ve WOR as net Pye ortes PUAN ouee fs Wee GN Gen = ny ete Cierra Core tie cca) TE ah Pag al te eg alin eyo 1 r Ve ort + er ah Ca ah ive a i ‘ 4 : aed 0g : on ya aN é ; ae athtere 4 tea Ate cee RS aN ied BEND seh tit ees PD Oaaris Ceo e aha WR) Viitteese PN" nets mye We ae ty reat, ae Fede fse Uyraga en ty be a oa JOURNAL ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES rhe Or PHILADELPHIA. \ * VOL. IV. [PART I.) PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, BY J, HARDING. oo 1824 ¥ CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV....PART § List of Officers, Observations upon some of the minerals discovered at Franklin, Sussex county, N. J. By Lardner Van- uxem and W. H. Keating, _ Noya generis Capromys, Desm. species. Auctore Ed- wardo Poeppig, M. D. Lips. Sax. On an extinct species of Crocodile not before described ; and some observations on the Geology of West Jersey. By R. Harlan, M. D. Observations on the Nomenclature of Wilson’s Ornitholo- gy. By Charles Bonaparte, (continued.) _ Description of the Os Hyoides of the Mastodon. By John D. Godman, M. D. _ Description of a testaceous formation at Anastasia Island, extracted from notes made on a journey to the southern parts of the United States, during the winter of 1822 and 1823. By R. Dietz. Description of a new species of Fish of the Linnean ge- nus Perca. By J. Gilliams, Descriptions of Coleopterous Insects, collected in the late expedition to the Rocky Mountains. By Tho- mas Say, PAGE 11 15 25 67 73 80 83 iv CONTENTS. Description of several species of the Linnzan Genus Raia, of North America. By C. A. Lesueur, Description of a new crystalline form of the Andalusite. By G. Troost, M. D. An account of some of the Fossil Shells of Maryland. By Thomas Say, Description of several new Species of Holothuria. By C. A. Lesueur. Observations on the Nomenclature of Wilson’s Ornitholo- gy. By Charles Bonaparte, (continued.) 100 122 124 155 163 JOURNAL OF TBP ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. LIST OF OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1824. President. William Maclure. Vice-Presidents. Zaccheus Collins, George Ord. Corresponding Secretary. Reuben Haines. Recording Secretary. William H. Keating. Curators. Thomas Say, C. A. Lesueur, J. P. Wetherill, Isaac Hays, M. D. Treasurer. Jacob Gilliams. Labrarian. Jacob Peirce. Auditors. W. S. Warder, J. M. Brewer, R. E. Griffith, M. D. VOL. 1V.—-JULY, 1824. 1 Observations upon some of the minerals discovered at Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey. By Larpyer Vanuxem and W. H. Keatinc. Read June 1, 1824. In vol. 2, p. 277, of the Journal of the Academy, we published a geological account of the vicinity of Franklin, Sussex county, New Jersey, together with a list of the minerals found at that interest- ing locality. We proposed furnishing the Acad- emy with a description of some of these minerals; but, from a multiplicity of other engagements, we have been prevented from completing our exami- nation of a substance which we believed new, and to which we gave the name of Dysluite. We hope soon to be able to present it to the Academy, and in the meanwhile offer the following note on some of the accompanying minerals. 1. serrersonite. As this mineral has been de- scribed in vol. 2, p. 194, of the Journal, no further notice of it, at this time, would be necessary, ex- cept to describe some of its crystals, which has been accomplished by Dr. Troost, who, moreover, has shown at the same time, and by these crystals, that the jeffersonite, which we believed to be a new species, appears in reality to be nothing more than a variety of the proteus of mineralogy, py- roxene. : At the period at which our account of the jef- 4 ; MINERALS DISCOVERED fersonite was written, we had no crystals of it; our specimens consisting merely of the lamellar va- riety. It was from the solid given by the lamellar fracture of the mineral, and from the absence of magnesia, which earth was regarded in some mea- sure as an essential component of pyroxene, that we were induced to consider it as new. In justice to ourselves, it may be necessary to mention that, in mineralogy, the solid given by cleavage has, since the period of the publication of the Traité de Mineralogie, been considered next to composition, and faces deduced from the secondary forms, of paramount importance, and sufficient of itself, in the absence of the above named characters, to constitute or determine the ' formation of a species, of which we have several instances. The value attached to this character, by the late Abbé Haiiy, is too well known to need any reference to his works; nor should it excite surprise that so much importance has been given to this remarkable property in minerals, when we consider that this is the first anomaly which has come under our notice; for heretofore the cleay- ages, parallel to the faces of the primitive form, have invariably been the smoothest and easiest to be obtained. Whence. the cause of this deviation from so general a law, we know not; future oben must determine it. Mr. Seybert has analyzed a variety of the same AT FRANKLIN. 5 mineral, which has yielded him 4 per cent. of magnesia. Whether this be accidental or not, we are not prepared to say. All the analyses of py- roxene, noticed by the Abbé Haiiy in the last edition of his Treatise of Mineralogy, state the quantity of that earth to be from 10 to 19 per cent., which far exceeds Mr. Seybert’s results. Mr. Rose’s analyses of pyroxenes are, it is true, of a much later date; but when we recollect the great confusion which exists in this species, we may be permitted to question whether the sub- stances, which he examined, were really pyro- xenes. Of those analyzed by Vauquelin and Lau- gier, no doubt can exist, since the analyses were made at the Garden of Plants in Paris, and, as it were, under Haiiy’s eye. But the examination of the crystalline forms certainly puts the question of the identity of the jeffersonite and pyroxene at rest. ir 2. rranxunite. The franklinite forms a mass whose immense extent has been made known in the geological part of our communication. Appa- rently, it is not perfectly homogeneous in compo- sition throughout; the proportion of manganese which it contains seems to vary, and produces a corresponding variation in the colour of its pow- der, and in the different effects which result from weathering; nor is it less variable in its external appearance, being in masses, grains of different size, and crystals. The large masses present 6 MINERALS DISCOVERED numberless druses, in which the ore has either assumed a regular form, or endeavoured so to do, but has been disturbed while in the act of crys- tallizing. Its form is the regular octohedron, with deeply emarginated edges, presenting a passage into the rhomboidal-dodecahedron. The crystals vary in dimension from the microscopic size to two or more inches in length. The smallest and most numerous are found at Franklin, and the largest at Stirling. The crystals have a fine me- tallic lustre, of a black colour, opaque, without any indication of cleavage. Specific gravity 4.98 to 5.08. 3. RED zinc oRE (improperly called red oxide of zine.) "This mineral occurs in several places in the mass of franklinite; but it is at Sterling that it is found not only in the greatest quantity, but in the purest state; the abundance of this mimeral is such at this locality, that it will at no distant period be worked for zinc; this ore has not yet been found in crystals, or unmixed with frank- linite. According to Mr. Mohs’ observations, it presents an imperfect cleavage which connects it with a prismatic system. On breaking the red zinc ore of Sterling, we find two kinds of particles as to size and colour; the largest ones are of an almost ruby red, with considerable lustre, resem- bling in some measure that of the diamond, and so transparent as to admit of a ready passage to light. The colour of the smaller ones, which are fine gra- AT FRANKLIN. vi nular, is of a beautiful dark orange, and of so little lustre as at first sight to induce a belief of their being in an earthy state; but if examined with at- tention, the effect is observed to arise from inter- posed light, for no difference can be perceived between them and the larger particles, when ex- amined individually. If both be pulverized, their powder is the same, and is of a bright orange co- lour. When the red zinc ore has been a long time exposed to the atmosphere, the smaller particles are washed away, and the larger ones assume a deeper red. It likewise becomes coated with car- bonate of zinc, and sometimes with an impure oxide of manganese; the former of these efflo- rescences may be discovered by its colour, its effervescing with nitric acid, and its producing a styptic salt. ; From the circumstance of the transparency of the red zinc ore, no doubt can exist with respect to its being a chemical combination of the oxides of zinc and manganese, such being the result of the analysis of Mr, Berthier, of the School of Mines. The iron, found in it by Dr. Bruce, was owing to an admixture of franklinite. At all the different localities of the red zinc ore, in Sussex county, it invariably accompanies the franklinite, they mutually envelop each other; when the red zinc ore imbeds the franklinite, the & MINERALS DISCOVERED latter mineral is usually in the form of grains, which is particularly the case at Stirling. 4, canBoNnATE oF zinc. (Calamine.) Besides coat- ing the red zinc ore, this mineral is likewise found in very small veins or fissures, appearing to be of subsequent formation to the mass which encloses them. ‘These veins are in the franklinite, north ‘east of Franklin furnace. The colour of the car- bonate is white, without lustre, and with little co- hesion, owing to its particles being in an earthy state. 5. SILICEOUS OXIDE OR SILICATE oF zinc. (Calamine.) This mineral is found both at Stirling and Frank- lin, but it is only at the former locality that it oc- curs in sufficient quantity to merit attention as an object of importance to manufactures. It presents itself in the form of concretions or grains, also in amorphous masses, and likewise in crystals. The concretions (which are the most common manner in which it exists) are evidently nothing more than the product of a disturbed crystallization; for every grade between them and the perfect crystals are observable. The form of the crystals is an hex- agonal prism with dihedral terminations, the faces of which repose upon the lateral edges of the prism; the angles of the faces of the prism are 120°, and of the faces of the pyramid, with one another, about 118°(?) being the regular hexago- nal prism with a rhomboidal summit, of course leading to a rhombohedron for the primitive AT FRANKLIN. y form; many of the crystals are an inch in diame- ter, and two inches long; some are even much larger. The faces and angles of the prism are generally well defined, but it is extremely rare to find the pyramids well determined, owing, in some cases, to the convexity of their angles; in others, of the faces themselves, and also to various depressions and protuberances arising from dif- ferent causes. From these circumstances, we cannot positively affirm that the terminal faces are those of a rhombohedron; particularly as we have not been able to observe in the crystals any evident marks of cleavages parallel to these faces, nor, in fact, in any other direction. The specific gravity of this mineral is 3.89 to 4.; it forms a jelly with strong acids, and is infusible by the blowpipe. The colour of the siliceous oxide of zinc varies from a light greenish yellow (which is the purest) to a deep flesh red; it also occurs inclining to a green, brown, gray, and even to a black colour, all of which are owing to variable admixtures of franklinite, garnet, pyroxene, &c. The colours are dull and dirty ; most of the crystals are cover- ed with a brown ochrey coating. In transparency it exhibits every degree, from the highly translu- cent to the opaque; the most translucent is the light greenish-yellow variety, which is the kind that exists in grains, and is most abundant. The associates of the siliceous oxide of zinc are, VOL. IV.—JULY, 1824. 2 10 MINERALS DISCOVERED AT FRANKLIN. at Stirling, the franklinite, the red zinc ore, the dysluite, carbonate of lime, and mica; at Frank- lin, the garnet, pyroxene, &c. Chemical part. No loss, or any change what- ever by calcination, consequently anhydrous ; de- composable by all the strong acids; forming a jelly, owing to liberated silex. It was found to consist of silex and of the oxides of zinc, iron and manga- nese, the analysis having been made upon the flesh coloured variety. The modus operandi was to heat with nitro- muriatic acid, until a decomposition was effected, to evaporate to dryness in order to set the silex free, then add acidulated water; the liquor was, again, gently heated and filtered, which gave the silex, leaving the metallic oxides in solution, from which the oxides of iron and manganese were pre- cipitated by ammonia in excess. The zinc was then obtained from the solution. The result of the analysis was Silex, - - » - - 25.44 Deutoxides of iron and manganese, - = © "650 Oxide of zinc, by difference, - - 68.06 100.00 Another analysis, made by Mr. Vanuxem, upon a purer variety, being crystals of a light flesh colour, yielded Silex, - - - - 25.00 .- Oxide of zinc, - - ary f P Oxide of manganese, ~ . 2.66 Oxide of iron, ~ - - 67 Loss, - - > - 34 NOVA GENERIS CAPROMYS SPECIES. il Note. It is not improbable, from the different analyses and erystals which we have of the combination of oxide of zinc and silex, that there are two species, one hydrous, the other anhy- drous. Nova generis Capromys, Desm. species. Auctoke Epwarvo Poerpric, M. D. Lips. Sac. [Reap June 15, 1824.] Perpauce solum nobis ad manus sunt pagine, diarii zoologici, in itinere per insulam Cubam ab annis 1822—24 instituti, quam ob rem nimia se- quentis descriptionis brevitas, ut excusetur roga- mus. Ampliorem descriptionem anatomicam, et omnium partium delineationem alio tempore ex- hibere promittimus. Character generis adeo notus, ut persuasum nobis habeamus eum jure meritoque hic ommitti posse. Sequens species a nobis inventa primis anni 1824 mensibus. Carromys prehensilis, Porrric. Animady. in Faunam Cubens. Insul. C. cauda elongata, tereti, totius corporis longi- tudini, capite, plantis, palmis, unguibusque albis. Corpus fere cylindricum, versus pelvim, (pre- _¢ipue in foem.) parum amplius. Color dorsi ex griseo et ferrugineo mixtus. Pili ad basin mollis- 12 NOVA GENERIS CAPROMYS SPECIES. simi, nigri, medio grisei, apice ferruginei, ibique rigidi. Vellus densum, presertim in dorso. Collum breve, pilis brevibus, flavescentibus, adpressis dense tectum. Fons, gena, jugulumque ex albo flavyes- cunt, pectus et abdomen alba, stria utrinque una lateralis, obscurior. Regio pubis nuda, Caude basis ferruginea, cute grisea, cauda cxterum teres, versus apicem superne nuda. Digiti pedum ma- nuumque tecti pilis rigidis, incanis, nitidis. Caput unicum, fronte planiuscula, awriculis ovatis, ciliatis, extus nudis, intus hirtis, nigris, oculis oblique po- sitis, hiatu inter palpebras ovato, angulis exteriori- bus deorsum ad nares vergentibus, palpebris mar- gine nigris, ciliis brevibus, nigris. Vasus aeutus, truncatus, nudus, valde mobilis, ater. Wares in angulo obliquo cum maxilla superiore, lineares, in animale vivo ovati. Labia crassa pinguia, albida; superius hilo profundo, alte inter nares oriente, exaratum, fere divisum, inferius integrum. per- tura oris transversalis, maxillis distensis, ovata, tamen dentibus molaribus ; hoc modo non in con- spectum venientibus. Mystax, longus, patens, mobilis, albus, nitens. Collum breve musculosum, - forte ; capitis circumferentia, inter humeres retrac- tile. Jam ad finem descriptionis pervenimus, cum relique incepti pagine antea Lipsiam transmissae fuerint. Vix nobis aliquid addendum superest, quam dimensiones, pollicibus anglicis expresse. NOVA GENERIS CAPROMYS SPECIES. 13 Pollices, Linex. Longitudo totius animalis ab extremitate caude ad darés §. . . 2% 2 $9 3 ” ad scapulas. . . 20 2 ee PR. id aris ye 3 oy capitis cum collo “ scapula Peta ge 8 9 >» abatlante ... 3 0 ° brachiorum ab scapula ad tangle tare tiiapicem . . . 7 5 “9y manuum abasicarporum ... 1 7 ss Fi ais RO Pe ie ae ia q 2 unguium .. . 0 4 ” femorem a pelvi ad wages quatsi apicem . . 7 3 99 pedum a calcaneo ad unguis outs apicem . Cee 8 9 unguium pedum . .....- 9 4 % auricularum . a MR ia es | 7 » rictus inter pelpedinns ; Sie a MC ps 5 ry » oris eee cae) ia 1 T 49 narium : 2 pares 0 2 “4 pilor. mystac. ewan | i 3 o Circumferentia capitis in fronte parte maxime pv WRG eee Ve 5 8 im gy verticalisadoculos . . 4 5 ° MOURN Les 4 & ” corporis regione eplgadtrick See. ; chondriaco. . . 11 G > 55 ad humeros verticalis . 10 0 “m caude in puncto insertionis 3 5 » ad apicem : 0 6 Latitude ab angulo oculi exter. ad ongedk . 1 0 ae a Posterions yy ues ek $ me eee » exterioriad nares. . 1 0 sy aure ad oppos. 1 5 sss pectoris 3 0 14 NOVA GENERIS CAPROMYS SPECIES. Latitudo region. pub. inter peiles 3 Manus in carpis . » inmetacarpis .,. - » pedis in tarsis > in metatarsis . Squamule caude late . Annuli squam. caude inter se distant ° Elevatio verticalis animalisinsedentis 4 O——4 Ab Hispanis vocatur Agutia Carayalli, in imita- tionem tribus servorum cujusdam, Guineensis, fre- quentissimi in Cuba. Pigritia, tristitia, motu corporis. lento, fame insatiabili, nationi Africans Caravalli similis dicitur. C. Furniert. Desm. Hispanis Agutia Congo, ob mobilitatem, vultus semper nitidum, &c. quas res obvias quoque esse in natione Africana Congo di- cunt. Hance speciem ita definiendam censio. C. Furnieri. Desm.* C. cauda abbreviata, longi- tudine tertiz partis, totius corporis, capite conco- lore palmis, plantis, unguibusque nigris. Utraque species habitat in Cube interioris syl- vis. Desmarestii descriptio bona quamvis, uti videtur secundum exemplar nimis incompletum, nimisque juvenile facto. Szpe enim nobis conti- git videre specimina C. Furnieri ponderis librarum 12—16. Hee species insuper vulgaris; animal ceterum stupidum, nocturnum, tempore diurno nunquam ex arboribus descendens. eocorooow OM he OOO * Isqpon pilorides, Say. Vol. ii. p. 330. Mr. Say’s generic name being pre-occupied, cannot be adopted; but his specific name, having the priority, must be retained —Pub. Com. . EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. 15 C. prehensilis multo rarior, solumque in sylvis versus oram Cube australem obvia, regione vix culta, densis et obscuris sylvis obtecta; v. e. in Par- tido de las Piedras, ad Macuriges, ad Masmariges, &c. nunquam nobis visa in parte Cube boreali. Cauda utitur magna dexteritate. Sape venatorem — eludit; cauda enimramum amplectens,inter plantas innumeras parasiticas, sepe pendulas, quibus alti- ores obteguntur, arboris regionum tropicarum sese condit, ita ut nunquam suspicio oriatur, inter vi- mina fragilia et tenerrima Orchidearum folia abdi- tum esse animal sepe ponderis 7—9 librarum. Modus edendi et vivendi idem ac in specie nota Desmarestii. On an extinct species of Crocodile not before de- scribed ; and some observations on the Geology of West Jersey. By R. Hartan, M.D. Read May 4, 1824. At various times there have been presented to the Academy specimens of fossil bones, principally from the state of New Jersey; which have not been hitherto described or noticed. The Society is thus possessed of treasures, of whose yalue they are not exactly aware: to obviate this, I have under- taken to describe such as are most rare and inte- resting, and whose characters remain, in some de- gree, undefaced. 16 EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. It will be necessary, in the first place, to offer a few remarks concerning the formation in which these fossils occur ; in doing which, I shall content myself with the bare mention of the fossil testa- ce@, some of which occur in immense numbers. For a knowledge of these, I am indebted to a gentleman eminently qualified to do the subject entire justice, and from whom we may anticipate, I hope very shortly, a full and accurate description of these very interesting remains; it is almost un- necessary to state, the naturalist alluded to is Mr. T. Say, who, together with Mr. T. Peale and my- self, have lately returned from a short excursion to the “ Marl-pits” of New Jersey. We were much assisted in our investigations by Dr. Samuel L. Howell, who politely offered to accompany us, and whose knowledge of the country was pecu- liarly serviceable. All that part of the state, denominated West Jersey, and which is included between Trenton and the Delaware Bay, on the North and South, and between the Atlantic ocean and Delaware river, on the East and West, is entirely of oceanic or tertiary formation. The surface is composed chiefly of sand, occasionally of gravel, and very seldom of clay; not unfrequently of all three mixed. This circumstance, in connexion with a know- ledge of the nature of the substance improperly termed Marl, will explain the vague and contra- dictory opinions of the farmers, respecting the EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. 17 manuring qualities of this earth; some of whom informed me, they considered a load of this Marl equal to a load of dung. Others thought, that al- though the Marl enriched the land, and made it more productive the first year, it subsequently produced an impoverishing effect on the soil. Others again declared, that though they had fre- quently made the experiment, they always found the Marl absolutely injurious. The fact is, that this earth, which was formerly very extensively used as manure, possesses no more claim to the title of Marl, than any other earth in which fossil testacie abound; generally speaking, it is little more than a ferruginous clay. Quantities of pyrites are also found to exist, al- most universally ; sometimes constituting the casts of shells, at others filling the cavities of bones ; and to the prevalence of which may be attributed the imperfect state in which the organic remains are generally discovered, and the very great ra- pidity with which they decay on exposure to the atmosphere, unless they are varnished, or other means are used to prevent the access of the air. - It is, further, to the prevalence of pyrites we must refer the injurious effects of the “ Marl,? when spread too thick upon the soil; when, on the other hand, if mixed sparingly with new soil, it destroys or reduces to earth the fibrous matter, and thus proves highly beneficial as a manure. - Should the soil be composed almost entirely of VOL. IV.—JULY, 1824. 3 18 EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. loose sand, (as it frequently is) the clay, which is a principal constituent of some of the “ Marl- pits,” will give consistency to the soil, and enable the vegetables to take root; in which sense it may be said to act as a manure; but even in this case it is probably not so beneficial as would be an equal quantity of Pennsylvania clay, without the iron earth, which always occurs with the Jersey clay. But should there happen more pyrites than usual, or should the soil be naturally argillaceous, then must the “Marl” prove destructive to vege- tation, and disappoint the agriculturist. Not unfrequently whole strata or beds of this Marl will occur without a single fossil, of a loose friable structure and moist nature, more or less granulated, and of various colours, but most com- monly of a dark slate-black or greenish colour; this is the most fertilizing, and has been by some supposed to consist chiefly of decomposed organic remains—but how erroneous is this opinion, wil} be clearly comprehended by the very accurate analysis of this earth, furnished some years ago by Mr. Henry Seybert of this city. (Vid. Cleave- land’s Min. and Geol. 2d ed.) Silex, 2 2 - - ‘49.83 Alumine, ” - - - 6.00. Magnesia, - - + 1.83 Potash, = : - - "40.18" " Water, - - : 9.80 Protoxide of Iron, - - - 21.53. Loss, 69 EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. 19 This specimen of “green earth” or the supposed Marl, was from Rancocus creek; the quantities of its constituent parts no doubt vary with the lo- cality. It constitutes, in almost every instance, the matrix of the fossil reliquie, of which the Terebratula and Ostrea occur in the greatest pro- fusion, sometimes commingled, at others in nearly distinct beds, as at Mullica hills and Blackwood - town mills. At the county poor house we exa- mined a creek, at the bottom of which were beds of fossil ostree, and a few rolled specimens of Favosite and Fistularia, together with broken Belemnites ; occasionally we observed some of the beds composed of Ostrex, Belemnites, 'Tere- bratula, &c. heaped together in every direction and position, conglomerated together by the green earth above-mentioned, and quartz pebbles, scarce- ly any of the remains preserved entire. Besides the fossil reliquiz above named, we may further add Ammonites, Rostellaria, Turbinolia, Area, Pyrula, Pecten, Donax, together with the - bones or teeth of sharks, crocodiles, turtles, and a very remarkable tooth belonging to some unknown ‘Iehthyosaurian reptile: lignite, amber, &c.—also, the vertebre of two or more species of the genus Cetacea—also, Phytolithites, roots of trees, en- crusted with pyrites, &c. This very extensive formation, of which we are now treating, lines the coast for several hundreds ef miles, commencing at the northern extremity 20 EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. of Long Island, and extending as far as the Gulf of Mexico; and borders immediately the primi- tive rocks. Having, as yet, been examined but at a few points, this oceanic deposition is imper- fectly known; we shall have occasion shortly to treat further of some of the fossils discovered im the same depositions from Maryland, concerning which, some very interesting geological obserya- tions have been published in the 3d vol. of Silli- man’s Journal, by Dr. G. Troost. (Vide art. 3d, description of a variety of amber, &.) I shall now treat more particularly of the fossil bones brought from Jersey; and first, of a new extinct species of Crocodile, the dental bone of which was, some time past, found three miles from “White Hill,’ and presented to the Academy by Mr. Samuel Wetherill of Burlington, tle J..a cor- responding member. The fossil, under canaidunedions is the dental bone of the right side, in a tolerable state of pre- servation, perfectly fossilized or impregnated with iron, containing the sockets for eleven teeth, in a space of twelve inches; three of the teeth only remain perfect, a portion of the bone is lost pos- teriorly and interiorly ; consequently, the total number of teeth cannot be ascertained with per- fect accuracy ; though, from the great size of the inferior maxillary foramen immediately behind the last remaining tooth, there could not have existed more than one or two more at most. A EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. 2t portion of the angular bone was fortunately pre- served, which will enable us to determine the form of the angle, and thus to reconstruct, with sufficient accuracy, the whole of the lower jaw. The most striking peculiarity of this remnant is its great thickness in proportion to its length, compared with the same part in other crocodiles ; with which circumstance the structure and ap- pearance of the teeth perfectly correspond ; being exceedingly short, thick and blunt, except the very young tooth, which is sharper and more conical. In the Crocoptiws aeutus, a portion of the dental bone, eight inches in length, contains ten teeth ; the same measurement taken from the Crocopitus lucius, thirteen and a half feet long, affords space for thirteen teeth. In our fossil, on the contrary, there is only space allowed for seven teeth; in every instance commencing from the fourth tooth, and enumerating backwards. In the C. acutus, the dental bone, immediately behind the fourth tooth, is one inch, four-tenths, in breadth. In the C. lucius, one inch, seven- tenths. In the fossil, two inches, feur-tenths. Depth of the same portion of bone, in the C. aeu- tus, is one inch, two-tenths; in the C. lucius, two inches; in the fossil, two inches, five-tenths. By this measurement, the fossil bone is shown to be nearly cylindrical. The teeth of the fossil, though very short and thick, are not much worn—the largest tooth of the 22 EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE: lower jaw, in the C. lucius, thirteen feet long, is twenty-four tenths in circumference; the largest of the fossil teeth is thirty-three tenths. Of one of the loose fossil teeth, the length is two inches; diameter one inch; whilst the portion which pro- jected above the bone, is only half an inch long. The caliber of the tooth at its base is half an inch in diameter. The bodies of the teeth are separa- ted by a plate of bone only four or five-tenths in thickness. ‘The anterior or alveolar portion of the lower jaw, in all the Crocodiles excepting Cuvier’s sub- genus C. gangeticus, presents a series of vertical curvatures; there are three in number in the fos- sil, in which respect it resembles the recent Cro- codiles and Alligators ; but which will alone sepa- rate it from the Gavials as well as all the fossil specimens hitherto discovered, which most nearly resemble the Gavials; in all of which this portion of the jaw is straight; but the present species is still further separated from all the sub-genera of Cuvier, by the greater relative thickness and less length of the dental bone, as well as in the pecu- liarities of the teeth above-mentioned. The space between the fourth tooth and greatest elevation of the dental bone, in the fossil (a. b.) contains five teeth; in the C. lucius, nine; in the C. acutus, six. The distance from the fourth tooth, (which is very large proportionably) to the anterior margin of the symphysis in the fossil, is four inches, two- EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. 238 tenths; in the ©. lucius, two inches, seven-tenths ; in the acutus, two inches, six-tenths. ‘The sym- physis of the lower jaw extends posteriorly to the fourth tooth in the C. acutus ; it terminates two inches anteriorly in the fossil; its termination is nearly opposite the fourth tooth in the C. luezus. Directly posterior to the fourth tooth, there exists a considerable curvature inwards, in the fossil ; directly the reverse is the case in the C. lueius ; but a similar curvature exists in a very slight de- gree in the C. acutus. The foramina for the transmission of nerves and blood-vessels are unusually large and nume- rous in the fossil. By referring to the figures, other differences will be noticed equally remark- able, though not so readily expressed; all of which, taken collectively, constitute, in my opinion, cha- racters sufficient to require for this animal the establishment of a new subgenus. I am not, as yet, prepared to answer positively to the question, did this animal exist in salt or fresh water? As far as my information extends, no fossil Crocodile has hitherto been discovered in salt water formation. The pretended Croco- diles, said to have been found with fish in the pyri- tose schistus of Thuringia, are evidently Monitors, as has been demonstrated by Cuvier. However, the form of the teeth, great thickness, and strength of the jaws, in the present instance, would qualify 24 EXTINCT SPECIES OF CROCODILE. this species to crush shell-fish, &c. and defend it- self against powerful enemies. Numerous vertebre of Crocodiles have been found in the same locality, none of which, how- ever, are large enough to have belonged to this individual, but very different from any I have been able to compare them with; though very much broken, yet this difference is readily recognized by a very peculiar compression of the lateral and inferior portion of the bodies; as might be antici- pated, the vertebra, already discovered, denote a variety of species. PLATE I. ’ Fig. 1. Lateral view of the fossil bone. 2. Anterior view of the same. 3, 4, 5. Different views of a fossil vertebra. 6, 7. Two views of a vertebra from another part of the column. 8. Fossil tooth of natural size. OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE, &c. 25 Observations on the Nomenclature of Wausoy’s Ornirnotocy. By Cuartes Bonaparte. Read March 23, 1824. [conTINVED FROM VoL. 11. P. 371,] SITTA. Of this very natural genus Wilson describes thiee species, all peculiar to America. 59. S. carolinensis. Vol. i. p. 40. Wilson was - correct in considering this bird distinct from the European species, as Brisson and Latham had al- ready done, although many authors believed it to be a mere variety. SYNONYMES, ~ S, europea, 6 carolinensis, Linn. GmEt, S. carolinensis, Briss. Lata. S. jaimaicensis? Linn. Gut. Lata. Vieillot has called it Srrra melanocephala, but this name, though very appropriate, must be re- jected, as he had no right to change that of Latham. 60. S. varia. Vol.i.p.43. I think Wilson did well to adopt the name given by Bartram, as it is doubtful to what species or variety of any other author this bird can be referred. The species is now well fixed by our author, and his name will, no doubt, be exclusively adopted. SYNONYME- S. jaimaicensis, var. minor? Guet. Lata. VOL. Iv.—JuLy, 1824. 4 26 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Wilson is probably right in considering, as a young bird of this species, the Srrra canadensis of Linn. Gmel. Lath. (Le Torchepot du Canada, Buff. pl. enl. 622, f. 2.) I should have restored the name of canadensis, if the correctness of the synonyme was not doubt- ful. Although Vieillot quotes. Wilson’s work, yet he has taken the liberty of appropriating the spe- cies to himself, calling it S. stulta, a name which seems to be founded upon a ridiculous assertion, which Wilson rejected with contempt, from the character of the following species, that the bird is so stupid as to be “easily knocked down from the sides of the tree with one’s cane.” 61. S. pusilla. Vol, ii. p. 105. Gmelin was in error in considering this bird a variety of the Srr- ta europea. Wilson very properly adopted La- tham’s name, who placed it as a distinct species. SYNONYMES. S. pusilla, Lats. S. europea, # carolinensis minor, GMEL, ALCEDO. Of their numerous and well characterized genus, only one species has been found in the United States. 62. A. aleyon. Vol. iii. p.59. One of the largest of the genus, and peculiar to America. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 27 SYNONYMES. A. alcyon, Linn. Guev. Lara. Martin-pécheur hupé de la Louisiane, Burr. pl. enl. 715, (female.) Martin-pécheur hupé de St. Domingue, Burr. pl. enl. 593. CERTHIA. Though ‘four species are described by our au- thor, only one of them properly belongs to this ‘genus, which has been, with great propriety, very much restricted by modern authors. The three objectionable species, however, were never pre- ‘viously referred to Cerra; Linne placed them under Morac, and Latham under Sytvia. 63. C. familiaris. Vol. i. p. 122. As our au- thor supposed, this little bird is the same in both continents, but is much less frequent on this side of the Atlantic. It is the only true Cerruia hither- to known to inhabit the United States. SYNONYMES. C. familiaris, Livy. Guev. Lara. Tem. Vier. (refer- ring to Le Grimpereau, Ois. dorés, vol. ii. p. 107, pl. 72.) Le Grimpereau, Burr. pl. enl. 681, f. 1. ' 64. C. maculata. Vol. iii. p. 23. Certainly not -a Cerrnia asthe genus is now defined. But al- though Linne arranged it with his Moracixa, and Latham with his Syivia, I am not surprised that Wilson placed it in Cerrmia, as it approximates closely to that genus as formerly characterized : 28 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE one of Wilson’s reasons for this arrangement was drawn from the habit of creeping, for which this bird is remarkable ; but the same character might have led him to arrange the Pine Creeper here also, which he places with the Syrvia according to Latham, although Linne considered it a Cer- ras. Vieillot, in his Ois. de ’Amer. Sept. calls our bird Crrrnia varia, but he has subsequently made for it alone, his new genus Myiormra. In my opinion, however, this genus cannot be adopt- ed, but the species must be called Sytvia varia, agreeably to Latham. I do not know why our author chose Bartram’s specific name in prefer- ence to that of Linne. SYNONYMES. Moractira varia, Linn. Gut. Syzvia varia, Lara. Certara varia, Viriit. (quoting Le Grimpereau varié Oi. dorés, vol. iis ps 111, pl. 74.) Vieillot subsequently called it Murormra varia. 65. C. caroliniana. V4). ii. p. 61. Wilson was very wrong, in my opinion, in arranging this and the following species with the Cerrma: They are certainly true wrens, and, on this occasion, his vulgar is more correet than his scientific appella- tion. Bartram was correct in placing them with the wrens. Without hesitation, I take this oppor- tunity of expressing my opinion on the adoption of a separate genus for the true wrens, under the OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY: 29 name of Troctopytes, as I think these birds have sufficient character, in form and habits, to entitle them to that distinction. The genus, as I adopt it, corresponds to the sixth section of Temminck’s Syzvia, and to the genus Trocxopyres of Vieillot, as he formerly established it, including his two more recent genera Trociopyres and ‘TuryotHo- rus, and may be divided into two subgenera, cor- responding with those genera. This bird, which was incorrectly indicated by Gmelin, as a variety of the European wren, together with the following species, and a few others, will form the second subgenus, which is peculiar to America. Reeur- ring to the bird under consideration, I propose it should be called Trociopyres ludovicianus, which is the original specific name; Bartram’s name of caroliniana being not in any respect preferable. SYNONYMES.~ Moracttta troglodytes, var. y GMEL. Syxvia ludoviciana, sp. 150, Larus Roitelet de la Louisiane, Burr. pl. enl. 730, f. 1. Trociopytes arundinaceus, Vinitt. pl. 108. The historic description, which this latter au- thor has given, evidently belongs to the follow- ing species ; he subsequently perceived his error, and transferred the specific name to that species, placing them both in his new genus Tuyrornorvs, and distinguished the present bird by the specific 30 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE name of littoralis, which, of course, must not be adopted. 66. C. palustris. Vol. ii. p. 58. Agreeably to the preceding observations, I propose for this spe- cies the name of Troctopyres palustris, Wilson’s specific name having the priority over that of Vieillot, and being also more appropriate. Wil- ‘son’s quotation of Latham, under this species, must be transferred to the’ preceding. Vieillot, in his American Ornithology, inadver- tently described the manners and habits of this bird, when speaking of his figure of the preceding ‘species ; but subsequently, informed probably by Wilson’s work, he discovered his error, and named this bird Turyornorus arundineus. But he had no right to change Bartram and Wilson’s name, which is certainly preferable. TROCHILUS. Although this numerous genus is peculiar to America, yet only two species are known to visit the United States, and that in summer alone. It is very naturally divided into two subgenera, viz. -Trochilus and Polytmus, considered as genera by some authors. ‘ The only species, described by Wilson, belongs to the first subgenus. ‘ 67. 'T. colubris. Vol. ii. p. 26. Remarkably well described by our author, and is the only spe- OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 31 cies that visits the eastern region of the United States. SYNONYMES, T. colubris, Linn. Gut. Lara. Viet. T. colubris, 8 tomineo, Linn. Guet. (young female.) T. amethystinus ? Linn. Guev. Lata. L’Oiseau mouche rubis, View. referring to Qis. dorés, 20l. i. p. 66, pl. 31, (male) pl. 32, (female) pl. 33, (young.) STURNUS. The only bird described under this genus by our author, never belonged to it; it was a Linnean Ontoxvs, and is now an Icrerus. SYNONYMES. Emperiza americana, Guew. Lata. Frieza flavicollis, Guzen. Lau. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 47 Bartram called it Cavanpra pratensis. Vieillot, Passerina nigricollis. 86. E. erythrophthalma. Vol. ii. p. 35. This species is also peculiar to America, and is certain- ly not an Emseriza. Perhaps no bird has been more variously arranged than the present. Linne and Brisson placed it in Frivexa. Gmelin, La- tham, and after them, Wilson, incorrectly referred it to Emseriza, and Vieillot, who in his large work figures the bill of this bird as that of a Horruta- nus, (which appellation he afterwards changed to that of Passerina) finally formed for this species alone his new genus Pirro. In my opinion this latter genus must be rejected, and the species, which seems to me to have some analogy with F. eardinalis, must be referred to the subgenus Coc- cothraustes, under the name of Frineitta ery- throphthalma, agreeably to Linne. SYNONYMES. Frineiiza erythrophthalma, Linn. Emperiza erythrophthalma, Get. Latu. Brisson called it Frineiiia carolinensis, and Vieillot, pro- bably for the sake of changing, Pirito ater. 87. E. oryzivora. Vol. ii. p. 48. This bird, which replaces here the E. hortulanus of Europe, is peculiar to America, but is certainly not an Em- seriza. Wilson, on this occasion, has followed Linne, Gmelin, and Latham without examination. Vieillot refers this bird to Pacsertwa, and Cuvier 48 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE and Temminck to Frinciza. By examining the form of the bill, nares, feet, respective length of the remiges, and some of the habits, I am con- vinced that this bird is so closely allied to the fol- lowing, that we cannot separate them generically; and since the following species has been so hap- pily arranged under Icrerus by Temminck, this species must also be placed under the same genus, in which, its specific name being pre-occupied, I propose for it the name of I. agripennis, thus translating one of its vulgar names, in order to add as little as possible to the confusion of sy- nonymy. The same specific name must also, be. adopted by those who prefer retaining it in the genus Frincitxa, the name F, oryxivora being al- ready adopted for the Loxia oryzivora of aia Wilson’s account of this bird is admirable, _ SYNONYMES. Emseriza oryzivora, Linn. Guew. Latu. Ortolan de la Caroline, Burr. pl. enl. 388, fig. 1, (adutt male in spring.) Ortolan de la Louisiane, Burr. pl. enl. 388, fiz. 2, (dat male, moulting ; a bad figure.) Brisson cables it Hortuanus carolinensis, and Viflos PassERINA oryzivora. ”, 89. E. pecoris. Vol. ii. p. 145. This also Hy not an Emeeriza, and is peculiar to this continent. Gmelin and Latham considered it a Fruvema, and Wilson placed it in the present genus, probably only from its resemblance to some of the other OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 49 species improperly placed here. ‘The two former authors made also several nominal species of it, and placed them in Ortotus and Srurnus. Daudin called it Icrerus emberizoides, and was followed by Vieillot, who represents the bill in the first vo- lume of his large work; but this writer subsequent- ly referred it to his genus Passeriva. 'Temminck considers it an Icrerus of the subgenus Emberizoi- des. This bird is certainly congeneric with the preceding; its bill, feet, nares and wings not differ- ing at all in form: some of the habits, however, are very dissimilar; but if these ought to be our guide in classification, a distinct genus would be assigned to this singular parasitic bird. In my opinion this species is very well placed in Icrerus; and must be called Icrerus pecoris; and, by those who will not follow this course, Frineiia pecoris, agreeably to Gmelin and Latham. Nothing of the interesting history of this bird was known anterior to the appearance of Wilson’s work. SYNONYMES. Friveitxa pecoris, Gurr. Laru. (female and young.) Orrowus fuscus, Get. (adult male.) Ortonus minor, Gmet. (species No, 46,) Laru. (adult male.) Srurnus obscurus, Gaet. (adult male.) Srurnus junceti, Laru. (adult male.) Troupiale de la Caroline, Burr. pl. enl. 606, fig. 1, (adult male. This figure is, no doubt, intended for this bird, al- though the bill is incorrect.) - Brisson calls it Friveitxa virginiana. Vieillot, Passerina pecoris. VOL. Iv.—aucusT, 1824, 7 50 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE 89. * E. nivalis. Vol. iii. p. 36. Common to the northern parts of both continents. As this bird is subject to great changes in the colour of its plumage, it has given rise toa multiplication of nominal species. SYNONYMES, Emerriza nivalis, Livy. Guen. Lara. Teun. E. montana, Gut. Larn. (young.) E. mustelina, Get (young.) E. glacialis, Lats. (young.) Ortolan de neige, Burr. pl. enl. 497, f. 1, (adult male.) __ Ortolan de passage, Burr. pl. enl. 511, f. 2, (young female.) Brisson called this bird Horrunanus nivalis: Vieillot called it Passerina nivalis ; but I cannot judge of his correctness, as I have not had an op- portunity of ascertaining whether it has the knob; the external form of the bill, however, is so much that of a true Emseriza, that it cannot well be sepa- rated. Meyer made of this and another species his genus Piecrroruanes, which I think ni) to adopt as a subgenus under Emperiza. 90. E. ciris. Vol. iii p- 68. This beautiful species, peculiar to America, is an inhabitant of the southern states. It is evidently a Frivema, and must, therefore, be called F. ciris, agreeably | to Cuvier and Temminck. I am at a loss to know why authors have arranged it under Emperiza. This bird and the one that Wilson so accurately called F’. cyanea, belong not only to the same ge- OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 9 nus, but are very closely allied, and may be placed under the subgenus Spiza, if they will not consti- tute a small one of themselves. SYNONYMES. Emeeriza ciris, Linn. Gamer. Lata. Tangaras de Cayenne, 1. la femelle, 2. le mile appelé le Pape, Burr. pl. enl. 159, (male and female, the latter bad.) Brisson calls it Canoris ludoviciana, (vulgo Papa dicta) and correctly placed it in his genus Passer, (corresponding to Frineri1a.) Vieillot calls it Passeria ciris. Bartram, that good observer of nature, was correct in consider- ing it a Finch; and it is very extraordinary that Wilson, who adopted his name for the E. cyanea, did not do it also for the present species, as they are so similar in form and habits. 91. E. leucophrys. Vol. iv. p. 49. This bird is peculiar to the northern parts of this continent, and is rare in the United States. I do not know why Wilson in his catalogue changed the name to that of leucocephala. - It must now be called Friy- citta leucophrys, agreeably to Temminck. It be- longs to the subgenus Spiza. SYNONYMESe _ Empeniza leucophrys, Guex. Latu. Vieillot calls it Passerina leucophrys. 92. E. graminea. Vol. iv. p. 51. This bird is also peculiar to this country. Wilson supposed it to be new, and Vieillot adopts the same name 52. OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE without acknowledging his author. Both of these authors express a doubt whether it is not the Frineuza graminea of Gmelin and Latham. I have no doubt of the identity of these two species. Vieillot says it may be the same bird; but in that case authors were wrong in placing it with the Frivcuxez. In this remark he was himself in error, since the bird is a true Frincixa, without a single character of Emsrriza; and must be called Friv- GILLA graminea, as formerly named by Gmelin and Latham. SYNONYMEs Frineiiia graminea, Gauci. Lata. I do not know how Vieillot could arrange this bird in his restricted genus Emperiza, as he was, on other occasions, very particular in his reference of species to that genus, he ought, at least, on his own principles, to have placed it with his Passr- RINA. : TANAGRA. ‘This genus, which is peculiar to America, has been very much restricted by some ornithologists. Vieillot divided it into seven or eight genera, but with Temminck I consider it as a whole, consist- ing of six subgenera, corresponding to his sections, The three species described by Wilson belong to the genus Pyranea of Vieillot, which I shall adopt as a subgenus of Tanacra. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 53 93. T. rubra. Vol. ii. p. 42. This handsome bird, so remarkable for its different states of plu- mage according to age and sex, has been de- scribed by European writers under at least two different names. SYNONYMES, T. rubra, Linn. Guet. Lara. (adult male in full plumage.) Loxia mewicana, sp. 7, Linn. Gaz. sp. 18, Lar. (adult male in full plumage.) Tanaera olivacea ? Gut. Lara. (female in all states, and male young or in winter dress.) Tangara du Canada, Burr. pl. enl. 156, f. 1, (male in per- fect plumage.) Vicillot calls it Pynanea erythromelas, Brisson, Carpinaxis Canadensis (Tanagra.) 94. 'T. estiva. Vol.i.p.95. At least four nomi- nal species, as our author correctly observes, have been made of this migratory bird, owing to its re- markable changes of plumage. SYNONYMES. Muscicapa rubra, Linn. Tanacra estiva, Guex. Lats. Tanacra mississippensis, Gurr. Laru. (adult male in sum- mer dress.) Tanaona variegata, Latu. (male changing.) Loxia virginica, Guex. (male changing.) Tangara du Mississippi, Burr. pl. enl. 741, (adult male in summer dress.) Vieillot calls it Pyranea estiva. Brisson, Musctcara enrolinensis rubra, and his Carpinanis mezicanus (Tanagra) 54 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE is probably no other. Klein calls this bird Fainemta rubra. 95. 'T. ludoviciana. Vol. iii. p. 27. Of this new bird, found by Lewis and Clarke in the western region, hardly any thing is known. Vieillot calls it Pyranca erythropis, thus attempting to appro- priate to himself Wilson’s species, whose name must, however, be retained. FRINGILLA. Instead. of having been restricted like other genera, this genus has been enlarged by the best modern writers, who have placed in it all the Lin- nean Loxix, excepting only the cross-bills, together with the greater part of the Emperiza, and also a few species of supposed Tanacra. In this arrangement, Illiger, Meyer, Cuvier, and others have agreed; the latter author, however, has made a distinct genus under the name of Co- rytuus fora bird which he ought to have included in his subgenus Pyrrhula. 'Temminck separates, from the genus thus constituted, the subgenera Ploceus and Pyrrhula of Cuvier, the latter of which subgenera had previously been considered as a genus by Brisson; and on this occasion, as well as in many other instances, we are proud to agree with the ornithological oracle of our age. _ Vieillot, besides the Pyrrnuxa, separated also from Frincua, Ist, the Coccoruraustes of Brisson, OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 55 (Loxia of Linne) which, by his own confession, however, would be better arranged with Frivem- ua; 2d, Linarta, formed for F. linaria, Linn. alone, but without sufficient characters even for a subge- nus; 3d, Passrrmva, more natural than the others, and with the exception of some of the species, ought, in my opinion, to be adopted as a subgenus, under a different name ; it will principally include those species placed by Linne, Latham, and Wil- son, under Emperiza, which being destitute of the hard knob, but principally having the upper man- dible wider than the lower, cannot be permitted to remain in it; 4th, Premo, of which he ought, in my opinion, to have placed the only species, at least, in his genus Passerina. In forming subdivisions of this very numerous genus, I shall not follow Cuvier, who makes eight subgenera, two of which, viz. Ploceus and Pyrrhu- la, with Temminck I consider as genera. Nor shall I adopt for these subdivisions the genera of Vieillot ; but, taking the three subdivisions’ of Temminck, I shall consider his Laticones as a sub- genus, under the name of Coccothraustes, agree- ably to Cuvier; his Brevicones as a subgenus also, under the name of Fringilla, corresponding to Cuvier’s three subgenera Fringilla, Pyrgita, and Vidua, the two latter having no stable characters ; and his Longicones as a third subgenus, under the name of Carduelis, corresponding to Brisson’s genus, and Cuvier’s subgenus of that name. To: 56 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE these subgenera I will add a fourth, under the name of Spiza, corresponding, with some excep- tions, to Vieillot’s genus Passrriva, including such species as have the edges of the lower mandible inflected. The species, however, of the latter subgenus, may be dispersed, by those who think proper, in the other subgenera, according to the thickness of their bills. ‘ 96. F. tristis. . Vol. i. p. 20. This pretty bird belongs to the subgenus Carduelis, and has the same song and habits as the F. carduelis of Eu- rope, which species it replaces here. It has been considered a distinct bird when in its winter dress, and improperly quoted as a variety of the F. spi- nus of Europe. SYNONYMES. F. iristis, Linn. Guew. Lara. F. spinus, var. y Get. (male in winter plumage.) Le Chardonneret du Canada, Burr. pl. enl. 202, fig. 2, (adult male in full plumage.) Tarin de la Nouvelle Yorck, Burr. pl. enl. 292, fig. 1, (male changing) jig. 2, (male in winter dress, erroneously given as a female.) Vieillot calls it F. tristis, and Brisson, Canpugnis ameri- cand. 97. F. purpurea. Vol. i. p. 119, (the figure is that of an adult male in full plumage.) Vol. v. p. 87, (the figure is that ofa male in winter plumage.) Wilson described this bird with his usual aceura- cy, and under its proper name, but was incorrect —V Se ee OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 57 in asserting that the F. rosea of Pallas, and the Loxta erythrina of Gmelin (crimson-headed Finch of Latham) were one and the same with his bird. They are, in fact, two very distinct species, be- longing to the genus Pyrrnuta. The former is peculiar to Siberia, from which country it some- times strays into the eastern parts of Europe, as far as Hungary, and the latter is common to the north of both continents, and will be represented in the first volume of my continuation of Wilson’s Ornithology; while the present bird is a true Friv- eta, forming one of the links between the sub- genera Coccothraustes and Fringilla, and is pecu- liar to this continent. SYNONYMES. F. purpurea, Guet. Lata. Brisson called it Pyrruvuta carolinensis violacea. Vieillot probably confounded this species with the P. erythrina, otherwise he would not have arranged it with the Pyranu- LA; since, in his Oiseaux chanteurs, he gave the same bird as a new species from India, under the name of Loxia rosea, which he afterwards changed to that of Coccoruraustes rosea. 98. F. pusilla. Vol. ii. p. 121. This is the spe- cies, peculiar to America, which comes nearest to Emeeriza; so much so that I at first thought to range it under that genus. The specific name pusilla being pre-occupied in the latter genus, I was disposed to call it E. locustella, a name taken from its voice, which is similar to _ chirpings of VOL. Iv.—aveusT, 1824. 58 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE acricket. But its great resemblance to the other sparrows of Wilson led me to leave it in the genus Frinema, forming the link between Emszriza and my subgenus of Frincitia, Spiza. SYNONYMES. Bartram called it Passer agrestis. Vieillot, Passenmva pusilla, but he certainly did not examine the bird closely, otherwise, agreeably to his principles of classification, he would have placed it in Empeniza, as it has the hard knob of the upper mandible. It is possible that Gmelin and La- tham had this bird in view (confounding it with another) when describing their E. cinerea. As to the E. pratensis of Vieillot, 1 am at a loss to say what it is. 99. F. arborea. Vol. ii. p. 123. The name of Canadensis, adopted by Latham, must be restored to this species, as originally given by Brisson. It is peculiar to America, and belongs to the subge- nus Spiza, or, perhaps, to that of Fringilla. SYNONYMES. Frineitia monticola, Gui. Frainerixa canadensis, Latu. Frineitxia hyemalis ? Guev. Lata. Moineau du Canada, Burr. pl. enl. 223, f 2, (a very bad representation.) Brisson called it Passrr canadensis. Vieillot, Passzrina monticola. Wilson has thus given a new name to a bird that was already superabundantly provided. 100. F. melodia. Vol. ii. p. 125. This bird is peculiar to this continent, and belongs to the sub- OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 59 genus Spiza; it has the rudiment of the knob, which character would make it approximate to Empeniza, were it not for the width of the upper mandible. Although Wilson’s specific name is grammatically incorrect, yet it must be retained, as we have no right, in my opinion, to change any specific name whatever. Vieillot ranged this bird under Passrrina, and changed Wilson’s name to that of musica, which, in good Latin, signifies what Wilson intended; but, notwithstanding this, as I have before observed, Wilson’s name must be re- tained. SYNONYME. Frineitxa fasciata? Guev. Lata. If this synonyme was not doubtful, and if it would not be necessary to change the specific ap- pellation of a pretty African species, the Loxia fasciata of Gmelin and Latham, I should have re- stored to this species that name, in order to elimi- nate Wilson’s ungrammatical one. 101. F. socialis, Vol. ii. p. 127. This pretty and familiar little species is also peculiar to Ame- rica, and was first made known by Bartram, who called it Passer domesticus, a name which is pre- occupied in this genus. Vieillot calls it Passerina socialis, retaining Wilson’s very appropriate spe- cific name. This species belongs to the subgenus Passerina, and has a slight rudiment of the knob. 102. * F. nivalis. Vol. ii. p. 129. This name 60. OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE is correct; the species is common to both conti- nents, but is as rare and limited in its range in Europe, as it is common and widely extended in North America. The name of hudsonia, which Wilson substitutes in his catalogue, and which has consequently been adopted in the reprint of 1824, is only an additional name for the same species. SYNONYMES. Frinertxa nivalis, Linn. Guest. Laru. Temm. Emperiza hyemalis, Linn. Guev. Lata. Frineriia hyemalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, (N. B.not of Gmel. and Lath. which is an incomplete state of the F. ar- borea of Wilson.) Frineitia hudsonia, GMEL. FRinii1a nortoniensis ? Gut. Lata. (young.) This bird belongs to the subgenus Frinema, though Vieillot calls'it Passerina hyemalis. Bar- tram gave it the name of Passer nivalis. Brisson, who was so correct in considering as varieties of E. nivalis those in different states of plumage, that other authors regarded as species, erred in the opposite extreme in making of this bird also a va- riety of the Emseniza nivalis, calling it Horruxanus. nivalis niger. 103. F. pinus. Vol. ii. p. 133. This species, which Wilson first described, named, and. figured, is peculiar to this continent. Our author’s name. must, therefore, be retained. The species belongs OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 6h to the subgenus Carduelis, and is allied to the F. spinus of Europe. 104. F. albicollis. Vol. iii. p. 51. This hand- some species is peculiar to America; it belongs to the subgenus Fringilla, and has been considered as such by Vieillot himself. It has been described by European authors under different names, of which that of albicollis, though more appropriate, must be rejected, and that of pensylvanica of Brisson, having the priority, must be adopted, agreeably to Latham. SYNONYMES. Frinerita pensylvanica, Lata. Frinettta albicollis, Gur. Frinaitza striata, Guex. Lara. (young.) Brisson first named it Passer pensylvanicus. Bartram called it F. fusca. 105. F. palustris. Vol. iii. p. 49. Peculiar to North America, and first noticed by Bartram, who called it Passer palustris. It belongs to the sub- genus Spiza, approaching by the slender form of. the bill to the subgenus Carduelis. Vieillot calls it Passprina palustris. WV. B. The bill, in Wilson’s figure is very incor- rect, being much more robust than in nature. 106. F. maritima. Vol. iv. p. 68. Anew spe- cies.of Wilson peculiar to America, where it is confined to the seashores. Vieillot calls it Passr- Rina maritima, but I cannot say with what reason. 62 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE 107. F. caudacuta. Vol. iv. p.'70. Wilson be- lieved this bird to be new; but it is no other than the Ortotus caudacutus of Gmelin and Latham. This fortunate coincidence in the name is owing to a suspicion our author entertained of the iden- tity of his bird and the F. caudacuta of Latham. But. as they are, in reality, two different species, our author’s specific name ought to be changed, were it not for another fortunate circumstance, which is, that Latham’s F. caudacuta is probably a nominal species. It is, therefore, to be hoped, that Wilson’s name can be permitted to remain. This bird is very closely allied to the preceding, with which it may constitute a small distinct sub- genus. SYNONYME. Ortotus caudacutus, Gue., Lata. For this synonyme I am indebted to Mr. Ord, who has recently inserted it (sharp tailed Oriole) in the reprint of 1824. Vieillot gives it the name of Passeriva caudacuta. 108. F. savanna. Vol. iv. p. 72, (male.) Vol. iii. p. 55, (female.) This new species of Wilson — is peculiar to this continent, and belongs to the subgenus Spiza. Vieillot calls it Passeriva savan- na. It is to be regretted that our author gave to this bird a name so similar to that of another spe- cies, the F’. savannarum, Guet., more especially as OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 63 in the English language the two names are iden- tical. 109. F. rufa. Vol. iii. p. 53. Wilson adopted Bartram’s name, but he afterwards corrected him- self, by calling it F. ferruginea in his catalogue. It is probably owing to a typographical error that the species is there marked as new. I agree with Wilson that the species is both the F. ferruginea and Emseriza ferruginea of authors; but as other writers are of the contrary opinion, we must se- lect, amongst the numerous synonymes of this species, one the least doubtful, and we shall find that the name of F’. iliaca, having been given by Merrem in 1786, must be adopted. It is not surprising, however, that Wilson should not have discovered this synonyme, as authors have erro- neously stated the length to be seven and nine inches. It has the appearance of being a large bird, and is, in fact, the largest of the American species that have been considered as sparrows. Its size has been stated to be equal to that of the Starling, and haying only the dried skin, authors may perhaps have resorted to the measure of that bird for this. It belongs to the subgenus Fruv- GILLA. SYNONYMES. Faineitta iliaca, Guew. Lara. Frinatiua ferruginea, Guet. Lata. Emperiza ferruginea ? Gust. Latu. 64 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Empeniza cinerea? Guex. Lata. (This is, in my opinion, a confused description and history of the present species, and the Frinerta pusilla of Wilson.) Vieillot, in the Nouveau Dictionnaire d’ Histoire Naturelle, calls this bird F. iliaca, and gives a very good description of it, correcting also the error of its length, which is in reality but six inches. The Emeeniza pratensis of the same author, in respect to which he corrects so many errors of other writ- ers, seems to me to be also no other than the F. tliaca, and I am led to think that Vieillot did not speak of it autoptically. Edwards’ figure of the “little Sparrow” may be intended for this bird, but, if so, the figure is too small. It is remarkable that Vieillot has not mentioned the length of his E. pratensis. But be these conjectures as they may, the species is well fixed by Wilson’s excel- lent figure, and the E. pratensis does not, to my knowledge, exist in nature. 