Return to LIBRARY OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY WOODS HOLE, MASS. Loaned by American Museum of Natural History PROCEEDINGS \^ V CENTRAL P *\ rURAL\^^4 OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF P II I L A D E L PHI A . VOL. VII. 1854, 1855. PHILADELPHIA. 1> R I N T E D F 0 It T II E ACADEMY: By Merrihew & Thompson, Merchant 6trect above Fourth. 185G. A */ INDEX TO VOLUME VII. Abert, Col. J. J., don. to lib., x. Acad. C. L. C. Nat. Curiosorum, don. to lib., xii., xxix. Acad. Royale des Sciences de Belgique, don. to lib., xvi. Acad. Nat. Sci. of California, don. to mus., i.; extract from Proceedings of, 15. Accademia delle Scienze di Torino, don. to lib., ii. Agnew, A. G. E., don. to lib., xxxv. Albany Institute, don. to lib., xxxi. Allen, J. Fisk, don. to lib., xxv. Allen, William H., LL.D., don. to lib., xxxvrii. American Association for the advance- ment of Science, don. to lib., xxxv. American Academy of Arts and Sci- ences, don. to lib., viii., xxxiv. American Journal of Science and Arts, don. of, by Editors, i., v., viii., xi., xv., xvii., xxi., xxiii., xxvii., xxxi., xxxiv., xxxix. American Geographical and Statistical Society, don. to lib., xv. American Ethnographical Society, don. to lib., xii. American Philosophical Society, don. to lib., iii., xii., xxii., xxix. Annals of Science, don. of, by Editor, i., iii., v., vi. Anthony, J. G., don. to lib., ix. Annaboldi, G., don. to lib., xiii. Adams, Capt. H. A., U. S. N., don. to mus., xxx. Ashhurst, John, don. to mus., xxxvii. Ashmead, Chas. C, don. to mus., xxvi. Ashmead, Samuel, don. to mus., i., xiv., xxiii., xxv., xxvi., xxxiii. ; remarks on having noticed the fact that Colu- ber eximius can produce a sound like the rattle of the rattlesnake, and that the black snake can produce a similar sound, 345 ; catalogue of marine Al- gae discovered at Beesley's Point, N. J., 410. Avogadro, Le Comte, don. to lib.; ii. Baird, Prof. S. F., don. to lib., viii., x., xviii., xxix.; descriptions of new ge- nera and species of North American Frogs, 59 ; descriptions of new Birds collected between Albuquerque, N. M.,and San Francisco, Cal., 1853-4. on the Pacific railroad route, under Lieut. Whipple, 118; characteristics of some new species of Mammalia, collected by the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, Maj. Emory, Com- missioner, part 1, 331 ; characteris- tics of some new species of N. A. Mammalia, collected chiefly in con- nection with the U. S. surveys of a railroad route to the Pacific, part 1, 333. Baird, Prof., and C. Girard, descrip- tions of new species of Fishes from Texas, New Mexico and Sonora, col- lected by Mr. J. H. Clark and Capt. Van Vleit,24. Bache, Prof. A. D., don. to lib., xvi. Barton, Dr. E. H., don. to mus., xxi., don. to lib., xxii. Bavarian Government, don. to lib., ix., xxxii. Bender, E., don. to mus., xxvi. Beesley, Thomas, don. to mus., xxv., xxvi. Belfast Nat. Hist, and Philosoph. Soc, don. to lib., x. Blake, Wm. P., notice of remarkable strata containing the remains of In- fusoria and Polythalamia in the Ter- tiary formation of Monterey, Cal., 328. Blanding, Dr. Wm., Jr. don to mus.,iv. Bonaparte, Prince C. L., don. to lib., xxi. Boston Nat. Hist. Soc, don. to lib., viii., xi., xii., xv., xx., xxii., xxiv., xxv., xxvii., xxviii., xvxiv., yvxv., xxxix. Bouchardat, M., don. to lib., xx. Brazier, A., don. to lib., xii., xxii., xxiii., xxiv., xxviii. IV. INDEX. Breck, Samuel, don. to mus., xvi. Bridges, Dr. R., don. lo lib., iii. Brainard, Dr. B. H., don. to lib., xvii. Brinton, Dr., remarks on a new mode recently devised by him, for the pre- paration of anatomical specimens, 71. Briicke, Ernest., don. to lib., xxi. Burtt, Dr. J. L., Q. S. N., don. to mus., xxvi., xxx. Byrne, Bernard M., don. to lib., xxiv. By-Laws, amendment of, 88. California Acad, of Nat. Sci., don. to lib., xv. , xxii., xxvii., xxxi., xxxv. California State Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction, don. to lib., xii. Cabanis, J., don. to lib., xiii. Carpenter, G. W., don. to mus., i., don. to lib., vi. Carus, J. Victor, don. to lib., ix. Carret, Thos. W., don. to mus., xxi. Camac, Dr. Wm., don. to mus., xxvi. Carson, Dr., don. to mus., xxxvii. Cassin, John, don. to lib., xxxvi. ; re- marks on the appearance of Loxia leticoptera in great numbers in this vicinity, 203 ; list of pigeons of the genus Carpophaga, in the collections of the Acad. Nat. Sci. and of the Ex- plo. Exped. (Vincennesand Peacock) with descriptions and notices of new and little known species, 227 ; re- marks on Grex prate?isis, a specimen of which had been obtained near Sa- lem, N. J., 265 ; notes on N. Amer. Falconidae, with descriptions of new- species, 277 ; reference to Ganis an- tarcticics, and several species of geese and other birds from the Falk- land Islands, obtained by Capt. Bern- see, 289 ; descriptions of new species of Birds from Western Africa, in the collection of the Acad. Nat. Sci. of Philada., 324 ; remarks on the in- tended expedition of M. Duchaillu into the interior of West Africa, and on the results of his former expedi- tions in that country, 410; notices of some new and little known Birds in the collection of the U. S. Explo. Exped., in the Vincennes and Pea- cock, and in the collection of the A. N. S. of Philada., 438. Charleston Med. Journ. and Review, don. of, by Editors, v., xii., xv., xxi. . xxii., xxiv., xxvii., xxxiv., xl. Coates, B. H., don. to lib., xxii. Coleman, Dr., don. to mus., xiii., xxxvii. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, don. to lib., viii., ix. Committee to recommend to the Go- vernment the propriety of having Na- turalists attached to the expedition for the exploration of Africa, 2. Committee to solicit contributions from the members of the Academy, to aid the expedition of M. Duchaillu into Western Africa, 40. Committees, standing,for 1854,14 ; for 1855, 264. Committees on scientific papers : By Chas. Girard ; on a new Entomos- tracan of the family Limnadidae, in- habiting the western waters, 1 ; on a new species of Salmonidae, 71 ; a list of North American Bufonides, with diagnosis of new species, 72 ; descrip- tion of new fishes collected on the Southern Pacific railroad route, 126 ; enumeration of marine fishes col- lected at San Francisco, Cal., 127 ; observations on fishes from the Pa- cific, 128; characteristics of some cartilaginous Fishes from the Pacific coast of N. America, 195 ; on Fishes collected on the coast of Chili, 195; abstract of a report to Lieut. Gilliss. upon R ptiles collected during the U. S. Naval Astronomical Expedi- tion to Chili, 202 ; observations on viviparous fishes inhabiting the Pa- cific coast of N. America, with an enumeration of the species observed, 289 : By Dr. A. T. King, on the an- cient Alluvium of the Ohio River and its tributaries, 1 ; description of fos- sil Trees found in the coal rocks near Greensbuijjh, Pa., 35 ; description of a fossil Fruit found in the carbonife- rous rocks of Beaver county, Pa., 35 : By Mr. Conrad, synopsis of the ge- nera Parapholas and Penicilla, 2; rectification of the generic names of tertiary fossil Shells, 23; notes on Shells with descriptions of new spe- cies, 23 ; descriptions of new species of Qnio, 256; observations on the Eocene deposit of Mississippi, with descriptions of new species of Shells and Corals, 256; descriptions of new cretaceous and tertiary fossils, 264 ; descriptions of new species of cre- taceous Shells from Texas, 264 ; de- scription of a new species of Mela- nia, 264 ; notes on the Miocene and Post-Pliocene deposits of California, INDEX. V. with descriptions of two new fossil Corals, and description of a new spe- cies of Pentamenis, 119 : By Major Le Conte, notice of American Ani- mals formerly known, but now for- gotten or lost, 2 ; observations on Vespertilio leporinus, and descrip- tions of (our new species of Kinoster- num, 174 ; descriptions of new spe- cies of Astacus from Georgia ; on a new species of Gelasimus ; remarks on a new species of American Cimex, 399; observations on N. American Bats; descriptive catalogue of Ra- ninae, 419 ; description of a new spe- cies of Hesperomys, 4 19 : By Isaac Lea, rectification of Mr. T. A. Con- rad's synopsis of the family Naiades of N. America, published in Proc. A. N. S. Philada., Feb., 1S53, 15; de- scription of a new Mollusk from the red sandstone, near Pottsville, Pa., 346 : By Dr. Le Conte, descriptions of some Coleoptera from Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper, &c, 15 ; synopsis of the CEdemeridae of the V. States, 15 ; note on the genus Amblychila, 23 ; synopsis of the spe- cies of Platynus and allied genera inhabiting the U. States, 34 ; synop- sis of the Cucuiides of the U. States, 69 ; notes on some coleopterous In- sects from the collections of the Mexican Boundary Expedition, 70 ; synopsis of Dermestida? of the TJ. States, 91 ; synopsis of the Byrrhidae of N. America, 91 ; synopsis of the Erotylidce of the U. States, 128 ; de- scriptions of the species of Trox and Omorgus inhabiting the TJ. States, 202 ; descriptions of new Coleoptera collected by Dr. Webb, of the U. States Mexican Boundary Commis- sion, in 1850-'2,2f'3 ; synopsis of the Pyrochroides of the U. States, 2C5 ; synopsis of the Lathridiides of the TJ. States and contiguous territories, 285; analytical table of the species Hy- droporus found in the TJ. States, with descriptions of new species, 285; notes on the Amaras of the TJ. States, 345 ; synopsis of the Hydrophilida? of the TJ. States, 345: By Prof. Baird and C. Girard, descriptions of new species of Fishes, collected in Texas, New Mexico and Sonora, by Mr. Clark, and in Texas by Capt. Van Vleit, U. S. A., 23 ; notice of a new genus of Cyprinidas, 128: Bv Prof. Baird, descriptions of new species of N. A. Ranaeformes and Hylaeformes, in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, 34 ; descriptions of new Birds collected between Albuquer- que,New Mexico, and San Francisco, Cal., 91 ; characteristicsof som« new species of N. American Mammalia, collected chiefly during the U. S. survej s of a railroad ronle to the Pa- cific, part I., 336 ; characteristics of some new species of N. American Mammalia, collected by TJ. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey under Ma- jor Emory, TJ. S. A., 336": ByJ.W. Dawson, on fossil coniferous Wood from Prince Edward's Island, 35. By W. Dudley, description of a new- species of Crane found in Wisconsin, 35: By Lieut. Couch, TJ. S. A., notes on Birds observed in Texas and in the States of Nueva Leon, Tamaulipas and Coanuila, Mexico, with descriptions of new species, 35 : By Dr. Hallowell, descriptions of new Reptiles from California, and on a genus and species of Serpent from Honduras, presumed to be new, 89 ; remarks on the geographical distri- bution of Reptiles, with descriptions of several species supposed to be new, and corrections of former papers, 90; notices of new Reptiles from Texas, 174 ; contributions to South Ameri- can Herpetology, 127: By Dr. W. P. Gibbons, descriptions of new species of viviparous Fishes of California, 90; descriptions of new species of vivipa- rous, marine and fresh-water Fishes of California, 121 : By Drs. Evans and B. Shumard, descriptions of new fossil species from the cretaceous formation of Sase Creek, Nebraska, 91 ; descriptions of new fossil species from the fresh-water Tertiary forma- tion of Nebraska, 127 : By Dr. Leidy, synopsis of extinct Mammalia from Nebraska, 127 ; description of a fos- sil apparently indicating a species of the Camel tribe, 167; on Urnatella gracilis and a new species of Pluma- tella, 174 ; notice of some fossil Bones discovered on the banks of the Ohio River, 195; remarks on the identity of Bootherium cavifrons with Ovibos moschatus, or O. maximus, 202 ; indications of twelve species of fossil fishes, 395; contributions to a knowledge of the marine Inverte- brate fauna of the coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey, 399 ; indica-' tions of five species and two new ge- nera of extinct Fishes, 410 ; notices VI. INDEX. of some Tape-worms, 419 : Ey M. Tuorney, descriptions of new fossils from the Southern States, 167 : By James D. Dana, catalogue and de- scriptions of Crustacea, collected in California by Dr. Le Conte, 173: By Dr. A. L. Heermann, additions to N. American Ornithology, 173 : By A. Durand and Theo. Hilgard, descrip- tions of new plants from South Cali- fornia, 174 : By J. E. Holbrook, M. D., descriptions of Fishes of S. Caro- lina, 174. By Joseph Jones, abstract of experiments upon the physical in- fluences exerted by living organic and inorganic membranes upon che- mical substances passing through them by endosmosis, 174 : By John Cassin, list of the species of Pigeons of the genus Carpophagus, in the col- lection of the A. N. S. and of the U. S. Explo. Exped., with descriptions of new and little known species, 203; notes on N. American Falconidae, with descriptions of new species, 265; descriptions of new species of Birds from W. Africa and Zanzibar, 289 : description of a new species of Par- rot, 415 ; notices on some new and little known Birds in collection of U. S. Explo. Ex'ped. in Vincennes and Peacock, and in collection of A. N. S., 419 : By Dr. Genth, Herrerite identical with Srnithsonite, 203 ; an- alysis of Meteoric Iron, from Tucson, Mex., 288 : By Dr. Wetherill, Che- mical notices, 203 : By Prof. Julien Derby, remarks on the Cryptogamic Flora of the State of Georgia, 256: By Messrs. Norwood and Pratten, notice of fossils from the carboniferous se- J ries of the Western States, with de- j scriptions of new species, 264: By Mr. Durand, Plants Prattenianiae califor- nicae with descriptions of Plants, new or unpublished in America, 286: By Dr. T. C. Henry, notes on the Birds of New Mexico, 286: By W. R. Blake, notice of remarkable strata of the remains of Infusoria and Poly- thalamia in the tertiary formation of Monterey, Ca!., 336: By Wm. Stimp- son, description of new Invertebrata from the Chinese and Japanese seas, 345 and 385: By Dr. J. Aitken Meigs, relation of Atomic heat to Crystal- line form, 375 : By Jose del Solar, of Lima, Peru, description of a new spe- cies of Carica, 395 : By Prof. A . Ret- zius, on artificially formed skulls from the ancient world, 399 : By S. Ashmead, catalogue of marine Aluae, from Beesley's Point, N. J., with some remarks, 409 : By Philip R. Uhler, descriptions of some new spe- cies of Coleoptera, 415 : By T. P. James, an enumeration of Mosses detected in the northern U. States, which are not comprised in Gray's Manual, some of which are new spe- cies, 453. Conrad, T. A., rectification of generic names of tertiary fossil Shells, 29 ; notes on Shells, with descriptions of three recent and one fossil species, 31; descriptions of three new species of Unio, 256 ; observations on the Eocene deposit of Jackson, Miss., with descriptions of thirty-four new species of Shells and Fossils, 257; descriptions of eighteen new creta- ceous and tertiary Fossils, &c, 265 ; descriptions of one tertiary and eight new cretaceous Fossils fr©m Texas, in the collection of Major Emory, 268 ; description of a new species of Me-lania, 269 ; note on the Miocene and Post-Pliocene deposits of Cali- fornia, with descriptions of two new fossil Corals, 441 ; description of a new species of Pentamerus, 441. Cook, Mr., don. to mus., i. Couch, Lieut. D. N., (J. S. A., descrip- tions of new Birds of Northern Mexico, 66. Coultas, Harland, don. to lib., x. Correspondents elected : Adamson, Rev. Dr. J. C, 2S4. Audubon, John W., 337. Briicke, Prof. Ernest, 201. Burnett, W. J., 67. Couch, Lieut. D. N., TJ. S. A., 14. Dearing, Dr. Wm. E., 165. Dalton, Dr. John C, Jr., 337. Doremy, Dr. R. O., 341. Enderling, Dr. Chas., 22. G. y Garcia, Jose A., 341 . Hammond, Dr. Wm.A., U.S.A., 337. Kirkwood, Prof. D., 67. McClellan, Capt. Geo. B., U. S. A., 284. Motschulsky, Col. Victor, 126. D'Oliveira, C. B., 341. Pratten, Henry, 173. Prout, Dr. Hiram A., 173, Rathvon, S. S., 201. Sandberser, Dr. Fredolen, 408. Santos, C. A., 341. Sandberger, Dr. Guido, 40S. del Solar, Jose, 397. INDEX. VI 1. Steiner, Dr. Lewis H., 454. Suckley, Dr. George, U. S. A., 451. Von Nordman, Alexander, 126. Winslow, R. K., 201. Wailes, Prof. B. L. C, 337. Curators, report of for 1854, 252 ; for 1855, 450. Da Costa, Dr., don. to lib., xxxviii. ; remarks on a new process he has lately employed in making minute injections in anatomical preparations, 90. Dana, James D., don. lo lib., xvi., xxviii. ; catalogue and descriptions of Crustacea collected in California by Dr. J. L. Le Conte, 175. Dalton, Henry G., don. to lib., xxii. De Candolle, Alph., don. to lib., xxxi. Dawson, J. W., don. to lib., x., xxxii.; on fossil coniferous Wood from Prince Edward's Island, 62. Darlington, Dr. VVm., don. to lib., iii. Dietz, Dr. A. J., don. to mus., xiv. Dowler, Bennett, don. to lib., xviii. Dozy, F., don. to lib., xx. Dock, Dr., don. to mus., xxi. Drinker, Henry, don. to mus., xxxvii. Duchaillu, Belloni, don. to mus., xiii. Dudley, Wm., description of a new species of Crane from Wisconsin, 64. Durand, Mr., don. to mus., xxx. Dundas, James, don. to mus., xi. Dozy, F., and J. H. Molkenboer, don. to lib., xxi. Fisher, Dr. J. C, don. to mus., xi., xxiii., xxv. Fisher, Thos., don. to mus., xxi. Foulke, Wm. P., don. to mus., i. ; the thanks of the Academy voted to, for address delivered in commemoration of the founding of the Institution, 33 ; remarks on a lecture by Mr. Hugh Miller, republished in the U. States, entitled " the Two Records — the Mosaic and the Geological,'' 69. Franklin Institute, don. to lib., xvii., xxv., xxxiv. Freeman, Dr. W. H., don, to mus.. xvi., xvii.; don. to lib., xxii. Foetterle, Franz, don. to lib., xxix. Fox, Rev. Chas., don. mus., xxxiii. East India Company, Hon., don. to lib., xxxii. Ecole des Mines, don. to lib., xxvii., xli. Edwards, Amory, don. to mus., xi. Emerson, Dr. G., don. to mus., vi. Emmons, E., don. to lib., xxv. Engleman, Dr. Geo., don. to lib., vi. Evans and Shumard, descriptions of new fossil species from the Creta- ceous formation of Sage Creek, Ne- braska, 163; descriptions of new fos- sil species from the fresh water ter- tiary formations of Nebraska, 164. Entomological Society of Stettin, don. to lib., xx., xxix. Field, Roswell, don. to mus., xxxiii. Geological Society of Germany, don. to lib., ii., ix., xiii., xx., xxviii., xxix., xxxix. Gilliss, Lieut., U. S. N., don. to lib., xxxix., xli. Gillette, F. B., don. to mus., xxxvii. ,' Gould, Aug. A., don. to lib., xli. Grateloup, Dr., don. to lib., xl. Garcia, Jose Ant. G. y, don. to lib., xli. Girard, Chas., don. to lib., vi., x., xviii., xxv., xxix. ; on a new Ento- mostracan of the family Limnadidae, inhabiting the western waters, 3 ; notice of a new species of Salmonidae from the N. E. part of the U. States, 85; a list of the N. American Bu- fonids, with diagnoses of new species, 86 ; descriptions of new Fishes col- lected by Dr. Heermann on the Pacific railroad route, 129 ; enumeration of the species of Fishes collected by Dr. Kennerly at San Francisco, Cal., 141; observations on a collection of Fishes made on the Pacific coast of the U. States by Lieut. Trowbridge, U.S.A., 142 ; characteristics of some carti- laginous Fishes of the Pacific coast of N. America, 196 ; abstract of a report to Lieut. Gilliss, U. S. N., upon the Fishes collected during the U. States Naval Astronomical Ex- ped. to Chili, 197 ; abstract of a re- port to Lieut. Gilliss, U.S. N., upon the Reptiles collected during the U. S. Naval Astronomical Exped. to Chili, 226 ; notice upon viviparous Fishes inhabiting the Pacific coast of N. America, with an enumeration of the species observed, 318. Gibbons, Dr. W. P., don. to mus., vii.; Vlll. INDEX. Descriptions of new species of vivi- j parous Fishes of California, 105 ; des- criptions of new species of marine ami fresh-water Fishes of California, 122. Gilliams, Wm., don. to mus., xiv. Genth, Dr., Herrerite identical with Smithsonite, 232 ; analysis of the me- teoric Iron from Tucson, province of Sonora, Mexico, 317. Geological Society of London, don. to lib., ii., vii., xi., xv., xxv. Geolog. and Polytech. Soc. of AV. R. Yorkshire, don. to lib., vii. Gibbes, Dr. Robert W., don. to mus., xxvi. Goddard, Dr., don. to mus., vii., xi. Gouhenaut, A., don. to mus.,xi. Gray, Asa, don. to lib., ii., iii., xviii. Guex, John A., don. to mus., xiii., xvii., xxxvii. Gillou, Constant, don. to mus., xxxiii. Haldeman, Prof., don. to mus., vii. ; remarks on the Limnadella described by Mr. Girard, 34. Hall, Jas., don. to lib., iii. Hallowell, Dr. Edward, don. to mus., xvii., xxvi.; descriptions of new Rep- tiles from California, 91 ; on a genus and species of Serpent from Hondu- ras, supposed to be new, 97 ; remarks on the geographical distribution of Reptiles, with descriptions of new species, &c, 98; notice of new Rep- tiles from Texas, 192 ; description of new Reptiles from Guinea, 193. Hallowell and Leidy, Dis., don. to mus., xxxvii. Hanson, H. C, don. to lib., xv., xx. Hare, Lieut. G. H., U. S. N., don. to mus., xvii. Harrison, Joseph, Sen., don. to mus., xxi. ; vote of thanks of the A. N. S. to, for portraits presented, 255. Hartman,Dr. W. D., don. to mus., vii., Hammond, Dr. W. A., U. S. A., don. to mus., xxxiii., Harris, Edward, don. to mus., xxxiii. Harrison, N., don. to mus., xxxvii. Hauer, M. Von, don. to lib., xl. Heermann, Dr. A. L., don. to mus., vii., xi., xiv.,xxxii.; additions to N. American Ornithology, with descrip- tions of new species of the genera Actidurus, Pociiceps and Podylym- bus, 177. Hamilton, Wm., don. to mus.. vii. Henry, Dr. T. Charlton, U. S. A., notes derived from observations made on the Birds of New Mexico, during the years 1853-4, 306. Hering, C. T., don. to mus., xxxii. Hist. Soc. of Penna., don. to lib., viii. Horner, Dr., don. to mus., xxv. Horwitz, Dr. J., U. S. N., don. to mus.. iv. Hughes, J. C, don. to mus., xxxvii. Humboldt, Alexander, don. to lib., ix. Imperial Acad, of Sci. of Bordeaux, don. to lib., vi., ix., xxxv. Imperial Soc. of Nat. of Moscow, don. to lib., iii., ix., xxxix. Imperial Soc. of Nat. Sci. of Cherbourg, don. to lib., v., xxxv. Imperial Soc. of Sci. of Lyons, don< to lib., xxxix. Imperial Soc. of Agriculture of Lyons, don. to lib., xxxix. James, Thos. P., an enumeration of Mosses detected in the northern U. States, which are not comprised in the Manual of Asa Gray, M.D., some of which are new species, 444. Jones, Joseph, don to mus., xi., xxxiii., xxxvi., xxxvii.; an abstract of expe- riments upon the physical influences exerted by living organic and inor- ganic membranes upon chemical sub- stances passing through them by En- dosmose, 204. Jolis, M. Auguste de, don. to lib., v. Journal of Indian Archipelago and East- ern Asia, don. of, by Editors, i. vii., xv., xx., xxv., xxxv. Kennedy, Dr. H. W.. don. to mus.,iv., ix., xxx. Kilvington, Robert, don. to mus., xiv., xvi. xxvi. Kirtland, Prof., don. to mus., xi., xiv. King, Dr. Alfred T., on the ancient al- luvium of the Ohio River and its Trib- utaries, 4 ; Description of Fossil Trees in the coal rocks near Greens- burg, Pa., 64; Description of Fossii Fruit found in the Carboniferous Rocks of Beaver County, Pa., 66. Koninck, L. de, and H. Le Hon. don. to lib., xxvii. Kolliker, A., don. to lib. xxi. INDEX. IX. fvrider, John, don. to mus., i., iv.. xxvi. Kuhn, Carl, don. to lib., xxi. Lacordaire, Theo., don. to lib., ix.; xxvii. Lambert, John, don. to mus., i., vii., xxxiii. Lapham, J. A., don. to lib., xv., xxix., xxxii. Latour, M. H., don. to lib., xv. Latrobe, J. H. B., don. to lib., xxiv. Latham, G., don. to mus., xxxiii. Lawson, the Misses, don. to lib., xxxv. Lea, Isaac, don. to mus., i., vii., xiii., xiv., xxx. ; don. to lib., xii., xxii.; xxiv., xxvii., xxxiv. ; remarks on Acostaea guarduasana of D:Orbigny, 1 ; rectification of Mr. T. A.Conrad's " Synopsis of the family Naiades of N. America," published in the Pro- ceedings of the A. N. S. of Philada., Feb., 1853, 236 ; reference to the tanned skin of the Walrus, used for polishing cutlery, at Hull, England, 265 ; description of a new Mollusk, from the Red Sandstone near Potts- ville,Pa., 340. Le Conte, Major, don.to mus.,xxxvii. ; notice of American animals formerly known, but now forgotten or lost, 8 ; remarks on Magnolia Pyramidata of Bartram, 174 ; descriptions of four new species of Kinosternum, 180; Catalogue of American Testudinata, 189 ; observations on the Vespertilio Leporinus of Lin., 190 ; descriptions of new species of Astacus from Geor- gia, 400 ; on a new species of Gelasi- mus, 402 ; remarks on two species of American Cimex, 404 : Descriptive Catalogue of the Ranina of the U. States, 423 ; observations on the N. American species of Bats, 431; des- cription of two new species of Hes- peromys, 442. Le Conte, Dr. John L., don. to mus., i., vi., xiv. ; don. to lib., ii. ; descrip- tions of some new Coleoptera from ! Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Coop- j er, on N.Pacific R. R. route, 16; synopsis of the CEdemerida? of the U. • States, 20 ; note on the genus Ambly- chila, Say, 32 ; synopsis of the species j of Platynus and allied genera inhabit- ing the U. S., 35 ; remarks on a frag- ment of the jaw of a new Pachyderm from the Tertiary of Virginia, 69 ; synopsis of the Cucuiides of the U. j S., 73 ; synopsis of the Dermestidae of the U. S., 106; synopsis of the Byrrhidae of the U. S., 113 ; synopsis of the Erotylidae of the U. S., 158; descriptions of the species of Trox and Omorgus inhabiting the U. S., 211 ; some corrections in the Nomen- clature of Coleoptera found in the U. S., 216 ; descriptions of new Coleop- tera collected by Thos. H. Webb, M. D., in 1850-1-2, while Sec'y to the U. S. Boundary Commission, 220 ; re- marks on tailless Cats, 286; remarks on some misrepresentations contained in the " Catalogue des larves des Coleopteres,'Jby M. M. Chapinsand Candeze, 288; Analytical Table of the species of Hydroporus, found in the IJ. S., with descriptions of new species, 290; synopsis of Lathridiide of the (J. S. and northern contiguous Territories, 299: notes on the Amara>. of the [J. S., 345 ; synopsis of the Hydrophilida? of the TJ. S.,^356. Leeds Philosophical and Literary Soc, don. to lib., vii. Leidy, Dr. Joseph, donvto mus., i., vi.. xiv., xxi., xxiii., xxx., xxxiii. ; don. to lib., xviii., xxxi., xxxviii. ; re- marks on exhibiting to the Society four vertebrae of a huge extinct Sau- rian from Arkansas, for which he pro- posed the name of Brimosaurus gran- dis, 72 ; remarks on Sus Americanus of Harlan, or Harlanus Americanus of Owen, which he considered identi- cal with Bison latifrons, 89 ; remark- on several fossils indicating new species of extinct mammalia, 90 ; re- marks on the dentition of a new- species of mammal from Nebraska, which he characterized under the name of Dinictis felina, 127 ; re- marks on Prof. Lindley's review o! "A Flora and Fauna within living animals," 128; synopsis of Extinct Mammalia, the remains of which have been discovered in the Eocene formation of Nebraska, 156 ; descrip- tion of a fossil apparently indicating an extinct species of the Camel tribe. 172 ; on Urnatella gracilis and a new species of Plumatella, 191 ; notice of Fossil Bones discovered by Mr. F. A. Lincke, on the banks of the Ohio river, 199; remarks on exhibiting a drawing of a species of Hydraena found in the mantle of Unio purpu- reus, 202 ; remarks on the question of the identity of Bootherium Cavi- frons with Ovibus moschatus, or O. X. INDEX. maximus, 209; remarks on the so- called Fossil man exhibited in New Orleans several years since, 340 ; indications of twelve species of Fos- sil Fishes, 395 ; indications of five species with two new genera of Ex- tinct Fishes, 414 ; remarks on Esca- rina variabile, 415; notices on some Tape worms, 443. Letters from Individuals : — Adamson, Rev. J. C, 339. Bernsee, Capt., 287. Borda, Eugene,202. Brucke, Prof. Ernest, 285. Carpenter, G. W., 34. Couch, Lieut. D. M., 15. Dalton, John C, Jr., 203. Dalton, Dr. H. G., 264. Deane, Dr., 287. Dearing, Dr. W. E., 256. Dock, Geo., 23, 255. Dowler, Dr. Bennett, 202. Dos Santos, C. A., 418. Drinker, Sandwith, 167, 174. Enderling, Dr. Charles, 35. Flujjel, Dr. J. G., 195. Foulke, Wm. P., 22. Fox, Rev. Chas., 121. Gibbons, Dr. W. P., 15, 90, 345. Garcia, J. A., G. y., 419. Hare, Lieut. G. H., 202. Harrisom, Joseph, Jr., 255. Hagedorn, C. F., 385. Humphreys, W., 339. Huston, Dr. M. H., 89. Kennedy, H. W., 345. " King, Byron, 339. Kirtland, Prof. J. P., 174. Kuntz, G. H., 23. Landes, John, 202. Lea, Isaac, 1. Le Conte, Prof. John, 1. McClellan, Capt. Geo. B., 287. Michellotti, Giovanni, 121. Moore, Samuel, 418. Molkenboer, Dr. J. H., 203. Muller, Baron J. W., von, 1 . Peale, Chas. Wilson, 419. Piddington, Henry, 285. Prout, Dr. Hiram, 285. Pratten, Henry, 174. Rathvon, S. S., 202. Ruschenberger, Dr., 286. Sandberger, Dr. Guido, 415. Sauvalle, F. A., 409. Smith, Prof. J. L., 22. Tarbe, Prosper, Pres. Nat. Hist. Soc. Rheims, 339, 340. Vernueil,Ed. de, 287. Vauquelin, M., 15. Wailes, Prof. B. L. C.,202. Wetherill, Mrs. M. K., 15. Wilson, Prof. J. L., 167. Letters from Societies, &c. — Acad. C. L. C. Nat. Curiosorum, 255, 344. Acad, of Science of Berlin, 415. Acad, of Naturalists of Breslau, 34. 128. Amer. Ethnolog. Soc, 126. Amer.Philosoph. Society, 23, 69, 89, 289, 345.^ Belfast Royal Hist. Soc, 89. Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist., 339, 341. British Museum, 203, 419. California Acad. Nat. Sci., 173, 385. Entomolog. Soc. of Stettin, 339. Geolog. Soc of London, 289, 339. Imperial Soc of Sci. &c of Lisle, 285. Imperial Acad, of Sci. of Bordeaux, 409. Imperial Royal Institute of Sci. of Milan, 409. Imperial Soc. of Naturalists of Mos- cow, 15, 70, 399, 418. Leipsic City Library, 202. Linnean Soc. of London, 339. Lyceum of Nat. Hist, of New York, 23, 167, 173, 285. Minister of Public Works and Direct, of Mines of France, 419. Museum of Nat. Hist, of Strasburg, 127. Nat. Hist. Asso. of Prussian Rhine- land and Westphalia, 203,419. Nat. Hist. Asso. of Halle, 15. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Geneva, 255. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Dantzic, 339. N. York State Library, 15, 89, 127, 173, 202, 285, 348, 3S5. Penna. Slate Library, 89, 121. Portland Soc. of Nat. Hist., 69, 70. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Stockholm, 23, 70, 255, 409. Royal Saxon Soc. of Sci., 88, 415. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Vienna, 88, 195, 203,339, 345,399. Royal Bavarian Acad., 126,203, 339. 899. Royal Imp. Geolog. Inst, of Vienna. 128,418. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Belgium, 174. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Liege, 195. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Amsterdam, 202, 419. Royal Soc of Sci. of Gottingen, 203, 399. Royal Lib. of University of Gottin- gen, 341. Royal Soc of Sci. of TJpsala, 399. INDEX. XI. Royal Mineralogical Soc. of St. Pe- tersburg, 399. Royal Danish Soc. of Sci., 409. Royal Acad, of Sci., &c of Lyons, 418. Royal Soc. of Agriculture, &c, of Lyons, 418. Smithsonian Institution, 70, 121, 2S5, 385. Soc. of Nat. Hist, of Cherburg, 34, 409. Soc. of Arts and Sciences of Batavia, 341, 415. Wurtemburg Nat. Hist. Soc, 255, 345 Zoological Soc. of London, 264. Lewis, E. J., don. to lib., xxiv. Lewis, Dr. Samuel, don. to mus., xxxvii. Lindsley, Dr. Berrian, don. to lib., vi. Lichtenstein, Dr. H., don. to lib., xiii. Liner, Dr., U. S.-N., don. to mus., xxv. Linnean Soc. of London, don. to lib., xxviii. Lombardy Inst, of Sci., &.c, don. to lib., xxxv. Long. Dr.E., don., to mus., vii. Librarian, Report of, for 1854, 252 ; for 1855, 449. . Martins, Chas. and B. Gastaldi, don. to lib., xvi. Mayer, Prof., don. to lib., xxi. McCall, Col. Geo. A., don. to mus., i., xiv., xvii., xxiii. McClellan, Capt. Geo. B., don. to mus., xxvi. McMurtrie, R. C., don. to mus., xxxiii. Meigs, Dr. Charles D., don. to mus., vi. Meigs, Dr. J. Aitken, revised edition of the "Catalogue of Human Crania," in the collection of the late Dr. S. G. Morton, 420. Mitchell, Messrs. E. & J. M., and L. Brognard, don. to mus., xxx. Merrick, John, don. to mus., xi. Miller, Edward, don. to mus., xxiii. Michelin, H., don. to lib., xxviii. Mitchell, Dr. S. W., don. to mus., i. Mitchell, Dr. J. K., don. to mus., xvii. Morris, Dr. J. Cheston, don. to mus., xxx. Morris, Rev. John D., don. to lib., xxxi. Moore, Wm., don. to mus , xxxiii. Moss, T. F., don. to mus., xi. Motchoulsky, Victor, don. to lib., iii. Miiller, Baron J. W. de, don. to lib., ii. Muller, Dr. T. D., don. to mus., i. Murray, Andrew, don. to mus., xxxii. Members elected : — Barcroft, Stacey B., 395. Barton, Isaac, 285. Borda, Eugene, 173. Brown, Dr. Robt. F., 418. Cadwalader, Wm.,285. Clements, Dr. Richard, 395. Dock, Dr. Geo., 22. Drysdale, Dr. Thos. M., 339. Fassit, Francis, 201. Freeman, Dr. Wm., 254. Geylin, Emile, 173. Gillou, Constant, 34. Guex, John A., 201. Hartshorne, Dr. Henry, 337. Harrison, Joseph, 165. Harding, George, 22. Hagedorn, C. F., 397. Hering, C. J., 408. Hilgard, Dr. Theo., 337. Howell, Samuel D., 418." Humphreys, G. H., 408 Hooper, Dr. Wm. H., 254. Hunt, Dr. Wm., 264. Laroche, Rene, Jr., 414. Lewis, Dr. Samuel, 414. Luther, Dr. Diller, 337. Mallery, Garrick, 165. Mcllhenny, Dr. Wm. S., 88. Merrick, J. V., 67. Messchert, M., 337. Moore, Dr. Samuel, 418. Morris, Dr. J. Cheston, 337. Negus, Jas. Engle, 34. Newbold, Dr. Thos., 201. Pennypacker, Dr. Isaac, 173. Piatt, Clayton I., 34. Rogers, Fairman, 22. Rush, Madison, U. S. N., 384. Smith, J. Brinton, 126. Smyth, Samuel, 3S4. Spackman, Rev. Henry S., 395 Taggert, J. Edwards, 337. Tiedemann, Henry, 395. Turner, Dr. J. W., U. S. N., 22. Tyson, Job R., 88. Vanderkemp, Dr. J. J., 67. West, Hilborne, 408. Woodward, Dr. J. J., 384. National Institute, Washington, don. ro lib., xxviii. Nat. Hist. Asso. of Prussian Rhine- land and Westphalia, don. to lib., xx., xxxix. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Halle, don. to lib., ii. XH. INDEX. New Orleans Med. and Surg. Journ.,' Rand, Dr. B. H., don. to mus., vi., don. of, by Editors, ix., xii., xvi., ! xvii. ; don. to lib., iii., xxvii., xxii. xxxiii. ; remarks on presenting a specimen of Uranite from the W. Banks of the Schuylkill River near Fairmount, 286 ; remarks on a speci- men of Cyanide and Nitride of Tita nium, from the salamander of a blast furnace, at Spring Mill, 409. Rand, Theo. W., don. to mus., xxiii. Rank, Wm., don. to mus., xxxiii. Ravenel, A. H., don. to mus., xxxi., New York Journ. of Med., don. of, by Editors, i., v., viii. New York Lyceum of Nat. Hist., don. to lib., viii. New York State Library, don. to lib., x., xxxi. New York Med. Times, don. of, by Editors, xxiv., xxv., xxxviii. New York Inst, for the Blind, don. to lib., xxiv. New York Quarterly, don. of, by Edi- tors, xxiv., xxxi. Norwood, J. G. & H. Pratten, don. to lib., xxxii. Nott, Dr. J. C, don. to lib., xl. Nott, Dr. J. C. & G. R. Gliddon, don. to lib., vi. Orficers elected for 1854,253; for 1855, 453. Ord, George, don. to mus., xiv., xxvi. Remarks on the project of erecting a Mo nm ent to the memory of Alexandpr Wilson, at Paisley, Scotland, 415. Owen, Richard, don. to lib., xxxi. Patent Office of the U. S., don. to lib., xv., xxxiv. Patterson, Wm., don. to mus.,xxi. Penna. Hist. Soc, don. to lib., xxii. Penna. State Legis. Library of, don. to lib., xxiv. Pickering, Dr. Charles, don. to lib., v. Piddington, H., don. to lib., ix., xxviii. Pierce, H., don. to mus., xxxvii. Portland Soc. of Nat Hist. A complete sett ot the Publications of the A. N. S., of Philada., presented to, 34. Powel, Samuel, don. to mus., xxiii. Powell, J. E., communication on the habits of the Moose, as observed in the State of Maine, 342. Power, A. E., don. to mus., xxx. Pratten, Henry, don. to mus., xiv., xvi. Pryor, Dr. Charles, don. to mus., xi. Pottsville Sci. Association, don., to lib. , xxviii. Quevenne, M., don. to lib., ix., xxxii. Quesnet, Edward, don. to lib., xl. xxxii., xxxix. Retzius, Prof. A., on artificially formed skulls from the ancient world, 405. Redfield, Wm. C, don. to lib., xv. Rice, Wm., don. to mus., iv. Riddle, Dr. J. M., don. to lib., xxi. Ritchie, Capt. J. H., don. to mus., i. Robeson, A., don. to mus., vi. Royal Acad, of Science of Turin, don. to lib., xxxv. Royal Acad., of Science of Madrid, don. to lib., xxxv. Royal Acad, of Science of Stockholm, don. to lib., ix. Royal Acad, of Science of Vienna, don. to lib., ix., xii., xx., xxvi., xxix., xxxiv. Royal Acad, of Science of Amsterdam, don. to lib., xviii., xxxix. Royal Imperial Geological Inst, of Vi- enna, don. to lib., ix., x,, xxvii., xxix., xxxix. Royal Inst, ot Science of Lombardy, don. to lib., xxxv. Royal Saxon Soc. of Science at Leipzig, don. to lib., ix., xxxix. Royal Soc of Science of Gottingen, don. to lib., xxxiii. Royal Society of Edinburgh, don. to lib., iii., xxvii., xxxv. Royal Netherlands Inst, of Science, don. to lib., v. Royal Soc. of Liege, don. to lib., xxiii. Ruschenberger, Dr., don. to mus., i>, vii., xxiii-, xxxvii. ; don. to lib., viii., x. Reports of Committees :— On Mr. Girard's paper on an Entomo- stracan, 3 ; nominating Wm. P. Foulke, Esq. to deliver an Oration on the Anniversary (1854) of the So- ciety, 14 ; in favor of the expediency of assembling the members at an Anniversary Dinner, (1854) 14 ; on publication of Part 4, Vol. 2, N. S. of the Journal, 22 ; on two papers by Messrs. Norwood and Pratten, of the Illinois Geological Survey, on new IM-EX. Mil. species of Producti and on new sp-3 cies of Chonetes, 121 ; on Dr. Hallo well's contributions to S. American Herpetology, 165; on Dr. Holbrook's Description of Fishes of Florida, 195 ; to prepare a memorial to Con- gress soliciting aid to Dr. Kane and his companions in their Arctic perils, 255 ; on Messrs. Norwood and Prat- ten's Notices of Fossils from the Carboniferous series of the Western States, 284 ; on Prof. Julien Derby's Remarks on the Cryptogamic Flora of the State of Georgia, 284 ; on Mr. i'urand's paper, " Plantse Pratteni- aniae," &c, 336; on Dr. J. Aitken Meigs's paper entitled Relation of Atomic Heat to Crystalline foim, 395; of Committee appointed in 1852, to collect funds for the enlarge- ment and improvement of the Hall of the Aead. Nat. Science of Philada., 447 ; of Committee appointed in J 853, to superintend the enlargement of the Hall of the A. N. S., 449: on Mr. Cassin's Description of a new species of Parrot, 418. Resolutions ; to present the thanks of of the Society to Mr. John A. Guex for a collection of Coleopterous Insects, 195 ; To present a copy of the " Proceedings " of the Academy to the Nat. Hist. Soc. of Schuylkil Co., Pa., 201 , to appoint a Commit- tee to draft a memorial to Congress to send an Expedition for the relief of Dr. Kane and his companions in the Arctic regions, 253 ; relative to a proposal made by the Board of Re- gents of the Smithsonian Institution to change the system of Administra- tion of said Board, 284 ; inviting The members of the American Med. Asso. to visit the Museum of the Academy, 289 ; appointing a Committee to re- ceive the members of the American Med. Asso., 336; on the occasion of Mr. George Ord's visit to Europe, 336; granting privilege of giving tickets of admission to the Muse- um, to Mrs. Margaret Harlan, 341; presenting the thanks of the Academy to Senor S. A. Sauvalle of Havana, for a donation of Shells, 409; pre- senting a se't of the Proceedings of the A. N. S., as far as published, to Prince Charles L. Bonaparte, 422 ; to invite the Educational Convention about to assemble in Philadelphia, to visit the Museum of the Academy, 422. Sauvalle, F. A., don. to mus., xxxiii. Sandberger, Dr. G., don. to lib., x. Saussure, H. F. de, don. to lib., xv,, xxiv. Secretary, Corresponding, Report of, for 1854,264; for January, 1855,264. Secretary, Recording, Report of, for 1854,249. Sergeant, J. D., don. to mus., i., iv., xiv., xxxvii. Sampson, Jas., don. to mus., xxiii., de- scriptions of some new Marine In- vertebrata, 385. Silliman, Prof. B. Jr., on the supposed Human Footprints in the new Red Sandstone ot Connecticut, 409. Shaw, Dr. A., don. to mus.,xiii Situreaves, Capt. L., don. to lib., x. Smith, Aubrey H., don. to mus., xiv. Smith, Charles S., don. to mus., xvii. Smith, Dr. F. G., don. to lib., xv. Smith, Dr. L., don. to mus., iv. Smith, C. E., don. to mus., xxvi. Smithsonian Institution, don. to mus., iv., xxiii., xxxvii. ; don. to lib., vi., xii., xvi-, xvii., xviii., xxxiv. Society of Nat. Hist, of Strasburir, don. to lib., xiii. Society of Nat. Hist, and Phys. of Ge- neva, don. to lib., xii. Society of Arts, London, don. to lib., vii., xx., xxii., xxiii., xxviii., xxxvi. Societe Zoologique d' Acclimatation, don. to lib., xxv. Society of Nat. Hist, of Neufchate], don. to lib., xl. Speakman, John, decease of, 23. Squire, E., don. to lib., xviii., xxix. Stevens, Henry, don. to lib., xx. Stimpson, W., Descriptions of some new Marine Invertebrata from the Chinese and Japanese seas, 375. Stauffer, J., don. to lib., i. Storer, D. H., don. to lib., xvii. Sullivant, W. S., don. to lib., iii. Tasgert, Dr. W. H., don. to mus., xxxiii. Tappan, Rev. H. P., don. to lib., iii. Thomas, Prof. W. H. D.,don. to mus-, xxi. Thompson, Zadock,don. to lib. x. Tingley, Dr. W. H., don. to lib., ix. Torrey, Dr. John, don. to lib., x. Tuomey, M., Descriptions of new Fos- sils from the Cretaceous Rocks of the southern States, 167. Trask, Dr. J. B., don. to lib., xxviii. Trautwine, John C, don. to lib., xxiv X1Y. INDEX. Troschel, Dr. F. H., don. to lib., ix., xx., xxiii., xxvii., xxix. Trowbridge, Lieut. W. P., U. S. A., don. to mus., xv. Uhler, Philip R., Descriptions of a few species of Coleoptera supposed to be new, 415. University of the State of New York, don. to lib., viii., ix., xxxi. United States National Observatory, don. to lib., xxii. Van Beneden, Prof. P. J., don. to lib., xiii. Vaux, W. S., don. to mus., i., iv., vi., xvii., xviii., xxiii., xxvi. Vaux, Elwyn, Clay and Carpenter, Messrs., don. to lib., xxiv. Virginia Med. and Surg. Journ., don. by Editors, i., iii., v., viii., x., xii., xv., xvi., xxi., xxii., xxiv., xxv., xxviii., xxxi., xxxii,, xxxiv., xxxv.,xxxix. Wailes, B. L. C., don. to mus., xxv.; don. to lib., xxii. Warren, Dr. J. C, don. to lib., ix. xxxi. Warder, Prof., don. to lib., xxi. Watson, Dr. G., don. to mus., i., iv., xvii., xxiii., xxvi. Wheatley, Charles M., don. to mus., vi., xxvi., xxx. Wetherill, Dr. C. M., don. to lib., xv., xxxi. ; remarks on the action of char- coal on animal substances in promot- ing their rapid destruction, 203 ; Chemical notices, 233. Weitenweber, Dr., don. to lib., ix. Whit""" ^ ^nr- +n ,"1* "■■ **** Yeates, J., don. to mus., vii. Zantzinger, Dr. W. S., don. to mus., i. Zantedeschi, Ab. Francesco, Cav., don. to lib., xl. Zoological Garden of Amsterdam, don. to lib., xxxiv. PROCEEDINGS or THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. January 3dy 1854. Mr. Lea, Vice-President, in the Chair. Letters were read : From Baron J. W. Yon Miiller, dated Brussels, Nov. 23d, 1853, transmitting the works announced this evening, and also making en- quiries respecting the feasibility of establishing a Zoological Garden in Philadelphia. From Prof. John Le Conte, of Athens, Georgia, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. From Mr. Isaac Lea, dated Philadelphia, Dec. 30th, 1853, returning acknowledgments for his election as a Vice-President of the Academy. A paper was presented for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " On a new Entomostracan of the family Limnadidae, inhabiting the Western waters. By Charles Girard." Beferred to Drs. Leidy, Bridges and Buschenberger. A paper intended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " On the Ancient Alluvium of the Ohio Biver and its Tributaries, by Alfred T. King, M. D.," was read and referred to Mr. Vaux, Mr. Lea, and Dr. Buschenberger. Mr. Lea exhibited to the Academy a specimen of D'Orbigny's Acostcea giia- d/casa?ia, which he owed to the kindness of that distinguished zoologist, during Mr. Lea's visit to Paris last year. This genus he reminded the members was identical with the Mulleria of Ferussac, as he formerly suggested, and was afterwards satisfied to be the case on seeing the original specimen, described by Ferussac in 1823, which is now in the fine collection of Mr. Delesert in Paris. Mr. Lea stated that although the specimen figured by D'Orbigny had quite a length of stem connecting the young portion of the shell, the Anodonta form, with the mature portion, the Ostrea form, yet this was not necessarily or uni- formly so. In the case of his own specimen this was very different. It hap- pened, as is sometimes the case with the genus Ostrea, a. dead valve was filled up by a subsequent living individual ; and on close examination, there were really dis- covered to exist two specimens of the Anodontiform age ; one on the old single valve at one end, and another on the reverse end appertaining to the living speci- men, having the epidermis on it perfect. Neither of these specimens had a stem, PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VII., NO. I. 1 2 [January; but advanced directly from the form of the Anodonta to that of the Ostrea, leaving the young beaks directly on the edjje of the valves. Mr. Lea thought that the difference of length of the stem, or the absence of it in various specimens arose from the fact of the young individual finding sooner or later something solid to commence the soldering of the under valve to, and then to spread out the area of the valve. On motion, so much of the communication of the Baron Von Milller' as relates to the establishment of a Zoological Garden in this city was referred to the following Committee : Mr. Ord, Mr. Vaux and Dr. Bridges. January 17 th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from Capt. John H. Ritchie, U. S. N., dated Phila- delphia, Jan. 10th, 1854, accompanying the donations to the Museum acknowledged at last meeting. Also a letter from J. Pemberton Hutchinson, Esq., dated Philadel- phia, Jan. 16th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of elec- tion as a Member. Mr. Conrad presented for publication in the Journal, a Synopsis of the Genera Parapholas and Penicilla ; which was referred to Dr. Ruschen- berger, Dr. Le Conte and Dr. J. A. Meigs. Mr. Lea exhibited a large and beautiful crystal of limpid quartz, cut into facets, which he had obtained in Italy. On leave granted, the Committee, to which was referred Baron Miiller's communication relative to the establishment of a Zoological Gar- den in this city, presented a report adverse to the same, the Committee being firmly impressed with the opinion that the project would not succeed, from " the difficulty of procuring a suitable locality, of convenient access, within the city or its precincts ; the great amount of capital required in the outset of the undertaking, and the precarious nature of the tenure, in this country, of all that depends upon popular favor." The Report was adopted, and a copy directed to be transmitted to Baron Miiller. January %4:ih. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Major Le Conte presented a paper, for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Notice of American Animals formerly known, but now for- gotten or lost." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Ruschenberger and Dr. Henderson. On leave granted, Mr. Foulke, after stating that it was probable the U. S. Government would fit out shortly an Expedition for the explora- tion of Africa, suggested the appointment of a Committee to urge upon the Government the propriety of having Naturalists attached to the Expedition. Whereupon on motion the following was adopted : Resolved j That a Committee of five members be appointed, whose duty 1854.] 3 it shall be to take such steps as they may deem expedient to recommend to the Government the scientific exploration of Africa. Committee, Dr. Ruschenberger, Dr. Leidy, Mr. Lea; Prof. Carson and Dr. Hallowell. Junuary 31 si. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred the following papers, severally reported in favor of their publication in the Proceedings : On a new Entomostracan, of the family LimnadidjE, inhabiting the Western waters. By Charles Girard. LIMNADELLA, n. g. Gen. Char. — Eye one. Antennae subequal, provided upon their inferior side with long and plumose setae, whilst on the upper side there are short, slender and simple spines. Two elongated tape-shaped jaws. Eeet in twenty-lour pairs, provided upon their extremities and sides with slender and plumose setae, or hairs. A series of spiny processes along the posterior half of the dorsal line. Post abdominal plate very large. Nutritive system phlebenteric. Observations. — This genus diners from Limnadia in being provided with one eye only, instead of two. Also by its antennae, the two pairs of which are similar in structure, whilst in Limnadia one pair is smaller than the other. The post abdominal plate and number of feet will afford other distinguishing charac- ters between Limnadella and Limnadia. From Cyzicus or Estheria it differs, first, by the structure of the shell, which in Estheria resembles that of an Area, whilst, in Limnadella, it is altogether Cyproid in its general aspect. There is a marked difference between these two types in the structure of the an- tennae, the joints of which are provided on their upper part with numerous spines in Limnadella, whilst in Cyzicus there is but one single spine at the anterior edge. The structure of the feet is likewise dissimilar, being furnished with plumose setae in Limnadella. Limnadella Kitet, n. sp. Spec. Char. — Shell : elongated, subelliptical, thickest anteriorly ; twice as long as deep ; anterior, inferior, and posterior margins regularly continuous ; upper outline somewhat irregular on account of the beaks being rather promi- nent. Valves uniformly convex. Greatest depth one eight of an inch, greatest length one quarter of an inch. Specimens may occasionally attain to a larger size. Color, deep or light brown, mottled with black. Animal : antennae composed each of twelve or thirteen subequal joints. Twenty-four pairs of feet, the six posterior ones diminishing gradually away so as to render the last three rudimentary. The last of all is inserted upon the last caudal segment but one. There is a broad sub-triangular plate, terminated by two pairs of very large spines, curved upwards; the inferior pair being longer and slenderer than the up- per one. The concave margin of that plate is furnished with a series of quite small spines. On the uppermost part of the post-abdominal plate is inserted a pair of very delicate sword shaped appendages, very difficult to be observed even with a good microscope. Along the posterior half of the back there exists a series of sixteen processes, provided upon their upper and posterior sides with about five or six minute curved spines, the tip of which is bent backwards. The anterior two of these processes are but rudimentary ; the most developed occupy the middle of the series; the posterior ones again diminish gradually as they approximate the post-abdominal plate. Specimens collected at Cincinnati were sent to the Smithsonian Institution by Thomas Kite, of that city. 4 [January, On the Ancient Alluvium of the Ohio River and its Tributaries. By Alfred T. King, M. D., of Greensburgh, Pa. The Ohio River, and all its tributaries which I have examined, are bounded by an ancient alluvial deposit, rising from one to two hundred feet above the present beds of those streams, and extending from half a mile to nearly two miles in width. In the brief description which I design to give of these deposits I shall com- mence with that extensive and remarkable one at the mouth of the Beaver River. This is a beautiful and romantic stream, rising in the northern part of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. It runs nearly south, and empties into the Ohio river about thirty miles below Pittsburgh. At its mouth are two small towns, Rochester on the east and Bridgewater on the west. The town of Beaver, which is the seat of justice of Beaver county, is situated on the hill immediately above and west of Bridgewater, on an alluvial plain, two miles and a half in length, one mile, or nearly so, in width, and one hundred and thirty feet above the bed. of the Ohio, stretching along the northern shore of that river. Although wells have been sunken, in different parts of the town, 128 or 130 feet, which would be about on a level with the bed of the Ohio, still no one has penetrated through this deposite. The strong probability is, therefore, that it extends many feet beneath the present bed of the river. On the opposite side of Beaver river this deposite stretches along the Ohio, about three quarters of a mile. At both ex- tremities it is apparently transferred to the opposite side of the river, in conse- quence of the present curving of the stream, which causes the water to impinge against the base of those lofty hills which everywhere skirt the shores of this picturesque river. Seldom does the Ohio, or any of its numerous and mighty tributaries, flow through the centre of this ancient alluvium, for this deposite is seen every now and then on opposite shores. On the eastern side of Beaver river this deposite is 20 or 30 feet higher than it is at the highest point on Beaver plain, w hich would make it there about 150 or 1 60 feet, above the bed of the Ohio. At the most eastern extremity the hills are com- posed of fine sand and loam, containing fluviatile and terrestrial shells of the genera A?iodo?ita, Unio, Planorbis, Paludina, Limnea and Helix. Nearly the whole of the residue of this deposit at Rochester, Bridgewater and Beaver, is composed of nodules of argillaceous oxide of iron, and of rounded, polished river pebbles, from the size of gravel to the size' of a man's head and upwards. At the town of Rochester, the Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad Company has made an extensive cut of about eighty feet through this mass of iron nodules and river pebbles. Here it exhibits symptoms of stratification. Commencing at the summit, there is first a thin seam, which composes the surface soil, of sandy loam, then loose pebbles, below which there is a seam of eight or ten feet of conglomerated pebbles cemented together with an oxide of iron. So- firmly bound together are these pebbles, that the workmen, when making the cut, were obliged to blast them, and I am told that they encountered much more difficulty than they ordinarily do in more solid, compact rock. Below this is a seam of ignitable bituminous coal, about one inch and a half in thickness, extending entirely through the cut, and always preserving the same relative position. Below this coal were loose pebbles again, and so on, alternately, from the summit to the base. Doubtless this tendency to stratification in alluvial, as well as in marine de- posites, may be accounted for that streams at different periods transport different materials, but the continuous seams, and vast masses of hydrate of alumina, frequently seen in alluvial bluffs, particularly in those of the Mississippi river, and the pure crystals often seen imbedded in solid sedimentary rocks, clearly indicate the existence of chemical affinity between some of the particles of sediment, in connection with mere mechanical deposition. Beaver river is a small stream, not larger than the Mohawk, but its scenery is exceedingly beautiful. Its calm and placid bosom reflects vividly like a 1854.] 5 mirror the tall mountain cliffs, and the magnificently variegated scenery of the autumnal landscape. The deep gorges and dark precipitous ravines which cut transversely the lofty hills which rise like mountains on each side, and the broad alluvial plains which bound its shores, lined for miles with beautiful towns and villas, where the sound of cheerfulness and the hum of industry are everywhere heard, render the scenery exceeding interesting and picturesque. From the mouth of this river to the town of New Brighton, a distance of about three miles, the alluvium is composed principally of pebbles, resembling those already described. Here it is about one hundred and fifty feet in depth, at the highest point, and about three quarters of a mile wide. From this point to a distance of from ten to fifteen miles above, this deposite is strewed over with immense masses of transported angular rocks, derived from the neighboring hills. These rocks are of all sizes, and, in places, very numerous, strewed about in every direction, and piled upon each other in the most irregular manner. There are several enormous piles of these quartzose rocks, or coal grit, about eight or ten miles from Rochester, lying upon the brow of a hill, which over- looks the river, and more than two hundred feet above its present bed. Some of these masses will weigh thousands of tons. There is one wrhich is probably in situ, which will measure twenty feet in height, and over one hundred feet in circumference, much shattered below, where it is grooved, rounded, and smoothed by the long continued action of running water. This rock presents a singular aspect to the observer who attempts to account for its present form, and its relative position with the river below. It is surrounded by huge but smaller masses of the same character, all exhibiting the same wearing and polishing action of running water, and piled upon each other in the wildest confusion. I descended with Dr. Barker, of Beaver, who kindly accompanied me, this precipitous hill, along a narrow and winding path to the river below. All the way we passed over and around similar piles of rocks, and for miles above this point found a similar condition of things to exist. Most of these rocks are dis- tinctly traceable to their parent hills, still higher up the stream. The enormous size of some of these transported rocks, and the unequivocal evidence of the wearing action of running water upon them, indicate that they were carried by a long continued, turbulent and impetuous stream, which had been, previous to this exhibition of its maddening fury, in a comparatively quiet and placid condition, during which time the subjacent alluvial sediment, before described, was deposited. It may be proper to mention here, that in connection with these angular masses of quartzose grit, I found, not unfrequently, syenitic, granitic, porphyritic, greenstone boulders, &c, &c, which were exceedingly hard, rounded and polished, similar to the more common quartzose pebbles. The largest which I saw connected with the angular rocks wTould not weigh more than a few hundred pounds. But about three hundred feet above the head of little Beaver creek, a tributary of the Ohio river, and about twelve miles from the locality I am now describing, there are boulders of granite and other primary rocks lying upon the summit of a hill, which will measure thirty feet in circumference. Indeed the hills, which here contain the enormous cannel coal vein of from fourteen to eighteen feet in thickness, are strewed over with boulders of primary rocks, and the diluvial scratches and groovings are visible in places. These hills are, in some places, 300 feet high. At different points along Beaver river, and at heights of more than a hundred feet above its present bed, I observed convincing indications of the grooving, smoothing and polishing action of running water, on the solid sandstones of the adjacent hills. These workings were unquestionably produced by the river when it flowed over this alluvial plain. The same kind of markings I observed in the hills which skirt the shores of the Ohio. About fifteen miles below Pittsburgh, at a place called the Narrows, I observed, at the height of more than a hundred feet above the river, the solid sandstones polished and grooved, as if channelled by the moulding instrument of a joiner, and even pot holes are worn into their sides. 6 [January, Nearly the entire cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Cincinnati are built upon this remarkable deposite. From Pittsburgh to Wilkinsburg, seven miles east, it is seen stretched along the northern shore of the Monongahela river, and nearly two miles in width. To this remarkable locality I will now briefly direct attention. Passing from Greensburgh to Pittsburgh, along the turnpike, it will be observed that the last anticlinal roll of the Allegheny chain of mountains is at Grapeville, four miles west, and the last synclinal trough, which is but imperfectly formed, is about three miles further west. From this point the beautiful undulations which are so characteristic of the Allegheny chain, die away, and the rocks assume nearly a horizontal position. Their horizontality, however, is only appa- rent, for they really rise, at an almost inappreciable angle, westward. From this point to within seven miles of Pittsburgh the general geological and topo- graphical structure of the country remains nearly the same. At the summit of the hill, which overlooks the town of Wilkinsburg, standing upon the limestone which is super-imposed upon the great Pittsburgh seam of coal, the observer beholds, more than a hundred feet beneath him, a beautiful and extensive alluvial plain, bounded on the north by hills, which separate it from the Allegheny river valley, and which contain the coal and limestone to which allusion has just been made, and on the South by the Monongahela river. The whole of this great seam of coal and the incumbent limestone, to the depth of three hundred feet, have been swept away by a process of denudation, and their places partially supplied by an alluvial deposite over one hundred feet in thickness, and about the same height over the present bed of the Monongahela river. As the Pennsylvania Railroad passes over this deposite I shall avail myself of the measurements which are given in one of the last annual reports of the Com- pany. The elevation of the Ohio river at Pittsburgh, above tide, is given at 700 feet. The elevation above tide at Wilkinsburg is 922. There would, there- fore, be a difference of tidal elevation between Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg of 222 feet. After substracting 22 feet feet for the fall of the river between these two points, we would have 200 feet for the depth of the deposite. If we assume that the shale and limestone upon which this vast deposite re- poses, and which will be presently described, are from 200 to 300 feet beneath the Pittsburgh seam of coal, we will be enabled to form some idea of the enor mous denuding process, by which this river excavated its channel, and after- wards deposited upon its ancient bed, in some places, over two hundred feet of sedimentary matter. This is, of course, only an approximative estimate ; but from all the data which I have been enabled to procure, the average depth may be safely assumed at from one hundred to two hundred feet. In consequence of the great depth of this deposite at Wilkinsburg, I, at one time, conjectured that the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers met, at some antecedent period, and formed the Ohio, either at this point or at East Liberty, which are from five to seven miles East of their present junction. To satisfy myself on this curious point, I crossed the plain at Wilkinsburg, three quarters of a mile, to the base of those lofty hills which separate the two great alluvial valleys, and found that the whole region was composed of river pebbles, sand and loam, with which were mingled fluviatile and terrestrial shells. Near the Frankstown road, which is nearly two miles in a straight line from the Monongahela river, I saw some men excavating a well. They had gone down to the depth of twenty or thirty feet, and had passed through nothing but pure river sand and pebbles, meeting occasionally only with an Anodonta or a Unto. Near this point I crossed the dividing hills, and descended along a narrow path to the road which winds along the bank of the Allegheny river. Here I found this ancient deposite presenting: nearly the same appearances, and of about equal magnitude to the one on the Monongahela side. In the neighborhood of Laurenceville it is of great breadth, and of not less than two hundred feet in hickness. 1854.] 7 The hills which separate these Two ancient alluvial valleys are a continuous chain, and of sufficient altitude to constitute an effectual barrier to the mingling of the waters of these two rivers, at any point nearer than their present con- fluence at the city of Pittsburgh- I observed at Rochester, New Brighton, and at different points along the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, that this deposite reposes on a dark colored shale, sometimes passing into more compact slate. As I was descending a hill on the Frankstovvn road, near East Liberty, I discovered an old acquaintance, a thin stratum of calcareous rock, on which the shale re- poses, and which — in contradistinction to other limestones, belonging to the coal series — I have denominated the ^rj^a-limestone. This is a somewhat peculiar rock, characterised by containing a vast number of small bivalve shells, belonging to the genus Atrypa, etc. When long exposed to the atmosphere, its external surface readily disintegrates, and presents a rag- ged and shaly appearance, the surface being covered with small Atrypa and pro- jecting joints of Encrinites. In some localities I have found in this rock the genera Terebratula, Trilobites, Plei/.rotomaria, Productus, Spirifer, Bellerophon, Euomphalus, Ammonite and Orthoceratite. But the joints of Encrinites and the small Atrypa are the charac- teristic fossils, and distinguish it from all other limestones belonging to the car- boniferous series. This limestone, in Westmoreland county, is seldom found more than two or three feet in thickness. But near the Ohio line I found it over ten feet, it being there a very compact and durable rock, well adapted for agri- cultural and other purposes. It is exposed at numerous points in Western Penn- sylvania, and uniformly presents similar lithological and paleontological cha- racters. I mentioned, at the commencement of this paper, that this ancient alluvium was traceable everywhere along the Ohio river and its tributaries which I have examined, and doubtless along those which I have not so closely surveyed. Those tributaries to which my attention has been more particularly directed, are the Beaver, Allegheny, Monongahela, Youghiogeny, Kiskeminitas, Loyalhanna and Conemaugh rivers, etc., etc. But in the brief and necessarily imperfect delinea- tion of these remarkable deposites, which I have attempted to give, I have con- fhied myself to a few localities only, leaving a more extended and minute description for some future period. It is not at all improbable that those high bluffs which bound the vast alluvial valley of the Mississippi river (which is from thirty to fifty miles in width), were deposited at the same period. Also the alluvial terraces on which the city of Cincinnati is built, the highest of which is 120 feet above the level of the Ohio river; and doubtless the natural terraces and ridizes of Lake Erie and Ontario, which were so graphically delineated by Mr. Charles Whittlesey, of Cleveland, in the July No., 1850, of the American Journal of Science. For, in all these localities, fossil teeth and other bones of the mammoth and mastodon have been found imbedded in this deposite. These animals, which were once the lords of the creation, the primates of this lower world, perished and became extinct in that last grand revolution, during which I presume these ancient sedimentary deposites were slowly and gradually elevated to their pre- sent position, and which immediately preceded the advent of man. From the whole of this investigation my mind has been convinced that the relative position of the rivers and this ancient alluvium through which they now pass, or along whose borders their waters deeply flow, has changed since the period of deposition. But when, and in what manner, or by what cause, are questions not so readily answered as proposed. The hypothesis of local oscillations, first proposed many years ago by Sir Charles Lyell, to account for the deposition of the Rhenish loess, will, with slight modifications, I believe, clearly explain all the phenomena connected with this post tertiary formation. Indeed, from the numerous facts upon which this hypothesis is based, it may be regarded as an exceedingly plausible theory, if not a legitimate induction. It has lonj; been ascertained that various parts of the earth's surface are now, and perhaps ever have been, undergoing slow and gradual oscillatory movements. 8 [January, Parts of Sweden, Norway, and the shores of the gulf of Bothnia, have been long gradually rising. Also extensive regions of South America have been undergoing a slow but gradual upheaval, during a period of many centuries. On the other hand, the gradual sinking of the coast of Greenland, for the space of more than six hundred miles, during the last 400 years, has been more incon- trovertibly established by actual markings and critical examinations made by the most astute minds. Large portions of the earth's surface have been suddenly upheaved, whilst others have as suddenly subsided. The whole coast of Chili was suddenly elevated several feet by the earth- quake of 1822, producing terrible commotion in the sea, and sending vast waves over the ocean, which doubtless transported huge masses of rocks many miles from the shore. In 1611, an earthquake sank the town of New Madrid, on the Mississippi river, several feet beneath the waters, the vibrations of which continued three months. Many other facts of an analogous character might be adduced, but these are sufficient to show that various parts of the crust of the earth are now under- going oscillations, and that it is not at all improbable that the hydrographical basin of the Ohio may have undergone, at some remote period, similar move- ments. First we may suppose that there was a gradual subsidence during a period, perhaps, of many centuries, of the whole hydrographical basins of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and even extending beyond che limits of their tributary streams. This depression of the land would necessarily lessen the fall of the waters into the Gulf of Mexico, and increase the alluvial deposite. After a cer- tain indefinite period we can readily suppose that this process of subsidence was reversed, and the whole as gradually upheaved, until the rocks were brought to their present altitude, when the oscillation ceased. During this slow upward movement the waters would necessarily cut their channels through the alluvial deposite, which had been thrown down during the process of subsidence. At the commencement of this upward movement we may suppose a sudden upheaval to have occurred in Beaver county, somewhat analogous to that on the coast of Chili, in 1822, which would produce such commotion and recoil of the waters in Beaver river as to cause them to impinge, with terrific force, against the projecting rocks of the adjacent hills, rive them asunder, and pile thein as they are now found, over its ancient alluvial bed. Afterwards, the process of elevation may have been as gradual as that of the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, which amounts only to two or three feet in a century. In corroboration of this view I may mention, that although the rocks are nearly horizontal, yet the hills which skirt the shores of this beautiful stream are often seen cracked from the base to the summit, and the strata, in places, much disturbed. Also, the dark, yawning gorges, and broad and deep ravines, cutting entirely through the hills, indicate, I think, that the rocks here of the ancient coal measures have undergone great disturbance since the period of their original deposition. Notice of American Animals, formerly known, but now forgotten or lost. By John Le Co.nte. The writers of the last century have left us descriptions of several animals which modern research has not since been able to detect. In looking over the works of these authors, who favored the world with their knowledge so long ago, it necessarily happens that we find their descriptions more or less imper- fect, either from the insufficient manner in which they were made, or from that brevity of expression which was then fashionable in natural science. Hence 1854.] 9 has arisen much confusion and indecision. I have selected from these writers of a former age, the following animals which appear to have heen then well known, but are now forgotten or overlooked ; I beg leave to call the attention of natur- alists to this subject, with the hope that they may be all found and accurately described, or else struck out from the number of those enumerated among the productions of America. Felis rufa, or Bay Cat of Pennant, Arc. Zool., vol i. p. 51. With yellow irids, ears erect, tufted with black long hair; color of the head, body, and outside of the legs and thighs a bright bay, obscurely marked with dusky spots; the forehead marked with black stripes, from the head to the nose; cheeks white, varied with three or four incurvated lines of black; the under and upper lip, belly, and inside of the legs and thighs white, the inside of the upper part of the fore legs crossed with two black bars ; the tail short, upper part marked with dusky bars and near the end with one of black, the underside white; fur short and smooth ; twice the size of a common cat, (that is 27 inches long,) said to come from the interior of New York: probably erroneous. Described by Mr. Pennant from the living animal. The common wild cat of our country, found in all the northern, southern, and western states, has in latter years been confounded with this species ; I think, however, they cannot but be distinct. Mr. Pennant, the best naturalist that England has ever produced, could never have confounded two animals so dis- similar. It is true, in describing one, he had before him the living animal, in the other a dried skin, but of the last, he could examine hundreds. He certainly could not have mistaken the indistinct brownish grey of the one for bright bay, nor could the last color have faded into the other. The common wild cat, however, never should have been called Felis rufa, even if it was identical with Pennant's animal, as Ray had described it in his Synopsis Methodica Animalium, p. 169, as Catus montanus. If these two ani- mals are the same, why has the name given so long even before the birth of Pennant, been discarded, in defiance of the rule of priority in nomenclature ; when it was last described, it was easy to restore the name of montanus. A just regard for the name of Ray, if nothing else, surely demanded this. A description follows of the Felis montana, as I knew it in Georgia, made from numerous specimens either living or recently killed, including probably every variation to which the animal is liable. Felis montana. Mountain Cat, Pennant, Arc. Zool., vol. i, p. 51. Catus mon- tanus, Ray, Synops. Method. Animalium. Above, hair mixed dusky, and pale brown, top of the head brown striped lon- gitudinally with dusky, cheeks with dark brown, back with dusky ; the last sometimes wanting. Irids yellow, ears black, upright, and slightly pencilled, especially during the winter; with a broad, transverse, cinereous bar. Cheeks on each side with a large semicircular tuft of long hair. Legs spotted with dark brown, sides most frequently obscurely spotted with the same, sometimes, how- ever, not spotted; chin and throat white, with a black stripe on each side, form- ing an angle ; sometimes these stripes are wanting, or very faintly marked in « pale brown. Belly, inside of the thighs, and hind part of the fore legs whitish, spotted with black. Tail, above, generally very faintly annulate with brown; these rings often disappear; tip black, beneath white, which color appears on the upper part at the tip, whenever the hair is in any way disturbed. Feet beneath dusky or dark brown. Mean length of 12 specimens 31 inches, tail 6. I have given the foregoing very full description, that it may be compared with the preceding. Most of the marks which are common to the two, belong to al- most every species of the genus Felis. I add two obscure species, of which but little is known. I am not willing to pronounce them distinct from each other or from the montana, without farther examination. The first was seen in Califor- nia by my son, and the description and measurements were made by him ; the other is extracted from Lewis and Clarke's travels. 10 [January, Californian Wild Cat : Above, mottled white, black, and fuscous, lighter on the sides, which are slightly barred; beneath, white; legs fuscous, with black bars, much more dis- tinct on the anterior ones, which are anteriorly white. Ears large, rounded, black, with a white spot connected with the mastoid part, tip with a short tuft. Tail short, blunt, barred with darker, tip black with an extreme white point. Length 31 inches, tail 6, head 4.5, height 1.5. Lewis and darkens Wild Cat : Larger than the wild cat of the United States; color of the back, neck, and sides reddish brown, irregularly varied, with small spots of dark brown, tail two inches long and nearly white, except the extremity which is black; it terminates abruptly, as if amputated. Belly white, variegated with small black spots, legs of the same color as the sides. The back is marked transversely with black stripes; ears black, on the outer side covered with short fine hair, except at the upper part, where it is furnished with a parcel of fine, straight, black hair three- fourths of an inch long. The hair of the animal is long and fine. This animal was called by Rafinesque, Felis fasciata. I have declined adopt- ing his name, as he never saw it, and was too much in the habit of describing things by hearsay, with as much confidence as if he had himself procured them, and had them lying before him. A drawing or an engraving was sufficient for him to make a new genus from, as was often the case, I am sorry to say, with authors of more credit. Both Charlevoix and Dupratz, mention a species of Felis in Louisiana, which appears not to have been lately seen ; they call it Pichoux; the following is a description of it — Pichoux : Upper part of the head, neck, back, sides, shoulders, and thighs bright tawny, face striped downwards with black, shoulders and body marked with stripes and large oblong black spots, the legs with small spots, breast and inner side of the legs and thighs whitish, spotted with black ; tail long, marked with black, taw- ny, and grey. Size of a common cat, (about 18 inches). Does not appear to be the Felis pardalis, from its smaller size, and probably different markings, besides being in some of the under parts white. If this ani- mal is no longer found in Louisiana, it is highly probable that it may be met with in Texas or New Mexico. Animals at one time extremely common in any particular country, will suddenly leave it without any visible cause. As an in- stance of this : previous to the year 1820, no bird was more common in that part Georgia where I resided, than the Conurus Carolinensis or Parakeet. They would pass through the air in flocks of from 50 to 100. They suddenly all disappeared, and for more than thirty years, not one has been seen where they were so abun- dant. Travellers through Texas and New Mexico, would do well to look for this beautiful species of cat. The Chat sauvage, described by Dupratz, vol. ii., p. 93, is an animal well worth enquiring about. He thus describes it : — Chat sauvage : He says that it does not feed on animal substances, but on fruits, bread, and other vegetables. It seems that it wras easily and often tamed. It is gentle and frolicsome, and not more than 8 or 10 inches high and about 15 long. The head like that of a fox : when tamed the color is grey ; when wild, red : its paws have long toes and short claws ; it has improperly been called a cat, as it has nothing of the cat about it but its activity, and bears a greater resemblance to the marmot. 1854.] 11 Silvery Fox, of Louisiana, Penn. I. c, p. 48. With a fine and thick coat of a deep brown color, overspread with long silvery- hairs of a most elegant appearance. They differ from most other American species in their habit of burrowing. The description is borrowed from Dupratz, vol. ii., p. 92. This can hardly be the Canis velox. Pennant in Supp. to Arctic Zoology, p. 52, mentions a whitish grey fox, no larger than a hare, common among the Archithinne Indians, 4000 skins of which have been brought in one year to the British factories. The Comanche Dog : Common among the Comanche Indians. Naked, except a few stiff hairs about the mouth. This dog is mentioned by Clavigero, vol. i., p. 56, as an inhabitant of Mexico, called by the natives Holoitzuicintli. It is remarkable that though some of these dogs have been brought within the United States, we have no description of them : they are quite large, being upwards of two feet high, and used by the natives for hunting. Here is an instance of the absurdity of those writers who state, that climate has an influence in altering the appearance of animals ; thus they tell you that the so-called Turkish dog, which is hairless, has been made so by its progenitors living for numerous generations in a warm climate ; now here we see an animal equally naked, which inhabits the moun- tains and cold steppes of the south-west. Of a similar character is the assertion that sheep lose their wool in the Southern States, and in the West India Islands. The Water Rat of Pennant, 1. c, p. 130. With small eyes, ears covered with fur, teeth yellow, body covered with long black hair, mixed with a few of a rust color, belly of a deep grey. A Mouse of Louisiana : Mentioned by Dupratz. Not larger than Mus musculus, of a very bright bay. These are all the mammals which I can collect, as worthy of being called im- perfectly known, or rather lost to modern naturalists. I now proceed to consider the Birds. Vultur sacra : Bartram's Travels, p. 150. The head and neck are bare of feathers nearly down to the stomach, where the feathers begin to cover the skin, and soon become long and of a soft texture, forming a ruff or tippet, in which the bird, by contracting his neck, can hide that as well as the head ; the bare skin on the neck appears loose and wrinkled, which is of a very deep bright yellow color, intermixed with coral red as it approaches the yellow of the sides and fore part. The crown of the head is red; there are lobed lappets of a reddish orange color, which lie on the base of the upper man- dible. But what is singular is, a large portion of the stomach hangs down on the breast of the bird, in likeness of a sack or half wallet, and seems to be a dupli- cature of the craw, which is naked and of a reddish flesh color, this is partly concealed by the feathers of the breast, unless when it is loaded with food, and then it appears prominent. The plumage of the bird is generally white or cream colored, except the quill feathers of the wings and two or three rows of the co- verts, which are of a beautiful dark brown; the tail which is large and white, is tipt with this dark brown or black, the legs and feet are of a clear white ; the irids golden ; the pupil black. The tail was used by the Seminoles as a war standard. Dupratz, vol. ii., p. 109, mentions this bird under the name of White Eagle, and says that the Indians in whose neighborhood he lived, the Natchez, used the feathers for adorning their pipe of peace. Ferruginous Woodpecker : Pennant, 1. C, p. 271. With a dusky bill, the crown and pendant crest of a pale yellow ; a crimson bar extends from the mouth along the lower part of the cheek. The cheeks, 12 [January, back, and coverts of the wings are of a'deep ferruginous color, lower part of the back of a pale yellow ; primaries ferruginous, barred on their inner webs with black. Sent from South Carolina to Mr. Pennant, by Dr. Garden ; therefore there can be no doubt of its having been obtained near Charleston, although no one has ever seen it since. The high character of both these gentlemen forbids us to suppose that there was any deception on either side, either in sending the animal to Europe, or in its habitat. The Florida Pheasant : Mentioned at page 20 of Stork's introduction to John Bartram's Journal of Travels in East Florida. I have had described to me a bird, which must have been this, as inhabiting the hummocks on the banks of St. John's River, but I never had the good fortune to meet with it. Norton Sound Bustard, Penn. vol. iii., p. 321. A Captain Rich informed Mr. Pennant, that at Norton's Sound, in latitude 64° 30', he had seen great flocks of a large bird which were very shy, ran very fast, and for a considerable way before they took wing, so that he could never get one shot. Black Ibis, Bartram's Travels, p. 148. Black on the upper side, breast and belly white, legs and beak as white as snow. Size of Ibis alba. Red-billed Heron, Pennant, Supp., p. 65. With a red bill. Irids yellow, legs green, plumage white. There are many of the smaller birds of America described by Pennant, that I am convinced are not now known, and many more that have lately been de- scribed as new species, that were well known to the English naturalist. Not being, however, sufficiently acquainted with the ornithology of our country, I cannot, without devoting too much time to the subject, determine which they are. It has all along been the custom with American naturalists, entirely to neglect everything that this illustrious man and elegant scholar has written on the subject of our animals; but it would be a labor well repaid by the thanks of every lover of science, if any one would go over his Arctic Zoology, and give us the scientific names of every thing which he has described. There remain only a few reptiles to be added to this list : there can be no dif- ficulty in obtaining them if they really exist, and I cannot see how any one can doubt of their existence. A very little attention on the part of persons living where they are said to be found, would soon make us acquainted with them. Trionyx, of Bartram. Travels, p. 177. They are flat and thin, two and a half feet in length, and eighteen inches in breadth across the back ; in form resembling the sea tortoise, the whole back shell except the vertebrae or ridge, which is not at all prominent, and ribs on each side, is soft and cartilaginous, and easily reduced to a jelly when boiled ; the an- terior and posterior extremities of the back shell appear to be embossed with round horny warts or tubercles ; the belly or nether shell is but small and car- tilaginous, except a narrow cross bar connecting it at each end with the back shell, which is hard and osseous ; the head is large and clubbed, of nearly an oval form, the upper mandible is however, protruded forward and truncated, somewhat resembling a swine's snout, at the extreme end of which the nostrils are placed ; on each side of the base or root of this proboscis are the eyes, which are large. The upper beak is hooked and sharp like a hawk's bill ; the lips and corners of the mouth large, tumid, wrinkled and barbed with long pointed warts which can be projected or contracted at pleasure, which gives the creature a frightful and disagreeable countenance. Inhabits St. John's river, Florida. It is a remarkable circumstance, that although this tortoise is found as it were at our very doors, no one has ever seen it since the venerable author of the pre- 1854.] 13 ceding description noticed it in his travels. There can be no doubt of its exist- ence in St. John's river of Florida, and that it can be obtained at any time. Although it is represented in the figure attached to the description with five claws on all the feet, this does not detract from the truth of the account. If this be an error, I attribute it to his not having made a complete drawing of it at the time when he first saw it, and afterwards having finished it from memory ; from this may have resulted the error, if there is one. Although I do not see any more difficulty in a Trionyx having claws on all his toes, than in a Cistudo having three claws when it has five toes j in this case there is a subtraction, in the other an addition. It has been said that this wa3 an incorrect and exaggerated figure of the Trionyx spiniferus (spinifer) of Lesueur. Nothing can be more absurd than this assertion. Lesueur's species has on the front part of the cara- pace a series of small pointed warts not easily discoverable, while Bartram's animal has larger extensible and contractile tubercles on the head and neck. I remember when it was much the custom to ridicule Mr. Bartram, and to doubt the truth of many of his relations. For my own part I must say, that having travelled in his track I have tested his accuracy, and can bear testimony to the absolute correctness of all his statements. I travelled through Florida before it was overrun by its present inhabitants, and found every thing exactly as he re- ported it to be when he was there, even to the locality of small and insignificant plants. Mr. Bartram was a man of unimpeached integrity and veracity, of primeval simplicity of manners and honesty unsuited to these times, when such virtues are not appreciated. Apalone hudsonica, Rafinesque, Annals of Nature, p. 3. Upper shell rounded-elliptical, fiat, entire, soft, with a small anterior keel, yellowish with brown spots, and a circular black line near the margin. Two long oculated spots before and behind the eyes. Nose proboscidal; jaws with- out a bill. Lower shell anterior. Body denudated behind. Tail obtuse, mu- cronate, shorter than the shell. Five palmated toes to all the feet, with small claws. Length 2 to 6 inches. Found in the Hudson river between the falls of Hadley, Glen, and Baker, and further up to the source. Called Mud Turtle. Although this description was published long ago by Rafinesque, no one, that I know of, has ever thought fit to look for the animal. Now, although Rafin- esque was certainly insane and apt to see and describe things wrhich had no real existence, yet when his descriptions appear full and complete, and his localities accurately specified, it certainly is worth while to look for the objects he pro- fesses to have seen. Why do not some of our young naturalists take such things in hand ? Advancing age forbids me. The slender Lizard, Penn. Supp., p. 86. About eight inches long, as slender as a crow-quill; head small, tail blunt and of equal thickness ; body marked from head to tail with lines of pale brown and black, belly lead color ; top of the nose and tail white. Salamandra. 1 once saw, and indeed had in my possession, a Triton or Salamandra, which was sent from New Orleans, of which the following is a short description. I add it in this place because it was a most extraordinary animal. Dusky, speckled with yellowish white, and inclining to blown on the belly ; everywhere except on the belly and tail covered with small warts, so as to re- semble shagreen; tail blunt, with a narrow fin wrinkled longitudinally and trans- versely so as to appear striated and articulated. Length 5 in. .75. The preceding are all the animals which I can find that have once been more or less particularly described, but of which at present no one knows anything. I might have added to the list many that have been described by Rafinesque, but the most of them appear in their coloring, as well as in other characteristics, so opposed to everything known of congeneric species, as to render it extremely probable that the author was laboring under some delusion when he published 14 [January, them. It is well known that he was in the habit of describing things which he never saw, and in his eagerness to claim a priority in discovery, to describe the same object two or three times over under different names. It is to be hoped that the reading of these few pages will turn the attention of naturalists in the Southern and Western States to the investigation of the few species pointed out as forgotten or lost, and that we will not remain long with- out knowing whether they have a real existence. The Committee on Mr. Conrad's " Synopsis of the Genera Paraph ol as and Penicilla " reported in favor of publication in the Journal. A report was read from a Committee appointed at the meeting of 3d inst., to inquire into the expediency of having an Address delivered be- fore the Society at its Anniversary on the 21st of March next, and to nominate a suitable person to prepare such an Address, recommending the same, and nominating Win. Parker Foulke, Esq. The Report was adopted and the nomination confirmed. A Report was also read and adopted from a Committee appointed at a late meeting to enquire into the expediency of assembling the members of the Academy at an Anniversary Dinner on the same day, (21st of March,) and in favor of the same. A Resolution was also adopted, appointing a Committee of Arrange- ments for the occasion. Committee, Dr. Ruschenberger, Mr. Cassin, Prof. Carson, Mr. H. C. Hanson, and Mr. Wm. P. Foulke. ELECTION. Lieut. D. M. Couch, U. S. A. was elected a Correspondent. The Society then elected the following list of Standing Committees for 1854. Committees for 1854. Ethnology, John S. Phillips, B. H. Coates, M. D., J. Aitken Meigs, M. D.j Comparative Anatomy and General Zoology, Joseph Leidy, Edward Hallowell, John H. Brinton ; Mammalogy, John Le Conte, James C. Fisher, Samuel W. Woodhouse ', Ornithology, John Cassin, Edward Harris, George A.McCaU; Herpetology and Ichthyology , Edward Hallowell, John Cassin, Gavin Watson ; Conchology, T. A. Conrad, Thos. B.Wilson, W. S. W. Ruschenberger; Entomology and Crustacea, S. S. Haldeman, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Robert Bridges ; Botany, Robert Bridges, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Elias Durand ; Palaeontology, Thomas B. Wilson, Joseph Leidy, Charles E. Smith ; Geology, Isaac Lea, Aubrey H. Smith, J. P. Lesley ) Mineralogy, William S. Vaux, Samuel Ash- mead, John C. Trautwine; Physics, James C. Fisher, B. Howard Rand, Edmund Draper; Library, Robert Pearsall, Wm. P. Foulke, H. C. Hanson ; Proceedings, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Joseph Leidy, W. S. W. Ruschenberger. 1854.] 15 February ItJi. Mr. Lea, Vice-President, in the Chair. Letters were read : From the Natural History Association of Halle, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, vol. 6, No. 6, and transmitting the volume of Memoirs of that Society, announced this evening. From the Trustees of the New York State Library, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, vol. 6, No. 12. From Mrs. M. K. Wetherill, dated Philadelphia, Feb. 1st, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the Resolution adopted Dec. 27, 1853. From Dr. W. P. Gibbons, Corresponding Secretary of the California Academy of Natural Sciences, dated San Francisco, Dec. 31, 1853, ac- companying the botanical specimens presented this evening. Mr. Lea read a paper entitled " Rectification of Mr. T. A. Conrad's Synopsis of the Family of Naiades of North America, published in the Proceedings of the Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, February, 1853." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Prof. Haldeman and Dr. Wilson. February 21st. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read : From Lieut. D. M. Couch, U. S. A., dated Washington, Feb. 7th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Corres- pondent, From the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, dated October 6th, 1852, transmitting the numbers of the Balletin of that Society an- nounced this evening. From M. Vauquelin, dated Paris, Aug. 20th, 1853, transmitting a pamphlet on the subject of certain instruments, and a new suture for the treatment of Ectropion, invented by him. The Corresponding Secretary read from the Placer Times and Tran- script, (published at San Francisco,) Jan. 14th, 1854, an extract from the Proceedings of the California Academy of Natural Sciences, claim- ing priority of description of viviparous fish inhabiting the Bay of San Francisco, for Dr. Wm. P. Gibbons. Dr. Gibbons proposes the generic name Holconote, and for one species H. Agassizi. For another species the California Academy proposed H. Gibbonsensis. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Descriptions of some Coleoptera from Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper, &c, &c. j" and also a second paper entitled " Synopsis of the (Edemeridag of the United States ;" both of which were referred to Dr. Zantzinger, Prof. Haldeman and Mr. Cooke. 16 [February, February 2§th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. The Committee on Dr. Le Conte's papers read at the meeting of 21st inst., reported in favor of publication. Descriptions of some new Coleoptera from Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper of the North Pacific R. R. Expedition, tinder Gov. J. J. Stevens. By John L. LeConte, M. D. The following species were contained in a collection recently made by Dr. Cooper, and kindly placed in my hands by Prof. Baird. The total number of species collected was nearly 70; among which are specimens of Omus De j e a n ii and Audouini. Among the described species, not before noticed in our territory, is Ancylochira L a n g i i, (Buprestis Langii, Mann.) and among species also found on the Atlantic side of the continent, Haplochile p y g- maea, Lee {Morio pyg. Dej.), Clytus undulatus Say, Monohammus s c u- t e 1 a r i s Say, Hispa v i 1 1 a t a Fabr., Eumolpus a u r a t u s Fabr., Galleruca canadensis Kirby. This indicates, that notwithstanding the extensive collections which have been made both in California and Russian America, the Coleoptera of Western America are still comparatively unknown, and that consequently even small .collectious made by travellers, who have but little time to devote to science, will possess very great scientific value. Cicindela, n. sp. The thorax of the specimen has been destroyed, and the species can therefore be made known only approximately, until the native species of the genus have been properly arranged in systematic order. The species in question seems most closely allied to C. longilabris Say, which it resembles exactly in its markings, but the elytra are less deeply punctured, and of a dull greenish bronze color; the apex is broadly rounded and finely serrate; the suture is armed with a minute spine. The labrum is not longer than is usual in the species of the genus, and entirely resembles in form C. 12-guttata, having only one distinct tooth at the middle; the palpi (of the female) are black; the sculp- ture of the head precisely as C. 12-guttata. Platynus, a species resembling P. obsoletus (Feronia obs. Say,) in every re- spect except that the elytra are somewhat wider. I have not yet investigated this genus sufficiently to pronounce upon the value of such a difference. Carabus oregonensis, cyaneo-niger thorace fere opaco, latitudine vix breviore minus convexo dense intricato-rugoso, antice posticeque angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis posticis modice productis, apice rotundatis, lateribus pone medium subreflexis, elytris thorace fere duplo latioribus subtiliter striolato- punctatis, foveis minus profundis serie triplici impressis. Long. -85. One male found at Prairie Paso. This species is closely related to C. taedatus Fabr. (also found by Dr. Cooper,) but the thorax is proportionally smaller and narrower and much more densely and finely rugose ; the rugosities of the head are also smaller, and the impressions less deep ; the striae of the elytra and the impressed foveas are all less marked. Calosoma aenescens, nigroaeneus, crassiusculus, thorace latitudine plus duplo breviore, subtilius dense intricato-rugoso, basi utrinque late foveato, lateri- bus latius rotundatis pone medium modice reflexis angulis posticis paulo productis rotundatis, elytris thorace latioribus seriatim punctatis, foveisque aeneis triplici serie impressis, interstitiis catenatim paulo elevatis, tibiis intermediis rectis. Long. .8- Both sexes, found at Fort Vancouver. This species is very'different from C. tepidum and calidum by the thorax being less rounded on the sides and the pos- terior angles being distinctly prolonged. To Callisthenes it approaches by its form, but the wings are large, and the outer points of the antennae are entirely pubescent. The spaces between the foveas of the elytra are also quite distinctly elevated. 1854.] 17 Ancylochira a d i e c t a, supra splendide viridiaenea, dense punctata, crassius- cula, thorace latitudine fere triplo breviore, antrorsum anguslato, lateribus late rotundatis cuprascentibus, late canaliculate-, elytris lateribus late, sutura an- guste cupreis, costis utrinque 4, scutellarique cum sutura confluente elevatis laevibus nitidis, costa altera subsuturali fere integra adiecta, interstitiis dense punctatis, apice subemarginata. Long. *6, lat '25. One specimen found between Fort Vancouver and Yokolt Plain, in July. This species belongs to a group of species having the form of A. aurulenta and striata, but differs from all the others known to me by having obsolete costae in the in- tervals between the four ordinary costae, and by having an additional costa ex- tending nearly from the apex to the base between the elevated suture and the normal first dorsal costa. The head is entirely free from hair, and is uniformly punctured ; the under surface of the body is bright coppery, tinged with green, moderately punctured; the prosternum is broadly impressed between the coxae, and is not hairy. Ancylochira lauta, supra splendide viridi-aurea, dense punctata, fronte non concava fere glabra, thorace latitudine plus duplo breviore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus late rotundatis cuprascentibus, late canaliculato, elytris lateribus late, sutura anguste cupreis, costis 4, alteraque scutellari cum sutura confluente nitidis laevibus elevatis, interstitiis dense granulato-punctatis, apice vix truncata. Long. -58— '75. Abundant in Oregon, whence it has been brought by Dr. Townsend, Capt. Wilkes' Expedition, Col. M/Call and Dr. Cooper. Resembles the brilliant variety of A. striata, but is distinguished by its more robust form, and by the costae of the elytra being impunctured. A variety occurs in which the elytra have each a broad blue vitta, extending from the first to the third costa. The body be- neath is coppery, somewhat hairy, and the antepectus is impressed between the coxae ; the front has a narrow somewhat smooth medial line. Ancylochira radians, supra splendide'viridi-aurea, dense punctata fronte concava, longe albo-pilosa, thorace latitudine vix duplo breviore, antrorsum an- gustato, lateribus late subrotundatis cuprascentibus, disco late canaliculato, elytris sutura margineque cupreis, costisque quatuor alteraque scutellari cum sutura confluente nitidis elevatis laevibus, interstitiis dense granulato-punctatis, apice subtruncata. Long. *6, lat. -23. One specimen found at Fort Vancouver. It is with some hesitation that I venture to describe this species as distinct : its general form is narrower than A. lauta, and is very much that of A. striata: from the latter it differs by the somewhat concave and pilose front. The pectus is as in the other species, but is densely clothed with long white hair. The under surface is coppery golden, more densely punctured than in the preceding. Ancylochira pl'acida, viridi-aurea, cupreo-tincta, confertissime punctata, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore, antrorsum subangustato, lateribus late ro- tundatis, postice transversim impresso, elytris vitta cuprea utrinque ornatis, striis punctatis haud distincte impressis, apice conjunctim rotundatis, Long. «29. Collected by the late J. K. Townsend, in Oregon, and given me by Mr. Will- cox, as Phcenops placida of the Berlin museum. The form of body is more cylindrical than in the other species known to me; the pectus is not canaliculate, and the prolongation of the sternum is broader and more obtuse than in A. decora, or the other species with which I have compared it. The insect, though differing from Ancylochira in having the scutel slightly pointed behind, ap- proaches much nearer to that genus than to Phaenops, and until a revision is made of the genera of our native Buprestidae on more natural characters than have been hitherto employed in their study, should be suffered to remain where I have placed it. Ellycbnia facula, elongato-elliptica, atra tenuiter pubescens, thorace latitu- dine vix breviore, disco convexiusculo, lateribus et apice concavis reflexis punctatis, macula submarginali lunata rosea ornato, elytris dense punctulatis linea unica dorsali obsoleta utrinque notata. Long. *52. One specimen, Prairie Paso, differs from E. corrusca by its less dilated 2 18 [February. form, and longer thorax, and by Ike presence of only one elevated line on each elytron. Lytta Cooperi, atra, capite thoraceque laete fulvis, nitidis laevigatis, illo basi subemarginato, ante oculos nigro, hoc pentagonali, latitudine breviore, an- gulis lateralibus acatis, dorso deplanato, elytris lineis elevatis grosse reticulatis ; antennis extus incrassatis, articulis rotundatis, tibiis posticis calcari externo lon- giore dilatato. Lous- -73. Wenass river, to Fort Colville. It affords me great pleasure to dedicate this fine species to Dr. Cooper, to whose taste for natural history we are indebted for the present interesting collection. This species belongs to group (A — b) of my synopsis of Meloides, (Proc. Acad. 6, 334,) near L. vulnerata, but is very distinct by the reticulated elytra. Ditylus gracilis, elongatus ater, tenuiter pubescens, thorace latitudine lon- giore, obovato postice angustato, lateribus antice rotundatis, dense punctulato, late profunde canaliculato, disco utrinque ante medium subfoveato, elytrts subti- liter granulato-punctatis, lineis 4 distinctis subelevatis. Long. «63. One specimen found between Fort Vancouver and Yokolt Plain, in July. Very different from the two species mentioned on p. 20, by the more slender form and elongate thorax; the dorsal channel is dilated and bifurcated towards the apex and base of the thorax. Phymatodes aeneus, osneo-piceus, parcius pubescens, thorace latitudine bre- viore, rotundato punctulato, antice posticeque marginato, elytris thorace paulo latioribus, nitidissimis, parce punctatis, femoribus valde clavatis, antennarum basi rufescente. Long. *3. One specimen found betwreen Fort Vancouver and Yokolt Plain. Somewhat resembles in appearance P. sereus. Asemum a s p e r u m, nigro-piceum, tenuiter pubescens, capite scabro-punctato, oculis magnis valde emarginatis, thorace latitudine breviore rotundato, punctato, medio late excavato, versus latera punctis elevatis exasperato, elytris subtiliter scabris, lineis duabus obsoletis vix distinctis. Long. *7 — *9. Prairie Paso, July to August. This fine species seems intermediate between Criocephalus and Asemum ; the eyes, although nearly as large as in the former genus, are deeply emarginate; the antennae are hardly half as long as the body, and pubescent. The discoidal excavation of the thorax does not extend much in front of the middle. Crossidius ? h i r t i p e s, ater, thorace confertim punctato, latitudine breviore, lateribus obtuse armatis, basi marginata, disco utrinque pone medium subfo- veato, elytris confertim subtilius punctatis, fulvis, sutura basique nigro-margi- natis, abdomine sanguineo, basi obscuro ; subtus parcius longe pilosus, tibiis intus dense pilosis. Long. *5 One specimen, Wenass river to Fort Colville. The palpi and antennae are destroyed: it is possible that this should form a separate genus, but the man- dibles are emarginate at tip as in Crossidius, from which it seems to differ in having the thorax obtusely armed at the sides, as in Purpuricenus. The upper surface may have been hairy, as in C. testaceus, but the hair is now en- tirely removed. The elevated lines of the elytra are hardly visible. Toxotus flavolineatus, niger, flavo-pubescens, thorace antice posticeque valde constricto, nitido parcius punctulato, canaliculato, lateribus tuberculo magno acuto armatis elytris a basi angustatis, thorace duplo latioribus dense punctu- latis et rugosis, margine a basi fere ad apicem vittaque dorsali postice evanes- cente antice abbreviata utrinque ornatis, apice intus subtruncata. Long. 1*0. One specimen, Fort Vancouver to Yokolt Plain. On each side of the yellow dorsal vitta is a distinct elevated line. Strangalia vitiosa, nigra, flavo-pubescens, capite rufo-variegato, thorace confertim punctato, latitudine breviore antrorsum angustato, lateribus subangu- latis basique subito depressa testaceis, disco nigro, subcanaliculato, postice utrin- que oblique impresso, elytris punctatis fiavis, a basi angustatis, macula laterali 1854.] VJ ad medium apiceque late nigris, ilia oblique intus emarginata, pedibus testaceis femoribus tibiisque posticis ad apicem genubus tarsisque nigris, antennis pallido annulatis. Long. -7. Two specimens, one having the third joint of the antennae black, the other, having it pale at the base, like the following joints : Fort Vancouver and Prairie Paso. This species resembles very closely S. obliterata, but the thorax is shorter and more dilated posteriorly; the impressions are much stronger, and the disc is separated from the base by a sudden declivity ; the basal margin is also yellow, and there is no trace of the two elytral spots before the middle ; the apex of the elytra is not at all rufous. In the description of S. obliterata (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 328) the testaceous sides of the thorax and the annulate antennas are not mentioned ; they were overlooked on account of the dark color of the specimen from which the description was made. Plectrura product a, nigro-picea, parce griseo pubescens, guttulis flavo-pu- bescentibus parce adspersa, confertim rugose punctata, thorace callo dorsali parvo, elytris callis subquinque-seriatis nitidis parce ornatis, apice non crenula- tis, singulatim longe acuminatis, antennis annulatis. Long. «5. One specimen, Fort Vancouver. This species does not agree with the des- cription of P. sprnicauda Mann. (Bull. Mosc. 1852, 366). The thorax has a strong: lateral spine, with some smaller ones around it, as required in the generic description, but the tips of the elytra are not crenulate; the smooth tubercles form five series, of which only the outer one is entire; the others are imperfect, containing only three or four tubercles each ; the sutural one is indistinct, the second ends just behind the middle ; the third and fourth are abbreviated at each end, commencing about one-third from the base, and ending at one-fifth from the apex ; the scutellum and a little thoracic line anterior to it are more densely pubescent, with yellow hair, than any other portions. Tetraopes oregonensis, niger, capite thorace elytrisque coccineis (pallide pubescens ?) thorace nigro-4-punctato, disco medio subito elevato, antice pos- ticeque valde constricto, lateribus subito valde dilatatis, parcius punctate elytris parce punctatis puncto humerali, duobus ante medium, altero utrinque pone medium, scutelloque nigris, pedibus antennarumque articulo lmo coccineis. tarsis, genubus, tibiisque posticis nigris. Long. -55. Wenass River to Fort Colville. This species has the form of T.femora- t us Lee, but the thorax is still more dilated on the sides. From T. basalis (the only other species known to me in which the base of the antennae is red) it is easily known by the sudden elevation of the disc of the thorax. The pubescence has been removed by the alcohol, and I am therefore uncertain whecher the antennae are annulated. The black spots of the elytra are in the usual position, but are very small, and, with the exception of the humeral one, disappear entirely in many specimens. Coccinella subversa, hemispherica nigra, capite ante oculos albo (ore, cly- peoque feminae nigris) thorace subtiliter punctulato, lateribus rotundatis, macula antica ad angulos quadrata, apiceque albis, elytris distincte at subtiliter punctu- latis scutello nigro, et praecipue macula obliqua ad medium nigra notatis. Long. '2. This species resembles closely C. c a lifo r n i c a, but is smaller, and the elytra are much more distinctly punctulate. Hippodamia mo est a, rufescente-nigra, nitida, dense subtiliter pur,ctulata, macula frontali rhomboidea, thoracis margine laterali antice posticeque latiore, linea media ante medium, guttisque dorsalibus duabus albis, elytris thorace lati- oribus macula laterali triangulari ad quadratem posticum alba ornatis. Long. 3. Prairie Paso. The ungues are acutely toothed, as in most species of the genus ; the white triangular spot of the elytra is between one-fourth and one-fifth from the apex, and is somewhat dilated along the margin in one specimen. Necrophorus p o 1 1 i n c t o r, niger, thorace ovali, transverso, marginibus late depressis, disco tenuiter canaliculato, fortius transversim impresso, elytris par- 20 [FEBRUARY^ cius punctatis macula ad medium laterali in epipleuram extenso, aJteraque parva lunata anteapicali rubris, pectore flavo-pubescente, abdomine breviter griseo- ciliato, tibiis posticis rectis. Long. -58. Fort Vancouver to Yokolt Plain. Of the species found in the Atlantic States, this approaches most nearly toN. sexpustulatus; the thorax is almost pre- cisely as in that species, but is more profoundly impressed j the margin is punc- tured, the disc in one specimen is smooth, in the other obsoletely punctulate^ The antennae are entirely black. Necrophorus confossor, niger, thorace ovali, transverso marginibus punc- tatis late depressis, disco parce punctulato canaliculato, transversim valde im- presso, elytris sat punctatis fasciis duabus dentatis (prima ad suturam extendente. epipleurisque auruntiacis, pectore anoque fiavo-piloso, antennarum clava aurun- tiaca basi nigro-picea tibiis posticis rectis. Long. '68. One specimen, Prairie Paso. This species closely resembles in appearance N. marginatus, but the thorax is less narrowed posteriorly, and the depressed margins are considerably broader, being, in fact, very much as in the preceding species, or N. n i g r i t a. Alophus d idy m u s, niger, opacus, ochreo-fusco subtiliter dense pubescensy rostro canaliculato, thorace dense punctato, latitudine vix breviore antice pro- funde constricto lateribus antice paulo rotundatis tenuiter canaliculato, vitta utrinque sublaterali densius pallide pubescente, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, dense subtiliter rugose punctulatis, ochreo nigroque subtesselatis, gutta utrinque ante medium, alteraque ad dodrantem densius pallide pubescentibus. Long. *48. Fort Vancouver ; collected also by the late J. K. Townsend. Somewhat smaller and narrower than A. alternatus Say, and readily distinguished by the different form of the thorax and by the entire absence of elytral striae. I have adopted the name under which it is known in the Berlin Museum. I have several species of Curculionidae, from various sources, collected in Ore- gon, but being unable to determine with certainty the genera to which they belong, and being in truth not at all satisfied with the elaborate arrangement used by Schonherr, I forbear describing them until I can bring them all together ; re- flecting that more confusion may be produced by referring a species to an impro- per genus, than by suffering it to remain undescribed. Synopsis of the CEde.meridje of the United States. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. Although I can contribute but two new species, at present, to this small family of Coleopterous insects, it seems desirable that a concise list of the species already described should be presented, as the descriptions have become somewhat scattered, and some of the species have been placed in wrong genera. The trenera allied to Xylophilus are placed in this family by some entomologists, but the association does not seem natural, and the species are therefore not in- cluded in this synopsis. Calopus Fabr. 1. C. angustus Lee. Ann. Lye. of New York, 5-, 158- Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ditylus Fisch. J. D. quadricollis Lee Ann. Lye. 5, 157. Oregon. 2. D. c ce r u 1 e us Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2nd, 1, 96. Upis carulens Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 2, 20. Maine and Lake Superior. This species is very closely allied to D. lae v is of Europe, but differs by the thorax being finely punctured, less rounded on the sides, less narrowed posteri- orly, and by the basal angles being less prominent. 3. D. gracilis Lee Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 7, 18% Oregon^ 1854.] 21 Anoncodes Schmidt, {emend. Redt.) 1. A. melanura Redt. Kafer, 623. Cantharis mel. Linn. Syst. Nat. Necy- dalis notata Fabr. Ent. Syst. 2, 353 : Syst. El. 2, 371. (Edemera a.picialis Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1, 188. Nacerdes melamtra Schm. Linn. Entom. 1.29 : Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2nd, 1, 96. For the complete synonymy of this species, which is found on both conti- nents, see Schmidt's memoir above quoted, and Redtenbacher's Kiifer, p. 623. The insect is most abundant in the vicinity of our cities, and has probably been introduced by commerce. The synonymy omitted relates to its occurrence on the eastern continent, and therefore has no place in our local fauna. Redten- bacher very properly unites Nacerdes with Anoncodes. Asclera Schmidt. 1. A. dorsalis. Nacerda dorsalis Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 55. * Xanthochroa vittata Say,' Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc 2nd, 1, 96. Sea shore, South Carolina, Texas : abundant in June. The anterior tibiae have two dis- tinct terminal spurs, so that the species cannot be referred to either of the genera in which it has been previously placed. I can see no reason why it should be separated from Asclera, with many of the species of which it agrees in form. 2. A. taeniata, elongata, testacea tenuiter pubescens, thorace obovato, latitudine longiore, confertim punctulato, disco utrinque ante medium late im- presso, lateribus piceis, elytris confertim punctulatis, piceis, margine suturaque testaceis, abdomine picescente, antennarum articulo lmo 3io longiore. Long. •28 — 36. Georgia: although resembling the next species in color, this is readily dis- tinguished by the absence of elevated lines on the elytra, and by the basal joint of the antennae being longer than the third joint : the thorax is also of a different form, being regularly obovate, and without a transverse impression. The an- tennae and anterior tibiae are sometimes slightly fuscous. 3. A. lateralis Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. 2d, 1, 96. Nacerda lateralis Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 54. A. signaticollis Hald. loc. cit. 96. Mid- dle and Southern States. A. signaticollis Hald. is merely a variety of this species in which the brown color has extended over the greater part of the head and legs, and in which the testaceous margin of the elytra has also disappeared. 4. A. bicolor Lee Ann. Lye. 5, 158. Oregon. 5. A. thoracica Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc 2d, 1, 97. Necydalis thora- cica Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 370. Olivier, Enc Meth. 8. 447. (Edemera fraxini Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 272. Middle and Southern States. 6. A. notoxoides Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 96. Necydalis notoxoides Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 369. Olivier, Enc Meth. 8, 447. Southern States. 7. A. excavata Lee Am. 5, 158. San Diego, California. 8. A.ruficollis Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1,96. (Edemera rvficollis Say, Journ. Acad. 3, 271. Ischnomera carinata Newm. Ent. Mag. 5, 378. Middle and Southern States. 9. A. puncticollis Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. I, 96. (Edemera puncticollis Say. Journ. Acad. 3, 273. Lake Superior and New York; Missouri, (Say). 10. A. o b s c u r a, nigro-picea, opaca, tenuiter fusco-pubescens, ore rufescente, thorace latitudine breviore, obovato, subtiliter dense punctato rufo disco pur- purascente, callo ad medium sublsvi, tenuiter canaliculato, basi distinctius marginata, elytris subtiliter dense punctulatis lineis duabus obsoletis elevatis, antennarum articulo lmo 3io non longiore. Long. -44. Two specimens Sta Fe, New Mexico, Mr. Fendler. The thorax is broader, and anteriorly more narrowed behind than in any other of our species. The last (11th) joint of the antennae is nearly one half longer than the 10th, and is dis— oo [February. tinctly constricted as in Ditylus at the middle. The labrum and base of the mandibles are reddish ; and the thorax is ferruginous, exhibiting a violet tinge at the middle of the disc, where there is an indistinct smooth space. (Edemera vestita Say, Journ. Acad. 3, 273. Missouri. Unknown to me. (Edemera erythrocephala Germ. Ins. Nov. 167. Kentucky; probably A sclera, but unknown to me. Ischnomera unicolor Mels. Proc. Acad. 3, 54, is very similar and per- haps identical with the European Asclera ccerulea. ' Dryops rufifrons, cyanea, capite thoraceque rufis.' Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1, 2, 76; Syst. El. 2, 68. Unknown to me. A letter was read from Wm. Parker Foulke, Esq., dated February 3d, 1854, accepting the appointment to deliver an Address before the Academy on the 21st of March next, the anniversary of its foundation. Mr. Vaux, on behalf of the Publication Committee, reported the pub- lication of Part 4, Yol. 2, new series, of the Journal. The Report of the Corresponding Secretary was read and adopted. Mr. Vaux read a letter from Prof. J. Lawrence Smith, dated Wash- ington, Dec. 20th, 1854, transmitting a portion of a highly interesting Meteorite from Tennessee, and asking in exchange fragments of Me- teorites in the Cabinet of the Academy, for analysis. Referred to the Committee on Mineralogy. ELECTION. George Harding, Esq. and Fairman Rogers, Esq., of Philadelphia, Dr. Thomas J. Turner, U. S. Navy, and George Dock, M. D., of Harrisburg, were elected Members; and Charles Enderlin, M, D,, of New York, was elected a Correspondent. 1854.] 23 March 7th, 1854.. Dr. Elwyn in the Chair. Letters were read : From the American Philosophical Society, dated Feb. 17th, 1854 ; from the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, dated Feb. 21, 1854, and from the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Nov. 2, 1854, severally acknowledging the receipt of the Publications of the Academy. From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Nov. 2, 1853, transmitting the volumes acknowledged this evening. The Corresponding Secretary read a printed circular from the Port- land (Maine) Natural History Society, dated Jan., 1854, giving an ac- count of the destruction by fire of their entire Cabinet and Library, and soliciting donations in aid of a renewal of the same. Referred to the Curators and Library Committee, with power to act. A paper, intended for publication in the Proceedings, was read, en- titled " Descriptions of new species of Fishes collected in Texas, New Mexico and Sonora, by Mr. John H. Clark, on the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, and in Texas by Capt. Stewart Yan Yliet, U. S. A., Part 2 ; by S. F. Baird and C. Girard." Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Hallowell and Mr. Cassin. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled u Note on the genus Amblychila, Say; which was referred' to Dr. Zantzinger, Mr. Ashmead and Dr. Leidy. Mr. Conrad presented the following papers, viz., " Rectification of the generic names of Tertiary Fossil shells," and " Notes on Shells, with descriptions of three recent and one fossil species/' both of which, being intended for publication, were referred to Dr. Leidy, Mr. Hanson and Dr. Le Conte. Mr. Cassin announced the decease of Mr. John Speakman, one of the few remaining founders of the Academy. March lAth. Yice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from George Dock, M. D., dated Harrisburg, Penna., March 4th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a member. Also a letter from G. H. Kuntz, of Leipzig, dated Feb. 11, 1854, in reference to a collection of Birds' Eggs for sale in that city, with a cata- logue of prices. Referred to the Curators. March 2Sth. Yice-President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees, to which were referred papers read March 7th, by Prof. Baird and Charles Girard, by Dr. Le Conte, and by Mr. Conrad, severally reported in favor of their publication in the Proceedings. PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VII., NO. II. 3 24 [March. Descriptions of new species of Fishes collected in Texas, New Mexico and So- nora, by Mr. John H. Clark, on the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, and in Tjx*s by Capt. Stewart Van Vliet, U. S. A.* By F. S. Baird and Charles Girard. Second Part. VERC0ID2E. 1. Pomotis spectosus, B. and G. — Body ovate, gibbous on the nape; snout small. Head forming the fourth of the total length. Eyes large, their diameter one fourth of the length of the side of the head. Mouth small, posterior ex- tremity of intermaxillary extending to a vertical line passing in advance of the orbit. Peduncle of the tail well developed; caudal with its posterior margin emarginated, and forming lictle less than the fifth of the total length. Pectorals elongated, their tips reaching as far backwards as those of the ventrals, and to the anterior margin of the anal. Scales of lateral line, 43. D X. 11. A III. 11. C 4. I. 8. 7. I. 3. V I. 5. P 11. Ground color, as preserved in alcohol, brownish; lighter beneath. A narrow blackish vitta on each side near the dorsal line, following the curve of the back. Posterior portion of soft dorsal provided with a large subcircular black spot. Anal and ventrals blackish. Pectorals yellowish. Opercular flap moderate, black. Brownsville, Texas. — Capt. Van Vliet. J. H. Clark. 2. Pomotis fallax, B. and G. — Body short and high, thicker, and head and mouth larger than in P. speciosus. Body depressed at the nape. Outline of head more oblique, at an angle of about 45 degrees with the axis of the body. A vertical line erected at the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass along the anterior edge of the pupil to the line of insertion of head and body. Opercular flap very large and black. Peduncle of the tail shorter than in P. speciosus, as also the pectorals, which de not reach as far back as the filamentous tips of the external soft ray of the ventrals. Scales of lateral line, 39. D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. 1. 8. 7. I. 2. V I. 5. P 14. Deep blackish brown above, yellowish beneath. Bluish dots on the sides of head, sometimes confluent into irregular lines. A small dark spot at the poste- rior and basal portion of the soft dorsal fin. Ventrals blackish. Elm Creek, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 3. Pomotis convexifrons, B. and G. — Allied to the two preceding species in general appearance. The nape is little if at all depressed. A vertical line erected from the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass along the an- terior border of the pupil and fall considerably behind the line of junction of head and body ; angle of outline of head with the axis of body, more than 45°. Scales in lateral line, 37. Peduncle of tail short. Opercular flap black and larger than in P. fall ax. The spiny dorsal is highest upon its middle, and the external soft ray of ventrals not prolonged into a thread. D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. I. 8. 7. 1. 2. V I. 5. P 13. Color uniform reddish brown ; fins light greyish. Posterior and basal portion of soft dorsal provided with a small roundish spot. Ventrals blackish. Rio Cibolo, trib. of Rio San Antonio, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 4. Pomotis nefastcjs, B. and G. — General form more elongated than in P. convexifrons, and less so than in P. aquilensis. Outline nearly straight along nape. Opercular flap small, black, narrowly margined with blue. Head form- ing two-sevenths of the total length. Eyes rather large, their diameter forming the fourth of the length of side of head. Mouth rather small ; a vertical line erected from the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass between the • anterior edge of the orbit and the pupil, and fall considerably anterior to the * The species described in this paper from the waters of western Texas and those emptying into the Gila, were collected while the Boundary Survey was in charge of Col. J. D. Graham ; the others while under Major W- H. Emory. 1854.] 25 nuchal line. Caudal fin posteriorly emarginated. Spiny dorsal comparatively low. Soft part of dorsal and of anal well developed. Tip of ventrals reaching the anterior margin of anal. Pectorals not extending quite as far back. Scales along lateral line, 45. D'XI. 10. A III. 10. C 3. I. 8. 7. I. 2 V I. 5. P 14. Uniform reddish brown, lighter on lower part of flanks. A small black spot at the posterior basal part of the soft dorsal. Dorsals, caudal and anal greyish, with a darker margin. Ventrals and pectorals yellowish. Rio Cibolo and Rio Salado, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 5. Pomotis heros, B. and G — General outline subelliptical. Nape depressed. Head forming the third of the length, not including the caudal fin. Caudal entering for about five times in the total length. Eyes large, and contained four times, by their diameter, in the length of side of head. Mouth small ; pos- terior extremity of intermaxillaries not extending beyond a vertical from the anterior rim of the orbit. Pectorals very long, their tip reaching backwards as far as the second soft ray of anal fin. Tip of ventrals extending to the first spine of the anal. Caudal crescent-shaped. Spiny dorsal elevated. D X. 12. A III. 11. C 3. I. 8. 7. I. 2. V I. 5. P 13. Color uniform blackish brown. Pectorals yellowish; other fins greyish. Oper- cular flap black with a whitish border, Rio Cibolo, trib. of Rio San Antonio, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 6. Bryttus longtjlus, B. and G. — Pomotis longulus, B. and G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc, Philada. vi. 1853, 391; and in Marcy's Expl. Red River, La., 1853. PI. xii., page 245. The specimens are larger than those previously described. The coloration is likewise better preserved. D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. I. 8. 7. I. 2. V I. 5. P 13. The ground color, as preserved in alcohol, is reddish brown with minute im- punctures of greyish, the dorsal and anal being provided posteriorly, the first with a subcircular, large black spot, the second with an elongated spot of the same color, and extending nearly to the whole base of the soft part of that fin. The pectorals and caudal are uniform greyish, the latter having a yellowish border. Ventrals and external half of* anal yellowish. Rio Cibolo, trib. of Rio San Antonio, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 7. Grystes nuecensis, B. and G. — Head forming four-thirteenths of the entire length. Mouth deeply cleft ; its angle reaching a vertical passing backwards of the eye; lower jaw longer than the upper. Eyes rather large ; their diameter contained six times in the length of side of head. Scales on the cheeks a little smaller than those on the opercular apparatus. First dorsal lower than the second, caudal subcrescentic posteriorly. Anal extending a little further behind the second dorsal, though shorter and less deep. D X. 13. A III. 11. C 4. I. 8. 8. 1. 3. VI.5.P 15. Ground color of back black, clouded with greyish brown. Sides dull yellow- grey, with an interrupted darker band. Beneath light yellow. Rio Frio and Rio Nueces, Texas. — J. H.aClark. LABRIBJE. HERICHTHYS, B. and G. — Body compressed ; outline subelliptical ; frontal region convexe. Teeth small, subcorneal, simple, anterior row the most con- spicuous. Lower lip entire. Five branchiostegal rays. Ventrals, dorsal and anal fins acuminated ; caudal rounded. Five or six spiny rays to the anal. Scales large ; lateral line interrupted posteriorly. Obs. — This genus has strong affinities with Heros of Heckel, from which it chiefly differs by the structure of tlTe anterior row of maxillary teeth, which are simple, instead of bein^ provided with lateral hooks. The relative size of the scales will likewise afford another generic feature of no small importance. 8. Herichthys cyanoguttatus, B. and G. — Head forming about two-sevenths of the entire length. Snout subconical, detached from the frontal line by a de- 26 [March, pression in advance of the eye. Jaws equal. Three irregular rows of minute teeth situated behind an anterior and more conspicuous row. Eyes rather lar^e and circular, their diameter being contained four times and a half in the length of side of head. Posterior part of cheeks scaly ; large scales on the opercular apparatus. Anterior margin of dorsal situated in advance of the insertion of ventrals; tip of posterior rays extending a little beyond the tip of those of anal. Insertion of ventrals backwards of base of pectorals ; external soft ray much longer than the others. The caudal forms about the two-ninths of the entire length. D XVI. 9. + 1. A V. 6 + 1. C 2. I. 7. 7.1. 3. V I. 5. P 14. The scales are quite large ; there being 19-20 rows of them across the line of greatest depth, and eighteen in the lateral line, from upper angle of operculum to where it is interrupted, and eight more beneath on the peduncle of the tail. Ground color brownish, with small bluish spots scattered all over the body and fins. Brownsville, Texas (fresh water). — Capt. Van Vliet and John H. Clark. SILURIDjE. AILURICHTHYS, B. and G. — Head depressed, subrounded, smooth and un- armed. Two pairs of flattened barbels, — a maxillary pair, sometimes very much elongated, and a submaxillary one, always shorter. Velvet teeth on the rnaxil- laries, and a band of similar teeth immediately behind the upper maxillary. An- terior margin of both dorsal and pectoral fins prolonged into a membranous thread, more or less elongated according to the species. An adipose fin opposite the anal. Caudal more or less forked. 9. Ailurichthys marinus, B. and G. — Siluriis marinus, Mitch. — Gahichthys parrce, Cuv. and Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss. XV. 1840, 33. — Gahichthys marinus, Storer, Synops. 1846, 149. Indianola, Texas. — J. H. Clark. Obs. — We refer to the same genus ; Gahichthys gronovii, G. eydouxii and G. blochii, of Cuvier and Valenciennes. 10. Arius equestris, B. and G. — Maxillary barbels extending to the middle of length of pectorals. Head contained four times and three-quarters in the total length. Adipose fin of medium size, and situated opposite to the middle of anal. The latter is concave upon its external margin, and deeper than long. The an- terior margin of dorsal is equi-distant between tip of snout and adipose fin. Tip of pectorals extending as far back as the posterior margin of dorsal. Anterior margin of dorsal thrice as high as the posterior margin ; superiorly that fin is subconcave. Longitudinal diameter of eye contained five times in the length of side of head. Br. 5. D I. 7. A 16. C 13. I. 7. 7. I. 12. V 6. P I. 9. Indianola, Texas. — J. H. Clark JV. 11. Pimelodus affinis, B. and G. — Very closely allied to P. cmruhscens, Rafin. and distinguished from it by a more advanced position of the dorsal fin and a greater elongation of the barbels. The head is contained five times and a half in the entire length. The caudal is about the same length as the head. The length of the anal fin is a little more than the fourth of the length, as in P. c&ru- lescens. The eyes are of medium size, and their diameter contained a little over six times in the length of side of head. D I. 6. A 35. C 5. I. 8. 7. 1. 6. V 8. P I. 10. Color reddish brown above, silvery white beneath ; occasionally marked with subcircular and small black spots. Rio Grande del Norte. — J. H. Clark. CHARACINI. ASTYANAX, B. and G — Adipose fin present. Abdominal line not serrated. A double row of teeth on both the upper and lower jaw, and flattened with several conical spines or processes upon their edge. Neither canine nor palative teeth. Dorsal fin above the ventrals. Scales large. 1854.] 27 12. Astyanax argeis-tatus, B. and G. — Body very much compressed. Head short, forming about the fifth of the entire length. Eyes lar^e and circular. Mouth of medium size, its angles not extending to the vertical of the pupil. Opercular apparatus quite narrow. Dorsal fin subquadrangular, higher tinm long, slightly concave upon its upper margin, its origin being midway between tip? of snout and base of caudal fin. Adipose slender, opposite the posterior portion of anal. Caudal deeply forked and longer than the head. Anal very long, exteriorly concave, much deeper anteriorly than posteriorly, and situated behind the dorsal. Ventrals immediately under the dorsal, and rather slender. Pectorals likewise slender, their tips, however, do not reach the base of ventrals. D I. 10. A I. 20+1. C 5. I. 9. 8. I. 4. V 8. P 13. Scales higher than long, somewhat truncated anteriorly ; their surface exhibit- ing several very marked diverging striae. Lateral line conspicuous, slightly in- clined downwards. Back deep reddish brown. Sides silvery. Belly reddish. Fins reddish yel- low. An elongated black spot at the base of the tail, extending along the cen- tral ray of caudal fin. Upper tributaries of Rio Nueces. — J. H. Clark. CYPRINID^. 