold breast, &c Found in lakes George, Champlain, &c. the Hudson above the falls; length from two to five feet, very good food; it has tubular nostrils and very small eyes the head is attenuated, and one seventh of total length.

2. Sp. Anguilla blephura. Jaws very obtuse, the lower longer, no lateral line. body obtuse posteriorly, tail obtuse and ciliated, pectoral fins oval, dorsal fin beginning halfway between them and the anal fin, general colour, olivaceous above, and whitish beneath. Obs. A common species on the south shores of Long-Island, therefore maritime, affording indifferent food; vulgar name Sand-Eel, length about two feet, head one seventh of total length, eyes rather large, nostrils not tubular. The specific name means ciliated tail. These two species of Eels appear different from all the new species lately described by Mr. Lesueur, under the old

name of Murena, which belongs properly to a very different genus without pectoral fins.

3. Sp. Salmo Pallidus. Lower jaw much longer, body cylindrical gray crowded with irregular rounded pale yellowish spots, gills silvery lateral line ascending at the base, tail forked brownish, dorsal fin brown with twelve rays, adipose fin olivaceous, lower fins white, the anal with twelve ray s.--Obs. vulgar names Salmon-trout, White-trout, Lake-trout, &c. Length from two to four feet, it affords a delicious food, the flesh is redish. In Lake George, Lake Champlain, and other lakes: it does not ascend the brooks.

4. Sp. Bodianus rupestris. Lower jaw much longer, gill-covers with two flat and short thorns, head and fins gilt, body gilt. brown, with many parallel rows of black spots under the lateral line, which follows the curve of the back, and is a little ascend ing at the base, tail entire, dorsal fin with twenty rays whereof ten are spinescent.Obs Its vulgar name is Rock bass, and in Canada Crapet. It is found in all the lakes of New-York, Vermont, Canada, &c. affordding a good food. Shape elliptic thick, teeth small, eyes and scales large. length about one foot, anal fin with fourteen rays, whereof six are spinescent, thoracic fins with one and five rays, pectoral fins with fourteen rays, caudal fin with twenty. It is a permanent fish living generally in rocky bottoms.

5. Sp. Bodianus Achigan. Lower jaw much longer, gill-covers with two flat and short thorns, lateral line nearly straight, base ascending diagonal; blackish with round scattered fulvous spots, belly gray, fins brown, the dorsal depressed in the middle and with twenty-five rays, whereof ten are spinescent, tail lunulated, with a gray edge.-Obs. vulgar names in the United States Black-bass, Lake-bass, Big-bass, Oswego bass, Spottedbass, &c. and in Canada Achigan or Achigan verd or Achigan noir; but many species are probably blended under those names; this is probably the Achigan of Charlevoix. It is a fine fish, from one to three feet long, and weighing sometimes eight to twelve pounds, affording a good food, &c. It is found in all the large lakes of New-York and Canada. It has many rows of small teeth, and is voracious: eyes blue, iris gilt brown; anal fin with fifteen rays, whereof three are spinescent and short, pectoral fins fulvous dotted of brown at the base, and with fifteen rays, thoracic fins with six rays whereof the first is spinescent, caudal fins with twenty rays. This species and the foregoing bave six branchial rays, and the gill-covers are composed of four pieces, all scaly except the second. Body more cylindrical than in the foregoing.

6. Sp. Cyprinus bullaris. Body rather cy lindrical, silvery, back olivaceous brown, scales large, lower lip shorter, iris and gill cover gilt, lateral line ascending at the base, tail forked, fin yellowish dorsal fin central, with nine rays as well as the anal.-Obs. In the Fishkill and other streams falling in the Hudson, vulgar name Wind-fish, because it

1

produces a bubble whenever it comes near the surface of the water; good for food, length from six to twelve inches.

7. Sp. Cyprinus hemiplus. Lower lip long er, body oblong silvery with gilt shades, back and top of the head brown, lateral line curved downwards, a second half line above it straight and reaching the dorsal fin; all the fins olivaceous tipped with brown, tail forked, the dorsal fin nearer the tail, with nine rays, the anal falcated with fourteen rays Obs. Length from three to six inches, common in Lake-George, Saratoga-lake, &c. vu!gar names Shiner or Minny, these names are common to many species.