110. * F. linaria. Vol. iv. p. 42, and Vol. ix. p. 126. This pretty bird is common to the north of both continents, and belongs to the subgenus Car- duelis. Vieillot makes a genus for it alone, as his second species is merely a variety of size. SYNONYMES. F. linaria, Linn. Guet. Lara. Temm. F. flavirostris, Linn. Guet. Lara. Le Cabaret, Burr. pl. enl. 485, fig. 2, (male.) Wilsen errs in quoting,.as a synonyme, the Planch. enl. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 65 i51, f. 2, which is a fine adult male of the European F. cannabina. 111. F. passerina. Vol. iii. p. 76. ‘This species, which Wilson regarded as new, belongs to the subgenus Spiza, and is one of those which have the knob strongly marked. A better classifica- tion of the great genus Frivet.ra is certainly want- ing, but, in my opinion, the following species of Wilson, Emseriwza americana, E. leucophrys, Frw- ata socialis, passerina, melodia, savanna, &c. can never be separated in any natural arrangement. SYNONYMES. Frineiita caudacuta? Laru. (young.) Frinei.ia savannarum? Gme.. Lara. (very old male.) If this latter synonyme were not doubtful, the species ought to be exclusively known by that name which has the priority, or by that of Brisson, who calls it Passer jamaicensis. The Passerina pratensis of Vieillot, though given as a new spe- cies, is evidently this bird. He is, therefore, cen- surable for not quoting Wilson, whose work he | had, doubtless, constantly before him. If the statement of Vieillot were correct, that the only difference between Frineitia and Emperiza was in the hard knob, this species he ought to have ar- ranged in Emperiza; but the principal difference is, as I stated above, in the external form of the bill. VoL. Iv.—avausT, 1824. 9 66 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE, &Kc. 112. F. cyanea. Vol. i. p. 100. Wilson exhibit- ed his usual accuracy, by placing this bird in the genus Frineia, although it had previously been arranged in Tanacra and Emperiza. It is peculiar to this continent. Its various changes of plumage have given rise to the introduction of several no- minal species, - SYNONYMES, Tanacra cyanea, Linn. Emseriza cyanea, Guex. Lara. Emperiza cyanella, Guew. Emperiza cerulea, Gmev. Lara. (male moulting.) Tanacra cerulea, Gun. Lara. Moineau bleu de Cayenne, Burr. pl. enl. 203, f. 2, (adult male in full plumage.) Vieillot calls it Passeriva cyanea. Brisson, Tancara ca- rolinensis cerulea, and (in its imperfect state) Emperiza canadensis cerulea. Bartram, Linania cyanea, having dis- covered its alliance with Friveia, which probably led Wilson to call it F. cyanea. The species is so closely allied to the Emperiza ciris, that it is impossible to think by what reason our author, who followed nature in the present case, followed writers in the other. They are not only of the same genus, but evidently of the same subgenus, (Spiza,) and might, perhaps, together, form a small distinct one. © [To BE CONTINUED. | . OS HYOIDES OF THE MASTODON. 67 Description of the Os Hyoides of the Mastodon. By Joun D. Govan, M. D. Lecturer on Anatomy and Physiology. \ [Reap sone 8, 1824.] The Os Hyoides is one of the few parts of the bony system, belonging to this interesting genus, which has not yet been described. The specimen, from which this description is made, consists of the whole of the basis, with the appendix and cornu of the left side. The appen- dix and cornu of the right side were either not found originally, or have been lost since the erec- tion of the fine skeleton in the Philadelphia Mu- seum, to which this os hyoides belonged. But as we have the left side nearly entire, with the whole of the basis or central anterior portion, there is no difficulty in forming a sufficiently accurate idea of the character of this bone. The figure of the basis bears a considerable re- semblance to the ordinary shape of the os hyoi- des in man and other animals at the anterior part, being curved at the extremities, so that both the outside and inside of the bone have a semicircular outline. The basis or anterior portion is thick, strong, and convex externally; the whole surface, espe- cially in the centre, being rough and irregular, as if for the attachment of muscles. At the upper 68 OS HYOIDES and anterior part, the rough bone rises in the cen- tre about the eighth of an inch above the convexity of the inside of the bone, having, at both extremi- ties, a groove which is perceptible nearly all round at the base of this projection. On the inside of the basis, and immediately be- low the projection at the upper edge, the surface is rounded and smooth, having no other markings than slight furrows for nutritious vessels; the thickness increases until within half an inch of the lower edge, where there is a projecting line which forms an irregular semicircular sweep to- wards both the articulating surfaces. A little to the right of the centre of this lme, a depression commences, which is about an inch in length, and gives the greatest degree of depth to the inside of the basis, as will be seen in the subsequent measurements. The articulating surfaces both descend below the level of the body of the basis, so that if the bone be placed on a plane, and inclined backwards, it is supported on these extremities, forming an arch, whose centre is that of the depression before noted. When the basis is.placed fairly ona plane, it rests on one obliquely flattened inferior surface, and we may form some idea of the obliquity of the direction of the whole os hyoides, supposing the appendix and cornu to be properly attached. The articulating surfaces are rough, that of the right side most so; both are obliquely curved in- OF THE MASTODON. 69 wards toward the upper edge of the bone; the right side presenting most of this obliquity. The upper edge of the right articulating surface pro- jects more than the left, forming at its anterior part an evident tuberosity. The appendix of the os hyoides has, at its ante- rior extremity, a deep and rough surface, the cavity appearing as if an epiphysis had been broken off-* This extremity is placed obliquely on the extremi- ty of the bone, the outer part of which, in approach- ing the basis, forms an inclined plane of an inch and a half in breadth on its upper surface, gradu- ally blending with the middle line of the bone on the outside. Below this, the bone is flattened to- ward the perpendicular, being continuous with the lower edge of the whole shaft. The upper edge of the appendix, at a short distance from the anterior articulation, becomes gradually sharp, and this sharpness increases till it ends at the posterior articulation. The outside of the appendix is regu- larly convex, until within three inches of the pos- terior extremity, where it expands to more than twice the breadth of the shaft. The inside of the appendix is compressed at the centre of the shaft, entirely flattened, and slightly concave from within * The appearance of the extremities of the basis and appen- dix is such as to induce the belief that an epiphysis has been removed from each. There is ne data on which we can found an opinion of the exact amount of substance lost, although it is probable that from one to three inches have thus been removed from the total extent of the os hyoides. 70 OS HYOIDES three inches of the posterior, and also flattened at the anterior extremity, except where the articulat- ing surface is strengthened by the bone being con- tinued for the distance of two inches, projecting at first about the fourth of an inch, and terminat- ing imperceptibly in the sharp inferior edge of this bone. The figure of the posterior extremity of the appendix is that of about one-third of an irregular segment of a circle, two inches in diameter; the inferior part being the most regular; the superior being broader and rougher, and terminating above in a round and smooth tuberosity. Immediately below this, there is on the outer surface a curved indentation, apparently forming a part of a small articulating surface at the upper and outer portion of the posterior extremity of the appendix. The cornu differs from the base and appendix by having but one articulating surface on its ante- rior extremity, which is irregularly triangular, deep, and unequal. Immediately behind the ar- ticulation it is almost cylindrical, but gradually grows flatter towards the inferior edge, terminat- ing at length by a broad and flattened surface, two inches and a half from the articulation, curving inwards slightly at the inner edge. The rest of the cornu forms a considerable angle with this part of the bone, rising upwards, gradually becom- ing smaller, continuing to the posterior extremity thinner on its lower, and rounded on its upper sur- face. On the inside, and near the posterior part. OF THE MASTODON. 71 the inner surface rises so as to form a prominent line. The whole of the basis, appendix, and cor- nu, have not been fossilized, but still retain the characters of bone. I am indebted to Mr. Rembrandt Peale, who was particularly engaged in the exhumation of the two most perfect skeletons of the Mastodon that have yet been obtained, for the following interest- ing particulars. The morass, which contained the Mammoth bones, was sounded by means of long pointed rods, shod with iron. On the removal of the mud, after finding some resistance made to the rod, an entire under jaw bone was discover- ed, over the top of which the scapula of the ani- mal was so placed as to form a covering to the space between the rami of the jaw. When the scapula was raised, the bones of the os hyoides were found lying within the jaw, thus being pro- tected from the effect of the fluctuations which had scattered the other small bones to various dis- tances, previous to the hardening and fixing of the mud. Measurements of the basis—From the commencement of one articulating surface to the other, over the middle of the bone, on the outside, four inches and three-eighths. In like manner. on. the inside, three inches and five-six- teenths, Depth of the bone measured in the centre on the inside, one inch and a half. on the outside, one inch and one-eighth. Height of right articulating surface, one inch and three- eighths. 72 OS HYOIDES. Breadth of the same, seven-eighths of an inch. Perpendicular height of left articulating surface, one inch and one-eighth. Diagonally, from the upper and inner to the lower and anterior edge, one inch and three-eighths. Length of the appendix, seven inches and re on the outside. on the inside, six inches and a half. Height of anterior articulating surface, one inch and five- eighths. Breadth, one inch and one-eighth. Posterior articulating surface, measuring the whole semi- circle, two inches and seven-eighths, Breadth of the same, seven-sixteenths of an inch. Circumference of the appendix in the centre, two inches and one-eighth. Breadth of the appendix (externally) behind the anterior articulating surface, one inch and eleven-sixteenths, Breadth, (externally) just before the posterior articulating surface, one inch and thirteen-sixteenths. Length of the cornu, eight inches and one-sixteenth on both sides. Breadth through the angle, one inch. Circumference midway between the angle and articula- tion, one inch and a half. midway between the angle and extremity, one inch and one-sixteenth. At the posterior extremity, five-eighths of an inch. Prats I].—OS HYOIDES OF THE MASTODON. Fig. 1. Basis, front view, 2-3 nat, size. 2. Appendix, 9 is 3. Cornu, er 4. Sketch of bones in irae position. TESTACEOUS FORMATION, &c. 73 Description of a testaceous formation at Anastasia Island, extracted from notes made on a journey to the southern part of the United States, during the winter of 1822 and 1823. By R. Dietz. [Reap sung 8, 1824.] Anastasia Island, opposite St. Augustine, along the coast of East Florida, is about 10 or 12 miles from north to south, and about 13 miles from east to west, and has, perhaps, not more than 10 or 12 feet elevation above the level of the ocean, and is from 2 to 3 miles distance from-the shore. A considerable portion of the northern, and, perhaps, the substratum of the remaining part of the island, is composed of an aggregate of frag- ments of various shells. This occurs in horizontal stratified layers, which easily separate into slabs at certain horizontal divisions, owing to some fo- reign matter very thinly interposed between the layers, which prevented their conglutination. These layers are from an inch to a foot and a half in thickness. The fragments of shells, composing them, are of various sizes, some larger, and some smaller: sometimes even fragments of various sizes, together with some entire shells, occur in one and the same layer. Previously to being exposed to the air, any cut- ting tool will easily penetrate, and in that state the slabs are at once cut to the size required. When VOL. Iv.—avuGusT, 1824. 10 74 TESTACEOUS FORMATION exposed to the air, they gradually become indu- rated, and this appears also to happen when they are exposed to the action of sea water. This rock, if so it may be called, has been made use of in the neighbourhood of St. Augustine since about the year 1565. The Fort St. Mark, at St. Augustine, is built of this material, cut in square blocks of about two feet and a half long, two wide, and one thick. The church, the government-house, and the Keys along the sea shore, are constructed of it. It is considered well calculated for the use of fortification; as, by its spongy nature, it will re- ceive the balls, without permitting them to pass through or glance off, and without being shattered to pieces. When we consider the particles of thins aggre- gated mass, and compare the smaller with the larger grained varieties, we find the smaller grain- ed more homogeneous: the larger grained contain often some foreign matter, perhaps the gelatinous remains of the fossil shells? in its cavities. There is a more distinct sparry arrangement, eharacter- istic of fossil, in the smaller than in the larger grained variety. On the surface of the particles of the small grained variety, not unfrequently a kind of confused crystallization is apparent. There are even some of the small grained layers, where, by the intermixture of such crystallization, the particles are in so close contact, that the appear- ance of shell is, if not quite oblitexated, at least. AT ANASTASIA ISLAND. 75 but very obscure. The larger grained varieties are composed of some particles evidently fossil, of others, where the fossil character is doubtful, and of some that have even not yet lost their colouring matter. The accumulation, the piney increase, and the stratigraphical arrangement of this shell mass, on a more minute examination, appear to have been the result of the agitation of the tides and winds. A quantity of shells, continually carried by the regular tides towards the shore, and carried off again by the constant repulsion of the waves, and the retiring tides, have been deposited at no great distance from the shore. Indeed, every reef and sand-bank along the sea shore appears to be of the same origin. At times, such shells must have been considerably fractured, if, before being deposited there, they were subject to the more violent action of both the winds and tides, combined towards the same quarter, by which they were thrown up and superadded to the accumulated mass. Finally, the smallest triturated shells must be the product of the two agitating powers, counteracting one another. Thus every change in these perpetually agi- tating agents, created and deposited such. frag- ments as resulted from the efficacy of their re- spective powers, either larger, smaller, or mixed particles. Yet it may naturally be supposed, that such fragments as were carried up by the counter- acting violence of winds and tides, and thus de- 76 TESTACEOUS FORMATION posited as the uppermost layers, must have been triturated into very small particles: as also, that the lowermost depositions, not having been so much subject to the violent agitation of winds and tides, must mostly consist of the largest frag- ments and entire shells. Between these lower- most and uppermost layers, a gradual transition from the coarse to the fine grain must necessarily exist : for the particles nearer to the lower deposi- tion, having suffered less agitation, must be larger; whilst those deposited above, having required a more violent action of the winds and tides to raise them to the place where they are deposited, must have been more fractured. By occasional hurri- canes, however, even large entire shells were thrown up, and thus deposited amongst the up- permost smaller triturated particles. Those minute quantities of foreign matter, pro- bably vegetable substance, may have been depo- sited between every two layers, without interrup- tion of time, by an incidental high tide, which now and then overflowed the adjacent lands, and which, on retiring, carried that matter with it. In that manner, this mass of various shell frag- ments was heaped up, strata after strata, as high as the highest spring tide could ever attain. This theory, not requiring any far-fetched ex- traordinary phenomena, founded only upon the daily occurrences in that region, appears further confirmed, if we may judge, Ist, by the materials AT ANASTASIA ISLAND. 77 that have been used to build the fort and other ancient buildings of St. Augustine, all probably taken from the very surface, as but very slight excavations are found on the island; the upper- most layers must have been the smallest grained, and certainly smaller than those below them. 2d, In the more recent excavations, the lower strata are generally larger grained, and those above them smaller grained. As to the lowermost depositions, not yet laid open to our view, the state of that island does not admit of a closer examination, and of course this must remain a problem, subject to future researches. On viewing these specimens out of place, it might appear as if they owe their various degrees of consistency, and their more or less advanced fossil state, to their different ages; yet, on exa- mining the local arrangement in which this con- glomerate is deposited, as before stated, it will be found, that the more compact degree of its con- sistency, and its more advanced fossil state, does not depend on the greater length of time of its having been deposited: for those layers, composed of the smaller triturated fragments, which are of amore solid consistency, and in an entire fossil state, generally accompanied by an apparent con- fused crystallization, are the uppermost, and of course the last and most recent of the series of depositions. We may thus fairly conclude, that the crystallizing and petrifactive causes, both, 78 TESTACEOUS FORMATION perhaps, influenced by electricity, are more ac- ‘tive above than beneath the level of the sea. We can hardly doubt but that this mass is an embryo of a future shell-marble. And why may not we infer that those beautiful secondary shell- marbles, the Lumachella from Bleyberg, Carin- thia; the Irish Kilkenny ; the French Griotte ; the variegated limestone in the neighbourhood of Hudson, N. Y. and so many others, the origin of which has given rise to so numerous hypotheses, have really no other origin than that which we have just described. By permission of my very esteemed and learn- ed friend Mr. Thomas Say, I add, as a valuable addition to the above paper, his notes of various shells composing that aggregated mass, viz. Fossil shells found in a shell mass from Anastasia Island. 1. Arca pexata, nobis. It is nota little singular that this shell, and the six next following, so common on our coast at the present day, should be found here in a fossil state. 2. Arca ponderosa, nobis. ‘This shell also, which is very common in the fossil state, is found recent on the southern coast. But I have not found any fossil specimens so ~— as a recent one in my cabinet. 3. Arca incongrua, nobis. Several small ivagialaite of a shell, which I believe to have been identical with the recent species of this name, occurred in the mass. 4. Arca transversa, nobis. A tolerably perfect young shell, and many fragments of full sized individuals; but this spe- cies is not so abundant as either of the preceding. 5. Lurraraa canaliculata, nobis. Three small portions of AT ANASTASIA ISLAND. 79 the hinge margin of a species, which I believe to be the canaliculata. The greatest part of this shell is so thin, that we are not surprised that it should have been comminuted ; we should, however, expect to find part of the umbo and the entire hinge fosset, but no trace of either has as yet been discovered. 6. Mactra. Numerous fragments of a small species which is probably M. lateralis, nobis. All the specimens, however, when perfect, must have been smaller than the average size ofthose now existing on our shores. 7. Donax. Fragments of a species of this genus seem to- be next, in point of frequency, to those of the Arca, and few were obtained nearly entire; as far as I could judge, by comparison, the species is the same with the D. variabilis, nobis. Some of the fragments have not yet alto- gether lost the fine purplish colour of the inner side of the shell. : a 8. Crepiputa. A single specimen, too imperfect to ad- mit of a specific decision. 9. Luciwa. A single, young, and imperfect specimen. 10. Arca. Besides the species of Arca above enume- rated, there are some fragments of another species, proba- bly now extinct upon our coast, or, if still existing, extremely rare. It is possible this may prove to be the A. candida, Gm. as it has intermediate smaller strie towards the an- terior end. Fragments of several other shells were obtained from the mass, but they were too imperfect to justify even the hazard of a conjecture respecting their affinity. It will be observed that all the species here mentioned are bivalves, not the smailest determinable portion of a univalve was observed: from which circumstance we may conclude that the island is almost exclusively formed of bivalve shells, and chiefly of the genus Area. 80 NEW SPECIES OF FISH. In a smal) mass in the possession of Dr. Hays, I observed a young indeterminable species of the genus Navica, and two specimens of a small Oxiva, also too imperfect to be determined. A mass in the Philadelphia Museum contains a fragment of Nassa ¢trivittata, nobis. ) Description of a new species of Fish of the Lin- nean genus Perca. By J. Giuxiams. [Reap avueusr 3, 1824.] Angling some weeks ago in one of the fish ponds at Harrowgate, I had the good fortune to take three individuals of a species of Linnean Perca that was altogether new to me, and on reference to the works of the principal authors who have written on the science of Ichthyology, I have not been able to find any notice whatever of this species. I may further state the somewhat remarkable fact, that although many persons have angled frequent- ly in the same pond, yet this fish was not known to have been previously caught there, and being desirous of securing more specimens, I have fre- quently since endeavoured to obtain ge? but without success. The following is a description « of this new spe- cies. NEW SPECIES OF FISH. 31 SCOLOPSIS, Cuvier. S. Sayanus, pl. iii. Body oblong, thick : head above, destitute of scales, and much grooved : the mouth of moderate size, scarcely reaching to the line of the anterior canthus of the eye : jaws near- ly equal ; the inferior a little longer; both of them, together with the palate, furnished with very nu- merous, conic, somewhat incurved teeth: eyes of moderate size; the suborbitals spinous on both edges: preoperculum serrated in its posterior angle; the posterior segment serrated with nu- merous spines, excepting at its superior and ante- rior terminations: operculum rather large: back gradually a little elevated from the upper jaw to the commencement of the dorsal fin, from which point it declines to the termination of this fin: tail deep, and not suddenly contracted beyond the body : lateral line very slightly arquated from its origin to its termination : pectoral fins obovate, and not extending quite as far as opposite to the tip of the ventrals: ventrals rounded at the tip, reaching hardly half the distance to the origin of the anal fin: anal fin prominent and rounded; the first spinous ray very short; second, half the length of the soft rays: dorsal fin very short, being not longer than the interval between its termina- tion and the origin of the caudal fin; the first spi- nous ray very small, scarcely half the length of VOL. Iv.—avausT, 1824. “a $2 * NEW SPECIES OF FISH. the second, which is half as long as the third, and the latter is about half the length of the fourth ; the soft rays are about one-third longer than the fourth spinous ray: caudal fin rounded: scales rounded, ciliated: colour, above blackish-brown, becoming paler towards the inferior surface, which is light yellowish; fins, excepting the ven- trals, dusky. B. 6. P..10. V.7. into three spots. Var. b. Central spot of each elytron extended backward, and confluent with the tip of the margin. COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 93 2. C. mali. Elytra brownish red; each with seven black spots, and a common one on the scu- tel. Inhabits North America. C. mali. Melsh. Catal. Head black ; two white spots between the eyes: thorax black; two small white spots at the base, and a white lateral margin including a black spot; anterior edge yellow; spots on the elytra placed 1, 3, 3, and a common one at the base: beneath black; margin of the abdomen fulvous: feet tes- taceous : thighs black. Length seven-twentieths of an inch. Var. a. Spots of the elytra surrounded with a whitish areola. Varietas ocellata. Melsh. Catal. Var. b. Ground colour of the elytra whitish. C. ocellata. Melsh. Catal. 3. C. parenthesis. Elytra pale yellowish, each with a spot; posterior lunule and common spot at base. Coccinella parenthesis. Melsh. Catal. 3 5-notata. Knoch in Melsh. Catal. Inhabits the United States. Head black ; labrum testaceous; a white, abbre- viated, frontal line, and a spot near each eye: tho- rax black; a square spot at base; anterior and lateral margin, and abbreviated, acute line before, white: elytra with a humeral, black spot; a com- mon one near the base connected with the scutel; 94 COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. a large lunule, occupying the posterior half of the elytron, sometimes interrupted into two distinct spots: beneath black. Length one-fifth of an inch. 4. C. tibialis. Elytra pale yellowish-red, with a common spot near the base, and six black spots on each. Inhabits Missouri. Head black; frontal spot, ‘ad all before the eyes, white: thorax black; anterior and_ lateral margins white, so branched as almost to inclose a black spot on each side: elytra pale orange; spots placed 1, 2, 2, 1: beneath black: venter margined with pale orange : tibia and tarsi testaceous. Length more than one fifth of an inch. |» 5. C. bioculata. Elytra red; each with a black spot on the middle. Inhabits the United States. Head black; orbits white : thorax black; a large ‘marginal spot; anterior margin, and two spots at the base, white : elytra reddish; a transverse, oval, black spot on the middle of each, sometimes in- cluded in an obsolete, white areola: beneath black: venter margined with rufous. Length one-fifth of an inch. The anterior margin of the thorax is sometimes black like the disk, and the basal spots are wanting, 6. C. albifrons. Elytra yellow; suture and two spots on each, black; head and anterior part of the thorax whitish. COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 95 Inhabits Missouri. Head yellowish : thorax black ; anterior and la- teral margins, and abbreviated line before, white : elytra, with the suture, tip, outer edge, and two spots, black; spots placed one near the humerus, and the other behind the middle. Length less than one-fifth of an inch. Taken on the Missouri by Mr. T. Nuttall. 7. C. abdominalis. White; thorax with seven, elytra each with eight black spots. Inhabits Arkansa. Yellowish-white: head immaculate : thorax with seven black spots placed 2, 5; the anterior ones, placed on the middle, oblong, oblique, slightly undulated, and nearly confluent at tip with the posterior intermediate one: elytra 8-spotted ; spots small, placed 4 near the base, 3 on the mid- dle, and 1 near the tip: postpectus dusky: venter testaceous : feet pale. Length one-fifth of an inch. 8. C. humeralis. Black; elytra with a humeral spot, and one behind the middle, red. Inhabits Arkansa. Body deep black: head, a white spot each side between the eyes: antenne and palpi pale: thorax, an obsolete, whitish, lateral margin and anterior angle: elytra, a large, oval, yellowish-red, hume- ral spot, and an orbicular, red, subsutural one on each, rather behind the middle. Length more than three-twentieths of an inch. 96 COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. Two specimens were obtained near the Rocky Mountains. 9. C. 20-maculata. Whitish; thorax with five, elytra each with nine black spots. Inhabits Missouri. Coccinella 20-maculata. Knoch in Melsh. Cat. Yellowish-white: thorax with four rather large, equal, black dots placed in a semicircular series, and enclosing near the base a smaller, obsolete dot: elytra, each with nine spots placed 2, 3, 3, 1, the two central. ones confluent: postpectus and venter, excepting the terminal segment, black. Length one-tenth of an inch. ENDOMYCHUS, Fabr. Latr. E. biguttatus. Black; elytra sanguineous, with two black spots. Inhabits the United States. Head, thorax, and scutel black, impunctured ; two impressed, longitudinal, abbreviated lines, one on each side at the base of the thorax : elytra san- guineous, with numerous small, irregular punc- tures, and two orbicular, black spots, the smaller one placed behind the humerus, and the other, large, placed behind the middle, a the margin. ; Length near one-fifth of an inch. COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 97 PSELAPHUS, Herbst. Latr. 1. P. carinatus. Reddish-brown; elytra recti- linearly truncated; tergum tricarinate, and with an elevated edge ; anterior tibia arcuated. Inhabits the United States. Body with short hairs: head deeply indented on the front; vertex with two small indentations : maxillary palpi with the three last joints dilated ; the ultimate one triangular or cordate, being wide- ly emarginate at tip; the inner lobe somewhat mucronate ; penultimate joint also large and tri- angular, with a slender spine or seta as long as the joint placed on the exterior angle ; antepenul- timate joint rounded, with a spine on the exterior side, similar and equal to that of the other joint: thorax rounded, somewhat angulated on the mid- dle of the side, punctured: elytra not quite half the length of the abdomen; minutely punctured, with two obtuse, elevated lines on each, obsolete before the tip, and with an impressed groove be- tween them: tergum rather Yarker than the ely- tra, carinated along the middle, and with an ab- breviated, carimate line each side at base; edge elevated : anterior tibia somewhat arcuated, gib- bous before in the middle. Length less than one-tenth of an inch. This species is not uncommon, and is often found under the loose bark of the yellow pine; it VOL. IV.—NOVEMBER, 1824. 13 98 COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. is referrible to the genus Crenistes, Reich. The elytra are terminated by a straight line like those of the dresdensis. It seems probable that the cordate, terminal joint of the maxillary palpi, and the two elongated spines of the preceding joints, may be peculiar to one sex, as a specimen in my collection has but a single spine, and the terminal joint is acute and not dilated. 2. P. riparius. Reddish-brown ; elytra recti- linearly truncated, half the length of the tergum ; tergum simple ; anterior tibia rectilinear. Inhabits Missouri. Vertex convex, with an impressed line each side: antenna, joints from the third to the eighth, inclusive, subequal ; ninth a little larger, but hard- ly longer ; tenth transversely oval, double the size of the preceding one; eleventh still wider, and nearly double the length of the two preceding ones conjunctly; maxillary palpi unarmed; ter- minal joint conic-securiform : thorax narrowed be- hind, not closely applied to the elytra; with a longitudinal, impressed line; sides not angulated in the middle, but indented on the margin: elytra half the length of the abdomen; humeral tubercle oblong : anterior tibia rectilinear : tergum convex, simple. Length more than one-twentieth of an inch. A little smaller than the preceding. It proba- bly belongs to the genus Bryaxis of Leach. COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 99 3. P. dentatus. Elytra nearly rectilinearly trun- cated, half the length of the tergum; tergum sim- ple; anterior tibia arcuated. Inhabits the United States. Head blackish ; a small indentation above each antenna: antenne rufous; joints, from the third to the eighth, inclusive, subequal; ninth a little larger, but hardly longer; tenth transverse, double the size of the preceding one; eleventh oval, wider than the tenth, and as long as the 8th, 9th and 10th conjunctly : thorax nearly orbicular, slightly prominent on the sides, blackish; an oval indenta- tion at base, and an orbicular one each side: elytra reddish-brown, nearly half the length of the ab- domen; humeral tubercle oblong; an impressed line on each elytron obsolete behind : tergum con- vex, simple, blackish: anterior tibia a little ar- euated. _ Length one-twentieth of an inch. Var. a. Reddish-brown. Smaller than either of the preceding species. 100 RAIA Description of several Species of the Linnean Genus Rata, of North America. By C. A. Le- SUEUR. (Reap avaust 17, 1824.) CHONDROPTERIGIOUS. Orpver I. With fixed Branchia. Cuvier. RAIA, Linn. Cuv. The rays properly so called, have the disk of a rhomboidal form; tail slender, furnished above towards the tip with two, and sometimes three dorsal fins ; teeth slender, and placed in quincunx on the jaws. (Cuvier.) t Dorsal fins two. 1. R. Desmarestia, male and female. 2. R. eglantiera, do. do. tt Dorsal fins three. 3. R. Chantenay, male and female. 1. R. Desmarestia, Pl. TV. Many ranges of long curved points exterior to the eyes, and upon the pectoral fins; a range of spines upon the dorsal line ; three ranges on the tail, and a spine at each extremity of the dorsal disk; two approximate RAIA. 101 fins on the superior extremity of the tail; snout elongated and obtuse; teeth discoidal, surmounted by a point. The body of the specimen, which is a male, is compressed ; subrhomboidal: snout prominent, rounded at tip, slightly emarginated each side ; the cartilage which sustains it is narrow, with small points: head narrow, covered with spines between the eyes, which are prominent, and of moderate size: spiracle small, placed but a short distance behind the eyes; three spines in an oblique line behind the spiracles: back with a range of very strong spines, terminating at the emargination which separates the pectorals from the ventrals, leaving a large space before the three spinous series of the tail, in which are small cicatrices which denote the situation of spines that had probably fallen off, or been accidentally ex- tracted; besides the three ranges of strong spines with which the tail is armed, there is one on each side, another above; there are also small asperities between the ranges, as well as between the spines of the ranges; other spines are irregularly placed before the eyes, on the sides, and near the spira- cles; those of the back, tail, and spiracles, are discoidal at base, with the point curved towards | the tail; there are also large spaces armed with long spines, particularly on the pectoral fin, and exterior to the eyes, where they are more dis- tinctly placed in quincunx; those of the fins are 102 RAIA. ® longer, and bent so that the greater portion seems to rest upon the skin, with the point directed towards the middle of the back; they are strongest opposite to the angle of the fin, and diminish sen- sibly towards the superior margin, so as to be ob- vious only to the touch; those exterior to the eyes, . and those remote from the margin, are somewhat compressed and shorter than the preceding, con- sisting of four or five distinct and separate ranges, separated from those of the fin; they are also bent, with a long point directed towards the tail ; the remainder of the body is glabrous. The specimen is dried, and although well pre- served, cannot be expected to exhibit the just proportions of nature. Breadth twelve and a half inches; from the tip of the rostrum to the origin of the tail nine inches nine lines; length of the tail nine inches five lines; appendice eight inches three lines. Colour brownish above and whitish beneath. It inhabits the sandy coasts of Florida, from whence it was brought by Messrs. Maclure, Ord, Say, and T. Peale. The remate differs from the male in being des- titute of spines on the lateral fins, and near the eyes; the body, instead of being glabrous as in the male, is armed with numerous small spinous asperities, scattered over almost all the surface, not excepting the cartilage of the nose; the sides, however, to the edge, are glabrous and transpa- RAIA. 103 rent; the tail, like that of the male, is armed with three spinous ranges, with intervening smaller ones; two small low fins, elongated like those of the male, are placed near the extremity of the tail, and distant from each other in order to give place to the insertion of two spines; the tail extends a little beyond the second fin in both sexes. Pl. 1V. fig. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Ventral do. imperfect. a. Spines exterior to the eyes. b. spines of the pectoral fins. 2. R. eglantiera, Bosc. A longitudinal series of from nine to twelve simple spines on each side upon the lateral fin; tail longer than the body, with two fins at its tip. Descrietion. Body flat, semiorbicular behind, with a wide, rounded emargination each side be- fore near the spiracles, anterior to which the edge is dilated opposite to the eyes, and then is con- tracted so as to form a short rounded rostrum; on the margin each side beneath from the ros- trum to near the eyes, are very small points ar- ranged like the teeth of a card; the remainder of the inferior surface is glabrous; above, on the rostrum, and on the margins opposite to the eyes, are strong, compressed, recurved spines; before and behind the eyes and orbits, spinous: back, with a transverse spinous disk; the line of the middle of the back unarmed, but on each side of this line are-very obvious spines which extend te 104 RAIA. the end of the tail, and commence at the middle of the transverse dorsal disk; they at first form a single series, but as they proceed backwards they increase to three series, and towards the part of the tail comprised between the two long lateral appendices, they are more prominent and consist of three or four irregular series, with intervening smaller spines; beyond the appendices they again form a single series: tail strong, broad, longer than the body, with two equal, similar fins near the extremity, each sustained by a broad falciform ray, which has numerous ramifications ; these fins are each united to the tail at their inferior surface by a membrane, they are narrow and elongated, the extremity of the first nearly attaining the base of the second, which does not quite reach the tip of the tail: eye somewhat prominent: cheeks a little dilated before the eye, yellow and transpa- rent between the cartilage of the rostrum and the margin: spiracles large behind and very near the eyes: mouth small, transverse: inferior jaw pro- jecting a little in the middle, and received into an emargination of the superior jaw: teeth inclining upon each other, at base a little depressed, dilated, towards the tip rounded and prolonged forward in a small point which is also depressed: nostrils with two enlarged, rounded appendices at the ex- tremity : lateral fins thin, rounded : ventrals long, narrow, with a round anterior lobe, elongated be- hind and attached to the appendice, which is much RAIA. 105 elongated, equalling half the length of the tail : zail with a small membrane each side of its whole length. : Width ten inches. Length from the tip of the rostrum to the origin of the tail nine inches, Tail ten inches. Colour, above reddish, sprinkled with. small spots; beneath, whitish, with reddish tints. . [have met with this species in the Philadelphia market, where, however, it is very rare. The specimen isa male. It is common in the bay of Charleston, where Mr. Bosc observed it; his de- scription is inserted in Lacepede’s Histoire des Poissons, vol. 2. p. 105. pl. 4. f. 1. The specimen which Mr. Bosc described was a female; and as he says nothing of the male, it is probable that he had not seen that sex. The form of the male that I observed, was alto- gether the same as that of the female which Mr. Bose described, although it was from a different locality; and I have no doubt of its being the same species; but at the same time I may observe, that Mr. Bose’s drawing is ambiguous as respects the position and form of the fins placed near the ex- tremity of the tail; and as this author draws a part of his description from these fins, it is to be wished that he had been more exact with respect to these important appendages. If his descrip- tion is perfectly accurate, the individual that came VOL, 1V..—-NoveMBER, 1824. 14 106 RAIA. under my observation is a new species; but before this can be determined, more detailed descriptions must be drawn out from recent specimens, a task which it is desirable that some naturalist at Charleston would perform. 3. R. Chantenay. Femate. Pl. V. fig. 3 & 4. Three fins at the extremity of the tail ; body be- neath with small irregular spots. Description. Body flat, subrhomboidal, stout one-fifth broader than long: head but little eleva- ted: rostrum projecting, acute, of a moderate size, rough at tip and furnished with very small points: mouth transverse, rectilinear, armed with small, flat, pentagonal teeth, a little separated in each jaw : nostrils small, and the canal, which commu- nicates with the mouth, is covered by a large, rounded appendice, fringed om the margin : bran- chial apertures five on each side, subequal, sub- equidistant, and placed upon an oblique line: eyes small, not prominent; ais yellow: spiracles large, very near to and behind the eyes: pectoral fins large, triangular, terminating obtusely on the. sides, narrow and rounded behind; ventrals emarginate, wide before, narrow behind: anus posterior to the origin of the ventrals: tail very robust, margined with a slight membrane each side, subdepressed, destitute of a serrated spine, armed laterally with points, and terminated by three rounded fins, of which the third is very small and near the tip of the tail, the others are subequal and larger: body RATA. 107 above glabrous, excepting on the anterior margin of the pectoral fins, between the eyes, and on the extremity of the rostrum, which are rough to the touch ; scattered reddish-brown spots of various sizes and forms, and a transversely-oblong sub- ocellated spot each side of the middle: beneath whitish, lightly tinted with rosaceous; surface smooth and soft to the touch; towards the ante- rior part of each side of the anus are six small black lines or spots; rays of the ventral fins very distinct beneath. Length from the end of the rostrum to the base of the tail two feet, breadth two and a half feet; tail as long as the space intervening between the eyes and its base. Mate, Pl. V. fig. 1& 2. Four series of points near the angle of each pectoral fin, and smaller ones on each side opposite to the eyes. Body subrhomboidal like that of the female : rostrum acute, furnished above with points which extend nearly to the extremity of the fin; they are long, strong, inflected towards the middle of the back, placed in quincunx, and consisting of four approximate ranges : orbits with small points before and behind, rendering these parts rough to the touch, but not so distinct as those opposite to the eyes: tail depressed, wide at base, termi- nating in a point, and armed on each side with a range of spines and with a membrane beneath the spines; towards the tip are three semioval fins, of ~ 108 RAIA. which the third is smallest, and the first and se- cond subequal : mouth and eyes nearly like those _of the female : teeth discoidal at base, surmounted with a short point directed towards the throat, less abraded than those of the female, in which they are more flattened and pentagonal : ventral fins widely emarginated, narrow, and each terminated by an appendice, which characterizes the sex : colour reddish above: skin smooth, excepting on, the parts above indicated as armed with asperities: beneath whitish, sprinkled as above with small, blackish spots. The dimensions agree with those of the Sema. In the months of July and August the pectoral, fins only are sometimes brought to market. __ The above description is made from a dried specimen preserved in the Philadelphia Museum,. and I am indebted to Mr. Titian Peale for the op- portunity of examining it. This species seems to me to have some afinity to that described by Dr. S. L. Mitchill of New York, under the name of R. ocellata; but the lat- ter is said to have only two fins on the tail, a cha- racter that sufficiently distinguishes it from the present species, which has three, as in the R..cla- vata, R.rubus, and R. batis, (Lacep. vol. y. p. ft pl. 20. fig. 1.) I dedicate this species to the amiable nthe of the “ Calandrier de Flore,” and of the “Genies des Peuples.” RAIA, 109 Pl. V. fig. 1, male ventral view. Fig. 2, male, dorsal view. Fig. 3, female, dorsal view. Fig. 4, female, ventral view. Fig. 5, fringed appendice of the nostrils. Fig. 6, spine of the pectoral fins. Fig.7,mouth. Fig. 8, teeth. TRYGON, dans. Tail armed with a dentated spine; teeth slen- der, dense, placed in quincunx ; head enveloped by the pectorals as in the common Rays, so as to form in general a very obtuse disk. _ Tail slender, destitute of fins. T. sabina. Tail more than twice as long as the body ; ventral fins long, pointed; appendice in the male slender, distinct, as long as the ventrals; a range of spines upon the back and the origin of the tail; on each side of the back are two spines ; upper part of the head rough. _ Descrierion. Body orbicular, a little longer than wide, terminated before by a short rostrum, form- ing nearly a right angle; nasal cartilage narrow, without a groove or spines; upper part of the head furnished with small spines, which render ‘this part rough to the touch; the remainder of the upper surface of the body glabrous : pectoral fins subrectilinear before, rounded behind and at their lateral angles; the rays of these fins are obvious even on the sides of the nasal cartilage: eyes small, not very distinct : spiracles placed behind the opening of the mouth, small, but slightly ar- 110 RAIA. euated, armed with small, obtuse, rhomboidal teeth : colour of the dried! preparation, above red- dish. The specimen is a male; the inferior surface of the body, the branchial openings and nostrils, are destroyed. It was communicated to me by Mr. T. Peale, who accompanied Messrs. Maclure, Ord, and Say; on their expedition to Florida. © By the form of its body and tail, this species is very closely allied to that of the coast of France and of the Mediterranean; but by a comparison with a drawing of the latter, that I made at Nice and at Havre, I have found it to be different, and have been enabled to assign to it the distinc- tive characters above mentioned, which when they shall have been confirmed by new observa- tions, will enable us to fix the species with more precision than I have been able to do from a dried specimen. It is much to be desired that those who have an opportunity of examining a recent specimen, will avail themselves of it. The follow- ing comparative characters of the known species; may be useful to this inquiry. ; R. pastinaca, Bloch. pt. 3, pl. 82. female, anit Encycl. Meth. pl. IIL. fig. 8, male, from the coast of France. Tail less than twice the length of the body: ventrals of moderate size; appendice of the male very short, and far from attaining the extremity of the ventrals; no spines on the back or tail. Of that of Nice the ventral fins are more RAIA. poe J truncated, straighter, and the appendices of the male are longer by one half than the ventral fins, a character which distinguishes it from the two first... All the species described and figured by au- thors that I can refer to, are females. In the Nouveau Dictionaire d’Histoire Naturelle, where I expected to find a good figure, I was surprised to see the large spine of the tail represented as taking its rise from the under surface of this part. MYLIOBATIS, Dumeril. Head prominent beyond the pectoral fins, which ' are wider transversely than in the other Rays, giv- ing to the whole animal the appearance of a bird of prey with its wings extended, and hence it has been compared to an eagle; jaws armed with wide, flat teeth, connected together like stones in a pavement, and of different proportions according to the species; tail very slender and elongated, terminating in a point, and like that of the Try- gon, armed above with a strong spine, which is serrated on each side, and with a small dorsal fin towards the base. (Cuvier, Regne Animal.) | M. freminvillii. Orbit salient, surmounted by an eminence; ventrals rounded; appendices longer than the fins. 112 RAIA. » Body wider than long, rhomboidal: pectorals pointed at tip: back a little arcuated : head eleya- ted: eyes large, vertical, orbits long, subangular at their summit: spiracles large, situated behind the eyes: rostrum salient, rounded, broad, flat, distinct from the body by a rounded emargination behind the eyes on each side: mouth beneath the eyes small, but little arcuated, with the jaws pav- ed with very broad teeth, in the middle of many ranges of narrow ones, on each side; all these teeth are flat on the surface: nostrils small, and with a small appendice; they are situated between the end of the rostrum and the angles of the mouth : pectoral fins formed like an isoceles tri- angle, its base being the line which passes before the eyes and terminates at the posterior angles of the fins; the three sides are rectilinear: ventrals small, rounded, each furnished with a short, dac- tiliform, distinct appendice, which is longer than the fin: anus small, placed in a line with the ori- gin of the ventrals: tail very long, filiform, trian- gular, with a small rounded fin, followed by two flattened, denticulated points on each side, which; as well as the fin, are placed a little beyond the extremity of the ventrals: branchial openings male, approximated, five on each side, so situated as to form together a half oval : colour, above oli- vaceous, more or less deep in different specimens, paler on the margins, and sprinkled with distinct rounded spots; beneath white: skin glabrous; I RAIA. 113 did not observe any spine on the tail, or points on the pectorals. Length two feet, breadth from two to three feet. This species is very common in small inlets in Howland’s Bay, Rhode Island, where I had an opportunity of examining many fresh specimens recently rejected by the fishermen, and cast upon the shore in the midst of others, in various states of decomposition. The freminvillii may be compared with the aquila of Bloch, part 3, tab. 81, of which the form of the body is orbicular. Risso and Cuvier very properly cite this figure with doubt; the latter author refers it to Trycoy, considering it as a species of that genus, to which, says he, a dor- sal fin has been added. Our species is allied to that of the Mediterranean, described by Risso in his Ichthyology of Nice, p. 9, but the description he has given is not sufficiently detailed; he says nothing of the form of the body or of the fins, but refers to the figure of Rondelet, p. 268, lib. 12, cap. 2. Rondelet’s figure was, to all appearance, made from the dried subject, yet I have no difficulty in recognising the truncated form of the ventral fins; the body appears to me much larger, and the fins more angulated. The same characters are equally observable in Salviani’s figure, which is repeated by Willughby, T. c. 2, and again copied in the Encyclopedie Methodique, pl. 4, fig. 10; but they are still more obvious in a drawing which VOL, IV.—NOVEMBER, 1824. 15 114 RAIA. I myself made in the year 1809, during our so- journ at Nice, where my friend Risso assured us that it was the same species described in his Ich- thyology. In my drawing, the appendice of the male is not extended beyond the ventrals; while in the American species, it extends beyond it al- most its whole length. This character, together with that of the rounded ventrals, appears to me sufficient to justify us in separating the present species from that of the Mediterranean. Another species, also closely allied to the pre- sent, is the Raie aigle of Commerson, discovered near the Isles of France and Madagascar, and figured by Lacepede, vol. 1, p. 6, fig. 2. The form of the body, its colour, and the spots of the back, would lead me to believe it to be absolutely of the same species, but that the spine and fin are placed between the extremities of the ven- trals, whilst in our species they are situated be- yond the extremities. The Rata narinari of Willughby, which inhabits the coast of Brazil, seems to me to be the same as that of Lacepede, figured from a drawing by Commerson, who pro- bably found his specimen in the Brazilian sea. After an examination of the figures and deserip- tions given by various authors, with a view to ascertain the affinity of the freminvillii, I have been led to the same conclusion that Cuvier adopted after a similar investigation, that all those cited as the same species, are in‘ reality RAIA. 115 specifically distinct. Cuvier enumerates the fol- lowing: aes La Raie aigle, Dumer. ) Duham. p. II, sec. 9. Rata aquila, Linn. : pl. 10. R. narinari. Linn. Margrave, 75. R. flagellum, Schn. 73. R. nieuhowii, Will. App. tab. 10, fig. 3. To these I add the following : R. quadriloba, nob. Journal Acad. Nat. Se. R. hein nob.“ 4 ¥ CEPHALOPTERA, Dumer. These have the slender tail, the serrated spine, the small dorsal, and the very wide pectorals of the Myliobatis; but their teeth are still more slender than those of Trygon, and finely denticulated; their head is truncated before, and the pectorals, instead of embracing it, have each of their anterior extremities prolonged in a salient point, which gives the fish the appearance of having two horns. (Cuvier Regne Animal.) C. giorna. Jaws terminal, the inferior one a little more advanced ; two large, flabelliform, moveable appendices, one on each side of the mouth ; eyes prominent, lateral; tail longer than the body, armed with one or two spines, very dis- tinct from the dorsal fin, which is situated between the ventrals. Body fifteen or sixteen feet wide between the 116 RAIA. extremities of the pectoral fins, by seven feet nine or ten inches long: tail four or five inches longer than the body: mouth very large, horizon- tal and terminal, two feet six inches wide; jaws unequal, the inferior a little more prominent, with very small asperities, which supply the place of teeth, they are distant and consist of many ranges; on the superior jaw the asperities are hardly per- ceptible: nostrils small, situated beneath the an- terior angle of the appendices and near to the angles of the mouth, each covered by a small rounded lobe; no apparent tongue: eyes semi- globular, prominent, situated on a conical base at the origin of the appendices, so as to be lateral, and at the same time nearly on the anterior part of the head; they are two inches in diameter, and the pupil nine lines: the appendices are one foot wide by two feet two and a half inches long from the eye to the extremity, they are thick before and thinner and more flexible on the inner side; these organs appear to serve as large palpi; the radiated appearance of their surface, indicates that they are sustained by numerous, interior, cartila- ginous rays, similar to those of the pectoral fins; ears, behind the eyes, near to the widest superior margin: branchial openings five on each side, large, linear, and sustained by a cartilage through more than half their length; they are placed very near each other, the interval between the right and left series is eighteen inches, the fifth open- RAIA. 117 ing is the smallest: pectoral fins equal in length and width, arcuated before, lunate behind, a little dilated and rounded at the extremity near the ven- trals : ventrals small, narrow, rounded, not longer than the pectorals and united with them: dorsal small, triangular, and placed on the base of the tail between the ventrals, than which they are shorter: anus small, longitudinal, between the origin of the ventrals: fai] subcompressed, feeble and soft, without asperities, or spinous tubercles; armed above beyond the dorsal fin with a short serrated spine, near which is an indentation, pro- bably the seat of a former spine which has disap- peared : skin destitute of tubercles or spines, but rude to the touch, and rough like that of some species of Squatus: colour, above blackish a lit- tle tinged with reddish, somewhat clouded; the branchial rays were marked and distinct by a darker tint which followed the direction of the in- terior cartilages in arcuated lines: beneath white, dusky on the posterior margin with many darker spots, irregular in form and disposition, the largest of which are on the abdomen, and the smaller on the margin and middle of the fins. _A female fetus of the preceding has the same form, the same appendices to the head; the lan- ceolate spine of the tail, preceded by a slight de- pression for the replacing spine; the dorsal fin likewise triangular and similarly situated; the ap- pendices are horizontally before the opening of 118 RATA. the mouth, and cover this part by their extremities and interior margin, which being flexible had the power of raising itself; the body is one foot eleven inches wide by ten and a half inches long; the opening of the mouth four inches; inferior a little more prominent than the superior jaw, and fur- nished with very small teeth in seven or eight ranges, they are placed somewhat distant from each other and in quincunx; those of the superior jaw are so minute as to be only distinguished by the aid of the lens; head truncated, and termi- nated by the jaw in a straight line; eyes placed on the anterior sides, and giving an angulated ap- pearance to the part; the tail, which is very soft, seems to be furnished beneath with a small longi- tudinal fin opposite to the spine; but this may, perhaps, be only loose skin, as I did not observe — it on the adult; colour reddish above; skin smooth; tail four or five inches longer than ie belly: ‘ele the Philadelphia Museum.) Towards the end of August 1822, et above de- scribed specimen was brought to the Philadelphia Museum. This gigantic Ray was taken near the entrance of the Delaware by some fishermen who were armed with harpoons and other instruments necessary for the purpose. They were directed to the presence of several of these animals by the agitation of the waters about them, and the ‘noise they made by striking the waves with their i fins. aly RATA. 119 _ This large species is known by the name of Devil-fish; a name applied by Catesby to a nearly similar animal, which, becoming entangled in the cable of a small vessel lying in the bay of Charles- ton, drew it a distance of several miles. The imagination, always struck peculiarly by extraordinary objects, is ever ready to transform them to monsters; hence the names Devil-fish, Wonderful Sea-Serpent, &c. and another large specimen of Ray which was captured at the same time and place, was transported to New York, where it was exhibited under the name of the Vampire of the Ocean! An account of this speci- men was read to the Lyceum of that city by their late president, and published in the Annals of that institution, with a figure. Recently, while about to publish a figure of the specimen belonging to the Philadelphia Museum, [ observed a very exact description of an indivi- dual, taken at Wilmington Island, near Savannah, published in the Philadelphia Gazette of the 6th of August last. It was evidently of the same spe- cies with the present. I have no doubt that the Ray mentioned by Catesby, (vol. i. p. 32,) under the name of Devil- fish, was of the same species with all those large ones more recently seen on our coast; and I am moreover inclined to think that they are no other than the Rata giorna, Lacep. v. 20. 3, to which Cuvier refers the R. fabroniana, Lacep. vii. pl. 5, 120 RAIA; £3; the R. manatia, Will. App.ix. 3. &c. the figures of which are very imperfect, and the sentighinns not precise. _ If we take into consideration the position of the Azore Islands, which are situated between the Strait of Gibraltar and the North American coast, it will be obvious that this large species, known by the name of R. cornuta, has an easy means of communication between the two continents, by these islands, when they pass out of the straits into the ocean. If their place of residence is the vicinity of those islands, we can the more readily believe that they would be occasional visitants at this coast. It is worthy of remark, that they have wig ahs served to approach our sandy coasts between the months of July and September, when the time has arrived for bringing forth their young; and it is probably for this purpose that they made their appearance here. I have adopted for this species the name of the celebrated Giorna, well known in science, and re- ject such names as Devil, Vampire, &c. which may well be associated together, as names calcu- lated to repel those who are disposed to admire the beauties of nature, and who have an inclina- tion to cultivate scientific natural history. How far preferable is the custom of applying the names of those naturalists, who have enriched science with new discoveries, or new and valuable RAIA. 121 observations, to that which introduces into our pages those chimeras that do not elsewhere exist, than in a morbid or timorous imagination. The descriptions and notes which have been given of the large species of Ray, are so imper- fect, and the figures so incomplete, that before we can be justified in deciding upon any as new, we must haye more detailed descriptions and exact figures, made, if possible, from the living or recent specimens. ‘The annexed figure and these ac- companying observations are, I am fully aware, far from being complete; but they may be a use- ful addition to those already published, and serve to make known and to fix the species seen on the coast of North America. Pl. VI. fig. 1. Ventral view, with the appendages reflect- ed. Fig. 2. Foetus ventral view, the appendages in the natural position. Fig. 3. Foetus dorsal view, the appen- dages partly extended. Fig. 4. Foetus, lower part of the back, and tail. ; ; YOL, IV.