13. Catostojius congestus, B. and G. — At first sight this species calls to mind C. gibhosus, by its short and contracted shape ; it differs from it, however, in the scales and form of the fins. The head is contained five times and a half in the total length. The snout is blunt, abruptly truncated, and the mouth very small. The eyes are large, subelliptical, and their longitudinal diameter con- tained four times in the length of the head from the tip of snout to posterior mar- gin of opercular apparatus. The dorsal fin is subquadrangular, its anterior mar- gin being nearer to the tip of snout than to the base of caudal. The caudal is semilunar, with the lobes rounded. The anal is narrow, its length less than the half its height. The ventrals are inserted under the middle of the dorsal. The tip of pectorals does not reach the base of ventrals. D II. 12 ; A I. 7+1 ; C 4. 1. 8. 8. I. 3; V 9 ; P 17. The scales are large, there are fourteen rows across the line of greatest depth of body. The lateral line, which runs straight along the middle of the side, contains about forty-six scales. The color as preserved in alcohol is uniform reddish brown above, lighter be- neath, sides silvery. The fins are all unicolored, and of the tint of the region to which they belong. Rio Salado, Texas. — John H. Clark. 14. Catostomus clarkii, B. and G. — A rather small and short species, in shape subfusiform and compressed. The dorsal line is gently arched. Head small, subcorneal, truncated anteriorly, forming a little less than the sixth of the total length of tbu fish. The eyes are subcircular, of medium size, their diameter being contained about four times in the length of side of head. The mouth is larger than in C. covgextus, and surrounded with more developed lips. The up- per margin of dorsal fin is slightly concave, its anterior margin as high as long. The caudal is subcrescentric posteriorly, with rounded lobes. The insertion of the anal is narrow, its height is twice and a half the width. The insertion of ventrals is under the posterior third of the dorsal. The pectorals are elongated and of medium development. D II. 114 1 ; A II. 7 ; C 5. I. 8. 8. I. 4 ; V 10 ; P 17. The scales are rather lame; about twenty rows across a line from base of ven- trals to anterior margin of dorsal. Sixty-eight to seventy scales in the lateral line, which extends to caudal fin. Colors in alcohol : greyish brown above, with scattered darker nebulous spots; sides greyish; belly whitish ; fins unicolor, vertical ones greyish; horizontal ones yellowish. Rio Santa Cruz, Gila. — John H. Clark. 28 [March, 15. Catostomus plebeius, B. and G. — Body subfusiform, compressed. Head elongated, subcorneal, forming the fifth of the entire length. Mouth of medium size. Eyes large, subelliptical, their longitudinal diameter being contained about five times in the length of side of head. Dorsal fin subquddrangular, its anterior margin being equi-distant between the tip of snout and the first rudi- mentary rays of the upper lobe of the caudal. The latter is slightly concave posteriorly, and the lobes rounded off. The base of the anal is contained nearly three times in its height, and when brought backwards its tip extends to the ru- dimentary rays of the inferior lobe of the caudal fin. The ventrals are inserted under the posterior, third of the dorsal, bent backwards their tip does not reach as far as the anus. The pectorals are of medium development, subovate, pointed posteriorly. D I. 9+1. A I. 7. C 3. I. 8. 8. I. 2. V 8. P 14. The scales are of medium size, considerably the largest on the peduncle of the tail. Twenty-eight to thirty rows from the base of the ventrals to the dor- sal fin. About eighty in the lateral line, which is not discernible as far as the base of caudal fin. The color, as preserved in alcohol,' is dark brown on the upper regions, faintly mottled with blackish patches. The sides and belly exhibit traces of orange in some of the specimens, in others it is pale yellowish. The fins are unicolor, the dorsal, caudal, and pectorals blackish brown ; the anal and ventrals yellowish. Rio Mimbres, trib. of Gila. — John H. Clark. 16. Catostomus tnsignis, B.andG. — Subfusiform, elongated, compressed. Head forming two-ninths of the total length. Mouth of medium size, surrounded with considerably developed lips. Eyes large, subelliptical; their longitudinal diam- eter contained almost six times in the length of side of head. The dorsal fin is subquadrangular, its anterior margin is situated midway between the snout and base of caudal fin. The latter is posteriorly forked, with its angles subacute. The anal is quite narrow and elongated, its base enters three times in the length of its anterior margin. The ventrals are inserted under the posterior half of the dorsal, their tip posteriorly does not reach the vent. The pectorals are elonga- ted, their tips not extending as far back as the anterior margin of the dorsal. D II. 11. A II. 7+1. C 3. I. 8. 8. I. 3. V 10. P 18. The scales are large, there are twenty rows between the base of ventrals and the dorsal line. The lateral line takes a straight course along the middle of the sides and is composed of about sixty scales. The color, as preserved in alcohol, is dark reddish brown above and on the sides, lighter beneath. There is a black dot at the base of each scale, giving a dotted appearance to the body. The fins are unicolor. Rio San Pedro of the Rio Gila. — John H. Clark. 17. Cailpiodes tumidtjs, B. andG. — Head forming four-nineteenths of the total length. Snout conical. Mouth very small and protruding. Lips small. Eyes very large, their diameter contained four times in the length of side of head. Anterior margin of dorsal equi-distant between the tip of snout and base of cau- dal, the posterior portion of which is very low. Tip of anal extending to base of caudal. Tip of ventrals reaching as far back as the vent. Tip of pectorals extending almost to base of ventrals. Caudal fin forked, and about the same length as the head. JJ II. 27. A II. 9. C 5. I. 8. 8. I. 4. V II. 9. P 16. Thirteen rows of scales may be counted on the line of greatest depth, and thirty-seven or thirty-eight scales on the lateral line. Color lisjht reddish brown above and yellowish white beneath. Near Fort Brown, Texas. — John H. Clark. 18. Gila gibbosa, B. and G. — Body rather thick; dorsal region between dorsal and occiput more arched than generally observed in the genus. Head forming a little less than the fourth of the entire length ; greatest depth nearly equal to the length of head. Eyes quite large, their diameter contained five times in the length of the side of head. Anterior margin and dorsal nearer to the base of 1854.] 29 caudal than to the tip of snout. Ventrals, as usual, in advance of the dorsal, and anal behind the latter. Greatest length of caudal constituting nearly the seventh of the entire length. The scales assume a greater uniformity according to the resions than in the other species hitherto described. D I. 8+1. A I. 9. C 5. I. 9. 8. I. 4. V 9. P. 17. Color in alcohol ; dark reddish brown above, and on the side ; dull yellow beneath. Rio Santa Cruz, tributary of the Gila — John H. Clark. 19. Gila pulchella, B. and G. — Allied to the preceding species, from which it can be distinguished by the more slender body and head. The head is shorter. The mouth smaller. The greatest depth is contained about five times in the en- tire length ; in Gila gibbosa but four times. Diameter of the eye entering five times and a half in the length of the side of head. Length -of caudal forming about the sixth of the entire length. Two rudiments of spines at the anterior margin of dorsal, instead of one. D IT. 9. A I. 9. C 4. I. 9. 8. 1. 3. V 9. P 17. Color, greyish brown above and on the side : dingy yellow beneath. Rio Mimbres, tributary of the Gila. — John H. Clark. 'Rectification of the generic names of Tertiary Fossil Shells. By T. A. Conrad. Since the publication of several papers on Tertiary fossils, I have, with the aid of more numerous works of reference, been enabled to rectify the nomen- clature of some genera, selecting the earliest authority, whether the author had published a diagnosis or only indicated a genus by refeience to atypical species. GLYCIMERIS, Lam. G. americana, Con. ; G. reflexa, Say ; G. elongata, Co??., 1535 ; G. goldfussii, Wagner ; G. elongata, Con. ; G. porrecta, Con. ; (Panop^ea.) Gloss us, Poli. G. rusticus, Sowerby ; G. Markoei, Con. (Isocardia.) Syndosmya, Recluz. S. aequata, Con. ; S. constricta, Con. ; S. linosa, Con. ; S. mississippiensis,. Con.; S. nuculoides Con.; S. protexta, Con.; S. subobliqua, Con.; S. subre- flexa, Co??. (Aiuphidesma.) Mytiltjs, Lin. M. incurvus, Con. (Myoconcha incurva, Con.) Navicula, Blai?i. N. Marylandica, Con, ; N. cuculloides, Con. ; N. lima, Con. ; N. mississippi- ensis, Co?i. ; N. protracta, Con. (Byssoarca.) Leda, Sch?i??i. Nucula, Lam. L. acuta, Con. ; L. sequalis, Co??. ; L. bella, Con. ; L. calcarensis, Con. ; L. carolinensis, Co?i. ; L. ccslata, Co?i. ; L. concentrica, Say; L. cultelliformis, Rodgers ; L. laevis, Say ; L. liciata, Con.; L. limaluta, Say ; L. mucronata, Con. ; L. opulenta, Co??. ; L. parva, Rodgers ; L. serica, Co??. ; L. subtrigona, Con. ; L. tellinula, Co?i. ; (Nucula.) Mercenaeia, Schttm. Venus, Li?i. M. capax, Co??. ; M. Ducatellii, Co??. ; M. Mortoni, Co?i. ; M. permagna, Co??.; M. Rileyi, Co??. ; M. staminea, Con. ; M. tetrica, Co??. ; M. tridacnoides. Lam. (Venus.) Meretrix, Lam. Cytherea, Lam, M. a?quorea, Co?i. ; M. albaria, Say ; M. astartaeformis, Co??. ; M. carolinen- 30 [March, sis, M. discoidalis. Can.; M. elevata, Con.; M. eversa, Con.; M. fioridana, Con. ; M. imitabilis, Con. ; M. lenticularis, Co?/. ; M. liciata, Con. ; M. Mary- landica, Con. ; M. metastriata, Con. ; M. Mississipppiensis, CW. ; M. Mortoni, Con,. ; M. Nuttallii, Con. ; M. obovata, Con. ; M. ovata, Rodgers ; M. pandata, Co?i. ; M. perbrevis, Con. ; M. perovata, Con. ; M. Poulsoni, Con. ; M. pyga, Con. ; M. reposta, Co«. ; M. Sayana, Con. ; M. semipunctata, Con. ; M. sobrina, Con. ; M. subimpressa, Con.; M. subnasuta, Co«. (Cytherea.) Schizodesma, Gray. Mactra, Lin. S. delumbis, Con. ; S. ponderosa, Con. (Mactra.) Mactropsis, Con. M. aequorea, Con. ; M. rectilinearis, Con. (Triquetra, Con.) Arcopagia, Leach. Tellina. A. biplicata, Con. (Tellina.) Neithea, Drouet. N. Humphreysii, Con. ; N. Poulsoni, Con. (Pecten.) Cyclas, Klein. C. acclinis, Con. ; C. alveata, Con. ; C. anodonta, Say ; C. carinifera, Con. , C. contracta, Say ; C. crenulata, Con. ; C. cribraria, Say : C. dolabra, Con. ; C. Foremani, C n. ; C. Jamaicensis, Lam. ; C. metastriata, Con. ; C. mississip- piensis, Con. ; C. modesta, Con. ; C. multistriata, Con. ; C. pandata, Con. ; C. perlevis, Con.; C. pomilia, Con.; C. radians, Con. ; C. squamosa, Lam. ; C. subobliqua, iS«y ; C. subplanata, Con. ; C subvexa, Con. ; C. 3ymmetrica, Co?z. ; C. trisulcata, Co?/. ; C. undula, Con. (Lucina.) Dosinia, Scopoli. D. (venus) concentrica ? Bom ; (D. acetabulum, Con. ;) D. elegans, Con. ; D. (cytherea) lenticularis, Rodgers ; D. (cytherea) excavata, Morton ; D. discus, Reeve. (Artemis.) The last is a recent species, and the two preceding Cretaceous. D'Orbigny makes D. acetabulum distinct from D. concentrica. UNIVALVES. Ancilla, Lam, A. altilis, Con. ; A. lymneiodes, Con. ; A. scamba, Con. ; A. subglobosa, Con. ; A. tenera, Con. (Ancillaria.) Crucibtjl.um, Mont. C. constrictum, Con. ; C. costata, Say ; C. dumosa, Con. ; C. grandis, Say ; C. multilineata, Con. ; C. ramosa, Con. (Dispot^ea.) Galeodia, Link. Morio, Mont. G. lintea, Con. ; G. (cassis) Hodjjii, Con.; (Casstdaria.) Stomatia, Browne. S. (cryptostoma) perspectiva, Say; S. arctata, Con,; S. bilix, Con.; S. canaliculata, Soxv. ; S. declivis, Con.; S. fragilis, Con. ; S. mississippiensis, Con.; (Sigaretus.) Busyeox, Bolton. Linne confounded Murex amanus with a shell described afterwards by La- marck under the name of Fusus prohoscidifems, by references to figures in Rhumphius and Gualtieri, but his description applies only to the former {Pyrula earica, Lam.) The generic name Busyeon founded on this shell has priority over FrLGUR. Busyeon canaliculatum, Lin. ; B. aruanum, Gmel. ; B. contrarium, Con.; B. coronatum, Con. ; B. excavatum, Con. ; B. fusiforme, Con. ; B. incile, Con. ; 1854.] 31 B. maximum, Con. : B. perversum, Lam. ; B. rugosum, Con.; B. tuberculatum, Con. ; B. gibbosum, Con. The last is a recent species. (Fulgur.) Sycotypus, Browne. Ficus, Bolton. S. Mississippiensis, Con.; S. (pyrula) penita, Con. Porcellana, Adans. P. crassilabra, Con. ; C. denticulata, Con. ; C. eburneola, Con. ; C larvata, Con. ; C. limatula, Con. : C. perexigua, Con. Recent species. P. P. succinea, Con. ; P. albilabris, Co?i. (Marginella.) Amphiceras, Gronovius. A. iota, Con. (Ovula.) Distortrix, Link. D. crassidens, Con. (Triton.) Gyrineum, Link. G. Maclurii, Con, (Ranella.) Yolutilithes, Swains. V. Sayana, Con. ; V. petrosa, Con. (Voluta.) Svvainson includes in this genus the volutes with a callus, as V. rarispina, of which I have proposed the genus Atiileta. Turris, Humph. Gray refers Pleurotoma, Lam. to this genus, but Hermannsen, Turritella. Where there is no diagnosis, and such discrepancy of opinion exists, Turris can hardly be acknowledged. Notes on Shells, with descriptions of three recent and one Fossil Species. By T. A. Conrad. Gxathodon flexuosum, Con. Amer. Journal of Science and Arts, Vol. 3S , p. 93, (figured,) 1840. G. rostratum, Petit. 1853. Rev. et Mail, de Zool., p. 552. G. trigonum, Petit, is probably identical with G. Lecontei, Con., fossil in Cali- fornia. Journ, Acad. Nat. Sc, Jan., 1853. Petit's description was published July, 1853. Note on the genus Trigonella, Con. This name being superseded, I propose to substitute that of Pachydesma. Description of a new Dolium. ~D. album. Oblong-suboval, with convpx ribs, which are closely arranged, except on the shoulder; about 18 on the body whorl ; spire conical, with rounded volutions, columella perforated at base; lip simple, margin acute. This species most nearly resembles D. penlix in form, but is proportionally much narrower, with the ribs more distant and prominent on the shoulder, and with a channel round the suture which the other does not possess. The spire is less elevated, the species much smaller, and the color nearly white without spots. Description of a veto Conularia. C indentata. Elongated, quadrate, tapering very gradually, angles some- what truncated and crossed by numerous indentations ; surface minutely granu- lated by fine equal decussated iines. Locality. — Galena, 111. IVlr. Germain. This species has distant septa, and the middle of each side has an obsolete, slightly impressed, longitudinal line ; on the cast there are two carinated ap- proximate linps, with an impressed line on each side of them. 4 32 [March, Description of a new Bulimus. B. lineolatus. Oblong-ovate, thin, slightly umbilicated ; whorls 6, smooth ; columella reflected, very narrow ; lip reflected, very thin and acute ; color white and fulvous, variegated, with dark brown stripes , aperture more than half the length of the shell ; spire conical. » Inhabits Volcano of Cartago, Costa Rica. t This species approximates B. paziantis of D'Orbigny, but is more ventricose, has a shorter spire, broader bands, narrower columella, and the lip is somewhat reflected, which is not a character of the allied species. That shell has the •aperture less than half the length of the shell, whilst the other has it more than half its length. Description of a new Alasmodonta. Subovate, thin, slightly contracted medially; umbonal slope rounded, slightly ventricose ; ligament margin elevated ; posterior margin obliquely truncated, the extremity subangulated and much above the line of the base ; epidermis oliva- ceous, with a few obscure rays ; cardinal tooth single in the right valve, long, compressed, elevated, triangular ; in the left valve widely trind, the posterior lobe obsolete, and situated posterior to the apex; within bluish. Length If, nearly ; height f. Locality. — J. G. Anthony. Exteriorly this shell closely resembles 77. eolliuus, Con., when young and without spines. Ni vix obsolete serrulatis. Long. -48. One specimen: New Mexico; collected by Mr. Fendler. The base of the thorax is only about two-thirds as wide as the apex ; the dorsal line is fine, but the transverse impressions are well marked. The mentum tooth is narrow, and very slightly emarginate at the tip. In these four species, the under surface of the tarsi is glabrous, and the outer margin of the two posterior pairs is deeply grooved. In my synopsis of Pteros- tichus (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc.,2d ser., vol. 2) it will be seen that in closely allied species, the latter character is of little value. The same would seem to be the case in the present group, and no better proof is required than the remarks made by Baron Chaudoir, on the page immediately opposite that in which he insists strongly on the great assistance which is derived from it in distinguishing Cala- thus from Pristonychus. The real difference between the genera is precisely that so long ago made known by Erichson, viz., the length of the paraglossae, which in Calathus do not extend beyond the ligula, while in Pristonychus (and likewise in Pristodactyla and Taphria) they are very distinctly elongated. Anchtjs Lee. Palpi tenues, acuminati, maxillares articulo ultimo paulo longiore ; antennae filiformes, articulo lmo crassiore,. et longiore; mentum dente medio simplici; ligula truncata, paraglossis angustis longioribus. A curious insect, having very much the appearance of Diaphorus, but having the head less constricted posteriorly, and the elytra rounded at the apex ; the thorax is long and cordate, almost turned into a pedicel at the base, with the impressions elongate and very narrow ; the elytra are twice as wide as the thorax, oblong and convex, with the humoral angles rounded, and the apex scarcely 1854.] 39 sinuate ; the striae are deep and moderately punctured, the intervals are narrow, convex, and are each marked with a row of very fine punctures, from which pro- ceed very short hairs. The legs are moderately long, the anterior tibiae scarcely dilated at the apex, with the emargination extending nearly to the middle ; in the male the first three joints of the anterior tarsi are very slightly dilated, and furnished beneath with a few papilla3. The antennas are very slightly thickened externally ; the first three joints and the base of the fourth are smooth, but furnished with a few scat- tered hairs ; the first is longer than the third, and somewhat thicker than in the other genera of this group. The paraglossae are narrow, curved, and longer than the truncate ligula ; the tooth in the emargination of the mentum is moderately large, and almost acute at the tip. The palpi are slender and moderately long ; the last joint is elongate oval, and almost acute at the tip; that of the maxillary palpi is distinctly longer than the penultimate joint. It seems by its characters closely to approach Stomis, but the mandibles are not so long and the labrum is not at all emarginate. By the structure of the anterior tibiae as well as by the sexual characters, it evidently belongs to the* present group. 1. A. pus il 1 us, niger, nitidus, parce breviter pubescens, capite parce punc- tato, thorace latitudine longiore, convexo, cordato, postice constricto, angulis posticis rectis, disco obsoletius basi et apice distinctius punctatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus oblongis convexis, profunde striatis interstitiis convexis uniseri- atim punctulatis, piceis lateribus late rufescentibus, antennis palpis, pedibusque rufis. Long. '25. * Stomis americanns Lap.' Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 356. Platynus pusillus\. Harris, MSS. Massachusutts, Dr. Harris; Illinois, Mr.Willcox. Finding in this insect many of the characters of Stomis, I was misled by the very poor description of Mr. Laporte, (Etudes Entom. 1, 72) with which it agrees as closely as could be ex- pected, in every respect except size. Baron Chaudoir, as I have already ob- served in my synopsis of Pterostichus, (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc, 2d ser., 2,) has since stated that Mr. Laporte's insect is Feronia fastidita Dej. Under these circumstances, the specific name adopted by me under error falls, and I take pleasure in giving to the insect the name under which it was communicated to me by Dr. Harris. Rhadine Lee. This genus only differs essentially from Platynus by the greater length of the third joint of the antennae, which is one half longer than the fourth joint ; the first joint is short, being about one-half longer than the second. The form of body is that of the first division of Platynus, but the margins of the thorax and elytra are more broadly rerlexed, and the elytra are strongly sinuate at the apex ; the antennas and feet are also longer. These characters give the insect a considerable resemblance, in general appearance, to Anophthalmia. 1. R. larva lis, pallide rufo-picea, nitida, thorace cordato-ovali, postice valde angustato, valde reflexo-marginato, angulis posticis rectis, elytris fere ellip- ticis, dorso planiusculis, fortiter marginatis, apice sinuatis, obsolete striatis, sub- tiliter tripunctatis. Long. "41. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. 4, 219. One specimen (male) found near St. Louis, Missouri, was kindly given my by Dr. Engelmann. In the State of Ohio, Dr. Schaum procured a dark brownish black specimen, in which the sinus of the elytra was so strong, as to form on each side of the apex a tooth; the specimen was a female, but not having it be- fore me for examination, I cannot determine whether the difference is to be re- garded as sexual or specific, Platynus Bon. (emend. Brulle.) Under this generic name I group, after the example of Mr. Brulle, those spe- 40 [April, cies upon which Bonelli formed his three genera, Platynus, Anehomenus, and Agonum. My reason for preferring for this assemblage of species the name Platynus, is merely, that such was the name chosen by Mr. Brulle, who was the first entomologist to perceive the necessity of merging the groups into one genus. Two years afterwards, Erichson proposed to call the assemblage of Bonelli's three genera by the name Anehomenus, alleging that Platynus was in- applicable to most of the species, and that it had, moreover, been employed (in the form Platyna) for a genus of Diptera ; the first point, in the present state of nomenclature, need not occupy our attention; the second point is also without weight, since Platyna was proposed as a genus many years after the establish- ment of Platynus by Bonelli, and before it was shown that the latter genus in- cluded any other form than that to which it was limited by the author. The name Platynus was consequently not vacant, and its application in any form, to a genus other than that intended by Bonelli was improper. This genus, as here understood, contains a very large number of species, all agreeing in having the paraglossae scarcely longer than the ligula ; the mentum tooth distinct and not emarginate ; the palpi slender, with the last joint ahout equal to the preceding; the first joint of the antennae moderately thick, not longer than the third, which again is not longer than the fourth; the tarsi are filiform, and the ungues entirely smooth. The antennas are usually filiform, but sometimes setaceous. The form of body is variable, usually somewhat slender, with the elytra nearly twice as wide as the head or thorax, and oval or oblong, sometimes elliptical ; the elytra are either rounded, truncate or emarginate at the base, usually slightly sinuate at the apex, and sometimes almost truncate, in which case a form of body results not unlike Dromius or Metabletus. Occasionally the form of body is stouter, and the elytra are hardly one half wider than the thorax ; and in some west- ern species, unknown to me, the form is said to be almost similar to Calathus ; these latter species have been separated by Motschulsky as Tanystoma, (after- wards changed to Tanystola) ; the only characters given are, that the last joint of the palpi is longer than the preceding, and the posterior angles of the thorax ob- tuse. Scaphiodactylus (Chaudoir) is also said to have the palpi as in Tanystola, but the posterior angles of the thorax are acute. Not having identified these genera, I can with propriety say nothing in regard to them. The thorax is very variable in form, being sometimes oval, sometimes cordate, square, or rounded ; the margin is sometimes strongly reflexed, sometimes hardly visible. The interval between the second and third stria; of the elytra is always marked with punctures, or fovae, varying in number from three to seven ; some species, not known to me by personal observation, are described as having but two punctures. To facilitate the determination of our species, the following division into groups may be found useful. A. Corpus apterum gracile ; thorax fortiter marginatus, ovalis ; elytra humeris rotundatis indistinctis. Sp. 1 — 4. B. Corpus alatum gracile ; thorax margine mediocri, elytra basi truncata, an- gulis posticis distinctis, tripunctata. a. Angulis posticis thoracis non prominulis ; antennae subsetaceae ; tenuiter striata. • Sp. 5 — 7- b. Angulis posticis thoracis prominulis; antennas filiformes ; elytra tenuiter striata. Sp. 8 — 9. c. Nigerrimi ; elytra profunde striata. Sp. 10 — 11. C. Corpus alatum, gracile ; thorax subcordatus, tenuiter marginatus, angulis posticis distinctis, impressionibus basalibus proecipue profundis productis. d. Elytra tripunctata, pedes concolores. Sp. 12 — 13. e. Elytra multipunctata, pedes run, vel picei. Sp. 14 — 18. D. Corpus alatum, praecipue minus gracile, thorax rotundatus, (raro quadratus;) •lytra tripunctata. f. Praecipue nigri (raro picei vel metallici ;) pedes concolores. Sp. 19 — 31. 1854.] 41 g. Pedes testacei, vel run; thorax convexus tenuiter mar- ginatus. Sp. "" 33. E. Corpus alatum, gracile; thorax ovalis, vel leviter cordatus, tenuius mar- ginatus ; elytra tripunctata; pedes plus minusve testacei. Sp. 34—40. F. Corpus alatum, gracile, praecipue elongatum; thorax ovalis ; elytra multi- punctata; pedes plus minusve testacei. Sp. 41 — 48. G. Corpus alatum; thorax rotundatus, tenuissime marginatus ; elytra foveata. Sp. 49. H. Corpus alatum, minus gracile, thorax praecipue rotundatus (praecipue tenuiter marginatus) impressionibus basalibus latis, minus profundis ; elytra multipunctata. h. Corpus elongatum metallicum, pedes concolores. Sp. 50 — 51. i. Corpus minus elongatum sub^racile, pedes plus minusve testacei. Sp. 52—54. k. Corpus robustius, angulis thoracis posticis fere distinctis. Sp. 55 — 56. I. Corpus alatum, fere gracile, elytra oblonga, basi valde emarginata, apice fere truncata; elytra vel tripunctata, vel quadrifoveata. Sp. 57 — 61. The cases of difficulty, in referring species by this table, will be but few ; a species (P. quadratus) is placed in (f.,) which might, with almost equal propriety, be placed with (d.) ; still, the form is less slender, and the margin of the thorax much more obvious than in the latter group. P. crenulatus in group (F.) differs from the others of the same group, by the broader and more quadrate elytra ; still, its chief affinities appear to be with that group, and I have, therefore, not separated it from its allies. A. The species of this group are of a slender form and not winged ; the legs and antennae are long ; the thorax is obovate, usually elongate ; the posterior angles are obtuse and rounded at the apex ; the lateral margin is strongly reflexed, and is broader than usual. The elytra are regularly elliptical, with no distinct hu- meral angles ; they are sinuate towards the tip ; the lateral margin is broader than in any other group, and is strongly reflexed. This group corresponds to Platynus of Bonelli and Dejean. 1. P. f ra g il i s, piceus,thorace latitudine fere longiore obovato, fortius mar- ginato, angulis posticis obtusis, subrotundatis, basi transversim profunde im- presso, elytris ellipticis, thorace duplo latioribus, fortius marginatis, tenuiter striatis, 3-punctatis, antennis versus apicem subincrassatis. Long. -34. Found in the mountains near Santa Isabpl, in the southern part of California. One specimen has four impressed punctures on the elytra. The antennae, instead of being setaceous, as in the next two species, are slightly thickened beyond the fourth joint, as in most of the species of this genus. 2. P. h y p o 1 i t h o s, niger nitidus, thorace latitudine fere longiore, obovato, fortiter marginato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, basi transversim profunde impresso, utrinque longius sat profunde impresso, elytris thorace duplo latioribus ellipticis fortius marginatis, striis modice profundis, interstitiis convexis 2, 4 et 6to juxta striis biseriatim irregulariter punctatis, antennis setaceis palpis pedi- busque ferrugineis. Long. «55. Feronia hypolithos Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 59. Platynus erythropus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 97. Middle and Western States, in the vicinity of mountains. Besides the punc- tures mentioned, there are several on the sutural stria before the middle. De- jean's description is very full, but lest any entomologist should hesitate in refer- ring this species to the description given by Say, which is certainly defective in some particulars, I transcribe it to save the labor of future reference. "Apterous, black, glabrous : feet rufous ; striae of the elytra punctured. Length more than ll-20th of an inch. "Antennae dark piceous ; palpi rufo-piceous. Thorax narrowed behind, dorsal 42 [April, line deeply impressed, surface obsoletely transversely wrinkled, basal lines di- lated, distinctly indented, angles obtusely rounded, lateral edge regularly ar- quated. Elytra, striae not deeply impressed, irregularly punctured. Thighs and coxae rufous ; tibiae and tarsi dark rufous. " This species seems to belong to the genus Pterostiehus of Bonelli, and it may be distinguished from those which we have mentioned to be referable to that genus by the color of its feet." 3. P. angustatus, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine fere longiore, obovato, fortius marginato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, basi transversim impresso, utrinque longius sat profunde impresso, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, ellipticis fortius marginatis, striis profundis, interstitiis convexis, 3io quadripunctato, an- tennis setaceis, tibiis tarsisque piceis. Long. *5 — '55. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 98. Catskill Mountains, New York; Habersham Co., Georgia. This species is probably found in all mountainous portions of the United States east of the Mis- sissippi. 4. P. stygicus, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, postice angustato, fortius marginato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, basi transversim impresso, utrinque latius profunde impresso, elytris thorace vix duplo latioribus, basi subtruncatis striis profundis, interstitiis subconvexis, 3io tripunctato, an- tennis filiformibus. Long. .43. One specimen, found at Sault Ste Marie. This species resembles in appearance P. sinuatus, &c, below, but from the absence of wings, and from the form of the thorax, I am induced to place it in the present division. The margin of the thorax is not as wide as in the other species, but is a little dilated towards the posterior angles ; the basal impressions are deep, and are destitute of punctures or lines. The elytra are slightly convex, and their lateral margin is somewhat narrower than in the preceding species. B— a. Composed of winged species, of a piceous black color and slender form ; the antennas are long and setaceous; the thorax is strongly margined, a little wider than long, somewhat narrowed posteriorly, with the basal angles obtuse, neither prominent nor rounded ; the posterior transverse impression is strong, and the basal impressions moderately long and deep. The elytra are more than twice as wide as the thorax, truncate at base, finely margined, sinuate towards the extremity ; the humeral angles are rounded ; the striae are fine, and the third in- terstice has three punctures, the first being placed in the 3d stria, the other two in the 2d stria. 5. P.tenuicollis, piceo-niger, thorace latitudine fere longiore, capite non latiore, margine latiore piceo fortius reflexo, angulis posticis subrotundatis, elytris striis tenuibus profundis, tripunctatis, antennis palpis pedibusque piceis. Long. •3S. Ajichomenus tenuicollis Lee. Ann. Lye 4, 222. One specimen, found at the Sault Ste Marie. Although very much resembling the next species in all its characters, the thorax is comparatively so much nar- rower, that I am obliged to consider it as distinct. The base of the thorax is more obliquely truncate each side, by which the basal angles are rendered more obtuse. By a clerical error the specific name is printed angusiicollis, in Agassiz' Lake Superior. 6. P. marginatus, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, lateri- bus rotundatis, margine latiore piceo fortius reflexo, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, elytris striis profundis, tripunctatis, antennis palpis tibiis tarsisque piceis. Long. -42. Lee Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Anehomenus marginatus Lee. Ann. Lye. 221. Middle and Western States ; not rare. A specimen from the north shore of 1854.] 43 Lake Superior agrees perfectly with this species, except that the legs are entirely of a dark testaceous yellow. From the next this species is distinguished by the lateral margin of the thorax being as wide anteriorly as towards the base, and more strongly reflexed. 7. P. cincticollis, niger, nitidus, thorace latitiuline breviore, postice an- gustato, lateribus rotundatis, postice subsinuatis, margine piceo reflexo, postice latiore, elytris tenuiter striatis, tripunctatis, antennis pedibusque piceis, vel piceo-testaceis. Long. *37 — *45. Feronia cincticollis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 52. Ancho menus cincticollis Say, ibid 4, 421. Platynus blandu.i Germ. Ins. Nov. 12. Anchomenus corvinus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 102. Lee, Ann. Lye. 4, 221. Anchomenus deplanatus Chaud. Bull. Mosc. 1S43, 763. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 221. Anchomenus marginalia Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. Middle and Southern States ; common. The last two synonyms belong to a < variety in which the interstices of the elytra, instead of being slightly convex as usual, are entirely flat ; there are, however, no other differences of a definite character, and I see no reason why they should be retained as distinct. The brevity of Mr. Haldeman's description will make it doubtful whether this or the preceding species was meant, but a typical specimen kindly furnished me by 'him evidently belongs to the present species. Dr. Harris possesses a specimen of this species, which was named Feronia maculifrons, by Mr. Say; with the description (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. vol.3, p. 146) of that species it does not agree. B— b. Containing two winged species from California, closely allied to those of the preceding division, but of a somewhat less slender form, and with filiform an- tennae. The thorax is strongly margined, slightly narrowed towards the base, with the posterior angl°s obtuse, not rounded, and slightly prominent; the pos- terior transverse impression is deep, and the basal impressions shallow ; the elytra are twice as wide as the thorax, truncate at base, with the humeral angles rounded ; they are finely margined and very slightly sinuate towards the tip; the strise are fine, the interstices slightly convex, and the third has frequently four impressed punctures, which, however, seem liable to considerable variation ; the normal number appears to be three. 8. P. b i c o 1 o r, piceo-rufus, nitidus, thorace latitudine vix breviore, postice subangustato, lateribus rotundatis, postice sinuatis, margine fortius reflexo, basi truncata, angulis posticis rectis prominulis, elytris piceis, thorace duplo latiori- bus, striis tennibus, interstitiis vix convexis, margine rufo-piceo. Long. '43. San Diego, California. The lateral margin of the thorax is moderately wide and not dilated posteriorly ; the basal impressions are marked with a short im- pressed line at the bottom. Apart from color this species is distinguished from the next by the narrower thorax and more slender form. 9. P. c i n c t e 1 1 u s, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine breviore, postice paulo anirustato, lateribus rotundatis postice sinuatis, margine fortius reflexo, diaphano, basi truncata, angulis posticis prominulis rectis, elytris thorace fere duplo lati- oribus, striis tenuibus, interstitiis vix convexis, margine saepe tenuiter piceo. Long. *42. San Francisco, California ; very abundant. Specimens occur with three, four, and even five punctures on the third interstice of the elytra ; the impressed lines of the basal impressions of the thorax are less distinct than in the preceding ; the antennae and palpi are nearly black ? the tarsi are sometimes dark piceous. I have distributed this insect under the name Anch. brunneo-marginatus (Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196,) but on reconsidering the matter, I find so many points of disagreement, that 1 am obliged to propose a new name. His description reads : "Apterus, niger, depressus, capite laevissimo inter antennas impresso, thorace longiore, subcordato, lateribus refiexo-marginatis, angulis posticis acutiusculis, 44 [April, elytris oblongo-ovalibus, apice sinuatis, leviter striatis, punctis tribus minutis impressis, antennis pedibus, thoracis elytrorurnque margine rufo-brunneis. Long. 4* lin. lat. H lin." With regard to the value of the first word of this diagnosis, I will merely ob- serve that it occurs also in Count Mannerheim's diagnosis of Anch. maeulicoUis (1. c. 199,) which, however, I found at San Diego, in July, flying about in the evening twilight in such numbers as to be a source of great annoyance. B— c. The species of this group are moderately large, winged, and a pure shining black color; the thorax is slightly cordiform, with the posterior angles rectan- gular; the dorsal line and anterior transverse impression are deep ; the basal impressions are large, moderately deep and finely punctulate; the lateral margin is moderate and is strongly retlexed, and slightly diaphanous in a strong light. The elytra are more than one half broader than the thorax, truncate at base, slightly sinuate at the extremity ; they are somewhat flattened on the disc, and declivous towards the margin ; the stria? are deep, and the third interstice has three impressed punctures. I regret to be partly answerable for the confusion introduced among the species of this group, by mistaking those which have been already described, and incautiously admitting some which are not sufficiently distinct. Having carefully re-examined the subject, I hope that the results, here arrived at, may be found corrrct. 10. P. d e c e ns, niger, subnitidus, alatus, thorace postice subangustato, late- ribus postice vix sinuatis, angulis posticis non prominulis, impressionibus basali- bus dilatatis punctulatis, elytris magis deplanatis, tripunctatis, striis profundis obsolete punctulatis. Long. -5 — *56. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia decentis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 53. Andiomenus gagates Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 107. Andiomenus decentis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 421. Anchomenus coracinus Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 220. (Descriptio nequam.) Middle and Southern States ; not common. The description last cited was made from a badly preserved specimen, in which the wings had probably been pulled off to enable the elytra to be brought together ; at least, on raising the elytra, I find fragments of the wings still remaining. The distinctive characters of the species are the larger size, the less distinct posterior angles of the thorax, (which are almost obtuse and very slightly rounded,) and the less lustrous and more flattened elytra. The .fine punctures of the striae are sometimes almost invisible. Dejean mentions four elytral punctures ; the second one, however, is abnormal. 11. P. s i n u a t us, niger, nitidus, alatus, thorace latitudine subbreviore postice subangustato. lateribus postice vix sinuatis (basi apice sublatiore) angulis posticis vix prominulis, impressionibus basalibus dilatatis, punctulatis, elytris paulo con- vexis, bipunctatis, striis modice profundis, punctulatis. Long. .4 — 5. ? Audio menus sinuatus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 108. l.ec. Ann. Lye. 4, 220. Middle States and Lake Superior. I am somewhat doubtful whether this is really Dejean's species. He says, in comparison, with the preceding, "le corselet est a peu pres de la meme forme ; seulement les bords lateraux sont un peu moins largement deprimes." This difference, if it exists, is by no means obvious. The only satisfactory characters I can find are the smaller size, the more shining, less depressed and less deeply striate elytra. a. Thorace postice magis angustato, lateribus postice subsinuatis, angulis pos- ticis subprominulis. Anchomenus depressus Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 221. Platynus depressus Lee. Agassiz* Lake Superior. Western States and Lake Superior. The difference in the form of the thorax 1854.] 45 is quite perceptible, yet, as there are forms almost intermediate, and no other character can be seen to separate it from the preceding, I think it expedient to arrange it as one of the races of P. sinuatus. 0. Thorace latitudine non breviore, postice angustato, et lateribus longius sinuato, angulis posticis paulo prominulis; impressionibus basalibus profundiori- bus. Middle States and Lake Superior. Although the difference between this and P. sinuatus seems very considerable, in a large series of the form (*) they seem to disappear ; 1 have therefore hesitated to propose a new name lor this, and consider it, like the previous one, as a race under P. sinuatus. C— d. A group containing winged species, evidently allied to P. exte n si collis &c, but differing by having only three elytral punctures ; the feet and antennas are entirely black. The thorax is flattened, moderately margined, the margin growing broader towards the base; it is almost longer than wide, very slightly' narrowed posteriorly, hardly sinuate on the sides, truncate at base, with the pos- terior angles rectangular, not rounded ; the basal impressions are very long and finely rugous ; the elytra are flattened, truncate at base, slightly sinuate at apex ; the striae are deep and fine, the interstices flattish, the 3d with three impressed punctures ; the antennas are filiform. 12. P. f u n e b r i s, cyanescenti-niger, thorace latitudine non breviore, postice subangu^tato, et lateribus subsinuato, angulis posticis rectis, basi utrfhque lon- gius impresso, et confertim ruguloso, elytris opacis thorace duplo latioribus parum convexis, striis subtilibus interstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato. Long. .4. San Diego, California: abundant in almost dry water courses. Very distinct from all other species found within our territories. 13. P. ae n e o 1 u s, subtus nigro-virescens, capite thoraceque obscure viridi- aeneis, hoc latitudine non breviore, postice subangustato, lateribus late rotundatis, angulis posticis rectis, basi utrinque longius impresso, et confertim ruguloso, elytris planiusculis purpureo-nigris, nitidis, tripunctatis, striis tenuibus, pro- fundis, interstitiis vix convexis. Long. *4. One specimen ; Oregon. Also sufficiently distinct from all our other species. C— e. A group of extreme complexity, containing winged species of metallic colors, bluish or greenUh, with the base of the antennas, the feet, and occasionally the thorax rufous or pale piceous. The antennae are long and filiform ; the thorax is occasionally a little longer than wide, never much narrowed posteriorly, the margin fine, but strongly reflexed, moderately rounded on the sides; the base is oblique each side, and the posterior angles are obtuse and sometimes moderately rounded ; the basal impressions are long, and posteriorly are marked with a short line. The elytra are elongate, about twice as wide as the thorax, scarcely sinu- ate posteriorly, striae deep, but usually fine, the interstices hardly convex, the third with four to seven punctures, varying in the same species. By arranging the different forms as races under the more distinct species, this group appears to be capable of being reduced to order. 14. P. e x t e n s i c o 1 1 i s, supra asneo-viridis, nitidus thorace latitudine longiore, postice paulo angustato, angulis posticis vix rotundatis, basi punctulata, impres- sionibus basalibus tuberculo parum elevato intructis, elytris striis subtiliter ob- solete punctulatis, interstitio3io 4—7 punctato, antennarum basi pedibusquerufis. Long. -31 — 39. Lee. Aga^siz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia extensicollis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 54. Feronia (Anchomenus) proximits Harris, New England Farmer, 1S2S, p. 132. Anchomenus extensicollis Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 113. Ago/mm (Anchomenus) extensicollis Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 24. 46 [April, Middle, Southern, and Western States and Lake Superior ; Massachusetts. Dr. Harris; (lat. 54° according to Kirby.) This is usually considered as the type of Say's species, and is distinguished by the shining color, by the thorax being more distinctly narrowed posteriorly, with less rounded angles, and by the tubercle between the basal impression and the angle being distinct. The punctures of the base are fine, occasionally extending along the whole base, but sometimes visible only in the impressions. The color of the elytra sometimes varies to- wards bluish and coppery. The under surface is black. *. iEneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, postice angustato angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo indistincto instructis. Long. *39. Anchomenus obscuratus Chaud. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 763. 1 Anchomenus clongatulas Dej.' Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 222. Middle States and Lake Superior. 0. Laete viridi-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore, postice suban- gustato, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo distincto instructis. Long. *39. One specimen from Lake Superior, which differs from the type by the thorax being much less narrowed posteriorly, with the posteriorly angles more rounded. y. Viridi-aeneus, subnitidus, thorace latitudine longiore, postice subangustato, angulis posticis subrotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo nullo. Long. •35 — 39. Anchomenus viridis Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 222. Western States ; a specimen was sent me by Dr. Harris, as Anch. extensicollis Say. ef. Cyaneus, subnitidus, thorace latitudine longiore, postice vix angustato, an- gulis posficis subrotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo nullo, elytris striis profundioribus, haud punctulatis. Long. *34. Northern Sonora, near the Gila River. Resembles (y) except in color; the striae of the elytra are, however, deeper and not at all punctulate. g. Capite thoraceque aeneo-viridibus, hoc latitudine vix longiore, postice sub- angustato, angulis posticis fere rotundatis, impre«sionibus basalibus tuberculo distincto instructis, elytris cyaneis, striis profundioribus obsolete punctulatis. Long. *35. One specimen found with the preceding. 15. P. simplex, supra aeneo-viridis, subnitidus, thorace latitudine non bre- viore, postice subangustato, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, basi laevi, utrinque longius impresso, elytris striis tenuibus impunctatis interstitiis vix con- vexis 3io 5 — 8 punctato, antennarum basi pedibusque piceo-testaceis. Long. -3 — •37. Colorado River, California. Has very much the form of (J) of the preceding species, but the thorax is absolutely free from punctures ; in some specimens the thorax is more distinctly narrowed at the base, but the difference is not well marked : the base of the thorax is occasionally piceous, as in the dark colored specimens of the next species, from which it is distinguished by the interstices of the elytra being smooth. The under surface is black, the epipleurae tinged with piceous. 16. P. decorns, capite viridi-aeneo, thorace saepius rufo (nonnunquam piceo- virescente) latitudine vix breviore, basi paulo angustato, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, basi fere laevi, utrinque longius impresso, elytris striis tenuibus, interstitiis fere planis sat distincte punctulatis brevissime vix distincte pilbsis, 3io punctis 5 — 7 impressis, antennis basi pedibusque rufis. Long. *3l — 34. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia decora Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 53. Anchomenus decorns Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 115. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 223. Anchomenus obscurvs Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 223. (Var. pedibus fere piceis, tho- raceque viridi.) 1854.] 47 Abundant in the Middle, Southern and Western States ; the dark colored vari- eties and all the intermediate forms are found on the shores of Onondaga Lake, near Syracuse, New York. 1 think that Anch. thoracicus Dej. must belong to this species, but as the fine punctures of the elytra are not mentioned in his des- cription, it will be safer to consider it as distinct ; in some specimens of («) they might, however, readily be overlooked. a.. Capite viridi vel cyaneo, thorace rufo, elytris viridi-nigris, interstitiis parce fere obsolete punctulatis. Long. *31 — "34. Middle and Southern States ; also found near the Pima villages on the Gila. This differs from the type in having the punctures of the interstices of the elytra very faint ; they are, however, furnished with short hairs. The specimens from the Gila differ in having the thorax a little less narrowed posteriorly, and tinged with greenish. 17. P. anchomenoides, nigro-piceus, capite virescente, thorace subquad- rato latitudine vix breviore, margine tenui non reflexo, postice subangustato, an- gulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis basi utrinque minus profunde impresso, disco virescente, lateribus late parteque inflexa testaceis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus oblongis, convexiusculis, testaceis, interstitio 3io punctis 4 maiusculis impressis, antennarum articulis tribus, palpis, ano, pedibusque flavo testaceis. Long. -28. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum anchomenoides Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 2, 2. Pennsylvania, Lake Superior and Maine ; rare. The disc of the elytra is darker than the margin ; in the specimen from Pennsylvania the striae are deep and the intervals somewhat convex ; the one from Lake Superior has very fine striae and the intervals are entirely flat. Is not Agomim sordens Kirby, (Fauna Bor. Am. 25,) a closely allied species or, perhaps, a variety having smaller punctures. 18. P. c al i fo r n i c u s, niger, piceo-aenescens, thorace subquadrato, lati- tudine vix breviore, postice subangustato, margine tenuiter reflexo, angulis pos- ticis obtusis minime rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus elongatis, postice pro- fundis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, oblongis, basi truncatis, tenuiter striatis, 5-punctatis, antennarum articulo lmo, thoracis parte inflexa, epipleuris pedibus- que piceo-testaceis. Long. *27 — *32. ? Anchomenus calif amicus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 128. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843,197. San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego, California. I am doubtful about the propriety of referring this to Dejean's species, which is described as having the head and thorax obscure greenish-bronzed ; slight traces of such color may be perceived in some of my specimens, but usually they are of a brownish black color, slightly tinted with bronze. In the uncertainty which hangs over many of the species, and under my great want of success in collecting (or perhaps in identifying) the species found in California, it would be hardly prudent to pro- pose this as a new species. The refiexed margin of the thorax is distinct, but very narrow. D— f. Winged species mostly of a black color, with the legs and antennae of the same color as the body ; the thorax is rounded, with the posterior angles very obtuse, or altogether rounded; the margin is moderately broad, usually slightly dilated and refiexed towards the base ; the basal impressions are broad and shallow ; the elytra are not much wider than the thorax, truncate, or even subemarginate at the base, rounded and hardly perceptibly sinuate towards the extremity ; the in- terstices are mostly fiat, and the third has three punctures, the second of which, except when otherwise stated, is placed on or near the third stria. A numerous group, containing closely allied, yet quite distinct species. 19. P. c ol 1 a r i s, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, paulo convexo latitudine vix breviore, angulis posticis rotundatis ^ndistinctis, margine picescente latius reflexo postice latiore, impressionibus basalibus vix definitis, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus convexiusculis, striis tenuibus subtiliter crenulatis, interstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato, antennis basi fere piceis. Long. *3 — -35. Anchomenus collaris Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc 4, 421. 5 48 [April, Louisiana; Dr. Schaum. A very distinct species, having the reflexed margin of the thorax broader than in any of the following; the basal impressions, al- though deep, are formed principally by the union of the reflexed margin with the moderately convex disc, and are consequently very indefinite. The punctures of the striae of the elytra are very distinct. 20. P.moerens, piceo-niger, nitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, basi fere truncato, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, margine re- flexo postice latiusculo, impressionibus basalibus latis, tuberculo nullo, elytris thorace fere duplo latioribus, parum convexis, tenuiter striatis, tripunctatis. Long. -34— -38. Agonwm mcere?is Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 152. Louisiana, Dr. Schaum; Pennsylvania. This species differs from P. tenuis and others having fine elytral striae, by the greater breadth of the reflexed margin of the thorax, (which, however, is narrower than in the preceding,) and by the greater distinctness of the posterior angles ; the reflexed margin is sometimes tinged with piceous ; the second elytral puncture is very near the second stria. 21. P. laevis, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, basi late rotundata, angulis indistinctis, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus profundis, tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris con- vexiusculis, tripunctatis, striis profundis, vix punctulatis. Long. *35 — 38. Middle and Western States. The thorax is more rounded than in P. melana- rius ; the tubercle of the basal impression less distinct, and the posterior angles hardly perceptible. From P. atratus it differs by the more strongly reflexed thoracic margin, the deeper basal impressions and the wider elytra. 22. P. melanarius, niger, nitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine bre- viore, basi fere truncata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus latis, subrugosis, tuberculo dis- tincto instructis, elytris thorace vix sesqui latioribus, basi subemarginatis, minus convexis, tripunctatis, striis profundis punctulatis, tibiis tarsisque obscure pices- centibus. Long. *36 — '4- Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Ago?rum melanarivm Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 152. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 26. Agonum maicrum Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 300. Middle States, abundant; Vermont, Dr. Harris. The more reflexed thoracic margin the deeper basal impressions, and the distinct tubercle near the angle will readily separate this species from P. Harrisii. Dr. Harris thinks that this is not the species intended by Dejean. As, however, the latter says that the tibiae, tarsi and basal joint of the antennae are sometimes of a brownish color, I think that he cannot refer to any other of our species having three elytral punc- tures. A specimen having the thorax a little longer and less regularly rounded on the sides, was sent me, by Dr. Harris, under the name Agomim nitidum \ I cannot, however, find sufficiently definite characters to separate it. 23. P.metallescens, supra nigro-aeneus, subnitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine breviore, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, mar- gine angustius reflexo postice vix latiore, impressionibus basalibus subrugosis, tuberculo distincto instructis, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus paulo convexis, basi subemarginatis, striis tenuibus profundis, subtiliter punctulatis, interstitiis paulo convexis, 3io tripunctato. Long. *3 — 35. Sault Ste Marie, and northern shore of Lake Superior. Resembles in form and sculpture the preceding species, but, besides the color, readily distinguished by the narrower thoracic margin. The under surface, the antennae and feet are black, slightly bronzed. 24. P. t e n u i s, supra aeneo-niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine breviore, subro- tundato, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, margine angus- tius reflexo picescente postice sublatiore, impressionibus basalibus latis minus profundis, subrugosis, tuberculo indistincto instructis, elytris thorace fere sesqui latioribus, convexiusculis, tenuiter striatis, interstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato. Long. '36. 1854.] 49 Middle and Eastern States, rare. Sufficiently distinct from P. melanarius, by the slightly bronzed color, more obtuse and more rounded posterior thoracic an- gles, and less deep and impunctured elytral striae. From P. metallescens, which it resembles in the form of the thorax, it is easily known by the smooth elytral striae and more dull color. From P. moerens, it is distinguished by the wider thorax with more rounded base and less distinct posterior angles. Dr. Harris sent a specimen as Ag. collare Say ; the impunctured striae, how- ever, prevent it from being referred to the species described by him under the same name in the Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. as above quoted. 25. P. Harrisii, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, subro- tundato, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis, rotundatis, margine angus- tius depresso vix reflexo, impressionibus basalibus latis, subrugosis, minus pro- fundis, tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris paulo inaequalibus, thorace sesqui latioribus, tripunctatis, striis impunctatis. Long. *35 — *4. Agonnm Harrisii Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 225. Massachusetts and Lake Superior. The inequalities of the elytra are pro- duced by irregular dilated shallow impressions along the course of the striae : the most obvious of these is usually near the extremity of the fifth striae : Dr. Harris regards this as specific, and therefore applied to the species the unpublished name Ag. sulcatum. The thorax is less transverse and less rounded than in the preceding species, and the sides are less distinctly reflexed towards the base. The second elytral puncture is on the second stria. 26. P. pice us, rufo-piceus, nitidus, antennis capite thoraceque supra ob- scuris, hoc quadrato-rotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis vix rotundatis, marine anguste depresso vix reflexo, im- pressionibus basalibus latis, minus profundis, elytris thorace vix sesqui latiori- bus tripunctatis, striis sat profundis. Long. *28. Agouum piceum Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 226. Massachusetts, Dr. Harris. Although differing in size and color, so as to pre- sent no resemblance whatever to P. Harrisii, the form and structure is very much as in that species : the posterior angles of the thorax are more distinct, and the elytral striae deeper : as in that species, the second elytral puncture is in the second stria. 27. P. car bo, niger, nitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine paulo bre- viore, basi vix late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, margine angus- tissime reflexo, impressionibus basalibus minus dilatatis, sat profundis, elytris thorace vix sesqui latioribus convexiusculis, tenuiter striatis, tripunctatis. Long. -35. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. One specimen, from the northern shore of Lake Superior. Differs from all the preceding species by the narrower and slightly thickened reflexed margin of the thorax. It approaches otherwise perhaps most nearly to P. tenuis : the second elytral puncture is very near the second stria, but not in it, as in the twro preceding species. 28. P. atratus, niger, nitidus, thorace fere rotundato, latitudine paulo bre- viore, basi rotundata, angulis posticis rotundatis, indistinctis, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus latis tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris thorace paulo latioribus, convexiusculis, tripunctatis, striis sat profundis. Long. -34. Lee. Agassiz5 Lake Superior, 205. Northern shore of Lake Superior. The thorax perhaps most nearly resembles that of P. melanarius, but the base is more rounded, and the basal angles hardly to be determined : the elytra are but little wider than the thorax, and more con- - vex, giving the insect very much the form of Pterostichus erythropus. In one specimen the striae of the elytra are impunctured, in another they are obsoletely punctulate. 29. P. frater, niger, nitidus, thorace transverso,subquadrato, basi vix late y 50 [April, rotundato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, lateribus late rotundatis, margine anguste reflexo, basi utrinque late impressa, tuberculo indistincto instructo, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, paulo convexis, tripunctatis, striis profundis, interstitiis paulo convexis. Long. -35. San Francisco and San Diego, California, not rare. I was inclined to refer this species to Agonum brevicolle Dej ., (Sp. Gen. 3, 159) but on examining seve- ral specimens, I find that the elytral punctures are always three: the second is placed about the middle on the third stria, as in most of the species above described : the lateral margin of the thorax is hardly wider towards the poste- rior angles than at the middle: the basal impressions are sometimes slightly ru- gous and punctulate. The form of the thorax is somewhat that of P. Harrisii, but is less rounded on the sides. 30. P. quadratus, aeneo-niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, quadrato, postice subangustato, basi media truncata, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, angulis posticis vix rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus profundis, subtiliter rugosis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus minus convexis subquadratis, tripunctatis, striis sat profundis, interstitiis fere planis. Long. .34. One specimen, Oregon. Enough remains of the antennae and feet, to show that they were black. This species has a comparatively smaller thorax than the others of this group, and seems to establish a passage towards group (C — d,) from which, however, it differs in having the basal impressions of the thorax more excavated, and not prolonged anteriorly. The sides of the thorax are moderately rounded anteriorly : the second elytral puncture is placed on the second stria. 31. P. c u pr i p e nn i s , subtus aeneo-niger, capite thoraceque viridi-aureis, nitidis, hoc latitudine breviore rotundato, margine tenui postice paulo latiore, basi utrinque modice impressa, subtiliter rugosa, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, oblongo-ovalibus, fulgenti-cupreis, viridi late marginatis, subtiliter tripunctatis, striis tenuibus, interstitiis planis. Long. *32 — *36. iLec Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia cupripevnis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 50. Agonum cupripenne Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 139. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 28. Abundant throughout the Middle and Western States; found also at Lake Su- perior, and, according to Kirby, in lat. 54°. A variety from Lake Superior has the thorax and head and margin of the elytra greenish blue, and the disc of the latter golden. A specimen from New York, given me by Mr. Guex, has the upper surface green, somewhat darker, and tinged with purple on the head and thorax. D-g. A group containing winged species, in which the thorax is almost circular, and finely margined, with the basal impressions deep, but very small like punc- tures. The elytra are oval, truncate at base, slightly sinuate at tip, and mode- rately convex ; the stria? are deep and punctured, the third interval has three im- pressed punctures: the antennae at least in part are rufous. 32. P. punctiformis, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, tenuiter margi- nato, basi utrinque puncto maiusculo impresso, elytris thorace fere duplo latiori- bus. convexis tripunctatis striis antice punctulatis, antennarum basi tibiis tar- sisque rufis, femoribus saepe nigro-piceis. Long. *28 — *36. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 206. Feronia punctijormis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 58. Agonum rufipes Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 173. Agonum pun ct if or vie Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4,423. Agonum foveicolle Chaudoir, Bull. Mosc. 1843, 764. Lake Superior, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nebraska. Between the specimens having the legs entirely red, and those having the thighs almost black, I can perceive no difference of a specific nature. Mr. Chaudoir compares it with Ag. lenum (Dej.,) but his description applies to no other but this species. 1851.] 51 33. P. limbatus, nitidus, capite thoraceque saturate piceo-rufis,'hoc ro- tundato, tenuiter marginato, basi utrinque puncto magno impresso, elytris thorace hand sesqui latioribus nigris margine lato testaceo, tripunctatis, striis fortius puuctatis, postpectore abdomineque nigris, antennis piceis basi, palpis pedibus- que testaceis. Long. -35. Feronia limbata Say, Trans. Am. Phil Soc. 2, 47. Agonum palliatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 174. Georgia, Illinois and Pennsylvania. A more robust species than the preceding, with a larger thorax. E. A. group containing winged species of a metallic or submetallic color, with the base of the antennae, the palpi and the legs, or at least the tibiae and tarsi yellow. The thorax is slightly cordiform, narrowly margined, with the poste- rior angles obtuse and slightly rounded ; the basal impressions are deep, mode- rately large and punctulate ; the elytra are twice as wide as the thorax, truncate at base, moderately convex ; the striae are punctured ; the third interstice has three punctures, of which the second is on or near the second stria. 34. P. as r u g i n o s u s, piceo-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine subbreviore, ovali, convexo, tenuiter marginato, angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus parvis minus impressis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, ovalibus, con- vexis, tenuiter striatis, rnterstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato, antennarum basi pedi- busque piceo-testaceis. Long. «23 — *28. Agonum aruginosum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 168. Vermont, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia. By the small size of the basal im- pression of the thorax, this is readily distinguished from the other species, of this group. Sometimes the antennae appear entirely brownish black, but usually the first joint, at least, is reddish. 35. P. exc a va t u s, aenpus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore, parum convexo, postice subanaustato, basi punctulato utrinque profunde impresso, an- gulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus tenuiter striatis, striis versus basin subtiliter punctulatis, interstitio 3io trifoveato, antennis basi pedibusque piceo-testaceis. Long. «28. Agonum ezcavatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 1@9. Middle and Western States ; not rare on the banks of streams. 36. P. fe r r e u s, nigro-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine fere longiore con- vexo, postice paulo angustato, basi punctulato utrinque profunde impresso, an- gulis posticis obtusis, subrotundatis, elytris convexiusculis, tripunctatis, striis profundis usque ad medium valde punctatis, versus apicem minus impressis an- tennarum basi tibiis tarsisque piceo-testaceis. Long. «3. Agonum. ferreum Hald. Proc Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 228. Agonum ocreatum Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. (Sp^c. immat.) Middle and Western States ; not common. The striae of the elytra are quite faint towards the tip, which is obliquely subsinuate. 37. P. e r r a n s, obscure cyaneo-aeneiis, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo bre- viore, paulo convexo, postice maijis angustato, basi vix punctulato, utrinque profunde impresso, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus paulo convexis, tripunctatis, striis angustis impunctatis, antennis fuscis, articulis 3 pedibusque rufis. Long. *29. Feronia errans Say, Journ Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 147. Agonum errans Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 423. One specimen found on Platte River, Nebraska. Very similar to the next, but the thorax is longer and more distinctly narrowed posteriorly; the stria? of the elytra are absolutely without punctures, and the base of the antennae is much paler. 38. P. sub c o r d a t u s, cupreo-aeneus (raro viridi-aeneus) nitidus, thorace 52 [April, minus convexo, latitudine breviore, postice subangustato, basi punctulato, utrinque latius profunde impresso, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, elytris thorace fere duplo latioribus minus convexis, tripunctatis striis angustis versus basin subtiliter punctulatis, antennis nigro-piceis, articulo lrao pedibusque piceo- rufis. Long. *3 — «34. Lee Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. ?Agouum erythropum\\ Kirby, Fauna Eor. Am. 28. Sandy Lake, Upper Mississippi ; the green variety was found in Nebraska, near the Rocky Mountains. By the change of genus Kirby's name becomes a homonym of P. erythropus Dej. above described. As Mr. Kirby does not mention the punctures of the base of the thorax, nor of the striae of the elytra, I am not certain that his species is the same as the one described ; should it prove to be different from mine, the name P. Ki rb y i must be applied to it. 39. P. b a sa 1 i s, asneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore ovali con- vexiusculo, postice subanguscato, angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus profundis parce punctulatis, tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris tho- race duplo latioribus oblongis, minus convexis, striis modice profundis, inter- stitiis paulo convexis, 3io subtiliter tripunctato, antennis piceis, articulo lmo pedibusque rufis. Long. *3. Agonum basale Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227. One specimen found in Nebraska, near the mountains. From its color and form this species, at first sight, resembles a small specimen of P. extensicollis, but on comparison it is found completely different. The basal impressions of the thorax are not prolonged anteriorly, and the margin is not wider at the rounded posterior angles. The third interstice of the elytra has only three very small punctures, of which the second and third are placed on the second stria. 40. P. v a g ans, virescente-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore, ovali, postice subangustato, margine postice paulo latiore, angulis posticis ro- tundatis, impressionibus basalibus profundis, parce punctulatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, oblongo-ovalibus, parum convexis, striis sat profundis obsolete punctulatis, interstitiis vix convexis, 3io subtiliter tripunctato, antennis piceis, articulo lmo pedibusque rufis, genubus, tarsisque paulo infuscatis. Long. «29. One specimen, New York. Resembles in form P. nutans, but the elytra have only three small punctures (the second near the second stria on one elytron, and near the third on the other ;) the striae are deeper and very finely punctulate ; from P. subcordatus, it differs by the longer thorax. F. Winged species of a slender form, usually black, sometimes, hower, piceous, and in one instance of a metallic green color ; the base of the antennae and the feet are yellow ; the thorax is oval, with the margin narrowly reflexed becoming broader towards the posterior angles, which are rounded and indistinct; the basal impressions are narrow, sometimes deep and smooth, sometimes nearly obsolete. The elytra are elongate oval, twice as wide as the thorax, moderately convex, emarginate at the base and obliquely subtruncate at tip; the striae are fine, the interstices flat, the third marked with five or six punctures. 41. P. nutans, capite thoraceque viridiaeneis,hoc ovali, latitudine longiore, margine angusto reflexo postice latiore, angulis posticis. nullis, impressionibus basalibus profundis laevibus, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, elongatis, aeneis nitidis, 5-punctatis, striis tenuibus impunctatis, antennis nigris articulo lmo pedibusque piceo-rufis, femoribus apice infuscatis. Long. ;27 — 35. Feronia nutans Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 52. Agonum nutans Say; ibid. 4, 423, (syn. excl.); Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227. A so num femoral um Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 146. Middle and Western States ; also in Nebraska. Say, in the fourth volume above cited, makes the unaccountable error of referring Agonum striatopunctatum Dej. to this speciest 1854.] 53 42. P. crenulatus, nigro-aeneus, minus convexus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, angulis posticis nullis, basi utrinqu'e profundius impresso, et parce punctulato, elytris thorace duplo latioribus oblongis, 5 vel 6-punctatis, striis tenuibus antice punctulatis, intersf itiis planis, antennarum basi pedibusque piceo-testaceis, vel testaceis. Long. -31. Georgia, rare ; Louisiana, Dr. Schaum. This species establishes, by its form and characters, a passage from this group towards P. excavatus among those having three elytral punctures. The elytra are broader and more square in their outline than in any other species of this group, to which, nevertheless, it seems most closely related ; in one specimen three joints of the antenna? are pale, in the other only the first one is dark testaceous. 43. P. striatopunctatus, aeneo-niger, elongatus nitidus, thorace ovali latitudine longiore, margine reflexo postice latiore, angulis posticis nullis, basi utrinque profunde impresso, et obsolete punctulato, elytris thorace duplo latiori- bus, elonjjato ovalibus, striis punctulatis satprofundis, interstitiis paulo convexis, antennarum articulo lmo pedibusque testaceis. Long. -24 — *3. Agonum striatopunctatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 167. Agonum decipiens Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 229. Georgia. Has very much the form of P. nutans, but is smaller and darker colored ; the strice of the elytra are deeper and distinctly but finely punctured. 44 P. re tract us, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato-ovali, latitudine non breviore, postice modice angustato, angulis posticis valde rotundatis, margine tenui postice latiore subreflexo, basi utrinque longitudinaliter sat profunde im- preasa, elytris ovalibus, picescentibus thorace plus sesqui latioribus, striis mo- dice profundis, interstitiis subconvexis, 3io punctis 4 vel 5-impresso, pedibus rufis, antennis piceis basi rufo-testaceis. Long. *27 — 3. Lee Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum retractum Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 228. ? Agonum lenum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 166. Lake Superior, Massachusetts and New York. The first specimen described by me was defective in having very small elytral punctures, whereby I was led into the error of describing the elytra as having only three punctures on the third interstice. The thorax is larger and wider in proportion than the last spe- cies, but the elytra are wider and less elliptical than in the remaining species of this group, and the stria? are deeper. I am somewhat doubtful about referring Dejean's description to this species, since not only the first joint of the antennae, but very frequently three or four joints are paler than the outer joints, and the striae of the elytra, in comparison with the following species, could hardly be called fine. As, however, Dejean implies that the sides of the thorax are some- what reflexed posteriorly, I must acknowledge that my reference of his species to what is described below as P. picipennis, must be considered faulty. 45. P. ruficornis, piceo-niger nitidus, elongatus, thorace latitudine paulo longiore, ovali, postice paulo angustato, angulis posticis rotundatis, margine tenuiter reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus latis minus pro- fundis, elytris elongato-ellipticis, thorace vix sesqui latioribus, piceis striis tenu- ibus, interstitiis planissimis, 3io punctatis 5 — 7 impresso, pedibus rufis, antennis piceis extrorsum pallide rufis. Long. *31. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. ? Agonum picipenne var. C and D. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 25. Lake Superior. Larger than the preceding and following species, and besides the difference in the thorax, readily distinguished by the antennae being much paler from the fourth joint outwards. I have cited Kirby, because he says that the varieties mentioned have the second, third and fourth joints of the antennae piceous, and the rest ferruginous; in my specimens the first joint is rufous in one, and piceous in the others. 46. P. p i c i p e n n i s, niger nitidus, elongatus, thorace ovali, latitudine Ion- 54 [April, giore, tenuiter rnarginato, angiitis posticis rotundatis, itnpressionibus basalibus angustis parum profundis, elytris thorace latioribus, elongato-ellipticis, piceis, striis tenuibus, interstitiis plants 3io punctis 4 — 6 impresso, epipleuris pedibusque pieeo-testaeeis, antennis nigro-piceis, articulo lmo rufescente. Long. -25 — «27. Agonum picipenne Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 25. Agonum lenum% Lee Ann. Lye 229. Platynas lenis\ Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior 205. Middle States, Nebraska and Lake Superior. The elytra are sometimes nearly black, and sometimes nearly testaceous ; the lateral margin of the thorax is not dilated posteriorly. In the paler specimens the antennae are piceous, with the first three or four joints testaceous. 47. P. lutulentus, piceo-testaceus, nitidus elongatus, capite nigro, thorace ovali, latitudine longiore, tenuissime rnarginato, angulis posticis rotundatis, itn- pressionibus basalibus parvis minus impressis, elytris thorace latioribus, elongato- ellipticis, striis tenuibus interstitiis planis, 3io punctis 4 maiusculis impresso, antennis piceis, articulo lmo rufo. Long. -26. Maine and Lake Superior. Apart from the difference in color, this species differs from the preceding in having the thorax still more finely margined, with the basal impressions smaller and less marked ; the striae of the elytra are finer, and the punctures appear to be larger and never more than four in number. I formerly distributed this species as Agonum sordens Kirby, (Fauna Bor. Am. 25,) but on reviewing the subject; I find that it does not correspond with his description. The color beneath is about the same as above, and varies from pale piceous to deep piceous. 48. P. n i g r i c e p s, pallide testaceus, nitidus, elongatus, capite nijjro, tho- race elongato, subquadrato, latitudine longiore, lateribus paulo rotundatis, basi angulisque posticis rotundatis, tenuissime rnarginato, impressionibus basalibus parvis, minus impressis, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus elongato-ellipticis, striis tenuibus, interstitiis planis 3io punctis 4 subtilibus impresso, sutura thoracisque disco longitudinaliter infuscatis, antennis piceis, basi testaceis. Long. «25. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum nigriceps Lee, Ann. Lye 4, 229. One specimen, Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. The appearance is very much like that of Demetrias atricapillus of Europe ; the elytra are somewhat more dis- tinctly sinuate at the apex than in the other species of this group, and are, in- deed, almost obliquely truncate ; the sutural striae is deeper than the others. G. A group containing but one winged species of a metallic green color, and mo- derately stout figure ; the thorax is rounded, slightly truncate at base, very finely margined, with the basal impressions small and deep; the elytra are subellip- tical, emarginate at base, slightly sinuate at tip, finely striate, with several large quadrate foveae on the third interval. 49. P. octopunctatus, supra aeneo-viridis, vix nitidus, thorace rotundato, tenuiter rnarginato, basi snbtruncata, utrinque fovea profunda impressa, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus ellipticis, tenuiter striatis, foveis quatuor quadratis ob- scuris profundis utrinque impressis, antennarum' basi pedibusque piceo-rufis, femoribus aeneo-micantibus. Long. -3. Carabus octopunctatus Fabr. Ent. Syst. Suppl. 55. Syst. El. 1, 186. Feronia octopunctata Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 51. Agonum octopu?ictatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 136. Middle and Western States. The elytra are frequently tinged with coppery from the suture as far as the fourth stria, and have occasionally five foveae. The under surface is shining blackish green. 1854.] 55 H— h. A group containing two winged species, in which the thorax is rounded and moderately large, finely margined, with the margin extending along the sides of the base and very slightly thickened, but hardly reflexed. The elytra are not much wider than the thorax, emarginate at base, hardly sinuate at the apex, and have four and five punctures on the third interval. The antenna? and feet are entirely black ; the upper surface is coppery. 50. P.protractus, elongatus supra acneus, nitidus, thorace rotundato, tenuiter marginato, basi truncata utrinque latius foveata et obsolete punctulata, angulis posticis valde rotundatis, elytris thorace paulo latioribus, 4-punctatis, interstitiis planis ; subtus cum antennis pedibusque aeneo-niger. Long. *33. Lake Superior, and Sandy Lake, Minnesota. The difference between this and the next species is not well defined ; nevertheless, several specimens agree in havins the thorax not wider than long, with the posterior angles more definite, although much rounded ; the general form of the body is narrower. These dif- ferences are not sexual, as of each form are found both males and females. 51. P. c h a 1 c e u s, capite thoraceque supra aeneis nitidis, hoc rotundato, tenuiter marginato, latitudine breviore, basi truncata, utrinque latius foveata et obsolete punctulata, angulis posticis obsoletis, elytris thorace fere sesqui lati- oribus, cuprascentibus, 4 vel 5-punctatis, interstitiis planis, subtus cum antennis pedibusque aeneo-niger. Long. -33 — *35. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum chalceum Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 224. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, not rare 5 a specimen also occurred in Nebraska. Can Agonum enpreum Dej. (Sp. Gen. 5, 736,) be a variety of this or the pre- ceding species, having but three elytral punctures? H-i. Winged species of moderately stout figure and variable color. The thorax is broad and rounded, with the posterior angles obsolete ; the margin is fine and slightly reflexed, the basal impressions are largp, rounded and shallow. The elytra are deeply emarsjinate at base, very slightly sinuate at the apex ; the strias are fine, and the intervals flat; the third interval has from 5 to 8 punctures. 52. P. pi acid us, cyaneo-niger, subnitidus, thorace rotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, margine fortius reflexo picescente postice paulo latiore, basi utrinque late sat profunde foveata, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, tenuiter striatis, 5 — 7-punctatis, antennarum articulo lmo tibiis tarsisque piceo-testaceis. Long. -3—37. Feronia placida Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 43. Agonum morosnm Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 145. Lake Superior, Maine, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Santa Fe. Readily recog- nized by its greenish or bluish black color; the elytral punctures are usually six in number, of which the two posterior are situated in the second stria, the others on the third. Varieties occur having the legs of a uniform dull reddish color. 53. P. maculicollis, rufo-testaceus, subnitidus, capite obscuriore, thorace rotundato, latitudine breviore, margine tenui paulo reflexo, basi utrinque late vix distincte impressa obsolete punctulata, macula discoidali magna obscura ornato, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, tenuiter striatis, 5 — 6-punctatis, nigris margine lata ad humeros dilatata antennis pedibusque testaceis, abdomine nigro- piceo ano testaceo. Long. «40 — 48. Agonum maculicolle Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 175. Anchomenus maculicollis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 199. California, in every part west of the Sierra; the elytra are distantly and very obsoletely punctulate ; of the punctures the two anterior are placed in the third, the others in or near the second stria. The thorax is sometimes entirely testa- ceous. By a strange error Count Mannerheim has added the word Ct apterus " to the diagnosis, which he has otherwise copied almost literally from Dejean; the 56 [April insect is always winged, and at San Diego, in June, occurred in such numbers, flying in the twilight, as to be very troublesome. 54. P. variolatus, aeneo-niger, thorace latitudine breviore, rotundato, mar- gine tenui reflexo, basi utrinque late minus profunde foveata, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, tenuiter striatis, punctis 5 — 7 maiusculis impressis, aeneo-pieeis, margine late pedibusque flavo-testaceis, antennis nigro-piceis, articulo lmo rufo. Long. -25. Lee. Ann. Lye. 5, 178. San Francisco, California; under bark of dead trees. The four anterior of the elytral punctures are placed on the third, the posterior three, or two (as the case may be) are adjacent to the second stria. In one specimen there are only three punctures on the third stria, the other four being on the second. The basal im- pressions do not combine with the concavity near the margin (as in P. placidus) but remain distinct. Mr. Motschulsky (Bull. Mosc. 1845, pars 1, 21,) has mentioned a species under the name Agonum limlatttm, which may be identical with our insect. He merely states, " in size and form it resembles closely A. p e 1 i d n u m, but is readily distinguished by the whitish margin of the elytra." The specific name is, however, preoccupied by Say. H— k. A group containing species of a robust form, but flattened body ; the color is more or less metallic ; the legs and antennae dark colored or black ; the thorax has the posterior angles somewhat distinct, but not prominent; the margin is very narrow, but not reflexed; the basal impressions are shallow and prolonged anteriorly. The elytra are scarcely one half wider than the thorax, emarginate at base, very slightly sinuate at the tip ; the striae are well marked, but fine ; the third interval has from five to seven punctures. 55. P. deplanatus, aeneus, virescens, modice elongatus, thorace rotundato- quadrato, tenuiter marginato, latitudine breviore, postice parum angustato, basi truncato, utrinque sat profunde impresso, angulis posticis obtusis, haud rotun- datis, elytris fere depressis, thorace vix sesqui latioribus, oblongis, tenuiter striatis, 6-punctatis, antennarum articulo lmo pedibusque piceo-aeneis. Long. •38—45. Agonum deplanatum Menetries, Bull. Petrop. 2, 58. (1844.) Abundant at San Jose. The original description mentions that the striae of the elytra are finely punctulate ; this character may be observed in some speci- mens, but is usually not apparent. The basal impressions of the thorax are sometimes very obsoletely punctulate ; the punctures of the third interval of the elytra are not adjacent to either stria. 56. P. f o s s i g e r, niger, vel aeneo-niger, thorace rotundato-quadrato, tenuiter marginato, postice subangustato, basi late rotundata, utrinque longius impressa, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, elytris paulo convexis, (feminse opacius- culis) thorace vix sesqui latioribus, oblongis, striis fere impunctatis, interstitiis parum convexis, 3io punctis 5 — 7 maiusculis impressis. Long. '35—38. Agonum fossiger Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 160. Anchomenus fossiger Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 199. California, at San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and the Colorado River. Varies not only in color, but even in form ; the thorax is usually distinctly wider than long, and considerably rounded on the sides ; the basal impressions are broad and obsoletely prolonged anteriorly to the middle, and occasionally slightly punctulate. a. This is a single specimen from San Francisco, in which the thorax is not wider than long, almost square, and less rounded on the sides than in the other specimens, but with the posterior angles less distinct and more rounded. The general form of the body is narrower, but as I have not found the characters sufficiently distinct, it would be imprudent for the present to separate it under another name. 1854.] 57 I. r A group of small black winged species, having the thorax transverse, rounded at the sides and base, with the posterior angles very obtuse, but usually distinct ; the margin is narrowly reflexed, especially towards the posterior angles; the basal impressions are not obvious, being lost in the concavity between the mar- gin and the disc ; the elytra are oblong, and flattened ; they are deeply emarginate at base ; when the elytra have three small punctures, they are almost truncate at tip, and are slightly sinuate: when I he elytra are deeply foveate, the sutural portion is more prolonged, so that the truncation becomes oblique. The striae are veiy fine and badly defined; the legs and antennae are black; the latter area little stouter than usual, though hardly perceptibly so. 57. P. c o n s i m i 1 i s, niger, nitidus, thorace subquadrato transverso, basi et lateribus latins rotundato, angulis posticis distinctis, margine tenui reflexo pos- tice paulo latiore, elytris oblongis, basi valde emarginatis, thorace duplo latiori- bus, tenuiter striatis, subtiliter tripunctatis. Lon^. *32. One specimen ; Michipicoton, Lake Superior. Differs from P. obsoletus by its larger size, less rounded base of thorax, and much more distinct posterior angles. The four anterior trochanters are red. As in the next two species, the apex of the elytra is almost truncate, and as in them the second puncture is in the second stria. 58. P. obsoletus, niger, nitidus, thorace transverso, postice subangustato basi valde rotundato, angulis posticis obtussissitnus, margine tenui reflexo pos- tice paulo latiore, elytris oblongis, basi valde emarginatis, thorace duplo latiori- bus, tenuiter striatis, subtiliter tripunctatis. Long. *24 — -28. Feronia obsoleta Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 57. Agonum luctuosum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 172. Agonum obsoletum Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 423. c F/ronia placida Say,'i Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227 ; Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. New York and Lake Superior. The error by which I referred this species to' Feronia placida Say, is entirely unaccountable. This common species frequently has the anterior and middle trochanters of a deep red color. I have received a typical specimen named by Say, through the kindness of Dr. Harris. 59. P. strigicollis, niger, nitidus, thorace transverso, postice vix an- gustato, basi rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis, margine tenui reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus longiusculis minus distinctis subtiliter rugosis, elytris fere duplo latioribus oblongo-quadratis, subtiliter striatis, tri- punctatis. Long. -3. Anchomenus strigicollis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 294. Oregon, at Prairie Paso, and Fort Vancouver, Dr. J. G. Cooper ; northern part of the west coast of America, according to Count Mannerheim. This spe- cies is very closely related to the preceding, but the thorax is wider posteriorly, thus becoming more quadrate, the posterior angles are more distinct, and there- flexed margin is a little wider. The elytra are comparatively much shorter, being not more than one half longer than wide, while in P. obsoletus they are fully twice as long as wide; the basal impressions of th° thorax, though long, are very indistinct; in the preceding they cannot be traced. 60. P. bembidioides, aeneo-niger, opacus, thorace transverso subquad- rato, basi rotundata, postice subangustato, angulis posticis obtusis at distinctis, elytris oblongis, maculis sericeis confluenlibus variegatis, tenuiter striatis, foveis quatuor magnis utrinque impressis. Long. -26. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Supetior, 206. Sericoda bembidioides Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 15, pi. 1, fig. 2. Agonum bembidioides Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227. One specimen, Lake Superior. Closely resembles the next species, but is sufficiently distinct by its larger size, and the irregularly mottled appearance of the elytra. Kirby's genus Sericoda was formed on an erroneous examination of the palpi 58 [April, of a distorted or mutilated specimen. Chaudoir (Bull. Mosc. 1844, p. 70) has established a genus Rhytiderus, upon Dromius 10-punctatus, from South Ame- rica, but which, as observed by Erichson, (Bericht fiber Kntom. 1844,) be- longs to Kirby's Sericoda. The relation between the genus Sericoda, and a very common insect of northern Europe, does not, however, appear to have been suspected by any of the authors, 61. P. stigmosus, aeneo-niger, subnitidus, thorace transverso subquadrato, basi rotundata, postice subangustato, angulis posticis obtusis at distinctis, elytris oblongis, tenuiter striatis, utrinque foveis magnis quatuor impressis. Long. '21. Flatynus quadripunctatu$\ Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 206. Very abundant at Lake Superior, and found also in Maine and New Hamp- shire. Dr. Schaum tells me that he considers this as the same as the European P. quadripunctatus, and in my catalogue of Lake Superior Coleoptera, I gave it as such on his authority. On comparing, however, a large number of specimens with one found in Sweden, the posterior angles of the thorax, although very ob- tuse, appear to be always well defined, while in the European specimen the angles and the base are rounded together, so that the apex of the angle cannot be defined. Many of the specimens have two slightly impressed foveae before the middle of the thorax, but some are found without such impressions. Olisthopus Dej. 1. 0. parmatus, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, transverso, margine tenui testaceo, basi utrinque minus profunde impressa, elytris thorace latioribus breviter ovalibus, basi emarginatis, subtiliter tripunctatis, sat profunde striatis, piceo-testaceis, disco plus minus infuscato, antennis palpis pedibusque testaceis, ill is extrorsum fuscis. Long. -28. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 181. Feronia parmata Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 49. Olisthopus ductus Say, Trans. Am. Phil Soc 4, 424. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Georgia. A type of 0. cinctus, given me by Dr. Mel- sheimer, does not differ in any essential point from the other specimens. I have never seen any in which the lateral bead of the thorax was not testaceous, and am inclined to believe that Mr. Say had not a specimen of his Feroui a parmata before him when he described 0. cinctus. The basal impressions of the thorax are sometimes obsoletely punctulate, in other specimens they are quite smooth ; the elytra are sometimes nearly uniform brownish yellow, sometimes piceous, with the shoulders and sides indistinctly brown. 2. 0. micans, nigro-piceus, nitidus, cyaneo-micans, thorace rotundato, transverso, marline tenui testaceo postice subreflexo, basi utrinque vix late foveata, elytris ovalibus. basi emarginatis, tripunctatis, tenuiter striatis, mar- gine tenui testaceo, antennis palpis pedibusque flavis, ill is extrorsum fuscis. Long. • 18. Leeonte, Ann. Lye. New York 4, 230. Georgia and Louisiana. Readily distinguished by its small size; the striae of the elytra are finer than in 0. parmatus, and the intervals perfectly fat ; the margin of the thorax is a little reflexed and broader towards the base. Species Unknown to me. From California. Calathus B e h r e n s i i Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 195. Scaphiodactylus micans Chaud. Bull. Mosc. 1844,479. Anchomenus micans Menetries, Bull. Petrop. 2, 58. Tanystola striata Motsch. Kafer Russl. (Carab.) 69. Anchomenus striatus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 132. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 198. Tanystola s u 1 c a ta Motsch. Kafer Russl. (Carab.) 70. Anchom. sulcatus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 131. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1813. 198. 1854.] 59 Anchomenus ovipennis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196. A. rotundipennis Motsch. Bull. Mosc. 1845, part 2, 340. Anchomenus rugiceps Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196. A. ovipennis Motsch. 1. cit. 2, 339. Anchomenus m a u r u s Motsch. Bull. Mosc. 1845, 2, 339. Anchomenus brunneo-marginatus Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196. Anchomenus ferruginosus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 128. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 197. Agonum brevicolle Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 159. Anchom. brevicollis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 199. Agonum f a m e 1 i c u m Menetries, Bull. Petrop. 2, 58. From Russian. America. Agonum mol 1 e FJsch. Mem. Soc. Imp. Mosc. 6, 102. Fischer, Ent. Ross. 2, 125, tab. 19, fig. 2. Anehom. mollis Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 129. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 198.« Agonothorax planipennis Motsch. Kafer Russl. (Carab.) 68. From Atlantic America. Anchomenus elongatulus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 112. Agonum n i t i du 1 u m Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 143. Agonum c u p r e u m Dej. Sp. Gen. 5, 735. Agonum a 1 b i c r u s Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 158. Agonum sordens Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 25. Agonum seminitidum Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 26. Agonum simile Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 27. Agonum af f i n e Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 27. Feronia maculifrons Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 116, (vide Platynus cincticollis, sup. p. 43.) Feronia scutellaris Say, (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 146) is a diseased specimen of one of our black species, allied to P. melanarius. Anchomenus pubescens Dej. (Sp. Gen. 3, 122) of which Anch. obconicus Eald. (Proc Acad. 1, 299) is a synonym, does not belong to this group, but forms a genus A t r a n u s Lee. (Ann. Lye. 4, 438,) allied to Chlaenius. The European Platynus angust icollis Dej . is mentioned by Kirby (Fauna Bor. Am. 23) as being found on this continent in lat. 54° and 65°; his descrip- tion seems to apply to one of the species of division (B — a,) and probably to P. marginatus ; a comparison of specimens is, however, desirable in order to es- tablish the synonymy. Descriptions of nexv genera and species of North American Frogs. By Spencer F. Baird. HYLAD.E. Teeth in upper jaw. Abdomen granulated. Two outer metatarsals, firmly united throughout by muscle and ligament. 1. Acris crepitans, Baird. — Brownish above. The median region of head and body above bright green : a dark triangle between the eyes. Three oblique blotches on the sides, nearly equidistant; the first behind the eye, the last on the Hanks and running up on the back; all usually margined with lighter. A narrow white line from the eye to the arm. Beneath yellowish white. Inferior face of thigh plain. Tibia a little more than half the length of the body; foot rather smaller. Head rather obtuse, scarcely longer than broad. Web of hind foot extending to the penultimate articulation of the 4th toe. Syn. Hylodes gryllus, De Kay, N. Y. Zool. III. (1842.) 70, PI. xxii. f. 61. Ilab. Northern States generally. 2. Acris acheta, Baird. — Slender. Tibia two-thirds the length of body. Color above dark brown ; blotched much as in Acris gryllus. Beneath white, closely 60 [April, mottled with brown on the body and on the inferior and inner faces of the limbs ; where are also visible minute white dots. Lower surface of body appears quite black. A narrow white line from eye to arm. Hab. Key West, Florida. Genus Chorophilus, Eaird. Smooth above, granulated beneath. Extremities of limbs simple, not dilated at tip. Hands free; feet with a slight basal web, which is entirely wanting be- tween the two outer toes. Tongue orbicular ; emarginate behind. Teeth pos- terior to the inner nares. Tympanum distinct. Transverse apophyses of sacral vertebrae dilated into triangular pallets. Distinguished from Acris by expansion of apophyses; from Litoria by the emarginate tongue, less membrane of toes, and more posterior palatine teeth ; from Hylodes in having a membrane at base of toes, &c. Type, Chorophilus nigritus, Baird, (Cystignathus nigritus, Holb.) Genus Heloccetes, Baird. Granulated almost everywhere above and below. Tongue nearly entire. Vo- merine teeth between the nares. Tympanum distinct. Fingers and toes slightly dilated or knobbed. Fingers free ; toes webbed to bases of phalanges ; a slight membrane at base of outer toes. Transverse apophyses of sacral vertebras ex- panded at ends. Differs from Hylodes and Acris in membrane of toes, and dilatation of sacral apophyses ; from Hyla in slight web and disks ; from Chorophilus in more an- terior position of vomerine teeth, &c. 3. Heloccetes feriarum, Baird. — Body stout, squat. Head broad. Femur and tibia and hind foot about equal, and half the length of the body. Above dark or fawn, with three nearly parallel stripes down the back, the central widening, but scarcely bifurcate behind, and commencing behind a triangular spot between the eyes. A similar dark vitta on sides of head and body, with a white line along edge of the jaw. Body about one inch long. Hab. Carlisle, Penna. 4. Heloccetes triseriatus. Baird. — Body rather slender ; head narrow. Femur less than tibia, which is about two-thirds length of body, and shorter than hind foot. Light bluish ash above, with a "Hark dorsal stripe commencing at the snout, and not interrupted between the eyes; bifurcating about the middle of the trunk ; a stripe on each side of this, and another on sides of head and body, making five distinct stripes anteriorly; lateral stripe with white line below. Body about an inch in length. Syn. Hyla triseriata, Max. Prinz von Wied. Reise 1, (1839,) 249. Hab. Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and the upper Missouri. 5. Heloccetes clar/cii, Baird. — Snout acute, projecting. Extremities somewhat dilated. Tibia half the distance between eye and anus. Foot but little longer, not nearly half the length of body. Above grayish brown or ash, with distinct large circular blotches. A dark band from snout through eye and tympanum down the sides, and a whitish line on the side of jaw. Size about one inch long. Hab. Galveston and Indianola, Texas. 6. Hyla richardii, Baird. — Above uniform grass green ; smooth; beneath white. Tibia considerably less than half the length of body. Hind foot less than arm from elbow. Less than one inch in length. Hab. Cambridge, Mass. 7. Hyla andersonii, Baird. — Skin smooth but wrinkled ; arm from elbow longer than hind foot. Above dull olive brown, as are all the exposed surfaces of the limbs when the animal is couchant ; all the concealed surfaces, especially those in contact with each other, are thickly sprinkled with circular, yellowish white spots on a pale brown ground, seen also on the armpits and sides of body behind. A post-ocular dark vitta extended down the sides (where its lower 1854.] 61 edge is indistinct) and sending a dark branch across the arm to the chin. No bars on the limbs. Body about two inches in length. Hab. Anderson, South Carolina. 8. Ihjla exlmia, Baird.— Smooth above. Tibiajnot half the total length of body. Hind foot not longer than arm from elbow. Bluish above, with two dark longitudinal stripes; beneath white. A dark band from the eye along the sides, margined above and below by a white line, the latter reaching only to the arm, behind which the outline of the dark band is indistinct. Legs not banded. Body about an ineh long. Hab. City of Mexico. 9. Hyla vanvlietii, Baird. — Nearly smooth above. Tympanum nearly as large as the eye. Tibia half as long as the body, longer than arm from elbow, which in turn exceeds the foot. Ash gray or olive, with an irregular cruciform dorsal blotch. A black spot on the side above the foreleg. A white spot under the eye. Thigh and leg with three transverse bands each. Their inner surfaces (when flexed) scarcely reticulated, but spotted with white upon a darker ground. Inside of tibia uncolored. Body two inches long. Hab. Brownsville, Texas. 10. Hyla affinis, Baird. — Body rough. Tympanum two-thirds the size of eye. Tibia not quite half the length of the body, but reaching more than halfway from anus to centre of eyes. Color ash gray or green, with numerous rounded dorsal blotches. Three transverse bands on each thigh and leg. No vermicu- lation on anterior and posterior faces of hind legs, nor on lower part of sides. A light spot under the eye. Web of hand extending only to the third joint of the second finder. Arm from elbow less than tibia, but longer than hind foot. About li inches long. Hab. Northern Sonora. RANIDiE. Teeth in upper jaw. Abdomen smooth. Two outer metatarsals free for most of length, or united only by membranes. 11. Rana montezumce, Baird. — Head as wide as long. Body generally smooth, except pustulation on the sides and sometimes above. No fold of skin, either on the sides or around the tympanum. Tympanum about size of eye; but little variation with sexes. Large vocal vesicles on each side behind jaws. Tongue broad, cornua short. Palatine ^protuberances close together. Toes not webbed beyond middle of last phalanges on the external sides. Color purplish olive above, grayish below, with crowded spots or vermiculations of whitish all over the body. In young specimens, rounded, areolated, dark blotches on the back and foreleg. Size, that of Rana pipiens of Holbrook. Hab. City of Mexico. 12. Rana septentrionalis> Baird. — Body stout, depressed. Skin not tuberculated, but uneven. A broad depressed ridge on each side of back; none intermediate ; a branch of same round the tympanum, meeting a thickening from the jaw. Hand much longer than forearm. Femur and tibia nearly equal, about half the length of the body, and less than the hind foot. Foot large ; terminal joint of middle toe free ; that of the others free only on the inner side. Above light greenish olive, vermiculated with lighter, and with a few large dark blotches posteriorly. Beneath yellow, unblotched. No line on sides of the jaw. Two inches long. Hab. Northern Minnesota. 13. Rana sinuata, Baird. — Body rather stout; tympanum three-fourths the size of eye. Palatine teeth small, ranging with the centres of inner nares. Skin pitted all over with minute pores, with scattered glandules beneath; an indistinct fold of skin on each side of back, none intermediate ; granulation of buttocks in- distinct. Femur not half the length of body, rather longer than tibia ; hind foot considerably longer than the tibia. Above and on sides purplish brown, with 62 [April, sinuations or coarse vermiculations of yellow. Beneath silvery white. Legs transversely barred. Two and a half inches long. Hab. Sacketts Haibor, N. Y. 14. Rana pretiosa, B. and G. — Female. Body thick and stout ; head short, broader than long. Tympanum not two-thirds the length of the eye. Tongue large. Palatine teeth minute, posterior to the inner nares. Skin leathery, co- vered with asperities, except on inner surfaces, even on the sole of the foot. A depressed ridge of skin on each side, none intermediate ; a glandular ridge along the upper jaw. Femur not half the length of the body ; tibia about equal to it, but shorter than the hind foot. Terminal joint of longest toe free, next margined, and web generally extending between the tips of the toes on one side, and the last articulation on the other. Shortest toe rather more than one-third the length of the hind foot, both measured from the tarsus. Above yellowish brown, with rounded dark blotches. Sides dusky; dorsal ridge lighter; a light line along the posterior ridge of the upper jaw. Faint indications of a dark area about the tympanum ; a few spots about the nostrils. Beneath yellowish white, obsoletely marmorated with brown. About two and a half inches long. Syn. Rana pretiosa B. and G., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc Phila., vi. 378. Hab, Washington Territory. 15. Rana cantabrigensis, Baird. — Above yellowish brown. A dark vitta through the eye, margined below by whitish. Lateral fold of skin light colored, as is also a median dorsal line extending from the snout to the anus. A narrow light line along the posterior faces of the thigh and leg. Tibia half the length of body. General appearance and size of R. sylvatica. Hab. Cambridge, Mass. (Collection of Prof. Agassiz.) 16. Rana boylii, Baird. — Abroad depressed ridge of skin on each side of back. Skin finely tubercular above. Head broader than long. Tympanum scarcely evident, pustulated. Tibia more than half the length of body; hind foot less than half this length; webbed entirely to the horny tips; outer toe decidedly longer than the third, An elongated tubercle at base of inner toe, with another opposite to it. Above dull reddish olivaceous, with indistinct blotches on the back, and fascia on the legs. Beneath yellowish, mottled anteriorly. Two inches long. Hab. California (interior.) 17. Scaphiopus couchii, Baird. — Outer toe but little shorter than the third. Hand nearly as long as forearm. Above grayish ash, with dark markings. A dark line down the back from each orbit, in connection with other markings, causing a slight similarity of pattern to Hyla versicolor. Beneath white. An inch long. Hab. Coahuila and Tamaulipas. On Fossil Coniferous Wood, from Prince Edward Island. By J. W. Dawson. Under the impression that any facts relating to the formation which lias af- forded the interesting reptilian fragment recently described by Dr. Leidy in the Journal of this Academy, will prove interesting, 1 beg leave to communicate the following results of microscopic examinations of the coniferous wood referred to in my note appended to Dr. Leidy's paper. I may premise that Prince Edward Island, which extends in an east and west direction about 130 miles, with an extreme breadth of about 35 miles, consists almost entirely of bright red sandstones, similar to the matrix of Dr. Leidy's fossil, with occasional bands of red clay, conglomerate and arenaceous and con- cretionary limestone. Over a large part of the island, these beds dip at very small angles to the northward. There are, however, some tracts in which the beds undulate to the southward and south-east. These red rocks, in their mine- ral character, much resemble the new red sandstone of Cornwallis and other 1854.] 6 r> places in Nova Scotia, and Dr. Gesner, in his Report on the Geology of Prince Edward Island,* notices the occurrence of trap dykes at two localities on the northern coast, a circumstance which still farther increases the resemblance. There are, however, a few places in which beds occur which much resemble the upper parts of the coal formation of Nova Scotia, and it is in these localities chiefly, though I believe not exclusively, that the coniferous wood in question occurs, along with a few other vegetable fragments, for the most part very im- perfectly preserved. Some interest, therefore, attaches to these fragments of fossilized wood, as a means of comparison between the oldest portions of the red sandstone formation of Prince Edward Island, and the inferior members of the coal formation on the opposite coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, in which coniferous wood is also of very frequent occurrence. 1. Coniferous wood from Gallas or Gallows Point , west side of Orwell Bay. — At this place, which I visited in 1842, the following beds appear in descending order, the dip being to E. S. E. at angles of 6° to 8° : red and brownish sand- stones, gray sandstone with bands of concretionary limestone, and containing carbonized vegetable fragments, some of them resembling catamites, but without joints, gray and brown shales or indurated clays; brownish sandstone, with large trunks of trees silicified. One of these trunks measured three feet in its greatest diameter ; they are prostrate and somewhat flattened. I have no doubt that these rocks underlie the ordinary red sandstones of the island, and Dr. Ges- ner, who examined them in 1847, takes the same view, affirming them to be carboniferous, and stating that he found in them catamites and stigmaria, which, if well characterized specimens, would go far to confirm that conclusion. My specimens of fossil wood from this place are perfectly silicified, and of a dark clove-brown color. They are much fissured in the direction of the medul- lary rays, and the fissures are filled with flesh colored sulphate of barytes. Under the microscope, transverse slices show a somewhat dense tissue of quadrangular cells arranged in rows. Longitudinal slices in the direction of the medullary rays, show parallel elongated cells, medullary rays not strongly marked, and traces of hexagonal discs of the Araucarian type on the walls of the cells. Two rows of these discs occupy the whole breadth of a cell. 2. Specimens from Des Sables and Crapaud. — At these localities the only rocks seen are the ordinary red sandstones, and the coniferous wood is found only in loose fragments on the surface. From the large quantity scattered over the fields, and the general scarcity of travelled boulders in this part of the island, I have no doubt that it now lies over or near its original site. The specimens from this place are dense and without fissures, and have a structure quite similar to that of the wood from Gallas Point, though not in so perfect preservation. 3. A specimen from, some part of the sovth shore of Prince Edward Island , now in the collection of the Puton Literary Society. This specimen was obtained from a person who stated that it was a portion of a large trunk. It still retains in its crevices remnants of the matrix of coarse reddish sandstone. It is cracked in lines radiating from the centre, and is perforated by numerous vermicular holes, now somewhat flattened, but which were probably the burrows either of Teredines or xylophagous larvae. Some parts of this specimen retain their structure in a very perfect condition. It is of precisely the same character with that already described, and shows one or two rows of discs on each cell. All these specimens probably belong to the same genus, and perhaps to the same species of coniferous trees ; and they all differ materially from the conife- rous wood of the coal formation. I have slices of the latter from various parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, some of them from the new- est beds of the coal formation. All of them are of much coarser texture than the specimens from Prince Edward Island. The cells are wider, and usually with three or even four rows of discs, and the medullary tissue is more strongly marked. In the closeness of the cellular tissue, fewer rows of discs, and fine- ness of the medullary rays, the Prince Edward Island specimens, though dis- tinctly of the Araucarian type, approach more nearly to the modern pines of this * 1847. 6 64 [April, country than to those of the coal formation. They therefore afford no proof that these lower members of the red sandstone formation of Prince Edward Island are of carboniferous date, but would rather tend to connect them with the overlying beds which have afforded the remains of the Bathygnathus borealis. The occurrence, however, in this position, of rocks so nearly resembling those of the upper coal formation, renders it probable that no very sudden or marked physical changes intervened between the deposition of the latter and that of the new red sandstones, and thus furnish an argument in favor of the Permian date of this last deposit.* Description of a species of Crane found in Wisconsin^ presumed to be new* By William Dudley, of Madison, Wisconsin. Grtis Hoyianus, nobis. Form.— Size large ; second primary longest, first and second nearly equal ; tail two inches longer than the folded wings ; numerous large feathers arise from the base of each wing, elevated and droop down over the tail, giving the bird an os- trich-like appearance. Head densely clothed with feathers to base of bill; no naked shin. Dimensions. — Length of wing from flexure 23 inches ; tarsi 11 5-10 inches ; middle toe 5 inches, hind toe just reaches the ground; bill 5 inches. Color. — Head and upper half of neck light ferruginous ; on the breast, back and upper tail coverts are a few scattering feathers tipped with the same ; pri- maries black, remaining parts white. Legs black. Observation. — This fine large crane was killed on Sugar River, in Dane Co., Wisconsin, and is now in the Museum of the Wisconsin Natural History Asso- ciation. Sex not known. It is named in honor of my worthy friend Dr. P. R. Hoy, of Racine, Wisconsin, whose untiring industry and zeal in Natural History have added much to science. Description of Fossil Trees in the coal rocks near Greensburgh^ Westmoreland county ) Pennsylvania* By Alfred T. King, M. D. Throughout nearly the whole of Western Pennsylvania, but more abundant in particular localities, may be found fragments of immense silicified trees lying on the surface of the ground. About seven miles east of Greensburgh there is a re- markable locality. Here may be seen immense logs from six to eight feet long, and from one to four feet in diameter, strewed over acres of ground. After the closest examination, I have been unable to find any very clear indications of high vegetable organization in these silicified trees. Indeed I have been unable, after the closest scrutiny, to discover a single specimen of fossil plant in our vast carboniferous series, of higher organization than vascular Cryptogamia. I might, perhaps, except some specimens, which I first saw a few weeks since in Beaver county, Pa., of Trigonocarpum? This is the fruit of a tree, which some have supposed to be allied to the Palms ; of this, however, there is still great doubt and uncertainty. Many of the specimens of silicified wood contain numerous and beautiful crystals of quartz scattered throughout their interior structure, which would seem to indicate that the silicifying process must have taken place whilst the wood was immersed in water of high temperature. Whilst excavating a tunnel on the Pennsylvania Railroad near Greensburgh, a stratum of very compact sandstone of about fifteen feet in thickness was opened', which contained vast quantities of trunks and limbs of trees, some per- meated with silicious and pyritous matter, whilst others have left only their imprints, the woody matter having been converted into coal, which forms a thin * For description of the Newer Coal Formation of Nova Scotia, see Journal of London Geol. Soc. vol. 1. p. 322 ; and Taylor's Statistics of Coal, p. 196. 1854.] 65 but beautiful pellicle, covering the impressions of the plants. These trunks and Jimbs are of all sizes, from an inch to nearly three feet in circumference, strewed about, and piled upon each other in the most irregular manner, and so numerous that scarcely a fragment of rock was thrown out which did not contain either a vegetable impression or a silicified stem. Although in the shale above, vast piles of detached fern leaves were found, be- longing principally to the genus Neuropterist accompanied with numerous im- pressions of Calamites, yet no species of fern was discovered in the sandstone, with the exception of two specimens, both of which belonged to distinct genera. The one was a Pecopteris, and the other was the Cyclopteris trichomanoides , Among the numerous arborescent fossil plants which were found in this sand- stone, was an entire tree of immense magnitude, lying prostrate, about four feet above the Pittsburgh seam of coal, and about thirty feet beneath the surface. The part which was removed measured twenty six feet in length, and two feet ten inches in circumference at the base. From the size of the two main branches which enter the rock on the opposite side, I infer that this tree may have been from forty to sixty feet in height. At the base, it was much flattened by the pressure of the superincumbent weight, but strange as it may seem, the branches still retained nearly their original cylindrical form. It was entirely enveloped in a coating of pure bituminous coal, varying from a quarter of an inch to one inch in thickness. Its interior was filled with sand, mixed with sulphuret and car- bonate of iron, which much increased its weight, but there were no indications of vegetable structure. The thin vegetable band, which alone remained con- verted into pure bituminous coal, may have surrounded an axis of more perishable material, which, when the tree was removed from its original position by the storms or the Waves, rapidly decayed. Its hollow interior would necessarily be filled with sand, broken shale or other sediment which was brought by large rivers into that turbulent sea, the bed of which was gradually subsiding. This view is corroborated by the fact, that the rock in which this plant is found imbedded, and which constituted its matrix, presents an entirely different appear- ance in color, and in some degree in lithological character, from that which fills the interior of the fossil tree. Although there were numerous, but irregular longitudinal flutings, both along the main irunk and its branches, yet I could discover no indications of those beautiful scars, so characteristic of arborescent ferns, and of the genus Sigillaria, which indicate the spots where the petioles of the leaves articulated with the stem ; and hence I infer that this tree should not be referred to either of those families of plants. The question naturally arises, to which of the three great divisions of the vegetable kingdom do these fossil trees belong. Do they belong to arborescent ferns, gigantic palms or lofty pines ? Are they of exogenous or endogenous growth ? It has been said by fossil botanists, that true exogena? and endogenae have been found in the carboniferous rocks of Europe. I have, therefore, been much inter- ested in discovering some clear indications of these highest forms of vegetable structure, in the coal measures in this country ; but 1 have thus far failed, unless the specimens to which I have already alluded, should on further examination, prove exceptions. I am aware that M. Brongniart has placed the Sigillariae among the exogenae, but with all due deference to his high authority, I must say that I have been unable to find in that family of fossil plants any evidence of pith, bark, con- centric rings, medullary rays, or other indications of so high a structure. Since writing the above,! have made another examination of the specimens of fossil trees, and believe that I was at first mistaken in regard to some of them being branches. The rock in which they were found had been blasted, and consequently the fossil trees were much broken. The largest entire piece which I saw was not more than four or five feet in length. These facts may have some bearing upon their position in the vegetable scale. 66 [April, Description of fossil fruit found in the Carboniferous BocJcs of Beaver County , Pa* By Alfred T. Kijxg, M. D., of Greensburg, Pa. Mr. Mendenhall, of New Brighton, showed me several specimens of fossil fruit imbedded in solid sandstone, belonging to the carboniferous series of that neighborhood. And through the kindness of George W. Tyler, Esq., editor of the Boston Herald, I procured a specimen for description. These specimens bore considerable resemblance, both in form and size, to the fruit of the Butternut, Juglans cinerea. There have been found in the coal strata in Leicestershire, England, a number of species of a three cornered fruit, to which the generic name Higonocarpum has been given. Possibly, the specimen which I am about to describe, may be referred to that genus. This is a drupaceous fruit, of an ovoidal shape, from two inches and a quar- ter to three inches in length, and from one inch and three quarters to two inches and a half in breadth, and weighs from two and a quarter to three ounces* Its external surface is nearly covered with a thin coating of bituminous coal ; a large portion of which, however, adheres to its matrix. This coal was formed, I presume, by the carbonization of its pericarp. Its interior is filled with coarse grained sand, similar to the rock in which it was imbedded. The epicarp i§ formed of three nearly equal valves, joined by three prominent sutures, uniting in a point at the apex. Between the sutures are seen a number of nearly parallel and prominent longitudinal striae, which gracefully curve so as to meet in a point at the distal extremity. In all the specimens which I saw, there is a deep depression or excavation at the base, where the fruit was attached, in all probability, to a peduncle. This fruit is not triquetrous, as the name Trigonocarpum seems to indicate, but strictly ovoidal, sometimes nearly obovoidal, having three prominent sutures joining the three valves of the epicarp. It was found in Beaver County, Pa., about three miles from the town of New Brighton, in a thick stratum of compact, but coarse grained sandstone, near the middle of the carboniferous series. Should this belong to the genus Trigonocarpum^ 1 propose calling it Trigono- carpum carbonariwm. Descriptions of new Birds of Northern Mexico* By D. N. Couch, U. S. Army. 1. CORVUS CRYPTOLEUCUS. Female. Form. — Bill short, high at base, compressed; nostrils covered with flat, bristle-like feathers, which are about two-thirds as long as the bill. Wings long, fourth primary longest, first short ; tail moderate, rounded. About the size of or rather larger than the common crow of North America, (Corvus ameri- canus.) Color. Entirely black, with violet and purple reflexions. Feathers of the neck before and behind, and of the back, pare white at their bases and for about two-thirds of their length, being, in fact, white tipped with black. Bill and feet black. Iris yellowish brown. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail 18! ; wing 13i ; expanse of wings 33; tail 8 inches. Locality. State of Tamaulipas, Mexico; March, 1853. Obs. Not abundant, though occasionally seen. 2. Icterus Scottii» Male. Bill moderate, scarcely curved ; tip acute, not compressed. Legs and toes moderate. Wings rounded ; second and third primaries longest, first shorter than the fourth and longer than the fifth. Color. Head, neck, breast, forehead, wings, tip of tail and upper central tail feathers to tip of upper coverts, black. Upper primary and under wing coverts? 1854.] . 67 sides, under surface of body, under and upper tail coverts, rump, and posterior portion of back, bright yellow ; sides under the wings greenish yellow. Tips and bases of secondary wing coverts white, forming along the tips a defined stripe, the white on the base being covered by the primary coverts ; exterior edge of tips of tertiary quills white ; tips of exterior tail feathers slightly tipped with dull white. Bill black ; base of lower mandible bluish lead. Feet very dark slate. Total length 8* ; tip to tip llf ; wing from carpal joint 4 ; tail 3! inches. Locality. Western New Leon and Coahuila; April, 1853. Obs. Plentiful, common. Song varied and highly melodious. An immature specimen of this species has the black on the head and neck maculated with olive ; wings, central tail feathers and tips dark ferruginous, and the yellow substituted by a light olive, which is darkest on the rump and lightest on the abdomen, where it is dull yellow. I have named this handsome bird as a slight token of my high regard for Major General Winfield Scott, Commander in Chief of the IT. S. Army. 3. SlRUTHUS ATRIMENTALIS. Male. Small ; bill short, conic ; wing short, rounded, third and fourth prima- ries longest and nearly equal ; tail long, graduated : legs slender. Color. Chin, lores and narrow frontal band black. Head above and neck, rump and entire under parts cinereous, palest and nearly white on the abdomen. Back ferruginous, each feather with a dark central line ; quills and tail feathers brownish black, both edged externally with white. Bill light brownish red ; feet dark ; iris dark brown. Total length 5i ; wings 2J ; wings from tip to tip 7! ; tail 3 inches. Locality. Aqua Nueva, State of Coahuila; May, 1853. The Report of the Publication Committee for 1853 was read and adopted. ELECTION. John Vaughan Merrick, Esq., and John J. Vanderkemp, M. D., of Philadelphia, were elected Members, and Prof. Daniel Kirkwood, of Newark, Delaware, and Waldo J. Burnett, M. D., of Boston, Mass., were elected Correspondents. . 1854.] 69 May 2d, 1854. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from the Portland (Maine) Society of Nat. History, dated April 20th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of an entire copy of the Publications of the Academy, presented in accordance with a late resolution. Also a letter from the American Philosophical Society, dated April 27, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the last number of the Journal and of the Proceedings. May 9 th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Dr Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Synopsis of the Cucuiides of the United States," which was referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Zantzinger, and Dr. Rand. Dr. Le Conte exhibited a fragment of the jaw of a new Pachyderm from the Tertiary of Virginia, 80 or 90 miles S. W. of Alexandria, and characterised it as a new genus allied to Dicotyles. Mr. Wm. Parker Foulke asked the attention of the Academy to a Lecture by Mr. Hugh Miller, recently republished in the United States, under the title, " The Two Records, the Mosaic and the Geological ;" and made some remarks upon the importance of maintaining a careful scrutiny of the logic of the natural sciences. The cultivators of those sciences are particularly interested at this time in pre- venting any misapprehension of the results of their researches, as there is a prevailing disposition to " reconcile " these by extreme processes with the popular interpretation of certain texts of the Mosaic history. Unfinished inves- tigations of the students of nature are used as complete evidence ; and provisional generalizations are employed as fixed premises, from which are drawn conclusions very inconvenient to subsequent inquirers and writers. Thus both religion and natural science are wronged. Mr. Miller teaches that in the attempt to reconcile the two "records," there are only three periods to be accounted for by the geologist, viz., " the period of plants, the period of great sea monsters and creeping things : and the period of cattle and leasts of the field ;" that the first of these " periods " is represented by the rocks grouped under the term palceozoic, and is distinguished from the secondary and the tertiary, chiefly by its " gorgeous flora ;" and that " the geological evi- dence is so complete as to be patent to all, that the first great period of organized being was, as described in the Mosaic record, peculiarly a period of herbs and trees yielding seed after their kind." The general reader, not familiar with the details of geological arrangement, could not fail to infer from such a statement, used for such a purpose, that the palaeozoic rocks are regarded by geologists as forming one group, representative of one period which can properly be said to be distinguished as a whole by its gorgeous flora ; and that it is properly so dis- tinguished for the argument in question. It was familiar to the Academy as well as to Mr. Miller, that from the carboniferous rocks downward (backward in order of time) there have been discriminated a large number of periods differing one from another in mineral and in organic remains; and that the proportion of the carboniferous era to the whole series is small, whether we regard the thickness of its deposits or its conjectural chronology. It is only of this carboniferous era, the latest of this series, that the author's remarks could be true ; and even of this, if taken for the entire surface of the earth, it could not be truly asserted that PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VII., HO. III. 7 70 [May, " the evidence is so complete as to be patent to all ,5 that the quantity of its vegetable products distinguishes it from the earth's surface during the era in which we live. To confound by implication all the periods termed palaeozoic, so as to apply to them as a whole what could be true, if at all, only of the carboniferous period, is a fallacious use of a generalization made for a purpose and upon a principle not properly available for the writer's argument. The high esteem in which the character of Mr. Miller is deservedly held by readers in the United States, where his writings are widely circulated ; and the respectful manner in which his interesting researches have occasioned his name to be mentioned by authors eminent in the department of geology, give to such of his writings as bear upon the biblical question, peculiar importance with reference to the com- munity at large. Mr. F- urged the duty of insisting upon the maintenance of regular methods of exposition as well as of investigation, leaving apparent inconsistencies, which are beyond our means of explanation, to be "reconciled" by our successors with the aid of larger accumulations of knowledge than we possess. The progress of science has been retarded by the assumption that every discovery must be immediately proved to be harmonious with certain other portions of our knowledge. A due regard to the sacredness of religious faith and to the natural sensitiveness of the popular mind will secure respectful caution; but it is most consistent with the acknowledged imperfection of human faculties, and at the same time most worthy of the true dignity of science, to assume that ultimately all truths will be found to agree ; and meantime, strictly adhering to the canons of evidence, to explore courageously the great field open to us. We ought espe- cially to avoid generalizations which have no sound philosophical principle, or which are framed or applied merely from a desire to appease over-zealous minds ignorant of the facts already ascertained. This obligation is stronger in propor- tion to the degree of confidence given to the teacher in any case, and also in proportion to the limitation of access to other sources of information. May lQtJim Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Imperial Soc. of Naturalists of Moscow, dated May 30tb; June 1st, and September 13th, 1853 ; From the Kaiserlichen Akad. der Wissenschaften, dated Vienna, 10th Nov., 1853 ; From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated 23d Nov,, 1853; From the K. K. Geologischen Reiebenstalt, dated Vienna, 22d Nov., 1853, severally transmitting their publications announced this evening by the Librarian. From the Royal Acad, of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Nov. 1, 1853 ; From the K. K. Geologischen Reiebenstalt, dated Vienna, 21st Nov., T853 ; From the Smithsonian Institution, dated Washington, May 10th7 1854; and From the Portland Society of Nat. History, dated Portland, Maine? 11th May, 1854, severally acknowledging the receipt of the Publications of the Academy. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, -entitled " Notes on some new Coleopterous Insects from the Collections'' 1854.] 