8. Sp. Cyprinus vittatus. Lips black, the lower shorter, body elongated silvery, back olivaceous, a redish spot on the head, a broad, stripe accompanying the lateral line, brown with purple shades, lateral line a little ascending at the base; tail forked, fins olivaceous, the dorsal nearer the tail, with ten ravs as well as the anal.-Obs. Found in the Hudson above the falls, vulgar name Mudfish, length from two to four inches.

9. Sp. Cyprinus megalops. Lips equal thick,

body oblong, silvery, with large scales, back olivaceous, head brownish, eyes large, iris gilt, lateral line a little curved downwards, tail forked, fins olivaceous, the dorsal in the middle with nine rays, the first very short, anal fin whitish long with ten rays.-Obs. vulgar name Chub or Big-eyes, very good food, length from eight to twelve inches; in the Hudson above the falls.

10. Sp. Cyprinus melanurus. Lips equal thick, body silvery, head and back gilt, lateral line ascending at the base, tail forked, and blackish fins gilt, the dorsal in the middle with nine rays, the first very short, anal with ten rays. Found with the foregoing, smaller, vulgar name Gold-shiner, or Gold-chub. More than eighty species of the genus Cyprinus of Linneus exist in North America; several of which must however form the new genera Catostomus, Notropis, Cheilobus, Miniculus, &c.; but forty or fifty species will yet remain in the real genus Cyprinus, which must therefore be divided in sections, derived from the length of the jaws or lips, the direc tion of the lateral line, the situation of the dorsal fin, &c.

Sitting of Nov. 11. 1817.

his talents. The thanks of the Society were voted to this young gentleman for this evidence of his attention to illustrate

fore the Society by the President from C. Schultz, Esq. of Marietta, Ohio, on the subject of exploring for the skeleton of the Mainmoth, with an estimate of the probable expense, which was referred to the Zoological committee, professor Mitchill, Chairman.

Professor Mitchill presented a letter from Major Roberdeau, honourary member of the Society, accompanied with the skin of a red beaver, and another called a mink, which he rather supposed was a smaller species of the martin; both of which are animals of Lake Superior, dressed and decorated, to serve for tobacco pouches, by the squaws at the head of Lake Huron. The colour of the Beaver is quite uncommon, but not owing to its youth, as the teeth and feet of the animal denote the contrary.

Major R. also presented a Chart of Lake Champlain, the most accurate, probably, existing the soundings marked upon it, being marked from the sailing chart of the ship Confiance, after her capture by Com. M'Donough, 11th Oct. 1814, and which are presumed to be very correct. This chart, on a very extensive scale, is very neatly copyed by Cadet Delafield, of the military academy of West Point, and is highly creditable to VOL. IR-NO. I.

tution.

A letter was received from Samuel Jones, Esq. of Queens county, Long-Island, a member of the Society, inclosing notes on the Discourse delivered by the Hon. De Witt Clinton before the society, 6th Dec. 1811, which was read, and this curious and interesting document was referred to the committee on publications.

A letter from Doctor Isaac Ball to the Rev. Doctor J. H. Livingston, with his answer, was read on the subject of the Babylonian Bricks brought to this country by Capt. Austin; one of which is deposited in the Cabinet of Nat. History. The observations of the writer controvert the opinion generally entertained, that the characters are hieroglyphical.

A resolution of thanks was voted to the Rev. Mr. Schaeffer, minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in this city, and member of the Society, for the appropriate discourse, delivered by him in St. Paul's Church on Friday the 31st Oct. in commemoration of the Third Centennial Anniversary of the Reformation, and the favour of a copy for publication was requested.

A large and valuable collection of books relating to American History and nautical charts, imported for the Society, was

laid on the table by Doctor John W. Francis, Librarian, together with several volumes presented to the Society, which were ordered to be inscribed and recorded, with the names of the liberal doners, in the book of donations.

The library of the Society is increasing very rapidly in number and value, and contains, in all probability, a larger collection of books, pamphlets, &c. on the subject of American History, than is to be found in any other public collection in the U. States. No expense is spared to procure from Europe the earliest editions of voyages, travels, histories, and documents which concern this country; and most of the publications in the U. States are to be found in its archives.

A portrait of the Hon. Gouverneur Morris, late president of the Society, taken by Ames of Albany, was presented by the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer of that city.

A portrait of the Hon. John Jay, taken by Wright, in 1786, was presented by the Recording Secretary.

The skin of a young Anaconda, from Demarara, was presented by Doctor Lyman Spalding in the name of his friend Mr. Henry P. Fleishman.