—-NOVEMBER, 1824, 16 122 ANDALUSITE. Description of a new crystalline form of the Axpa- wusite. By G. Troost, M.D. Read June 29, 1824. Through the politeness of my friend Major Delafield, of New York, I have an opportunity of describing a new variety of the crystalline form of Andalusite, the character of which does not appear to be sufficiently understood. It appears from a letter of Major Delafield to Professor Silliman, published in the American Journal of Science and Arts, that the Major dis- covered this mineral in Litchfield, Connecticut, associated with quartz; it seems, however, that the specimen was not found in situ, as the disco- verer could not decide whether it came from gra- nite or not. The crystal alluded to, is apparently a right angled four sided prism, two of the angles of the base being truncated and bevelled. But as in this case we fake two of the faces that belong to the sides for those of the summits, and two of the summits to form the sides, it is evident that an erroneous idea of the form is conveyed. When the crystal is placed in the proper posi- tion, so that the perpendicular line drawn through the upper and lower extremities is vertical, we then see that it is a six sided prism, having four emar- ginated edges terminated by a dihedral summit. To reider this more intelligible, I add a diagram of the crystal in its true position, Pl. ii fig. 6. ANDALUSITE. 123 There is an apparent deviation in the symmetry of the specimen under examination from the form here represented. The face P, one of the penta- gons of which the upper summit is composed, touches the pentagon which runs parallel to y, by which accident the faces y y, are very much enlarged. ‘These faces form a right angle with two of the faces M of the prism, and are generally mistaken for faces of the prism, and of course the whole is considered a four sided prism; at the same time the face P of the pyramids forms with the remaining face of the prism / and z on one side, and T and z on the other; what is mistaken ~ for a summit, making a plane, two of the angles of which are truncated and bevelled, the supposed truncation being the face /, and the bevelment z on one, and the face T, the truncation, and z the bevelment on the other side. This form of the Andalusite coincides with a form of the Feldspar progressive, and is the fourth form by which this mineral is approximated to the Feldspar, Haiiy having described three. Pl. IT. Figs. 5 & 6. ANDALUSITE progressive G2 G4 M2 H T P i 02 Mer Erg: From / upon P 60° y P 99° 41’ 8” M 208 M P 90° z-and 2 land T 150° 124 FOSSIL SHELLS. An account of some of the Foss Suetis of Mary- mene By Tuomas Say. Read July we 12h The following descriptions mention conta specimens in a very large and fine collection of fossil shells which Mr. John Finch obtained with much labour and some expeiise in Maryland, and which that gentleman with great liberality sub- mitted to my examination. Many of these shells appear to the eye nearly as perfect, in every re- spect, with the exception of colour, as the recent ones of the coast, and not afew of the bivalves have both valves attached together by the teeth of the hinge; circumstances which indicate an undisturbed deposition from the waters in which they had lived. Respecting the limits which cir- cumscribe this body of shells, the relative situation in which the species are found, &c. we may ex- pect much interesting information from Mr. Finch. I may, however, observe at present, that it seems probable that the formation extends much farther south than might at first be supposed, or that nearly a contemporary one exists in South Caro- lina. Fora knowledge of this fact, I am indebted to Mr. Stephen Elliott, who sent me several shells from near the Santee river, one of which corre- sponds perfectly with a species in the collection of Mr. Finch, ¥ FOSSIL SHELLS. 125 TURRITELLA. T. plebeia. Pi. vii. fig. 1.. Whorls convex, hardly flattened in the middle, with about twelve revolving elevated striw, the middle ones alter- nately somewhat smaller; transverse wrinkles’ dis- tinct. * This shell seems to attain to the length of rather more than one inch. Several specimens are im- bedded in a small mass of light lead coloured clay. It somewhat resembles T. brevis of Sowerby, but the striz are not crenulated. A species of Turri- retta was found by Mr. A. Jessup in New Jersey, quite different from the present species, and resem- bling the T. conoida, Sowerby, but much smaller. NATICA. N. interna. PI. vii. fig. 2. Subglobose, de- pressed, subglabrous ; umbilicus open, with a re- volving rib. Description. Shell destitute of revolving stri«, and the wrinkles are not prominent, except near the suture, towards the labrum, and on the verge cf the umbilicus: spire but little prominent, acute: aperture subovate: umbilicus open, permitting a view nearly to the inner tip of the spire; a revolv- ing rib above the middle of each volution, termi- nating at the labrum in a hardly prominent callus. 126 FOSSIL SHELLS. Length seventeen-twentieths, breadth nine- tenths of an inch. Several specimens are in Mr. Finch’s collection in tolerable preservation, but very fragile, though not thin. I obtained a species of Natica at Mul- lica Hill, New Jersey, a few years since ; but it is so changed by casualties, and by the infiltration of ferruginous matter, that its specific: alliance with the present species cannot be appreciated. OLIVA. Several specimens occur about the length of one inch and two-fifths, but too imperfect to admit of = decision as to the species. wit BUCCINUM. 1. B. porcinum. PI. vii. fig. 3. Subovate, acute, slightly undulated, and spirally striated; labrum , toothed. Descrierion. Shell with numerous, subequal, slight undulations, disappearing on the body whoa, and about seventeen transverse, little elevated strie: whorls nearly six, but little convex: suture very narrow, consisting of a mere indented line : apex acute: aperture moderate, rather more than half the length of the shell: dabéwm covering the columella, concave : labrum not thickened; on the inner submargin with strizeform. teeth. FOSSIL SHELLS. 127 Length one inch and a quarter, breadth rather more than three-fourths of an inch. This is shorter than the reticosum of Sowerby, the suture is not so deeply impressed, the undu- lations are not so obvious, and the concavity of the labium is much more profound. 2. B. aratum. PA. vii. fig. 4. Oblong subovate, spirally striated ; labrum thickened and toothed within. Description. Shell with more than twenty re- volving, slightly elevated lines: whorls but little convex: suture very narrow, consisting of a mere indented line: aperture moderate : labium cover- ing the columella, which is concave : labrum thick- ened on the exterior, and with strieform teeth on the interior submargin. Breadth half an inch, length of the aperture rather less. Smaller and of a much more slender form than the preceding, and altogether destitute of undula- tions. The summit of the spire being deficient in the specimen, its length cannot be ascertained. FUSUS. F. 4-costatus. PI. vii. fig. 5. Ovate-ventricose; with a dilated umbilicus, and four much elevated belts, which are more dilated at their tops. Descrirtion. Spire short, the volutions with but two belts, the others being concealed by the suc- 128 FOSSIL SHELLS. ceeding whorls: body whorl with four belts, which are equidistant, much elevated, wider at top than at the junction with the whorl, and with one or two deeply impressed lines; intervening spaces wrinkled, the wrinkles extending over the belts: aperture suboval: canal short and contracted : la- brum with a groove corresponding with each of the exterior ribs: umbilicus dilated, large, not visi- bly penetrating to the inner summit; the exterior margin prominent and deeply dentated. Varies much in size; the smallest in Mr. Finch’s collection is about three-fifths of an inch wide, another is rather more than one inch in width, and the largest is nearly three inches and three- fourths; but a fragment of a still larger one leads me to believe that the species attained to a width of more than four inches. I am unable to state the proportional length, all the specimens haying truncated spires. The belts of some young spe- cimens are altogether destitute of the impressed lines. It seems hardly possible that Lister’s figure 2. of plate 1059, was intended for this shell, although it has certainly a general similarity in the ribbed appearance of the figure, and notwithstanding the locality “a Marylandia,” which is engraved with it, inasmuch as there is not any appearance what- ever of an umbilicus, which is so much dilated and so remarkable in the species under consideration. Lister’s figure is quoted- by several authors FUSSIL SHELLS. 129 amongst the synonymes of Buccinum scala, and con- sidered as a variety of that shell, which may per- haps be correct ; but in that case the fact of such a shell having been found in Maryland, is at least doubtful. Our shell may be the same with the species which Dillwyn informs us is mentioned in the Portland Catalogue, lot 3516. A fine specimen of this shell was sent me some time since by Mr. Stephen Elliott of Charleston, who informed me that it was found with other interesting and perfect shells which accompanied it, on the Santee river, a little below the junction of the Congaree and Wateree rivers. Fusus cinereus nobis. A variety of this shell is in Mr. Finch’s collection; it differs but little from the recent shells, the spire and beak are slightly longer. FULGUR. 1. F. canaliculatus, Linn. Lister Conch. pl. 878, f. 2. Ellis’ Coral. pl. 33, fb. As this latter figure has the channel of the spire, and is accompanied by the ovaries of the canaliculatus, it is, no doubt, the young of this shell, reversed by an error of the engraver as Dillwyn has already supposed. Variety. Sutural channel dilated, columella much arcuated. With the exception of the variation above men- VOL. IV.-—NOVEMBER, 1824. 17 130 FOSSIL SHELLS. tioned, the specimen agrees very well with the species to which I have referred it. The granu- lations which crown the spire of the young shell are very evident in this specimen. ‘These eleva- tions characterize the Murex granum, Schreter, which Linné considered to be the young of this species. 2. F. carica, Gmel. Lister, Conch. pl. 880. _. F. eliceans, Montf. p. 152. Knorr delic. pl. 30. f. 1. There can be no doubt of the identity of a spe- cimen collected by Mr. Finch, with this species. | The carica varies considerably in the magni- tude and number of the elevations which consti- tute the armature of the shoulder. In the young shell they are more numerous than in the adult, and the beak is proportionally longer and more slender. A variety in this fossil collection has the elevations of the shoulder hardly prominent. CALYPTRA&A. 1. C. grandis. PI. vii. fig. 6. a. Internal view. b. Lateral view. Ovate; internal appendage di- lated, and attached to the side of the shell.- Descriprion. Shell large, ovate at base, inequi- lateral, concentrically wrinkled, destitute of spines or processes: apex behind the middle nearly erect: internal appendage transverse, patulous, oceupy- ing a considerable portion of the cavity of the shell, FOSSIL SHELLS, i31l and attached by one side, from its summit to its edge, to the shorter side of the shell; its summit corresponding to the inner apex of the shell. _ This very remarkable shell is perfectly distinct as a species from any other yet known. That it does not, in rigid accuracy, belong to the genus Catyprrza, must be evident to every conchologist who considers the characters laid down in the above description, and who is, at the same time, aware, that the internal appendage of the type of the genus, is open on one side throughout the whole of itslength. If it be not properly a Ca- LypTR#A, it cannot be referred to the closely re- lated genera Inrunpisutum, Montf. and Mrrrura of Gray, much less to any other genus with which we are acquainted. I therefore propose that it be placed in a new genus under the following name and characters. DISPOTAA. Shell univalve, conoidal, patelliform, with an internal entire cup-shaped appendage, adhering by its side and apex to the side of the shell. To this genus will also be referred a recent spe- cies brought by Lieut. Gantt, U.S. N. from South America, and presented by him to the Academy. Of this shell I cannot find any description, and will therefore characterize it as follows: D. tubifera. Shell oval, inequilateral, with all 132 FOSSIL SHELLS. radiating strie, and numerous tubular processes : apex inclined towards the shorter side; within livid- brown, polished: cup-shaped appendage brown near the apex, margin pure white, and distinct from the side as faras the submargin. Caryptrza costata, nobis, Silliman’s Journal, vol. 2, p. 40, belongs to this genus. In Mr. Finch’s collection are fine specimens of this species. FISSURELLA. F. redimicula. PA. viii. fig. 1. Ovate-oval a lit- tle oblong, conic-convex, with approximate longi- tudinal strie; foramen ovate-oval, inclined. Description. Longitudinal striz slender, nume- rous, granulated, approximate; the granulations of the strie give the appearance of concentric obso- lete lines: aperture, inner margin crenate; thick- ened inner margin of the foramen truncate at one end. Longest diameter one inch and a half. T am not acquainted with the F. peruviana, Lam. and the description of that shell will not enable me to judge satisfactorily of its degree of affinity with the present species. % OSTREA. 1. O. compressirostra. PI. viii. fig. 2. a In- ternal view. b. External view. Shell sinistral, FOSSIL SHELLS, 135 subovate: inferior valve conyex, with numerous convex ribs interrupted by fornicated scales at the lines of increment: hinge curving a little up- ward, very much contracted and short: superior valve flat, wrinkled concentrically, without any appearance of longitudinal lines: hinge more di- lated than that of the superior valve, and oblique with respect to the thickness of the shell. Length of the specimen four inches and four- fifths ; breadth four inches and a quarter. A large superior valve is five inches and three quarters long, and five inches and a quarter broad.. Like many species of this genus, it varies much in form, and in the prominence of the ribs on its convex valve ; but these ribs are very obvious on the nine specimens under examination. Exter- nally some varieties have a striking resemblance to O. bellovacina, Lam. but the hinge is much more contracted. Besides those obtained ee Mr. Finch, Mr. Z. Collins presented a fine specimen to the Acade- my, found on the west branch of the Potomac, about fifteen miles below Alexandria. PECTEN. 1. P. Jeffersonius. Pl. ix. fig. 1. Subequivalyve, with from nine to eleven striated ribs. Description. Shell rounded, convex, not quite equivalved, one of the valves being a little more 134 FOSSIL SHELLS. convex than the other; the whole surface covered with approximate, scaly strie : ribs elevated, round- ed, with six or seven strie on the back of each; intervening grooves profound: ears equal; sinus of the ear of the superior valve, not profound, being barely one eighth part of the length of the ear: within with broad rounded flattened ribs. Length five inches and arsegp cca breadth five inches and seven-tenths. Specimens of this truly fine shell are not un- common. The Academy has been long in pos- session of several single valves, in an excellent state of preservation, obtained by my friend Mr. J. Gilliams, and others which were presented by Mr. Watson, who purchased them at the sale of the collection of the late Professor Barton. Mr. Finch has succeeded in obtaining entire specimens of the two valves of the same individual. I am of the opinion that Lister’s plate 167, is intended to represent this shell, and that the singular ap- pearance of the marginal strie in that figure is a deviation from the ordinary formation of the spe- cies, and is owing to the dislocation of the lines of increment, and obliteration of the longitudinal strie. Lister describes his specimens to be of a “blue-clay colour,” in this respect perfectly cor- responding with two specimens before me. On one of the specimens is an imperfect Asrrea. 2.P. Madisonius. Much compressed, witts — sixteen striated ribs. FOSSIL SHELLS, 135 Description. Shell rounded, much compressed; the whole surface covered with scaly striae: ribs elevated, rounded, with about three strie on the back of each; intervening grooves rather profound: ears equal, sinus of the ear of the superior valve profound, extending at least one third of the length of the ear. Length rather more than four inches and a half; breadth four inches and four-fifths. In magnitude this shell is justly entitled to com- pare with the preceding; but it differs in being much less convex, and in having a much more profound sinus in the ear of the superior valve. Three specimens, from which the above descrip- tion was taken, belong to the Academy, and were presented by Mr. Watson. 3. P. Clintonius.* PI. ix. fig. 2. Auricles yal surface with from one hundred and forty to one hundred and eighty elevated longitudinal lines. Descrietion. Shell suborbicular, compressed, with very numerous, regular, elevated strize, which are muricated with minute scales formed by trans- verse wrinkles, that are sparse in the middle of the length, and crowded each side of the shell; the | intervening spaces are regularly concave, and in parts very distinctly wrinkled: auricles equal, * Mr. Finch requested that three species of his collection that might prove to be new, should be dedicated to the dis- tinguished men whose names these shells bear. 136 FOSSIL SHELLS. striated like the general surface : zwithin ‘simple, margin striated. Length four inches ; breadth rather more. This is a very fine shell, comparable with the magellanica ; but the sides below the auricles decline much more rapidly towards the base, and the strie, judging from Bruguiere’s figure, are much more prominent and distinct. 4. P. septenarius. PI. ix. fig. 3. Shell convex, suborbicular : auricles subequal : surface with nu- merous slightly scaly striae, and about seven re- mote ribs, of which the three intermediate ones are much elevated, rounded, or slightly flattened on the top. Length nearly two inches and sovesieeitil But a single imperfect, inferior valve, occurs in Mr. Finch’s collection ; but this is so perfectly distinct from any other that I have seen described, that I have no hesitation to describe it as new. The stria are equally distinct on the ribs, and in the intermediate spaces. The scales are rather thick, very small, and not confined to the striz, but are also observable in the spaces hetweett the strie. PLICATULA. P. marginata. PI. ix. fig. 4. a. External view. b. Internal view. Shell ovate-cuneiform, some- what arcuated at base; with about three much FOSSIL SHELLS. 137 élevated folds, producing very profound undula- tions on the edge of the shell; the intermediate fold is bifid; the whole surface is marked by rather gross concentric wrinkles ; inner margin dusky or blackish, with a series of granules on one valve, received into corresponding cavities in the oppo- site valve. Length one inch and a fifth, breadth one inch. This species is very distinct from the P. plicata, Linn. of the West Indies, and from that of the East Indies, hitherto confounded with the plicata, but to which Lamark’s name of gibbosa may be transferred. Of the known fossil species, it seems to approach nearest to the angulata, Lam. but the folds are neither squamous nor angulated. ARCA. 1. A. arata. Pl. x. fig. 1. Shell transversely oblong, subrhomboidal, with about twenty-six lon- gitudinal ribs; basal edge nearly parallel to the hinge margin, which latter terminates anteriorly in an angle. o Descrivtion. Ribs somewhat flattened, as wide or rather wider than the intervening spaces ; the whole surface concentrically wrinkled: um- bones not remarkably prominent: apices remote, the intervening space rhomboidal, with continued indented lines, arcuated under the apices: hinge YOL. 1V.——-DECEMBER, 1824. 18 138 FOSSIL SHELLS. margin perfectly rectilinear, angulated at the ex- tremities, the anterior one a little projecting: teeth in a continued, uninterrupted line, parallel, except- ing at the two extremities of the line, which de- cline a little, and the teeth are there decidedly longer and oblique with respect to the others of the range : posterior end obliquely rounded to the base: base nearly rectilinear and parallel to the hinge margin, and deeply crenated on the inner margin: anterior end produced below the middle, and rounded, and a little contracted near the supe- rior angle. Length from the hinge margin to the base one inch and three-tenths, breadth two inches and a half. This resembles a species found recent and very common in the West Indies, and which I have not ascertained to be distinctly described. That shell, however, is proportionally longer, the anterior ex- tremity only of the line of teeth declines a little, and the series is slightly dislocated a little before the apices of the shell. 2. A. centenaria. Pl. x. fig. 2. Shell transversely- oval, subrhomboidal, obtusely contracted at base, with numerous alternate longitudinal striz. Descrierion. Strie from one hundred to one hundred and eighty and more in number; disap- pearing on the hinge margin; with hardly obvious transverse minute wrinkles, and larger, remote, irregular ones of increment: beaks but little pro- FOSSIL SHELLS. : 139 minent, not remote: base widely but not deeply contracted, nearly parallel with the hinge margin: anterior and posterior margins obtusely rounded : series of teeth rectilinear, uninterrupted, decurved at the tips; space between the beaks with nume- rous grooves proceeding from the teeth: inner margin not very distinctly crenated: muscular im- pressions elevated, and forming a broad line each side, from the cavity of the beak to the margin. Length nine-tenths of an inch, breadth nearly one inch and a half. 3. A. incile. Pl. x. fig. 3. Shell transversely rhomboidal, with about twenty-seven ribs; ante- rior hinge margin compressed and angulated. Description. Disk prominent from the beaks to the anterior part of the base: -ribs with trans- verse granules; those anterior to the middle alter- nating with very slender and but little prominent lines, and with a groove on each: anterior margin longer to the base than the posterior end, and con- tracted in the middle: series of teeth nearly rec- tilinear, entire ; interval between the teeth and the apices with a few transverse lines or wrinkles; a single oblique groove from the apex to a little be- fore the middle, and six or seven narrow ones from the teeth outwards behind the apices: beaks placed very far backward: inner margin crenated : mus- cular impressions a little elevated, posterior one short: basal margin not parallel with the hinge margin. 140 FOSSIL SHELLS. - Length nearly seven-tenths of an inch, breadth less than one inch and a fifth. PECTUNCULUS. P. subovatus. P\. x. fig. 4. Longitudinally short ovate, with about thirty longitudinal impressed acute lines, the intervals a little convex. Description. Shell increasing in width by a slightly curved line from the apex to beyond the middle : lateral curvatures equal : apices separate, small, central; intervening space with but little obliquity to the plane of the shell, with obsolete angulated lines: teeth forming a regularly and much arcuated series, which is rectilinearly truncated above so as to leave in that part a mere edentu- lous elevated line : within destitute of striz : mar- gin with elevated angular lines: exterior surface with about thirty longitudinal, impressed, acute lines, the intervals a little convex. Length from the apex to the base one inch and thirteen-twentieths, breadth one inch and a half nearly. The character of the interval between the beaks is not unlike that of a Cucutima, but the arrange- ment of the teeth does not correspond with the definition of that genus. This shell varies a little in form, being some- times nearly orbicular. FOSSIL SHELLS. 141 NUCULA. 1. N. levis. Pl. x. fig. 5. Transversely elon- gate-subovate, rostrated, nearly smooth. Description. Shell compressed, thin, fragile, polished, smooth, slightly wrinkled towards the base : beaks nearly central, hardly prominent be- yond the hinge margin, rounded, approximate : series of teeth subrectilinear, a little arcuated be- hind; teeth prominent: hinge margin exteriorly both before and behind the beaks rather abruptly compressed: posterior margin rounded : anterior margin somewhat rostrated, the anterior hinge margin rectilinear, very little reflected at tip: in- ner margin simple. Length nearly half an inch, breadth nearly one inch. This shell may be compared with the N. pellu- cida, Gmel. but it is shorter, in proportion to its width, and the beaks are nearer the centre.. It is still more closely allied to a recent species of our coast, that has probably been hitherto consi- dered as the rostrata. 2. N. concentrica. PI. x. fig. 6. Transyersely elongate-subovate, rostrated, concentrically stri- ated. Descrietion. Shell convex: rostrum consider- ably narrowed towards the tip: surface concentri- cally striated with numerous, regular, equidistant, > 142 FOSSIL SHELLS. rounded lines: beaks rather behind the middle : ligament margin a little concave : series of teeth angulated at the beaks. Length over one-fifth, breadth two-fifths of an inch. The regularly striated surface gives this shell a very pretty appearance. In outline it has some resemblance to the rostrata. VENERICARDIA. V. granulata. Pl. xii. fig. 1. Suborbicular, with about twenty-five convex ribs, and wrinkled across; inner margin crenate. Description. Beaks nearly central, a little pro- minent, curved backward: ribs granulated on the umbones, and transversely wrinkled near the base, convex : apices somewhat prominent beyond the general curve of the shell: inner margin and edge crenate: cardinal teeth two. Length from the apex to the base four-fifths of an inch, breadth nearly the same. Rather proportionally longer than the ets: and more oblique. CRASSATELLA. C. undulata. PI. xi. fig. 2. a. External view. b. Internal view. Much compressed, transversely oblong-subovate, slightly angulated before; surface FOSSIL SHELLS. 143 rather coarsely wrinkled, and on the umbo with small, regular undulations ; umbo flattened : apex subacute, not prominent, placed a little behind the middle of the shell: hinge teeth distinct, promi- nent: fosset much dilated ; a profound groove on the anterior inner margin: edge not crenated ; on the exterior anterior margin and submargin are two undulations, of which the former is less dis- tinct and more acute. Width rather less than one inch and nine-tenths to four inches and three-fifths, length less than one inch and three-tenths to about three inches. The species to which this is most closely allied, is the compressa, Lam. Its compressed form, and the somewhat elevated lines on the anterior part of the shell, seem to be very similar; but that species is proportionally much broader behind, the beaks are much nearer the posterior extremity, and the inner edge is crenated. A perfect valve was purchased at the sale of the late Professor Barton’s collection by Mr. Watson, and by him pre- sented to the Academy. Its locality was not known, but a fragment which I dissected out of a mass con- taining fragments of Perna, belonging to the col- lection of Mr. Finch, has decided this question. ISOCARDIA. {. fraterna. Pl. xi. fig. 1. a. Hinge 2. b. Back view. Cordate-globose, slightly oblique, with ra- 144 FOSSIL SHELLS. ther large concentric wrinkles, and lines of growth; an elevated undulation on the anterior submargin, marking the greatest length of the shell : wmbones not very prominent, apex rather suddenly incurv- ed, acute; impressed space behind the beaks, di- lated and rather profound; anterior tooth striated externally, and placed on the middle of the ante- rior margin. Large specimen, greatest length taken oblique- ly, three inches and a half, breadth rather less. Small specimen, greatest length rather over one inch and a half, breadth nearly one inch and four- fifths. . This shell is so much like the Venus rustica, Sowerby, that I hesitated to give it a distinct name. Besides being somewhat less transverse, it may be remarked that the hinge groove, behind the primary tooth, is much more elongated ; but notwithstanding these differences, such is the ge- neral correspondence of the two shells, that I should not be surprised if this should prove to be only a variety of the rustica. A large specimen which formerly belonged to the collection of the late Professor B. S. Barton, was presented to the Academy by Mr. Watson. A smaller one was obtained by carefully dissect- ing one of the friable masses containing fragments of the Perna, in Mr. Finch’s collection. FOSSIL SHELLS. 145 TELLINA. “LT. equistriata. Pl. x. fig. 7. Shell transversely ovate-orbicular, with an elevated line or fold on the anterior margin: surface with fine, somewhat elevated, concentric, nearly equal, numerous striz, forming grooves between them : apex nearly cen- tral, acute : cardinal teeth deeply grooved: lateral teeth two; edge within, simple. Length seven-tenths, breadth nineteen-twenti- eths of an inch. {n general outline, this species has a resem- blance to 'T. ostracea, Lam. In one specimen the apex is central, and in another it is placed before the middle. ~ LUCINA. 1. L. contracta. Pl. x. fig. 8 Shell convex, suborbicular, with numerous concentric, regular, equidistant, elevated, membranaceous strie, and intermediate smaller transverse lines: umbones not very prominent: apices proximate, nearly central : anterior hinge margin rectilinear, to an obtuse an- gle near the middle of the anterior margin: ante- rior submargin with a very slightly impressed line : posterior margin rounded : cardinal teeth one in the left valve, and two in the right, the posterior one of which is subbifid at tip : lateral VOL. IV.—NOVEMBER, 1824, 19 146 FOSSIL SHELLS. teeth none : within obsoletely striated towards the margin: posterior muscular impression perfectly rectilinear, elongated, and oblique. Length one inch and nine-tenths, breadth two inches and one-tenth. The posterior muscular impression is even more elongated and slender than that of L. jamaicensis, Chemn. In outline it is like L. scabra, Lam. The impressions both before and behind the beaks are very slender and contracted. A young specimen belonging to the Academy, was brought from Maryland by Mr. Jacob Gilliams. 2. L. anodonta. Pl. x. fig. 9. Orbicular, slightly transverse, compressed ; teeth obsolete. Descrirtion. Shell with elevated wrinkles; or- bicular, a little transverse, with a very slight im- pressed longitudinal line on the anterior margin: anterior and posterior ends equally curved: apices not prominent beyond the general curve of the shell, with a very short deep emargination behind them: teeth obsolete; both the cardinal and lateral ones are generally altogether wanting: Junule short, cordate, profound. Length from the apices to the base one inch and one-tenth, breadth one inch and one-fifth. _ The impressed line on the anterior part of the shell is hardly visible in many specimens, and is sometimes only a very slight undulation, not ob- servable but on close inspection. In the speci- mens, the ligament of the hinge still remains, ap- FOSSIL SHELLS. 147 parently but little changed; by pressure of the nail it is readily separated into flaxy filaments. 3. L. subobliqua. Orbicular, slightly oblique, a little compressed; teeth prominent ; lunule not distinct. : Description. Shell concentrically wrinkled; a little oblique forwards, the most prominent part of the basal curvature being anterior to the mid- dle; no appearance of an impressed line on the margins, which are rounded, the hinge margin being rectilinear for a short distance : lunule none, or consisting only of a slightly impressed line: beaks slightly prominent: muscular impressions dilated, submarginal: cardinal teeth prominent, the larger one with a groove : lateral teeth none. Length four-fifths of an inch, breadth nearly the same. . 4. L.cribraria. PI. xiii. fig. 1. Orbicular, con- vex, with numerous longitudinal costz, and distinct elevated concentric lines. Description. Shell with close set, longitudinal, equal, granulated ribs, and more or less elevated, distinct, concentric lamellz: hinge margin obtusely and not prominently angulated at its anterior and posterior terminations : anterior margin with a di- lated slightly impressed, and not very obvious groove: lunule oblong-oval, very distinct, the edge near the beaks extending inwards beside the primary teeth : lateral teeth very distinct, the pos- terior one placed nearly under the middle of the 148 FOSSIL SHELLS. lunule : within crenate on the edge : posterior mus- cular impression rectilinear. Length half an inch, breadth eleven-twentieths of an inch. Two or three smaller specimens are twoefifths of an inch long. In the outline of the edge, and number of the cost, this species approaches the L. scabra of authors ; but it is more convex, and in other respects sufficiently distinct. In the larger specimens, the transverse lamellz are almost ob- solete at base, and the ribs prevail in that part. L. diwaricata. Var. The fossil specimens of Maryland are altogether similar to those found at present in a recent state on our southern coast. This variety is smaller than those of South Ame- rica and the West Indies, and the lateral teeth are more obvious. In the collection of the Academy is a large specimen of the divaricata from the West Indies, that agrees with the description of the dentata of Wood. I should therefore be in- clined to suppose, that the dentata is no other than a variety of the former, owing to age. VENUS. 1. V. deformis. PI. xii. fig. 2. a. View of the hinge. Shell remarkably thick and ponderous, longitudinally undulated; basal margin undulated. Descrietion. Shell subcordate, with transyerse wrinkles, which are distant and regular on the FOSSIL SHELLS. 149 umbones, and much crowded on the basal half; several very obtuse longitudinal undulations, of which that on the middle is more profound: basal margin deeply undulated in compliance with the undulations of the disk: within crenate on the edge: anterior margin flattened, and simply wrin- kled. Length nearly five, breadth six inches. Smallest specimen, three inches and seven- tenths long, and four inches and a half wide. This extraordinary shell has so unusual an ap- pearance, that I should almost have been disposed to regard a single specimen as a monstrosity. The examination of several individuals proves that the species varies somewhat in form, and in the locality of the undulations. 2. V. paphia? Lam. CYTHEREA. C. convexa. PI. xii. fig. 3. Shell subcordate ; elevated convex, concentrically wrinkled, inequi- lateral; posterior tooth and fosset not striated ; edge not crenated; umbo rather prominent; lunule dilated, cordate, marked by a simple line. Length one inch and a tenth, breadth more than one inch and three-tenths. On the inner surface of the shell is a prominent line in one valve, proceeding from the extremity of the impression of the retractor muscle, and 150 FOSSIL SHELLS. becoming obsolete behind the cavity of the umbo; on the opposite valve is an impressed line, occu- pying a similar position. Whether or not this line is characteristic, I am unable to determine, having seen but two valves. C. concentrica. Born. Mr. Finch’s differ from those now existing on our southern coast, in being larger. Length three inches and three-tenths, breadth three inches and two-fifths. ASTARTE, Sowerby. 1. A. undulata. P\. ix. fig. 5. Shell trigonate, umbones flattened, and with profound undulations; apices very acute. Descrirrion. Basal half of the shell coarsely wrinkled, the remaining half deeply, regularly and widely undulated on the flattened umbo: lunule large oblong subovate, concave, separated from the disk, particularly near the beaks, by an acute angle : beaks prominent, approximate, acute, turn- ed a little backward at tip : ligament margin con- cave nearly to the basal angle, and separated from the disk, near the beaks, by an acute angle : liga- ment very short: teeth regularly crenated each side: basal angles rounded: basal edge nearly rectilinear, or very obtusely arcuated; within finely crenated ; smaller muscular impression very dis- tinct. FOSSIL SHELLS. 1 51 Length four-fifths, breadth rather less than nine- tenths of an inch. Var. a. Length one inch and a tenth, breadth one inch. A very distinct species, uals any other yet described. It varies in proportional length, some being longer than broad, and others broader than long. I adopt Sowerby’s generic name, in pre- ference to that of Crassiva of Lamark, for the all- sufficient reason, that it has the priority. The recent shell which I described under the name of Venus castanea, Journ. Acad. Nat.Se. vol. 2. p- 273, belongs in strictness to this genus. 2. A. vicina. PI. ix. fig. 6. Trigonal with a distant, somewhat regular, impressed line; lunule much excavated; apices acute. Description. pices prominent : lunule dilated, deeply excavated, subcordate, separated from the disk, particularly near the beaks, by a subacute angle : beaks prominent, approximate, acute, curv- ed backwards : ligament margin concave : umbones convex. Length nine-tenths of an inch, breadth one inch. Closely allied to the preceding, but numerous specimens correspond in the much more_pro- foundly concave lunule, and in the convexity of the umbones. 152 FOSSIL SHELLS. MACTRA. Two or three mutilated specimens of a species closely allied to M. lateralis, nobis, but too imper- fect to determine the degree of proximity. AMPHIDESMA. A. subovata. Pl. x. fig. 10. Shell transversely ovate-oval, with somewhat prominent and regular concentric striz. Descrirtion. Shell compressed: beaks rather before the middle, but little prominent: anterior submargin with an obsolete, obtuse undulation : lunule lanceolate : eardinal and lateral teeth pro- minent. Length seven-tenths of an inch, breadth less than one inch. aaa CORBULA. 1. C. cuneata. PI. xiii. fig. 3. Shell transversely oyate-trigonal, acutely angulated or somewhat ros- trated before, and depressed on the anterior slope, which is separated from the disk by a subacute line : surface of both valves similarly striate with equal, elevated, equidistant lines, forming grooves between them; the striz on the smaller valve are rather more distant : wmbones not prominent, FOSSIL SHELLS. 153 Length of the larger valve hardly more than the fourth of an inch, breadth more than two-fifths of an inch. A very pretty epecion: It was imbedded in 2 mass which contained fragments of the large Perna. 2. C. inequale. PI. xiii. fig. 3. Shell convex, transversely ovate-trigonal, rough, with unequal coarse wrinkles: anterior margin with a very acute but short rostrum at its inferior termination, sepa- rated from the disk by an acute line: base rounded and a little contracted near the anterior angle : umbones not prominent. Length niccomrcenant breadth rather more than half an inch. This species has a different aspect from the preceding ; it is longer in proportion to its width, more convex, and the wrinkles, though prominent, are altogether destitute of that equality which dis- tinguishes those of the other shell. PANOPZZA, Menard. P.reflexa. PI. xiii. fig. 4. Exterior and interior views. Shell transversely oblong-subovate : ante- rior margin somewhat narrower and longer than the posterior margin, the edge reflected: surface wrinkled, and profoundly so towards the base. Length three inches and two-fifths, breadth five inches and seven-tenths. This fine shell approaches closely to the P. fav- VOL. IV.——-NOVEMBER, 1824, 20 154 FOSSIL SHELLS. jas of Menard, which Lamarck seems inclined to consider as but a variety of the P. glycimeris, Gmel. Our shell is comparatively somewhat short- er than the latter, and its reflected anterior margin distinguishes it from the faujas. eee 8S. granifera. PI. viii. fig. 4. Covered with lon- gitudinal, contiguous, slightly rg ey bape strie. Descrirtion. Shell subcylindric, contorted, in- ferior side flat; the whole surface is composed of very numerous, small, contiguous strize, each con- sisting of a single row of granules; these series are alternately smaller. Diameter of the larger end thitedtent of the largest specimen two-fifths of an inch. The continuity of the tube within, is interrupted. by oblique diaphragms. It sometimes approaches the spiral form, and one specimen has three com- plete volutions of much regularity. DENTALIUM. D. attenuatum. PI. viii. fig. 3. Arcuated; sur- face marked with from twelve to sixteen rounded ribs, intervening grooves simple ; lines of growth numerous, distinct; aperture orbicular. - Length nearly one inch and seven-tenths. — HOLOTHURIA. 155 The species of this genus are very closely allied to each other, and at the same time they exhibit so few characters, that it is with difficulty that some of them are determined. The present seems to differ from either of those already described. In the collection of the Academy are two frag- ments of Denvatia, very closely allied to this spe- cies, which were obtained by Mr. A. Jessup in New Jersey; but their imperfect state do not _justify me in deciding upon a fact so important to geology as their specific identity. ees cme Description of several new Species of Horotuvria. By C, A. Lesuzur. Read April 6, 1824. Much difficulty has always attended any attempt to arrange the Hotornuriz in a natural order, owing to the contraction of the body when placed in a preservative liquid, and the consequent oblitera- tion of many characters which distinguish the liy- ing animals. This difficulty was sensibly experienced, and distinctly expressed, by Blainville, in the Diction- aire Sciences Naturelles, vol. xxi. p. 315, who, nevertheless, endeayoured to group the species by correspondencies of form, and disposition of feet. These two characters I believe to be uncertain, 156 HOLOTHURIA. inasmuch as they are variable, and often differ ex- ceedingly after death from their appearance in the living specimen. ‘The tentacule are less liable to this objection, and Lamarck has availed himself of the modifications in the form and structure of these organs, to separate the genus into two divisions. {n the following essay I have resorted to the same basis of classification, with the addition of a third division for the reception of those that have pinnated tentacula, only one species of which was. known to Lamarck. Cuvier, in his classification of the Horornuri, draws his characters from the arrangement of the feet; but, as we have already remarked, these or- - gans are too various in their disposition, and are often too indistinct from contraction in alcohol, to. furnish an obvious or certain guide. Some spe- cies, like the H. briareus, nobis, are covered with feet in every part; others have but one, two, three to five distinct ranges of feet; others again have the feet placed behind, as in the agathophytos, of which Peron has formed his genus Cuviera, not yet published, and which Mr. Cuvier has figured in his Regne Animal, vol. iv. p. 15, and sneer p. 22, under the name. of H. Cuviera. t With cylindrical tentacule ; summit, -rmi- nated by a branched, flat, spherical or infundibu- liform umbel. 1. Horornuris obscura. Tentacule twenty, cy- HOLOTHURIA. 157 lindrical, umbel indefinite, subspheric ; body tubu- lar, with conic tubercles ; a single foot furnished with numerous, red, small, approximated suckers. Inhabits St. Bartholomews. Body tubular, slightly inflated in the middle, and more slender at the extremities: back covered with conic tubercles, which are surmounted by small whitish tubes, as contractile as the small sheathing tubercles which support them: anterior opening annular, small, placed in the middle of the disk, of which the exterior margin is furnished with twenty equal tentacule, which are tubercu- lous at base, and their summits are divided into small, very short, approximated branches, resem- bling so many little balls, which are contiguous when all the tentacule are developed: anus ter- minal, furnished with slender papille, longer than the tubercles of the body: foot, or the side upon which the animal moves, with numerous, small, very short suckers: colour fuliginous brown; ex- tremity of the tentacule blackish. Length, when developed, six inches, transverse diameter nine lines. H. aglutinata. Tentacule eighteen, equal, um- bel infundibuliform, small; body tubular, covered with contractile tubercles : foot none. Inhabits St. Bartholomews. Body soft, tubular, covered with distant tuber- cles: colour, above very deep bistre-brown, paler beneath ; the tubercles, which are irregularly dis- 158 HOLOTHURIA. posed, do not appear to be all used in locomotion; but those of the paler side of the body seem to be more particularly employed for this purpose, and are elongated when the animal is in motion, whilst the others remain contracted, though there is not a distinct foot, as in the preceding. These inac- tive tubercles appear like black points, or as round- ed or conic tubercles on the surface of the body : mouth small, placed in the centre of a disk which is surrounded by eighteen slender, cylindric, very delicate tentacule, of a clear yellow-bistre colour, each surrounded by a small infundibuliform um- bel, which is composed of small ramifications di+ chotomously divided, and not contiguous with the surrounding ones when these organs are de- veloped: anus small, placed in the centre of a yel- lowish coloured disk, which, in the state of con- traction, is covered by five triangular divisions, furnished with small papilla. Length from three to four inches. This. species is very numerous in a small eg opposite to the port of St. Bartholomews. They conceal themselves in rolled madrepores, which are there very abundant. A whitish viscous fluid transudes from the body, forming threads of great tenacity, which envelop the substance on. which the animal rests, and attach it so female as to be removed with difficulty. 3. H. maculata. 'Tentacule twenty, ol equal; umbel small, flat, with laciniated branches ; HOLOTHURIA. 159 body fusiform, tuberculous, pale cinereous, with bluish-black oval spots. Inhabits St. Bartholomews. Body soft, contractile, narrow and pointed be- fore, inflated behind, covered with tubercles on the back and sides : locomotive tubes long, distant beneath : mouth very small, without any disk, and surrounded by twelve tentaculz, which are slen- der, flaccid, transparent, very long, and surmounted by a very small umbel, the ramifications of which are also very small, and laciniated : anus terminal, round. Length about four or five inches. The form of this species is very beautiful; the body is sprinkled with oblong spots of the length of five or six lines by four or five wide, which are relieved by the pale colour of the body. Like the preceding, it is found in Madrepores and in the same bay. 4. H. fasciata. Tentacule twenty, short, trans- parent, spotted; umbel plane, composed of six: very short, bifurcated divisions ; body soft, orna- mented with five bluish-cinereous bands, and five bands covered with small inequal tubercles. Inhabits St. Bartholomews.. Body subfistulous, soft, a little narrower at the extremities : skin smooth, coriaceous, thick, white interiorly, divided into ten longitudinal bands, of which five are covered with small tubercles, pro- bably used in locomotion ; but not having seen the 160 HOLOTHURIA. animal in its state of development, I cannot speak confidently of their office : mouth small, placed in the centre of a small disk, surrounded by twenty tubular, transparent, short tentacule, which are larger at base, and surmounted by a small stelli- form umbel of five or six bifurcated, whitish divi- sions : anus terminal, margined with red, and hay- ing small papillary tubes, placed in the centre of a small disk, concealed in the contracted state by five small valyes or triangular divisions ; the skin is of a deeper blue and smoother in the sae between the five divisions. Length of the largest specimens from eight to ten inches. This animal, like the other species, has the fa- culty of admitting and rejecting the water by the mouth and anus. It decomposed very rapidly, and almost entirely disappeared when exposed to the air. The intestinal canal is filled with sand. It conceals itself beneath rolled Madrepores, and in their cavities, with the preceding species. +t Tentacula arborescent. 5. H. lapidifera. 'Tentacule sixteen, branched and united at base, surrounding the mouth ; body with scattered, small, poriform tubercles. Inhabits St. Bartholomews. ite : Body cylindric, firm, contractile : skin smooth, ornamented with small longitudinal lines, and co- vered with small circles placed irregularly, from HOLOTHURIA. 161 which are protruded fistulous organs, which serve for locomotion, and to attach the body in the cavi- ties of madrepores ; they are also used to hold small scales with which the body is in part cover- ed, when the animal removes from its habitation : the mouth is capable of being dilated and elon- gated : the tentacula are united at base, and sur- round the mouth; the small branches of the ten- tacula are dilated in small membranes, twisted in a semispiral line and of a reddish colour; the inte- rior base of the tentacula is distinguished by a very black line, and the exterior base by tubercles: anus terminal: colour pale violaceous blue, the tentacula and their base very pale hyaline blue. Length when developed three to four inches. In the cavities of old madrepores, and other concealed situations. 6. H. briareus. Tentacula eight, branches very much divided; body fistulous, entirely covered with small approximated tubes. Tnhabits the coast of the United States. Body fistulous: skin smooth, soft, covered in every part with small locomotive, concealed tubes: tentacula very much branched, the branches some- what foliaceous, divided, and like so many trees arranged around a disk, in the centre of which is the mouth: anus simple, terminal, surrounded with papille, which are longer and placed more closely together than those of the body : colour reddish or blackish, papilla and tentacula paler. VOL. IV.——-DECEMBER, 1824. 21 162 HOLOTHURIA. Length from three to six inches. Brought from the coast of Florida by Messrs. Maclure, Ord, Say, and Peale. In the contracted state, the body seems covered with numerous small, transverse incisions. Mr. Say informs me that this species occurs very frequently on the coast of New Jersey. ttt. Tentacula pinnated; body vermiform. 7. H. hydriformis. Tentacula twelve, flaccid, consisting of six or seven pairs of opposite pro- cesses ; body red, spotted with white. Inhabits Guadaloupe. Body elevated, terminated behind in a point, gelatinous: mouth large, surrounded by twelve equal tentacula, united at base by a diaphanous membrane; each tentaculum is furnished with six or seven pairs of processes, which are tuberculated on each side ; these small tubercles, or suckers, ap- pear to me analogous to those of the tentacula of the Actiniz; at the base of each tentaculum are two black points: anus terminal, small, without appendices ; the body is furnished with very small, distant tubercles, which perform the office of suck- ers to fix the body to fucus, and in locomotion the tentacula are used as feet: colour of the tentacula red, varied with slight white and bluish spots ; about eight longitudinal lines, of which four are more distant, and small transverse lines: intestinal canal obvious, folded three times upon itself, and at each fold much undulated. NOMENCLATURE OF WILSON’s ORNITHOLOGY. 168 Length about two inches. The tentacula are inclined alternately, by two or three pairs together, towards the mouth. 8. H. viridis. Tentacula eight, entire, long, with six or seven pairs of pennatule, and four small ones destitute of pennatule ; body cylindric, green. Inhabits St. Thomas. Body cylindric, covered with small prehensile tubercles, used in adhering to submarine objects. It is usually upon coralines and plants, growing at the depth of three or four feet, that this species is found, secure from the effects of the agitation of the waves; the tentacula are in continual motion, alternately approaching the mouth: anus terminal: colour entirely green. Length about two inches. Observations on the Nomenclature of Wiuson’s Ornitnotocy. By Cuartes Bonaparte. Read November 9, 1824. (Continued.) MUSCICAPA. There is, perhaps, no genus more difficult to elucidate than the present; for no two authors agree respecting its divisions. Brisson, who es- tablished it, seems to have been more accurate in assigning its limits, than any of the ancient 164 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE authors. Linné had arranged the species under Moracitxa, but in his twelfth edition he adopted this genus, with the exclusion of some of the larger species, known by the name of Tyrants, which he improperly placed in his genus Lanwws. In this he was followed by Gmelin 22d Latham, who augmented the genus Muscicapa by adding many species, some of which do not belong to it. Lacepede divided the species into three genera, corresponding with Buffon’s sections, according to the size of the birds; thus the largest species were called T'yranni, the middling size Muscivore, and the smallest Muscicape. Cuvier very properly contented himself with forming three subgenera,. Tyrannus, Muscipeta, and Muscicapa; and to the latter, judiciously added the greater part of the species that he had excluded from the genus Topus. Illiger considered Muscicapa as a whole, and as- signed to it pretty natural limits. . Vieillot also restricted the genus Topus; but in my opinion he was wrong in arranging many of the Topr of Gmelin and Latham, Muscicape of Cuvier, in the genus Pratyruyncos of Desmarest. He adopted the ge- nus ‘Tyrannus of Lacepede, and formed two new genera, Conopornaca, which includes some of the -Muscipete of Cuvier, and Avecrurus, for two un- certain South American birds, which Temminck thinks are true Muscicaps. Vieillot’s genus Mus- cicapa is therefore very extensive; and he con- fesses, moreover, that all the preceding genera OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 165 would be more properly disposed as sections of this genus. Temminck distributes the great genus Muscicara of Cuvier, into two genera, viz. Muscr- pera, (nearly corresponding with Cuvier’s sub- genus of that name,) and Muscrcara; the latter being much more numerous in species, including the greater part of Cuvier’s Muscicapa, together with the principal portion of the Tyranni, which differ only by being larger and more powerful. Temminck having also restricted the genus Topus to a single species, has distributed the other spe- cies in his two genera Muscicapa and Muscirera. None of the sixteen species described by Wilson, or of the few since discovered within the bound- aries of the United States, have sufficient charac- ters to be entitled to rank as a distinct genus from Muscicara, excepting some that are Syivix, and those which apparently belong to Temminck’s third section of Muscicara; for the latter, together with some other birds, I shall adopt Vieillot’s genus Virco. Thus composed, the latter genus differs so much from its original acceptation, that it is only with a view to avoid multiplying synonymes that I retain that designation. The sixteen species of our author, all peculiar to America, will, therefore, be distributed into the genera Muscicara, Vireo, and Sytyv1a; the former in- cluding the largest species as a subgenus, under the name of T'yrannus, for which the only good differ- ential character I can discover, is their superior size. 166 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE 113, M. tyrannus. Vol. ii. p. 66. This bird is not the Muscicara tyrannus of Linné, but of Bris- son; yet this name has been promulgated by Wilson, it is now familiar to every naturalist as ap- plied to the Kingbird, and must be retained for this species. At first sight this procedure may seem at vari- ance with the principle of retaining all the Lin- nan specific names, which I consider a just tribute to the founder of the present system of nomencla- ture, to which we are indebted for the existing state of the science. But tyrannus was also applied by Linné to this bird; it is his Lays tyrannus, and if he had transferred the bird to Muscicapa, [have no doubt that he would have preserved its name, and changed that of the other. In thus pursuing a course which has the additional advantage of co- inciding with the generally received impression, { think myself not liable to the reproach of devi- ating from the principles I have adopted. SYNONYMES. Muscicapa tyrannus, Briss. Lantus tyrannus, Linn. Lantus tyrannus y carolinensis, and @ ludovicianus, Gmet. Lara. (these varieties only.) Gobe-mouche de la Caroline, Burr. Pl. Enl. 676. Tyrannus pipiri, Vir. Pl. 44. The latter author has since changed the bar- barous name of pipiri to that of intrepidus, thus exercising on his own works his habit of changing. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 167 114. M. crinita. Vol. ii. p.'75. Although the name of this species originated from the exagge- rated appearance of the crest in a bad figure of Catesby, copied by subsequent authors, yet it must remain unchanged. The bird is noticed in the systems under two different names. This and the preceding are the only species in Wilson, referred by authors to Tyrannus. SYNONYMES. Muscicapa crinita, Linn. Guev. Lata. Muscicara ludoviciana, Guex. Lara. Muscicapa virginiana cristata, Briss. Gobe-mouche hupé de Virginie, Burr. Pl. Enl. 569, f. 1. (a bad representation, principally as regards the crest, which is quite unnatural.) Tyrannus ludovicianus, View. Pl. 45, This latter author was incorrect in considering the Muscicara feroz, as the same with this bird. It is a distinct species, as he perceived in his sub- sequent writings; but he then added to the confu- sion, by changing the name of our bird to that of Tyrannus irritabilis, and stating that the female differs in colour from the male, even after Wilson had truly observed, that the sexes are hardly dis- tinguishable from each other. If, therefore, there be any difference between the M. crinita and lu- doviciana of authors, it must be owing to age, and not to sex. With respect to the origin of the latter nominal species, Vieillot’s conjecture is probably correct. 168 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE that Buffon copied the figure of the crinita from Catesby, and afterwards, having received a speci- men, he described it as new, not recognizing it in that figure. He was the first to describe the ludovi- ciana, and was followed by all subsequent writers. 115. M. nunciola. Vol. ii. p. 78. Wilson was wrong in adopting Bartram’s name for this familiar bird, in preference to that consecrated by the fa- thers of the science. His reason was, perhaps, that he doubted the identity of the Muscicapa JSusca with the nunciola of Bartram ; but be it as it may, the former name must be restored, not- withstanding that Bartram’s name is more elegant, expressive, and appropriate. If authors are to be permitted to change specific names under the ex- cuse of improving them, there will be no end to their alterations, and our systems will be involved in utter chaos. SYNONYMES. Muscrcapa fusca, Guet. Latu. ViE1Lt. pl. 40. Muscicapa aira, GMEL. Muscricara phebe, Larn. Muscicara Carolinensis fusca, Briss. 116. M. rapax. Vol. ii. p. 81.. We have here a new name applied to a species, which had been previously known, described, and named. This designation must therefore be rejected, and the bird will then be known as the Muscicara virens. As this species may readily be mistaken for the preceding or the following, it may be acceptable OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 169 to naturalists to have additional discriminating characters, taken from the comparative dimensions of the primaries. In this species, the exterior pri- mary is nearly as long as the fourth, and much longer than the fifth ; but the second is the longest. Of the preceding species, the first is hardly as long as the sixth, the second is equal to the fourth, and the third is longest. Of the following species, the first is of the same length as the fifth, and the second and fourth are nearly equal to the third, which is longest. SYNONYMES, Muscrcara virens, Linn. Guet. Lara Topus obscurus, Gurx. Lara. (Vieillot thinks it syno- nymous with the following.) . Muscicapa carolinensis cinerea, Briss. Moscicapa querula, Vien, pl. 39. Wilson’s quotation of the M. acadica, as syno- nymous with this bird, is inaccurate: it is the same as M. querula of Wilson. This qifotation is the more remarkable, as our author introduces, in its proper place, Pennant’s synonyme of the acadi-_ cea, from which authors derive their'M. acadica. It is not a little singular, that Vieillot appropriated to his species the name that Wilson gave to the following. 117. M. querula. Vol. ii. p. 77. This is the M. acadica of authors, and therefore that name must be restored. The name querula must be rejected, VOL. 1V.——DECEMBER, 1824. 22 179 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE for the additional reason, that Vieillot had already applied it to the preceding species. Thus two authors have made use of the same name for two birds that, from their close affinity, did not require this circumstance to endanger their being mis- taken.. The M. guerula of Wilson is, therefore, the acadica, and that of Vieillot is the virens; and as both these closely allied species may be mis- taken for the M. fusca, a new specific phrase for each may be acceptable. ae M. fusca, Ginel. (nunciola, Wilson.) = * Fusco-cinerea, capite nigricante ; subtus ochro- leuca ; rostro toto pedibusque nigris ; cauda subfor- ficata; rectrice extima latere exteriore albida. — M. virens, L. (rapax, Wils. querula, Vieill.) E virescenti fusco-cinerea, subtus sordide ochro- leuca; rostro supra nigro, subtus pallide lutes- eente; cauda subforficata; ret ar Beoyuiee omnium longissima. # M. acadica, Gmel. (querula, Wils. not of Vieill. ) Virescens, subtus ochroleuca; alarum fascia ge- mina albida; xostro nigro subtus carneo; cauda subrotundata ; remige tertia omnium longissima. _ S¥NONYMES. IAL YD Aaa os Musercara acadica, Guev. Latu. Vier. - Museicapa canadensis olioacea. Briss. "(considered by Linn. and Lath. as a variety of the Muscicapa pipe Muscicara nes Bartram, ; ered .* OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. , 174 Vieillot has not given a figure of the acadica, and copies the little he says of it from other wri- ters. In the Nouy. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. he gives it the name of Pratyruyncos virescens, and adds a correct account of it taken from Wilson. He thinks the Topus obscurus of Latham is no other than this species ; but we are of the opinion that it is the preceding, and we have quoted it accordingly. Vieillot’s arrangement of this species shows evidently that the genus Pratyruyncos, in his ac- ceptation of it, is unnatural, since he generically separates these species from each other, which are so closely allied as to be proximate species in the same section. The only difference is, that the bill of the acadica is but a very little wider and flatter. » 118. M. ruticilla. Vol. i. p. 103, and yol. v. p. 119. (Young.) The very great difference exhi- bited by the perfect plumage of the male of this pretty little bird, from the dress of the female, young and autumnal male, has led authors into the error of describing it under two different names. — And it is worthy of remark, that in its humble dress it has been referred to the genus Sytyia. Cuvier arranges it under his subgenus Muscipeta; but other writers, who admit that group as a genus, consider it a Muscicapa. We are ignorant of the opinion of Temminck, but we find no character that justifies its separation from Muscicapa, of which we consider it a genuine species. A re- 172 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE markable character of this bird, common, however, to several others of the genus, is that it has the four outer primaries nearly equal in length. SYNONYMES. Muscicapa ruticilla, Linn. Guet. Lara. Viztt. Pl. 35, (male) Pl. 36, (female.) Moracitta flavicauda, Gurt. (female, young and autum- nal male.) Muscicapa americana, Briss. Gobe-mouche @Amerique, Burr, Pl. Enl. 566, fig. 1, Lisa in full plumage.) Jig. 2, (female.) 