71 of the United States and Mexican Boundary Commission." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Ruschenberger and Dr. Leidy. Dr. Le Conte also presented a paper from Mr. Charles Grirard, on a new species of Salmonidae from the Northeastern part of the United States, which was referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Hallowell. Dr. Brinton desired to draw the attention of the Academy to a new mode which he had recently devised and practised in the preparation of anatomical specimens, several of which he exhibited. Anatomical specimens, he said, had hitherto been preserved either in the wet state, or else dried ; both plans were open to objections. If animal tissues be immersed in alcohol, or other preservative fluids, their color becomes blanched, their structure condensed, and consequently their size and shape to a certain degree modified ; and at the same time they present incon- veniences for demonstration ; whilst in the dry state, as for example, in the ordin- ary dried preparation of our cabinets, the parts are so shrunken and changed, as to convey but an imperfect idea of their primitive relations. As this shrinkage of the tissues, and the decomposition are dependent most probably upon atmospheric influence, Dr. Brinton stated that it had occurred to him some time since, that should he be able so to exclude the air, as to prevent all evaporation from taking place, he would perhaps succeed in preventing, not only the desiccation of the part, but also its decomposition. Influenced by this idea, he had commenced a series of experiments, and the suc- cess up to this time accompanying them, had led him to draw the attention of the Academy to the subject. His object being to encase hermetically every portion of his specimen, Dr. Brinton remarked that he had selected for his earlier experiments, a solution of gun cotton in ether, the ordinary collodion. This he applied by means of a brush over every portion of the external surface of his preparation. The ether quickly evaporating, a thin film of the cotton was deposited upon and in all the interstices of the tissue. This process was repeated until a layer of sufficient thickness had been obtained; successive coatings of copal and shellac varnishes were then ap- plied, so as to rentier to the preparation a certain degree of firmness and stiffness. But it soon became evident to him that collodion was not entirely suited for the generality of objects, especially for those of any considerable bulk. It possesses too slight a degree of tenacity, and is liable to become easily chipped and fissured. It was necessary, therefore, to employ some other material, and a solution of gutta-percha in benzole was selected ; this was applied in a similar manner over the object to be preserved. The pellicle left by the evapora- tion of the benzole was tenacious, dense, and could be increased to any de- sired thickness. Single layers were transparent, suiting admirably for layers of fasciae. For the encasement of the adipose tissue, collodion was still employed. The thick coating, however, which it was considered necessary to apply upon the muscular mass, was of course opaque ; hence, it became of importance to re- sort to an artificial coloring process, and for this purpose, collodion stained with the wood of the Pterocarpus santalinus, (the ordinary red saunders,) was found to answer admirably. The color resulting imitated closely that of fresh muscle. The preparation was then completed by the repeated application of copal and shellac varnishes. . Dr. Brinton explained to the Academy, that he did not present his specimens as tried and perfected preparations, for as yet they had attained the age of but some twenty days ; but merely as evidences of the application of a new principle to the preparation of anatomical objects. Time was required to test its value. Whether or not any internal decomposition could take place in consequence of the retention of a residual amount of air, Dr. Brinton could not state; but he doubted that such would be the case, to a degree sufficient to affect the contour of the specimen. Should, however, such a result ensue with regard to the speci- mens upon the table, still his experiments had shown that the process was ap- 72 [May, plicable to any tissues which had been injected or soaked with a solution of the chloride of zinc, or any other antiseptic. Here decomposition would be impossible, and the gutta-percha was certainly sufficient to prevent the shrinking consequent on evaporation. Dr. Brinton then stated that he was still experimenting, and had succeeded in procuring a colorless solution of gutta-percha in benzole and in chloroform, which would supersede the use of the collodion for the adipose matter. These transparent solutions would doubtless be applicable to the preparation of dissec- tions of the nervous system, and to pathological structures. He stated also that he thought possibly an extension of this principle might hereafter be made sub- servient to the preservation of any fresh animal tissue. Further results would be submitted to the Academy. May 23c?. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From Dr. Wm. Wirtenweber, dated Prague, 30th Oct., 1853, trans- mitting several of his works, acknowledged this evening. From Dr. W. D. Hartmann, dated West Chester, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Corres- pondent. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper by Mr. C. Girard, and intended for pub- lication, entitled " A list of North American Bufonides, with diagnoses of new species." Referred to Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Leidy,and Mr. Hanson. Dr. Leidy called the attention of the members to specimens of four vertebras of a huge extinct saurian, from near Greenville, Clark Co., Arkansas. They had been kindly loaned by Mr. W. F. Roberts, an agent of the Arkansas Mining Company, who had discovered them with numerous others. Dr. L. stated, that in his late visit to St. Louis, Mr. Albert Koch, the industrious collector of fossil remains, had exhibited to him a collection of bones from the same State, and apparently of the same animal, which he was on the eve of sending to Berlin. The specimens on the table are remarkable for the robust transverse processes, which project laterally from the lower part of the body, and terminate in a large facet for the articulation of a rib. The bodies are cylindroid, and are terminated by slightly concave or nearly flat articular surfaces. The sides of the body are moderately concave, and have an acute margin at the articular surfaces. On each side of a median prominence pf the under side of the body a large vascular foramen exists. These vertebrae resemble those of the Cirnoliasaurus mag?ius, from the green sand of New Jersey, described previously in the Proceedings of the Academy,* but in that the large transverse process is cylindrical, while it is compressed cylindroid in the Arkansas saurian, and probably this latter belongs to a distinct genus, for which the name Brimosaitrus grandis is proposed. The bones are embedded in a hard limestone with mollusca, and they probably belong to the cretaceous or to the eocene period. One of the most perfect of the vertebroe presents the following measurements : Length of the body , 3| inches. Depth of articular surfaces 5 " Breadth of « " 6 « Length of the spinal arch ... 3 References of Plate II. Figs. 1 — 3, Brimosaurus grandis. : — 6, Cirnoliasaurus magnus. (S (( ♦Vol. v. p. 325. 1854.] 73 May oO th. Vice President Bridges in the chair. The Committees on Dr. Le Conte's papers, read 9th and 16th inst., on Mr. Charles Girard's papers, read 16th and 23d inst., severally re- ported in favor of their publication in the Proceedings. Synopsis of the Cuc?tiides of the United States. By Johk L. Le Conte, M. D. Catagenus Westwood. 1. C. rufus Westw. Zool. Journ. 5, 221. Cueujus rufus Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend, suppl. 123 ; Syst. El. 2, 93. Oliv. 74 bis, tab. 1, fig. 3. Middle, Southern and Western States. This species varies in size from -18 to •55 of an inch. The posterior angles of the thorax are usually prominent, on account of the sinuosity of the sides near the base ; sometimes this sinuosity is very faint, then the posterior angles, although rectangular, are not prominent. Newman's C. punctic-ollis (Ann. Nat. Hist. 2, 398) is described as having but 6 striae on each elytron, (the 5th and 6th stria? are said to be indistinct.) Now, in some specimens, which cannot be separated from C. rufus, the fifth and sixth striae are not well marked, but in all that I have seen the seventh stria is quite obvious. As the elytra are declivous at the sides beyond the seventh stria, I think it probable that this seventh stria is constant in the gpnus, in which case there is no reason why Newman's species should not be united with C. rufus. Cuctjius Fabr. 1. C. clavipes Fabr. Gen. Ins. Mantiss. 233, (1790) ; Ent. Syst. emend. 1 , 2, 94. Olivier, Enc. Meth. 6, 242, (1791); Ins. 74 bis, tab. 1, fig. 1. Middle and Western States, not rare ; found principally under the bark of Liriodendron, but not confined to that tree. This species is omitted in Fabri- cius' Systema Eleutheratorum. 2. C. puniceus Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 303. Er. Ins. Deutschl. 309. Sitka ; I have not seen this species. By an oversight, Mr. White, in the British Museum Catalogue, quotes Motschulsky for the name. By another oversight in the same Catalogue, C. sanguinolentus and haema- todes, European species, are mentioned as found in North America, while our common species, C. clavipes, is said to inhabit South America. Reference to these errors is perhaps needless, as attention has already been called to them by Schaum, (Bericht, &c. 1851, p. 55t) but they are merely mentioned in this place for the information of those to whom Schaum's Report is not accessible. Pediacus Shuckard. 1. P. planu s, depressus, fuscus, opacus, dense punctat.us tenuiter pubescens, fronte bifoveata, thorace latitudine vix breviore, antrorsum paulo an^ustato, lateribus subrepandis pone medium oblique emarginatis, angulis posticis pro- minulis, elytris punctulatis lateribus declivibus, stria suturali profunda. Long. -12 — 14. Silvanus planus Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 223. Lake Superior, rare. The fourth, sixth and eighth joints of the antennae are a little smaller than the third, fifth and seventh ; the last three joints are twice as wide as the eighth. The anterior angles of the thorax are rounded. One speci- men is paler colored and almost rufous. 2. P. subglaber, depressus, testaceus, nitidus, vix subtilissime pubescens. capite thoraceque punctatis, fronte excavata, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, lateribus subquadridentatis (denticulo postico ante basin posito) disco^late bi- impresso, elytris obsoletius punctatis lateribus elevatis, margine sulcato, stria suturali distincta. Long. *14. One specimen, North Carolina, Mr. Zimmermann. The antennae are a little 74 [May, shorter than in P. planus, and the inequality of the joints from the fourth to the eighth is not as obvious. In some lights the elytra have the appearance of being faintly striate. The impressions of the thorax consist of two longitudinal ones concave outwards, which are connected near the base and apex by transverse impressions. 3. P. subcarinatus Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 363. Russian America; (unknown to me.) LiEMOPHLCEUS Er. A. Frons antice trisinuata. 1. L. biguttatus, latiusculus depressus, supra piceus, parum nitidus sub- tiliter pubescens, capite thoraceque confertim punctatis, elytris confertim punc- tatis striis utrinque 4 profundis, suturali antice minus distincta, macula utrinque ante medium testacea ornatis ; thorace utrinque linea profunda insculpto, late- ribus late rotundatis subrepandis. Long. «1 — 15. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 223. (1850.) White, Brit. Mus. Cat. (1851) p. 5. Cucuius biguttatus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 267.^ Lcemophl&us bisignatus Guerin, Icon. Regne An. 205. A common species found in the Middle and Southern States, and as far west as Nebraska. The under surface is frequently rufous, but is sometimes as dark as the upper surface. As this species is more densely punctured than the next, and agrees in this respect with the European L. moni 1 i s (Cue. bipzistulatus Panz.) with which Say compares it, I have concluded that this is really Say's species ; the typical specimens in the Melsheimer collection render this view certain. The head of the male is as wide as the thorax, and. the antennae two-thirds as long as the body. 2. L. f a s c i a t u s, latiusculus depressus, rufus nitidus glaber, capite thorace- que modlce punctatis, hoc lateribus rotundato vix repando, utrinque linea pro- funda insculpto, elytris nigris, striis utrinque 4 profundis, suturali antice indis- tincta, interstitiis parce subseriatim punctulatis, macula utrinque ante medium testacea ornatis. Long. «1 — *18. Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 113. Middle and Southern States to Texas ; the head of the male is very large. 3. L.adustus, laete rufus, paulo convexus, latiusculus, nitidus glaber, capite thoraceque punctatis, illo canaliculato, hoc lateribus rotundatis postice sinuatis, angulis posticis prominulis, linea tenui utrinque insculpto, elytris nigris, basi triangulariter laete rufis, tenuiter multistriatis, striis punctatis, interstitiis vix parce punctulatis, apice rufescente. Long. -I. A unique male specimen of this beautiful species, found in York Co., Pennsyl- vania, was kindly given me by Dr. Melsheimer under the name here adopted. Body above and beneath bright rufous, shining, glabrous. Head as wide as the thorax, slightly convex, finely, moderately densely punctured ; vertex finely channelled ; before the eyes is a line transverse arched line ; the outline of the front is concave each side and emariiinate in the middle, which is not so much produced as in the two preceding; the labrum is short; mandibles long and slender, emarginate at tip. Antennas moderately stout, nearly as long as the body. Thorax twice as wide as long, considerably narrowed at the base, sides strongly rounded, sinuate near the posterior angles, which are sharp and promi- nent ; disc moderately convex, finely punctured, with the lateral line not strongly impressed. Elytra not wider than the thorax, moderately convex, with 7 or 8 very fine striae, on which are placed moderately large punctures; the interstitial spaces are marked with a few very fine punctures, which on the sutural space form a somewhat regular series ; their color is black, with a large, common, tri- angular, rufous spot at the base, which along the suture extends one-third the .length; the apical margin is slightly reddish. The scutellum is transverse, without any distinct apical angle. 1854.] 75 B. Frons medio producta, vel late emarginata vel truncata ; scutellum trian- gulare. 4. L. b u 1 1 a t u s, elongatus, depressus testaceus, nitidus glaber, thorace lati- tudine non breviore, lateribus rectis, postice subangustato, parce punctato, liner, utrinque profunda exarato, dorso bulla magna laevi paulo convexa impressione minus profunda definita ornato, elytris obsolete striato-punctulatis. Long. «07. One female found at the junction of the Colorado and Gila Rivers, California. The large, slightly elevated, dorsal convexity of the thorax will readily distin- guish this species. The head seems to be nearly smooth, and the anterior trans- verse line is distinct ; the antennas are a little more than half as long as the body, and their joints are rounded. 5. L. n i t e n s, elongatus, depressus, testaceus, nitidus, glaber, thorace quad- rato, lateribus fere rectis, obsoletissime parce punctulato, linea utrinque pro- funda exarato, elytris subtilissime seriatim punctulatis, stria suturali postice tenuiter impressa. Long. *0S — *09. Abundant at the Colorado River, California. The head is finely and sparsely punctulate, the vertex is slightly channelled, and the anterior transverse line is deep ; in the male the head is as wide as the thorax, and the antennae are as long as the body, with the first joint equal to the two following united. 6. L. Z i in m e r m a n n i, elongatus, depressus, testaceus nitidus glaber, capite thoraceque parce punctulatis, hoc latitudine fere longiore, lateribus rectis, angulis anticis prominulis, linea utrinque profunda exarato, elytris subtiliter striato- punctulatis, sulco laterali valde profundo. Long. -07 — *09. Pennsylvania and Maryland, Mr. Zimmermann ; Illinois, Mr. Willcox. This very small species is readily distinguished from the next by the finer punctua- tion and the absence of the outer marginal line of the thorax. 7. L. punctatus, elongatus, depressus, testaceus nitidus, glaber, capite thoraceque sat dense punctatis, hoc latitudine paulo breviore, postice subangus- tato lateribus fere rectis, lineis utrinque lateralibus duabus, elytris tenuiter 4 striatis et seriatim punctulatis, sulco laterali profundo. Long. *07. S. Carolina, Mr. Zimmermann. The small punctures of the elytra appear to be near the striae, but not upon them, and form two series between the striae. The antennae of the male are as long as the body, and the first joint is as long as the head, or about equal to the three following united. The outer marginal line of the thorax is not distinct. 9. L. g e m i n a t u s, elongatus, depressus, rufo-testaceus, nitidus, glaber, capite thoraceque densius punctatis, hoc latitudine non longiore, lateribus rectis, postice non angustato, utrinque bistriato, elytris tenuiter striatis, striis punctu- latis, sulco marginali profundo. Long. -C/6. Louisiana and Georgia, Dr. Schaum. The outer stria of the thorax is distinct, but does not reach the base. The antennae of the female are two thirds as long, those of the male almost as long as the body ; the first joint is equal to the two following united in the female, and is a little longer in the male. This species is very closely related to the last, but seems, by the difference in the form of the thorax and by the differences in the antennae and elytra, to be properly sepa- rated. 10. L. mod est us, elongatus, depressus, testaceus nitidus, glaber, capite thoraceque parcius punctatis, hoc quadrato, lateribus antice rotundatis, postice subangustato, linea laterali profunda utrinque notato, elytris striis minus impres- sis distincte punctatis. Long. -08. CucKJus modesties Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 268. Lcemophlceus suigularis White, Brit. Mus. Cat. 7, (1851.) Georgia and South Carolina. The antennae of the male are a little longer than the body, and the elytra are shorter than in the female. The first joint of the antennae in both sexes is as long as the two following united. 11. L. puberulus, elongatus, depressus, testaceus, nitidus sat dense sub- tiliter pubescens, thorace quadrato, latitudine subbreviore lateribus fere rectis, 76 [Mat, postice subangustato, subtiliter punctulato, linea utrinque laterali distincta, disco late impressa, elytris tenuiter striatis, vix punctulatis. Long. «05 — «07. Colorado River, California, abundant. The head is very finely punctulate, and is distinctly channelled posteriorly; the discoidal impression of the thorax is very faint, but it causes the anterior margin, in particular lights, to appear slightly elevated. The male only differs from the female by the broader head and longer and thinner antennae ; in both sexes, the first joint of the latter, al- though thicker, is but little longer than the second. C. Frons vix producta, medio emarginata ; labrum breve, transversum. 12. L. c e p h a 1 o t e s, elongatus depressus, niger nitidus glaber, capite thorace maiore quadrato, sat punctato, mandibulis (maris) elongatis, thorace quadrato, postice subangustato, subtiliter parce punctulato, lateribus recti's, linea laterali tenui, elytris obsolete striato-punctulatis, testaceis, basi apice margine sutura- que nigris. Long. *10. A very singular species, of which I found but a single male at the Colorado River, in California. The head is quadrate, with parallel sides, and without im- pressions ; the usual marginal line is distinct. The mandibles project beyond the labrum, and are about half as long as the head, the tip is emarginate. The labrum is broad and slighrly emarginate ; the antennae are more than half as long as the body ; the first joint is not much larger than the second, but the last three joints are distinctly larger than the preceding and subtriangular. The scuiel is triangular. The under surface of the body is black, with the antennae and feet piceous. Species unknown to me. 13. L. longicornis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 303. Russian America. Dendrophagus Schonh. 1. D. gla b e r Lee. Agassiz' Lake Sup. 223. Lake Superior and Lake Huron, rare. From the punctures of the elytra proceed small hairs, which, however, are invisible, except with a very powerful lens. 2. D. C y g n ae i Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1846, 15. Sitka ; (unknown to me.) Brontes Fabr. 1. B. dubius Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 97. Cueuius dubius Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. 2, 95. Oliv. Enc. Meth. 6, 242. Abundant in every part of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. The mandibles of the male are armed with a very slender curved horn, which converges upwards to meet the one of the opposite side. The upper surface of the body is sometimes entirely black ; some- times the head, thorax and margin of the elytra are brown. 2. B. debilis, ater, depressus opacus, dense punctatus, thorace latitudine vix breviore, lateribus denticulatis, angulis anticis paulo productis, elytris subtilius punctato-substriatis, lateribus magis declivibus, antennis piceis, pedibus testa- ceis. Long. .17 — .2. Georgia, not rare. Differs from the preceding by the thorax being not dis- tinctly transverse, less strongly toothed at the sides, with the anterior angles acute, but very slightly produced ; by the stria of the elytra being less punc- tured, and by the sides being almost perpendicular. The sexual characters are as in the preceding. 3. B. truncatus Motschulsky, Bull. Mosc. 1845, 1, 92. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 364. California (San Jose,) and Russian America (according to Motschulsky.) This species has the thorax formed almost as in the preceding, the anterior angles being a little more produced ; the elytra are, however, deeply striate, with the inter- stices more rough with elevated punctures; they are also more strongly carinate towards the side. The sexual characters as in the preceding species, but in ad- dition, the elytra of the male are longer, and obliquely slightly sinuated at the apex. 1854.] 77 Telephanus Er. 1. T. v el ox. Heterodromia velox Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 127. Psam- machus (velox) Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 348. Telephanus atricapillits\ Er. Ins. Deutschl. 329. Middle, Southern and Western States, under stones and pieces of wood. This species is named in Dr. Harris' collection, ie Orsodacna? pallida Say," which name is quoted by Schaum (Bericht, &c, 1851) as having priority, but I have not been able to find any description of the insect among Say's publications. Silvanus Latr. A. Thorax lateribus sexdentatis. 1. S. dentatus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5,265. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 303. Lyctus dentatus Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. 1, 2. 503; Syst. El. 2, 561. Found, but not abundantly, throughout the United States, usually in rice, sugar and other articles of commerce. According to Fabricius, it is found in South America, and according to Mannerheim in Russian America. 2. S. surinamensis Steph. 111. Brit. Ent. Mandibulata, 3, 1 14. For the synonyms of this common insect, see Erichson's Ins. Deutschl. 336. It is now diffused over the whole globe in articles of commerce. Erichson adopts, from Fabricius, the specific name frumentarius for it, but the oldest des- cription is certainly that of Linnaeus. Of the descriptions by the older authors, the chronological succession is as follows : Dermestes surinamensis Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. 12mo reform. 1767) 2, 565. Tenebrio surinamensis De Geer Mem Ins. (1775) 5, 54, tab. 13, fig. 12. Colydium frumentarium Fabr. Ent. Syst. 62, (1775) id. emend. 1, 2, 496. Dermestes sexdentatus Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. (1792) 1, 232. B. Thorax lateribus haud dentatus. a. Caput pone oculos denticulo armatum. 3. S. b identa t u s, linearis, depressus, opacus ferrugineus. subpubescens, thorace confertim punctulato, elongato, postice angustato, angulis anticis spino- sis, lateribus crenulatis, dorso obsolete bisulcato. elytris punctato-striatis ; capite pone oculos denticulato. Long. -12. Erichson, Ins. Deutschl. 338. Dermestes bidentatus Fabr. Syst. El. 1, 317. Colydium sulcatum Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 555, (teste Erichson.) A European species, which occurs in the Middle and Southern States. The sides of the thorax are very slightly sinuous. 4. S. pi ana tus, linearis valde depressus, opacus, ferrugineus, subpubescens, thorace confertim punctato, elongato, pone medium sinuatim angustato, angulis anticis subspinosis, lateribus obsolete crenulatis, elytris confertim punctato- striatis ; capite pone oculos denticulato. Long. *12. Germar, Ins. Nov. 466. Silvanus Zimmermanni Guerin, Icon. Regne An. 198. Southern States and Nebraska. The outline of the thorax is slightly concave before the middle, with the sides nearly parallel ; behind the middle ihey con- verge, so that at the middle they form, a very obsolete angle ; the anterior angles are hardly prominent, and the posterior ones are obtuse, but not rounded. 5. S. cognatus, linearis valde depressus, subnitidus ferrugineus, subpubes- cens, thorace confertim punctato, obsoletius in disco, elongato, ab apice sensim angustato, lateribus crenulatis fere rectis, angulis anticis acutis parum productis, elytris punctato-striatis ; capite pone oculos denticulato. Long. -10. Southern States ; closely resembles the preceding, but the sides of the thorax are straight, and the anterior angles, though short, are more acute ; the posterior angles are obtuse. b. Caput pone oculos haud denticulatum. 6. S, i m b e 1 1 i s, linearis, depressus, fere opacus, ferrugineus subpubesceus^ 78 [May, thorace confertim subtilius punctato, linea dorsali obsoleta laevi, elongato, ab apice angustato, lateribus parum rotundatis, angulis anticis acutis, non productis, elytris confertim punctato-striatis. Long. »11. Georgia. This species has the elongate form and brown color of those of the preceding division, but is easily distinguished by the absence of the little tooth behind the eye. The posterior angles of the thorax are obtuse. 7. S. n iti d u lus, linearis, valde depressus, testaceus, nitidus subpubescens, thorace parcius subtiliter punctulato, latitudine longiore, pone medium angus- tato, angulis anticis acutis, haud productis, elytris subtilius seriatim punctatis. Long. '08. Colorado River, California, under poplar bark. The sides of the thorax are almost parallel anteriorly, and subangulated at the middle ; the anterior angles are scarcely prominent, and the posterior ones are obtuse. The disc is marked with two faint longitudinal impressions connected at the base. The elytra are not wider than the head, and the rows of punctures become obsolete towards the tip. The head is as broad as the thorax, flattened and finely but not densely punctulate. 8. S. o p a c u 1 u s, linearis, depressus, rufo-testaceus, opacus, pubescens, tho- race latitudine non longiore, quadrato, angulis omnibus prominulis, lateribus crenulatis fere rectis, confertissime punctato, dorso obsolete bisulcato, elytris subtiliter dense punctato-striatis. Long. *07. Colorado River, California, under bark. From the next species it differs by its more elongate and depressed body, and the coarser punctuation of the head and thorax. 9. S. rectus, elongatus, subdepressus, testaceus, opacus, subpubescens, thorace latitudine subbreviore, quadrato, angulis omnibus rectis, lateribus rectis subcrenatis, confertim punctulato, elytris punctato-striatis. Long. *07. One specimen from Illinois, Mr. Willcox. The punctures of the head and thorax are very fine ; the strias of the elytra are more distant than in any of the preceding species. The specimen is not in very good condition, but I think that there can be no doubt of the propriety of referring it to this genus. 10. S. quad rico His, linearis, subdepressus, rufo-testaceus, nitidulus, sub- pubescens, thorace sat dense punctulato, linea dorsali sublaevi, latitudine sublon- giore, lateribus parallelis subsinuatis, angulis anticis rectis, posticis subobtusis, basi rotundata, elytris thorace non latioribus punctulatis, punctisque vix maiori bus seriatis impressis. Long. -ll. Guerin, Icon. Regne An. 198. Georgia. My specimens are not in good condition, but present all the cha- racters of this genus, except that in the only antenna now remaining the 10th and llth joints appear closely united. 11. S. advena, elongatus, rufo-testaceus, subnitidus pubescens, thorace punctulato, transversim quadrato, lateribus paulo rotundatis, angulis anticis dila- tatis, posticis rectis, basi sinuata, elytris subtiliter punctato-striatis ; antennarum articulo 9no sequente minore. Long. -06 — '07. Erichson, Ins. Deutsch. 339. Redtenbacher, Kafer Oesterr, 778. Crtjptophagus advena Waltl, Silberm. Rev. Ent. 2, 256. ' Latridius mil s ceo rum Ziegler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 270. Abundant throughout the United States, in articles of commerce, herbaria, &c. This species, although placed by several entomologists in the present genus, has so much the form of Paramecosoma, that any person would be tempted to refer it to that genus. The first joint of the abdomen is not longer than the second, and therefore, according to Erichson's definition, it would be excluded from the family of Cryptophagides. In this essay must be included the description of a remarkable insect, of which my unique specimen is in such a bad condition, that I am unable to determine whether it should be referred to any described genus, or even to indicate its po- sition in the group ; from its specific characters, I suspect a relation with Pedi- 1854.] 79 acus, but the size of the eyes and the form of the thorax are very different. I retain for it the name which appears in Dejean's Catalogue. Nemicelus marginipennis, linearis, valde elongatus et depressus, pallide testaceus nitidus, capite cum oculis ma European S. paleata Er. (Ins. Deutschl. 470,) although a comparison of specimens is necessary before it can be placed as synonymous with that epecies. 2. S. echinata, subrotundata, utrinque paulo angustata, modice convexa, nigra parce fusco-squamulosa, setis longis clavatis nigris hi^pida, capite thora- ceque subtiliter punctatis, elytrorum striis tenuibus punctulatis, suturali ad apicem, marginalique exaratis. Long. 10. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 224. One specimen found at Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. Byrrhus Linn. (* Alati ; tarsorum articulus tertius haud lobatus.) 1. B. Kirbyi, ovatus, convexus, niger, pubescens, thorace vittis quatuor atro holosericeis, (externis postice furcalis), elytris vittis utrinque tribus pos- tice abbreviatis, maculaque tiansversa ad dodrantem atro-holosericeis ; dorso figura communi valde transversa sinuata argenteo-pubescente interrupta orna- tis : antennarum articulo ultimo ovali subtruncato. Long. *3l. Byrrhus ^'c£pes|| Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 116; Steffahny, Germ. Zeitschr. 4, 24. ' Lake Superior. Differs from the following species by its smaller size, and by the elytra being broader and more obtuse posteriorly, whereby the body as- sumes an ovate form, not seen in the allied species. The markings are very similar to the next species, but the posterior transverse black spot extending from near the margin to the middle of each elytron is not seen in B. ameri- canus. The small silvery spots forming the transverse sinuated figure are frequently not apparent. I have changed the name given by Mr. Kirby, as it is preoccupied by a European species. 2. B. americanus, ovalis, convexus, antice subacutus, niger pubescens, thorace minus distincte vittato, elytris vittis tribus atro holosericeis interrup- ts, guttisque cinereis figuram communem transversam sinuatam formantibus, altensque utrinque tribus posticis ornatis : antennarum articulo ultimo rotun- dato, palpis maxillaribus articulo ultimo ovali truncate Long. *4. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 224. Niagara, Newfoundland and Lake Superior, not rare. The three cinereous spots behind the transverse figure are placed in a transverse line, about one fourth from the apex. 3. B. c y c 1 ophoru s, ovalis, convexus, antice subacutus, niger pubescens5 thorace subvittato, elytris vittis tribus atro-holosericeis interrupts, guttisque cinereis figuram communem sinuatam formantibus; antennarum articulo ulti- mo rotundato, palpis maxillaribus articulo ultimo ovali, subtruncato ; pedibus rufo-piceis. Long. -27. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 117 ; Steffahny, Germ. Zeitchr. 4, 24; Mannerheim, Bull. Mosc. 1852, 341. Lake Superior. Entirely similar in form to the last species, but only half as large, and with the last joint of the palpi more oval and less truncate. The figure on the elytra is of the same form, but less transverse, the length included by it on the suture being about one third of the elytra. The outer black vitta of the elytra is not obvious, being represented by two or three small spots. 4. B. geminatus, ovalis, antice subacutus convexus, niger, pubescens, 1854.] 115 thoraee subvittato, elytris vittis tribus alro-holosericeis, figuraque communi sinuata, postice duplicata et rotundata omatis ; antennarum articulo ultimo ro- tundato. Long. «33. Lake Superior, one specimen. This species is also similar in form to the two preceding, but the figure on the elytra instead of being truncate posteriorly, is rounded, and double, so as to form at the posterior pari of the usual figure a lunate figure, concave anteriorly. The palpi unfortunately cannot be seen. 5. B. e x i m i u s, ovalis: utrinque subacutus, convexus, niger, olivaceo- pu- bescens, thoraee cinereo variegato, elytris atro-cinereoque subtessela'is, figura transversa communi sinuata postice duplicata, maculaque suturali maioie ad medium ornalis, tarsis antennisque rulo-piceis, his articulo ultimo subaeumi< nato. Long. *22. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 224. One specimen, from the Northern shore of Lake Superior. The larger sutu- ral cinereous spot at the anterior margin of the dorsal figure will enable this beautiful species to be readily recognized. The palpi cannot be seen. 6. B. murinus, breviter ovatus, convexus, niger, pubescens, et breviter setosus, elytris nigro-vittatis, vittis subelevatis, punctis cinereis figuram com- munem transversam postice duplicatam omatis ; antennarum articulo ulti- mo rotundato, palpis maxillaribus' articulo ultimo ovato, truncato. Long. •17—2. Fabr. Syst. El. 1, 104. Steffahny, Germ. Zeitschr. 4, 24. Byrrhus undatua Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 117. Byrrhus glabellas Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 118. (specimen de- tritum.) Pennsylvania, rare : the American synonyms "were unnecessary, as no differ- ence has yt-t been pointed out between native and European specimens. Com- petent European entomo ogistshave pronounced them identical, and their opinion should be received, until some tangible character can be found for their separa- tion. The European synonyms are omitted ; they may be found in Erichson, Ins. Deutschl. (p. 488). 7. B. co n col or Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 117. Unknown to me. Cvtilus Er. 1. C. varius, subovatus, antice subacutus, convexus, aeneus, vel viridi- aeneus, pubescens, elytris striatis, interstitiis alternis virescentibus subelevatis, nigro-tessellatis. Long. «2. Erichson,. Ins. Deutschl. 400. Byrrhus varius Fabr. Syst. El. 1, 103; Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 118; Stef- fahny, Germ. Zeitschr. 4, 28. Byrrhus trivittatus Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 117. Very abundant through Northern New York, in Maine, and at Lake Superior. The following variations in color may be observed : a. Thorax with a large patch of golden hair at the middle of the base ; scutel covered with grayish hair. b. Thorax and scutel as above; margin of the elytra and feet reddish- brown, c Golden hair of the thorax and gray hair of the scutellum less conspicuous; elytra uniformly dull bronze color, with the alternate interstitial spaces tesst late with black. Var. a is most abundant, and is the one named by Dr. Melsheimer; to var. c may probably be referred Byrrhus alternatus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 186. Pedilophorl*s Steffahny. {Morychus Er.) 1. P. ac u m i n at u s, apterus longiusculus, ovalis, antice subacutus, con- vexus supra aeneus, nitidus, subtiliter cinereo-pubescens, thoraee subtiliter, elytris distinctius punctatis, subtus nigro-piceus, punctatus, griseo-pubescens, tarsis articulo 3io longe lobato. Long. «18. Morychus acuminatus Mannerheim, Bull. Mosc. 1852, 341. 116 [June, Oregon, Col. McCall ; (Sitka, Mannerheim.) The fact that the generic name ceases to be applicable to certain species now admitted into the genus, is hardly sufficient to warrant us in substituting the name proposed by Erichson, for that under which this group was first established. Simplocaeia Steph. 1. S. tessellata, elongato-ovalis, nigro-aenea, nitida, convexa, utrinque subacuta, parce cinereo-pubescens, thorace subtiliter punctulato, elytris striis sat profundis, apice obsoletis, suturali integra, interstitiis parum convexis, obso- lete punctulatis, maculis cinereo-pubescentibus subtessellatis, pedibus piceis, tarsis pallidioribus. Long. *13. Byrrhus tessellatns Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 224. One specimen, found on the Northern shore of Lake Superior. The reference of this species to Byrrhus, by me, is another instance of the confusion resulting from the description of new species of insects of various groups, before the groups themselves have been submitted to careful study. 2. S. nitida Motsch. Bull. Mosc. 1845, 2, 362; Mannh. ibid. 1S52, 342. Russian America; unknown to me. Amphicyrta Er. 1. A. chrysomelina, aptera longius ovata, antice angustior, piceo-aenea, nitida, convexa, dense subtiliter punctulata, tarsis piceis, tibiis anticis extrorsum obtuse angulatis. Long. '35. Erichson, (per Steffahny) Germ. Zeitschr. 4, 40. Oregon, collected by the late J. K. Townsend, and given me by Mr. Will cox. Larger and narrower than the following species. 2. A. d e n t i p e s, aptera, ovata, antice angustior, piceo-aenea, nitida, fere gibba, dense punctulata, subtilius in thorace, antennis palpis, pedibusque rufo- piceis, tibiis anticis extrorsum subacute angulatis. Long. '25 — 28. Erichson, (per Steffahny) Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 40. Eucyphus hybosoroides Mannerheim, Bull. Mosc. 1843, (teste Mann. ibid. 1852, 342.) Abundant at San Jose, California, under stones, in March; found also occa- sionally at San Francisco. The synonym cited from Count Mannerheim, although suspected by me several years ago, and mentioned in my correspon- dence with scientific friends, is founded upon a description so very inaccurate, from typographical errors, that the admission of the author himself was neces- sary to establish it. 3. A. s i m pi ic ip e s Mannh. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 342. Russian America; unknown to me. Limnichus Latr. 1. L. olivaceus ,ovalis,convexus, nigro-aeneus, pubedensa olivacea cinerea- que sericeus, confertim sat grosse punctatus, thorace subcanaliculato lateribus rectis, basi media longius lobata, antennis pedibusque nigris, prosterno profunde sulcato. Long. -10. Illinois, Mr. Willcox. This species closely resembles the nex% but is larger, the form is more elongated, the punctures are larger and somewhat less dense. 2. L. pu n ct at u s , ovalis convexus, aeneo-niger, pube densa olivacea seri- ceus, in elytris cinereo vix variegatus, punctatissimus, thorace subcanaliculato, lateribus fere rectis, basi media longius lobata, antennis pedibusque nigris prosterno profunde sulcato. Long. *07 — '08. Pennsylvania, June, abundant. 3. L. obscurus, ovalis, convexus, seneo-niger, pube olivacea cinereaque subsericeus, sat dense punctatus, thorace subcanaliculato, lateribus rectis, basi media latius lobata, prosterno profunde sulcato, antennis pedibusque nigris, Long. *10. 1854.] 117 New York. Less densely and more finely punctured than those above described, the punctures being more distant from each other than their own diameters, ex- cept on the head, which is confluently punctured ; the punctures of the thorax are smaller than those of the elytra, and the lobe of the base is only slightly prolonged. The body is somewhat acuminate at each end. 4. L. ater, ovalis, utrinque attenuatus, convexus, niger nitidus, cinereo- pubescens, thorace subcanaliculalo subtiliter punctato, basi longius lobato, ely- tris sat dense punctatis, punctis ad suturam et apicem subtilioribus, antennis pedibusque nigris, prosterno sulcato. Long. -08. Mississippi, Dr. Schaum. Distinguished from L. obscurus by its blacker color, and by the body being more sharply acuminate at each end ; the thorax is longer, and the basal lobe is more obvious. 5. L. nitidulus, ovalis utrinque attenuatus, convexus niger nitidus, parce cinereo pubescens, thorace subcanaliculato, subtiliter punctulato, basi modice lobato, elytris minus dense punctatis, punctis ad suturam apicem et marginem subtilioribus, antennis pedibusque nigris prosterno profunde sulcato. Long.*07. Georgia, in Habersham County. Of the same form as L. ater, but more shin- ing, with the punctures of the elytra larger, less dense, and becoming smaller towards the edges. 3V 6. L. o v a t u s , breviusculus ovatus, utrinque attenuatus, convexus, niger nitidus, densius cinereo-pubescens, thorace basi vix lobato, vix punctulato, elytris minus distincte punctulatis, antennis pedibusque piceo-rufis, prosterno profunde sulcato. Long. «06. Georgia; found also in Louisiana, according to Mr. Motschulsky. Smaller and much broader than any of the preceding species. The punctures of the elytra are not obvious, and those of the thorax, although dense, are so fine as to be hardly visible. Physemus j Motsch. Oculi, labrum, et mandibulae libera; antennae tenues clavatae, clava in fovea superna ad angulo thoracis antico recepta; tarsi liberi. Mr. Motschulsky informs me that the insect here described is congeneric with the Russian Physemus velutinus mentioned by him in his catalogue of the Hydrocanthares of Russia, (p. 12,) and I have acordingly adopted the name proposed by him. The insect is of small size, broadly ovate in foyn, subacute posteriorly. The antennae are longer than the head, the first four joints are thick, the second being a little shorter, the fifth and sixth are somewhat less thick, the seventh slender, as long as the sixth: the club is oval, not much broader than the first joint, and apparently solid, though with a high magni- fying power, it appears indistinctly articulated. The most remarkable char- acter is that this club is received in a deep hole, each side of the thorax, on the zipper surface, just behind the anterior angle. The feet are slender, and formed as in Linnichus. 1. P. minutus, breviter ovatus, utrinque attenuatus, convexus niger, densissime subtiliter punctulatus, cinereo-pubescens, prosterno haud sulcato, pedibusque rufo-piceis. Long. -03. Colerado river, California, Has the habits of Linnichus, and appears when water is thrown on the banks. 10 118 [June, Descriptions of New Birds collected between Albuquerque, N. M., and San Francisco, California, during the Winter of 1853— 54, by Dr. C. B. R. Kennerly and H. B. Mollhausen, naturalists attached to the survey of the Pacific R. R. Route, under Lt. A. W. Whipple. By S. F. Baird. Cypselus melanoleucus, Baird. Above dark sooty brown all over, except a white band on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary quills, and a white patch on the side of the body opposite the rump, and extending round so as to be separated on the rump by a space of about one third of an inch. Beneath white, except the under surface of the wings and tail, the sides of the body, crissum and under wing and tail coverts, which are glossy soot black, leaving but a narrow interval of white down the breast and belly. There may be a narrow black, pectoral collar. There is a narrow light edging to the outer primary quill. Total length 5 inches and 8-10ths, wing 5 4-10ths, tail 2 8-10ths, tarsus 3-10ths. (No. 169.) Camp 123, west of San Francisco Mountains. Ctjlicivora plumbea, Baird. Above bluish grey ; beneath white. Front uniform with the crown ; eyelids white, and over the eye a narrow greyish white stripe, within which is another of bluish black, partially concealed by the feathers. Quills all edged with lighter. Tail feathers all black ; the entire outer webs and tips of the two exterior white, the third narrowly margined and tipped with the same. Bill short. Tail con- siderably rounded. Total length 4 inches and 4-10ths, wing 1 9-10ths, tail 2, bill from front 4-lOths, tarsus 6-10ths. Differs from C. ccerulea in shorter bill and more rounded tail, the outer feathers of which are not white but nearly black. The black frontlet is also wanting. Differs from C. atricapilla in absence of black on the top of the head, this being replaced by a dark stripe on the side. Mr. Lawrence describes the C atricapilla as having the outer web only of the lateral tail feathers white, but Bonaparte states the whole feathers to be white. Bill-Williams' Fork, Feb. 1854. Psaltria plumbea, Baird. Upper parts bluish grey, including the crown ; beneath dirty white or brown- ish white ; cheeks, throat, and forehead tinged with light brown ; outer margins of all the quills and tail feathers like the back, but brighter (excepting on the two outer primaries.) Bill and feet black. Length 4£ inches, wing 2 i-10ths, tail 2 4'j-lOths, tarsus 7-10ths. Compared with specimens from California of P. minima, this species differs in having the top of the head uniform with the back ; the whole dimensions larger, and the bill smaller and more delicate. Hab. Little Colorado, N. M. Cyanocitta macrolopha, Baird. General appearance that of C. stelleri. Tail rounded. Head with a very long pointed crest, the longest feathers about twice the length of the bill*. Head and upper part of the neck all round, clear sooty black ; crest glossy, greenish black. Whole back and scapulars and thighs brownish ash, with a slight' gloss of green. Rump, upper tailcoverts, sides and whole under parts light cobalt blue. Tail and exposed surfaces of the secondaries and tertiaries ultramarine blue ; outer webs of primaries more like the rump. Tail feathers, tertiaries and outer webs of secondaries distinctly barred with black. The short elongated pointed exte- rior feathers of the forehead streaked with opaque greenish white, turning to greenish on those more posterior ; over the eye on the eyelids, a row of silky white feathers. Length 12i inches, wing 6, tail 5|. This bird is figured in Fauna Boreali Americana, Birds pi. 54. 1854.] 119 Differs from C. stelleri in longer and narrower crest, the deeper black of the head ; the feathers on the side of the forehead streaked with white, not green; the white feathers over the eye ; more grey on the feathers of the chin at base ; narrower bill, &c. 100 miles west of Albuquerque, N. M. Carpodacus cassinii, Baird. Bill very stout and much elongated, straight or even concave for four-fifths its length, then gently curved. Wings lengthened ; 2d and 3d quills nearly equal and longest. 1st intermediate between the 3d and 4th. Tail moderately broad; quite deeply emarginate ; inner feathers nearly the one fourth of an inch shorter than the outer. Male. Whole upper part of the head from the bill to the neck of a rich deep crimson ; sides of the head below the eyes, chin, throat and upper part of the breast pale purplish. Feathers on the lower part of the hind neck, back, and scapulars gray, and with a dark brown central streak, and glossed all over with purplish. Breast, abdomen, belly, and crissum uniform wThite, anteriorly tinged with purplish gray, laterally streaked with brown ; under tail coverts white, similarly streaked. Lower part of the back and rump faintly purplish. Quills and rectrices brown ; all margined with dull purplish. Secondary and tertiary quills and primary coverts more broadly margined. Lesser coverts strongly glossed with purple. The female is larger than that of C. obscurus ; wings longer ; belly immaculate, streaked only on the sides. Male. Total length 6i inches, wing 3 7-12ths, tail 2 10-I2ths, tarsus 7 |-12ths, bill on ridge 6 £-12ths. This very strongly marked species may be distinguished by the very long and nearly straight bill wrhich is larger than in any other N. American species. The crimson of the head extends to the cervix as in C. purpureus ; the back is con- spicuously streaked ; the lower parts white and streaked only laterally ; the reverse being the case in C '. familiaris . It resembles C. purpureus most, but is larger, bill, wings and tail longer, with less purple on the breast, &c. Camp 104, Pueblo Creek, N. M., and 75 miles west of Albuquerque. This species is named in honor of Mr. John Cassin, of the Academy of Natu- ral Sciences of Philadelphia. Zonotrichia fallax, Baird. This species bears a very close resemblance to Z. melodia, of which it is the western representative. Compared with Z. melodia the bill is considerably smaller and the tail longer. The plumage above is more ashy, the streaks on the back not so distinct, the spots are more crowded about the breast, but fewer on the sides ; their color more uniformly chesnut brown. Length 6i inches, wing 2 8-l0ths, tail 3. Pueblo creek, New Mexico. Pipilo mesoleucus, Baird. Bill considerably curved and inflexed at edges. Tarsi short, outer claw reaching a little beyond the base of the middle claw. Above nearly uniform dull olive brown, except a patch of dark chestnut on the top of the head; chin, throat and upper part of the breast pale reddish white, streaked on the border of the area with brown ; and below this there is a central large spot, formed by the adja- cent brown inner vanes of several feathers. This spot is below the collar of smaller ones just described. Middle of the breast and abdomen white. Lower part of the belly, crissum, and under tail coverts light ferruginous. Sides like the back with a slight tinge of rufous. Wings and tail like the back, the latter with rusty tips. Total length 81 inches, wing 3 ll-12ths, tail 4 7-12ths, tarsus 5-12ths. Differs from P. fusca, (which appears to be confined to the Pacific coast,) in a more distinct patch of chestnut on the crown, not merely tinged with this color; lighter throat, the rusty color extending further down, as do the attend- 120 [June, ant spots, and below these again, a large dark spot partially covered "by the feathers, and not observed in specimens of P. fusca. The middle of the breast and abdomen clear white, the rusty of crissum extending further on the belly. The bill is more rounded and shorter, the tarsus shorter, and the outer claw extends further on the middle claw. Pipilo aberti is easily distinguished by the black lores and chin, less distinct spots on the throat, and nearljr uniform under parts. A specimen collected by Mr. Clarke, of the Mexican Boundary Survey, at the Copper Mines, appears to belong to this species. It has unfortunately lost its tail. The chestnut patch is paler. A smaller race of the same was col- lected by Lieut. Couch at Santa Catarina in Mexico. Centurus uropygialis, Baird. Head and neck all round, and the lower parts of the body brownish ash, darkest above ; a broad frontal band of dull yellowish white, (not golden.) A small quadrate patch directly on the vertex, of deep red ; rest of the upper parts banded transversely with black and white, even on the rump and upper tail coverts. Middle of the belly yellow, sides of the body along crissum, and lower tail coverts banded with black and white, like the back. Primaries black, white at the base ; secondaries with round spots on the outer web ; two central tail feathers black on the outer vane with a narrow stripe of white at the base, running for half the length of the feather near the shaft, and tapering to a point ; inner vane banded alternately with black and white ; two exterior feathers on each side banded on both vanes ; intermediate ones entirely black. Total length 9£ inches, extent 16, wing 5, tails 4 l-10th. Differs from C. carolimcs in yellow belly, resembles it in character of trans- verse bands above, and markings on the tails. C. flaviventris has the middle tail feathers entirely black, and the rump and upper coverts white. C. tricolor has the middle of belly red. C. uropygialis also lacks the golden front and occiput of this and other species. Bill- Williams Fork of Colorado, New Mexico. 1351.] 121 July 4/A, 1854. Major Le Conte in the Chair. Letters were read — From Dr. W. R. De Witt, State Librarian, dated Harrisburg, Penn., June 27th, 185-1, requesting certain numbers of the Journal deficient in the series in the State Library. From M. Giovanni Michellotti, dated Turin, June 8th, 1854, stating his intention to visit this country, and to bring with him his collection of Fossils, for which he desired temporary accommodations in the Hall of the Academy. Referred to the Curators. From Dr. Wm. P.. Gibbons, dated San Francisco, Cal., June 1, 1854, accompanying a communication entitled, " Descriptions of new species of viviparous marine and fresh-water fishes, from the Bay of San Fran- cisco, and the River and Lagoons of Sacramento ; read before the Cali- fornia Academy of Natural Sciences, Jan. 9, 1854. " The communication, being intended for publication in the Proceedings, was referred to Prof. Haldeman, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Le Conte. Dr. Leidy presented for publication in the Journal the following com- munications : "Notice of Product! found in the Western States and Territories, with descriptions of twelve new species ; by J. G. Norwood and Henry Pratten, of the Illinois Geological Survey;" and " Notice of the genus Chonetes, as found in the Western States and Territories, with descriptions of eleven new species; by J. G. Norwood and Henry Pratten." Both papers were referred to a Committee consisting of Mr. Conrad, Dr. Leidy, and Mr. W. P. Foulke. On leave granted, a resolution was offered, presenting to the State Library, at Harrisburg, Vols. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the 1st series of the Journal, and Vols. 1 and 2 of the 2d series of the Journal, and Vols. 1 to 6 of the Proceedings. July IS th. Major Le Conte in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Smithsonian Institution, dated Washington, July 10th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 7, No. 2. From the Rev. Charles Fox, dated Detroit, Michigan, requesting for the University of Michigan a copy of the Publications of the Academy ; also relative to a collection of minerals and shells for sale at Detroit. July lb th. Dr. Leidy in the Chair. The Committee on two papers by Messrs. Norwood and Pratten, of the Illinois Geological Survey, on new species of Producti from the Western States and Territories, and on new species of Chonetes from the same, reported in favor of publication in the Journal. The Committee on Dr. Gibbons' paper, describing new species of vi- PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VII., NO. IV. 11 122 [July, viparous fishes from California, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Description of Neiu Species of Viviparous JMarine and Fresh-water Fishes, from the Bay of San Francisco, and from the Fiver and Lagoons of the Sacra- mento.* By VV. P. Gibbons, M. D. In the first paper that I read before the Academy, descriptive of these fishes, I placed them among the Labroids, on account of their corresponding in charac- ters to this family, as established by Cuvier. Prof. Agassiz, however, in a letter received from him, objects to this classification, because of the recent modifica- tions which have been made in the characteristics of the Labroidae. This question will be settled by a more intimate acquaintance with this extraordinary family, which probably comprises a large number of species yet undiscovered. The anomalous phases of animal and vegetable life in California, indicate the necessity of patient and thorough investigation before coming to final conclusions respecting the characters of new fishes. In my present descriptions, therefore, I place these fishes provisionally in the Family LABROIDAE. Genus Holconotus. Head of medium size ; body subeomprf-ssed, arched ; lips thick. Snout pro- tractile ; cheeks and opercula covered with scales, the latter with a thin mem- brane round the edges. Teeth conical, few, in a single row in each jaw. Branchiostegal rays five. Dorsal commences posterior to the pectorals ; lateral line nearly concurrent. Spinous rays of the dorsal fold into a groove sufficiently deep to conceal them. A narrow, naked space two scales below the base of the middle and posterior portion of the dorsal ; the lengLh of this space not con- stant in the same species, but present in all the viviparous genera. H. Agassizi, Gibbons. — Curve of the dorsum and belly correspond ; a slight indentation at the base of the head; jaws equal; dorsal with 9 to 11 spinous rays, first one about a quarter inch long ; 2d, double or treble the length of the 1st; the others gradually lengthening to the 6th, which is .75 inches; the others about of equal length ; soft portion at its commencement about double the height of the spinous, regularly increasing to its termination, £ inch high. 1st ray of the pectorals and ventrals spinous ; that of the former very short ; first 3 rays of anal short and spinous. A space, free of scales, extending from the base of the ventrals on each side to the base of the anal ; the scales lining the edge of this space are folded ; in the unimpregnated state, the opposite edges of this space meet. Ryes of medium size, irides varying in color with white, brown and yellow; superior anterior edge of the pupil flattened; nostrils double; cranium covered with mucous ducts as far down as the nostrils ; a diffused patch of ducts between the nostrils and the angles of the mouth. Head transparent gray, dark brown or black ; back ash color, dark brown and olive, with metallic tints; sides copper brown, lightening into beautiful iridescent and flesh color or rose tints as they approach the ventrals. From 24 to 26 longi- tudinal stripes of silver white or flesh tints below, and varying from this to yellow or greenish-yellow as they ascend. Above the lateral line these stripes are nearly concurrent with the dorsum, but below they are nearly straight and parallel. Fins and tail irregularly marked with brown, black, olive or yellow. An ultra- marine blue round the preopercle, under the orbit, and about the angle of the mouth. Scales on the breast and along the base of the fins smaller than elsewhere. Extreme length, 15 inches; width, 6 inches ; weight, 1 to 3 lbs. D. 35; P. 21; V. 6 ; A. 36; C. 20. Ii. Gibbonsii, Cal. Acad, of N. S — Lips thicker ; body less arched than the * Read before the California Academy of Natural Sciences, Jan. 9th and May 15th, 22d, and 29th, 1854. 1854.] 123 preceding species : back with a sharp ridge, anterior to the dorsal; curve of the belly slight till it comes to the base of the anal, at which point it takes an an- gular turn of about 00°, so as to throw the anal rays in a horizontal direction. Tail turned upwards from a horizontal position, but as the fish advances in age this curvature is nearly obliterated. Lateral line nearly concurrent. Eyes medium size, lower edge of the orbit in a line with the upper lip. hides silver white and brown. Back dark, with metallic tints. Head dark brown or transparent gray. An ultramarine blue band nearly surrounds the orbits, passing forward under the nostrils, where it curves downwards to the angle of the mouth and upper lip. Same color round the edges of the opercle and preopercle. About 24 longitudinal stripes, similar in color to the preceding, but more of a rose tint along the sides. A reddish-brown band extends along the dorsal and ana] ? the tail mottled with the same color; blue and orange color bands across the ventrals ; 11 or 12 indis- tinct transverse red bands across the body. Caudal fin furcate, tail wider at the base of the fin. Extreme length, 11 inches; width, 4 inches; weight, 1 lb. D. 35 ; P. 22 ; V. 6 ; A. 36 ; C. 20. H. fuliginosus, Gibbons. — Head yellowish brown, transparent gray or nearly black; dark brown or black along the upper jaw on each side. Eyes rather large ; irides silver white, yellow and purple brown. Lips quite fleshy, lemon color, the yellow extending under the jaw ; parallel stripes, about 24, somewhat obscure. Scales alons; the base of the fins and in the space anterior to the ven- trals and pectorals smaller. The free surface of the scales on the back dark brown ; the angles formed by the edges filled in with blue, both colors growing lighter as they pass down the sides. Posterior extremity of the dorsal and anal rounded, dark band across the caudal and along the anal and ventral ; anal banded blue and brown. Entire length, 13 to 15 inches ; width, including dorsal, 5.T) ; weight, 2 to 3 lbs. D. 30; P. 21 ; V. 6 ; A. 29; C. 20. Cymatogaster,, Gibbons. Head of medium size ; snout protractile ; lips thickened ; cheeks and opercula covered with scales ; soft membrane around the edges ; body oblong, ovate sub- compressed, regularly arched, the curve of the dorsum and belly corresponding. Teeth small, conical, three row7s in the upper, one in the lower jaw ; those in the latter extending to the angle of the mouth ; branchiostegal rays 5; pectorals anterior to dorsal; lateral line concurrent; scales of medium size. Nostrils double, anterior closed with a valve. C. Larkinsii, Gibbons. — Inferior edge of orbit on a line with the upper lip; eyes of medium size ; lower jaw a little the longer; dorsal with nine spinous rays; 1st short, 2d, 3d, and 4th, double the length of its preceding one ; 5th, the longest, about 1.25 in. above the scales, from which the fin diminishes regu- larly in height to its termination. Pectorals long and pointed, 1st short and spinous; anal with the three first short and spinous; posterior half of the fin in a groove similar to the dorsal. Scales back of head, and along the base of the fins smaller ; those at the base of the anterior portion of anal very small ; space free of scales from the base of ventrals to that of the caudal. Head white, gray or mottled with brown ; back, brown and gray ; sides and belly, silver white ; from 6 to 8 imperfectly defined yellowish transverse bands across the body. Dark color along the dorsal. Extreme length, 15 inches; width 5.5; weight 3 to 4 lbs. D. 36 ; P. 22 ; V. 6 ; A. 32 ; C. 22. C. pulchelltjs, Gibbons. — Line of the upper lip passing through the centre of the eyes ; lips thin ; two large scales anterior to the orbits ; dorsal commences posterior to the pectorals, and opposite the ventrals; 1st three spines of dorsal short; 2d and 3d double the length of its preceding one; 4th three times as long as the third; 5th the longest, being one inch and seven-eighths, measuring 124 [July, from the dorsal groove; from this, tlie height of the fin decreases regularly to its end, the last ray being about £ inch high ; 1st three rays of anal spinous, the outline of the fin being somewhat scolloped; about 68 scales along the lateral line; about 28 narrow silver longitudinal bands, mucous ducts irregularly dispersed over the head ; head brown and transparent gray ; back, lead color above the lateral line ; edge of the dorsal membrane black ; scales along the base of the fins smaller than elsewhere, those along the anterior portion of the anal very small. Entire length 14 inches ; in width, — , weight 2 to 3 lbs. D. 35; P. 26 ; V. 6; D. 32; C. 20. C. elmptictts, Gibbons. — Similar in general characters to the Lar&insit, body compressed, lighter and more silvery lustre, transverse bands darker, with a line of dark spots along the dorsal ; edge of anal tipped with black. Extreme length 9 inches, width 4 inches, weight i pound. Hysterocarpus, Gibbons. Head of medium size ; snout protractile, lips moderately thick; body ovate, compressed, arched ; cheek and opercle covered with scales, membranous round the edges; teeth conical, in a single row, not extending along the sides of the jaws. Branchiostegal rays 5. Pectoral opposite the dorsal. Intestinal canal short, with two inflexions enlarged at each extremity. Scales large, deciduous. Lateral line nearly concurrent with the back. H. Traskii. — Radius of curvature least along the anterior half of the dorsum. Facial line about 45 degrees; profile slightly incurved along the interparietal and frontal bones. Lower jaw the longer. Eyes rather large and near the facial outline. The dorsal has 17 strong, curved spines: 1st short, the succeed- ing ones increasing regularly in length to the 6th, which is the longest. The spinous rays lie in a groove, but only the two first are hidden by it, the others project about quarter of an inch above it, and alternately lap by each other so as to form a double row. Pectoral subquadrangular, with the lower edge rounded, and the first ray short and subspinous. First ray of the ventrals shorter than the others, spinous and curved. First three rays of the anal spinous, short, thick and curved, the middle one largest. Scales smaller on the summit of the back, on the opercula, at the base of the tail, of the anal and ventrals, and on the space bounded anteriorly by the ven- trals and pectorals. Color. — Back varies from ash color to dark brown ; irregular blackish patches approximating somewhat to bands across the sides. Belly lemon yellow, be- coming lighter and blending with the ash color up the sides. Sides in some, punctated with black, dark and yellow patches on the fins. Extreme length G,5 inches, width 3 inches, weight 2 ounces. D. 28 ; P. 18 ; V. 6 ; A. 23 ; C. 22. Var. A. Facial line not so angular as the other, head deeper, less dorsal cur- vature, and no black bands. The anatomy of these is similar to that of the viviparous species which I have already described, except that the uterus, instead of being bipartite at its anterior extermity, is ovoid, and has but a single system of uterine blood vessels. The specimens from which this description is made were presented to me by my friend, Dr. J. B. Trask, who obtained them through the kindness of Mr. Morris, from the fresh water lagoons of the Sacramento river, and from the river, where they are found as high up as the fishermen have yet been. Hyperprosopon, Gibbons. Head of medium size ; body compressed, oval ; snout protractile; lips thin ; cheeks, opercle and preopercle scaly, with membranous edges ; teeth conical, in a single row, extending all round the lower jaw, and about half way down the upper one; branchiostegal rays 6; dorsal commences behind the pectorals 1854.] 125 and ventrals ; scales medium size ; lateral line nearly concurrent with the back ; intestinal canal short; eyes very large, irides white, with a brown crescent above. H. argenteus. — Back regularly arched with a slight incurvation along tbe frontal bone; curve of the belly greater than that of The back ; upp?r lip on a line with the superior edge of the orbit; sides of the upper jaw nearly vertical ; lower jaw the longer ; dorsal has eiuhr to nine spinous rays, 1st short ; 2d, 3d and 4th, double the length of its preceding one, the 6th ray being the longest ; dorsal groove obsolete along the soft rays; pectorals cuneiform, first one short and spinous; first three rays of anal tin spinous ; a space quarter of an inch wide free of scales extends from the base of the ventrals round the vaginal orifice; nostrils double, anterior ones closed with a valve ; two or three rows of very fine scales along the base of the anterior third of the anal ; scales above the lateral line, and round the fins smaller than elsewhere ; head ash color and dark brown ; back light brown with blue metallic tints, silver white beloiv the lateral line ; from 22 to 24 silver white longitudinal stripes ; outer edge of dorsal membrane, caudal and ventrals, darkly punctated, tips of ventrals black. Length including tail, 9 inches; width 4.5 inch ; weight half pound. D. 35 ; P. 26 to 28 ; V. 6 ; A. -36 to 40 ; C. 22. H. arcuatus, Gibbons. — Curvature of the dorsum greater, and of the belly lest than of the Argenteus. Mouth lower, in reference to the eyes. Head shorter, eyes smaller, dorsal groove longer. About the same size as the other. Micrometrus, Gibbons. Head of medium size, body ovate, compressed ; snout protractile ; lips thin; cheeks and opercula scaly ; teeth conical, in a double row in each jaw, the inner row having from four to six ; branchiostegal rays five ; dorsal commences behind the pectoral, and about opposite the ventrals; scales rather large; intestinal canal six to ten inches long ; eyes of medium size ; tail forked. M. aggregatus, Gibbons. — Back slightly arched; lateral linenot concurrent with the dorsal outline; belly curved more than the dorsum; space behind the ventrals covered with scales; head ash color; body with eight or nine longitu- dinal rows of black spots, commencing below the lateral line and becoming obsolete opposite the end of the dorsal, which are interrupted by three or four lemon colored vertical bands; back dark brown, with blue metallic tints; belly and tail silver white; extreme length five inches; width, including the dorsal, 2.25 inches ; weight two ounces. D. 21 ; P. 20 to 24; V. 6; A. 16; C. 20. M. minimus. — Dorsum more curved than the preceding; back brown with metallic blue tints, sides punctate with black, with lemon color patches alom*- the middle; a diffused dark brown or black spot about the end of the spinous rays ; membrane of the dorsal, of the tail and anal punctated black, ventrals yellow at base, tipped with black: a diffused black patch under the pectorals. About the same size as the preceding. Var. a. — All the characteristics of the preceding, but with larger scales and lighter color; extreme length six inches; width 3.25 inches. My i'ilophagus, Gibbons. Head of medium size ; snout slightly protractile; lips thickened ; cheeks and opercula covered with scales: with a soft membrane around the ed<£es ; body oblong ovate, subcompressed, arched; back somewhat flattened; teeth conical a double row in each jaw, those of the lower jaw extending to the an^le of the mouth; branchiostegal rays six ; pectorals anterior to the dorsal; lateral line nearly concurrent with the back; scales large. M. fasciatus, Gibbons.— Curvature of belly greater than that of the back ; eyes rather large, about a quarter inch above the line of the upper lip ; lower jaw a little the 'oiger ; dorsal with ten spinous rays, first short, the succeeding ones gradually in:reasing in length to the sixth, which is the longest, being 126 [August, about seven-eighths of an inch ; articulated rays higher at their commencement than the spinous. Dorsal groove continuous to the end of the fin ; pectorals long and pointed — first short and spinous ; anal, first three short and spinous; the posterior half in a groove similar to the dorsal ; scales smaller in front of ven- trals and along the base of the anal and caudal ; space free of scales extending from base of the pectorals around the vaginal orifice about one-third of an inch wide. Head light ash color or mottled with brown; belly silver white; eight or ten diffused light brown transverse bands across the sides; dorsal with dark patches; dark bands across the tail, and along the anal. Length, 15 inches; width, 6 inches ; weight, 3 pounds. D. 34 ; P. 24 ; V. 6 ; A. 30 ; C. 23. Pacuylabrtjs, Gibbons. Head medium size, one fourth of entire length of the body: snout very pro- tractile ; lips very thick; cheeks and opercula covered with scales, latter mem- branous round the edges; teeth conical, few, a single row in each jaw ; bran- chiostegal rays six: nostrils large, double, anterior one closed with a valve; dorsal commences behind the pectoral, and opposite the ventrals; scales of medium size; lateral line nearly concurrent. . P. variegatus, Gibbons. — Body subcompressed ; dorsal outline somewhat depressed along the spinous portion of the fin; curve of the belly regular; head covered with mucous ducts; six rows of small, semiconcentric scales on the cheeks ; the superior row commencing at the upper angle of the preopercula and terminating at the angle of the jaw ; head naked above this limit; eyes large, furnished with a nictitant membrane ; i rides white ; tail long and thick, widen- ing at the base of the caudal; dorsal with 10 spinous rays, first short, 2d double the length of 1st; 3d, 4th, 5th, still longer; the remaining ones about, an inch long; articulated rays 1.75 in. long at their commencement, half an inch at their termination ; rounded; pectorals subquadrangular ; 1st short and spinous ; 1st 3d of anal short and spinous; about 30 longitudinal narrow silver lines; scales very small about the base of the caudal and anal fins. About 83 scales along lateral line ; lips flesh color; head transparent gray and dark brown; back lead color, with metallic tints ; color lighter down the sides. Extreme length 14 inches, width 6 inches, weight 1.75 pounds. D. 34 ; P. 23 ; V. 6 ; A. 33 ; C. 20. ELECTION. Col. Victor Motschulsky, of St. Petersburg, and Alexander Von Nordmann, of the same city, were elected Oorresjjondents ; and the Rev. J. Brinton Smith, of Kingsessing, was elected a Member. August 1. Mr. Cassin in the Chair. A letter was read from Mr. E. George Squier, dated New York, July. 18, 1854, transmitting the volume of Transactions of the American Ethnological Society, acknowledged this evening. Also a communication from the Royal Bavarian Academy, dated Munich, May 12th, 1854, transmitting the publications from that Society, announced . this evening ; also acknowledging the receipt of certain Nos. of the Journal and Proceedings. Dr. Leidy presented a paper from Mr. Charles Girard, intended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Descriptions of New Fishes collected by Dr. A. L. Ileermann, naturalist attached to the Survey of 1354.] 127 the Pacific Railroad Route, under Lieut. Williamson, U. S. A. j" winch was referred to Dr. Hallowell, Prof. Baird, and Dr. Leidy. Dr. Leidy also presented an addition to the paper of Drs. Shuruard and Evans, on new fossil species from Nebraska, collected by the North Pacific Railroad Expedition, under Gov. Stevens ; which was referred to the Committee on the former portion of the paper. Also, by the same, a second paper from Messrs. Evans and Shumard, entitled, " Descriptions of new fossil species from the fresh-water Ter- tiary formation of Nebraska." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Mr. Conrad, and Mr. Phillips. Dr. Leidy presented drawings of the dentition of a new genus and species of extinct mammal from Nebraska, which he characterized under the name of Dinictis fdina. The specimen was loaned by Prof. Hall, of Albany. The head is about the size and general form of Machiarodus primsevus. The genus holds the same relation to Putorius that Machia- rodus does to Felis. August Sth. Major J. Le Conte in the Chair. A letter was read from the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated Albany, July 3, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceed- ings, Vol. 7, No. 3. Dr. Leidy presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled, " Synopsis of extinct Mammalia, the remains of which have been dis- covered in the Eocene Tertiary of Nebraska;'' which was referred to Dr. Genth, Dr. Rand, and Mr. Chas. E. Smith. August 15$. Mr. Cassix in the Chair. A letter was read from the " Societe du Museum d'Histnire Naturelle de Strasbourg," dated 2d Jan., 1854, transmitting several Vols, of their Memoirs; also acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy for 1852. A paper was presented from Mr. Chas. Girard, containing additional descriptions of Fishes collected by Dr. Heermann, which was referred to the Committee on the former portion of the paper. Also, a paper by the same, entitled, " Enumeration of Marine Fishes, collected at San Francisco, Cal.j by Dr C. 13. Kennedy, Naturalist to the Survey of the Pacific R. R. Route, under Lieut. A. W. Whipple." Referred to Drs. Hallowell, Baird, and Leidy. Dr. Hallowell presented a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled, "Contributions to South American Herpetology •" which was referred to Major Le Conte, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Rand. 1-28 [August, August '22d. Wm. Parker Foulke, Esq., in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Royal Imperial Geological Institute of Vienna, dated 19th May, 1854, accompanying the donation of its publication, announced this evening. From the K. L. C. Acad, der Naturforseher, dated Breslau, 28th April, 185-4, transmitting the last volume of its Nova Acta. A paper was presented from Prof. Baird and Mr. Charles Girard, in- tended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled, " Notice of a new genus of Cjprioidse ;" which was referred to Dr. Ilallowell, Mr. Cassin, and Dr. Leidy. Also, a paper from Mr. Girard, containing " Observations on a col- lection of Fishes made on the Pacific Coast of the United States, by Lieut. W. B. Trowbridge, U. S. A., for the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution." lleferred to Dr. Hallowell, Prof. Baird, and Dr. Leidy. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled, " Synopsis of the Erotylida3 of the United States." lleferred to Dr. Ilallowell, Dr. McEuen, and Dr. Leidy. Dr. Leidy made the following remarks. My friend, Mr. Hanson, has called my attention to a review of the work entitled, " A Flora and Fauna within Living Animals,'5 in the Gardener's Chronicle, London, April 8, 18-'54, edited by Prof. Lindley. The language in several passages of this review, would imply that the entophyta, described in the "Flora and Fauna," had not been discovered by its author. This, though no doubt unintentional on the part of the editor, is ypt so apt to mislead the judgment of the readers of the Gardener's Chroniclp, in estimating the value of the work, that I have considered it, in justice to myself, worthy of notice. Prof. Lindley remarks in reference to the work, " It may be true, that it dops not contain much, which may not be found in Robin's second edition of his ad- mirable work on animals;" and further on, says, " We would point out more especially the plates, which represent the curious parasites which infest the intestines of different species of Julus, for though the principal of them are not overlooked by Robin, etc." Thus it is made to appear, as if Robin had been the discoverer of most of the entophytes, described in the " Floia and Fauna," when on referring to pages 358, 395 and 403 of Robin's Histoire Naturelle des Vegetaux Parasites, it will be found that all the vegetable parasites of the former work are duly accredited to its author. The " Flora and Fauna " was presented for publication to the Smithsonian Institute in December, 1851, and appeared in printed form in April, 1853, the same year in which the second edition of Robin's work was issued from the press. The descriptions in the latter of those entophyta discovered by me, were taken from communications, published in the Proceedings of this Society in 1849. 1 take this occasion to make a few remarks on a question in the same review, which Prof. Lindley proposes, in reference to the nature of the entophytes above indicated, whether they are to be considered as fungi or algae. Prof. Lindley observes, " for our own part, we have little doubt that they are all true fungals, as also are such productions as Saprolegnia, etc." In presenting an opinion with so little doubt, Prof. Lindley appears not to be " an coura>it>> with a work entitled, "The Vegetable Kingdom. By John Lindley, Ph. D., &c," in which the diagnoses of the two families mentioned are as follows : 1854.] 129 Algales. — Cellular flowerless plants, nourished through their whole surface by the medium in which they vegetate; living in water or very damp places, pro- pagated by zoospores, colored spores or tetraspores. Fungales. — Cellular flowerless plants, nourished through their thallus, (spawn or mycelium.) living in air; propagated by spores, colorless or brown, and sometimes inclosed in asci ; destitute of green gonidia. Now all the entophyta in question, excepting such as are especially described as fungi, are flowerless plants, and are nourished through their whole surface by the medium in which they vegetate; aad they live in a watery liquid, (the intestinal contents,) have no mycelium, and are propagated by spores in the manner of many undoubted algae ; and, therefore, they agree with the former diagnosis, and not with the latter. They even differ in a very important char- acter from Saprolegnia, (which on page 17 of the " Vegetable Kingdom," under the name of Achlya, is placed among the algae,) which possesses a mycelium, as I have frequently observed in this curious plant growing upon dead flies, earthworms, salamanders, &c. August 29f/i. Mr. Cassin in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred several papers hy Mr. Chas. Grirarcl, read Aug. 1, 15, and 22d, describing new species of Fishes, re- ported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Descriptions of neiv Fishes, collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann, Naturalist attached, to the Survey of the Pacific Railroad Route, under Lieut. R. S. Williamson, U. S. A. By Charles Girard^ PERCIDJE. 1. Centrarchus interrtjptus, G. — General form rather elongated, very much compressed. Nuchal region swollen ; oculo-cephalic region subconcave. Snout tapering ; lower jaw longest. Posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaching a vertical line drawn back of the pupil. Head forming a little less than the third of total length. Eyes large and circular ; their diameter being comprised four times in the length of side of the head. Scales on cheeks rather small ; a little larger on the opercle than on the cheek. D XIII. 11. A VII. 10. C 5. 1. 8. 7. 1. 4. V I. 5. P 13. The origin of the spiny dorsal is situated opposite the base of the pec- torals, and the origin of the anal, opposite the space between the eleventh and twelfth dorsal spines. The tip of rays, as well as the base of anal, extends a little farther back than the dorsal. The base of ventrals falls upon the same vertical line as that which would intersect the base of pectorals. Scales of medium size; minutely serrated. Greyish brown above, silver grey beneath. Irregular transverse bands of dark brown or black, interrupted along the lateral line, the portion of the band above it is somewhat alternating with the portion beneath it. A large black spot may be seen at the upper angle of opercle. Specimens from Sacramento River, Cal. COTT1D.E s. Cataphracti. 2. Cottopsis gulosus, G. — Largest specimens a little over three inches in total length; of which the head forms the third, the caudal fin excepted. Preopercle provided with two small spines, such as may be observed in several species of Cottus proper, the head otherwise is smooth; mouth proportionately large; posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaching a vertical line, which would pass behind the pupil. A space of five twentieths of an inch exists between the 12 130 [August, origin of the first dorsal and the occiput. Second dorsal connected with the first by a low membrane proceeding from the last spiny ray. Tips of posterior soft rays not quite reaching the base of caudal. Anal, about as high as second dorsal, but shorter. Caudal, well developed and posterioily rounded. Origin of ventrals midway between the tip of lower jaw and the anus. Pectorals broad and large, its longest rays extending posteriorly as far as the fifth ray of second dorsal. D IX. 18. A 13. C 3. 1. 5. 4. 1. 2. V 1. 4. P 15. Lateral line uninterrupted from thoracic region to base of caudal. Abdomen beset with minute prickles; skin elsewhere smooth. Ground color reddish brown ; head and (iorsal region spotted with black. Dorsals, caudal and pectorals barred with blackish ; first dorsal provided poste- riorly with an elongated black spot. Anal and ventrals unicolor. Inhabit San Joaquin River, Cal. Genus ASPICOTTUS. Girard. Head covered with bony plates. Opercular apparatus armed with strong spines. .Mouth moderately cleft; jaw equal. Teeth on the maxillaries and front of vomer; none on the palatines. Gill openings separated by an isthmus ; bran- chiostegal rays six in number. Dorsals distinct; first, rather small and lower than the second. Caudal rounded posteriorly. Pectorals broad and large. Insertion of ventrals under the base of pectorals. A series of bony scutellae running along the sides of back from head to tail. Skin otherwise smooth. Obs. — To this genus must be referred Cottus bubalis of Euphrasen, from the Baltic and Norwegian seas. 3. Aspicottus bison, G. — Greatest length seven inches and a half. Head broad and large, forming a little less than the third of the whole length. Body tapering rapidly backwards. Orbits raised above the surface of the skull, which exhibits a parieto-occipital carina. Above and inwardly of nostrils a rough plate is observable. Preopercle provided with four spines, uppermost very long, extending backwards to the posterior edge of opercle ; the two next ones are small and directed obliquely downwards; the fourth, may be seen at the lower edge of that bone and directed obliquely forwards. The opercle has three spines; a stout one along the upper margin of that bone, and two small ones towards its inferior margin and directed obliquely downwards. The posterior extremity of interopercle. finally exhibits the last and smallest spine of the opercular apparatus. The isthmus is rather large. The first dorsal begins at a very short distance from the occiput, and is separated from the second by a similar small space. Its base is contained once and a half in that of the second dorsal, the po-terior rays of which, do not reach the base of the caudal. The caudal in itself is rather long. The origin of the anal is under the fourth ray of second dorsal ; the tips of its posterior rays are almost even with those of the last mentioned fin, although its base does not extend as far behind. The ventrals are long and slender; their insertion being nearly equidistant between the symphysis of lower jaw and the vent. The tips of pectorals reach a vertical line, which would intersect the second ray of second dorsal fin. D VIII. 12. A 9. C 4. 1. 5. 4. [.5. V I. 3. P 16. The lateral line appears to be occupied by a row of oblong bony plates, from thirty to thirty-three in number, and extending from head to base of caudal in diminishing gradually backwards. Color dark brown above, mottled with black ; fins (except ventrals) yellow and black. Beneath dull yellowish with brownish meandric lines under the he^d and throat; ventrals whitish. From San Francisco, Cal. Genus LEPTOCOTTUS, Girard. General form of body and head elongated. Head smooth, with several spines on the preopercle. Mouth deeply cleft; upper jaw longer than the lower one. Teeth upon the maxillaries, front of vomer, and palatines. Gill openings 1854.] 131 separated by an isthmus ; branchiostegal rays, six in number. Dorsals separated by a narrow space; first, rather short, and lower than the second. Caudal subtruncated. Pectorals broad and large. Insertion of ventrals under the base of pectorals. Skin smooth as in Scorpceuichthys. Lateral line con- tinuous for the whole length of the body. 4. Leptocottus armatus, G. — Greatest length of specimens observed, about ten inches. Head forming more than the third of that length, caudal tin included. Surface of head and snout spineless. The only spines observable are situated on the preopercle ; a very stout one terminated by three conical processi directed upwards and forwards, and a small, blunt one beneath directed downwards. The origin of the first dorsal is situated in a line with the posterior cutaneous flap of the opercle and upper edge of insertion of the pectorals ; its base is about half that of the second dorsal. The caudal is subtruncated. The anal is much lower than the second dorsal and not quite as long. The insertion of ventrals is be- neath the pectorals and nearer to the snout than to the vent. The tips of pecto- rals extend to a line corresponding to the anterior ray of second dorsal, which is in advance of the vent. D VII. 17. A 16. C. 6. 1. 5. 4. 1. 7. V I. 4. P 19. Ground color above blackish brown; whitish beneath. Dorsals, caudal and pectorals, yellowish, barred with black ; anterior dorsal with a black spot pos- teriorly. Ventrals and anal whitish. From San Francisco, Cal. Genus SCORP^NTCHTHYS, Girard. Head partly covered with bony plates, without, however, any rough appear- ance. A few small spines on the opercular apparatus. Mouth deeply cleft. Jaws equal. Teeth on the maxillaries, front of vomer, and on the palatines. Gill openings continuous; branchiostegal rays, six in number. Dorsals distinct though contiguous; first rather long and of the same height as the second. Cau- dal truncated. Pectorals broad and large. Ventrals inserted back of the base of pectorals. Skin smooth, without either scales or plates; lateral line dis- tinct and continuous the whole length of the body. 5. Scorp.exichthys marjioratls, G. — A large species, of which several speci- mens were procured. The head forms the third of the length, the caudal fin ex- cluded. A rather small and blunt spine is situated above and inwardly of the ante- rior nostril. The snout is rounded and gradually sloping anteriorly. The posterior extremity of the upper maxillary extends a little beyond the posterior rim of the eye. The preopercle is armed with two small spines only, and occasionally with the rudiments of a third. The other pieces of the opercular apparatus are spineless. A cutaneous, branching flap, similar to those of Scorpceiia, is observ- able above the posterior rim of the orbit. The first dorsal begins immediately behind the occiput, with a base almost as long as the head, being composed of eleven rays, the last sending its membrane to the anterior ray of the second dor- sal, which is one-fifth of its length longer than the anterior one. The anal is but little shorter than the anterior dorsal. The insertion of ventrals is a little nearer to the anal than to the tip of lower jaw. and are composed of five soft rays and a spine. The pectorals, composed of sixteen rays, are large and broadly developed, extending posteriorly beyond the tip of ventrals, reaching a vertical line drawn from the separation of the dorsals to the vent. D XI. 19. A 13. C 6. I. 5. 4. 1. 5. V I. 5. P 16. Ground color of body light-yellow or dark-brown ; fins yellowish ; both body and fins marmorated with large, black patches. From San Francisco, Cal. SCORPiENID,E s. Cataphracti. 6. Seba.stes auriculatus, G. — This species is allied to S. inermis of the Japanese seas, in the structure of the upper surface of the head ; the spines of which instead of being raised are reduced to horizontal ridges, terminating pos- 132 [AtTGFUST, ferioTl'y in acute points ; membranous flaps are likewise wanting. The diameter of eye is contained four times in the length of side of the head. The posterior extremity of upper maxillary projecting a little beyond the posterior rim of the orbit, D Xlir. 14* A III. 7. C 4. 1. 6. 5. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 18. The tip of pectorals when directed backwards extends to a vertical line which would intersect the anus. The first dorsal is composed of twelve spines ; a thir- teenth is situated at the anterior margin of the soft dorsal. Color, reddish brown above and on the sides, becoming brighter towards the abdomen* The upper parts clouded with blackish* A large blask spot cover? she upper half of the opercle. From San Francisco, Cal. BETEROLEPIM: s* Catafkracti* We propose forming under the above name a new ichthyic group of the well known genus Chirus, and a new one described below under the name of Ophiodon* The natural characters by wrhich this group or family is distinguished are : a body elongated, compressed and tapering; covered with rather small scales. Two long dorsal fins occupying almost the whole of the dorsal region. Verrtrals situated under the pectorals. Canine teeth upon the jaws, canine or velvet-like ones on the vomer and palatines. Preopercle and opercle either smooth or provided with spines. The posterior suborbital sends a narrow arcade to the limb of the preopercle as in the Cottcrids properly so called ; that bony arcade being concealed under the flesh, skin and scales constituting the cheeks. CHIRUS, Steller. This Genus we shall, for the present, characterise as follows :• a superciliary, membranous arborescent flap. Mouth of medium size; canine teeth on both jaws j velvet teeth on the front of vomer and palatines* Preopercle and opercle without any spines. Cheek, opercular apparatus, and top of head, covered with small scales. Gill openings continuous and not separated under the throat. Branchiostegal rays six in number* Scales finely serrated posteriorly* Several lateral lines* 7. Chirus p ictus, G* — About twelve inches in total length, in which the head is contained four and a half times. Eyes elliptical, longest diameter contained five times in the length of side of the head. Dorsals contiguous at their base only* Origin of anterior dorsal opposite the posterior flap of opercle. Anal as- long as the second dorsal ; membrane uniting the rays deeply indentated. Cau- dal posteriorly sub-convex. D XIX. 23. A 21. C 4. 1. 7. 6. I. 6. V I. 5. P 19. Scales of medium size provided with but very- few serratures upon their pos- terior margin. Minute scales on the he^d, cheeks, opercular apparatus and base of fins. Ground color dark brown. Large and numerous vermilion spots, border- ed with black, on the sides and inferior fins. Ground color of belly, dull whitish or yellowish. From San Francisco, Cal. 8* Chikus guttatus, G .—Closely allied to the preceding, from which it is1 distinguished by a larger eye and broader scales, the posterior margin of which is much more serrated, so as to be much rougher to the touch. The origin of first dorsal is situated in advance of the posterior flap of opercle* The super- ciliary flap is much less developed. The caudal is subconcave posteriorly. D XXI. 25. A 24* C 5. 1. 7. 6. 1. 6. V I. 5. P 19* Ground color greyish yellow ; Upper part of head and sides of body with crowded small blackish spots extending to the pectorals, caudal and dorsals* Beneath unicolor and lighter. Ventrals- and anal blackish* From San Francisco, Cal* 1854.] 133 The second Genus of this group, for which the name of OPHIODON, Girard, is proposed, has a more elongated head than the preceding one. Its mouth is deeply cleft ; canine teeth exist on both jaws, rather more developed than in Chi- r?is. The vomer is possessed with similar teeth as well as the palatines, where they form a very long series. Posterior convexity of preopercle provided with small spines. Minute scattered scales on the head, cheeks and opercular appa- ratus. Branchial apertures continuous; branchiostegal rays six in number, scales very small. 9. Ophiodonelongatus, G — Largest specimen observed, twelve inches long, the head forming about one fourth of that length ; the greatest depth, measured at the origin of the trunk enters seven times in the total length. The thickness is one third less than the depth. The body is gradually diminishing backwards, both in height and depth. The upper surface of the skull is slightly concave. Eyes, subcircular and quite large, their horizontal diameter being comprised five times in the length of side of the head. The posterior extremity of the upper maxillary extends beyond the posterior rim of the orbit. The anterior suborbi- tal overlaps the upper maxillary. Six or more small spines may be observed upon the posterior curve of preopercle. The upper angle of qpercle terminates in an acute processus. The subopercle is very long and stretches considerably beyond the opercle. The origin of the first dorsal is situated in advance of the spiny limb of the preopercle, at a distance of four tenths of an inch from I he occiput; it is contiguous to the second dorsal, which terminates at an inch and three tenths from the base of caudal (not from its rudimentary rays). The anal is nearly the same length with the second dorsal. The tips of pectoral ex- tend beyond the tip of ventrals. D XXVI. 22. A 23. C 7. 1. 5. 6. 1. 6. V I. 6. P 17. The scales are small, elongated, smooth and entire upon their anterior margin. They extend somewh-it over the base of the fins. The color is very imperfectly preserved ; upon a dull yellowish ground may be seen, on the upper part of the body, dark or blackish brown spots irregularly scattered; the head appears uniform blackish brown. Beneath dull whitish yellow; scales silvery. Fins greenish yellow; ventrals and analunicolor ; rest exhibiting greyish spots. From San Francisco, Cal. GASTEROSTEID.E s. Catapheacti. 10. Gasterosteus williamsoni, G. — General form elongated, of rather slen- der appearance; body tapering gradually towards the base of caudal. Greatest length an inch and three quarters ; head forming the third of it— caudal fin ex- cluded— and covered with long plates so finely granulated as to appear smooth. Body perfectly smooth from head to tail. Two small dorsal spines; a third very minute one at the origin of the soft dorsal fin. Ventral spines quite small, exhibiting but few and very minute spiculae upon its upper margin. Caudal pos- teriorly subconcave. Anterior spiny ray of anal very small. D I. I. I. 11. A 1. 7. C 3. 1. 5. 5. 1. 3. V I. 1. P 10. Color, above greyish brown, spotted ; beneath of a soiled yellowish or whitish. Specimens were collected at Williamson's Pass, Cal. The basin into which the waters in which they were caught flow, is not yet determined. 11. Gasterosteus microcephalus, G — The head is very small, plated, and apparently smooth, although finely granulated. The body is quite depp upon its middle region, tapering towards both extremities ; a little more rapidly posteri- orly. The peduncle of tail is very short and contracted. Greatest length about an inch and a half, of which the head forms the fourth part. Anterior part of body from head to second dorsal spine, plated ; remaining portion smooth. Two acute and well developed dorsal spines ; a third one, and rather small, is 134 [August, situated at the origin of the soft dorsal. A still smaller spine precedes the anal. Ventral spines very much developed, and serrated upon both edges, more minutely, however, bel®w than above. Caudal posteriorly subcrescentic. Pec- torals rounded posteriorly. D I. I. 1. 9. A f. 6. C 2. 1. 5. 5. 1. 1. V I. 1. P 10. Ground color yellowish brown, spotted or else transversely banded with grey- ish black ; the spots or bands being formed of crowded dots. Beneath, dull yellow, occasionally dotted. Specimens collected in Four creek, a tributary of Tule lake (San Joaquin Valley), Cal. |ATHERINID^. Genus ATHERINOPSIS, Girard. This genus is intended to include such species of Atherina, in which the palate is unprovided with teeth, having besides a mugiloid fashioned mouth ; the inter- maxillaries constitute its upper arcade, exclusive of the maxillaries, which are situated behind. 12. Atherinopsis californiensis, G. — Specimens measuring seven inches and a half in total length were observed ; the head forming exactly the sixth part of it. The body is very compressed, slender and very graceful. The cau- dal fin is deeply forked ; the base of anal is equal to the length of head ; the base of second dorsal is scarcely half as long as that of anal. Insertion of ven- trals equidistant between the tip of snout and posterior extremity of base of anal fin. Tip of pectorals not reaching the insertion of ventrals. Eye large and subcircular, nearer to the tip of snout of one of its diameter than to the pos- terior edge of opercle. The mouth is quite small. The head above is slightly convex. D VI. 1. 10. A 1. 17. C 5. 1. 8. 7. 1. 7. VI. 5. P 13. The scales are very large, constituting but thirteen distinct longitudinal rows upon the line of greatest depth of body. They are anteriorly rounded and pos- teriorly truncated, the margin of which, in the latter region, is ornamented by a series of tooth shaped serratures, more conspicuous upon large and somewhat dried specimens. Greyish brown above, dull buff beneath the silvery band. Fins unicolor, dull yellowish or greyish. When the scales are removed the upper part of the body is reddish brown; the lower part lighter with a silvery reflection. From San Francisco, Cal. GOBID^E. 13. Gobius gracilis, G. — About three inches and a quarter in length; the body is slender, compressed and tapering. The head, which partakes of the slender aspect of the body, forms about the fourth part of the whole length. The mouth is very larsje ; its angles corresponding to a vertical line which would pass near the middle of the pupil. The eye is large and elliptical, situated near the summit of the head and its longitudinal diameter comprised a little more ti an four times in the length of side of head. The intevocular space above measures a fifteenth of an inch. The dorsal and anal are rather long. The caudal is posteriorly rounded or else convex upon its margin. Insertion of ven- trals in advance of anterior margin of first dorsal and behind those of pectorals. D V. 17. A 13. C 4. 1. 6.5. 1. 5. V 5. P 18. Dull reddish brown ; fins blackish. From San Francisco, Cal. EMBIOTOCOID^. 14. Embiotoca lineata, G. — Body elongated, regularly arched on both the dorsal and ventral lines from head to posterior extremities of base of dorsal and anal fins. In specimens eight inches and a half in total length, the head is found to constitute a little less than the fourth of that dimension : the greatest depth, taken upon the middle of abdomen, does not enter three times in the length. The mouth is small ; the posterior extremity of upper maxillary not 1854.] 135 extending to the anterior rim of orbit. Eye circular : its diameter entering four times in length of side of head. Origin of first dorsal opposite the middle of base of pectorals, its base being nearly equal to that of anal and a little shorter than that of second dorsal. Caudal forked. D X. I. 24. A III. 30. C. 3. 1. 6. 6. 1. 2. V I. 5. P 1. 21. The scales are subquadran^ular in shape, a little longer than high, provided anteriorly with from five to seven grooves. Deep purplish brown above the lateral line, lighter beneath; sides of abdo- men yellowish. Longitudinal light stripes between the rows of scales, more conspicuous below than above the lateral line. Dorsals, anal, caudal and ven- trals purplish, base of anal exhibiting a whitish stripe. Pectorals whitish or yellowish. From San Francisco, Cal. 15. Amphistichus similis, G. — Among the specimens collected, there is one — a female — a little over four inches and a half in length, which we propose to describe as a very closely allied species to A. argenteus. There are two promi- nent characters which will enable us to distinguish between both species : in A. argenteus the posterior extremity of upper maxillary extends beyond to a vertical line which would pass through the middle of the pupil, whilst in A. similis it scarcely reaches the anterior rim of the same organ. Again, in the former, the second and third spiny rays of the anal are much longer than in the latter. The number of rays of fins is nearly the same; the anal has three and the pectorals two more soft rays in A. argenteus than in A. similis. There are also eleven spiny rays to the anterior dorsal of A. argenteus. D X. 24. A III. 25. C 2. 1. 6. 6. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 1. 24. The head is contained three times in the length, the caudal fin excluded. The eye large and circular, enters less than four times in the length of side of head by its diameter. The greatest depth is to the greatest length, as one to three. The body is very much compressed. The insertion of ventrals is in a line with the third spine of anterior dorsal, which is also the line of greatest depth. The coloration is not sufficiently preserved for comparative description. From San Francisco, Cal. 16. Amphistichus heermanni, G. — A specimen of this species, a little over eight inches and a half in length, in affording one character proper to Holconotus has left us for some time in doubt as to its generic affinities. We speak of the structure of the dorsals, the anterior of which is composed of spiny rays higher than the soft ones of the second. Indeed, there is a slight depression in the line limiting these fins, corresponding to their point of junction ; but finding that such was also the case in Holconotus, that character could no longer be of any generic value. Seeing, however, that there were two rows of teeth on the lower jaw as well as on the upper, and that the lips, rather thin, were not free upon the symphysis of the lower jaw, we decided on placing it in the genus Amphis- tichus where it really belongs. The shape and size of the mouth are altogether similar to that observed in A. argenteus and A. similis. The body is very much compressed, of a short appearance, the nape promi- nently arched, the head contained about four tim^s in the total length and the greatest depth twice, the caudal fin excluded- Eye contained about four times in the length of side of head. The posterior extremity of upper maxillary hardly reaching the vertical of the anterior rim of pupil. The number of rays of the fins is the same as in A. argenteus, with an excep- tion in the first dorsal, which has ten spines, instead of eleven, as in A. similis. DX. 24. A III. 28. C 3. 1. 6. 6. 1.3. V I. 5. P 1. 26. The color does not differ much from that of A. argenteus. From San Francisco, Cal. CIPRINIDJE. 17. Gir.A conocepiiala, B. and G. — There was but one specimen of this species collected, about seven inches and a half in length. General shape sub- fusiform, compressed ; back slightly convex from nape to posterior margin of 136 [August, dorsal fin. The head is subcorneal and contained exactly four times in the length, the caudal fin excluded. The mouth is comparatively large, although the posterior extremity of the intermaxillary does not quite extend to the anterior rim of the eye : the snout being prolonged, and the cleft of the mouth nearly horizontal. The eye is subcircular and its diameter contained five times and a half in the length of side of head. The anterior margin of the dorsal is nearer the end of snout than to the tip of central rays of caudal. The caudal itself is forked and participates of the slender appearance of the body. The origin of anal is situated behind the base of the dorsal, but at the same time in advance of the tip of the rays of the latter. The insertion of ventrals is situated in advance of the anterior margin of dorsal ; their tip reaching the anus. D II. 9. A II. 9. C 8. 1. 9. 8. 1. 9. V I. 9. P 16. The scales are semicircular and of medium size. The lateral line forms an open curve along the sides, the convexity of which is downwards. Upper regions of body and head brown ; sides yellowish ; abdomen whitish. From Rio San Joaquin, Cal. Genus POGOXICHTHYS, Girard. Shape of mouth as in Gila; angle of mouth provided with a small filiform barbel. Body fusiform and compressed. Caudal forked. Insertion of ventrals behind anterior margin of dorsal. Scales large and uniform. Lateral line below middle of flanks. This genus represents in the western waters of North America that of Gobio, to which it is intimately related. 18. Pogonichthys injEquilobus, B. and G — General form very regular, sub- fusiform and compressed. Total length of specimen described, about ten inches, of which the head forms a little less than the sixth part. The eye is subcircular ; its diameter comprised about five times in the length of side of head. The mouth is of medium size; its cleft does not extend to a vertical line which would pass in advance of the orbit. A barbel, about an eighth of an inch, may be observed at the angle of the mouth. The origin of dorsal fin is equidistant between the extremity of the snout and the first rudimentary rays of the caudal. The caudal is long and deeply-forked ; its upper lobe projecting beyond the lower, although the structure of that fin is perfectly homorcercal. The anal is inserted behind the dorsal. The insertion of the ventrals is situated a little behind the origin of the dorsal, and consequently a little nearer the rudimentary rays of caudal than to extremity of snout. The pectorals are moderate. D II. 9. A II. 9. C 8. 1. 9. 8. 1. 7. V I. 9. P 17. The scales are large ; fifty-six of these may be counted in the lateral line, which, upon the abdomen, approximates more to the ventral than the dorsal outline. The upper legions of head and body are greyish brown ; the sides and abdompn yellowish. The fins partake of the color of the region of the body to which they belong. From the San Joaquin river, Cal. 19. Pogoni 'hthys symmetricus, B. and G. — The specimens before us being in a rather poor state of preservation, a description of the species can hardly be drawn with accuracy. The size of the largest is about four inches and a half in total length ; the profile of body is subfusiform, very compressed, and gracefully elongated. The head constitutes the fifth of the length. The eye is large and its diameter contained less than four times in the length of side of head. The lobes of the caudal fin are symmetrical. The anterior margin of dorsal is equidis- tant between the end of snout and the extremity of central rays of the caudal. The lateral line forms a gentle curve, convex downwards, upon the middle of the abdomen, and nearer the insertion of ventrals than base of dorsal. The in- sertion of ventrals is situated in advance of the anterior margin of dorsal, a char- acter which will at once enable us to distinguish this species from P. inasquilobus . From Fort Miller, San Joaquin Valley, Cal. 1854.J 137 Genus LAVINIA, Girard. Mouth shaped as in Gila and Pogonickthys, but proportionally smaller than either and unprovided with barbel. Body covered with large scales as in Pogonichthys. The genus Lavinia, therefore, is intermediate between the two above mentioned. 20. Lavinia exilicatjda, B. and G.— Body compressed, swollen upon its middle and tapering towards both extremities. Tail more particularly attenuated. Greatest depth, in advance of the dorsal, contained about four times in the length, which is eleven inches, and in which the head enters five times and a half. The mouth is very small ; its am>le being far from reaching the anterior margin of the orbit. The eye is circular and rather below the medium size ; its diameter being contained nearly six times in the length of side of head. Isthmus very small; branchiostesal rays three on either side. Anterior margin of dorsal equidistant between the extremity of snout and tip of central rays of caudal, which latter fin is deeply forked. Base of anal longer than that of dorsal but considerably lower, particularly upon its posterior third. Insertion of ventrals in advance of the anterior margin of dorsal. Pectorals rather small. D II. 12. A It 14 or 15. C 7. 1. 8. 8. 1. 7. V I. 19. P 17. The scales are rounded and very thin. The lateral line, in which there are about sixty scales, forms an open curve on the abdomen with a downwards convexity much nearer the insertion of ventral than base of dorsal fin. Reddish brown above, silvery grey on the sides, the scales being provided with minute crowded dots upon their margin. Beneath yellowish with scales unicolor. Fins yellowish grey. From Sacramento River, Cal. 21. Lavinia crassicauda, B. and G. — The body in this species is less deep in the middle and less attenuated behind than in L. exilicavda. The peduncle of the tail is largely developed and contrasts greatly with that of the latter mentioned species. The head and mouth are proportionally larger ; the former being con- tained four times and a half in the total length ; and the cleft of the second, although not reaching the anterior ed^e of the orbit, extends, nevertheless, farther backwards than in L. exilicauda. The greatest depth is about equal to the length of head. The eye is subcircular, and its diameter contained about six times in the length of side of head. The caudal is less emarginated posteriorly, and the insertion of ventrals situated almost under the anterior margin of the dorsal. D II. 9 A II. 9. C 9. 1. 9. 8. 1. 8. V I. 9. P 17 or 18. The scales are much larger than in L. fx/licauda,and the course of the lateral line similar, being composed of about fifty-five scales. The general coloration is the same. Specimens were procured at San Francisco, in the Rio San Joaquin, and several tributaries of that basin. 22. Lavinia conformis, B. and G. — Only one specimen of this species was obtained; its total length being about four inches. It is related to L. crassicav- da, having like it a much more compact tail than L. exilicauda. The general appearance of the fish is suggestive of L. crassicauda; the body is deeper and proportionally less elongated ; the eye much smaller and the scales larger. Ano- ther distinctive mark between the two species consists in the position of the vent- rals, the insertion of which in L. conformis, is situated in advance of the an- terior margin of dorsal, whilst it is placed slightly behind it in L. crassicauda. D II. 9. A II. 9. C 6. I. 9. 8. I. 6. V I. 8. P 16. Purplish brown above, light on the sides ; belly and head, beneath, dull yellow- ish. From Posa creek, San Joaquin basin, Cal. 23. Leucosomus occidentalis, B. and G. — Numerous immature specimens of this species were collected, together with one about five inches in length. The body is very much compressed, deepest upon the middle of its length and taper- ing towards both extremities. The greatest depth is contained four times in the 138 [August, total length. The snout is subcorneal, head rather small, forming about the fifth of the total length, and slightly depressed above the eyes. The anterior margin of dorsal is nearer the base of caudal than to extremity of snout. The caudal is forked. Both the anal and dorsal are anteriorly elevated. Insertion of ventrals situated in advance of anterior margin of dorsal. Pectorals and vent- rals of medium development. D II. 11. A II. 12. C 8. I. 9. 8. 1. 9. V 10. P 15. The scales are of medium size and provided with radiating ridges. The lateral line is bent downwards upon the abdomen, constituting a curve, the convexity of which is nearer the ventrals than to the dorsal outline. Greyish brown above; sides silvery; belly dull yellowish. From Posa and Four creeks, the latter emptying into Tule lake, San Joaquin Valley, Cal. CLUPEIDiE. 24. Clupea mirabilis, G. — Specimens before us are from eight to nine inches in total length, the head forming about the fifth of that dimension. The greatest depth is equal to length of head. The lower jaw is longer than the upper, the posterior extremity reaches to a vertical which would pass through the middle of the pupil. The eye is subcircular and large; its diameter being contained a little less than four times in the length of side of head. The anterior rays of dorsal are almost as high as the fin is long. The insertion of ventrals is situated in advance of middle of dorsal. D 3. 15. A 14. C 4. 1. 11. 11. 1. 3. V 9. P IS. This species is closely allied to the common herring (Clupea harengus) by its general appearance; the absence of teeth upon the palatine, the conspicuousness of the vomerine teeth (which are most so of all), and the presence of but two rows of them upon the tongue, will enable any one to draw the distinction be- tween the two species. From San Francisco, Cal. 25. Meletta C/Erulea, G. — The body is slender, gracefully elongated, ten inches in total length, of which the head constitutes the fourth part, not includ- ing the caudal fin. The depth measured in advance of dorsal, stands in relation to the total length as one to six. The body tapers away backwards from the insertion of ventrals and dorsal ; in advance of these fins to the occiput its depth is sensibly the same, when the head again gradually slopes, above and below, towards the snout. The posterior extremity of the maxillary reaches a vertical line which would intersect the middle of the eye The posterior edge of oper- cular apparatus forms a uniform and rather flattened curve. The inferior branch of preopercle exhibits small radiating striae ; strias more conspicuous are observed upon the inferior and inner half of opercle. The anterior margin of dorsal is nearer the snout than to the base of caudal. The ventrals are inserted opposite the posterior half of dorsal. Caudal deeply forked ; anal long and low. Pectorals of medium development and acute upon their extremity. D 3. 16. A 17. C 4. 1. 8. 8. 1. 4. V 8. P 18. The scales are large, but few are preserved upon the specimen before us. The back, upper part of the head and half of the sides are deep blue. Sides of head and lower half of flanks, silvery. Fins greyish or dull yellowish. From San Francisco, Cal. 26. Engraulis mordax, G. — The general physiognomy of this species is some- what susgestive of EngravHs encrasirholus, the common anchovy of Europe, from which, however, it may be distinguished chiefly by the position of the ventrals, the insertion of which is exactly opposite the anterior margin of the dorsal. The body is slender and compressed, sharp upon the ventral line. The greatest depth is comprised nearly seven times in the total length and almost twice in the length of the head. The eye is large and subcircular ; its diameter being contained four times in the length of side of head. The anterior margin of dorsal is nearer the base of caudal than to the extremity of snout. D 1. 15. A 20. C. 3. 1. 10. 9. 1. 2. V 8. P 16. The back is deep bluish brown ; the sides are silvery. From San Francisco, Cal. 1854.] 139 PLEURONECTIDiE. Genus PLATICHTHYS, Guard. Eyes on the left side and general form of Rhombus, but differing from the latter genus by a smaller mouth, a dorsal fin commencing above the eye and leaving, as well as the anal, a considerable space between its posterior margin and the base of the caudal fin. The snout is protruding, the lower jaw being the longest. Small and conical teeth on both sides of the jaws. Lateral line nearly straight, making but a slight curve upwards immediately above the pectorals. 27. Platichthys rugosus, G. — General form of body subelliptical ; head rather long ; snout projecting, lower jaw longest ; a row of short conical teeth. Posterior extremity of upper maxillary extending a little beyond the anterior rim of orbit, and approximating closely to this organ when the mouth is shut. The diameter of the eye is contained about six times in the length of side of head. Head forming the fourth of the whole length. Caudal fin subrounded posteriorly. D 57. A 42. C 3. 1.7.7. 1. 2. V 6. P 11. The ventrals are small, rounded posteriorly, and are inserted slightly in advance of the base of pectorals, which are of medium development and like- wise rounded posteriorly. Instead of scales, the body is covered with small groups of minute asperities, very rough to the touch. Lateral line slightly arched above the pectorals ; rest of its course straight to the base of caudal fin. Leftside dark reddish brown ; fins yellowish green; dorsal and anal with alternate vertical bands of the same color as the body; caudal with longitudinal bands of the same hue. Ventrals and pectorals unicolor. Right side dull yellow. From San Francisco, Cal. Genus PLEURONICHTHYS, Girard. Eyes on the right side ; general form of Platessa. Head small ; mouth very small. Origin of dorsal tin opposite the anterior margin of eye, and bent to- wards the colorless side of the fish. T^eth very inconspicuous, occupying both sides of the jaws. Dorsal and anal fins not reaching the base of caudal. Scales rather below the medium size ; lateral line slightly arched above the pectorals. 28. Pleuronichthys ccenostjs, G. — Body subelliptical ; head small ; snout very short, lower jaw longest; mouth quite small. Teeth minute, conical and acute. Posterior extremity of upper maxillary extending beyond the anterior rim of the orbit. Eyes on the right side and large, the diameter contained less than four times in the length of side of head. Head constituting a little less than the fifth of the entire length. Origin of dorsal in advance of the eye; its posterior margin as well as that of the anal does not unite with the caudal, between which a small space exists. The caudal is rather slender and posteriorly rounded. The insertion of ventrals is quite in advance of the base of pectorals. The outline of both pectorals and ventrals is rounded. D 74. A 54. C 3. 1. 7, 6. 1. 3. V 6. P 1. 10. Body covered with small scales on the right side, and minute ones on the left. Opercular apparatus apparently smooth, but on a careful examination exhibiting scattered and inconspicuous scales, intermediate in size between those of the sides. Lateral line almost straight, with a slight inflexion upwards, immediately above the pectorals. Ground color of body and fins deep brown, maculated with black and yellowish. From San Francisco, Cal. Genus PAROPHRYS, Girard. Eyes on the right side. Body elongated as in Solea, but the head is conical, and the snout protruding, with the lower jaw longer than the upper. Mouth of 140 [August, medium size. Teeth on the colorless side of the jaws only, as in the genus just mentioned. Dorsal and anal fins not extending to the caudal. Caudal truncated posteriorly. Lateral line almost straight, making but a small inflexion uowards above the pectorals. Scales small, covering the body and head. 29. Parophrys vetultjs, G. — Body elongated, tapering considerably pos- teriorly, less so anteriorly where it is terminated by a wedge-shaped head and an acute snout. The head forms a little less than a fourth of the entire length, . to which the greatest depth stands as one to three. The mouth is small, lower jaw longest ; the posterior extremity of upper maxillary overruns slightly the vertical of the anterior rim of orbit. The teeth are minute. Eyes on the right side and very large, elliptically elongated and closely approximated, being separated by a narrow and elevated ridge ; hence a sloping of either side of the ocular region. The longitudinal diameter of the eye is comprised four times in the length of the side of head. The dorsal fin begins above the eye, and termin- ates, as well as the anal, at a short distance from the base of caudal. The caudal is slender and posteriorly truncated. The pectorals and ventrals are small; the insertion of the latter being situated beneath the posterior extremity of the opercle. D 86. A 64. C 3. 1. 7. 7. 1. 3. V 6. P 11. The scales are very minute, and equally distributed over the body and head. The lateral line is nearly straight, making but a slight curvature, convex upwards just above the pectoral fin. Ground color of body reddish ash, fins yellowish with small black spots irre- gularly scattered over body and fins. From San Francisco, Cal. Genus PSETTICHTHYS, Girard. Eyes on either the right or left side. General form elongated as in Solea. Mouth rather large and oblique, lower jaw longest. Teeth slender and incon- spicuous, occupying both sides of the jaws. Origin of dorsal fin opposite the anterior rim of orbit. Posterior margin of both dorsal and anal not reaching the base of caudal. Caudal posteriorly rounded. Scales very small. Lateral line slightly arched above the pectorals. 30. Psettichthys melaxostictus, G. — Body elongated ; slender, tapering posteriorly. Greatest depth contained about three times in the total length, and head a little less than four times. Mouth large and oblique; lower jaw longest. Teeth slender. Posterior extremity of upper maxillary extending to a vertical line which would pass in advance of the pupil. Eyes on the right side and well developed, their diameter being contained four times and a half in the length of the side of head. The origin of dorsal is just above the eye and terminates, as well as the anal, before reaching the base of the caudal. The eight or ten anterior rays of dorsal are higher than the following ones. The central rays of caudal are the longest. The pectorals and ventrals are small and rounded upon their margin ; the latter inserted considerably in advance of the former. D 78. A 60. C 4. 1. 6. 6. 1. 3. V 6. P 12. The scales are minute, covering the body and head. Ground color cinereous with crowded black dots, sometimes confluent or else grouped. From San Francisco, Cal. The above species, thus very briefly characterised, are to be more minutely described in an Appendix to Lieut. Williamson's official report of the Survey entrusted to his charge. 1854.] 141 Enumeration of the species of marine Fishes, collected at San Francisco, Califor- nia, by Dr. C. B. R. Kennerly, naturalist attached to the survey of the Pacific R. R. Route, tinder Lieut. A> W. Whipple. By Charles Girard. 1. Chirus constellatus, G. — This species comes nearest to C. guttatus, of which it has the general physiognomy and structure of the fins ; but the head above is less convex, and the scales very differently imbricated. Thus, whilst in C. constellatus they constitute oblique series which may be traced in any di- rection, the same is not the case in C. guttatus. J) XX. I. 25. A 24. C 5. 1. 8. 7. 1. 4. V I. 5. P 19. The ground color is greenish grey; the body at large exhibiting indistinct, cloudy spots, and on the anterior and upper region, groups of black dots varying in number. Similar dots are scattered over the upper part and sides of head, and the pectoral fins are literally covered with them, so as to divide equally the space with the ground color which make these fins appear maculated with black and yellow. 2. Atherinopsis Californiensis, Grd. Proc, Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1354, p. 134. Genus PORICHTHYS, Girard. General form and external aspect similar to Batrachus, but more elongated ; its generic features will consist in the series of pores extending to the whole length of body from divers regions of the head. There are neither scales on the body nor membranous appendages on the margin of the jaws. Two short tenta- cles in advance of the nostrils. The teeth are slender and acute; those on the vomer most conspicuous. The head is smooth ; the opercle provided with one spine only. Ohs* — To this genus belong : 1st. P. porosessimus {Batrachus porosissimus, Cuv. and Val.) from the coast of Brazil ; and 2d. P.porosus {Batrachus porosus, Cuv. and Val.) from Valparaiso. 3. Porichthys notatus, G. — Total length about nine inches and a half, the head forming the fourth of it in excluding the caudal fin. The mouth is broadly cleft ; the posterior extremity of upper maxillary extending beyond the posterior rim of the orbit. The teeth upon the symphysis of the lower jaw are more slender and smaller than on the sides cf that bone. The smallest teeth are those of the irttermaxillaries extending almost to the whole length of these bones. The palatine teeth are a little larger posteriorly than anteriorly. The most con- spicuous ones are observed on the vomer. Two minute and inconspicuous spines constitute the anterior dorsal fin. The second dorsal is somewhat higher than the anal, and the tips of the posterior rays of both of these fins reach the base of the caudal, there being but a narrow space left separating these fins from each other. The caudal is posteriorly rounded. The pectorals are spear- shaped ; the central rays being the longest. J) II. 37. A 34. C 3. 1.5. 5. 1. 2. V~3. P 20. Upper regions purplish blue ; sides and belly silvery grey. A subcrescent shaped vitta beneat.i the eye. 4. Embiotoca LirtEATA, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 134. 5. Amphistichus argentets, Agass. Araer. Jour. Sc. second series, xvii. 1854, p. 367. 6. Holcoxotits ruodoteri'S, Agass. Am*r. Jour. Sc. second series, xvii. 1854, p. 7. IMeletta c.erulea, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc, Philad. vii. 1851, p. 138. 8. Gadus proximus, G. — This appears to be a rather small species, for, amongst numerous specimens brought home by several parties, and now before us, the largest measures less than six inches in total length. The body is slender, 142 [August, elongated and compressed, rather graceful in appearance. The head is contain- ed four times and a half in the total length. The snout is pointed, the upper jaw overlapping considerably the lower one. The mouth is proportionally large, the posterior extremity of the upper maxillary extending to a vertical line which would fall in advance of the eye. The eye itself is above the medium size, sub- circular in form, and contained about four times and a half in the length of the side of head. There exists a space between each dorsal, more considerable be- tween the second and third, than between the first and second. The anals are likewise separated by a space nearly equal to that which is observed between the second and third dorsals. The ventrals are exiguous, their second ray being prolonged into a filament. The pectorals are small. D 12. 19. 20. A 25. 22. C 5. 1. 16. 16. I. 5. V 6. P 17. Upper region yellowish ash; sides and belly silvery white. Minute crowded blackish dots upon the dorsals, caudal and posterior anal. Anterior anal, vent- rals and pectorals yellowish, unicolor. 9. Parophrys vetulus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. PhPad. vii. 1854, p. 140. 10. Psettichthys sordidijs, G. — General form subellipsoid ; greatest length about five inches in which dimension the greatest depth enters twice and a third of a time. The head constitutes about the fourth of the total length. The mouth is oblique, and when shut the jaws are even. The eyes are large, subelliptical, approximated, and situated on the left side; their longitudinal diameter is com- prised four times in the length of the side of head. D 82. A 72. C 1. 1. 6. 5. 1. 1. V 6. P 1. 10. The scales are of medium size, equally conspicuous upon the head and oper- cular apparatus. The lateral line is nearly straight, raising but slightly as it reaches the head. Ground color of a soiled yellow; the scales are margined with blackish. The fins appear as if covered with a coating of dust. Observations upon a collection of Fishes made on the Pacific coast of the United States, by Lieut* W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A., for the Museum of the Smith- sonian Institution. By Charles Girard. It is praiseworthy for officers of the government, whether military or civil, when detailed upon special duties, to devote their moments of leisure in serving the cause of science. Lieut. Trowbridge, while engaged under instructions from the IT. S. Coast Survey, in making tidal observations for the use of that office, availed himself of such opportunities at his command to secure the fishes enume- rated below, and we leave it to Naturalists to decide whether his labors were at all rewarded. There are three main points whence specimens were obtained. 1st, Presidio, on the Bay of San Francisco, where Lieut. Trowbridge himself is stationed ; 2d, Monterey, on the Bay of the same name, where the same gentleman made several excursions; and, 3d, San Diego, where observations are conducted by Corporal A. Cassidy, U. S. A. PERCID^. 1. Labra.x nebulifer, G. — The head which is" contained about three times in the length, the caudal fin excepted, presents a subcorneal appearance, from the fact of its bein.; rounded upon its upper region, and gradually sloping towards the snout. The anterior part of the body, from the origin of the dorsal to the occiput is continuous with the profile of the head, the middle region slightly convex. The body gradually tapers backwards; the greatest depth taken between the insertion of ventrals and origin of first dorsal, is a little less than the fourth of the entire length, including the caudal fin ; the greatest thickness measures in the same region as the depth, is a little more than the half of the latter. The body, therefore, is compressed, as usual in this genus, and the 1854.] 143 general outline subfusiform. The eye is subeircular, and its horizontal diameter contained about six times in the length of side of head. The posterior extremity of the upper maxillary extends to a vertical line intersecting the pupil. The lower jaw is the longest. The third dorsal spine is much the longest in the first dorsal fin, and higher than any of the rays constituting the second dorsal. The caudal is subemarginated posteriorly. The insertion of pectorals is placed im- mediately in advance of the origin of anterior dorsal ; the insertion of ventrals is situated immediately behind the base of pectorals. D X. 14. A III. S. C 4. 1. 7. 6. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 17. The scales are of medium size. The lateral line follows the curve of the back and middle of the peduncle of tail. Ground color reddish brown above, yellowish beneath, upper part of body provided with large cloud-like blackish blotches. A dark vitta extends oblique- ly downwards and backwards from the lower rim of orbit to the throat, across the cheeks and branchiostegal apparatus. The fins are purplish blue, very intense on the ventrals, base of second dorsal, and space between the third and fourth spine of first dorsal. The snout is covered with small roundish spots. From Monterey, Cal. 2. Labrax clathratus, G. — The profile of upper part of head is more de- pressed, and the head more acute than in L. nebidlfer. The lower jaw is more protruding, giving to the snout a pointed, instead of a rounded appearance, which it has in the preceding species. The fourth dorsal spine is the longest and equal in height to the highest rays of the second dorsal. The diameter of the eye is contained five times in the length of head. The origin of first dorsal is situated exactly opposite the base of pectorals. D X. 13. A III. 7. C 3. 1. 7. 6. 1. 2. V I. 5. P 15. Ground color purplish; belly whitish; upper part of back and sides covered with darker blotches, assuming an irregular fenestrated appearance. Pectorals yellowish, with a few sulphur transverse vittce. Membrane of other fins pur- plish, second dorsal spotted. A subocular vitta passing nearer the angle of the mouth than in the preceding species. From San Diego, Cal. TRACHINID.E s. Percid-e. Genus HETEROSTICHUS, Girard. First dorsal fin very long, the first five anterior rays of which constitute an apparently distinct fin. Anal very Ions, provided anteriorly with but few spines. Dorsal and anal extending to near the caudal. Body very compressed and flattened posteriory. Caudal slender. Ventrals situated in advance of pec- torals. Lower jaw longest ; mouth moderate. Teeth small and conical. Scales very small. Lateral line arched above the pectorals. Six branchial rays. Opercular apparatus without either spines or denticulations. 3. Heterostichus rostratus, G. — The head is rather small and conical, contiguous to a body anteriorly deep, tapering posteriorly, and very much flat- tened throughout. The nose is very much depressed and concave. The greatest depth measured above the pectoials, is contained five times in the entire length; the least depth is about the fourth or fifth of the greatest. The head forms a little less than the fourth of the length. The mouth is moderate, lower jaw much the longest ; and the posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaches a vertical line, which would pass in advance of the pupil. The teeth are conical, slender and exiguous. The eye is subelliptical, and its horizontal diameter con- tained seven times and a half in the length of side of head. The dorsal fin originates at a very short distance from the occiput. The five first rays consti- tuting an apparently distinct fin, subtriangular in shape, and much higher than the portion which follows, and which upon its anterior half, is higher than the posterior half. The soft dorsal is short, but high and in perfect continuity with the spiny one ; the tips of its posterior rays not reaching quite as far back as 144 [August, those of the anal, which approximate to the base of caudal. The caudal is slender and forked. The anal is very long and higher than the corresponding portion of dorsal ; it is highest posteriorly and lowest upon the middle. The base of the pectorals falls under the space between the third and fourth dorsal spines. The ventrals are inserted much in advance of the base of pectorals, immediately under the throat ; they are qaite small and slender. The pectorals themselves are of but medium development. D XXXVII. 13. A II. 34. C 4. 1. 5. 4. 1. 