Valuable specimens of Mineralogy were presented by professor Cleveland, of Massachusetts, by John H. Steele, Esq. of Saratoga, and by Jesse Booth, Esq. of Walkill, Orange County, together with an Indian Ax of secondary Trap, and a singular mass of limestone inclosing wood and sand stone.

teresting paper was accompanied with numerous specimens illustrative of the arts and antiquities of the people who inhabited that district of country in former times. We insert the concluding paragraph of this paper, hoping that the Society will shortly favour us with the whole in their second volume of transactions, now arranging for publication.

"The Iroquois formerly lived, according to their tradition, on the north side of the lakes: when they migrated to their present country, they extirpated the people who occupied it: and after the European settlement of America, the confederates destroyed the Eries, who lived on the south side of lake Erie. Whether the nation which possessed our western country before the Iroquois had erected those fortifications to protect them against their invaders, or whether they were made by anterior inhabitants, are mysteries which cannot be penetrated by human sagacity. Nor can we pretend to decide whether the Eries, or their predecessors, raised the works of defence in their territory. But we are persuaded that enough has been said to demonstrate the existence of a vast population settled in towns, defended by forts, cultivating agriculture, and more advanced in civilization than the nations which have inhabited the same countries since the European discovery."

CIETY OF NEW-YORK.

Sitting of Nov. 13, 1817. A communication from Dr. Mitchill was read, stating that he had received from Professor Blumenbach, of Gottengen, several tracts and volumes as a donation to the Library.

The recording Secretary read a letter addressed to Dr. Francis, from D. B. Warden, Esq. of Paris, acknowledging the honour he had received in being chosen a foreign associate of the Society. Several valuable donations were also acknowledged from Dr. Warden, through the hands of Dr. Francis.

A communication from the President, De Witt Clinton, L. L. D. entitled a "Memoir on the Antiquities of the western parts of the State of New-York," addressed to the Hon. S. L. Mitchill, a vicepresident of the Society, and professor of natural history in the University of NewYork, was read. This elaborate and in

the State of New-York.

The President also communicated a paper describing certain wrought stones found two feet under ground in the town of Deerfield, in the county of Oneida. These stones seem to have been used as personal ornaments by a race of people, who, at a remote period, inhabited this place, as no unwrought stones of that kind have been discovered in Oneida county, and the Iroquois do not decorate themselves in that manner, nor were they at any known period possessed of similar ornaments.

Mr. C. S. Rafinesque delivered to the Society a paper entitled a "Botanical Disquisition on ten native species of grape vines from the State of New-York." These were as denominated by the author, 1. Vitis labrusca, the fox grape: 2. V. hyematis, the winter grape: 3. V. arachnoidea, spider grape: 4. V. fragraus, sweet grape: 5. V. lobata, lobed

grape: 6. V. montana, mountain grape: 7. V. membranacea, thin leaf grape: 8. V. rugosa, rough grape: 9. V. denticulata, field grape: 10. V. mucronata, blue grape. Whereupon the several papers were referred to the council.

Mr. C. A. Busby, architect and engineer, recently elected a member of this Society, produced a model and description of a water-wheel invented by himself, since his arrival in this country, of a very useful and ingenious construction, applicable to steam-boats, horse-boats, and mills.

LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

Sitting of October 20, 1817. Mr. Rafinesque made a Report on three reptiles referred to him at the last meeting, two of which he described as new, under the names of Testudo Hemitropus a tortoise from Honduras, and Prodiplus Fuscatus, a brown adder from Chatham, New-York.

Dr. Mitchill read a letter from Dr. Whelpley of Morristown, New-Jersey, on the case of a child who had voided from the intestines several crustaceous animals of the order of Myriapoda; accompanied by specimens, which were referred to a select committee.

Alderman Akerly presented specimens of Mytilus and the Lepas Anatitera, taken from the bottom of a vessel, and stated that he had observed on the same vessel Cancer Linearis and Doris Papillosa, not before known to inhabit

drepores in flint from the same County. Mr. Clements offered to the Society specimens from the vicinity of Philadelphia, consisting of marbles, silex with shells, yellow ochre, and chromate of iron; also of yellow ochre from the neighbourhood of New-York.

He also presented a specimen in a high state of preservation of the Monoculus Polyphemus of Linnæus, or the Horseshoe crab.