119. M. cwrulea, Vol. ii. p. 164. Wilson trans- ferred this very small bird from Sytvia, in which it always was, and has since been placed by authors, to Muscicara, probably from the circumstance of its bill being a little depressed and flattened at base. This character certainly proves an alliance with that genus; but the slenderness and elonga- tion of the bill, induces us to comply with the de- cision of all other authors, and replace it in Syt- via. Wilson was probably not aware that the name of cerulea is pre-occupied in Muscicapa; and as this is the case, the name would be changed in that genus; but as we refer it to Syxyia, the first name must be retained. It may be considered a connecting link between Syzvia and Muscioapa. » A small intermediate subgenus may be formed. wid it, and for a few others jalenad to it. ate ate OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 173 SYNONYMES. Moracitta cerulea, Linn. Gmet. Syzvia cerulea, Lata. View. Pl. 88. Moracitia cana, Gaex. (young.) Sytvia cana, Latu. (young.) Ficeputa pensylvanica cinerea, Briss. This bird is not represented in Buffon’s Planches Enlu- minées, though two of his figures are very like it: of these, one is the Figuier de Madagascar, pl. 705, fig. 3, (Syuvta livida, Lata.) which, but for the locality, we should believe to be the same; and the other is the Figuier @ téte noire de Cayenne, (pl. 704, fig. 1,) which we cannot agree with au- thors in considering as a variety of it. » 120. M. sylvicola. Vol. i. p.117. This bird is one of three, of which Vieillot originally formed his genus Vireo, which we adopt, as very natural and intermediate between Muscicara and Tanacra; to these species he judiciously added, in the Nou- veau Dict. d’Hist. Nat. the Muscicapa solitaria of Wilson, as a fourth species. We think proper to enrich this small genus with two other species, as will be seen hereafter. All the known Vineonzs are inhabitants of North America. The genus is thus characterized : Bill rather short, a little robust, and compressed; upper mandible incurved at tip, and emarginat- ed; inferior mandible shorter, recurved at. tip, with the sides narrowed in and rounded beneath ; nares at the base of the bill rounded ; tongue car- 174 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE tilaginous and bifid at tip; mouth ciliated at the corners ; wings with the second or third prima- ry longest; toes four, three before and one be- hind; the exterior ones united at base. All the species live in the woods, feeding on insects and berries, but principally on the former, and are therefore migratory and Ba summer visitants. Vieillot places this genus in the same family with the Tanacra, (his. Pertcaties,) but we ar- range the Tawacre in the family of the Passerin, and the present genus with Syivia and Muscicapa in that of the Cayor. » ia Vieillot’s specific name for the present species has the priority, and must therefore be adopted in preference to that of Wilson; the bird will then be known by the name of Vireo flavifrons. SYNONYME. Vinzo flavifrons, Vien pl. 54, 00 ae : He thinks the Tanacra olivacea of Gmel. and Lath. is the female of this species ; but our im- pression is that this bird is the female, young or autumnal male of Tayacra rubra, and we —— therefore quoted it as such. ” 121. M. solitaria. © Vol. ii. p. 143. “This rare, new species of Wilson, was never observed by Vieillot, who, however, probably from Wilson’s statements and accurate figure, very properly ar- ranged it in his genus Virgo, in the Nouveau Dict. °° @F WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 175 dHist. Nat. as above mentioned, retaining the specific name given by its discoverer. This is the course that a naturalist ought always to follow, in transferring a badly classified species to its pro- per genus, unless the specific name be pre-oecu- yn in that group. _ Our bird is therefore the Vireo solitarius. We have much pleasure in pointing out to the reader the remarkable acuteness of Wilson with regard to this species. “It appears,” says he, “to belong. to a particular family or subdivision of the Musci- capa genus, among which are the white-eyed, the yellow-throated, and several others already de- scribed in the present work.” These are pre- cisely the species forming the genus Vireo, which therefore our author evidently detected; and mo- desty alone, probably, prevented him from ven- turing to make the division. - 422. M. cantatriz. Vol. ii. p. 166.' This is also a Vireo, and it offers an evidence of the impro- priety of changing specific names in order to im- prove them. Wilson, after Bartram, called it can- tatrix, (it is probably by a typographical error that it is marked as new in the catalogue, since the synonymes are given in the text,) and Vieillot named it Vireo musicus, both wishing to give a better name than that of noveboracencis of Gmelin. Their names, and especially that of Vieillot, are certainly preferable, as being more elegant and appropriate ; but we have thus three names for 176 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE the same bird; and this principle once admitted, every naturalist might give a name of his own, and universal confusion would be the inevitable result. For instance, if those naturalists are right thus to commemorate the vocal powers of the bird, I must have the privilege to consider the white eye a better discriminating mark, and to name it accordingly. We must therefore be content with the prior name, bad as it is, and call the bird: Vitex noveboracensis. SYNONYMES. Muscicapa noveboracensis, Guru. Lara. Vireo musicus, Vrer.t. pl. 52. 123. M. melodia. Vol. y. p. 85. In his large work, Vieillot has placed this bird in his genus Muscicara, but he has since transferred it to Syr- via. In my opinion its true place is in Vireo, of which genus it has all the characteristic marks. Vieillot’s specific name having the priority, must be retained, and the species will then be known as the Virzo gilvus. It is with much pleasure that we are able to reject the bad name of melodia. Fi SYNONYMES. Musicapa gilva, Viet pl. 34. (Figure badly coloured.) Sytvia gilva, Vieitt, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. ‘ 124. M. olivacea. Vol. ii. p. 55. Vieillot p vie sued the same course, with respect to this bird, as for the preceding. He placed it with the Muse: OF WILSON’s ORNITHOLOGY. 177 cara in his Ois. de [’ Amer. Sept. and afterwards with Sytvia. We consider it a Vinzo, although it differs somewhat from the other species, in hay- ing a more elongated bill; a character by which it certainly approaches Syxyia, with which, in fact, Vireo is allied as well as with Taxacra and Mu: CICAPA. , The present bird may readily be mistaken for the preceding, with which it corresponds in colour, but it is larger, the colours are much more yiyid and striking, and the longer and more robust bill and red eyes, will distinguish it on comparison. This resemblance has, however, been productive of great confusion in the history and habits of the species, from which Wilson only is free. i SYNONYMESe Muscicara olivacea. Linn. Guet. Lara. (not the variety as above stated.) Visit. (from these authors.) : Muscicapa jamaicensis. Briss. Muscicara (since Sytvia) gltiloqua. Vien. pi. $8. (It _is because he did not examine the recent eyes, that Vieillot states this species to differ from olivacea, in not having them red. His altiloqua is evidently the olivacea ; and it is worthy of remark, that he has not mentioned the colour of the eyes ; he has therefore introduced confusion, instead of elucidating the subject. Bartram called this bird Muscicara sylvicola, a name which Wilson transferred to the Vireo flavifrons 125. M. cucullata. Vol. iii. p. 101. 2 RB DORI VOL. IV.—DECEMBER, 1824. 178 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE has been arranged by different authors under Mv- scicapa, Parus, and Syzvia. And although Wilson considers it as well characterized a Muscicara as any other, yet, by the form of its bill, it is evidently a Syzvia, in which latter, we agree with Gmelin, Latham, Pennant and Vieillot, in placing it. We cannot conceive Wilson’s reason for choosing a doubtful synonyme, in preference to the well-es- tablished prior name which we shall, of course, re-establish, by calling the species Sytvia mitrata. SYNONYMES. Moracitia mitrata. GMeEL. : Sytvia mitrata. Lata. Viet. pl. 77. Syivia cucullata. Lata. Parus carolinensis torquatus. Briss. (Catesby also con- sidered it a Titmouse.) Gobe-mouche citrin de la Louisiane. Burr. Pl. Enl. 666. f. 2. The latter author in his Hist. Nat. des. Oiseaua, also con- siders it as a Titmouse, making two species of it. ’ 126. M. canadensis. Vol. iii. p. 100. - This rare species escaped the researches of Vieillot, who erroneously in his great work suspected it to be an imperfect state of Syivia blackburnia ; The bird cannot be permitted to remain in the same genus with the Pewit and other flat-billed species, but it is a decided Syzvia, having only the habits, and the bristles at the base of the bill of the Flycatchers ; characters which induced Wil- son, under the authority of former writers, to place OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 179 it in Muscicapa, but the same characters exist in several other Sytviz. The name being pre-occu- pied in that genus, we are under the necessity of giving ita newone. We call it Sytvia pardalina. SYNONYMES. Muscrcara canadensis. Linn. Guet. Lata. Muscicapa canadensis cinerea. Briss. 127. § M. pusilla. Vol. iii. p. 103. As I have never seen this new species, I am not competent to say any thing with certainty of it. My impres- sion, however, is, that it is not a genuine Musci- capa, but that it will prove to be a Sytvia; in which genus its specific name must be changed, being pre-occupied by three others. I propose for it the name of S. Wilsonii. 128. § M. minuta. Vol. vi. p. 62. Anew species of Wilson omitted in the index. We have never seen it, but judging from the too much reduced figure we rather think it a Sytvia. The specific name is pre-occupied in Muscicapa, and also in Sytvia, Wilson having applied it to one of his new Warblers; but as I have discovered that his S. minuta is the S. discolor of Vieillot, his specific name for this species, if it be a Syzvia, may be retained. ALAUDA. Three species are referred to this genus by our author, only one of them, however, belongs to it, as it is now limited. 186 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE 129. A. magna. Vol. iii. p. 20. This bird, which i$ peculiar to this country, is not a Lark, but a Statling (Sturnus.) Wilson was misled by some European author; but Latham had already ob- served that the Atauvpa magna is the Srurvus ludovicianus, which name must be exclusively adopted. SYNONYMES. Sroaxvs Iudovicianis. Lins. Gaew. Lath. Bais. (Winter Plamage.) Atavupa magna. Lins. Giret. (Summer dress.) Menuta americana torquata. Briss. (Summer dress.) Etourneau de la Louisiane, Burr. Pl. Enl. 256. (Winter dress.) Wilson endeavoured to prove this bird a Lark, and it is a remarkable circumstance that he only quotes the synonymes of ALavpa magna, without mentioning that of Srurnus ludovicianus, nor any other of the synonymes referred to that by former writers; thus conveying the idea that they are two different birds, which is certainly not the fact, and which probably induced Stephens to —_ a nominal species. Vieillot has lately formed for this bird the genus Srurvetza, which, with his Srurnus and Bupnaea, form his family Lemonrres.. That genus may be adopted as a subgenus. This author also changed the specific name to that of collaris. Daudin makes a Cassicus (Icrervs) of it. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 18 130. * Avavpa alpestris. Vol. i. p. 85. After discussing a long series of species peculiar to North America, we again arrive at one to which we can prefix the sign which indicates a common habitation to both continents. It will be observed, that only such birds as winter here are common to the two continents, the reason for which is very obvious since the European and American birds of that description meet at the pole, and can from thence visit either hemisphere. This is the only true Lark hitherto found in the United States, where it extends its migrations much further south than in Europe. SYNONYMES. Auaupa alpestris. Livy. Guen. Laru. Tem. Ataupa fiava. Gmex. (adult male in breeding dress.) Ataupa virginiana. Briss. Alouette de Siberie. Burr. Pl. Enl. 650. fig. 2. Bartram called it ALaupa campestris gutture flavo. 131. * A. rufa. Vol.v. p. 89. The genus Avav- pa has been, very properly, deprived of those species whose slender and emarginated bill prove amore intimate connexion with Moracixa than with Ataupa. Bechstein made this separation, and placed the discarded species in a separate genus, which he ‘called Anrnus. This genus is now adopted by Temminck, Vieillot, and all the best modern Ornithologists. Cuvier places it as a subgenus under his extensive group of Moracuxa, 182 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE which is rather a family than a genus. The pre- sent species is the only Ayrnus yet known to in- habit North America, and is also found in Europe. It is probably by mistake that Wilson calls this bird Al. rufa, since that name had been already given by Gmelin to two different species, both distinct from our bird, which is the Al. rubra of Gmelin and Latham. Finding the name rubra improper, our author changed it to that of rufa, not thinking that the latter name was doubly pre- occupied. But this is of little importance since it is now proved that the Al. rubra (pensylvanica of Brisson) is the same with the European Anruus aquaticus of Bechstein, and this changeable bird, about which there has been so much confusion, being finally settled under the latter name I think it proper to adopt it here. But we do not understand how Vieillot can avail himself of the testimony of Wilson in favour of the union of the two species, since this author seems not to have even thought of it. The synonymes being in a state of utter confu- sion, we shall be excused for attempting to give them more fully than our general plan admits of. SYNONYMES OF THE AMERICAN SPECIMENS. Axaupa rubra. Guew. Latu. Avaupa ludoviciana. Guet. Lata. Axaupa pensylvanica. Briss. — Farlouzanne, Burr. Ois. > Alouette aux joues brunes de Pensylvanie, Burr. Ois. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 183 Lark from Pennsylvania, Eow. Glean. pl. 297. Red Lark, Penn. Brit. and Arct. Zool. Laru. Syn. Louisiana Lark, Lara. Syn. SYNONYMES OF THE EUROPEAN SPECIMENS. Annus aquaticus. Becust. Meyer. Viritt. nou. dict. Tew. taak Axavpa spinoletta. Linn. (ought not this specific name to be restored ?) ALauDA campestris 4 spinoletta. Guev. Lata. Ataupa obscura. Guet. Latu. (young.) Avaupa petrosa Monracu Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. (young.) Antuus rupestris. Nitsson Orn. Succ. Alouette pipi. (by error) Burr. Pl. Enl. 661. f. 2. Meadow Lark var. A. Lara. Syn. Dusky Lark, Lata. Syn. (young.) Anrtuus montanus. Kocu Bayerische Zool. The latter nominal species, as Temminck observes, was formed of an adult male, as it appears during the few days of breeding, when they have a roseate tint on the neck, breast, upper part of the belly and flanks. ? SYLVIA. This genus was formerly a part of the extensive genus Moraciia. Scopoli was the first to sepa- rateit. Gmelin rejected it. Cuvier considered it as forming different subgenera under Motacilla; but Latham having previously, very properly, adopted it, our author assigned to it, as usual, the same limits. Vieillot divided the genus, but Tem- minck preserved it nearly entire. I shall only ‘mention the genera which I shall adopt, contain- 184 OBSERVATIONS ON. THE NOMENCLATURE ing American species. These are Saxicora of Bechstein and Temminck, (ivanrue of Vieillot,) Recutus of Vieillot, (formerly established by Ray,) Troctopyres, Vieillot, (established as a subgenus by Cuvier.) Thus reduced, Syxvia is still extreme- ly numerous in species, of which many inhabit the United States, and are peculiar to this continent. As the divisions that have been made of the genus Syty1a, seem to me unsatisfactory, I shall endeavour, on another occasion, to introduce a - more natural classification ; in the meantime I shall note the subgenus to which the species belongs, when this is obvious, but many necessary obser- vations are wanting to enable me to refer some of the species with accuracy. No less than thirty- six species are described by our author. 132. S. sialis. Vol. i. p. 56. I agree with Vieil- lot in the propriety of removing this bird from Syrvia, and placing it with S. @nanthe, stapa- zina, rubetra, rubicola, and others, in that genus which he calls GEnanrue, but which with Bechstein and 'Temminck, we shall call Saxicona, since it has all the characters and some of the habits of the first section of that genus: the American fauna is thus enriched with the genus Saxicota. That ge- nus was first established by Bechstein, and is now generally adopted; it is intermediate be- tween Syxvia, Muscicapa, and one of the sections of Turpus, not found in the United States, but mcluding the T. eyanus and sawatilis of Europe: OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 185 Vieillot changed the name to that of CEvanrne on account of priority! as having been given by Gess- ner, Willughby and Ray. But that name is inadmis- sible, being pre-occupied in Botany. The name Saxicora, though objectionable ac- cording to Illiger and other purists, as being de- rived from a habit, must, in my opinion, be retained, rather than that another name should be intro- duced, as Stephens has done by calling the genus Virirtora. The present bird, the only North American species, belongs to the first section, with the S. enanthe, stapazina, aurita, &c. of Europe. Although Temminck adopts the genus Saxicoa, he still considers this bird a Sytyia. SYNONYMES. Moracita sialis. Linn. Get. Syxvia sialis. Lar. Vier. pl. 101, (male.) 102, (female.) 103, (young.) — Recently the latter author has called it Cinanrne sialis.. Ficeputa rubecula carolinensis cerulea. Briss. La Gorge rouge de la Caroline. Burr. Pl. Enl. 396. fig. 1, (male.) 2, (female.) 133. S. ealendula. Vol. i. p. 83. This pretty species belongs to the genus Reevtus of Vieillot, or rather of Ray, considered by Cuvier as a sub- genus, (but in which the latter author includes some species that we consider as true Sytviz,) and regarded by Temminck and other modern authors as a section only of Sytvra.- VOL. IV.-DECEMBER, 1824, 24 186 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Vieillot has taken the liberty of changing the specific name to that of rubineus, a usurpation that cannot be permitted. It must therefore be called Recutus calendulus, agreeably to Stephens, SYNONYMES. Moracitxa calendula. Linn. Guets Syivia calendula. Laru. Parus griseus. Guet. Larue Parus calendula pensyloanica. Briss. Reguwus rubineus. View. pl. 104, (male with an exag- gerated crest.) 105, (young, given as the female.) 134. S. marylandica. Vol. i. p. 88, Vol. ii p. 163. (female.) Wilson chose Brisson’s specific name in preference to that of Linné, who, for what rea- son I know not, considered this bird a Turpus. Linné’s specific name must be restored, and the species will then be known as the Syxvia trichas, agreeably to Latham. SYNONYMES. Turous trichas. Linn. Gue.. Sxxvia trichas. Lary. Vizit. pl. 85. (male.) pl. 86. (fe- male.) Ficrputa marylandica. Briss. Fauvette @ poitrine jaune de le Louisiane, Burr. Pl. Bnle 709. fig. 2. (male.) 135. * S. regulus. Vol. i. p. 126. This bird and the calendula, are the only species of the ge- nus Reeuivus known to inhabit North America. According to some authors a third species is found here, but this we believe to be a mistake. This OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 187 species is an inhabitant of both continents: its specific name being now transferred to the genus, -we think proper to adopt in its stead that given by Ray and Vieillot, of Recutus eristatus, though some recent authors have called it R.oulgaris. For further remarks and a complete synonymy, see my continuation of Wilson’s Ornithology. SYNONYMES, Moracrixa regulus. Linn. Guet. Sytvia regulus. Larn. Tema. Paxus calendula, Regulus cristatus oulgo dicta, Brasé. Recutus cristatus. Viet. Nour. dict. The figure in Buffon’s Pl. Enl. does not represent this bird, neither does that of Vieillot, Ois de PAmer. Sept. 136. S. domestica. Vol. i. p. 129. Agreeably to the principle we adopted in a former part of these observations, when speaking of.some of Wilson’s Cerruiz, this bird must be placed in the genus Troctopyres and subgenus of the same name. Vieillot’s excellent specific name, having the pri- ority, must be adopted, and the bird be called T. adon. SYNONYMES. Troctopyres edon. Viritt. pl. 107. Moraciura domestica (Regulus rufus.) Bartram. Moracitra furva ? Guet. Syivia furva? Laru. 137.* S. troglodytes. Vol. i. p. 39. With Wil- son we have little or no doubt of the identity of this species with that of Europe, with which: it 188 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE corresponds exactly in appearance. It differs how- ever, in its migratory habits, which are probably attributable tothe temperature of this climate. _ Vieillot has not mentioned it in his large work, but in the Nouv. dict. @hist. nat. he gives it a dis- tinct place, though not without much hesitation, under the name of 'Trociopytes hyemalis. It be- longs to the genus and subgenus Troctopytes, and as the specific name is now generic, we must call it T. Europeaus, agreeably to Leach, Vieillot, and Stephens, as that name, although not at all ap- propriate, has the priority. SYNONYMES. Moracitta troglodytes. Linn. GuEt. Sytvia troglodytes. Latu. Tema. Ficeputa regulus. Briss. Le Roitelet, Burr. Pl. Enl. 651. f. 2. 138. S. flavicollis. Vol. ii. p. 64. Vieillot adopted for this species the name of S. pensilis, which must be retained ; this name is not quoted by our author in his synonymes, and that of Aavicollis is not mentioned by Vieillot, yet they are both in- tended to designate one species. , SYNONYMES, Moraciixa pensilis. GuEt. Moracitta flavicollis. Ger. Sytvia pensilis. Lata. Visit. pl. 72. (male.) Svyivia flavicollis. Lata. View. (from that author.) Parus carolinensis griseus, Briss. ai 4 La gorge jaune de St. Domingue, Burr. Pl. Enl. 686. figs 1, (male.) OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 189 139. S. castanea. Vol. ii. p. 97. A new species of Wilson, whose name must be adopted; it ap- proaches the S. ruficapilla, Latham, and may possibly prove to be the same in a different state of plumage. 140. 8S. pennsylvanica. Vol. ii. p. 99. This hand- some warbler has been described by authors, in- cluding Linné, under two different names; those of pensylvanica and icterocephala. 'The latter name has not been quoted by our author, but must be exclusively adopted, having been pre- viously chosen by Vieillot in his large work. SYNONYMES. - Moracitta icterocephala. Linn. Gmet. Moracitta pensyloanica. Linn. GMeEL. Sytvia icterocephala. Laru. Viei.. pl. 90. Syzvia pensyloanica. Laru. Ficeputa canadensis icterocephalos. Briss. ‘Ficeputa pensylvanica icterocephalos. Briss. It is not figured in Buff. Pl. Enl.; the plate quoted by Gmelin and Latham, is, as Vieillot observes, the young of S. coronata. 141. § S. philadelphia. Vol. ii. p. 101. A new species of Wilson, the excessive rarity of which might lead us to suppose it an accidental variety of some other, perhaps the S. irichas. This name must of course be retained for this bird, which he met with but once, and which has not been seen since. 142. S. solitaria. Vol. ii. p. 109. According to 190 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Wilson, who gave the present name, this is the Pine-creeper of Edwards, pl. 277, upper figure, but it is not that of Catesby, which is certainly S. pi- nus; Linné, Gmelin and Latham confounded them together, and our author first distinguished them. The S. solitaria will be properly placed in Cu- vier’s subgenus Daenis, which we adopt, not how- ever as a subgenus of Cassicus,in which he places it, but as one of Sytyia. SYNONYME. Parus aureus alis ceruleis. Bartram. 143. S. chrysoptera. Vol. ii. p. 113. This species, as Wilson observes, has been described under two different names. It belongs to the subgenus Dac- nis above mentioned. ‘The female is unknown to authors; it differs very much from the male, and will be represented in the first volume of my con- tinuation of Wilson’s Ornithology. ' SYNONYMES. Moracitia chrysoptera, Linn. Get. Moracitxa flavifrons. Guew. Sytvia chrysoptera. Lata. Vinttt. pl. 97. Syuvia flavifrons. Larne Ficeputa pensylvanica cinerea gutture nigro. Briss. Parus alis ceruleis. Bartram. 144. S. citrinella. Vol. ii. p. 111. Wilson’s name, though much handsomer and more appropriate, cannot be admitted in preference to the generally received designation, that of S. estiva. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 191 SYNONYMES. Moracitia estiva. Guet. Syivia estiva. Laru. Vier. pl. 95. Moracira albicollis. Guex. (young.) Syrvra albicollis. Lata. (young.) Ficepua canadensis. Briss. (male adult.) Ficepua dominicensis. Briss. (young.) Figuier de Canada, Burr. Pl. Ent. 58. fig. 2. (adult male,) not the figure 1, which that author gives as the female, in which he was followed by others; but Latham, Wilson and Vieillot very correctly separated it from this species; the latter author believed it to be intended for his S. flava, but in that case he ought to have retained Latham’s name of S. carolinensis for that bird. We think Vieillot was right in considering Cates- by’s Yellow Titmouse, Vol. i. £ 63, as the S. estiva: Gmelin and Latham erroneously quoted that figure for a variety of S. trochilus, a European bird giver by them as also American, probably from the re- semblance it bears to some Areprigen females of other species. 145. S. canadensis. Vol. ii. p. 115. Linné in- advertently gave the specific name of canadensis to two Warblers. Gmelin and Latham preserved the name to this species, and called the other, which, however, is but a nominal species, S. cincta. Vieillot having discovered that it is the same as the S. e@rulescens of St. Domingo, preferred that name to that of canadensis, which, however, be- ing prior, must be retained. 192 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE ‘ SYNONYMES. — Moracitia canadensis. sp. 42, Linn. Guev. Moracitxa cerulescens. Guew. (autumnal.) Syzvia canadensis. Latu. Syztvia c@rulescens. Lata. (autumnal.) Vieixt. pl. 80. Ficeputa canadensis cinerea minor. Briss. Figuier cendré du Canada, Burr. Pl. Enl. 685, f. 2. 146. S. virens. Vol. ii. p. 137. This species is correctly named, and authors agree respecting it. SYNONYMES. Moracitta virens. GMEL. Sytvia virens. Larn. Viet.t. pl. 92. Ficeputa pensylvanica guiture nigro. Briss. Parus viridis gulture nigroe Bartram. 147. S. coronata. Vol. ii. p. 138, and Vol. vy. p. 121, (in winter dress.) Wilson’s account of this bird is correct and complete; but although he gives ' a number of synonymes, yet he is far from indi- cating the whole number of nominal species that have been formed of its different states. He is incorrect in giving the Moracixa maculosa of Gmelin and its corresponding synonyma, as the same with this bird; it is very distinct, being the supposed new species, the S. magnolia of Wilson. _ syNONYMES. Moracitxa coronata. Linn. Gut. (adult in summer dress.) Moraciita canadensis. sp. 27. Linn. (adult in summer dress, unnatural by a band on the breast.) ° Moraciua umbria. Guew, (autumnal.) i Moracitta cincta. Guet. (adult in summer dress, with the above mentioned band.) OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 193 Moracitta pinguis, Gm. (autumnal.) Syxvia coronata, Laru. (adult in summer dress.) Viettt. pl. 78. (adult male in summer plumage.) pl. 79, (young.) Sytvia umbria, Lata. (autumnal.) Synvia cincta, Laru. (adult in summer dress, deviating from nature by having the band on the breast; an error which probably originated in Brisson’s figure.) Syivia pinguis, Lara. (autumnal.) Ficepua pensylvanica cinerea nevia, Briss. (adult in sum- mer plumage.) Ficepura canadensis cinerea, Briss. (with the false band.) Fauvette tachetée de la Louisiane, Burr. Pl. Enl. 709, fig. 1. (autumnal.) Figuier du Mississippi, Burr. Pl. Enl. 731, f. 2, (young autumnal; erroneously quoted by Gmelin and Latham un- der S. icterocephala.) Parus cedrus uropygio flaco, Banrnam. (autumnal.) Parvus aureo vertice, Bartram. (summer dress.) Parus virginianus, Linn. Gut. Lata. Briss. (autumnal.) Syivia flavopygia, Vieity. (autumnal.) Sytvia wanthoroa, ViEit1. nouv. dict. (autumnal.) 148. S. cwerulea. Vol. ii. p. 141. This very beau- tiful little species was first described and figured by our author, who having placed the S. ewrulea of Latham with the Muscicars, thought proper to apply that specific name to his new species, for which it is much more appropriate. But as we agree with all modern writers in regarding that species as a Syxyia, we are unable to retain the name of cerulea for the present bird. With this consideration Stephens gave it the name of S. VOL. IV.——DECEMBER, 1824. 25 194 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE azurea. My friend, Mr. Say, in his excellent ‘zoological notes, to the account of Major Long’s expedition to the Rocky Mountains, calls it S. bifasciata. 149. S..pinus. Vol. iii. p. 25. We have already had occasion to speak of this bird when treating of S. varia (Cerrnia maculata of Wilson.) It is a ‘true ‘Syrvia, although ‘Linné mane Gmelin ar- ranged it in Cerruta. Wilson i is very accurate in noticing he's numer- ous’ errors of his predecessors relative to this species, and.judicious in correcting them. SYNONYMES. | Cerrnia pinus, Linn. Guew. Syivia-pinus, Larn. Visit. (from that author, having ‘never seen the bird.) Misled by Edwards, these ‘authors have at least con- founded iit with the S. solitaria of Wilson, from which their description seems to be taken. Parus americanus. Briss. It is not surprising that authors are’ obscure with respect to this bird, since they quote in their synonymy, two different’ species and plates, viz. that ‘of Catesby, pl. 61, which, though very bad, is intended for our bird, and that of Edwards’ Gleanings, pl. 277, upper figure ; ‘whichis the S. solitaria of Wilson, as before stated. (150. S. magnolia. Vol. iii. p. 63. We séiibe conceive how Wilson could give this species’as OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 195. new, and state that no European naturalist had noticed it, since it is the S. maculosa mentioned by them all, and erroneously considered by our author as the S. coronata. On this account we shall give a more complete synonymy than usual. The bill in Wilson’s figure is inaccurate, being much too long and too thick. SYNONYMES. Moracirta maculosa, Guex. Sytvia maculosa, Lata. Vier. pl. 93. (male.) Ficeputa pensylvanica nevia, Briss. Figuier 4 téte cendrée, Burr. hist. nat. des Ois. Yellow rumped Fly-catcher, Epw. Glean. pl. 255, (male.) Yellow rumped Warbler, Penn. Arct. Zool. Lara. Syn. 151. S. blackburnia. Vol. iii. p. 64. ' Wilson is correct in respect to this fine species. SYNONYMES. Moraciixa blackburnie, GME. Sytvia blackburnie, Lata. Vieitt. pl. 96. 152. S. autumnalis, Vol. iii. p. 65, has been given by Wilson as a new species. It seems not to have been noticed before or since. His name must be adopted. 153. 8. protonotarius. Vol. iii. p. 72. This bird belongs tothe subgenus Dacnis. Wilson expresses a decisive opinion favourable to the propriety of forming a subgenus or separate family for this bird, and a few other Warblers, distinguished alike 196 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE for the form and acuteness of their bills, which are longer, thicker at base, and more rounded than those of the genus Sytvia generally are. Here again he had the subgenus Dacnis in view; the name only was wanting. SYNONYMES. Moracitxa protonotarius, GMEL. Syxvia protonotarius, Laru. Viriwi. pl. 83. (a very bad figure.) Figuier @ ventre et téte jaunes de la Louisiane, Bure. Pl. Enl. 704, f. 2. 154. S. vermivora. Vol. iii. p. 74. This also belongs to the subgenus Dacnis, of which, or of a corresponding division, it is generally given as the type, though the bill is a little more bent than in the other species. ‘This bird escaped Vieillot’s researches. SYNONYMES. Moracinua vermivora, GMEL. Syzvia vermivora, Lara. Vieit.. (from authors.) Ficeputa pensyloanica, Briss. Edwards first figured this bird, in his Gleanings, pl. 305. 155. § 8. peregrina. Vol. iii. p. 83. A new species found in the western country by Wilson. I have never seen it, but, judging by its figure, it must be placed in the subgenus Daenis. 'The species has a strong analogy with the S. bicolor of Vieil- lot, pl. 90, bis. the only difference being that the OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 197 latter is blue on the upper parts, where the former is green. . 156. § S. formosa. Vol. iii. p. 84. Another new species found also by Wilson in the western coun- try. It isnot noticed by any author, and Wilson’s name must be adopted. If the figure be correct, the bill is remarkably large for a Sytvia. 157. S. minuta. Vol. iii. p. 89. This new species of Wilson, seems to me to be the same as Vieillot’s S. discolor; this name having the priority must supplant Wilson’s. SYNONYMEs Syzvia discolor, Viritt. pl. 98. 158. § S. rara. Vol. iii. p.119. A rare and new species, met with but once by 0 our author and not observed since. 159. S. ruficapilla. Vol. iii. p. 120. The name of this new species being pre-occupied, Wilson changed it in his index to that of rubricapilla. A subsequent writer had, therefore, no right to give _ it the name of S. leucogastra. 160. S. pusilla. Vol. iv. p. 17. Wilson was wrong in changing the name of this bird, and that which he has chosen is pre-occupied in Latham’s ~~ work by a New Holland Warbler; he has, besides, given the same name to two species; though he has changed one of them in his index. Vieillot also gave a new name which is more elegant and appropriate; but nevertheless, that of Syzvia 198 “OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE americana of Latham, (Parus americanus Linné,) “must be exclusively adopted. It is remarkable that Gmelin, Pennant and Latham have followed Linné in placing this species in Parus, particu- larly as Brisson and Buffon had porseines its true affinity. SYNONYMES. Parvus americanus, Linn. Guex. Lata. The latter author expresses a doubt of its being a Parus, and says it resem- bles Sytvra americana, to which he refers Buffon’s syno- nyme quoted below. ~ Moraciixa americana, Gm. Syxvia americana, Lata. Moracixta ludoviciana, Gur. Sytvia ludoviciana, sp. 105. Latu. Ficeputa carolinensis cinerea, Briss. Ficeputa ludoviciana, Briss. Figuier cendré de la Caroline, Burr. Pl. Enl. 731, f- 1. Sytvia torquata, Vinit1. pl. 99. Thus has four names been given to this one species. This confusion will always arise whilst writers consider themselves authorized to change specific names under any pretence whatever, ex- cepting that of pre-occupancy. We again repeat that in our own defence we must adhere to the name first given. : 161. S. petechia. Vol. iv. p. 19. In consequence of its remarkable traits this species has never been mistaken for another. Vieillot, however, in the Nouv. dict. (hist. nat. expresses an opinion in La ed res OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 199 consequence of its excessive rarity, that it is a variety of S. @stiva. SYNONYMES. Moractiua petechia, Linn. Gen. Svxvia petechia, Lara. Viettx. pl. 91, (male.) Ficeputa pensyloanica erythrocephalos, Briss. Figuier @ téte rouge de Pensyloanie, Burr. Ois. Yellow red-pole, Epw. pl. 256, lower figure. (male.) Red-headed Warbler, Penn. Arct, Zool. Laru. Syn. 162. S. striata. Vol. iv. p. 40. and Vol. vi. p. 101, (female) a well known species. “i SYNONYMES. Moracitta striata, Gut. Syivia striata, Lara. Virst. pl. 75, CaN 76 (female.) Black-pole Warbler, Penn. Arct. Zool. Latu. Syn. 163. S. agilis. Vol. v. p. 64. A new species of ‘Wilson, whose name must be adopted. 164. S. pusilla. Vol. y. p. 100. A new species,” called by a pre-occupied name, but altered in the index to that of leucoptera, which is pre-occupied by one of Vieillot’s species, and was, therefore, changed to that of palustris, by Stephens; but as this also is pre-occupied, I propose for it the name of S. sphagnosa. 165. § S. montana. Vol. y. p. 113. A species discovered by Wilson near the Blue Mountains. We have not seen it, but judging by the descrip- tion, and Vieillot’s figure, there is a great analogy % 200 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE between it and the S. tigrina of Latham; the spots on the under parts are less dense in. mon- tana. Believing that the tigrina could hardly have escaped Wilson’s observation, we are inclined to consider it as the same bird. SYNONYMES. Moracitta tigrina, Gur. Syzvia figrina, Latu. Vier. pl. 94. Ficeputa canadensis fusca, Briss. Le Figuier tacheté de jaune, Burr. Ois. Spotted yellow Fly-catcher, Penn. Arct. Zool. Epw. pl. 257, lower figure. Lara. Syn. 166. S. parus. Vol. vy. p. 114. A new species closely allied to several, but apparently distinct from all. . 167. S. maritima. Vol. vi. p. 99. This elegant new species must retain the name which Wilson, its discoverer, gave toit. He obtained the male only, and that but once. I have lately shot a fe- male bird, which I have some reasons for beliey- ing to be the mate of that species. It will appear in my continuation of Wilson’s Ornithology. (To be continued.) END OF VOLUME IY.....PART I. JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES or PHILADELPHIA. VOL. IV.,..PART I. PHILADELPHIA : PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, BY J. HARDING. 1825 CONTENTS OF VOL. IV. PART II. Officers of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- ' phia, for the year 1825. - On the fresh water and land Tortoises of tie United States. By Thomas Say. - - - Observations on the Zinc Ores of Franklin and Sterling, Sussex county, New Jersey. By G. Troost, M. D. Notice of the Plesiosaurus, and other Fossil Reliquiz, from the State of New Jersey. By Richard Har-: lan, M. D. . - - = " Description of three new species of Coluber, inhabiting the United States. By Thomas Say. - - Description of two species of Linnzan Lacerta, not be- fore described, and construction of the new genus Cyclura. By Richard Harlan, M.D. - - Observations on the Nomenclature of Wilson’s Ornitho- logy. By Charles Bonaparte. (Continued.) - Descriptions of four new species of the Linnzan genus Blennius, and a new Exocetus. By William W, Wood. - - - - Description of a new Species of Biped Seps fee Richard Harlan, M. D. - Description of a new species of Scincus. By Richard Harlan, M. D. : - - On two genera and several species of Crinoidea. By Thomas Say. - - - ~ Description of two new species of Agama. by R. Har- lan, M. D. - - - An account of a new species of the genus jorviai By George Ord, - - , - - 201 iv CONTENTS. Description of a new species of Salamander. By Wil- liam W. Wood. - + - - Descriptions of new Hemipterous Insects, collected in the expedition to the Rocky Mountains, perform- ed by order of Mr. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under command of Major Long. By Thomas Say. : “ 4 ait im A new genus of Mammalia proposed, and a description of the species upon which it is founded. By T. Say and G. Ord. - - - - Description of a new species of South Amerionn Frin- gilla. By Charles Bonaparte. - - - Description of a new species of Mammalia, whereon a genus is proposed to he founded. By T. Say and G. Ord. - - - - - Remarks on the floating apparatus, and other peculiari- ties, of the genus Janthina. di Reynell Coates, M. D. - - - - - Description. of two new species of the Linnean genus Blennius. By C. A. Lesueur. . Description of a new species of Trilobite. By J. J. Bigsby, M. D. - - - - ‘ On a new species of Modiola. By Thomas Say. - Description of ten species of South American Birds, By Charles Bonaparte. —- - - - Description of two new species of Mexican Birds. By Charles Bonaparte. —- wy Nie Catalogue of the Library. (Continued.) - - List of donors to the Library. . - sp List of donations to the Museum, with Gaus names. Alphabetical Index. - - - - - Plates of Volume IV. - - * a Addenda et Corrigenda. - * * “Hie 345 JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES oF PHILADELPHIA. LIST OF OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1825. President. William Maclure. Vice-Presidents. Zaccheus Collins, George Ord. Corresponding Secretary. . Reuben Haines. Recording Secretary. William H. Keating. Curators. Thomas Say, C. A. Lesueur, J. P. Wetherill, Isaac Hays, M. D. Treasurer. Jacob Gilliams. Librarian. Jacob Peirce. Auditors. J. M. Brewer, S. G. Morton, M. D., J. .Dobson. VOL. IV—JANUARY, 1825. 26 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 203 On the fresh water and land Torvorses of the United States. By Tuomas Say. Read Octo- ber 12th, 1824. Of the fresh water and land tortoises inhabiting this country, the Cuetonura serpentina, Emys con- centrica, punctata, and picta, the Cisrupa pensyl- vanica, odorata, and clausa, as well as the Trionyx ferox are well known, and are even familiar to every naturalist who has devoted any attention to the Reptilia. They are all strongly character- ized by nature and cannot be readily misunder- stood or confounded with each other. But there are several of our species, which, either from their rarity in this region, from the obscurity of their characters, or from the want of differential de- scriptions, may readily be mistaken by the student. Such are the Emys scabra, reticulata, serrata, geographica, glutinata, and I may add the Trsrupo polyphemus. In order that these species may be better un- derstood, I shall proceed to give specific defi- nitions of all those above mentioned, which, in- clusive of a new species of Emys, described in this paper under the name of diguttata, present a list of all the species yet fully ascertained to in- habit this country. 204 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES.’ ‘Testrupo. 1. T. polyphemus, Daudin. Above depressed; anterior plates of the sternum elongated into a dilated projection, which surpasses the front of the superior shell; tail obsolete; nails depressed, quadrate ; jaws denticulated. Emys. 2. E. serrata, Daudin. Shell oval, longitudi- nally wrinkled; first vertebral plate urceolate ; anterior marginal scutum slender, its length equal to three times its breadth; posterior marginal scuta serrated; a blackish spot on the marginal scuta beneath: jaws remarkably denticulated. 3. E. reticularia, Latreille. Shell ovate; Gust vertebral plate quadrate, a little wider before ; pos- terior marginal scuta entire, lateral ones beneath with three black spots over the suture of the sternum ; sternum very narrow, elongate-oval: : jaws unarmed. 4. E. geographica, Lesueur. A vertebral carina which is prominent and acute at the posterior tips of the plates ; first plate suburceolate, angulated before ; anterior marginal scutum slender, anterior plates of the sternum and posterior marginal scuta of the superior shell very concave : jaws unarmed. 5. E. scabra, Linn. Plates sculptured with very numerous, concentric and radiating, impressed lines, giving a granulated appearance to the whole FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 205 surface ; a large black spot on each plate of the sternum : jaws not denticulated ; superior mandible emarginate at tip; inferior one acute. 6. E. centrata, Latr. Shell somewhat ovate, ca- rinate excepting on the last plate; plates with con- centric circles, either simply coloured or deeply impressed ; posterior marginal scuta crenate ; an- terior one quadrate : skin whitish, with very nu- merous blackish spots : jaws simple. 7. E. picta, Lim. Dark brownish, plates of the shell margined with yellow : head, and particularly the throat, lineated with yellow; jaws denticulated. 8. E. punctata, Schoepff. Shell dark brown or blackish, with remote bright yellow, round spots; anterior costal scuta very narrow, linear : superior jaw emarginated ; inferior jaw acute. 9. E. * biguttata, Nobis. Shell oblong-oval, slightly contracted in the middle, each side ; an- terior marginal scuta very narrow, linear : occiput with two very large fulvous spots: superior jaw emarginate; inferior jaw acute: tail rather long, simple. 10. E. glutinata, Daud. Shell similar to that of the Cisrupa. odorata, excepting that the sternum is immoveable, Daudin. Cistupa. 11. C. clausa, Linn. Shell elevated, convex, oval ; anterior vertebral plate somewhat urceolate; ante- 206 FRESH WATER AND LAND ‘TORTOISES. rior marginal scuta very small ; sternum bivalvular, completely closing the shell; suture before the middle : superior mandible hooked, inferior one elevated at tip and acute : ¢ail short. ; 12. C. pensylvanica, Linn. Shell oval, convex; anterior vertebral plate very narrow behind, and gradually dilated before ; marginal scuta remark- ably narrowed, anterior one extremely small, quad- rate ; sternum with but eleven plates; bivalvular, intermediate portion immoveable ; behind deeply emarginate, the posterior angles rounded: supe- rior mandible hooked at tip; inferior one at tip elevated and acute : tail unguiculated. , 13. C. odorata, Latr. Shell oval, convex ; ante- rior vertebral plate very narrow behind, and gra- dually dilated before ; marginal scuta remarkably narrowed, anterior one extremely small, quadrate; sternum with but eleven plates, anterior portion moveable, valvular; behind emarginate, the pos- terior angles acute : mandibles simple, rounded at tip. oe Cuevonura. ; 14. C. serpentina, Linn. Shell subovate, depress- ed; plates with small elevated points and lines; posterior plates, each with a somewhat acute pro- minence; vertebral plates six, lateral ones five; pos- terior marginal scuta deeply serrated; anterior scutum elongated, transverse : superior mandible hooked, acute: tail elongated, compressed, ser- rated. FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 207 Trionyx. 15. 'T. ferox, Linn. Sternum with two callosi- ties; small smooth tubercles on the anterior and posterior part of the cartilaginous covering of the body : ¢ai/ hardly longer than the extremity of the cartilaginous covering. Observations on the species. 1. Tesruvo polyphemus. This is a true land tor- toise, both as respects its generic characters and its habits, and is well known in the region which it inhabits, by the name of Gopher. It is altogether limited to the southern states, and more particu- larly Georgia, and the Floridas, where it prefers arid situations, and burrows deeply in the sand. On the bank of the river St. John, Mr. T. Peale and myself dug about ten feet, guided by one of their burrows, before we arrived at its termina- tion and secured the inhabitant. The species is readily distinguished from any other, by its de- pressed form and the remarkable projection of the anterior plates of the sternum; and although these plates vary in their proportional degree of prominence and width in different individuals, yet they always surpass the anterior line of the supe- rior shell; in some instances, however, they may not exceed in proportional magnitude those of the T. coui, Daud. The tail also offers a very re- markable character. It is so extremely short, 208 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. thick, and obtusely convex, that at first view the animal appears to be altogether destitute of a tail . properly so called. As th ;member does not ex- tend to the termination of the superior shell, we may consider the polyphemus as the beginning of a series in which the length of the tail is estimat- ed; the Cuetonura serpentina occupying the op- posite extreme in this family, Referring only to the posterior member of the polyphemus, we might readily conclude that Linné had this species in view when he described the Cistupo carolina, but the remainder of his description and more espe- cially his reference to a figure of a monstrous or mutilated individual of the C. clausa, in Edwards’ Natural History, page 205, is conclusive on this point. Good specimens are in the ee or one of which is living: SYNONYMES« Gopher, .Bantram’s Travels. Testupo polyphemus, Daun. in Sony. Burr. Nat. Hitt, Rept. vol. 2, p. 256. The Tesruno denticulata, Linn. is said by a authors to be a native of Virginia, but I have not met with it, neither is it known to the inhabitants of that state; its native country must aaiiar be considered as doubtful. 2. Emys serrata. The largest of the North American species of this genus, and closely allied to the reticulata and geographica... On the superior FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 209 shell are generally numerous longitudinal wrinkles or elevated lines, which give it a remarkable ap- pearance; but as these do n cimens, we must have re to distinguish this species. On comparing the serrata with the reticulata, we observe, that the posterior part of the shell is more or less serrated, whilst that of the other is simple; that the jaws are denticulated, whilst those of the reticulata are unarmed; that many, and sometimes nearly all of the marginal scuta have a blackish subocellate spot on their inferior surface, whereas in the re- ticulata these spots are but three in number, and are confined to those scuta which are immediately above the connecting suture of the sternum. The serrata is frequently brought to the Philadelphia market as an article of food. The largest specimen I have seen we obtained in East Florida; it measures about 17 inches. SYNONYMES. Tesrupo serrata, Davpin in Sonnini’s Burr. 2. p. 148, pl. 21, fig. 1, 2, (the description indicates the reticulata.) Tesrupo rugosa, Suaw, Zool. v. 3, pt. 1. p. 28, pl. 4. (the serrata of this author p. 51, pl. 9, is a different species.) 3. E. reticularia. This species is far less fre- quent than the preceding, and the only specimen I have seen belongs to the Philadelphia Museum. This specimencor responds very well with Dau- din’s figure. VOL, IV.——JANUARY, 1825. 27 210 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. SYNONYMES. ist. nat. des Rept. Sonnini’s Burr. 2, p. 144, icates the E, serrata.) Trstoupo reticularia, La Testuno reticulata, Dat pl. 21, f. 3, (his description i 4. E. geographica. An inhabitant of the North Western lakes and their tributaries, as well as of the waters of the Mississippi; but it is probably not found in the more northern waters which flow into the Atlantic. SYNONYME. Testupo geographica, Lesurur Journ. 4cad. Nat. Sc. vol. 1, p. 86, pl. 5. 5. E. scabra. Authors seem to have seen only the shell of this species as they have not noticed the colour of the skin of the animal; this colour is uniform, dark greenish-brown above, and ful- vous beneath. The scabra is found as far north as Maine, it is not common in Pennsylvania, but in some parts of the country it is rather abundant; and my friend Prince Charles Bonaparte informs me that in the vicinity of Bordentown, New Jersey, it occurs frequently, and is known by the name of fresh water terrapin. The shell of a specimen which he sent me, measures nine inches in length. This is certainly the largest I have seen; and the fact is the more particularly worthy of note, as the species has hitherto been stated to be only about three inches long. FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 211 SYNONYME. “— (not of some other au- 6. E. centrata, is the animal so well known here by the name of “ Terrapin.” It is held in high estimation as a delicate food, and is generally served up on the tables of our public eating houses, boiled in the shell. The centrata prefers the vicinity of the sea, and is never found far in the interior of the coun- try, or remote from brackish water. Like the clausa it varies in a remarkable degree. ‘The concentric lines of the plates of the shell are sometimes simply of a darker colour than the gen- eral surface, whilst in other specimens they re- semble deep grooves sculptured into the shell. Testupo scabra, Linn. thors.) SYNONYMES. Testupo centrata, Larn. hist. nat. des Rept. Daun. in Son- nini’s Burr. 2, p. 153. Testupo concentrica, Saaw, Zool. 3, pt. 1. p. 43, pl. 9. 7. E. picta. One of the handsomest of all the known species of Emys, and at the same time the most abundant of any other in the United States. They lay for hours on logs or other objects that float on, or project into the water, from whence they dive into the water on the approach of any thing that alarms them. In old specimens a su- ture is very visible on the anterior part of the 242 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. sternum, concentric to the junction of the three anterior sutures as depicted on Pl. 4 of Schoepff’s work. ‘This suture is en in young specimens. : SYNONYMES. a" Testupo picta, Linn. Gut. Syst. Nat. Scuorrr. hist. test. p- 23, pl. 4. Daun. in Sonnnw’s Burr. 2, Be 164, Se 3, pt. 2, p. 24, pl. 10. » Sige 1. 8. E. punetata. As well as the preceding speuies, this is inno danger of being mistaken for any other; its markings are perfectly distinct and strik- ing. It is also a common species, and seems ‘to prefer clear flowing streams. SYNONYMES. ‘ : Txstupo punctata, Scnorrrr, hist. test. p. 28, pl. 5. Davpin in Sonnini’s Burron, 2, p. 159, pl. 22. ) _ Trsruvo guttata, Scunemer. Suaw, Zool. 3, pt. 1, p. 47. pl. 10, fr 2. 9. E. * biguttata. Shell convex, linear-oval, slightly wider behind, a little contracted each side at the middle, and with a hardly elevated dorsal carina; plates concentrically wrinkled, and with obsolete radiating lines; dark brown or blackish, obsoletely varied with yellow; vertebral plates ‘subequal, wider than long ; costal plates, excepting the fourth, which is small, subequal, the anterior one somewhat largest; marginal scuta twenty-five, anterior one linear, its length equal to double its breadth : sternum blackish, varied with yellow and FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 213 with twelve plates, of which the two anterior ones are smallest, triangular, with rectilinear sutures ; lateral angles a little nent, and at their an- terior junction somewhat emarginate ; second and third pairs of plates subequal; fourth and fifth larger, subequal ; sixth much smaller, broader than long, widely emarginate behind: head blackish, varied with yellow in short undulated lines, par- ticularly on the inferior jaw, which is much curved upward at tip and acute: superior jaw deeply emarginate at tip, each side of which is a slight obtuse dentiform prominence: occiput with two very large, bright, fulvous spots: tail as long as the hind feet, thick at base, and gradually taper- ing to the tip, which is unarmed. Length of the shell, three inches and four-fifths; greatest breadth nearly two inches and four-fifths ; breadth in the middle, two inches and two-fifths. This new species is by no means common; 1 have as yet seen but few individuals, one of which is in the collection of the Academy. 10. E. glutinata. This species has not yet fallen under my observation, and we have no other in- formation respecting it than what is recorded by Daudin. He informs us that it is so closely allied to the odorata as to be with difficulty distinguished from that species, by any other character than that of the immoveable condition of the extremi- ties of the sternum, which, in the odorata, are val- vular. Whether or not immobility of the sternum 214 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. may be the consequence of advanced age, or a permanent specific trait, must be left for future determination. ‘ions SYNONYMES. Trstuvo glutinata, Davpin in Sonnint’s Burron, 2 p, 194, pl. 24, f. 4, (the sternum.) Testupo pensyloanica, sterno immobili. Scnozrrr, pl. 24, jig. B, pe 110. 11. Cistuvo clausa. Familiarly known to almost every one by the name of land tortoise; it is that species on the inferior shell of which many per- sons are in the habit of cutting the initials of their names together with the date of the year. It exhibits so great a variety in the form, num- ber, and distinctness of the yellow spots in differ- ent individuals, that it is not common to find two in which these markings are nearly similar. Amongst the varieties, there appears to be every degree of gradation from large spots occupying a greater portion of the whole surface of the supe- rior shell, to obsolete spots, or to small ones coy- ering but a very small portion of the surface; some specimens have been found altogether immaculate. Moreover, as in the E. concentrica, the plates are sometimes sculptured with impressed concentric lines ; in other specimens they are perfectly gla- brous, and between these two extremes a com- plete connexion may be traced. So great is the variation in these respects, that it appears to me FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 215 necessary to have some other character than co- lour, pointed out on the E. virgulata of Daudin, in order to prove it a species and not a mere va- riety of the clausa, as I believe it to be, as well as the E. carolina of Linné. This species certainly belongs to the genus Emys, as formerly characterized, although it does not, at least as far as I have observed, ever enter the water voluntarily, and is therefore as exclu- sively a land tortoise as the Testupo polyphemus itself. ‘The clausa does, however, exhibit a pre- dilection for moisture, as Mr. Titian Peale has ob- served, by exposing itself to every fall of rain, whilst its companion in the same enclosure, the polyphemus, invariably seeks shelter under the same circumstances. A very beautiful variety occurs on the arid prairies of the Arkansa. A specimen brought by Major Long’s exploring party is in the collec- tion of the Philadelphia Museum; the yellow lines and spots on its shell are unusually vivid and well defined, contrasting strongly with the general black colour: the sternum is also black brown, with numerous bright yellow lines. If the virgu- lata be justly entitled to specific distinction, this variety, and in fact several others, must also be separated. SYNONYMES. Testupo clausa, Linn. Guex. Scuorrrr. Hist. test. p. 32, pl,.%. Davpin in Sonnint’s Busron, Reptiles, vol. 2, p. 207, 216 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. pl. 23, fig. 1, 2. Suaw, Gen. Zool. vol. 3, pts 1, ps si pi. 7. (the figure taken from Edwards’.) Tesrupo carolina, Linn. Gmet. Txsrupo caroliniana, Scanetp. Scuiup. p. 334, Testuvo tessellata, minor caroliniana, - nat. hist p- 205. La courte queue, Lacer. hist. nat. Quad. ovip. vol. 1, p. 169. Tesrupo virgulata, Daupin in Sonmim’s Burr. Reptiles, vol, 2, p. 201, pl. 23, fi 3, 4 12. C. pensylvanica. Inhabits ditches and other turbid waters. It is sometimes taken by the hook and line. A variety was found by a detachment of major Long’s exploring party on Bowyer creek, a tributary of the Missouri. The upper shell is altogether similar to that of specimens found in the vicinity of this city, but the sternum is pro- portionally much wider; the femoral plates are much more elongated backward, and the junction of the caudal plates is but very li icine nated at tip. SYNONYMES. Testupo pensyloanica, Linn. Get. Scuorrrr, p. 107. é, 24. Saw, Zool. vol. 3. pt. 1, p. 60, pt. 14, f. 2. (the shell he figures as a variety on pl. 15, is a distinct species, and probably not of this country.) Enc. Meth. pl. 5, fig. 1. Dau- din in Sonnini’s Buffon, 2, p. 182, pl. 24, fig. 1, 2. 13. C. odorata. With the general appearance and form of the pensylvanica, this is certainly a perfectly distinct species. Daudin, who separated _ FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 217 it, has given a very good figure in Sonnini’s Ed. of Buffon. Waving other equal or more important differences, the form of the apex of the upper mat- dible, is alone sufficient to show that the odorata is entitled to rank asa species. Inthe pensylvanica this part is rather abruptly prolonged vertically, so as to conceal much of the tip of the inferior mandible, as in the clausa, Curroxura serpentina, &c. whereas in the present species the upper man- dible is not at-all prolonged, but the tip is perfect- ly simple and rounded. The odorata is generally known by the name of “ stink-pot,” from its musky odor; it is a very common inhabitant of ditches and other turbid waters, and is very troublesome to those who angle in such situations. Some persons are so well ac- quainted with its nibble, as to be able to distin- guish it from that of the various kinds of fishes. It affects the hook in a sluggish manner, and sometimes remains firmly attached for a consider- able interval, without giving any motion to the cork which floats on the surface. SYNONYMESe ‘ dealicriiadis: Hicnit in Sonn. Burr. 2, p. 189; pl. 94, f. 3, (sternum.) he quotes Larr. hist. nat. des Rept.1, p, 122. 14. Cuevonura serpentina. A common species, inhabiting large muddy ponds, ditches, and other waters of slow current. In winter it approaches holes in the ice, and is then taken by the harpoon, for culinary purposes. It is exposed for sale in 28 VOL. IV.—JANUARY, 1825. ‘218 FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. our markets under the name of “ snapping tortle.” It is prevented from biting by a piece of twine which is passed between the jaws and drawn tight around the sides of the body. It constitutes the chief ingredient of the more common kind of “ tur- tle soup” of our taverns and oyster cellars. i Mr. J. E. Calhoun informs me that it is distin- guished by the negroes of South Carolina, by the name of Coutia, probably from its similarity to an unknown species of Africa. In some situations where this species abounds, it is very destructive to young ducks, seizing them by the feet and dragging them under water, for the purpose of devouring them. SYNONYMES- . Testuno serpentina, Linn, Gur. Syst. nat. Scuorrer, hist, test. p. 32, pl. 6, Davoin in Sonnini’s Burron, 2, p. 98, fr Testupo serrata, Penn. Arct. Zool. suppl. p. 97. 15. Trionyx ferox. An inhabitant not only of the rivers of Carolina and Georgia, as stated by au- thors, but it is found in nearly all the tributaries of the Mississippi, abundant in the Ohio, and of frequent occurrence in the smaller streams that discharge into the Missouri. It is also found in the streams that flow into the Lakes, and Dr. De- kay informs me, that it is found in the state of New-York, inhabiting some of the tributaries of Hudson’s river. Its flesh is esteemed a nutricious and very delicate food; it is brought to the mar- ket of Pittsburg from June to December. Mr. FRESH WATER AND LAND TORTOISES. 219 Speakman informs me that he has kept individuals upwards of a year, and that although they were very active, yet, with the exception of young ones, he never knew them to attempt to bite. They are chiefly taken with the hook and line, and are known by the name of “soft shelled turtle.” Although this species has been called by the several names of ferox, La molle, and Tortue de Pennant, yet Mr. Geoffroy has thought proper to apply another name, (v. Ann. du Mus. vol. 14, p. 17.) In a note on page 12, of the same volume, that distinguished naturalist observes, that as he has not seen the shells of the T. ferox and euphra- ticus, his figure 2, pl. 5, may represent that of one of those species, but he is of the opinion that it does not, because the shells of those two species are described to be more convex. In this opinion Mr. Geoffroy appears to me to be perfectly cor- rect; the shell of the ferox, belonging to the col- lection of the Philadelphia Museum, though pro- bably not more convex than that of the subplanus, is yet of a different form, from that of his figure, being longer in proportion to its width, and the ends of the ribs project further beyond the cir- cumference of the shell. SYNONYMES. Testupo feror, Linn. Gauev. Syst. nat. Pennant Philos. Trans. Lond. vol. 61, p. 266, pl. 10. Davoiwi in Sonnini’s Burron, 2 p. 69. La Molle Lacep. hist. nat. des Quadr. ovip. vol. - p. 137, pl. 7. Ency. Meth. pl. 5, f. 3. 