3. V I. 3. P 13. The scales are very small, extending over the upper part of opercular appara- tus to the cheeks ; also to the rays of the fins to about half their height or length. The lateral line, from the upper angle of opercle runs almost straight till about under the twelfth spine of dorsal, then obliquely downwards until near the middle of flanks, thence straight to the base of caudal. Ground color above yellowish brown with irregularly transverse blotches, or else interrupted, and then constituting longitudinal bands of a deeper hue. Head above deep brown; upper part of opercular apparatus exhibiting an elongated triangularly acute blotch, starting from the rim of the orbit. Sides and inferior surface of head yellowish. Belly dull yellow. Fins yellowish, blotched, except the pectorals, which are barred transversely, and the ventrals which are unicolor. Greatest length of specimen described about eleven inches. From San Diego, Cal. SPHYR^ENID^ s. Percims. 4. Sphyr^ena argentea, G. — A specimen of this species which lies before us, is thirty-five inches in total length, of which the head forms a little less than the fourth part. The body is stoutish, thickest upon its middle and somewhat com- pressed, the depth being about one-third more than the thickness. The mouth is moderate ; the posterior extremity of upper maxillary leaves a distance of three fourths of an inch between it and the vertical of the anterior rim of the orbit. Teeth on the intermaxillary, minute ; on the lower jaw, moderate ; on the palate, conspicuous and strong. The eye is subelliptical, its anterior rim a little nearer to the tip of lower jaw than to the posterior flap of opercular apparatus. The scales on the cheeks are smaller than upon the opercular pieces ; there are none to be seen in advance of the eye. The posterior extremity of anterior dorsal is nearly equidistant between the tip of lower jaw and the base of central rays of caudal. The latter is deeply forked. The extremity of pectorals is very far from reaching the anterior margin of first dorsal. The upper margin of both, the second dorsal and anal, is concave. D V. I. 11. A 1-9. C 4. 1. 8. 8. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 13. The scales are of rather medium size on the flanks, smaller on the back. The lateral line is straight. The ground color of the upper region of head and body above the lateral line, is bluish black; whitish on the sides and yellowish on the abdomen. The scales have an argentine reflection which extends to the sides of the head and lower jaw. The lateral line is black. The membrane of the dorsal, caudal, anal and pectorals is yellowish, and their rays greyish; the ventrals are uniform yellowish. From San Diego, Cal. COTTIDiE s. Cataphracti. 5. Cottopsis parvus, G. — May readily be distinguished from Cuttopsi* gulosus by a more compact and more fusiform body, a smaller head and consequently a much smaller mouth. The pectorals and ventrals are less developed, and the outline of the first dorsal is more convex. The caudal is posteriorly subtruncated. The insertion of ventrals is situated immediately behind the base of pectorals, and a little in advance of the origin of the first dorsal ; and when brought back- wards, their tip does not reach the anus. The tip of pectorals extends to a ver- tical line which would pass in advance of the origin of anal. The anal is much ovver than the second dorsal. D VIII. 21. A 15. C 5. 1. 4. 4. 1. 4. V I. 4. P. 15. 1854.] 145 The head constitutes the fourth of the total length; it is quite depressed, and slopes gradually towards the snout; its width is one fourth greater than its depth. The eyes, of medium size, are placed near the summit of the head ; their form is subcircular, and their horizontal diameter contained four times and a half in the length of side of head. The posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaches a vertical which would pass in advance of the pupil. Minute prickles are scattered all over the skin, more developed above the lateral line than beneath it. The lateral line, itself very conspicuous, follows the curve of the back uninterrupted to the base of caudal. Ground color yellowish brown above and on the sides; dull yellowish beneath. Sides and back with darker somewhat confluent blotches, or else groups of crowded dots resembling blotches. The pectorals, dorsals and caudal are barred ; the anal and ventrals unicolor. First dorsal with a blackish blotch upon its upper and posterior portion. Base of caudal with a black bar, upper surface of head covered with dark roundish small spots. From Presidio, Cal. 6. Leptocottus armatus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc.Philad. vii. 1854, p. 131. Specimens of this species, most of which are in an immature condition, were obtained at Presidio, Monterey, San Pedro, and San Diego, Cal. 7. Scorp.enichthys marmoratus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 131. From Presidio, Cal. 8. Scorp.enichthys lateralis, G. — We know but a few small individuals of this species, the largest of which is less than four inches long. The body is compressed and tapering; the head being contained about three times in the length, excluding the caudal fin. The occipital region is flattened; the inter- ocular space, convex, and the rostral distance, declive. The mouth is large : the posterior extremity of upper maxillary extends to a vertical line, which would intersect the posterior margin of the pupil. The eye is large, subcircular, and placed near the summit of the head; its horizontal diameter is contained four times in the length of the side of head. The interocular space is quite narrow. The opercular apparatus exhibits but a double spine of moderate de- velopment, situated upon the upper half of the limb of preopercle, with its point directed obliquely upwards. The caudal fin is posteriorly subrounded. The insertion of ventrals is situated under the middle of the base of pectorals. The origin of the dorsal is in advance of base of the same tins. The first dorsal is rather low, and not contiguous to the second, which is considerably higher. D IX. 17. A 11. C 2. 1. 5. 4. 1. 1. V I. 3. P 15. Oa the upper portion of dorsal region, alongside the dorsals, may be seen an elongated area covered with small pectinated scales or plates, disposed upon oblique or transverse rows. The skin is otherwise smooth, and the lateral line conspicuous, making a slight inflexion downwards upon the middle of the abdomen. Upper region of head and body deep chestnut brown, variegated on the sides with shining yellowish areola? and dots. Inferior surface of head, belly an I tail uniform yellow. Fins spotted or barred. From Monterey, Cal., and San Luis Obispo, Cal. SCORP.ENID.E s. Catapiiracti. 9. Scorp.-exa guttata, G The head has a pretty rough appearance : in the first place, the orbits seem as if emerging from the upper part of the skull, the middle line of which exhibits an obtuse groove. Three spines are observed along the upper edge of the orbit, behind which three more may be seen on either side of the occipital region and nape. Several supratympanic spines, but small ; two diverging ones, upon the body of opercle, and four upon the limb ol preopercle, the uppermost of which being much the stoutest and longest. Next we see four other spines irradiating downwards from the suborbitals, and finally the nasal bone terminates into a sharp and acute point directed upwards and slightly backwards. Intermingled with these numerous spines there are but two y 13 146 [August, pairs of small membranous and arborescent flaps, — we were going to say, — adorning the head, but in reality contributing to render it still more repulsive to an eye unitiated to scientific pursuits: the first pair is situated above the poste- rior part of the orbit, whilst the second occupies the inner upper edge of anterior nostril. The body is about eleven inches in total length, the head forming the third of it. The eye is large and elliptical: its horizontal diameter being com- prised nearly five times in the length of side of head. The posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaches a vertical line which would intersect the posterior rim of orbit. The second dorsal has nearly the same height as the first. The caudal is sabrounded posteriorly. The tips of posterior lays of anal are even with those of the second dorsal. The insertion of ventrals is under the base of pectorals ; they are elongated. The pectorals are broad and very much de- veloped ; their posterior extremity extending considerably beyond that of ven- trals. D XII. 10. A III. 5. C 5. 1. 6. 5. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 18. The scales of body are of medium size, and very small upon the occipital region and the head. The opercular apparatus is naked ; scales being observed upon the posterior flap of opercle only. Ground color deep reddish brown above ; yellowish brown beneath. The anterior portion of back and head almost black. Clouded patches of blackish, here and there, with numerous small black spots, more defined on the head than on the body, and much larger on the fins. Belly dull white ; throat yellowish ; inferior surface of head whitish and brownish. From Monterey, Cal. 10. Sebastes atiriculatus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 131. From Presidio, Cal. 11. Sebastes rosaceus, G. — The general form of this species might at first be suggestive of S. norvegicus, were the central rays of the first dorsal not so much higher than in the latter species, giving to that fin a decided convexity. The fish is rather stout than elongated, though much compressed, the depth of body being about equal to the third of entire length, which is about fourteen inches, and nearly equal to the length of head. The profile from the anterior margin of first dorsal to the end of snout is rather depressed, whilst it tapers quite rapidly from the second dorsal backwards, the peduncle of the tail being rather detached from the general shape. The upper part of head exhibits but two small horizontal spines, whilst the preopercle has five of them, rather stout and conspicuous. The upper part of opercle has two spines, the uppermost of which is the largest. The eyes are large and subcircular, reaching the upper profile of head, in the length of which their horizontal diameter is comprised four times, once in advance the anterior rim of orbit, and twice behind its posterior rim. The mouth is broad, but the posterior extremity of upper maxillary does not extend beyond a vertical line which would intersect the centre of the pupil. The second dorsal is scarce higher than the first. The posterior margin of caudal is slightly concave. The second spine of the anal is strong and robust ; the tips of the posterior soft rays of that fin extend somewhat farther back than those of the second dorsal, but do not reach the base of the rays of the caudal. The insertion of ventrals is situated immediately behind the base of pectorals. The pectorals are very long, their tips extending beyond that of ventrals, and reaching a vertical line which would fall between the two dorsals. D XIII. 13. A III. 7, C 5. 1. 5. 5. 1. 6. V I. 5. P 17. The scales of the body are of medium size ; those upon the head, cheeks, oper- cular pieces and throat are quite small. The course of the lateral line is parallel to the outline of the back. The color is of a uniform reddish or crimson tint, lighter beneath. There exists, on the upper part of opercle, in the region occupied by the spines above alluded to, a large, elongated spot of a much deeper hue. From San Diego, Cal. 12. Sebastes fasciatus, G. — The species which we propose here to charac- terize, has more of the general aspect of a Scorpceita, than of the genus to which it belongs. The body, anteriorly, is very stout and deep, the head more rounded, 1854.] 147 with its upper profile more inclined from the occiput to the snout than in the pre- ceding species. The total length of the fish is about eleven inches, of which the head forms more than the third. The »reatest depth is equal to the length of head. The upper surface of the latter exhibits conspicuous spiny ridges, very acute posteriorly. Five triangular spines occupy the limb of preopercle and two the upper part of opercle. The posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaches a vertical line which would pass behind the pupil. The outline of anterior dorsal is convex and about the same height as the second. The caudal, posteriorly, is subrouuded. The tips of posterior soft rays of anal are even with the tips of posterior soft rays of second dorsal, and both fins approximate the base of caudal. The ventrals are long and their tip reaches the vent. The pectorals are broad and extend a little farther back than the ventrals, the insertion of which is situated upon a line behind their base. D XIII. 13. A III. 7. C 2. 1. 6. 5. 1. 3. V I. S. P 18. The scales are rather above the medium size ; those on the bead and opercular bones being comparatively more developed than in the preceding species. The lateral line is parallel to the outline of the back. The ground color is greenish sulphur yellow ; purplish black patches over the head, sides of body, and fins, in the midst of which patches appear crowded whitish spots. An area of ground color may be traced from the third and fourth dorsal spines obliquely downwards and backwards, towards the base of the caudal; in an oblique direction from the dorsal fin to the lateral line; then along the course of lateral line to the base of caudal fin. The throat is deep sulphur yellow; the inferior surface of the head and belly is spread all over with a more dull tint. From Presidio, Cal. HETEROLEPIDiE s. Cataphracti. 13. Chirus guttatus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 132. From Presidio, Cala. 14. Chirus constellatis, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 141. From Presidio, Cal. GASTEROSTEID^ s. Cataphracti. 15. Gasterosteiis plebekts, G. — The general appearance of this species is subfusiform in its profile and rather short. The depth upon the middle region of the body is a little less than the fourth of the length, whilst the head is con- tained in it three times and a half. The eye is of medium size and circular, its diameter entering four times in the length of the side of head. Mouth of medium size, lower jaw the longest. Upper surface of head minutely granular under a magnifying glass. Two well developed spines on the back, and a much smaller one preceding the soft rays of the dorsal. Posterior margin of the caudal, slightly crescentic. Ventral spines very much developed, inserted slightly in advance of the second dorsal spine, and denticulated upon either edge. Base of the pec- toral situated in advance of the first dorsal spine. D I. I. Ml. A 1-9. C 3. 1. 5. 5. 1. 2. V I. 1. P 10. The body is anteriorly plated from the head to the second dorsal spine; other- wise smooth and keelless on the sides of the peduncle of tail. Ground color reddish yellow, blotched with blackish brown ; blotches assu- ming sometimes the shape of vertical bands. Beneath silvery. Minute and crowded black dots are spread all over the body, head and fins. From the salt marshes about Presidio, Cal. 16. Gasterosteus inopinatus, G. — General form slender, elongated, tapering considerably from the origin of anal backwards. Peduncle of the tail slender and long. The greatest depth, measured above the ventrals, is contained five times in the entire length ; the head, on the other hand, falls a little short of the fourth of the same length. The eye rather large, is subcircular; its horizontal diameter enters three times and a half in the length of side of head; once in ad- vance of the anterior rim of the orbit. The mouth is shaped as in the preceding 148 [August, species. The upper surface of head exhibits some minute granules when ex- amined with a magnifying glass. There are two slender dorsal spines and and another, small, precedes the soft rays of dorsal fin. Posterior margin of cau- dal subconcave. Ventral spines slander, inserted immediately in advance of the second dorsal spine and very minutely serrated above, inconspicuously beneath. Base of pectorals just in advance of anterior dorsal spine. D I. I. I. 10. A I. 9. C 3. 1. 5. 5. 1 . 3. V I. 1 . P 10. The body is anteriorly plated as in the preceding species, and smooth poste- riorly. Ground color above yellowish, densely dotted with blackish; abdomen silvery. From a fresh water lagoon about one mile back of Presidio, Cal., where ac- cording to Lt. Trowbridge, no larger fish occur. SCLENID.E. 17. Umbriwa UNDUL.ATA, G. — Greatest length of specimen described, six inches, the head being comprised in it four times and a half. F>ody much com- pressed, particularly the upper part of flanks. Head and snout rounded ; mouth rather small ; posterior extremity of upper maxillary extending to a vertical line which would pass in advance of the orbit. Eye subelliptical, its horizontal diameter being contained five times in the length of side of head. First dorsal subtriangular ; its anterior margin is situated a little behind the base of pecto- rals. The second dorsal, a little higher anteriorly than posteriorly, is twice and a half as long as the first. The caudal is posteriorly subtruncated. The anal is about one third deeper than its base is long, and as deep as the first dorsal is high. The posterior extremity of pectorals extends to a line which would in- tersect the first ray of second dorsal. The tip of ventrals extends beyond that of pectorals without reaching the vent. D IX. I. 25. A I. 9. C 3. 1. 7. 7. 1. 2. V I. 6. P 20. The scales are of medium size; those on the cheek and opercular apparatus are quite conspicuous, 'foe lateral line is slightly arched under the first dorsal fin, otherwise parallel to the dorsal outline of the body. Upper regions silvery-ash ; inferior regions dull yellowish. Sides beneath the lateral line exhibiting obi ique and undulated series of small greyish spots in the midst of a somewhat lighter ground of the same hue. From San Diego, Cal. 18. Glyphisodox RUBicuxDrs, G. — The head has a very short appearance ns well as the body itself. The largest specimen measures nine inches and a half n total length, of which the head forms a little less than the fourth. The an- erior upper part of body is very convex^and the profile of the head very declive with two depression?, one above, the other below the ocular region. The mouth •s small and the lips very fleshy. The eye is situated high up, small and cir- ' ular, and contained five times in the length of the side of head by its diameter. The greatest depth, measured above the ventrals, is a little less than twice the length of head. The dorsal fin begins a little behind the base of pectorals ; its pinous portion is low and its upper margin almost straight ; the soft part rises 'ntoa subtriangular shape. The peduncle of tail is well defined, free above and below j the dorsal, however, coming nearer to the base of caudal than the anal ■ ;oes. The caudal is very large, deeply emarginated. but the lobes are uniformly rounded and broad. The soft portion of anal has the same conico-trianeular shape as the soft dorsal. The ventrals are elongated and inserted behind the base of pectorals. The latter are quite broad, rounded upon their external margin ; their posterior extremity falling short of that of the ventrals. D XII. 16. A II. 15. C 3. 1. 6. 7. 1. 2. V I. 5. P. 19. The scales of the body are very large, and so are those of the opercle. On the preopercle and cheek they are smaller. The scales extend to the dorsals, caudal and anal fins to nearly their extremity: on the spinous dorsal they are very conspicuous, whilst they become very small and almost minute on the caudal, soft dorsal, and anal. The color is uniform deep crimson red throughout. The ventrals are exter- 1854. J 149 nally margined with black. The lips appear to have had a deeper hue, as also the two cephalic depressions above alluded to. From Monterey, Cal. SCOMBERESOCES. 19. Beloxe exilts, G. — The head forms a little more than two sevenths of the entire length, which measures about twelve inches and a half. The body is very slender and exiguous. The head is flattened upon the occiput, and grooved between the eyes. The eye is well developed and its longitudinal di- ameter comprised about eleven times in the length of the side of head; seven times in advance of its anterior rim, and three times backwards of its posterior rim. The anterior portion of anal is more developed than the same part in dor- sal, the posterior extremity of which is but seven tenths of an inch distant from the rudimentary rays of the caudal : the anal does not extend quite as far back. The anterior margin of the latter is situated considerably in advance of the dor- sal, and its base is longer also. The insertion of ventrals is equidistant between the base of caudal fin and the centre of the pupil. The posterior margin of the caudal is emarsiinated. D 1C. A 13. C 4. 1. 7. 6. 1. 3. V 6. P 14. The scales are quite small, few of which only are preserved on the specimen described. B ick deep greenish ; sides and belly rufous with an argentine reflection upon the sides. Pectorals, ventrals, and anal greenish [yellow ; dorsal and caudal greenish grey. Fioin Sun Diego, Cal BLENNIDjE. 20. Blexmus gextilis, G. — The body is very much compressed and tapering, from head, where deepest, to the base of caudal. The head constitutes the fifth of total length ; the snout is veiy abbreviated and rounded. The greatest depth is about equal to the length of head. The mouth is rather large ; the posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaching a vertical line which would intersect the middle of the pupil. The eye is large and circular, and its diameter contained four times in the length of side of head. A flattened and slender membranous flap is inserted above the eye. Soft portion of dorsal higher than the spiny part; anal much lower than dorsal. Ventrals long and filifoim. Caudal posteriorly rounded, tips of both dorsal and anal reaching its base. The lateral line termi- nates under the eleventh ray of the spiny dorsal. 1) XII. 17. A 19. C 6. 1. 5. 4. 1. 5* V I. 2. P 12. Ground color yellowish-brown. Dorsals, caudal, and pectorals maculated with d.irk purple. Blotches of the same hue may be seen all along the back. Sides of abdomen and head marked with small subquadrangular spots also of dark purple. Upper part of head, snout, ventrals, and anal deep purple. Tips of rays of anal yellowish. From Monterey, Cal. 21. Gunelles ornatuSj G. — Body very much compressed, preserving its depth from head to origin of anal, hence gradually diminishing towards the caudal. H^ad small, rounded anteriorly, and contained nine times and a half in the total length. Posterior extremity of upper maxillary extending to a vertical line which would pass slightly behind the anterior margin of the orbit. Eye circular and of medium size ; its diameter being contained about four times in the length or side of head. Dorsal and anal fins very low and united to the caudal. Origin of dorsal immediately behind the base of pectorals. Caudal posteriorly rounded. Origin of anal equidistant between base of pectorals and extremity of caudal. Ventrals reduced to a small spine, inserted immediately in advance of the base of pectorals. D 70. A 35. C 2. 1. 8. 8. 1. 1. V [. P 12. The scales are very minute ; the lateral is not discernible. Ground color yellowish; back marked with thirteen roundish spots of blackish 150 [August, brown, two of which situated in advance of the dorsal fin. Occasionally, verti- cal bands of a lighter hue may be observed on the sides, though in a very obso- lete manner in the specimen before us. There is an oblique vitta upon the occi- put extending from the eye towards the back, an interocular spot, and a suborbital vitta from the orbit to the inferior surface of head. Lips blackish. Pectorals and anal yellow. Caudal greyish yellow. From Presidio, Cal. Genus APODICHTHYS, Girard. This genus is framed to include such species, as, having the general fascies of Gunellus, are characterized by the total absence of ventral fins. The Gnnellua apos of Kamtschaka is to come under this heading, under the appellation of Apodichthys apos. 22. Apodichthys flavidus, G. — The species referred to is between eleven and twelve inches long. Its head is anteriorly rounded and truncated, and is contained over nine times in the total length. The eye is rather small and sub- circular, contained about seven times in the length of side of head. The mouth is large, obliquely directed upwards, and the posterior extremity of the upper maxillary extends to a vertical line which would pass behind the orbit. The origin of dorsal is situated opposite the base of pectorals. A stylet-shaped bone in advance of the anterior margin of anal, which is much nearer the extremity of caudal than to the base of pectorals. The pectorals are short and rounded upon their margin. The rays of the fins, as nearly as we can ascertain, are as follows : D 86-90. A 40. C 4. 1. 11. 10. 1. 3. V 0. P 17. The scales are exceedingly small, and the lateral line not visible. Uniform yellowish, with a slight greyish hue. A narrow oblique black vitta from eye to occiput, and a similar one from the inferior rim of the orbit to the angle of the mouth. From Presidio, Cal. 23. Apodichthys violacetjs, G — The specimen before us is much smaller than that from which the above species was described, having but three inches and three-fourths of total length, in which the head is contained seven times. The eye is subcircular, of medium size, and its horizontal diameter contained five times in the length of the side of head. The mouth is likewise obliquely directed upwards ; but the posterior extremity of the upper maxillary extends only to a vertical line which would intersect the pupil. The origin of the dorsal is situated immediately behind the base of the pectorals: its anterior third is lower than the rest. The origin of the anal, which is much lower than the two posterior thirds of the dorsal, is much nearer the base of the pectorals than to the extremity of th* caudal. The latter is very small, posteriorly rounded, and contiguous to both the dorsal and anal. The pectorals are short and rounded. I) 65. A 42. C 2. 1. 7. 6. 1. 2. V 0. P 10. The scales are small, but proportionally larger than in the preceding species; and the lateral line, which is very conspicuous, may be traced from the upper margin of the opercle to near the caudal ; from the opercle it ascends obliquely for a certain distance, and then follows the outline of the back, keeping much nearer the base of dorsal fin than the middle of the flanks. The anterior portion of body and head is of a uniform deep violet ; the posterior portion exhibits a somewhat brownish ground, over which is spread a violaceous tint ; the fins are all deep violet. A deep purple crescent-shaped vitta extends from either eye to the occiput. Two oblique vitta? on the sides of head, start- ing, one from the anterior, the other from the posterior half of orbit to the bran- chiostegal apparatus. The interocular space is likewise marked with a transverse narrow band slightly convex backwards. From San Luis Obispo, Cal. 24. Anarkichas fems, G. — Two large specimens of this fish were received in such a precarious state of preservation that there was no possibility of keeping 1854.] 151 the whole, and accordingly the bony frame alone lies before us. The zoological characters of the species, as far as we could ascertain, differ from those of each of the species previously described ; but having mislaid the notes taken at the time of unpacking the collection, we do not feel justified in giving a diagnosis of them from recollection, and merely record the species under the above specific name. From Monterey, Cal. LOPHID^E. 25. PomcHTHYs notatus, Grd. Proc Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 141* From Presidio and Monterey, Cal. LABRIDiE. 26. Jults modestus, G. — Body slender, elongated, and much compressed, tapering posteriorly from the origin of anal. The greatest depth, measured upon the middle of the abdomen, enters five or six times in the total length. The head is subcorneal, and constitutes about the fifth of the entire length. The eye is large, subcircular, and its horizontal diameter is contained four times and a half in the length of side of head. The dorsal commences above the base of the pectorals, being quite low for about half its length, and terminating at about three quarters of an inch from the base of the caudal. The origin of the anal is opposite the eleventh ray of the dorsal, and extends a little further back; the depth of that fin is equal to the height of the portion of the dorsal opposite to it. The eaudal is posteriorly subtruncated. The insertion of ventrals is opposite the posterior extremity of base of pectorals, and their tips do not extend as far back as those of the latter fins. D IX. 13. A III. 12. C 4. 1. 6. 5. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 12. The scales are very large ; the fall of the lateral line takes place in advance of the posterior extremity of the base of dorsal fin. Rufous brown above, yellowish upon the sides, and dull whitish yellow beneath. Anterior seven dorsal spines with a black spot at their base ; a blackish blotch at the base of the caudal. From Monterey and San Diego, Cal. ATHERINID.E. 27. Atherinopsis californiensis, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1354, p. 134. From Presidio, Cal. EMBIOTOCOTD.E. 28. Embiotoca jack.soni, Agass. Amer. Jour, of Sc. Second series, xvi. 1853, p. 387. From Presidio, Cal. ft, 29. Embiotoca lineata, G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 134. A large specimen of this species, collected at San Diego, Cal., contained five young ones, the total length of the largest beinu nearly three inches, and its depth equal to the third of its length. Their bodies are light reddish orange, with the peculiar longitudinal light strip?s very conspicuous. The two anterior thirds of dorsals, the anterior third of anal, and the base of ventrals exhibiting a deeper reddish orange ; the posterior portion of dorsal and of anal fins are rather yellowish. An elongated jet black spot exists near the base of the anterior portion of the soft dorsal ; the tip of ventrals is black ; the margin of the anterior dorsal fin also black. The caudal is long and truncated ; the extremities of both the dorsal and anal fins extend beyond the base of caudal as appears to be the case in the young of Rhacochilns tozotes. From Presidio and San Diego, Cal. 30. Embiotoca cassidyi, G. — There is another species of Embiotoca, the young of which exhibit the same structure ol the fins as observed in those of E. lineata, 152 [August, and Rhacochilus toxotes. We have before us five immature specimens, the largest of which measures but two inches and a half, and is consequently smaller than the largest of E. live at a. They werp collected by A. Cassidy, and sent with other specimens, without mention being made whether caught freely swimming in the water, or taken by him fiom the parent hsh. At any rate they are easily distinguished from those of E. Hit eat a in possessing numerous trans- verse greyish bands more or less regular from head to tail and from dorsa to ventral line. The anterior portion of anal, the anterior edge of soft dorsal, the tip ot spines of first dorsal, and the ventrals are blackish : the remaining parts of these fins, as well as the caudal and pectorals, are yellowish. The cau- dal is slightly emarginated posteriorly. Adult specimens of this species have not yet fallen under our examination. We have not hesitated in establishing it as distinct from those already described after the careful study of the young in that family. From San Diego, Cal. 31. Holconotcjs niioooTERus, Agass. Amer Jour, of Sc. Second series, xvii. 1854, p. 368. Sixteen young were taken from ihe parent body; they are from eight-tenths of an inch to an inch long. A small vitelline sac is still to be observed at the ab- dominal region. The general form is slender and elongated. The head is deeper than the body and rounded ; the snout much less prominent than in the adult; its general outline resembling more that of an adult Amphisti chits. The vertical fins are much more developed than in the parent ; the caudal is rounded off, the central rays being the longest. The soft dorsal and anal are likewise higher and extend posteriorly to the base of the caudal if not slightly beyond it, the dor- sal at least. Coloration uniform light yellowish ; fins whitish of an extreme transparency owinu undoubtedly to their having but shortly escaped from the egg. Specimens were obtained at Presidio and San Diego, Cal. 32. HoLCONorus trowbridgii, G. — This species is about the size of H. rho- doterus of which it has the general appearance. The body, however, is propor- tionally less elongated and consequently more deep. The greatest depth, measured between the origin of the first dorsal and the base of the ventrals, is contained three times in the total length, whilst the head enters in it four times and three fourths. The anterior portion of the body is superiorly very convex, and the upper surface of head sloping rapidly towards a rounded snout terminated by a very small mouth ; considerably smaller than in H. rhodoterits, whilst the teeth are much shorter than in the latter species. The eye is large and circular, and contained but three tim<--s in the length of the side of head ; the distance between the anterior rim of the orbit and the end ol the snout is less than one diameter of the eye. A line drawn vertically down from the origin of the lirst dorsal would pass immediately behind the basp of the pectorals. The base of the anal is compris<-d six times and a half in the total length of the fish, whilst in II. rhoduterns the base of the same fin enters in the length of said species but five times. The base of the ventrals is nearly equidistant between the symphy- sis of the lower jaw and the posterior extremity of the base of anal ; in II. rhu- doterus it is nearer to the snout. D IX. 13. A III. 14. C 5. 1. 6. 6. 1. 4. V I. 5. P 1-16. The size of the scales is nearly the same in both II. trowbridgii and II. rko- doterus. The upper region, from the end of the snout to the base of caudal is reddish brown, with irregular interspersed clouded purplish spots. The side of head and abdomen are silvery. The fins are yellowish ; a cloudlike purplish spot at the anterior portion of anal. The posterior half of ventral is of a deep purple. Ohs. The label accompanying this species was unfortunately lost, consequently its location we are not prepared to give. 33. Holcoxotus megalops, G. — This species, six inches and a half in total length, is the largest of its species, as far as observations go. The body is very much compressed and very deep upon its middle region, tapering rapidly from 1854.J 153 the origin of anal backwards. The greatest depth measured under the anterior dorsal, is contained a little more than thrice and a half in the total length. The head forms a little less than the fourth of the whole length. The cephalic region is concave. Mouth rather above the medium size, its cleft being ob- liquely directed upwards; the teeth are very exiguous ; the posterior extremity of upper maxillary does not extend beyond the vertical line of the anterior rim of orbit, owing to the oblique position of mouth. The eye is very large and cir- cular ; its diameter being contained less than three times in the length of side of the head. The anal is very Ions and low posteriorly. The caudal is forked. The origin of ventrals is under the second spine of the anterior dorsal. D IX. 27. A III. 32. C 4. 1. 6. 6. 1. 3. VI. 5. P 1-2G. The scales are of medium size, and on the middle of flanks they are higner than long, and subrounded. Dorsal region and head above, ash colored or greyish brown ; dorsal and cau- dal greyish. Sides of abdomen and belly dull yellow or white, with a silvery reflection. Pectorals yellowish. Base of ventrals yellowish ; tip blackish or deep purple. Anal yellowish at base with tips of rays greyish, and a d.tfused spot upon its anterior third. From Presidio, Cal. '■> Genus PHANERODON, Girard. Mouth rather small ; jaws very protractile; teeth large and subcorneal. Lips not very fleshy ; lower one attached to the symphysis of the jaw. Anterior part of dorsal fin gradually rising from the first to the last spine, which, however, is a little shorter than the first articulated ray. Anal very low but quite long, furnished with bifurcated rays. This genus is allied to Emhiotoca by the presence of one row of teeth only upon both the upper and lower jaws, and by the lower lip in not being free all around. The structure of the dorsal reminds us of Amphistlchus, whilst the shape of the anal is strongly suggestive of Holconotus. 31. Phankrodox furcatus, G. — Body very flat, seven inches in total length, tapering more or less rapidly backwards from the origin of both the soft dorsal an, I anal. The greatest depth of body, measured above the insertion of ventrals, is contained a little less than three times in the total length, in which the head enters about four times and a half. The cleft of the mouth does not extend to the anterior rim of the orbit. The eye is large and circular, and its diameter comprised three times and a half in the length of side of the head. The inser- tion of ventrals is opposite the fourth dorsal spine. The base of anal is nearly equal to that of soft dorsal and lower than the latter, its spiny rays are very small. The caudal is slender and deeply forked. D X. 23. A 111. 33. C 4. 1. 6. G. 1. 3. V I. 5. P 1-19. The scales ate large and provided anteriorly with numerous grooves. Color yellowish brown above, lighter on the sides; whitish under the throat. Fins yellowish. Margin of dorsal and caudal greyish. A diffused marginal spot upon the anterior portion of anal. From Presidio, Cal. 3-1. Ampuistjcutjs argenteus, Agass. Amer. Jour, of Sc. Second series, xvii. 1S>1, p. 3(57. From Presidio, Cal. CYPRIXID.E. 36. Posohickthys ARGVUErosus, G. — This species is allied to P. ivceqnilohus; it is, however, distinct from the latter by the structure of the caudal which is equilobed like that of P. symmetricus* The head is contained five times in the rotal length, which, in the specimen before us, is about three inches and three quarters. The eye is large, subelliptical, and its horizontal diameter contained a little over three times in the length of the side of head. The budy is compress- ed, regularly fusiform in its outline. The insertion of ventrals is situated some- 154 [August, what behind the anterior margin of the dorsal. The pectorals and ventrals are rather small. DI.9. A II. 8. C 6. 1. 9. 8. 1. 5. V I. 9. P 16. The scales are well developed; the lateral line is conspicuous and slightly bent downwards upon the abdomen. The upper regions are rufous brown; the sides and belly shining silvery. Minute blackish dots are scattered all over, more densely on the dorsal region. A double series of these spots may be traced along the course of the lateral line. Dorsal and caudal fins greyish yellow ; pectorals, ventrals and anal light yel- low. From Presidio, Cal. 37. Fundulus PARViPi.NNis, G. — Greatest length of specimen observed, three inches and one third; head contained in it a little more than four times. The body is compressed, the back slightly arched anteriorly to the dorsal fin. Great- est depth a little less than the" fifth of the length. Eyes subelliptical, their horizontal diameter contained four times in the length of side of head: once in advance of the anterior rim of the orbit. Anterior margin of dorsal equidistant between tip of snout and posterior margin of caudal, which is subconvex. The origin of anal is opposite the middle of base of dorsal. All the fins are of small dimensions. D II. 11. A U. C 5. 1. 9. 8. 1. 4. V 5. P 16. Scales rather large ; twelve longitudinal rows may be counted on the line of greatest depth of body. Ground color greenish yellow; upper part of head, back and sides blackish, re- sulting from the accumulation of minute dots upon the scales, less crowded on the flanks. Belly and inferior surface of head, unicolor, yellowish. A black stripe exists upon the middle of the flanks, from the anterior third of body to the base of caudal fin. From San Diego, Cal. GAJ)\DM. 3S. Gadus proximus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 141. From Presidio, Cal. CLUPEID.E. 39. Clupea mirabilis, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, n. 13S. An immature specimen, a few inches in length, the label of which was mis- carried. 40. Meletta c^rulea, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 138. From Presidio, Cal. 41. Kngratjlis -viordax, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 138. From San Diego, Cal. 42. Engraulis delicatissimus, G — The fascies of this species is widely dif- ferent from that of either E. eacrasieholvs or E. mordax : the body being more compressed, less tapering, and the head much shorter and less acute. The entire length of the largest specimen before us is about three inches, the head being comprised in it nearly five times and a half. The greatest depth of body is a little less than the length of head, the upper surface of which is convex and but siishtly declive. The eye is large and circular, and its diameter contained twice and three fourths of a time in the len»th of the side of head. The origin of dorsal is nearer the end of snout than to the extremity of caudal fin. The latter is forked. The base of anal is almost twice as long as that of dorsal, and its an- terior margin situated opposite the middle region of the latter. The ventrals are small and short ; the pectorals long and slender. D 14. A 24. C 7. 1. 8. 8. 1. 6. V 5.P 19. The few scales left scattered all over the body are very large. Ground color yellowish; a silvery band, about a tenth of an inch, or slightly more, in width, occupies the middle of the flanks from head to base of caudal. From San Diego, Cal. 1854.] 155 SALMONID.*:. 43. Argentina pretiosa, G. — The body is gracefully elongated, compressed? fusiform in its outline, six inches and one-third in total length, in which the head enters for a little less than the fifth. The eye is large and circular, and its hori- zontal diameter is contained a little over four times in the length of side of head. The posterior extremity of upper maxillary extends to a vertical line which would pass in advance of the pupil. The origin of dorsal fin is a little nearer the tip of lower jaw than to the base of caudal fin. The adipose is situated op- posite the posterior fourth of anal. The caudal is forked. Trie origin of ventrals is placed a little behind the vertical line of anterior margin of dorsal ; the fins are well developed. The pectorals are a little more slender and longer than the ventrals. J) 11. A 13. C 10. 1. 9. 8. 1. 8. V 8. P 1-16. Scales of medium size. Upper region of head and back yellowish; outlines of scales marked by minute blackish dots. Sides of head and middle of flanks silvery, shining ; lower part of flanks and belly dull yellowish. From Presidio, Cal. PLEURONECTID^.. 44. Flkusonectes maculosus, G. — Body elongated, subelliptical ; dorsal and ventral outline forming most regular curves into which the head immerges ante- riorly with but a very slight depression above the eyes. The peduncle of the tail is slightly contracted immediately behind the posterior margin of both the dorsal and anal fins, which terminate evenly. From this point to the base of caudal fin, the caudal region assume a dove tail shape. The caudal fin itself is undulated posteriorly, the external and central rays being slightly longer than the intermediate ones. The total length of the fish is about seven inches and a b,alf, in which length the head enters four times and one third. The lower jaw is the longest. The posterior extremity of upper maxillary reaches a vertical line which would pass behind the posterior rim of the orbit. The eyes, placed on the right side, are of medium size, elliptical, and their horizontal diameter is contained about five times and a half in the length of the side of head. The origin of dorsal is opposite the anterior rim of the orbit ; that of the anal is in advance of the base of pectorals, as also the insertion of the ventrals, which are short and broad. D 68. A 52. C 3. 1. 7. 6. 1. 2. V 6. P 1-10. Scales quite small, extending over the head and opercular apparatus. Anterior arch of lateral line representing the section of a cupola in miniature. Ground color reddish brown, with numerous scattered spots of a much deeper hup. From San Diego, Cal. 45. Platichthysrugosus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p 139* Out of five immature specimens, two have the eyes situated on the right side, otherwise similar in every respect to those in which these organs are placed upon the left. From Presidio, Cal. 46. Parophrys vett;lvs, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 140. From Presidio, Cal. 47. Psettichthys sordidus, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, p. 142. Specimens, smaller than those formerly described, exhibit upon their body and fins irregular small black spots, in addition to the color elsewhere alluded to. From Presidio, Cal. DISCOBOLI. 48. Lepadogaster reticulatus, G. — Head broad, semielliptical when viewed from above; upper surface declive towards thesideSj as well as towards anterior extremity. It forms nearly the third of the entire length, which, in ihe speci- men described, is about three inches and a half. Its inferior surface is dattened. 156 [August, The month is broad in ront, but not deeply cleft; its angle extending to the vertical of the anterior rim of the eye. The latter is small, subelliptical in shape, and situated near the upper surface of head; its horizontal diameter is contained about six times in the length of the side of head. The body is an- teriorly broader than deep; it diminishes gradually in both height and depth towards the origin of the tail, which is quite compressed and very much reduced, and terminated by a slender caudal fin. rounded upon its posterior margin. The origin of the dorsal fin is situated a little in advance of the anus, but does not unite with the caudal, between which and the posterior extremity of its base, a space of three tenths of an inch is left; even the tips of its posterior rays do not reach the base of the caudal. The anal begins a little further back than the dorsal, is as deep as the latter is high, and extends likewise a little further behind; the tips of its posterior rays nearly reaching the base of the caudal. The pectorals are broad but slioit, the ventrals are imbedded in the membranous disk peculiar to that group of fishes. D 14. A 13. C 3. 1. 5. 4. 1. 3. V 8. P 20 4- 3. The three inferior rays of pectorals are the stoutest, and situated under the throat, connected with the disk, which is very large. The surface of the anterior portion of the said disk exhibits large pavement-like cells. The ground color is greenish brown, with a mesh work of black lines all over the head and body. The infe-ior surface of head and belly are dull yellow. From San Luis Obispo, Cal. LOPHOBRANCHU. 49. Syngxatiitjsbrevirostris, G. — Greatest length six inches and a half; head forming about the eighth of it. Snout abbreviated, distance from anterior rim of eye to tip of snout, equal to remaining portion of head. Dorsal fin quite low, and thirteen twentieths of an inch long. Posterior margin of same fin nearly- equidistant between tip of snout and extremity of caudal. Pectorals small. No anal fin. Abdominal pouch, for the reception of the eggs after their laying, very long. Caudal of medium size and rounded. D 30. C 1.4.4. 1. P 12. Ground color greenish, tessellated with brown. From San Diego, Cal. 50. Svngnatiius leptorhynchus, G. — Entire length six inches; head con- tained in it six times and a half. Snout elongated and slender. Dorsal fin very • ow, and six tenths of an inch long ; its posterior margin nearer the extremity of caudal fin than to the tip of the snout. Pectorals small. A rudimentary anal. Caudal slender and rounded posteriorly. D 32. A 1. C 1. 4.4. 1. P 10. Dorsal region greenish yellow; sides bluish; abdomen whitish. Tail beneath dull yellow. San Diego, Cal. The Committees to which were referred papers by Dr. Leidy, read Aug. 8th, by Prof. tBaird and Mr. Chas. Girard, read Aug. ll'l(\, and by .Dr. Le Conte, read same date, severally reported in favor of publica- tion in the Proceedings. Synopsis of extinct Jtfummalia, the remains of which have been discovered in the Koceiie Formations of Nebraska. By J-oskfh Leidy, M. D. CARNIVORA. 1. Machairodus rRiM.Evus : Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1851, v. 329; Owen's Re- port of a G^olog. Survey of Wisconsin, etc 1852, 504 ; Ancient Fauna of Nebraska, 1853, 95. 2. Dinictis ielina: Proc. Acad. lS51,vii. 1854.] 157 3. Asiphicyon vetus : Dapkcenus veins : Proc. Acad. 1853, vi. 393. 4. Hy.e\odon horridtts : Proc. Acad. 18-33, vi. 393. 5. Hy.ENODON CRUENTrS : Ibid. 6. Hv^nodon CRUCIANS I Ibid. iSOLIDUNGULA. 7. Anchitheriitm Bairdii: Owen's Rep. 572 ; Anc. Fauna, 67. Palceotherium Bairdii: Proc. Acad. 1850, v. 121. 8. Hippodon speciostts: Proc. Acad. 185 1, vii. 90. RUMINANTIA. 9. Poebrotherium Wilsoni : Proc. Acad. 1847, iii. 332 ; Owen's Rep. 571; Anc. Fauna, 19. 10. Leptomeryx Evansi: Proc. Acad. 1853, vi. 39-1. 11. Merycodus hecattts: Proc. Acad. 1854, vii. 90. 12. Oreodon Culbertsonii : Owen's Rep. 518; Anc. Fauna, 45. Meryroidodon Culbertsonii : Proc. Acad. 1848. iv. 47. Oreodon priscns : Ibid. 1851, v. 238. Cotylops speciosa : fbid. 239. Oreodon major? : Anc. Fauna. 55. Merycoido'lon. major? : Ibid. 13. Oreodon gracilis: Proc. Acad. 1850, v. 239; Owen's Rep. 550. Merycoidodon gracilis : Owen's R°p. 550. 14. Agriocfkertjs antiqutts: Proc. Acad. 1830, v. 121 ; Owen's Rep. 571 ; Anc. Fauna, 24. MULTUNGULA. 15. Aceratherium ccc; ben tale. Aceratherium : Proc. Acad. 1S51, v. 331. Rhinoceros Occident alis : Proc. Acad. 1880, v. 119: Ibid. 1851, v. 276 ; Owen's Rep. 552; Anc. Fauna, 81. 16. Aceratherium Nebrascense : Proc. Acad. 1651, v. 331. Rhinoceros Neb raseensis : Ibid. 1850, v. 121; Owen's Rep. 556. Anc. Fauna 86. 17. TiTANOTiircRnvj Proutii : Anc. Fauna 72- Falaotherium, Prout: Am. Jour. Sc. Arts, 1847, iii. 24S. Palceotherium? Proutii f Owen, Norwood, and Evans; Proc. Acad. 1850. v. 66: Leidy : Ibid. 122 ; Owen's Rep. 551. Rhinoceros1? Ameriranus: Proc. Acad. 1S52, vi. 2. Palceotherium, giganteum : Anc. Fauna 78. E other i um americanum : Proc. Acad. 392. 18. Entelodon Mortoni. ArehcBo im Mortoni: Proc. Acad. 1850, v. 92; Owen's Rep. 558; Anc. Fauna 57. Arctodon : Proc. Acad. 1851, v. 27s. Archceotherium (12.. telodon ?) Mortoni: Owen's r«.ep.. refer, to Tabic X. Archoeotherium rohustum : Owen's Rep. 572. Archceotkerium (Entelodon? ) robust urn : Anc. Fauna 66. The above enumerated mammalia may be considered as well ascertained and :t species. I am still uncertain whether Eucrotaphus* is distinct from iochcerus ; and have, therefore, not included it in ihe list. The specimens upon which the former genus was characterised, apparently indicate two distinct species : whereas, all the teeth which have been found of the latter, so far have indicated but one species. ♦See Anc. Fauna of Nebraska, p. 56. 158 [August, Notice of a new genus of Cyprinidce. By S. F. Batrd and Charles Girard. COCHLOGNATHUS, B. & G.— The jaws are armed with a spoon-shaped plate, the edge of which is sharp and cutting. Pharingeal teeih disposed upon one single row. The general appearance of the fish is cyprinoid, and stiongly suggestive of Pimephales, the head having a rather robust appearance with a blunt snout. The mouth itself is rather small. There are no barbies or rudimentary barbies of any kind. The insertion of the ventral fins is situated opposite the anterior margin of the dorsal. The caudal is emarginate. The scales are very large. The lateral line is conspicuous, running through the middle of the flanks, slightly bent dowtiwards upon the abdomen. Cochlognathus ornatls, B. & G. — Head forming two ninths of the entire length, and abruptly rounded off on the snout. Mouth proportionately small and terminal with oblique cleft. Eyes rather above the medium size ; their diameter being contained four times in the length of the side of head. Body much com- pressed, covered with large scales disposed in twelve longitudinal rows on the line of greatest depth. Lateral line inflexed downwards upon the abdomen. Anterior margin of dorsal nearly equidistant between the snout and rudimentary rays of the caudal. Anal, situated entirely backwards of the dorsal. Caudal forked. Insertion of ventrals beneath the anterior margin of dorsal ; tip of pec- toral not reaching them. D I. 8. A 6. C 4. 1. 9. 8. 1. 3. V 8. P 12. The colors, as preserved in alcohol, present a reddish brown ground, and a dark lateral band or stripe. The dorsal fin exhibits two elongated dark spots, one anteriorly and basal, the other posteriorly and nearer to its tip. The posterior half of the caudal has likewise a darker hue than its anterior and basal half, which is of a dull orange, as is also its extreme margin. Brownsville, Texas ; collected by Capt. Van Vliet. Synopsis of the Erotylice of the United States* By John L. LeConte, M. 1). Engis Paykull. 1. E. quadrimaculata Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1, 169. Middle, Southern and Western States. E. confluentus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 195, is a species of Ips. Dacne Latr. 1. D. f asc i at a Latr. Hist. Nat. Crust, et Ins. 10, 14 : Gen. Crust, et Ins. 2, 20. Lacord. Erotyl. 65. Ips fasciata Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. 2, 511 : Engis fasciata Syst. El. 2, 582. (Laporte, Hist. Nat. Col. 2, 15). Erotylus bifasciatus Oliv. Enc. Meth. 6, 433. Middle and Southern States abundant ; the reference in parenthesis is copied from Lacordaire. 2. D. her os Lacord. Erotyl. 67. Engis heros Say. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 196. Southern and Western States, not rare: also found in the Middle States, but very rare. Ischvrus Lac. 1. I. quadripu n c t at u s Lac. Erotyl. 127. Erotylus A-puvctatvs Oliv. Enc. Meth. 6, 437. Ins. 89, tab. 3, fig. 37. Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1, 201. Georgia, Texas, Missouri. Langtjria Latr. A. Antennae articulis 6-11 dilatatis. 1. L. thoracica; rufa nitida, thorace parce punctulato, latitudine vix longiore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundato, macula dorsali rotundata ornato, elytris 1854.] 159 nigris subtiliter punctato-striatis, antennis, abdominis segmento ultimo, pedibus- que nigris, ill is articulo 6to septimo aequal':. Long. 4 — 47. Olivier, Ins. 88, tab. 1, ru. 2. Southern States, not very rare. I see no reason why this i» not Trogosita bi color Fabr. (Enc. Syst. Suppl. 50; Syst. El. 1, 152): the description is "corpus medium; caput ferrugineum antennis oculisque nigris; thorax laevis glaber ferrugineus macula media nigra; elytra laevia nigra; corpus ferrugineum pedibus nigris;" this certainly approaches quite closely to the present specie?, and is very different from any of those to which other authors have applied it. On account of the slight difference in the antennae, this species is made by Che- vrolat the type of a separate genus Janessa (vide Dej. Cat). 2. L. p u n c t icol 1 i s, rufa nitida, thorace parce punctulato, latitudine non longiore, antrorsum suban^ustato et lateribus rotundato, macula doraali rotunda- ta ornato, elytris nigris subtiliter punctato-striatis ; antennis, abdominis segmento ultimo pedibusque nigris, illis articulo 6to septimo fere sesqui minore. Long. 33. Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 462 : Am. Ent. 3, tab. 39. Pennsylvania. Except by the sixth joint of the antennae being intermediate in size to the fifth and seventh, this species only differs from the preceding by the smaller size, and by the sides of the thorax being rounded only towards the an- terior angles. B. Antennae articulis 7-11 subito dilatatis, subaequalibus. 3. L. last a, nigra, nitida, capite thoraceque laete runs, subtilius punctatis, hoc latitudine longiore utrinque perparurn angustato, lateribus late rotundatis, elytris striato-punctatis, interstitiis distincte punctulatis. Long. 35. Kansas River. Body elongate, black shining. Head rufous, finely not densely punctured. Antennae shorter than the head and thorax, black ; joints 2 — 6 small, 6th hardly wider than the fifth; 7 — 10 broad, transverse, subequal ; 11th round, almost equal in bulk to the tenth. Thorax, about one fourth longer .than wide, with the widest part about the middle, very slightly narrowed towards the apex and base, broadly rounded on the sides, bright rufous, convex, finely not densely punctured. Elytra with fine, punctu red, not deeply impressed striae, which near the tip are somewhat obliterated ; interstices distinctly finely punctured. Be- neath, the head and prothorax are rufous, with the tip of the sternum and coxae blackish; the other parts are black and very finely punctulate. 4. L. c o 1 1 a r is, magis elongata, aeneo-nigra, thorace rufo subtiliter parcius punctato, latitudine fere sesqui longiore, lateribus late rotundatis, elytris subtili- ter punctato-striatis. Long. 32. One specimen from Georgia. Narrower than the preceding, and entirely of the same form as L. trifasciata. Body black with a slight brassy tinge ; head finely not densely punctured: antennae as in L. laeta. Thorax nearly one half longer than wide, somewhat narrowed anteriorly, broadly rounded on the sides, dull rufous, finely not densely punctured. Elytra with fine rows of punc- tures becoming obsolete towards the tip, interstices very obsoletely punctulate. Under surface black, with the exception of the prothorax, which is dull rufous, with the tip of the sternum dusky. 5. L. t r i f a s c i a t a, magis elongata, rufa nitida, capite, elytris basi et apice late, abdominisque segmentis duobus ultimis violaceo-nigris ; thorace latitudine fere sesqui longiore, parce punctato, lateribus versus basin fere rectis, tarsis luscis, antennis nigris, articulis 3 — 6 rufescentibus. Long. *25 — «31. Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 462. Am. Ent. 3, tab. 39. Western States; occasionally found in Pennsylvania. The elytra are mode- rately strongly punctato-striate ; the tip is almost smooth. In the female the thorax is more convex and more rounded on the sides than in the male; the apical margin of the thorax is frequently blackish. In both sexes the seventh joint of the antennae is somewhat smaller than the eighth. The under surface is sparsely punctured. 6. L. pulchra, magis elongata, rufa nitida, capite, antennis, elytris basi et 160 [August, apice indeterminate et late, postpectore, abdominis segmentis duobus ultimis tarsis genubnsque violaceo-nigris ; thorace latitudine fere sesqui longiore parce punctata, lateribus fere rectis. Long. *31. , One specimen, Pennsylvania; Mr. Rathvon. Closely resembles the preceding, and might readily be taken for a variety of it ; but the antennae are entirely black, the postpectus and tip of the femora are also black; the limits between the red and black of the plytra are badly defined; and the punctures of the under surface are very much finer. C. Antennae longiusculae, articulis 7 — 11 dilatatis, 7mo sequent! plus sesqui minore. 7. L.Latreillei, valde elongata, linearis, nigra, nitida, thorace latitudine fere duplo longiore, lateribus vix rotundatis subparallelis, minus dense punctate, rufo, vitta dorsali Integra nUra, elytris profunde punctato-striatis. Long. -35 — 4. ' Languria bi.color Fabr.'J Latr. Hist. Nat. Crust, et Ins. 12, 35 ; Gen. Ins. et Crust. 3, 65, tab. 11, fig. 11. \ Olivier, Ins. 88, tab. 1, lig. 1. \ Say, Am. £nt. 3, tab. 39. ? Ling aria gracilis Newman, Ent. Mag. 5,390. Middle, Southern an*d Western States. Latreille was the first to apply to this species the description of Fabricius, with which it by no means agrees ; the other authors above mentioned have merely copied the error from him. 1 should have applied the name given by Newman to this species, were it not that the size mentioned in his description (long. *6 unc. ; lat. '03 unc.) could never be attained by it. The relative proportions of the length to the breadth are., however, impossible in this genus, and in other respects the description agrees with the species here described. 8. L. d i s c o i d ea, rufa, thorace subtiliter parce punctulato, latitudine fere sesqui longiore, lateribus rotundatis, macula ovali dorsali nigra ornato, elytris nigris, subtiliter seriatim punctulatis, antennis abdominis segmentis ultimis duo- bus, pedibusque nigris ; femoribus ban late rufis. Long. «31. One specimen, Georgia: resembles in appearance L. puncticollis, but is longer and narrower. Body rufous ; head finely punctulate. Antennae shorter than the head and thorax, black, with the second to the sixth joints slender, subequal ; the 7th is slightly dilated, but not more than half as wide as the 8th, which again is narrower than the 9th; 9th and 10th equal, slightly transverse ; 11th rounded. Thorax nearly one half longer than wide, widest about the middle, broadly rounded on the sides, convex, finely, not densely punctulate, with a dis- coidal oval black spot reaching from the apex to behind the middle. Elytra not wider than the thorax, bluish black, with fine rows of punctures becoming obso- lete at the tip. Beneath rufous, first and second segments of the abdomen sparsely, coarsely punctured ; fourth and fifth segments black. Legs black, basal half of the femora rufous. 9. L. teed a t a, piceo-rufa, nitida, capite postice nigricante, thorace latitudine fere sesqui longiore antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundato, parce punctata, macula dorsali indeterminate nigra, elytris aeneo-r.igris, subtiliter striata -punc- tatis, antennis nigris. pedibus fusco-rufis, femoribus acnescentibus. Long. -41. One specimen found on the sea shore near New York. Body moderately slen- der, dark rufous tinged with piceous and brassy; head sparsely punctured, punc- tures finer towards the occiput, which is nearly black. Antennae shorter than the head and thorax, joints 2 — 6 slender, the third being twice as long as the second; 7th slightly dilated, 8th still more dilated, but not as wide as the 9th and 10th, which are somewhat transverse; 11th larger, rounded. Thorax nar- rowed at the base, more narrowed anteriorly; sides broadly rounded ; disc mo- derately convex, sparsely, not finely punctured, with a large rounded, ill-defined, dorsal spot. Elytra brassy black, shining, finely striato-punctate, striae finer posteriorly, but extending almost to the tip. Under surface entirely rufous with a piceous tinge, uniformly sparsely punctured. Legs fusco-aeneous, femora, ex- cept at base, piceous black tinged with brassy; tarsi almost rufous. 1854.] 1G1 10. L. Mozardi, rufa, nitida, thorace latitudine longiore, convexo, parce punctulato, lateribus late rotundatis, elytris cyaneo-nigris, punctato-striatis, ab- dominis segmentis ultimis tribus antennis pedibusque nigris, femoribus basi rufis. Long. -22 — -31. Latreille, Gen. Crust, et Ins. 3, 66. Olivier, Ins. 88, tab. 1, fig. 3. Say. Am. Ent. 3, tab. 39. Middle, Southern and Western States ; not rare. This species has the antennae rather stouter than the others of this division, and the fifth and sixth joints are a little rounded ; the seventh joint is a little smaller than the 8th, which is also a little smaller than the ninth. By these characters it forms a transition towards L. trifasciata, of division (B.) 11. Trogossita ? angustata Beauvois, Ins. d' Afrique et d'Amer. 125, tab. 32, fig. 2. 12. L. b r e v i c o 1 1 i s, Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 2, 48, and 13. L. inornata Randall, ibid, from Massachusetts ; are unknown to me. Triplax Payk. I continue to retain Tritoma united with this genus, as the slight difference in form will by no means warrant their separation. The differences in the antennae cannot be considered as of greater value, since in neither of the groups are they persistent ; finally, the last joint of the maxillary palpi is more transverse in the genuine Triplax, being about three times wider than long, while in Tritoma the breadth is only double the length. For convenience in determining the species they may be arranged in several divisions. A. Corpus elongato-ovale ; palpi maxillares articulo ultimo latitudine triplo breviore ; tibiae anticae haud dilatatae. * Antennarum articulo 8vo praecedenti simili. 1. T. festiva Lacordaire, Mon. Erotyl. (1842,) 208. Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. T. fasciata Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. (1847,) 3, 176. Southern States, rare. 2. T. m ac r a, elongata, elliptica, rufa, nitida, thorace latitudine duplo bre- viore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus fere rectis, dorso subtilius parce punctato, elytris nigris subtiliter striato-punctatis, interstitiis vix parce punctulatis, an- tennis nigris thorace non brevioribus, articulo 3io sequenti sesqui longiore. Long. -24, (lat. «10.) One specimen from Maine, given me by Prof. A. Guyot. Proportionally much narrower than the next species, which it resembles in coloring, but is distin- guished by the thorax being less punctured and not narrowed anteriorly ; by the striae of the elytra being impressed, by the interstices having no distinct punc- tures, and by the antennae being entirely black. 3. T. thoracica Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 4, 89. Lee. ibid. 2d ser. 1, 71. T. melanoptera Lac. Erotyl. 215. Georgia, New York, Lake Superior. In some specimens the thorax is nar- rowed from the base ; in others the sides are parallel from the base nearly to the middle; this difference is probably sexual. 4. T. californica, elongato-ovalis, antennarum basi, pedibus, capite tho- raceque rufis, hoc latitudine plus duplo breviore fortius punctato, a basi antror- sum angustato, lateribus rectis, elytris fortius seriatim punctatis, striis subim- pressis, interstitiis parce punctulatis. Long. *15 — '18. San Jose, California. Somewhat less convex than the other species, and di - tinguished from the next, which it resembles in color, by the 8th joint of the antennae being similar to the seventh. From that, as from all others of division (A,) it is known by the coarser punctuation and by the very straight sides of the thorax. 14 162 [August, * * Antennarum articulo 8vo triangulari, paulo dilatato. ' 5. T. f 1 a v i c o 1 1 i s Lac. Mon. Erotyl. 218. Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. A common species found from Louisiana to Lake Superior. It is certain! v bv error that Dr. Melsheimer (Cat. of Described Col. &c. p. 46) con- siders it as Tetratoma dimidiata Fabr. (Syst. El. 2, 574) since we have a native species of Tetratoma which corresponds with the description. 6. T. con finis, nigra, elliptica, antennis (clava excepta) pedibus capite thoraceque runs, hoc latitudine plus duplo breviore, lateribus magis rotundatis, sat punctato, elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis parce punctulatis. Long. -16. New York, two specimens. This species resembles closely the preceding, and only differs by the body being somewhat broader and less convex, and by the sides of the thorax being considerably rounded, instead of obliquely and slightly rounded. A more detailed description is therefore unnecessary. B. Corpus ovatum ; palpi maxillares articulo ultimo latitudine duplo breviore. a. Tibiae anticae non dilatatse ; antennarum articulo 3io sequentibus duobus longiore. 7. T. sangfuinipennis Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 4, 89. Lee. ibid. 2d ser. 1, 71. Middle and Southern States. 8. T. pulchra. Tritoma pulchrum Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 301. Tri- toma cincta Lac. Erotyl. 223. Middle States, rare; for my unique specimen I am indebted to Mr. Ziegler. 9. T. dimidiata. Tritoma dimidiata Lacord. Erotyl. 224. Trit. basale\\ Mels. Proc. Acad. 3, 175. Triplax pulchra\ Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. Middle and Southern States. 10. T. vittata Lee. Journ. Acad. 2d ser. 1,71. One specimen, "Western New York. b. Tibiae anticae plus minusve dilatatae ; (antennae ut supra.) et. Thorax elytraque nigra, his macula basali ornata. 11. T. rufic eps Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. South Carolina, Mr. Zimmermann. 12. T. humeral is. Tritoma humeral e Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 571. Triplax tceniata Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. Middle and Southern States ; abundant. 13. T. b i g u 1 1 a t a Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 4, 89. Tritoma basalis La- cordaire, Erotyl. 225. Middle and Southern States ; abundant. /3« Thorax rufus, elytra nigra. 14. T. a f fin is Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. Tritoma affinis Lacord. Erotyl. 224. Georgia and Texas. 15. T.atriventris Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 72. South Caro- lina to Texas ; abundant. y. Thorax et elytra concoloria, nigra vel picea. 15. T. erythrocephala Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. Tri- toma erythrocephala Lac. Erotyl. 226. Southern States. 16. T. an gul at a Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 71. Tritoma angu- lation Say, ibid. 5, 300. Tritoma flavipes Lacord. Erotyl. 226. Middle and Southern States. 17. T. b r u n n e a Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1. 71. Tritoma brun- nea Lacord. Erotyl. 222. New York. 18. T. u n ic o lo r Lee Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1,71. Tritoma unicolor Say, ibid. 4, 300. Lacord. Erotyl. 220. Middle and Southern States ; abundant. 1854.] 163 19. T. livid a Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1,71. Tritoma livideu Lacord. Erotyl. 227. I have never seen this species. Erotylus Fabr. 1. E. Boisduvalii Lacord. Erotyl. 466. A large number of this specie! were collected by Mr. Fendler, near Santa Fe, in New Mexico. 2. E. californicus Lacord. Erotyl. 467. Unknown to me; said to be from Southern California. The Committee on Messrs. Evans and Shumard's papers, read June 20th and August 1st, 1854, reported in favor of publication in the Pro- ceedings. Descriptions of new fossil species from the Cretaceous Formation of Sage Creek, Nebraska, collected by the North Pacific Railroad Expedition, under Gov. J. Ji Stevens. By John Evans, M. D., a*nd B. F. Shumard, M. D. Avictda triangularis. (Nov. sp.) Shell small, thin, sub-ovate, length and breadth nearly equal, anterior ex- tremity pointed, expanding rapidly towards the posterior extremity, which is rounded below the wing; wing small, triangular; umbones inflated; beaks pointed and nearly terminal, hinge margin with a well defined furrow running its entire length ; surface with rounded, concentric slightly elevated ribs, crossed by indistinct, radiating striae. Locality. — Cretaceous formation, Sage Creek, Nebraska. The pearly nacre is finely preserved in all the specimens of this shell that we have seen, forming an elegant contrast with the dark hue of the matrix. Avicula lingua for mis. (Nov. sp.) Syn. — Avicula undet. Owen, Final Rep. Geol. Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, tab. vii. fig. 10. Shell very oblique, elongated, linguaeform, moderately convex ; surface smooth; cardinal line straight, about equal to the greatest width of the shell ; posterior wing triangular, acute, anterior wing triangular, separated from the body of the shell, by the continuation of a shallow groove which surrounds its most gibbous portion ; posterior edge sigmoid, forming an obtuse angle with the cardinal mar- gin; anterior and basal edges convex ; beaks pointed, projecting a little above the cardinal border, situated about one-fourth the length of cardinal line from the anterior extremity. The mould of the shell exhibits a line of small tubercles, commencing at the point of the beak and extending in a curve to the base of the posterior muscular impression ; the latter is very large and somewhat reniform. Length one inch, width at cardinal border 10 lines, length from extremity of anterior wing to posterior inferior extremity 19 lines. This species is rather common in the septaria of the cretaceous group at Sage Creek, Nebraska, but perfect specimens are procured with diificulty. Solaritim flexistriatum. (Nov. sp.) Shell small, discoidal, depressed, convex, terminating exteriorly in a sharp cutting edge ; velutions four or five ; spire very slightly elevated, inner edge of volutions bounded by a row of tubercles ; surface marked by fine revolving thread- like striae, which are crossed by fin<± fiexuous striae, giving an exceedingly neat reticulated appearance to th« shell. Umbilicus large ; mouth sub-quad- rangular. Dimensions.— Width, 3i lines ; height, 1J lines. This pretty shell occurs quite abundantly in septaria of the cretaceous forma- tion of Sage Creek, Nebraska. 1G4 [August, Mytilus Galpinianus . (Nov. sp.) Shell sub-ovate, arcuate, inflated, surface smooth, or marked only by five in- distinct concentric lines of growth ; umbones prominent, rounded, anterior side short; beaks nearly terminal, muscular impression small, placed near the an- terior extremity ; posterior side broad, extremity rounded. Dimensions. — Length 7.5 lines, width 15 lines, thickness 6 lines. The only specimen we have of this species is partly denuded of its shell, so that some of the characters above given may have to be slightly modified, when more perfect specimens are obtained for examination. Locality. — Fox Hills, Nebraska. For this species we are indebted to the politeness of Mr. Galpin, agent of the Amer. Fur Co., in charge of Fort Pierre Chouteau, and to him it gives us pleasure to dedicate it. Pholadomya elegantula. (Nov. sp.) Shell sub-ovate, transverse, inflated; anterior side short, rounded ; posterior side elongated, gaping; basal margin regularly rounded ; ligament margin arcu- ate ; umbones prominent ; surface marked with about 45 concentric ribs, which increase in width from the beak to the fyasal margin, becoming nearly obsolete posteriorly ; these are crossed by about 25 radiating granular ribs, close together on the middle portion of the shell, the intervals increasing in width towards the anterior and posterior borders. Dimensions. — Length 18 lines, width 22 lines, thickness 1 inch. Locality. — It occurs in septaria of the cretaceous group at Sage Creek, Ne- braska, associated with Ammonites Oweni9 Scaphites nodosus and Inoceramus Sagensis. Rostellaria Nebrascensis. (Nov. sp.) Shell elongate, conical ; whorls about eight, convex, body whorl with two well rounded keels ; lip prolonged transversely, terminating in a sharp point ; all the volutions ornamented with transverse revolving thread-like striae, which are crossed longitudinally by prominent flexuous ribs. It occurs with the preceding species at Sage Creek, Nebraska. Descriptions of neiv fossil species from the fresh water Tertiary Formation of Ne- braska, collected by the North Pacific Railroad Expedition, under Gov* J» J» Stevens. By John Evans, M. D., and B. F. Shumard, M. D. The organic remains which form the subject of the present communication were obtained from Nebraska Territory, in the vicinity of Peno Creek, a small tributary of Teton or Little Missouri River, about ninety miles from Fort Pierre Chouteau. They occur in great profusion in thin-bedded, light gray, sili- ceous limestone, near the summit of the elevated plateaux which border the Mauvaises Terres. They consist of several species of Lymnea, one Physa, one Planorbisy the seed vessels of a species of Chara and the carapaces of a minute Cypris. These genera at once establish the lacustrine character of the deposit in which they occur. The fossils are beautifully preserved, and project in fine relief from the weathered surfaces of the limestone. Many of them have been converted into semi-transparent chalcedony. They are of considerable interest, from the fact, that the strain in which they are imbedded, repose on the tertiary marls and clays, which have yielded those magnificent collections of extinct mam- malian and chelonian remains de^ribed by Prof. J. Leidy, in his recent very valuable memoirs, published in Dr. Owen's Final Report on the Geology of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the Smithsonian Contributions, and in the Pro- ceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Planorbis Nebrascensis. (Nov. sp.) Shell small, depressed, discoidal, above moderately concave ; volutions about four, rounded, obtusely carinated ; below rounded, umbilicus small, exhibiting the volutions to the apex of the spire, suture distinct ; body whorl with an obtuse 1854.] 165 dorsal carina, aperture sub-trigonal, surface marked with delicate, arched striae of growth. Width, 2s lines ; height h of a line. Occurs very abundantly. Lymnea diaphana. (Nov. sp.) Shell small, oblong, ovate- conic ; whorls fine, convex, crossed by delicate lines of growth, spire short, acute at apex ; aperture oval, slightly dilated, rather larger than half the length of the shell; columella rather delicate and sinuate, umbilicus minute. Length, 2j lines ; width, 1J- lines ; length of aperture, \h lines. Very common. Lymnea Nebrascensis. (Nov. sp.) Shell ovate, sub-conic, volutions five, convex, crossed by minute, elevated lines of growth ; body whorl ventricose, more than twice the length of spire ; spire short, apex pointed, suture not deeply impressed ; lip produced in front. Length, 5£ lines ; length of body whorl, 4 lines ; width about 2^ lines. All the specimens in our possession are very much compressed, and other- wise mutilated, so that the form and character of the aperture cannot be deter- mined. It is very similar to the preceding species, from which it is distinguished by its greater size and its numerous crowded striae. PHYSA SE.CALINA. (Nov. Sp.) Shell small, thin, oblong-oval ; volutions four, evenly convex, smooth or with very fine lines of growth ; aperture ovate, narrow, more than equal to the entire length of the shell ; spire short, slightly rounded at summit, suture distinct but slightly impressed. Length, 2£ lines ; width, \\ lines. Only two specimens of this little shell have come under our observation, and these rather imperfect. Cypris Leidyi. (Nov. sp.) Carapace minute, reniform, vertical section sub-cordate, width of extremities nearly equal ; central and anterior portions of surface very convex, the convexi- ty diminishing towards the posterior end; ventral margin straight or very slightly concave, about one third shorter than the entire length of the valves; dorsal and lateral margins convex, encircled by a well defined, narrow groove, which ter- minates at the ventral margin ; surface covered with exceedingly minute gra- nulae. Length, I of a line ; width, \ ; thickness, 2-5th. A close examination of the slabs of fresh water limestone from the vicinity of Peno Creek, has resulted in the discovery of this pretty little crustacean. The substance of the fossil is nearly transparent chalcedony, and the valves in both specimens remain attached in their normal position. Named in honor of Prof. Joseph Leidy, whose valuable researches have con- tributed so largely to our knowledge of the fossil fauna of Nebraska. The Committee on Dr. Hallowell's paper, entitled, "Contributions to South American Herpetology/' reported in favor of publication in the Journal. ELECTION. Mr. Joseph Harrison and Garrick Mallery, Esq., of Philadelphia, were elected Members, ; and Dr. Win. E. Dearing, of Augusta, Georgia, was elected a Correspondent. ■% 1854.] 167 September Oth, 1854. Dr. Kuschenberger in the Chair. A letter was read from Mr. Sandwith Drinker, dated Canton, June 17, 1854, giving notice of his having transmitted several objects of Natural History for the Museum of the Academy. A communication was read, entitled ll Description of some new Fossils from the cretaceous rocks of the Southern States, by M. Tuomey j" which, being intended for publication in the Proceedings, was referred to Dr. Leidy, Mr. Conrad and Dr. LeConte. Dr. Leidy read a paper intended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Description of a fossil apparently indicating an extinct species of the Camel tribe." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. J. A. Meigs and Mr. Phillips. September \2th. Vice President Lea in the Chair. A letter was read from the Rev. Dr. J. L. Wilson, dated New York, Sept. 11, 1854, expressing his readiness to procure for the Academy a specimen, in skin, of Troglodytes gorilla, from Africa. Also a letter from the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, dated September 14, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceed- ings, Yol. 7, Nos. 2 and 3, and Journal, Yol. 2, part 4. September 26th. Mr. Okd, President, in the Chair. The Committees on papers by Mr. Tuomey and Dr. Leidy, read 4th inst., reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Description of some new Fossils, from the Cretaceous Rods of the Southern States. By M. Tuomey. The following brief characters are given in advance of more full descriptions, with figures, that may follow hereafter. CEPHALOPODA. 1. Nautilus. 1. Nautilus Spillmani. Shell depressed vertically, umbilicated \ last cham- ber lar^e, inflated, spreading, emarginated, flattened beneath. The depressed and inflated form of this fossil sufficiently distinguishes it from, every other species of the genus in our cretaceous rocks. Inscribed to Dr. Spillman, of Columbus, Miss. Locality, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. 2. N. orbiculatus. Shell somewhat discoid, thick in the centre and gradually thinner towards the circumference ; last chamber very 'arge, spreading at the PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. VII. WO. V. 15 168 [September, umbilicus; siphunculus nearly central ; septa profoundly undulating, showing on the back a sharp recurved lip. This is the largest of the genus found in our rocks, being ten inches in dia- meter. It resembles quite closely N. D aniens, especially in the undulations of the septa. Locality, Alabama. 3. N. angulatus. Shell with the septa regularly curved ; emarginated ; me- dium space wide, flat, obtusely angular; siphunculus large, situated towards the inner margin of the chamber; aperture very wride. Readily distinguished from N. Dekayi, which it resembles, by the angles on the back, and flat median space. Locality, Mississippi. 2. Ammonites. 1. Ammonites magnificus. Shell compressed, broadly oval ; whorls rapidly decreasing in size, crossed by coarse nodose ribs ; nodes at each extremity of the ribs, the outer nodes compressed and arranged on each side of the convex median space; septa not greatly ramified, dorsal lobe deeply bifurcated. Bears some resemblance to A. Delawarensis, but is a very distinct species. Diameter twro feet. Locality, Pickens county, Alabama. 2. A. earinatus. Shell covered with prominent, closely arranged ribs; ribs nodose, a little undulating ; nodes in five revolving lines ; nodes on each side of the median line compressed; median line carinated ; whorls rapidly decreasing in width ; aperture ovate. From the preceding species this is distinguished by its more numerous and closely arranged ribs and numerous nodes. A cast in calcareous sand, having a portion of the siphunculus beautifully preserved. Locality, Columbus, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. 3. A. binodosus. Shell undulating with lines of growth; nodes in two re- volving lines, equi-distant from the sides of the whorls, inner line more promi- nent ; median space narrow, flat ; aperture elliptic. This very distinct species has a considerable part of the shell remaining com- pletely silicified. The narrow, flat median space, the absence of ribs, and two distinct rows of nodes, separate this from its congeners. Locality, Vance's Ferry, Alabama. 4. A. lobata. Shell discoid, smooth, thin towards the circumference ; dorsal lobe finely serrate ; lateral lobes terminating in large bilobed cells. This fossil, of which I have only a fragment, resembles A. placenta, but is distinguished from it by the remarkable cells that terminate the lateral lobes. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 5. A. ramosissimits. Shell remotely ribbed, slightly nodose; median line com- pressed ; septa profusely foliated, aperture oval. The fragments of this fossil in our possession are at once recognised by the very numerous subdivisions of the lateral lobes of the septa, which cover the entire surface. Locality, Sumter county, Alabama. 6. A- angustus. Shell with the whorls compressed crossed by distinct some- what nodose ribs, each terminating in a robust knob, outside of which is a series of compressed tubercles; mpdian space narrow and carinated. Locality, Columbus, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. 3. TlTRRFLlTES. 1. T. alternatns. Shell turreted, spire dextral ; whorls angulated, lower side ornamented by two tuberculated carinas, transversely plaited ; plaits double the number of tubercles, alternately terminating in a tubercle. 1854.] 169 Two fragments of this fossil have been found. Portions of the nacreous part of the shell remain, and show distinctly the deeply foliated margins of the septa. This is the first notice of the occurrence of the genus Turrulites in the creta- ceous rocks of the United States. Locality , Noxubie county, Mississippi. L. C. Richardson, Esq. GASTEROPODA. 1. TURRITELLA. 1. T. fasti giata. Shell regularly tapering; whorls somewhat flat, slightly indented by a revolving line; suture impressed; body whorl angular below ; aperture round. Locality. — Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 2. Phorus. 1. P. umbilicatus. Shell depressed ; whorls four, uneven, concave below; suture profound (in the cast); umbilicus deep, surrounded by a channel. Distinguished from Phorus (Trochus) leprosus by the channelled umbilicus. Diameter, 1.75 in. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 3. Voluta. 1. V. cancellata. Shell fusiform ; whorls cancellated by close vertical ribs, and oblique revolving lines ; ribs obsolete towards the base. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 2. V.jugosa. Shell fusiform ; body whorl large ; wrhorls few; suture slightly carinated ; suture shell ridged or ribbed vertically. Distinguished by the coarse ribs from the other cretaceous species. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 3. V. Spillmanii. Shell fusiform ; body whorl large ; whorls four, obso- letely ribbed ; suture carinated ; base with numerous revolving lines. Locality, Columbus, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. 4. V. fusiformis. Shell fusiform; body whorl undulating, smooth ; suture not impressed ; lip turned up (in the cast) at the upper edge of the aperture. A well marked fossil ; the casts are remarkable for the undulations on the last whorl. 4. Fusus. 1. F. eufauliensis. Shell ovate: spire about half the length of the shell; whorls five, somewhat carinated on the shoulder ; marked by vertical slightly curved ribs, terminating at the carina in obsolete nodes ; suture impressed; body whorl and aperture large ; canal abruptly bent. Locality, Eufaula, Alabama. Mr. Thornton. 2. F. tnrriculus. Shell fusiform, gently tapering ; whorls convex, crossed by vertical ribs; body whorl small ; aperture ovate, small ; canal abrupt. Distinguished by the small size of the body whorl. Locality, Columbus. Dr. Spillman. 5. PYRUr.A. 1. P. trochiformis. Shell top-shaped ; body whorl large, inflated, covered with revolving raised lines; spire depressed, not flat; angle of the body whorl rounded; canal produced ; aperture nearly circular. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 2. P. Rich'jrdsonii. Shell top-shaped; spire depressed, almost flat; body whorl angular, terminating suddenly in a canal. Inscribed to L. C. Richardson, Esq., as a mark of respect for his zeal in in- vestigating the geology of Noxubie county. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 170 [September, 6. Cerithium. 1. C. nodosus. Shell turrited ; whorls six, convex, crossed by distant, strong ribs, swelled into nodes on the middle of the whorls j^ body whorl with re- volving impressed lines below. Locality, Alabama. LAMELLIBRANCHIA. 1. Teredo. 1. T. calamus. Shell thin, cylindrical, transversely wrinkled, large. Diameter, 0.5 in. Locality, Columbus, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. 2. Panop^sa. 1. P. cretacea. Shell oblong ; buccal side shorter, slightly cuneate, rounded; anal side undulating, gaping. Length, 1.5 in. The only species known in our cretaceous rocks. 3. Pholadomya. 1. P. tenua. Shell thin, oblong, somewhat inflated, radically ribbed ; ribs obsolete on the anal side ; umbones prominent. Length, 1 inch. 4. Corbula. 1. C» caudata. Shell oblong ; somewhat equivalve, inflated, concentrically striate ; buccal side broadly rounded ; anal side abruptly contracted and pro- duced ; umbones incurved, not opposite. Locality, Noxubie. Mr. Richardson. 5. Cardittm. 1. C. hemicy elicits. Shell thin, very inequilateral, radically ribbed ; ribs numerous, umbones somewhat depressed. Distinguished from our other species by the inequilateral valves. Locality, Alabama. 6. Arca. 1. A. (Cueullcsa) ungula. Shell cordate, inflated, short, thickness greater than the length or height ; ligament area very wide ; umbones incurved, distant. Locality, Alabama. 7. Inoceramus. 1. I. biformis. Shell thin, compressed, umbonial portion with regular concen- tric folds or undulations, and fine striae; paleal region smooth, without undula- tions, covered with very regular, closely arranged, impressed concentric lines. This is the largest of our species, being one foot in diameter. Resembles I. Nebrascejisis, Owen; but is distinguished from it by the greater fliguity of the folds, and by the close, regular lines. Locality, Cahawba, Alabama. 2. I. gibbus. Syn. — I. Barabini, Mort. var. Shell very thin, somewhat inequivalve, semicircular, convex ; concentrically plaited, plaits irregular; hinge line straight. A fragment of this species is figured in the " Synopsis," as a variety of I. Barabini, but 7. Barabini belongs to a division of the genus that has the valves nearly equilateral. 1854.] 171 3. I. salebrosus. Shell semicircular, with oblique concentric ribs; ribs remote, irregular, undulating, acute. Distinguished from the other species by the coarse, sharp ribs. Locality, Cahawba, Alabama. 4. 7. in flatus. Shell semicircular, somewhat equivalve, surface undulating; ribs oblique, very irregular, almost obsolete; beaks distant, buccal side inflated; anal side compressed, with a broad shallow channel in each valve. Locality, Columbus, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. 5. I. triangularis. Shell somewhat trigonal, nearly'equilateral ; with concen- tric transverse undulations or ribs, buccal side somewhat carinated ; beaks compressed, slightly recurved. Locality, Columbus, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. 6. I. proximus. Shell compressed, inequilateral ; ribs concentric, regularly curved, approximating. The closely arranged ribs characterises this species. Locality, Columbus, Mississippi. Dr. Spillman. Ostrea. 1. O. crenulata. Shell subfalcate, lower valve with closely plaited squamose ridges ; upper valve convex, with smooth plates ; ligament area long, triangu- lar; margin crenulated. Resembles the young of O. sellteformis, and having often the habit of O. equestris, being attached to branches of corals, etc., by the entire length of the lower valve. Length 1.5 in. Locality, Eufaula, Alabama. Mr. Thornton. RUDISTES. Mr. Lyell was the first to point out the existence of this curious family, in the cretaceous rocks of the United Slates. The fragments then known were referred to the genus Hippurites. From that time to the present I have endeavored, with the assistance of many friends, to collect the fragments of Rudistes, scattered over the prairie region of Alabama and Mississippi. The result has been the determination of two genera and seven species, and, what is remarkable, not a single fragment that could be rer ferred to the well marked genus Hippurites has as yet been found. Without figures it is not easy to give characteristics of the species of a family, the remains of which are so badly preserved. The following, however, may serve for the present. Radiolites, Lam. Sphcerulutes, Delam. 1. R. Ormondii. Shell, lower valve comparatively thin, long, lamellae angular; lip turned upwards at the outer circumference; ramifications of the mantle slightly impressed on the lip; cells small; outer surface ornamented with verti- cal ridges composed of the zigzag edges of the leaves composing the shell ; inner surface smooth, with a thin plate extending a short distance into the aper- ture. Distinguished by the thinness of the shell and ornamented exterior. The fluting and apparent joints of the outer surface suggest, at first sight, a frag- ment of a fossil plant. Inscribed to my friend, Dr. John Ormond, of Tuscaloosa, who discovered this interesting species. Locality, Marengo county, Alabama. 2. R. lamellosis. Shell, lower valve thick, conical, large ; lip nearly horizon- tal, or slightly depressed towards the circumference, with radiating smooth ridges, more numerous towards the outer circumference; outer edge slightly and 172 [September, abruptly turned up ; exterior surface with vertical impressed lines correspond- ing with the ridges on the lip ; cirri or ramifications of the mantle impressed, dichotomously branching ; cells towards the circumference compressed length- wise. The numerous radiating ridges on the lip are characteristic of this species. Locality , Lowndes county, Alabama. 3. R. Aimesii. Shell, lower valve large, conical, very thick ; lip slightly con- vex, with narrow, radiating depressions towards the inner circumference, outer edge slightly plaited, with obsolete concentric undulating lines ; outer surface striate. Inscribed to Dr. Aimes, of Montgomery, to whose kindness I owe this fine fossil. Locality , Alabama. 4. R. undulata. Shell, lower valve thick; lip bent slightly upwards, with dis- tant, obtuse radiating ridges, or undulations, and obsolete radiating lines ; cirri of the mantle well defined. Locality, Marengo county, Alabama. Ichthiosarcolites, Desmarest. Caprinella, d'Orb. 1. /. quadrat) gularis. Shell quadrangular, curved, irregular ; septa somewhat regular, abruptly bent downwards, and approximating in the channel on the inner surface of the shell; aperture terminating obliquely and rather abruptly. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 2. I. loricatis. Shell, aperture somewhat oval, irregular, obtusely rounded at the base, giving the cast an imbricated appearance. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. 3. I. eornutis. Shell, aperture regularly curved, flattened on one side, septa abruptly bent downwards, and towards the concave side. Distinguished from the preceding by the more distant and regular septa, and in the greater regularity of the curvature of the shell. Locality, Noxubie county, Mississippi. Mr. Richardson. I have thought proper to restore Desmarest's uncouth name, rather than violate the rule of priority. Description of a fossil apparently indicating an extinct species of the Camel tribe. By Joseph Leidv, M.D. Mr. Henry Pratten, of New Harmony, Indiana, has sent for my inspection, and as a donation to our Academy, an interesting fossil, which be discovered in the gravel drift of Kansas territory. The specimen consists of the left intermaxillary bone, containing the fang of a tooth, and a small portion of the corresponding maxillary bone. The fang of the tooth is the portion of a transformed incisor or functional canine, like that in the Camel and Lama. The crown of the tooth was directed more outwardly than in either of the latter; but it had the same form, being laterally compressed, obtuse anteriorly and acute posteriorly. At the point of emergence from its alveolus the crown measured 61 lines antero-posteriorly and 3j lines transversely. Its enamel is thin, and appears to have been smooth. The fang is laterally compressed, conical, and measures an inch and a half in length ; and it is strongly curved backward and downward, and is almost paral- lel with the palatal margin, so that its extremity is only seven lines above the latter. The intermaxillary bone is relatively larger and more robust than in the Camel or Lama, and it is broader and more convex above. Its nasal border is "ty 1854.] 17o more obtuse and very much less inclined, so as apparently to indicate a longer snout in the extinct animal. The anterior or gingeval border is thick and rough as in other ruminants. The small portion of the maxillary bone presents the remains of an alveolus, separated from the tooth of the intermaxillary by an interval, with a curved, acute margin, an inch and three-quarters long. The great distance of this alveolus from the tooth in advance, when compared with the condition of things in the Camel and Lama, arises from the great degree of extension backward and near the palate of the fang of the first functional canine. The maxillo-intermaxillary suture, at the side of the fossil, descends, as usual, parallel with the nasal border of the intermaxillary bone, and, after reaching the palatal surface is directed in a curved line forward and inward, reaching as far as the posterior third of the position of the first tooth. From this description it is evident the fossil indicates a distinct species of the camel tribe, and as it appears generically distant from the Camel and Lama, the name of Camelops Kansanus would not be inappropriate for it. ELECTION. Dr. Isaac A. Pennypacker, and Emile Geylin, Esq., of Philadelphia, and Eugene Borda, Esq., of Schuylkill Co., Pa., were elected Members; and Dr. Hiram A. Prout, of St. Louis, and Mr. Henry Pratfen, of New Harmony, Indiana, were elected Corrcsjjondents. October 'Sd. Vice President Lea in the Chair. A paper was presented by Mr. James D. Dana, intended for publi- cation in the Proceedings, entitled " Catalogue and descriptions of Crustacea collected in California by John Le Conte, M.D.," which was referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Bridges and Prof. Haldeman. October 10 th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read : — From the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated Albany, October 7, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the last No. of the Pro- ceedings. From the California Academy of Natural Sciences, dated San Fran- cisco, Sept. 2'2, 1854, transmitting the first No. of the Bulletin of that Society, and requesting exchange. Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication, entitled " Additions to North American Ornithology, by A. L. Heermann, M.D." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Col. MeCall and Dr. Wilson. October 11th. The President, Mr. Ord, in the Chair. A letter was read from the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, dated October 10, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy, vol. 7, No. 4. 174 [October, Also a note from Prof. Diinglison, dated Philadelphia, October 9, 1854, transmitting the donations to the library from Prof. Briicke, of Vienna, announced this evening. The following papers intended for publication in the Journal, were presented, viz., " Descriptions of Fishes of South Carolina, by J. E. Holbrook, M. D." Referred to Dr. Hallowell, Mr. Vaux, and Mr. Cassin. " Planta? Heermannianae Californicae j descriptions of New Plants collected in South California, by Dr. A. L. Heermann, Naturalist at- tached to the survey of the Pacific R. R. route, under Lieut. R. J. Williamson, U. S. A. ; with remarks on other plants, heretofore described, belonging to the same collection. By E. Duraud and Theo- dore Hilgard, M. D." Referred to Maj. Le Conte, Dr. Bridges and Dr. Zantzinger. The following papers intended for publication in the Proceedings, were presented : " Observations on the Vespertilio leporinus, Linn., by John Le Conte ;" and 11 Descriptions of four new species of Kinosternum, by John Le Conte ;" both of which were referred to Dr. Bridges, Mr. Cassin and Col. McCall. " On Urnatella gracilis, and a new species of Plumatella, by Joseph Leidy, M. D." Referred to Dr. Bridges, Dr. Zantzinger and Dr. Rand. "Notices of new Reptiles from Texas, by Edward Hallowell, M.D." Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Leidy, and Col. McCall. October 24th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from Mr. S. Drincker, dated Canton, May 24th, 1854, transmitting donations to the Museum of the Academy. A letter from Mr. Henry Pratten, dated New Harmony, Indiana, Oct. 14, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. A letter from Prof. J. P. Kirtland, dated East Rockport, Ohio, transmitting a collection of Reptiles from that State. A letter from the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium, dated Brussels, 12th October, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of late Nos. of the Proceedings and Journal. Mr. Joseph Jones, of Georgia, read a paper, intended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled : " Abstract of experiments upon the phy- sical influences exerted by living organic and inorganic membranes upon chemical substances passing through them by endosinosis," which was referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Carson and Dr. Bridges. Major Le Conte stated that having visited, during the last spring, an island on the coast of Georgia, known as Colonel's Island, he had been enabled to pro- cure from the original locality authentic specimens of Magnolia pyramidata, mentioned in Bartram Travels, p. 5. On comparison with other specimens, he is convinced that it is merely a variety ot M. grandiflora ; which varies in the 1854.] 175 form of its leaves from a regular elliptic form to ovate-lanceolate. The di- mensions of the leaves from Colonel's Island are ll£ inches long and 2J wide. Those from other localities are, Of the elliptic form, transverse diameter, 7 inches, " conjugate, 4 inches. " ovato-lanceolate 7i long, 3J- wide. Regular gradations may be found between these various forms. The opinion expressed by Elliot that M. pyramidata is a variety of M. auriculata is there- fore erroneous. Major Le Conte also stated, that he had been personally in- formed by Mr. Bart ram that his M. pyramidata had lanceolate leaves. October 31 st. Mr. Ord. President, in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred papers by Mr. Dana, read October 3d; by Dr. Heermann, read Oct. 10th; by Major Le Conte, read Oct. 17th ; by Dr. Leidy, read Oct. 17th ; by Dr. Hallowell, read Oct. 17th; severally reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Catalogue and descriptions of Crustacea collected in California by Dr. John. L. Le Conte. By James D. Dana. 1. Anomoura. Hippa talpoides, Say. Clibanarius ^equalis, D., Rep. Crust. Exp. Exp., p. 464, pi. 29, f. 4. This Californian Clibanarius is identical with the Madeira and Cape Verde C. eBquabilis, a species which is probably identical with one at the island of Tahiti, in the Pacific. See Rep. Crust, loc. cit. 2. Macroura. Callianassa Californtensis, D. Pes grandis superficie laevis ; manu ad basin latiore, digito mobili non breviore quam manus dimidium, subuncinato, gparsim hirsuto ; carpo superficie laterali nudo, marginibus ciliato, paulo oblongo, parconderosai etc. 200 [November,, The collection contains bones of the following animals :— Megalonyx Jeffersonii, Harlan. a. Two tibial diaphyses of the left side of young individuals. h. A vertebra dentata. c. A. fragment of an os calcis. d. A metacarpal and a metatarsal bone. e. An ungual phalanx. Bison Americanus? (fossilis).* a. A fragment of a cervical vertebra. Cervus Virginianus (fossilis). a. Proximal half of a tibia. b. Distal half of a tibia. e. Proximal half of a metacarpal bone. d. Proximal and distal halves of two metatarsal bones. e. Portions of two scapula?. /. Proximal portion of a first rib. g. The mutilated cranium of a doe. h. The superior portion of the cranium of a buck ; the antlers having been shed. i. Three portions of as many lower jaws of different ages. One contains the back five molars very much worn away ; a second contains the last two molars a little worn; and the third contains all the molars, but the last temporary one has not been shed, nor is the last true one protruded. All these specimens cor- respond in size with the same parts of large individuals of the existing Certnis virginianus, and have the same form ; and they probably belonged to the same species. Besides these specimens, fossil bones of a deer not larger than the Cervus virginianus have been found in association with bones of the Megalonyx, Mastodon, &c, in the vicinity of Natchez, Mississippi. In the cabinet of the Academy there are several specimens from this locality, consisting of a portion of a lower jaw, a fragment of an antler, and the posterior and inferior portions of two crania. Eqtjus Americanus, Leidy. a. The last dorsal vertebra. Tapirus. a. An inferior back molar tooth of an old individual. The crown is much worn and the fangs are long, spreading, and thickened. It is larger than in the recent Tapir americanus, and belongs to the supposed extinct species which I have designated as Tapirus Hay sit. Canis prim-Evus, Leidy. This name is proposed for a species of wolf, which I suppose to be indicated by a specimen, in Mr. Lincke's collection, of a left upper maxillary bone con- taining the posterior five molars, all of which are nearly entire except the penultimate one. The fragment, however, only differs from the corresponding part of the recent Canis lupus of Europe and its American congeners, in being rather larger (about one sixth), and in its having slight variations in several of the molar teeth. Certain naturalists may regard the fossil as an indication of a variety only of the Canis lupus, and of the correctness of such a view I shall not attempt to decide. Naturalists have not yet settled among themselves the question of how far characters of a specific value may be obtained from the skulls and teeth of many genera. Most naturalists regard the Canis lupus, of Europe, and the Canis oceidentalis and many other wolves of America as of the same species. Certainly they possess no important osteological differences, but the same may be said of the grizzly bear, the polar bear, and the brown bear, or of the horse, the ass, and the zebra, or of the lion, the tiger, and the panther, etc., etc. Those who have attempted to define a species, I think, have gene- ,p-e-[t-, - ■ro'piro; i » / c^ / ^ ^ ^ Cj V 8

7S, Knip and Prev. Pigeons, iii. pi. 34. Columba rosacea, Temm. PI. col. iv. p. (liv. 98.) 19 Bill without frontal knob, ander tail coverts dark chesnut, tail uniform me- tallic green. Head and entire under parts very light cinereous with a pale pur- plish or rosaceus tinge, especially on the head above. Upper parts dark cinere* <>us with a green metallic lustre. Nearly allied to C. cenea. One specimen in Coll. Acad, from Timor. 3. Carpophaga rtjfinuchalis, nobis. No frontal knob, under tail coverts chesnut, tail uniform dark metallic green. About the size of C. anea, and C. rosacea. Bill moderate, rather slender, without frontal protuberance, wing moderate, second quill longest, legs mode- rate or rather Jong, the upper half of the tarsus feathered, toes rather long, pad- ded and flattened on their under surfaces, hind toe with a row of bristles on t?ach side of the central row of scales, claws strong curved. Neck behind with a wide transverse well defined band of glossy chesnut, suc- ceeded by a narrow band of dark bluish cinereous. Head above light bluish dnereoas. entire under parts light purplish cinereous (or vinaceous), nearh' white on the throat and darker on the abdomen. Under coverts of the tail dark rufous chesnut. Back, upper wing coverts, secondaries, rump, upper tail cov- erts and tail above brilliant metallic green with golden and copper colored re- jections. Primaries brownish black with a faint tinge of green. Inferior cov- erts of the wings pale cinereous. Bill and feet light colored. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) about 14^ inches, wing 9, tail 5i inches, Hab. — Unknown ; spec, in Mus. Acad. Philada. Obs. — One specimen only of this bird is in the collection of the Academy, and is from the Rivoli collection. It bears some resemblance to the species re- garded by me a C. tenea, and in a measure resembles the figure given as the fe- male of that bird in Knip and Prevosf's Pigeons, ii. pi. 4. It resembles also to .some extent C. rosacea, (Temm). The large and well defined nuchal band dis- tinguishes the present species from those mentioned and from all others that have come under my notice. 4. Carpophaga Pickerihgii, nobis. No frontal knob, under tail coverts light cinereons, tail above dark metallic green. About the size of the preceding. Bill moderate, rather slender (with- out frontal protuberance), wing moderate, second and third quills longest an Quartz from Mr. Deininger's fields — 185 grms. + 370 litharge -j- 0.5 charcoal gave 20 grms, of lead containing 0.00825 silver, in which no gold could be detected. On the Incineration of Filters in Analysis. — In order to burn off the filters from eertain precipitates i.i quantitative analysis, considerable pa-tienee is required and loss of time involved,, owing to the presence of salts in the pores of the filter. Fresenius, in his last edition of Quantitative Analysis, counsels patience in such cases, and to facilitate the combustion by pressing tne filter against the hot crucible by a platinum wire. I have found it advantageous, in such cases, to use oxygen gas, as is done in some of the methods for preparing ashes of plants for analysis. The results are good, and none of the contents of the crucible are lost. The phosphate of magnesia-ammonia filter is thus burned off in quite a short time, and without any loss of phosphoric acid. After the filter is car- bonized, the lid is partially removed from the upright crucible, and a tube (plati- num I use, but glass will do nearly as well,) with an orifice of one mm. in diameter, delivers oxygen gas from a small vulcanized caoutchouc bag, so slowly that it miugles with the air in the crucible and effects the combination quietly, A crucible appears to be in the worst position possible for oxidation in the manner in which it is situated in the flame, for the rising air currents are un- favorable for combustion in the bottom of the crucible, and the air which does enter is diluted with the products of combustion. Though this may be par- tially improved by an inclined position of the crucible and lid, it is not obviated , and oxygen gas seems to afford a remedy with less risk than nitrate of ammonia.* 1 have not yet found any objection to its use from practice, and pure oxygen is so readily obtained from the commercial chlorate of potassa by using the wash bottles described in my article on " organic analysis by gas," and keeps so well in vulcanized caoutchouc bags that I would recommend it to a trial. Apparatus for the Analysis of Carbonates. — Both in Fresenius' late edition of Analysis and in Rose's greater work are described apparatus for the de- termination of carbonic acid by Fresenius' and Wills' process, using fine balances. About a year and a half ago I described, in the Journal of the Franklin Institute, a very convenient apparatus for this purpose, which as it appears not to have come to the notice of chemists generally, and as those of my chemical friends who have tried it have approved of it, I will here shortly describe. * Schultze (Fresenius' Anal.) proposes to burn filters and plant ashes by creating an air current over the crucible by means of a broken retort neck, •j- Franklin Inst. Jour., Aug., 1854, page 107. 1854.] The accompanying figure, which is of the natural size, will explain itself; the part E B D is the drying apparatus, containing sulphuric acid and is of one piece, the tube E being melted into the flask B. In making this part of the apparatus I think it preferable to join E to A before blowing the bulb. The apparatus which I made myself in this way, and with which I experimented, re- mained sound, while of a dozen made by a professional gentleman, joining E and B after the bulb was blown, six cracked at the joint. The carbonate is placed in A with water, and C, with a wax stopper, contains hydrochloric acid in case of insoluble sulphates, or is empty when the oil of vitriol of B is employed to effect the decomposition. The tightness of the joints is ascertained and the analysis carried on as in Fresenius and Wills' appa- ratus. The lead glass apparatus which I constructed myself weighed, empty, 36 grammes, and when charged for analysis and with much sulphuric acid weighed, together with the chloride of calcium tube-hook of Oertling's balance which it fits, between 50 and 60 grammes. An apparatus of Ger- man glass, made by a glass blower, weighed, with its cork and empty, 20 grms. This apparatus unites lightness with great strength, which is at once felt on handling the apparatus, which arises from the nature of the joint of E with B, and from the construction of the decomposition flask A which allows E to be made of a piece of stout tube. In its construction it is simpler than aay that I have seen, not excepting Geissler's (Jour. f. pr., ch. LX., 35,) which has one more joint, and that a ground glass one. A being entirely separate may be washed and dried ready for a fresh analysis in a couple of minutes ; the sulphuric acid in B will generally last for two analyses, and is ver}r easily emptied and re- plenished. A small sucking tube with perforated cork fitting the capillary end of the tube D, is used to bring acid on the carbonate, to draw air through at the close of the analysis, and to fill and empty B with oil of vitriol. The joints are the firmest possible in this apparatus, and the connections easily made, owing to single tubes passing through the two cork3, which corks being very small may readily be obtained of perfect quality. I have not found any error to arise from the hygroscopic nature of the corks ; but if such be feared, it is easy to coat their outsides with sealing wax varnish. The following are the experimental results with the apparatus : About one gramme of perfectly pure (tested) carbonate of soda yielded, in 236 [December, « two experiments, a per cen'age of carbonic acid 41.42 and 41.35, which differ 0.07 from each other, and the mean 41.38 differs 0.01 from the theoretical per centage 41.37, sodium being taken at 23.178. Carbonate of lime, (precipitated commercial,) which contained sulphate and iron, gave the following results, the carbonic acid being evolved by nitric: 0.G3025 and 0.61625 grammes gave a per centage of carbonic acid = 41.65 and 41.70, difference 0.05. The theory for pure carbonate of lime requires 43.88. In order to ascertain the error by evolving the carbonic acid from lime by sulphuric acid, two more experiments gave 38.79 and 39.17 carbonic acid. In order to ascertain whether the carbonic acid remaining in the flask A could be expelled with a moderate boiling and thus obviate the necessity of the air tube C, three analyses were made with pure carbonate of soda (the same used as above) which gave the following results : 0.83, 0.859 and 1.0193 grammes gave a per centuge of carbonic acid 40.93, 40.34 and 40.49. Rectification of Mr. T. A. Conrad's " Synopsis of the Family of Nuades of North America" published in the "Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, February, 1853." By Isaac Lea. On my return home a few weeks since from a long absence in Europe, I found, when looking over the Proceedings of the Academy, a new Synopsis of the North American Naiades by Mr. Conrad.* Finding in it numerous errors in regard to the dates of my memoirs and the fynonomy of my species, I desire that the correction of part at least of these errors may reach the scientific public by the same channel. I think it will be difficult for anyone to understand how so many errors of dates, &c. could have been written down. I had hoped that the day had gone by among us here, when any other object than the true interests of science should have existed. It has been very painful for me to be called upon, as I am, to defend my scientific labors from an attempt to deprive me of much of that which I have won by pa- tient labor and continued assiduity for so many years, and must protest against; the recognition of the incorrect dates which I shall point out to the satisfaction, T trust, of every man of science who takes any interest in the study of this branch of Natural History. I do not mean to correct the synonomy of this Synopsis, but I trust to satisfy every one, that it can be of no value whatever where theda'es are so erroneously stated. For myself, I shall rest until I have further light on the synonomy of my Synopsis of this Family published in 1852, -which I believe will be found in the main to be correct. It certainly was my intention to do justice to every naturalist, and whenever I shall be shown not to have done so I will most will- ingly make reparation. Mr. Conrad commences his Synopsis by 6aying, " The present attempt to give a synonomy of the North American Nuiades, has originated from the absence of dates and references in Mr. Lea's memoirs. To render strict justice to every au- thor according to date of publi< ation, is not only the duty of the naturalist, but a necessity of science." (Vol. 6, page 243.) If it were true that my memoirs were without " dates and references," and the truism of the duty of naturalists to render justice was complied with by the author, there would have been no occasion for me to trouble the Academy with a rectification. He usually takes the date of the title of the Volume of the Trans- actions of the American Philosophical Societv, where the species may have been described, while the volumes published by the Society, as they are almost univer- sally by all scientific bodies, were realty issued in parts at different times and gene- rally in three parts. Thus when part first of any volume was issued, the Society distributed copies immediately to their subscribers and to all the principal socie- ♦Vol. 6, p. 243, Feb. 8, 1853. 1854.] 237 ties in Europe and in this country ; and, when I have had in such part a memoir, 1 had two hundred and fifty copies printed for my own use, one hundred and fifty of which I at once distributed at heme and abroad where I thought they might be useful to science. When part second of the same volume may have been printed, the same process took place, and when part third was ready, it took the same course, with this addition, viz. a title page for the whole volume was printed for the convenience of those who might choose to have their three parts bound into a volume, and this title bore the date of the last part. Thus most of these copies of my descriptions with figures, may have been in the hands of the Zoologists of Europe and America for two or three years prior to the date at which Mr. Conrad has stated them as being published. In addition, he usually pays no regard to the dates of my descriptions printed in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society or otherwise, prior to their subsequent issue in the Transactions. Thus on the 18th August, 1843, I read a number of descrip- tions before that Society and permission was granted to me to print them at once. The following day, Aug. 19th, these descriptions were printed and circu- lated. Now Mr. Conrad in his synopsis dates these as published in 1846 !* three years aftar they were actually issued printed. The rule, however, which the author says he will adopt of taking the date of the whole volume, when the dafe of publication of each species cannot be otherwise obtained, is not always followed, for the date in the title page of Vol. 3d is 1830, while the following species described in this volume, U. occidens, U. rubiginosus, U. mulliradiaius, and U. securis, he date3 in 1832, and U. helerodon,\ in the same memoir, he dates 1833; thus species described and printed in (he same memoir, are by him often dated in different years. The question as to fixing with precision the date of discovery of a new form, has been one of anxiety and doubt among men of science. For myself I have never felt satisfied that it was judicious to make any change in the long received rule of permanently fixing the date of publication! to be that, when the paper was read before and deposited with the officers of a learned Society, with a view to printing. Receiving as authority the dates issued by individuals in publica- tions is exceedingly dangerous. There may be antedates, and these can rarely be detected. In the case of a deposit of a paper with a learned society, in- tended for publication, and a record being made of it at the time, there cannot be any probability by collusion of the officers to make a change. As much of Mr. Conrad's Synopsis involves the names and claims of Mr. Rafin- esque, it becomes necessary to say something in explanation of my having in my papers adopted but few of his names. It has been asserted that I wished to de- prive this unfortunate naturalist of the credit of his labors. This I must deny. I believe I was the very first writer who, coming into this field of inquiry, showed a desire to do him justice. When I commenced, in 1827, the series of papers which has grown since to many volumes, I did not find a single species credited to Rafiuesque by Mr. Say or Mr. Barnes; but my friends, Dr. Griffith, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Peale, Dr. Green and Mr. Stewart, all my predecessors, thought they could recognise, probably, three or four of his species. In 1831. Professors Short and ISaton, of Transylvania Medical College, Lexington, published in the Transylvania Journal of Medicine a descriptive catalogue of the Naiades then known to themt having collected quantities of them in Kentucky, Ohio, &c. As Mr. Rafiuesque had been a professor in the same college, they very naturally desired to give him all they could identify, and out of thirty-five species in their list, Mr. Rafinesque * These are U. Buckleyi, U. Buddianus, U. minor, U. amygdalus, U. fuscatus and U. negUctus. f Read before the American Phil. Soc. Mar. Gth, 1829. \ Publication does not necessarily mean printing and issuing a notice of a fact or a discovery. Dr. Webster says, that publication is a "notification either by words, writing, or printing," and Johnson defines it "the act of notifying to the wor;d." 238 [December, has but six given to him, viz: mytiloides, torulosus, metanever, torsus, iriqueler and scalenius, the first, fourth and sixth of which Mr. Conrad now rejects.* I went to the task of examination with the sincerest desire of making out as many as possible of Rafinesque's species ; and having his original work before me, went over it carefully four different times, but with nearly the same result as my predecessors. I gave it up in despair, and lost my labor ; and I think I shall show further on, that Mr. Conrad himself affords the test evidence of the utter impossibility of satisfactorily fixing Mr. Rafinesque's species. It is now thirty- four years since he published his memoirs, and for nineteen years Mr. Conrad has had the advantage of having shells labelled by, he says, Mr. Rafinesque him- self, f A single species, the TJnio triangularis Raf. of Mr. Conrad's Synopsis of 1834, with its synonyms, will convince any unprejudiced person of the impossibility of the attempt made to establish Mr. Ra6nesque's species. J Dr. Griffith, Mr. Hyde and Mr. Peale have often told me that Mr. Say would not listen for a moment to such an idea as giving any regard to his species, and the works of Mr. Say fully justify this fact by the total absence of any re- cognition of his authority for a single species, until some fourteen years after Mr. Rafinesque's publication, he was induced to make his "Synonymy of the Western, North American species of the genera Unio and Alasmodonta," recognising many of the species of Rafinesque, and denying to me a single one. The feeling of the western conchologists was almost universally against the at- tempt to introduce Rafinesque's names, and most of those who had studied these shells, and written on them, or were writing on the subject, addressed me on the occasion, in utter despair of making them out.|| The principal conchologists of Ohio, in April, 1836, agreed to form " a list to be adopted by western conchologists," and after consulting together on the sub- ject, a manuscript list was sent to me by Judge Tappan, containing 112 species of Uniones, three only of which are given to Rafinesque. In August following, they more maturely considered the subject, and agreed to the nomenclature of a list in which a single species only is credited to him, and this with a mark of doubt. In a letter to me from Prof. Kirtland when he undertook the Zoological portion of the Ohio State Survey, he says, "I am particularly pleased with your arrange- ment of the Naiades \ It is altogether preferable to anything of the kind that has ever come before the scientific public, and will bear the test of the closest scrutiny and the severest criticism." * * * "I was unwilling to complete my report on our conchology until I could avail myself of the information which it contained. I shall adopt your names and arrangement with hardly an alteration." When this important State Report came out in 1838, in the whole list of nearly one hundred species of the family JYa'iades, there were but two accredited to Rafines- que, viz : metanever and mytiloides, the latter of which Mr. Conrad does not admit as a species in his Synopsis, but now declares it to be a synonym to clavus Lam. Notwithstanding the decisions of the ablest of the western zoologists, there was still an attempt to substitute by "guessing," the names of Rafinesque. This induced *Mr. Poulson says in the preface of his translation, (Oct. 1831,) that but four of Rafinesque's species were "known by his names, either in the works of Ameri- can authors or in our collections." fThis was done some twelve years after the descriptions were published, and at a time when I believe no one in any branch of science considered him as re- liable authority. He had been, according to Dr. Binney, in a "diseased state of mind " for thirteen years. I believe no one pretends to say that the original Specimens described by Rafinesque are in existence JSee further on the numerous changes made by Mr. Conrad in the position of this name and its abandonment at last. || Dr. Kirtland, Mr. Buchanan, Dr. Ward. Dr. Hildreth, Judge Tappan, Mr. Clark and some others. See Asa Gray's account of Rafinesque's Botanical Writ- ings, (Sill. Journ., 1841,) where he says that " half his genera and species do not exist at present," and that he described in "Natural History style, twelve new species of thunder and lightning." \ Alluding to my Synopsis of the family Naiades, 1836, first edition. 1854.] 239 the members of the "Western Academy of Natural Sciences of Cincinnati," in January, 1849, to review the subject, with an intention of settling this matter of nomenclature. With that Society there could be no partialities, there could be no reason for favoritism, any more than with the Reporter of the State, or the other zoologists who had devoted so many years to the study of these interesting molluscs. They went to the task with no other object than to " render strict justice to every author." The result was published in a small work, "Catalogue of the U?iios, Alasmodontas, and Anodontas of the Ohio river and its northern tributaries, adopted by the Western Academy of Natural Sciences of Cincinnati, January, 1849." There were admitted sixty-seven distinct species, of which three 'only are ascribed to Rafinesque, U.flavus, U.flexuosus and IT. nodulatus* If I had been singular in my inability to make out Rafinesque's species and to recognise him as authority, I should not, perhaps, have ventured alone, but the exception is on the other side. If we turn to the admirable work of the late Dr. Binney, on the " Terrestrial Molluscs of the United States," and there is not a more able and judicious writer on the subject, we find that he wholly discards Mr. Raf- inesque as being worthy of any regard. He says that the papers of Rafinesque " are not deemed worthy of any consideration," (p. 36,) and further on he says that" his diseased state of mind was observed about 1818" (p. 44); and again at p. 48, he says, as the genera and species proposed by Rafinesque " are con- sidered to be destitute of authority and entirely unworthy of notice, no mention of them will be made in the text." He was in the habit of naming and describing species which he never saw, as mentioned by Major LeConte, and a very remark- able case of this kind exists in his publication of his genus Tremesia, in the same paper with the Naiades. He described it as a trivalve fresh water shell living on the rocks, near the mouth of the Ohio, like the Patellcs. He described the animal and shell, and figured them (p. 54). But it is not pretended that he ever saw either, and I doubt if there be one zoologist in the United States who believes in the existence of the thing at all. In the American Monthly Magazine, Rafinesque, in a previous notice, describes it under the information of Mr. Audubon. He does not himself pretend to have seen it. When I was in Paris, in 1832, Baron Ferussac told me that I was wrong in admitting a single species of Rafinesque's if I had any doubt myself about them. He was convinced himself that he could not identify with certainty a single spe- cies. In the Magazine de Zoologie, p. 13, he says that u he had received from him the same shells under different names, and others with the names evidently not those which were given to them in his Monography. Therefore there results inextricable difficulty for the determination of his species, to establish an exact synonymy between him and others, who since have occupied themselves with the mussels." It is true that the Baron subsequently made a catalogue in which he gave precedence to many of Rafinesque's names; but it must be remembered, that this was done under the impression that these were identified as the original specimens described by him, and not, as now understood to be the case, new labels to other specimens, some twelve or fourteen years afterwards. We have seen above that Ferussac could make nothing of the labelled specimens sent to him by Ra- finesque, " marked by his own hand," which marking Mr. Conrad assumes as definite, while in reality I do not think them entitled to the least consideration. *Stronger evidence could not be presented of the futility of the efforts made by naturalists to give Rafinesque what they could by careful examination. The earlier concholgists thought they could make out four of his species, torsus1 my- iiloides, metanever and scalenius. Professors Short and Eaton gave him mytiloides torulosas, metanever, torsus, triqueter and scalenius. Judge Tappan, with the best disposition, gave him, metanever, verucosus and tuberadatus, but all with doubt. In the list made by the western conchologists there is but one, IT. viridis, the de- scription of which Judge Tappan says equally well applies to iris. In Dr. Kirt- land's State Report, he accredits two to Rafinesque, metanever and mytiloides, and the Western Academy of Natural Sciences give him only flavus, flexuosus and nodulaius, not one of which is given to him by the other authorities above quoted. Could anything, therefore, be more uncertain ? 240 [December, Many years ago the distinguished zoologist, Mr. Swainson, sent to me from Lon- don, for the purpose of identification, a numher of Uniones, which he had received from Rafinesque, but of which he could make nothing. The confusion of pieces of valves and names formed such a mass as utterly to defy any attempt at recogni- tion of his species. I returned them, totally unable to identify them with any satisfaction. Dr. Ward said that Rafinesque's descriptions and outline " would equally well apply to six or eight different species." These facts fully account for the difference of judgment between Mr. Say and Mr. Conrad in their Synopses, both published in this city, dated April 1834. Even they with the 'specimens be- fore them marked by Rafinesque himself, could not agree in very many cases. Mr. Say considered that caslaneus, Lea, was lecvigatus, Raf., while Mr. Conrad placed lens, Lea, as asjnonym to Icevigatus. Mr. Say makes zigzag, Lea, and do- naciformis, Lea, synonyms to nervosus, Raf., while Mr. Conrad doubts that zigzag is synonymous with nervosus, and makes do naciformis synonymous with truncatus, Raf., which (donactformis) in his appendix, the next year, he considers a distinct species, but which in the new synopsis of 1853 he placed with zigzag, as synony- mous with nervosus, Raf.! Without going further into long statements of discrepancies between Mr. Say and Mr. Conrad in regard to establishing Rafinesque's species, it will be enough to say that in the Synopsis of Mr. Say it will be found that out of sixty-one des- criptions by Rafinesque he gives him thirty-eight species, and by comparing these with the new Synopsis of Mr. Conrad, eighteen of them are more or less different in their synonymy, or are entirely dismissed from the list of species.* Not wishing to devote too much time or space to tracing out the changes of of opinion by Mr. Conrad from time to time in attempting to substantiate Ra- finesque's species, it will be sufficient to trace a single one through the various sinuosities which he has carried it to this period. I do not know how many there may be like it, but I think it ought to be sufficient to satisfy any one, that syno- nyms based on such uncertain authority ought to be most carefully scrutinized. The " synoptical table of the species of American Naiades with Synonyms," April 1834, was got up by Mr. Conrad with a view, he says, to u rectify the con- fused nomenclature of American Naiades." How successfully this has been car- ried out may be seen by tracing this only one which I have attempted to follow en- tirely through with its connections. In the list of species (p 72) Mr. Conrad sets down U. triangularis, Raf. as an established species, and adds as synonyms lateralis Raf, sintoxia Raf., pachostea Raf., mytiloides Raf, ruber Raf. and pyrami- datus Lea. Eighteen months afterwards, this u retification of confused nomen- clature, was found to require itself a rectification, and we find in an appendix dated Oct. 1835, under the caption of additions to and corrections of, the catalogue of species of American Naiades," that ruber Raf. is not a synonym to triangularis, but really a species, and that pyramidatus Lea, is a synonym to it ; also, that pachostea Raf. was erroneously placed as a synonym to triangularis Raf., it too oecoraes a type, and Cooperianus Lea, is assigned as a synonym to it. Mytiloides likewise is no longer a synonym to triangularis, but it becomes one to clavus Lam. The other three are as yet still considered synonyms to the type triangula- ris might be better to cite a few of those to show at a glance, how much dis- crepancy of opinion there is between Mr. Say and Mr. Conrad, and to show how dangerous it is to science to admit such "guessing" where nothing should be set down as certain that could not bear the test of scrutiny. Mr. Conrad says it is incrassatus Lea. '• " subangulatus Lea. « " foliatus Hild. " " solidus Lea. " " striatusRaf. does not admit triangularis as a species. " " " cuneatus as a species. " " " gibbosus as a species, torulosus Raf. is not admitted by Mr. Say as a species. Mr. Conrad says it is gibbosus Raf. and perplex us Lea. Unio niger Raf. Mr " fasciolus Kaf. " ': flexuosus Haf. " •• obovalis Kaf. " •' subrotundus Raf. •: triangularis Raf. Say says is a it a it a ti a tt tt tt i cuneatus Bar.. multiradiatus Lea. pileus Lea. ebenus Lea. rotundatus Lam. ellipsis Lea. Mr. ( c< ft cc }onrs t . M ft a a a cuneatus Raf. " u it patulus Lea. - tt i( gibbosus Raf. " tt « perplexus Lea. a CC 1854.] 241 ris Raf. But, in the following year, June 1836, in his " Monography of the Family Unionida" p. 41, Mr. Conrad describes and figures mytiloides Rat. as a type, and assigns to it as synonyms ruber Raf. pyramidatus Lea, and cardiacea " Say of Guerin," and in his observations on this shell, now first considered by him to be a species, he says, " this common species, since its first discovery in the Western waters, has always been known by the name we have adopted"!