Mr. J. Titus, through Dr. Eddy, made a donation to the Society of two perfect and entire skeletons, one belonging to the Genus Ardea, and the other of the Phasianas Gallus.

A communication from Mr. Brace, a Corr. Member, was read by Mr. Pearce, on the nature and habits of the Cut

worm.

November 10.

Mr. Trey reported that the Terra Columbiana, resembling the T. Sienna of Europe, presented at the last sitting by Mr. Clements, proved to be an analysis on argillaceous earth, with a considerable portion of oxyde of iron, constituting what is usually denominated an Ochre.

Mr. Torrey reported on the specimens from Patterson, N. Jersey, presented by Dr. Townsend. The one supposed by some to have been Chalcedony, he had ascertained to be Prehnite. This locality is not noticed in the late work of Cleaveland.

The President presented two bottles of mineral waters from springs in Tioga Co. N. Y.; also several remarkable fossil madrepores, and tubipores, from the same County.

Mr. Clements read a highly interesting and important paper on the Estrus ovis of Lin. describing it in its various states, accompanied by specimens in all its forms, and exhibiting a recent head of the sheep, showing the effects produced by its attacks on the frontal and maxillary sinuses, &c.

Mr. Rafinesque read a memoir on the Xanthium maculatum, a N. Sp.

The President, Dr. Mitchill, offered a specimen of the common Sepia of our coast, accompanied by a demonstration of its character.

M. CHAMPOLLION FIGEAC has published the inedited Letters of Fontenelle

from MSS. in the library of Grenoble, A relation of that celebrated wi^er lately died in the department of the Orne, leaving to his son some valuable manuscripts, among which is a work by Fontenelle, and a considerable collection of Memoirs and Letters of Marshal Catinat, who was unele to the deceased.

Among the effects of the late eminent astronomer, M. Messier, sold after his death, was a map exhibiting a curious specimen of Chinese geography. It was engraved at Pekin about the beginning of the last century, and comprises that part of Asia situated between 35 and 55 de

grees of north latitude and 51 and 83 degrees of longitude. It is fourteen feet long and six wide; the characters to the north of the great wall of China are Tartar Mongol, and those to the south of the wall Chinese. The map was sent from Pekin by some Jesuit missionaries, and conveyed by Mr. Lange to Petersburg in

1720.

ITALY.

M. MICHELE LEONI has lately translated Goldsmith's Traveller into Italian verse. In the preface to this version, which was published at Florence, the translator endeavours to vindicate Italy against what he terms the prejudices of the British poet.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

From a list lately published of the instructors and officers of the University of Cambridge, it appears that they consist of the president, twenty professors, two tutors, a librarian and assistant librarian, registrar, five proctors, a teacher of the French and Spanish languages, a private teacher of the mathematics, &c.

George Ticknor, Esq. now in Europe, has been appointed professor of the French and Spanish languages and literature in the University of Cambridge.

The Rev. Joshua Bates, of Dedham, Mass. has been appointed president of Middlebury College, Vermont ; and Joel H. Linsley, Esq. professor of the learned languages in the same institution.

The Rev. E. T. Fitch has been appointed Professor of Divinity in Yale College, New-Haven.

Benjamin Allen, L. L. D. formerly a and lately principal of the Albany Acadeprofessor in Union College, Schenectady,

has opened a select and private Classical School at Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New-York. This institution is designed to unite with a classical and English education, the modern languages. The classical course will comprise the Latin and Greek languages, ancient histoY, and mythology, Roman and Grecian clude English Grammar, elocution, eleantiquities. The English course will inments of history, rhetoric, geography, penmanship, mathematics, and the outlines of natural philosophy. Of the modern languages, the French, Spanish, and Italian, will be taught. The pupils of the institution will be members of the principal's family, and under his immediate care and government. The high and deserved reputation of Dr. Allen give an importance to this establishment.

We understand that Mr. George Frederic Busby, late editor of the London CRITICAL REVIEW, and son of Dr. Busby, the well known translator of Lucretius, intends giving, in the course of the ensuing month, a series of PUBLIC LECTURES in New-York, on poetical literature. Mr. Busby has but recently arrived in this country.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Methodist Conference.

T the 74th Annual Conference of the people called Methodists, nearly 300 Preachers from different parts of the

The

United Kingdom, were present. most cordial affection and unanimity prevailed amongst them; and they had the satisfaction to find that, during the last year, the work of God had generally prospered in their Societies, both at