220° ZINC ORES. Observations on the Zane Ons of Franklin, ond. Sterling, Sussex County, New Jersey. By G. . Troost, M. vet Read pe etn 3; 1824. wit The facts collected in this memoir’ lhnioe atin observed nearly two years past. I made these researches merely for my own use, being in some. measure, prevented from publishing them by Messrs. Vanuxem and Keating announcing their intention of publishing a description of the min-— erals,of Franklin, of which they gave a list. As’ this promise is at last partly fulfilled in a memoir’ read June Ist, and published in Part I, of this volume, I feel ny tall at liberty to present my observations. The mineral which I first subjected tiscedlonel nation was the siliceous oxide of zinc. This sub- stance particularly fixed my attention on account of its singular appearance, deviating much from the varieties of that ore with which I was acquaint- ed, having apparently undergone a partial fusion by which the surface of the crystals have become rough, offering waving or undulating faces and rounded edges, which renders it difficult to de- termine the inclination of the different angles; while crystals of other minerals in the same situa. tion, and as easily decomposable as the zine ore, present sharp edges and level polished surfaces ; ZINC ORES. 221 from which it appears probable that the roughness and bluntness of these angles is not owing to a partial dissolution, but to some other causes that We are unacquainted with. I succeeded with some difficulty in extracting by mechanical division, the primitive form, and found that its cleavage was three-fold, forming a straight four-sided prism, with a square base or cube. This was an unexpected discovery, differ- ing also in this respect from the European mineral, as the primitive form, as stated by Haiiy, is a rec- tangular octaedron, while De Bournon gives a rectangular tetraedral prism. I am not acquaint- ed with the observations of De Bournon on those minerals which are published in his catalogue, where he describes twenty-two varieties of forms. { do not know if that philosopher has actually succeeded in extracting by mechanical division, the tetraedral prism, or if it was the result of cal- culation, but as to Haiiy, it appears from his writ- ings, that he obtained a very small solid, the faces of which did not exceed one millimetre. The ac- curacy, nevertheless, of this distinguished philoso- pher is such, that even with his insignificant means we may rely on his assertions, and might therefore be induced to believe that our mineral was not the same as that described by Hatiy— this appears the more surprising as its chemical composition coincides pretty well with the Eu- ropean. Could a small proportion of manganese, 222 ZINC ORES. which the mineral in question contains, possess so much influence as to change entirely the ar- rangement and form of the integral parts? As to the discovery and determination of the primitive form above mentioned, I believe it to be beyond the reach of doubt. I have several times succeeded in extracting this solid, and have in my collection a fragment of a large crystal, offer- ing a surface of upwards of three inches, which presents on one side the perfect cleavage. Whence it follows that the primitive form of our mineral is a straight rectangular four-sided prism, with a square base, or a cube. The secondary forms are not numerous, the dodecaedron, the most common form in which it occurs, is generally lengthened in such direction as to forma six-sided prism, surmounted by a py- ramid with three faces, the faces of the prism being six oblique-angled parallelograms, while those of the summit are rhomboidal ; these faces are joined together under angles of 120°, and if true over the whole crystal, they would be the result of the most simple law of decrement, that is, by one row of molecules parallel to the edges of the cube; but the edges and faces of the pyramids are often imperfect, and it is rare that more than one face has preserved its shape and offers a good edge where it is joined with the prism: the other faces present only the shape of rhomboidal planes, ZINC ORES. 223 which do not admit of measurement; the angles of the perfect faces have constantly given me 120°. If these angles were not of that value the pri- mitive form would not be a cube, but a parallelopi- pedon, whose sides would stand in a different ratio to each other than those of the cube, which does not. appear to be the case. This is farther cor- roborated by the following form. It crystallizes also in a flat six-sided prism, sur- mounted by a diedral summit, with pentagonal faces resting on the lateral edges of the prism, the edge of which forms an angle with the pentagonal face of the summit of 135°, and must also be the result of a decrement of one single row of molecules, as in the dodecaedron, but it does not exist on all the sides of the cube, being only at the bases and two of the sides; the crystal being at the same time elongated, its form must be as I have stated, a hexaedral prism, four of the faces being oblique- angled parallelograms and two hexagons ; the two terminal faces pentagons resting on the lateral edges of the prism, with which they form an angle of 135°. This circumstance is also in favour of the primitive form being a cube; the angles of the prism are two of 120°, and four of 135°. The value of these angles nevertheless are not abso- lutely determined, the crystals being much bent and the edges of the sides very convex. I found amongst my crystals some indications of more » complicated forms, but from the before mentioned 224 . ZINC ORES. roughness of faces and convexity of edges, I was not able to determine their true form. We see therefore that the secondary as well as the primitive forms differ from those given by Haity, of the zinc oxide silicifere, and that it ought to be considered as a different substance; but chemical composition does not permit this sepa- ration, as its constituents coincide with those of Klaproth, Pelletier, Smithson, Bertier, John, and Berzelius, except that our ore contains upwards of 5 per Ct. of oxide of manganese, which ingre- dient influences its colour but cannot be supposed to influence its crystalline form, and renders it therefore probable that the nature of the siliceous oxide of zinc is not perfectly understood. 7 Its specific gravity is 3.98 to 4.15; the latter was the result of Mr. W. Hembel, jr. the first. by myself, which coincides nearly with those given by Messrs. Vanuxem and Keating. In this re- spect it differs from the European varieties, high are quoted from 3.30 to 3.52. The colour of the mineral is from gray passing through every shade to black, also pale greenish- yellow, and the different shades of rose and peach blossom-red, which colours are probably owing to the different degrees of oxidation and quantities of the manganese, the exterior of the masses or crystals being generally black while the interior part is red. weer It occurs also in amorphous masses, nail that ZINC ORES. 225 case it contains the red oxide of zinc in the form of small nests, and then generally presents a more foliated structure than when it is associated with the granular franklinite. The crystals are gene- rally irregularly clustered together, intermixed with garnet, franklinite, sometimes crystallized in emarginated octaedrons and ferruginous carbonate of lime, and frequently forms the support of the octaedral crystals, called by Messrs. Keating and Vanuxem, dysluite. Rep oxiwe or zinc. While engaged i in the inves- tigation of the siliceous oxide of zinc, I also ex- amined the red oxide of zinc, (which is so much blended with the previously described mineral,) and succeeded in extracting from the same, the primitive form, which is a straight rhomboidal prism whose angles are 100° and 80°. I did not find any cleavage in the direction of the diagonals. The solid which I obtained was upwards of three eighths of an inch, the, sides smooth and well cal- culated to be measured. This form does not agree with that mentioned by Mohs, who states that it is divisible parallel to a rhomboidal prism, the an- gles of which are upwards of 120°... We rarely meet specimens which are distinetly foliated and fit for mechanical division; it is probable that Mohs operated on specimens which were not well calculated for cleavage. We thus see that the primitive form and chemical composition separate this mineral from the siliceous oxide of zinc, with VOL. 1V.—-JaNUARY, 1825. 29 226 ZINC ORES. which it is ranked by Haiiy, and deseribed in an appendix under the name of zine oxide ferrifere lamellaire brun rougeatre. Haiiy Traité de Min- eralogie tom. 4, p. 179, 2d ed. Comparing what I have stated in regard to the siliceous oxide of zinc, with that published in the memoir on the minerals of Franklin, by Messrs. Vanuxem and Keating, (page 3 of this vol.) the Academy will perceive that our researches have produced different results ; I therefore sub- mit this memoir to our mineralogists, and wish some other would undertake the examination of these minerals with the view of establishing the correctness or fallacy of my investigations. The following are the particulars in which my observations differ from those of the gentlemen before mentioned. Messrs. Vanuxem and Keating say, page 8, “'The form of the crystals is an hexagonal prism with triedral terminations, the faces of which re- pose upon the lateral edges of the prism are 120°, and of the faces of the pyramid with one another about 118° (?) being the regular hexagonal prism with a rhomboidal summit, of course leading to a rhombohedron for the primitive form.” A few lines further it is said “ that from circumstances of the edges and faces being convex they cannot posi- tively affirm that the terminal faces are those of a rhombohedron. ‘The gentlemen do not state how they deduce from the above described form ZINC ORES. 227 a rhombohedron for the primitive form which de- viates so much from the one I obtained by me- chanical division, nor are the relative dimensions of this rhombohedron given by them. The authors mentioned commence their memoir with “Jerrersonire,” and admit its identity with pyroxene; therefore the name given by them to this substance is inadmissible, and must henceforth be relinquished. But they wish to make it appear that the cleavage is an anomaly, and that hereto- fore the cleavage parallel to the faces of the pri- — mitive form have invariably been the smoothest, &c. I doubt very much this being the case. Most of the varieties of pyroxene we have in our country are more easily divisible parallel to the bases forming smooth faces than in any other di- rection, and this division is generally indicated by the transverse rents forming with one of the sides an angle of 106°; this circumstance offers a strik- ing character to distinguish this mineral from others with which it has some analogy. I believe it is the pyroxene augite alone which appears to make an exception to the general rule. In the diopside or mussite, we perceive the transversal rents indicating a cleavage; it is the same with the varieties malacolite, or sahlite, pyrgom, fas- saite, and baikalite ; in these, the cleavage, easiest to obtain, is parallel to the base, and the foliated structure is in the same direction. ‘To this va- riety belongs the Pyroxene of Franklin, the sub- Say ae 228 ZINC ORES. stance under consideration, it being foliated, par- ticularly in the direction of the base, which cir- cumstance is a distinctive character of this variety, having also, when not acted upon by the atmogs phere, a dark green colour. When we find a lamellar structure in the py- roxene coccolite, it is in the direction of the base. This is the case with nearly all the varieties of pyroxene in Europe, (handbuch der oryktog- none von Karl Caesar von Leonnard, page 523) as well as the pyroxene of our country, as those of Easton, Penn. Orange county, New York, Rod- ger’s Rock, &c. which belong to the variety ma- lacolite or sahlite, the surface of the lammina forming an angle of 106° with one of the sides is smooth : it is also the case with the white pyrox- ene and coccolite of King’s Bridge, New-York, the pyroxene of Compton Hill, New Jersey; in fact with all the pyroxene of our country which I have had an opportunity of examining. ‘The re- splendent pyroxene of the Brandywine Creek, Delaware, seems to be an exception, which, ac- cording to Mr. Vanuxem, is more easily divisible parallel to one of the diagonals, and the pyroxene augite, of which the transverse fracture is rough; and I believe that Haiiy alluded to this variety when he says “ cassure; transversale, raboteuse.” Having admitted the identity with pyroxene from its crystalline form, they nevertheless create doubts concerning the composition of this min- ZINC ORES. 229 eral as given by Mr. Henry Seybert. From the analysis of this substance by that gentleman, it is evident that its components are bisilicates, and not trisilicates, as is stated by Mr. Keating. (Vol. ii. page 200 of this Journal.) Mr. Keating still lays much stress on its containing more or less of magnesia, and implies that it is doubtful whether the minerals analyzed by Rose were really pyroxenes ; and he farther implies, that we ean put more confidence in the analysis made in the garden of plants at Paris, as it were under the eye of Haiiy. 1 would not doubt that the sub- — stances analyzed by Vanquelin and Laugier, were true pyroxenes, though they had not been exam- ined under the eye of Haiiy; but why should we. question the accuracy of the analysis of Rose ? is it because they did not yield much magnesia? We know that Klaproth reports an analysis of a variety of pyroxene from Sicily, in which he found only 1.75 of magnesia, and that Roux’s analysis of a variety from Arendal, afforded none whatever; nor does it appear from the memoir published by — Mr. Seybert, (American Journal of Science and the Arts, vol. vii. p. 145,) that he considered the magnesia which he found in the pyroxene from Franklin, an essential constituent, though he obtained 4.00 of it, but that the important differ- ence in Mr. Keating’s analysis and his, had refer- ence to the proportion of silica, by which the true character of this mineral was determined. Mr. 230 ZINC ORES. Keating may also be sure that the mineral exam- ined by Mr. Seybert, was precisely the same sub- stance as that described by him under the name of Jeffersonite. We may add further that the analyses of Rose are cited by the most distinguish- ed mineralogists and chemists in Europe ; and we cannot doubt that he was well acquainted with all the distinctive characters of pyroxene, since the results of his analysis (at least those with which I am acquainted) show that he did operate on the true pyroxenes; and if an eye-witness is required, we have one in the celebrated Berzelius, in whose laboratory Rose made his experiments. « M. Rose, en comparant ensemble plusieurs sor- tes de pyroxenes a fait voir que tous sont des bisilicates de quelques unes des quatre bases isomorphes conformement au systeme de Mits- cherlich savoir, la chaux, la magnesie, le fer oxi- dule, le manganese oxidule, ici c’est un bisilicate de manganese oxidule, et de chaux la un bisilicate de chaux et de fer oxidule. Ansi disparaissent, graces aux decouvertes de M. Mitscherlich les con- tradictions qui existerent entre les resultats des analyses chimiques et la caractere fonde sur la forme des crystaux.” (Berzelius. Reports annueles de Vacademie royale des Sciences de Stockhatay 1822.) Rep oxipe or zine. Messrs. Tsaeatuest and Keatinty say, that the name of red oxide of zinc, given to it by its discoverer, the late Professor Bruce of New ZINC ORES. 931 York, is improper, and they call it red zine ore. This name may be applied with as much propriety to the siliceous oxide of zinc, as to the mineral under examination, both are zinc ores and have a redcolour. ‘The mineral discovered by Professor Bruce, contains, according to his analysis, 9.20 of oxide of zinc, and 8.00 of oxide of manganese and iron; according to Bertier, it is composed of 98.0 of oxide of zinc, and 12. of manganese; these be- ing its constituents, I see no reason why the name of red oxide of zine proposed by the discoverer, is improper; the small quantity of oxide of man- ganese which is chemically combined with it, does not authorize the alteration of a name, besides, the most distinguished mineralogists have adopted Bruce’s name of red oxide; and Haiiy, well aware of its combination with a quantity of oxide of man- ganese, says, (Traite de Mineralogie Tom. 4, page 177, 2d ed.) “La variete, des etats unis formera un espece apart, et devrait etre consideree comme la veritable oxide de zinc.” I suppose Messrs. Vanuxem and Keating did not examine the cleavage of the red oxide of zinc, or they would have discovered that Mohs is in error in regard to its cleavage, and Laney not have copied him. Carponate or zinc. This mineral in addition to the forms mentioned by Messrs. Vanuxem and Keating, occurs also in mammillary concretions. 232 PLESIOSAURUS. Notice of the Ptestosaurus, and other Fossil Reliquia, from the State of New Jersey. By Ricnarp Hartan, M. D. Read September 7, 1824. I have lately received from Mr. I. Lukens, a collection of fossil teeth and bones, which were discovered at Mullica Hills, New Jersey ; among which are three vertebre belonging to some sau- rien reptile, unlike any hitherto described, and the type of which isnot known to have existed in North America. One only of these vertebre retains sufficient characters to enable me to determine the extinct genus to which it belongs. This specimen, Pl. xiv. fig. 1. is a dorsal vertebra completely petrified, or rather impregnated with iron; it is perfect with the exception of the greater portion of the spinous process, which has been broken off since the pe- trifaction of the bone. The following are its dimensions; transverse diameter of the body, 1 inch seven-tenths ; verti- eal diameter of the same, 1. 4; length of the side, 2. 2; length of the transverse process, 1.4. This vertebra is similar to those of the genus Prestosaurvs, in being slightly concave at both ex- tremities, and again, slightly swelled in a contrast- ed curve near the middle of the circular area. All PLESIOSAURUS. 233 the fossil crocodiles have this in shapennrier part of the column. - It further corresponds with the Prxstosaurien vertebra in having the ribs articulated by a single tubercle, to the end of the transverse process, the articulating face of which is oblong horizontally ; this structure is observed in the crocodiles in the three last vertebra only. The specimen under examination, however, differs from any species of the Prestosaurus hitherto described, both m mag- nitude and proportion, as is demonstrated in the following measurements of the vertebra: of that animal, described by Messrs. Conybeare and De la Beche. “ The proportion of the diameter to the length of the side, is nearly as 5 to 4, in the cervicals; in the middle dorsal, a little greater, and in the caudal, nearly double. In the crocodile the diameter is always less than the side. A middle dorsal vertebra from Col. Bird’s specimen of Presiosaurus, measured one inch and a half through the articulating sur- face; length of the side, one inch and one-eighth ; though one specimen has been latterly discovered, measuring three inches in diameter.”* The form of the occipital and caudal aurtnoes of the body of the vertebra, which is the subject of the present essay, distinguish it from the fol- * Vide Geological transactions, vol. vy. Part HI. VOL, IV.—FEBRUARY, 1825. 30 234 PLESLOSAURUS. lowing animals, viz. The Maestricht animal, Cro- codiles, Monitors, Iguanos, and in general the most part of the Sauriens and Ophidiens, in which the bodies are concave before, and convex behind. In the Cetacea the bodies are nearly plain, and in fishes they are concave conically on both surfaces. Cuvier remarks,* “the dorsal vertebra of the Maestricht animal have their transverse apophyses short, and terminated by an articulating surface enlarged vertically, which carries the rib, which is consequently attached by a single head: this characterizes the Monitors and most of the Sau- riens, excepting only the crocodiles, in which par- ticularly, this structure is absent, with the excep- tion of the three last ribs.” To the crocodiles, as an exception, Cuvier should have added the Icthyosaurus, Iguana, and Camelion, among the Sauriens, together with the Crotalus and Coluber, among the Ophidia ; in all of which, the ribs are articulated with the bodies of the vertebre by two tubercles, but do not unite with the transverse process as in the crocodile. Conceiving it highly important to the science of Oryctology to ascertain correctly the manner in which the ribs of the different genera of the Saurien family are articulated, I solicited and ob- tained permission from the Academy of Natural — Sciences, to, examine the very valuable collection * Anim. fossil, vol. iv. PLESIOSAURUS. 235 of this branch of Zoology contained in their cabi- net. As far as my examination extended, (with the exception of those genera above noticed, in which the ribs are articulated to the bodies,) the transverse processes (or a tubercle which supplies their places,) receive the head of the ribs, as in the following genera; viz. the Presiosaurus, Ma- EsTRicHT ANIMAL, Catores, Monrror, Ameiva, Scincus, Gecko, Acama, Anouis; also the Sirena, the Triron, and the Satamanpra, among the Barracuia. Figures 2, 3, and 4, represent different views of a fossil mineralized tooth, from the New Jersey “ Marle Pits,” three miles from Woodbury, be- longing to the Cabinet of the Academy. This tooth, from the mode of dentition, evidently be- longed to a Saurien reptile; it is figured of its natural size, two inches and four-tenths in length, though about one-fourth of an inch has been bro- ken off the point. It is considerably curved in- ward, and slightly curved backward at its point; the dermal aspect is doubly convex, the mesial aspect presents a surface slightly concave, verti- tically ; terminated by a sharp finely serrated edge anteriorly and posteriorly; the diameter of the base is one inch and four-tenths. ‘This tooth re- sembles in every respect those teeth of the Ma- estricht Monitor, which lie buried in the maxilla, . and which are to take the place of the first series, when the latter are broken off or destroyed. The Cabinet of the Academy and Philadelphia Museum contain numerous specimens of Shark’s 236 PLESIOSAURUS. teeth from New Jersey, most of which are im- pregnated with iron, and are in a perfect state of preservation. From the present imperfect state of our knowledge of this department of Zoology, — and from the proteiform variety presented by the teeth of the same individual, it is almost impos- sible to refer them with certainty to the present existing genera; by referring to figures 5th, 6th, and 7th, the truth of this observation will be suffi- ciently obvious; they represent teeth taken from the. upper and lower j jaw of three existing species, the jaws of which are in the possession of Mr. C: A. Lesueur: however, specimens from New Jer- sey have been discovered, which resemble closely the following sharks, viz. Squalus zygena, mus- telus, cinereus, squatina, and the carcharias, two specimens of which measure five inches long, and four broad at base. If the same proportions ex- isted between the body and the teeth of the recent and fossil-carcharias, the latter must have been more than forty feet inlength. In vol. iii. of Par- kinson’s Organic Remains, are good figures of the teeth of most of the above named genera. There is also deposited in the Cabinet of the Academy, from the western shore of Maryland, a cervical and a caudal vertebra of a gigantic spe- cies of fossil Manatus; the vertical diameter of the former is nine inches and a half; the trans- verse diameter eleven inches. A fossil rib of the Manatus, was also discovered sid Mr. Finch, at the same locality. COLUBER. 237 Descriptions of three new species of Corvner, in- habiting the United States. By ‘Tomas Say. Read, January 25, 1825. Cotuser. 1. C. amanus. Above brown or blackish; be- neath, bright red; tail short,,with an abrupt solid conic tip. Inhabits Pennsylvania. Body above reddish brown, beneath vivid red: head not larger than the neck, obtusely rounded before; terminal plate curving a little on the top of the head, so as to. be nearly horizontal above ; first pair of plates rather short, breadth decidedly more than double the length; second pair rather large, oblique, posterior outer angle reaching the eyes ; central plate convex, rounded-subtriangular, wide before and angulated on the anterior middle, posterior angle acute ; posterior plates a little con- vex, with a single scale between their tips; eyes with one scale behind, one before twice as long as the posterior one, small plate above the eye less than half the length of the central plate, and not twice as large as the posterior eye plate: teeth minute: scales smooth, polished, somewhat opa- lescent, slightly convex, rounded at tip: tail less ‘ 238° COLUBER. than one-seventh the whole length; tip rather ab- rupt, conic, solid, acute. Plates 124. sc. 25. Total length, 10 inches and three- tenths; tail 1 inch and two-fifths. Var. a. dark slate colour above. A very pretty and perfectly harmless serpent. The contrast of colour between the lively red, sometimes rosaceous, of the inferior surface of the body, and the brown, more or less deep, of the superior surface, is very striking ; the abrupt ter- mination of the tail and the narrow head, are also distinguishing traits. It is found beneath stones and prostrate logs, but not very frequently. — The following are the respective dimensions and number of double scales and plates of four specimens belonging to the Philadelphia Museum. Pl. 125, sc. 38. ‘Total length, 8 inches and a half; tail more than 1 inch and five-eighths. Pl. 134, sc. 28. Total length, 10 inches and three-eighths; tail nearly 1 inch and a half, Pl. 126, sc. 24. Total length, 10 inches and seven- eighths ; tail 1 inch and three-eighths. P]. 134,sc. 32. Total length, 4 inches and five-eighths; tail five-eighths of an inch. A specimen in Mr. W. L. Stewart’s collection has Plates 118, sc. 35, it is nine inches and three-fifths long, with the tail of more than one inch and four- fifths. But in all these variations the small size of the head, the form of its plates, and their num- ber about the eye, remain the same. COLUBER. 239 2. C. rigidus. Dark fuscous or blackish ; be- neath yellow, with two black lines. Inhabits the southern states. Body very dark greenish-brown above: head very little wider than the neck; second pair of plates transverse, posterior lateral angle not ex- tended to the eye; central plate with the length nearly twice its breadth; super-ocular plate, length more than twice its greatest breadth, and more than two-thirds the length of the central plate; posterior plates without any scale between their tips, but each terminating in a scale; lip-plates and chin reddish-brown: eyes in contact with two transversely-oblong small plates behind, and two before, of which the inferior one is smaller: scales oblong, emarginated at tip, and with an elevated line, obsolete on the lateral scales and rant the three inferior series; scales of the two inferior series entire at tip, pale, castaneous at base; stria of the tail more distinct and the scales somewhat elevated at their tips: beneath yellow, with two perfectly regular black lines, confluent on the neck, situated near the middle, nearer to each other than to the first series of scales, formed of slender, elongate-triangular spots, and terminating at the vent: fail attenuated, double scales beneath margined with blackish. Plates 133, sc. 51. Total length, 20 inches and three fifths, of the tail, 4 inches. 240 COLUBER. This species frequents the water, and has con- siderable resemblance to the porcatus, Daudin, (aquaticus, Shaw,) who seems to have confounded two species together under that name as varieties. But his true species differs from the present, by many well marked characters. All the scales have elevated lines, not excepting even the infe- rior series; the labial plates are margined with brown; the eyes have three small plates behind, and but one before; the inferior part of the body is variegated, and the proportion of the plates and double scales is different. It is also allied to the erythrogaster. 'The specimen is in the cabinet of the Academy. ’ 3. C. septemvitiatus. Brownish, with dace blackish lines; beneath yellow, with four blackish 8. . Inhabits Pennsylvania. Body cinereous-brown above: head alittle wider than the neck; second pair of plates transverse, © posterior lateral angle not extended to the eye; central plate with the length nearly twice its breadth ; superocular plate in length twice its greatest breadth, and nearly as long as the central plate: eyes in contact with two subquadrate, small plates behind, and two before, of which the infe- rior one is smaller; posterior plates somewhat truncate, or rounded at tip; lip plates yellow: scales oblong emarginated at tip, and with an ¢le- vated line on all; a blackish line occupies the COLUBER. 241 vertebral series and a portion of the contiguous series, and a similar equal line occupies the fifth and a part of the fourth series on each side; a blackish somewhat broader line occupies one half of the breadth of the ninth series of scales, and the ends of the scute, extending to the tip of the tail; a yellow line is on the remaining half of the ninth series, and includes nearly all of the eighth series, extending also to the tip of the tail: be- neath yellow, with two perfectly regular blackish lines, confluent on the neck, situated each side of the middle, formed of quadrate spots, and termi- nating at the vent. Plates 143, sc. 70, of another specimen, Plates 149, sc. 73. Total length, 9 inches and nine-tenths, of the tail 2 inches and a half. 3] An individual of this species was found by Mr. Reuben Haines, on the second floor of his resi- dence at Germantown, and another was caught near Philadelphia, by Thomas M‘Euen, M. D. They are perfectly alike in their markings, and belong to the collection of the Academy. A spe- eimen belonging to the cabinet of Mr. William Hyde, is much larger than those above mentioned, and may probably have reached the maximum size; it measures twenty-two inches and nine- tenths in total length, and the tail is six inches and three-tenths long; the plates are a hundred and forty-four, and scales eighty. VOL. IV.—-FEBRUARY, 1825. 3l 242 LACERTA. Description of two Species of Linnean Lacerta, not before described, and construction of the new genus Cycwura. By Ricnarv Harzay, M. D. Read November 30, 1824. . Species 1st. This animal was brought from ‘Turk’s Island, and presented to the Museum im- mediately after its death. The colour of the skin is of a dirty deep brown; in general, the form of the head resembles that of the Iguana, but the scales on the top of the head and end of the snout are of much smaller size; their form being penta- gonal, a series of corneous scales line the infra- orbitar ridge. Neck, breast, and body, clothed with uniform fine smooth scales, of a square form, and slightly imbricate. Skin of the inferior portion of the neck, loose, and folded transversely: scales upon the top of the back elevated and compressed into long, slight- ly recurved, flexible spines, forming a crest, or fringe, extending from the occiput to the base of . the tail; this frmge is wanting where the neck moves on the body, leaving a smooth space half an inch in length, between the scapule; the same is to be observed. at the setting on of the tail: scales on the thigh, smooth; those on the leg and front of the foot, bristled over with minute sharp spines pointing downwards. A series of pores, LACERTA. 243 twenty in number, line the inner part of each thigh : tail verticillate, circular at its base, slightly compressed at its upper part in the middle; be- coming again cylindrical at the extremity, where it ceases to be verticillate; carinated above, by thick and sharp spines, pointing backwards, and terminating four inches from the end of the tail ; the remaining portion being clothed only with equal elongated carinate scales ; the spinous bands are twenty in number, extending rather more than two thirds around the tail, leaving a smooth surface beneath. They consist of thick oblong scales, with an elevated carina or an obtusely an- gular spine projecting backwards from their cen- tre; these bands are separated from each other by a circular series of smaller scales depressed and imbricate, becoming carinate towards the ex- tremity, generally three rows in number, becom- ing more numerous beneath : claws resemble those of the Iguana. Anatomy. Tongue fleshy, extensible, and par- tially slit, or rather indented at its apex: teeth re- sembling the Iguana’s in form and mode of ar- ticulation ; twenty-five in number on each side of both jaws: palate destitute of teeth; trachea lies exposed on the floor of the esophagus, which is enormously large; the opening into the trachea is furnished with a complete epiglottis, in which respect it is more perfect than the Iguana, in which this organ is incomplete; os hyoides has 244 LACERTA. two cornua on each side, and a bifid one in the middle, reaching downwards to the loose skin of the throat; the intestine, a few inches above the cloaca, is dilated into a sack or pouch, with thick parietes: urinary bladder \arge, and opens with _. the fallopian tubes into the cloaca: anus, a trans- verse slit. : : Cincuvatory system. I was desirous of compar- ing the structure of the heart with that organ in the crocodile, which is very unlike the heart of the Turtles to which Cuvier has compared ‘it, (Lec. d’ Anat. Comp.) As no correct description of the anatomical structure of the heart in the — Saurien reptiles has ever been given to the pub- lic, I shall offer a brief outline of the organs of circulation in the “ Crocopitus lucius,” which will oi: as a type for all the Lacerra. To Mr. N. M. Hentz, the credit is due of having first detect- ed this peculiarity of structure in the heart of the crocodile. His essay on this subject will shortly appear in the Trans. of the Am. Phil. Soe. I abstract the following observations from my notes of a dissection of an alligator, which I per- formed for the fourth time in January, 1824. _ Ist, | forced air into the vena cava ascendens, which injected the right auricle and ventricle, and passed into the lungs through the pulmonary ar- tery; into the splanchnic aorta; also into the systemic aorta through the valvular opening at — LACERTA. 245 its base; the blood in both superior cave regur- gitated. z 2d, I forced air into one of the pulmonary veins, which inflated the left auricle and ventricle, passed into the systemic aorta, and the subclavian trunks which leave the super-cordal sacks, (each of the large arteries are dilated immediately on leaving the heart, and are so united as to appear exter- nally as a single sac.) The circulation in these animals is briefly as follows:—1st, the blood passes from the right au- ricle into the ventricle of the same side; in this cavity there are four openings, Ist, one leading from the auricle; 2d, one into the pulmonary ar- tery; 3d, one into the splanchnic aorta, carrying black blood to the viscera; and 4th, one into the systemic aorta, by the valvular communication at its base, which allows the continuation of the cir- culation, when that through the lungs is impeded by expiration. During expiration there is still some pulmonic circulation, a small quantity of blood passing from the lungs, through the left auricle to the ventricle of the same side, from whence it has a direct passage into the systemic aorta, the valve at its base will not even permit air to pass into the right side of the heart, nor will the semilimar valves of the aorta permit re- gurgitation, so that the only mixture of black and red blood takes place in the systemic aorta dur- ing expiration, or collapse of the lungs. ‘The sys- 246 LACERTA. temic and splanchnic aorta do not unite until after the viscera have — Wane with blood we the latter. After this Aightcnetde it will be very easy te comprehend the structure of the heart in the ani- mal immediately under consideration. The heart, in fact, is similarly constructed externally : but, as this animal is terrestrial, there is no necessity for that complicated structure which exists in the crocodiles, and the ventricles communicate freely with each other. The three arteries which dilate immediately above this organ, uniting to form a complete sac, in the alligator, are indistinctly ob- servable, or partially divided, in this animal; and in which also the splanchnic and systemic aorta unite, previous to giving off the mesenteric branches. ‘Diwensions.—Total length of the animal, 2 feet 4 inches; length of the head, 3 inches ; breadth of the head, 2 inches ; length of the wade, 10 inches ; length of the tail, 1 foot 3 inches. Species 2d. Another species of the same genus brought from ‘Tampico, and presented by Captain Dallas, has been living in the Philadelphia Mu- seum for several months, and latterly in my pos- session. During the present month, (November) this animal has eaten nothing of its own accord, but when raw meat or fruit is placed in the mouth, he swallows it leisurely without chewing, show- ing most preference for the former, but always LACERTA. 247 rejecting cooked meat. During the summer he | subsisted chiefly on fruit, and was never observed to drink; of late he has become considerably tor- pid, remaining in one position for hours, without any disposition to move unless roused, when he displays considerable activity. He is exceeding- ly tame, and fond of being washed with a wet sponge; has shown not the least disposition to bite, but when teased or tickled on the leg, will defend himself with his prickly tail, with which he is able to strike in every direction. Descrirtion.—Colour of this species, dark green, on some parts of his back, brilliant or glistening: head nearly quadrangular, occipital portion swol- len by the large muscles of the jaws : scales pen- tagonal, largest about the snout: skin beneath the throat loose, and folded transversely. I never have observed this inflated, even when the animal laboured under the greatest degree of irritation: scales on the body, square, small and imbricate, (as in the Iguana) those of the sides, arms, and thighs, as well as the legs and forearms, bristled over with minute prickly spines: the dorsal crest or fringe composed of an uninterrupted series of corneous scales, extending from the occiput to the sacral region, where the back is without spines for the space of one inch, when the prickly tail commences : tail beautifully verticillate, perfectly cylindrical, tapering gradually towards the ex- tremity, about two inches of which is lost; the 248 LACERTAY spiniferous rings are about twenty-four in number, and appear to have extended the whole length of _ the tail; the scales which constitute the rings, are oblong, thick, and remarkably imbricate, so that _ a transverse section of the tail, including a spiny ring, with the two circular rows of depressed scales, would appear to be set into the ring which precedes it. The spines are longer, sharper, and more slender, than in the preceding species, and being all nearly of an equal size on the upper sur- face of the tail, there is no distinct carina, only there exists always one more spine than ring, in- tervening between the rings immediately upon the top of the tail; these spiny rings extend com- pletely around the tail, becoming smaller, shorter, and less vertical on the lower surface: the rings are separated by two rows of smaller, depressed, and spineless scales, with the exception of those beneath, where all are furnished with spines; in the first four verticillations at the base of the tail the spines exist only on the upper surface: the claws are similar to those of the Iguana; there exists a row of glandular orifices, seven in num- ber, on the inside of each thigh: teeth are ‘small, conical and pointed, a single sharp, conical tooth occupying the usual situation of the middle inci- sor of the upper jaw is received into a hole of the inferior maxilla: tongue fleshy and extensible, merely notched at the tip; palate destitute of teeth : trachea as in species Ist, furnished with an LACERTA, 249 epiglottis. Anatomy, nearly similar to species ist, the three arteries which form the supercordal sac are merely united above the heart: omentum loaded with fat. Dimensions. Total length of the animal, 1 foot 8 inches and a half, (allowing two inches for the lost portion of tail ;) length of the head, 2 inches and a half; breadth of the head, 1 inch and a half; length of the body, 7 inches; ac- tual length of the tail, 9 inches ; (supposed length of the ‘ail, 11 inches.) ; Osservations. On the most accurate compari- son of the above described animals, with those subgenera to which they are most nearly allied, it appears to me, that they cannot be appropriately united with either, agreeably to the present state of the systems; for although both the individuals of which we are now treating, are unquestionably related in some traits of their organization, to the Iguana, the Stellio, and the Agama, yet they will be found to differ as much from either of these, as they respectively differ from each other. The first described individual approaches the fguana most nearly; the second, to the Stellio; they would therefore naturally occupy a station as a subgenus between the two. It is not impro- bable that other species may yet be discovered, and thus furnish another example of that arrange- ment which causes the productions of nature to succeedeach other by almost penning shades. VOL. IV.— FEBRUARY, 1825. 250 LACERTA. The most remarkable peculiarities common to both these individuals, being the form and struc- ture of the tail, we propose to designate them by a term significative of this circumstance. Subgenus Cycxura. Generic characters. Palate deprived of teeth; tongue fleshy and extensible, cleft at the tip; skin of the throat folded transversely ; back furnished with a flexible crest or fringe : tai/, about half the total length: seales which form the elevated rings, separated by two or more rows of depressed pie less scales above. Species 1st, C. carinata. Pl. xv. Crowns of the teeth dentated; a row of corneous scales lines the infraorbiter ridge; dorsal crest wanting between the scapula, and also over the sacrum; scales of the body uniform, square, small, slightly imbricate and spineless : leg and foot furnished with scales, having minute spines pointing downwards: tail carinated above and slightly compressed in the middle; spiny bands terminating four inches from the extremity, and separated from each other hy three rows of depressed scales. Species 2d, C. teres, Pl. xvi. Teeth small, snaihann and pointed; dorsal crest wanting only over the sa- crum ; scales on the sides, thighs and legs, bristled over with minute spines : tai/ cylindrical, tapering. gradually towards the point; spiny rings encircle OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE, &c. 251 the tail, separated by two rows of depressed scales without spines above ; spines on the rings nearly equal, extending to the end of the tail. y Observations on the Nomenclature of Wiison’s OrnitHoLocy. By Cuartes Bonaparte. Read November 23, 1824. (conTinvep FRoM PacE 200.) Pipra. It is not a little remarkable that Wilson should have introduced this genus in his Ornithology. The bird he placed in it has certainly no relation to the Mannakins, nor has any one of that genus been found within the United States. 168. P. Polyglotia. Vol. i. p. 90. This bird has been placed by authors in half a dozen different genera. It was arranged in Muscicara by Gmelin, Latham, and Pennant; in ‘Turpus, by Brisson and Buffon ; in Ampetis, by Sparrman, and in Tanacra, by Desmarest. I was at first inclined to consider it a Vireo, and to adopt the genus Icreria of Vieil- lot, as a subgenus of Vireo, but after having dwelt more upon the charaeters and habits of this re- markable species, I have concluded to adopt 252 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Icreria as an independent genus agreeably to Vieil- lot. Vieillot’s and Wilson’s specific names must both be rejected, and the — will then stand as Icreria viridis. SYNONYMES. Muscicapa viridis, Guev. Latu. Tanagra olivacea, Dusmarest, Tangaras, (his plate of ‘the male.) His female and young belong to a different species. Turpvs viridis carolinensis, Briss. Icrerta dumicola, Vieit. pl. 55. 2 Bartram called it Garrunus australis ; Sparrman, AMPELIS lutea, and Catesby, who first made it known, Yellow breasted Chat. ; Although we adopt Vieillot’s genus for this bird, we do not agree with that author as respects the collocation of the genus. We cannot conceive how Vieillot could place it so unnaturally as in his family of the Textores, with Orionus and Ic- TERUS, inasmuch as he was generally very happy in his classifications. We place the genus with Turpvus, Vireo, Muscicara, Moracma, &c. in the family of the Canori. Some authors will be dis- posed to change the name of Icreria, from the cir- cumstance of its great similarity to Icrerus, but we think such a change would be minenthee es un- necessary. ©F WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 253 Parwvs. Of this very natural genus, admitted by all na- turalists from the time of Aristotle, Wilson de- scribes but two species, and these seem indeed to be the only ones known to inhabit this continent. Many others are, however, noticed by former wri- ters, and the above assertion may therefore appear hazardous, until the species they have mentioned are considered. Thus, Ist, the Parus americanus, ° Linn. is the Sytvia americana (Sytvia pusilla, Wils.) 2d, the Parus virginianus, Linn. of which Vieillot without having seen it, made his Sytvia flavopygia, and afterwards xanthoroa, we have no hesitation in declaring to be the Sytvia coronata, in winter dress; 3d,the Parus ater is an European bird, stated by Latham to inhabit this country, doubtless by mistake, in consequence of its similarity to the P. atricapillus described by Wilson; 4th, the variety of P. palustris of Latham, from Louisiana, is the atricapillus, as will be seen hereafter; 5th, the Parus hudsonius of Gmelin and Latham, is also the P. atricapillus in imperfect dress. I am also convinced that P. griseus of Gmelin and Latham, from Greenland, is no other than Recutus calendu- lus, under which I have quoted it. 169. P. atricapillus, Vol. i. p. 134. Whether or not this be the P. palustris of Europe, is a ques- tion which we find to be somewhat difficult to 254 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE decide, although we have specimens of both be- fore us. All the more ancient writers, as well as Vieillot, thought it distinct ; but Temminck, after much consideration, refers them to one species. Our opinion, however, is, that though very closely allied, they are yet distinct, for the following rea- sons, in which we agree with Vieillot. Ist, It is somewhat larger, and the tail is pro- portionally longer. 2d, The black on the throat descends lower down, and the colours generally are obviously more pure and decided. 3d, The voice is different and the habits are more like those of the P. major and ceruleus vd Europe, than those of the palustris. 4th, The young of the atricapillus differ conside- rably from the adults, in consequence of which a nominal species has been made of them; whilst the young of P. palustris are similar to the parents. We therefore retain its characteristic name for this species. SYNONYMES. P. atricapillus, Linn. Guew. Lata. Vint. Nouv. dict. not of Brisson.) P. hudsonius, Get. Lata. Vieiti. Nou. dict. (young,) P. palustris, var. 8 (from Louisiana.) Game. Laru. P. canadensis atricapillus, Briss. Mésange @ gorge noire, Burr. Pl. Enl. 502, f. 1, (bad figure.) OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 255 170. P. bicolor, Vol.i. p. 137. Although Latham states this bird to inhabit the north of Europe, yet from our own experience, and after consulting different authors, we have no hesitation in declar- ing it peculiar to this continent, on which it is found as far north as Greenland. SYNONYMES, Parvs bicolor, Linn. Guet. Lara. Vieit. Nouv. dict. Parus carolinensis cristatus, Briss. We owe its first introduction to Catesby. Hirvunpo. This genus, as admitted by Wilson, is now di- vided into two, viz. Hirunpo, containing four of the five species of Wilson, and Cypsewus, to which the remaining species belongs. As Linné origi- nally formed it, it was more extensive, embracing the present genus Caprimuteus, and having the same boundaries that now circumscribe the family Cnetiones. In this, as in almost every other part of natural history, Linné exhibited his transcend- ent genius; new discoveries have required many divisions, but his genera have always remained as great genera, or families. 171. H. purpurea, Vol. vy. p. 58. The largest of its genus in North America, and peculiar to this continent, visiting every part of it from north to south. 256 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE - It is very remarkable in this genus for exhibit- ing a wide difference between the sexes; hence. in part, the great multiplication of nominal spe- cies to which it has given rise. Latham was the first to perceive these errors; and Vieillot, not satisfied: with five different names, added a sixth, which afterwards he changed for a seventh. SYNONYMES. H. purpurea, Linn. Guten. (male) Lats. i H. subis, Livy. Guex. (female and young:) ep H. violacea, Gur. (adult male.) %s H. apos carolinensis, Briss. (male.) Hi. freti hudsonis, Briss. (female and young.) Hirondelles de la Louisiane, Burr. Pl. Enl. 722, (adult male.) Hinwnvo cerulea, View. pl. 26, (male.) pl. 27, (female.j Since Hirunpo versicolor. Although Brisson and others have considered this species as closely allied to the apus, thetype of the genus Cyesetus, yet it has no point of re- semblance, if we except its large size ; it is panied Hirunvo as the genus now stands. 172. H. americana, Vol. v. p. 34. Wilson des serves commendation for having proved this bird to be distinct from the H. rustica of the old con- tinent, with which, as he informs us, it was then generally believed to be identical. But he was not aware that Gmelin and Latham had already distinguished it, (though not very positively) by OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 257 the name of H. rufa, Under this name, which must be exclusively adopted, Vieillot figured it in his large work, and also placed its difference beyond a doubt. Wilson’s name was pre-occupied. SYNONYMES. Hono rufa, Guet. Lara. Viet. pl. 30. : Hirondelle @ ventre roux de Cayenne, Burr. Pl. Enl. 724, Ff: 1, (female.) All authors who state the H. rustica to be a cosmopolite, have, with respect to America, mis- taken this species for it. It is more remarkable that Vieillot and other modern writers, who knew this bird perfectly well, should, notwithstanding, declare the H. rustica to inhabit North America. But we believe it does not visit this continent, and that the deception has arisen from the white ap- pearance of the belly in young specimens of rufa. 173. H. viridis, Vol. v..p. 44. As the preceding had been mistaken for H. rustica, so the present bird had been confounded with the H. urbica, of the old continent, which does not inhabit America. Wilson was therefore right to consider it as new, and to giveitaname. But,as on many other occa- sions, he has been anticipated by Vieillot, whose name of bicolor must consequently be adopted. SYNONYMES. — Hinvnpo bicolor, Vieit. pl. 31. Hirvnvo urbica var. 4, Guex. Laru. (young as it has the tip of the wing and tail feathers whitish.) VOL. 1V.~-FEBRUARY, 1825, 33 258 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Stephens, by a strange and unaccountable mis- ’ take, calls Wilson’s bird, (which he quotes as bi- color) H. leucogaster, thinking it distinct from that of Vieillot. 174. * H. riparia, Vol. v. p. 46. This is the only Swallow common to Europe and North America. Of this identity doubts have been ex- pressed by some authors, but after a careful com- parison of the two birds we have no hesitation in declaring them one species. Vieillot’s obserya- tion relative to the greater length of the tarsus, and its nudity of feathers in the American speci- mens, is not correct. The feet are perfectly alike, and with the tarsus naked in both birds, if we ex- cept four or five small feathers situated at the in- sertion of the hind toe, and these exactly corre- spond in the European and American specimens. SYNONYMES~+ Hirvnpo riparia, Linn. Briss. Guet. Lata. Tem. Hirondelle de rivage, Burr. Pl. nl. 543, f. 2, (young:) Boie has lately made a genus of this bird, with the name of Corie, but I do not know what cha- racters he may be able to assign to it. 175. H. pelasgia, Vol. v. p. 48. Finding in this singular bird the characters which distinguish the genus Cypsetus, I have no hesitation in placing it in that genus, agreeably to Temminck, calling it Cypsewus pelasgius. It is peculiar to North Ameri- OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 259 ca, and the only one of its genus found here. Al- though Vieillot and some others of the best recent Ornithologists, admit the genus Cyrsexus, yet they consider the present bird as a Hiruypo of a pecu- liar subdivision. SYNONYMES. Hirunno pelasgia, Linn. Guet. Latn. Vien. pl. 33. Hirvnpvo carolinensis, Briss. Hirondelle d queue pointue de la Louisiane, Burr. Pl. Enl. 726, f. 2. (This is not a variety as authors state, but a different state owing to age. Naturalists have usually de- signated every trifling difference as a variety; but when these supposed varieties are closely studied, they are found to be either entirely distinct species, or only differences of age or sex, if we except some albinos and other accidental aberrations from the standard of the species. Hirondelle & queue pointue de Cayenne? Burr. Pl. Enl. 726, f. 1. The genus Cypsetus, to which we assign this bird, under the limits prescribed by Temminck, was first established by Scopoli, who called'it Apus. It was rejected by Gmelin, Latham, Lacépéde and others, and considered as a subgenus by Oken and Cuvier. Duméril adopted it under the first name: Illiger, Vieillot, Temminck, and others admitted it ; some retaining Scopoli’s name, and some, as Wolf and Meyer, changing it to that of Micropus, and afterwards to that of Bracrirus But the name of Cypserus was given by Illiger, from Aristotle, after he had condemned the others 260 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE as being irregular in their formation ; and as this designation has now been generally adopted, we have thought proper to. preserve it. This may, perhaps, be considered by some naturalists, an act of injustice to Scopoli, but we cannot successfully oppose the determination of naturalists in this respect, and we do not conceive that we are re- quired to be as scrupulous with regard to generic names as we ought to be of specific ones, which must always be retained, however bad they may be, whilst not one awkward or incorrect generic name should be permitted to remain. Caprimuceus. This genus, which differs from Hirunvo as Srrix does from Fatco, has been adopted by all natural- ists from the time of Linné, (who in his first edi- tion placed it in Hiruypo) and Brisson, It is a very natural group, and we think that Vieillot would have done better to have considered his genus Nycriniws as a subgenus. The three spe- cies so well described, figured and elucidated by Wilson, are all peculiar to America. 176. C. carolinensis, Vol. vi. p. 95. Though it is almost impossible to decide which of the closely allied species of this genus authors had in view, by their short descriptions,. particularly as the species are evidently confounded with one another in their respective articles, yet we believe Wilson OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 261 had good reason to refer the Chuck-will’s widow to the C. carolinensis. But he shows his uncer- tainty with respect to it by omitting all synonymes. This was also the case with Vieillot, who calls this bird C. rufus, having without any apparent good reason, considered the carolinensis as the same species’as his C. popetue, to which, in that case, he would have done well to have left the name: but he proves himself in error by stating that authors are incorrect in attributing to the bird a different size, colour, and form of tail. We shall adopt Wilson’s opinion, which, after much examination, we think the most probable. SYNONYMES, Caprimuteus carolinensis, Guet. Laru. Briss. Caprimuteus rufus, Viettt. pl. 25, (female.) In the nour. dict. he unites three species under this name. Wilson corrected the errors that had been committed with respect to this and the two following species, the habits of all which had previously been confusedly intermixed. Stephens has increased the confusion by calling it C. bra- chyplerus. 177. C. americanus, Vol. v. p. 65. Although this is the most common of the three species, yet it is remarkable that it was not correctly noticed by any writer before Wilson and Vieillot. It is however evident that part of the description of C. virginianus, is taken from it, as is proved, if by no other character, certainly by the white wing spot which is there mentioned. So that the name 262 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE of virginianus which has been applied by Vieillot to the following, might with equal propriety have been given to this species, from the circumstance of the description, history, and habits partaking of both. Our author, who is so admirably correct as regards the history, description, &c. has inad- _vertently given a name already employed in this genus. Vieillot’s name of C. popetue, awkward as it is, must be adopted, having the priority. SYNONYME, Caprimutcus popetue, Viriiu. pl. 24, (female-) Caprimuteus virginianus, Guet. Lata. Briss. (a monstrous combination of this and the following species,) Visit. pl. 23. CarrimuLeus europaeus, 2 minor americanus, Lann. (the same monstrous combination.) The error seems to have originated from Cates- by’s bad figure, which is a compound of the two species, or rather which represents the C. popetue, (Night Hawk) with bristles which are proper to the vociferus (Whip-poor-will.) 178. C. vociferus, Vol. v. p. 71. Vieillot applied to this bird the name of C. virginianus, which is evidently proper to the preceding as well as to this bird, the description and history being as be- fore stated, a compound of the characters of both; this fact, however, he does not mention; but being probably afterwards aware of it, he changed the name to clamator, a name corresponding in mean- OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 263 ing to that of Wilson, which he ought to have adopted, rather than to introduce a new one. Wilson deserves the highest commendation for having so elegantly and perspicuously elucidated the history of the species, and for having extricat- ed the North American Carrimute: from the con- fusion that involved them. Had he performed no other service for the benefit of science, this alone would have been a monument of his accuracy. From aconsideration of the above circumstances, I think Wilson’s name must be exclusively adopt- ed, as the only means of avoiding future confusion. SYNONYMES- Caprimuteus virginianus, Vier. pl. 23. CotumBa. This genus is so well characterized that it has constituted a distinct family in the estimation of all ornithologists, and even in that of several, a distinct order. Some of the former have arranged it with the Passeres, and others with the Galline ; it is in fact intermediate to both, and by some species approaches closely to Galline. But I cannot hesitate to place it with the Passeres, from some traits in the conformation of the spe- cies, as well as from their habits, and principally from the circumstance of the hind toe being arti- culated on the same plane with the others, and bearing equally on the ground its whole length. a Ney 264. OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Though forming a distinct family, and very nu- merous in species, yet this genus, as is the case with many other well characterized genera, also abundant in species, as Fatco, Srarx, Psrrracus, Frivertta, Anas, Picus, &c. cannot well beseparat- ed, excepting into sections or subgenera. Attempts have, however, been made to separate the species generically, by Vieillot, Stephens, and others: we divide the genus into three subgenera, adopting the names of Columba, Vinago, and Goiira. The three species of Wilson are all peculiar to America, two of them belong to the first subgenus, and the other to the latter. 179. C. migratoria, Vol. v. p. 102. A well known species described twice in the systems. Our au- thor’s history of it is perfect. SYNONYMES. Cotumpa migratoria, Linn. Get. Lara. (adult male.) Viet. Nouv. dict. @hist. Nat. Tem. Les Pigeons, falio, Paris, 1811, pl. 48 of the second section, (male,) pl. 49, (fe- male, resembling a young male taking the adult dress.) Coxumsa canadensis, Linn. Guev. Lara. (female and young, the latter considered as the female of the nominal species.) CouumsBa enas americana, Briss. (adult, male.) Cotumpa canadensis, Briss. (female and young as above.) Tourterelle de Canada, Burr. Pl. Enl. 176, (female, a bad figure.) 180. C. carolinensis, Vol. v.p.91. This familiar species has also been described twice in the same books. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. _SYNONYMES. Cotumsa carolinensis, Linn. Gunt. Lata. Viritt. Nouv. dict. Tenm. Pigeons, pl. 80, of the second section. CotumBa marginata, Linn. Guet. Lara. Coxumpa turtur carolinensis, Briss. Coxumpa turtur americanus, Briss. . Tourterelle de la Caroline, Burr. Pl. Enl. 175, (female, a very bad figure, in which, amongst other errors, the bill is red instead of black.) 181. C. passerina, Vol. vi. p. 15. This very small species belongs to that peculiar subdivision which approaches more to the order Galline, and which, for that reason, has been called Columbi- galline, forming the genus Goura of Stephens. It inhabits only the southern states. SYNONYMES. Cotumpa passerina, Linn. Guew. Lara. Vieitt. Temu. Pigeons, pl. 13 of the third section, (male,) pl. 14, (fe- male.) Co.umBa turtur parous americanus, Briss. Pétite Tourterelle de la Martinique, Burr. Pl. Enl. 243, f. 2, (bad figure,) (fig. 1, Petite Tourterelle de St. Domingue, is generally quoted here also, but we believe, with Vieillot, that it belongs to another species.) : Wilson erroneously quotes Cotumsa minuta, Linn, as a synonyme. , Terrao. As first formed by Linné, this genus was very extensive, embracing besides all the Grouse, Par- VOL. Iv.——MARCH, 1825. 