* After these three attempts one might reasonably conclude that the synonymy of triangularis was perfectly settled to the satisfaction of the author of the Synopsis, but such proved far from being the case. Seventeen years of further experience found Mr. liafinesque's species " marked by his own hand," did not make his own species right, and we have in Mr. Conrad's Synopsis of 1853, a remodelling of these names of the most extraordinary kind. Triangularis which in 1834 was declared to be a type with six synonyms is entirely dismissed, not recognized even as a synonym. Lateralis, which then was pronounced to be a synonym to it, has also been dis- missed. Pachostea, another of the synonyms, but which was in 1835 raised to the rank of a type, is sunk into the same oblivion. Mytiloides which had been in 1836 raised to a species, from a synonym in 1834 to triangularis, and in 1835 changed to a synonym to clavus Lam., is continued a synonym to clavus, with some entirely new companions, viz., scalenius Raf. cuneaius Raf. and modiolifor- mis Say. We find sintozia which had remained for nineteen years, during all the changes, a synonym to triangularis is now decided to be a species, and it assumes that rank without any synonym. Ruber is once more considered to be a species. It was in the Synopsis of 1834 pronounced to be a synonym to triangularis Raf. In 1835 it was considered a species, and pyramidatus Lea assigned as a synonym to it. In 1836 it was degraded to the rank of synonymy again, and had myti- loides Raf. for its type. In 1853 we find it again promoted to the rank of a spe- cies, with pyramidatus Lea, and coccineus Jay, as synonyms ! And will it be be- lieved, after all these various attempts to "rectify" what was pronounced with so much formality to be the object of the writer, and to "render strict justice to every author," that he says, in a supplementary note, on this U. triangularis Raf. in this Synopsis (p. 267) that " Mr. Poulson's cabinet contains no authentic speci- men of this species, which is one I have never identified." What must we think of such an admission? In 1834 he forms a Sjmopsis under the declaration that he has at his command the specimens marked by Rafinesque himself. In this Synopsis he declares triangularis Raf. to be a species with six synonyms. Through the course of three years he separates from these synonyms three of them, which he raises to the rank of species, and then at the end of nineteen years, he drops the important type entirely, and candidly informs us in a note that it is a species he "had never identified !" and in the same note he says that u pachostea, CUfford- iania and lateralis are also uncertain species." It will strengthen the evidence of the utter futility to attempt the establishment of Rafinesque's species, by looking at Mr. Say's Synopsis, which had the same object in view. He declares this U. triangularis Raf. to be a distinct species, and assigns to it as a synonym U. ellipsis Lea.f and he pronounced my HI tides Raf. a species which Mr. Conrad at the same time placed as a synonym to triangularis Raf.f . _ _ __ — _ . 1 . * Subsequently it will be seen that this species is degraded in the synopsis of 1853 again into the ranks of synonymy. 1 believe I was the first to give it a place (1829) in the lists made to endeavor to throw light on the subject, and I continued it in the various editions of my Synopsis in 1836, 1838 and. 1852, more because a certain triangular shell was generally known to us under this name of Rafinesque's, than that his description really fitted it. f Mr. Say had previously, in his American Conchology 1831, considered U. ellip- sis Lea, as being established, and he had figured and described it as mine. X If it were necessary to have further evidence of the uncertainty of Rafin- esque's species, we might trace another of these numerous discrepancies, taking scalenius. Mr. Conrad in his Synopsis 1834 gives scalenius the rank of a species, giving as synonyms cuneaius Raf. &ndpatulus Lea. In his appendix 1835 he makes scalenius Raf. and modiobformis Say. synonyms to clavus Lam. In 1838, Mono- graphy p. 92, he describes and figures patulus Lea., making it a distinct species, and in his Synopsis 1853 he adds mytiloides to the synonym of clavus Lam., having in 1836 considered mytiloides a distinct species, but he is still not sure tha.tcunea.tu4 242 [DECEMBER, I shall be much surprised if the exposition of this species, triangularis Raf. will not satisfy all unprejudiced zoologists of the hopelessness of these attempts to es- tablish Rafinesque's species of the Naiades. We come now to by far the most important part of Mr. Conrad's Synopsis — the dates. He commences in the first line of his Synopsis, with the avowed purpose, in forming it, to supply an assumed " absence of dates and references in Mr. Lea's Memoirs," and he promises to "render strict justice" to every author according to date of publication. Any one unacquainted with my memoirs, would suppose from this that some at least were without dates ; such is not the fact ; every one of tbem running through a course of twenty-five years is dated. The record of their date is in the minute book of the American Philosophical Society and the record of the day on which they were read and deposited with the Society, for publication, is printed at the. caption of every one of the numerous memoirs, put there by the officers of the Society. The day on which all these memoirs were issued printed, is not easily ascertained, and this gives Mr. Conrad a field for assigning to them erroneous dates, as we shall see in the sequel. It is a mere matter of figures, but it will be seen that many are wrongly put down in his Synopsis. During the first ten or twelve years that I was engaged in writing these memoirs, no one considered there could exist any doubt, as to an author being entitled to his discovery ; if it was communicated to a learned Society, and really was a discovery. It being is- sued, printed, afterwards, was considered a diffusion of a knowledge of it. The Society then printed no " Proceedings" to give immediate notice of such discoveries abroad. It was not until in 1838 that the "Proceedings" were commenced. After this period it was generally thought best to print in the "■ Proceedings" the sim- ple descriptions of the species in a memoir, and the whole, in extenso, was sub- sequently inserted in the Transactions. Mr. Conrad has declared that he will not regard the date of the reading of any such described species, and acting under this principle he cuts out a large num- ber of my names, classifying them among the synonyms. But he is by no means satisfied with this reduction. The date of a very large number is erroneous as to the time of their being actually printed and circulated, as I have mentioned in the first part of this paper, that is, by assuming the date of issuing the first part of a volume to be that, when the last part was issued, while the first part may have been circulated some years before. In order to occupy as little space as possible, I will endeavor to tabulate these errors. To take up my species in the order in which they occur in his Synopsis and correct them, seriatim, would require great space. I commence with my first memoir in 1827, and proceed chronologically to 1852. Published in memoir read before and deposit- ed with the Am. Phil. Soc, Nov. 2, 1827, and printed in Trans., Voir 3, p. 259. Distributed early in 18284 Noticed in Sil liman's Jour. Oct. 1«29, and the Trans, cited for 1827. Raf. is not distinct, as he says in a note that it may be a distinct species. Mr. Say in his Synopsis makes scalenius Raf. and cunealus Raf. both distinct species. *The four other species of this memoir are given by Mr. Conrad without any date. fThis may be a typographical error and intended to be 1832, the same as lan- ceolatus above it. Giving Mr. Conrad the benefit of this, it will still be found that he has dated these two species fi ve years after they were read to the Society, four years after they were printed and issued, and two years after the date of the title page of the whole volume. | A correspondent in Cincinnati, under date of April 25th, 1828, acknowledges the receipt of this paper, and comments on the descriptions and the plates, and particularly the anatomical parts. He had received impressions of the plates in the previous December. Unio lanceolatus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1832 " irroratus Lea.* « " f1852 1854.] 243 Unio occidens Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1832? " rubiginosus Lea. " " 1832 " heterodon Lea. « " 1833 " multiradiatus Lea. " « 1832 " securis Lea. " " 1832 Unio acutissimus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, Aug. it asper Lea. tt a tl pustulosus Lea. ti a a obesus Lea. a a ti castaneus Lea. a a a varicosus Lea. tt a a Congaraeus Lea. a a a decisus Lea. a a a glans Lea. tt a it fabalis Lea. a tt a lens Lea. a a a cuprinus Lea. a a a pustulatus Lea. a a tt ebenus Lea. a a ti stapes Lea. it (• (i trapezoides Lea. a ti 1834 1832 1832 1832 1832 1832 1832 1832 1832 1832 1832 1834 1832 1832 1832 1838 Unio ansjulatus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, subovatus Lea. arcaeformis Lea. pileus Lea. tri^onus Lea. subrotundus Lea. a a a a it Conrad, 1832 tt 1832 a 1832 t: 1832 a 1832 a 1832 < C Published in memoir read before and depos- ited with the Am. P.S. March 6th, 1829, and printed in Trans, v. 3, p. 401. Distributed in Mayor June 1829. The » receipt of it, with com- ments,is acknowledged in a letter from Cincin- nati, June 27th, 1829, and it is noticed in Sil- liman's Journal, vol.16 ta 1829. Published in memoir read before and depos- ited with the Am. P.S. May 7th, 1S30, and printed in Trans, v. 4, p. 63. Distributed in the latter end of 1831, and acknowledged by correspondents as re- ceived in that year. A long review of this, and the supplement read May 20, 1831, ap- peared in Silliman's Jour, for Jan. Feb. and March, 1832. It will be observed that Mr. Conrad makes three dates for the species described in this me- moir, not one of which is correct on his own principle of the issue of printed copies being the time of date. This me- moir and the follow- ing supplement having eighteen plates and nearly fifty species, all colored, required a long time tofinish, hence the delay between read- ing the memoir and the issuing of it complete. Published in memoir (supplement) read be- fore and deposited with the Am. Phil. Soc, May 20th, 1831, and printed in Trans, v. 4, p. 105. This supple- ment was issued with the memoir. Therefore all these dates of Mr. Conrad's are one year after the memoir was distributed. 20 244 [December,, " capsaeformis Lea. " Haysianus Lea. w Ravenelianus Lea. " Schoolcraftensis Lea. ** geometricus Lea. Anodonta plana Lea. " incerta Lea. by Mr. C onra *, 1834 a tt 1834 u a 1834 a (C Aug. 1834 a a tt 1834 a a 1834 a a Aug. 1834 a a 1834 Unio Conradicus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad tt a tt a tt tt Cooperianus Lea. dromas Lea. perdix Lea. pictus Lea. Sowerbyanus Lea, Troostensis Lea. a tt a tt tt tt a a a (C C| tt Published in memoir read before and depos- ited with the Am. Phil. Soc, March 16th, 1832, and printed in Trans., v. 5, p. 23. I was ab- sent most of 1832 in Europe, and the large number of plates (19) ^ with figures of 86 spe- cies, in this and the two following supple- ments, all colored, re- quired much time, and it was not until some time in Aug. or Sep. 1834 that the whole was finished and issued printed. Supplement read be- fore and deposited with the Am. Phil. Soc. 1834 1834 iqqT J March 15th, 1833, and 1834 1834 1834 Unio fulvus Lea. " Shepardianus Lea. w confertus Lea. " modioliformis Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad tt tt a a tt 1834 1834 Aug. 1834 1834 < Unio arctior Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad3 tt tt a a tt a a coccineus Lea. Fisherianus Lea. Hydianus Lea. jejunus Lea. interruptus Lea. turgidus Lea. venustus Lea. Unio Barnesianus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, Cumberlandianus Lea. folliculatas Lea. glaber Lea. Jayensis Lea. Lecontianus Lea. Muhlfeldianus Lea. notatus Lea. pumilis Lea. Medellinus Lea. Roanokensis Lea. simus Lea. Hopetonensis Lea. Vanuxemensis Lea. Zieglerianus Lea. Anodonta Wardiana Lea. a tt tt tt a a tt a a a tt a a tt it a tt tt a a it a it a tt te a tt ;d by Mr. tt tt a a tt n tt a n it a tt a a a tt a tt tt a a a a a a a a tt a tt 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 *1837 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1838 1S38 1838 1838 1838 printed in Trans, v. 5, p. 59. The same obser- vations apply as to the preceding. Second supplement read before and depos- ited with the Am. Phil. Soc, Feb. 7th, 1834, and printed in Trans. Iv. 5, p. 95. The same observations apply as [ to the preceding. Published in memoir read before and depos- ited with the Am. Phil. Soc, Dec. 19th, 1834, and printed in Trans, v. 6, p. 1. All these are inserted in the first edition of my Synopsis, issued in 1836, pro* bably in Dec. Published in memoir read before and depos- ited with the Am. Phil. Soc, Feb. 5th, 1836, and printed in Trans. v. 6, p. 23. All these are inserted in the first edition of my Synopsis, issued in 1836, pro- bably in Dec. * I cannot understand why Mr. Conrad dates this one year prior to the other species in the same memoir. In his Synopsis he makes it a synonym to Mortoni Con., which he described in Ho 1 of his Monography, Dec. 1835. 1854.] 245 Unio pliciferus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 183S <; I Margaritana arcula Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1838 < Unio discus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1838 " Dorfeuillianus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1838 ^ " Menkeanus Lea. " " 1838 I Unio Rangianus Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1838 < Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc, July 15th, 1836, and printed in Trans. Vol. 6. Issued in Synopsis, 1836. Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc., Aug. 19th, 1836, and printed in Trans. Vol. 6. Issued in Synopsis, 1836. Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc, Nov. 4th, 1836, and printed in Trans. Vol. 6. Issued in Synopsis, 1836. Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc. July 21st, 1837, and printed in Trans. Vol. 6. Issued in Synopsis, 1836. Unic amoenus Lea. Date d by Mr. Conrad, 1841 } u biangulatus Lea. <( a 1841 <( Bournianus Lea. a a 1841 tt Boydianus Lea. a a 1841 tt Cincinnatiensis Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad ,1841 u cuneolus Lea. a a 1S42 tt dactylus Lea. tt a 1841 tt dollabelloides Lea. a a 1842 a Edgarianus Lea. a a 1841 « exiguus Lea. a a 1842 tt Geddingsianus Lea. u a 1841 a Holstonensis Lea. a a 1841 J> u lenior Lea. a tt 1841 tt Lesueurianus Lea. a a 1842 a lineatus Lea. a a 1841 tt incrassatus Lea. a a 1842 a plenus Lea. a a 1842 tt striatus Lea. (< tt 1841 tt strigosus Lea. a a 1841 a Tennesseensis Lea. a a 1842 tt tener Lea. a a 1842 it tortivus Lea. tt tt 1842 n tuberosus Lea. a it •1842 Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc, Oct. 2d, 1840. Oct. 16th or- dered to be printed. Issued in the Proceed- ings of that month, (No. 13, p. 285,) which was laid on the table by the Reporter, Nov. 6th, 1840. Printed in the Trans. Vol. 8, p. 191. * It will be observed that Mr. Conrad continues the singular error of fre- quently dating my species of the same memoir in different years, while some of them in the same memoir he inserts without a date, viz. : Stonensis, subangu- latusy obesusy &c 246 [December, Unio Brumbyanus* Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1841 1841 1841 - 1841 1841 (( regularis Lea. ft a (C mcestus Lea. a a (t sparsus Lea. a tt a artrentens Lea. tt it Unio amygdalus Lea. " Buekleyi Lea. Buddianus Lea. fuscatus Lea. minor Lea. Monroensis Lea. neglectus Lea. a tt a Dj ited by a tt it tt tt Mr. Conrad, 1846 1846 1846 1846 1846 1841 1846 Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc. June 18th, 1841. issued in Pro- ceedings, No. 19, for October, 1841. These dates of Mr. Conrad's are therefore correct. Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc. Aug. 18th, 1843. Permission giv- en by the Society to print the descriptions. They were printed and issued the following 1846 { clay, Aug. 19th, 1843. Receipt of these print- ed descriptions ac- knowledged by the So- ciety Sept. 15th, 1843. Therefore six of these are dated by Mr. Con- rad three years after they were printed and issued ! ! Published in Memoir read before and depo- sited with the Amer. Phil. Soc. May 2,1845. Printed descriptions is- sued in the Proceed- ings of that month, No. 33, p. 165, issued Aug., 1845. Generally the new species of this me- moir are dated cor- rectly (in 1845) by Mr. Conrad. The tetra- ffona is one year wrong, and M. minor has no date. Tn my last Memoir read before and deposited with the American Philo- sophical Society, March 5th, 1852, there are over fifty descriptions of new species. Two of these Mr. Conrad has omitted, viz. : U. Oregonensis Lea, and U. sticcissus Lea. Twelve he inserts without date ; the remainder are dated correctly, — 1852. This finishes the corrections of the numerous errors of date in Mr. Conrad's Synopsis, as regards the long series of my memoirs in the Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. It will be seen by the above tables of corrections, that he has, under his own rule of the time of issuing them printed, erroneously dated about ninety of my species. I do not pretend in this rectification to correct the synonomy of the Anodonta tetragona Lea. Dated by Mr. Conrad, 1846 * At page 245 of Mr. Conrad's Synopsis in M Proceedings," this is given as a species ; at p. 250 it is made a synonym to glans Lea. 1854.] 247 Synopsis, as I have stated before. It would require too much space and time. Those interested in the subject must jud^e between the two synopses. I have certainly seen nothing in Mr. Conrad's to induce me to change the synonomy of. mine. I shall be at all times most willing to render my own more perfect by corrections founded on fact. Mr. Conrad gives precedence to claims on various principles. Sometimes he gives the priority of manuscript names in letters or labels, to printed descrip- tions and figures, as in the case of JJnio coccineus, which I described and figured in the Trans. Am. Phil. Soc (Dec. 19, 1834). He inserts it in his Synopsis " TJnio coccineus, Hildreth, MSS." Certainly I never intended to deprive my old and excellent correspondent Dr. Hildreth of any credit due to his long and ardent services in the development of the Natural History of the Valley of the Ohio. He sent it to me with many others in June 1833. There were two shells which he thought to be new, and the names he proposed were 77. coccineus and Alasmodonta obscura. I had previously received the latter from him and named it in honor of him (Unio Hildrethianus,) and communicated it to the American Philosophical Society. I adopted his proposed name for the first, as I am always accustomed to do, if it be appropriate, and called it coccineus. I also stated that it was the name proposed in his letter to me. I put Hildrethianus among the TJniones because it belonged to a peculiar group, by form and habit, which were classed as TJniones. Mr. Conrad, while he gives the name of 77. coccineus to Hildreth, objects to my retaining the name of plicatus as Lesueur's, instead of giving it to Mr. Say as he does. It seems to me that the cases are entirely dif- ferent. Mr. Lesueur gave the shell to Mr. Say with its name plicatus, as a new species. Mr. Say considered it as only an undulated variety of his crassus, pointing out that variation, and at same time said, that, " it is most probably a distinct species, and if so, the designation proposed by its accomplished discove- rer, '• plicata,' will be an excellent one." He did not describe it, and I believe all the conchological writers of the time accredited it to Lesueur, viz. Barnes, Rafinesque, Short and Eaton, Hildreth, &c. It was, subsequently to Mr. Say's no- tice, described by Barnes in Silliman's Journal, and accredited to Lesueur — Say's name following Lesueur's. It was then universally received as plicatus Lesueur, and is still known as such. Although neither he nor Mr. Say described it, it is bet- ter to retain its established authorship. If it be not retained as Lesueur's it must be given to Barnes, who was really the first to publish a description of it. The same want of stability of plan displays itself in the authorship of 77. paliatus from South Carolina. Dr. Ravenel sent me this species labelled by himself with this name. Believing that he meant to publish a description of it himself, I quoted it in myjSynopsis, first edition, 1836, accrediting it to him, and so continued it in the 2d and 3d editions. Mr. Conrad, on the contrary, accredits it to me, and refers to the page of my Synopsis where I insert the species as Rave- nel's, and he adds to this error by quoting for it the Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. vol. x. page 79, pi. 7 fig. 20 where it will not be found, but quite a different species, the TJ. poJlescens Lea, which, at p. 254 of the Proceedings, in his Synopsis, he inserts as a distinct sppcies. I never described paliatus, nor claimed it in any way. It never has been described, I believe, but having been so long known as paliatus of Ravenel, 1 hope it will be continued as such. 1 have no desire to have my name attached to any species which 1 have not been the fiist to de- scribe. Regarding the " notes " on several species at the end of Mr. Conrad's synop- sis, having long since given my opinion respecting 77. complanatus, Solander, U. obliquus Lam. and most of the others, I shall not repeat these opinions; but I am glad to see in a note on cariosns, Say, (p. 264,) that he has at last done justice to Lamarck in acknowledging his luteolus. In this note he says he followed Ferussac in referring luteolus to that species, but that his "description does not apply. It very well describes 77. siliquoideus Barnes." I stated in 1833 that, having examined Lamark's specimen of luteolus in Paris, I found it to be a true siliquoideus Bar., and therefore have ever since given luteolus priority, as I was bound to do in common justice. But notwithstanding that Lamark 248 [ [December, '* very well describes the 77. siliquoideus Barnes,5' (under the name of luteolus} as Mr. Conrad states, and that I had mentioned (Trans. 1833) having seen the spe- cimen itself in Paris, still Mr. Conrad, in 1834, places luteolus Lam. as a sy- nonym to cariosus, Say; and in 1836, changing siliquoideus Bar. into a type, he says he would have adopted luteolus Lam., if Ferussac had not referred La- mark's specimen of luteolus to cariosus, Say. Thus relying more on Ferussac 's opinion (whom I found really not very well acquainted with our species) than to his own judgment on studying a description, which did apply; or, on mine, to confirm it, who had examined the original carefully. Now in 1853, he comes to the conclusion that 77. luteolus Lam. = 77. siliquoideus Bar., exactly what I stated twenty years ago in the Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. vol. 5, p. 91. The note on 77. viridis Raf. (p. 266) may be answered by saying that in de- scribing 77. Tappanianus, I did not then believe, nor do I now, that it is the shell Rafinesque had before him when he wrote his description. He does not allude to the striking peculiarity of the teeth of Tappanianus, and he says his shell is « common in the Kentucky and the small rivers adjacent." The Tappanianus is supposed not to exist in the west. The reason that I did not retain the name of viridis and give it to Mr. Conrad as he suggests, was that I did not believe that he and Rafinesque described the same shell, and I did not wish to use the names of the latter.* The fact stated by Mr. Conrad, that the specimen was labelled by Rafinesque himself as the 77. viridis, and that its habitat was the Kentucky river, ought to have satisfied him that it was one of the nu- merous errors of Rafinesque. f That there is an error in the habitat or the name, there is no doubt. Mr. Say, in his Synopsis, with the advantage of comparing this specimen labelled by Rafinesque, declares it to be his cariosus ! This affords another of the very many difficulties attending the attempt to substantiate Mr. Rafinesque's species. It has been the cause of the loss of an immense deal of time among naturalists, and it would have been better for Natural History if he was entirely "considered to be destitute of authority and entirely unworthy of notice," as Dr. Binney years ago concluded. As regards the note on obliquus Lam. (p. 265), Mr. Conrad suggests that I considered undatus Bar. a synonym, because Mr. Barnes gave it with a mark of doubt. Mr. Conrad does not advert to the fact that I had seen the original spe- cimen in Paris in 1832, and that I had published my note of it on my return. In his note on 77. fasciolus Raf. (p. 267) he says that the specimen was la- belled by Rafinesque. Notwithstanding this it was not admitted by him in his Synopsis of 1834 at all ! But Mr. Say introduced it in his Synopsis with multi- radiatus Lea, as a synonym, which {multiradiatus) Mr. Conrad had admitted as a. good species. In 1836, however, Mr. Conrad in his Monography, introduced fasciolus Raf., and then degraded multiradiatus as its synonym. Now in 1853 he makes multiradiatus a synonym to ligarnentinus Lam., and fasciolus is made to appropriate subangulatus Lea, as a synonym, which was described in Trans. 1840 in vol. 8th not 10th as quoted by Mr. Conrad. I am gratified to see (p. 266) that 77. trigonus Lea, after twenty years denial, is acknowledged to be a distinct species. In Mr. Conrad's Synopsis, 1834, he made it a synonym to undatus Bar., as Mr. Say also did in his Synopsis. My own label on the specimen given by me to the Academy at the time, was su- perseded for years by Barnes's name of another shell. There never was any doubt in my own mind about it, after I had given it a proper examination. I object to Mr. Conrad's changing my name TJnio Moussonianus, named after Prof. Mousson, to Moussianus, and that of Estabroolianus, named after Prof. Es- tabrook, to Eastbrookianus , as well also Margaritana Vandenbusehiana, named after Dr. Vandenbusch, to Buschiana. * My having done so in the 77. interruptus and one or two others was entirely an oversight and unintentional. I always intended to avoid using Rafinesque's names. f In a letter from the late Dr. Ward, of Chilicothe, 1836, he says in regard to this species, " that is another of Professor Rafinesque's apocryphal tales." 1854.] 249 Some of my species seem to be entirely omitted in this Synopsis. I do not observe U. aheneus, 77. occultus, IT. Oregonensis, 77. patulus, 77. pressus, 77. suc- cissus, CT. multiplicatus (nor heros Say), Anodonta Dunlapiana nor An. glohosa. In a note on cuneatus Raf. (p. 267), Mr. Conrad says it is a form between XT. patulus and 77. clavus, but he does not place patulus Lea, in his list of species, although in his Monography in 1838 he acknowledges it with a description and figure. At page 258 Mr. Conrad gives « 77. tenerus Ravenel, Lea, 1834, V. 63, 9, 2." I never described nor figured this shell, and there is no reference to it in vol. 5, Trans, at p. 63, nor is it figured in plate 9. 77. teneris Ravenel and 77. paliatus Ravenel, are most singularly erroneous in their introduction. They have both been well known under Dr. Ravenel's names by his kindly distributing them. Having himself named them when he sent them to me, I distributed duplicates at home and abroad with his names. Although he did not describe them subse- quently, as 1 supposed he would, I still retained his names in my editions of the Synopsis and quoted the authorship to him. Mr. Conrad, by not keeping to a strict rule, gives in his Synopsis one (paliattis) to me and the other {tene- rus') to Ravenel. To add to this error he refers to my memoirs for both of them, quoting the page of text and the plates for figures, where they never have ap- peared at all ! I trust that I have vindicated the dates of my species by references to the facts regarding them. This defence has cost me much time in searching for the proofs necessary to rebut the errors of this Synopsis, and 1 think it will not be denied that it is effectually done. The Recording Secretary read his Annual Report, as follows : REPORT OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY For 1854. During the past year twenty-eight Members and eighteen Correspondents have been elected. One has resigned. Four have died, to wit : Mr. John Speakman, one of the Founders of the Academy ; Octavus A. Norris, Esquire ; Robert M. Patterson, M.D.; and Jacob G. Morris, Esquire, wh© was lost with the steamship Arctic. During the same period sixty-four papers have been read before the Society, intended for publication in their Journal or Proceedings : By Spencer F. Baird, two, to wit: 1. Descriptions of new species of North American Ranseformes and Hylreformes in the Museum of the Smithsonian Insti- tution. 2. Descriptions of new Birds, collected between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and San Francisco, Ca1., th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. Henry G. Dalton, dated Georgetown, De- merara, British Guiana, Dec. 28th, 1854, transmitting a copy of his re- cent work on that country. Also, a letter from the Zoological Society of London, dated 81st October, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Journal and Proceed- ings of the Academy. Mr. Conrad presented for publication in the Proceedings three papers severally entitled " Descriptions of eighteen new Cretaceous and Ter- tiary Fossils," " Descriptions of eight new species of Cretaceous Shells from Texas, in the collection of Major Emory," and " Description of a new species of Melania ;" which were referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Car- son and Mr. Foulke. 1855.] 265 February 20th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. George Dock, dated Harrisburgh, Penna. accompanying the donation from him acknowledged this evening. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Synopsis of the Pyrochroides of the United States :" which was referred to Mr. Guex, Dr. Zantzinger and Mr. Cooke. Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings en- titled u Notes on North American Falconidse, with descriptions of new species." Referred to Dr. Wilson, Col. McCall and Dr. tlenderson. Mr. Isaac Lea exhibited a specimen of the tanned skin of the Walrus. It consists only of the cutis vera, and is one inch and three-sixteenths in thickness. It was manufactured near Hull, and is used for polishing cutlery. Mr. Cassin remarked with reference to the specimen of Crex pra- tensis presented this evening, that it was the first he had ever known to be obtained on the continent of America, and the species is another to be added to the list of accidental visitors from Northern Europe. Of this description of stragglers, the European Widgeon and the European green-winged Teal most frequently occur, but no specimen of a land bird had ever come under bis observation, the present specimen being the nearest approach to it. This specimen he had been assured by Mr. Patterson, who presents it this evening, was shot in the vicinity of Salem, N. J., and was prepared by him from the recently killed bird. February 27th. Col. McCall in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred papers by Mr. Conrad, read February 13th, by Dr. LeConte, read February 20th, and by Mr. Cassin, read same date, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Descriptions of eighteen New Cretaceous and Tertiary Fossils} fyc. By T. A. Conrad. Cretaceous Species. BACULITES. Baculites annulatus. — Subcylindrical, ribbed ; ribs annular, some of them robust, flattened, remote, and generally partially sulcated or bifurcated, the intermediate ribs narrower and less prominent; septa bifurcating in two long equal branches, with intermediate comparatively short segments, the foliations very acutely angulated. Locality. — Dallas County. HAMITES. 1. H.larvatus. — Ovate-oval, obliquely ribbed; back rounded, the opposite side truncated; ribs obsolete on the back, prominent and acute laterally, and increasing in elevation alternately towards the back, where they are truncated 263 [February, and form two series of salient angles or tubercles; intermediate rib nearly equal in size, rounded on the submargin of the back, entire. (A cast.) Locality. — Dallas County. 2. H. rotundatus. — Rounded ; ribs distant, acute, the intervening spaces regularly and profoundly concave; back flattened, with the ribs obsolete and three indistinct longitudinal lines. (Cast.) Locality. — Dallas County. ANCYLOCERAS? D'Orbigny. A. approximans. — Rounded; ribs acute, oblique, prominent, alternated or bifurcated at the larger end, where there are two distant series of remote tubercles, which are not transversely opposite each other. Locality. — Arkansas. Prof. Thomas. CRIOCERAS, D'Orbigny. C. (Ammonceras) Conradi, Morton. — This species was described from a single specimen found at Walnford, Ocean Co., N. J. I have since obtained another through the kindness of Miss Wain. It characterizes the lowest part of the cretaceous series. CAPRINA. C quadrata. — Transverse subquadrate, three of the sides flattened, slightly furrowed in the middle. Locality. Alabama. Jos. Jones. CARDIUM. Subgenus Protocardia. Cardium Arkansense. — Cordate, profoundly ventricose, inequilateral ; umbo and summit very prominent ; disk with minute radiating lines ; posterior side cuniform, extremity nearly at equal distance between beak and base. Locdlily. — Arkansas. Prof. Thomas. Eocene polyp. DENDROPHYLLIA ? Subgenus Petrophyllia, Conrad. Corallum not cellular, but in layers like the coats of an onion ; branches anastomosing; central axial star having distant septa between the lamellae. D.? {Petrophyllia) Arhansensis. — Corallum minutely granulated, suboval, sides faintly marked with vermicular lines; calicles round, not very prominent, unequally distributed, proximate or remote; lamellae minutely serrate. Locality. — White River, Arkansas. Prof. Thomas. Madrepora vermiculosa, Con., belongs to the genus Dendrophyllia, but not to the above subgenus. Eocene onultiv aires. CHITON. 1. C. antiquics. — Terminal valves subtriangular, acutely rounded at base or subangulated, punctate, and with minute radiating impressed lines. Locality. — Claiborne, Alabama. This species is named in the Appendix to Morton's "Cretaceous group," but the description is now first published. 2. C. Eocenensis. — Terminal valve rather acutely rounded at base ; ribs 18 or 19, rounded, unequal, a few divided by an impressed line nearly their entire length, a few divided only near the base; surface obsoletely punctate or granu- lated. Locality. — Claiborne, Alabama. These two species are only known by their terminal valves, and are very rare. 1855.] 267 Miocene Species. ANOMJA, Lin. A. subcostata. — Obtusely ovate from base to back; lower valve thick, with interrupted somewhat tubercular radii ; upper valve thin, radii obsolete or wanting. Height l£ in. Locality. — Colorado Desert. Dr. Heermann. Shell silicified. OSTREA, Lin. O. Heermanni. — Very irregular in form, thick, ovate and subfalcate, often dilated; lower valve shallow, the exterior very irregular, with large distant angular radiating ribs, and with pits or cavities ; cartilage pit broad and oblique ; upper valve flat or concave, with a profoundly irregular surface. Height 6 inches. Locality. — Colorado Desert. Dr. Heermann. Shell silicified. MERC EN ARIA, Schum. M. perlaminosa. — Obliquely-cordate, very inequilateral, with numerous, pro- minent, recurved, lamelliform, concentric ribs; lunule cordate, not deeply impressed; posterior margin truncated, direct ; within purple from the pallial impression to the base; margin finely crenulated. Locality. — California. Dr. Heermann. Allied to M. Ducatellii, Con., of the New Jersey ?*Iioeene. PECTEN, Lin. P. Heermanni. — Suborbicular, thin, compressed; ribs about 21, square, smooth; ears moderate in size. Locality. — California. Dr. Heermann. Allied to P. eboreus of the Virginia Miocene, but very distinct. Only two inferior valves were obtained. They are slightly convex. DIADORA; Gray. CEMORTA, Leach. C crucibuliformis. — Oval; height about two-thirds of the length; apex, central, curved towards the anterior margin; ribs 20 or 21, distant, narrow, prominent ,* interstices with each a fine line. Locality. — California. Dr. Heermann. Many authors adopt Leach's name for this genus, but I suppose it was unpub- lished at the time Gray's appeared. PANDORA. P. bilirata. — Oblong, very inequilateral, contracted anteriorly, convex me- dially ; posterior side with two distant carinated lines towards the hinge margin which is straight and not oblique; posterior extremity truncated. Locality. — Occurs w.th the preceding. CARDITA. C. occidentalis. — Subtriangular, equilateral? ventricose; ribs 15, rounded, wider than the interstices, and regularly granulated by transverse lines. Locality. — Occurs with the preceding. Allied to C. , of the San Pedro recent formation, but proportionally more elevated and having more prominent granules. ASTARTE, Sow. A. Thomasii. — Triangular, not ventricose, inequilateral; ribs concentric, robust, recurved ; concentric lines more or less marked, minute; towards the posterior end the ribs suddenly become obsolete; extremity truncated, nearly 268 [February, direct, or sloping inwards; inner margin crenulated ; lunule large, ovate, acute, deeply excavated. Locality.— Near Mullica Hill. Prof. Thomas. TURRITELLA. T. secta. — Turrited ; volutions flattened or plano-convex at the sides, with minute obsolete revolving lines, a few of which are larger than the others and remote; whorls subcarinated near the base and profoundly excavated beneath towards the suture. Locality — Occurs with the preceding. Prof. Thomas. Descriptions of one Tertiary and eight New Cretaceous Fossils from Texas, in the Collection of Major Emory* By T. A. Conrad. ROSTELLITES, Conrad. Univalve, elongated, with an expanded labium, and having numerous oblique plaits on the columella. This genus is related to Apoorhais, but differs in having a plaited columella. The entire shell or cast has never been obtained, and the outline cannot be determined. Rostellites Texanus. — Narrow, elongated, with a subulate spire; plaits oblique, narrow, acute, largest above, and becoming obsolete towards the base; whorls of the spire flattened on the sides. Locality. — Eagle Pass. The description was made from a cast, with only traces of the shell remaining, the substance of which appears to have been thick, A large portion of the flat- tened columella remains. The cast is associated with Cardium congest um. TURRITELLA, Lam. Turritella irrorata. — Slightly turrited, subulate, elongated ; whorls with four to rive fine revolving unequal beaded lines on each, and an intermediate smooth minute line. Locality. — Between El Paso and Frontera ? This shell differs from T. seriatim-granulata, Roemer, in having much finer lines and tubercles, and in having a smooth line between each of the beaded ones. It is associated with Nodosaria occidentalism the very small Venus quiit- quecosta, and the little Corbula occidentalis. It is imbedded in a highly fossil- iferous, ferruginous, indurated clay, which appears to have been obtained from the same bed with Cardium Texamtm. CAPRINA. 1. Caprina planata. — A fragment of one valve two feet or more in length, and another smaller fragment represented in the figure. Flattened on one side and convex on the other, a much compressed outline; the shell is very long and narrow, falcate, fibrous, and distinctly exhibiting the small septa as they occur in the genus Caprina. The cavities between the septa are lined with crystals of carbonate of lime, and the shell is imbedded in white friable limestone resembling chalk marl. Locality. — Oak Creek, near Puercos. 2. C. occidentalis. — Falcate; flattened on the side of the outer curve, convex on the opposite ; the other margins acutely rounded ; surface very obscurely striated transversely; substance coarsely fibrous. Locality. — Near the mouth of Puercos River, Texas. A. Schott. The matrix of this shell resembles chalk marl. 1855.] 269 NEITHEA, Drouet. / Neithea occidentalism — Ovato-triangular, angulated; lower valve inflated, unequally ribbed and concentrically lined, lines very fine; large ribs five, rounded and elevated; smaller ribs equal, two in number in each of the intervals between the larger ribs, which latter have on each side a raised line or fine rib, giving it a trifid character; right valve flat, subconcave. Pecten quadricostatus, var. Roemer. Kreid von Texas, p. 64, pi. 8, fig. 4. This species differs from N. guadricostata in having but two equal ribs between the larger ones, whilst that species has three corresponding ribs, and it is also proportionally a narrower or more elevated shell. There is quite as much difference between the two as between N. qnadricostata and N. quinque- costata,. MACTRA, Lin. Mactra Texana. — Triangular, ventricose, subequilateral ; anterior extremity subangulated and slightly produced, much above the line of the base, which is regularly and profoundly curved; posterior margin obliquely truncated, ex- tremity angulated ; anterior margin straight and very oblique ; umbo prominent. Locality. — Prairie between Laredo and Rio Grande City, Texas. This species occurs only in casts, and is placed with doubt among the cre- taceous fossils. EXOGYRA, Say. 1. E. fragosa. — Orbicular, lower valve ventricose posteriorly, flattened an- teriorly ; ribs very large, prominent, irregular, some of them bifurcated ; umbo not prominent, small, flattened, inner margin rugose-striate. Differs from E. ponder osa, Roem., in its large ribs, small umbo, &c. Locality. Between El Paso and Frontera. Major Emory. 2. E. fimhriata. — Upper valve. Very thick, profoundly convex, with ten or twelve distant concentric imbricated lamina. T Locality. Texas. Major Emory. Tertiary Species. O. contracta. — Subfalcate, elongated; cavity shallow and remarkably contracted near the hinge. Length nearly two feet. Locality. Oyster point, near Mier, Mexico. Description of a Nevj Species of Melania. By T. A. Conrad. Melania exigua. — Turrited ; volutions 8, disposed to be angulated and some- what scalariform above, cancellated, longitudinal lines wanting on the lower half of the body whorl ; columella reflected ; aperture elliptical. Length one- fifth of an inch. Locality. — Colorado desert, California. Dr. Le Conte. The specimens are numerous and of a chalky whiteness, showing that they are all dead shells. Said to have been found one hundred and twenty miles distant from any stream passed in the route. 1 am indebted to Dr. Caspar Parkinson and Mr. Mactier for specimens. 270 [February, Synopsis of the Pyrochroides of the United States. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. The definition under which I include the native genera helow mentioned, some of which have been widely separated by preceeding authors, may be thus expressed. Coleoptera heteromera, capite postice coarctato, collo (Hstincto thoraci affixo; oculis emar^inatis praecipue magnis ; abdomine articulis 5 vel 6 liberis, para- pleuris parallelis; coxis anticis contiguis conicis, acetabulis postice imperfectis ; tarsis articulo penultimo saepissime calceato vel emarginato, unguibus iam ad basin dentatis, iam simplicibus, raro appendici basali elongata (sicut in Meloi- dis pluribus) instructis. Thus the group differs from Anthicidae by the emarginate eyes and paral- lel parapleural ; while dentate or appendiculate ungues are not found in that family. In Lagriariae the anterior acetabula are closed posteriorly and the coxae are small; the head too is hardly constricted. Our genera may be thus arranged : A. Collum crassum: tarsi articulo penultimo emarginato: ungues simplices : abdomen 5-articulatum. Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo dilatato, triangulari Eurygenius Ferte Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo elongato, cultriformi Stereopalpus Ferte B. Collum tenue, tarsi articulo penultimo lobato, abdomen 5-articulatum, ar- ticulo lmo longiore: ungues dente magno armati. Antennae articulis 3 ultimis maioribus, elongatis Macratria Newman C. Collum tenue ; tarsi articulo penultimo praecipue lobato : abdomen articulo lmo hand longiore: palpi maxillares articulo ultimo longiore. f Ungues dente magno armati : abdomen £6-articu latum PedWus Fischer ft Unrues vix dentati ; abdomen % 6-articulatum, 9 5-articulatum. Ungues hand appendiculati : tarsi lobati. Oculi distantes Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo subtriangulari Pyrochroa Fair. Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo ovali Schizotus Newman Oculi maximi approximati Dendroides Latr. Ungues appendice filiformi elongata instructi : tarsi fili- formes. Nematoplus Lee. D. Collum tenue; ungues simplices minuti ; palpi articulo valde dilatato : abdomen 5-articulatum, articulo lmo haud longiore. Xylophilus Bon. Eurygenius Ferte. 1, E. Wildii, niger breviter nigro-hispidus, capite thoraceque densissime pubescentibus, hoc canaliculato, campanulato, latitudine non longiore, elytris pube sordida subvittatis. Long. *42. Kentucky : a fine specimen of this species was recently given me by Mr. J. P. Wild, of Baltimore, to whom I dedicate it with great pleasure, as a slight testi- mony of my appreciation of his great energy and success in collecting similar objects. Larger than the following species. The head and thorax are very densely clothed with brownish grey hair, with scattered suberect black hairs, and are confluently punctured : the former is finely channelled between the eyes. The thorax is subcordate, not longer than wide, canaliculate, much rounded on the sides before ihe middle, with the anterior constriction distinct. The ehtra are one half wider than the thorax, densely and coarsely punctured, with short black hairs proceeding from each puncture; they are irregularly mottled with dense brownish grey pubescence, with four narrow blackish vittae on each. Beneath densely covered with grayish hair. 2. E. murinus, niger breviter nigro-hispidus, cinereo-pubescens, thorsice 1855.] 271 subcampanulato, latitudine longiore, canaliculate, elytris guttis cinereo-pubes- centibus variegatis. Long. -38. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. of New York. 5, 152. Ichthydion\ murinum Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 304. Georgia and Alabama, rare. Black, uniformily covered with ashy hair, and with scattered short suberect bristles. Head and thorax confluently punctured, channeled : the latter one third longer than wide, rounded on the sides before the middle, very slightly narrowed behind; anterior constriction moderately distinct ; elytra one half wider than the thorax, coarsely and densely punctured, variegated with small spots of more dense ashy pubescence. Although Prof. Haldeman's description is long anterior to the date at which the present genus was established, he unfortunately did not give any generic character, and I was therefore compelled to change the name given by him. 3. E. c o n s t r i c t u s , ater elongatus, cinereo-pubescens, longe griseo-his- pidus, thorace campanulato, latitudine longiore, elytris guttis cinereo-pubes- centibus variegatis. Long. «35 — «4. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. of New York, 5, 151. San Diego, California. Narrower than the preceding, covered both above and beneath with ashy pubescence and long erect gray hairs : head and thorax confiuenily punctured, not channeled : the latter is nearly one half longer than wide, rounded on the sides anteriorly, a little narrowed behind, with the ante- rior constriction very distinct. Elytra one half wirier than the thorax, densely and coarsely punctured, variegated with spots of denser cinereous hair. Stereopalptjs Ferte. 1. S. M e 1 1 y i, elongatus, fusco-olivaceus, subtiliter cinereo-pubescens, capite thoraceque nigricantibus, hoc campanulato canaliculato, latitudine longiore, pe- dibus ferrugineis. Long. «28. La Ferte, Anthic. 5, cum tab. South Carolina, Dr. Zimmerman : the detailed description of La Ferte leaves nothing to be added : from the following species it is easily distinguished by its narrower form and canaliculate thorax. 2. S. b a d i i p e n n i s , fuscus subtiliter dense cinereo-pubescens, capite tho- raceque nigris hoc campanulato, latitudine fere breviore, elytris badio-testaceis, pedibus ferrugineis. Long. -35. Michigan. Body dark brown, covered with fine cinereous pubescence : head and thorax confluently punctured, black: the line between the eyes faint: thorax scarcely wider than long, rounded on the sides anteriorly, then obliquely nar- rowed to the base, slightly impressed each side at the middle : anterior constric- tion short, distinct only at the sides : elytra wider than the thorax, coarsely punctured, the punctures smaller towards the tip; light yellowish brown. Feet reddish yellow : first joint of the antennae brown. 3. S. guttatus, aeneo-niger, cinereo pubescens, thorace campanulato, sub- tiliter canaliculato, latitudine vix longiore, elytris guttis cinereis variegatis. Long. #3. Two specimens found at Fort Laramie, in Nebraska territory. Black, slightly bronzed, finely pubescent : head and thorax confluently punctured, the latter not longer than wide, rounded on the sides in front, then obliquely slightly narrowed to the base, finely canaliculate, with a slight impression each side at the middle : anterior constriction short, deep. Elytra densely and coarsely punctured, one half wider than the thorax, variegated with numerous small round spots of dense whitish hair. Although colored like the species of the preceding genus, the palpi terminate in a long cultiform joint. Macratria Newman. Macrarthria Er. Maerarthrius Ferte. The reason for chaiging tha oiiginal name proposed for this genus rs not 07<> — i — [February, obvious ; it has a meaning, and undoubtedly should not be altered so as to give it a different meaning, either for the sake of uniformity of termination (!) or for any other reason whatsoever, unless it can be shown to have been previously occupied. 1. M. m u r i n a, sriseo-olivacea, dense sericeo-pubescens, thorace elliptico, capite fere latiore, elytris striatis, antennarum articulo ultimo longiore. Long. •18. Matrarthria mitrina Er., Bericht fiber, &c. Entom. 183S (in Erichs. Archiv.) MacrarthHus mvrinus Ferte, Mon. Anthic. 16. Dirccea murina Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 91. Middle and Southern States ; common. Body covered with very dense serice- ous yellowish hair. Head finely punctured, slightly convex, narrowed behind the eyes, and subtruncate : mouth and oral organs yellow. Antennae with the sec- ond joint scarcely longer than the third : the following to the 8th are equal ; 9th and 10th fuscous, pale at the tip, nearly as long as the two preceding united: thorax very little wider than the head, one half longer than wide, elliptical, margined posteriorly, finely scabrous. Elytra striate with fine punctures : interstices very finely scabrous. Legs varying from yellow to piceous ; the anterior pair usually paler. The male has the 5th segment of the abdomen truncate, whereby the 6th becomes visible. In the female the 2nd segment is impressed transversely each side. In both sexes the first segment is conspicuously longer. 2. M. confusa, atra minus dense cinereo-pubescens, thorace elongato-ovato, capite non latiore, elytris vix seriat impunctatis, antennarum articulis 3 ultimis elongatis subaequalibus. Long. 18. Two males. Georgia. Darker colored than the preceding, with less dense pubescence. Head finely and sparsely punctured, rounded posteriorly, with the occipital impression longer than in M. murina. Mouth and its organs yellow ; antennee with the 2nd joint scarcely shorter than the 3rd, 3—7 equal, 8th fuscous, a little shorter than the 7th ; 9 — 11 fuscous, nearly twice as long as the 7th and Sth united, nearly equal, the 11th being a little longer. Thorax densely sca- brous, not wider than the head, nearly twice as long as wide, disc subelliptical, a little narrowed behind, where it is margined. Elytra with punctures arranged in indistinct series, interstices scarcely scabrous or punctured. Feet piceous; base of anterior thighs rufous. First segment of abdomen hardly elongated. The discovery of this second species within our territory seems to confirm the opinion of Ferte, that M. linearis Neivman, (Entom. Mag. 4, 377,) is dis- tinct from M. murina, though the great carelessness with which Newman's de- scriptions were made, should prevent us from placing reliance on them, in the absence of any corroborating circumstances. Newman's figure does not show the very strong basal margin of the thorax which exists in all the species of the genus, and where a character so evident has been omitted, we are prepared to expect any inaccuracy whatever, both in the outline and details of the figure. Pedilus Fischer. 1. P.punc tiilatus, nisjer tenuiter cinereo-pubescens, capite punctulato, collo confertim punctato, thorace transverso rotundato rufo nitido, subtiliter parce punctulato, elytris sat dense subtilius punctatis. Long. -26 — 32. Variat capite fusco, elytris fusco-testaceis. Mas, abdominis segmento quinto ventrali truncato, 6to conspicuo ; elytris macula apicali pallida fere laevigata ad apicem impressa. Femina elytris con- coloribus. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. of New York, 5, 151. San Francisco, California, on flowers, in June. 2. P. co liar is, niger tenuiter cinereo-pubescens, thorace transverso ro- tundato, rufo nitido, elytris parce rugosis, sat dense minus subtiliter punctatis, punctis postice minoribus, ad apicem fere obsoletis; antennarum basi palpisque piceis. Long. *25. Mas latet. 1355.] 273 Anthicas collaris Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 240. (Corphyra) Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1, 189. Pedilus rufitliorax Newman, Ent. Mag. 5, 375. Pedilus marginicollis (var)J Ziegler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 47. Pedilus infumatusX Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d, 1, 83. (? £ ) Anthicus terminalis Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 247. Middle States and New England. 3. P. 1 u g u b r i s, niger, cinereo-pubescens, thorace treinsverso rotuntlafo, nitido, elytris parce rugosis sat dense minus subtiliter punctatis, punctis pos- tice minoribus ; antennarum basi palpis tarsisque piceis. Long. -2-1 — *33. Mas latet. Anthicus lugubris Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 246: (Corphyra) Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1, 189. Pyrochroa infumatu Hentz, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc 3, 257. Pedilus imus Newman, Ent. Mag. 5, 375: Lee. J. Ac. Nat. Sc. 2d, 1, 8?.. Pyrochroa inornata Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 2, 23. Pedilus nigricans Ziegler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 4C5. Middle States, New England and Lake Superior. 4. P. 1 abi at u s, niger, tenuiter cinereo-pubescens, capite parce subtiliter punctato, ore flavo, thorace parce punctulato transverso rotundato, rufo nitido, macula magna discoidali nigra, elytris rugosis conlertim punctatis, punctis pos- tice subtilioribus, coxis testaceis, tarsis palpisque piceis. Long. .29. Mas, abdominis segmento quinto ventrali truncato, sexto conspicuo : elytris mox ante apicem fovea profunda rotundata impressis, sutura in spina brevi pro- ducta. Femina elytris simplicibus. Anthicus labiatus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 247 : (Corphyra) Say, Bost. Journ. 1, 189. Pedilus marginicollis Ziegler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 47. Middle and Western States. The coxae in one specimen are so dark as to ap- pear almost piceous : the basal articulations of the antenna? are somewhat brownish. 5. P. p ul c h er, niger, tenuiter cinereo-pubescens, thorace rufo transverso rotundato, nitido, macula magna discoidali nigra, elytris confertim punctatis punctis postice minoribus, ore palpis, antennarum articulis duobus pedibusque rufis. Long. -35. Mas, abdominis segmento quinto ventrali truncato, sexto conspicuo: elytris ante apicem profunde foveatis. Le Conte, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d, 1, 84. One specimen collected in Kentucky was given me by Prof. Haldeman. 6. P. impressus, niger nitidior, parce cinereo-pubescens, thorace trans- verso rotundato rufo, elytris minus dense punctatis ad apicem fere obsoletis. Long. '21. Mas abdominis segmento quinto ventrali truncato, elytris utrinque ad suturam prope apicem impressione profunda ovali ad apicem extensa. Femina, elytris simplicibus. Anthicus impresszis Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 248 : (Corphyra) Say, Bost. Journ. 1, 189. Middle States. Resembles in color and general characters P. collaris, but the more shining and more coarsely punctured elytra will distinguish it. The base of the antennae is sometimes piceous and sometimes black. 7. P. guttula, niger, nitidior, parce fere nigro-pubescens, thorace magis transverso, rotundato, rufo, elytris minus dense grossius punctatis, punctis versus apicem fere obsoletis. Long. *20 — 22. Mas, abdominis segmento ventrali quinto truncato, sexto conspicuo: elytris macula communi rotundata, ad apicem pallida ornatis, et ad suturam leviter impressis. Femina elytris concoloribus. Newman, Ent. Mag. 5, 375. LeConte, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d, 1, 84. 274 [February, ?Anthicus terminalis Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc 5, 247: (Corphyra) Say, Bost. Journ. 1, 1S9 Middle States. The punctures of the elytra are even larger than in the pre- ceding, but the form of body in this as in the two following is less slender, and the thorax is more transverse than in any above described. It is impossible to determine whether Say's description refers to the male of this or of p. c ol 1 a r i s. 8. P. N e w m a n i, niger, tenuiter fere nigro-pubescens, capite thoraceque nitidis, hoc magis transverso rotundato, elytris minus parce sat grosse punctatis, punctis postice minoribus. Long. -25. Mas abdominis segmento quinto ventrali truncato, sexto conspicuo ; elytris ad apicem gutta communi pallida ornatis, ad suturam profunde impressis. Fe- mina latet. Pedilas lugubri-s\\ Newman, Ent. Mag. 5, 375. One specimen, from Maine. The male of P. lugubris probably resembles this species very closely, but the finer punctures of the elytra and more distinct gray pubescence will enable it to be recognized. 9. P. elegans, cyaneo-niger, nitidior, subtilius fere nigro-pubescens, thorace magis transverso rotundato, flavo, elytris discrete punctatis, versus apicem fere leevibus, ore palpis pedibusque flavis, antennarum basi testaceis. Long. «24 — 3. Mas, abdominis segmento quinto ventrali truncato, sexto conspicuo: elytris bulla apicali laevigata flava ad suturam leviter impressa ornatis. Femina elytris concoloribus. % LeConte, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d, 1, 84. % Pyroehroa elegans Hentz, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 3, 275. £ Pedilus hcemorrhoidaUs Ziegler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 46. 9 Pedilus ruficollis Ziegler, Proc. Acad. 2, 46. Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d, 1, 83. Middle States. 10. P. fulvipes Newman, Ent. Mag. 5, 375. Unknown to me. The body is black and the feet yellow. Pyrochroa Geoffroy. 1. P. flab ell at a, fulvo-testacea pubescens. elytris nigris subtiliter scabris, antennis nigris articulis duobus primis testaceis. Long. *6 — 67. Mas, capite inter oculos late concavo, vertice transversim valde excavato, medio emarginato, et antice cornu brevi instructo: segmento abdominis ven- trali quinto truncato sexto conspicuo emarginato : antennis modice pectinatis. Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. 2, 105. Syst. El. 2, 109. Olivier, Ins. 53, tab. 1, fig. 3. Middle States, not rare. 2. P. femoral is, nigra pubescens, elytris subtiliter scabris; capite thoraceque fulvo-testaceis nitidis, scutello, antennarum articulo primo, coxis femoribusque dimidio exteriore fulvo-testaceip, palpis piceis. Long. *55 — 66. Mas capite inter oculos foveis duabus maximis profundis confiuentibus, alte- risque duabus parvis anticis ; segmento ventrali 5to truncato, 6to conspicuo testaceo valde emarginato : antennis longe pectinatis. » Femina capite inter oculos transversim excavato ; antennis breviter pectinatis. Middle and Western States. The thorax is less transverse than in P. flabel- lata, and is not much wider than the head. Schizotus Newman. 1. S. cervical is, nigro-piceus cinereo-pubescens, fronte thoraceque rufis opacis, hoc capite sesqui latiore transverso rotundato, late canaliculato, inoeqtiali, elytris subtiliter scabris sutura margineque anguste testaceis. Long. -26 — '32. Mas capite foveis magnis maxime profundis duabus postice impressis ; abdo- 1855.] 275 minis segmento quinto ventrali truncato, sexto conspicuo subemarginato : anten- nis longissime ramosis. Femina latet. Newman, Ent. Mag. 5, 375. Lake Superior : found by Mr. Doubleday in Western New York. Dendroides Latr. 1. D. canadensis, rufo-testaceus parcius pubescens, ely tris discrete pune- tatis nigris, capite inter oculos fusco, thorace ovali latitudine fere longiore antror- sum attenuato, postice late foveato parce punctato, antennis piceis. Long. -35 —•55. Mas, oculis maximis fere continguis ; abdominis segmento quinto ventraii truncato, sexto conspicuo ernarginato : antennis longissime ramosis. Femina, oeulis magnis at bene discretis interstitio fusco-piceo punctato ; antennis modice pectinatis, ramis articulis haud longioribus. Latreille, Consid. gen. (1810.) Pogonocerus bicolor Newman, Ent. Mag. 5, 375. Middle, Southern and Western States, not rare. The generic name given by Latreille, has two years piiority over Pogonocerus of Fischer. 2. D. concolor, rufo-testaceus parcius pubescens, elytris discrete punctatis, capite parce punctulato, thorace latitudine longiore, antrorsum attenuato, fovea parva basali notato laevi, antennis fuscis basi testaceis. Long. '46. Sexus differentia sicut inL. canadensi. Middle and Northern portions of the United States. 3. D. testaceus, saturate testaceus, parce pubescens, capite fere piceo punctato, parcius inter oculos, thorace latitudine haud longiore antrorsum attenuato parce punctulato, basi breviter canaliculato, elytris densius punctatis et rugosis. — Long. "46. Femina, oculis mediocribus, bene discretis, antennis serratis, extrorsum brevi- ter pectinatis, ramis praecipue articulis brevioribus. Mas latet. One specimen from Lake Superior. Differs from the preceding by the more distant eyes, the broader thorax and the more densely punctured elytra ; the joints of the antennae, from the 3d to the 6th are triangular, and the following are gradually more and more produced at the extremity. In D. concolor, the 6th joint is provided with a branch nearly as long as the seventh joint. 4. Pogonocerus ephemeroides Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 348. Russian America ; unknown to me. Nematopltis Lee. Caput longe pone oculos subito constrictum, collo brevi crasso : palpi maxillares articulo ultimo ovali truncato, praecedente longiore ; labiales breves articulo ultimo ovali truncato, ligula emarginata ; mandibular apice bicuspidatae. Anten- nae fere filiformes, articulo 2ndo parvo, 3io 5to sequentibusque subaequalibus, 4to contiguis paulo longiore. Thorax capiti aequalis transversus, lateribus subangu- latim rotundatus; elytra thorace latiora parallela convexa, humeris prominulis, apice rotundata. Pedes tenues, tarsi elongati filiformes, ungues basi dilatati, at hand dentati, singulus appendice inferiore ungui ipsi fere aequali acuta apice incurva instructi, paranychio parvo distincto. 1. N. collaris, niger, capite opaco, punctulato canaliculato, thorace convexo rufo parce punctulato, canaliculato pone medium late excavato, transverso lateri- bus subangulato, elytris confertim rugose punctatis, lineis utrinque tribus obsoletis, ore flavo, palpis maxillaribus pedibusque piceis, artubus pallidioribus. Long. «35. Mas segmento ventrali abdominis quinto late ernarginato, sexto laevi nitido apice truncato. Femina latet. One specimen, Ann Harbor, Michigan. The form is like that of Eurygenius. 76 [February, Xylophilus Eonelli. In this genus the third joint of all the tarsi is lobed beneath, and the fourth joint of the two anterior pairs is very small, and received upon the third. The proper place is still not well determined: among the Anthicides it cannot remain on account of the emarginate eyes. 1. X. Melsheimer i, elongatus, ater, longius cinereo-pubescens, capite postice recte truncato, thorace confertim punctato, quadrato, ad apicem angus- tato, elytris minus convexis cribratis, testaceis, limbo omni fasciisque dentatis tribus transversis nigris ornatis ; antennis pedibusque piceo-testaceis, femoribus posticis obscuris. Long. *10. Mas, antennis articulo 3io elongato, sequentibus ramo longissimo interno or- natis, 4 — 11 sensim magis elongatis. Femina antennis extrorsum paulo incrassatis, articulo 3io sequente vix lon- giore, 4 — 10 longitudine aequalibus, llmo maiore et longiore. York county, Pennsylvania ; Messrs. Melsheimer & Ziegler. Although by the curious structure of the antennae of the male this beautiful species differs from all the others below described, I can find no characters sufficient to cause it to be separated as a genus. The feet vary in color, being sometimes yellow, with only the posterior thighs fuscous: the antennas of the female are yellow; the bands of the elytra are sometimes confluent, so that the elytra appear black with yellow spots. The head is wider than the thorax, and the elytra are elon- gate parallel, truncate at base, and nearly twice as wide as the thorax. 2. X. n o t a t u s, ater, parcius cinereo-pubescens, capite thoraceque opacis confertim punctulatis hoc quadrato, elytris thorace duplo latioribus convexis nitidiusculis sat grosse punctatis, guttis utrinque ante medium fasciaque lata pone medium flavis, antennis palpis pedibusque testaceis, femoribus posteri- oribus infuscatis. Long. -08. One specimen found in Habersham county, Georgia. The two rounded yel- low spots before the middle of each elytron seem inclined to coalesce into a transverse fascia. The punctures of the elytra are most distant towards the tip. 3. X. pi c e u s, nigro-piceus, cinereo-pruinos us, capite thoraceque confertis- sime punctulatis, opacis, hoc rotundato-quadrato, subtransverso, ad basim trans- versim impresso, elytris thorace duplo latioribus convexis, punctatis, ante medium versus suturam impressis. Long. -08. Middle and Southern States : no external sexual differences were perceived. The feet and antennae are sometimes paler and almost testaceous. 4. X. fa s c i atu s, niger nitidus, griseo-pubescens, capite thoraceque minus subtiliter punctatis hoc transverso quadrato, elytris duplo latioribus convexis, confertim punctatis macula maxima basali alteraque communi apicali fulvis; antennis palpis pedibusque rufo-testaceis. Long. -12. Melsheimer, Proc Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 55. Euglenes fasciatus Haldeman, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc, 2d, 1, 97. Middle and Southern States. The difference between Euglenes Westwood and typical Xylophilus is not obvious. 5. X. signatus, testaceus, cinereo-pubescens, capite confertim punctato fusco, thorace quadrato punctato, latitudine sesqui breviore, elytris grossius confertim punctatis convexis, macula utrinque transversa sinuata nigra ad me- dium ornatis. Long. #09. Euglenes signatus Haldeman, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d, 1, 97. Middle and Southern States. The antenna?, as in the preceding, are gradually thickened externally, the joints from the 3d to the 10th gradually broader, the outer ones being transverse : the 11th is larger, ovoid, and acute at tip. The transverse black spot of the elytra is sometimes broken into two rounded dots. 6. X?basalis, longior ater opacus, pube fusca brevi erecta vestitus, capite thoraceque confertissime subtiliter punctatis, illo postice rotundato, hoc quad- 1855.] 277 rato, antice rotundato, elytris minus convexis, thorace duplo latioi ibus cribratis, margine basali late fulvo: antennis hirsutis, articulo ultimo elongate Lonj:. •13. One specimen, Illinois, Mr. Willcox. The joints of the antennae from the 3d to the 10th are nearly equal, and oblong in form : the 2d is a little shorter : the llth is as long as the two preceding united, but is not thicker: the tip is sorai- what acute. The palpi are rufous. The form of the antennae recalls Tanarthrus (Lee.) among the Anthicidae, but the eyes are deeply emarginate, as in the other species of Xylophilus. The legs are unfortunately all broken off. Notes 071, North American Falconidce, with descriptions of new Species. By John Cassin. Since the time at which my Synopsis of the Falconida?, inhabiting America north of Mexico, was published in the Proceedings of this Academy, (vi. p. 450. December, 1853,) and since, too, the publication of a more extended Synopsis in my Birds of California and Texas, several collections of high interest, contain- ing numerous specimens of birds of this family have been made for account of the Government, principally by parties that have been engaged in surveying routes for a railroad to the Pacific Ocean. Various collections, containing birds of this family have, also, since the periods alluded to, been received by this Academy, in one of which from Greenland, there are specimens of Hierofalco of apparently two species, being the only mature American birds of this genus that I have ever seen. In the present paper, t propose to notice additional localities of previously known species, with such other information as may have been derived from the collections alluded to, forming, in some measure, a continuation of my Synopses above cited. For an opportunity to examine the collections belonging to the Government, I am indebted to the officers of the Smithsonian Institution, in whose custody they are, and more particular descriptions and all information acquired will be published in the Reports of the officers who commanded the various expeditions. 1. Falco nigriceps, Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, 1. p. 87, (Dec. 1853.) The most mature specimen that has ever come under my notice, is in the collection made by J. G. Cooper, M. D., one of the naturalists attached to the Hon. I. I. Stevens' Surveying party. It is labelled as having been obtained at Shoalwater Bay, Washington Territory, March 23d, 1854. The entire upper parts of the body are light bluish cinereous, with which color the head above is more decidedly tinged, than in the specimens originally described by me. The throat and neck in front are white, very faintly tinged with yellowish; other under parts white tinged with ashy and with transverse narrow bars of brownish black, (every feather having about six bars.) Frontal band pure white; under wing coverts pure white with brownish black transverse bars. In this specimen, there is no trace of the pale yellowish red and circular black spots of the under parts which have appeared in all other specimens that 1 have seen. 2. Falco polyagrus, Cassin, B. of Cal., and Texas, 1 p. 88, (Dec. 1S53.) pi. 16. Adult specimens of this bird are in the collection made by Dr.Kennerly, who was attached to the surveying party under command of Lieut. A. W. Whipple, U. S. A., in New Mexico ; also in those made by Dr. Cooper, of Gov. Stevens' party in Washington Territory, by Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A., in Cali- fornia, and by T. C. Henry, M. D., U. S. A., in New Mexico. The original descriptions are from female specimens. Those above alluded to are all adults, and do not differ from my description and figure of the adult female in any material point, except that a male in excellent plumage and condition 278 [February, in Lieut. Whipple's collection is smaller. Its dimensions are as follows : — Total length 16 inches, wing 12i, tail 7 inches. The young male of this species is in Dr. Henry's collection, and differs from the adult only in being somewhat darker in color, though not so dark as the young female described by me as above. 3. Htpotriorchjs femoralis, (Temm.) A fine specimen and the first ever noticed within the limits of the United States, is in the collection made by Dr. A. L. Heermann, who was attached to the surveying parties in charge of Lieuts. Williamson and Parke, U. S. A. It is an adult in fine plumage, and precisely identical with the South American bird. Jt was obtained in New Mexico.* 4. Tinnunculus sparverius, (Linn.) Numerous specimens from various localities demonstrate that this species inhabits the whole of western (as well as eastern) North America. Specimens from Tamaulipas, Mexico, are in Lieut. Couch's collection ; from San Francisco, California, in Lieut. Trowbridge's; from Utah Tenitory, in Lieut. Beckwith's ; and from Milk River, a tributary of the Upper Missouri, in the collection of Dr. George Suckley, attached to the party in charge of the Hon. 1. I. Stevens. 5. Hierofalco candicans, (Gmelin.) Falco candicans, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 275, (1788.) Falco groenlandicus, Daudin, Tr. d'Orn, ii. p. 107, (1800.) Falco fuscus, Fabricius, Fauna Groenlandica, p. 56, (1780.)? "Falco arcticus, Holboll." Label on specimens received from Europe. Adult. ^ White, under parts with a few longitudinal narrow stripes of brown. Upper parts white, head and neck behind with longitudinal narrow stripes of brown. Plumage of the back, wing coverts and shorter quills with irregular confluent transverse bands, and large snbterminal hastate or bluntly sagittate spots of ashy brown* Primary quills white with their tips brownish black, and with irregular and imperfect transverse bars of black, confluent on the shafts of the feathers. Tail white, with transverse bars of brownish black in some of the outer feathers, only observable on their outer webs. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin,) about 24 inches, wing 16, tail 10 inches. Young. Entire upper plumage with the brown predominating, and of a lighter shade than in the adult, and tinged with ashy; every feather edged with white, and more or less barred and spotted with white, and pale reddish. The brown color showing a tendency to form the bands and sagittate spots of the adult. Under parts white, tinged with ashy, with longitudinal stripes of brown, widest on the abdomen. Quills ashy brown, with transverse bands of white tinged with pale fulvous, tail ashy brown, palest on the middle feathers, every feather edged externally with white, and with imperfect transverse bands (or pairs of large spots, ) of white. This fine species is nearly related to that next described, but can be distin- guished by the different style of the brown marking of the upper parts. In the present bird, the large subterminal sagittate or hastate spots are especially cha- racteristic, and this character prevails also in the young bird. The nomenclature of this and the succeeding species is difficult to determine on account of their similarity. 6. Hierofalco islandtcus, (Gmelin.) Falco islandicus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 275, (1788.) Falco islandus, Fabricius Faun. Groenl., p. 58, (1780) ? * In Lieut. Couch's collection there are specimens of the following species from Mexico. 1. Hypotriorchis columbarius, (Linn.) from the State of Tamaulipas. 2. Hypotriorchis rufigularis, (Daudin.) from the State of New Leon. This species has not yet been detected within the limits of the United States ; but as 1he State of New Leon is only separated from Texas by the Rio Grande, it will very probably be found in the State last mentioned. 18.35.] 279 Adult 5 • White, beneath with a few narrow longitudinal lines of dark brown, most observable on the sides and flanks. Upper parts white, on the head and neck behind with narrow longitudinal lines and stripes of dark brown. Plumage of the back., upper wing coverts, and tertiaries white, with regular transverse bands of ' broion,becomi ng somewhat crescent shaped on the scapulars and rnrnp, and slightly acuminate on the shafts of the feathers. Primaries white, brownish- black at their ends, and with imperfect, confluent, transverse bands of brown. Tail white, with about twelve transverse bands of brown. Young. Entire upper plumage brown, with transverse bands of dull white, generally interrupted and imperfect in the middle of the feather. Under parts dull white, with numerous circular and irregular-shaped spots of dark brown, largest on the sides, and disposed to form transverse bands on the tibiae and flanks. Quills dark brown, with transverse bands of white tinged with fulvous on their inner webs; tail dark brown with transverse bands of ashy white. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) about 24 inches, wing I6£,tail 10 inches. Specimens in the collection from Greenland are strictly identical with others in the collection of the Academy which were presented by our distinguished members, Messrs. Thomas B., and Edward Wilson, and carefully ascertainedto be undoubted Iceland specimens by the latter gentleman. In the present species the entire upper parts are transversely and nearly regu- larly barred with brown, and the under parts less spotted than in the preceding. The young bird also presents the same character on the upper parts in some de- gree, while the under parts are spotted and transversely striped only, and not with the numerous longitudinal stripes of the young of the preceding. These two birds appear to be different species so far as I can judge from the specimens before me, and are so regarded by nearly all modern authors. They are, however, nearly related, and I am not without a suspicion of their identity. 7. ASTUR ATRICAFILLUS, (Wilson). A specimen in Dr. Sftckley's collection from the Columbia river, in Oregon. This is the only western specimen that has ever come under my notice. S. Accipiter Cooperii, (Bonaparte). Specimens from near San Francisco, Cali/ornia, in Lieut. Trowbridge's collec- tion, and from Yakima river, Washington Territory, in that made by Dr. Cooper. 9. Accipiter mexicanus, Swainson. Excellent specimens of adults and young from New Mexico are in the collec- tion of T. C. Henry, M.D., U. S. Army. 10. Accipiter fuscus, (Gmelin). From Shoalwater Bay, Washington Territory, in Dr. Cooper's collection; and from near San Francisco, California, in a Collection made by Mr. R. D. Cutts. 11. Buteo borealis, (Gmelin). In the comparison of numerous specimens of adults and young from various localities in Western North America, with others obtained in the vicinity of Philadelphia, I have failed to detect any differences not consistent with specific identity. There is in some specimens a greater extent of the brown color on the breast, and a deeper shade of rufous on the abdomen and tibiae, than is usual in eastern specimens, but I have found no character in the western bird that I have not seen at some time in the other. In my Synopsis I have erroneously re- garded this bird as Buteo Swainsonii, which I have reason to suppose, as will appear in my notice of that species in the present paper, has also been done by other writers. 12. Buteo Bairdii, Hoy, Proc. Acad., Philada., vi. p. 452. The only specimen yet obtained in Western America is in the collection made by Mr. Kreutzfeldt, who was attached to the party in charge of Lieut. E. G. Beckwith, U. S. Army. It is very similar to the specimen regarded as the more adult of the two described as above cited, but has the brown spots on the under parts larger, and the tibiae transversely barred with dark brown, and tinged 280 [February, with rufous. It is labelled as having been obtained on the Rio Grande, in the territory of Utah. 13. Buteo Swainsonii, Bonaparte. In the collection made by Mr. Kreutzfeldt, of Lieut. Beckwith's party, there are three specimens undoubtedly of this species, and the first that I have ever seen. This species is a typical Buteo, and though I cannot regard it as identical with the European Buteo vulgaris, it is more nearly related to it than is any other American species with which I am acquainted. Like that species, too, it pre- sents a marked variation in the colors of different specimens, the present three being all unlike each other in a considerable degree. One specimen is almost exactly of the form, dimensions and colors as originally described and figured by Mr. Swainson, in Fauna Boreali Americana, Birds p. 47, pi. 27, and stated by him to have been made (both description and figure) from a male bird. On the specimen described by Mr. Swainson, as a female, (in the work just mentioned, p. 49,) I shall venture some observations below. The first and apparently most mature specimen is as follows : Bill wide at base, compressed towards the tip, edge of the upper mandible lobed, cere large. Wing long, third quill longest, tail moderate, rather wide, truncate, tarsus feathered in front for nearly half its length, naked behind, bare portion presenting in front about twelve transverse scales, toes rather short, claws strong. Entire upper parts dark brown, nearly black in the middle of many feathers, and paler on their edges. Quills brownish black, with wide, transverse bands of cinereous on their inner webs, becoming paler and nearly pure white towards their bases. Tail brown* tinged with ashy, and having transverse bands of a darker shade of brown, the subterminalof which is widest, tip edged with white. Throat white, with longitudinal lines of dark brown, neck before and breast ashy brown, some of the feathers edged with reddish. Other under parts white, nearly pure on the under tail coverts, and strongly tinged, and with transverse, irregular bars of rufous on the tibiae, abdomen with nume- rous irregular and imperfect narrow Transverse bars of brown tinged with red- dish. Under wing coverts white, with a few spots and transverse stripes of brown. Bill dark slate color, tarsi and toes yellow. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin,) 2H inches, wing 16, tail 5 h, tarsus 2£ inches. The second specimen has the upper parts as just described, but darker. Throat white, faintly tinged with yellowish, (without stripes of brown,) breast dark brown, {nearly black), and the other under parts pale rufous, darker on the tibiae, and with transverse stripes of brown on all the under parts less numer- ous than on the abdomen of the preceding specimen, and more irregular. Total length (of skin) 20£ inches, wing lSg, tail 81. The third specimen has the upper parts about the same shade of brown as the first described above, but with the tail darker, and the transverse bands more indistinct. Throat white, with a few longitudinal lines of black, \eck be- fore and breast light rufous, some of the feathers ashy brown in the middle, other under parts white nearly pure and unspotted on the lower part of the ab- domen and on the under tail coverts, tinged with very pale reddish on the tibiae, upper portion of abdomen and flanks nearly pure white with a few spots and transverse bars of fulvous and dark brown. Total length (of skin) 20 inches, wing \b\, tail 8 inches. In all these specimens the color of the neck before and of the breast, may be said to form a wide uninterrupted transverse belt or band, and is a very con- spicuous and apparently constant character. The sexes of these specimens are not stated in the labels attached to them. The tail in the specimens above varies merely in shade of the same brown color. In the first and apparently the most mature specimen, it is strongly tinged with cinereous. There is no tendency to become red in the tail of either specimen. 1855.] 281 Although I have no doubt whatever that this is the species indicated by the description of Mr. Swainson as above cited, my opinion is that it is the male bird only to which this conclusion applies. The female described by Mr. Swainson does not appear to me to be of the same species, but apparently is that of the Buteo borealis, in plumage not ma- ture. A careful examination of the descriptions of the male and female here alluded to, which are given by Mr. Swainson with his usual great accuracy, will show some material points of difference. Of the male it is stated that " the third quill feather is the longest, the fourth is nearly a quarter of an inch, and the second an inch and a quarter shorter." Of the female <( the third an d fourth quill feathers are of equal length." Of the male " cere and legs yellowish," — of the female "the cere and legs have a bluish livid color." The last cha- racter may, however, only indicate a young bird, and that the specimen was a young bird, is further rendered probable by the statement that "the feathers are more downy " than those of the male. The total length of the male is given as 22 inches, that of the female 26 inches. All the measurements of the female as given, and the description, apply to the immature Buteo borealis, es- pecially to western specimens. The bird figured by Mr. Audubon as Falco buteo (B. of Am. pi. 372) is the young bird of Buteo borealls and not the present species. European naturalists generally have regarded this bird as either identical with that species, or as nearly related to it, both of which conclusions are erroneous. 14. Buteo calurus, nobis. Form. — Similar in general form to Buteo azigur, tachardus and vulgaris. Bill strong, edges of the upper mandible with distinct rounded lobes, wings long, fifth quills slightly longest, tail moderate (or rather short). Tarsi feathered in front for nearly half their length, naked behind, naked portion in front pre- senting about ten transverse scales, claws large, strong, fully curved. Dimensions (Of skin) sex unknown. Total length about 21 inches, wing 16£, tail 9 inches. Colors. — Tail bright rufous above, white at the base, every feather having about eight irregular and imperfect transverse narrow bands and one wide sub- terminal band of brownish black, beneath silky reddish white. Entire plu- mage of the head, neck and body above and below dark brown, nearly black on the back and abdomen and palest on the breast. Plumage of the upper parts with partially concealed transverse bands of white, and of the under parts with circular spots and transverse bands of the same (also partially concealed). Quills dark brown, with a large portion of their inner webs white, banded and mottled with pale ashy brown. Tibial feathers and under tail coverts trans- versely barred with dark brown and pale rufous. Hob. — New Mexico, discovered by T. Charlton Henry, M. D„ United States Army. This new and very remarkable bird presents a combination of charac- ters quite unusual in an American species, and it bears a greater resemblance to a Northern African species, Buteo augur, Riippell, than to any other with which I am acquainted. In some degree it also resembles my Buteo insignatus (B. of Cal. and Texas i. p. 102, pi. 31), but is much larger, and presents various other strong points of difference. The present bird would present to a casual observer the appearance of the Black Hawk {Archibuteo savcti-johannis) with the tail attached of the common red-tailed Buzzard (Buteo borealis), a combina- tion hitherto unknown amongst American Falconidae, but which exists in the African Buteo augur. The bird now described is in an extensive collection containing many inter- esting and little known species, made by Dr. T. C. Henry of the United States Army, whose exertions have continued unremitted for several years. It was obtained in the vicinity of Fort Webster, New Mexico. 15. Buteo elegans, nobis. Form. — Generally similar to Buteo lineatus. Bill rather slender, edges of 282 [February, the upper mandible with a rounded not well defkied lobe, wing moderate, fourth quill longest, first quill short, tail moderate, wide, rounded. Tarsus feathered in front slightly below the joint with the tibia, naked behind, naked portion in front presenting about twelve transverse scales. Dimensions. — Total length, adult male ? (of skin) about 19 inches, wing 13, tail 8 inches. Colors. — Adult, generally resembling those of Buteo lineatus. Throat dark brown with white longitudinal lines. Entire under parts bright rufous, darker and unspotted on the breast, lighter on the abdomen, tibiae and under tail cov- erts and with transverse bands of pale reddish white ; the latter (white) purer at the bases of the feathers. Abdomen, tibia? and under tail coverts uniformly colored. Entire upper parts dark brown, feathers of the head and back edged with dark rufous, upper coverts of the tail narrowly tipped with white. Shoulders dark rufous, every feather with a narrow central stripe of dark brown, superior cov- erts of the wings dark brown, edged on their inner webs with rufous and with transverse stripes partially concealed, and circular spots of white, and tipped with the same. Quills brownish black, primaries and secondaries with numerous irregular transverse bands of white, running obliquely on their inner webs, all the quills widely tipped with white. Tail brownish black, white at base, and having four transverse bands of white and tipped with the same. Under wing coverts rufous, barred with reddish white, uniform with the abdomen and under tail coverts. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) male ? 19 inches, wing 13, tail 81 inches. Young. Upper parts brown, plumage of the head edged with reddish white and on the back with rufous, quills with their inner webs barred with white and dark brown, the hands of the former (white) much the widest and narrowly edged with rufous, all the quills narrowly tipped with white. Tail dark brown, with four transverse bands of ashy white, purer on the inner webs and narrowly tipped with white. Throat dark brown, with longitudinal narrow stripes of white, other under parts dull yellowish white, every feather with wide trans- verse and confluent bands of dark brown, and at its end a large arrow head of the same color. These bands and sagittate spots giving the predominating color (brown) to the breast and sides, but less numerous on the abdomen and under tail coverts. Tibial feathers, inferior coverts of the wing and some feathers of the shoulders pale rufous. Total length (of skin) 18 inches, wing 122, tail 8$ inches. Ilab.— California, (Dr. Heermann;) New Mexico, (Dr. Kennerly.) This bird, the adult and young of which are in a collection made by Dr. Heer- mann, in California, and another )^oung specimen in Lieut. Whipple's collection, bears a considerable resemblance to Buteo lineatus. The entire under parts are, however, of a different red color, and continued to the abdomen and under tail coverts. In the present species, this color is nearly a clear brick red; while in B. lineatus, it is more of an orange color, and in the latter, the lower part of the abdomen, and under coverts are nearly pure white in adult specimens. The under parts in the young birds of the present species are entirely and strikingly different from those of its relative mentioned. 16. Buteo oxypterus, nobis. Form. — About the size of Btoteo pennsylv aniens. (Wilson). Bill rather long and compressed, edge of the upper mandible slightly waved in its outline, but scarcely lobed ; wing long, third quill distinctly longest, tail rather short, legs rather long, tarsus feathered in front for about one third of its length, naked behind, and with its naked portion in front, presenting about fourteen narrow transverse scales, claws large, strong, fully curved. Dimensioyis. — Total length (of skin,) sex unknown, about 16 inches, wing 131, tail 7 inches. Colors. — (Young bird, sex unknown.) Entire plumage above dark brown? nearly black on the back. Feathers of the head white at base and edged later- ally with the same; many feathers of the upper parts of the body also white at 1855.] 283 their bases, and with partially concealed transverse bands of white, quills very dark brown (nearly black,) with the inner webs dark cinereous barred with brown, tail above ashy brown, all the feathers white at base, and having; about ten transverse bands of dark brown, outer feathers (of the tail) ashy white on their inner webs, tail beneath silky ashy white, with a bronzed yellowish olive lustre. Behind and under the eye a stripe of rufous brown. Under parts pale yellow- ish white, throat with lines and narrow stripes of brownish black, and on other under parts every feather with a large lanceolate, circuiar or cordate spot of dark brown, some feathers on the flanks and sides having also some irregular transverse bands of the same color. Nearly all the feathers on the under parts with lines of dark brown on their shafts. Quills with their inner webs on the under surface of the wing grayish or dark ashy, and near the shafts with a bronzed olive lustre ; shafts white (on the under surface.) Inferior wing coverts white with arrow heads of dark brown. Tibial feathers yellowish white, tinged with rufous, and having irregular transverse bars of dark brown. Adult, black? Hab. — New Mexico. Discovered by T. Charlton Henry, M.D., U. S. Army. The specimen now described is the young of a species the adult of which is as yet unknown. It is about the size of B. pennsylvanlcux^ with the wings and legs much longer and the bill also somewhat longer. The colors, too, are dif- ferent, and in the present bird the dark cinereous of the inner webs of the quills and the bronzed or silky olive lustre on their inferior surfaces are especially re- markable. The exposed edges and ends of some of the secondaries in the pre- sent specimen have a distinct purple lustre. I suspect that the adult of this bird is black. This bird is in the valuable collection made by T. C. Henry, M.D., U. S. Army, and is from the vicinity of Fort Webster, New Mexico. 17. Archibuteo lagopus, (Gmelin.) A specimen is in Dr. Cooper's collection from Shoalwater Bay, Washington Territory, and another is in Dr. Kennerly's collection from the River Zuni in Hew Mexico. 18. Archibuteo ferrugineus, (Licht.) Specimens of adults and young birds in Dr. Heermann's collection.* 19. Elanus leucurus, (Vieill.) Specimens from near San Francisco, California, in a collection made by Mr. R. D. Cutts. 20. Circus hudsomus, (Linn.) Specimens from Minnesota Territory are in Dr. Suckley's collection, from Utah Territory in Mr. Kreutzfeldt's, from New Mexico,|in Capt. Pope's, Lieut. Whipple's and Dr. Henry's, and from Tamaulipas, Mexico, in Lieut. Couch's collection. 21. Aqutt.a chrysaetos, (Linn.) In Dr. Henry's collection from New Mexico. 22. Haliaeths albicilla, (Linn.) In the collection from Greenland there is a fine specimen of this bird. We notice no material difference between it and others from various European lo- calities. 23. Haliaetus leucocephalu?, (Linn.) Dr. Cooper's collection contains a specimen in immature plumage, which was obtained at Shoalwater Bay, Washington Territory. * As probably belonging to the Buteonida, we may mention here that the fol- lowing species is in Lieut. Couch's collection, and having been obtained by him in the northern part of the State of New Leon, Mexico, may be expected to occur in Texas : 1. Asturina cinerea, Vieill. Gal. des Ois. i. pi. 20. 284 [February, 24. Polyborus tharus, (Molina.) Specimens are in a collection made by Mr. Arthur Schott, while attached to the Mexican Boundary Commission in charge of Major W. H. Emory, U. S. Army. They were obtained in Texas. 25. Morphnus unicinctus, (Temm.) Specimens are in the collections made in Texas by Mr. Schott, Dr. Kennerly and Lieut. Couch. The Committee to which was referred a paper by Messrs. J. G. Nor- wood and Henry Pratten, containing notices of Fossils trom the Carbon- iferous series of the Western States, reported in favor of its publication in the Journal. The Committee to which was referred a communication entitled " Re- marks on the Cryptogamic Flora of the State of Georgia, by Prof. Julien Deby," reported in favor of publication in the Journal. Dr. Leidy offered the following Preamble and Resolutions, which were unanimously adopted. ■• Whereas, Information has been received by this Academy, that a proposal has been made to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to change, in several fundamental particulars, the system of administration adopted by said Board ; And whereas, The relationships of this Academy to the cultivation of the natural sciences in the United States and elsewhere, give to it a peculiar interest in the employment of the means best suited to the most liberal promotion of those sciences ; And whereas, Tt is the opinion of this Academy that, in view of the multi- plied means which the zeal, enterprise and skill of the present.-age have furnished and will continue to furnish, for the " increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," it is eminently desirable that the special opportunities and aids rendered practicable by the bequest of Mr. Smithsonp shall be discreetly applied to such important objects as are not likely to receive assistance from ordinary sources ; And whereas, Such application is to be guided rather by the relations which the objects selected hold with important scientific generalizations, and with the largest increments of scientific knowledge, than by considerations of mi- nute or ephemeral utility ; And whereas, The plan of operations adopted by the Board of Regents is believed by this Academy to be well adapted to promoting, in the largest as well as the most practical sense, "the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men;" and that it possesses the advantage of supplying, according to a compre- hensive and philosophic anticipation, the wants of the age, without superfluous intervention in cases in which other agencies will surely produce the desired results without such intervention ; And whereas, The number, variety, and extent of the departments of know- ledge, render it essential to the greatest usefulness of any plan of administration of the Smithsonian fund, that it shall have the confidence of the persons upon whose contributions its resources for good shall be mainly dependant ; and also that it shall be maintained in operation consistently and without frequent change ; Therefore, Resolved, That this Academy, as at present advised, would deeply regret any material alteration of the plan adopted by the Board of Regents ; Resolved, That, as an expression of the reasonable solicitude of this Academy, and of the desire which its experience has occasioned for the continuance of said plan, the President is hereby requested to forward a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to the Secretary of said Board. ELECTION. Rev. Dr. J. C. Adamson, late of Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, and Capt Geo. B. McClellan, U. S. A., were elected Correspondents of the Academy. 1855.] 285 March nth, 1855. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From Henry Piddington, Esq., dated Calcutta, 5th Dec. 1854, trans- mitting certain publications, intended for the Academy. From the New York Lyceum of Natural History, dated 20th Feb. 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 7, No. fi. From the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated Albany, 5th Feb. 1855, also acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings. From the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, dated 8th March, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the Pream- ble and Resolutions adopted by the Academy 27th Feb. last. March 20th. The President, Mr. Ord, in the Chair. Letters were read — From Dr. Hiram D. Prout, of St. Louis, dated March 9th, 1855, and from Professor Ernest Briicke, dated Vienna, 24th Dec. 1854, seve- rally acknowledging the receipt of their notices of election as Corres- pondents. March 27th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. ELECTION. Mr. Wm. Cadwalader, Mr. W. Frederick Rogers, and Mr. Isaac Barton of Philadelphia, were elected Members, and Senor F. A. Sauvalle, of Havana, was elected a Correspondent. April 3d. Mr. Lea, Vice President, in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Imperial Society of Sciences, &c., of Lisle, transmitting Vol. 1 of their Memoirs, and acknowledging the receipt of Nos. of the Jour- nal and Proceedings. From the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated Albany, 23d March, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 7, No. 7. Dr. LeConte presented for publication in the Proceedings, the follow- ing papers, viz : " Synopsis of the Lathridiides of tin United States, and contiguous Territories," and " Analytical table of tlie species of Hydroporus, found PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. VII. NO. VIII. 23 286 [April, in the United States, with descriptions of new species ;" both of which were referred to Mr. Haldeinan, Dr. Leidy, and Mr. Guex. Mr. Durand presented for publication in the Journal, a paper entitled il Plantae Prattenianire Californicse, an enumeration of a collection of Cali- fornia plants, made in the city of Nevada by Henry Pratteu, of New Harmony, Indiana, with critical notices and descriptions of such of them as are new or yet unpublished in America." Referred to Dr. Bridges, Dr. Zantzinger, and Mr. Kilvington. Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, from Dr. T. Charlton Henry, U. S. A., entitled "Notes derived from obser- vations made on the Birds of New Mexico, during the years 1853 and 1851," which was referred to Mr. Cassin, Col. MeCall and Dr. Wilson. Dr. Leidy read letters from Dr. Ruschenberger, dated Rio Janeiro, and Valparaiso , transmitting donations of objects of Natural History for the Museum, and giving some interesting information relative to the state of Natural Science in Brazil. Dr. Le Conte mentioned that a female cat in his possession having been impregnated by a male of the tailless variety of cat, found in the Isle of Man, had produced in her first litter two kittens, one of which had a tail of half the usual length, while the other was entirely desti- tute of all caudal appendage ; by a subsequent impregnation the same female brought forth three kittens, two of which were similar in form to the mother, while the third resembled the father in the absence of a tail. Another young female, impregnated by the same male, brought forth in her first litter four kittens, in all of which the tail was completely absent. Dr. Le Conte proposed from time to time to furnish the Acade- my with the history of the increase of this interesting family, as it fur- nished a very convenient method of determining whether the physical characters of the male or female are most frequently transmitted to the off- spring. Dr. Le Conte mentioned also that the existence of this curious ecaudate variety of the domestic cat had not been sufficiently noticed by naturalists ; and that even its existence was alluded to in very fewr of the works thus far published. A corresponding, or very nearly similar variety was known in Japan, and, as already mentioned in the letters from Dr. Ruschenberger read this evening, had been brought thence by the Japan Expedition under Com. Perry, which had recently returned. Mr. Band remarked relative to the specimen of Uranite, presented this evening, that although not remarkable as a specimen of this rare mineral, it was interesting as being from a new locality which is now thought to be exhausted. He believed that there are but three other localities of this mineral known in the United States. The specimen is from the western side of the Schuylkill near the Fairmount dam ; this locality was discovered some two years ago by his brother Theodore D. H. Band, who procured' quite a quantity of the mineral before the locality was exhausted. After analysis, he sent a description of the locality to the American Journal of Science and Arts. It was not noticed in that 1855.] 287 Journal, but in the last edition of Dana's Mineralogy the locality was given, but without credit. April 10 th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From Capt. Geo. B. McClellan U. S. A., dated April 6th, 1855, ac- knowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. From the Geological Society of London, dated Nov. 16th, 1854; ac- knowledging the receipt of Nos. of the Proceedings and Journal. From Ed. de Vernueil, dated Paris, March 20, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent, and making in- quiry relative to the publications of the Academy. Mr. Isaac Lea read a letter from Dr. Deane, of Greenfield, Massachu- setts, accompanying a photographic impression of some footprints in sandstone, specimens of which he desires to dispose of. Mr. Cassin read a letter from Capt. F. Bernsee, of the Ship Cou- rier, wrecked on the S. W. point of East Falkland Island, in April, 1854, of which the following is an extract. " The next morning when we found ourselves homeless and houseless, as well as reduced to poverty, we commenced looking round for something to eat. In this we had no trouble, for game and birds (of the kind I send you) weie more abundant than I had ever seen them before ; and as few human beings had ever trod that part of the Island, they were fearless and would come up to look at us ; and we could get any quantity by knocking them down with sticks and stones. The wolves, of which there were but few, would also come to look at us; and would take a duck from one of our hands, while with the other we would knock them on the head with a stick. I seldom saw more than one of them at a time. Some wolves were caught alive by swinging a small line with a stone tied to the end of it round and round the head with force, and when the wolf would come for a duck or a goose which another man would shake at him, we would let the stone with the line swing round his legs, and tangle him up so that we could secure him. At one time we had six, ail caught in that manner, and tied in different places around our tent, which we had fixed as a shelter from wind, snow and rain, for winter was coming on. During the time we bad these wolves prisoners, some fifteen or twenty would visit them at night, and make a strange noise that would sometimes sound like the bark of a dog, and then change to a snarl and a howl. They would get quite tame in two or three days, but not sufficiently so to let them go loose ; they, however, would not bite when we put our finders in their mouths, or threw them across our shoulders and carried them like a dog. They appeared to be very playful, as those that were not caught would come up in the daytime and have great times with our dog ; but his courage generally failed him and he Avould run off and come up to the men. They burrow in the sand hills : and I often found two or three open- ings, which led through long channels underground to their kennel. They feed chiefly on the large-sized geese sent you, as I have reason to believe from the great number of wings, feet, and feathers I found. These wolves I found to be very short-winded. They do not run even short distances with great speed; and my sailors would often outrun them, when they would all at once turn short round, and give up, blowing heavily with the tongue hanging far out of the mouth, and then make the same noise as above stated. But they would never make at us or show fight, but stand still and show their teeth. 288 [April, "The large sized-goose is called by the inhabitants of the Island whom we found six weeks afterwards, the upland goose ; the white one is the male ; these birds are there in great numbers, but are seldom seen in large flocks ; I never saw more than from twelve to twenty, but even in these flocks they will pair off and go two by two at short distances from each other. They are oftener found in pairs en- tirely separated from other geese. I found them away from salt water, and near fresh water ponds. They live principally on a moss that grows there. In sum- mer they lose all their feathers, and then as a matter of course cannot fly ; they therefore keep constantly afloat in these ponds until their feathers grow out; I watched these birds very closely during my stay. I found their habits very much like other tame geese. Their meat is excellent eating, and not so dark as our wild goose. In Patagonia and along the S. E. coast of Soutb America, th^y are also found ; but there they are shy, and difficult to approach within gunshot. Strange to say 1 have never met them on the west coast of South America in the same latitude. " The next goose in size is the Kelp goose. The black breasted one is the female ; the pure w^hite, the male. These birds I never saw but in pairs, and never away from the salt water. Their meat is hardly eatable. They are very tame, and live principally among rocks and kelp. The young all look like the female, but the young males afterwards change their feaihersand become white " Of the small-sized goose, or the third kind, I shall make but few remarks, as thfir habits are precisely like those of the upland goose. The inhabitants call them the Poran goose. The male and female are alike. They are not near so plenty as the upland goose. They, as well as the kelp goose, are found around Cape Horn, and on the Island of Terra del Fuego. " Another bird sent you, of a white color, is, both while flying and walking on the rocks, so like the common domestic pigeon, that it is difficult to tell them apart. Although not w7eb-footed, they fly at times great distances from the shore; I never saw more than six or eight together, and generally single. They feed on worms and insects which they pick from the cracks in the rocks, after the tide has fallen. They are called Rock pigeons. " Another bird, of which I saw plenty, a kind of Oyster-catcher, is black, with a white breast, a long compressed bill, and long red legs. These birds gene- rally go along the beach in pairs ; and give warning of danger by a long shrill whistle. " Another specimen is a bird precisely like the last in habits, but wholly black. I did not find many of them on the Falkland Islands. " I found a great many rats and mice on these Islands. Whether they are different from our own or not I am unable to say ; their general habits are the same. The mice, however, I think are smaller than ours ; and the legs of the rats are of a red-flesh color, and almost hairless above the knee joint." [Note. — The wolf, whose habits are well sketched in the above letter, is Canis antarcticus, Shaw; the upland goose, Bernicla antarctica, Mellon ; the kelp goose, Bernicla magellanica, Mellon ; the small-sized goose, Bernicla inornata, King; rock pigeon, Chionis alba, Foi ster ; the oyster-catcher with white breast, Haema- topus pailiatus, Terara.; the black oyster catcher, Haematopus ater, Vieill.J Dr. Genth presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, en- titled, " Analysis of the Meteoric Iron, from Tucson, Province of So- nora, Mexico." Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Bridges, and Dr. Wethe- rill. Dr. Le Conte desired to call the attention of the members of the Academy to some very grievous misrepresentations contained in the 'Catalogue des Larves des Coleopteres', by MM. Chapuis and Candeze, published in the eighth volume of the Memoirs of the Societe Hoyale des Sciences de Liege. The portion he complained of was the article -on the larva of Eurypalpus, (pp. 155-157), which purported to be, and 1855.] 289 was in reality, a literal translation of the account printed by him in the work on Like Superior by Professor Agassiz, with the single exception, that in every place where Dr. Le C<>ntu had taken occasion to mention and criticise the erroneous views of Dr. De Kay regarding this curious larva, the Belgian naturalists had substituted the name of Dr. Harris for that of Dr. De Kay. This error was the more unaccountable, since in Dr. Le Conte's original description, he had mentioned the name of Dr. Harris but once, and then for the purpose of publicly expressing his ac- knowledgements for some hints kindly given towards the true nature of the larva in question, as well as for other valuable information, which the well known accuracy of observation of Dr. Harris had enabled him to give on various occasions, and which his liberal disposition prompts him ahvays to offer for the use of his scientific colleagues. Dr. LeConte concluded by expressing ardent wishes that foreign natu- ralists, who seem but lately to have become familiar with works of science published in America, would do our authors the justice, when they quote, to quote correctly. Mr. Cassin called attention to the specimens of Cards Antarcticus, and of the several species of Geese and other Birds, from the Falkland Islands, alluded to in the letter of Capt. Bernsee, read this evening. On leave granted, Dr. Wistar offered a Resolution, which was unani- mously adopted, inviting the members of the American Medical Asso- ciation to visit the Museum of the Academy, during the session of that body in this city, in May next. April 17 ih. Yice President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from the American Philosophical Society, dated Apiil loth, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the last No. of the Pro- ceedings. A paper was presented from Mr. Charles Girard, for publication in the Proceedings, entitled, " Observations on the Viviparous Fishes inhabi- ting the Pacific Coast of North America, with an enumeration of the species observed." .Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Drysdale, and Dr. J. A. Meigs. Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, en- titled, " Descriptions of new species of Birds from Western Africa, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with a description of one new species from Zanzibar." Referred to Col. Mc- Call, Dr. "Wilson, and Dr. Woodhouse. 290 [ April, April 2\ih. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred papers read bj Dr. Le Conte April 3d ; by Dr. T. C. Henry U. S. A. read same date; by Dr. Genth, read April 10th; by Mr. 0. Girard, read April 17th; by Mr. Cassin, read same date; by Mr. Blake, read April 24th; and by Prof. Baird, read same date, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Analytical table of the sp>ecies of Hy drop or us found in the United Stales, with descrip- tions of new species. By John L. LeConte, M.D. [The reference Lee.1 denotes that the species are described in the Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, Vol. 5 ; they are all Californian. Those not so marked were described by me in Agassiz' Lake Superior.] Hydroporus Clairville. A. Breviter ovati convexi, glabri; thorax haud impressus. a. -1, Epistoma rotundatum haud marginatum 1. farctus. b. Epistoma rotundatum subtiliter marginatum; .12, subopacus valde punctatus 2. hydropicus Lee.1 .12, nitidus piceus valde puoctatus 3. punctatus fiub'e. .11, parcius punctatus, thoracerufo (elytris saepe maculatis) 4. cuspidatus Germ. B. Breviter ovati, minus convexi, glabri : thorax linea basali nulla; epistoma rotundatum subtiliter marginatum ; •09, Thorax basi utrinque foveatus ; elytra costula la^erali brevissima; macula com muni alteraque utrinque nigris 5. latissimus Lee.1 ■08, Thorax basi haud foveatus ; elytra costula laterali Ion- giore ; macula communi alterisque utrinque tribus nigris 6. acaroides. Convexior piceus immaculatus, elytris thoraceque simplicibus ; •07, subtiliter punctatus 7. convexus Aube. •05, subtiliter punctulatus 8. granum. C. Breviter ovatus minus convexus glaber ; thorax plica brevi basali utrinque ornatus, cum elytrorum costa discoidali connexa : •06, testaceu3, elytris fuscis testaceo-nebulosis (mihiignotus) 81. exiguus Aube. D. Oblongi ; thorax striola utrinque basali ; epistoma haud marginatum. 1. Striola in elytris continuata. * Elongati, glabri. c. Elytra nebulosa, minus subtiliter punctata ; •065, fuscus testaceo vix nebulosus, sequente paulo angustior 9. obscurellus Lee.1 •06, testaceus pectore thoracis medio, elytrorumque lineolis fuscis 10. affinis Say. •06, testaceu3, thoracis medio, elytrorumque lineolis paucis fuscis 11. macularis Lee.1 •06, testaceus thorace basi nigro, elytris vittatis 12. pullus. d. Elytra nebulosa, subtiliter punctulata ; •055, elytris striola basali longiuscula 13. lacustris Say. e. Elytra maculis vei fasciis transversis ornata ; ■065, minus subtiliter punctatus, (femina opaca) 14. cinctellus Lee.1 •05, subtiliter punctatus, stria snturali nulla 15. amandus Lee.1 •05, subtiliter punctatus, stria suturali di^tincta 16. subtilis Lea ** Elongati, subtiliter pubescentes ; elytra nebulosa : 06, testaceus, elytris postpectoreque fusco-piceis 17. inconspicuus. 1855.] 291 *** Minus elongati, glabri, elytra valde punctulata, nebulosa. •05, ferrugineus, postpectore, thoracis basi elytnsquepiceis 18. granarius J ub'e. 2. Striola in elytris haud continuata ; •05, flavo-testaceus, pubescens, elytris piceis testaceo fa3- ciatis 19. flavicollis. E. Oblongi, longiusculi glabri, thorax utrinque striola impressus, et postice transversim subdepressus, cum elytris angulum formans ; epistoma haud margi- natum. •17, subtus niger, supra luteus, elytris lineis utrinque 6 guttisque duabus externis nigris omata 20. duodecimlineatus Lee. •13, parce punctatus, thorace elytrisque variegatis, his fortius biseriatim punctatis 21. scitulus. F. Ovales minu3 convexi dense punctulati pubescentes ; thorax elytris angus- tior, angulis posticis obtusis ; epistoma rotundatum haud marginatum. •17, elytris striis nonnullis insculplis fasciisque variegatis 22. striatellus Lee. G. Oblongo-ovati, modice convexi, confertim punctati pubescentes ; thorax cum elytris angulum formans, angulis posticis rectis ; epistoma truncatum. •17, rufo-testaceus, elytris atris fasciatis 23. venustus. H. Oblongi minus convexi, pubescentes: thorax haud impressus ; elytra for- titer punctata lineis utrinque angustis duabus la?vibus ; epistoma rotundatum vix subtiliter marginatum. •13, supra niger, capite elytrcrumque fasciis testaceis, tho- racis lateribus rufis 24. striatopunctatus Mels. I. Oblongi, proecipue antice obtusi ; thorax lateribus sagpissime marginal, cum elytris angulum vix vel haud formantibus, his lineis nullis. A. Pubescentes, ( % proseipue punctati, ^ punctulata?;) thorax tequaliter punctatus. f. Epistoma rotundatum late marginatum ; Ferrugineus, thorace apice et basi nigricante, elytris nigris fasciatis ; •18, thorace subtiliter marginato 25. consimilis Lee. •17, thorace latius marginato, antice minus obtusus 2G. undulatus Suy. •16, thorace latius marginato (parum infuscato,) antice magis obtusus 27. oppositus Say. •15, thorace latius marginato, adhuc latior, obscure ferru- gineus, elytris nigro-piceis 28. punctatissimus Aube. g. Epistoma rotundatum haud marginatum. * Ferruginei, elytris nigris, flavo-maculatis. at. maculis elytrorum fasciatis. •18, H. opposito simillimus, thorace basi nigricante 29. spurius. •17, longior, subovalis, thorace vix infuscato 30. mixtus. 0. maculis lineolatis confluentibus. •18, convexus, subovalis, velutinus, thorace apice basique infuscato 31. sericeus Lee. •16, minus convexus, subovalis, thorace haud infuscato 32. semirufus. •08, paulo convexus, longior antice obtusus, thorace haud infuscato 33. lineolatus. y. elytra regulariter vittata. •16, thorax apice basique nigricans, elytra nigra, margine vittisque utrinque duabus testaceis 34. vittatus. ** Nigri, requaliter punctati, parum convexi ; thorace sa?pe vix mar- ginato, ad angulos posticos saepe leviter impresso. •15, caput thoracisquelatera ferruginea ; elytra subfasciata 35. vitiosus. •18, thorax elytraque maculata; longior, ovali3 subtilis- sime punctulatus * 36. catascopium Say. 292 [April, Fere immaculati ; saepe versus latera rufescentes ; vix conspicue punctulati, •20, capite thorace pedibus abdominisque lateribus piceo- rufis, illo punctulato 37. modestus Aube. •20, humeris tibiis tarsisque piceo-testaceis, capite vix panctulato 38. axillaris Lee. •26, niger ore solo rufo piceo 39. fortis Lee. •21, loagior postice magia acutus, pedibus ore elytrisque lateribus testaceis 40. notabilis Lee. distinct e punctulati vel punctati, •10, latior postice magis acutus, thorace haud impresso 41. niger Say. •20, longior ovalis 42. subpubescens Lee. B. Praecipe nigri, parum convexi ; thorax inaequaliter punctatus, dis:o saepe subl^evi : h. Thorax lateribus vix marginatis ; elytra punctulata : a. thorax cum elytris angulum non formans ; lonyiores fere regulariter ovales •14, parcias punctatus, vix pubescens 43. tartaricus Lee. •16, nigro-rufus, pubescens pectore nigro, thoracis disco fere impunctato (angustior, convexior) 44. americanus Aube. •16, latior, antice magis obtusus, capite thorace, abdominis lateribus pedibusque piceo-rufis, pubescens 45. dichrous Mels. b. thorax cum elytris angulum obtusissimum formans ; angulis posticis fere reclis (elytra saepe testacea ;) •14, niger, vix parce pubescens, parcius punctatus 46. caliginosus Lee. •125, subtiliter pubescens 47. subtonsus. •12, glaberrimus 48. varians Lee. angulis posticis fere obtusis ; •12, niger subtiliter pubescens 49. puberulus Lee. i. Thorax lateribus conspicue marginatus, cum elytris angulum haud formans. •17, niger punctatus pubescens, pedibus rufo-piceis (species dubia) 50. tenebrosus Lee. •17, niger punctatus pubescens, elytris pedibusque te3- ticeis (vid synon.) 501. lutulentus Zee. '12, niger parce punctulatus vix pubescens 51. vilis Lee.1 •13, testaceo-piceus, glaber, thorace disco convexo, elytris parce punctatis 52. oblitus Aube. •14, fusco-testaceus glaber, thorace fortiter marginato, ely- tris parcius punctulatis 53. collaris. •15, niger confertim punctatus magis ovalis, glaber 54. latebrosus Lee.1 C. Ferruginei, glabri subtiliter punctulati, elytris nigris, fasciatis ; thorace ad apicem late infuscato ; •14, longior fere ovalis, subtus piceo-niger 55. concinnus. •13, antice latior et obtusus, subtus ferrugineus 56. pulcher. K. Lonyiores, obconici glabri, elytris piceo-testaceis parce punctatis ; epistoma haud marginatum, rotundatum ; antennce maris medio dilatatae. •2, Elytra mixte punctata et punctulata 57. conoideus Lee. •25, Elytra haud punctulata, parce punctata 58. difformis. L. Oblongo-ovales, vel ovales, glabri ; thorax angulis posticis obtusis cum elytris angulum obtusum saepe formans ; epistoma haud marginatum, rotundatum. k. Longiores, ovales, rude punctati; •20, elvtris punctatis, stria suturali duabusque dorsalibus distinctis 59. similis Kirby. •20, elytris punctatis, striis nullis 60. picatus Itirby. •15, elytris punctatis et punctulatis 61. dispar Ljec. 1. Ovales punctati ; thorax elytris vix angustior •11, elytris parcius punctatis 62. turbidus. 1855.] 293 •13, elytris densius punctatis 63. suturalis Lee. m. Thorax elytris conspicue angustior ; a.. Ovales convexi ; supra testacei, •13, elytris mixte punctatis et punctulatis 64. ovoideus Lee. •15, densius punctatus, thoracis elytrorumque medio infus- cato 65. medialis LecA •15, punctatus, elytris postice infuscatis 66. fraternus Lec.x /?. Longiores, minus convexi, punctati vel subtile punctati ; supra piceo-testacei, •15, thorace elytrisquevix infuscatis distinctius punctatis 67. patruelis. •15, thoracis medio elytrisque infuscatis, convexior 68. lutescens Lee.1 •17, adhuc longior, thoracis medio elytrisque postice in- fuscatis 69. nubilus. •15, latior, thorace ad basin, elytris ia disco infuscatis 70. discoideus. M. Subovati, convexi subtiliter pubescentes, epistoma ad medium late emar- ginatum. •14, punctatus, testaceus, elytris nigris fasciati3 72. hybridus Aube. •09, flavo-testaceus subtilias punctatus, elytris piceis ad latera maculatis 73. mellitus. The following species are not included in the above list, as I have not had specimens for examination : From Russian America ; 74, H. griseo-striatus De Geer ; 75, H. ob?ongus Aube ; 76, H. humeralis Aube; 77, H. contractulus Mannh. ; 78, H. ruficapillus Mannh. ; 79, H. rufinasu3 Mannh. ; 80, H. ervthrostomus Mannh. No. 75 ia clo?ely allied to H cataseopium Say. Nos. 78 — 81 are described in the Bull. Moss, for 1852, pp. 304, 305. From Atlantic America; 81, H. aulicus Aube; 82, H. nigro-lineatus Steph. (fide Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 66); \ 1. Synonyms and Doubtful Species. H. laevis Kirby, is possibly a variety of H. 12-lineatus Lee, and according to Mr. White, (Cat. British Museum,) is H. alpinus Paykull. H. ruficeps Aube seems not sufficiently distinct from H. modestus Aube. H. limbalis Mels. is probably the female of No. 53, H. oblitus Aube, with which, according to a typical specimen, H. luridipennis Mels. is identical. H. discicollis Say, according to Dr. Harris, is H. dichrous Mels., but the des- cription is very unsatisfactory, and I have been compelled to regard it as inde- terminate. H. interruptus and H. parallelus Say, are not different from H. catascopium. H. hirtellus Lee, is smaller and more pubescent than H. subpubescens Lee. but is probably only the female of that species. H. fasciatus Harris (S. Engl. Farmer, ^ec, 1828) is H. undulatus Say ; the male is H. pubipennis, and the female H. velutinus Aube ; for a typical specimen I am indebted to Dr. Harris. H. proximus Aube is probably H. oppositus Say, (vide infra No. 27.) H. punctatissimus Aube is H. niger Say. H. pulicarius Aube is H. lacustris Say. H. nanus Aube is H. affinis Say ; for a type I return my thanks to Dr. Harris. Hygrotus pustulatus Mels. is H. cuspidatus. H. humeralis|| Lee. is now H. axillaris Zee. E. luridipennis|| Le". Agassiz' Lake Superior, 216, is now H. lutulentus Lee. (No. 501.) Farther investigation, aided by more extensive series of specimens, may show the necessity of uniting with it H. tenebrosus, from which it differs principally in color. $ 2. Descriptions and Notes. 1. H. f a r c t u s breviter ovalis, postice subacutus, ferrugineus glaber, capite punctulato, baud marginato, thorace confertim subtiliter punctulato, lateribus 294 [April rectis tenuiter marginatis, elytris piceis fere opacis confertissime punctulatis. Long. -10. One specimen from Massachusetts was presented to me by Dr. C. Zimmermann. A little less globose than H. cuspidatus, and readily distinguished by the finer and denser punctuation, and by the epistoma being without a margin. 6. H. a car o ides, breviter ovalis, postice acutus, parum convexus, ferru- gineus dense suhtilius punctatus, thorace margine basali nigricaate, elytris cos- tula laterali parum elevata ad medium abbreviata, alteraque externa fere obsoleta; sutura, macula magna communi ad medium, alterisque utrinque tribus nigris ; postpectore abdomineque nigro-piceis, segmentis duobus ultimis ferrugineis. Long. -10. Illinois., Mr. Willcox ; Kentucky, Mr. Wild. The elevated lines of the elytra are very slight, but may be distinctly traced ; behind them, but apparently in con- tinuation, is a linear brownish cloud which continues to the apex, outside of the three discoidal spots, which surround the large subquadrate common spot at the middle of the elytra. The spots are sometimes extended and become more or less confluent. In H. latissimus the elevated line is very short, so that it appears rather like a fold, limited externally by a moderately deep oblong fovea. 8. H. granum, breviter ovalis utrinque attenuatus, subconvexus, piceo-tes- taceus nitidus glaber, capite subtiliter marginato, thorace parce punctulato, lateribus rectis subtiliter marginatis, elytris subtiliter parce punctulatis. Long. •05. One specimen from Louisiana given me by Mr. Guex. Smaller and more con- vex than H. convexus, which it very closely resembles ; the sides of the thorax are, however, not broadly rounded as in that species, and the punctures of the elytra are much smaller and more distant. Desmopacbria ni ti d a Babington (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 3, 17, tab. 1, fig. 5) does not appear by its specific characters to be different from H. convexus Aube. The generic characters agree accurately, except, that the posterior tarsi are not four-jointed. This, if true, would be so anomalous, that the correctness of the observer may well be doubted ; nevertheless, in H. convexus the posterior tarsi are more flattened and more gradually attenuated than in the other species of the genus, and therefore the terminal joints are more closely connected ; should the specimen have been mounted in the clumsy manner in which small species are frequently preserved, the articulation might be readily obscured by gum, in such manner as to be overlooked. The claws of the hind feet of the species under consideration are more slender and more bristle-like than in H. cuspi- datus and allies. 81. H. exiguus Aube. Unknown to me. Said by Erichson (Bericht &c in Wiegm. Arch. 1842, 2, 209) to have as a synonym Anodocheilns maculatus Babington (loc. cit.) from South America. The genus Anodocheilus is described as differing from Hydroporus, in having no tooth at the middle of the emargina- tion of the mentum. 12. H. pull us, oblongus, po3tice vix acutus, flavo-testaceus nitidus glaber, capite vix punctulato, thorace parce punctulato, basi ad medium nigro-marginata, striola obliqua utrinque notata in elytris brevissime continuata, his distinctius punctatis, sutura vittisque utrinque tribus nigro-piceis, prima antice abbreviata et secunda approximates, stria solita punctorum interna magis distincta. Long. •06. Louisiana; discovered by Dr. Schaum, to whom I am indebted for specimens. The vittac of the elytra are quite narrow, the second one is confluent with the dark colored suture at the base : all thevittas extend nearly to the tip; the under surface is of a uniform honey yellow color. The faint impressed discoidal line of punctures of the elytra, which may be traced in all the species, is here more distinct than usual and runs along the second vitta. 17. H. inconspicuus, oblongus, postice subacutus, flavo-testaceus, sub- tiliter pubescens, thorace postice punctulato, basi nigricante, striola utrinque 1855.] 295 brevi notata in elytris longius continuata, his piceis maculis duabus ad mar- ginem obsolete testaceis, epipleuris flavo-testaceis, postpectore a'udominisque basi piceis. Long. -06. Mas elytris confertim subtiliter punctatis nitidis ; femina elytris alutaceo-stri- gosis opacis. Louisiana; for this very interesting species I am indebted to my friend Dr. Schaum. The pubescence will distinguish it from the other species, having a basal stria common to the thorax and elytra. The sides of the thorax are slightly rounded, and form with the elytra a scarcely perceptible angle. 19. H. f la vie o 1 1 is, oblongo-ovatus, postice subacutus, flavo-testaceus, sub- tiliter pubescens, thorace subtiliter punciulato, margine basali nigricante. striola utrinque brevissima notato, in elytris haud continuata, his piceis, margine fasciis duabus (anteriore interrupta) apiceque testaceis. Long. -05. Ne.w York? given me by Mr. Willcox. The sides of the thorax are rounded, and form a moderately distinct, but very obtuse angle, with the elytra; the an- terior fascia of the latter is one-third from the base, and consists of a marginal spot and a smaller discoidal one ; the second band is at one-third from the tip, and is straight and regular, extending nearly to the suture ; the elytra in the only two specimens seen are moderately shining, finely and very densely punc- tured, but probably vary according to sex. 20. H. 12-1 i n e a t u s, appears allied to H. alpinus and other European species. The female resembles closely the figure of H. bidentatus (Aube, Col. Eur. 5, pi. 28.) H. laevis Kirby appears to be the same, but he states that no punctures are visible on the upper surface of the body. In comparison with H. alpinus, our species is a little narrower, and the sides of the thorax are less curved anteriorly. 21. H. scitulus, oblongus, postice subacutus parum convexus, niger subni- tidus glaber, capite thoraceque testaceis, punctulatis, punctis maioribus sparsis intermixtis, hoc versus latera utrinque impresso ad basin transversim subdepresso, margine apicali et basali nigricante, disco fasciis duabus subinterruptis extror- sum connexis ornato, elytris margine basali ad humeros dilatata, laterali lineolisque pluribus flavo-testaceis ornatis, parce punctatis, utrinque fortius bi- seriatim punctatis, pedibus piceo-testaceis. Long. -13. One specimen, Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. Allied to H. septentrionalis of Europe, but more acute posteriorly, much darker colored above, more coarsely punctured, and with the two punctured lines of the elytra distinct. The thorax is broadly rounded on the sides, and forms a distinct angle with the elytra. 22 H. st ri a t el lus, varies in color from the black type, with indistinct testaceous elytral markings to dull muddy testaceous, with short lines on the elytra, two discoidal thoracic spots, and the sides of the head fuscous. The under suiface is black, and the feet dull testaceous, with the posterior tbighs dark. The impressed striae of the elytra are four on each, and are usually deep, but are sometimes shallow, though always distinct. It is found at San Francisco and San Diego, in California, and at Sinta Fe in New Mexico. 23. H. venustus, ovalis convexus, postice attenuatus, confertim subtiliter punctatus, pubescens, ferrugineus, clypeo ad apicem late truncato, lateribus ob- liquis, thorace versus angulos postico3 vage impresso, elytris atris, ad medium paulo latioribus ad apicem oblique subtruncatis, margine fasciis duabus undu- latls, maculaque versus apicem testaceis. Long. -17. One specimen from North Carolina given me by Mr. Zimmermann. Very dis- tinct from all others by the hemi-hexagonal form of the clypeus, which is oblique each side, and truncate at the apex, with the angles well marked, and the edge very slightly reflexed. Head and thorax densely finely punctured ; the latter slightly rounded and distinctly margined on the sides; posterior angles rectan- gular, broadly vaguely impressed ; the sides make a very obtuse, not very per- ceptible angle with the elytra. These are black, densely punctured, finely pubes- cent, moderately convex, broadest about the middle, then narrowed to the apex, which is obliquely truncate ; the whole margin, two undulated fasciae not 296 [April, reaching to the suture, and an angulated spot at the apex (as in H. undulatus) yellow. Body beneath rufo-testaceous, coarsely densely punctured. 27. H. o p p o s i t us Say ; III. prozimus Aube. The length given by Aube is rather less than that of any specimen seen by me ; the species is very similar to the preceding, and seems distinguished principally by the margin of the thorax being a little broader, with the anterior angles not porrected ; the general form is more obtuse anteriorly, and the color is usually darker, so much so that the fascia? of the elytra are at times hardly visible. The punctures of the eljtra of the female are more distinct than in H. undulatus. 29. H. spurius, ovalis, postice magis attenuatus, ferrugineus, pubescens, capite suhtiliter punctulato haud marginato, thorace confertim punctulato, mar- gine bisali nigricante, lateribus raarginatis cum elytris angulum haud forman- tibus, his (maris) confertim subtiliua punctatis striis versus suturam2 vel 3 punc- tatis parum impressis ; nigris, margine fasciis duabus undulatis, apiceque testaceis. Long. -18. One male, from Vermont, was kindly given me by Dr. Harris. This species closely resembles in form, sculpture and color, H. oppositus, but the epistoma is not margined. From H. sericeus it is distinguished by its less elliptical and less convex form, and by the large lateral spot behind the humerus not being produced so as nearly to unite the two yellow bands which are also in that species broken up into a series of linear spots hardly connected together. The male is also less finely punctured than the male of H. sericeus. 30. H. m i x t u s, longior ovalis, postice magis attenuatus, ferrugineus subtiliter pcrce pubescens, capite subtiliter punctulato, vix obsoletissime late marginato, thorace minus dense subtilius punctato, apice et basi vix nigricante, lateribus fortius marginatis, elytris parcius minus s&btiliter punctatis stria suturali punc- tata, nigris margine fasciis undulatis duabus interrupiis apiceque testaceis. Long. -17. One male from Nebraska. Longer and more pointed posteriorly than H. un- dulatus, with only a very faint transverse line representing the margin which in that species is quite distinct. The anterior angles of the thorax are not por- rected, and the punctures of the elytra are larger and more distant. 32. H. s e m i r u f u s, rufo-testaceus parum convexus ovalis postice at'enuatus, confertissime subtiliter punctulatus, breviter pubescens, capite punctulato, tho- race latius marginato, cum elytris angulum vix formante, his lineolis quatuor sutura margine basali macula postica alterisque duabus submarginalibus con- fluentibus nigris. Long. -16. Fort Laramie, Nebraska. The first of the lateral spots is placed about the middle, and is frequently not connected with the others ; the second spot is about one-fourth from the apex, and internally is usually connected with the common sutural black spot near the apex. The four discoidal lines are more or less con- fluent, and are gradually shorter externally ; the outer ones are connected with a short black basal margin. 33. H. 1 i n eo 1 a tu s, longior ovalis, postice attenuatus, rufo-testaceus sub- tiliter pubescens, capite subtilissime, thorace subtiliter parce punctulato, hoc lateribus tenuiter marginatis, cum elytris angulum haud formantibus, margine basali nigricante, elytris subtiliter punctulatis, sutura vittisque angustis utrinque quatuor plus minusve confluentibus, maculisque externis duabus angustis nigris. Long. -08. Illinois ; Mr. Willcox. The second and fourth black lines of the elytra reach the base ; the first and third are abbreviated anteriorly ; the two outer spots are narrow, as if formed by the interruption of a fifth line, of which a trace is some- times seen on the humerus in the form of a dusky dot. Between the suture and first line is sometimes seen a very slender black line. 34. H. v i 1 1 a t u s, ovalis, subconvexus, postice suba'tenuatus, rufo-testaceus parce pubescens, capite postice punctulato, thorace punctulato, apice et basi 1855.] 297 nigricante, lateribus marginatis, cum elytris angulum haud formantibus, his punctulatis nigris, vittis duabus margine apiceque flavo-testaceis, vitta externa ad humerum cum margine confluente. Long. -16. Fort Laramie, Nebraska. The form of body is exactly that of H. undulatus, and the epistoma is very obsoletely transversely impressed, as in H. mixtus above mentioned, but cannot be said to be margined. The inner vitta of the elytra does not reach the base, but be ids a little outwards at its extremity; to- wards the tip it is nearly confluent with the apical spot ; the outer vitta com- mences at the humerus, where it is confluent with the margin, and ends at nearly one-fourth from the tip ; in or e specimen it is also confluent with the margin at its posterior extremity. The punctuation is a'ike in all the specimens seen, but it is quite likely that the females are more finely punctured, less shining and more pubescent. 