34 266 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE tridges, Quails, &c. also the Psastanus colchicus, which however, that author afterwards removed from it. Brisson, Latham, Temminck, Vieillot, and other recent Ornithologists, have agreed in restricting the genus Trrrao, but they have dif- fered in the manner of doing it. We perfectly agree with Temminck as respects the limits he assigns to it, so as toinclude Tetrao and Lagopus, of Vieillot, adopted by us as subgenera. We also agree with him as to the genera separated from it. The two species described by Wilson, belong to the former subgenus’? They are both peculiar to America, and have been most unaccountably mistaken for one species. 182. T. umbellus, Vol. vi. p. 45. The local ap- pellation (Pheasant) of this bird is erroneous, as it is a true Grouse. The history and figure are perfect in Wilson ; the bird has been twice noticed in the systems. SYNONYMES. Terrao wmbellus, Linn. Guev. Lara. Vii. Noun. dict. Tetrao togatus, Linn. Guet. (young, rather than female as Latham states.) : Lacorus atiagen Pensylvanie, Brisson. Lacorus bonasa major canadensis, Briss. (young.) Grosse Gélinotte du Canada, Burr. Pl. Enl. 104, (bad fig. * of the young.) Stephens calls it Bovasa wmbellus, having made OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 267 a genus which we do not think proper to adopt, even as a subgenus. The nominal species, as Sabine observes, origi- nated, as is often the case, from a bad figure ; the T. umbellus being described from nature, and the T. togatus from Edwards’ wretched figure. 183. 'T. cupido, Vol. iii. p. 104. We cannot con- ceive how Buffon, and more recently Cuvier, could quote this remarkable species as a synonyme of the preceding. No American would mistake this delicious Grouse for the trivial “ Pheasant.” We should think this error hardly worthy of notice, did not some recent compilers, even with Wilson’s work before them, still persist in express- ing a doubt of the specific difference of T. umbel- lus and 'T. cupido! # SYNONYMES. Tetrao cupido, Linn. Guz. Lara. Vieitt, Nouv. dict. Lacopus atiagen americana, Briss. _Bowasa cupido, STEPHENS. Perpix. This is one of the genera that have been sepa- rated from the Linnean Terrao. It was formed by Brisson and Latham, and adopted by Illiger, Temminck, Vieillot and others. But authors vary somewhat in their respective limits, some being too extensive and others not sufficiently so. We agree in this respect with Temminck and Vieillot, & 268 OBSERVATIONS ON 'THE NOMENCLATURE and distribute the species in four subgenera, cor- responding to the sections of those authors, viz. Francolinus, Perdix, Ortyx, and Coturniz, all of which are considered as genera by Stephens. — 184. P. virginiana, Vol. vi. p. 21. The only species known to inhabit this part of North Ame- rica. Itis extended over almost every part of the country. It belongs to the subgenus Orryx. We find it described under three different names in the systems, and this has induced Vieillot to give a fourth, that of P. borealis. But in such a case we must select one of the old names, and as Wil- son has already chosen that of P. virginiana, Ithink it must prevail. » sSYNONYMEs. Terrao virginianus, Linn. Guet. (female.) Tetrao marilandicus, Linn. Goer. (adult male; Gmelin, however, correctly indicates also the female.) Terrao mexicanus, Livy. Guet. (adult male, erroneously given with a red bill and feet.) Perpix virginiana, Lata. (female.) Perpix marilanda, Lara. (male.) Perpix mexicana, Lara. (adult male given with a red bill and feet.) Perpix americana, Brisson, (female.) Perpix nove anglia, Briss. (male.) Corurmix ludoviciana, Briss. (male with red bill and feet.) Cuille de la Louisiane, Burr. Pl. Enl. 149, (a bad figure of the male with reddish bill and feet.) Pervix borealis, Viert. Nouv. dict. Ortyx borealis, SrePHENs. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 269 Having now passed in review all the land birds described by our author, this may be the proper place to correct a few errors, and add some obser- vations which subsequent opportunities have en- abled us to make. 2. Vuurur atratus. 1 called this bird Carnarres urubu, but as Bartram has the priority, we are au- thorized to reject Vieillot’s barbarous name for that adopted by Wilson. The bird will then be known as Catnarrtes atratus. The quotation of Latham’s synonyme is incor- rect; it ought to be V. aura var 6? Lata. Another synonyme is V. aura & jota ? Guet. If the Vutrur jota of Molina be certainly this bird, that name ought to be adopted as having the priority. 11, 12. Fauco borealis and F. leverianus. I ex- pressed my belief of the identity of these two spe- cies, which has since been corroborated by obser- vations on the living bird. They are in reality, but one species, differing only from age, both sexes being found in each description of plumage, as Wilson very correctly observed. “ My reason,” says Wilson, “ for inclining to consider this (the leverianus) a distinct species from the last (the borealis) is that of having uniformly found the 270 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE present 2 or3 inches larger than the former, thougl: this may possibly be owing to their greater age.” _ In this, however, he is mistaken, for when birds have attained their full size, as in both his birds, they only change plumage, but never their stature; he must have taken his admeasurement of the borealis from males, (his figure is that of a male,) and that of the leverianus from females. But be this as it may, Lhave always found the males in both states of plumage twenty inches, (a size which Wilson gives to the borealis,) and the fe- males also of both twenty-two inches, (his size for deverianus.) 17. F. Mississippiensis.. Temminck has lately given a figure of the F. plumbeus, (which I sup- pose to be the same with this bird) when in the second year of its age. SYNONYME. Milan Cresserelle jeune, Temm. Pl. Col. 180. We cannot conceive why Temminck does not quote Wilson’s figure, which is certainly by far the best, and represents a more perfect state of plumage than that of Vieillot. Is it because he thinks the F. Mississippiensis of Wilson, a distinct species? we.can hardly suppose it. 18. * F’, lagopus. An essential synonyme has been omitted, it .is F. sclavonicus, Larn. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 271 20, 21. F. hyemalis and F. lineatus. Ihave now no doubt of the specific identity of these two Hawks: lineatus is the young, and hyemalis the adult; the very young bears a still distinct plumage, and has luckily escaped the fabricators of nominal species, who, had they met with it, would un- doubtedly have augmented their chaotic ae with it. 30. * Srrix otus. When I wrote the article on this bird, I had not seen it, (as indicated by the mark §) and believed Vieillot correct in noticing the American species as distinct from the Euro- pean. But having since procured several speci- mens, I have ascertained that Wilson was right in considering his species as the same with the Eu- ropean. The name must therefore be restored, and the mark * be prefixed to it. It is, however, possible that two allied species may be inhabitants of North America, one the same, and the other different from that of Europe. This would cer- tainly be the case, if Vieillot’s figure was a faith- ful copy of nature; but as he states his bird to in- habit all the continent of North America, we are rather inclined to believe there is but one, and that the great difference is the result of the incor- rectness of his figure; the synonymes, besides those already given, will then be Srarx otus, Linn. Guet. Lara. Tem. Moyen duc ou hibou. Burr. Pl. Eni. 29. 272 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE 31, 32. S. asio, and S. neavia. I expressed my opinion in favour of the specific identity of these two Owls; and having since received the Pl. col. 80, of 'Temminck, (Hibow asio, male) representing a male nearly adult, I was much pleased to find that the opinion of that eminent Ornithologist coincides with mine. I have now in my collec- tion a complete series of the changes of this bird from almost black to pale ferruginous-red ; all doubt must therefore be dissipated in relation to the subject. 'Temminck is, however, mistaken in stating the asio to be the young female, and nevia to be the old male; both sexes occur in all the different states of plumage ; asio is the young bird, and nevia is the adult. I cannot help expressing my belief that the similar changes of the S. aluco of Europe, will be found to be also owing to age and not to sex. 33. * Lams excubitor. Having lately shot a specimen of this species in New Jersey, I was enabled to ascertain that though closely allied to the excubitor, it is a distinct species, as stated by Vieillot; his name of L. borealis must, theres, be exclusively adopted. 34. L. carolinensis. I have stated that the name of Vieillot, L. ardosiaceus, ought to be adopted as having the priority over that of Wilson. This was only because I then considered as doubtful the synonyme of L. ludovicianus, which I there- fore quoted with a note of interrogation. Having OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 273 since fully ascertained that this synonyme is cor- rect, I propose to restore the Linnewan name to that shrike. Latham led me in error by stating that the crown (pileus) is black. Our bird is undoubtedly the L. ludovicianus of Brisson, and Linné, as may be ascertained by their excellent description. It is also the L. ludovicia- nus of Gmelin, but that author was wrong in quoting amongst the synonymes, Buff. Pl. Enl. 397, this bird not being represented in that work. Latham in his synopsis had indicated our bird, under the name of Louisiana shrike, but he also quoted the above named plate. Gmelin probably took his authority. _ In his index, Latham perceived that mistake, but he fell in a greater one, which was to unite to the L. ludovicianus, the black-crowned shrike of Pennant, which that author erroneously supposed to be L. ludovicianus, and of which Gmelin has made his L. americanus. The latter has a black crown which the ludovicianus has not. This in- duced me to state that L. ludovicianus of Latham was certainly not this bird. 35. Psrrracus carolinensis. Add to the syno- nymes, Psitracus ludovicianus, GMEL. _ Perruche Illinoise, Burr, Pl. Enl. 528, (young.) VOL. IV.—-MARCH, 1825. 35 274 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE Ortowus. After having separated from this genus as adopt- ed by Temminck, those birds of which we form the genus Quiscatus agreeably to Vieillot, we subdi- vide the remaining species into four subgenera: | 1. Cassicus, corresponding to Illiger’s and Vieil- lot’s genus of that name. The species are dis- tinguished by having the frontal angle (in the feathers,) wide and semicircular, while the three other subgenera have it acute and not profound. 2. Xanthornus, corresponding to Acetaws of Vieillot, and included in the genus Ortoxus of Il- liger. The bill is straight, thick at base, and acu- minate. 3 3. Emberizoides, some species of which Vieillot refers to his genus Passerina, they form the pas- sage to Frincuza. This subgenus is so closely allied to the preceding that it would be perhaps better to unite them; the bill is only less acumi- nate. 4. Icterus, which agrees with the two genera Yrnantes and Penpuinus of Vieillot, and is includ- ed in Illiger’s Ortotus. Some species of this sub- genus form the link between Icrerus and the sub- genus Dacnis of Cuvier; the bill is comparatively slender and slightly bent towards the tip. 44. O. mutatus. In the synonymes, after Turpus ater, Gmel. Lath. dele Lath. and put in its stead, Turous jugularis, Lath. OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 275 46. Gracuta ferruginea. With Wilson I erred in giving amongst the synonymes of this species, Ontos niger, Gmel. Lath. which belongs to a distinct species of the same genus (Quiscatus) in- _habiting the West Indies and South America, but which has not been found in the United States. The individual stated by Latham to have been found here, is the Q. ferrugineus in perfect dress. 55. Picusvarius. The following synonyme was inadvertently omitted. Pic varie de la Caroline, Burr. Pl. Enl. 785. (ad. male.) Picus carolinus. For Pic rayé femelle de la Jamaique, read Pic varié, &c. 60. Srrra varia. Being now satisfied that the S. canadensis of Linvé is the young of this spe- cies, I think the latter specific name must exclu- sively be adopted. 72. 'Turnus solitarius. Add to the synonymes, T. fuscus, Gmel. Lath. 74. 'T. aquaticus. As indicated by the mark § prefixed to that article, I had not then seen the bird. But haying last autumn procured specimens, I have ascertained it to be a Warbler, and not a Thrush, closely allied to the Sytvia aurocapilla (Turpus aurocapillus, Wilson.) These two spe- cies cannot be separated even subgenerically, and they must therefore be placed either in Syxvia or Turvvus; but I believe authors had no other reason for referring these birds to the latter genus, than 276 OBSERVATIONS ON THE NOMENCLATURE that they have a spotted breast. Whether or not that bird and the Turpus motacilla, Vieill. are one species, is doubtful, but it is certainly Syzvia nove- boracensis Lath. as we have ascertained from the very specimen Wilson described. If, therefore, Turvus motacilla, Vieill. be a real species, it must be distinct from T. aquaticus. This we do not believe to be the case, and if we are correct in our conjecture, Vieillot has described and figured the same bird under two different names. SYNONYMES. Moraciita noveboracensis, Gauri. Syzvia noveboracensis, Laru. Viri. pl. 82. ie) Moracitta tigrina, var. 2, Guex. (female and young.) Sytvia tigrina, var. 4, Latu. (female and young:) Sytvia anthoides, Vier. Nouv. dict. @hist. nat. Ficeputa dominicensis fusca, Briss. (female and young.) Fauvette tachetée de la Louisiane, Burr. Pl. Enl. thee for, (a very bad figure.) New York warbler, Penn. Arct. Zool. Latu. fas 86. Emseriza erythrophthalma. referred this bird to the subgenus Coccothraustes, but 1 now think better to range it in the subgenus Fringilla, its bill not being quite large enough to entitle it to rank in the former station. The following syno- nyme misquoted by Wilson and myself under F. aliaca (rufa Wils.) must be placed under this bird, to which it belongs beyond a doubt, as appears to have been the ultimate opinion of Wilson. — Emperiza ferruginea, Guev. Laru. (female.) OF WILSON’S ORNITHOLOGY. 277 97. Frivemta purpurea. I stated the Pyrruura erythrina to be common to the north of both continents, and that it would be represented in the first volume of my continuation of Wilson’s Ornithology. But notwithstanding the statements of authors, it appears not to exist in this continent. Thad reference to an allied species. 102. F. nivalis. An essential error has occur- red in relation to this bird. It was stated that the name is correct, and that the species is com- mon to both continents. But the fact is that the species is widely different from that of Europe, and must be called Frineitia hyemalis. It is evi- dently by a typographical transposition, that ‘Tem- minck states the F. nivalis to inhabit North Ameri- ca, and it is for want of examining for themselves that recent compilers have repeated this error. The remaining part of the article is correct, ex- cepting the synonyme of F. nivalis, which must be rejected. We also stated this bird to belong to the sub- genus Fringilla, but we regard it as a Spiza, though it has not the characters of that subgenus strongly marked. 127. Muscicara pusilla. Having lately had an opportunity of examining this pretty little bird, I had the pleasure of finding my toa iy ai cor- rect in regard to it. 278 BLENNIUS. Descriptions of four new Species of the Linnean genus Brennwws, and a new Exocerus. By Wi- uiam W. Woop. Read December 14, 1824. — Brienniws, Cuv. 1. B. geminatus. Head with a three rayed cirrhus over each eye; body with several pairs of brownish spots on the sides, above which are con- fluent marks on the back, extending a little way upon the dorsal fin. Dorsal fin with an irregular blackish spot, anteriorly. Head thick, large, anteriorly rounded, channel- ed between the eyes; a cirrhus of three rays over each eye, above a quarter of an inch in length, slender and delicate: mouth descending very little: upper lip large, thick : gape small: throat obscure- ly bifasciate with brownish beneath: nostrils ap- pendiculated : opercula fleshy : eyes moderate, ap- proximated : body compressed: back somewhat arched: belly a little protuberant; rib-spaces evi- dent: sides with several pairs of spots of a reddish- brown colour, arranged pretty regularly in a dou- ble row, above which are confluent marks upon the back, extending partly over the dorsal fin: dorsal with an irregular blackish spot before the origin of the pectoral fin; slightly joined to the caudal fin, at the base; arched a little posterior- ly: caudal fin rounded: anal fin nearly touching BLENNIUS. 279 the tail, and having a longitudinal blackish band near its exterior margin; tubercle of the anus small: ventral fins two-rayed, pointed: pectoral Jin rounded, base thick and fleshy, with a branched dusky brown band. Cabinet of the Academy. Inhabits the harbour of Charleston, S. C. from whence it and the two following species were sent to the Academy, by Captain Bache, of the U. S. Topographical Engineers. Its colour in spirits is brownish, and the spots of a brownish red. D. 27. P.13. V. 2. A. 17. C. 142 imper- fect rays. Length, two inches and three-eighths; depth, half an inch. 2. B. punctatus. A bifurcated cirrhus over each eye; dorsal fin with an irregular blackish spot between the first and third rays; body thickly covered with small blackish spots, which are con- fluent on the sides; caudal fin with five obscure brownish bands. Head thick, somewhat rounded anteriorly, in a line from the dorsal fin to the snout: eyes oblong, very approximate ; surrounded by a circle of raised blackish points ; a bifurcated cirrhus or appendage about half an inch in length, over each, the ex- tremities of which are pointed: nostrils with a small appendage: snout, front, top, and sides of the head thickly covered with small, irregular 280 BLENNIUS, blackish spots ; between the appendages over the eyes and the commencement of the dorsal fin, are two slight and roughish prominences : mouth small, slightly descending: upper lip thick: body com- pressed gradually from the pectoral fins: dorsal jim commencing a little before the pectoral fin and continuing to the caudal. fin, which it partly joins at the base: caudal fin rounded, with five obscure brownish bands: anal jin dusky, tubercle before it small: ventral fins three-rayed, pointed, blackish : pectoral fins large, rounded, base thick, fleshy, dotted with blackish, the rays obscurely fasciated with dusky : lateral line arched over the pectoral fin. Note-—Branchial aperture three-eighths of an inch in length. D.27. P. 14. V.3. A. 18. C. 11; imperfect rays. Inhabits Charleston harbour. Length three inches ; depth one inch, exeleaind of the dorsal fin. : Puous, Artedi. 1. P. novemlineatus. Body with nine whitish longitudinal bands; dorsal fin with an irregular blackish spot between the first and second rays; remainder of the fin clouded with dusky brown. Head descending somewhat abruptly, tubereu- BLENNIUS. 281 - tated anteriorly : nostrils with a small appendage : head, lips, opercula, &c. and base of the pectoral fins, finely spotted with bluish-black, the spots being larger on the front and opercula: branchial opening extremely small, extending one-third of the length of the external curve of the operculum : mouth descending little : gape moderate : sides of . the head fleshy : body compressed : rib-spaces evi- dent: sides with nine longitudinal whitish lines, some of which are interrupted; behind the eye and under the dorsal fin are two irregular whitish patches: dorsal fin commencing before the pec- toral fins; between the first and second ray is an irregular blackish spot, several of the following rays are also spotted, the colour of the spots be- coming lighter as they recede towards the tail, where they mingle with the dusky colour of the fin and are lost; fin rising posteriorly, and joining the eaudal fin at about half the distance from its ex- tremity: anal fin commencing under the termina- tion of the pectoral fin, and extending nearly to the tail: caudal fin rounded: ventral fins two-rayed: pectoral fins rather large, the base thick and fleshy, finely spotted with bluish-black : anus small, tuber- cle small : colowr brownish, fins dusky. 0).:80.0: C82$0. A220. Vale Ped din 5 Inhabits Charleston harbour. Cabinet of the Academy. Length three inches and a quarter; depth, ex- clusive of the dorsal fin, hardly one inch. VOL, Iv.——mMaRcH, 1825. 36 282 BLENNIUS, 2. P. quadrifasciatus. P|. xvii. fig. 1. Dorsal fin not joining the tail; body with four distinct brownish bands, and an interrupted obscure broad band on the neck; belly with four yellowish spots over the anal fin; ventral fins fasciate with brown. Head not descending abruptly, spotted with blackish : branchial opening extremely small : eyes moderate, approximate : lower jaw a little longer: mouth descending: body elongate compressed : back not convex: belly little protuberant: tail narrowing somewhat abruptly : bedy very mucous : dorsal fin pretty deep, rising slightly posteriorly, and not joining the tail; it rises just over the branchial aperture : caudal fin rounded : anal fin deeper anteriorly, terminating very near the tail : ventral fins three-rayed, fasciated with blackish : pectoral fins placed just behind the origin of the dorsal fin, large, rounded : belly with four spots of a dull yellow, just over the anal fin: lateral line nearly straight. D..27). Cite ch ab: DP. eee Length two inches and a half; depth, exelusive of the dorsal fin, six-eighths of an inch. For this last species I am indebted to Mr. Ru- ‘bens Peale, of the Baltimore Museum, who pre- sented me with a specimen. Another in his pos- session was somewhat larger. Native place unknown. All the shone species having been described EXOCETUS. 283 from specimens preserved in spirits, the descrip- tion of the colours cannot be relied on. Exocerus. E. appendiculatus. Pl. xvii. fig. 2. Lower jaw with a long trifurcated cirrhus, the middle branch of which is longest, extending about two-thirds of the length of the body; the lateral branches very short. Head subtriangular, depressed in the middle, declivous; sides of the head above and behind the eyes somewhat angular : snout somewhat obtuse, rather narrow: nostrils not very approximate : opercula flattish, silvery : branchial aperture slight- ly oblique: mouth small, slightly descending : body subfusiform, covered with large scales: abdomen angular, slightly arcuate : back somewhat convex: tail rather narrow: pectoral fins long, extending nearly to the termination of the dorsal fin: dorsal jin moderate, narrow, somewhat hollowed : ventral Jjins extending from directly under the dorsal fin, alittle beyond the insertion of the caudal fin: anal _ fin small, placed near the tail, narrow : anus nearer the tail: caudal fin with the inferior lobe longer, both lobes rounded. P..13, 14 CAR or TV. Ge Ae, Length five inches and a quarter. In the Baltimore Museum. Its native place is unknown. 284 BIPED SEPS. This species approaches to E. comatus, describ- ed by Dr. Mitchell in Trans. New York Lit. and Philos. Soc. but differs in wanting the lateral branches of the cirrhus, and in several minor cha- racters, Description of a new Species of Birev Servs. By Ricnarpv Haran, M. D. Read December 7th, 1824. Seps. S. sexilineata. Pl. xviii. fig. 2. Body above and beneath, whitish, clothed with equal rounded scales, compactly imbricate ; top of the head black- ish, furnished with twelve irregularly shaped scales or plates, (similar to those of the Opmisaurus) of different figures and unequal sizes ; the three larg- est of the plates are placed one before-the other, and the nine smaller are distributed around the three first. Three dark punctuated lines on each side of the body, extend from the neck to the mid- dle of the tail, run into each other anteriorly, and form a single black line which passes through the eyes, extending to the nostrils: rictus of the mouth wide: nostrils situate on a line with the eyes near the extremity of the snout: a single row of mi- nute teeth line each maxilla : tail rather more than BIPED SEPS. 285 one-fourth the length of the body, cylindrical, somewhat subulate: anus a transverse slit, one inch from the extremity of the tail: on each side of the vent, projects a small leg, terminating in two corneous toes, somewhat aduncate, the exter- nal considerably the longest: external ear, or membrana tympani, a scarcely visible point pos- terior to the angle of the mouth. Total length four inches; from the tip of the snout to the vent, two inches and eight-tenths; from the vent to the extremity of the tail, eleven- tenths; length of the head, three-tenths; breadth of the head, two-tenths ; length of the legs, three- tenths; girth, seven-tenths. Osservations. The Birep Seps have been dis- covered in Europe, Africa, America, and India. I know not from what part of the globe the present specimen was obtained, I found it among the La- certx belonging to the Philadelphia Museum, where it had remained for several years preserved in spirits. Three species only of Birep Sers have been acknowledged by Daudin—viz. Ist, S. didactyle, described by Schneider, (2d fascic. Hist. Nat. des Amphib.) 2d,,8. subdidactyle or the Shettopusick of Pallas, and 3d, S. monodactyle of Gronovius ; to neither of which can our reptile be referred ; it resembles still less the “ Bipede lzpidopode,” of New Holland, described by Lacépéde (.4nnales du Museum, Vol. iv.) It approaches nearest to 286 » _ §CINCUS. a variety of the third species or S. Gronovii, which was described by Gronovius (under the name of “ Cuamasaura Birgs,” as follows, “ A Scin- cus, having the posterior extremities very short, subulate, single toed, destitute of anterior feet ; the tail almost as short as one half the body, cy- lindrical, with its extremity smooth, naked and conical, some black lines prolonged upon the back, and the flanks ; the abdomen whitish : total length four inches. (Zoophil. No. 44. page 11.) On comparing this description with that of the “ sezi- lineata,’ as above detailed, the latter will be found evidently a well characterized distinct spe- cies. Description of a new Species of Scincus. By Ricuarp Harran, M. D. Read December 21, 1824. Scincus. S. bicolor. P|. xviii. fig. 1. Supra fuscus; subtus albido-argenteus; lineis duabus longitudinalibus albis in utroque latere ; cauda, tereti,‘corpore pau- lolongiore ; palmis, plantisque pentadactylis. Total length, nine inches, four-tenths ; length of the head, neck and body, four inches ; length of the tail five inches four-tenths; length of the ae SCINCUS. 287 head, nine-tenths; breadth of the head, eight- tenths ; length of the neck, six-tenths. Body above dusky brown, darkest on the top of the head, which is swollen at the maxillary an- gles: body beneath of asilvery white throughout ; a white line commencing at the occiput; on each side of the spine extends two or three inches on the tail; another line commencing at the tympa- num and passing immediately above the thigh is lost on the tail; two faint longitudinal lines mark the posterior part of the thighs, the lowermost extending to the outer toe : tail tapering, cylindri- » cal, and pointed: tympanum large, vertically oval ; the palpebral and infraorbitar ridge, clothed with minute quadrangular plates or scales. The genus Scincus, originally established by Brongniart, and adopted by Latreille, Daudin, and others, includes about twenty species; only two of which are said to inhabit the United States: viz. the S. quinquelineata and the S. erythrocepha- lus; to which must be added the species under consideration, which differs from the erythroceph- alus described by Mr. Gilliams (Journal of the A. N. S. Vol. i.) in form, proportion, colour, and markings. Of all the species of this genus hith- erto described, the bicolor approaches most nearly the S. quadriliniatus, (Daudin,) Lacerta lineata (Linn.) or L. quadriliniata, (Gmelin.) This rep- tile first described by Linné (from a specimen in the Museum of Prince Adolph Frederic,) is fur- 288° SCINCUS. nished with only four toes to the anterior extremi- ties, which could not have been the result of ac- cident, as Linné informs us he had observed several specimens of the same species; the total length of this species is represented as about four inches and a half; although it is marked by four white lines in common with the bicolor, these are differ- ently arranged; in the “ quadriliniatus,” one line as white as snow, is prolonged from the extremity of the snout on each side of the back, as far as the base of the tail ; another passes from the angle of the mouth, through the flanks to the thighs. After this description there can be no danger of confounding the two. The reptile which forms the subject of this detail, is preserved in spirits in the Philadelphia Museum. Scineus erythrocephalus. Gilliams. var. Body above of a dark green, approaching to black: head above of a reddish yellow: body beneath of a yel- lowish white; total length, eleven inches: tazl a little longer than the body, round, and tapering; from the tip of the snout to the commencement of the hind legs, four inches and a half; length of the head, one inch and two-tenths 5 breadth of the head, one inch. Two specimens in the Philadelphia Museum; being dried, their colours must have faded. CRINOIDEA. 289 On two genera and several species of Crixowea. By Tuomas Say. Read March 1st, 1825. { am indebted to the politeness and liberality of Dr. J. Bigsby, for the opportunity of describing the very interesting animal remains which form the subject of the following new genus. Family CRINOIDEA. CaryocriniTes. Generic character. Column cylindrical, perforat- ed by a tubular alimentary canal : pelvis formed of four plates; costals six, supporting the scapule, from which the arms proceed. In Miller’s arrangement this genus will occupy a station in the division Jnarticulata, between the genera Cyatuocrinires and Actinocrinites. It may be indicated by the following formula. A. Pelvis of four plates. 4. Costal plates six. a. Column not dilated. o. Alimentary canal round. §. Articulating surface of the columnar joints, radiated. {. Auxiliary side arms cylindrical, and placed irregular- ly. Genus CaryocrinitEs. 1. Two of the costals hexagonal. 1s¢ Sp. ornatus. 2. One of the costals hexagonal. 2d Sp. loricatus. VOL. 1v.——-MARCH, 1825. a 296 GRINOIDEA. Species. 1. C. ornatus. Costals, four pentagonal and two hexagonal. ' Column inserted into a cavity at the base of the pelvis : pelvis rather large ; two of the plates quad- rangular, attenuated to the base, where they are truncated and a little recurved at the junction with the column; disks, particularly towards the base, granulated, with a distinct elevated inter- rupted line ; two remaining plates pentangular, at- tenuated to the base, where they are truncated and a little recurved at the junction with the co- ~ lumn; disk with elevated granules, and with two elevated interrupted lines, extending to the ter- minal angles: costa/s, four pentagonal and two hexagonal, all with elevated interrupted lines, ra- diating from the centre to the angles, with a series of truncated granules on each side, and a few gra- nules in the intervening spaces; interscapulars, two hexagonal, situated immediately above the hexagonal costals: scapulars six pentagonal, the upper sides of which are more or less irregular by projecting alittle between the scapule, all with prominent lines granulated, similar to those of the preceding: arms six: capital plates with a hepta- gonal one in the middle, surrounded by five hex- agonal plates and two irregular ones at the mouth: mouth not prominent, situated on one side of the middle, a little within the line of the arms, closed 4 CRINOIDEA. 291 by small valvular pieces, its inferior side resting on the superior angle of one of the scapulars. Longitudinal diameter from three quarters to one inch and a half; transverse diameter from seven-tenths to one inch and two-fifths. 2. C. loricatus. Costals, five pentagonal, and one hexagonal. Resembles the preceding, but there is only one hexagonal costal plate, and one interscapular plate. Longitudinal diameter one inch and eleven- twentieths; transverse diameter one inch and three-tenths. Dr. Bigsby obtained seven specimens of the ornata, and one of the Joricata. He informs me that “ they are found loose in brown clay at the foot of the ravine at Lockport, in which the New- York canal mounts the parallel ridge of Lake On- tario. They are extremely numerous, but almost always worn and crushed. They are filled with the clay in which they are imbedded. They are from one-tenth to one-eighth of an inch thick in their parietes. ‘The clay rests upon horizontal, black, conchiferous limestone, in which I found part of an encrinital stomach, bearing a close, if not perfect resemblance to the Caryocrinires de- scribed by Mr. Say.” In the second volume of Silliman’s Journal, p. 36, I instituted a new genus for the truly singular animal religuium, which Parkinson called Ken- 292 CRLUVOIDEA. fuchy Asterial fossil. 1 shall now proceed to correct the characters of that genus agreeably to the dis- coveries of the ingenious Miller, in this family, and to identify by name the species which I then indicated. Pentremirte. Column cylindrical, perforated; segments arti- culating by radiated surfaces, with cylindrical side arms at irregular intervals : pelvis of three unequal pieces, two pentagonal and one quadragonal : sea- pule large, very profoundly emarginate for the reception of the tips of the radiating ambulacre, obliquely truncated at the extremities, each side, for the reception of one side of a subrhomboidal plate or interscapular: ambulacre five, radiating from the summit and terminating at the tips of the emarginations of the scapule ; each with alon- gitudinal, indented line, and numerous transverse strie which terminate in a marginal series of pores, for the transmission of respiratory tubes : summit with five rounded openings (ovaries) and an an- gulated central one (mouth and anus.) This singular genus is so remotely allied to any other hitherto discovered, that I do not think it can with propriety, be referred to any Family yet instituted. By its columnar support it is related to the Family Crinoidea, but the total absence of arms and hands excludes it from that very natural €RINOIDEA. 293 group. The superior termination, in which the ambulacre, the rounded openings, and the central angulated one, are situated, has some affinity to the Family Echinidea, but the columnar support shows that it cannot be arranged there. Having thus on its inferior portion a resem- blance to the Crinoidea, and on its superior sur- face a decided analogy to the Echinidea, I think it may with propriety form an intermediate fa- mily, under the following name and characters. Family BLASTOIDEA. Column composed of numerous articulating seg- ments, supporting at its summit a number of plates, so united as to form a calyciform body containing the vicera; arms none ; branchie arranged in am- bulacre. In a natural series these bodies constitute the link between the Crinoidea and the Echinidea, on the one hand, whilst on the other, the former is unquestionably, but not more obviously, connect- ed with the Stelleridica, by the unequivocal inter- vention of Comatula and Marsupites. Of all the genera of Crinoidea, it is to Piatycrinires that Penrremire seems most closely related. Species. 1. P. globosa. Body subglobular; sutures with parallel impressed lines. , 294 CRINOIDBA. Length one inch and one-fifth; greatest breadth one inch and three-tenths. Description. Pelvis deep saucen-shaped con- vex ; longitudinal sutures without parallel lines of increment, but these are very obvious at the ter- minal margin : seapulars with the impressed lines of increment very obvious at base, and near the tip each side: ambulacre with impressed lines equidistant between the central line and the late- ral series of pores. This large and fine species belongs to the Phi- ladelphia Museum. It was brought from England by Mr. Reubens Peale, who understood that. it was found in the vicinity of Bath. None of this species, I believe, has yet been found in America. The parallel lines of increment margining the su- tures, distinguish this from the following species. 2. P. pyriformis. Body oblong, pelvis sea ck attenuated. Length from three quarters to one inch - a quarter. This species is found in plenty in Rental the same localities, and intimately intermixed with the succeeding species; it may be readily distin- guished by the gradual attenuation of the pelvis and contiguous parts, from the tips of the emar- ginations of the scapulz, to the origin of the co- lumn. The first specimen I saw, was dug up ina garden at Reading, and was sent to my brother, B. Say, under the name of “ petrified althea bud.” CRINOIDEA. 295 3. P. florealis, Schloth. ents ab- ruptly, nearly horizontal. Nal Length from seven-tenths to nearly fesiF en tnt. SYNONYMES. Ay Kentucky Asterial Fossil, Parx. Orc. Rem. v. 2, pl. 13. Encrintres florealis, Scutora. petrif. (as nt by Mil- ler.) This is extremely abundant in many pate of Kentucky, and on the margins of the Mississippi in a few places. Near Huntsville they are very numerous, and on the surface of a fragment of rock, three inches long, by two and a quarter wide, sent tothe Academy by Mr. Hazard, of that place, [ have enumerated eighteen specimens of this species more or less entire, and two specimens of the preceding species. On another still smaller piece of rock are twenty-one specimens, all in alto-relievo, two of which are of the preceding species. On a third fragment of rock, thirty may be counted, and on a fourth upwards of fifty. That these animals were pedunculated and fixed, there cannot be any doubt. We see at the base of the pelvis a small rounded surface, perforated in the centre for the passage of the alimentary canal, and on the outer margin are very short but distinct radii of elevated lines, evidently intended for articulation with the first joint of the column. The column itself is always found in fragments accompanying the body of the animal, but never attached to it. 296 AGAMA. I think it highly probable that the branchial ap- paratus communicated with the surrounding fluid through the pores of the ambulacre, by means of filamentous processes; these may also have per- formed the office of tentacula in conveying the food to the mouth, which was, perhaps, provided with an exsertile proboscis ; or may we not rather suppose that the animal fed on the minute beings that abounded in the sea water, and that it obtain- ed them in the manner of the Ascipia, and by tak- ing them in with the water. The residuum of digestion appears to have been rejected sana the mouth. Description of two new Species of Acama. By R. Harian, M.D. Read December 21, 1824. AGAmMa. 1. A. vultuosa. Pl. xix. Corpore passim cinereo, collo subtus longitudinaliter plicato ; cauda tereti longa; squamis rhomboideis, carinatis ; dorso, an- tice, capiteque postice, subcristatis. Total length nine inches and eight-tenths ; from the commencement of the snout to the posterior extremities two inches and eight-tenths; length of the tail seven inches; length of the jaws nine- tenths. Top of the head clothed with numerous small smooth scales reversely imbricate; tym- panum large, elliptical ; two or three small spines AGAMA. 297 pointing backwards, immediately above and be- hind the ears; eyes large; palpebre circular, de- pressed, clothed with minute granuliform scales ; a fold of skin projecting laterally, commences at the nostrils and extends over the superior por- tions of the orbits, which gives the animal a su- percilious, frowning aspect; the scales on the Jon- gitudinal fold beneath the throat, have their inferior borders slightly elevated; a crest formed of lan- ceolate, thin, elevated and pointed scales, com- mencing on the occiput, becomes gradually obso- lete about the middle of the back, being most prominent on the nucha, one large scale in the centre of the occiput at the commencement of the crest. The two middle toes of the hind feet very long, the nails are compressed, hooked, and black on their upper surface ; scales of the lower surface of the body less prominently carinated ; tail more than twice the length of the body. The genus Acama, originally established by Brongniart and Latreille, from the Iguana and Stellion, is divided into five sections, to which may be added the “ Acama collaris,” Say, described in Major Long’s expedition to the Rocky Moun- tains, which can be referred only to Daudin’s fourth section, or “les Agames lézardets,” the Agamas of this section having like the lizards, plates on the head, and a row of porous grains under each thigh: one species only has hitherto been described as pertaining to this section: viz. VOL. Iv.—MARcH, 1825. 38 298 AGAMA. Acama marmorata, Daud. The collaris is still more nearly allied to the lizards, being entirely destitute of carina, even to the end of the tail. The very beautiful little animal which forms the subject of the present description, belongs evidently to the second section of Daudin, or the Agama’s, properly so called, which includes eleven distinct species; “ they all have the skin covered with small scales, without any appearance of warts, with the body spare, and the tail cylindrical, elon- gated.” To neither of the species hitherto described, can the present subject be referred; it approaches in some respects the Acama calotis, Daud. or the L. calotis, Linn. from which, nevertheless, it is separated by several important particulars ; among others, by the absence of lateral stripes, by the difference in the form and size of the dor- sal crest; by the spines behind the ears; the form of the eye ; the presence of the superciliary ridges, and longitudinal fold of skin beneath the throat, &c. Our species most nearly resembles the Acama colonorum, Daudin, or the L. agama, Linn. which inhabits the West Indies, from which, however, it is distinguished by the colour, which is bluish in A. colonorum, “Colore. pallide ceru- les sub-virescente ;” by the form of the head, which is thick and clumsy in the last mentioned species, and beautifully proportioned in the vul- AGAMA. 299 tuosa; by the form of the scales on the back of the head and neck, which are thin, elongated and prickled over with small spines, “ Collo supra capitique postice aculeatis;” by the absence of spines behind the ears in the colonorum, and in the proportional length of the tail, which is only half the total length in the last named species, which differs also from the present species in the form of the dorsal crest and scales; the latter are roughened by tubercles prickled over with very little spines.* For the opportunity of making the above ob- servations, I am indebted to the politeness of Dr. R. Coates, who lately brought the specimen from Calcutta, in the neighbourhood of which city this reptile abounds; it for the most part frequents gardens. The specimen is preserved in spirits. 2. A. cornuta. Pl. xx. Corpore depresso ovato, scabro ; supra, fusco-variegato ; subtus albido; ca- pite supra quadrangulare ; cauda corpore sesqui- breviore. Total length four inches; length of the tail one inch five-tenths; length of the head six-tenths; breadth between the eyes five-tenths; length of the body from the nucha to the posterior part of * Cuvier, in his Régne animal, has constructed the genus Catores, from the genus Acama of Daudin, among which he would most probably include the vultuosa, but as this species, with the exception of the dorsal crest, corresponds with the Acama’s, I prefer classing it with the latter. 300 © AGAMA. the thighs, two inches; greatest breadth one incl:. The form of the body is nearly elliptical, flattened vertically, and umbilicate at the sides, covered over above with minute scales of various lengths and irregular forms; their inferior borders point- ing outwards, giving a prickly, scabrous appear- ance, as if shagreened ; a groove commences at the nucha and runs the whole length of the spine, be- coming obsolete on the base of the tail; the sides of this groove are formed by slightly elevated scales ; the bottom of very minute scales compact- ly imbricate; sides of the body furnished with a whitish fringe, commencing immediately above the axille, and extending to the flanks ; a smaller one immediately beneath, running parallel, be- tween the anterior and posterior extremities, se- parating the back from the abdomen; the scales on the abdomen, rhomboidal, small, imbricate, and disposed in transverse rows; the breast and ex- terior of the thighs and legs, clothed with oblong, carinate scales, with their inferior borders elevated and pointed; scales on the interior of the legs and thighs minute, compactly imbricate, and for the most part not carinate; head flattened on top be- tween the eyes; a slightly projecting ridge over the orbits, lined with five or six small, oblong plates; top of the head clothed with minute ver- rucose plates, (or scales not imbricate ;) snout ra- pidly attenuated, forming with the top of the head an acute angle; occiput descending backwards AGAMA. 301 from the vertex, forms an oblique angle with the top of the head; occiput flattened laterally and posteriorly, forming a ridge which projects over the neck, the posterior margin of which is furnish- ed with from four to six spines or horns, from one to three-tenths of an inch in length; scales on the occiput of a pyramidal form: ear placed beneath the occipital ridge, directly posterior to the angle of the mouth; teeth small, pyramidal, flattened laterally and pointed: eye large; borders of the lower jaw serrated, with six corneous, approxi- mate scales, projecting obliquely backwards : tail about one half the length of the remainder of the body, thick and depressed, or flattened at its base, rapidly attenuating, becomes tapering and verti- cillate at its extremity. The very interesting little reptile which forms the subject of this description, differs remarkably from any hitherto described. It approaches nearest the Acama orbicularis, Daud. or the Lacerta or- bicularis, Linn. the Tapayaxin of Seba, who has given three figures of this species; (Thes. vol. i. Pl. G. ix. fig. 6. Pl. 83. fig. Ist and 2nd.) That figured by Daudin, Hist. Nat. des Reptiles, from a specimen in the Museum of Nat. Hist. at Paris, appears to differ, as it wants the row of spines on the back. He represents it as the ugliest reptile hitherto known, on account of its squat body, being nearly as broad as it is long, termi- nated by a short, slender, and pointed tail. The 302 AGAMA. animal figured by Seba, is represented as six inches in total length, the tail being two inches six lines. The A. cornuta on the contrary, is doyantly proportioned ; its beauty indeed is such as to at- tract the attention and excite the admiration of the most superficial observer. I consider it un- necessary to enter into any further detail, in order to discriminate this species from that to which it is most nearly allied; it will be sufficient to con- trast the above with the figures of Seba, and with the description and figure by Daudin: the specific characters are so striking as to be perceptible at the first glance.* * For the convenience of those who may not have it in their power to refer to the authors above quoted, I shall barely notice some of the most prominent specific peculiari- ties of the cornuta. According to Daudin and Brongniart, generic characters must be drawn principally from the organs of motion, taste, and touch; that is to say, they ought to consist in the form and dligpeaitio’ of the extremities and their phalanges of the scales, and of the tongue, as well as in the form of the tail: agreeably to this definition of generic characters, it will be observed, that it requires some constraint to class the AGama cornuta with even the orbicular lizards. 1st, The cornuta differs entirely from all other lizards in external form and proportion of the body in general, and of the head and tail in particular; and this in despite of all errors from stuffing, or from difference of age, my descrip- tion having been drawn from three specimens, two perfectly AGAMA, 303 The Acama cornuta inhabits the great plains east of the Rocky Mountains; possessed in some degree of the power of changing their colour, in- prepared ; the third a very large one, not stuffed ; the indi- vidual having died, and having been merely dried in the sun. I have been informed that there are two specimens of the same animal in the Baltimore Museum. 2d, it dif- fers from the species most nearly allied in the proportional length of the tail, which is nearly twice the length of the body, in the orbicularis, and one half the length of the body in the cornuta, gradually tapering from the root to the point, in the first named species ; flattened and enlarged at the base, and rapidly attenuated in the latter. 3d, in the presence of two rows of fringes on the sides of the body in the cornuta. 4th, in the longitudinal dorsal groove. Sth, in the large horns with which the cornuta is furnished, there being only small spines in the orbicularis. 6th, in the flattened borders of the occiput which projects over the neck of the latter. 7th, in the form of the head, position of the nostrils, and in the angles formed by the frontal and occipital surfaces, with the top of the head, &s well as in other less remarkable traits. Any one of the above named characters would be sufficient to establish a new species. The fact is, the Acama cornuta differs as much from either of the eight orbicular lizards described by Daudin, as any two species of any genus differ from one another. The reptile described under the name of “ Tepayaxin,” by Hernandez, (Hist. of New Spain) and that figured and described under the same name by -Clavigero, (Hist. of Mexico, vol. i. p. 66) is, in reality, a distinct species from the Acama orbicularis, (Daud.) or the Tapayaxin of Seba, and yet perfectly distinct from the A. cornuta. 304 AGAMA. dividuals of the same species will, of course, differ in this circumstance ; of the two prepared speci- mens of this animal deposited in the Philadelphia Museum from the plains of Arkansas, one is ra- ther larger than the other, and possessed of longer horns, but no specific difference is observable. A single specimen only, is perfectly prepared by Mr. Griffith. Many years ago, Mr. Thomas Jefferson pre- sented to the Amer. Philos. Soc. a beautiful living specimen of this animal, on comparing which to the present species, a perfect resemblance was observable, excepting that the former had lost part of its tail. Clavigero thus describes his lizard. “It is remarkable for its shape, being perfectly round and cartilaginous; the body is six inches in diameter; in the plate it is repre- sented with a ridge along the spine, with six transverse bands on the back ; eight spines on the occiput; “ the head is hard, and spotted with various colours ;” the tail is yet shorter in proportion than that of the cornuta. ARVICOLA. 305 An account of a new Species of the genus Arvicoua. By Grorce Orv. Read March 8, 1825. ArvIcoLa. A. riparius. Snout thick, obtuse; eyes small ; ears of a medium size; tail less than half the length of the body. Head \arge: ears almost concealed by the long hair of the cheeks, roundish: tail thinly covered with hair, and tufted or penciled at the tip, sub- quadrangular after death: fore legs very short; posterior part of the body slenderer and weaker than the anterior part: upper parts a tawny brown, mixed with black: lower parts cinereous. Length from the nose to the anus, five inches ; length of the tail two inches; weight about one ounce and one-fifth. The tail of the male is longer than that of the female. The female has four pectoral, and four abdomi- nal, teats; she brings forth eight young at a litter. This species is fond of the seeds of the wild oats, Zizanta aquatica; and is found in the autumn, in those fresh water marshes which are frequent- ed by the common rail, the Gatuinuta carolina of Latham. When the tide is high, the animal may be observed sitting upon the fallen reeds, patient- ly waiting for the recession of the water. From VOL. 1V.——MARCH, 1825, 39 306 SALAMANDER. its position when at rest, it has much the appear- ance of a lump of mud, and is commonly mistaken for such by those who are unacquainted with its habits. ‘ : It burrows into the imbankments of the mea- dows, for the purpose of retreat, and to bring forth its young, It is a pretty skilful diver. I have deposited specimens of this Arvicota in the Philadelphia Museum. Description of a new Species of Saramanver. By - Wuutam W. Woop. Read February 8, 1825. SaLAMANDRA. S. punctatissima. Grayish, entirely covered with numerous black dots; extremities long and slender ; tail a little longer than the body. Head oval, little wider than the body: snout obtusely rounded, about twice as long as the lon- gitudinal diameter of the eye: nostrils small, ap- proximate : gape large : jaws nearly equal: tongue thick, fleshy : teeth minute, close set; angle of the mouth extending nearly to the posterior canthus of the eye: eyes large, oval: throat with sparse dots of black: body slender, grayish, covered with small black dots, which increase in size and be- come confluent upon the back, disposed irregu- larly: back slightly carinate, the carina not acute and scalloped; extremities slender, and coyered HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 307 with black dots similar to those on the body : toes slender, also spotted with black: tail with the ca- rina above, and that on its inferior edge, somewhat scalloped, slightly dotted with black, a little longer than the body, slender and subacuminate at the extremity : anus large : beneath, spots rather sparse on the throat, numerous on the venter. Native place unknown. IT am indebted to Mr. Rubens Peale for this species. Length of the body one inch and a quarter; Jength of the tail two inches one-eighth; length of the head three-eighths ; length of the anterior feet three-fifths ; length of the posterior feet rather more than three-fifths of an inch. Total length three inches and three-fourths; width of the head five-sixteenths of an inch. Descriptions of new Hemrerovs Insects collected in the Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, per- Sormed by order of Mr. Calhoun, Secretary of War, under command of Major Long. By Tuomas Say. Read June 1, 1824. Gryuiius Fabr. 1. G. equalis. Hemelytra spotted with brown ; wings pale yellowish at base, with a black band and dusky tip. Inhabits the United States. 308 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. Head varied with brown and light gray : thorax varied with brown and dull rufous, with a carinate line: hemelytra dark cinereous, with numerous unequal small dark brown spots: wings sulphurous at base, then a black band arcuated behind so as nearly to reach the inner angle ; tip dark cinereous, darker at the angle, or with small fuscous spots on that part: feet pale cinereous, spotted with fus- cous: hind thighs within with four black bands: posterior tibia sanguineous. Length to the tip of the hemelytra, one inch and two-fifths. Not an uncommon species. The thorax is not gradually raised into a carina, but the line is ab- rupt and of little elevation. 2. G. nubilus. Black; wings glaucous. — Inhabits Arkansa. Head with the frontal line not grooved: thorax with a slightly and equally elevated line: hemely- tra rather short : feet dusky, tinged with dull ru- fous: posterior pair black, the thighs with a whit- ish annulation near the tip: beneath pale. Found in abundance near the base of the Rocky Mountains, in company with the succeeding, and like it ascending into the atmosphere in great numbers, 3. G. bivittatus. A yellowish line each side above from the front to the tip of the hemelytra. Tnhabits Arkansa. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 309 Mouth white ; superior orbits yellowish : thorax with an elevated capillary line, and three trans- verse impressed ones, a yellowish marginal line each side: hemelytra with small dusky spots each side, above margined with greenish yellow : wings pale green: feet pale, anterior and intermediate thighs somewhat arcuated, with a green line ; pos- terior thighs with a green line on the exterior side and another above, which is faintly marked by two pale spots near the middle, a dusky annu- lation near the tip; posterior tibia green, pale to- wards the tip, and on the anterior side: abdomen pale with minute dusky spots ; segments margined with dusky. Length to the tip of the hemelytra one inch and three-tenths. This species, with several others, occurred in great numbers near the mountains, and on one occasion we observed this species in company with several others, ascending to a great height in the air as if to commence a migration to a re- mote region. Acueta. Fabr. Leach. A. exigua. Head and thorax testaceous; feet whitish ; abdomen black. Inhabits Missouri. Head testaceous, hairy, with obsolete dusky lines above, contracted before the eyes into a 310 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. short, obtuse, conical process: front vertical, tri- lineate, lines fuscous, connivant at the mouth: an- tenne long, fuscous, pale at base: palpi white: thorax testaceous, hairy: hemelytra yellowish- white, right one entirely concealing the other: nervures (male,) with but few anastomoses, at tip enclosing a large, oval, rugose, but membraneous space : feet whitish; posterior thighs with a brown line on the exterior side ; posterior tibia with three pairs of alternate spines, and larger ones at tip: abdomen black. Length about a quarter of an inch. A male. Taken near the village of the Konza Indians. When dry, the head and thorax assume a light ferruginous colour. Trivactytus. Oliv. T. apicialis. Black, varied with white; wings edged and tipped with blackish. Inhabits southern and Western states. Body deep black: head with a line each side, passing over the eyes, two spots at the superior base, and a line on the vertex furcate before, whit- ish : thorax margin and several abbreviated lines on the disk, white: feet banded and spotted with white, posterior thighs trifasciate with white ; pos- terior tibiz nearly rectilinear: elytra, exterior mar- gin and common spot behind the middle, —: tergum fasciate with white. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 31t Length more than one-fifth of an inch. This species is numerous on St. John’s river, in East Florida and on the Missouri, as far as Council Bluff. It is always found on the moist shores not far distant from the water’s edge. Penraroma. Oliv. Latr. 1.P. arborea. Brownish-cinereous, punctured ; clypeus emarginate and bidentate ; thorax den- tate and with a prominent truncated spine behind each side ; feet annulate. Inhabits Missouri. Body brownish-cinereous, with numerous black punctures : head with a longitudinal obsolete ele- vated line, and an abbreviated one each side of its middle: clypeus emarginate at tip, lateral edge terminating in an angle near the tip: antennae, base of the second joint pale : thorax unequal be- fore, dentated each side; teeth irregular, unequal, acute ; posterior angles extended into a prominent, dilated, slightly reflected, truncated projection, which has two or three small teeth: hemelytra with the central nervure conspicuous; nervures of the membranaceous tip black, and with black ar- borescent lines in the interstitial spaces: wings dusky, iridescent; nervures black: feet black : thighs pale at base and annulate with pale near the tip: tibia annulate with pale: tarsi, second joint pale: tergum deep purple, black, impunc- 312 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. tured ; margin brownish-cinereous, punctured, va- ried with transverse abbreviated black lines placed triangularly, and pale : venter pale, pruinous, with dusky points: stigmata each composed of three distinct black points placed obliquely : pectus and pospectus pale, dusky each side. Length less than three-fifths of an inch. A common species, and seems to approach Ha- lys annulata Fabr. but it does not, in all respects, agree with the description of that species. 2. P. clanda. Pale yellowish; thorax with two spots, hemelytra and scutel with a line, black. — Inhabits Missouri. Head densely punctured, rufous, blackish at base : antenna rufous, blackish at tip : thorax pale yellow, with two large transverse brown spots, posterior margin brown; posterior angles not prominent : scutel pale yellow, with a broad brown line, bifid before: hemelytra pale yellow on the basal portion with a brown line and inner edge; tip blackish: beneath pale yellow: feet rufous: tibia with a yellowish annulus: venter with two series of black spots, and on each side a brown vitta; ultimate segment with only three i Length two-fifths of an inch. Var. a. Spots and lines of the upper sone black ; venter with six series of black spots. Var. b. Sanguineous; head, two spots, and pos- terior margin of the thorax, disk of the scutel. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 313 hemelytra, pectus and feet, black ; venter with six series of black spots. Var. c. Sanguineous ; head, two spots and pos- terior margin of the thorax, disk of the scutel, hemelytra, pectus and feet, black; venter black on the disk. A handsome species, subject to srwoh variation. 3. P. exapta. Sanguineous; thorax with a black line; scutel black with a yellow margin. Inhabits Missouri. Head at base and antenna, black : thorax with a transverse black line before the middle ; posterior angles rounded, not prominent : seutel black, with a yellow margin, excepting at base : tergum black- ish, with a rufous margin: hemelytra black, exte- rior basal margin yellow: pectus more or less Va- ried with black : tibie@ black. Length about a quarter of an inch. 4. P. punetipes. Pale olivaceous; thorax bili- neate transversely with white ; scutel black, with a white margin. Inhabits the United States. Head black: antenne pale at base, and some- what biannulate with whitish: proboscis white : thorax blackish before; a slender, transverse, ab- breviated white line on the anterior submargin ; anterior and lateral edges white, the former ab- breviated; posterior angles rounded, not promi- nent: scufel, lateral and terminal narrow margins VOL. 1V.——-MARCH, 1825. 40 ¥ 314 HEMIPTEROUS: INSECTS. white : hemelytra with the exterior basal narrow margin whitish : ¢ergum black: beneath blackish- cupreous: feet white, with black points : venter, margined with white. Length from one-fifth to one-fourth of an inches A common species, inhabiting almost all parts of the Union, and may be frequently observed on the mullin. 5. P. punctipes. Greenish-yellow, punctured ; thorax with prominent angles each side, behind; membranaceous tip of the hemelytra with brown dots ; feet with black points. Inhabits the United States. Body greenish-yellow, punctured: elypeus slight- ly biemarginate at tip, small spot above the eyes impunctured : antennz pale, penultimate joint at tip and ultimate one black : ros¢e/lum nearly attain- ing the base of the posterior feet, with a longitu- dinal black line and tip: thorax, anterior lateral edge dentate ; teeth minute, subequal ; behind the middle each side extending into a prominent, sub- acute angle: scutel destitute of elevated lines, ra- ther paler at tip: hemelytra wpon the membrana- ceous tip punctured with brown, punctures orbi- cular, numerous: wings whitish, iridescent; brachiak » nervure fuscous, black towards the base , feet with numerous black points : tergwm deep black, mar- gin greenish-yellow, with gemminate, black, di+ lated lines, which unite with the colour of the disk, but do not attain the edge. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 315 Length half an inch. Not uncommon in Missouri and in Pennsylva- nia, and resembles P. ictericus, Fabr.- 6. P. facefa. Green, with a pale fulvous margin and longitudinal line. Inhabits Missouri. Body oval, green: head entire before : antennz, excepting the first joint, dusky : thoraz with a pale fulvous lateral margin and fulvous edge; a longi- tudinal pale fulvous line in the middle ; posterior angles rounded, not prominent : scutel not abruptly contracted in any part, with a longitudinal pale fulvous line on the middle: hemelytra with a pale fulvous lateral margin and deép fulvous edge : tergum blackish, with a fulvous margin. Length nine-twentieths of an inch. Cypnus, Fabr. 1. C. bilineatus. Black, polished, with sparse lateral hairs ; tarsi dull testaceous. Inhabits the United States. Body deep black, polished : head with two lon- gitudinal, parallel, approximate, indented lines, ab- breviated at the vertex, the intermediate space somewhat resembling a carina; lateral margin with sparse black hairs: e/ypeus subentire, or ob- soletely emarginate at tip: antenne and rostellum piceous: thorax a little narrowed before by a slightly arcuated lateral edge: lateral margin 316 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. sparsely hirsute; an indented transverse line on the middle: posterior margin somewhat convex, edge slightly arcuated: scutel large, remotely punctured : hemelytra densely coriaceous at base, membranaceous tip white or pale brownish : wings pale: feet spinous, piceous-black: anterior tibixe compressed, ciliated with spines; posterior pairs irregularly spinous: tarsi dark testaceous. Length from three-tenths to two-fifths of an inch. Not uncommon in Pennsylvania as well as in Missouri. 2. C. spinifrons. Dark reddish-brown; clypeus ciliate with spines; anterior thighs with an oblique, linear, emarginate spine. Inhabits Missouri. Body dark reddish-brown, punctured: elypeus armed on the edge with erect, equidistant, promi- nent spines: antennzx pale reddish-brown, second joint minute : thorax with dilated punctures, obso- lete on the anterior disk, a transverse indented line on the middle, lateral edge with a few hairs : scutel nearly as long as the thorax, punctures di- lated, tip acute: hemelytra reddish-brown, punc- tures approximate, membranaceous tip white : feet pale reddish-brown: anterior thighs with an oblique, robust, linear, emarginate process near the mid- dle beneath, and a small, robust spine near the tip; tibie with prominent rigid spines on the exterior edge : intermediate thighs mutic, tibie armed with HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 317 moveable spines: posterior thighs with a slightly flexuose spine near the tip beneath, and two or three small tubercles at tip; tibia armed with a few moveable spines : postspectus blackish. Length three-twentieths of an inch. Found near Engineer Cantonment, common. Coreus, Fabr. 1. C. alternatus. Fuscous; thighs spinous be- neath ; margin of the abdomen black, with five white lineolar spots ; head mutic. {nhabits Missouri Territory. Body deep blackish-brown : eyes rufous, a moye- able black pupil : stemmata sanguineous : antennz blackish, robust, two terminal joints rufous, equal : rostellum pale, tip black : thorax punctured, grad- ually elevated behind, attenuated before, anterior termination as wide as the base of the head, an- terior lateral edge slightly dentate, posterior an- gles rounded : seute/ of the male tinged with rufous: hemelytra tinged with rufous, punctured : feet black: tarsi rufous: thighs, a double series of hardly pro- minent, robust spines beneath, of which the two opposite terminal ones are much more prominent, distinct, and acute: abdomen, margin black, alter- nating, with five, oblique, white lines: tergum, disk sanguineous : male, posterior thighs much di- lated, very robust, slightly tuberculated above, terminal spines not more prominent than the 318 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. others, a large prominent spine on the inferior middle: posterior tibiz dentate towards the tip, refracted in the middle, and with a robust, tensa’ nent acute spine on the angle. Length of the male more than four-fifths of an inch ; female nearly three quarters. Somewhat similar to C. galeatus, Fabr. but is con- siderably larger, the head is unarmed, and in other respects sufficiently distinct. It belongs to the genus Mictis of Leach. 2. C. ordinatus. Head fulvous, with two black lines ; thorax with the lateral edges fulvous. Inhabits the United States. Head dull falvous, with two broad, black, longi- tudinal lines : antennz fuscous : thorax dull fulvous, with numerous, irregularly disposed black punc- tures, lateral narrow margin fulvous, and with an obsolete interrupted or abbreviated dull fulvous line in the middle ; posterior angles rounded, not _ prominent; posterior margin a little depressed : scutel coloured and punctured like the thorax : hemelytra also dull fulvous, with numerous black punctures irregularly disposed ; membranaceous portion black : tergum on the lateral margin black, the segments fulvous at base : beneath pale fulyous, with a few black punctures: feet with numerous black points. Length three-fifths of an inch. This is one of the most common of our species ; when taken it diffuses an odour which has been HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 319 compared to that of a ripe pear. 1 have found it in Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Florida. 3. C. armigerus. Brown, feet white, spotted with black; head spinous above the antennz ; margin of the tergum black, with five white lineo- lar spots. Inhabits Missouri Territory. Body brown above, beneath pale: eyes promi- nent, rufous: sfemmata sanguineous ; above the origin of each antenna, an elevated, prominent, acute spine, half as long as the basal joint of the antenna: antennex, first joint white, spotted with black, second and third black, white at base and tip, terminal joint rufous: thorax punctured, ele- vated behind, descending almost vertically and attenuating to the head; anterior lateral edge den- tate, posterior angles dilated and terminated in an angle, from whence the posterior margin descends sinuously and obliquely, terminating in a short acute spine each side of the base ; base transverse- ly rectilinear : sewfe/ with three black spots at base: hemelytra, a white oblique line in the middle on the membranaceous portion; tip blackish: feed white, spotted with black : thighs armed at tip be- neath, with two short acute spines: ¢ergum san- guineous, base, tip, and margin black, the latter with five white oblique lines : venter pale, spotted with black. Length of the female eleven-twentieths of an inch. 320 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. I have not yet seen the male of this species, it bears a general resemblance to C. galeatus, Fabr. and is about equal to that species in magnitude, but it may be at once distinguished by the white transverse line at the base of the membranaceous portion of the hemelytra. 4. C. lateralis. Pale reddish-brown, via hemelytra with spotted nervures ; feet pale, _ ted. Inhabits the United States. Body somewhat hairy, pale reddish-brown, wit much dilated approximate punctures : head some- what unequal, two obsolete impressed lines be- tween the antenne, a blackish spot behind the eye : eyes dusky, pale before: antenne brownish, with sparse hairs; terminal joint as long as the preced- ing one, dilated, with cinereous pubescence: thorax with three obsolete dusky spots before, and an impunctured whitish line abbreviated before ; seu- tel with a longitudinal, impunctured whitish line : hemelytra, nervures with black spots, interstitial spaces membranaceous ; membranaceous tip im- maculate, whitish: beneath with a distinct lateral red line : feet hairy, pale; thighs spotted with red- dish-brown ; pectus rufous : venter yellowish or ru- fous. Length more than a quarter of an inch. Found near Engineer Cantonment, and is not uncommon in Pennsylvania. , HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 321 Lycexus. Fabr. Latr. 1. L. reclivatus. Black, spot on the vertex, three on the thorax and reclivate line on the he- melytra, red; a geminate white spot near the hemelytra. Inhabits Missouri. Body black, opaque, with a somewhat cinereous shade: head with a rufous spot on the vertex: thorax unarmed, with an obsolete, indented, trans- verse, punctured line before; three rufous spots behind the middle, inner spot not attaining, the base, outer spot marginal extending from near the middle of the edge, to the posterior angle, and separated from the intermediate spot by a small velvet black one: scutel a little elevated on the basal disk: hemelytra with a rufous, somewhat re- clivate line from the humeral angle to the tip of the coriaceous portion, a velvet black spot on the middle, and a minute one at the inner basal angle; membranaceous portion deep black, polished; a large rounded geminate spot in the middle edge, and two small subtriangular ones at base, white : venter rosaceous, a double series of spots beneath, and one series each side, black. Length rather more than two-fifths of an inch. Resembles L. turcicus, Fabr. but is at once dis- tinguishable by the large white spot on the mem- branous moiety of the hemelytra, which is pre- VOL. IV.——MARCH, 1825. Al 323 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS, cisely similar to that on the corresponding portion of the hemelytra of L. punctum, Fabr. 2. L. trivittatus. Black, thorax trilineate, and hemelytra marginate with rufous. _ Inhabits Missouri. Body black: eyes and stemmata sanguineous : thorax mutic ; two indented transverse lines near the head, of which the anterior one is curved in the middle; three bright rufous lines, of which two are marginal ; posterior edge obscurely ru- fous : hemelytra, coriaceous portion with a rufous exterior and posterior margin, membranaceous tip immaculate : trochanters rufous: tergum ru- fous with three lateral black punctures: venter, margin and middle rufous. Length nine-twentieths of an inch. Taken at Engineer Cantonment. 3. L. bicrucis. Red; head, feet, anterior part of the thorax and tips of the hemelytra, black ; inner edges of the hemelytra forming a yellow eruciate mark. Inhabits the United States. Body red: head black: stemmata remote, in- serted near the eyes; projections for the recep- tion of the haustellum, whitish : thoraz mutic, pos- terior angles rounded, not sallient, a large trans- versely oblong-quadrate black spot before the middie, not attaining the anterior or lateral edges, partially interrupted in its middle by a reddish HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 323 subcruciate line ; posterior edge yellowish : scutet black, an indented, large, triangular, paler spot each side on the disk : hemelytra, membranaceous tip black with a whitish edge; coriaceous portion red with a lineolar yellowish margin, which on the costal edge becomes red towards the humerus, inner submargin and edge with a black line : pec- tus and postpectus black, segments broadly mar- gined with pale: feet black: stigmata and anus black. Length about seven-twentieths of an inch. Sometimes occurs in Missouri; I have also re- ceived a specimen from Mr. A. G. Oemler of Sa- vannah, Georgia. 4. L. 5-spinosus. Obscure rufous; posterior thighs five-spined; tergum red, margin lineate with black. _ Inhabits the United States. Body dull rufous, minutely and densely punc- tured: head triangular: stemmata sanguineous : antenne, second and third joints black at their extreme tip, fourth jot dusky, pale at base: ros- tellum pale, black at tip; sete black: thorax ob- soletely indented longitudinally in the middle and transversely before the middle ; posterior angles sallient, acute, blackish at tip: sewtel pale at tip: feet pale rufous, whitish at base : posterior thighs more robust, rufous at tip, five spined beneath : pectus, postpectus and head beneath, black in the 324 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. middle : tergum red: margin with about four pale spots, and black lineolar edges to its segments. Length of the body more than half an inch. 5. L. eurinus. Blackish, hairy, punctured ; ter- gum black, disk rufous, margin with four yellowish spots ; posterior thighs three-spined. Inhabits Missouri and Arkansa. Body blackish, hairy, punctured: head triangu- lar: eyes prominent: antenna, second and third joints dull testaceous, blackish at their tips: tho- rax densely punctured, mutic: hemelytra black- brown : feet black : tibie and first joint of the tarsi, dull testaceous, with black tips: posterior thighs three-spined beneath, and one or two smaller spines at tip : abdomen, reflexed margin with four yellowish spots: tergum rufous on the basal disk. Length about half an inch. The body of this insect as well as the preced- ing, is long and narrow, the diameter of the head which passes through the eyes is but little shorter than the breadth of the thorax. . Acantuia, Lair. A. interstitialis. Black, hemelytra with a few whitish spots, tip whitish with black nervures and spots. Inhabits Missouri. Body leaping, black-brown, sith short sell ish hairs: eyes large, deep castaneous, whitish at HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 325 the anterior base : stemmata reddish-yellow : cly- peus and labrum whitish: hemelytra deep black, with distant, very short yellowish hairs at base, four or five hyaline whitish spots on each hemelytron ; middle of the tip of the coriaceous portion hyaline, , membranaceous tip hyaline, nervures deep black, with a blackish oblong-quadrate spot between each pair; margin dusky, with a black spot at the exterior tip: feet pale before and black behind: tibia somewhat annulate : wings white. Length more than three-twentieths of an inch. Not uncommon on the shore of the Missouri river, skipping nimbly about. Tinais. T. oblonga. Head with three elongated acute spines; nervures brown; exterior margin of the hemelytra white. | Inhabits Missouri. Body elongate, narrow, whitish: head with three elongate, linear acute spines, of which two are above the antennz, and one between them: eyes black: antenne testaceous, terminal joint blackish: thorax and scutel conjunctly, black in the middle; three elevated white lines and reflect- ed margin; a much elevated, acute crest at the an- terior termination of the intermediate line: heme- lytra, a double slightly elevated line, confluent at tip and at base, and including a small blackish dot; 326 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. nervures of the tip and inner margin black-brown ; exterior margin white immaculate: pectus, post- pectus and venter black: feet pale testaceous. _ Length nearly one-eighth of an inch. Aranus, Fabr. A. quadrilineatus.. Brown; antenne robust; clypeus trifid ; thorax quadrilineate, edges irregu- larly and minutely dentate. Inhabits Missouri. Body dull light brown, opaque : head with two longitudinal indented lines, and two small indented black spots between the eyes: clypeus trifid at tip, intermediate division longest, obtuse at tip, exterior divisions acute at tip, hardly attaining the base of the second joint of the antennz : eyes very prominent: antenne robust, two terminal joints darker, ultimate one shorter and less dilated than the preceding one: thorax transversely ob- long-oval ; four elevated, parallel, equidistant, lon- gitudinal lines, and a lateral, abbreviated one ; lat- eral edge slightly reflexed and dentate, with nu- merous minute, irregular teeth: scwtel large, im- pressed each side of the middle, and near the tip : hemelytra minutely dentate on the exterior basal edge: feet dusky, pale near the incisures. Tencth rather more than a quarter of an inch. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 327 Revuvius, Fabr. 1. R. raptatorius. Obscure brownish; head, thorax, and anterior feet, spinous, the latter rap- tatory. Inhabits the United States. Body oblong, obscure brownish : head contract- ed above the eyes, spinous; six larger spines be- fore the contraction, placed two and two, and two or four larger ones behind the contraction: stem- mata sanguineous: eyes inserted in the lateral middle of the head: antenne inserted near the tip of the clypeus, with dilated annuli of dull ru- fous and pale: rostellum slightly arcuated, pale: thorax contracted in the middle, obsoletely canali- culate, with short, numerous, obtuse spines before the contraction, and dense granuli behind it; pos- terior angles hardly prominent: feet somewhat pale, subannulate, granulated ; anterior pair rapta- tory : thighs unequal, anterior pair robust, villous, dusky, armed with an erect, prominent, obtuse spine near the tip above, and a double series of ten equal, equidistant, acute spines beneath ; an- terior tibia with a double series of six similar spines on the inner side: tergum rufous on the disk, margin varied with black and pale: hemelytra, membranaceous tip with a longitudinal reddish- brown line. Length more than nine-twentieths of an inch. 328 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. Observed to be not uncommon in Missouri, as well as in Pennsylvania. 2. R. spissipes. Thorax and hemelytra light reddish-brown, edged behind with white; venter black, incisures whitish ; feet thick. Inhabits Arkansa. Head black, posterior lobe with two tubercles : thorax light reddish-brown; antérior lobe with dilated, black, oblique, or arcuated lines, of which some are confluent; posterior lobe hardly more elevated than the preceding, with a black poste- rior submargin and a white posterior margin: séu- tel black, margined with white, and tipped by a few hairs: hemelytra, coriaceous portion light reddish-brown, with a narrow whitish posterior margin, membranaceous portion black or dark fuscous : feet thickened, black, hairy : core bright red: abdomen black, margin and band on each segment, white. Length thirteen-twentieths of an inch. | The feet resemble those of R. crassipes, wei but it is a very distinct species. ti Corixa, Geoff: 1. C. interrupta. With black and ellen transverse lineations ; feet pale ; face pale graeme. Inhabits Missouri. Head pale green: eyes large, triangular, reddieh brown: thoraa transversely lineated with about twenty-two blackish and pale yellowish, equal, HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 329 alternate lines : hemelytra rounded at tip, with al- ternate, numerous, abbreviated, transverse, black- ish, and interrupted, pale yellowish lines; lines near the tip much undulated and irregular ; mar- gin with about four obsolete blackish spots, which appear to be still more faintly prolonged into fas- cie : epipleura pale, destitute of the transverse lines, but the obsolete spots are visible upon it; edge blackish: wings white: feet pale: tergum black, margin pale : pectus and postpectus testace- ous ; a large black spot between the anterior pairs of feet. Length of the body half an inch. This species equals C. Geoffroyi, Leach, in length, but is less robust. 2. C. alternata. With black and pale transverse ‘lineations ; face and feet pale whitish ; beneath black. Inhabits Missouri. Head pale greenish-white: eyes triangular, large, reddish-brown, dark: thorax black, with about eight transverse, pale, equal lines: elytra with very numerous, alternate, interrupted, black and pale yellowish lines, which become more irregu- lar and undulated towards the tip: wings white : epipleura pale, immaculate, edge blackish : feet whitish: pectus and postpectus black: tergum black, with a white margin: venter black, with a pale margin and terminal incisures. Length a quarter of an inch. VOL, IV.——-APRIL, 1825. 42 330 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS, Very much resembles the preceding, but is much smaller, darker, and the prevailing colour beneath is black. Cicapa, Oliv. Latr. 1. C. pruinosa. Body above varied with green- ish and black, beneath pruinose: abdomen with a white spot each side, at base, one at the middle margin and another near the marginal i Inhabits the United States. Wings, nervures of the hemelytra green to the middle, inner edge of the costal nervure brownish, nervures beyond the middle brownish : anterior thighs varied with dusky ; anterior pairs of legs dusky at the exterior tip: tarsi varied with dusky : tergum black: segments destitute of differently coloured posterior margins, basal segment with a white pruinose spot each side of the back, another transversely elongated and attenuated one on the lateral base of the third segment, and another upon the lateral base of the caudal segment: ven- ter dusky in the middle : caudal segments beneath testaceous, dusky near the middle tip. Length two inches, to the tip of the hemelytra. Found on the Missouri ; it is also very common in Pennsylvania, and much resembles C. tibicen, of Fabr. but it differs in being pruinose beneath, and in having white abdominal spots. 2. C. marginata. Body above varied with HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 331 greenish and black, beneath pruinose; tergum black, the segments with yellowish posterior mar- gins. Inhabits Missouri. Head and thorax greenish-yellow, slightly va- ried with black : scutel black, with the W and ele- vated x greenish-yellow : hemelytra with the ner- vures as far as the middle, green, beyond the middle, brown: tergum black, the segments yel- lowish-brown on their posterior margins ; all be- neath testaceous, covered with a mealy white. Length more than two inches and a tuarter to the tip of the hemelytra. Differs from the preceding by being larger, by having the abdominal segments margined, and by being destitute of the white spots on the tergum. The basal spine of the anterior thighs is much more oblique than in the preceding species. This cannot be the costalis, if the descriptions of that species are correct. 3. C. dorsata. Scutel varied with blackish, greenish-yellow and white; tergum black, a dor- sal and lateral line of white spots. Inhabits Missouri. Head and thorax varied with greenish-yellow and black: seutel blackish-chesnut, the W and x marks greenish-yellow, lateral lines of the W white near the thorax, a white line from the humerus is interrupted by the anterior lines of the 2, and also in the middle between these two lines, a white Bs 4 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. spot between the two lateral lines of the x: ter- gum black, a dorsal line of white spots and a mar- ginal line of white spots which are continued over the terminal segment, the lateral spot of the first and second segments is very much dilated and confluent, that of the third segment is much elon- gated and attenuated towards the back, a white oblique spot on the first segment each side of the dorsal line ; all these white marks are pruinose. Length two inches to the tip of the hemelytra. Found in the prairie near the Konza village, in which vicinity it is rather common. Its note is harsher than that of our pruinosa, and is generally uttered when the animal raises in flight, alarmed at the approach of the traveller. 4. C. aurifera. Body covered with short golden pubescence ; beneath hairy. Inhabits Missouri. The nervures of the hemelytra are yellowish to the penultimate anastomosis, beyond which they are brown; the two particular anastomosis are strongly marked with blackish : head testace- ous: thorax but little varied with black: seutel black with the usual testaceous lines: tergum black, densely covered with the golden hair: be- neath pruinose. Length one inch and a half nearly, to the tip of the hemelytra. This species differs from the preceding in being HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 333 smaller, and in having the golden pubescence, which is more dense on the head and thorax. Found near the Konza village. 5. C. parvula. Anterior thighs with three pa- rallel, subequidistant spines. Inhabits Missouri. Body dull testaceous : head with a dilated dusky line each side on the front: stemmata reddish-yel- low: antenna rather large, longer than the head: labrum with dusky ruge and a longitudinal im- pressed line, abbreviated at the termination of the ruge : thorax indistinctly varied with black, the lateral edge not prominent: seutel quadrilineate, lines dilated, abbreviated, intermediate ones very short, terminal 2 hardly elevated: hemelytra with a reddish-yellow reflection: nervures blackish be- yond the middle; costal nervure very conspicu- ously so; no marginated anastomosis ; segments of the tergum dusky at base: thighs and trochanters varied with black : anterior thighs tridentate ; teeth prominent, subequidistant, parallel, posterior one longest, anterior one shortest. Length to the tip of the hemelytra seven-tenths of an inch. Avery small species. I have a specimen from near the Rocky Mountains, which is entirely green, it is a female, and probably of the same species with the above. Its length to the tip of the he- melytra, is four-fifths of an inch. KS ae HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 6. C. synodica. Black, varied with pale. testa- ceous ; tergum annulate. Inhabits the base of the Rocky Mountains. Body above, black, varied with pale testaceous : head with a transverse line before the eyes, and about three triangular spots at base, testaceous : clypeus above destitute of grooves : thorax sinuous behind, the posterior transverse impressed line placed very near the posterior edge; posterior angles prominent, rounded, lateral edge obtusely emarginate before the posterior angles; margin, two oblique lateral lines and a longitudinal dorsal one testaceous: scutel with a lateral marginal line, the elevated x and two dorsal dilated lines, testa- ceous; the dorsal lines are merely emarginate on the inner side, and do not form the W; at the tip of each anterior line of the x is a conspicuous, black, impressed puncture, and behind the z the posterior edge of the scutel is visible and testa- ceous: beneath, very pale testaceous; rostrum black each side of the grooved base, in the middle and at tip: feet lineated with black ; anterior thighs bispinous : fergum with narrow posterior reddish- brown margins; terminal and anal segments tes- taceous, the latter with two black spots: nervures of the wings testaceous, beyond the middle fuscous. Length to the tip of the hemelytra less than one inch. Dr. James and Mr. Peale observed this species in great numbers in one locality, at the base of HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 333 the Rocky Mountains: but it did not occur else- where. Furcora. F. sulcipes. Thorax with a few black punctures ; . nervures of the hemelytra margined with black; thighs with black grooves. Body pale : head yellowish-green : rostrum elon- gated, as long as the head and thorax, with an elevated line and edges, two black points between the eyes, beneath between the eyes three lines and edges elevated: thorax with a large black spot behind each eye, and several distant black points, two conspicuous black points between the larger ones: hemelytra with pale nervures, which are margined with black : feet with black grooves ; anterior and intermediate tibie with an annulus and tip and tarsi black; posterior tibie seven- spined, besides the terminal spinous simifascia. Length to the tip of the hemelytra more than three-tenths of an inch. A small species which I do not suppose to pos- sess the power of yielding light. It inhabits the Arkansa near the Rocky Mountains. Frata, Fabr. — * 1. F. bivittata. Greenish-yellow ; a lateral red- dish-brown line confluent on the hemelytra; he- melytra vertical. 336 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. Inhabits the United States. Body pale green: head dusky brownish before : eyes red: antenna and stemmata yellowish-white ; seta black: thorax and scutel glabrous; with a broad, lateral, dark reddish-brown vitta: hemelytra vertical, much dilated, pale greenish-yellow, paler towards the costal margin, inner margin dark red- - dish-brown: wings white: pectus and caudal seg- ment whitish : feet, anterior pairs brownish : venter pale green. Length three-tenths of an inch. Found near Engineer Cantonment on the Mis- souri river; it also occurs in Pennsylvania; it is rather smaller than F. relicta, Fabr. and the he- melytra are more dilated. 2. F. stigmata. Black; wings white, with a black stigma and transverse spot at base. Inhabits Missouri. Body black : vertex triangular, distinguished by an elevated edge, and an abbreviated, carinate line: thorax acutely emarginate behind, and with an elevated edge and dorsal carina, carina abbre- viated before, a squamula covering the origin of the hemelytra: scutel tricarinate, intermediate ca- rina abbreviated behind: hemelytra white, a com- mon black band near the base, becoming brown towards the suture, a black stigma which is mar- gined before with white: nervures with white and blackish alternate dots, the latter setigerous : tibia pale brownish. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 337 Length a quarter of an inch, nearly. Very numerous at Engineer Cantonient on the Missouri. Devenax, Fabr. _D. tricarinata. Whitish ; thorax yellowish ; he- melytra with two oblique bands and spot; ner- vures spotted. Inhabits Missouri. Body whitish: head above, pale green: eyes deep brown, profoundly emarginate beneath : an- tenne brown, longer than the head, second joint rather longer than the first; seta longer than the antemnz : front brown, deeply impressed with the grooves of the rostrum, presenting three promi- nent carine: rostrum with a fuscous band on the middle, and spot near the tip: thorax yellowish : hemelytra white, an obsolete band at base; an ob- lique distinct one on the middle united to a curved one beyond the middle, which attains the tip and incloses a linear oblique spot near the tip of the costal margin: feet spotted with fuscous : abdomen pale yellowish : tergum blackish in the middle. Length of the body and wings three-twentieths of an inch. Came on board of our boat as we ascended the Missouri, in considerable numbers, on the third of July. The hemelytral fascia, may, on many spe- cimens, be traced into the form of the letter W, VOL. IV.—aPrin, 1825. 4S 338 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. the oblique spot being included between the pos- terior curve of the letter and the costal margin. Cercopis, Fabr. 1. C. quadrangularis. Brownish-cinereous ; elytra with two oblique brown bands confluent at the outer margin; beneath black; feet annulate with pale. Inhabits Missouri. Body brownish-cinereous, covered with dense minute hairs: head obsoletely spotted: eyes fus- cous, a pale longitudinal line on the middle, in which is a brown central line: stemmata indistinct, black: thorax emarginate at the anterior angles for the reception of the eyes, and deeply emargi- nate behind for the reception of the scutel; a dou- ble series of obsolete, indented spots before : seu- tel, tip and basal angles acute: hemelytra pale brownish-cinereous ; an oblique black-brown fascia from the imner basal angle, is confluent at the middle of the exterior margin, with an oblique fascia which terminates near the sutural tip; tip with a small blackish curve ; region of the humerus dusky : beneath black : feet black: thighs annulate with pale ; posterior pair of tibie pale, armed with two robust spines behind, and numerous small ones at tip; posterior tarsi armed with spinules at the tips of the first and second joints beneath: abdomen black ; tail pale beneath. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 339 Length more than three-tenths of an inch. 2. C. obtusa. Head and anterior part of the tho- rax pale, with three transverse lines ; wings varied with brown and pale. Inhabits the United States. Body short, oval: head pale yellowish, an ele- vated, reddish-brown, transverse line between the eyes, and before the stemmata: front with about nine parallel, equidistant, reddish-brown lines, which are interrupted in the middle, and abbrevi- ated at the cavity of the antenne : antennae placed in a deep cavity, beyond which the seta only pro- jects; head beneath black: thorax pale yellowish before, reddish-brown and rugose with continuous lines behind, anterior edge elevated, reddish-brown; a reddish-brown transverse band on the middle: scutel pale reddish-brown : hemelytra varied with fuscous and pale, generally forming a band on the middle, which is more distinct on the costal margin, spot at tip and larger one at base ; ner- vures dark brown: feet black, joints whitish : tibia and farsi whitish: posterior tibia bispinous be- hind, of which one is very robust. Length rather more than one-fifth of an inch. Female, colours generally paler, with the pectus and abdomen whitish. Very common near Council Bluff, and is also found in Pennsylvania. ‘The band of the hemelytra is sometimes indistinct or wanting, and there are three brown dots near the tip. 1 340 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. Terticonia, Oliv. Lam. Lair. 1. T. 8-lineata. Pale greenish-white, lineate with rosaceous; nervures of the hemelytra rosa- ceous. Inhabits Missouri. Body pale greenish-white : head quadrilineate with rosaceous, the two intermediate lines double before the stemmata, and with an obsolete spot behind them: stemmata rosaceous: eyes a darker red : thorax minutely rugulose transversely ; six or eight rosaceous lines, the two lateral ones dilated, submarginal: scutel transversely rugulose, four rosaceous lines : hemelytra with the nervures and costal margin rosaceous : wings, nervures rosace- ous : fibi@ rosaceous, spines of the posterior pair white. Length rather more than seven-twentieths of an inch. A male. Var. a. rather larger; colour pale-greenish ; those parts which are rosaceous in others, are yellow- ish in this variety. Near Engineer Cantonment on the Missouri. 2. 'T. limbata. Body deep black; side edged with white. Inhabits Missouri. Body deep black, punctured; a white lateral line from the eye to the tail: head before and be- neath with minute white points: eyes whitish be- neath: thorax with a transverse series of four HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 341 larger impressed punctures, the exterior ones with a rufous spot and resembling stemmata; a white lateral line interrupted by a yellow spot over the interval between the two anterior pairs of feet: scutel impunctured, two rather large impressed dots, and a transverse impressed line on the mid- dle ; posterior portion transversely rugulose : hem- elytra with large distinct, impressed punctures : wings whitish; nervures and base black: feet, spines of the posterior tibie not very prominent or rigid. Length more than a quarter of an inch. Near Engineer Cantonment on the Missouri. 3. T. mizta. Dull blackish-brown ; elytra with obsolete minute pale punctures; tergum deep black; feet annulate with pale spots. Inhabits Missouri. Head rugose, the lines somewhat longitudinal : stemmata rufous, placed on the anterior margin ; first joint of the antenne pale at tip : labrum irro- rate with pale, and two larger spots at base : tho- rax transversely rugose and with an anterior se- ries of punctures, lateral edge behind the eye white : hemelytra densely rugose, with a few pale, minute spots on the nervures, and rather larger ones on the inner and terminal margin ; two ab- breviated whitish lines on the humeral origin of the nervures ; (when viewed towards the light, the whole wing is irrorate with pale hyaline points :) wings blackish, emarginate at tip;nervures Pibou: 342 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. tergum deep black, edge of the segments piceous : pectus deep black, segments generally edged with whitish : feet, anterior pairs annulate near the tip of the thighs with whitish spots; tibie with two or three whitish spots ; posterior pair of feet paler beneath : venter irrorate with pale points, lateral segments with a longitudinal pale line on each, and pale inferior edge ; caudal segment with 7 dense, pale spots. Length less than three-tenths of an inch. 4. T. obliqua. Body yellowish-white, with two sanguineous lines, connivent upon the head and scutel; hemelytra white, with two sanguineous lines. Inhabits the United States. Body pale yellowish-white: head with two di- lated sanguineous lines, connivent before: antenna, seta as long as the head and thorax, dusky : thorax with two sanguineous lines: scutel with two lines and tip sanguineous : hemelytra whitish, an oblique line from the base slightly refracted on the thin- her margin, and terminating behind the middle of the margin; an oblique longitudinal line on the disk, a more abbreviated, obsolete, subcostal line, and a costal line from the base to the middle of the edge, sanguineous: feet whitish : tail rosace- ous. Length rather more than oné-tenth of ‘an inch. Found at Engineer Cantonment, and is also common in Pennsylvania. HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. 343 5.'T. comes. Pale yellowish, with sanguineous spots. Inhabits Missouri. Body pale yellowish: head, a transverse san- guineous line, profoundly arcuated in the middle, and a smaller transverse spot before : eyes fuscous: thorax with three sanguineous spots, the lateral ones smaller, and the intermediate one arcuated: scutel, a sanguineous spot at tip: hemelytra yellow- ish-white, spotted with sanguineous; spots ar- ranged two at base, of which the outer one is small, and the inner one elongated and abruptly dilated on the inner side at tip; two upon the middle, of which the outer one is elongated into a very ob- lique line ; two behind the middle, of which the inner one is obliquely elongated, and the outer one smaller, and interrupted ; and a transverse li- near one near the tip, ramose upon the nervures : feet whitish. Length to the tip of the hemelytra, one-ninth of an inch. The line and spot on the head and the spots of the thorax are sometimes obsolete, but always visible, and the latter are sometimes connected by curving towards the anterior edge of the tho- rax. The spots of the hemelytra are also some- times slightly interrupted, or connected into four oblique bands. 6. T. trifasciata. Pale yellowish-white ; elytra 344 HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS. irrorate with reddish and somewhat trifasciate with dusky. Inhabits Missouri. Body pale yellowish-white : head with two or three obsolete dull sanguineous spots on the ver- tex in the form of curves or circles : eyes dusky : thorax, a sanguineous line abbreviated before, and an obsolete curve at the anterior angle: hemelytra whitish, irrorate with sanguineous; a dilated, brownish, interrupted, subbasal band ; an obsolete interrupted band behind the middle, upon the pos- terior costal termination of which, is an abbreviat- ed sanguineous line, and an oblique blackish band near the tip; a large quadrate white immaculate spot on the middle of the costal margin; humeral base white, immaculate: tergum dusky at base : feet white. Length to the tip of the hemelytra one-eighth of an inch. The spots of the head and thorax are some- times hardly discernible, and the intermediate band is often so faint and interrupted as to be overlooked. 7. T. basilaris. Pale yellowish, varied with sanguineous ; elytra reddish-brown at base. Inhabits Missouri. - Body pale yellowish: head obsoletely varied with sanguineous: eyes dusky or black: thorax dusky behind; anterior margin with four or five obsolete sanguineous spots : scutel dusky reddish- NEOTOMA. 345 brown or sanguineous at tip: hemelytra with a broad band of reddish-brown at base; a spot on the middle of the thinner margin, then an oblique line, and another oblique line towards the tip, san- guineous; at the inner extremity of the latter is a very minute black point. Length to the tip of the hemelytra, one-ninth of an inch. -1 new genus of Mammalia proposed, and a de- scription of the species upon which it is founded. By T. Say, and G. Orv. Read March 8, 1825. Orver GLIRES. Genus Neotoma. Natural Character. 2 incisores. 6 molares. 2 incisores. 6 molares. 8 superior. Teeth 16. 8 inferior. Molares with profound radicles. Superior jaw. Incisor even, and slightly round- ed on its anterior face: first molar with five tri- angles, one of which is anterior, two exterior, and two interior : second molar with four triangles, one anterior, two on the exterior side, and a very VOL. IV.—APRIL, 1825. 44 346 NEOTOMA. small one on the interior side: third molar with four triangles, one anterior, two exterior, and a very minute one interior. Inferior jaw. Incisor even, pointed at tip: first molar with four divisions or triangles, one ante- rior a little irregular, then one exterior, one in- terior opposite, and one posterior: second molar with four triangles, anterior and posterior ones nearly similar in form, an intermediate one oppo- site to the interior and exterior one: third molan, with two triangles, and an additional very small angle on the inner side of the anterior one. Tail hairy : fore feet four-toed, with an armed rudiment of a fifth toe: hind feet fiye-toed. _ Oxservations. The grinding surface of the molares differs somewhat from that of the molares of the genus Arvicoxa, as will be. perceived by our figures; but the large roots of the grinders constitute a character essentially different. The folds of enamel which mark the sides of the crown, do not descend so low as to the edge of the alyeo- lar processes; in consequence of this conforma- tion, the worn down tooth of an old individual must exhibit insulated circles of enamel on the grinding surface. This genus must be placed near to y ett of which, it is probable, some naturalists may be inclined to consider it a subgenus. _ N. floridana. Pl. xxi. Snout elongated; ues and ears very large; tail longer than the body. NEOTOMA. 347 Ears conspicuous, thin, subovate, clothed with such fine hair as to appear naked : whiskers long, anterior ones white, the rest black : tail white be- neath, dusky above; its scales so small, and so well concealed with hair, as to be hardly visible : feet and claws white, the latter short: body and upper part of the head, clothed in fine fur, of a lead colour, intermixed with yellowish and black hairs, the black predominating on the ridge of the back, and the top of the head, the yellow on the sides ; the lead-coloured fur not visible externally: the border of the abdomen and of the throat, buff colour: whole lower parts a delicate white, tinged with cream colour : base of the claws covered with white hairs. Length from the tip of the snout to the anus, seven inches and a half: tail six inches and a quarter long. Male. ~The body has none of those long rigid hairs which are so notable in the Mus decwmanus. The whole pelage feels velvety, particularly the belly, which is as soft as is that of our common flying squirrel. The testes are hardly visible externally, differing, in this respect, from those of the house rat, which are so conspicuous an apparatus in this unwelcome guest. — This beautiful animal was discovered in a log granary, situated in a ruined and deserted planta- tion, in East Florida. When first aroused, it ran a short distance. then returned, and stood close 348 NEOTOMA. by us, allowing touch it with a gun before it again retreated. Its countenance was mild, or without that suspicious and cunning air, which is so remarkable in the common brown rat. We have reason to think that the species is not un- common in Florida, as several individuals were seen by Mr. Say, in an old mansion; but he was unprovided with the means of capturing them. Brought from East Florida, in the year 1818, in the collection of Messrs. Maclure, Say, Ord and Peale, and deposited in the Philadelphia Mu- seum. The individual above described was the only. one that we were enabled to procure, during our journey into Florida. It was a young one, and not fully grown, as we may reasonably conjecture from the greater size of the old individual of the same species, which was procured by Mr. Say on the Missouri, and described in Long’s Expedition to the Rocky Mountains. In the year 1818, Mr. Ord sent to the Philo- matique Society of Paris, a short description, ac- companied with a figure, of this animal, which was named Mus floridanus; and the description was published in the Bulletin of the Society for December, of the same year. In the hurry, in- cident to travelling, he had neglected to exam- ine its teeth, when recently killed; and afterwards assuming as a fact, what ought not to have been assumed, that it was a true Mus, he did not hesi- NEOTOMA. 349 tate to class it under that’ denomination. The naturalists of Paris questio1 he propriety of his nomenclature; and, with Mr. De Blainville, who prepared the account for the Bulletin, ap- peared to coincide in the opinion that the animal was a Myoxus, and not a Mus. That it is neither a Myoxus nor a Mus, will now be evident from the figures of its teeth, in Plate xxii. When we first commenced an examination of its teeth, we were astonished to find in the grinding surfaces of the molares, a close approxi- mation to those of Arvicota; but the discovery of radicles, precluded us from referring it to that genus. : Although we are aware that the multiplication of genera has become an evil, yet we have ven- tured to found a genus on our animal, from our inability to class it under any of the genera of the systems. Pu. xx1.—Nerotoma floridana. Pu. xx1.—Fig. 1. Profile view of the jaws, magnified. 2. Lower jaw, left side, with the alveolar process removed, in order to exhibit the roots of the teeth ; natural size. 3. Molares of the upper jaw, left side, magnified. 4, Molares of the lower jaw, left side, magnified. 350 FRINGILLA. Description of a new Species of South American Frincnta. By Cuarres Bonaparte. Read March 1, 1825. Frinciua. ® F. xanthoroa. Dusky; rump yellow; ee edged with greenish; tail tipped with white. Length four inches and a half. Bill and feet light flesh colour: upper mandible darker, blackish at tip: irides dark brown: gene- ral plumage above blackish, each feather margined with dull pale rufous: head and back slightly prui- nous; inferior portion of the rump bright lemon- yellow, passing to white on the superior tail co- verts; all beneath whitish, with an indication of a blackish collar on the throat, and a few obsolete blackish spots on the flanks, which are strongly tinged with brownish-rufous : wing-coverts and ter- tials blackish, broadly margined on the exterior web and at tip with dull pale rufous : inferior wing- coverts dull cinereous, slightly tinged with olivace- ous: primaries and secondaries “plackiahy finely edged with olive-yellow on their outer web, the latter tipped with whitish : tail hardly emarginat- ed, black, each feather edged with greenish, and tipped with whitish. This species belongs to the subgenus Carduelis, the bill being, however, thicker and less acuminate FRINGILLA. 351 than usual in this a some- what that of F. serinus of The specimen here described and figured is a male, which lived for some time at the house of Mr. Droz, of this city, who received it from Rio Janeiro: the bird was very tame, sang sweetly, somewhat in the manner of the Canary, of which it had nearly the habits: its vocal season lasted for nine months, and like other birds of the antarctic zone, it sang with more vivacity during winter, when our birds become mute. Its recent. death ‘was occasioned by a very remarkable cataleptic disease, with which it had been afflicted for nearly six months, during which time its colour became duller, and it lost the pruinous appearance. A living specimen still in the possession of Mr. Droz, corresponds in marking with the preceding ; its colours are only lighter and without any prui- nous appearance; beneath it is very slightly tinged with rufous. The duller plumage of this latter might induce us to suppose that it is a fe- male, was it not that it sings delightfully : we be- lieve it is a male, which has lost some of the brilliancy of its colouring, by a protracted cap- tivity. This species moults twice a year, and has the pruinous appearance only caring its breeding time. 352 SIGMODON. Description of a new Species of Mammalia, where- on a genus is proposed to be founded. By T. Say and G. Orv. Read March 22, 1825. Orver GLIRES. Genus So Essential Character. Molares in each jaw six, subequal, with radicles, and with very profound, alternate folds towards the summit. Natural Character. 2 incisores. 8 superior. 6 molares. Hine wo) 8 inferior teense : 6 molares. Superior jaw. Incisor slightly rounded on its anterior face, truncated at tip: first molar equal in width to the second, composed of four very profound, alternate folds, two on each side, ex- tending at least to the middle of the tooth: second molar quadrate, somewhat wider, and a little shorter than the preceding, with three profound folds, extending at least to the middle, two of which are on the exterior side: posterior molar a. little narrower, but not shorter than the preceding, with three profound folds, two of which are on SIGMODON. 353 the exterior side, extending at 1 ast tothe middle, the inner fold opposite to the anterior exterior fold, and not extending to the middle. Inferior jaw. Incisor obliquely truncate at tip, the acute angle being on the inner side, it origi- nates in the ascending branch of the maxillary bone, passing beneath the molares: molares sub- equal in breadth, inclining slightly forwards : first molar a little narrower than the second, with five profound, alternate folds, three of which are on the inner side: second molar subquadrate, with two alternate, profound folds, the inner one ante- rior: third molar about equal in length and breadth to the anterior one, but rather larger, and some- what narrower than the second, with which it corresponds in the disposition of its folds, except- ing that they are less compressed. Tail hairy: feet simple: fore feet four-toed, with the rudiment of a, fifth toe, having a nail: hind feet five-toed. Opservations. The enamel of the molares is thick, but on the anterior face of each fold, ex- cepting the first, it is obsolete. From the arrange- ment of the folds, as above described, it is obvious that the configuration of the triturating surface, (occasioned by the folds of enamel dipping deeply into the body of the tooth, in the second and third molar of the lower jaw,) accurately represents the letter S, which is reversed on the right side; thus hearing considerable resemblance to the posterior VOL. IV.—=aPRIL, 1825, 45 354 ‘SIGMODON. tooth of the genus Spavax, to which, also, it has a slight affinity in the truncature of the inferior incisores. The configuration of the intermediate molar of the upper jaw may be compared to the form of the Greek letter =, whence our generic name. In respect to its generic affinities, it is very ob- vious that its system of dentition indicates a proxi- mity to Aryicota, but the different arrangement of the folds, and the circumstance of the molars being divided into radicles, certainly exclude it from that genus. With respect to radicles, it re- sembles the genus Fiser; but it is allied to this genus in no other respect. We may further remark that the teeth of our specimen are considerably worn, a condition that materially effects the depth of the folds. S. hispidum. Head thick; snout elongated; eyes pretty large; ears large, round; tail nearly as long as the body. Ears slightly clothed with hair : fore legs short : hind feet large and strong, their lateral toes very short, and their claws stout : upper parts and head a pale dirty yellow ochre, mixed with black: lower parts cinereous; hair of the upper parts and sides long, plentiful and coarse. Length from the tip of the snout to the inser- tion of the tail, six inches; tail four inches long. Female. Tn immature specimens, black is the protean nating colour; in adults yellow predominates. SIGMODON. 355 This animal we found to be very numerous in the deserted plantations, lying on the river St. John, in East Florida, particularly in the gardens. Its burrows are seen in every direction. Emi- grants to that section of our country, will, doubt- less, find this species to be a great pest in rural economy. . We brought three specimens of it from East Florida, in the year 1818, and deposited them in the Philadelphia Museum. This animal appears, in classification, to occupy a station between the genera Arvicota and Mus, having the habits, and some of the external cha- racters of the former, with teeth remotely allied to the latter. After a careful perusal of those au- thors within our reach, who have laid down the characters of mammiferous quadrupeds, particu- larly Mr. F. Cuvier’s recent work, entitled “ Des Dents des Mammif res, considérées comme carac- teres Zoologiques,” we have found ourselves un- der the necessity of constructing a genus for it, it being impossible to refer it to any one of the ge- nera, the teeth of which have been figured in the above mentioned useful work. Pu. xxu1.—Fig. 5. Profile view of the jaws, magnified. 6. Lower jaw, natural size, left side, with the alveolar process remeved, to ex- hibit the roots of the teeth. 7. Molares of the upper jaw, left side, magnified, 8. Molares of the lower jaw, left side, magnified. 356 JANTHINA. Remarks on the floating apparatus, and other pe- culiarities, of the genus Janruiwa. By Reynewn Coares, M. D. Read March 1, 1825. The elegant apparatus of air cells attached to the posterior part of the foot of the Janruin#, and supporting them upon the surface of the ocean, has given rise to some difference of opinion among naturalists. Mr. Bose has asserted that the ani- mal is capable of absorbing the air of the vesicles and of refilling them at will, in order to sink or rise in the water. M. Cuvier considers this to have been a mis- take, as he could not discover any connexion be- tween the animal and the air cells of the float, and as there was no cavity within the animal which could contain the air when absorbed. In fact, this author regards the float as a simple ap- pendix of the integuments, over which the animal has no farther control, than the ability to compress it to a certain extent, by retracting it within the shell, or to abandon it to its natural elasticity. From its position on the posterior part of the foot, near the usual situation of the operculum, he is inclined to consider it as a vestige of that organ; but, as specimens occurred, in which, though the organ was totally wanting, no cicatrix could be discerned on the foot, Cuvier concludes that it JANTHINA. : 357 is sometimes naturally absent, or, that it is devel- oped at a certain age or season. During a recent voyage to the East Indies, I had many opportunities of observing the manners of the Janruinx, and in the Janrnia fragilis, I have frequently seen the mode in which the or- gan in question is constructed by the animal. Individuals being placed in a tumbler of brine, and a portion of the float being removed by the scissors, the animal very soon commenced supply- ing the deficiency in the following manner: the foot was advanced upon the remaining vesicles, until about two-thirds of the member rose above the surface of the water; it was then expanded to the uttermost, and thrown back upon the water, like the foot of a Lymneus when commencing to swim; in the next place it was contracted at the edges, and formed into the shape of a hood, en- closing a globule of air, which was slowly applied to the extremity of the float. A vibratory move- ment could now be perceived throughout the foot, and when it was again thrown back to renew the process, the globule was found enclosed in its newly constructed envelope. It does not appear that the Janthine ever sink below the surface, while they remain attached to the vesicles, but when they are entirely separated they immediately fall to the bottom of the tumbler, and are unable afterwards to rise from their po- sition; and though they continue to be vigorous 358 JANTHINA. for some time, they generally die in a few days. As their respiratory organs are calculated for the water, this circumstance is probably accidental. Along the under surface of the float, passes a little line of pearly fibres, and upon this line are attached the eggs of the animal. In the J. fragi- lis the float is convex, subcarinate above, and concave beneath, straight, and composed of large vesicles : in the globosa, it is composed of smaller vesicles, it is flat above and beneath, and by the re-union of one of the edges, it is formed into a spiral and nearly cireular disk: in the exigua,* it is straight like that of the fragilis, but the vesi- cles are smaller, and the float is narrow and flat- tened. ae From what has been said, it appears that the floating apparatus of the Janrnina is constructed by the animal for the purpose of supporting its shell and its young upon the surface of the water; a * The shell which I have here termed exigua, agrees very well with the description given of that species in the Diet. des Sciences Naturelles, but that which is contained in Lamark’s Animauz sans vertebres, is much less clear. The plate referred to in the former work, is wanting in all the copies of the Enc. Meth. to which I have access; and a deep revolving groove on the middle of the body whorl, (one of the strongest characteristics of the shell in my possession,) is unnoticed in either. Here is some want of perspicuity, but I must leave for the present the resolu- tion of the difficulty. JANTHINA. 359 that the membrane which encloses the cells is se- creted by the foot, and that it has no attachment to the animal, other than the close cohesion re- sulting from the nice adaptation of proximate sur- faces; and lastly, that in all probability, the young shells when liberated from their chambers, ascend the float of the mother, and in this way gain ac- cess to the surface, and construct the elements of their future support. The eggs of the Jayruive are, I believe, but slightly noticed by naturalists, and the plate by Sir Everard Home, in the Phil. Trans. 1817, ap- pears to be founded on an error. It is true that I have never seen the eggs of the fragilis, but the appearance of the figure re- ferred to, is so utterly unlike that presented by the globosa and the exigua, that I am induced to believe that he has mistaken the eggs of some other marine animal for those of the Janrmina. The eggs of the two last named species are con- | tained in little membranous bags of some consist- ence, which are attached in rows to the pearly fibres beneath the float by little filamentous pe- duncles, of an appearance similar to that of the fibres. These bags are covered with little. ge- latinous, conical eminences, and are partially di- vided by incomplete septa, as may be discovered by means of a powerful lens. In the exigua the division is very partial, but in the globosa, it gives the whole sack a chambered aspect. It would 360 JANTHINA, seem that the animal occupied considerable time in the deposition of its eggs, for the bags nearest the extremity of the float are constantly found empty, while central ones contain young shells | fully formed, and those nearest the animal are filled with the eggs. The little appendages which Foskahl stile to be used in swimming, I cannot discover in the young animals, on account of the high magnifying power required for that purpose; but I have nevy- er observed the mature Janruina to move like the Lymyeus, upon the surface of the water. They appear to be passive to the action of the winds ~ and waves, their residence upon the ocean ren- dering them little subject to accidental collision with hard substances, and their wants being amply supplied without an approach to land. ‘They prey upon Crustacea and other Mollusca, and 1 have not unfrequently found shells of their own genus in their stomachs. The whole extent of the in- testinal canal is capable of a vast dilatation, and J have occasionally found shells of three times the diameter of the esophagus, lying unaltered near the rectum. The young shells are of a golden colour, wad perfectly smooth. ae BLENNIUS. 361 Description of two new Species of the Linnean genus Buexnws. By C. A. Lesueur. Read De- cember 21, 1824. Buennws. 1. B. herminier. Dorsal fin anteriorly with an elongate black spot; filaments upon the nape, above the eyes and nostrils; lateral line very much curved over the pectoral fins. Body, including the caudal fin, five inches long, one inch seven lines deep, and about an inch in thickness at the pectoral fins; but little elongated in proportion to its height, slightly compressed: abdomen ample; anus placed nearly in the middle of the body : back more elevated towards the neck, ‘and thence descending gradually to the tail ; ante- riorly the head, front, and snout are upon an in- clined line, very slightly arcuated: eyes slightly prominent, approximate: front short, depressed : snout more projecting than obtuse, longer than the diameter of the eye: cheeks pretty convex: pieces of the opercula indistinct : branchial opening large, extending from the nape to the ventral fins: branchiostegous membranes pretty large, sustained by five rays:and united beneath: mouth pretty large, its opening straight, and its angle under the anterior part of the eye: jaws covered with thick fleshy lips, scarcely allowing the conic teeth to be seen, of which the anterior row are strong; VOL. IVim=MAY, 1825, 46 362 BLENNIUS. those of the interior row smaller; there are also teeth at the base of the tongue, and conic arcuat- ed teeth upon the wings of the palate : tongue not very apparent: lateral line straight on the tail, and much arcuated over the pectorals: dorsal fin long, extending from the nape to the base of the caudal fin, sustained by sixteen spinous rays and twelve flexible ones, all simple; its anterior part is twice as long and half as high as the posterior part, which is rounded: pectoral fins placed be- hind the anterior termination of the dorsal, and marked with seven or eight dark brown spots, the rest of the fin being of a lighter reddish-brown: ventral fins three-rayed, placed opposite to the origin of the dorsal: anal of twenty, simple, flexi- ble rays, almost as deep as the anterior part of the dorsal fin, and the extremities are more sepa- - rated; dorsal almost touching the caudal, whilst the anal is pretty far from it: caudal as large as the pectoral, oval, sustained by fourteen bifid rays: scales rounded upon the body and pretty large: opercula not scaly: colour reddish-brown, with deeper spots; upon the rays of the dorsal is an elongate blackish spot: cheeks and head rufous- - brown, vermicular with little blackish lines, which form an irregular kind of close net work : nostrils surmounted by a little ciliated appendadil eye- brows, each surmounted by a fascicle of cilia¥ nape with two lines of cilia. D. 16,.12. A; 200% Re 16)! E08. Goi BLENNIUS. 363 Taken at St. Bartholomews, in cavities of ma-— dreporic rocks, in the month of June, 1816. 