35. H. vi ti o su s, ovalis, longior parum convexus, subtilissime punctulatus postice subattenuatus, subtiliter pubescens, niger, capite thoracisque lateribus obscure ferrugineis, hoc lateribus marginato, cum elytri3 angulum haud formante, his nigris margine angusto basali, fasciis undatis duabus interrupts (pnsteriore indistincta) margine laterali apiceque testaceis, pedibus runs. Long. -15. One specimen from Illinois ; Mr. Willcox. Of the same form as H. mixtus, from which it is distinguished by its black under surface. The bands of the elytra are placed a3 in H. undulatus and its allies, but are much inrerrupted, and of the posterior one only the lateral spot and a very small discoidal dot are visible ; the basal margin is testaceous towards the scutellura. The dark red of the thorax fades imperceptibly into black, in such manner as to induce me tr> believe, that specimens will be found having a red thorax, with only the basal margin blackish. The males are probably more distinctly punctured. 41. H. n i g e r. What I consider as Say's species resembles extremely in form, sculpture and color, H. punctatissimus, but is a little more obtuse anteriorly, and equally attenuated behind ; it may be distinguished by the lateral margin of the thorax being hardly conspicuous, while in H. punctatissimus it is broad and thickened. The head is more finely punctulate, and the epistoma is not margined. 47. H. subtonsus, longior ovalis, parum convexus, parce pubescens, niger, ore rufescente, thorace lateribus vix marginatis rufescentibua cum elytris an- gulum obtusum formantibus, angulis posticis rectis, disco parce subtilius, ad basin ct latera distinctius puuctato, elytris stepe testaceo-piceis, modice punctatis, pedibus rufo-testaceis. Long. -125. Lake Superior and Vermont. Resembles in appearance H. varians and H. puberulus, and likely to be confounded with them. H. varians is narrower and more oblong, the sides being almost parallel at the middle, and is entirely gla- brous. H. puberulus has the posterior angles of the thorax obtuse and very distinctly impressed. The elytra of the female are less shining and le^s deeply punctured than those of the female. 53. II. c o 1 1 ar is, piceo-testaceus, longior ellipticus parum convexus, glaber, thorace lateribus rotundatis fortiter marginatis cum elytris angulum obtusis- simum formantibus, parce punctulato, grossius ad ba^in, elytria minus dense punctatis, punctis postice subtilioribus. Long. -14. Two specimens; Lake Superior. The usual discoidal row of punctures on the elytra is more distinct than usual towards the base of the elytra; the apical row of punctures on the thorax is likewise well marked. 55. H.concinnus, longior ovalis postice attenuatus, parum convexus, glaber, subtilissime punctulatus niger, capite, pedibus. ano, thoraceque ferru- gineis, hoc ad apicem late ad basin anguste nigricante, lat ribus tenuit-r mar- einatis cum elytris angulum haud formantibus, his nigri.-, macula quadrata humerali, fasciis angulatis duabus, margine apiceque testaceis, stria suturali punctorumque serie dorsali dlstinctis. Long. -14. 298 [April, Fort Laramie, Nebraska. The first fascia proceeds from the middle of the humeral spot, runs obliquely inwards, and is dilated into a quadrilateral spot with elongated angles ; the second fascia is just behind the middle, and is deeply emarginate anteriorly; neither attain the suture. The anterior black band of the thorax covers nearly half the surface. In one specimen nearly the whole abdo- men is ferruginous. 56. H. p u 1 c h e r, ovalis postice magis attenuatus, parum convexus, subtilis- sime puoctulatus, glaber, ferrugineus, thorace antice late, ad basin anguste nigri- cante, lateribus tenuiter marginatis, elytris nigris macula humerali quadrata, fusciis anguiatia duabus, margine apiceque rufo-testaceis, stria suturali nulla, serie punetoruin dorsali parum distincta. Long. -13. One specimen from Alabama, collected by Mr. Hentz, was given me by Prof. Haldeman. The color and markings are almost as in the preceding ; the body, however, is broader and more obtuse in front and more acute behind ; the sutu- ral stria is not visible, and the color beneath is ferruginous, though darker than the red of the feet, head and thorax. 58. H. difformis, longior, obconicus, glaber, ferrugineus, thorace ob- scuriore, disco subconvexo parce punctulato, distinctius ad latera et basin, late- ribus marginatis cum elytris angulum haud formantibus, his minus dense punc- tatis, fuscescentibus ad basin pallidioribus. Long. -25. Mas antennarum articulis 4to late, 3io et 5to anguste dilatatis. One immature specimen from Georgia. Resembles H. conoideus, but is larger, and the thorax would never become black. The punctures of the elytra are equal in size, while in H. conoideus two sizes are intermixed; the dilated third joint of the antennas is also narrower than the fourth, while in the other species men- tioned they are of equal breadth. 59. H. sira ilis Kirby. This may be identical with the European H. picipes, but I have not been able to compare them. I must consider, however, that there are reasons why the following species should not be considered as H. lineellus of Europe, which is admitted to be a female variety of H. picipes. 60. H. pi cat u s Kirby. Of this species I found both sexes at Mackinaw, and on the north shore of Lake Superior. The dull and finely punctured female hardly differs from the preceding, but the coarsely punctured male has no dis- tinct elytral striae. Otherwise there is no special difference. 62. H. turbidus, ovalis convexus, piceus, nitidus, capite pedibus thorace- que fere testaceis, hoc margine apicali et basali infuscato, elytris parum angus- uore, lateribus obliquis rectis marginatis cum elytris angulum hand formantibus, antice parce punctulato, postice punctata, elytris modice punctatis, versus latera rufescentibus. Long. -11. One specimen from Massachusetts was given me by Mr. Zimmerman. Resem- bles in characters H. suturalis, but is broader and more convex, and the elytra are less densely punctured The color is more reddish, there is no diseoidal spot on the thorax, and the suture of the elytra is not paler. 67. H. patruelis, longior ovalis parum convexus, nitidus subtus niger, an- tennis pedibus corporeque supra testaceus, fere aequaliter confertim punctatus, occipUe, thoracis basi apice et medio, elytrisque postice ssepe subinfuscatis, tho- race eh tris conspicue angustiore, lateribus obliquis rectis anguste marginatis cum eiyris angulum formantious. Long. -15. Fort Laramie, Nebraska Similar in form to the Californian H. lutescens, but less convex, lighter colored, and with the sides of the thorax a little longer and almost entirely straight, and the elytra more coarsely punctured. 69. II. n u b il u s, longior ovalis, parum convexus, nitidus, subtus niger, an- teonis pedibus corporeque supra testaceus, aequaliter subtile dense punctatus, elytris lineis quatuor pone medium confusis nigro-piceis signatis. Long. -17. Fort Laramie ; found also in Illinois by Mr. Willcox. Still longer than H. pa- 1855.] 299 truelis, and more finely and densely punctured. The head and thorax are never clouded ; the vittae of the elytra are sometimes reduced to merely a confused cloud behind the middle; at other times they are visible nearly to the base; in the latter case the first and third are a little shorter anteriorly, and the third and fourth are interrupted befofe the middle. In some there is a slight remnant of an interrupted submarginal stripe. The thorax is formed as in H. patruelL-. and is sometimes marked with a central fuscous dot. 70. H. discoideus, latior ovalis fere depressu3 (minus nitidu?) subtus niger, antennis pedibus eorporeque supra testaceus, capite lateribus et occipite infuscato; thorace elytris angustiore macula magna ba3ali infuscato, L-tteribus late rotundatis teuuiter marginatis cum elytris angulum formantibus, elytris confertissime punctulatis disco maximo communi infuscatis, sutura lineolisque anticis paucis pallidioribus, margine late testaceo relicto. Long. *15. One female found at Fort Laramie. Broader and flatter than the allied species, and (in case the male should be more shining and more coarsely punc- tured) distinguished by the large basal spot of the thorax. The head and thorax are moderately punctured; the dark portion of the elytra is very well defined, and does not fade at all into the broad pale margin. 73. H. m e 1 1 i t u s , subovatus convexus postice attenuate, flavo-testaceus subtiliter pubescens, capite punctulato epistomate late emarginato, thorace sub- tiliter punctato lateribus tenuissime marginatis late rotundatis cum elytris angu- lum haud foimantibus, his sat dense subtiliter punctatis, piceis, margine, lineolis ad basiu maculis lateralibus duabus alteraque subapicali pallidis. Long. -09. One specimen from Vermont, collected by the late Prof. U. B. Adams. By the form of the epistoma it resembles H. hybridus, but is much smaller and more ovate in form, while the spots of the elytra do not form transverse fascia?, though those that remain are referable to that style of marking. Synopsis of the Lathridiides of the United States, and northern contiguous Territories. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. Corticaria Marsh am. A. Antennae articulis 9 et 10 subaequalibus. Sp. 1 — 26. 1. C. gro3sa, fusco-testacea, longe parce cinereo-pilosa, thorace fere rotun- dato, capite vix latiore parce punctato, lateribus 7- vel 8-dentatis, ad basin late foveato, elytris elongato-ovalibus convexis, thorace duplo latioribus giosse vix ordinate putactatis, stria suturali postice distincta. Long. '11. One specimen found at the edge of a salt marsh, near Cambridge, Mass. in May. Readily distinguished from all others here described by its large size and coarse almost irregularly disposed punctures. 2. C. serricollis, elongata parum convexa picea, parce breviter cinereo- pubescens, thorace rotundato-cordato lateribus minu3 subtiliter serratis, confer- tim punctato ad basin fovea rotunda impressa transversim vage extensa ; elytris oblongo-ovalibus, elongatis, thorace paulo latioribus seriatim punctatis iutersti- tiis punctis uniseriatis minoribus notatis : antennis basi fusco-testaceis. Long. •10. Lake Superior, two specimens: very similar in all its characters to the next, and only distinguished by the narrower elytra, and wider and less convex thorax: the latter is somewhat less densely punctured, but the basal fovea is obsoletely prolonged each side. As in the four next species the stria? of the elytra are hardly impressed, their punctures are very distinct anteriorly, but grow small towards the tip, till they are hardly larger than the intervening rows of small points. The head just behiud the eye is armtd each side with an obtuse not very distinct tubercle. 300 [April, 3. C. dentigera elongata, parum convexa picea, parce cinereo-pubescens, thorace rotuudato-cordato, lateribus subtilius serratis^ coafertim punctato ad basin fovea rotundata transversim obsolete expansa impresso, elytris elongato- oblongis thorace sesqui latioribus, seriatim punctatis interstitiis uniseriatim subtiliter punctulatis antennarum basi pedibusque obscure testaceis. Long. '08. Lake Superior : behind each eye there is a slight but more distinct and sub- acute tootu, from which proceeds a rigid recurved bristle. 4. C. prionodera, elongata, parum convexa, testacea parce cinereo- pubesceus, thorace rotundato-cordato, dense punctato, lateribus minus subtiliter serratis, ad basin obsolete foveato, elytris oblongis, thorace paulo latioribus, dis- tinctius seriatim rugose-punctatis, interstitiis uniseriatim punctulatis. Long. •07. One specimen found at San Jose, California, Related to the two preceding species, bnt the punctures of the elytra are larger and somewhat connected by transverse r, gae. The lateral teeth of the thorax are more conspicuous, and the basal fovea is faint: the head is about equal in width to the thorax, and has behind each eye a scarcely distinct obtuse tooth. 5. C. rugulosa, elongata parum convexa picea, parce breviter cinereo- pubescens, thorace subquadrato, latitudine vix breviore, lateribus et basi late rotuodato, confertim punctulato, ad basin vage foveato, angulis posticis obtusis, elytris thorace haud sesqui latioribus oblongo-ovalibus,tenuiier seriatim punctatis interstitiis transversim rugosis punctulatis, pedibus antennisque flavis, his clava fusca. Long. -05. Lake Superior: the sides of the thorax are smooth anteriorly, but have a few email teeth near the posterior angles, which though obtuse are quite distinct. It is distinguished from the next principally by the thorax being very little broader than its length: the thorax varies in color becoming sometimes almost rufous. 6. C. K irby i, picea vel testacea, subelongata parum convexa, breviter cinereo- pubescens, thorace latitudine fere sesqui breviore, subquadrato lateribus serratis parum rotundato, angulis posticis obtusis prominulis, basi late rotundata, con- fertim subtiliter punctato ad basin vage foveato ; elytris oblongo-ovalibus, thorace haud sesqui latioribus, seriatim punctatis, interstitiis punc'.ulatis transversim subrugosis; antennis pedibusque fiavo-testaceis. Long. -04 — -06. Corlicaria dentieulnta\\ Kirhy, Fauna Bor. Am. 110. Lake Superior, very abundaut: the serrations of the thorax are less conspicu- ous towards the anterior angles. I do not feel certain that the former species should be separated from this: I can find no difference except the relative pro- portions of the thorax, and as both are found in one locality and mingled to- gether, it is quite possible that they are really different sexes of one species; in which case the name appended to the present description must for obvious reasons be retained. 1. C. obtusa, picea, parurn convexa, breviter pubeseens, thorace latitudine fere sesqui breviore subquadrato, lateribus subtili-sime serrulatis rotundatis, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis, confertim punctulato, ad basin arcuatim impresso elytris thorace haud sesqui latioribus oblongo-ovalibus, seria- tim punctatis, interstitiis punctulatis transversim rugosis ; antennis pedibus- que testaceis. Long. -05 — -06. One specimen found at New York and another at Cambridge, Massachusetts ; resembles in form the preceding, but is a little broader, and is readily known by the form and sculpture of the thorax. 8. 0. longipennis, elongata, cinereo-pubescens, testacea, thorace latitu- dine sesqui breviore lateribus antice rotundatis, basi late rotundata utrinque sinuata, angulis posticis prominulis, parce punctulato, ad basin fovea parva transversa impresso ; elytris elongatis, oblongis, thorace paulo la'ioribus postice convexis ad apicem late truncatis, punctis quadratis approximatis striatis, inter- stitiis parum convexis seriatim breviter pilosis. Long. -05. 1855.] 301 Mas elytris abdomine multo longioribus. Femina eljtris abdomine parum longioribus, minus snbito truncatis. Cambridge, Massachusetts; in salt marsh. Very distinct by the long elytra being broadly truncate at tip, with the outer angle rounded. 9. C. scissa, elongata, te3tacea cinereo-pubescens, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore, lateribu3 antice valde rotundatis, basi late rotundata, utrinque sinuata, angulis posticis prominulis, sat dense punctulato, ad basin leviter foveato, elytris elongatis oblongis, thorace paulo latioribus, postice convexis ad apicem rotundatim modice truncatis, punctis quadratis approximatis seriatis, interstitiis parum convexis seriatim breviter pilosis. Long. *045. One female found near the mouth of the Colorado River, California. Closely related to the preceding, but the thorax is broader and more densely punctured : the general form is less elongated. 10. C. americana, picea vel rufo-testacea, oblongo-ovata, thorace latitu- dine fere sesqui breviore, subquadrato, lateribus antice rotundatis, basi late rotundata, anguli3 posticis obtusis, parce punctulato, ad basin arcuatim impresso, elytris ovalibus modice convexis subtilius seriatim brevissime pilosis. Long. *04. Mannerheim, Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 50. Middle and Southern States; abundant. 11. C. expansa, longiuscula, rufo-testacea, thorace latitudine sesqui bre- viore, lateribus subtiliter serrulatis rotundatis, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis fere rotundatis, confertim punctulato, ad basin transversim foveato, et utrinque ad latera modice explanata, elytris oblongo-ovalibus thorace haud sesqui latioribus, modice seriatim punctatis, interstitiis seriatim breviter pilosis. Long. -06. California, at San Diego. The lateral impression of the thorax is very near the margin and extends from the middle to the base. 12. C. t e n e 1 1 a, longiuscula, fusco-ferruginea, vel picea, thorace latitudine subbreviore, lateribus rotundatis subserratis, basi late rotundata, angulis posti- cis obtusis haud prominulis, confertim punctulato, ad basin transversim foveato, et utrinque ad latera sat profunde impresso, elytris elongato-ovalibus, thorace haud sesqui latioribus, tenuiter seriatim punctatis, interstitiis breviter seriatim pilosis. Long. -04. San Jose, California. By its sculpture this species seems related to C. p u- si 1 1 a Mann. (Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 48) but the form is elongate, and the elytra are not truncate at tip. 13. C. compta, longiuscula picea, thorace latitudine fere sesqui breviore, lateribus antice rotundatis, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis prominulis, rude punctato, ad basin fovea transversa impresso, elytris ovalibus convexis, thorace haud sesqui latioribus, punctis quadratis seriatis, interstitiis concinne breviter seriatim pilosis. Long. -045. One specimen, San Diego, California. From the next species, to which it is allied, this is distinguished by the broader thorax, and dark colored feet. 14. C. grata, longiuscula, gracilis, thorace latitudine subbreviore, lateri- bus rotundatis vix serratis, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis prominulis, rude punctato ad basin fovea transversa impresso, elytris ovalibus convexis, thorace fere sesqui latioribus punctis quadratis seriatis, interstitiis concinne breviter se- riatim pilosis; antennarum basi pedibusque rufo-testaceis. Long. -045. One specimen, Lake Superior; fiom the next two species this is distinguished by the form and coarser punctuation of the thorax. As in C. compta, and in the next two, the beautifully regular arrangement of the hairs on the elytra causes the interstices between the strice of quadrate punctures to appear in some lights very finely carinated. 15. C. angularis, longiuscula picea, thorace latitudine breviore, lateri- bus rotundatis, postice subsinuatis, basi vix late rotundata, angulis posticis prominulis, modice punctato ad basin fovea rotundata impresso, elytris 24 9 02 [April, thorace latioribus ovalibus convexig punctis quadratis seriatis, interstitiig concinne seriatim pilosis ; antennarum basi pedibusque rufo-testaceis. Long. *05. Lake Superior, one specimen. Differs from the next by its more elongated form. 16. C. cavicolis, breviuscula, rufo-picea, vel testacea, thorace latitu- dine sesqui breviore, lateribus valde rotundatis, postice subsinuatis, basi late rotundata, utrinque ad angulum breviter sinuata, angulis posticis magis promi- nulis, modice punctato, ad basin fovea subtransversa impresso, elytris thorace fere sesqui latioribus, punctis quadratis seriatis, interstitiis concinne seriatim pi- losis; antennarum basi pedibusque testaceis. Long. 04. Mannerheim, Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 57. Middle, Southern and Western States, not rare. Distinguished from the allied species by the broader form, and by the greater magnitude of the posterior angles of the thorax. 17. C. r e g u 1 a r i s , longiuscula, nigro-picea, thorace quadrato, latitudine paulo breviore, lateribus subcrenulatis autice rotundatis, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis rectis prominulis, modice punctato, postice minus profunde arcua- tini impresso, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus convexis ovalibus, punctis quad- ratis seriatis, interstitiis concinne seriatim pilosis ; antennarum basi pedibusque flavo-testaceis. Long. -06. One specimen found in Pennsylvania. 18. C. 1 e v i s , longiuscula (testacea), thorace subquadrato, latitudine fere sesqui breviore, lateribus rotundatis, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis sub- rectis, parce punctato, ad basin fovea transversa leviter impresso, elytris thorace latioribus, ovalibus convexis, subtiliter seriatim punetatis, interstitii3 breviter seriatim pilosis. Long. -04. One specimen found at the Colorado River, in California. Related to C. cavi- collis, but the posterior angles of the thorax are less prominent, the basal fovea is less deep, and the general form is narrower ; the rows of punctures of the elytra are finer, and the interstices appear less convex and less rugous. 19. C. h e r b i v ag an s , nigro-picea, longiuscula, thorace subrotundato, latitudine vix breviore, lateribus subcrenulatis, angulis posticis fere rotundatis, co.nfertim punctato, postice tranversim arcuatim impresso, elytris ovalibus con- vexis, thorace haud sesqui latioribus, punctis maioribus quadratis seriatis, inter- stitiis seriatim concinne pilosis, antice subelevatis ; pedibus paulo pallidioribus. Long. -04. San Francisco, California, very abundant on flowers in May. 20. C. m o r s a, fusco-testacea, sericeo-pubescens longiuscula, thorace latitu- dine vix breviore, sub-hexagono, lateribus medio angulatis, dein usque ad basin subconcavis, basi fere truncata, angulis posticis rectis, confertim punctulato, postice transversim profunde arcuatim impresso, elytris ovalibus, convexis, tho- race latioribus punctis quadratis seriatis, concinne seriatim pilosis. Long. -04. One specimen found at the Colorado River, in California. The general pro- portions are very much as in 0. p u m i 1 a , but the thorax is very distinctly angulated at the middle on the sides. 21. C. pumila, fusca vel testacea, longiuscula, thorace latitudine vix breviore, subcordato, lateribus crenulatis, medio subangulatis, angulis posticis obtusis, basi late rotundata, sat punctato, postice arcuatim impresso, elytris ovalibus paulo convexis, thorace latioribus, subtilius striato-punctatis, intersti- tiis lsevibus seriatim pilosis. Long. -05. Melsheimer, Catalogue of Described Col. 46, (synon. excl.) Corticaria pusilla RMels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 114. Lake Superior, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia ; abundant. Although the interstices of the elytra are furnished each with a row of short hairs, they appear entirely smooth, having neither rugas nor punctures. J 855.] 30 ^ 22. C. rufula, elongata, parum convexa rufo-testacea, thorace latitudine breviore lateribus rotundatis basi late rotundatis, angulis posticis obtusis, con- fertim punctato, postice arcuatim impresso, elytris elongato-ovalibus seriatim punctatis, interstitiis laevibus seriatim longius pilosis. Lung. -06. San Jose and San Diego, California : this species recalls by its form C. serri- collis, &c, among those just described, but the sides of the thorax are not serrate, and the sculpture of the elytra is very different. Species unknown to me. 23. C. octodentata Mann. Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 65. Latridius octodentatus Say, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc, 5, 325. Nebraska Territory. 24. C. p u s i 1 1 a Mann. Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 48 (excl. synon.) California. 25. C. t ri s ig n a t a Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852,361. Russian America. 26. C. spinulosa Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 361. Russian America. B. Antennae articulis 9 — 11 sensim maioribus. 27. C. picta, elongata testacea glabra, thorace latitudine breviore sub- quadrato, angulis rotundatis, parce punctulato haud impresso, elytris thorace latioribus oblongo-ovalibus subtiliter seriatim punctulatis, interstitiis omnium subtilissime alutaceis, fascia transversa ad medium apicequepiceis, antennarum articulis tribus ultimis picels. Long. -05. Middle and Southern States : rare. Varies in having the elytra piceous, with two large testaceous rounded spots on each, one behind the base and the other behind the middle. The 9th joint of the antennae is hardly larger than the 8th, which, together with the absence of pubescence, gives to the insect a peculiar appearance, and suggests even the establishment of a separate genus for its re- ception. In the next species, however, the external appearance of the ordinary species of Corticaria is resumed, though the antennas are as in the present one. 28. C. simplex, longiuscula testacea, tenuiter pubescens, thorace latitu- dine breviore subquadrato, angulis rotundatis, parce punctulato, postice obso- lete transversim impresso, elytris oblongo-ovalibus, tenuiter seriatim punctula- tis et breviter seriatim pilosis. Long. -05. One specimen found at the Colorado River in California. The hairs of the elytra are precisely as in the many species of the division A, but the punctures of the normal striae are very small, hardly larger, in fact, than those of the in- terstices. The elytra and the club of the antennae are somewhat fuscous. Lathridius Herbst. A. Antennae articulo 9no 8vo maiore : (thorax bicarinatus). 1. L. sculptilis, elongatus, opacus rufo-testaceus, thorace latitudine longiore, pone medium maxime constricto, antice trifoveato dorso subtiliter bi- carinato, carinis integris fere parallelis, antice utrinque carinula brevi externa notato, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus punctis quadratis, postice minoribus • seriatis, interstitiis utrinque tribus paulo elevatis subcarinatis. Long. -045. Southern Illinois, Prof. Haldeman. Seems related to L. carinatus and other European and Siberian species, but the small anterior elevated line outside of the dorsal carinas is not mentioned in any of the descriptions; it runs from the large external anterior fovea to the posterior constriction, and though fine is quite distinct; the two dorsal carinas are parallel anteriorly, and between them is eeen an oval fovea : towards the base they converge, and are continued through the transverse impression. B. Antennae articulis 8 et 9 subaequalibu3. * Thorax bicarinatus. 2. L. costicollis, testaceo-piceus, capite thoracequefere scabris, illo ca— naliculato latitudine parum longiore, lateribus concavis, postice constrioto? 304 [April, angulis anticis magnis rotundatis, ante medium transversim impresso, dorso late et profunde sulcato, bicostato, costis integris parallelis, elytris ventricosis postice acutis, pone basin oblique impressis, humeris valde elevatis, crenato- striatis, interstitiis laevibus convexis. Long. -07. One specimen found at San Francisco ; the eyes are moderate and prominent, as in tbe next division ; the great elevation of the humeri causes the lateral outline of the elytra to be sinuous anteriorly. It is somewhat related to, but very distinct from L. angusticolis of Europe. ** Thorax haud carinatus. f Oculi mediocres, convexi prominuli. 3. L. pulicarius, ferrugineus, elongatus, capite thoraceque fere scabris punctatis, hoc latitudine paulo longiore convexo, lateribus antice rotundatis, postice profunde transversim sulcato modice constricto, elytris nigris, vel nigro- piceis, ovalibus valde marginatis thorace duplo latioribus, confertim seriatim grosse punctatis. Long. -035. Lee. MeKsheimer's Cat. of Described Coleoptera, 46. Corticaria pulicaria Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 115. Middle and Southern States: sometimes very abundant, flying at twilight. Very similar to the European L. lilliputanus. 4. L. crenatus, niger, capite thoraceque obsolete canaliculars scabris, hoc quadrato postice subangustato, parum convexo, fortius marginato, lateribus fere rectis antice paulo rotundatis, versus basin trifoveato, foveis sulco transver30 connexis, elytris ovalibus convexis, thorace duplo latioribus grosse crenato- striatis, interstitiis striis haud latioribus, antennis pedibusque flavis. Long. •045. Several specimens found at San Jose, California, and one at San Diego. Smaller than the next, with deeper striae on the elytra, and narrower margin. The posterior impression of the thorax is deeper at the sides and in the middle, so that it appears like three foveas transversely connected. 5. L. reflexus, niger, capite thoraceque scabris canaliculars, boc quad- rato, postice subangustato, parum convexo, fortius marginato, lateribus fere rectis antice rotundatis, postice transversim valde impresso, elytris ovalibus modice convexis, thorace duplo latioribus, valde marginatis profunde crenato- striatis, interstitiis striis latioribus, antennis pedibusque flavis. Long. '055. New York, Illinois, Lake Superior. -j- f Oculi minuti superni. 6. L. f i 1 i f o r m i s , linearis, depressus, rufo-ferrugineus, occipite coarctato, thorace quadrato-cordato, late marginato, postice modice angustato, impressione transversa po3tica utrinque exarata, elytris thorace vix latioribus dense cre- nato-striatis. Long. .045. Dahl, Coleopt. 65, &c, &c. Mann. Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 104. A European species, of whieh one specimen was found in Missouri and another at the Academy of Natural Sciences, in Philadelphia. Probably imported in articles of commerce. 7. L. parviceps, elongatus depressus, ferrugineus, capite thorace duplo angustiore, fronte subtiliter trisulcato, thorace latitudine breviore, lateribus antice rotundatis, postice haud angustato, angulis posticis rectis, valde margi- nato, disco antice trifoveato, postice transversim valde sulcato, elytris medio paulo dilatatis, sexseriatim variolosis, interstitiis perangustis, humeris denticu- latis. Long. -045. A very distinct species of which I found but a single specimen, at San Jose, in Calitoraia. The antennae are shorter than in any of the preceding species, being hardly twice as long as the head. 1855.] 305 Species unknown to me. 8. L. quadricollia Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 299. Germ. Zeitschr. 5, 70. 9. L. protensicol is Mann. ibid. ibid. 5,71. 10. L. co r di c ol li s Mann. ibid. 300, ibid. 5,105. 11. L. sobrinus Mann. Bull Mosc. 1852, 362. All from Russian America. Monotoma Herbst. 1. M. productum, elongatum atrum opacum, parce albo-pubescens, capite pone oculos haud dentato, thorace confertissime grosse punctato, latitudine lon- giore, antrorsum paulo angustato, lateribus rectis subcrenatis, angulis posticis acutis, ad basin vage impresso, elytris punctatis rugosis substriatis, interstitiis angustis distinctis ; pedibus nigro-piceis, antennis ferrugineis. Long. *10. New York. Larger than the following, and quite distinct. 2. M. fulvipes, elongatum atrum opacum, parce pubescens, capite pro- funde impresso pone oculos dente acuto armato, thorace confluenter rugose punctato, latitudine longiore, lateribus crenatis late rotundato, angulis posticis obtusis, anticis rotundatis productis, ad basin obsolete bifoveato, elytris piceis scabro-punctatis, rugosis minus distincte striatis, antennis pedibusque ferrugineis. Long. -08. Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 111. Monotonia opaca Ziegler, ibid. 2, 271. Pennsylvania Dr. Melsheimer. Distinct from the next species by the more elongated thorax, with produced anterior angles and fainter dorsal foveae. 3. M. foveatum, elongatum atrum opacum, parce pubescens, capite pro- funde impresso pone oculos dente armato, thorace latitudine parum longiore, antice subangustato, lateribus crenatis vix late rotundatis, angulis posticis subobtusis anticis prominulis subrotundati3, confluenter rugose punctato, ad basin fortius bifoveato, elytris piceis minus profunde scabro-punctatis, sub- striatis, antennis pedibusque ferruginei3. Long. .06. Ohio, Mr. Wapler, two specimens. 4. M americanum, atrum, minus elongatum, opacum, parce pubescens, capite leviter impresso, pone oculos obtuse dentato, thorace latitudine fere breviore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus rectis crenatis, angulis posticis sub- acutis, antice vix rotundatis, antennis pedibusque ferrugineis. Long. -07- Aube, Ann. EDt. Fr. 6, 461, tab. One specimen, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. 5. M. parallelum, atrum elongatum, opacum, fusco-pubescens, capite leviter impresso, pone oculos obtuse dentato, thorace latitudine paulo longiore, lateribus parallelis fere rectis crenulatis, angulis posticis rectis, anticis subpro- minulis, confluenter rugose-punctato, ad basin transversim vage foveato, elytris piceis minus profunde punctatis seriatim pilosis, antenni3 pedibusque ferrugineis. Long. -08. One specimen, New York. The striae of the elytra are hardly impressed, as in the preceding species, but seem only indicated by the rows of short bristles, which, as in others, occupy the interstices. 6. M. m u c i d u m, atrum, elongatum, opacum, fusco-pubescens, capite mo- dice impresso, pone oculos obtuse dentato, thorace latitudine paulo longiore, antrorsum vix conspicue augustatum, lateribus crenulatis vix late rotundatis, angulis anticis subprominulis, posticis obtusis, minus profunde rugose-punctato, postice vage transversim foveato, elytris minu3 profunde punctatis seriatim pilosis, antennis pedibusque ferrugineis. Long. -055. One specimen found at the Colorado River in California. Closely resembles in its characters the preceding, but is smaller and has the sides of the thorax less parallel. 306 [April, Notes derived from observations made on the Birds of New Mexico during the years 1853 and 1854. By T. Charlton Henry, M.D., U. S. Army. The following observations were made by the writer, on the Ornithology of that portion of New Mexico lying south and north-west of the Jornada del Muerto, a portion of country differing very essentially from that situated in the vicinity of Santa Fe. In special, or nearly special, reference to the Ornithology of the latter, it will be recollected that Col. McCall, late Inspector General, U. S. Army, published, somewhat more than two years ago, in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, an interesting and able article. It will be observed that the writer in the present case, having devoted his entire leisure to his favorite pursuit for a period of more than two years, while stationed at Forts Fillmore, Webster and Thorn, each in turn, has succeeded in adding largely to the list published by Col. McCall, as above referred to. A word relative to the topography of the several locations where the observa- tions were made. Fort Fillmore is situated on the eastern bank of the Rio Grande, south of Santa Fe two hundred and seventy-five miles, its level above the sea being several thousand feet less than the latter place. Small mesquit and cotton-wood, with more or less " tornilla," is the principal wood to be met with in its locality. The soil is sandy, except in the bottom land, where alluvial deposit exists to a cer- tain extent, of argillaceous character, and black loam. Fifteen miles north-east of the Fort are the Organ Mountains, but no investigations was the writer able to make there during the four months he was stationed at Fort Fillmore ; the size of the garrison, to which he was Post Surgeon, precluding the practicability of his absenting himself therefrom for any length of time. August, September, October, November and part of December, were passed at Fort F. The writer was then ordered to Fort Webster, near the Sierra de los Mimbres and near the copper mines, the post being built on the banks of ihe Rio de los Mimbres (River of Willows) a small, rocky and beautifully clear stream. This location was in the very heart of the mountain ; the ground very elevated, and the soil along the stream exceedingly rich, being much of it black muck, with scarce a particle of clay in its composition. On the upland, where grew in pro- fusion the nutritious " gamma grass," a limestone base was covered lightly with vegetable deposit. The face of the country was plains, narrow valleys and high mountains, alternately. The timber consisted of white cedar, (Juniperus albus,) pinon, (Pinus mono- phyllus,) white pine, (P. altissimus,) scrub oak, (Q. olivaeformis,) and black wal- nut, among the mountains ; along the brook, cotton wood, white water ash and box alder, the latter rather sparse. The geological character of the mountains is principally limestone, associated with traces of iron and lead, and silver not unfrequently found in combination. Spar, unlike the composition of the Organ Mountain range near Fort Fillmore, very little or none. Copper also, in the form of carbonate, abounds in the vicinity ; also, as usual, associated with a cre- taceous base; black volcanic rock, to a small extent, is to be met with. At Fort Webster the writer passed more than a year, when he was removed to Fort Thorn, situated on the Rio Grande, some fifty miles above Fort Fillmore. Soil, timber, &c, are all similar to that found about Fort Fillmore, with a slight difference only in temperature. With these few preliminaries, which the writer deems of some service, as bearing in a measure upon the character of the haunts frequented by certain birds, many species of which, in this region, although found in great abundance in one locality, yet in another, a few miles only distant, are never met with, he will proceed to note every bird actually met with, during nearly three years sojourn in New Mexico, of which he has, in most every instance, procured specimens. 1855.] 307 CATHARTES. I. C. aura. Common during the summer months, especially along the Rio Grande; among the mountains fewer. In winter rarely seen. Most abundant in the spring and fall. BUTEO. 2- B. borealis. Breeds rather abundantly; common everywhere. Numerous specimens obtained. 3. B. Pennsylvanictjs. Rarely met with. One near Fort Fillmore shot in Sep- tember. 4. B. lagopts. Not rare. Several specimens obtained. Feed much upon mal- lards and other ducks. Observed only once on the Rio Mimbres ; not unfrequently shot while duck hunting along the Del Norte. HALI^TUS. 5. H. leucocephalus. But t wo or three pair seen at Forts Fillmore and Thorn, during the winter only. One young male in brown plumage obtained at Fort Webster ; the only one seen there. PANDION. 6. P. hali,etus. Two or three seen at each station ; one shot. Apparently not numerous. The maddiness of the Rio Grande, and the small size of the few clear streams found in the country, will probably account for it ; in the first case their prey bein^ not readily seen from above ; in the second, the few fish found being very small. FALCO. 7. F. columbarius. Occasionally seen only ; numerous nowhere. One obtained at Fort Webster. 8. F. sparverius. Common everywhere. Resident. ASTUR. 9. A. Cooperi. One shot near Fort Webster; no other observed. 10. A. fuscus. Common among the mountains; very rarely seen elsewhere. Several obtained. CIRCUS. II. C. cyaneus. Extremely common everywhere. Prey much upon the par- tridges (L. Gambelli) and also ducks. SURNIA. 12. S. hypogcea. A few observed upon portions of the Jornada del Muerto. OTUS. 13. O. vulgaris. Quite common in the fall along the Del Norte. Observed among the mountains but twice. BUBO. 14. B. Virginianus. Common in both localities. One shot very nearly white. CHORDEILES. 15 C. Virginianus. Very common everywhere from April to July ; makes its first appearance in the latter part of March. CAPRIMULGUS. 16. C. Nuttallii. Found both along the Rio Grande and Mimbres; much more common at the latter place. Arrives and migrates in the latter part of October. 308 [April, HIRUNDO. 17. H. purpurea. Not very common. Observed only at Fort Webster. Ar- rives about the middle of April and remains about two months only. 18. H. bicolor. Very common throughout New Mexico. Arrives about the 10th of April, and migrates about-the last of August. 19. H. thalassina. Common, more particularly along the Mimbres. Arrives early in April, and leaves by the 5th of August. 20. H. rufa. Quite common along the Rio Grande. Time of arrival a few days later than H. fulva; migrates about August 15th. A few only seen on the Mimbres. 21. H fulva. Observed only at the Mimbres. Not numerous. Arrives the last of March and migrates the last of July. 22. H. riparia. Common botb in the Valley of the Del Norte and among the mountains. Arrives soon after H. thalassina, and migrates somewhat later. MUSCICAPA. 23. M. verticalis. Found in abundance among the mountains. Arrives at Fort Webster March 25th, and leaves about the 20th of August. Never seen along the Valley of the Rio Grande. 24. M Saya. Seems to take the place of the Verticalis along the Rio Grande. Common at Forts Fillmore and Thorn. Arrives the 1st of February, and is not seen after the 25th of July, unless very rarely ; one seen in January. 25. M. nigricans. Rather common among the mountains. Occasionally seen along the Del Norte. Always affects the neighborhood of streams. Arrives 31st of March ; not observed after the 20th of July. 26. M. pusilla. Not rare along the mountain streams ; often observed at Fort Webster. Arrives late in May, and migrates the last of July. PYROCEPHALUS. 27. P. rubineus. One shot in May at Fort Webster ; the only specimen met with ; a male in full plumage. PTILOGONYS. 28. P. Townsendii. Very abundant during the winter months only, about Fort Webster, where they always frequent the neighborhood of cedar trees and feed on their berries. Arrive in October in considerable flocks, and soon sepa- rate into pairs or threes ; migrate the last of March. They appear to possess no power of song, although in March they frequently utter a peculiar note, very short and interrupted. Their call note may well be compared to the slight creak- ing of an ungreased carriage wheel. Their call note differs from their attempts at singing in spring. Seem very retiring, and are usually met with in shady glens near a stream where cedars abound. They do not nest in the neighborhood of the Mimbres, nor do they migrate in the spring in flocks, as far as 1 can ascertain. Never met with along the valley of the Rio Grande. 29. P. nitens. Three or four pair observed about Fort Webster, and shot in June, 1853. First observed May 25th; none seen after July. Not seen on the Rio Grande. Nest on the Mimbres. TOXOSTOMA. 30. T. rediviva. Found rather abundantly about Fort Fillmore. Frequents the mesquit exclusively. More observed during the months of October and November than during the summer. A few seen during the month of August. Am unable to say whether it breeds here. Rarely seen after December. Two or three seen at Fort Thorn during December 1853. Never observed on the Rio de los Mimbres. 1855.] 309 CULICIVORA. 31. C. ccerulea. Rare throughout the country. A few seen at the Mimbres during the month of April ; first observed on the 12th of that month. Probably does not breed here. SYLVICOLA. 32. S. coronata. Very abundant everywhere '"ring the months of April and October. First observed at the Mimbres, April 2d. 33. S. striata. One or two only observed in April at the Mimbres. 34. S. ccerulea. One observed at the Mimbres during the latter part of April. 35. S. jestiva. Common throughout the country in summer. Arrives in the early part of April, and migrates southward the latter part of July. 36. S. nigricans. One shot May lOthon the Mimbres, the only one observed at any tump. 37. S. Canadensis. A few observed on the Mi nbres, and one along the Rio Grande near Fort Thorn, in May. TRICHAS. 38. T. Tolmiei. Breeds about the mountains along the Rio Mimbres. Never seen in the valley of tire Rio Grande. Three specimens obtained. 39. T. Marilandica. Very common along the Mimbres, where it breeds; in less numbers along the valley of the Rio Grande. Arrives about the 1st of April and disappears the latter part of July. HELINAIA. 40. H. chrysopteua. One only seen near Fort Thorn in April, 1854. CERTHIA. 41. C. FAiiiLiARTs. Vury common among the mountains in summer, where it probably breeds. Never seen, except in winter, along the valley of the Rio Grande. TROGLODYTES. 42. T. obsoletus. Very common among the mountains in summer, where it breeds. Not seen on the Rio Grande. Arrives at Fort Webster by the 15th of March, and disappears the last of July. 43. T. Americanus. Occasionally seen only in winter and late in fall. Two or three obtained at the Mimbres and Fort Fillmore. 44. T. palustris. Very common in summer everywhere, but most abundant along the small mountain streams where there are marshy shores. Breeds in the territory. Many winter along the Rio Grande. PARUS. 45. P. minimus. Common among the mountains. Resident. Not met with along the river. 46. P. bicolor. Common in winter among the mountains. Not on the Rio Grande. 47. P. Wollweberi. One only seen ; shot on the 10th of May, at Fort Webster. REGULUS. 48. R. satrapa. Common along the Sierra de los Mimbres. Resident. Some- times seen in winter along the Rio Grande. 49. R. calendula. One or two met with among the mountains. 310 [April, SIALIA. ^ 50. S. occidentals. From October 20th to March 10th abundant, both among the mountains, where they feed on the cedar berries, and along the river, where they make the berries of the miseltoe their food. 51. S. arctica. Much rarer along the Rio Grande than among the mountains, where they breed. Arrive about the ]0th of February, and remain in the river valley but a fortnight or three weeks; among the mountains some two months, or until one brood is reared, after which they take their departure. Once seen as early as January 29th. CINCLUS. 52. C. Americanus. Very abundant on the Rio Mimbres during the whole winter, from the 10th of October until the 1st of April. Never seen along the Rio Grande, nor any where in the summer. ORPHEUS. 53. O. polyglottus. Quite common, both along the Rio Grande valley and among the mountains, in the summer ; in both situations breeds. 54. O. montanus. One shot at Fort Webster, January 27th. TURDUS. 55. T. migratoritjs. Abundant on the Mimbres during the fall and winter. Very few seen after May, till October. Very f w ever seen on the Rio Grande, and when seen, only in winter. Their range confined to those parts of the country only where cedars abound. 56. T. solitarius. A few resident throughout the country. 57. T. nanus. Very common in April on the Rio Grande, both at Forts Thorn and Fillmore. Probably migrates farther northward. ANTHUS. 58. A. ludovicianus. A few straggling flocks observed every spring and fall, both in high and low ground. ALAUDA. 59. A. occidentals. Found during the spring and winter, chiefly on open plains and elevated ground. Not resident. PLECTROPHANES. 60. P. McCownii, (Lawrence). Very large flocks everywhere, especially about the margins of the Rio Grande from the 10th of October to the last of April. Their habits much resemble those of P. nivalis. Never saw any in full summer plumage, as they do not breed here. [Description by George N. Lawrence, Esq. Head before the New York Lyceum of Natural History, 8th Sept., 1851, and published in Proceedings of that Society. Upper plumage pale rufous ash ; each feather marked down its centre with brownish black ; a line of greyish white from the bill over to the eye; sides of head brownish ash ; primaries and secondaries dusky ash, greyish white margins ; tertiaries brown; lesser wing coverts with rufous marks ; two central feathers dark brown, pale edgings ; outer tail feathers white, palish brown on outer web, rest while, terminating with dark brown; throat and abdomen greyish white ; upper part of breast and under the wings ash, tinged with pale rufous; bill nearly white, tipped with brown ; legs pale red. Length 5| ; wing 3| ; first and second quills longest and equal.] 1855.] 311 EMBERIZA. 61. E. grammaca. Arrive at the Mimbres on the 25th of April, where they remain about two months. Found only among the mountains. 62. E. graminea. Only one met with on the Mimbres, on the 8th of January, during a thaw. 63. E. passerina. A few seen on the Rio Grande during the latter part of February. Two obtained. 64. E. socialis. Arrives in small numbers March 4th, and remains in the country till the last of July. Not abundant. NIPHEA. 65. N. Oregona. Among the mountains. A few seen during the summer, where during the winter they are extremely common. It is fownd also in con- siderable number along the river valley during the winter months. LINARIA. 66. L. fines. Common everywhere, except in Summer, through the country. CARPODACUS. 67. C. familiaris. Rather common during the months of April and May, both in high and low grounds, feeding on the buds of the cotton wood, (P. Can- adensis.) Breeds, (as observed by Col. McCall,) about Santa Fe and the vi- cinity. C. obscures, (McCall.) Three shot near Fort Webster ; found in winter, among the pines upon a mountain. Male and female of similar plumage. CARDUELIS. 68. C. Magellamcus. Principally observed along the Rio Grande in the month of September. Its sojourn is very short. A very few seen in May at Fort Webster. Probably breeds among the mountains. FRINGILLA. 69. F. melodia. Common during the winter and early spring, but not very numerous. 70. F. i.eucophrys. The most abundant species of sparrow in New Mexico during the whole year, but most numerous in winter. Never have met with nest or eggs. PIPILO. 71. P. arctica. Throughout the summer remains among the mountains. Common along the Rio Grande in the winter months. 72. P. fusca. Like its congener, a constant resident in the territory, but unlike in never frequenting the river valley. Affects the locality of cedar bushes and mountain canons ; hence termed the Canon Finch. (See Cassin's Il- lustrations.) Found at Fort Webster ; equally common with P. Arctica ; very shy and retiring in his habits; never found in flocks. CORYDALINA. 73. C. bicolor. During the Spring of 1853 I observed a few specimens of this species. They appeared as if migrating, and I never since met with others, either in high or low land. Those seen were near Fort Webster. COCCOBORUS. 74. C co3ruleus. Quite common in Summer along the river valley. A few seen on the Rio Mimbres. They no doubt breed in the territory. 75. C. melanoleucus. A few seen and obtained along the Sierra de los Mimbres in the latter part of May, 1S53, when they were in full song. Never seen in winter ; rare. 312 [April, COCCOTHRAUSTES. 70. C. VESPERiiNA. A few seen among the mountains in March, 1853, and two specimens obtained. PYRANGA. 77. P. aestiva. Rather common in summer along the Rio Grande. One or two met with in the mountains, where they are rather rare. MOLOTHRUS. 78. M. pecoris. Rather common everywhere from April to November. Not seen in winter. AGELAIUS. 79. A. phcenicetts. Common throughout the year. Breeds in the terri- tory. 80. A.xanthocephalus. Verycommon during the greater part of the year. Not seen in winter. QUISCALUS. 81. Q. Breweri. Very common during the early spring and fall months. STURNELLA. 82. S. neglecta. Common throughout the year. Most numerous in the valley of the Del Norte. CORVUS. 83. C. corax. Exceedingly abundant, especially in winter. Breeds among the mountains, chiefly, but not exclusively. 84. C. Americanus. Very rare, according to my observation ; but two met with, and at Fort Webster. GARRULUS. 85. G. stelleri. A common jay among the mountains. 86. G. ui.tramarinus. The most abundant species ; found in fall, not unfre- quenily along the Valley of the Rio Grande, but exceedingly numerous among the mountains. 87. G. CRrsTATrjs. Found about the woods bordering the northernmost por- tion of the Rio Grande. This I state not upon my own, but upon the authority of a person perfectly familiar with the blue jay of North America. GYMNOK1TTA, (Prince de Wied.) 88. G. cyan rppiiALA. This extremely graceful and beautiful shaped jay I have met with along: the Sierra del los Mimbres range, some five or six times. It is invariably found in flocks of forty or more individuals; very shy and diffi- cult of approach. This is the Cyanocorax Cassini of Col. McCall. I never met this bird along the valley of the del Norte. The peculiar taper bill of this species is quite characteristic ; very unlike that of the general family Corvinae of Wilson. Its wings are also far wider in proportion than it is common to see in the jay family ; and the tout ensemble of the bird, except its bill, would seem to my mind to ally it nearly to the Nucifragre. NUCIFRAGA. 89. N. CoLTJMBrANA. Quite common near Fort Webster, during the months of November and December. Found mostly among the pinons, (Pinus mono- phyllus.) LANIUS. 90. L. LiiDovicrANis. Common and resident in the territory, but most abun- dant in the winter months. 1855.] 313 VIREO. 91. V. gilvus. Common ; the only one of this family ever obtained by me in New Mexico. From March 25th to August 15th. ICTERIA. 92. I. viridis. A few seen during the spring and summer of 1853 on the Rio Mimbres, where they appeared to breed. Perhaps this species may be the longlcauda of Lawrence. BOMBICILLA. 93. B. Carolinensis. One flock observed frequenting the wild currant bushes near Fort Webster, in June, 1853. I obtained two specimens in order to prove their identity. Never seen elsewhere in the territory. SITTA. 94. S. Carolinensis. A few only met with ; mostly about Fort Fillmore. 95. S. Canadensis. Not rare among the mountains; much more common than the former. 96. S. pygmea. Several seen, and two shot near Fort Fillmore in 1853 ; none since seen. TROCH1LUS. 97. T. anna. Very abundant among the mountains in August and Septem- ber; their haunts being flowery canons, in the neighborhood of rocky streams. Rarely met with in the valley of Del Norte. ALCEUO. 98. A. alcyon. Not very common ; seen principally along the Rio de los Mimbres ; the Rio Grande, in lat. below 30° being too murky a stream to suit his tasre. PICUS. 99. P. THYROiDETjs. Found only occasionally in fall and winter, among the mountains. Three specimens obtained. Seem quite gentle, and are readily ap- proachable. Never seen, except in the vicinity of or among pine trees. 100. P. varius This bird, rarely found elsewhere than in the mountains, is rather common in the localities which it affects. 101. P. formicivorus. Quite rare; met with among the highest pine-clad mountains only. But the specimens were very shy and difficult of approach, even when perched on the highest trees. 102. P. villosus. Quite common everywhere. 103. P. torqtjatus. Not very rare in the mountains. Generally found among pine trees. Their shyness is very marked. 104. P. scalaris. Not rare along the Rio Grande. Affects principally the mesquit, (P. glandulosa,) as a resort. Not common in the mountains. Seems to take the place of P. pubescens. 105. P. Mexicanus, or collaris. A very common species throughout the ter- ritory ; the most so of any oth£r. COCCYZUS. 106. S. Americanus. A few seen in summer, along the Rio Grande del Norte. 314 [April, COLUMBA. 107. C. fasciata. Common in the mountains during the months of Septem- ber and October, when they feed upon acorns ; very shy ; a few breed near the old copper mines near Fort Webster. The writer has met this species on the Mimbres in June, feeding on the berries of the wild currant. ECTOPISTES. 10S. E. Carolinensis. Extremely abundant everywhere, especially during the summer months. Large numbers resident. MELEAGRIS. 109. M. gallipavo. Common through all the more unsettled parts of the territory, both in high and low land. The species found here has the upper tail coverts broadly tipped with white. CYRTONYX. 110. C. massena. Not rare in the mountains; occasionally seen along the Rio Grande- Lie well to the dog, and afford much sport in shooting them. Their favorite resorts are along mountain sides, where they procure various kinds of insects, by grubbing them out with their bills, at the roots of the grass. Never detected vegetable matter in the stomachs of any. This species often hides behind stones and in hollows after being flushed. LOPHORTYX. 111. L. Gambei.il The common quail of this country; found both in the high and low land. They are said not to lie well to a dog, but I have proved that this is the case only in bright weather ; for often in cloudy days 1 have seen them lie well to a well-broken pointer. Their food, unlike the Massena par- tridge, is exclusively, almost, vegetable. The berries of the miseltoe in win- ter seem to furnish their principal food. CALLIPEPLA. 112. C squamata. Found only in high ground, elevated plains or mountain sides. They appear to be far the shyest of their species. Their flesh I prefer to that of either of the other. Capt. J. P. McCown, U. S. A., in his notes upon this bird, as observed in Texas, published by Geo. N. Lawrence, Esq., says he "thinks they never affect open plains." But as far as my observation goe3, (which is quite extended in regard to this species) although generally found in ihe neighborhood of bushes, particularly mesquit and wild sage, I have of- ten seen them feeding on perfectly open rocky hills. GEOCOCCYX. 113. G. viaticcs. Quite common among the mesquit bushes everywhere along the Del Norte. Rarer in the mountainous parts of the country. TETRAO. 114. T. obscurus. One flock, only seen near the summit of the Sierra de los Mimbres. 1 state this fact on good authority, as I did not see the birds myself. All, however, agree they are not rare in the northern portions of the territory. FQL1CA. 115. F. Americana. Exceedingly common in every slough and pond. Resident. ORTYGOMETRA.' 116. O. Carolinus. A few seen passing through the country in the Spring and Fall — not abundant. A few winter on the Rio Mimbres. RALLUS. 117. R. Virginiani's. One only met with near Fort Thorn, on the Rio Grande in the Spring of 1854. 1855.] 315 GRUS. 118. G. America ntjs. Quite common during March and October, on their northward and southward flight — principally the young. The adults in full plumage only occasionally seen, and never in large flocks. CHARADRIUS. 119- C. vocifert's. Very abundant during the year, with the exception of the months of November, December, and January. High as well as low grounds. TR1NGA. 120. T. Bartramii. Not very common — a few only seen alomr the grassy shores of the Rio Grande in Autumn and Spring. Probably do not breed here. 121. T. Schintzii. Two shot near Fort Fillmore, in October, '52. None else seen. 122. T. prsiLLA. Rather common — but in small flocks during the summer months — along the Rio Grande, and a few seen on the Mimbres. 123. T. arenaria. A few o( this species seen in September, upon marshy grounds, near Fort Thorn. TOTANUS. 124. T. machlarius. Not abundant. A few seen every summer both at Forts Webster and Thorn. 125. T. solitarius. About as numerous as the last named variety. 12G. T. flavipes. Quite abundant in the months of August and September in marshes bordering the Rio Grande. 127. T. vociferus. Found along the Rio Grande in small numbers during the spring and autumn months. Not seen in flocks as the former, but in parties of two or three, and more frequently singly. SCOLOPAX. 128. S. Wilsonii. Winters on the Rio Mimbres, in small numbers. Not abundant anywhere, but more or less met with along the Del Norte in fall and spring. 129. S. DRUMMONDit ? Found in pairs, occasionally, along the marshes and sloughs bordering the Rio Grande,*in September and October. Some eight oi ten specimens shot by the writer. RECURV1ROSTRA. 130. R. Americana. Every spring and fall, a few found on the Del Norte and its vicinity. HIMANTOPUS. 131. H. nigrxollis. During fall and spring occasionally seen, but by no means a common species. Never seen on the Rio Mimbres. NUMENIUS. 132. N. i.oNGiRosTRis. Not uncommon during the months of September and April, particularly on the Laguna del Muerto. 133. N. Hudsomcus. One only seen and shot on the Rio Grande, near Fort Thorn, in the spring of '54. IBIS. 134. I. FALciNELLrs. Two shot at Fort Fillmore in May, in full spring plum.ig". A flock of the young of this species observed, and three individuals procured near Fort Thorn, in August '51. 316 [April, TANTALUS. 135. T. loculator. A few seen along the Rio Grande, during the months of September and October. More common on the sloughs near El Paso del Norte, where I saw a moderately large flock in August '54. ARDEA. 136. A. nycticorax. Quite common in summer. 137. A. lkntiginosa. Not very common. A few seen every summer, but only on the Del Norte. 138. A. exilis. Four or five seen during the summer of 1854, near Fort Thorn. Two specimens obtained. 139. A. virescens. Not very rare in summer. 140. A. herodias. Quite common throughout the year. Resident. 141. A. candidissima. Common along the Rio Grande in summer only. ANSER. 142. A. Canadensis. Resident. Breeds on the Rio Grande. Found in tolerable abundance throughout the winter. Not so common in summer. A few breed along the river. 143. A. albifrons. I have never seen but three of this species, of which I shot two at Fort Thorn in the fall of 1854. Said to be quite common a hundred and fifty miles higher up the Rio Grande del Norte. 144. A. hvperboreus. About as common as the albifrons. Few seen below Albuquerque. ANAS. 145. A. boschas. Extremely common everywhere in winter. Many resident throughout the year. Breed in greater or less number. 146. A. obscura. Rare. A few seen on the Rio Grande every spring, on their passage north. 147. A. strepera. This beautiful duck is even more common than the Mal- lard in ponds adjoining the Rio del Norte, but only during the spring and winter months. Never observed after April till the last of October. Rare on the Rio Mimbres. 148. A. Americana. Not rare, both along the Del Norte and Mimbres in fall and winter. 149. A. acuta. Much rarer than the last. A few seen every spring and fall on the Del Norte. 150. A. sponsa. But two or three ever met with, and only on the Rio Mimbres. 151. A. Carolinensis. Quite common during the spring and fall along the Del Norte. Many winter on the Munbres. Not met with in the summer. 152. A. discors. Not as common as the last. 153. A. Rafflesii. This beautilul duck is the most common summer duck found between latitudes 31° and 33°. Rarely seen in winter. Probably breeds in the section where it abounds in summer. Very common on the Mimbres and Del N Tte. it is usua ly lound among the sedge that borders sloughs near a water- course, where its plumage, so closely resembling the reddish brown of the withered sedge of last year's growth, renders it observed vvith difficulty, thus carrying out that admirable rule in nature's handiwork that so generally prevails, viz., as- similation of the plumage of birds to the color of the haunts they affect. 154. A. clypeata. Rather rare. Occasionally seen in fall and spring on the Del Norte and Mimbres. 1855.] 317 FULIGULA. 155. F. yamsneriana. Found not unfrequently in fall and u inter about the brackish sloughs near the Del Norte. Are the least shy of any species, and almost invariably found in excellent condition for the table. Never seen on the Mimbres. 156. F. feei.va. But three or four ever obtained. 157. F. MAR! la. Rather common alonsr the Rio Grande in winter. Also fre- quents to a considerable extent brackish sloughs. 158. F. rufitorqtjfs. Rare. A few seen on the Mimbres, and occasionally along the Del Norte in winter. 159. F. rubida. Occasionally seen in ponds near the Rio Grande in winter, and always in very poor condition especially the young, 160. F. albeola. About as common as the last. Found also in scattering- numbers on the Mimbres in the spring months. MERGUS. 161. M. mkrganser. Not rare along the Rio Grande and Rio Mimbres during the fall and winter. 162. M. cuculatus. Met with only on the Rio Mimbres in the winter and spiing. PHALACROCORAX. 163. P. Floridanus. Several shot in the spring of 1854 near Fort Thorn, in a brackisb pond near the Del Norte. PLOTUS. 164. P. anuijuga. Two seen in September, 1S54. One obtained, a female in full plamage. PELECANUS. 165. P. Americanus. Rather common in Albuquerque. In latitude 32° oc- casionally seen on the river in August. STERNA. 166. S. nigra. Seen not unfrequently in September near Fort Thorn. 167. S. hiruindo. Met with near Fort Thorn in the month of August. LARUS. 168. L. zonorhyncuus. A few met with along the Del Norte during the summer months. COLYMBUS. 169. C. glaciat.is. A female obtained near Fort Thorn in the month of Oc- tober. The muddiness of the waters of the Del Norte below latitude 31° prevents, no doubt, its being found at all common. PODICEPS. 170. P. Carolinensis. Common in every pond of any size. Ri-siflent. Thp writer once took from the stomach of one an entire Mus arvensis, or field-mouse. Analyses of the Meteoric Iron from Tuczon, Province of Sonora, Mexico. By In. F. A. Gexth. The masses of Meteoric Iron of Taczon, first brought to notice by Dr. J L Le Come, (SHI. Journ. II. Ser. XIII. 289,) and afterwards more fully described bv Prof. C. U. Shepard, (Sill. Journ. II. Ser. XVIII, 369,) were also mentioned by 25 318 [April, Dr. J. L. Smith in his Memoir on Meteorites, published in the last number of the same Journal, March 1855, in which he gives the analysis of a piece cut from one of the huge masses by Lieut. Jno. G. Parke, of the IT. S. Topographical Engineers. Several months ago I had finished the following analyses of the same meteorite, (which will be found to agree very well with those of Dr. Smith,) but various circumstances have heretofore prevented my presenting to the Academy the results of my examinations, which were made with pieces taken from the specimen presented to the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences, by Dr. Heermann. To the descriptions of this meteorite given by D. C. U. Shepard and Dr. J. L. Smith, I have to add only a few words. The pieces which I have examined were not passive, as Prof. Shepard remarks, but dissolved readily in nitric acid, and also immediately precipitated metallic copper from the solution of the sulphate. On dissolving it in chlorohydric acid, only a slight odor of carburetted hydrogen was perceptible, and no gas evolved, which precipitated an ammoniacal solution of chloride of copper ; a very small quantity of Schreibersite separated in form of a brownish powder. On evaporation of the solution by nitric acid in a waterbath and subsequent moistening of the dry mass by chlorohydric acid, all the substances were taken up, excepting a small residue of siliceous matter. This dissolved partly on boil- ing with carbonate of soda, leaving a residue, which I took for a feldspathic mineral ; the quantity obtained, however, was too small for further examination ; the small quantities of alkalies, lime and alumina speak in favor of this view, and indicate that the residue insoluble in carbonate of soda is labradorite, a mineral which is partly decomposed by acids. The silica, soluble in carbonate of soda, results undoubtedly from the decomposition of olivine. I was particu- larly cartful to obtain the whole quantity of cobalt and nickel, and have, there- fore, not separated the sesquioxide of iron br carbonate of baryta, which method is not quite correct; but have precipitated the boiling solution, containing sesqui- oxide of iron, oxide of cobalt and nickel, magnesia, etc., and a sufficient quan- tity of chloride of am -nonium by ammonia, and immediately afterwards acidulated by acetic acid, boiled and filtered. All the other determinations were made as usually. The following results were obtained. I. IT. III. Copper, 0.008 not estimated. not estimated. Iron, 83.472 not estimated. 83.637 Cobalt, Nickel, 0.420 9.441 0.366 ) 8.689 j 9.851 Chrom, not estimated. 0.174 Alumina, traces. traces. traces. Magnesia, 2.593 2.030 2.147 Lime, 0.463 0.550 not estimated. Soda, not estimated. not estimated. 0.174 Pota$h, not estimated. not estimated. 0.098 Phosphorus, 0.103 not estimated. 0.150 Silica, 2.889 not estimated. } 4.169 ? Labradorite. 1.046 not estimated. Notice upon the viviparous Fishes inhabiting the Pacific coast of North America, with an enumeration of the species observed. By Charles Girard. The observations which we have traced upon the genital apparatus of the female, have satisfied us that there exists an ovarian sheath or sack, which, during the early period of pregnancy, is an elongated and subcylindrical tube, containing the ovaries proper, two in number, each of which consisting of two, three, or more vascular membranes, attached by their upper edge to the upper 1855.] 319 floor or roof of the sheath, forming either one, two, or more pouches (according to the number of these membranes) of the same length as the sheath itself, widely open beneath, though not in a direct communication with one another, since the membranes hang loosely down, resting on the lower floor of the sheath. The eggs are formed within the texture of the ovarian membranes themselves. We have examined the ovaries of Ennichthys heermanni, when the sheath, within which they were contained, was not larger than an ordinary quill. Numerous eggs could be observed in a very immature state, appearing to the naked eye like minute dots. Under the microscope, they exhibited evident traces of the germinal vesicle, surrounded as yet with a very scanty supply of vittiline sub- stance. The sheath and the ovaries are gradually increasing in bulk, as the eggs them- selves first increase in size and the embryos afterwards. The sheath is a mus- cular membrane chiefly, whilst the ovarian membranes, we have stated, are altogether vascular. When miture, the eggs either fall into the space between the membranes or ovarian pouches, or else remain attached to the ovaries until the embryos issue out of them. We are inclined to think that they drop into the pouches as eggs. At any rate, we found very young embryos loosely contained in the ovarian pouches, when no trace of the egg membrane could be seen within the tissues of the ovaries in the shape of corpora lutei or graffian vesicles. Whatever be the case, numerous eggs or embryos may be observed within one pouch. The young thus remain together until grown to a considerable size, when, filling up the space in a more compact manner, the ovarian membranes, in their nature very expansive, will extend a fold between each embryo. In this manner every indi- vidual young, when removed sideways from the ovary, appears to the operator as if enclosed in a separate cavity, pouch, or follicle, of the ovary, whilst, in reality, the membranes maybe stretched out or extended, and the entire progeny loosened from all adherence or connection with them. The male organs of generation consist of two spermaries, a right and a left, perfectly independent from one another, having each its separate duct, dis- charging their contents into an elongated cloaca, into which the bladder, like- wise, empties its contents. This cloaca communicates with the exterior by a subcircular opening, the edge of which being rather protruding. Such is that apparatus — the same in its general structure as in the other osseous fishes. There is no sheath enclosing the two spermaries, and this fact throws a con- siderable light upon the morphology of the ovaries : the latter being in fact two in number, but so closely connected together as to simulate a single organ. Thus the general disposition, not the plan of structure, of these organs, is adapted to the mode of reproduction — a single sheath being a more simple adaptation than two, one for each ovary. How the mechanical act of fecundation takes place we are not prepared to say from direct observations ; the eggs themselves must be fecundated within the ovarian sheath ; a copulation of some sort is therefore required, and it is not improbable that at this period the eggs have dropped from the ovarian mem- branes into the pouches, or spaces between these membranes, in which they are- freely floating. The hatching of the embryos takes place at an early period. After leaving the egg shell, they have an abdominal bag containing the remaining yelk, which is to be gradually absorbed during a period when neither the mouth nor the esophagus are formed ; the fins have not yet appeared. The visual organs begin with a deposition of an external layer of black pimentum, in every respect similar to the same organs in invertebrata. The head is anteriorly rounded, and the cleft of the mouth not yet apparent at the period when the fins begin to develop, The caudal has the start over all other fins ; its posterior margin is first lanceo- lated, then rounded, with a convexity gradually diminishing until it is perfectly straight, when a gradual emargination commences, and from a slight crescent reaches the forked shape which it assumes in the adult. The soft and articulated portion of the dorsal and anal fins, next assume a development reaching extra- 320 [April, ordinary proportions, which they again gradually lose so soon as free from parental sheltering. The posterior portion of these fins is especially to be no- ticed, as longer or deeper than the anterior portion (the reverse of what we ob- serve in the adult,) and extending generally beyond the base of the caudal fin, a character, therefore, not exclusively proper to the genus Rhacocheilus. The spinous portion of these same fins, on the other hand, develop but slowly and gradually, reaching their full growth at a late period. The ventrals and pec- torals are likewise tardy in their appearance. The scales are fully developed before the young leave the ovary. Genus EMBIOTOCA, Agass. Head of moderate development ; mouth small ; upper jaw slightly the longest. Lips thick and fleshy ; lower one attached by a frenum to the symphysis of the dentary (chin). Intermaxillaries protractile. Teeth in both jaws, short, conical, blunt, slightly recurved and disposed upon one single row. Pharyngeal teeth pavement-like. Spinous portion of dorsal fin generally lower than the soft ; the greatest difference in height between the two being observed upon their conti- guity. Five or six branchiostegal rays. Scales of medium development ; late- ral line well marked, continuous from head to base of caudal, and concurrent with the dorsal outline. No scales upon the fins. Syn. Embiotoca, Agass. Amer. Journ. of Sc. Second series, xvi. 1853, 386 ; and xvii. 1854, 366. 1. Embiotoca jacksoni, Agass. — General form subelliptical. Anal broadly rounded upon its ex ernal margin ; origin of latter fin situated opposite the sixth or seventh articulated ray of the dorsal. Tips of pectorals reaching a vertical •line intersecting the base of the third articulated ray of dorsal fin. Eyes rather • of small than of medium size. Posterior extremity of maxillary reaching a ver- tical line, passing in advance of anterior rim of orbit. Frontal region tlightly depressed above the eyes. Branchiostegals five in number. About sixty scales 'in lateral line. Female, uniform dark purplish brown ; male, olive brown, with diffused darker blotches.* S.yn. Embiotoca jacksoni, Agass. Amer. Jour, of Sc. Second series, xvi. 1853, 387 ; and xvii., 1854, 366. — Gikard, in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 151. Locality. — San Francisco, Cai. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann. 2. Embiotoca cassidyi, Grd. — General form subellipsoid. Frontal region very slightly depressed above the eyes. Anal undulated upon its external margin ; its origin being opposite the third articulated ray of the dorsal fin. Tip of pec- torals reaching a vertical line that would intersect the base of the last spiny ray of the dorsal. Eyes above the medium size. Posterior extremity of the n. axil- lary not reaching the vertical of the anterior rim of the orbit. Branchiostegals six iu number. Fifty-seven scales in the lateral line. Purplish brown, with about twelve transparent bands of a deeper hue. Syn. Embiotoca casddyi, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 151. ■Locality.— San Diego, Cal. Collection of Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A. 3. Embiotoca webbi, Grd. — General form ellipsoid. Frontal region subcon- cave ; occiput prominent. Anal undulated upon its external margin ; its origin being opposite the fifth articulated ray of the dorsal. Tip of pectorals reaching the vertical of the third articulated ray of dorsal fin. Eyes above the medium size. Posterior extremity of maxillary extending to the vertical of anterior rim of orbit. Branchiostegals, five on right side, six on the left. Fifty-four scales in the lateral line. Olive brown, with indistiuct purplish blotches. Locality. — San Diego, Cal. Collection of Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A. 4. Embiotoca lineata, Grd. — Body subelliptically elongated. Anal fin elon- * The coloration of this and of all the following species is described as extant on specimens after a long immersion iu alcohol. 1855.] 3-21 gated, with external margin nearly straight, diminishing gradually in height posteriorly; its origin being opposite to the sixth articulated ray of the dorsal. Tip of pectorals reaching a vertical line intersecting the base of last but one dorsal spine. Eyes of medium size. Posterior extremity of maxillary even with the vertical of anterior rim of orbit. Frontal region slightly depressed above the eyes. Branchiostegals five in number. Sixty-two scales in lateral line. Ground color of upper regions dark olive or reddish brown ; reddish yellow be- neath. Sides of abdomen with light longitudinal stripes intersecting the point of union of the rows of scales. Anal fin deep purple, with a yellowish vitta at its base. Syn. Embiotoca lineata, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 134 and 151. Locality. — Bay of San Francisco, Cal. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann. 5. Embiotoca ornata, Grd. — General form subelliptical. Posterior extremity of maxillary extending to a vertical line, which would pass behind the posterior nostrils. Eyes of medium size. External margin of anal nearly straight ; its origin being opposite the fifth articulated ray of dorsal. Tips of pectorals falling under the vertical of the tenth dorsal spine. Branchiostegals five in number. About sixty-four scales in the lateral line. Color dark brown above ; flanks and abdomen yellowish golden, with purple stripes along the line of union between the rows of scales. Scales on thoracic region proA'ided with a central purple spot. Syx. Embiotoca lineata, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 151. Locality. — San Diego, Cal. Collection of Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A. j 6. Embiotoca perspicabilis, Grd. — Body subelliptically elongated. Frontal region gently declive. Eyes of medium size. Posterior extremity of maxillary not quite reaching the anterior rim of the orbit. Anal fin long ; its anterior un- divided rajs longer than the rest, and its origin situated opposite the twelfth articulated ray of dorsal. Tips of pectorals reaching the vertical line intersect- ing the base of last dorsal spine. Five brancbiostegal rays. Sixty-three scales in lateral line. Deep purplish brown above, lighter beneath. Flanks with light narrow longitudinal stripes intersecting the point of union of rows of scales. Dorsal, caudal aual and ventral fins reddish purple ; pectorals yellowish. Locality. — Fort Steilacoom,. Puget Sound. Collected by Dr. Geo. Suckley, U. S. A. Genus DAMALICHTHYS, Girard. Head well developed. Eyes large. Mouth of medium size ; upper jaw protruding considerably over the lower one. Teeth few in number, short and subcorneal, disposed upon one row only. Lips of moderate thickness ; lower one firmly attached to the symphysis of the jaw. Opercular apparatus very much developed and covered with large scales. Anterior portion of soft dorsal very high. Peduncle of tail slender ; caudal fin deeply forked. Anal elongated; its anterior portion the deepest. Ventrals and pectorals proportionally large. 7. Damalichthys vacca, Grd. — Male provided with a subpyriform sac upon the anterior third of anal. Branchiostegals five in number. Ground color greyish olive. Scales with a golden and silvery metallic reflect. Fins unicolor. Locality. — Fort Steilacoom, Puget Sound. Collected by Dr. Geo. Suckley, U. S. A. Genus PHANERODON, Girard. Head rather small. Mouth small ; jaws equal. Lips thin ; lower one attached by a very narrow frenum to the symphysis of its jaw. Intermaxillaries very pro- tractile. Teeth large and subconical, disposed upon a single row on both jaws. Spinous portion of dorsal fin as high as the soft. Anterior articulated rays of anal undivided and preceded by three spinous rays, shorter than the articulated ones. Scales well developed. Lateral line concurrent with the dorsal outline. 322 [April, Scales on the base of caudal rays. Dorsal groove extending from middle of spinous portion of dorsal fin to last third of soft portion. Sheath formed by two rows of scales anteriorly, and one only posteriorly. Syn. Phanerodon, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 153. 8. Phanerodon furcatus, Grd. — General form elongated, iather tapering pos- teriorly, and very much compressed. Cleft of mouth not extending to the ante- rior rim of ihe orbit. Eyes large and circular. Branchiostegals five in number. Caudal slender and deeply forked. About sixty-three scales in lateral line. Yel- lowish brown above ; lighter on the sides ; whitish under the throat. Fins yel- lowish. Margin of dorsal and caudal greyish. A diffused marginal spot upon the anterior poriion of anal. Syn. Phanerodon forcatug, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1824. 153. Locality. — Bay of San Francisco, Cal. Collection of Lieut. Trowbridge, U. S. A. Genus ABEONA, Girard. Head of medium size ; mouth very small ; jaws equal. Lips rather thin ; lower one attached by a frenum to the symphysis of the jaw. Intermaxillaries pro- tractile. Teeth stoutish, conical, disposed upon one single row on both jaws. Branchiostegals five in number. Spinous portion of dorsal fin higher than the soft ; line of separation between both of these slightly depressed. Articulated rays of anal all divided ; spiny rays three in number, well developed ; base of that fin rather short. Scales of moderate size. Lateral line concurrent with the dorsal outline. No scales upon the fins. Dorsal groove extending nearly to the whole base of the fin. Sheath formed by two rows of scales. 9. Abeona trowbridgii, Grd. — General form subelliptical. Head subconical ; snout abbreviated ; mouth small ; posterior extremity of maxillary not reaching the vertical of anterior rim of orbit. Eyes large and circular. Branchiostegals five in number. Forty-one scales in lateral line. Olive or reddish brown above ; silvery on the sides and abdomen. Flanks blotched. Fins yellowish, except anal, which is purplish, with its anterior portion spotted. Syn. Holconotus trowbridgii, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 152. Locality. — Not precisely known ; San Francisco, Monterey, or San Diego, Cal. Genus HOLCONOTUS, Agass. Head well developed. Mouth small ; jaws equal ; lower one projecting slightly when mouth opens. Lips thin ; lower one free all around. Intermaxillaries protractile to a considerable extent. Teeth small, slender, subconical, slightly curved, disposed upon a double row on the upper jaw and one only on the lower. Spinous portion of dorsal fin higher than the soft. Anterior articulated rays of anal mostly all divided, and preceded by three spines shorter than the other rays. Scales rather large. Lateral line concurrent with the dorsal outline. No scales on the fins. Dorsal groove extending froua opposite middle of spinous portion of dorsal fin to beyond the middle of soft poriion of same fin. Sheath formed of but one apparent row of scales, tapering posteriorly. Syn. Holconotus, Agass. Atner. Journ. of Sc. Second series, xvii. 1854, 367. 10. Holconotus rhodoterus, Agass. —General form elongated, neither ellip- tical nor fusiform. Frontal region subconcave. Head subconical ; mouth small; posterior extremity of maxillary not quite reaching the vertical of anterior rim of orbit. Eyes rather large and circular. Branchiostegals five in number. About forty-four scales in lateral line. Bluish grey or olive above, silvery or yellow upon the sides, with rose-colored spots disposed in longitudinal series. Syn. Holconotus rhodoterus, Agass. Amer. Journ. of Sc. Second series, xvii. 1854, 3G8.— Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat."Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 141 and 152. Localities. — From California to Oregon. Collections of Lieut. R. S. William- son, Lieut. \Y. P. Trowbridge and Gov. I. I. Stevens. Genus ENNICHTHYS, Girard. Head of medium size. Mouth large and oblique ; lower jaw projecting beyond 1855.] 323 the upper. Lips thin, lower one free all around. Intermaxillaries slightly pro- tractile. Teeth small, slender and conical, disposed upon a double series on both jaws. Spinous portion of dorsal fin higher than the soft. Anterior articu- lated rays of anal divided like the rest, and preceded by three small spines, lower than the articulated rays. Scales of moderate development. Lateral line con- current with the dorsal outliue. Scales upon the base of caudal and anal fins. Dorsal groove rather short. Sheath formed anteriorly by three rows of scales, tapering posteriorly. 11. Exxichthys megalops, Grd. — General appearance gibbous. Dorsal sheath very short. Mouth large and oblique. Eyes very large, circular. Four rows of scales on preopercle. Branchiostegals six. Eighty-five scales in lateral line. Ash or greyish brown above. Sides and abdomen dull yellow or white ; a dif- fused spot upon anterior third of anal. Other fins yellowish ; tips of pectorals blackish or deep purple. Syx. Holoconotus megalops, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 152. Locality. — San Francisco, Cal. Collection of Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A. 12. Exxichthys heermaxxi, Grd. — General form subelliptical : snout subcorn- eal; mouth moderate; posterior extremity of maxillary, even wih a vertical line, intersecting the centre of the pupil. Eyes of medium size. Branchiostegals six. Ai)out sixty-two scales in lateral line. Back olivaceous ; sides and abdo- men silver and golden; flanks with indistinct transverse bars or bands. Fins unicolor, yellowish and greyish. Syx. Amphistichus heermanni, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 18.54, 135. Locality. — San Francisco, Cal. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann. Genus AMPHISTICHUS, Agass. Head rather large. Mouth large ; jaws equal. Lips thin, lower one attached by a frenum to the symphysis of the lower jaw. Intermaxillaries slightly pro- tractile. Teeth stoutish, recurved, conical and disposed upon a double row on both jaws. Spinous portion of dorsal fin generally lower than the soft, and sometimes equal to it in height. Anterior articulated rays of anal divided like the rest and preceded by three spines, the second and third of which being nearly as deep as the first articulated ray. Scales of moderate development. Lateral line concurrent with the dorsal outline. One row of scales along the base of anal. The dorsal groove extends from middle of spinous portion of dorsal fin to about the middle of soft portion of same fin. Sheath formed by two rows of scales an- teriorly, tapering into one posteriorly. Syn. Amphistichus, Agass. Amer. Journ. of Sc. Second series, xvii. 1854, 367. 13. Amphistichus argexteus, Agass.— General form subelliptical, more con- vex above than below. Snout anteriorly rounded. Posterior extremity of maxil- lary reaching a vertical line passing behind the pupil. Anterior anal spines rather large. Sixty-eight scales in lateral line. Branchiostegals, six. Bluish grey above, sides silvery, with indistinct olivaceous transverse bands. Vertical fins and ventrals olivaceous ; pectorals yellowish. Syx. Amphistichus argent em, Agass. Amer. Journ. of Sc. Second series, xvii. 1854, 367.— Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 141 and 153. Locality. — San Francisco, Cal. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann. 14. Amphistichus similis, Grd. —General form regularly subelliptical. Snout subconical. Posterior extremity of maxillary reaching a vertical line passing in advance of the pupil. Spinous portion of dorsal as high as the soft. Anterior anal spines rather small. Branchiostegals, five. Bluish grey above : sides silvery. Dorsal and caudal greyish yellow; anal, ventrals and pectorals dull yellowish. Syx. Amphistichus similis, Grd. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vii. 1854, 135. Locality. — Bay of San Francisco, Cal. Collected by Dr. A. L. Heermann ; also in Collection of Lieut. W. P. Trowbridge. Full descriptions, accompanied with figures of all the species above enume- rated, are ready for the press, and will shortly be published' by Congress. 324 [April, Descriptions of New Species of Birds from Western Jfrica, in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. By John Cassin. 1. Bareatula Duchaillui, nolis. Form. — About the size of Bucco philippensis, Briss. Wing with the first quill spurious, fourth longest, but slightly longer than the fifth, tail somewhat rigid, legs moderate, tarsi rather long, toes long. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) male 5| inches, wing 3}, tail If inches. Colors. — Throat, neck before and breast glossy blue-black, which color bifur- cates and is continued on each side of the abdomen. Head above scarlet, aline from above the eye running downwards, on the side of the neck, light sulphur yellow. Upper parts black, with a steel blue lustre, the lesser wing coverts and many feathers of the back with small cordate and oval spots of sulphur yellow, greater wing coverts edged and feathers of the rump tipped with the same. Quills brownish black, edged on their inner webs wTith yellowish white, and on their outer webs with sulphur yellow. Middle of the abdomen and ventral region pale yellow, sides (from the breast to the flanks) and under tail coverts greenish yellow, all the feathers of which are widely tipped with that color and black at base. Tail brownish black, bill and feet dark. Female similar to the male, but with the colors less vivid. Another specimen (female) has many of the^pots on the upper parts changed to chestnut color, and a trace of the same on the sides. Hob, — Moonda river, Western Africa, discovered by Mr. P. Belloni Du Chaillu. Obs.— This handsome species, though apparently properly belonging to this group of the Bucconince is unusually large. It does not closely resemble any other with which I am acquainted in any considerable degree, though of the general appearance of the smaller African species. This bird is named in honor of its discoverer, Mr. P. Belloni Du Chaillu, an enterprizing young traveller, who has explored extensive and almost unknown regions of Western Africa, near the Equator, and whose discoveries in zoological and geographical science are in a high degree important and interesting. Mr. Du Chaillu ascertained the existence of three ranges of mountains at a distance of 150 miles from the coast, in which he traced the river Moonda to its source. The birds described in the present paper were collected during his journey along the course of this river. In his collection there are also numerous species hitherto little known, of which, and of those now described, his ample and interesting notes have been most kindly placed at my disposal, and will be published at my earliest leisure. 2. Barbatula fuliginosa, nobis. Form. — About the size of the preceding. Bill short, straight, wide, first quill spurious, fifth slightly longest, tail short, legs moderate, toes long. Belong ap- parently to the genus Gymnobucco, Bonap., and much resembles Gymnobucco calvus in form and color, but is smaller and has the head covered with feathers, and the toes much longer. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) male, 5f inches, wing3i, tail 2 inches. Colors. — Head above dull yellow, throat cinereous, all other parts of the plumage above and below fuliginous brown, some feathers on the abdomen, flanks and rump obscurely edged with greenish yellow. Quills brown, paler on the inner webs, tail dark brown, with a tinge of greenish yellow. Bill horn color, legs dark. Ilab. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. Belloni Du Chaillu. Qbs. — This species, of which Mr. Du Chaillu assures me that his specimens are adult birds, and of which male, female, and young are in his collection, is very similar to Gymnobucco calvus, Bonap., which is also in the collection of the Academy. The head above, however, is not bare as in that species, but fully feather- ed, and this bird is smaller, though the legs and toes are stronger, and the latter much longer. The bill is very nearly of the same form as in that species, being wider vertically and shorter than in other African birds of this group. This 1855.] 325 species and G. calvus probably form a distinct subgenus, but tbe name given to it by the Prince of Canino is not appropriate so far as relates to our present bird. 3. Diceum Rushi.e, nobis. Mrs. Rush's Warbler. Form. — Very small, bill slender, curved, first quill spurious, fourth and fifth longest and nearly equal, tail short, legs and feet rather stout. Plumage of entire head and breast scule-like and rough to the touch. Dvmtnsions. — Total length (of skin) male, 3 inches, wing If, tail 1 inch. Female slightlv smaller. Colors. — Every feather of the head above, neck, back, throat and breast with a central line of brown (sienna) and edged with ashy white, tbe brown darkest and predominating on the head, and palest but much predominating and giving the prevailing color on the back ; the ashy white predominating on the throat and breast. Abdomen, rump, and tail coverts above and below pale yellow, tinged with greenish. Quills brown, edged with white on their inner webs, tail dark brown, nearly black. Bill with the upper mandible black, under mandible white at base and tipped with black, tarsi and toes light colored. Inferior coverts of the wirgs white. Bab. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered bvMr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — This is the most remarkable species in the present collection, and of its generic relations I am by no means certain, though it appears to be most nearly allied te the group in which it is at present placed. In its colors, however, it is quite different from any other known species of this genus, and the scale-like feathers of the head and breast are quite peculiar. This bird is dedicated to the lady of James Rush, M.D., of Philadelphia, who, most ably seconding her distinguished husband in an enlightened encouragement of men devoted to the sciences and to the arts, has exerted an influence in the highest degree beneficial to their progress, and promotive of the true interests of society. 4. ^Egithalus flayifro.ns, nobis. Form. — Bill straight, pointed, rather long, first quill spurious, third and fourth longest and very nearly equal, tail rather short, legs long, rather robust. Dimensions. — Male, total length (of skin) 3J inches, wing 2^, tail l\ inches. Colors. — Forehead bright yellow, entire plumage of the upper parts olive green tinged with yellow, lightest on the rump, quills and tail dark brown, the feathers of both edged with yellowish green on their outer webs. Entire under parts pale yellow, tinged with green. Inferior wing coverts white, bill and feet light horn color. Hub. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — Of the same form and about the size of JE. Smithi, but entirely different in color, nor does it apparently intimately resemble any known species. 5. Syncopta tincta, nobis. Form. — Bill rather long, first quill spurious, fourth and fifth longest and very nearly equal, tail moderate or rather short, legs long. Feathers of the back long and hair-like. Dimensions. — Male, (of skin) total length 4 inches, wing 2J, tail If inches. Colors. — Head above, back and rump light cinereous, scapulars, wing coverts, and outer edges of quills (especially the secondaries) yellowish green. Quills and tail light hair brown. Throat, breast and sides light ashy, abdomen white, tibiae ochre yellow, tinged with green. Edge of wings at the shoulders yellow, inferior coverts white. Bill dark, tarsi and toes light colored. Bab.— Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — The affinities of this genus are to the TimalincB. The present species is rather smaller than Syncopta brevicaudata, but there is no considerable specific similarity. It is in both the collections of Mr. Du Chaillu and Dr. MacDowell, obtained by the latter on St. Paul's river. 6. Sylvia prasixa, nobis. (Genus Chloropeta ?) Form. — Bill rather strong, upper mandible somewhat curved, wing rather long, 326 [April, first quill spurious, fourth longest, tail moderate, legs and toes rather long and robust. Dimensions. — Male, (of skin) total length 4£ inches, wing 1\, tail If ioches. Colors. — A line over and behind the eye pale yellowish white, another imme- diately below it (through and behind the eye) and head above unifoim very dark olive green. Back, rump, wings and tail dark olive green tinged with yellow, especially on the rump and outer edges of the secondary quills. Entire under parts very pale yellowish white, with a tinge of greenish ashy. Edge of the wing at the shoulder pale yellow, axillaries and under coverts yellowish white, bill dark, feet lighter. Hab. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — Remarkable for its uniform dark green color and white superciliary line. Of the generic relations of this bird I am not confident, but regard it as probably a Chloropeta. 7. Butalis inpuscatus, nobis. Form. — Bill wide at base, rather short, wing long, first quill spurious, third longest, tail moderate, slightly emarginate. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin) male, 4| inches, wing 3}, tail 2 inches. Colors. — Entire plumage above fuscous, rather darker on the head, and paler on the edges of the leathers of the back. Beneath fuscous, the edges of the feathers paler and slightly tinged with pale rufous on the breast, abdomen and under tail coverts, and on the throat (the edges of the feathers) with white. Quills and tail dark fuscous. Bill and feet dark. Female similar to the male but paler. Hab. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — This bird appears to be allied to Muscicapa Fraseri, Strickland, but is much smaller, and is in other respects quite distinct. 8. Butalis epulatus, nobis. Form.— Small, but very robust, bill moderate, wide at base, with several pairs of bristles, wit>g rather long, first quill spurious, third and fourth longest and very nearly equal, tail moderate. Dimensions — Male, total length (of skin) 3| inches, wing 2^, tail 1J inches. Colors. — Throat and middle of abdomen white, breast and flanks light cinereous. Entire plumage above cinereous, lighter on the rump and darkest on the head, quills brownish black, secondaries edged on their outer webs with light ash}7, tail uniform brownish black, bill and feet dark, under mandible white at its base, under wing coverts and axillary feathers white. Hab. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Di- covered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — A small but robust species apparently not nearly related to any other. Its general form is much as though it had been accustomed to good cheer on the banks of the river Moonda, or wherever else it may have found sufficient enter- tainment. 9. Pycnosphrys McCallii, nobis. (Genus Pi/znosphn/s, Strickland in Jard . Contr. 1849.) Form. — Small, bill moderate, upper mandible curved, and with numerous pairs of rather strong bristles at base, which are nearly as long as the bill. Wing moderate, first quill spurious, fourth and fifth longest and very nearly equal, tail rather long, legs moderate or rather long. Feathers on the head above some- what elongated and probably erectile, feathers of the back lengthened. Dimensions. — Total length, sex unknown, (of skin) 4 inches, wing If, tail If inches. Colors. — Head above and tail fine rufous, every feather of the former with a central line of white, back, rump and wing coverts light cinereous, tinged with rufous on the rump and darkest on the wing coverts, upper tail coverts rufous. Throat and breast very pale reddish yellow, abdomen and under tail coverts white, underwing coverts pale reddish yellow (uniform with the throat). Bill and foet light colored. 1855.] 327 Hob. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — Another bird, the generic position of which is to us uncertain. After careful examination, however, it appears most properly belonging as we have placed it. This species is strongly characterized by the bright rufous of its head above and tail. This bird is named in honor of Col. Geo. A. McCall, late Inspector General in the Army of the United States, in token of respect for hib extensive and varied acquirements as a naturalist, and of personal friendship. 10. Drymoica Bairdii, nobis. Form. — Bill rather long, wing short, rounded, first quill short, fifth longest, tail long, graduated, legs long, rather slender. Dimensions. — Male, total length (of skin) 5f inches, wing 2£, tail 3 inches. Colors. — Middle of the abdomen white, entire under parts with regular trans- verse narrow bands of dark brown, (nearly black) and white. Head above asby brown, other upper parts dark brownish olive, coverts of the wings and some of the shorter secondaries tipped with white. Quills hair brown, lighter on the edges of both webs, tail hair brown, tipped with white, and a rather obscure subterminal band of dark brown. Under wing coverts, white. Bill and tarsi dark (nearly black, in skin). Female similar, but slightly smaller, white space on the middle of the abdomen larger, tarsi lighter colored. Dab. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — This species differs in colors from any other known to me, and the transverse bands of the inferior surface of the body are, so far as I know, pecu- liar to the present bird only of this genu^. This remarkable bird is dedicated to Professor Spencer F. Baird, of the Smith- sonian Institution, one of the most eminent American naturalists, as a remem- brancer of our long continued and pleasant friendship. 11. Laniarius lepidus, nobis. Form — Bill rather long, wide at base, much compressed towards the end, which is hooked and conspicuously toothed, first quill nearly spurious, fifth longest, tail rather long, feathers of the rump long and soft. Tarsi rather long. Dimensions. — Total length, male (of skin), 9 inches, wing 4J, tail A\ inches. Colors. — A spot before the eye white, the feathers of which are narrowly tipped with black. Entire upper parts olive tinged with yellow, especially on the rump, superior coverts of the wings greenish brown, every feather and the exposed ends of the secondaries having a terminal spot of greenish yellow and on their inner webs with pale yellow. Entire under parts of the body ashy white, darker on the breast. Tibiae, flanks and under tail coverts yellow, the former tinged with greenish. Tail yellowish olive tinged with yellow, and all the feathers, except the two in the middle, tipped with pale yellow. Under wiug coverts yellow. Bill and tarsi dark. Hub. — Liberia. Rev. Wesley Johnson; St. Paul's river, Dr, MacDowall; Moonda river, Mr. Du Chaillu. Obs. — Though this singular species has long been in the possession of the Academy, I have not found it described. It appears to be somewhat similar to Laniarius peli, Bonap. (Consp. Av. p.* 360), but not identical, so far as can be ascertained from the short description as cited. This bird can be easily recog- nized by the white spots in front of the eye, the feathers of which are erect and tipped witli black, and by the yellow spots at the tips of the wing coverts and secondaries. 12. Criniger xaxtiiogaster, nobis. Form. — Bill rather long, slightly curved, wing with the first quill spurious, fourth longest, tail rather long. Feathers of the rump somewhat lengthened and soft. Dimensions. — Total length (of skin), male, 11 inches, wing 3f. tail 3} inches. Colors. — Entire upper parts yellowish olive, the yellow more distinct on the rump. Quills dark brown, edged on their outer webs with olive, and on their 328 [April, inner webs with greenish yellow. Entire under parts light yellow, tinged with olive green on the breast and sides, throat slightly mixed with white, and the shafts of some of the feathers on the neck before white. Tail above dark olive, beneath greenish yellow. Bill and feet light colored. Hab. — Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by M. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — Apparently a Criniger, Temminck, and almost exactly resembles in color Criniger ictericus, Strickland, of India, but is smaller, and otherwise different. The only specimens that I have ever seen are in the present collection. 13. Tricophorus leuccrus, nobis. Form.— Bill wide at base, wing with the first quill subspurious, fifth quill longest, tail moderate, with the feathers broad, tarsus and toes rather short. Feathers of the rump lengthened and soft. Dimensions.— Total length (of skin), sex unknown, 7 inches, wing 4, tail 3 inches. Colors. — Four middle feathers of the tail brownish black, other tail feathers, (four on each side) white, tinged with yellow on their outer webs and tipped with brown. Entire upper parts yellowish olive, darker on the head. Quills dark brown, edged with yellowish green on their outer webs and with pale ashy white on their inner webs. Entire under parts dark cinereous tinged with yellowish green, under coverts of the tail yellowish white. Bill and feet dark. Bab. — St. Paul's river. Discovered by Robert MacDowall, M.D. Obs. — This is another bird which I have found some difficulty in assigning to a genus. It can easily be recognised by its white tail feathers, as described above. 14. Phyllostrophus leucopleurus, nobis. Form.— Bill moderate first quill short, fourth slightly longest, tail rather long, tarsi and feet rather long, feathers of the head above somewhat scale-like. Dimensions.— Total length (of skin) sex unknown, 9} inches, wing 4J, tail 4|- inches. Colors. — Entire upper parts brown, with a slight tinge of yellowish on the back and of ashy on the head. Quills brownish black edged with brown on their outer webs and with ashy white on their inner webs. Throat and breast ashy white tinged with brownish green on the breast, where many of the feathers have central stripes of ashy white. Sides (under the wing) with a large white space, abdomen and under coverts of the tail white, with a very pale tinge of yellow. Tail brown, four outer feathers (on each side) widely tipped with white. Bill and feet dark. Ilab.— Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by M. P. B. Du Chaillu. Obs. — One specimen only of this fine species is in the collection. It is strongly characterised by the large white spaces on the sides, which are readily observed on raising the wing. This bird may be related to Phyllastrephus capen- .sis or P. senegalensis, of both of which indifferent figures and descriptions have been given, but of which I have not seen specimens. Notice of Remarkable Strata containing the remains of Infusoria and Polytha- lamia in the Tertiary Formation of Monterey , California * By William P. Blake, Geologist of the United States Pacific Railroad Survey in California. When in San Francisco, in June, 1854, 1 received a fragment of a white, porous earth, resembling chalk ; but which, from its lightness and general characters, *This notice has been deferred in consequence of the expectation of receiving from California a full suite of specimens collected at the locality, which should have arrived by this time. The principal facts concerning the position and geology of the deposits are now presented, and will be followed by more important details regarding the chemical composition and organisms of the speci- mens after they have been received. 1855.] 329 was considered to be infusorial.* A small piece, on being subjected to examina- tion by the microscope, was found to contain innumerable discs and long cylin- drical spicule and ring-like organic remains. A portion was then forwarded to Prof. J. W. Bailey, of West Point, who, in his letter of acknowledgement, thus remarks : lt The specimen from Monterey is rich in marine diatoms ; the seive-like discs belong to the genus Cascinodiscus, but there are many other very beautiful forms present. It is singulai that the deposit contains some species which have only recently been detected as living species in the Pacific. It has quite a modern look, and contains many species which could only have grown in shallow water." I soon afterwards visited Monterey and examined the deposit. It is about two miles distant in a south-east direction from the centre of the town, and forms a portion of a hill which fronts the bay and rises on the east side of the stage-road to San Francisco. This hill is between 500 and 600 feet high, and it is separated from the bay by a broad, sandy plain, and a belt of sand-hills along the beach. Groves of oak trees are found around the base of the hill, but towards its top it is covered with a dense growth of chamisal,f throughjwhich the outcrop of the white earth can be seen as a white spot on the hillside from all parts of the town and the anchorage. On arriving at the locality, however, the white spot which appeared so limited when viewed from the town, is found to have a length of about one hundred feet, and a width of from 15 to 40. lt is also seen to ex- tend in all directions under the vegetation by wrhich it is partly obscured. The glossy green leaves of the shrubs which grow up about its borders, contrasted strangely with the white, chalk-like earth, which seemed as little fitted for vege- tation as a lime-heap. The weathering of the formation has loosened small blocks and fragments, which lie upon the surface and hide the stratification from view, so that it at first appears as a homogeneous mass of vast extent ; but on breaking out some large blocks from a favorable exposure, the lines of stratifica- tion became evident, and on a closer inspection they were seen to be as numerous and thin as the leaves of a book. This out-crop appears to be the principal stratum, and it is near the top of the hill ; but lower down a succession of strata are found alternating with siliceous beds, which are peculiarly compact and very finely stratified. Some of these are excessively hard, and break with a conchoidal fracture like flint or semi-opal. The whole form a series of parallel strata which are not horizontal, but dip south of east, or nearly south-easterly, at an inclination of from twenty to thirty de- grees. The following is the succession of the strata from the upper stratum downwards to the lowest point examined. The thicknesses stated are approximations. Section. 1. White siliceous earth, light and charged with infusoria 2. Compact and siliceous, probably bituminous, 3. White and earthy, resembling 1, 4. Compact, siliceous, dark colored and bituminous, 5. White and earthy, like 1, ...... 6. Compact, siliceous, dark colored and bituminous, 7. White and earthy, like 1, ...... 8. Compact, flint-like, very hard and nearly white. In thin layers, 2 9. Thin layers of white earthy material, similar to No. 1 ; inter- calated with thin sheets of compact and s^mi-opaline silica, 10 — 10. Compact and siliceous. Hard and drab-colored, . . 3 — 11. White and earthy, similar to No. 1. (The thickness of this stratum was not estimated; it extends downwards, under the chamisal, for a long distance.) ..... — — It will thus be seen that there is one bed of microscopic organisms 50 feet in * This specimen was collected by A. S. Taylor, Esq., of Monterey, and for- warded to Dr. J. B. Trask, from whom 1 received it. •j- A low green growth of dwarf oaks or other shrubs. Feet. Inch 50 — 1 3 6 12 — — 6 2 — 330 [April; thickness, and this is believed to be much less than it in reality is. The under- lying strata, which are similar in their appearance, are probably equally fossili- ferous, but this has not been demonstrated by examination. Their thicknesses were respectively, 1, 12, 2 and 10 feet, which, added to the thickness of the upper stratum, make a total of seventy-five feet. This is exclusive of the com- pact siliceous strata, which are presumed to be also fossiliferous. These siliceous layers are very extraordinary, some of them being like semi-opal in density, and in the character of their fracture, the surfaces being curved and vitreous, and the edges sometimes as sharp as glass. Their color varies from white to drab, or fawn-color, and is sometimes pink ; some specimens resemble ivory or horn in color and translucency. Silica appears to be the constituent, and it must have been deposited in an impalpable form. The mineral characters of some of these strata are like those of specimens of surf-worn boulders that I picked up on the beach at San Pedro. These consist of silica charged with bitumen, and when broken present a conchoidal fracture and a resinous appearance. It is expected that these siliceous specimens will not only be interesting chemical^, but that they will furnish beautiful objects for the microscope. On the top of this formation there is a rudely stratified or assorted mass of boulders and gravel, like the accumulation along a beach. It is, in fact, a layer of beach-shingle, and it includes, among pebbles of granite and other rocks, water- worn masses of the compact siliceous rock, probably derived from the sub- jacent beds. One of these siliceous masses that was dark colored and probably bituminous, was found to be perforated by boring testacea. This was an unex- pected and interesting discovery; for, here were masses of rocks of tertiary age that had been exposed and perforated by marine shells before being broken off, rounded and worn by the surf among other and harder rocks, and thrown on a beach by the retiring waters. The beach still remains, and rests exposed on the very summit of the hill, covering the edges of the strata — a remnant of a for- mer shore now five hundred feet above the ocean. This interesting formation, teeming with the skeletons of microscopic organ- isms appears to overlie and to be conformable with the tertiary strata that underlie a part of the town of Monterey and extend to and beyond the Mission of San Carlos. These strata rest upon a porphyritic granite, which forms the projection of the coast called Point Pinos, and is the bulwark of the bay. Several quarries have been opened in the sedimentary formation near the town, and it is seen to consist of regular strata of light-colored argillaceous and arenaceous material ; the particles being very fine and firmly impacted, so that, in some places, the strata break with smooth, curved surfaces, and have a semi- vitreous lustre. A large quantity oi stone has been removed from these quar- ries and used in the construction of the buildings and walls of the town. The large Court House built by Walter Colton, and the church erected in 1794, are constructed of this stone, and the sharp edges and angles which are retained by the blocks in the walls of the latter show that the material has great durability and resists decomposition exceedingly well. When the blocks are freshly broken out from the quarry they are easily hewn into shape by an axe ; being extremely light and free from coarse sand or gravel. They harden slightly on exposure, but may be cut away with a knife. The color is a light buff or yellow, of various shades, passing into fawn color and drab ; some of the beds are quite dark, being greenish black, or a dark olive brown. The prevailing color is, however, a light drab or yellow, very similar to the color of bath brick or lithographic stone. It is not unlike the former in density, being porous, and, when dry, ic absorbs water with rapidity ; in this respect and in density, it also resembles biscuit-ware, or the material of the porous cells of Grove's batteries. These strata are fossiliferous, and many of the compact layers when split up into slabs parallel with the fine lines of stratification are found to be covered with impressions of small bivalve shells, lying thickly together, sometimes one within the other, as if they had fallen upon the bottom of a quiet sea. The most abundant shell is a small Td-lina, which Mr. T. A. Conrad has described for me and named T. coi/gesta. It is also found in similar strata at San Carlos, 1855.] 331 and is there associated with Lutraria Traslii, Conrad, also a new species. Im- pressions of very small crabs have been fonnd in this rock, and I have also seen wh^t appeared to be the marks of fucoides on the surfaces of ihe layers. A stratum of the Monterey formation similar in texture to the stone which is used for building, but different in color, also contains casts of Tellina congesta in great numbers. The color of this rock is a dark olive green or brown, but when it has been weathered the surface is white. When it is dry it is very light and adheres to the tongue, being very absorbent. Though soft and easily cut with a knife it is very tough, and gives a ringing sound when struck by a hammer, like a well baked tile. In addition to the Tellina and other fossil shells which this rock contains, it is charged with innumerable and beautiful Polythalamia, (Foraminifera, D'Or- bigny.) lying in thin layers through the mass and becoming visible in white lines on the edges of the slabs. They may be seen with the naked eye, but the assistance of the microscope is required to trace the forms of those that happen to be exposed. They are very wrhite and perfectly preserved, and are exceed- ingly beautiful objects for the microscope. It is, however, to be regretted that the material in which they are preserved is so indurated and resisting that it is impossible to get them out for study. Every cross fracture of the rock pre- sents innumerable sections, and occasionally the full form of a shell is visible on the surface. The rock has another interesting peculiarity, which must be mentioned — it is bituminous, and gives off an empyreumatic odor when it is heated before the blowpipe flame. The specimens which I have are perforated by Petricola cylin- dracea and other boring shells. The upper stratum of the formation at the quarries, which is overlaid by the beach shingle before mentioned, is worn smooth and uneven, as if it had been subjected to the action of the surf. It has been perforated by Tholadidce., and their cells still remain. They are large and numerous, but no shell could be found in them. They are tilled up with fine sea-sand, which indicate that the shells must have been removed before the surface emerged from the tide. The cells are in all respects similar to those now being formed and occupied in the rocks of the beach. This locality is now at an elevation of about sixty feet above the beach and one quarter of a mile from it. It presents convincing evidence of the compara- tively recent elevation of the coast. The connection between the strata of siliceous infusoria and the strata con- taining the Polythalamia has not been traced, but it is probable that the two deposits are conformable, and parts of one great series. If this is so, we may conclude that the intervening strata are also charged with fossils. The forma- tion, so far as already known, is a wonderful record of life, and a rich mine of results for the geologist and palaeontologist. Characteristics of some New Species of Mammalia, collected by the IT. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey , Major W. H. Emory, U. S. A. Commissioner. By Spencer F. Baird.* PART I Sciurus limitis, Baird. — Size less than that of S. migrator! 'us. Upper molars four. Fur very short, compact and close pressed. Ears long, coated with very short hairs. Feet small ; soles naked, and dark brown. Color. Above, mixed cinnamon and black. Under parts of body and tail, cinnamon. Tail above and on the sides like the back, with three annulations of black. Head and body 10 inches. Tail mutilated. Hind foot, from heel, * Full descriptions of these species will shortly appear in the official reports of the Survey. 332 [April, 1 8-12ths inches. Skull 2 3-12ths inches* Collected by J. H. Clark, on Devil's river, Texas. Sciurus castanotus, Baird. — Size that of S. Stirveys of a Railroad Route to the Pacific. By Spencer F. Baird.* PART I. Lepus Washingtonii, Baird. — Size about that of L, sylvaticus, or a little larger. Fur very soft and full on the body and under surface of feet. Tail very short. Ears shorter than the head. Hind foot, measured from the heel, longer than the head almost by the length of the claws. Color. — Back, sides and throat reddish brown, the former with many glossy black hairs. Tail lead-colored above; rusty white beneath. Abdomen pure white. Ears black on the posterior margin and tip of their inner (convex) sur- face, the remainder of which is pale reddish brown, except on the exterior band. No change to white in winter. Head and body 18j inches. Tail vertebras 8 lines. Ears 3 3-12ths inches. Hind foot 4£ inches. Collected at Puget Sound and Shoalwater Bay by Dr. Geo. Suckley, TJ. S. A., and Dr. J. G. Cooper. Survey of Northern Route, Gov. I. I. Stevens. Lepus trowbridgii, Baird. — But little larger than Lepns artemisice. Head small ; ears about equal to it in length, broad and ovate. Tail very small. Hind feet very short, densely padded, and about the length of the head. Color. — Above yellowish brown and dark brown mixed ; beneath grayish lead color. The sides differ from the back only in being a little paler. Back of neck pale rusty. Ears grayish and black on the external band, ashy gray elsewhere ; with but slight indication of a darker margin or tip. Head and body 13 inches. Tail to end of vertebrae 5 lines. Ears 2 4-12ths inches. Hind foot, from heel, 2 8-12ths inches. Hah — Coast of California, from Monterey to Bodega. Collected by Lt. W. P. Trowbridge, U. S. A. Lt. A. W. Whipple, U. S. A. Sciurus suckleyi, Baird. — Larger than »?. hudsonius. Tail much shorter than the body, very fiat. Ears tufted. Under surface of the feet densely clothed with hairs to the bases of the toes. Fur full and soft. Color. — Above mixed chestnut brown and black ; beneath pale brownish rusty; the hairs on the belly obscurely annulated with black. A dusky line along the flanks. Tail black at the extremity ; margined throughout with rusty white ; the *Full descriptions of these species will shortly appear in the official reports of the Railroad Surveys. 26 334 [April, hairs of the tail annulated except at the tip with chestnut and black, like the back. Head and body 9 inches. Tail vertebras 4i inches. To tip of hairs 6 inches. Collected by Dr. Suckley at Steilacoom, Paget Sound. Gov. 1. 1. Stevens. Tamias cooperi, Baird. — Size rather above that of T. lysteri. Tail vertebrae little more than half the length of the body. Ears large. Color. — Anterior portion of the body above and sides grizzled gray and brown- ish ash, somewhat as in the Norway rat, {Mas decumanus) with a slight dash of rusty on the middle of the sides. Three distinct dorsal stripes of glossy dark brown with two others (owe on either side) less strongly marked. The intervals between these stripes light grayish. Under parts grayish white, the line of separation from the sides very distinct. Hairs of the tail dark at the roots, then rusty, then black, and tipped with grayish. Length of head and body 6 inches. Tail vertebras 3 4-12ths inches ; to tip of hairs 4 inches. Collected on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains, Washington Territory, by Dr. J. G. Cooper. Gov. I. I. Stevens. Spermophtltjs gunnisoni, Baird. — Smaller than S. ludoviciamts. Shape very similar. Ears very short. Thumb with a well developed claw. Tail very short, the vertebrae about one-ninth the length of the body. Color. — Above light liver brown, mixed intimately with ash, light brown, and black. Beneath pale yellowish brown. Tail white along the edge and tip, with a sub-marginal band of black. The hairs at the extremity of the tail are en- tirely white, except a narrow central band of black. Head and body 11 inches. Tail vertebrae 1 3-l2ths inches; to end of hairs 1 ll-12ths inches. Hind foot, from heel 1 10-12ths inches. Collected by Mr. Kreutzfeldt in the Cochitope Pass of Rocky Mountains. Lt. E. G. Beckwith. Spermopiiilus grammurus, Say. — Specimens of this long lost species of Say were collected by Capt. Pope, in Western Texas. Spermophilus beecheyi, Richardson. — Specimens of this species were collected in California by Dr. A. L. Heermann and by Lt. Trowbridge. Dipodomys montanus, Baird. — Tail stout, rather longer than the body, with a dusky stripe above and below, which extends to the end of the tail ; the hairs springing from the extreme tip being, however, white. The white lateral stripes reach to the end of the tail. A decided crest on the upper surface of the tail towards its extremity. Body above yellowish brown, mixed with a good deal of dusky. Head and body 4£ inches. Tail vertebrae 5 3-l2ths inches ; to end of hairs 6 4-12ths inches. Collected near Fort Massachusetts by Mr. Kreutzfeldt. Lt. E. G. Beckwith. Dipodomys agilis, Gambel.* — Tail slender, much longer than the body, with a moderate crest of erect hairs towards the tip, on both the upper and under sur- faces. The terminal fourth or fifth of the tail uniformly dusky; the dark sub- caudal stripe extending to the end of the tail without interruption. Body above dusky, with only a slight tinge of yellowish brown on the sides. Head and body *Dr. Gambel described a Dipodomys under this name from Los Angeles, but unfortunately omitted to mention any specific characters. Having re- ceived specimens from this same locality, clearly referrible to D. philltpsii, I was forced to consider Dr. Gambel's name as a synonym, his description apply- ing as well to one as the other. I accordingly, in my notes, gave to the present species the name of D. gambeli. As Dr. LeConte, in his masterly monograph of the genus, ha? defined the same species with much precision under Dr. Gam- bel's name, and is besides satisfied that it is really found at Los Angeles, with the other, 1 have finally concluded it best to adopt the name of D. agilis, which, however, is rather that of LeConte than Gambel. 1855.] 335 4 4-12ths inches. Tail to end of vertebrae 5 8-12ths inches ; of hairs G 2-12ths inches. Collected by Lt. Trowbridge near San Diego, or Monterey. Lt. A. W. Whipple. Geomys BREvicEPs, Baird. — Upper incisors with a small longitudinal groove near the inner edge, and a much larger one bisecting the remaining space. Fore feet decidedly longer than the hinder, their second claw reaching only to the middle of the fourth. Cheek pouches ample. Skull short, broad. Forehead plane, outlines of zygomata seen from above, curved, widest apart at the junction of the malar and temporal bones. Color. — Above dark chestnut brown, with dark clouding, caused by the deeper colored tips of the hairs. Beneath paler, mixed with grayish. Inside of pouches and surrounding region entirely yellowish white. Head and body 6| inches. Tail 2 2-12ths inches. Fore feet 1 H-12ths inches. Middle claw 6 lines. Skull 1.55 inches in length ; width .98, or 631-100 of length. Collected at Morehouse Parish, La., by James Fairie, Esq. Thomomys bottle. Oryctovtys bottcs, Eyd.and Gerv — Specimens of this species were collected by Lt. Trowbridge and Mr. R. D. Cutts, at Monterey and San Francisco. Thomomys rufesckns, Max. — Collected at Fort Pierre by Dr. J. Evans. Gov. I. I. Stevens. Thomomys laticeps, Baird. — Cheek pouches moderate, well lined with hairs. Tail nearly half the length of the body, thickened at the base. Feet very large and broad, claws of the hand small, slender ; the middle one measured below is about two sevenths the length of the entire palm, including the claws ; its finger about two eighths. Claw of the thumb extending to nearly the middle of the hand. Skull very broad ; muzzle short. Color. — Above yellowish red-brown ; the hairs on the dorsal region largely and abruptly tipped with blackish. Sides nearly uniform. Beneath tipped with reddish. Pouches dull white, the dusky tint of the surrounding portions dip- ping into them. Tail greyish white, dusky above. Head and body 5 2-l2ths inches. Tail 1\ inches, short haired portion 1 ll-12ths inches. Fore foot 11^ lines; longest claw 4 lines. Skull 1 l-12th inches broad. Collected at Humboldt Bay by Lieut. Trowbridge, U. S. A. Lieut. A. W. Whipple. Neotoma occidentalis, Cooper, Mss. — JV. drummondii, Aud. and Bach. Size of Norway rat. Fur coarse, harsh, not compact. Posterior third of soles furred. Tail densely coated with long hairs ; the vertebrae rather longer than the body, exclusive of the head. Color Above brownish plumbeous, with a slight mixture of yellowish brown. Under portion of body and tail, with the feet, bluish white. Upper surface of tail grayish plumbeous, the basal wool little lighter. Head and body 10 inches. Tail vertebrae 8 5-12ths inches. Collected at Shoalwater Bay, W. T., by Dr. J. G. Cooper, Gov. I. I. Stevens, Reithrodon montanus, Baird. — Size about half that of the common mouse. Ears smaller ; densely furred, and almost buried in the long hairs of the body. Tail about as long as the body ; quite densely coated with short hairs. Color. — Above, brown and pale yellowish gray ; beneath, dull whitish ; flanks and outside of the ear, pale yellowish brown ; no rufous any where. Tail whitish, dusky on the upper surface. Head and body 2 2-12ths inches. Tail 2 inches. Hind foot from heel 6 lines. Skull 9* lines. Collected in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains, iat. 38°. Lieut, E, G. Beckwith. Hesperomys boylii, Baird. — Nearly as large as H. gossypinus. Ears very large, so scantily clothed with short hairs as to appear nearly naked, Tail con> 336 • [April, siderably longer than the body, with a brush of hair at the tip. Head broad, much pointed. Color. — Above mixed brown and yellowish brown ; paler on the sides ; the outside of the foreleg colored to near the wrist. Feet and under parts white. Head and body 3 4-l2ths inches. Tail to end of vertebras 3 9^-l2ths inches; of hairs 4£ inches. Hind foot 10 lines. Collected on the middle fork of the American River, California, by Dr. C. C. Boyle. Lieut. R. S. Williamson. Hesperomys austerus, Baird. — Smaller than H. leucopus. Tail as long as the body. Hind feet long. Color above brownish lead color, feet and under parts white. The dusky color of the sides extends on the outside of the forearm to the wrist. Head and body 2 ll-12ths inches. Tail to end of vertebrae2 10£-I2ths inches ; of hairs 3 inches. Hind foot from heel 9£ lines. Collected at Fort Steilacoom, Puget Sound, by Dr. Geo. Suckley, U. S. A., and by Dr. Cooper on the Spokan Plains. Gov. 1. I. Stevens. The Committee on Mr. Durand's paper, entitled, "Plantae PrattenianiiEe Californicse," reported in favor of publication in the Journal of the Academy. On leave granted, Mr. Vaux presented for publication in the Pro- ceedings, a paper by Mr. William R. Blake, Geologist of the U. S. Pacific R. R. Survey in California, entitled, " Notice of remarkable strata of the remains of Infusoria and Polythalamia,in the Tertiary formations of Monterey, California." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Mr. Isaac Lea, and Mr. Vaux. On leave granted, Mr. Cassin presented for publication in the Pro- ceedings, two papers by Prof. S. F. Baird, viz : " Characteristics of some new species of North American Mammalia, collected chiefly during the U. S. Surveys of a Pacific R. R. route to the Pacific, part 1 j" and " Characteristics of some new species of North American Mammalia, collected by the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, under Major Win, H. Emory, U. S. A.;" both of which were referred to a Com- mittee consisting of Mr. Cassin, Dr. Le Conte, and Col. Mc. Call. Dr. Rand offered a resolution, which was adopted, appointing a Com- mittee to receive the members of the American Medical Association, which convenes in this city on Tuesday, May 1st. The folio wing were appointed the Committee : Dr. Rand, Mr. Cassin, Dr. Leidy, Dr. J. A. Meigs, Dr. Hallowell, and Dr. Le Conte. On motion of Dr. Le Conte, the Curators were added to the committee. Dr. Le Conte offered the following Preamble and Resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : — Whereas, Mr. George Ord, President of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is about to visit Europe, and has most kindly offered his valuable services to the Society : — Resolved, That the Academy views with pleasure the opportunity thus afforded of enlarging its friendly relations with similar European In- stitutions. Resolved, That the President of the Academy be requested to invite the attention of individuals and Societies, devoted to scientific pursuits, with which he may communicate, to the benefits which would result to 1855.] 337 Science from a more extended intercourse with the Scientific Societies of this country. Resolved, That the cordial wishes of the Academy are hereby tendered to Mr. Ord, for a prosperous voyage, a pleasant visit, and a safe return. Resolved, That a copy of these Resolutions, certified by the officers of the present meeting, be addressed to the President of the Academy. ELECTION Henry Hartshorne, 31. D., of Philadelphia, was elected a Member of the Academy. [Notices of election of the following as Members and Correspondents were omitted at the proper dates : — June 27th, 1854. — J. Edwards Taggart, and Mr. M. Messchert, of Philadelphia, as Members; and Dr. Win. A. Hammond, U. S. A., and John W. Audubon, Esq., of New York, as Correspondents. October %\st, 1854. — Dr. Cheston Morris, Dr. Diller Luther, and Dr. Theodore Hilgard, of Philadelphia, as Members; and Dr. John C. Dalton, Jr., of New York, and Prof. B. L. C. Wailes, of Mississippi, as Correspondents. November 28th, 1854. — Dr. Thomas M. Drysdale, of Philadelphia, as a Member.'] 1855.] 339 May Sth, 1855- Vice President Bridges in the Chair. ' Letters were read — From the Rev. J. C. Adamson, D.D., dated Oxford, Chester Co., Penn., 16th April, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. From the Boston Society of Natural History, dated 17th March and 1:2th April, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of late numbers of the Proceedings and Journal. From ;VI. Prosper Farbe, President of the Natural History Society of llheims, France, stating that he is at present on a tour through this country for the purpose of collecting objects of Natural History, and proposing exchanges. Mr. V;;ux, on behalf of the Publication Committee, announced the publication of Part 1, Vol. 3, new series, of the Journal of the Academy. May 15th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Bavaria, dated Munich, 20th Dec, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 6, Nos. 8 — 12, Vol. 7, Nos. 1 and 2, and of the Journal, Vol. 2, Part 2. From the same, dated 20th February, 1855, requesting a second set of the Publications of the Academy for the Library of the Society, the first set being deposited in the public Library of Munich. From the Entomological Society of Stettin, dated 3d Feb., 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy, Vol. 6, Nos. 8 — 12, Vol. 7, Nos. 1 — 2, and transmitting their own publications. From the Royal x\cademy of Sciences of Vienua, dated 27th Dec, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 6, Nos. 8 — 12, Vol. 7, Nos. 1 and 2, and of the Journal, Part 4, Vol. 2, new series. From the Natural History Society of Dantzic, dated 11th Dec, 1854, of the same tenor. From Byron King, Esq., Attache U. S. Legation at Paris, dated 20th April, 1855, transmitting Vols. 5 and 6 of the Annales des Mines. From W. Humphreys, of Savannah, Georgia, dated 28th April, 1855, relative to a collection of Reptiles. May 22d. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Geological Society of London, dated 4th May, 1855, re- questing the transmission of certain missing numbers of the Proceedings of the Academy. From the Linnean Society of London, dated ltith Nov., 1854, ac- PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. VII. NO. IX. 27 340 [May, knowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy, Vol. 6, Nos. 1 — 6, and Journal, Part 3, Vol. 2, new series. From M. Prosper Farbe, dated Philadelphia, 22d May, 1855, ac- companying the donations acknowledged this evening. Mr. Isaac Lea read a paper, intended for publication in the Proceed- ings, entitled " Description of a new Mollusk from the Red Sandstone near Pottsville, Penn. j" which was referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Wilson and Mr. Vaux. Dr. Leidy stated that he had received from Dr. Nott the bones of the so-called fossil man, exhibited in New Orleans several years since. The skeleton was 18 feet in length. There were two molar teeth, each weighing two pounds, and the fragment of a canine. The bones are those of the Mastodon. Dr. Leidy described the mode in which the skeleton was made up. Dr. Leidy also announced to the Society that the fine skeleton of the Narwhal, (Monodon monoceros) which had been presented by Dr. Kane in 1851, had been mounted, and was now in the Museum. May 29th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The Committee to which was referred the following paper, by Mr. Isaac Lea, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings : Description of a new Mollusk from the Red Sandstone near Pottsville, Pa. By Isaac Lea. A few weeks since Dr. Leidy had the kindness to place in my hands an in- teresting specimen, consisting of a cast of a bimusculose mollusk which that gentleman had found last summer at Tumbling Run dam, about a mile south- east of Pottsville. The discovery of this small specimen in these Red Sandstones (Formation No. 11 of the Pennsylvania Survey, by Prof. Rogers) is of great importance, as it is believed to be the first mollusk which has been observed in these Red Sandstones, underlaying the conglomerate of the coal measures of Schuylkill County, known as the southern coal field of Pennsylvania, and consequently congenerie with the Sauropus primcevus , Lea, and Plumites, Rogers.