2. B. hentz. A short fleshy appendage over each eye, and a small one over each nostril; teeth long, fine, equal, close set in the jaws; dorsal fin Jong, subequal, a little higher posteriorly. Body three inches and four lines long, includ- ing the caudal fin; one inch deep, and from six to seven lines thick, taken near the pectoral fins. Its form is little elongate, rather short; its thickest ' part is the nape; the front describes a curved line descending pretty rapidly to the end of the snout: back subrectilinear, descending gradually towards the base of the tail: abdomen ample, rounded: sides compressed: anus placed in the middle of the body: snout, although very short, not truncated vertically : eyes large, placed on the summit of the head, projecting a little, situated above the angle of the mouth: branchial opening placed anterior to the base of the pectoral fins, and extending from the base of these fins to the height of the eye; it is somewhat oblique: mouth small, nearly straight: lips not very thick: jaws equal, furnished with long and fine curved teeth, arranged like those of a comb: dorsal fin long, extending from the nape to the base of the caudal ; its anterior part is lower, more equal, and sustain- ed by eleven simple spinous rays; its colour is black, with some whitish spots; its posterior part is more elevated, rounded at the extremity and 364 BLENNIUS. sustained by fourteen divided rays, of a reddish colour, with five blackish bands ; in the middle it is slightly depressed, which admits of distinguish- ing the two parts: pectoral fins large, placed a little behind the origin of the dorsal fin: anal fin low, equal, reaching the base of the caudal: ven- tral fins of a blackish colour, with four or five light blackish bands, middle sized, placed before the line of the origin of the dorsal fin: caudal fin small, round, ornamented with three or four verti- cal bands; colour of the body light bluish-ash, mixed with rufous, -with numerous and irregular black and rufous spots. D.T1ylas A, WB. 26s, Tits OTR Oxservations. This species was sent to me from Charleston, 8. C. by Mr. Hentz, and appear- ed to me at first sight to be the Biennius bosqui- anus,* described in the work of Mr. Lacépéde, Vol. ii. page 493, Pl. 13, fig. 1. but after examin- ing it with attention, I recognised in this indivi- dual, appendices above the eyes, and other very small ones upon the nose. These appendices are not mentioned by Mr. Bosc, and could hardly have escaped that celebrated discoverer, after whom the species was named, and who resided himself in Charleston. This difference, although to appearance very slender, may nevertheless characterize this species, and distinguish it from that of Mr. Bose. * Taken from the manuscript of Mr. Bose, naturalist, and French Consul at Charleston. r TRILOBITE. 365 Description of a new Species of Truovire. By J. J. Bicssy, M.D. Read March 15, 1825. I beg to present to the Academy, a description of a new species of Tritosrre, found at Lockport in the state of New York, in the black, shaly, ho- rizontal limestone forming the lower part of the ravine by which the western Canal ascends the « Parallel Ridge” of Lake Ontario. I am not pre- pared to assign to this limestone its exact place in the series of geological formations. It is above the saliferous sandstone, and therefore more re- cent than the rocks best known as abounding in trilobites. : In imitation of the only systematic writer on this branch of the crustacea, I have named this species after the discoverer, Lieut. Bolton, Royal Engineers. Paravoxus. P. boltoni. Pl. xxiii. Oval, blind; surface with small tubercles, and strie; clypeus rounded be- fore; exterior angle extending in a broad spine; abdomen fourteen jointed; segments recurved, falcate ; tail membranaceous and serrate. The shape of this individual is oval, approach- ing to ovate; it is moderately flat; the whole length is five inches and four-fifths; its breadth 366 " DRILOBITE. across the middle is four inches and nine-tenths; wherever the cutis is not removed, it is covered profusely and irregularly with small tubercles. The denuded portions in this specimen for the space of three quarters of an inch from the exter- nal margin, is, in a very small degree, depressed, and displays a number of broken and continuous strie, parallel to that margin. There are no traces of organs of vision. The buckler is nearly the segment of a circle; anterior edge in the pre- sent case imperfect; it is four inches and three- fifths broad, and one inch and one-ninth long at the centre; it joins the abdomen by a somewhat sinu- ous transverse line; cheeks and front of equal breadth ; the former are flat, but rise at the sharp ridge by which they unite with the front; they are triangular in shape; their outer angles terminating by an acute tip. The strie mentioned above are here not quite parallel to the external border; the front is a shallow depression, rounded, but taper- ing anteriorly; it is intersected from above, on each side obliquely towards the mesial line, by a ridge bifurcating downwards; another smaller ridge nearly bisects the front perpendicularly. The abdomen and post abdomen are not dis- tinct. The abdomen exclusive of the cauda, is three inches and a half long; it exhibits fourteen coste, varying indiscriminately from one-fifth to one-fourth of an inch in breadth, except the three inferior ones, which are rather broader; they oc- ‘TRILOBITE. 367 cupy the whole abdomen without membranous interspaces, and are separated by a black sulcus, not always well defined, and sometimes a line in diameter ; each costa is canaliculated from the up- per and inner angle to the tip. ; _ 'The middle lobe is separated from the lateral by a shallow rude sulcus, which, however, does not always destroy the continuity of the coste* as they cross it; this lobe is slightly convex, one inch and a half broad at the top, and so continues to the sixth costa, after which it gradually contracts until at the bottom it is one-fifth of an inch broad, subsiding insensibly into a flat membrane-like sur- face; its longitudinal sulci pass one inch further downwards, and, expanding a little, unite with the cost on each side, the posterior edge of the space included by them being dentated. The lateral lobes are quite flat, one inch and a half broad anteriorly, and by gradual prolongation become at the fourth costa one inch and four-fifths in breadth; this dimension is maintained to the ninth articulation, when it slowly decreases to one inch at the bottom; the recurvature of the cost«e is gentle in the upper eight, but thence increases rapidly. ‘Their extremities, advancing two-fifths and four-fifths of an inch into the imbedding rock, are falcate, with their raised black edges, and clearly marked points. _ * Although incorrectly represented in the drawing as always destroyed. 368 MODIOLA. The characters which seem to place this trilo- bite in the genus Parapoxus of Brongniart, are, its flatness, the outline of the buckler, the want of eyes, the prolongation of its coste beyond the membrane they are imagined to support; a fact, in that author’s opinion, of primary importance ; the form and direction of their falcate extremities; the complete investment of the abdomen by the coste ; the relative sizes of the lobes of the abdo- men; and finally, the serrated membranous = surrounding its lower parts. The specific distinctions are chiefly found in the shape; in the tubercles and striz of the cutis; the form of the front ;* the gentleness of the re- curvature of the cost, and in the form of the lower end of the middle lobe of the abdomen. On anew Species of Moviora. By Tuomas Say. Read April 19, 1825. Amongst a number of marine shells from the island of Minorca, presented to the Academy by Dr. Alexander Montgomery of the U. S. Navy, is a single valve of the Pecren nodosus, Linn. on which were several elevations that on a cursory glance presented an appearance not unlike the * Very undefined in this individual. _ MODLOLA, 369 Baxanus.. On a more particular inspection each elevation proved to be similar to the others in form and consistence, and to be composed of fine dark coloured sand, agglutinated together, attached by a broad base to the surface of the Pecten, and rising in the shape of a very low cone around an included shell, the visible portion of which is ex- actly cordate. Having carefully detached the mass, [ found the imbedded shell to be a Mopioza, closely allied to the discors, Gmel. with its byssus very firmly affixed to the supporting surface. The following is a description of this shell. Moprotra. M. opifex.. Oval, reddish-brown; anterior hinge- margin flattened, cordate ; within iridescent. Base contracted behind the middle, the con- traction not wide nor very deep; between this part and the beaks the surface is blackish and transversely wrinkled ; posterior and anterior sur- face of the valve longitudinally striated, with the exception of the anterior cordate hinge-margin, which is flattened and covered by a thick stra- tum of compact sand; anterior tip equally arcu- ated above and below; within iridescent, brilliant, _Striated as on the exterior surface, edge crenate. Breadth nearly half an. inch ; length more than one-fifth of an inch. - This species. differs from the M. discors, and VoL. Iv.—may, 1828. AT 370 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. M. lateralis, Nob. not only by its very singular habit, but also by its flat and perfectly heart- shaped anterior margin; the regular and equal curvature of its anterior extremity; the narrower interval between the anterior and posterior striat- ed surfaces, and the more profound and less di- Jated basal contraction. PL. xix. fig. 2. M. opifex imbedded in its mound. a. External view ofa valve. 6. Internal view of — do, (all enlarged.) Descriptions of ten Species of South American Birds. By Cuarces Bonavanre. Read April 19, 1825. Having been favoured by Mr. Paul Goddard with a collection of South American birds, lately brought to this country, I remarked some very rare species, on which a few observations may be eluci- datory of some obscure points of Ornithology; I therefore submit them to the Academy for their Journal. 1. Monasa fusca, Nob. Fusco-brunnea, scapis pennarum flavescenti- bus; remigibus rectricibusque immaculatis ; juguli macula alba; fascia pectorali nigra. SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 37) Length, eight inches. Bill one inch and a quarter long, black; mandibles subequal, both slightly curved downwards at tip: feet dusky : bristles of the capistrum pale yellowish-rufous, black at tip from the middle, reaching to three quarters the length of the bill: head and neck, above and on each side, and interscapular region, black, each feather with a streak of yellowish-ru- fous along the shaft: back, wing-coverts, and sca- pulars brown, with the yellowish streak, but paler and confined to the tips: rump and superior tail-coverts brown, immaculate, somewhat tipped with dull yellowish; between the bill and eye a large yellowish-rufous spot; from the angle of the Jower mandible each side of the throat, a whit- ish streak: throat yellowish-rufous, intermixed with black; feathers of the neck beneath, snowy white from the base to the middle, then widely black, with the shaft and the tip yellowish- rufous, an arrangement which constitutes a pure white concealed space, a black collar on the breast, and then gives a yellowish-rufous tint to that part; except the above white feathers, the whole plu- mage of the bird is lead colour at base; it is very soft and with disunited webs: belly and sides dusky-yellowish : vent and inferior tail-coverts whitish-rufous : inferior wing-coverts and inner margins of the primaries beneath pale yellowish- rufous ; quill feathers plain dark brown, edged with rufous on the outer web, and broadly margined 372 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. with the same colour on the inner at base: se- condaries and tertials with a small heart-shaped whitish-rufous spot in the middle at tip; the wings when closed, do not reach the middle of the tail: tail cuneiform, composed of rwetve wide feathers of a pure dark brown, having but a slight indica- tion of the heart-shaped spot at tip. This species has, until now, been but imperfect- ly known, none but the young having fallen under the observations of Ornithologists, who, perceiv- ing that their bird was not perfect, even doubted its constituting an independent species, think- ing it the young of another well known. Latham first established the species from a young spe- cimen, and le Vaillant having an opportunity of examining six individuals, also young, gave a good figure and an accurate description of it under the name of Tamatia brun, in his Hist. Nat. des Bar- bus, pl. 43." The present specimen, whose de- scription differs but in a few points from the others, is evidently adult, and settles the question of spe- cifié distinction. The genus Bucco of Linné having been justly divided, authors have disagreed in the mode of ‘separating it, and unfortunately so great is the con- fusion, that some of the Buccones of Vieillot, are Carrrones, agreeably to ‘Temminck and vice versa. The present species, though certainly a Carrro of Temminck, Tamatia of other recent Ornitholo- gists, is recorded by Vieillot as a Bucco; but he SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 373 * could not have examined it, otherwise the down- ward curvature of both mandibles and their sub- equal length would have induced him to arrange itin his restricted new genus, Monasa, which I am inclined to adopt, as constituted by him, add- ing the present species. The tail composed of twelve feathers, is a character worthy of notice in this species, as Vieillot attributes to all the above mentioned genera only ten; but we have reason to believe all the Monasm have twelve, and 1 have found some genuine Caprrones with the same number. 2. Picus rubricollis, Gmel. Var ? Total length, twelve inches. Bill perfectly straight, more than two inches long, horn colour above, white beneath: feet lead colour: head and neck brilliant light crimson; the feathers at base blackish, with a narrow yellowish lunule before the red tip, those of the upper part of the head slender and elongated; from the side of the bill a broad whitish stripe, margined above and beneath by a velvet black line, proceeds backwards and is attenuated to a point beneath the auricles; whole superior part of the body including the tail- coverts, yellowish-cream, some of the feathers hay- ing concealed black bands: whole inferior surface and thighs of the same cream colour, each feather having four black bands: wings, including the sca- 374 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. pulars and tail, black, slightly tinged with brown: quill feathers widely spotted with yellowish-cream on their inner webs; spots wider in proportion as they are nearer to the base, and assuming at base and on the secondaries and tertials, the appear- ance of bands: under wing-coverts. yellowish- cream : fifth primary slightly longest. By comparing the above description with those given of the rubricollis, it will be easily perceived that the present specimen differs principally by its smaller size; by its cream-coloured back and rump; by the beautiful bands of the under parts; and by the fine cream colour spots of the quill feath- ers; this last. character, however, is indicated: by Vieillot, Wouv. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat. thus corroborat- ing our opinion of specific identity. The remark- able lateral stripes of the head, are not mentioned by authors, but are correctly represented in Buf- fon’s coloured plate 612, (Grand Pic hupé a tete rouge de Cayenne ;) this figure, however, differs considerably from our specimen by not having the head and neck half so vivid; the back and whole wing being black, and moreover having the under parts of the same tinge with the head and neck: we would probably be justified ‘in consid- ering this as belonging to a new species, but we prefer for the present to refer it to P. rubricollis, _ being probably a peculiar state of that bird which we think has not been well described or figures in any of its states. SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 375 3. Denprocotaptes angustirostris. Vieill. Fulvo-brunneus; subtus albus, pennis omnibus, gule exceptis, utrinque nigro marginatis; rostro elongato, subarcuato, valde compresso. The genus Denprocorapres was first establish- ed by Hermann; Vieillot has taken the liberty of changing that name to Deyprocorus; it is destitute of any fixed character in the form of the bill, yet, in my opinion, it is one of the most natural existing. The acute and rigid tail feathers, (a character common with Cerruia, to which it is intimately related) but above all, that remarkable character of having the external toe as long as the middle - one, will at once distinguish it from all other ge- nera. From the differences in the form of the bill, the species have been separated into a great many sections, which, however, can be reduced to two, from the bill being straight or curved; and even between these, intermediate links occur. - The present species belongs to the second sec- tion; it is one of those birds accurately described by d’Azara, and named by Vieillot merely from the description of that author: Vieillot, of course, admitted the species with doubt, and we have, therefore, thought proper to fix it by the follow- ing description. Total length, seven inches and a half. Bill one inch and a quarter long, slightly curved from the base, slender, very much compressed, 376 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. dusky above, beneath whitish: feet, lead colour : plumage above, including the wings and tail, bright reddish-brown, brighter on the rump and tail: head feathers pale in the middle, slightly margined with blackish; a white streak passes over the eye to the auditory region, and returns to the corner of the mouth, including a space of grayish feathers, varied with blackish: throat white; whole neck and body beneath, and under tail-coverts white, the feathers margined each side with blackish: wader wing-coverts light rufous- brown: humeral margin whitish: outer superior - wing-coverts of a somewhat darker brown : prima- ries dark brown for an inch at tip, and with the shafts blackish above, and rufous-white beneath : shafts of the four middle tail feathers naked at tip. 4. Frioua flaveola, Linn. This bird has been long known and was accu-~ rately indicated by Linné; Latham has since ob- - served a specimen in the Leverian Museum; but the country which it inhabits was entirely un- known, and doubts had even been entertained of its being a. mongrel between the Canary bird and the Goldfinch. A beautiful specimen in my. col- lection puts the question at rest: it is a true spe- cies inhabiting Brazil, and probably other parts of South America. The description in authors is remarkably accurate. SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 377 5. Tanacra flava, Gmel. Sericeo-flavicans; genis, gula, pectore abdomi- neque medio, alis, caudaque nigris; remigibus, rectricibusque extus virescenti-ceruleis. Length, five inches and a quarter. Bill black above, bluish beneath: feet bluish: general plu- mage sericeous straw yellow, lead colour at base ; that of the head, blackish at base: capistrum, cheeks, lora, throat and a wide patch continued from the throat to the centre of the belly, black: scapulars, wings, and tail blackish, each feather margined externally with sky blue, glossed with golden-green; greater wing-coverts especially, with considerable golden reflections: margin of the first and second primaries obsolete; that of the others, narrow, but very bright, and of a purer sky blue; secondaries bluish-green almost upon the whole of their outer web ; inner webs at base, mar- gined with whitish; shafts of the wings and tail black above, and whitish beneath; under wing- coverts and interior side of the primaries beneath, silvery; the former intermixed with dusky. This fine bird belongs to the genus and sub- genus Tavacra. It is evidently the Lindo bello of d’Azara, judging by the description of that rare species, a single individual only of which was ob- served by that author, who described it accurately under the above mentioned name: of this species VOL. tV.—emay, 1825 4k 378 ' SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Vieillot has made his Tayacra formosa, without having seen it; but as the indication of Tanacra flava, that we find in authors, seems to us equally applicable to our bird, we have preferred the prior appellation. If we are correct in our conjectures, the Guira perea, (Tanacra flava) a much sus- pected species, is now fully ascertained, and doubts of its being a real Tanager can no longer be entertained. We should also be inclined to suppose that the Brazilian bird in the Paris Mu- seum of Natural History, named by Vieillot Tana- cra chloroptera, will prove to be the same spe- cies. pent A figure given by Mr. Desmarest in his work on Tanagers, as the female of Tanacra cayana, resembles considerably our species. 6. Muscicapa violenta, Nob. Cauda semi-pedali valde forficata; corpore ei- nereo, subtus albo; capite nigro, verticis pennis basi flavissimis. we I mentioned this bird in the first volume of my American Ornithology, when exemplifying the Muscicara savana; but not having specimens to compare, I only stated, that it was distinguished by its smaller size from that fine bird: now having the good fortune to have before me two very perfect individuals, I shall proceed to de- scribe the species and point out the differential May SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 379 characters by which it may be separated from its close relative, the savana. This will, I hope, be the more acceptable to naturalists, as Vieillot, who at first confounded the two species, and af- terwards established the present under the name of Tyrannus violentus, never saw the bird, but ' . was in both instances guided by the statements of d’Azara. : Total length ten inches. Bill and feet black: upper and lateral parts of the head with the be- ginning of the neck, velvet-black; the feathers of the verter golden-yellow towards the base, form- ing a concealed spot; remaining upper parts gray, slightly tinged with brown, darker on the rump, and passing into blackish on the superior tail co- verts; all the inferior surface pure white: wings brownish; feathers, both quills and coverts, edged exteriorly with whitish: four first primaries sub- equal, the second slightly longest; these are quite full and rounded without any kind of emargination in one specimen, whilst in the other, they are ter- minated in a slender process, as in my savana; a circumstance which leads us to believe that this character, as well as the remarkable tenuity of the outer web of the exterior tail feather, is proper to the male in both species: tail six inches long, brownish-black : exterior tail feather white on the outer web for half its length from the base, sur- passing, by more than two inches, the adjoining. 380 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. and by more than three inches and a half the middle ones. By comparing this description with that of Mv- s¢IcaPA savana, it will be evident, that, besides the dimensions, this smaller species is easily distin- guished by having the crown-spot golden yellow, without any intermixture of orange. The cine- reous of the back is also less pure, but the other colours and markings are similarly distributed. I should now be inclined to believe Buffon’s wretched coloured plate rather taken from this bird than from the savana, although his descrip- tion most certainly belongs to the latter species. The habits of this bird, thanks to d’Azara, are better known than those of the savana. An account of them may be seen in the interesting book of the Spanish author, from whom Vieillot has given an extract. 7. Muscicara tenioptera, Nob. Cinerea, alis caudaque nigris; gula, abdomine, alarum fascia lata, caudeeque apice albis. This species is not entirely new, yet it gives us more gratification to be enabled to elucidate the obscurity involving it, than to describe an entire- ly unknown bird. It is the most common of six Pepoazas, inhabiting Paraguay, described by @Azara. Though most accurately described, these birds have much puzzled naturalists, who were | SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 381 uncertain to which established genus they ought to be referred, or whether they would properly form a distinct genus by themselves. Vieillot has acted fairly in this case by not naming a bird which he had not seen;* a great many errors in science are to be attributed to the censurable habit of following a contrary course. “I have placed,” says he, in the Nouv. dict. d’ Hist. Nat. “the Prepoazas of Mr. d’Azara, after the Tyrants, because they have appeared to me more closely _ related to them than to any other genus, and un-— til their generic characters are better known.” The conjectures of Vieillot have proved correct, at least in regard to this species ; which is a Mu- scicapa Of our classification, but a Tyrannus of his: a peculiar subgenus might be instituted for it un- der the name of the species, which we have for that reason compounded from the Greek. ‘This subgenus should be characterized principally by long and powerful wings, reaching nearly to the tip of the tail, a somewhat more robust and elon- gated bill, and much stouter and longer feet. It is most probable that the five other Pepoazas of d’Azara will also prove to belong to this subgenus. The habits described at some length by that au- thor are also different; we shall not transcribe * We take no notice of a slight indication he gives of this bird, under the name of Tyrannus cinereus, in his Analise d’un Nouv. Syst. d’Orn. as he has since changed his mind, and his name is pre-occupied in Muscicara. 382 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. them here, but although his description is remark- ably minute and accurate, as it has fallen to our lot to establish the species, we will describe the specimen before us. Total length, eight inches and a half. Bill one inch and a quarter long, and with the feet black: general colour above dark gray, deeper along the shafts of the feathers, principally on the head; a white broad line extends each side from the nos- trils over the eye; a narrow blackish line passes “through the eye, margined beneath by a white one dilated on the auricles, and divided under the eye into two branches, including a blackish line; from the inferior angle of the lower mandible pro- ceeds a well defined deep black line neatly mar- gining the throat, which is pure white: breast pale cinereous, which colour slightly tinges the flanks ; belly and inferior tail-coverts pure white: wings broad and long, reaching within three quar- ters of an inch of the tip of the tail; first primary subequal to the fourth, and but little shorter than the third, which is longest; smaller wing-coverts dusky ; middling coveris blackish, widely pale gray at tip; greater coverts and tertials blackish, margined with whitish; primaries deep black, slightly whitish at tip, and pure white at base; this colour is much confined on the first primary, but extends more and more on the succeeding feathers, until the ninth and tenth are totally white; this arrangement produces on the wing a broad white SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 383 band, which dilates by degrees towards the body : shafts entirely black; secondaries black, white at tip; under wing-coverts very thick and long, and of a glittering white: tail even, black, dull whitish for three quarters of an inch at tip; exterior plume also whitish on the principal part of the outer web. 8. Muscicara pullata, Nob. _ Cinerea ; alis caudaque forficata nigris ; rectrice!) extima latere exteriori alba. Total length, eight inches. Bill three quarters of an inch long, and nearly half an inch wide at base, black as well as the feet: general colour slate-gray, lighter beneath than above : head with a few obsolete dusky streaks along the shafts of — the feathers : throat and under wing-coverts whit- ish: whole wings, superior tail-coverts, and tail brownish-black : wings when closed, reaching to the middle of the tail; primaries rather slender at tip ; first equal to the seventh, third and fourth longest : fail four inches long, deeply forked ; outer web of the exterior feather white, to within half an inch of the tip. From the great width of its bill, this new spe- cies belongs decidedly to the genus Pratyrayncos of Desmarest, and no doubt Vieillot and most other Ornithologists, will consider it as such. I would, therefore, have called it Puatyruyncos pul- 384 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. latus, were I not fully satisfied that it is as impro- per to separate Platyrhyncos from Muscicara, as Coccothraustes from Frineuta. These, in my opi- nion, are subgenera and not genera. 9. Carrimuteus semitorquatus, Gmel. Nigricans rufo albidoque minutissime puncta- tus ; remigibus quatuor primis immaculatis medio fascia obliqua rufa; collo subtus lunula alba. _ I refer to this imperfectly known species, a spe- cimen of which I might as well constitute a new species. If, however, Buffon’s Pl. Enl. 734, in- tended for C. semitorquatus, be not excessively bad, it will be impossible to believe that our bird belongs to that species, and from the remarkable length of the bill, I should propose for it the name of Carrimutcus longirostris. Be this as it may, a description will certainly prove interesting to na- turalists, as a mere indication has been given .of the semitorquatus which has, besides, been erro- neously considered by some writers as a variety of C. grandis, a bird from which it is even sub- generically distinct. Total length, rather more than nine inches. Wings reaching two-thirds the length of the tail: bill one inch and a quarter long, and with the feet dusky: tube of the nostrils rather elevated: bristles around the bill remarkably stiff and large, much longer than the bill: nail of the middle toe very ——— SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 385 profoundly pectinated; the teeth somewhat carti- laginous: head, neck and body above, scapulars, and smaller wing-coverts black, spotted with bright ferruginous-rufous, and sprinkled all over with whitish ; the rufous spots brighter and thicker set on the head, scapulars, and rump; upper portion of the back almost destitute of them; at the junction of the neck and body these spots are of a paler tint, larger, and regularly disposed so as to indi- cate a kind of collar : space between the bill and eye, and throat, pale rufous, varied with some black: — neck beneath with a concealed white semicollar, the feathers of which are tipped with pale rufous: breast and upper portion of the belly blackish, varied with transverse, narrow, undulated bands of whitish and pale rufous: belly, flanks, vent, and under wing-coverts very pale rufous, somewhat intermixed with blackish: inferior tail-coverts of the same colour, almost immaculate: middling and greater wing-coverts blackish, sprinkled with whit- ish, and with a pale rufous spot at tip; quill fea- thers blackish, four outer ones with a single yellow- ish-rufous oblique band at the middle of their length; remaining ones slightly sprinkled, and with several yellowish-rufous spots or bands on their inner web: wings reaching two-thirds the length of the tail: tail even, deep blackish; the feathers crossed with about nine large bands, form- ed by whitish dots, becoming pale rufous on the margin and at tip of the feathers : lateral feathers VOL. Iv.—may, 1825, 49 386 SOUTH AMERICAN BIRDS. three or four banded, with plain pale rufous on the inner webs; the ¢wo outer ones with a large pure white square spot on the inner web at tip. _ We do not know the sex of this bird; and if a male, (which seems probable) we may infer that the female is destitute of the pure white semicol- lar and tail spots, they being, probably, pale rufous. 10. Raxwus nigricans, Vieill. » Fusco-ardosiaceus, dorso alisque _ brunneo-oli- vaceis, uropygio caudaque nigris. Total length, thirteen inches and a half. - Bill more than two inches long, appearing to have been of a delicate apple green ; the feet were pro- bably red: naked space above the heel, (knee) nearly one inch; tarsus two inches and three quarters long; middle toe two inches and a half; lateral ones, two inches; posterior one, one inch long: head above, dark bluish-slate; neck above, brownish: back, scapularies, and upper wing- coverts bright greenish-brown; whole plumage at base, blackish-slate: throat whitish-slate: sides of the head and neck, and inferior part of the latter, pale slate; breast, belly, flanks, vent, and thighs slate-colour ; inferior tail-coverts black : rump and tail deep black: wings reaching exactly the tip of the tail, furnished at the base of the spurious. wing with a strong spinous process turned back- ward and adpressed to the wing; inferior wing- MEXICAN BIRDS. 387 coverts of a beautiful chesnut, banded with black ; quill feathers dusky, tinged with ferruginous ; se- condaries edged externally with olive-brownish. This species belongs to the genus and subge- nus Raxrus, having the bill longer than the head, and the winglet furnished with a spine like Rattus aquaticus, virginianus, &c. It is the Ypacaha- obscuro of d’Azara, of which Vieillot has constitut- ed his Ratius nigricans; but as this latter author has never seen the bird, and some characters are overlooked, we have thought proper to fix the species by the above description. Although Vieil- lot’s name is not appropriate, we do not avail ourselves of our right to give the bird a new one, thinking that nothing is so detrimental to science as a complicated synonymy. Descriptions of two new species of Mexican Biens. By Cuartes Bonararte. Read April 27, 1825. Corvus, Linn. Subgenus Garrulus, Briss. C: ultramarinus. Ceruleus subtus cinerascenti- albidus, cauda equali. Length, thirteen inches. Bill one inch and a 388 MEXICAN BIRDS. half long, strongly notched at tip, and with the feet black: incumbent setaceous feathers of the base of the bill, partly black and partly blue; whole plumage above, including the wings and taily bright azure, most vivid and somewhat sericeous on the head and tail coverts, duller and slightly intermixed with dusky on the back: inner webs and tips of the quill feathers dusky : shafts of the wings and tail feathers black: lora black; cheeks dull blackish-blue ; chin whitish, intermixed with black bristles; whole inferior surface dirty whit- ish, more tinged with cinereous on the anterior parts, and becoming purer towards the vent: in- ferior wing and tail-coverts slightly intermixed with blue; inferior surface of the wings and of the tail dusky-gray, the latter darker: wings when closed, reaching almost to the middle of the tail, which is seven inches long, and perfectly even at tip. Amongst the numerous blue Jays and blue Magpies described by different authors, and mag- nificently figured of late, the pretensions of the present bird to novelty, will, at first. glance, be doubted ; yet it differs from all by some of its posi- tive and negative characters, and from the greater number by not having any white on the tail, nor black on the head; the most closely allied species. is certainly the Florida Jay, (Corvus floridanus, Bartr.) very perfect specimens of which have just been brought home by Mr. T. Peale, amongst MEXICAN BIRDS. 389 other valuable objects of Natural History. Mr. T. Peale has drawn on the spot that fine bird, which was not noticed by Wilson; and his draw- ing will embellish the second volume of my Ameri- can Ornithology. The present species comes so near to it as not to be immediately distinguished, but its larger size and principally its even tail, prove it a distinct species; the back, though also somewhat intermixed with dusky, is bluer than that of the Florida Jay, and indeed the whole azure colour is somewhat more brilliant; the bluish collar is wanting, and the under tail-coverts are much less tinged with blue; the wings are more- over proportionally longer. . Icrerus, Briss. Subgenus Cassicus, Lacep. Icrerus melanicterus. Niger cristatus; uropygio, tectricibus alarum, crisso, caudaque luteis ; rectri- cibus, mediis totis, lateralibus exteriori margine, nigris. Male. Length eleven inches and a half. Bill three quarters of an inch long, pale bluish- white : feet blackish: general plumage glossy black: front with a crest of slender, recurved feathers, two inches long: greater part of the wing-coverts, lower portion of the back, rump, superior and infe- rior tail-coverts, bright yellow : tail rounded : mid- dle feathers entirely black, yellow only under the 390 MEXICAN BIRDS. coverts; remaining feathers yellow, the two or three outer ones blackish on their exterior web. Female one inch less than the male, and per- fectly similar in disposition of colour; dusky-black- ish where the male is black, and the yellow colour less vivid: crest much shorter and less obvious ; the small feathers behind the nostrils, in our spe- cimen, are spotted with dull yellowish: all the lateral tail feathers blackish on the outer web; the Jifth on each side entirely margined with that colour. This species is most closely related to Ortotus persicus, Linn. (Casstcus icteronotos, Vieill.) but the remarkable crest and different disposition of the yellow and black on the tail, the feathers of which in that species are all yellow at base and black at tip, prove it specifically distinct; the bill is be- sides somewhat longer and more compressed at tip. With these birds, which were sent from Mexi- co by Dr. Samuel M‘Clellan, was received a spe- cimen of the interesting Frinemta grammaca, Say, figured in the first Volume of my Am. Orn., thus corroborating the opinion that the birds of the Rocky Mountains are also inhabitants of Mexico: , aaeeaNe of the Library | Natural Scier CONTINUED FROM VOL. II. PART 11. PAGE 467. 601. Audouin (J. V.) Mémoire sur P’Aschlysie, nouveau genre @’Arachnides trachéenes. Paris, 1823, 4to. 602. Aiton (Wm.) Hortus Kewensis, vols. 2 and 3. London, 1789, 2 vols. 8vo. 603. Barton (W. P. C.) A Flora of North America, illustrated by coloured figures drawn from nature, vols. 1—3, Philad. 1821—3, 3 vols. 4to. . 604i ge Se Vegetable NV ateria Medica of the Uni- ted States. Philadelphia, 2 vols. 1821, 4to. 605. Bellingeri (C. F.) De Medulla spinali, nervisque ex ew prodeuntibus, annotationes anatomico-physiologice. Au- guste Taurinorum, 1823, 4to. 606. Benuti (S. G. M.) Essay on Light and Vision. Turin, 4to. 607. Boccone (__) Recherches et observations naturelles, &c. Amsterdam, 1 vol. 12mo. : 608. Brewster (D.) Description of the Hopeite, a new mineral. _ Edinburgh, 4to. 609. Bigsby (J. J.) Notes on the Geography and Geology of Lake Huron, London, 1824. 4to. 610. Brongniart (Ad.) Observations sur les Fucoides et sur quelques autres plantes marines fossiles. Paris, 1823, 4to. 611. Cadell (W. A.) Journey through Carniola and Italy. — burgh, 1820, 2 vols. 8vo. 612. Drapiez (A.) Tableau analytique des Minéraux.: Lille, 4to. 613. Coup d’ceil minéralogique et géologique 392 614. Dir¥ (si Q delphia, 182 By 615. rum, necnon generis novi Ale- ; g. Fol. eS 616. are moire sur une éspece d’Insectes des 617. Férussac (Baron de) Notice sur le genre Etheries trouvées dans le Nil par Mr. Cailland. Paris, 1823, 4to. _ 618. Godman (J. D.) Anatomical investigations, ceo descriptions of several dam of the human body, &¢ Philadelphia, 1824, 8v0. 619. Gmelin (J. F.) Systema late, &e. Lipsiz, 1793, 3 vols. 8yo. 620. Jussieu (A. L. de) ra plantarum secundum ordines di curavit notisque aa. die 1791, 8yo. on the genus Salamander, and description of a mew genus of quadrupeds of the order Edentata. New York, 1825, 8vo. 622. Hibbert (S.) Sketches of the Philosophy of Apipilicans; Edinburgh, 1824, 12mo. 571. Hooker (Wm. J.) Exotic Flora, Parts Rreenbls riage 8yo. 623. Humboldt (A. de) Essai géognostique sur le sietsioat des roches dans les deux hémispheres. Paris, 1823, &vo. 624. Humphrey (G.) Directions for collecting and preserving — all kinds of natural curiosities. ty 1776, 12mo. MS. ey = 625. Keating (Wm. H.) Narrative of an expedition. to the source of the St. Peters, &c. Philadelphia, 1824. 2 vols. 8yo. , 626. Leslie (John) Description of instruments designed for e ex- tending and improving Meteorological Observations. Edinburgh, 1820, 8yo. j 621, Harlan (R.) Ob CATALOGUE OF THE LIBRARY. 393 627. Lasteyrie (Comte de) Collection de machines, instruments et constructions usités dans économie rurale, domes- tique et industrielle avec planches lithographiées. Paris, 1821, 2 tomes, 4to. 628. Lehmann (J. G.) Indicem scholarum publice privatimque in Hamburgensim gymnasio academico observationes zoologice presertim in faunam Hamburgensem. vhnyer prim. Hamburgii, 1822, 4to. 183. Lamarck (Chev. de) Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertebres, vols. v. vi. and vii. Paris, 1818—19—22, 3 vols. 8vo. . 184, The same, vols. vi. and vii. Paris, 1819-—22, 2 vols. 8vo. 629. Maclean (C.) The evils of quarantine laws, and non-exist- ence of pestilential contagions. London, 1824, 8yo. 630. Macfadigan (J.) Arrangement of quadrupeds and birds, »according to orders and genera. Glasgow, 1824, 8vo. 631. Marrat (Wm.) A new method of working lunar observa- tions, with a demonstration of the rules. Liverpool, 1823, 8yo. 632. Metaxa (L.) Monografia dé Serpenti di Roma e suoi con- torni. Roma, 1823. Fol. 633. Quoy et Gaimard. Remarques sur quelques poissons de mer et sur leur distribution géographique. Paris, 1825, 8vo. 634. Observations sur quelques Mollus- ques et Zoophytes envisagés comme les causes de la phosphorescence de la mer. Paris, 8vo. 635. Radio (J.) Dissertatio de Pyrola et Chimaphila, specimen primum botanicum. Lipsie, 1821, 4to. 636. Rousseau (E.) Mémoire sur le Cresson de Para. MS. Fol. 637. — (E.) Apereusur les propriétés febrifuges du Houx. Paris, 8vo. 638. (L. F. E.) Dissertation sur la premiere et la se- conde dentition. Paris, 1820, 4to. VOL. IV.—-May, 1825. AO . 394 344, 639. © 641. 642. 643. 644. 645. 646. 647. 648. 649. 650. CATALOGUE OF THE LIBRARY. Roxburgh (W.) Flora Indica, edited by W. Carey, M. D. with descriptions of plants recently discovered, by N. Wallich, M. D. vol. ii: Serampore, 1822, 8vo. Scopoli (J. A.) Deliciea Flore et Faune insubrice. Paris, 1786, Part I. Fol. . St. Fargeau (A. P. de) Monographia Tenthredinetarum synonima extricata. Parisiis, 1823, 12mo. . Sternberg (Gaspard de) Essai d’un éxposé géognostico-— botanique de la flore du monde primitif.. Leipsic et Prague, 3me livr. Fol. Van Rensselaer (J.) An essay on Salt. New York, 1823, 8vo. ‘ Vaux (R.) An oration delivered on the 18th of January, 1825, before the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture. Philadelphia, 1825, 8yo. Valenciennes (A.) Sur le sous-genre Marteau, Zigena, 4to. . 5° Description du Cernie, Polyprion cer- nium, 4to. Villefosse (A. M. H.) Rapport fait au Jury central de Vindustrie nationale en 1823, (partie metallurgique.) Paris, 1823. Webster (M. H.) A Catalogue of Minerals, 1824, 12mo. Wiedemann (C. R. G.) Manus rectoris in academia Chris- tiana Albertina, additurus analecta entomologica, &c. Kilie, 1824, 4to. Wilson (A.) Outlines of lectures on the elements of ma- thematics, delivered in the school of arts, during the session of 1822—23. Edinburgh, 1823, 8vo. Wilson (Alex.) ‘The natural history of the birds of the United States, a new edition, with additions, by George Ord. Philadelphia, 1824, vols. vii. and viii. 4to. Woodbridge (Wm. C.) and Willard (E.) Universal Geogra- phy, ancient and modern, on the principles of compari- son and classification. Hartford, 1824, 12mo. . Memorie della Reale Academia delle scienze di Torino. tom. 27. Torino, 4to. CATALOGUE OF THE LIBRARY. 395 599. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, Nos. 5—8. New York, 1824—5, 8vo. 651. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol ix. Edinburgh, 1821, 4to. 212. Annales des Mines, No. 4, vol. 8. Paris, 1823, 8yo. ; 212. bis. -_—_——— Nos. 1, 2, 3, vol. ii. No. 4, vol. iii, Paris, Svo. 210. Transactions of the Society for the promotion of the use- ful arts in the state of New York, vol. iv. Part Il. Al- bany, 1819, 8vo. 652. Rapports de la Societé de Flore de Bruxelles. Juillet, 1822, Fey. et Juill. 1823, et Fev. et Juill. 1824. Bruxelles, 5 pamphlets, 8vo. 653. Rapport fait & l’Académie Royale des sciences de Paris, par le Baron de Cuvier sur un ouvrage de Mr. Au- douin ayant pour titre, Recherches anatomiques sur le ’ thorax des animaux articulés. Paris, 1823, 4to. $54. Annales des Scienc aturelles. Paris, 1824. No, 1, et Atlas. bd 523. The American Journal of Sciences and the Arts, edited by Benjamin Silliman. New Haven, 1824, vol. viii. 8vo, 600. Builetin general et universel des annonces et des nouvelles scientifiques, publié par le Baron de Ferussac. Paris, 1823, Nos. 11 and 12, 8yo. 655. Bulletin des Sciences naturelles et de Geologie, publié par le Baron de Ferussac, vols. 1—3. Paris, 1824, 3 yols. 8vo, 656. Mémoires sur les questions proposées par l’academie roy- ale des sciences et belles-lettres de Bruxelles, qui ont remporté les prix en 1820. Bruxelles, 1822, 2 vols. 4to, 522. Revue Encyclopedique, No. 24. tom. 8. Paris, 8vo, 528. Journal de Physiologie experimentale et pathologique par F, Magendie, No. 4, tom. 2. Paris, 1822, 8vo. 657. Boston Journal of Philosophy and the Arts, conducted by J. W. Webster, M. D. John Ware, M. D, and Daniel Treadwell, Nos. 1—10. Boston, 1823—5, 8vo. 658. Zoological Journal, conducted by Thomas Bell, J. G. Chil 396 CATALOGUE OF THE LIBRARY. dren, S. de C. Sowerby, and G. B. Sowerby, Esq. Nos. 1—3. London, 1824, 8vo. 659. The Mechanic’s Chronicle, No. 1. London, 1824, 8vo. 660. Catalogue of the Library of the American Philosophical ~ Society. Philadelphia, 1824, 8vo. 661. A descriptive catalogue of the minerals in the systematic collection of the museum of Trinity College, Dublin. Dublin, 1818, 8vo. 662. The Westminster Review, Nos. 1—3. London, 1824, Bo. 663. The Hive, or Weekly Register of remarkable events, &c. , vols, 1—4. London, 4 vols. 8vo. 664. The Literary Humbug, or Weekly Take In, vol. 1. Lon- don, 1823, 8vo. 665. The Bonne Bouche, vol. i. London, 1824, 8vo. 666. The Glasgow Mechanic’s Magazine and Annals of Philo- sophy, vol. i. Glasgow, 1824, 8vo. 667. The Mechanic’s Magazine, vols. 1 and 2. Locdies! 10294, 2 vols. 8vo. 668. The Chemist, vol. i. London, 1824, 8vo. 669. The Medical Adviser, vels. 1 and 2. London, 1824, 8yo. 670. The Artisan, or Mechanic’s Instructer. London. 671. The Economist and General Adviser. London, 8vo. 672. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, vols. 1—3. London, 1823—4, 3 vols. 8vo. *3 Maps of Jamaica, by Robertson. List of Donors to the Library of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. With reference to the numbers affixed in the foregoing catalogue to the books presented by them respectively. Royal Academy of Sciences of Turin, 541. Royal Society ,of Edinburgh, 651. Royal Academy of Sciences and Belles Lettres, Brussels, 656. Conseil des Mines, Paris, 212. Society for the promotion of the useful arts in the State of New York, Albany, 210. Lyceum of Natural History, New York, 599. American Philosophical Society, 660. Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture, 642. N. Wallich, M. D. Calcutta, 344. C. F. Bellingeri, Turin, 605. S. G. M. Benuti, Turin, 606. A. D. Drapiez, Brussels, 613, 652. E. Poeppig, Leipzig, 628. J. Radio, Leipzig, 635. C. R. G. Wiedemann, Keil, Saxony, 647. Gaspard Comte de Sternberg, Prague, 506. Adolph Brongniart, Paris, 610, 654. J. V. Audouin, Paris, 601, 653. A. G. Desmarest, Paris, 616. Baron de Ferussac, Paris, 600, 617, 655. A. P. de St. Fargeau, Paris, 640. Gaimard, Paris, 633, 634, E. Rousseau, Paris, 636, 637, 638. A. M. H. Villefosse, Paris, 645. 398 LIST OF DONORS. A. Valenciennes, Paris, 643, 644. David Brewster, Edinburgh, 608. Wm. J. Hooker, Glasgow, 571. C. E.and J. de C. Sowerby, London, 658. J. J. Bigsby, H. B. M. army, 609, 623. Wm. C. Woodbridge, Hartford, Conn, 650 4 igh J. Van Rensselaer, Albany, 641. M. H. Webster, 646. Benjamin Silliman, New Haven, 523. J. W. Webster, M. D, Boston, 657. Samuel Betton, M. D. Germantown.* Wm. Maclure, 522, 528, 611, 622, 626, 627, 629, 630, 648, 659, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671,672. George Ord, 649. . Charles Bonaparte, Prince of Musignano, 612, 632, J. B. Wood, M. D. 614. James Read, 615, 639. John D. Godman, M. D. 618. T. F. Leaming, 624. Richard Harlan, M. D. 221. Wm. H. Keating, 212. bis. Francis Nichols, 631. : Isaac Hays, M. D. 607. m7 8. H. Long, T. Say, and W. H. Keating, 625. List of Donations to the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences. From December, 1823, to January, 1825. Articles presented. ~ Donors. | When presented. Gryllus albipes from Brazil. Dr. Hays. January. Crocodilus lucius from South Ame- : Dr. J. K. Mitchell. _ Tica. Exocetus volitans from the Atlan- tic ocean. Shells, eleven species, from the West Indies. Minerals, five specimens, from beth Connecticut. : fo. preg — Sciurus cinereus. Brown iron ore, from Barnhill Church, Montgomery county, ) Z. Collins. Penn. Shells, fossil, twenty-eight. speci- mens from the chalk formation$ N. Ware. March, in England. Cone of the Pinus Australis. R. Haines. Shells. G. Ord. April. Collection of East Indian spices and Chinese squirrel. t Dr. Harlan. Skin of the Moschus moschatus. J. Archer. Minerals, four specimens, from Rhode Island. , M. Brown. Manganesian Garnet from near Germantown. i G. Spackman. Crystal of Epidote from Virginia. A. Dupont. Box of Minerals from Spain. W. Maclure. May. Rana halecina. J. Gilliams, 400 DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM, Two bottles of marine animals from the Gulf stream. , , A Bedweu Coral, (large specimen.) J. Robbins, Shells, four species, from the East Oe: Mastek Indies. Flower of the Chiranthodendron, and a specimen of the Prionus ) J. Lea. longimanus. Silver ore from the mine of Va- lenciana, and copper ore from > N. Biddle. Mexico. , ; Cast ofa tooth of the Megatherium. TT. Peale. Diseased egg. J. Gilliams. Three internal casts of shells. Col. Carr. Sepiola, found in the stomach of a Scomber thynnus, from the In- } J. Read. dian ocean. Shells, twenty-one species, from the Mediterranean. Shells, fossil, eighty-one species, from the Paris basin. Fossils, forty-three specimens, from ne the Lehigh. : Dr. R. E. Griffith. Shells, twenty-eight species, from the West Indies, F: pn Salamandra venenosa from Penn. Dr. Harlan. Alasmodonta arquata. W. Stewart. Coluber saurita from Harrowgate. J. Gilliams. Venus mercenaria from Charles- ton harbour, South Carolina, > Lt. Graham, (very large specimen.) Venus litterata, American coast. R. Haines. Minerals, five specimens from : Edenton, North Carolina. 1 Ra Suaith. Insects, nine species ; Asteria, one species ; Spongia, three species ; : Shells, eight species; Echinus, } Lewis Vanuxem. seven species, from Matanzas, Cuba. Esox. J. Gilliams. C. A. Lesueur. May- June. July. a as % we ATA VaR August. DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM. 401 Baron Von Struve, Ham- Minerals from Norway, Sweden, and Germany, thirty-five speci- mens. ia! Skull of an Indian found in the vi- cinity of Niagara, supposed to > T. Fisher, have been of the Erie nation. Coluber ordinatus and young. J. Gilliams. Insects, two hundred species from South America. Chalcedony, two specimens from Florida. Thirty-three specimens of “i ae eet Hays. September. Tr. Fisher. illustrative ot the geology of the district adjoining the Erie canal in the state of New York Amphiuma means from Florida. Box of Prehnites and Zeolites from Scotland. British Insects, one hundred and twenty species. Minerals, five specimens from Massachusetts. Fossil wood, two te from Darlington court-house, Caro- lina. Gen. Ven Ransselaer. N. Ware. ~ Wm. Maclure. October. Dr. Coates. A. E. Jessup. Dr. Blanding. Hirudo, three new species. Exploring perty to the tiy- er St. Peter. Fish, three species. J. Gilliams. Qstrus hominis. Dr. Brick. Margarita from the Pacific ocean. -—~— Oldmixon. Unio, from Hudson river. J. Lea. November. Fossil shells, seven species from Sy Maryland. J. Gilliams. Box of seeds, Dr. Wallich, Calcutta. Shells, sixteen species from Alva- Pe rado. r rf appa of a Productus, rae a ey Teceiber. Coluber, East Indies. Capt. Jefferson. VOL. IV.—MAy, 1825 51 402 DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM. Specimen of ticks from the Cyclu- ra carinata, from Turks Island. > Dr. Harlan. Teniz, from the Cyclura teres. Skin of a Boa constrictor from South America, twenty-one feet } Dr. J. K. Mitchell. long. Box of minerals from Ireland. Wm. Maclure. Skins of two Panthers, and horns? ; 4,-. of the Cervus virginianus, t J Mitchell, Centre Vo. a ‘ The Academy have great pleasure in acknowledging the donation of Plate III, from Mr. J. Gilliams; Plate XVII, from Mr. W. W. Wood, and Plate XXII, from Mr. Ord. _ Mr. Ord has likewise, with great liberality, permitted the use of Plates XX, and XXI, ALPHABETICAL INDEX. A. Acanthia interstitialis, Acheta exigua, Agama cornuta, vultuosa, Agathidium pallidum, Alauda alpestris, magna, rufa, Alcedo alcyon, Altica bimarginata, centralis, gibbitarsa, nana, , picta, 5-vittata, scripticollis, senilis, triangularis, uniguttata, vians, Ampelis americana, Amphidesma subovata, Anastasia Island, testace- ous formation of Andalusite, new form of Aradus 4-lineatus, Arca arata, centenaria, incile, Aryicola riparia, Astarte undulata, 150 vicina, 151 B. Blastoidea 293 Blennius geminatus, 278 hentz, 363 hermenier, 361 punctatus, 279 Buccinum aratum, 127 porcinum, 126 Cc. Calamine, 8 Calyptrea costata, 132 grandis, 131 Caprimulgus americanus, 261 carolinensis, 260 semitorquatus, 384 vociferus, 262 Capromys furnieri, 14 prehensilis, ‘11 Caryocrinites loricatus, 291 ornatus, 290 Catalogue of the Library, 391 Cephaloptera giorna, 115 Certhia caroliniana, 28 familiaris, 27 maculata, 27 404 Certhia palustris, 30 Cercopis obtusa, 339 quadrangularis, 338 Chelonura serpentina, 206, 217 Cicada aurifera, 332 dorsata, 331 marginata, 330 parvula, 333 pruinosa, 330 synodica, 334 Cistuda clausa, 205, 214 odorata, ~ 206, 216 pensylvanica, 206, 216 Coccinella abdominalis, 95 albifrons, 94 bioculata, 94 humeralis, 95 mali, 93 parenthesis, 93 tibialis, 94 undulata, 92 20-maculata, 96 Coluber amenus, ~ 237 rigidus, 239 7-vittatus, 240 Columba carolinensis, 264 migratoria, 264 passerina, 265 Committee of Publication, 202 Corbula cuneata, 152 inequale, 153 Coreus alternatus, 317 armigerus, 319 lateralis, 320 ordinatus,, 318 Corixia alternata, 329 interrupta, 328 Corvus ultramarinus, 387 Crassatella undulata, 143 Crocodilus, fossil, 15 Curvirostra americana, 42 leucoptera, Cyclura carinata, 25 teres, 250 INDEX. Cydnus bilineatus, 315 spinifrons, 316 Cytherea convexa, 149 concentrica, 150 D. Delphax tricarinata, 3317 Dendrocolaptes angustirostris, 375 Dentalium attenuatum, 154 Dispotea, 131 E. Emberiza americana, 45 ciris, 50 pe a 47, 276 graminea, 51 leucophrys, — 51 nivalis, — 50 oryzivora, 47 pecoris, 48 Emys biguttata, 205, 212 centrata, 205, 211 geographica, 204, 210 glutinata, + 205, 213 picta, 205, 211 punctata, 205, 212 reticularia, 204, 209 scabra, 204, 210 serrata, 204, 208 Endomychus biguttatus, 96 Exocetus appendiculatus, 283 F. Falco borealis and leveriants, ~ 269 hyemalis and lineatus, ‘271 lagopus, 270 mississippiensis, 270 Fissurella redimicula, 132 Flata bivittata, stigmata, Franklinite, Fringilla albicollis, arborea, caudacuta, cyanea, flaveola, linaria, maritima, melodia, nivalis, palustris, passerina, pinus, purpurea, pusilla, rufa, savanna, socialis, tristis, xanthoroa, Fulgora sulcipes, Fulgur canaliculatus, carica, Fusus 4-costatus, G. Gracula ferruginea, Gryllus bivittatus, equalis, nubilus, H. Hirundo americana, pelasgia, purpurea, riparia, viridis, Holothuria aglutinata, briareus, fasciata, hydriformis, 59, 56, INDEX. Holothuria lapidifera, ‘maculata, obscura, viridis, Es r Icterus melanicterus, Isocardia fraterna, tus of Jeffersonite, Fy L. Lanius carolinensis, excubitor, Loxia cardinalis, coerulea, enucleator, ludoviciana, Lucina anodonta, contracta, divaricata, eribraria, subobliqua, Lygeus bicrucis, eurinus, reclivatus, 5-spinosus, trivittatus, 5 M. Mactra, Modiola opifex, Monasa fusca, meres canadensis, cantatrix, ceerulea, cucullata, crinita, melodia, minuta, Janthina, floating appara- 158 152 Mastodon, os hyoides of the 67 406 INDEX. Muscicapa nunciola, 168 Restramite pyriformis, _ 294 olivacea, 176 | Perdix virginiana, » 268 pullata, 383 | Phalacrus pallipes, 90 pusilla, 179, 277 penicillatus, 91 querula, 169 | Pholis 9-lineatus, 280 rapax, 168 4-fasciatus,» 282 ruticilla, 171 | Picus carolinus, 275 solitaria, 174 rubricollis, 373 sylvicola, 173 | Pipra polyglotta, 251 tenioptera, 380 | Plesiosaurus, 232 tyrannus, 166 | Plicatula marginata, 136 Miliobatus freminvillii, | 111 | Pselaphus carinatus, 97 F dentatus, 99 N. riparius, 98 Psittacus carolinensis, 273 Natica interna, 125 Neotoma floridana, 346 R. Nucula concentrica, 141 levis, 141 | Raia chantenay, 106 desmarestia, 100 oO. eglantiera, 103 Rallus nigricans, 386 Officers for the year 1825, 201 | Reduvius raptatorius, 327 Oriolus mutatus, = 274- spissipes, 228 Ostrea compressirostra, 132 Ss. 2, ‘ Salamandra punctatissima, 306 Panopea reflexa, 153 | Scincus bicolor, 286 Paradoxus boltoni, 365 erythrocephalus, 288 Parus atricapillus, 253 | Scolopsis sayanus 81 bicolor, 255 | Seps 6-lineata, 284 Pecten clintonius, 135 | Serpula granifera, 154 jeffersonius, 133 | Sigmodon hispidum, 354 madisonius, 134 | Sitta carolinensis, 25 septenarius, 136 pusilla, 26 Pectunculus suboyatus, 140 varia, 25, 275 Pentatoma arborea, 311 | Strix asio and nevia, 272 clanda, 312 otus, 271 exapta, 313 | Sturnus predatorius, 31 faceta, 315 | Sylvia agilis, 199 meraca, 314 blackburnie, 195 punctipes, 313 calendula, 185 Pentramite florealis, 295 canadensis, 191 globosa, 293 castanea, 189 “di 2 * : INDEX. 407 Sylvia chrysoptera, — 190 | Tetrao umbellus, 266 citrinella, 190 Fertigants basilaris, 344 coerulea, 193 comes, — 343 coronata, 192 limbata, 340 domestica, 187 mixta, 341 flavicollis, 188 obliqua, ~~ 342 formosa, 197 8-lineata, 340 magnolia, 194 trifasciata, 343 maritima, 200 | Tingis oblonga, 325 marylandica, 186 | Tridactylus apicialis, © 310 minuta, 197 | 'Trionyx ferox, 207, 218 montana, 199 | Triplax biguttata, 89 parus, 200 sanguinipennis, 89 pennsylvanica, 189 thoracica, 89 peregrina, 196 | Trochilus colubris, 30 pusilla, 197, 199 | 'Trygon sabina, 109 petechia, 198 | Turdus aquaticus, 34,275 philadelphia, 189 aurocapillus, 35 pinus, 194 lividus, 36 5 protonotarius, | 195 migratorius, 35 BS pusilla, 199 melodus, 33 fara, « 197 mustelinus, 34 regulus, 186 ottos, | a32 ruficapilla, - 197 ‘ - 33 sialis, 184 solitarius, 33, 275 solitaria, 189 | Turritella plebeia, 125 striata, , 499 3 ‘ troglodytes, * 187 Ve WiPehs ca _ 892 ‘ vermivora, ~ 196 | Venericardia granulata, 142 Venus deformis, 148 i. paphia, 149 Vultur atratus, , 269 Tanagra estiva, 53 flava, 377 Sy: ludoviciana, 54 = aS rubra, 53 | Zinc, carbonate of 8 Teillina equistriata, 145 | Zinc ores of Franklin, = 220 Testudo denticulata, 208 | Zinc ore, red 6 polyphemus, 204, 207 | Zinc, siliceous oxide of 8 Tetrao cupido, 267 ane Prate I. Ul. VI. PLATES TO VOL. IV. Fig. 1. Portion of the lower jaw of a fossil Crocodile, right side, lateral view. 2. Anterior view of the same. 4 3, 4, 5. Different views of a fossil vertebre. 6,7. Two views of a vertebre from another part of the column. 8. Fossil tooth of Crocodile, natural size. Os hyoides of the Mastodon, Fig. 1. Basis front view, two-thirds natural size. 2. Appendix, do. do. do. 3. Cornu, do. do. do. 5. Feldspar, primitive. 6. Feldspar, progressive. Scolopsis sayanus. . Raia desmarestia. Fig. 1. Dorsal view. 2. Ventral view (imperfect.) a. Spines exterior to the eyes, b. Spines of the pectoral fins. . Raia chantenay. Fig. 1. Male, ventral view. 2. Male, dorsal view. 3. Female, dorsal view. 4. Female, ventral view. 5. Fringed appendice of the nostrils. 6. Spine of the pectoral fins. 7. Mouth. - Teeth. Cephaloptera Bae. Fig. 1. Ventral view with the appendages reflected. 2. Foetus, ventral view, the appendages in the natural position. . 3. Foetus, dorsal view, the appendages partly extended. 4. Foetus, lower part of the back and tail. oo YOL, Iv.—-May, 1825. 52 AO Vil. Vill. 1X. XI. XI. XILL. XIV. . Fossil shells, PLATES TO VOL. IV. Fossil shells. Fig. 1. Turritella plebeia. 2. Natica interna. 3. Buccinum porcinum. 4, ———— aratum. 5, Fusus 4-costatus. 6. Dispotea grandis. 7. Fusus cinereus. Fossil shells. Fig. 1. Fissurella redimicula. 2. Ostrea compressirostra. 3. Dentalium attenuatum. 4. Serpula granifera. Fossil shells. Fig. 1. Pecten jeffersonius. Te clintonius. septenarius. . Plicatula marginata. . Astarte undulata, vicina Dore oo Fig. 1. Arca arata. ~ centenaria. —— incile. : . Pectunculus subovatus. . Nucula levis. concentrica. - Tellina equistriata. . Lucina contracta. Fossil shells. Fig. 1. Isocardia fraterna. 2. Crassatella undulata. Fossil shells. Fig. 1. Venericardia granulata. 2. Venus deformis, 3. Cytheria convexa. Fossil shells. Fig. 1. Lucina cribraria. 2. Corbula cuneata. oe inequale, 4. Panopea reflexa. Fig. 1. Dorsal vertebra of a Plesiosaurus. 2, 3, 4. Views of a tooth of a Saurien reptile. 5. Teeth of Squalus, from the coast of Africa, a, from upper, b. from lower jaw. OAH oH wo XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXiIi. XXIII. PLATES TO VOL. IV. 411 6. Teeth of Squalus perlon, from Adventure Bay. a. from upper, b. from lower jaw. 7. Teeth of Squalus cuvier, from the coast of N. Holland. a. from upper, b. from lower jaw. Cyclura carinata. Cyclura teres, . Fig. 1. Pholis quadrifasciatus. 2. Exocetus appendiculatus. Fig. 1. Scincus bicolor. — 2. Seps sexilineata. Fig. 1. Agama vultuosa. 2. Modiola opifex imbedded in its mound, mag- nified. a. external, b. internal view, magnified. Agama cornuta. b. c. spines, d. section of a spine. Neotoma floridana. 0) Fig. 1. Neotoma floridana, profile view of the jaws magnified. 2. Lower jaw, left side, with the alveolar pro- cess removed, in order to exhibit the roots of the teeth, natural size. . Molares of the upper jaw, left side, magnified. - Molares of the lower jaw, left side, magnified. . Sigmodon hispidum, profile view of the jaws, magnified, . Lower jaw, natural size, left side, with the alveolar process removed, to exhibit the roots of the teeth. 7. Molares of the upper jaw, left side, magnified. 8. Molares of the lower jaw, left side, magnified. Paradoxus boltoni. a Ob co , ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA. Page 8, line 24, for dihedral read trihedral. 26, A, for 322, read 323, 24, for there, read this. 27, 14, for 16, read *16. 30, 23, for Polytmus read Orthorh 5 31, 7, dele ‘* referring to.” 34, A, add T. fuscus, Gmel. Lath. 3 from the bottom, for aquatius read aquaticus. 36, 4, for 568, read 556. ‘ 47, 21, add E. ferruginea, Gmel. Lath. female. 59, 2, from ie bottom, for Passerina read Spiza. last line, dele the *. ; 60, dele the 9th line. 63, 9, dele and Emberiza Seruginea. 11, dele numerous. dele last line. 143, 2 from the last, dele «2. 152, 17, for 3, read 2. 169, —_ 5, from the bottom, for his, read this. 170, 14, for exteriore read exterior. last line, for with the, read with. 182, 18, for But we, read We. 197, 3, for 84, read 85. 5 for Bask pole Black-poll 199, 15, for B read § 208, .- 11,for eb ge Cistuda. last line, for reticulata read reticularia. 209, passim the same. 214, 9, tor Cistudo, read Cistuda. 231, 6, for 9.20, read 92.0. 8, for 98.0, read 88.0. 254, 3 from the bottom, for canadensisutric apillus, read atricapillus canadensis. 262,+ 13 and 14, dele Vieill. pl. 28. 274,- 2, for this genus read the genus Ieterus. 275, 12, insert 56, before Picus. : 313, 19, for punctipes read meracq. 351, 3, dele and figured: QH Academy of Natural Sciences 1 of Philadelphia Al9 Journal PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY STORAGE porte ah at ane " er ‘ ae = ‘ a 4 Ly of t : ral : ‘ ray f 71 we : t voyG sont ee Bh a : t eat wa 5, aa ge . tnt re i F : fe an ae ay Pau ee st ta : ae tia? ; es aid ha ; ‘i teat fre) Sa te ive, i celeb) ASA sete Ts i ts : te pinche bat be ¢ 7 me a Nae 28 ; : ? * a ae : - at ewe 7 oe ; Pigs ¥ P ect rane fai i : “ ‘hoa v aie Lak WN ae dary! a =) , Sepia Ahr Teas rad es tn i me : ; tl iit Hit . ce : ‘ . * 2 a: = wy A on ce asc ‘ i os an : é : Cus * or rs 4 , : t ‘ 4 : ee ar svt ; x : : i eter ag Sonn inrre nt Pa ‘ ‘ EN ARN ri ‘ ‘ eit et eye ¥ sera y . : ee a