* The extreme paucity of organic life yet observed in these Red Sandstones ex- cites the more interest, as the fact of such deficiency of types renders the position of this formation in the series a matter of doubt in the minds of some geologists. It is hoped that by patient' research other mollusks may be discovered, and that, by the palaeontology of this portion of the Palaeozoic rocks, its true position may be determined. The specimen is simply a cast of the exterior of the two valves, entirely flattened out. In its facies it approaches the Cypricardia rhombea, Phill., (Geology of Yorkshire, pi. 5, f. 10,) from the Mountain Limestone of Northumberland, England. It is, however, rather more quadrate, and is a much smaller shell. It has strong affinities to Posidonia, particularly in the strice, and may possibly * Mr. Hall, in the New York Reports, part 4, p. 292, describes a Cypricardia (contracta) from the " Conglomerate and Sandstone" under the great western coal measures, near Panama, Chatauque County. It is quite oblong, and of much greater breadth and of a larger size than the species described herein. 1855.] 341 belong to that genus which seems to exist first in the Upper Silurian, and to rise to the superior portion of the Jurassic Formation. It also resembles the Microdcn ballastriata, Con., (Hamilton Group,) described in the New York Reports, part 4, page 196, Geology, by James Hall. As the exterior form only is visible, the diagnosis must necessarily be very curt. It may be thus characterized until better specimens shall be obtained. I name it after Dr. Leidy, who first discovered it. Cypricardia Leidyi. (Plate IV. The lower figure is magnified ten diameters.) Shell oblong, round before and truncate behind, very inequilateral, striate; dorsal and basal margin parallel ; umbonial slope sharply carinate ; anterior slope with an elevated line from the beak to the basal margin ; striae about twelve, very regular, and nearly equidistant. Length 2-20ths, breadth nearly 4-20ths of an inch. Observations. — This species is remarkable for its outline and striae. The dorsal and basal margins being parallel, and the posterior margin perpendicularly truncate, the angk=90D. The striae cover the whole surface of the exterior, and are bent at an angle of 90° at the umbonial slope. The shell is accompanied on the specimen with some obscure impressed linear marks of a plant. The Report of the Corresponding Secretary for the last month was read and adopted. Mr. Vaux, on behalf of the Publication Committee, presented the Report for 1854, which was adopted. Dr. Rand offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the privilege of admission to the Museum of the Academy, and of endorsing tickets of admission to the same on public days, be granted to Mrs, Margaret Harlan, widow of Dr. Richard Harlan, late a member of the Academy. ELECTION, C, A, Santos, of Rio Janeiro ; C. Baptista d'Oleveira, Director of the Botanical Garden of Rio Janeiro ; Jose Antonio G. y Garcia, of Lima, Peru; and R. Ogden Doremus, M,D., of New York, were elected (Jorresnonden ts. June 5M, Vice President Bridges in the Chair* Letters were read — From the Society of Arts and Sciences of Batavia, dated June, 1854, transmitting the volumes of its publications announced this evening. From the Royal Library of the University of Gottingen, dated Dec. 1, 185 1, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol, 6, Nos. 8—12, and Vol. 7, No. 1. From the Boston Society of Natural History, dated 22d May, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 7, No. 7, and of the Journal, new series, Vol. 3, No. 1, 342 [June, From the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated 2d June, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 7, No. 8. Dr. Hallowell read a letter from Mr. Charles J. Gilman, dated Brunswick, Maine, 1855, inclosing the following communication from Mr. James E. Powell, a hunter in that State : " In regard to the moose, I speak of it only as I am acquainted with it in this State (Maine), other latitudes causing some slight variation in its habits. When the snows have left the ground entirely bare, which, in the favorite haunts of the moose, happens about the middle of May, they leave their winter haunts and approach the marshes, ponds and rivers, where they come to search for their summer food, consisting of all the various aquatic plants which flourish in this region. Their favorite food, however, is the water lily and rush, in all their varieties, and at this season they crop them as soon as they appear, close to the bottom, frequently holding their heads under water a minute or eighty seconds, and often wading in water so deep that when they put their heads down under the surface, to obtain the small lily leaves or to dig up the root of the plant (which they often eat at this season), before the leaves are plentiful, only a portion of the back is visible. About this time the females go apart, seeking the most impenetrable thickets that border on or are near water, and there bring forth their young ; those of three years old and upwards almost invariably producing two. Still I have occasionally, but very rarely, seen and known three at a birth. Those of two years old never produce more thaa one. They shed their coats of long, rough hair, too, at this period, and are soon covered with short, smooth, fine hair, of a dark brown color, which, however, soon becomes a jetty, glossy black on the sides and back and grey on the legs (with the exception of one variety of the animal, which is of a grey color, and which is now very scarce here.) As the season advances, the moose frequent the water still more, and remain in it longer at a time. In May, or early in June, they seldom stay in it more than half an hour at once, but in July and August they sometimes remain in the water several hours, and also frequent the waters very much during the night, especially in hot, dry, sultry weather, or thunder storms, which they seem particularly to delight in, swimming back and forth, apparently in a high state of enjoyment. During these visits to the water, the female, or cow, secretes her young with great care, to protect them from the ferocity of the old bulls that would destroy them. For this purpose they com- monly select a very dense clump of large bushes, or a spruce or fir thicket, which, by its density, prevents the bull from reaching them, on account of his horns, which generally sprout in April. They grow rapidly, and are very tender and easily hurt at this time. By September the horns are out of the velvet, and have acquired hardness, and towards the close of this month the rutting season commences, and the moose leave the water for two or three weeks and resort to the mountains. At this period the bulls are frequently very fat (I have killed them with nearly three inches in thickness of fat on the rump), and are often very fierce and savage, sometimes even attacking the hunter, but in the course of a few weeks they become thin and poor, in consequence of their continual roaming and their many combats, the effects of jealousy. They also neglect food at this time. At this period the loud bellow of the bull, or the sonorous 'call' of the cow is frequently heard and distinguished by the watchful hunter at the distance of two or three miles, in the stillness of night. The bulls also make another noise, which, from its peculiar sound, the hunters call chopping; it i3 produced by forcibly bringing together and separating the jaws in a pecu- liar and singular monner, and (as its name implies) resembles the sound of an axe, used at a great distance. They also emit a variety of strange sounds and cries. When they return to the water they spend a great deal of time in it for a week or two, but afterwards they gradually shorten their visits, until the sharp frosts set in. Still, they occasionally come into it, till ice forms an inch 1855.] 343 thick during the night. Then tbey leave and return to the mountains, where they select their fall and winter haunts, roaming about and subsisting on the bark of small trees, which tbey peel or gnaw off, and the twigs of the fir tree and other woods. When the deep snows fall, they select a spot well adapted to their wants, and commence to browse and peel more closely. This is called 1 yarding,' and as the snow deepens and crusts form on its surface, they peel and break down bushes and browse closely, in preference to wallowing through the snow in search of choicer food. A ' moose yard ' frequently occupies about one hundred acres, more or less, but the latter few weeks of the season is frequently spent on an area of ten acres, or less. The old males and females never 'yard ' together, but sometimes young bulls and cows are found occupying the same 1 yard.' Still they are seldom found in close company. Cows and tbeir calves frequently yard together, the calves remaining with the mother one year. The oldest buils invariably yard alone, choosing some lonely knoll or mountain peak, where they reside in utter solitude. Indeed, as age increases, the moose become more solitary in their habits, avoiding the common resorts of other moose, and frequenting some lone little pond or stream. The moose of two and three years old, also, often yard alone, but the males between the ages of three and ten years are very gregarious. I have known as many as nine in one yard. When hunted at this time (deep snow) they go off in Indian file, each moose stepping accurately in the footprints of its predecessor, so that any but an ex- perienced hunter would scarcely suppose that more than one moose had passed, when perhaps six or seven had gone in reality. Still, when they are closely pursued, and the one that is first becomes tired, (in consequence of having to break the way through the snow,) that one turns out a very little, and (the rest having passed him) brings up the rear. So they change in rotation, the males showing the most chivalrous spirit in aiding the females or the weaker ones. Sometimes, too, they break their order of going in awkwardly passing a tree, when hard pressed, some going on each side, but instantly falling into line again when the obstacle is passed. At this season the ' spikehorn,' or two-year- old bull, is noted as affording the longest and most difficult chase, and the oldest bulls for making the most gallant fight. In fact, they often refuse to run at all. A ' moose-yard ' presents a strange sight to those not familiar with it, with its broken bushes and peeled trees ; for sometimes, when the snow is very deep and difficult for them to get through, they break down and browse closely the tops of young fir trees five or six feet from the ground, and where they are two or three inches in diameter. They also reach up and peel and browse ten or twelve feet high above the ground, raising the fore legs and allowing the weight of the body to rest on the hind ones. Although so fond of browsing the fir, they never eat the bark of it, yet they seldom kill any other tree, as they gene- rally peel only one side of those they use for food ; tbey also break down the bushes in one direction, pulling them towards them ; so that the direction the moose has taken is known to the hunter by this sign, when he first approaches a ' yard.' The young fir-trees are killed by the bulls rubbing their heads against them, instinct teaching them in that manner to apply the balsam of fir (which possesses great healing: powers) to the sore and tender places caused by the loosening and falling off of the horns. The favorite winter food of the moose is the twigs of the fir tree and the bark of the mountain ash, and of a species of dwarf maple, and the young twigs of the ' moosewood.' During the summer the females are often seen accompanied by their two calves, but in the winter there is seldom more than one calf found with each cow. From this I infer that the young of the moose are subject to many dan- gers. The cow gives an abundance of milk, and the growth of the moose is very rapid for the first three years It possesses immense strength and is capable of enduring long continued exertion and very great fatigue. It consumes very little food in proportion to its size, and, during the winter, seldom drinks, quenching its thirst with snow. Yet it very often chooses its yarding place near 344 [June, or on some little streamlet, perhaps on account of its favorite maple being most abundant in such places. The age of the moose is not great. I have never known but one to at- tain the age of twenty years ; in fact, it is a rare and uncommon thing to find one tbat has attained the age of fifteen years. It possesses a quick ear and very strong, keen scent, and differs from most other wild animals in regard to its desire to attack a person bearing a torch, or rather the torch itself. For instance, in bunting on a dark night, in a canoe, on the water, when in pursuit of deer, &c, a flambeau, or torch, or candle, can be used to great advantage, the animals being apparently bewildered or fascinated by the bright, steady light which approaches them so noiselessly and still; but the moose, as soon as he perceives it, approaches it, quickening his pace as he comes nearer, till (unless utterly disabled by the deadly rifle shot) he charges full upon it, destroying the canoe, and frequently injuring its occupant. However, with the extinction of the torch his fury ceases. The moose is easily tamed, and when domesticated, exhibits much sagacity, and, if well treated, a very affectionate disposition. I kept a young one (one year old) a short time, which mani- fested as much docility and affection as a pet lamb. But when insulted or injured they are very revengeful and unforgiving. In reference to which I will relate an anecdote. The moose above alluded to was a great favorite with a young girl, who used to visit him several times a day, playing with him and giving him such delicacies as were most grateful to his epicurean palate (by the way, he acquired a strong predilection for boiled, mashed potatoes), and the moose alwavs showed the greatest pleasure when she was present. But one day, in a frolicksome mood, she bound some gaily colored ribbons in her hair, leaving the ends loose and fluttering, surmounting the whole by a tall and flaunting plume. Thus attired she slowly approached the moose, while we stood watching and wondering how he would recognize her. At length, gently and in perfect silence, she stood beside the moose, and he slowly and haughtily turned his head, surveying her strange appearance with the most ineffable contempt. At last, utterly unable to repress her mirth at the ridiculous scene, she gave way to a fit of loud joyous merriment. The wonted sound seemed to affect the moose, and he partially turned his head away, then took another survey of her strange appearance and his eyes suddenly lit up with a red, savage, fiery light, and he struck her forcibly with his fore foot, and, had it not been for instant assistance, would probably have killed her. He never afterwards would permit her to approach him, showing signs of discontent and anger if she came within ten or twelve rods of him, and if (when at liberty in the field) he ever saw her he would instantly rush to attack her. Two or three times, when escaping into the house, she had not time time to shut the door, and the revengeful beast followed her into the rooms, to the great detriment of the furniture. We have often heard of a bull in a crockery shop, but fancy a moose in a parlor. And if I was not present, no other person could eject him, but he would instantly come at my call and be obedient and submissive ; and if at any time this strange creature fancied itself not sufficiently noticed or petted by me, it would utter most piteous cries until it attracted attention. The animal in a wild state is very lithe and supple, turning itself about and bending its form as easily as an ordinary dog, frequently standing in the most singular postures. It also frequently crawls on its knees, to pass under logs, &c, and drinks, in very shoal water, in the same position. I am afraid I have wearied you with my tediousness, but vouch for the facts above stated, every one of which I know from actual observation and experience." June 12th. Dr. BridgeSj Vice President, in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Acad. 0. L. C. Naturas Curiosorum, dated Breslau, 2d 1855.] 345 Nov., 1854, transmitting the publications of that Institution, announced this evening. From the Imperial Academy of Sciences of Vienna, dated 18th Oct. and 30th Nov., 1854, also transmitting its publications. From the Wurtemburg Natural History Society, dated Stuttgart, 23d March, 1855, transmitting their publications, and acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, Vol. 6, Nos. 8 — 12, Vol. 7, Nos. 1 and 2. From Dr. Wm. P. Gibbons, dated San Francisco, California, trans- mitting a printed description and a figure of a crab, from the coast of California, supposed by him to be new, and desiring its republication in the Proceedings. Referred to the Committee on Proceedings. Dr. Le Conte presented for publication in the Proceedings, the fol- lowing papers : — 1. " Notes on the Amarae of the United States ;" and 2. " Synopsis of the Hydrophilidae of the United States." Referred to Mr. Guex, Dr. Zantzinger and Mr. Schafhirt. Mr. C;issin presented for publication in the Proceedings, a paper, en- titled " Descriptions of some of the new Marine Invertebrata from the Chinese and Japanese Seas. By Wm. Stimpson, Zoologist to the U. S. Surveying Fixpedition to the North Pacific, Japan Seas, &c; Lieut. John Rodgers, Commander." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Bridges and Mr. Cassin. Dr. Hallowell called the attention of the members to the fact noticed by Mr. S. Ashmead, that the Coluber eximius has the faculty of vibrating its tail, when irritated, so as to produce, by striking a solid body, a sound similar to that of the rattlesnake. The living specimen on the table this evening produced the sound so distinctly as to be heard by all the members present. Dr. Hallowell also stated that Mr. Ashmead had noticed a similar noise produced by the black snake, by vibrating its tail among dry leaves. Dr. Le Conte confirmed the latter observation of Mr. Ashmead. Mr. Lea read a letter from Dr. Ruschenberger, dated U. S. Flag Ship Independence at sea, April 24, 1855, announcing that he had transmitted for the Museum a skeleton of the Guanaco, several crania, and various other objects of Natural History. June 19th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the American Philosophical Society, dated June 15th, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the last number of the Proceedings. From Dr. H. W. Kennedy, dated Buenos Ayres, April 17th, 1855, accompanying donations to the Cabinet, announced this evening. June 26th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. , The Committees to which were referred papers presented by Dr. Le Conte, 12th inst. ; and by Mr. Stimpson, presented same date, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 346 [June, Notes on the Amar^e of the United States. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. Although most of the Amarae found in our country have already been made known, the labor of determining species from the scattered descriptions of vari- ous authors is very great. I have therefore thought that it might give some aid to the final arrangement of the .synonymy of this genus, to bring; together the diagnoses of those known to me by specimens, as a definite basis would thus be established for comparison of types of the species in other collections, not ac- cessible to me ; and even where the names and synonyms adopted by me would be found faulty, a method of eliminating the errors resulting from differences in style of descriptions would be avoided. In the arrangement of the species, nothing can be better than the divisions proposed by Dr. Zimmermann, although they cannot be admitted as of generic value. The only alteration I have made is the suppression of Percosia as not sufficiently distinct from Celia. They are as follows : 1. Thorax ante basin latior. a. Tibiae posteriores sexus utrinsque intus simplices (Liocnemis Zim.) Sp. 1. b. Tibiae intermedial maris intus bidentatae (Lirus Zim.) Sp. 2 — 11. c. Tibiae posticae maris intus dense pilosae (BradytusZim.) 12 — 16. 2. Thorax ante basin haud latior. d. Tibiae posticae maris intus dense pilosae (AmaraZim.) x. Tibiae anticae calcare trifido terminatae (TriaenaLec.) 17 — 20. /2. Tibiae anticae calcare simplice. Sp. 21 — 33. e. Tibiae posticae maris intus haud vel vix pilosae (Celia Zim.) 34 — 48. a. LIOCNEMIS Zim. 1. A. avida, oblonga. latiuseula, nigro-picea, thorace latitudine duplobre- viore, postice modice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, fortius marginatis punctatis, ad basin summam subsinuatis, angulis posticis subrectis, basi tota confertim punc- tata, utrinque vage sat profunde foveata : elytris thorace haud latioribus striis profundis, subtiliter crenulatis,antennis palpis pedibusque rufis. Long. -31 — '38. Zabrus avidus Say, J. Ac. 3, 148. Pelor av. Say. Tr. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 428. Amara conjinis Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 510. New York, Illinois, Lake Superior; abundant. The dilated joints of the anterior tarsi of the male are smaller than in any other of our native species. Dr. Zimmermann, probably not having seen the male of this species, places it (Silberm. Rev. Ent. 2, 229,) incorrectly in Bradytus ; the posterior tibiae are not pubescent internally. b. LIRUS Zim. 2. A. lacustris, elongata, supra aeneo-picea, subtus rufo-picea, thorace latitudine vix sesqui breviore, postice modice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, postice sinuatis angulis posticis rectis prorninulis, impressionibus basalibus pro- fundis punctatis bistriatis, carina externa acuta, elytris parallelis humeris vix rotundatis, thorace haud latioribus, dorso planiusculis, striis crenulatis, ad apicem impunctatis : epipleuris pedibus antennisque rufis, mesopleuris obsolete punctatis. Long. «45. One female found on the north shore of Lake Superior, I formerly considered this as Curtonotus convexiusculus Steph. (Kiiby, Fauna Bor. Am. 35), but on com- parison with English specimens it proves entirely different. From that, as from our other species, it differs by its narrower form, longer elytra, less rounded, but more sinuate sides of the thorax, and more prominent posterior angles. A. Jacobin a, elongata, piceo-nigra, thorace latitudine sesqui breviore, postice magis angustato, lateribus rotundatis postice sinuatis, angulis posticis rectis prorninulis, ad apicem et basin punctato, impressionibus basalibus valde profun- dis, vix bistriatis, carina externa acuta; elytris thorace haud latioribus, fere ■ ■1 s 1 < 1855.] 347 parallelis, humeris vix rotundatis, dorso planiusculis, striis profundis crenulalis postice laevibus ; pedibus rufo-piceis, anteriovibus antennisque paulo pallidiori- bus, postpectore parce punctate Long. «45. One male found at San Diego, California. Narrower than the following species, and with the thorax more narrowed at the base, and more strongly sinuated on the sides. From the preceding, which it resembles in the form, it differs by the basal impressions of the thorax being deeper, and hardly btstriate, by the posterior angles being somewhat less prominent, by the elytra being less parallel, comparatively shorter and more obtusely rounded at the extremity. 4. A.laticolli s, oblonga latiuscula, piceo-nigra,subcenescens, thorace latitu- dine plus sesqui latiore postice angustato, lateribus valde rotundatis, ante basin sinuatis, angulis posticis rectis prominulis, ad apicem et basin parcius punctato, impressionibus basalibus profundis subbistriatis, carina externa acuta; elytris thorace haud latioribus, dorso planiusculis, striis profundis crenulatis postice laevibus ; epipleuris antennis pedibusque rufis, postpectore punctato. Long. •45— -55. Curtonotus laticollis Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, 4, 368. ? Curtonotus convexlusculus Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am, 35. Found in Nebraska Territory, near the Rocky Mountains. Very similar to the European A. convexiuscula, but in comparison with that species, the thorax is more rounded on the sides, more narrowed behind, and more finely margined, 5. A. carinata, oblonga, latiuscula, piceo-nigra, subaenesevns, thorace latitudine plus sesqui latiore, postice angustato, lateribus rotundatis ad medium subexplanatis ad basin brevissime sinuatis, angulis posticis subprominulis, ad apicem et basin punctato, impressionibus basalibus profundis subbistriatis, carina externa acuta : elytris thorace haud latioribus, dorso planiusculis, striis profun- dis subtiliter crenulatis postice laevibus ; epipleuris antennis pedibusque rufis, postpectore punctato. Long. *45. LeConte, Ann. Lye. New York, 4, 368. Nebraska Territory, near the Rocky Mountains. In comparison with the preceding, which it closely resembles, the sides of the thorax are considerably less rounded, and less suddenly sinuate towards the base, and the basal angles although rectangular are less prominent ; the sides are slightly flattened about the middle. The insect from Russian America referred by Mannerheim to this species is much smaller and otherwise different ; it will be found below as A. i n f a u s t a . 6. A. stupid a, oblonga latiuscula nigro-picea, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore postice magis angustato, lateribus rotundatis ad basin vix brevissime sinuatis, angulis posticis rectis vix prominulis, ad apicem et basin punctato, impressionibus basalibus minoribus haud striatis, carina externa latiore : elytris thorace vix latioribus dorso planiusculis, striis cvenatis ad apicem laevibus, antennis pedibusque rufis, postpectore punctato. Long. -5. One female from Sacramento, California, given me by Mr. Rathvon. Resem- bles entirely in its form A. carinata, but the thorax is more narrowed at the base, the basal impressions are smaller and less deep, and the external carina is shorter and less elevated. 7. A. infausta, oblonga, nigro-picea, supra subaenea, thorace latitudine sesqui breviore, postice paulo angustato, lateribus rotundatis ad basin brevissime subsinuatis, angulis posticis rectis haud prominulis, ad apicem et basin punctato, impressionibus basalibus valde profundis bistriatis, carina externa valde dis- tincta acuta; elytris thorace haud latioribus convexiusculis, striis crenulatis, minus distincte versus apicem ; antennis pedibusque rufis vel rufo-piceis, epi- pleuris vel rufis vel obscure-piceis, postpectore punctato. Long. «4 — -45. Leirus rvfimanvs\\ Motschulsky, Mm. Acad. St. Petersb. J 842, 176. « Leirus carinatus Lec.'t Mannerheim, Bull. Mosc. 1853, No. 31. Russian America. Specimens have been kindly furnished me under the names above cited by Baron Chaudoir and Mr. Motschulsky. It is a narrower and smaller species than A. carinata, and the basal impressions, although very 348 [June, deep, are more distinctly bistriate ; the thorax is also less narrowed towards the base, and the elytra are less flattened on the disc. I have changed the name on account of Curtonotus rufimanu s Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 35. 8. A.melanogastrica oblonga, nigro-picea, supra subaenea, thorace lati- tudine sesqui breviore, postice paulo angnstato, lateribus rotundatis ad basin bre- vissime subsinuatis, anguiis posticis rectis haud prominulis, ad apicem et basin punctato, impressionibus basalibus minus profundis bistriatis, carina externa latiore; elytris thorace vix latioribus dorso minus convexis, striis crenulatis minus distincte versus apicem, antennis rufis, pedibus rufo-piceis, postpectore punctato. Long. *44. Dejean, Sp. Gen. 3, 519 ; Mannh. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 210; ibid. 1852. Leirus melanogastricus Zimm. Gistl's Faunus, 1,38; Silberm. Rev. Ent. 2, 229. Russian America; a specimen sent by Mr. Motscbulsky. This species re- sembles precisely in its form the preceding, but the basal impressions of the thorax are less deep and more distinctly bistriate, and the external carina is broader and less acutely elevated: the sides of the thorax are also somewhat less rounded. 9. A. Eschscholtzii, oblonga nigro-picea, supra subaenea, thorace latitu- dine plus sesqui breviore, postice angustato, lateribus magis rotundatis postice brevissime sinuatis, anguiis postis rectis vix prominulis, ad apicem et basin punctato, impressionibus basalibus modice profundis bistriatis, carina externa latiore; elytris parallelis convexiusculis, striis crenulatis, minus distincte ad apicem ; pedibus nigris, antennis piceis, articulis duobus primis rufis. Long. •39. Leirus Eschscholtzii Chaudoir, Bull. Mosc. 1S37, 7, 36. Sitkha ; a specimen received from Baron Chaudoir. Very similar to the pre- ceding, but with narrower, more parallel, and more convex elytra ; the thorax is broader and more rounded on the sides, and the basal impressions are less distinctly bistriate ; the antennae are broken in my specimen, only two points remaining ; these are rufous, but the others are described as being dark colored : the feet are entirely black, and the postpectus is punctured. I have omitted the reference to Mannerheim's description, because he states that the sides of the thorax are rounded to the base, while in the specimen before me they are as much sinuated as in A. melanogastrica, and because I have re- ceived from Mr. Motschulsky, under the same name, a specimen in which the sides of the thorax are not at all sinuous, and the feet are rufous, as described by Mannerheim. 10. A. o b t u s a , oblonga, nigro-picea, supra vix aenescens, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore, postice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, postice obliquis haud sinuatis, anguiis posticis obtusis, ad basin punctato, utrinque foveis duabus confluentibus notalo, carina externa latiore; elytris thorace haud latioribus, convexis parallelis, striis crenulatis minis distincte ad apicem, pedibus rufis, an- tennis nigro-piceis articulo lmo solo rufo. Long. *36. Amara Eschscholtzii\ Mannerheim, Bull. Mosc. 1852, No. 13. Russian America ; Mr. Motschulsky. Very different from all the preceding, and somewhat approaching by its form some species of the next divisions. 11. A. elongata, elongata, oblonga-ovato, gracilis, rufo-picea (immatura?), thorace latitudine non breviore, quadrato, antice posticeque modice angustato, lateribus rolundato, anguiis posticis paulo obtusis, basi utrinque bistriato et punctato, carina externa latiore parum elevata; elytris thorace latioribus, tenuiter striatis, striis antice subtiliter punctatis. Long. -4. Curtonotus elongatus Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 207, tab. 8, fig. 5. One male found floating in Lake Superior, near the northern shore. This species differs very much in its form from all others known to me. c. BRADYTUS Zim. 12. A. e x ar at a, oblongo-ovalis, latiuscula nigro-picea, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore, antice posticeque paulo angustato, lateribus rotundatis, an- 1855.] 349 gulis posticis rectis, subprominulis, basi utrinque discrete bifoveato, foveis punctatis, elytris striis crenulatis ad apicem laevibus, antennis pedibusque obscure rufis. Long. *33 — -35. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 509. Brady t us exaratus Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 367. Middle States, not rare. The reference by me of Curtonotus brevilahris Kirby, (Fauna Bor. Am. 35) to this species is undoubtedly incorrect. 13. A. f u r t i v a , oblongo-ovalis, latiuscula, piceo-rufa (immatura ?) thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore, antice paulo postice vero vix angustato, lateribus latins rotundatis, angulis posticis rectis subprominulis, basi utrinque discrete bifoveato, foveis punctatis, elytris striis crenulatis ad apicem laevibus, antennis pedibusque pallidioribus. Long. '35. Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4~ 429. Bradytus furtivus Lee. Ann. Lye Nat. Hist. 4, 367. Nebraska and Illinois. Allied to the preceding, but the thorax is hardly nar- rowed towards the base, and less rounded on the sides; the posterior angles, as in A. exarata, are rectangular, and project like a little tooth. 14. A.Ore?ona, oblongo-ovalis, aeneo-nigra, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore, antice posticeque subangustato, lateribus magis rotundatis, angulis posticis obtusis, basi subtiliter punctata utrinque profunde bifoveata, elytris striis crenulatis ad apicem laevibus, pedibus antennisque obscure rufis. Long. -35. One specimen from Fort Vancouver, Oregon ; Col. McCall. Resembles the next, but is smaller and has the sides of the thorax more rounded, so that the basal angles are rendered more obtuse. 15. A. 1 i b e r a , oblongo-ovalis nigro-picea, subaenescens, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore, antice angustato, postice parum angustato, lateribus rotun- datis, angulis posticis obtusis, basi subtiliter punctata utrinque profunde bifo- veata, elytris striis crenulatis ad apicem laevibus, antennis palpisque rufis, pedibus obscurioribus. Long. *38 — *4l. Isopleurus hyperborerts\ Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 357. Lake Superior, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska. The reference of this insect to Amara hyperborea Dej. (Sp. Gen. 5, 800) is not warranted by the context ; since that species is compared with A. fodi?i elytris striis postice haud profundioribus, pedibus rufo-piceis, antennis piceis, articulis tribus baseos rufis. Long. -29. A specimen collected in Oregon by the the late J. K. Townsend was given me by Mr. Wilcox as having been determined at the Berlin Museum for A. 352 [June, littoralis. From the preceding species it differs by the sides of the thorax being distinctly flattened behind the middle, and by the feet being of a uniform reddish brown color ; the anterior angles of the thorax are less deflexed, and basal fovea? are somewhat distinct. 27. A. crassispina, late ovalis, supra aenea, subtus cum pedibus rufo- picea (immatura ?), thorace latitudine duplo breviore antrorsum magis angustato, lateribus oblique rotundatis, postice subexplanatis, angulis anticis hand promi- nulis, basi vix foveata, elytris striis impunctatis postice vix profundioribus, antennis piceis, articulis tribus baseos testaceis, tibiis anticis spina apicali dilatata. Long. 35. One female found at Lake Superior. Differs from all the preceding by its broader form, and by the spur of the anterior tibiae being broad and triangular. 28. A. conflata, ovalis, supra aenea, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore, antrorsum modice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis anticis haud promi- nulis, basi utrinque vix bifoveata, elytris striis postice paulo profundioribus, pedibus totis nigris, antennis piceis articulis tribus baseos rufis. Long. -36. San Francisco, California. Larger than A. impuncticollis, with the thorax less narrowed anteriorly, and less obliquely narrowed on the sides, and with the feet of a uniform black. In form exactly resembles the next, but the third joint of the antennas is not perceptibly carinate at the base. * * * Pedes nigri ; antennas basi rufae, articulo 3io carinato. 29. A. fall ax, ovalis, supra aenea, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore* antrorsum modice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis anticis haud promi- nulis, basi utrinque vix bifoveata, elytris striis postice vix profundioribus? pedibus nigris, tibiis versus basin picescentibus, antennis articulis baseos tribus rufis, 3io ad basin carinato. Long. *3 — *36. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 362. Lake Superior, New York, Alabama. From a specimen sent me by Dr. Harris, I learn that this is A. ovalis Sturm. Cat., mentioned but not described by Dr. Zimmermann in his essay on Amara. 30. A. subpunctata, ovalis, nigro-aenea, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore, antrorsum modice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis anticis haud prominulis, basi utrinque leviter bifoveata paice punctata, elytris striis postice haud profundioribus obsolete punctulatis, pedibus antennisque nigris, his articu- lis duobus baseos rufis, 2 et 3 fortiter carinatis. Long. -31. One specimen found at the Rocky Mountains. Differs from the next by the thorax being punctured at the base, with deeper basal foveas, and by the striae of the elytra being slightly punctured. 31. A. confusa, ovalis aenea vel nigro-aenea, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore, antrorsum modice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis anticis haud prominulis, basi utrinque vix obsolete bifoveata, elytris striis postice haud pro- fundioribus, pedibus antennisque nigris, his articulis duobus baseos rufis, 2 et 3 fortiter carinatis. Long. *32. Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 361. Abundant in Nebraska, near the Rocky Mountains. 32. A. p o 1 i t a , ovalis nitide aenea, vel nigro-aenea, thorace latitudine duplo breviore, ante medium antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundatis ad basin utrinque foveis duabus parvis profundis notato, et soepe obsolete parce punctato, elytris striis postice haud profundioribus, pedibus nigris, antennis piceis, articulis tribus baseos rufis, 2 et 3 fortiter carinatis. Long. -25. Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 364. Nebraska and New Mexico; abundant. 33. A. c o n v e x a , ovalis, brevior, convexa, supra nigro-aenea, thorace lati- tudine duplo breviore, antrorsum modice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis anticis haud prominulis, basi utrinque foveis duabus parvis notata, elytris tenu- 1855.] 353 iter striatis, striis postice haud profundioribus, pedibus nigris, antennis piceis, articulis tribus baseos rufis, 2 et 3 fortiter carinatis. Long. «28. Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 363. Lake Superior, one female. Broader and more convex than any other species of this division, and approaching in its form the broader varieties of A. basil- laris. e. CELIA Zimm. •Pedes antennaeque nigrae, hae basi saepe rufae. 34. A. e r r a t ic a, ovalis longior supra aenea, thorace latitudine sesqui bre- viore antrorsum subangustato, lateribus rotundatis postice obsolete explanatis, an^ulis anticis haud prominulis, ad basin utrinque foveis duabus parvis notato, elytris tenuiter striatis, striis saepe obsolete punclulatis, postice haud profundi- oribus, interstitiis planissimis, pedibus antennisque nigris, his articulis 1 vel 2 baseos rufis. Long. *23 — '25. Sturm, Fauna, 6, 55; tab. 146. Celia enatica Zimm. Gistl's Faunus, 1, 24 : Silberm. Rev. Ent. 2, 213. Mannh. Bull. Mosc. 1853, No. 35 (cum synon. Europaea). Amara punctnlata Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 472. Lake Superior, Vermont, and. according to the authors above quoted, also found in Russian America ; also in Kamschatkha and Northern Europe. 35. A. laevipennis, elliptico-ovalis, nigro-subaenescens, supra sericeo- opaca, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore, antrorsum asgustato, lateribus rotundatis, ad basin foveis duabus parvis (externa obsoleta) notato, elytris tenuiter striatis, striis saepe punctulatis, postice haud profundioribus, pedibus antennisque nigris, his articulis duobus baseos obscure rufis. Long." -32 — *35. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 40. Lake Superior, one pair; a female from Massachusetts, sent by Dr. Harris : the female from Lake Superior has impunctured striae, but does not otherwise differ. Readily distinguished from the next by the longer thorax which is not flattened on the sides, and by the interstices of the elytra being entirely flat and even. 36. A. interstitialis, subovata, supra cupreo-asnea, viridis, coerulea vel nigra, sericeo-opaca, thorace latitudine duplo breviore, antrorsum angustato, lateriltus rotundatis postice late subexplanatis, basi nonnunquam obsolete punc- tulata utrinque foveis parvis duabus (externa saepe fere obsoleta) notata, elytris tenuiter striatis, striis nonnunquam obsolete punctulatis, interstitiis transversim vage et crebre impressis; pedibus antennisque nigris, his articulis duobus baseos obscure rufis. Long. *33 — *4. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 472 (fide Zimmermann). Celia interstitialis Zimm. Gistl's Faunus, 1, 24 ; Silberm. Rev. Ent. 2, 212. ? Amara patruelis Dej. Sp. Gen. 5, 793. Amara incequalis Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 39. Amara splendid a Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 300. Celia incequalis et splendida Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 360. Lake Superior, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Should this be really Dejean's species, (and I place it as such on the authority of a specimen kindly communicated by Dr. Harris.) it is very remarkable that neither he nor any of the other authors quoted mention the dull sericeous appearance of the upper surface. 37. A. fare t a, brevior, subovata, nigra (femina subopaca, mas nitidus) thorace latitudine duplo breviore, antrorsum subangustato, lateribus totundafis haud explanatis, ad basin foveis duabus parvis utrinque notato, elytris tenuiter striatis, (interstitiis maris planissimis, feminae parurn convexis), antennis arti- culis duobus baseos obscure rufis. Long. -32. New Mexico, collected by the late R. W. Kern. Also closely related to the preceding, but the thorax is still shorter, less narrowed in front, with the ante- 854 [June, rior angles moie rounded, and the sides not at all flattened; the outer fovea of the base is not less impressed than the inner one. * * Antenna? totae rufae. a. Thorax antrorsum angustatus lateribus baud deplanatus. 38. A. c a 1 i f o r n i c a , ovalis supra nigro-aenea, thorace latitudine sesqui breviore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundatis haud deplanatis, angulis anticis hand prominulis, basi utrinque obsolete bifoveata, elytris striis tenuibus postice hand profundioribus, antennis tibiis tarsisque piceo-rufis, femoribus nigro-piceis. Long. -32 — 38. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 474. Mannerh. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 209. Celia californica Zimm. loc. cit. Found in every part of California; the large specimens were taken along the Gila river, and at Tucson, in Sonora. They do not differ appreciably, although so large as almost to indicate another species, immature specimens occur with the feet and under surface of a uniform brownish red color. b. Thorax lateribus deplanatus, antrorsum angustatus. 39. A. patricia, subovata nigra, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore, a medio antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundatis postice deplanatis, basi punctata depressa, utrinque bifoveata, fovea externa maiore ; elytris thorace paulo latioribus, striis tenuibus punctatis postice baud profundioribus, pedibus ni^ro- vel jufo-piceis, antennis palpisque obscure rufis. Long. '38 — *5. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 502 ; Er. Kafer Mark Brand. 92 (cum synom Europaea.) Amara obesa Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 37 (Feronia). Percosia ^obesa Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 297 ; Lee. Ann. Lye Nat. Hist. 4, 359. Lake Superior, Middle States, and Nebraska ; not rare. The sides of the thorax are reddish and translucent. The female is dull and the male shining. 40. A. d if fin is, ovalis, nigra, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore, a medio antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundatis postice deplanatis, basi con- fertim punctata, depressa utrinque bifoveata, fovea externa maiore, elytris tho- race vix latioribus, striis profundis punctatis, interstitiis paulo convexis ; pedi- bus rufo-piceis, antennis palpisque obscure rufis. Long. *38. Percosia diffinis Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist 4, 359. Nebraska. Narrower and more oval than the preceding, with deeper elytral striae. The female is hardly less shining than the male. 41. A. terrestris, brevius ovalis, piceo-senea nitida, thorace latitudine duplo breviore, ante medium subangustato, lateribus rufo-piceis rotundatis pos- tiee deplanatis, basi utrinque bifoveata, foveis punctatis, elytris thorace vix la- tioribus, striis saepe obsolete punctatis, interstitiis planissimis ; antennis, palpis pedibusque rufo-testaceis. Isophurus terrestris Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 358. Valley of the Platte River, Nebraska. In immature specimens the whole surface of the bodv is reddish brown. Closely related to the next species, but is broader in form and has deeper elytral striae. 42. A. r e m o t e-s t r ia t a, ovalis longior, supra obscure aenea, (femina subopaca,) thorace latitudine duplo breviore ante medium angustato, lateribus rotundatis postice deplanatis, angulis posticis subobtusis, basi utrinque bifoveata, foveis punctatis, elytris subtiliter striatis, striis obsolete punctulatis; antennis palpis pedibusque piceo-rufis, femoribus saepe obscuris. Long. *32. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 473. Mannerh. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 208. Celia remota Zimm. loc. cit. Celia relitcens Mannerh. Bull. Mosc. 1853, No. 37. Russian America; two females sent to me by Baron Chaudoir, under the names above cited, but between which I can perceive no difference. A male sent by Mr. Motschulsky as C. relucens, has the thorax less transverse, with the posterior angles rectangular, and the elytra shining. 1855.] 355 43. A. gibba, brevior, subovata, supra nigro-asnea, thorace latitudine duplo breviore, antrorsurn subangustato lateribus oblique rotundatis, postice minus distincte cxplanatis, angulis posticis subobtusis, basi utrinque bifoveata, foveis punctatis, elytris tenuiter striatis ; antennis palpis pedibusque rufis, femoribus obscuris. Long. *3. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 207. Celia gibba Lee Ann. Lye. Nat Hist. 4, 360. Lake Superior; two males. Eroader and more convex than the preceding, with the thorax more gradually narrowed anteriorly and less flattened on the sides, which are more obliquely rounded. c. Thorax antrorsurn subangustatus ; elytra striis fortiter punctatis, stria * scutellari libera. 44. A. r u b r i c a, piceo-rufa, elliptica nitida, thorace latitudine hand sesqui breviore, antrorsurn subangustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis posticis apice rotundatis, basi utrinque bifoveata, foveis parvis punctatis, elytris suboeneo- micantibus, striis fortiter punctatis. Long. -27 — 32. Haldeman, Proc. Acad. Nat. So. 1, 301. Middle and Southern States, not common; larger than A. musculus, with a longer thorax, and slightly rounded posterior angles. 45. A. s u b ae n e a, supra piceo-aenea, elliptica nitida, thorace latitudine vix breviore, antrorsurn subangustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis anticis subpro- minulis, posticis rectis baud rotundatis, basi utrinque biloveata, foveis parvis punctatis, elytris striis fortiter punctatis, antennis palpis pedibusque rufis. Long. «27. Acrodon submnea Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 208. Lake Superior; from the others of this group it differs by the thorax being more deeply emarginate at the apex, with more prominent anterior angles. 46. A. musculus, nigro-picea, aenescens, vel rufa, nitida, elliptica, thorace latitudine plus sesqui breviore antrorsurn angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angu- lis posticis rectis, basi utrinque bifoveata, foveis parvis punctatis, elytris striis profundis vel fortiter vel subtilius punctatis, antennis palpis pedibusque rufis. Long. -22. Amara musculis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 35. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 447. Acrodon musculus et contempta Lee. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. 4, 366. Middle, Southern and Western States, to the Rocky Mountains. Varies some- what in the distinctness of the punctures of the striae of the elytra, but the dif- ference is not specific. 47. A. harpalina, oblongo-ovalis rufo-picea nitida, thorace convexiusculo, latitudine sesqui breviore, ante medium rotundatim angustato, angulis anticis haud prominulis, posticis rectis haud rotundatis, basi utrinque confertim punc- tata biloveata, elytris striis punctatis, antennis palpis pedibusque pallidioribus ; capite maiusculo. Long. -28. Two females from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Less elliptical than the others of this group, with the sides of the thorax parallel behind the middle and very slightly flattened. d. Thorax subquadratus, antrorsurn angustatus. 48. A. rectangula, oblongo-ovalis nigro-picea vix aenescens, thorace la- titudine sesqui breviore, ante medium paulo angustato, ad apicem vix emargi- nato. lateribus late roturdatis, angulis posticis rectis haud rotundatis, basi punc- tata uirinque bifoveata, elytris striis fere impunctatis, postice haud profundiori- bus, antennis palpis pedibusque rufis. Long. -35. Oregon, Col. McCall, one male ; a female found by meat San Francisco. 49. A. aurata, oblongo-ovalis, supra nitide aenea, thorace latitudine ses- qui brevioie, ante medium paulo annustata, apice vix emarginato, lateribus late rotundatis, angulis posticis vix rectis, subrotundatis, basi punctulata utrinque 28 356 [June, leviter bifoveata, elytris tenuiter striatis, antennis palpis pedibusque rufis. Long. '25 — *3. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 475. Mannerh. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 209. Celia a/oata Z\mm.\oc. cit. San Francisco and San Diego, California, not rare. The following species are unknown to me, or from the want of detail in the characters given cannot be safely referred to any of those above described. The two first mentioned are common European species, said to occur on this conti- nent. A. s p r e t a Dej. fide Zimmerman, Silberm. Rev. Ent. 2, 203. A. vulgaris L'atr. (Linne, Carabus), fide Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 38. A. hyperborea Dej. Sp. Gen. 5, 800. Labrador; (belongs probably to Div. b.) A. d i s c o r s Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 40. Curtonotus rufimanus Kirby, ibid. 35. Probably a variety of A. 1 a t i- c o 1 1 i s Lee, in which case the name will not have preference, as the descrip- tion must be considered worthless, and moreover must be considered as errone- ously separated from A. convexiuscula Kirby. Curtonotus brevilabris Kirby, and C. 1 a t i o r Kirby ibid. Isopleurus nitidus Kirby, ibid. 50, tab. 1, fig 6. Found in the Rocky Mountains ; may be either A. septentrionalis (No. 16), or A. subcenea (No. 45.) At all events the name cannot remain, there being already an A. nit id a Sturm found in Europe. Bradytus g 1 a c i a 1 i s Mannerh. Bull. Mosc. 1853. Arctic western Ame- rica. Celia indistincta Mannerh. ibid. Unalaska ; seems related to A. g i b b a Lee. Celia a m pi i c o 1 1 i s Mannerh. ibid. The following European species have been mentioned, probably erroneously, by Dejean as having been found in the United States : A communis, familiaris, and similata. Amara ? grossa Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4 430, does not belong to the genus, but is probably a Nothopus. Feronia impunctata Say, quoted by Dejean, (Sp. Gen. 3, 469) as synony- mous with A. familiaris, belongs to Prisfodactyla. Dejean was misled by £.n incorrectly named specimen received from Say. Synopsis of the Hydrophilid;e of the United States. By John L. Le Conte, M.D. The species of th;s family seem to have been treated with undeserved neglect, and in fact there is in their general appearance a sameness, and in the parts of the body where, specific characters are usually to be seen, a uniformity of structure which does indeed tend to render the study of them very monotonous : yet on comparing portions of the body not usually seen, the sternum and adjoining parts, differences will be found in many cases, which if not associated with the closest resemblance in form and manner of life would determine the formation of a large number of genera. Nevertheless the genera, as evidenced by external character, appear separated by characters of still greater magnitude, as may be seen from the following scheme of our native genera which is partly arranged from the excellent labors of Lacordaire (Genres des Coleopteres, 1, 448 and sq.) I have merely replaced some of the characters by those given by Erichson, and have suppressed Volvulus and Tropisternus ai being founded on insufficient characters, and inverted the order of some of the primary divisions. I. Tarsi posteriores articulis 4 primis brevibus, a'qualibus Spercheus. IT. Tarsi posteriores articulis 4 primis brevibus, lmo indistiricto (Helophokides.) Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo longiore : oculi integri. 1855.] 357 Antenna? 9-articulatre ; palpi omnes longiusculi Helnphorus. Antennas 7-articulata? ; palpi labiales breves Hydrochus. Palpi maxillares articulo ultimo brevi subulato Ochthebius. Palpi maxillarea longissimi Hydraraa. Tarsi posteriores articulo 2ndo elongato, lmo brevissimo : III. Tarsi posteriores compressi ; metasternum postice spinosum (Hydrophilides.) Prosternum minutum, sulcatum rlydrophilus. Prosternum carinatum Hydrocharis. IV. Tarsi posteriores haud compressi ; metasternum simplex. (Hydrobides.) (Oculi duo ; abdomen segmentis ventralibua quinque). Tibia1 et tarsi posteriores ciliati ; antenna 8-articulatae Berosus. Tarsi posteriores breviter ciliati ; trochanteres postici magni ; antennas 8-articulat£e Laccobius. Tibiae et tarsi simplices ; trochanteres postici mediocres. Palpi niaxillares elongati articulo ult. breviore ; an- tenna? 9-articulatae Philhydrus. Palpi maxillares art. ult. longiore : antennae 0- (raro 8-) articulatas Hydrobius. V. Tarsi posteriores articulo lmo elongato (Sph.eridiides.) Antennae 9-articulata? ; metasternum antice productum Cyclonotum. Antennae 8-articulatae ; mesosternum angustum ; prosternum carinatum Cercyon. mesosternum pentagonum, dilatatum Prothorax marginatus Megalcsternum. Prothorax immarginatus Cryptopleururn. Helophorus Fabr. (* Elytra stria Scutellaria nulla). 1. H. oblong us, nigro-piceus, oblongus, capite thoraceque nitidis parce punctulatis, hoc latitudiue sesqui breviore, lateribus late rotundatis, angulis posticis obtusis, 5-sulcato, sulcis interraediis paulo undulatis, ad latera parce granulato, elytris fusco-testaeeis, profunde punctato-striatis, pedibus testaceis. Long. -23. Le Conte, Agassiz'Lake Superior, 217. Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. Equals in size and form H. grandis, but is quite different. 2. H. lacustris, supra piceo-testaceus, oblongus, capite virescente. thoraceque granulis depressis scabro, hoc latitudine fere duplo breviore, lateribus antice rotundatis, pos:ice fere rectis, angulis posticis obtusis, 5-sulcato, sulcis intermediis undatis, elyiris profunde punctato-striatis, subtus niger, pedibus tes- taceis. Long. -18. Le Coate, Agassiz* Lake Superior, 217. E igle Harbor, Lake Superior. By a typographical eiror, the length is printed •23. 3. H. ob s c u r u s, nigro-piceus, elongato-oblengus, supra obsolete aenescens, thorace ad latera rotundata granulato, latitudine sesqui breviore, angulis posticis obtusis, 5-sulcato, sulcis interraediis undatis, elytris grosse punctato-striatis, in- terstitiis parce subtiliter punctulatis, pedibus testaceis. Long. •17. Le Conte, Annals of the Lyceum of Nat. Hist. New York, 5, 210. San Francisco and Colorado River, California. 4. H. n i t i d u 1 u s, elongatus, nigro-piceus, nitidus, thorace latitudine sesqui breviore, lateribus late rotundatis, parce granul itis, angulis posticis obtusis, 5 sulcato, sulcis interraediis fere rectis, elytris fortiter punctato-striatis, interstitlis subtilissime punctulatis, tibiis tarsisque testaceis femorious piceis. Long. -12. Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior, one specimen. 5. H. linearis, elongatus, capite thoraceque aeneis,granulatis, hoc latitudine sesqui breviore, lateribus fere rectis, aogulis posticis rectis, sulcis intermediis 358 [June, undatis, elytris testaceis fusco-nebulosis, pone medium subdilatatis, profunde punctato-striatis. Long. -12. One specimen from Fort Laramie, Nebraska. Longer and narrower tban the others, and easily separated from all the following by the thorax being (as in the previous ones) not at all narrowed towards the base. 6. H. line at us, elongatus, capite granulato viridireneo, thorace testaceo, viridiceneo tincto, latitudine plus sesqui t reviore, postice subangustato, et lateribus subsinuato, angulis posticis rectis, parce granulato, sulcis intermedins un- datis, elytris postice vix dilatatis, striis profunde punctatis, interstitiis convexis, subtilissime parce punctulatis, testaceis fusco-maculatis. Long. -10 — '15. Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc/3, 200. Abundant in the Middle States, at Lake Superior, and in Nebraska. The under surface as usual is black, the oral organs, the feet and inflexed margin of the prothorax are testaceous. Of the markings of the elytra, the most obvious are an inverted V at the suture, and two small rounded spots each side, all behind the middle. Sometimes the thorax is almost entirely brassy green, but the in- flexed pan always retains a testaceous tint. The very small specimens are found at Lake Superior, and are accompanied by others of the usual size. 7. H. inquinatus, oblongus, capite thoraceque nigro-ceneis, granulatis, hoc latitudine sesqui breviore, postice vix angustato, lateribus late rotundatis, angulis posticis rectis, marginibus testaceis, sulcis intermediis undatis, elytris fusco- restaceis, piceo-nebulosis, striis profundis grosse punctatis, interstitiis convexis, sutura alternisque paulo altioribus. Long. *13. Mannerheim, Bull. Mosc. 1852, 343. Helophorus consimilis Mannb. ibid. 1853. Russian America, Baron Chaudoir; one specimen, from Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. Easily known by the deeper and more coarsely puuctured striae, and the unequal elevation of the intermediate spaces of the elytra: the elevation of the 7th interstice is greater towards the base. The specimen sent to me as H. consimilis only differs from the type in being less dark. It may be doubted whether this is different from H. auricollis Esch. (Entomographien, 43: Mannb. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 260) described from Unalaschka. 8. H. s caber, obscure niger, capite thoraceque confertim granulatis, hoc inEequali latitudine sesqui breviore postice angustato, lateribus crenulatis antice rotundatis, postice obliquis, angulis posticis fere rectis, sulcis minus profundis intermediis undatis, elytris punctato-striatis, sutura elevata, pone basin oblique valde impressis, interstitiis 3, 5 et 7mo tuberculis magnis ornatis. Long. -13. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 217. Very abundant at Lake Superior. The third interstice has four elevations, one of which is at the base, the fifth has three, and the seventh has two besides the humeral carina : there is also on the ninth interstice a small tubercle near the tip. These tubercles are arranged so as to form oblique series, which are parallel with the oblique impression behind the base of the elytra. This species is cer- tainly allied to, if not identical with H. tuberculatus of Northern Europe, but I have not had the opportunity of comparing specimens, nor can I find any de- scription sufficiently precise to warrant their union. H. angustulus Mannerh. (Bull. Mosc. 1853) from Russian America, is unknown to me. It seems allied to H. linearis Lee, but the anterior angles of the thorax aie described as being very much produced and acuminate. Hydrochus Germ. 1. H. scab rat us, minus elongatus, griseo-argenteus, thorace latitudine baud longiore, postice subangustato, lateribus subsinuatis, disco parce punctato, inrcquali, 5-foveato, fovea antica media maiore et profundiore, elytris striatim punctatis, dorso planiusculis, oblique biimpressis, postice valde declivibus tu- 1855.] 359 berculo magno obliquo gibbosis, et tuberculis duobus alteris in iatersiitio 4to ornatis. Long. -22. Mulsant, Ann. Sciences Phys. Nat. Lyon, 7, 373 (1844). Hydrochus gibbosus Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 99. (Oct. 1844). Middle and Southern States : sometimes quite abundant. The interstices of the elytra are flat, and much wider than the striae. 2. H. c al 1 o s u s, subelongatus, griseo-niger, thorace latitudine sublongiore postice angustato, lateribus suUsinuato, disco inaequali sat puuctato, trisulcato, sulco medio maiore et profundiore, elytris profunde punctato-striatis, vage biim- pres3is, luterstitiis angustis, 4to tuberculis duobus parvis, serieque postica obliqua ornatis, palpis tarsisque runs. Long. -17. One specimen from Louisiana, sent me by Mr. Wapler. This species is allied to the preceding, but is narrower, the punctures of the elytra are much larger, so that the striae are as broad as the interstices : they are less declivous behind, and the tubercles, although similar in position, are less elevated. 3. H. squamifer, elongatu3, supra griseus, acnescens, capite tboraceque confertim punctati3, granulatis, squamulis fuscis vestitis, thorace latitudine paulo longiore, lateribu3 sinuatis antice vix rotundatis, utrinque vage sulcato, medio vage trifoveato, elytris profunde crenato-striatis, interstitiis angustis, sutura pluribusque postice elevatis, ad medium extrorsum fovea obliqua impressis, pedibus palpisque obscure rufis femoribus piceis. Long. -15. One specimen found at Lake Superior. The suture is elevated for its whole length: the third interstice is a little higher than the second: the fourth is elevated from the middle halfway to the apex : the fifth is elevated like the third, but is interrupted adjacent to the elevation of the fourth : the lateral oblique fovea extends over the 8th and 9th interstices, and at that place the strice are slightly sinuous. 4. H. rugosus, elongatus, supra griseo-argenteus cupreo-micans, capite thoraceque rude punctatis, hoc latitudine baud longiore, trapezoideo, lateribus fere rectis, dorso vage 5 foveato, foveis anticis tribus maioribus, elytris thorace parum latioribus profunde striatim punctatis, interstitiis alternatim s-ubelevatie, calloque parvo postico parum elevato instructis, striis 7ma et 8va ad medium sinuatis, subtus niger, tibiis tarsisque rufis. Long. -24. Mulsant, Ann. Sc. Phys. Nat. Lyon, 7, 373. Middle States, not common. This species is the largest I have seen, and is readily distinguished. The two posterior foveae of the thorax are the basal im- pressions, the two inner ones which are usually immediately behind the dorsal one are hardly apparent. Although the interstices of the elytra are not elevated, they are hardly wider than the rows of punctures. 5. H. i n ae q u a 1 i s, elongatus, griseo-aeneus, thorace rude sat dense puuctato, postice angustato, latitudixe paulo longiore, lateribus crenulatis subsinuatis, dorso 5-foveato, foveisque basalibus externi3 parvis, elytris profunde crenato-striatis, interstitiis pluribus elevatis et interruptis, pedibus rufis, femoribus ob3Curis. Long. '12. One specimen from Louisiana, Mr. Wapler. Of the same size and form as several of the following ones, but distinguished by the greater inequality of the elytra. Head and thorax coarsely and moderately densely punctured, the latter a little longer than wide, gradually narrowed to the ba3e, sides subsinuate, distinctly crenulated : disc with three anterior and two posterior foveae, which are large and moderately deep : at the posterior angles, which are obtuse, are other small but deep foveae. The elytra are elongate, wider than the thorax, strongly crenato- striate, with the interstices narrow ; the suture, the 5th, 7th and 9th are elevated, the three latter interrupted behind the middle, giving the appearance of a lateral transverse impression ; the fourth is elevated adjacent to the interruption of the third : on the 3d and 4th interstices near the middle is seen a broad fovea tinged with purple, and a slight impression is also seen behind the humerus, and yet 360 [June, another behind the posterior elevation of the fourth interstice, causing the elytra to appear somewhat gibbous. 6. H. excavatus, elongatus argenteo-niger, capites thoraceque sat dense punctatis, hoc latitudine vix longiore, postice niagis angustato, lateribus baud sinuatis crenulatis, disco o-foveato, foveisque basalibus duabus parvis, elytris profunde crenato-striatis, interstitiis angustis, 4, 5 et 7 postice suturaque subele- vatis (4to interrupro), pedibus rufis. Long. -13. One specimen from Louisiana was given me by Dr. Schaum. This species is closely related to the preceding, but tbe color is darker, and the inequalities of the elytra are much less apparent, the fifth interstice is elevated about the middle and interrupted; adjacent to the interruption the fourth and seventh are slightly elevated : the 8th insterstice is slightly foveate at the middle, and there is a faint impression behind the humerus. / , 7. H. rufipes, elongatus, griseo-ar-genteus, capite thoraceque sat dense punctatis, hoc latitudine haud longiore, postice subangustato, lateribus haud sinuatis crenulatis, disco 5-foveato, foveis duabus basalibus parvis, elytris crenato- striatis, interstitiis striis latioribus, pluribus subelevatis etinterruptis, purpureo- variegatis, pedibus rufis. Long. -13. Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 100. Middle and Southern States. Closely related to the preceding, but distinguished by the thorax being less narrowed behind, and the interstices of the elytra being distinctly wider than the stria?. Dr. Melsheiraer's description reads, " elytra strongly crenate striate, interstices fine, elevated, second, third and fourth lines with interruptions at the middle." In comparison with other species these characters are liable to produce error, and I therefore subjoin a new description. Elytra wider than the thorax, strongly crenate striate, with the interstices convex but distinctly wider than the striae ; the suture is slightly elevated, the fifth elevated posteriorly and interrupted, adjacent to the interruption the fourth is elevated, the outer ones are also slightly undulated and elevated about the middle: on the third interstice are three small purple spots, and the interrupted portion of the sixth is also purple. 8. H. foveatus, elongatus, griseo-argenteus, tborace vage punctato latitu- dine paulo longiore, postice vix angustato, lateribus fere rectis, dorso foveis 5 maximis profundis excavato, foveisque duabus basalibus parvis, elytris punctis grossis-crenatis, postice callosis, sutura interstitiisque alternis elevatis, 3 et 5 postice interrupts, 4to postice elevato, pedibus testaceis, genubus obscuris. Long. -14. Haldeman, Stansbury's Exped. to Great Salt Lake, 375. Fort Gates, Texas; for the typical specimen collected by Lieut. Haldeman, I am indebted to his brother, Prof. S. S. Haldeman. The dorsal foveas of the thorax are larger and the external basal fovea? much smaller than in the next species to which this related, and the elevations of the elytra are much more distinct. They are slightly mottled with dark gray; the punctures are very large, and not closely placed ; the interstices are scarcely wider than the stria? : the suture, 3d, 5th, 7th and 9th interstices are more elevated, the 3d and 5th are interrupted behind the middle; the posterior part of the 3d is similar in elevation to the anterior part and extends to the tip, but the fifth rises into a somewhat abrupt callus ; the fourth interstice adjacent to the interruption is slightly elevated. Mr. Haldeman has incaatiously stated that this species is allied to H. scabratns, but its form is quite different, and an attentive examination shows but little affinity between them. 9. H. variolatus, griseo-argenteus, elongatus, thorace ina?qualiter rude punctato, latitudine paulo longiore, postice paulo angustato, lateribus crenulatis subsinuatis, dorso foveis 5 magnis, alterisque basalibus duabus profundi?, elytris valde crenato-striatis, interstitiis striis fere angustioribus 5to pone medium sub- calloso, maculis pluribus parvis purpureis ornatis, pedibus testaceis, genubus iemoribusque basi obscuris. Long. -11. 1855] 361 LeConie, Annals of the Lyceum of Nat. Hist, of New York, 5, 211. San Diego, California. Except the slight posterior elevation of the fifth inter- stice, there is scarcely any perceptible inequality on the elytra. 10. H. vagus, elongatus, griseo-reneus, thorace, latitudine vix longiore, postice subangustato, lateribus crenulatis fere recti?, vage grosse punctata, f'oveis 5 modice profundis, alterisque duabus basalibus profundis excavato, elytris crenato- striatis, interstitiis striis requalibus, purpureo-variegatis, pedibus testaceis, basi et genubus obscuris. Long. -09 — -10. LeConte, Ann. Lvc. Nat. Hist. New York, 5, 211. Colorado River, California, abundant. The dorsal fovea? of the thorax are smaller and less deep than in the preceding, and the striae of the elytra are finer. There is hardly any distinct inequality to be observed, though the fifth interstice is slightly elevated behind the middle. Dr. Zimmermann once wrote me that this species had been found by him in South Carolina. I have never seen any specimens from that locality ; the species next described is somewhat similar, but could hardly be confounded with it. 11. H. simplex, elongatus, nigro-a?neus, thorace rude, sat dense punctato- latitudine sublongiore, postice vix angustato, lateribus rectis vix crenulatis, dorso 5-foveato, foveisque basalibus duabus profundis, elytris fortiter crenato- Striatis, interstitiis striis asqualibus, pedibus rufo-testaceis. Long. -10. One specimen from Louisiana was kindly given me by Mr. Wapler. The thorax is less narrowed behind, more densely punctured, and -less deeply foveate than in H. vagus. Ochthebius Leach. 4 1. 0. p u net i coll is, ellipticus nigro-piceus, thorace grosse punctato lateri- bus valde rotuttdatis, profunde 5-sulcato, sulcis externis dilatatis extrorsum con- cavis, intermediis subsiuuatis, elytris convexia.sculis, crenato-striatis, breviter parce pilosis. Long. -07. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, 5, 210. Found by me near Tucson, south of Gila River. 2. O. interruptus, longiusculns, testaceo-asneus, nitidus, transversim subquadrato subtiliter rugose punctato. trilineato, lineis externis interruptis, antice transversim impresso, et utrinque linea extrorsum concava insculpto mar- ginibus depressi3 testaceis, elytris confertim punctato-striatis, interstitiis rugo- sis, pedibus testaceis. Long. -05. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, 5, 210. San Diego, California. The large fovea each side of the thorax appears in some lights to be rather a broad line concave outwards. 3. O. lineatus, elongatus, capite thoraceque viridi-ameis, hoc transversim subquadrato subtiliter alutaceo, transversim biimpresso, disco subtiliter trilineato, lineaque antica utrinque lateraii extrorsum concava, marginibus depressis testa- ceis, elytris testaceis asneo-micanubus subtilius punctato-striatis ; subius testa- ceus, pedibus pallidioribus. Long. -045. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, 5, 211. Colorado River, California. 4. O. c r i b r i c o 1 1 i s , testaceo-a-neus, margine pedibusque testaceis, thorace transverso, grosse punctato, subtilius canaliculate, linea arcuata lateraii impresso, elytris punctato-striatis interstitiis rugulosis. Long. -07. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 217. Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. 5. O. niti dus, virescenti-niger nitidus, thorace transverso lateribus rOtundatis, marginibus depressis diaphanis testaceis, disco convexo profunde canalicular antice 6-, postice 4-fossato, fossulis externis in marginem impressis, (unde discus lateribus sinuatus et angulis anticis prolongati3 apparet), elytris convexis, punctis maioribus remotis striatis, pedibus rufis. Long. -06. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 217. 362 [June, One specimen found at Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. The description given by me is imperfect, on account of the thin margins of the thorax having been partly destroyed in the only specimen obtained : thus I have stated that the thorax was sinuous on the sides, while in reality the outline of the disc only is sinuous ; the lateral margins of the thorax being continuous and regular in their outline. The discovery of the next specimen, which is precisely similar in sculpture, though only half as large, has enabled me to correct this error. 6. 0. fossatus, capite thoraceque viridi-seneis nitidis, hoc transversolateri- bus rotundatis marginibus depressis diaphanis testaceis, disco convexo profunde canaliculato, amice 6, postice 4-fossato, fossulis externis-in marginem impressis (unde discus sicut in 0. nitido apparet), elytris testaceis convexis, punctis inaioribus striatis, subtus seneo-niger, pedibus pallidis. Long. -045. One specimen found at the Colorado River, California. 7. 0. Holmbergi, longiuscula capite thoraceque viridi-seneis, thorace sub- transverso subcordato postice angustato, lateribus rotundatis postice subsinuatis, transversim biimpresso, versus basin utrinque fovea magna parum profunda obliqua notato, anticeque linea arcuata versus latera insculpto, elytris confertim punctato-striatis. Long. -05. Maklin, (per Mannerh.) Bull. Mose. 1853. Peninsula of Kenai, Russian America; Baron Chaudoir. Nearly resembles in form 0. interruptus Lee. but the thorax is less transverse, and more narrowed posteriorly; the thorax is destitute of the dorsal lines seen in that species. The medial channel is wanting in my specimen, but according to the description given by Maklin, is sometimes visible, though faint. Hydrjena Kug. 1. H. pensylvanica, atro-fu?ca, pal pis pedibus, tboracisque marginibus testaceis, thorace subquadrato dense punctato ad latera impresso,ely tria subopaeis, punctis confertis subquadratis seriatis. Long. -075. Kiesenwetter, Linn. Eutom. 4, 166. New York and Lake Superior ; sometimes quite abundant. As the only speci- men examined by Mr. Kiesenwetter was found at New York ; the applicability of the specific name is not obvious. The punctures of the elytra, although described by him as round, appear to me quadrate, and the intervals are quite distinctly elevated. 2. H. punctata, longiuscula, supra piceo-tesfacea nitida, capite tboracis- que disco infuscatis, hoc subquadrato minus subtiliter sat dense punctato, ad latera longitudinaliter impresso, elytris punctis rotundatis sat dense seriatim positis, palpis pedibusque testaceis. Long. -95. Pennsylvania, Rev. D. Ziegler. This species i3 larger and narrower than the next, which at first sight it resembles : the thorax is more coarsely punctured, and the sides are distinctly impressed for the whole length. 3. H. marginicollis, nitida, capite thoraceque nigris hoc antice posti- ceque testaceo, subtilius minus crebre punctato, subquadrato, lateribus antice late foveatis ; elytris piceo-testaceis punctis rotundatis sat dense seriatis, palpis pedibusque testaceis. Long. -05. Kiesenwetter, Linn. Ent. 4, 177. New Orleans, Dr. Schaum and Mr. Wapler. One sex is a little broader than the other, but in neither is the thorax one half wider than long as described by Kiesenwetter : the large broad fovea at the side of the thorax before the middle is not mentioned by him, although he states that the longitudinal lateral impres- sions are almost wanting. Notwithstanding these discrepancies, I must regard my specimens as authentic, one of them having been received by me from Dr, Schaum as a type. 1855.] 36; Laccobils Er. 1. L. a g i 1 i s , subrotundus, capite thoraceque nigro-srieis minus subtiliter punctatis, clypei angulis aaticis, thoracisque lateribus postice intus prolongatis, pallidis elytris seriatim punctatis pallidis, griseo-nebulosis ; subtus niger, pedi- bus pallidis. Long. -09 — -11. Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 2, 19. Laccobius punciulaius Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 100. Middle -States, Lake Superior, and Kansas : abundant, very similar to the European L. m i n u t u s, but on comparison I find that the punctures of the thorax are considerably larger: the pale lateral portion is posteriorly much less sharply defined than in the European species. 2. L. ellipticus, ellipticus, capite thoraceque nigro-acneus, minus subtiliter sat dense punctatis .ivpei angulis anticis, thoracisque lateribus postice intus prolongatis pallid elytris seriatim punctatis, pallidis griseo-nebulosis, subtus niger, pedibus pa 'lis. Long. *10. San Francisco an 1 San Diego, California. Narrower than the preceding, with the head and thorax more densely punctured. Berosus Leach. A. Elytrorum humeri rotundati. 1. B. punctatissimus. ovatus convexus supra luridus opacus, puncta- tissimus, capite ameo, vertice tenuiter carinato, thorace linea tenui dorsali laevi, vittis tribus aeneis, intermedia duplicata, ornato, elytris fusco-nebulosis, striis exaratispunctulatis postice profundius punctatis, interstitiisplanis, apicetruncato- emarginatis extrorsum 1-spinosis, subtus niger, pedibus testaceis, femorum dimidia basali nigra. Long. -25 — -30. LeConte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New York, 5, 211. San Diego, California, abundant : found also at Sacramento by Messrs. Child and Wittick. The tip of each elytron is slightlyemarginate, with a smallbut acute spine at the outer angle of the emargination. The medial vitta of the thorax is composed of two confluent or closely approximated vittae : at times the vittae are so dilated that they all become confluent, and the disc of the thorax presents a large brassy green irregular spot, and the margins are yellow : at other times the lateral vittae are attenuated anteriorly, so as to appear like subbasal spots with narrow anterior prolongations. The species is readily known from all others here described by the very dense and rugous punctuation of the elytra. 2. B. miles, elongatus subovatus convexus, lurido-testaceus nitidus, capite punctato, cupreo-ieneo, occipite subtiliter carinato, thorace subtilius punctato, aeneo-bivittato, elytris striis punctatis, interstitiis disperse punctatis, maculis pluribus nigris ornatis, apice emarginatis utrinque bispinosis, scutello aeneo, postpectore nigro. Long. -27. One specimen fo».nd by Lieut. Haldeman, at Ringgold Barracks, Texas. A re- markably beautiful species, in which the elytral striae are not very deep : the basal one is between the 1st and 2d, nearly one third the length of the elytra : the interstices are flat, sparsely punctured, with an irregular series of larger punctures between the 2d and 3d. The spots are scattered ; several are conflu- ent before the middle near the suture, while those behind the middle form two angulated lines confluent externally about the Gth interval, with an opposite spot on the 8th, 9th and 10th: the humeral callus and a neighboring spot are also black : the spine at the suture is as long as the outer one. 3. B. aculeatus, elongato-ovalis, testaceus, supra convexus grisescens, capite confertim punctato, obscure aeneo, vertice leviter impresso, occipite sub- tiliter carinato, thorace sat dense punctato, elytris striis profundis punctatis, interstitiis modice convexis irregulariter uniseriatim punctulatis, guttis nonullis fuscis ornatis, ad apicem (?) singulatim vel ( % )coniuuctim breviter acuminatis. Long. -15. 364 [June, North Carolina, Dr. Zimmermann. The elongate oval body, and deep elytral striae will distinguish this species, which seems to be variable in character. The head of the male in my possession is entirely bronzed ; the thorax without any distinct spots, and the elytra each with four spots, viz : one humeral, one on the 2d and 3d intervals before the middle, one on the same intervals behind the middle, and the fourth on the 9th interval about the middle : the elytra are separately prolonged into a very short point at the tip. In the female the head like the rest of the upper surface is grayish testaceous, with only the occiput bronzed : the thorax anteriorly has two dark discoidal spots ; the elytra besides the spots above mentioned have a dark spot on the fifth and sixth intervals about the middle, and their tips are prolonged conjointly into a moderately long and acute spine. 4. B. subsignatus, flavo-testaceus, ova'lia supra convexus, subopacus capite confertim punctato, aeneo, postice subtiliter carinato, thorace dense at haud profunde punctato, guttis duabus anticis nigris saeipe signato, elytris striis profundis punctatis, interstitiis planis, irregulariter uniseriatira punctulatis, macula quadrata utrinque ante medium versus suturam, lituraque communi W-formi pone medium signatis, ad apicem ( % ) rotundatis vel ( i piceis, sterno punctulato, postice subtiliter canaliculate Long. -35 — -37. San Francisco and San Diego. The fine punctuation is more distinct than in the next, with which this species agrees in the form of body and sculpture of the sternum ; the latter in immature specimens is yellow. 6. H. s u b 1 ae v i s, elongato-ovalis antrorsum magis angustatus, convexus ater aenescens nitidus, omnium subtilissime punctulatus, antennis palpis pedibusque flavis, illarum clava femorumque basi piceo-nigris, sterno haud sulcato subtiliter punctulato. Loner./ -38 — '42. Nebraska and Georgia. Differs from the next by the longer form of body, and by the very fine and indistinct punctuation of the upper surface. 7. H. g 1 ab er, elongato-otalis (mas antice magis, femina utrinque a?qualiter angustatus^; convyxns ater aenescens, nitidus subtiliter punctulatus, antennarum basi palpisque flavis, pedibus nigris flavo-variegatis, sterno sulcato grosse punc- tato. Long. -38 — -42. Herbst, Kafer, 7, 298 ; tab. 113, fig. 8. Lake Superior, New York, Nebraska, Georgia. Differs from the next by the anterior part of the sternal elevation being coarsely punctured, and the punc- tures of the elytra being very fine and equal in size. 8. H. m i x t u ', elongato-ovalis, convexus, ater aenescens, subtiliter punctu- latus, elytris punctis eubtilibus intermixtis, antennarum basi palpisque flavis, pedibus fiavo-variegatis, sterno antice punctulato, postice sulcato et grosse punc- tato. Long. -35. New York, not rare. 9. H. e 1 li p ti c u s, latiusculus convexus, utrinque obtusus atro-olivaceus, subaenescens nitidus, subtilissime punctulatus, antennis basi palpisque flavis, pedibus (piaecipue anticis) flavo-variegatis, sterno latiusculo ad apicem et postice punctato, postice breviter canaliculato. Long. #4. New Mexico and California. Broader than the others, and equally obtuse before and behind. d. 10. H. s t r i o 1 a t u s, ovalia convexus, nigro-asneus nitidus subtiliter punctu- latus, thorace margine laterali postice latiore flavo, elytris lateribus vittisque angustis pluribus (externa antice cum margine confluente,) antennis palpis pedi- bus sternoque flavis, hoc antice latiusculo grosse punctato, postice laevi canalicu- lato. Long. *37. Souther.u States, abundant. The discoidal yellow lines of the elytra are some- times very indistinct. The prosternum is yellow, and the deep groove is not arrested at thfc anterior margin, but divides it, as in H. ovalis. Hydrocharis Latr. Although Erichson has placed this genus, which corresponds to Hydrophilus Leach, and Hydrous Bridle, Mulsant, as a section of the preceding, it appears to me that the greater size of the prosternum, aad the absence of the metasternal spine ought to be con&idered with the differences in the mandibles as of generic value. With regard to the name to be applied to the genus, if admitted, there is more difficulty. Yet, as the name Hydrophilus, as established by Geoffroy, plainly belongs to the previous genus, and as Leach, in his anxiety to preserve traditions even when superseded by actual publication, applied the name Hy- drous! Linn, to the previous genus, it is obvious that Mr. Brulle acted at least imprudently, in taking the name last mentioned for a genus so closely allied to the original Hydrous, as the one now under consideration. It appears, however, from Agassiz' Xomenclator Zoologicus, that the name here ad pled was proposed by Latreille in -1825, (Fam. Nat.), while Mr. Brulle appears to have limited the name Hydrous to this genus in 1834, the date of his "Histoire Nat. des Insectes," and thus to have been anticipated by La- treille. 1855.] 369 1. H. 1 i n e a t u s, ater ovalis (femina utrinque obtusa) convexus, subtile puoctulatus, capite thoraceque ad latera punctis perpaucis grossis notatis, hoc fovea utrinque obliqua antica discoidali impressa, elytris tenuiter, obsolete punctato-striati3 punctisque grossis seriebus 4 irregularibu3 notatis, palpis rufo-piceis, fetnoribus intermediis grosse punctatis. Long. -Co. One female, San Diego, California. The club of the antennae is regular in form. 2. H. obtusatus, ater (femina ovalis utrinque obtusa, mas elongato-ovalis) convexus, subtile punctulatus, capite thoraceque ad latera punctis perpaucis grossis notatis, hoc lineola utrinque obliqua antica discoidali impressa, elytris obsolete tenuiter puactato-Striatis, punctisque sat magnis seriebus 4 impressis, palpis rufis, fetnoribus intermediis subtiliter punctatis. Long. -55 — -G2. Hydrophilus obtusatus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 200 ( 9 )• Hydrophilus as/us Say, Bost. Jonrn. Nat. Hist. 1, 170. Middle and Southern States. The male is longer and less obtuse in form, and has the club of the antennae irregular. Philhydrus Solier. This genus is not adopted by Ericbson, who considers it as merely a section of Hydrobius : the very great differrnce however in the length and structure of the maxillary palpi, as well as the general appearance of the insects, induce me to believe tbat the separation is natural. It is otherwise with the genus Helochares (formerly Helophilus) of Mr. Mulsant : it was separated from Philhydrus by the mesosternum being only very slightly caiinate, and not furnished with the anterior compressed lamina seen in most species. Yet in examining the species of both Hydrobius and Philhydrus, I find such want of uniformity in the sternum, as to convince me tbat characters drawn from tbat portion of the body must be regarded as specific, or at most sectional in their value. On. these principles the native species may be thus arranged. A. Mesosternum simplex, vel vix carinatum. (Helochares, Muls.) a. Prosternum simplex Sp. 1 — 2 1 — 3. b. Prosternum medio carinatum ; Sp. 4. B. Mesosternum autice aUe carinatum. (Philhydrus, Muls.) c. Prosternum medio carinatum Sp. 5 — 8. d. Prosternum simplex a. mesosternum carina continua notatum Sp. 9—11. b. mesosternum carina antica laminiforma Sp. 12 — 13. a. 1. P. rotundatus, subrotundatus convexus, ater nitidus dense punctulatus, thorace lateribus anguste rufo-testaceis, elytris seriebus punctorum solitis dis- tinctis, postice obsoletissime striatis, stria suturali profunda ad medium abbre- viata, margine postico indeterminate piceo, palpis rufis tarsis piceo-rufis. Long. -27. Hydrophilus rotundatus Say. Journ. Acad. Xat. Sc. 5, 188. Pennsylvania Dr. Melsheimer. Resembles in form Hydrobius globosus, but besides the difference in the sculpture of the elytra, the thighs are pubescent, and without lustre except at the tip. 2. P fimbriatus, latior, ellipticus convexus piceo-niger nitidus, dense punctulatus, thoracis lateribus anguste testaceis, elytris stria suturali ad medium abbreviata, punctorum seriebus solitis parum distinctis, versus apicem obsolete Striolatis, margine fimbriata rufo-picea, palpis tarsisque rufis. Long. -2. .Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 101. Pennsylvania and New York ; not rare. 3. P. 1 a c u s t r i s, longior, ellipticus convexus, supra piceus, nitidus subtT puncta,tus, palpis, capite macula utrinque antica testaceis, thoracis et elytrorum lateribus indeterminate piceo-testaceis, his stria suturali antice abbrevhita. postice p;.ceo fimbriates ; sabtus niger, fetnoribus piccis, tibiis tarsisque rufo-piceis- Long. -15. 370 [June, One specimen found at Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. Narrower than H. fim- briatus, with a broader and less defined yellow margin, and without any series of larger points on the elytra. b. 4. P. m acul i c o 1 1 i s, ovalis modice convexus, nigro-piceus nitidus, capite thoraceque subtiliter punctatis, lateribus indeterminate piceis, epistomate late emarginato; elytris striis 10 profundis punctatis, interstitiis parum convexis, 5to ad striam 5tam punctorum maiorum serie notato, palpis rufis. Long. -24. Variat corpore supra testaceo thoracis disco nigro, fsmoiibus piceis, tibiis tar- sisque testaceis. Jrlelochares macvlicollis Mulsant, Ann. Sc. Phys. Nat. Lyon, 7, 379. Illinois Mr. Willcox ; Louisiana, Mr. Salle. The prosternum is distinctly though not strongly carinate : the mesosternum is very faintly elevated in the middle. The 10th stria of the elytra is distant from the margin, but the interval is very faintly longitudinally impressed : the margin is narrow and reflexed. The variety in general appearance resembles Phaleria testacea Say. 5. P. n e b u 1 o s u s, ellipticus convexus, subtiliter saepe fere obsolete punctu- latus, supra testaceus nitidus, capite nigro, macula magna antica utrinque pallida, elytris seriebus 4 punctorum solitis notatis, stria suturali tenui antice evanescente, tenuiter plus minusve fusco lineatis ; subtus niger, pedibus piceo- testaceis femoribus eaepe fuscis. Long. -14 — -16. Hydrophilus n-bulosus Say, Long's Exped. 2, 277. New York, Georgia, Lake Superior, Nebraska. The crest of the prosternum, as in the next two species of this division is acute, and gradually more elevated towards the tip. Tbis species bears a strong resemblance to P. ochraceus, but the punctures are finer and less deep ; the prosternal carina will however at once distinguish it. 6. P. p e c t o r a 1 i s, ellipticus convexus, subtiliter punctulatus, supra testaceus nitidus, capite nigro-piceo, antice "testaceo linea frontali media fusca, elytris seriebus 4 punctorum solitis, stria suturali antice abbreviata, subtus niger, tibiis tarsisque testaceis, femoribus fuscis. Long. -11. Co'orado River, California: smaller than the preceding, and principally dis- tinguished by the whole of the front being pale, with only a narrow fuscous line in the middle. 7. P. cristatus, ellipticus. longior convexus subtiliter punctulatus, supra piceus nitidus, capite nigro-piceo, clypei lateribus anguste testaceis, thoracis lateribus obliquis vix rotundatis et apice indeterminate sed anguste testaceis, elytris seriebus 4 solitis punctorum notatis, stria suturali antice abbreviata, lateribus et apice indetermiuate testaceis, subtus niger, palpis tibiis tarsisque testaceis. Long. -13. One specimen from San Diego, California: besides the diffsrence in the color of the head, this species is narrower than either of the two preceding, and the sides of the thorax are less rounded. 8. P. c a r i n a t u s, ellipticus convexus piceo-niger nitidus, confertim subtiliter punctulatus, elytris seriebus 4 puuctorum solitis distinctis, stria suturali antice abbreviata, ad apicein picescentibus, tarsis palpisque rufo-piceis : prosterno sub- acqualiter modice carinato. Long. -2. San Francisco and San Jose, California. This species has nearly the appear- ance of P. diffusus of the next division, but besides the differences in the sternum the sides of the elytra are uniformly declivous, with a very narrow re- flexed margin, while in all the species of division d. they are slightly concave with a wider reflexed margin. In one specimen may be seen traces of very in- distinct striae on the posterior part of the elytra, but in the others no such are visible. 1855.] 371 d — a. 9. P. d i f f u s u s, ovalis convexus nigro-piceus vel picens nitidus, confertim subtiliter punctatus, capite antice tboracisque limbo pallidiore, elytris margine indeterminate testaceo, postice fimbriato, seriebus punctorum 4 solitis notatis, stria suturali antice abbreviata, palpis tibiis tarsisque piceo-te.staceis. Long. •17— -25. Nebraska and California : the body is a little narrower in front, and less convex than in the preceding. The prosteruum is not at all carinate, and the keel of the mesosternum is horizontal in its iufjrior outline, as in the other specieB < f this division. The Californian specimens are smaller, a little broader posteriorly, and a little more convex tban tbose from Nebraska, but I cannot observe any suf- ficiently definite difference to cause them to be regarded as another species. In pale specimens the head is blackish with anterior pale spots. 10. P. p e r p 1 e x u s, longior ellipticus convexus, confertim subtiliter punctatus piceus, vel nigro-piceus nitidus, capitis lateribus antice, thoracis et ehuorum limbo laterali angusto rufescemibus, elytris seriebus punctorum 4 solitis, stria suturali antice abbreviata ; palpis tibiis tarsisque saepe testaceis, vel piceis. Long. -17— -20. New York, Illinois, Lake Superior, Nebraska. Very closely allied to the pre- ceding but distinguished by the narrower and regularly elliptical form of body. In one specimen the anterior spots of the head, and the whole margin of the thorax are testaceous, the pale border of the elytra is fimbriated posteriorly : the abdomen is yellowish, with the middle brownish, and the feet are almost entirelv yellowish. Color, however, is so variable in this genus, that it cannot be taken as character- istic, and recourse must be had to form and sculpture, which are sufficiently distinct, in all the species herein noted, to render their recognition a matter of very small difficulty. 11. P. ochraceus, ellipticu3 convexus, confertim subtiliter punctatus, nigro- piceus, piceus, vel supra testaceus, limbo oniui et capite antice pallidiore, elytris postice dilute fimbriatis, seriebus solitis punctorum baud conspicuis, stria siuurali antice abbreviata, pedibus aut fuscis aut testaceis. Long. -13. Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. 2, 101. (var. immat.) Middle and Southern Sates : resembles P. nebulosus, but the punctures of the upper surface are more distinct, and the prosternum is not at all carinattd. d— b. 12. P. c i n c t u s, ovalis magis convexus, nigro-piceus vel piceu?, nitidus con- fertim subtiliter punctatus, capite macula utnuque antica, thoracis elvt'O- umque lateribus ferrugineo marginatis, his punctorum seriebus 4 solitis notatis, stria suturali antice abbreviata ; palpis piceo-testaceis. Long. -26. Variat, corpore piceo-testaceo, capite supra et subtus obscuriore. Ilydrophilus cinctus Say, Long's Expedition, 2, 276. Philhydrw limbalis Meisbeimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 101. Middle and Southern Stttes and Nebraska: for a type I am indebted to Dr. Melsheimer. Almost as convex, but not so broad as P. rotuodatus, and readily kuown by the mesosternum being dilated into a large quadrilateral venic.il plate in front of the middle coxae. In answer to some questions regarding the difference between P. cinctus and limbialis Dr. Melsheimer writes as follows : " the latter is larger, more oval and less convex than the first ; the colored margins are aLo broader and all ill- other characters more distinct, but notwithstanding these differences, i now consider them as different sexes." Say in his description does not mendon the sutural stria, but I learn from Dr. Melsheimer that it is quite distinct. 13. P. b i f i d u s, ellipticus modice convexus, nigro-piceus nitidus, co t'^rtim subtiliter punctatus, elyiris striis 10 profundi* notatis, internis antice pbliteratis, suturali versus scutellum bifida ; margine Bulco longitudinali densius punctata: thoracis lateribus rufo-piceis, palpis tarsisque fenugineis. Long. -28. 29 372 [June, Middle and Southern States : the four internal striae of the elytra are gradually shorter anteriorly: the sutural one is bifid by the confluence of a small scutellar stria, but with the second is almost entirely obliterated on the anterior fifth of the elytra. The anterior dilated plate of the mesosternum is not quadrilateral as in the preceding, but triangular and acute as in Hydrobius, to some species of which it bears considerable resemblance, but may be distinguished by the long slender palpi. In Fauna Bor. Am. (p. 120) Mr. Kirby cites the European P. marginellus and melanocephalus as occurring in North America : the descriptions however are not sufficiently characteristic to enable them to be referred with certainty to any of the species above described to whice they may belong. Hydrobius Leach. A. Antennae 9-articulatae. 1. H. t u m i d u s , rotundato-ovalis valde convexus, seneo-ater nitidus con- fertim punctulatus, thorace lateribus parce punctato, elytris striis subtiliter punc- tatis haud impressis, stria suturali profunda antice obliterata, interstitiis alter- natim punctis maioribus uniseriatim notatis : mesosterno lamina magna trian- gulari acuta antice perpendiculari armata. Long. -33. New York and Pennsylvania, rare. Not so globose as H. globosus, but equally convex : the different form of the mesosternal protuberance will at once distinguish it ; but in addition to that character, the prosternum at tip is armed with a small acute tubercle. 2. H. globosus, rotundatus valde convexus, seneo-ater nitidus confertim punctulatus, thorace lateribus parce punctato, elytris striis subtiliter punctatis haud impressis, stria suturali profunda antice obliterata, interstitiis alternatim punctis maioribus U'>iseriatim notatis ; mesosterno tuberculo magno pyramidato acuto armato. Long. -30. Hydrophilus globosus Say, Long's Expedition, 2, 276. New York and Pennsylvania. The protuberance of the mesosternum is thick and pyramidal, with its posterior face flattened. 3. H. insculptus, ovalis modice convexus, piceo-niger nitidus confertim punctulatus, thorace latitudine plus sesqui latiore linea utrinque antica discoidea punctisque paucis ad latera notato, elytris striis profundis punctatis, internis antice subobsoletis, suturali antice bifida, interstitiis alternatim punctis maioribus notatis ; mesosterno lamina triangulari acuta postice perpendiculari armato. Long. -30. One specimen from New York. Less convex and more oval than the next, which it closely resembles ; the larger size of the mesosternal protuberance will distinguish it. The greatest breadth of the elytra is about two-fifths from the tip. 4. H. regularis, ellipticus convexus, piceo-niger nitidus confertim punc- tulatus, thorace latitudine duplo breviore linea utrinque antica discoidea punc- tisque paucis ad latera notato, elytris striis punctatis, internis antice subobso- letis, suturali antice bifida, interstitiis alternatim punctis maioribus notatis ; mesosterno antice subcarinato, mucrone parvo subacuto ad medium armato, Long. -34. Vermont, Prof. Adams. 5. H. seriatus, ellipticus modice convexus, piceo-niger nitidus confertim punctulatus, thorace latitudine duplo breviore, linea utrinque antica discoidali, punctisque paucis ad latera notato, elytris striis punctatis, internis antice leviori- bus, euturali antice bifida, alternatim punctis maioribus in strias impressis : tibiis tarsisque ssepe rufo-piceis ; mesosterno lamina parva triangulari armato. Long. •28. California, at San Francisco and at the Colorado river. The large punctures 1855.] 373 of the elytra are placed upon the striae, and not scattered on the interstices as on the two preceding species. The European H. fuscipes is said by Kirby (Fauna Bor. Am. 119) and by Mannerheim (Bull. Mosc. 1853) to be found in the northern part of the conti- nent. The descriptions will apply equally well to the three striate species above described, yet, on comparison with European specimens, they all seem to me to be sufficiently distinct. H. insculptus approaches them most nearly, but the thorax is not so short and is narrowed more obliquely towards the tip. 6. H. digrestus, ellipticus convexus ater, nitidus, capite thoraceque sat dense punctatis, elvtris confertim subseriatim punctatis stria suturali antice ob- literata ; tibiis vix spinulosis, mesosterno antice vix tuberculato, palpis rufo- piceis. Long. -11. Lake Superior and Niagara. Though the punctuation of the elytra is as in Laccobius, and the tibiae appear to have no scattered spines, as in the other species of this genus, it would scarcely appear natural to separate this as a distinct genus. The antennae and palpi appear entirely as in the other species. B. Antenna? 8-articulatae. 7 H. subcupreus, ellipticus, convexus, nigro-aeneus, capite thoraceque subtilius, elytris distinctius punctatis, his stria suturali ad basin evanescente, antennis piceis, basi palpisque rufis. Long. -08 — -10. Hydrophilus subcupreus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 189. Lyclonotum subcupreum Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior. Middle States, Nebraska, Lake Superior, and Colorado River, California; com- mon. Although in general appearance and sculpture this species resembles Hydrobius, the antenae have but 8 joints, and are formed as in Laccobiu3 agilis. The posterior tarsi appear to possess an indistinct row of ciliae on their upper margin but are comparatively shorter and more slender. The middle and pos- terior tibiae are furnished with some irregularly scattered spiDes. It is at first doubtful whether this species should be joined with Laccobius, or with Hydro- bius (from which it seems to differ only by the number of joints in the antennae), or whether a separate genus should be established for its reception. From Lac- cobius however, it differs in the sculpture of the ventral segments of the abdo- men, and the form of the posterior trochanter, while in these characters it agrees entirely with Hydrobius. In the smaller specimens the punctures of the elytra are sometimes less dis- tinct towards the base. Specimens also occur in which the lateral margin of the thorax and the tips of the elytra are yellowish. Cyclonotum Erichson. 1. C. cacti, latius ovale convexum, atrum nitidum subtiliter punctulatum, elytris punctis vix maioribus obsolete punctato-striatis, stria suturali pone me- dium distincta ; prosterno integro carinato. Long. -22. San Diego, California, in putrid Opuntia. The antennae are reddish, with the club dark-colored ; the first joint, as in the next species, is long, being in fact nearly one-half the length of the entire antenna: Erichson has erroneously de- scribed (Kafer Mark. 213) it as being short, but the description given by Mul- sant, (Coleopt. de France, Palpicornes, 148) is correct. The striae of the elytra are very faint, and merely formed by rows of punctures which are scarcely larger than the fine punctures which cover the whole upper surface, and they vanish entirely towards the base of the elytra. The prosternum, though pointed posteriorly, reaches almost to the mesosternum : the carina is more prominent anteriorly. 2. C. es tri at u m , rotundato-ovale, convexum, atrum nitidum, punctula- tum, elytris stria suturali nulla ; prosterno brevissimo baud carinato: palpis an- tennisque rufis, his clava picea. Long. -15. OT 74 [June, Erichson, Bericht, &c, in Wiegm. Arch. 1845. Hydrophilus extriatus Say, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. 1, 171. Cyclonoium globulosum Mulsant, Ann. Sc. Phys. Nat. Lyon, 7, 167. Louisiana, Messrs. Sane & Wapler. The prosternum is very short, and vanishes between the coxae of the anterior feet. Cercyon Leach. On account of the difference in form of the pro- and mesosternum, Mr. Mul- sant has separated from this genus three which he names Pelosoma, Megaster- num (properly Megalosternum) and Cryptopleurum. Erichson has expressed as his opinion that the characters upon which they were separated are insuffi- cient, while Lacordaire, in the second volume of his most excellent work on Genera of Coleoptera, has recombined Pelosoma with Cercyon, but leaves Me- gasternum and Cryptopleurum distinct. Having found in America representatives of all these groups, I am inclined to agree with the views expressed by Lacordaire. My series of the common species of Cercyon is not sufficiently large to enable me to investigate the genus in a satisfactory manner ; I will therefore postpone the description of new species, and the synonymy of those previously described ; merely making known two species which are remarkable and easily recognized. I may add as a contribution to future synonymy, that C. mundum Mels. is C. centrimaculatum, and that C. maculatum Mels. is C. a n a 1 e , both European species mentioned by Erichson (Kafer Mark Brand.) as found in America. C. fimbriatum Maniih. described from Sitka, was found by me in California. 1. C. pubescens, rufo-testaceum, ovale, postice subattenuatum, punctu- latum, subtiliter pubescens, capite obscuro, elytris striis 9 profundis integris subtiliter punctatis, interstitiis laevibus, alternatim postice altioribus ; mesos terno lineari, prosterno modice carinato. Long. 04. Maryland, Dr. Zimmermann. 2. C. capil latum, ovale, convexum, nigrum nitidnm, subtiliter parce cinereo-pubescens, capite thoraceque modice, elytris paulo parcius punctatis, his punctis paulo maioribus vix obsoletissime striatis, margine apicali, palpis pedibusque piceo-testaceis ; prosterno alte carinato, mesosterno pentagono cum metasterno arete connate Long. *08 — *10. San Diego, in putrid cactus, and also in the valley of the Gila. The lines of of punctures of the elytra can hardly be seen, but near the margin and behind the middle are more or less faint traces of striae. The mesosternum is not wider than long, and the anterior angle is quite sharp. This species belongs to Pelosoma Muls. Megalosternum Muls. 1. M. costatum, latius ovale, postice subacutum, modice convexum, piceum opacum, parce flavo-pubescens, capite thoraceque punctatissimis, hoc canaliculato, ulrinque obsolete tricostato, marginato, elytris profunde crenato- sulcatis, interstitiis costatis, 2, 4, 6, et 8vo postice altioribus, pygidio triangu- lari devexo nudo, confertim punctato. Long. >07. One specimen found in York county, Pennsylvania, was given me by Dr. Melsh^imer. The palpi are precisely as in Cercyon ; the sternum exactly like the figure given by Mulsant of M. boletophagum : the naked deflexed py- gidium is an anomaly which 1 have not seen in any species of this family, and with the pectdiar sculpture seems to indicate an approach to Histeroid genera like Ontbophilus. Other specimens, when procured, will enable a more full examination to be made, and will perhaps render necessary the establishment of a new jienus. The anterior tibiae (as far as I can examine them) do not appear to be emarginate, as in M. boletophagum. The elevated lines of the thorax are quite indistinct, except the one nearest the margin, which is entire and quite obvious. An allied but much smaller species, without elevated lines on the thorax and 1855.] 375 with the furrows of the elytra less deep and less crenate was found by me at Panama: in the only specimen left, the pygidium is entirely covered by the elytra, as in other Cercyons. Cryptopleurum Muls. l.C.vagans brevius ovatutn, postice acutum, convexum, nigrum subniti- dum, subtiliter flavo-pubescens, confertim punctulatum,elytris profunde striatis, stviis punctatis, postice profundioribus interstitiis externis et versus apicem convexioribus, elytrorum apine, palpis pedibusque testaceis. Long. '07. One specimen, Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. Descriptions of some of the neiv Marine Inverlebrata from the Chinese and Japanese Seas. By Wm. Stimpson, Zoologist to the V. S. Surveying Expedition to North Pacific, Japan Seas, etc., Lt. John Rodgers, Commander. (Communicated by the Smithsonian Institution.) POLYPI. 1. Anthelia lineata. Polypes elongated, slightly tapering towards the mouth, pale brownish with eight longitudinal lead colored stripes ; tentacula bright blue, half as long as the body, with a single series of oblong, somewhat irregular pa- pillae. Length of a polype 1 inch. Hah. China. 2. Cornularia aurantiaca. Large, branching, pale orange ; tubes straight, subcylindrical, (clavate when young) ; polypes transparent, with a few short linear spiculee on the sides ; stomach crimson ; tentacula with a single series of elongated, tuberculated papillae. Height 2 inches. Hah. China. 3. Alcyonium agaricum. Mushroom-shaped, upper surface only polypiferous ; pedicel central, one-third as thick as the disc is broad; disc orbicular, convex, margin entire, revolute; polypi rather large, three-tenths of an inch long and one-eighth of an inch distant, the surface between them covered with minute dots ; disc above bluish-grey, polypes lighter, with still paler tentacula ; inferior surface and pedicel dark cream-colored. Diameter \ inch. Hah. Japan. 4. Nephthya coccinea. Lobulose, deep crimson ; spicule crowded and irregu- larly projecting around the bases of the polypes, which are hyaline, with trian- gular, papillate tentacles. Beneath each tentaculum in the skin of the polype are two rows of minute, linear, crimson spiculae, converging toward each other and forming a succession o£ V-shaped markings. Hah. China. 5. Veretillum clavatum. Variegated, punctate with orange and spotted with brown ; foot white, with a pointed extremity ; polypes large, the tentacula long and slender, their papillae oblong ; surface of the body between the polypes irregularly papillose. Length 2 inches. Hah. China. 6. Actinia radiata. Small, smooth, oblong, pale brown, found attached to slender univalves ; when contracted, depressed, radiated with gradually widening streaks of white ; when expanded, disc narrower than the base, spotted with flake-white around the mouth ; tentacula spotted with dark brown and white, tapering, pointed, arranged in an alternating series near the margin. Length \ inch. Hah. Japan. 7. Actinia nigropunctata. Subcylindrical, smooth, pale orange, base some- what expanded ; body encircled by two lines of distant black punctae, ten in each line, alternating with the others ; tentacula rather numerous, long, pointed, dark 376 [June, at base ; those indicating the antero- posterior diameter larger than the others, flake-white at base. Diameter f inch. llab. Ousima. 8. Actinia inornata. Body papillose, papillae oval, not very numerous; ten- tacula long, crowded in two or three rows ; sulcus of the mouth indicated by protuberances at the margin ; space between mouth and tentacula rather broad ; color dark olive, paler above, darkest in a circle around the mouth. Height two inches. Hab. China. 9. Actinia multicolor. Subcylindrical, brownish, with large purple papillae and ten whitish stripes ; a smooth band just beneath the tentacula, crowded with vertical crimson lines ; mouth large, flesh-colored, with a deep longitudinal sulcus ; tentacula also flesh-colored, thick, short, suddenly tapering to a blunt point, rather few in number, crowded together in two rows between the mouth and the margin. Height 1 inch. Hab. China. 10. Actinia napensis. Smooth, lineated, olivaceous, greenish above and brownish below ; upper margin crenulated ; disc not broader than the middle of the body ; tentacula placed in two rows near the margin, rather stout, pointed, dark-greenish, trimaculate with white on their inner sides ; mouth protuberant, much lobed, spotted with white without and streaked with yellow within. At- tached to stones beneath the sand. Height 1 inch. Hab. Loo Choo. CaNCRISOCIA, n. g. Tentacula simplicia elongata, omnino retractilia. Basis valde dilatata, pellicula oblonga, coriacea, separabiliinstructa. Haec vela- mentum dorsale cancri (G. Dorippe) format. 11. Cancrisocia expansa. Of a pale brownish color ; base suboblong, slightly arcuated, with rounded, subtruncate extremities ; margin crenulated ; pellicle tough, brownish, concentrically striated, with a submarginal nucleus ; diameter of the middle of the body half the length of the base, and two-thirds that of the oral disc; tentacula long, slender, tapering, shaded with blackish about the middle, arranged in two or three confluent rows around the margin ; space be- tween mouth and tentacula radiated with blackish ; mouth greenish without, brown within. In a contracted state, body much flattened, mouth indicated by a depression at the centre. Found on the common Dorippe of the China seas, at- tached by the posterior legs of the animal. EDWARD3IA, Quatref. Polypi saepe non affixi, sed non proprie liberi. Subvermiformes, epidermide instructi ; tentaculis paucis et brevibus. 12. Edwardsia collaris. Elongated, truncated at base, covered with a dirty brownish epidermis, except at a broad white band just beneath the tentacula, marked with eight fusiform stripes of brown ; tentacula small, slender, brownish, about 40 in number. Length 2 inches. Hab. China. 13. Edwardsia brevicornis. Oblong, tapering toward the rounded posterior extremity, pale brown, 20-lineate, and with 20 short dark brown tentacula, banded with white near their blunt extremities. Epidermis scarcely perceptible. Length 1 inch. Hab. China. 14. Edwardsia clavata. Club-shaped, broad above; base small ; epidermis dark greenish, brownish below, leaving a narrow naked space below the tenta- cula, of a purplish-brown color ; tentacula in two equal series, the inner ones erect, the outer horizontal ; mouth and tentacula purplish-brown, streaked and banded with white. Length 2 inches. Hab. Kikaisima. 1855.] 377 15. Edwardsia. rubricollum. Subclavate, attached to stones beneath the surface of the sand ; body covered with a loose brownish epidermis except at a red band beneath the tentacula, the upper margin of which is tuberculated ; mouth-disc pale yellow ; mouth deep red ; tentacula yellowish, stout, tapering to a point, about 40 in number, arranged in two rows ; half as many in the inner as in the outer row. Length 4 inches. Hab. China. 16. Edwardsia cretata. Body covered with a brownish epidermis, encrusted with sand; anterior extremity naked, striate, and striped with alternately broader and narrower streaks of white ; tentacula slender, pointed, black, spotted with white along their inner sides, about 30 in number, the inner ones lougest. Length 1 inch. Hab. Japan. TUNICATA. 17. Ascidia tubifera. Elongated, cylindrical, smooth, hyaline, pale greenish, attached at the small anterior extremity ; branchial tube nearly as long as the body, with a trumpet-shaped aperture, 8-lobed, with 8 red ocelli and the same number of short cirri; anal tube half a3 long as the branchial, with a contracted aperture, 6-lobed and 6-ocellate ; both apertures encircled by a thread of bright yellow. Length 2 inches. Hab. China. 18. Ascidia calcata. Oblong, somewhat rectangular, flattened, papillose, dark-green ; apertures small, sessile on 8- and 6-lobed prominences, encircled with darker green. Length \\ inch. Hab. Japan. SCHIZASCUS, n. g. Tunica exterior fissa ; parte posteriore complanata, cavum alterius tamquam operculo claudente et biphones retractoscelante. Aper- turae sexangulatae. 19. Schizascus pellucidus. Ovate-triangular when contracted ; test and opercular thick, hyaline ; tubes short, flesh-colored, streaked with crimson ; a few transparent tubular processes around the apertures. Length 1 inch. Hab. China. 20. Schizascus papillosus. Subrectangular, transparent ; test covered with small papiiias ; apertures with salmon-colored ocelli at their angles. Length f inch. Hab. China. 21. Molgula labeculifera. Small, globular, encrusted with mud; tubes transparent, the branchial shortest; apertures 6- and 8-lobed; lobes pointed and covered with sordes at their extremities. Diameter f inch. Hab. China. 22. Cynthia satsumensis. Subglobular, smooth when young, corrugated and distorted with age, of a pale orange or flesh-color; tubes short, subconical, rounded ; apertures 4-lobed, with deep red markings, the anal one-third the size of the branchial. Diameter 1 inch. Hab. Japan. 23. Cynthia delicatula. Globular, nearly smooth, of a pale red color ; tubes short, subcylindrical ; the branchial one with four longitudinal, bluish-white stripes margined with dark red ; apertures nearly equal in size, rounded in ex- pansion, cross-shaped when closed ; a red circle at the mouth of the branchial cavity. Diameter f inch. Hab. Tanegasima. 24. Cynthia ocellifera. Body rounded, coriaceous, of a pale red color with darker clouds ; tubes large, rather produced, about equal in size, striped alter- nately with red and white toward their extremities ; branchial aperture somewhat 378 [June, trumpet-shaped, with four inconspicuous red ocelli at the margin. Length 1 inch. 4 Hab. China. 25. Cynthia gemmata. Free, encrusted with sand and shells, compressed, rounded ; tubes nearly equal in size, short, slender, tapering, flattened, bright yellow, with four longitudinal crimson stripes corresponding to the angles of the small, lozenge-shaped apertures. Diameter f inch. Hab. China. 26. Cynthia araneosa. Ovate, or subglobular, of a pale orange color, surface divided into slightly prominent, irregular, polygonal spaces, separated by an irregular reticulation of criu,son lines; tubes short, lineated and shaded with red, the branchial longest, the anal conical ; apertures nearly circular when ex- panded. Length 1 inch. Hab. China. GASTEROPODA. 27. Coriocella punctata. Oblong-oval, gibbous, hyaline, everywhere covered with flake-white punctse ; mantle smooth, covered with small circular clear spots, slit and folded at the anterior margin, forming a siphon ; head flat- tened, quadrate, projecting a little beyond the- margin of the mantle; tentacula linear, very long and slender, having the eyes sessile at their external bases ; foot somewhat longer than the mantle, truncate and bi-marginate in front, pointed behind. Length f inch. Hab. Ousima. 28. Coriocella tuberosa. Orbicular; mantle thick, cartilaginous, with nu- merous irregular protuberances, four of which are large and prominent ; siphon oblong, conical, projecting forward; head small; tentacula stout, of moderate length ; foot much shorter than the mantle. Color pale brownish, spotted be- neath with sulphur-yellow. Length 2 inches. Hab. China. 29. Aplysia laevigata. Smooth, convex, oblong, somewhat produced ante- riorly ; lobes of the mantle rather short; siphon conical, foot with a blunt pos- terior termination ; dorsal tentacula cylindrical, orals dilated at their extremities ; color brownish above, sides with small dark grey spots and a few patches of white punctas ; head and foot green. Shell suboblong, very thin, membranaceous, of a pale horn-color ; arcuated incision short but deep ; summit triangular, small, thick and callous. Length 2 inches. Hab. Ousima. 30. Notarchus cirrosus. Oblong, back rounded ; foot short and pointed behind, somewhat acuminate ; body covered with numerous rather long appen- dages, much ramified on the back, but mostly simple on the head and tentacula ; dorsal tentacula short, tapering, with the upper half slit; orals large. Color bluish-grey, sprinkled with black dots ; the appendages edged with sulphur- yellow ; a few clear green circular spots in different parts of the body. Length 3 inches. Hab. China. 31. Notarchus lineolatus. Oblong-ovate, rather produced before, short and pointed behind ; a few small, scattered, ramose appendages on the back and sides ; color greenish, with minute, crowded, longitudinal black lines ; a few small round nucleated spots on the sides ; tentacles slender, the dorsal ones very long ; eyes conspicuous, situated at a considerable distance in front of the dorsal ten- tacles. Length 2 inches. Hab. Loo Choo. 32. Placobranchus guttatus. Depressed, ovate ; head and tentacula very large ; ejes small, placed together on a mammilla between and behind the tenta- cula; color dark olive, front brownish, mantle covered with circular greenish 1855.] 379 spots, and blotched with flake-white along the edges. Within, branchial striae prominent, of a dark green color. Length 1 inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 33. Eolis hdmilis. Rather slender, wine-yellow ; branchiae dark brownish- grey, wiih pale yellowish lips, arranged in six clusters, the first two of which are biserial; dorsal tentacula serrated, orals long; anterior angles of the foot greatly produced. Length 1 inch. Hab. China. GYMXODOPJS, n. g. Limaciformis, lavis. Polycerae affinis, sed appen- dicibus branehiarum veloque carens, diversa. Branchiae etiara simplices. 34. Gvmnodoris maculata. Elongated, obtusely rounded before, tapering posteriorly to a slender pointed extremity; body smooth, translucent, of a pale brownish color, spotted with bright yellow ; a ring of flake-white around the base of the branchiae. Tentacula short, with eight oblique, dark brown laminae; branchiae consisting of nine slender, transparent, unbranched leaflets, with blunt, rounded, bright yellow extremities. Length f inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 35. Polycera ? ramulosa. Large, higher than broad, swollen at the middle ; back with a row of small branching processes along each side, those opposite the branchiae bulbose ; head large, rounded above, subtruncate ; veil separated as far as the tentacula, with a pectinated margin ; tentacula clavate, finely 25-laminate; branchiae small, ramose, with five principal trunks; color greenish, with blackish patches ; a few orange dots on the sides. Length 2 inches. Hab. China. 36. Idalia tentaculata. Very small, suboblong, pointed behind ; having two large frontal cirri, and sixteen lateral ones, eight on each side, the posterior ones bifurcate; head produced at the sides ; tentacula very large, clavate; branchiae consisting of four thick tentaculiform processes, dentated along the inner sides, in front of which on the middle of the back arises a single, very long cirri- form appendage; color pale wine-yellow, with brownish spots along each side of the flake-white median line; tentacula and branchiae chestnut-brown. Length ^ inf,h. Hab. China. HEMIDORJS, n. g. Pallium postice adnatum. Reliqua ut in Doridibus. 37 Hemidoris C03ruleata. Elongated-ovate, broad in front, convex along the middle and depressed at the sides ; foot concealed by the mantle except posterior- ly where they coalesce, the foot being produced for some distance beyond and tapering to a point; mantle smooth, light-blue, margined with yellow; dorsal tentacula 10-laminate, dark reddish-brown ; orals oblong; branchiae consisting of nine blender, simply pinnate leaflets of a reddish color. Length \ inch. Hab. China. 38. Doris ixdurata. Ovate, broadest posteriorly ; mantle covered with small hard tubercles, somewhat distantly arranged in quincunx ; tentacula thick, pedunculate, 12-laminate ; branchiae with fi^e well-branched plumes; head very small, foot narrow in front and broadly rounded behind ; color lemon-yellow with flake-white spots ; branchiae dark orange. Length 1 inch. Hab. China. 39. Doris gibberosa. .Thick, slightly broadest before ; tubercles of the mantle hard, rugose, very large along the middle of the back ; foot produced beyond the mantle behind ; tentacula somewhat elongated, finely laminate, issuing from a pair of the larger tubercles ; branchiae large, frondo^e, of fire plumes ; color dark yellowish, tubercles purplish-brown, tentacula brownish-grey with white tips ; branchiae lemon-yellow. Length \\ inch. Hab. China. 380 [June, 40. Doris olivacea. Large, thick and strong, rugose, half as broad as long, dark olivaceous ; mantle with large greenish tubercles, largest about the middle ; dorsal tentacula smoothish, with conical 20-laminate extremities ; orals oblong ; branchial plumes largest. Length 3 inches. Hab. Loo Choo. 41. Doris rogersii. Convex, oval, of a pale-brown color with darker clouds; mantle covered with minute crowded, slender papillae, like short hairs; foot not reaching the edge of the mantle ; tentacula short, blunt, broadly laminate, of a purplish-brown color ; branchiae formed of nine small colorless leaflets project- ing but little beyond the margin of the cavity in which they are expanded ; anal papilla large, black. Length f inch. Hab. Kikaisima. 42. Doris areolata. Small, convex, mantle tuberculated ; branchiae con- sisting of eight short leaflets, the superior one much the largest. Colors : mantle bright green, with a rectangle defined in purple between the tentacula and the branchiae, from the corners of which yellow lines extend to the margin ; foot, branchiae and tentacula of a pale lemon color. Length § inch. Hab. Boninsima. 43. Doris nigra. Small, subelliptic, somewhat elongated, depressed ; mantle smooth, the foot produced beyond it ; tentacula obliquely 9-laminated ; branchial cluster small but produced and nearly erect, with eight simple pinnate leaflets. Color variable, usually black, always very dark ; mantle often dotted with white and margined with red ; tentacula always tipped with white. Length J inch. Hab. Loo Choo and Kikaisima. 44. Doris latens. Oval, mantle covered with minute tubercles ; foot pro- duced a little beyond the mantle; dorsal tentacula finely 20-laminate; orals slender; branchiae with six slender pinnate plumes, contractile into a large cavity, the lateral ones longest but not reaching the margin uf the body ; anal tube with a white star-iike extremity. Colors : body everywhere variegated with black, brown and white, and punctate above with flake white. Length 1 inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 45. Onchis pruticosa.. Oval, thick, of a dark greenish color mottled with yellowish ; mantle covered with small papillae of different sizes, the larger ones with 1-3 oculiform black dots at their summits, those on the posterior half of the body elongated and covered with stvliform branches ; the mouth-disc large, bilo- bate ; tentacula oblong, with tbe retractile eyes at their summit ; foot much shorter than the mantle, of a pale yellowish color. Length 1 inch. Hab. Kikaisima. TURBELLARIA. 46. Eurylepta interrupta. Oval, of a pale brown color, with a median line of black blotches ; margin ornamented with brown, orange, black and white, concentrically arranged, and interrupted at short intervals all around, except in front; tentacula prominent, marginal ; ocelli cervical, in two lunate patches, con- vex forward, one behind the other. Length f inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 47. Eurylepta guttato-marginata. Oblong-ovate, slightly broadest behind, white, with a series of purple spots along the margin ; tentacula short ; ocelli few in number, in a single cluster on the neck behind the tentacula. Length ^ inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 48. Eurylepta fulminata. Oblong-oval, dark greenish, with oblique streaks of bright red on each side of the back, at the middle of which they form acute angles ; tentacula broad, close together at the anterior extremity ; ocelli in a single cluster on a minute oval papilla at the neck. Length lj inches. Hab. Loo Choo. 1855.] 381 49. Stylochus corniculatus. Oblong, with broadly rounded extremities, sub- translucent, mottled with yellowish-brown ; tentacula prominent, pyramidal, triangular, with the minute ocelli crowded along the whole length of their ex- terior faces; no spot on the body; a clear, pellucid, circular spot between the tentacula. Length 2 inches. Hab. China. 50. Stylochus reticulatus. Broad, ovate, of a pale brown color, with darker clouds ; surface reticulated with strings of black punctas ; tentacula situated in a clear space at the anterior fourth of the length of the body ; ocelli in four clusters, two on the tentacula at their bases in front, and two oblique ones anterior to and between the tentacula. Length 2 inches. Hab. Loo Choo. 51. Leptoplana sparsa. Oblong, subtruncate before, of a pale brown color ; ocelli very minute, scattered along the margin of the anterior half of the body, and forming three clusters on the head, one large central and two very small lateral ones. Length 1 inch. Hab. Kikaisima. 52. Leptoplana acuta. Oblong, pointed at both extremities, pale grey, mot- tled with brownish ; ocelli few, minute, in two lunate clusters convex outwards. Length £ inch. Hab. China. 53. Leptoplana obscura. Elongated oval, dark-brownish with a tint of lilac, often maculate, paler along the middle of the back ; ocelli few, minute and in- conspicuous, in the two parallel linear clusters at the middle of the head, and scattered along the anterior margin. Length J inch. Hab. China. 54. Leptoplana trull^eformis. Elongated, trowel-shaped, broadest at the head, of a pale brown color; ocelli situated in a clear space anteriorly, forming two conspicuous diverging clusters, and four small nebular ones, placed before and behind these, and confluent with them. Length f inch. Hab. China. 55. Leptoplana collaris. Elongated, truncate in front, tapering and rounded behind; ocelli in two elongated clusters, confluent anteriorly and diverging from each other posteriorly ; color pale greyish with two dark-brown longitudi- nal lines ; a transverse white band just behind the eye clusters. Length J inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 56. Nareda serpentina. Elongated, somewhat flattened, brownish ; head broader than the body, emarginate in front ; neck well contracted ; eyes two, rather large, bilobate, placed one on each side at the middle of the head. Length 2\ inches. Hab. Loo Choo. 57. Meckelia piperata. Greatly elongated, depressed and broadest at the middle ; color light yellowish, sprinkled with black in transverse clouds ; margin white ; head narrower than the body, white in front of two large black spots near the middle ; lateral fissures extending obliquely upward to the back, and sepa- rated anteriorly from the wide transverse mouth by a bright crimson partition ; genital aperture placed anteriorly, before the middle of the head. Length 8 inches. Hab. Kikaisima. 58. Meckelia cingulata. Slender, reddish-brown, with distant white annula- tions regularly arranged, the first girding the middle of the head, which is also margined with white ; head oblong, truncate and emarginate in front ; neck dis- tinct ; genital aperture just before neck below. Length 4 inches. Hab. China. 382 [June, 59. Meckelia albo-vittata. Slender, gra3S-green ; head truncated, a little narrower than the body, margined with white and crossed by a white band at a point about the middle of the lateral fissures. Length 3 inches. Hab. Loo Choo. 60. Meckelia sinensis. Subcjlindrical, head elongated, narrowiDg to a small truncate extremity ; neck well defined ; color of body dark reddish-brown, head sprinkled with minute patches of the same. Length \\ inches. Hab. China. 61. Meckelia rubella. Short, broad posteriorly, of a pale salmon color ; head very small, pointed ; neck slightly contracted ; lateral slits of great length, extending far behind the neck. Length 2 inches. Hab. China. 62. Meckelia nigra. Thick, narrowed and truncate anteriorly, flattened be- hind ; color black ; head comparatively large, elongated, with the lateral slits extending as far as the slightly contracted neck ; mouth white. Length 3 inches. Hab. China. AMPHIPODA. 63. Phoxus geniculatus. Rostrum very long, pointed ; eyes white ; superior antennas biflagellate, flagellae equal, 10-articulate ; members with simple hairs ; third and fourth articles of the third and fourth pairs of legs dilated ; rami of the posterior caudal styles unequal, the outer ones long, three-jointed ; color white. Length \ inch. Hab. Japan. 64. Phoxds obtusus. Rostrum short concave, its extremity rounded ; appen- dicula of the superior antennae very short ; legs of the first four pairs slender ; third and fourth pairs with unexpanded joints, and spinose extremities ; hair3 simple, except on the fifth pair of legs, where they are long and plumose ; last pair of caudal styles with flattened, lanceolate rami, the external ones longest ; caudal extremity with two lamelliform processes, emarginate at the extremities. Length \ inch. Hab. Japan. 65. Dercothoe? productus. Ophthalamic lobes of head much produced, bearing the eyes at their rounded extremities ; antennae of equal length, one- half that of the body, with few long hairs: flagella with ten much elongated articulations ; hands four, subequal, oblong ; posterior caudal stylets with short rami, the outer ones uniform, the inner minute, spine-like ; caudal scale sub- cordiform, pointed behind. Length f inch. Hab. Tanegasima. 66. Amphithoe filigera. Body thick about the middle, compressed towards the extremities ; a few setiferous points on the posterior abdominal segments ; epimerals large ; eyes rounded, bright vermillion ; antennas very slender, the su- perior ones nearly as long as the body, their hair-like, 40-articulate flagella con- stituting four-fifths of their length ; hands in the male subequal, of moderate size, very hairy, deeply notched below for the reception of the closed finger; cau- dal stylets of the last pair short, ovate or heart-shaped, with small papilliform rami. Color, olive punctate ; epimerals greenish. Length } inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 67. Gammarus flabellifer. Slender, smooth posteriorly ; superior antennae half as long as the body, flagella 20-articulate, appendicula 5-articulate ; hands oblong-elliptic; with a fusiform area below surrounded by short setae; eyes email, round, black ; rami of posterior pair of caudal stylets long, lamelliform, elliptical, equal spreading like a fan. Length § inch. Hab. Loo Choo. 68. Gammarus tenuicornis. Compressed, posterior segments of the abdomen 1855.] 383 with two or three short setae on the back ; superior antennae as long as the body, with 22-articulate flagella, appendicula triarticulate ; eyes small, circular ; hands hairy, second pair largest ; caudal stylets of the first and second pairs with very slender, smooth rami ; posterior pair with the external ramus long, thick, styli- form, setose, the internal one extremely minute ; terminal processes of consider- able length, curved, each surmounted by a long spinule. Color blackish-olive. LeDgth J inch. Ilab. Loo Choo. 69. Leucothoe styltfera. Antennae of equal length, one fifth that of the body ; flagella of the very slender inferior ones triarticulate ; eyes small, subre- niform, broadest above, dark-red ; epimerals rather large; especially the fourth pair ; bands as in L. furina, granchmanus, etc . ; coxae with wide expansions, some- what produced interiorly ; caudal stylets nearly smooth, sharp, much elongated, last pair much exceeding the first, and with large peduncles. Color pale orange. Length ^ inch. Bab. Japan. 70. Allorchestes rubricornis. Smooth, compressed ; eyes suboval, black, widening below; inferior antennae two-thirds the length of the body, with 25- articulate flagella, articulations nearly as broad as long, with few short hairs ; superior antenLae two thirds as long as the inferior ones, flagella 13-articulate ; large hands of male nearly smooth below; hands of female slender, with fingers of one-fourth their length ; posterior pair of caudal stylets conical. Color pale olive ; antennae always red. Length § inch. Ilab. Uusima, Boninsima. 71. Allorchestes penicillata. Penultimate article and first four segments of the inferior antennae furnished with spreading pencils or plume3 of long setae ; first pair of caudal stylets with a long curved spine, arising near the bases of the rami and nearly equalling them in length ; epimerals, legs, etc., of medium size, as in the preceding species. Color greenish. Length ^ inch. Ilab. Otisima. 72. Allorchestes japonica. Smooth posteriorly ; inferior antennae stout, one-fourth as long as the body, and twice as long as the superior ones ; flagella of both with twelve oblong articulations, with extremely short, numerous setae. Head rather small ; eyes large, black, very broad oval, closely approaching each other above; large hands of male notched below ; posterior pair of caudal sty- lets very minute; a prominent contraction at the fourth abdominal segment above. Color olive ; epimerals and legs shaded with red. Length \ inch. Ilab. Japan. 73. Orchestia pollicifera. Male with stout inferior antennae, the flagella of which form one third their length ; first pair of legs small, chelate, with the penult and antepenult articles produced below into thumb-like processes; 2nd pair with ovate hands of moderate size. Female with slender inferior antennae, flagella 12-articulate ; superior ones as long as the first two joints of the others ; legs of the first pair simple ; second pair with small hands, having a minute la- teral finger. Color pale brownish ; eyes rather small, round, black. Caudal stylets short, rami sub-conical. Length three-fifths of an inch. Hob. Loo Choo. 74. Coropiiium contractum. Antennae equal in length, which is one-fourth that of the body ; superior ones with 4-articulate flagella ; inferior ones very thick, with minute terminal articles; posterior pair of legs rather long, with long plumose seta3 along the edges of the coxae. Color yellowish, eyes black. Length \ inch. Ilab. Japan. 75. Caprella luctator. Smooth, rather slender; first article of superior an- tennae thickened, one-third as long as the second, which equals the third ; fla- 384 [June, gellum 16-articulate; hands of the second pair large, tridentate below, teeth unequal ; posterior legs robust, with large unidentate hands. Length 1 inch. Hab. Janegasima. 76. Caprella gracilis. Slender, smooth, with a slender curved rostrum ; second article of superior antennas as long as the first and third together ; poste- rior legs very slender, the seventh pair twice as long as the fifth. Length f inch. Hab. Japan. The Monthly Report of the Corresponding Secretary was read and adopted. ELECTION. Lieut. Madison Rush, U. S. N.; Dr. J. J. Woodward, and Mr. Samuel Smyth, of Philadelphia, were elected Members. 1855.] 385 July 17th, 1855. Major Le Conte in the Chair. A letter was read from the Corresponding Secretary of the Califor- nia Academy of Natural Sciences, transmitting the Proceedings of that Society, vol. i. pp. 1 — 45. Dr. Leidy presented a paper intended for publication in the Proceed- ings, entitled, " Descriptions of some new Marine Invertebrata, by William Stimpson, Zoologist to the U. S. Surveying Expedition to the North Pacific, Japan Seas, &c, under Commander C. Ringgold, U. S. N." Communicated by the Smithsonian Institution. Referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Bridges and Mr. Cassin. July 2±ih. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated Albany, 20th July, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of last No. of the Proceed- ings. From the Smithsonian Institution, dated Washington, March 26, and June 16th, 1855, also acknowledging receipt of same, and of the Journal, Part i. Vol. iii. From C. F. Hagedorn, Esq., Bavarian Consul, announcing the de- cease of Dr. J. G. Fliigel, of Leipsic. Dr. J. Aitken Meigs read a paper intended for publication in the Journal, entitled, " Relation of Atomic Heat to Crystalline Form." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Bridges and Dr. Drysdale. July 31st. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The Committee on Mr. Stimpson's paper, read 17th inst., reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Descriptions of som°. new Marine Invertebrata. By Wm. Stimpson, Zoologist to the U. S. Surveying Expedition to North Pacific, Japan Seas, etc., under direction of Commander C. Ringgold, U. S. N. (Communicated by the Smithsonian Institution.) ECHINODERMATA. 1. Ophiothrix spongicola. Disk covered with short spines, except on the large triangular plates at the bases of the arms ; the sides with scattered, mi- nute spines; the interbrachial plates below subrhombic ia shape. Arms in length seven times the diameter of the disk, broad near their origins but very slender at their extremities ; lateral spines six in each row, the upper ones being largest, subclavate, with rounded extremities, compressed and distantly serrated. PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. VII. NO. X. 30 386 [July, The spines near the extremities of the arms are, however, generally pointed. Disk reddish, with black spots symmetrically arranged ; arms red, broadly annu- late with black; spines pale brownish. Diameter, 4 inches. Found among soft sponges in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 2. Ophiothrix planulata. Disk and arms much depressed ; the latter in length ten times the width of the former. Disk small, smooth and glossy above ; arm-plates broadly triangular, separated from each other by a row of the small plates with which the rest of the disk is covered. Below, the sides of the disk, between the arms, are soft and covered with short spines ; the interbrachial plates subrhombic, but not very distinct. The mouth-fissures have each two large suckers, but no papillae on their sides. Arms suddenly tapering at the middle ; their superior plates trapezoidal and minutely granulated ; lateral spines five in each row, the middle ones largest, compressed, with blunt extremi- ties, longitudinally striated, and denticulated on their edges. Disk dark green- ish ; arms colored with red and light brown alternately : below white. Taken in fifteen fathoms among dead corals, on " Groper Shoal," in S. Lat., 20° E. Lon. 3. Ophiolepis perplexfs. Arms filiform, in length about seventeen times the diameter of the disk. Dorsal surface of the disk covered with small scales, the arm-plates of each pair being elongated, very narrow, broadest exteriorly, and including a triangular space between them ; ventral surface with the inter- brachial plates broader than long ; mouth with a pair of large scale-like papillae at the summit of each projecting angle, and a pair at the base of each fissure. Lateral spines of the arms five in number in each row, short, thick, and pointed. Disk above dark greyish ; arms purplish-brown, darker and lighter alternately ; below reddish. The disk is very soft and is always cast by the animal when caught; the slender arms then twisting together in all directions. Found in the circumlittoral zone in mud. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 4. Thyone buccalis. Subfusiform, of a brownish-grey color, with the suck- erg small, uniformly distributed over the whole surface. Anus with five cal- careous papillce. Tentacula much branched, ten in number, two of which are much smaller than the rest. The oral column is the most remarkable feature in this species, it being about one-half as long as the body, and consisting of a flexible calcareous cylinder, contorted below, and sending ten short spurs of points upward, and five pairs of long twisted ones downward. Its flexibility is owing to the circumstance that its calcareous matter is deposited in the form of irregular plates connected by softer parts. The inferior spurs thus seem jointed. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, 0.35 inches. Taken near low water mark, under stones. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 5. Chirodota Australiana. Small, and very slender ; surface covered with papillae of two kinds ; the smaller and less conspicuous of which are spread everywhere, and consist of accumulations of spiculse, which are hooked at one extremity and slightly bent at the other. The larger kind are scattered, quite thickly, along one side of the body only ; and are prominent, circular, white, calcareous, varying in size from l-40th to l-20th of an inch in diameter ; they are composed of accumulations of minute, sis-spoked wheels. The tentacula are ten in number, each having ten serrulated digitations, placed on the outer and the lateral margins of a sort of disk, which forms the anterior half of the inner side of the tentacle. Color, pale yellowish. Length, 2 inches; breadth, 0.2 inch. Found under stones, near low-water mark. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 6. Synapta dolabripera. Slender, but rather short, of a dirty yellowish co- lor ; skin very thickly provided with hook-bearing plates, which have usually 1855.] 387 about ten perforations, the middle ones largest. The hamulae are a little larger than the plates, pickaxe-shaped, with the extremity of the handle also provided with a double hook, though of very small size. Tentacula twelve, digitate nearly to their bases ; digitations short, about fourteen in number to each ten- tacle. Length 2 inches. Found under stones, near low-water mark. Hab. Australia, at Fort Jackson. TUNICATA. 7. Cynthia angularis. Small, elongated, with a small base, and seven or eight longitudinal ridges ; test coriaceous, nearly smooth between the ridges, of a pale yellowish color ; apertures square, at the extremities of short tubes which are placed close together at the extremity of the body; each tube with four longitudinal reddish bands corresponding to the angles. Length, 1 inch : breadth, 0.3 inch. On sea- weeds in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 8. Cynthia l.evissima. Egg-shaped ; test very thick, of a pale orange color, very smooth and glossy ; apertures small, red. Branchial sac with about 20 folds, and with twenty elongated, fimbriated tentacles at its apertures. Some of these tentacles, as is usually the case in this genus, are much smaller than the others. Length 1 inch. Found under stones in the lower part of ihe litto- ral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 9. Cynthia sabulosa. Rounded, laterally compressed, usually attached by one or more short stalks. Test strong and hard, but not very thick ; surface covered with sandy particles, which adhere so strongly as to form part of its substance. Apertures on slight prominences, the branchial largest and dotted with black. Branchial folds eight in number, narrower than their interspaces. Branchial tentacles simple, filamentary, long and very numerous. Diameter 1 inch. Found in the circumlittoral zone, on muddy bottoms. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 10. Cynthia dumosa. Globular, of a yellowish-brown color ; surface villous, and provided with numerous stout, sub-conical processes of the test, which have short irregular branches. Apertures cross-shaped when contracted ; the bran- chial more than twice the size of the anal. Branchial sac with twelve very large folds, which are much broader than their interspaces. Tentacula also twelve in number, including four or five small ones ; biserrate, folded longitudi- nally, and curved so as to present their pinnae toward the branchial cavity. Di- ameter 1 inch. Found in the circumlittoral zone, on muddy bottoms. Hxb. Australia, at Port Jackson. 11. Molgula inconspicua. Small, free, bullet-shaped; test thin, brittle, with a thin but solid coating of sand; apertures clear, transparent white; the branchial six- rayed; the anal with four well-marked lobes. Branchial sac with eight fold3 equalling their interspaces in width. Diameter, half an inch. Found in the circumlittoral zone, on sandy bottoms. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 12. Ascidia SYDNEiENSis. Gregarious, several specimens growing together in one mass. Test irregular in shape, thin, often translucent, of a pale purplish color. Apertures on long tubes, which are marked with longitudinal ridges corresponding in number with the rays of the apertures ; the branchial having seven, the anal six rays. Branchial sac finely reticulated, the transverse threads much less prominent than the longitudinal ones. Tentacula simple, thread-like, about one hundred in number, curved and projecting into the cavity so as to form a dome-like filter for the water as it enters the branchial sac. LeDgtb l\ inches. Found near low-water mark, among rocks. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 388 [July, 13. Ascidia succida. Test thick, cartilaginous, juicy, irregularly lobed, espe- cially near the apertures, which are sessile, rather large, valvate, and difficult to detect in the contracted specimen. Branchial sac reticulated, the reticulations sharply projecting, the transverse striae, being as prominent as the longitudinal ones, which are about ninety in number. Tentacles simple, filamentary, dis- tantly arranged around the entrance of the sac, and only twenty in number. Color of the posterior part of the body purplish ; the rest much paler ; aper- tures ferruginous. Length lj inches. Found near low-water mark, among stones. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. NUDIBRANCHIATA. : 14. Eolis cacaotica. Slender, tapering posteriorly to a fine point; of a clear pale rose color on the body above, and on the anterior margin of the foot. Ten- tacula rather short, rose-colored; the orals a little the longest ; dorsals tipped with white, and having a ring of white at the base ; eyes large and conspicuous Branchiae of a dark chocolate color, compressed, tipped with white ; arranged in eight or ten clusters, and placed on the sides of the body, aateriorly, leaving much of the back bare ; more numerous and crowded posteriorly so that the clusters become indistinct. Length lj inches. Found under stones, in the lit- toral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 15. Tbitonia pallida. Truncate in front, tapering gradually behind ; of a transparent white color, with a few Sake-white spots on the back ; oral veil large, with eight elongated digitations, four on each side ; tentacles rather long, with their sheaths having waved edges, and the filaments around the truncated extremity of a dark brownish color. Branchiae small, margined with flake- white, extending in a line on each side along the upper edges of the body; the more conspicuous tufts being sixteen in number, having smaller ones between them. A white line extends below and parallel to the branchiae, on the sides of the body. Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 0.25 inch. On rocky bottoms, in the coralline zone. Hab. False Bay, Cape of Good Hope. 16. Triopa lucida. Depressed, broadest anteriorly ; clavate appendages constricted at their bases, in number about forty, numerous and small in size at the head, the posterior ones largest. Tentacula long, with about twelve lami- nae. In front of each tentacle, near the margin, stands a clavate process much longer than the others. Branchiae consisting of three plumes, about equal in size. Color uniform transparent white, except that the tentacula, branchiae, and appendages are all of a yellowish color towards their extremities. The tips of the clavae appear open or hollow from their transparency. Length, 0 8 inch. Found under stones, at low-water mark. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 17. Goxiodoris ? obscuba. Oblong, quadrilateral; cloak broad, widely projec- ting so as to conceal the oral tentacles anteriorly, and tapering from opposite the branchiae, to a blunt point behind, disclosing the foot, which extends further to a distance of one-fourth the length of the body. Dorsal tentaculae elonga- ted, retractile, smooth and glossy to appearance, but having from twelve to four- teen laminae. Branchiae retractile, consisting of twelve elongated, simply-pin- nate leaflets, which form a cup around the anus. Color a dark greenish, or yellowish grey, with numerous black and yellow dots; a row of black spots is conspicuous, margining both the mantle and the foot. Head and oral tentacles bluish-grey. Dorsal tentacles with red tips. Length, \\ inches ; breadth, 0.3 inch. Found among soft sponges in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. This species, with another closely allied and occurring in the same locality form a genus probably new. It differs from Goniodorus, in having retractile ten- 1855.] 389 tacula, and in the greater development of the mantle; and from Boris by the elevated, oblong, quadrangular shape of the body. I would propose for it the name of Hypselodoris. 18. Doris obtusa. Body very convex above; of a pale yellowish color, with brownish spots ; mantle covered with minute crowned tubercles. Tentacula short, of a purplish brown color, with five transverse laminae at their tips, where they are broadly and obliquely truncated. Branchiae cousisting of a crown of eight short, simply pinnate leaflets. Length, 0.35 inch. Found among sponges in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 19. Doris excavata. Broad, depressed, of a yellowish color ; mantle widely expanded, covered with minute, distant, tubercles. Foot broad in front, narrow behind and projecting a little distance bpyond the posterior margin of the man- tle. Tentacula of a purplish-brown color. Branchiae consisting of five large, much branched plumes, which are retractile into a large, widely-open cavity. Length, 0.7 inch; breadth, 0.4 inch. Found among stone3, etc., in the cir- cumlittoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. TURBELLARIA. 20. Leptoplana patellarum. Large, dilated, depressed, nearly ovate in shape, broadest behind. Eyes in four clusters ; the anterior ones elongated and near- est each other; the posterior ones rounded and situated on ware- like protube- rances. Color above dark yellowish, mottled, darkest in the middle ; below white. Length, 0.9 inch : breadth, 0.65 inch. Found under the large lime- pits which are common on the rocks at half-tide in Simon's Bay, Gape of Good Hope. DIONCUS, n. g. Corpus planum, dilatatum. Caput corpore continuum. Os subcentrale. Ocelli numerosi, in umbones duos claros subdistantes dispositi. Maricolae. 21. D oncds badius. Body half as broad as long, of a reddish-brown color, above, with a flake-white dust intermixed. Anteriorly there are two colorless, slightly prominent, circular knobs, which contain, scattered over the whole sur- face, the very numerous and minute eyes. Below, the body is of a pale sepia color, except the white digestive organs ; and the mouth is placed behind the centre. Length, 1.5 inches; breadth, 0.75 inch. Found under stones in the littoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 22. Dioncus obloxgus. Oblong-oval, of a pale, transparent, brownish-grey color above. Eye-clus ers two, black, conspicuous, each surrounded by a ring of white; the few large eye spots being crowded together at the summit only of the oculiferous knobs. Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 0.35 inches. Found under stones in the littoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 23. Thysanozoon Australe. Oval, rather broad, of a dark color, mottled with blackish and brownish above; papillae large, about sixty in number, nearly equal in size on all parts of the body. Eyes numerous, in an oval white patch between the bases of the tentacula, which is nearly divided in two by a wedge- shaped clear space entering from behind. Length, 1 inch; breadth, 0.6 inch. Found on soft sponges in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 24. Valencixia annulata. Elongated, convex above : head broad, abruptly truncated in front with a slight sinus at the middle, rounded at the sides and narrowing gradually to the neck. Color purplish-brown, with a pale-yellowish band across the head, and a narrow white annulation around the body just be- 390 [July, hind the neck, which is followed by other similar rings at regular distances throughout the length of the body, to the number of about sixteen. A narrow median dorsal white line, commencing at the head, and two lateral ones, one on each side, communicating at the neck, also extend throughout. Length, 3 inches ; breadth, at the middle, 0.08 inch. On weedy sand in the circumlit- toral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 25. Polia rhomboidalis. Convex, largest anteriorly, of a pale reddish color, with darker sub-margined longitudinal stripes. Head narrower than the body, rounded in front ; neck slightly marked. Eyes in four clusters ; with four ocelli in each cluster, arranged at the angles of a diamond-shaped area. Tbe clusters of the posterior pair are much the smaller, and are placed in the dark spots forming the commencement of the longitudinal stripes. Length, 1 inch : breadth, 0.05 inch. Found in the littoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 26. Polia grisea. Elongated, subcylindrical, of a grey color; head distinct, subtriangular, much narrower than the body, and separated from it by a well- marked neck. Eyes in four clusters ; two irregular rows on each side of the head to the number of twenty more ; while on each side of the neck there is an elongated, oblique, reddish spot, with two or three ocelli along it3 outer edge. Length, 0.8 inch. Found on sand-fiats in the litteral zone. Hab. Coast of Virginia, at Norfolk. 27. Tetrastemma insicum. Minute, slender, convex, broadest behind the middle ; head with the eyes distinct, and with a lateral fold between the ante- rior and posterior pairs, and one also behind the posterior pair. Color pale- brownish. Length, 0.4 inch ; breadth, 0.025 inch. On weedy sand in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. ^ 28. Meckelia olivacea. Slender, convex above, especially anteriorly where is also the greatest breadth ; head with a longitudinal slit which extends far down each side, and is covered by a slight vertical notch at the anterior ex- tremity; genital opening large, on the lower surface of the neck, just behind the termination of the lateral slit. Color anteriorly very dark greenish, or oli- vaceous ; posteriorly a much paler green, Length, 3 inches ; breadth, 0.1 inch. Common in sandy bottoms in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. GEPHYREA. 29. Phascolosomum noduliferum. Sub-fusiform broad, terminating in a point posteriorly, of a pale brownish color; surface with numerous hard, dark- brown, large, elevated tubercles, which are uniformly scattered, and extend much beyond the arms toward tbe proboscis, around the base of which they become smaller. Proboscis smooth, except near its extremity, where it isannulated with narrow, crowded, delicate, black rings, which are seen by means of a magnifyer to be composed of minute echinulations. Mouth with two clusters of short ten- tacles or fimbriations, of different lengths. Color pale brown. Length of the body, 1.15 ; breadth, 0.4 inch. Under stones in the littoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 30. Phascolosomum semicinctum. Of a light brown color, with bluish re- flections ; surface very smooth in appearance, but showing, under a magnifyer, a few minute, black, granulations, distantly scattered. Proboscis very long, an- nulated with narrow black rings towards the extremity ; mouth with two tufts of blunt tentacula. Found in holes in coral, etc., in the coralline zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, in False Bay. In both these species the generative organs are placed one on each side of 1855.] 391 the rectum ; their openings externally are indicated by a bluish spot on each side of, and distant from, the anus. ANNELIDA. 31. Tecturella ltjctator. Subquadrilateral, turrited above, of the same thickness throughout except toward the posterior extremity ; the rings usually indicated by transverse folds of the envelope which is loose and flabby when the animal is alive, agglutinating sand, and of a yellowish-green color. Rings about forty in number. Anterior tentacles capable of being protruded to con- siderable length, when they are smooth and cylindrical. Posterior tentacles dark green, slender, and very numerous, in two clusters. Superior setae capil- lary, as long as the inferior ones, and eight in number in each of the compressed fascicles which contain them. Inferior pinnae containing each a single long stout hooked seta. Length, 1.5 inch. Found loosely attached under atones near low-water mark. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 32. Siphonostomum l/Eve. Body thickest near the middle, suddenly tapering and slender posteriorly ; much smoother than is usual in the genus, showing only the delicate, close, slightly-raised annulations. Superior setae capillary ; inferior ones short, strong, curved, but not hooked. Setas of three segments di- rected forward ; those of the first in four fan-like clusters, arranged so as to form a circle around the mouth ; those of the second segment much fewer in number, and placed on the sides of the body only; those of the third rot con- spicuous. Anterior tentacles long, diverging ; posterior ones shorter, slender, about twenty in number, arranged in a half*circle as in Sabella. Colors : body pale reddish ; tentacles zonate with white, brownish, and pale green. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, 0.2 inch. Found in holes which it forms in fragments of corals, in the coralline zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at False Bay. 33. Chjetopterus capensis. Small, short, having a general resemblance to C. pergamentaceus ; inhabiting a papyraceus tube. Annulations about thirty in number. Cephalic ring equalling in size the succeeding or first ring. In the first eight rings, the superior pinnae only are developed, and are provided with long lanceolated setae ; those of the third pair, however, have a fasciculus of stout black truncated setae at their bases. Inferior pinnae first appearing on the ninth riug, and provided with short uncinate setas, which have each six or eight uncinas, occupying the whole length of their edges. Dorsal pinnas of the tenth ring expanded into wing-like lobes ; ventral pinna* united into a transverse disc, as is also the case on the 11th, 12th and 13tb. In the lltb — 15th rings the dor- sal pinnas are united to form sacs, of which those of the 14th and 15th are much the smallest, and compressed above ; the ventral shields of these two rings are compressed, bilobate, and protruded so as to lose the disc-like form. Dorsal pinnas of the 16th and succeeding rings large and finger-shaped, with capillary setae ; — posteriorly they grow more slender but not much shorter. In these ring3 the ventral pinnas form four lobes. Length 2 inches. Found in the cir- cumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 34. Chcetopterus luteus. Long and slender, cylindrical, of nearly the same thickness throughout; color lemon-yellow. Tube thin, membranous within, exteriorly composed of mud. Rings about forty in number. Ventral shields of the 14th and 15th rings disk-like as in the others; those of the posterior rings with the two middle lobes only developed. Dorsal pinna? of the posterior rings full and lobe-like at the base, but suddenly tapering into a long sheath for their few capillary setae. Length three inches. Found abundantly on muddy bot- toms in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 35. Cirratulus al'Stralis. Large, rounded above, and flattened below, pos- 392 [July, teriorly tapering. Head obtuse, eyes none; neck with two crowded clusters of filaments, one on each side of the back at the fourth segment; body with a se- ries of filaments along each side, one to each ring; which, however, are in most specimens wantiog on some of the rings. Setae in two rows on each side ; the superior ones capillary ; the inferior ones (except anteriorly) short, stout and arranged three in number to each ramus. Color greenish or reddish-brown. Length, 9 inches ; breadth, 0 45 inch. Found in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Ope of Good Hope, False Bay. 36. Glycera Krai/ssii. Of a light flesh color, composed of about 100 closely- eet rings, at the 10th of which the breadth is greatest. Head subtriangular, with 16 segments; terminal tentacula scarcely perceptible. Proboscis smooth, in length one-fourth that of the body ; teeth small, much curved. Pinnae quadri- lobate ; the few superior setae capillary ; the inferior ones very numerous and falcate. Inferior cirrus large, lobe-like, placed close to the pinnae ; superior cir- rus placed on the side of the body, remote from the pinnae. The branchial tonguelet was retracted in the specimen examined. Length, 2 inches. Found in the circumlittoral zone, on sandy bottoms. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 37. Nkphthys longipes. Body somewhat depressed, of a bluish-white color, narrow in comparison with the length of the pinnae which project to a distance equalling its width, on each side. Rings about eighty in number. Tentacula small, placed rather near the base of the head, two on each side. Proboscis with the terminal cirri short, the lateral ones large, curving backward, and co- vering the anterior half of the organ, in eight circular approximated rows. Pinnae large ; their membranous leaflets very narrow ; the setae capillary, of great length, and equal in number in the superior and inferior pinnae. Branchial tonguelet large, much curved ; often with a smaller one placed close to it on the superior pinnae. Length, 3 inches; breadth, 0.42; of the body alone, 0.16 inch. In sand at low-watermark. Hab. Australia, at Botany Bay. 38. Lysidice robusta. Body much thicker than is usual in the genus ; very convex above, and flat below ; of a copper color. Rings very closely-set, about one hundred and twenty in number. Head concealed, but provided with three conspicuous, tri-articulate tentacula, and with two large rounded lobes below. Proboscis very short ; jaws very strong, calcareous externally, corneous within. Neck equalling the succeeding two rings together in size. Pinnae very small ; superior cirrus large, inferior one short; superior setae capillary, lanceolated but tapering to a long hair-like extremity ; inferior ones falcate with short smooth terminal joints; acicle blunt, of a dark-brown color. Length, 2.8 inches; breadth, 0.15 inch. Found under stones near low-water mark. Hub. Australia, at Port Jackson. 39. Nereis mendax, Small, rather slender, largest anteriorly, flattened pos- teriorly. Head elongated, narrow, with the terminal tentacles well developed and extending somewhat beyond the thick inferior ones ; tentacula cirri very slender, variable in length, but usually reaching beyond the tentacles ; eyes very conspicuous, the posterior ones largest and nearest to each other. Pinnae rather large, anterior ones with pointed lingulae, and dorsal and ventral cirri ; in the posterior pinnae the superior lingula loses its cirrus, and expands into a broad lamella. Color variable ; pale red, or brownish, often farinaceous posteriorly ; always with a dorsal line of flake-white, and a white spot between the eyes. Length, 1.5 inches; breadth, 0.2 inch. It inhabits a tube. Common in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at False Bay. 40. Nereis operta. ■ Large, of an uniform dark sepia color above, paler be- low and posteriorly. Head short, eyes nearly hidden under the integument ; in- ferior tentacles extending beyond the others. Anterior pinnae with blunt lin- 1855.] . 393 gulae, large superior cirri, and very stout inferior seta?. Posteriorly the cirri are reduced, the superior lingula compressed and slightly expanded, bearing the cir- rus upon its upper edge. Maxilla* broad, little curved, and nearly smooth on their inner edges. Length, 4 inches ; breadth, 0.35 inch. Found among rocks at low-water mark. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 41. Lepidonote semitecta. Scales about twelve in number on each side, so small as to reach each other without overlapping and to leave the middle of the back bare. Head quadrangular with four minute eyes ; and five tentacles, the median largest, the exterior ones longer than the intermediates, but like those annulated with black. Lateral cirri short, each with a black ring near its lip. Color greyish-crimson, with black dots along the middle of the back. Scales bright crimson, except at their attachments where they are white. Length 1 inch ; breadih, 0.3 inch. Found at low-water mark, in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. CHORISTOPODA. 42. Anthura polita. Cylindrical, smooth and shining; the seventh segment nearly as large as the sixth. Head small, inferior antennae as long as the head, somewhat larger than the superior ones and placed before them ; eyes very mi- nute, black, placed rather on the sides of the head at the anterior corners. Legs of the first pair very thick, the rest slender. Abdomen short and broad. Color pale greyish, mottled. Length, 0.9 inch; breadth, 0 13 inch. Found at the depth of two inches in sand, above half-tide. Hab. Coast of the United States, at Norfolk. 43. Anthura punctata. Anterior segments elongated and slender, the sixth broadest, the seventh very short, and bearing a much smaller pair of legs than the others. Head scarcely narrower than the first thoracic segment, with a slight rosirum, and large black eyes at the anterior corners ; the inferior an- tennae largest. The first three pairs of legs have much larger hands than the posterior ones ; those of the first pair being somewhat shorter and thicker than the others. Color greyish above, from the numerous minute, black punctations ; pale yellowish or whitish below. Length, 0.8 inch ; breadth, 0.8 inch. Found among Gorgonias in the coralline zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 44. Anthura catenula. Very slender, whitish, with a hollow square of black on each segment above, giving a chain-like appearance to the back ; head smaller than the first thoracic segment; antenna? rather long; eyes black, at the anterior corners of the first square of color; anterior pair of legs short, thick, and with strong, sub-cheliform hands; remaining legs slender. Abdo- men slightly depressed, wi*h a black transverse bar, and a few symmetrically ar- ranged black spots posteriorly. Length, 0.7 inch ; breath, 0.06 inch. Found under stones at low-water mark. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 45. Anthura laevigata. Body smooth and shining, transparent white, ex- cept a few crimson spots at the extremities. Head narrow ; antennae small, flat- tened; eyes minute, red. First three pairs of legs stout, with equal, sub-cheli- form hands; posterior leg3 slender. Abdomen with its posterior funnel-shaped cavity large, and with its anterior segments well-marked. Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 0.2 inch. On sandy bottoms in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 46. Caprella solitaria. Smooth, slender, bright crimson ; superior an- tennae with large peduncles, inferior ones slender, sub-pediform. Head with a strong spine, pointed forward, between the minute eyes. Hands large, with two 394 [July, spines within, the largest next the finger. Branchial leaflets of the third and, fourth segments very small. Posterior legs with their terminal articles much curved. Length, 0.6 inch ; breadth, 0.05 inch. A single specimen, the only caprella taken at the Cape, occurred on a gravelly bottom in Simon's Bay. 47. Iphimedia obesa. Robust, thick ; superior antennae longest, in length two-thirds that of the body, and with thick basal articles. Eyes very large, sub-reniform, black. Feet of the first two pairs with equal subcheliform hands of moderate size. Caudal stylets slender, smooth ; the posterior ones bi- ramous. Tail terminating in one elongated scale. Color crimson with flake-white blotches. Length, 0.25 inch. Found in the circumlittoral zone, on weedy and sandy bottoms. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 48. (Edicertjs fossor. Body rounded above; abdomen with the third and fourth articles compressed and raised above into a sharp crest. Head with small round black eyes ; superior and inferior antennas equal, with stout flagella forming half their length, each flagellum consisting of about eighteen articles, aad having a serrated appearance from the produced, spine-like inferior corners of each article. Mandibles palpigerous. External maxillipeds much elongated, and curving downward. Feet of the first two pairs with equal, rather broad, ovate hands, the finger being one-half as long as the hand; those of the third and fourth pairs with the terminal article sub-ovate or paddle-shaped, with a rounded extremity covered with hairs, without an unguiculus ; fifth and sixth pairs very short, with a compressed, clavate, or cutlass-shaped terminal article. Epimera of the fifth pair very large, square. Caudal stylets all bi-ramous ; those of the third pair with flattened rami, very hairy on their inner edges. Color white with a few blackish spots. Length 0.2 inch. Found in the littoral zone ; concealing themselves in the sand as they are washed out from it by suc- cessive waves. Hab. Australia, at Botany Bay. 49. Gammaeds rubro-macttlatus. Rather large, spotted with crimson above, white below. Eyes sub-ovate. Superior antennae half as long as the body, inferior ones much shorter and more slender. First pair of hands very small and weak; those of the second pair large, compressed, and with a sharp spine at the middle of the lower edge, where the finger terminates. Abdomen exceeding the thorax in length, or at least equalling it, the appendages excluded. Last pair of caudal stylets half as long as the abdomen ; their rami long and broad, equal, and spinulated along their edges. Length half an inch. Found on muddy bottoms in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Australia, at Port Jackson. 50. Leucothoe affinis. Robust, thick anteriorly, narrowed much at the abdomen, of a crimson color, mottled with white. Antennae equal in length, slender, uniform in thickness as far as the short flagellum, where they abruptly diminish in size. Eyes large, ovate, broadest above, whitish, with black beneath. First pair of hands with the thumb and first article of the bi-articulate finger greatly elongated and slender ; second pair of hands very large, ovate formed of the penult joint, with a parallel curved thumb projecting from the antepenult. Legs very slender, the posterior pair longest. Length, 0.5 inch. Found on a gravelly bottom in the coralline zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at False Bay. 51. Anonyx variegatus. Large, slightly compressed; back rounded, smooth and glossy, with a sinus at the abdomen. Antennae about equal in length, the superior ones thickened to the origin of the accessory flagellum, which is short and hair-like, equal in size with the true flagellum. Eyes large, black, reni- form. First pair of le,gs with an elongated, tapering hand, and a minute finger ; basal joints of the posterior pairs smooth. Caudal stylets elongated and slen- der. Coler yellowish mottled with brown, .with scattered white dots. Length, 0.8 inch. On sandy bottoms in the circumlittoral zone. Hab. Cape of Good Hope, at Simon's Bay. 1855.] 395 The Committee on a paper by Dr. J. Aitken Meigs, entitled " Re- lation of Atomic Heat to Crystalline Form." reported in favor of publi- cation in the Journal. On leave granted, Dr. Leidy presented for publication in the Pro- ceedings a paper entitled " Indications of twelve species of Fossil Fishes," which was referred to the following Committee : Mr. Cassin, Dr. Le Conte and Dr. Hallowell. On leave granted, Dr. Carson presented a paper, intended for publi- cation in the Journal, entitled " Descriptions of a new species of Carica, by Jose del Solar, of Lima, Peru." Referred to Dr. Carson, Dr. Bridges and Major Le Conte. ELECTION. The Rev. Henry S. Spackman, Mr. Stacy B. Barcroft, Dr. Richard Clements, and Dr. Henry Tiedemann, of Philadelphia, were elected Members. August 28th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The Committee to whom was referred Dr. Leidy's paper, entitled " Indications of twelve species of Fossil Fishes," reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Indications of Twelve Species of Fossil Fishes. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. 1. Myliobates serratus. Based upon a specimen consisting of four median dental plates, with parts of two others and the first row on each side of lateral dental plates. The triturating surface of the specimen is quite level, except that it is slightly depressed along the median line, and slopes off in a concave manner. The median dental plates are united by sutures slightly convex forward, and distinctly serrated at their outer part. The first row of lateral dental plates are nearly hexagons, and they are connected with each other and with the median plates by distinctly serrated suture. The attaching surface of the specimens forms two planes inclining to a median, convex angle. Breadth of median plates 10 J lines, width antero-posteriorly If lines. Locality. Discovered by Dr. C. H. Budd, in the Green Sand of Burlington Co., New Jersey. Remarks. The specimen closely resembles a corresponding one characterized by Agassiz, as Myliobates suturalis. 2. Myliobates rugosus. Based upon a specimen, consisting of four median dental plates, indicating a large species of the genus, though not so large as the Myliobates Holmesii, Gibbes, which, however, appears rather to be an Aetobatis, judging from Dr. Gibbes' figures,* of the same type as the A. eximius. The two latter might be considered as the representatives of a new genus, in which there exists a median row of dental plates, and a single row laterally of small tri- lateral plates. It would be intermediate to Aetob-itis and the true Myliobates, and might be called Mesobatis. The triturating surface of the specimen of Myliobates * Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d s. i. pi. 42, fig. 1. 396 [August, rugosus is prominently convex and longitudinally wrinkled, especially at the ex- tremities of the median dental plates. The latter are united by convex suture directed forward. The attaching surface of the specimen is flat. Diameter of the median plates transversely 2 inches and 4 lines, antero-pos- teriorly 4^ to b} lines. Locali'g. Discovered by Mr. Horner in the Marl of New Egypt, New Jersey. T. A. Conrad. 3. Myliobates obesus. Based upon a pair of median dental plates of a species smaller than M. rugosus, and comparatively more convex in its sutures and its triturating surface. The estimated transverse diameter of the median plates was about 16 lines, the antero-posterior diameter is 3^ lines. Locality. Discovered by Dr. Charles H. Budd, in the Green sand of Burlington Co., New Jersey. 4. Zygobates ddbids. Based upon numerous specimens of isolated dental plates. The median dental plates are comparatively wide compared with their transverse breadth, their triturating surface is convex, and the attaching surface concave and parallel with the former. The lateral dental plates of the first row present a corresponding width and breadth to the median plates. Their tritu- rating surface is convex and slopes off laterally, and their attaching surface is straight. Transverse diameter of median plates 6 to 16 lines, antero-posterior 2 to 4J lines, thickness 1|- to 3 lines. Transverse diameter of lateral plates of the first row up to 13 lines, antero-posterior up to 4£ lines. Locality. Discovered by Capt. Bowman, U. S. A., in the sands of Ashley river, South Carolina. Probably washed from eocene beds. 5. Aetobatis perspicuds. Based upon a specimen consisting of one half of an isolated dental plate of the upper jaw. Although the fragment is a very small one, it is very characteristic. The triturating surface is smooth, excepting, how- ever, the accidental scratches ; and it is perfectly level antero-posteriorly, and is slightly convex transversely ; and the attaching surface is parallel with the former. The anterior and posterior margins form the segment of a circle bent at a very obtuse angle. The outer extremity of the dental plate is abruptly truncated, and the enamel turns down laterally to the extent of a line. The antero-external angle forms a projecting heel, and the corresponding posterior angle presents a concave fossa for the reception of the contiguous heel of the posterior dental plate. Estimated breadth of the upper dental series 21 inches, antero-posterior width cf the dental plate at its middle 4 lines, thickness 4 lines. Locality. Discovered by Dr. J. L. Burtt in the Green Sand of New Jersey. 6. Aetobatis bximius. Based upon a specimen consisting of one half of four median dental plates, with a corresponding row of lateral plates. The median plates are perfectly level on the triturating surface, except at their outer ex- tremity, where they are abruptly rounded off. The sutures are slightly bow formed, and of the two sides of the outer extremities that anterior is the longest. The species has but a single row of lateral plates, which are convex at their outer border, and are angular within to join two contiguous median plates. Estimated transverse diameter of the dental series, including the small lateral plates 23 lines, antero-posterior diameter of the median plates Z\ lines. Locality. Discovered by Capt. Bowman, U. S. A., in the sands of Ashley river, S. C. Probably washed from Eocene beds. 7. Odax carolinensis. Based upon numerous specimens, consisting of por- tions of the jaws and pharyngeal bones, with teeth. External extremities of the maxillary denticles very distinct from one another, convex, six in number in a vertical row of 5-£ lines. Pharyngeal bones triangular, with two short equal sides, and the long side measuring from 6 to 8 lines, densely furnished with teeth resembling in form the corresponding ones of Pogomas. 1855.] 397 Locality. Discovered by Capt. Bowman, U. S. A., in the sands of Ashley river, South Carolina. 8. Pogonias. Numerous isolated teeth of this genus, of the same form and size as those of the recent Pogonias chromis, were discovered by Capt. Bowman with the preceding in the sands of Ashley river. 9. Sphyr^na major. Based upon numerous specimens (more than a hundred) of isolated crowns of teeth, the smallest of which measures 3 | lines long and 2.] lines wide at the base, and the longest 8h lines long by 4| lines wide at the base. Locality. Discovered by Capt. Bowman in the sands of Ashley river, South Carolina. 16. Enchodus ferox. Sphy/csna, Morton : Syn. Org. Rem. Cret. Group of the U. S., PI. xii. fig. i. Based upon specimens in the Cabinet of the Academy, consisting of fragments of the jaws with teeth, which have usually been referred to the genus Sphyrcena, but to this they do not belong, as the teeth are not in- serted in sockets, but are implanted by expanding roots co-ossified with the surface of the jaws, 'lhe specimens consist of an isolated anterior tooth (repre- sented in Morton's PI. xii. fig. 1), of a portion of the left intermaxillary bone with the anterior tooth, which measures If inches in length from its base of attachment: a fragment of the right intermaxillary bone, with the roots of two large leeto. and a row of small, uncompressed, conical teeth at the outer margiu ; and a fragment of a palatal bone, with one large conical tooth having trenchant borders. and the roots of two other teeth. Locality. Discovered in the Green Sand near Mount Holly, New Jersey. The teeth of this species are relatively narrower compared with their length, than in Enchodus Favjasii, Ag., from the Mtestricht beds. 11. Xiphias astiquus. Based upon a specimen consisting of ten and a half inches of the extremity of the prolonged maxillary bones. The posterior broken extremity of the specimen is transversely oval in section, and measures 2 inches in its long diameter and 1 inch in it3 short diameter. Anteriorly the specimen becomes more cylindrical, and at the anterior broken end it measures 5 lines in diameter. Locality. Discovered by Dr. Chas. H. Buc'd, in the Green Sand of Burlingto.i Co., New Jersey. 12. Diodon vetus. Based upon numerous specimens consisting of water- rolled jaws with the alveolar and oral teeth. The internal or oral teeth consist of a conjoined pair of piles, of from 6 to 10 trilateral laminae, measuring from 3}- to 4J lines wide. The outer or alveolar teeth are composed of small lamellar denticles, of which the margin of 4 or 5 may be counted anteriorly in the space of a line. Locality. Discovered by Capt. Bowman, U. S. A , in the sands of Ashley river, S. C. The Corresponding Secretary read his "Report for the last two months, ■which was adopted. ELECTION. Senor Jose del Solar, of Lima, Peru, was elected a Correspondent; and Mr. C. F. Hagedorn, of Philadelphia, was elected a Member. 1855.] 399 September 11th, 1855. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Vienna, dated 1st May, 1855, transmitting their publications acknowledged this evening. From the Royal Society of Sciences of Upsala, dated 14th Nov. 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy. From the Royal Russian Mineralogical Society of St. Petersburg, acknowledging receipt of the Proceedings and Journal of the Academy, and transmitting the donations announced this evening. From the Royal Society of Sciences of Gottingen, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, and transmitting the donation announced this evening. Dr. Leidy presented for publication in the Journal " Contributions to a knowledge of the Marine Invertebrate Fauna of the Coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey." Referred to Prof. Haldeman, Dr. Bridges and Mr. Ashmead. September IStJi. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from the Royal Bavarian Academy of Sciences, dated Munich, 8th May, 1855, accompanying the donation acknowledged at last meeting. Also, a letter from the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, dated 22d July, 1855, giving notice of their approaching anniversary celebration. Prof. Chas. D. Meigs communicated a paper by Prof. A. Retzius, of Stockholm, Sweden, entitled, " On artificially formed Skulls from the Ancient World; " which, being intended for publication in the Proceed- ings, was referred to Dr. J. Aitken Meigs, Dr. Leidy an! Dr. C. D. Meigs. Major Le Conte presented for publication in the Proceedings, the fol- owing papers: u Descriptions of new species of Astacus from Georgia;" " On a new species of Geiasimus ;" " Remarks on a new species of American Cimex ; " all of which were referred to the following com- mittee: Dr. Leidy, Dr. Bridges and Mr. S. Ashmead. September 25th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The committee on Dr. Leidy's " Contributions to a knowledge of the Marine Invertebrate Fauna of the Coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey," reported in favor of publication in the Journal. The committees on papers by Major Le Conte, read September 18th, and by Prof. Retzius, of Stockholm, read same date, severally reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings : PROCEED. ACAD. WAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. VIll. NO. XI. 31 ^00 [September, Descriptions of new species of Astacus from Georgia. By John Le Conte. A few years ago there were but three or four species of this genus known to inhabit the United States ; lately Mr. Girard, in the proceedings of this Society vol. vi. page 86. has increased the number to eighteen or nineteen ; but one however is from the South, A. Blandingii. I now add to this number eight more : two of them from the upper part of the State of Georgia, the rest from the low country. There are two more species which I have seen, but have not been able to obtain. What number of species are found in the rivers of the South is not yet ascertained. All those which I have seen were inhabitants of ditches, ponds and rivulets of clear water, or formed burrows in the mud of wet ground. Their extreme similarity renders it difficult to distinguish the species from each other, and this difficulty will undoubtedly increase as the number of species is multi- plied. To what extent this number may reach cannot be guessed at ; it appears however that when these animals come to be more closely studied, this number will be very great, and the passage of one species into another become almost imperceptible; so that among Crustaceans we shall have an analogous difficulty to that which exists among Uniones. Their color is generally lost with their life, so that it is of little value in the description. All that I have ever seen were much of the same color, a reddish-brown, inclining to a dark olive. The shape of the rostrum and of the chelae and the size of the Areola vertebralis, afford the best characteristic marks. I have never known this last character to vary in any degree. In the two others there may occur slight differences of develope- ment, not however so great as to be of any moment. I do not find that any marks can be definitely pointed out, by which we can distinguish those which are subterranean from those which are aquatic. A. troglodytes. Rostrum paulo concavum, obtusiusculum cum acumine parvo, utrinque unidenticulatum, qui denticulus obtusus est, saepius obsoletus. in junioribus magis conspicuus. Lamina antennalis subdolabriformis, peduncu- lum aatennalem sequans. Cephalothorax grosse et sparse punctatus, lateribus antice et postice paucigranulosis ; linea ordinaria sulcata. Thorax supra grosse et sparse punctatus, lateribus granulosis, granulis interdum vix conspicuis. Areola suturalis medio angusta. Dorsum grosse et parce punctatum. Chela magna, lata, evasa, tuberculata margine interiore dentata ; digiticostati asquales. punctati basi tuberculati, interior concavus, exterior convexus. Carpus latere in- terno spinis dentiformibus, numerosis, spina media majore. Brachium margine superiore serratum, superficie inferiore lineis duabus spinularum, antice utrin- que spina longiore. Caudoe lamellae intermedin pars anterior utrinque trispinosa. Long. 3.1. Cephalo-thorax 1.16. Thorax .6. Abdomen 1.4. Cauda .54. Antennae 3. Chela 1.5 lat. .55, forceps .9. Habitat in Georgian oryzaceis, ubi spiracula 4 unc. alta format. A. Blandingii. Rostrum concavum acuminatum, versus apicem vix utrinque unidenticulatum, sed lateribus subcontinuis ad acuminis extremitatem. Lamina antennalis subdolabriformis, pedunculum antennalem aequans. Cephalothorax et thorax supra punctati latioribus granulosis, hie spina parvae medio marginis lateralis ; linea ordinaria non sulcata. Areola suturalis angusta. Dorsum glabrum seriebus parvispunctorum transversalium. Chela longiuscula, angusta. subcylindracea, punctata cum granulis : digiti aequales. Carpus extus punctatus ; intus granulatus, granuli quidamanteriores quinque aut sex spiniformes. Brachi- um extus glabrum, intus parte anteriore granulosum, saperficie inferiore lineis duabus granulorum acutiorum, vel spinarum parvarum. Caudae lamellae inter- mediae pars anterior utrinque bispinosa. Harlan, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 3, 464 ; Med. and Phys. Res. 229, pi. fig. 1. Cambarus Blandingii Er. Wiegm. Arthiv, 1846, 1,98. Girard, Proc. Acad. 6, 91. Long. 3.5. Cephalothorax 1.16. Thorax .6. Abdomen 1.2. Cauda .54. Habitat in Georgiae et Carolina regionibus intermediis. 1855.] 401 A. spiculifer. Rostrum concavum longissime acuminatum, denticulo parro utrinque ad acumini? basin. Lamina antennalis dolabriformis, pedunculum an- tennalem aequans. Cephalothorax punctatus, granulis perpaucis parte inferiore lateris, linea ordinaria sulcata. Thorax punctatU3 spinis duabus e medio marginis lateris anterioris. Areola suturalis lata. Dorsum glabrum seriebus parvis punctorum transversalium, macula rubra in unamquamque articulationem ad latera. Chela magna lata, tuberculosa margine interiore dentata, digiti prope recti, aequales, tuberculati et punctati, non costati. Carpus tuberculatus, latere interiore tuberculis anterioribus majoribus, spiniformibus ; latere inferiore serie- bus duabus spinarum. Caudae lamellae intermediae pars anterior utrinque bispinosa. Long. 3.8 unc. Cephalothorax 1.3. Thorax 5. Abodomen 1.4. Cauda .6. Chela 1.43. Antenna 3. forceps .8. Habitat in Georgiae superiore. A. fossarum. Rostrum concavum, acuminatum, versus apicem utrinque sub- unidenticulatum. Lamina antennalis pedunculum antennalem aequans. Cepha- lothorax supra punctatu6, lateribus sparse tuberculosis, linea ordinaria sulcata. Thorax supra punctatus, lateribus granulosis. Areola suturalis modica. Dorsum glabrum seriebus parvis punctorum transversalium. Chela modice lata, tubercu- lata, margine interiore dentata, digitis gracilibus, carinatis, punctatis, interiore concavo, exteriore rectiusculo. Carpus tuberculatus, tuberculis lateris interioris dentiformibus. Brachium punctatum, latere superiore serrato, inferiore seriebus duabus denticulorum. Caudae lamellae intermediae pars anterior utrinque tri- spinosa. Long 2.6 in. Cephalothorax .8. Thorax .4. Abdomen 1. Cauda .4. Antenna 1.5. Chela 1. latitud. 3. forceps. 45. Habitat in fossis Georgiae inferioris. A. maniculatus. Rostrum subplanum, vix concavum, obtusum cum acuminej versus apicem utrinque unidenticulatum. Lamina antennalis pedunculum aequans. Cephalo-thorax supra punctatus, lateribus sparsim granulosis. Areo- la suturalis angustissima, stria solum. Dorsum sicut in prioribus. Chela parva, angusta, tuberculato-punctata, margine interiore dentata, digiti recti, carinati, punctati. Carpus intus paucidentatus, dentibus tribus superioribus majoribus spiculaeformibus. Brachium punctatum, latere superiore vix serrato, duabus tamen spinis brevibus anterioribus, inferiore seriebus duabus spinula- rum. Lamellae caudalis intermediae pars anterior trispinosa. Long. 2 3. Cephalothorax .7. Thorax .35. Abdomen .82. Cauda .43. An- tenna 1.3. Chela .5. Lat .15 forceps .3. Habitat cum priore. A. penicillatus. Rostrum vix concavum, obtusum cum aeumine. Lamina antennalis pedunculum antennalem aequans. Cephalo-thorax supra punctatus, lateribus totis granulatis, linea ordinaria sulcata. Thorax punctatus, lateri- bus solum antice granulosis. Areola suturalis satis lata. Dorsum sicut in prioribus. Chela latiuscula punctato-granulosa, margine interiore ser- rata, digitis rectis costatis. Carpus punctatus latere interiore spinoso-tubercula- tus, tuberculorum quorum infimus major. Brachium punctatum, latere superiore spinoso-tuberculatum, inferiore seriebus duabus dentium. Lamella caudalis intermedia pars anterior utrumque bispinosa. Mas latere interiore cbelarum pilositatem densam babet spongiam referente. Long. 2.6. Cephalo-thorax .8. Thorax .4. Abdomen 1. Cauda .4. Antenna 1.5. Chela 1.1, lat. .3 ; forceps. .45. A. angdstatus. Rostrum concavum, valde acuminatum, utrinque versus apicem fortiter et acute unidenticulatum. Lamina antennalis peduncmlum an- tennalem aequans. Cephalo-thorax punctatus, parcius ad latera, adeo ut vix paucis punctis notatur, linea ordinaria apice spina armata. Thorax totus punctatus, parcius ad latera, tuberculis vel granulis nullis. Areola suturalis lata. Dorsum sicut in prioribus. Chela parva, angusta, subcylindrica, punctata, sine tubereuHs 402 [September, aut granuiis, excepto margine interiore qui paucis denticulis inconspicuis in- structus est, digiti recti puactati carinati. Carpus glaber, punctis tribus vel quatuor. Brachium glabrum, spinulis paucis latere superiore: inferiore seriebus duabus spiuarum, quarum duee anteriores majores et longiores. Cauda? lamella intermedia utrinque trispinosa. Long. 1.95 Cephalo-thorax .6. Thorax .25. Abdomen .8. Cauda .3. An- tenna .9. Chela .6. latitud. .2, forceps .3. Habitat in Georgia inferiore, in aquas puras rivulos qui inter colliculos arenosos {sand-hills) currunt. A. latimanus. Rostrum breve, concaviusculum, obtusum cum acumine parvo. Lamina anteunalis brevis subdolabriformis, pedunculi antennalis articulum in- feriorem solum asquante. Cephalo-thorax supra punctatus, lateribus granulosis, linea ordinaria sulcata. Thorax supra punctatus, lateribus valde granulosis, areola suturalis modica. Dorsum sicut in aliis. Chela magna, latissima, extrorsum marginata, grosse punctata, ad latus internum tuberculata, digiti sequales, recti, late costati, punctati, interiore extrorsum et introrsum, exteriore introrsum tuberculato. Carpus punctatus, latere interiore tuberculatus, spina satis magna e medio prominente. Brachium punctatum, latere superiore bi-vel-trispinosum, spinis parvis, inferiore spinarum seriebus duabus. Lamella caudse intermedia bispinosa. Long 3.3. Cephalo-thorax 1. Thorax .6. Abdomen 12. Cauda .5. Antenna 2.6. Chela 1.2, latit. .65 forceps .6. Habitat in Georgia superiore. A. advena. Rostrum subconcavum, breve, obtusum cum acumine parvo. Lamina antennalis parva, articulum pedunculi antennalis inferiorem solum aequans. Cephalo-thorax supra grosse punctatus, lateribus granulosis. Areola suturalis angusta. Dorsum sicut in aliis. Chela breviuscula, latiuscula, tuber- culata, margine exteriore et interiore serrata, digitis carinatis, punctatis. Carpus grosse punctatus, latere interiore spinoso-tuberculatus. Brachium latere supe- riore, serie unica spinarum parvarum, quae sensim deorsim diminuuntur, infe- riore seriebus duabus spinarum parvarum. Cauda? lamella intermedia utrinque bispinosa. Long. 2.9. Cephalo-thorax .9. Thorax .5. Abdomen 1.3. Cauda .4. An- tenna 1.5. Chela .85. lat. 4. forceps .45. Habitat in Georgia inferiore. Hyeme vitam degit subterraneam. ^Estate in fossis invenitur. Differt a praecedente magnitudine ; chela non marginata et digitis non tuberculatis, ex- cepto margine interiore digiti interioris. In all the species of this genus which have come under my observation, I have observed that the following characters are found. The lamina antennalis is dolabriform, inwardly fringed, outwardly thickened, straight and ending in a small spine. The dorsum is smooth with transverse rows of punctures. The carpus has a deep longitudinal impression. The males also have on the second and third of the small legs a tooth directed inwards, in some species only on the second. In drawing up these descriptions it will be observed that I have preserved the old name of Astacus in preference to the new appellation of Cambarus. The very slight and not very apparent differences which have been adopted to dis- tinguish these two genera appear to me of little moment. On a new species of Gelasimus. By John Le Conte. One species only of Gelasimus ha9 long been known as an inhabitant of our salt marshes. I now offer to the Society, the description of a second species, found on the sea coast of New Jersey. It seems hitherto to have escaped the no- 1855.] 403 tice of naturalists. Last summer our associate Mr. Ashmead brought some from Beesley's Point, N. J., and I cannot find any description agreeing with it. All the other species in the books except one, appear to have been brought from tropical countries. I have added a detailed description of the G. pugilator or common species which is said to be found along our whole line of coast, in order that a comparison may be made between the two. This I have of course placed first. Gelasimus pugilator, Bgsc. Carapace smooth, shining, in front sinuous and three-lobed, the middle lobe tbe largest, bent down, the lateral lobes but slightly prominent likewise bent down ; margined, the lateral margins ciliate; anterior exterior angles right. Back impressed as it were with the letter H, a small de- pressed spot generally paler colored about one fourth of the distance from the outer edge of the fore part on each side. Lower eye-lid finely serrate, cheeks and feet except the chelae hairy. Tail strongly ciliate. Tarsi sharp, slightly curved. Color dark brownish olive, all the feet lighter colored, chelae nearly white. Male. — With either the right or left chela very large, inflated, margined, the inner margin of the palm bifurcate near the extremity. Palm and carpus granu- late ; brachium with short irregular rows of granules, the immoveable finger straight deeply grooved from the point to near the centre, with a triple row of small teeth, and one large one near the middle, the moveable finger curved, toothed like the moveable one, with sometimes three larger teeth, and slightly costate : small chela smooth the fingers nearly straight. Length -65; breadth anteriorly 1 iuch, posteriorly '4. Large chela 1*7, small 4. This species which is found on the salt marshes and the edges of creeks of the sea shore in innumerable quantities, was first described by Bosc in his Histoire Naturelle des Crustacee3, vol. vi. page 96, and afterwards by Say, in the Jour- nal of our Society vol. i. page 71. From its being so common and so well known I omit saying anything on its manners. It was formerly considered the same as the G. vocans of Brazil or Amboyna. Whether it is so or not, remains yet to be determined, the descriptions of the South American or Indian animal which are to be found in the books being so impeifect, that it is impos- sible to decide the question. G. 3iim\x. Carapace very finely granulate with a number of small tuber- cles near the anterior exterior angles, front as in the former species only the lateral lobes are much wider and more bent down ; margined, the margin very finely serrate and ciliate on the sides : anterior exterior angle rounded. Back impressed with the letter H, with an oblique stria running from the lateral lobe of the front of the carapace on each side to the upright arms of the impressed letter. Both the eye-lids are bluntly serrate. Cheeks and feet as in G. pugi- lator, except the latter are paler colored, as is the tail likewise. Male'. With the right or left chela very large, inflated, outwardly scarcely margined, inwardly margined as in the former species, but the bifurcation com- mences lower down. Palm and carpus covered with tubercles, those on the in- terior edge of the latter forming a kind of crest. Immoveable finger straight with a double row of blunt teeth, which near the point are separated by an ex- cavation for the reception of the point of the moveable finger, the middle is fur- nished with a single larger tooth. The moveable finger is very much curved with a triple row of blunt teeth, three of which behind the middle and two be- fore it are larger; at each of the joints there are one or two red spots, brachium with short irregular rows of small tubercles: tail ciliate speckled with black ; small chela, and feet like those of G. pugilator. Female chelae like the small one of the male. Length 1 inch ; breadth anteriorly 1-5; posteriorly -65. Large chela 2 8 ; small, -6. 404 [September, Remarks on two Species of American Cimex. By John Le Conte. Reddvius pungens. Black, shining, wings opaque. Head a little hairy, antennae yellowish brown, slightly hairy, first joint shorter than the head, second, fourth and fifth much longer, subequal, third very small. Thorax slightly margined, strongly constricted in the middle, the anterior portion rounded and longitudi- nally sulcate, the posterior portion transverse. First pair of legs hairy on the under side, as are the thighs also of the second pair, but the tibiae and tarsi of the hinder legs all over. Length .8 of an inch. Inhabits Georgia. This species is remarkable for the intense pain caused by its bite. I do not know whether it ever willingly plunges its rostrum into any person ; but when, caught or unskilfully handled, it always stings. In this case the pain is almost equal to that of the bite of a snake, and the swelling and irritation which result from it will sometimes last for a week. In very weak and irritable constitutions it may even prove fatal. This R pungens too nearly resembles the R. personatus of Europe to be authoritatively pronounced different. As however I can find no very detailed description of the European animal, and as it is difficult to suppose that it would be imported from its native country, and yet be found in the Southern States, I have concluded to give it provisionally the name v< hich it bears at the head of this article. Its food consists of flies and other soft insects, which it catches very adroitly and soon deprives of all their juices. Conorhinus sanguisuga. Black, head and thorax granulate, neck rather long projecting. Antennae slender, first joint much shorter than the head, second, fourth and fifth subequal about the length of the head, tip of the rostrum brown. Thorax triangular, with a tubercle in front on each side, slightly con- stricted before the middle, in front with two raised lines diverging backwards, and most raised in front, margined with red ; scutellura with two raised diverging lines directed forwards and joined at the base. Wings granulate at the base, with two triangular red spots on each, one at the base, the other near the middle on the outside. Abdomen with six red spots on each side, both above and be- neath. Length 1 inch. Inhabits Georgia. This insect, equally with the former, inflicts a most painful wound. It is re- markable also for sucking the blood of mammals, particularly of children. I have known its bite followed by very serious consequences, the patient not re- covering from its effects for nearly a year. The many relations which we have of spider bites frequently proving fatal, have no doubt arisen from the stings of these insects or others of the same genera. When the disease called spider bite is not an anthrax or carbuncle, iUis un- doubtedly occasioned by the bite of an insect, by no means however of a spider. Among the many species of Araneidaa which we have in the United States, I have never seen one capable of inflicting the slightest wound. Ignorant persons may easily mistake a Cimex for a spider. I have known a physician who sent to me the fragments of a large ant, which he supposed was a spider, that came out of his grandchild's head. 1855.] 405 On artificially formed Skulls from the Ancient World. By Prof. A. Retzius, (Stockholm, Sweden). [Communicated by Prof. Charles D. Meigs.] Several years ago the eminent anatomist, Professor Joseph Hyrtl, of Vienna, had the kindness to send me a cast of an artificially formed skull of great interest. The original, found at Grafenegg, in Austria, has, by its owner, Count August von Brauner, been considered as having belonged to an individual of the Avari- an Huns, who lived in the neighborhood from the end of the seventh to the be- ginning of the eighth century. Of this skull I have given in 1844 a description in the Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, which was :he following year inserted both in HornschucKs Archiv Skandinavischer Bei- trilge zur Naturgeschichte, and in Muller's Archiv fur Physiologic I showed there that this skull, which had been considered remarkable for its length, certainly was extremely high, but on the contrary short, or of the brachiocephalic form, to which the skulls of the Avarians, as related with those of the Finlanders, must belong. This opinion gained at the time very little approbation, because Dr. Tschudi, renowned for his travels and researches in South America, shortly after with so much certainty declared that the skull in question was of Peruvian origin, and supposed that it had been brought over from Peru to Austria with other collections. Tschudi's opinion gained many adherents, and the question about the custom in the ancient world of forming the head artificially sank for some time in oblivion. Through a very excellent treatise by Doctor Fiizinger, in the Transactions of the Imperial Academy in Vienna, it has been shown that the skull found at Grafenegg must undoubtedly have belonged to an individual of the ancient inhabitants of the country. He has not only wholly explained al) important circumstances concerning this skull, but has also got a quite similar one from Atzgerrsdorf, in south Austria 1\ mile from Vienna. This had been dug out of the earth in presence of the physician of the place, Milller. This skull, as well as the original of the one first mentioned, are now at the Imperial anato- mical museum at Vienna. The author shows the resemblance between these skulls and tho=e which have been found at Krim and described by Messrs. Rathe and Charles Meyer. He mentions the account of Hippocrates (de aere aquis et locis Lib. 1,) about the macrocephali or Scythians in the neighborhood of the Moetian moor, who had artificially formed skulls. Further he quotes Pcmponius Mela (de situ orbis Lib. 1. chap. 19), who says that the custom of changing the form of the head reigned also among the inhabitants of the Bosphorus ; Pliny the older, who accounts for the macrocephali in the neighborhood of Ceresus in Na- tolia on the coast of the Black Sea, the Keresum of the present day ; also Sup h anus Byzantinus (Geographica,) who tells us of macrocephalic Scythians among the inhabitants of Colchis, now Mingrelia, on the east coast of the Black Sea. He quotes from Strabo (Lib. II, Chap. 16), the Derbikks on the Caucasus, towards the Caspian sea, and the Sigyns, Median colonists, who are said to have lived in the valley of the Danube at the river Taler, as nations who have used to change the form of the head, so that the forehead was thus put forward. Doctor Fitz- inger mentions also another circumstance of importance in connexion with the description of these skulls, namely, a medal of unknown origin, representing the destruction of the town of Aquileja by Aitila, with Attilas head in profile, with the same form as the skulls of Avarians before mentioned. The same medal in gold is preserved in the royal medal cabinet at Stockholm, where the Rep. ha3 had the opportunity to see it, and to agree with Dr. Fiizinger. Beside these important informations respecting the singularly formed heads of the Avarians, this excellent treatise contains al o a close examination of the human skulls found in the forest of Vienna in the Calvarian mountain, which were described in 1830 by Count Rasumowsky in Oken's Isis, as having an extraordinary form, and which the Rep. in his former treatise did unjustly believe to be of the same form as the Avarian skulls. Dr. Fiizinger has examined these heads and has found that they are of the Slavic form. This learned treatise is furnished 406 [September, with four extremely good illustrations, two of which represent skulls of Avarians and the other Slavic ones from the mount of Calvaria. A perfect harmony with the before mentioned skulls of Avarians is shown in a head found in Switzerland, of which M. Troyon has sent drawings to the Rep.; copies of them are here repre- sented reduced to a quarter's size. The original is preserved in M. Troy oris archeologic collections at Bel-air in the Canton Vaud near Lausanne. The skull was found at the bottom of a tomb of very high age, no ornaments or tools were in the neighborhood. Of more than 200 tombs which have been examined by M. Troyon, this was the only one of that kind. M. Troyon has on the same occasion given several informations concerning discoveries of other skulls of the same singular form at the village St. Romain in Savoy, in similar tombs, likewise without ornaments and tools. These skulls were so fragile that they fell in pieces shortly after they had been dug out of theearth. Nevertheless, Dr. Gosse, at Geneva, has succeeded in preserving the upper part of one. The Rep. has through the kindness of Mr. Troyon got the opportunity here to show a drawing in quarter size. There is no doubt that these skulls have belonged to the same nations as the above 1855.] 407 mentioned skulls from Austria that is, from Avarians, who probably accom- panied Attila's army. In connexion with this it deserves also to be mentioned, that Professor Duvernoy at Paris has sent to the Rep. a drawing and description of a high brachycephalic skull of very remote age, which was found in 1849, not far from the surface of the earth during the digging of a road in the valley of the Doubs, not far from Mandeuse. Professor Duvernoy is himself of the opinion that it must have belonged to one of Attila's warriors, because in this neighbor- hood the ruins of an old Roman town destroyed by Attilais situated. It has ex- actly the form of a Finlandian skull not pressed. What a consternation did the deformed skulls of Huanches Indians, which Pentland brought from Titicaca in Peru, not excite? What a surprise to see the various skulls which were so changed in form, and were first made known by Morton's work, Crania Ameri- cana! This absurd and barbarous custom was considered to belong only to the savage heathens of America. Through the skull found at Grafenegg, attention has been turned to the question, how far this same barbarous custom has reigned also in the ancient world ; more and more evidences affirming this opinion have been found. As is above seen, we have had the proofs of this fact in the ancient authors from the old and middle ages, without taking notice of them. To the important dates quoted by Dr. Fitzinger and M. Troy on, the Rep. takes the op- portunity to add some more. In the excellent historical work byAmedee Thierry, Altilij of which the Rep. only knows Dr. Edward Burckhardt's translation,' (Attila Schilderungen aus der Geschichte des fiinften Jahrhunderts, Leipzig, 1852,) is mentioned, where the author has shown, that the proper Huns were Finlanders from the Ural and the valley of the Wolga, but that with them were under the same government, Turks, and probably Mongols, beside later Slaves, etc., and that Attila himself, and part of his people have been delineated as belonging to the Kalmuck type. In a note, page 15, about the custom of changing the form of the head, he has the following : " The image of Attila is more like that of a Mongol than of a Finlander from the Ural. Besides we know that the Huns useJ artificial means for giving Mongolian physiognomy to their children ; they made, namely, the nose flat, with firmly strained linen ribbons, and pressed the head to make the cheek bones projecting. What could be the reasonable cause of this barbarous custom, if not the effort to approach a form, which, among the Huns, was held in greater regard, in a word, the aristocratic race ? The purpose quoted by the Roman authors, to get the helmet better fixed on the head, is scarcely credible. It seems more probable, that when the Mongols were masters of the Huns, the Mongolian physiognomy was the prize attached to aristocratic distinctions ; they consequently tried to approach this form, and considered it an honor thus to deform themselves, in order to resemble the reigning nation. This is most likely the cause of those unnatural deformations which historical writers so particularly describe." This opinion agrees fully with that which the Rep. has supposed in his treatise " Phrenology judged from an anatomical point of view," and also with Prof. Eschricht " Angaaende Betydningen of Hjerneskallens og hele Hovedeis Formforskjellighed (Skand. Naturf. SaJlsk. Forhandl.") respecting the same custom among the American savages. Thus we see more and more traces show- ing that this absurd custom formerly has been considerably common in the ancient world, and, after the authority of Thierry, we may suppose, that it principally and perhaps originally belonged to the Mongols, among whom the- Rep. believes it hasnow^ceased. Many who are interested in the study of skulls will s irely be greatly astonished to hear, that this barbarous custom still exists in one of the most civilized countries of Europe, namely, in France. About this we have very interesting information in Dr. Foville's "Traite complet de l'anato- raie, de la physiologie et de la palhologie du systeme nerveux cerebrospinal, le partie, Ana":omie, Paris, 1844, page 632, art. " Deformation artificielle du crane" etc. ; et Atlas, PI. 23, figs. 1, 2." Dr. Foville says namely: "Dans plusieurs parties da la France, on coiffe Ies nouveaunes de bonnets fixes sur la circonference du crane lui-meme. Tantot on commence par l'entourer d'un etroit et long triangle de toile, qui decrit plusieurs tours avant d'etre arrete, et par dessus ce serre-tete ou bandeau on place un bonnet rond a coulisses, dont les cordons sont serres suivant la _me 408 [September, circonference que ce serre-tete lui-meme. Cette pratique est tres commune eu Normandie. Dans d'autres provinces on ne commence pas par entourer la tete d'un bandeau ; on la couvre d'un bonnet rond, et ce bonnet se trouve ensuite assujetti par un nombre variable de tours de bande methodiquenient jetes depuis les bosses frontales jusqu'aux bosses parietales. C'est ainsi qu'on agit a Toulouse et dans une grande etendue des pays voisins Une constriction circu- late, suffisante pour fixer la coiffure ne peut manquer de faire ceder la tete si tendre a cet age. Ce qu'elle perde alors en largeur, elle le gagne en exces de longueur; et c'est ainsi que se trouvent produits ces cranes allonges et eylin- droi'des, (voy. pi. 22 et 23, fig. 1), quelquefois meme etrangles dans le milieu de leur longueur, qu'on rencontre en proportions variables dans presque toutes les maisons d'alienes de France, mais surtout dans celles des departements ou la methode adoptee pour la coiffure des enfants implique une constriction circu- late. On trouve des personnes du Limousin, de Bretagne, du Nord et du Nord- Est de la France avec une deformation evidente du crane dont la cause ne peut etre douteuse. ... A Paris, ou se trouvent rassembles des habitants de toutes les parties de la France, toutes les habitudes de nos provinces se trouvent importees, et les deformations du crane produites par les coiffures vicieuses ne sont nullement rares.'' The 23d engraving in Dr. Foville's work shows three side-faces of women whose skulls are formed very like the Hunish. Dr. Foville has, in quality of chief- physician at the great asylums for insane in the Department Seine-inferieure and Oharenton, had occasion to examine the skulls of a great number of country people. Here he has found several individuals with thus artificially formed heads. Though he expresses the opinion that the deformity does not disturb the functions of the brain, he believes that it does not seldom promote disorders which finally cause mental derangement. This does not agree with Morton's opinion about this circumstance among the American Indians. It is more probable that the worthy author here has taken post hoc for propter hoc. He mentions two different manners of constricting the head. It seems not probable that this custom is intended for changing the form of the head ; it rather seems as if it remained unconsciously from the time of Paganism, and will as many other prejudices, first cease by some particular accident. The inhabitants of Normandy were Norwegians ; the race which before inhabited the country is probably not yet extinct. On the contrary we believe that here, as in many other countries, the ancient population lives beside the more aristocratic conquering nation. This latter, the Rep. has himself had occasion to observe, keeps still the true Norman type. Doctor Foville himself, of Normannic family, is a beautiful proof of this. The Rep. does not believe that the pressing of the head does derive from the Norwegians. The skulls of fig. 1, 2, tab. 23 of his work, do not show the least resemblance with the Norwegian dolichocephalic ones ; but rather seem to be brachycephalic. The skull, tab. 22, is, according to the opinion of the Rep., of genuine gaulic type, low, long, dolichocephalic, not artificially formed. It was taken in a churchyard at Paris, and we know nothing about the person it has belonged to. It is worthy of attention that this custom is common in Bretagne, the old county Toulouse, and in several places where the Celtic race is the predominant one, these countries have before been inhabited by Celts and first by Iberians. In Beam, where the Iberian race is the most numerous, the constriction of the head is, according to Dr. Foville1 s account, not used. After all thesp facts have been mentioned, the question naturally arises : Has this custom arisen by itself separately in the Old and New World, or does it not bear witness of a communication between the New and Old World ? The Rep. hopes on some other occasion to return to the question. ELECTIONS. fl r. George H. Humphreys and Mr. Hilborn West, of Philadelphia, and Mr. C. J. Hering, of Surinam, were elected Members, and 1 r. Guido Sandberger and Dr. Fredolin Sandberger, of Wiesbaden, were elected Correspondents. 1855.] 409 October 2d. Vice President Lea in the Chair. Dr. Rand remarked relative to the specimen of Cyanide and Nitride of Titanium, presented this evening, that it was obtained from the Salamander of a blast furnace at Spring Mill, from a mass estimated to weigh over a ton. Mr. Isaac Lea read an extract from a newspaper, relative to the sup- posed human foot-prints in the New Red Sandstone of Middletown, Conn. The article was written by Prof. B. Silliman, Jr., who believes the impressions to be due to curvature of the strata at the time of forma- tion, and not to be tracks. Prof. Johnston believes them to be tracks, but they are certainly not human. October 9th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From Senor F. A. Sauvalle, of Havana, dated 25th July, 1855, ac- knowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent, and transmitting the donations announced this evening. From the Imperial Royal Institute of Science, &c, at Milan, dated 22d June, 1855, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, and transmitting its publications in exchange. From the Imperial Academy of Sciences of Bordeaux, dated 26th Dec, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, and trans- mitting its publications. From the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Cherbourg, dated 14th Nov., 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings. Mr. Ashmead presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Catalogue of Marine Algse, from Beesley's Point, N. J., with some remarks." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Zantzinger and Mr. Durand. On motion, it was unanimously resolved, that the thanks of the Academy be presented to Senor F. A. Sauvalle, of Havana, for the donation of Shells received from him, and announced this evening. October 16th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Royal Danish Society of Sciences, dated Copenhagen, 8th May, 1855, accompanying their donation announced this evening, and also acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings. From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated 23d Oct., 1854, and 31st May, 1855, accompanying their donation. Dr. Leidy presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, en- 410 [October, titled " Indications of five species, with two new genera of extinct Fishes." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Le Conte and Dr. Henderson. Mr. Cassin announced that M. Duchaillu was about to return to Western Africa, for the purpose exclusively of geographical explora- tion, and the collection of objects of Natural History. Arrangements have been made to secure, for the cabinet of this Society, the collections of Birds especially, and also of some other objects. Mr. Cassin ex- plained the general design of the Expedition, which was to pass from Cape Lopez, 1° S. latitude, towards the supposed source of the Congo river, with the intention of attempting to reach its source. M. Duchaillu has already penetrated farther into the interior of this part of Africa than any other white man. The coast is unknown farther inland than from twenty to twenty-five miles, except to slavers, there having been no exploration of that part of Africa. M. Duchaillu had been on the Rivers Moonda and Mouni, had traced the latter to its source, and had ascertained the existence of high mountains, probably a continuation or spur of the Atlas range, and much further south than is to be found in any published maps. Another fact ascertained by him, is the existence of a very populous nation, of marked negro character, known as the Powein Nation, which he estimates at from five to seven millions. Their country extends across from the sources of the Moonda, probably to the sources of the Nile, and the nation is probably that mentioned by Bruce, as occasional- ly descending the Nile. It is a warlike and cannibal nation, engaged in agriculture, not wandering, resembling in this respect the Ashantees and Dahomeys. It displays the highest degree of civilization yet ob- served among the true negroes, presenting an analogy to the Feejees, among the Oceanic nations. M. Duchaillu possesses peculiar advantages as an explorer. He has lived long in the country, is entirely acclimated, speaks well two of the languages, and understands thoroughly the negro character. He proposes to proceed merely with convoys of natives from each tribe successively to the next. At the suggestion of Dr. Leidy, a Committee was appointed to so- licit contributions from the Members of the Academy, to aid the Expe- dition. October 30th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees on Mr. Ashmead's paper, read 9th inst., and on Dr. Leidy's, read 16th inst., severally reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Catalogue of Marine Alg^e, discovered at Beesley's Point during the past summer, with some remarks thereon. By Samuel Ashmead. Beesley's Point is situated in Cape May County, N. J., on the southern side of the Great Egg-Harbor Bay, about three miles from the ocean. The bay is about four miles in length, with an average breadth of two miles, when it connects with the inlet at the Beach. The water (with the exception of the channels) is 1855.] 411 shoal, interspersed with sedge islands, sand-bars, oyster and clam beds. The main channel, is deep, narrow, and crooked ; and to a person unacquainted with the course, difficult to navigate. Connected with the bay, on the south, is a flat called "Bond's-bar," contain- ing some hundreds of acres, which, on the recess of the tide, is left nearly bare. A vigorous growth of Zostera marina occupies a large portion of this bar. A narrow channel half a mile in length, and leading into " Little Bay " on the south, separates this bar from the main land, which is Beesley's Point. " Little Bay," when viewed from the main land at high water, presents the appearance of a lake, a mile in length, and nearly the same in width. The water is shoal, and when the tide is out, a mud-flat of considerable extent is left bare. At the head of Little Bay, is a thoroughfare extending south, parallel with the coast line, and navigable for boats to Cape Island. This thoroughfare is frequently branched, forming islands, and sometimes extends into wide bays. It connects with the sea by various inlets, the most important of which is Corson's, Townsend's and Hereford, forming narrow islands known as " Beaches/' and called respectively "Peck's Beach," " Ludlum's Beach" and "Learning's Beach." The sea along the sandy coast is shallow, and the action of the breakers vio- lent, which, together with frequent heavy gales from the north east, render it peculiarly unfavorable for the growth of marine vegetation. Yet when we explore the inlets, the thoroughfares, and the land-locked bays with their coves, secure from the violence of winds and waves, we find them far from being so unprolific as they might seem. The sandy-mud bottoms of these shallow waters will be found carpeted with the beautiful membranous expansions of the Viva latisssi?na, mingling with the elongated fronds of Enteromorpha intestinalis, whilst a luxurious growth of Zostera marina affords a resting-place for the floating spores of the gaudy Rhodosperms. The total absence of rocks, or stones of any kind, (save a few small pebbles on the southern shore of the Great Egg-Harbor Bay) produces an unceasing de- mand for a favorable place for the future growth and propagation of species. Hence, every submerged substance suited to their condition, is immediately invested not only with Alga, but with Sertularice and various other Zoophytes. The limited number of the species of marine Algcc at Beesley's Point must be attributed to the want of a suitable place, or foot-hold for development, as the climate and the water, it would seem, supply all the other conditions favorable to their growth. The following catalogue, embracing five Melanosperms, nineteen Rhodo- sperms, and six Chlorosperms, are all that I have as yet been able to detect. A more careful search may probably supply a few more species. In the classification, and names of the species, I have followed that emi- nent Algologist, Hon. Win. H. Harvey, in his "Nereis Boreali- Americana,'' pub- lished by the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. Series I. MELANOSPERMELE. Fucus vesiculosus, Linn. Very common between tide marks, on the shores of the Bays, and the thoroughfares ; not unfrequently attached to sods by a root penetrating several inches into the soil, throwing off numerous lateral slioots having the appearance of undeveloped fronds, forming a strong hold-fast, and affording an interesting illustration of the modification of a discoid root, where local circumstances are unfavorable to such expansions. It is, however, more frequently found adhering by a conical disc to mussels, {Modiola plicatula) which, at high water, unable to resist the buoyancy of the full grown planl with its inflated vesicles, are, by degrees, wrested from their place of growth and cast upon the shore to perish, when the Fucus together with other marine plaots are- carried away by the inhabitants for manure. Stilophori rhizodes, J. Ag. Rather rare ; on old shells, &c , near low- water mark. The few specimens which I obtained are fertile, of vigorous growth, and densely covered with wart-like fructification. 412 [October, Ectocarpus littoralis, Lyngb. Very abundant in the Bays, on various sub- merged substances. Also fringing the steep banks of the thoroughfares be- tween tide marks. Disappearing in July. Ectocarpus siliculosus, Lyngb. Occurs sparingly on the shores of Little Bay, on Fucas vesiculosus. Ectocarpus viridis, Harv. Common in the Bays, on Zostera marina, &c. Dis- appearing in July. Series II. RHODOSPERME^E. Chondria dasyphylla, Ag. Plentiful in Little Bay, and on " Bond's Bar/' growing in large tufts on the sandy mud, to which it is attached by a fibrous root. Chondria Baileyana, Mont. Common with the above. Polysiphonia Olneyi, Harv. Rare, on Zostera marina in "Little Bay." Polysiphonia Harveyi, Bailey. Very abundant in the Bays, and on Bond's Bar ; on Zostera marina. Polysiphonia variegata, Ag. Very common, on Zostera marina, also at- tached to the mud by a fibrous root. Polysiphonia nigrescens, Grev. I collected fine specimens of this most va- riable plant, in fruit, in the month of May. It occurs in great abundance in Lit- tle Bay, attached to the bottom by a fibrous root. Champia parvula, Harv. Plentiful in Little Bay, on Zostera marina. < Grinnellia Americana, Harv. Of this beautiful plant I only found a soli- tary perfect specimen. It was growing in the Great Egg-Harbor Bay near the shore, attached to the bottom by a somewhat fibrous root. The frond consists of a leaf-like expansion, four inches long, and two inches wide. Several leaf- lets, in as many stages of development, spring from the base of the midrib, giving evidence of vitality. I had previously discovered fragments of this interesting plant, cast ashore near the inlet, and also in the Great Egg-Harbor Bay, one of which I sent to Professor Bailey of West Point, who suggested that it was a drift specimen, probably from the narrows of New York Bay, where it occurs abundantly. Notwithstanding that these fragments may have been stragglers, I have had suf- ficient evidence that this species is an inhabitant of Beesley's Point, and there- fore give it a place in my catalogue. Gracilaria multipartita, J. Ag. Plentiful, particularly fine on planted oysters in Little Bay. Solieria chordalis, J. Ag. Very common on all the shores. There can be no doubt, but this bushy plant will grow and flourish in the coves of Little Bay, and other sheltered situations, without a foothold, for I have rarely found it attached to the bottom. Chylocladia Baileyana, Harv. Frequent on Zostera marina, Ulva latissima, &c Spyridia filamentosa, Hnrv. Particularly abundant and vigorous in the Bays ; where, sheltered from the winds and waves, like the Solieria chordalis, it will luxuriate without the slightest attachment to the bottom. Ceramium rubrum, Ag. This plant, in all its perplexing varieties, is found on Zostera marina, rather abundantly. Ceramium diaphanum, Roth. Occurs sparingly associated with the above. Ceramium fastigiatum, Harv. In dense tufts, on Zostera marina, rather rare. Callithamnion byssoideum, Am. Frequent on Zostera marina, also attached to old shells in Great Egg-Harbor Bay. Callithamnion polyspermum, Ag. Rare, on old shells in Great Egg-Harbor Bay. Gklidium corneum, var. y. pinnatum, Grev. I obtained two or three speci- mens of this plant in Little Bay, on old shells, near low-water mark. 1355.] 4 id T close the list of Rhodosperms with some remarks on an interesting plant, for which, as yet, I have no name. I obtained upwards of twenty specimens of this Alga during July and August. They were cast ashore near the inlet of Great Egg Harbor Bay, parasitical on TJlva latissima, Zoster a marina, and Gracilaria multipartita, associated with Chylocladia Baileyana. I sought diligently for fertile specimens, but without success. This plant, in the articulations of the frond, shows a tendency towards Grif- fithsia setacea, from which, however, it differs greatly in some of its other characters. The branching of G. setacea is on the dichotomous model, and the axils are acute, whilst in this plant the branching is irregular, showing a tendency to secund ramification, and the axils are obtuse, particularly in the ramuli, where they are found to be almost horizontally patent, which is sufficient to distinguish it from G. setacea. Perhaps one of the most remarkable characters of this Alga is that the ramuli generally issue from the middle of the internodes, which, according to Harvey, would exclude it even from the Order Ceramiacece, to which ihe genus Griffithsia belongs. Under the natural character of the Order Ceramiacece, Harvey remarks as fol- lows : "In the simpler species, the frond consists of an articulated filament, formed of a number of cylindrical cells or articulations, placed end to end. This filament is either dichotomously or pinnately branched, the branches being similar to the main stem, and always springing from the upper part of each internode (or articulation) either from its shoulder, or from a short distance below that point.1' See Nereis Boreali- Americana, page 206. These different characters have been made available by Algologists for the purpose of classification, and if they are to be regarded as of primary conse- quence, this plant is certainly new to our coast, if not to science. The following are some of its principal characters, which may serve to dis- tinguish it, until fertile specimens shall be obtained. Frond terete; tubular; monosiphonous ; rosy-red ; two to four inches long ; not much thicker than a human hair; soft but not gelatinous ; does not readily decompose in fresh water, nor adhere strongly to paper in drying. Conspicuously articulated throughout ; the lower articulations many times longer than their diameter; internodes more or less swollen ; nodes consist of narrow pellucid bands, on either side of which is a ring of deep crimson, gradually fading towards the central region of the internode. The branching irregular ; sometimes showing a tendency to secund ramifica- tion ; branchlets beset at unequal intervals with secund, spindle-shaped ramuli, half a lioe to four or five lines in length, frequently horizontally patent, generally issuing from the middle of the internodes, and sometimes much attenuated at the point of insertion. Apices furnished with several whorls of exceedingly minute dichotomous hairs, oaly visible under the microscope. Series III. CHLOROSPERME.E. Bryopsis plumosa, Ag. Not common ; attached to old shells and other sub- merged substances on the shore of Great Egg Harbor Bay. Cladophora palcata, Harv. Occurs plentiful in Little Bay. Enteromorpiia compressa, Grev. Very common everywhere ; infesting the small pebbles on Great Egg Harbor Bay. Enteromorpiia intestinalis, Link. Abundant in Little Bay, and on Bond's Bar. Frequently found floating in large quantities in the Bays. TJlva latissima, Linn. Common with the above. Porphyra vulgaris, Ag. Very rare. I have obtained but two or three speci- meas of this Alga, on Zostera marina in Little Bay. 414 [October, Indications of five sp ties, with two neio genera, of extinct Fishes. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. 1. Sicarius extinctus, Leidy. — A species of a new genus, most probably of fishes, but it may be of reptiles. It is founded upon the specimen of a tooth, or it may be a scale or a spine ; and it consists of two portions. The body has much the form of the scales of the Manis, but is surrounded at base with a thick collar marked with close parallel ridges. The breadth of the body in its perfect condition has been 15 lines ; its depth on the convex side 9 lines, and on the vertical slightly concave side 11 lines. The root is 10J lines in breadth and narrow towards the extremity, which is broken off, and it measures on one side 6 lines and on the other 4} lines in length. The specimen was obtained from a black stratum, belonging to the coal series, in number 13 of Rogers, at the head of inclined plane No. 3, of the old portage portion of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was presented by Townsend Ward, E3q., to Charles A. Poulson, Esq., from whom Mr. Conrad borrowed it for my inspection. 2. Edestus vorax, Leidy. — A species of a new genus of fishes, founded on the fragment of a jaw with portions of four teeth. The fragment of jaw is 3 inches in breadth by 10 lines in thickness at the dental border, and nearly double that thickness at the opposed border, which is convex. It is composed of four wedge-like segments excavated at base, so that those posteriorly are inserted into those anteriorly, and each has a tooth coossified at the narrower border in^the same plane as the broad surfaces of the specimen. The teeth resemble those of Charcharodon, and in their perfect condition have been about 2 inches long, and have had nearly the same breadth at base. They have strongly and coarsely dentated borders, and are thinly coated with enamel. In relation to the affinities of the singular fish to which the fragment belonged and its exact position in the skullf T suspect it to have been a portion of the upper jaw of a genus allied to Lepidosteus, from the circumstance that the latter, in like manner, has the upper jaw composed of a number of distinct segments. The specimen is most probably from the carboniferous series, and it was ob- tained by "William S. Vaux, Esq., from an itinerant showman, who found it at Frozen Rock, Arkansas River, 20 miles below Fort Gibson, in the Indian Terri- tory. 3. Oracanthus vetustus, Leidy. — This species is founded on an ichthyodorulite, the body of which in its perfect condition has been about 6 inches in length, and it measures 1\ inches in breadth at base. The broad surfaces and slightly con- cave border are thickly covered with mamillary tubercles arranged in very irregular, transverse rows, and unsymmetrically on the two broad sides. The specimen is from Missouri Territory, and formerly belonged to Mr. Conrad's collection now in possession of this Academy. Adhering to its base there is a portion of black shale with a partially imbedded segment of an encrenite stem, which Mr. Conrad considers as fixing the specimen in the carboniferous series. 4. Pristis curvidens, Leidy. — This species is based on a single tooth 5 inches long by 8 lines wide at the point of exsertion. The posterior border at its thickest part is 4J lines, is straight throughout, and only at its outer two-fifths is slightly depressed. The anterior border is convex ; and the tooth is con- siderably curved downward. The specimen was discovered by W. Taylor, Esq., in the Green Sand, near Pemberton, New Jersey. 5. Pristis ensidens, Leidy. — This species is founded on numerous specimens of teeth, of which the largest in their perfect condition have been about 1^ inches long by 7 \ lines broad at base. They are straight and have both borders equally acute and convex. The specimens were discovered by Capt. Bowman, U. S. A., in the sands of Ashley River, South Carolina. Mr. Ilene La Roche Jr., and Dr. Samuel Lewis, of Philadelphia, were elected Members. 1855.] 415 November VZth, 1855. The President, Mr. Ord, in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Society of Sciences, Netherlands India, dated Batavia, 26th Jan. 1854, transmitting vol. i., 2d series of their Review. From Dr. Guido Sandberger, dated Wiesbaden, 21st Oct. 1855, ac- knowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. From the Academy of Sciences of Berlin, dated 10th Oct. 1855, ac- knowledging the receipt of Journal and Proceedings of the Academy, and desiring missing numbers of the same. Dr. Leidy exhibited a polyp mass of the animal described by him as Escharina variabile. The mass is in laminae surrounding a fragment of oyster shell as a nucleus, and is rounded as if rolled beneath the sea. November 20th. Mr. Ord, President, in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Royal Saxon Society of Sciences, dated Leipzig, 18th May, 1855, transmitting donations to the Library announced this evening. A paper was presented for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Descriptions of some species of Coleoptera, supposed to be new, by Philip R. Uhler." Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Mr. Guex and Dr. Zant- zinger. Mr. Cassin presented for publication in the Journal, a paper, entitled, "Description of a new species of Parrot, Brotogeris orifrons." Referred to Dr. Wilson, Col. McCall and Dr. Bridges. ' Mr. Ord stated that when recently in Europe, he had visited Paisley, in Scotland, the birth-place of Alexander Wilson. The project of erect- ing a monument to him there had been lately revived, and subscriptions made. Mr. Ord presented copies of the list of subscribers. November 27th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The Committee on Mr. Uhler's descriptions of Coleoptera, supposed to be new, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings : Lescriptions of a few specks of Coleoptera, supposed to be new. By Philip R. Uhler. O.MALOPLIA, Muls. 0. trogifokmis. Dull blaekish-brown ; elytra ochraceous, 2\ Hues long. Balti- more. Head roughly punctured ; margin of clypeus recxrved, anteriorly emarginate ; antennae ochraceous, club elongated: thorax covered with fine dense granula- tions, slightly hairy ; scutel same character as thorax ; elytra with elevated, PROCEED. ACAD. MAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. — VOL. «. NO. XII. 33 416 [November, convex interstices, and finely punctured striae : femora brownish, punctured : tibiae armed with sharp spines; tarsi rather long, spinous : beneath punctured: venter of a lighter color than pectus. A very rare species, and differs very materially from any other of our species in the broader form and smaller size. Specimens occur of a uniform daik blackish brown. AGRILUS, Lap. 1. A. occidentalis. Brilliant cupreous ; thorax with an oblique fovea each side; elytra dark greenish. 4 lines long. Indiana. Body brassy-cupreous : head greenish, finely granulated, front impressed, frontal line obsolete, apparent only at base ; mandibles and beneath the eyes blackish ; antennae blackish cupreous : thorax transversely wrinkled, with an oblique fovea each side, a slightly elevated carina against the lateral margin in front; a shallower, abbreviated medial fovea at base, and as obsolete smaller one each side of the middle: scutel minutely sbagreened : elytra dark green, in some with a purplish reflection, surface covered with rather dense granulations of a darker color, two slightly elevated stria? upon each ; apical points a little divaricate, rounded : leg9 brassy polished, a little sbagreened internally : beneath brassy: posterior margins of ventral segments not granulate, polished. The largest species of this genus I have ever met with from this country ; it was discovered near Evansville, Indiana, by Mr. J. P. Wild, who obtained it from a species of Salix. 2. A. iMPRBSsiPBNNis. Entirely blackish-cupreous, with the exception of the face, which is greenish : four impressions upon each elytron. 2 lines long. Baltimore. Body blackish cupreou?, polished : head in front finely granulated, greenish ; frontal line slightly impressed ; antennae same color as elytra: thorax finely sha- greened, obsoletely impressed in the middle, and strongly, obliquely foveolate each side : scutellum blackish : elytra excavated against the humerus, and with a slightly excavated sulcus on each, containing four obsolete impressions ; tips subacute, slightly divaricate: legs blackish-cupreous, polished: tergum brilliant purple : venter with a greenish reflection, polished, not obviously shagreened. SPHENOPHORUS, Schonh. S. sculptilis. Entirely black, elevated portions shining; thorax with a sphenoid, posteriorly acuminate, medial, and two undulating, prominent eleva- tions. 8J lines long to tip of rostrum. Baltimore. Black, punctured : rostrum rather robust, finely punctured at base ; sulcated, and dilated immediately in front of base ; club of antennae, whitish at tip: thorax round, constricted in front, and slightly dilated a little before the middle, densely and coarsely punctured at sides, and between the elevations, puncta becoming finer anteriorly: scutel deltoid, excavated: elytra with two elevated, interstitial lines, a prominent elongated tubercle each side behind the humerus, and a round one near the apex of each elytron, sutural lines slightly elevated ; the three medial, and subsutural ones a little punctured at base : pygidium somewhat coarsely punctulate, punctures becoming finer at base : legs finety punctulate, patella more coarsely so : a large deep fovea upon the base of the postpectas, posteriorly : venter with gradually enlarging punctures, increasing in size toward the base. CHLOROPHANUS, Dalman. C. ? undulatus. Black ; thorax obsoletely margined, silvery white at the sides; elytra with irregular, silvery undulations at sides; variegated silvery white behind the middle. 4 lines long including rostrum. Baltimore. Black, beneath silvery : head scabrous ; rostrum tinged with silvery at sides ; antenna? black, club dusky; eyes black; thorax constricted posteriorly, finely shagreened; medial thoracic line impressed; obsoletely margined, silvery at 18*5.] 417 sides: antepectus somewhat regularly punctured, punctures elevated: scutel black : elytra punctate-striate, interstitial lines elevated ; an irregular undulating silvery vitta upon the lateral submargins, extending from humeral angle to apex, interrupted in the middle, and merging into scattered variegations behind the sutural middle : legs with cupreous reflections, finely pubescent ; a silvery spot immediately in front of posterior coxa? : venter punctulate, silvery. A very dis- tinct and beautiful insect, which I doubtingly refer to the genus cited. A very rare species, two individuals only having occurred. BARIDIUS, Sch. B. pubescens. Entirely covered with dense, fulvous pubescence. 4 lines long to tip of rostrum. Virginia. Densely yellowish pubescent : head, rostrum and eyes piceous-black, rostrum slightly pubescent at base ; antenna? black, club piceous : thorax densely pubes- cent, pile running transversely each side from the middle, middle slightly elevated: legs and feet pubescent: elytra striate punctate, punctures not visible through the pubescence : beneath densely pubescent. A very distinct species, and may be easily recognized by the uniform long yellowish pubescence with which the whole body is invested. Rubbed specimens appear brownish, the pubescence being very deciduous. ACANTHODERES, Serv. A. Morrisi. Whole body covered with bluish-cinereous pubescence ; 5 spinous tubercles upon the thorax, exclusive of the lateral ones; elytra each with a sub- lunulate macula behind the middle. 11 lines long; 5 broad. Baltimore. Cinereous pubescent : head brownish, punctured; labrum piceous, ciliate in front with yellowish hairs ; frontal line entire, a longitudinal elevation each side at base; antennae annulate with black, 1st joint thickened at extremity: thorax anteriorly and posteriorly, sparsely and coarsely punctured, three spinous tuber- cles on the middle placed laterally, external ones bipartite, lateral spines hardly acute: scutel with two round dots of black pile, densely pubescent: elytra roughly shagreened, slightly elevated each side, behind the scutel ; humeri pro- minent, acute; 4 elevated striae containing black dots, lateral and sutural mar- gins dotted black; also 4 black dots on each side, one near the lateral margin, one behind the humerus, one immediately in front of the apex, and a large somewhat lunate (anteriorly emarginate, and posteriorly trifurcate) spot, the outside branch of which runs obliquely outwards, each spot surrounded with a fulvous margin ; tips obliquely truncated, slightly divaricate : femora stroDgly clavate, black at tip and reddish at base, tibia? annulate with black, tarsi black- ish, pulvilli yellow; venter terminal segments almost without pubescence. 1 take great pleasure in dedicating this beautiful insect to the Rev. John G„ Morris, as a slight testimonial of my esteem for him as an eminent Entomologist, and liberal patron of the natural sciences. DORCASCHEMA, Lee. D. Wildii. Ground color brown, entirely invested with dense cinereous pubes- cence ; antenna? basal joints finely pointed with brown ; lateral yellowish vitta extending from behind the eyes to apex of elytra. 10 lines long; (elytra 7;) 2J wide. Baltimore upon Morus. Densely cinereous pubescent: head ashy pubescent with a lateral yellowish vitta, frontal line impressed ; mandibles and palpi piceous-black : antennas ter- minal joints annulate with blackish, basal ones scabrous, finely pointed with brown, pubescent: eyes dark brown : thorax lineate with yellow each side, and together with the head very finely, transversely wrinkled, dorsal line obsolete anteriorly: scutel cinereous pubescent ; elytra a little less densely pubescent, beautifully marked with fine brown points, humeral angles prominent, base coarsely and closely punctured, becoming less so posteriorly : legs densely pubescent, finely and closely brown-punctured : venter ciliate at tip. It affordes me much pleasure in dedicating this fine insect to Mr. J. P. Wild, 418 [December as a slight testimony of nay esteem for him as a zealous prosecutor of Entomo- logical research. This rare and beautiful insect was first obtained in Baltimore on the common Grape, but a specimen was brought from Evansville, Ind., by Mr. Wild, who obtained it from the Mulberry, and another specimen has since been captured by me upon that tree. PACHNEPHORUS, Chevr. P. viticolus. Brownish-black, clothed with a dense ashy pubescence ; be- neath, and legs blackish. 2h lines long. Baltimore. Densely ashy pubescent : head closely punctured, frontal line impressed, labrum blackish ; palpi and basal joints of the antennae testaceous, terminal joints dusky above : thorax finely, and densely punctured ; rather dilated in the middle : scutellum densely pubescent : elytra punctate-striate, interstices finely shagreened ; ground color a little lighter upon the tips : beneath, and legs blackish ; articula- tions of the legs faintly reddish-testaceous. NEMOGNATHA, Illig. N. fla-Vipennis. Body black ; head, thorax and elytra yellow. 5 lines long. Virginia. Body black: head yellow, eyes and antenrue black, mandibles and palpi piceous, maxillary filaments yellow : thorax subquadrate, finely and minutely punctured: scutel same color as elytra, minutely punctured: elytra dusky yellow towards the tip: legs yellow, finely sericeous pubescent, tarsi black venter somewhat pubescent. Spurs of the posterior tibiae small, acute. The Committee on Mr. Cassia's description of a new species of Parrot, reported in favor of publication in the Journal. The Report of the Corresponding Secretary for Oct. and Nov. 1855 was read. ELECTIONS. Dr. Robert F. Brown, and Dr. Samuel Moore, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Samuel D. Howell, of Camden, N. J., were elected Members. December 4 th. The President, Mr. Ord, in the Chair. Letters were read — From Dr. Samuel Moore, dated Philadelphia, 3d Dec. 1855, acknow- ledging the receipt of his notice of election as a member : From C. A. Dos Santos, dated Rio de Janeiro, 11th Oct. 1855, ac- knowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent : From the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, dated 13th and 26th of June, 1854: From the Imperial Geological Institute of Vienna, dated 20th May, 1855: From the Royal Society of Agriculture, Science, &c. of Lyons, dated 23d June, 1855 : From the Royal Academy of Sciences, Belles Lettres and Arts of Lyons, dated 23d June, 1855 : 1855.] 419 From the u Fiirstlich Jablonowskischen Gesellschaft," of Leipzig, dated 4th July, 1855 : From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Amsterdam, dated 5th June, 1855 : From the Natural History Society of Prussian Rhineland and West- phalia, dated Bonn, 13th August, 1855 : and From the Minister of Public Works, Direction of Mines, of France, dated Paris, 27th June, 1855 : severally transmitting donations to the Library, announced this evening. Major Le Conte presented for publication in the Proceedings, the fol- lowing papers : — " Observations on the North American Bats," and "Descriptive Catalogue of the Ranina," both of which were referred to Drs. Bridges, Leidy and Hallowell. December 11th. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from Chas. Wilson Peale, dated Shamokin, North- umberland Co. Penn., Dec. 8th, 1855, stating that a Society has been recently formed at that place, entitled the Shamokin Lyceum, and desir*- ing contributions of objects of Natural History for the same. Referred to the Curators. December \%th. Mr. Ord, President, in the Chair. Letters were read — From Signor Jose Antonio G. y Garcia, dated Lima, 23d Oct. 1855, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent, and transmitting the donation to the Library announced this evening : From the Librarian of the British iMuseum, dated 16th Nov. 1825, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings of the Academy : Mr. Cassin presented for publication in the Proceedings the following paper, " Notices of some new and little known birds in the collection of the U. S. Exploring Expedition in the Vincennes and Peacock, and in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. " Referred to Col. McCall, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Bridges. Mr. Conrad presented the following for publication in the Proceed- ings : — "Note on the Miocene and Post-Pliocene deposits of California, with descriptions of two new fossil Corals," and " Description of a new species of Pentamerus;" both of which were referred to Dr. Wilson, Mr. Vaux and Dr. Le Conte. Major LeConte presented for publication in the Proceedings, a paper, entitled, "Description of a new species of Hesperomys." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Henderson and Dr. Hallowell. Dr. Leidy presented for publication in the Proceedings, apaper entitled, 420 [December. " Notices of some Tape-worms." Referred to Drs. Bridges, J. A. Meigs and Hallowell. Dr. J. Aitken Meigs presented for publication, a revised edition of the Catalogue of Human Crania in the collection of the late Dr. Samuel George Morton : Since the death of Dr. Morton, his magnificent collection of Human Crania, recently increased by the receipt of 40 skulls from various sources, has been permanently deposited in the Museum of the Academy. Prior to his decease, Dr. M. had received about 100 crania, in addition to those mentioned in the third edition of this catalogue. Since 1849, therefore, the collection has been aug- mented by the addition of 140 skulls. To complete the catalogue in a uniform manner, these have been carefully numbered and measured in accordance with the methods recorded in the Crania Americana, &c. In a portion of these measurements, I was kindly assisted by our fellow-member, Dr. Thomas J. Turner, of the United States Navy. The entire collection, numbering 1007 crania, was purchased by 42 gentle- men, from the executors of Dr. Morton, for the sum of $4000, and by them generously presented to the Academy.* The collection occupies 16 cases on the first gallery, on the south side of the lower room of the Museum. For convenience of study and examination, I have grouped it according to Race, Family, Tribe, &c, strictly adhering, however, to the classification of Dr. Morton. It will be seen, also, that the same arrange- ment has been adopted in this edition of the catalogue, so that it is an exact re- presentation of the collection as it stands upon the shelves. While the old numbering has been carefully preserved for the sake of reference to the various published descriptions of Dr. Morton, new numbers have been added to desig- nate the position of any skuli in the natural division or sub-division to which it belongs. The crania are distributed as follows : I. Caucasian Group. 4. Anglo-Saxons. 1. Scandinavian Race. English, . 4 Norwegian, • 1 Swedish Peasants, « • 7 5. Anglo-Americans, 8 Finland Swedes, • 2 Sudermanland Swedes, •^ 3 6. Celtic Race. Ostrogoth, • 1 Irish, .... . 8 Turannic Swede, • 1 Cimbric Swedes, . • 3 7. Sclavonic Race. Swedish Finns, • 3 21 Sclavonians, . 8. Pelasgic Race.f . 2 2. Finnish or Tchudic Race. Ancient Phoenician, . 1 True Finns, . • 10 Ancient Roman, Greek, . 1 1 3. Suevic Race. Circassians, . 4 Germans, • U Armenians, . ■ 6 Dutchman, • 1 Parsees, . 2 Prussians, • 4 AfFghan, , 1 Burgundian, . • 1 17 Graeco-Egyptians, . 23 39 *See Proceedings of the Academy, vol. vi. pp. 321, 324. f Dr. Morton used the term Pelasgic too comprehensively. Armenians and Persians should not be placed in this group. The Circassians, 1855.] 421 9. Semitic Race. Arabs, . Hebrews, Abyssinian, 10. Berber Race.{?) Gttanche, 11. Nilotic Race. Ancient Theban Egyptians, " Memphite " " Abydos " " Alexandrian <•' Egyptians from Gizeh, . Kens or Ancient Nubians, Ombite Egyptians, Maabdeh Egyptians, Miscellaneous, Fellahs, 12. Indostanic Race. Ayras,(?) Thuggs, Bengalese, Uncertain, . II. Mongolian Group. 1. Chinese Race, Chinese, Japanese, III. Malay Group. 1. Malayan Race- 5 8 1 14 34 17 2 3 16 4 3 4 5 19 107 6 2 32 3 43 11 1 12 2. Hyperborean Rare. Burat Mongol, 1 Kamschatkan, 1 Kalmuck, . 1 Laplanders, . 4 Hybrid Laplander, . 1 Eskimo, . • . 4 12 Malays, Dyaks, 23 2 25 2. Polynesian Race. Kanakas New Zealanders, Marquesas, IV. American Group. 1. Barbarous Race. a. North Americans. Ariekarees, Assinaboins, Chenouks, Oregonians, Cherokees, Chetimaches, Chippeways, Cotonays, Creeks, Dacotas, Hurons, Iroquois, Illinois, Lenapes, Mandans, Menominees, Miamis, Minetaris, Mohawks, Narragansets, Natchez, Naticks, Osages, Otoes, Ottawas, Ottigamies, Pawnees, Penobscots, Pottawatomies Sauks, Seminoles, Shawnees, Shoshones, Upsarookas, Winnebagos, Yamassees, Californians, Miscellaneous b. Central Americans. Maya, .... Fragments from Yucatan, 7 3 11 3 3 7 6 6 2 2 3 4 2 4 3 2 10 / 7 12 4 3 10 2 5 2 4 4 4 2 2 4 3 16 4 4 2 2 3 2 45 210 1 2 422 [December, c. South Ame> i can . Araucanians, . From Mounds. Charibs, Pata^onians, . Brazilians, 2. Toltecan Rare, a. Peruvian Family. Arican«, Pachacamac, . Pisco, Santa, Lima, Callao, Miscellaneous, Elongated skulls from Titicaca, Cw <_ . « * • « m m 30 2 / 2 1 V. Negro Group. 1« American borvy 16 2 . Na t ire Afri cajis, 86 3. 1 Jut- at, 2 4. Alftrian Race. Australians, . 11 Oceanic Negroes, . 2 20 104 62 8 7 3 9 8 VI. Mixed Races. 221 b. Mexican Family. Ancient Mexicans, Modern Mexicans, Lipans, .... 24 9 2 35 Copts, Negroid Egyptian, Nubians, Hispano- Peruvian, Negroid-Indian, Hispano-Indian, Malayo-Chinese, Mulattoes, 117 5 12 3 2 3 1 1 2 29 VII. Lunatics and Tdiots, 18 VIII. Illustrative of Growth, 7 Phrenological Sfadls, 2 Nation uncertain, 7 Total, 1007 Extensive and unique as is this collection, it is, nevertheless, still too limited to justify any positive and comprehensive conclusions concerning the great fundamental problems of Ethnology. That it will be capable, wheu sufficiently extended, of throwing much lght upon these obscure and unsettled questions, is amply attested by the scientific publications of Dr. Morton. It is earnestly hoped, therefore, that this magnificent nucleus, the result of much pecuniary sacrifice and many years of enthusiastic labor on the part of its late illustrious owner aad founder, will not be Deglected ; but that its efficiency will be increased, and the objects for which it was gathered together attained by contributions from all who may be interested in the advancement of this youngest, most intricate and most important of the sciences. The Norwegians and Danes of the Scandinavian race ; the Bas-Bretons ; the Celtic Scotch, Welsh, French, Spanish and Portuguese; the Ancient and Modern Greeks: the Magyar people ; the Great Tartar and" Scythic hordes; the entire Basque Family, and many other races, are without a single representative in the collection. Of the Polar and Tchudic Families it contains but 4, and £ skulls respectively; while the ancient Romans and their descendants, the modern Transteverini beyond the Tibeu< the great Sclavic race and the Berber tribes are each renresented by but one skull. These deficiencies — and many others could be particularized — are recorded in the hope that the attention of the scientific community being directed to them, they will sooner or later, be supplied. On motion of Mr. Lea, it was ordered that a set of the Proceedings, as far as published, be presented to Prince Charles Bonaparte. On motion of Mr. Hanson, it was resolved that an invitation be ex- tended to the Educational Convention about to meet in this city, to visit the Museum of the Academy. 1855.] 423 December 2.b(h. Vice President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees, to which were referred papers read by Major Le Conte, Dec. 4th j by Mr. Cassin, Dec. 18th j by Mr. Conrad, same date ; by Major Le Conte, same date : and by Dr. Leidy, same date, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings : Descriptive Catalogue of the Ranina of the United Slates. By John Le Conte. On account of the numerous errors which have been introduced into that pait of the Heruetology of our country, which treats of the froes and allied animals, 1 have been induced in this short memoir, to reduce sach as I ba\e been able to obtain, to some better order. I offer but a descriptive catalogue. To this are joined all the synonyms which I have been able to collect from works which could be consulted in this city. Before I begin, it is necessary to observe that all the Ranina which I have ever seen, have more or less the power of changing color at will. The character of color therefore, of so much moment in the description of many other animals, is here of very little value; for none of the marks dependant on it are constant. In consequence, it requires numerous specimens, living subjects and locg study to produce any description that approaches perfection. How far I have succeeded in my attempt remains to be seen. I have been long and sedulously engaged in my researches. Every description has been made from living specimens. The many strange errors and misnomeis pointed out will perhaps appear at first sight extraordinary and not worthy of belief; but it is to be hoped that the reasoning which has led me to differ so much from others, will produce the same effect upon the minds of my readers as it has upon mine. Rani Catesbiana. Shaw, gen. zool. vol. iii. pi. 33 ann. 1802. R. mugiens Merrem. p. 175 ann. 1820. R. pipiens Holbrook iv. p. 77 et aliorum. R. scapu- laris Harlan, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. vol. v. p. 335. Catesby Carolina vol. ii. tab. 72. Vulg. Bull frog and Blood and Owns. Add to the descriptions already given, a short raised line runs from the back of the orbit, to the tympanum and is curved down behind it. Body above finely granulate, more distinctly at the base of the jaws. Color above olive green and olive brown of every shade, irregularly spotted and blotched with dusky, or uniform brownish dusky without any visible variegation except on the fore part of the head, where there iS in all an inclination to green ; in some few the whole body above is green. A deep depression under the nostrils. Beneath white or yellowish white, sometimes without spots or spotted with dusky only on the chin, sometimes spotted or blotched all over, or again dusky or black spotted and varied with white. Length from nose to the tip of the toes 20 inches. Inhabits from oce end of the country to the other. R. nigrescexs Agassiz. Agas. Lake Superior p. 879. Above very rough with numerous warts, dusky, blackish brown or dark brown, more or less distincly spotted with darker, the spots frequently angular ; a longitudinal cutaneous fold runs on each side of the back from the orbits to the vent. Bo<3y beneath punctate, whitish, very much varied on the chin with black, sides slightly spotted with white : the under and hind part of the thighs spotted or sometimes varied with black, the under side of the tibia? and feet are likewise yellowish with some few spots of black. Length 2.5 in., arm 1.9 in., leg 3.9. Inhabits Lake Superior, particularly on the north side. This species has by some been considered as a variety of the R. fontinalis, to 424 [December, which species it bears only a remote resemblance. The illustrious naturalist to whom we owe the first description of this animal was not so ignorant as to con- found the two together. R. fontinalis. R. fontinalis L. C, Annals of Lyceum N. Y. vol. i. p. 282. R. clamata Dumeril and Bibron vol. viii. p. 373. R. flavo-viridis and clamata Harlan 1. c. p. 338. R. Horiconensis Holbrook 1. c, p. 85. R. fontinalis ejusdem ibid. p. 87. A glandulous raised line always extends from the orbit to the sacral promi- nence. The color varies, being ashy grey, greyish or blackish brown, olive, yellowish green, rarely brown with a bronze reflection, sometimes without spots, most frequently spotted with dark brown or dusky, particularly on the sides, which are always lighter colored than the back. Beneath white or white spotted or varied with dusky or brown. Inhabits the Northern States in springs or rivulets of cold water. In the southern parts of our country the water is doubtless too warm for its existence. R. pipiens. R. pipiens Gmel. Lin. i. p. 1052. Ead. Bonaterre Encyc. method, pi. iv. figs. 2 and 3. R. halicena Daudin Hist. Rain. p. 63. Eadem Holbrook 1. c. p. 91 et aliorum. R. melanotus Raf. R. utricularia Harlan, 1. c. p. 337. Above smooth, with, some scattered warts or small tubercles either round or oblong, sometimes uniting so as to form four raised lines the anterior abbreviated both before and behind, the^posterior only before, but both tubercles and lines depending for their appearance on the will of the animal. Behind the eyes are sometimes observed some large punctures. Color green, brownish green, brown of various degrees of intensity, reddish and dusky, varying to all these at the will of the animal ; when brown they have frequently a metallic gloss. The upper lip and tympanum are often golden. When found in a state of torpidity they are frequently almost black. There is a raised whitish line extending from under the eye to the insertion of the fore leg, and we never fail to find a raised cutaneous fold or line of white or yellowish extending from the orbit to the hind part of the body ; this together with the spots on the sides and back, form the proper characteristics of this species, yet I have one before me that has but five spots on the back, three on one side and two on the other with none on the sides. The lower part of the sides of this near the groin are bluish. This species has a vocal vesicle on the side of each jaw like the R. esculenta. I have restored to this speeies its original name of pipiens. Kalm has some how or other the credit of giving to it the name of halecina, upon what authority I cannot find, neither can I see how the name fits. The word halec in Latin signified a kind of sauce apparently like that we now call anchovy sauce. Afterwards it came to mean any kind of small and cheap fish, by no means how- ever either herring or shad, both of which must have been unknown to the Romans before the conquest of Gaul. How the name was taken from this species and given to the bull frog it would be difficult to discover. No one who knew any thing of the two animals, would confound the soft peeping sound of a chicken with the loud roaring of a bull. R. palustris. R. palustris L. C, 1. c. p. 282. Eadem Holbrook 1. c. p. 95. R. pardalis Harlan. Silliman's Journal x. p. 60. The hind part of the thighs is always yellow spotted with black. It is re- markable for its strong and disagreeable odor. Much resembles the preceding, but is distinguished at once by the two raised lines on the back being wanting; these never fail in the R. pipiens. It sometimes has the black spots on the top of the back connected into two longitudinal bands. R. clamator. R clamata Daudin 1. c. p. 54. R. clamitans Merrem. p. 176. Above smooth, with a few scattered warts, dark olive, cinereous or dark green, with a few irregular black spots, and frequently with a darker line extending from the orbits to the insertion of the hind legs. Beneath smooth white, more or less varied with du3ky. Upper eyelid smooth, tympan brown, vomerian teeth small, the two clusters nearly joined together. Arms and legs barred with dusky, fingers a little dilated at the tips, the first equal to or longer than the second ana 1855.] 425 perfectly free, that is to say without any web ; between the second and third and third and fourth, there is a slight appearance of palrnation or a webbed membrane. The webs of the toes do not reach to their points : the second toe is one third longer than any of the others, and is naked for a greater length. Length 1.8 in., arms 1.1 in., legs 2.65 in. This is the true H. clamator of Bosc, (not clamata which is a misreading of Mr. Bosc'a name); this name has been given by Dr. Holbrook to a species which I have never seen. R. cokspersa. Head punctured and wrinkled in a daedal manner. Body above smooth or warty at the will of the animal, sometimes these warts being so arranged as to resemble a cutaneous, fold on the sides of the back. Beneath white, sha- greened or very finely granulate. Color above green or greenish cinereous, or cinereous sometimes varied on the greener jaws and on the sides with white. Top of the back with an infinity of small dots of paler, and marked with nume- rous small, round, irregularly scattered spots of dusky, which are however some- times nearly evanescent. Chin and throat frequently tesselate with dusky. Arms brownish spotted with dusky. Legs above brownish, varied with darker ; hind part of the thighs warty, dirty white varied with dark brown, or pale brown varied with darker, beneath spotted with brown, tibia above a little warty, almost always with a few transverse bars of darker, beneath pale brown, third and fourth toes much longer in proportion than in other species, toes not dilated at the tips. Length 1.8 in., arm and hand 1 in., leg 3 in., thigh 1.6 in., tibia and foot .94, tympanum .15. Inhabits Pennsylvania in ponds and ditches. Individuals are found which at times have the warts on the back arranged in such a manner as to simulate a cutaneous fold ; beneath this there is sometimes likewise a short line of the same kind. A young one of this species which I kept for a long time in a glass jar along with many others, was able to climb up the vessel in which he was imprisoned and to support himself there as well as a Hyla would have been able to do. It has been thought by some that this was nothing more than a young bull- frog. But I have them not an inch in length, when the larva of the bull-frog before it loses its tail is frequently three inches long in the body. R. sylvatica. R. sylvatica L. C. 1. c. Ead. Harlan & Pennsylvanica ejusd, 1. c. 330. This species has sometimes the dark baron the head scarcely distinguishable, in others it is entirely wanting ; it resembles the Rana temporaria of Europe very much, and requires a rigid examination to determine that it is not the same. It does not inhabit the Southern States at least in the lower country. R. CAPITO. Above very rough, dark grey or slate-color speckled with black with six rows of roundish spots on the back ; sides speckled and irregularly marked with spots of the same form and color ; from the orbits to beyond the middle of the body runs a broad raised line or cutaneous fold ; and another from the corner of the mouth to the insertion of the arm. Beneath smooth, yellowish white, speckled, spotted and varied with dusky ; top of the head coarsely punc- tured, back and side3 tuberculous. Head very large, broad and blunt, a deep concavity between the nostrils and the eyes. Irids golden mixed with black. Tympanum of the color of the body. Lower jaw with a small protuberance or point resembling a tooth. Arms and legs above grey, speckled and barred with black ; beneath yellowish spotted and varied with dusky, the yellowish color more decided at the axillae and groins. Hind part of the thighs granulate. Fingera slightly palmate at the base, the first longer than the second. The second toe twice a3 long as the first. Length 4-2 in., width of the head at the corners of the mouth 1-5 in., arm 1-87, leg 4-,75, thigh 1-1 in., tibia 1-45, foot 2 2. Inhabits Georgia in the ditches of the rice-fields. (Plate V.) 426 ' [December. TELMATOBIUS Wiegmann. T. lentiginosds. Bufo lentiginosus, Shaw's Zool. iii. p. 173 pi. 3. Catesbj ii pi. 69. Above more or less granulate with small scattered warts, cinereous or dark slate color, speckled all over with whitish or pale brownish grey, and with brown or dusky ; beneath whitish, spotted and varied with dusky, particularly on the throat and under side of the legs. Head small, vertex plane ; irids gold- en ; tympanum small, scarcely visible from its color. Arms of the color of of the body, spotted more especially behind, fingers slightly webbed, the first much shorter than the second. Legs obscurely barred with darker, feet fully palmate. Length 2-25, width of head -7, length of the same arm 1-5, leg 3-44, thigh -9, tibia 1-04, foot 1-5. Inhabits Georgia. This animal, with considerable resemblance to a toad, is nevertheless a perfect frog. It wants the vomerine teeth which are always found in the genus Rana. Whether the fact of its wanting the small and imperfect vomerine teeth should make us consider the Telmatobius as distinct from Rana, is a Question 1 shall not take upon me here to decide ; it is enough to say, that the present eagerness for the erection of new genera is fast degrading Natural Science into a system of empirical uncertainty. Of its mode of life I know nothing; it was found on a road bordered on each side by a deep ditch. Mr. Cate^by, who has an excellent figure of it, calls it the land frog. ACRIS Dumeril. A. gryllus. A. gryllus L. C. Ann. Lye. N. Y. i. p. 282. Dumeril & Bibron 1. c. p. 507 pi. 33. Body above more or less papillous, some of the papillae joined together so as to form narrow oblong abbreviated lines. Chin and throat smooth, abdomen and inner and hind part of the thighs, cancellately reticulate. The color above is dark brown, brownish dusky, reddish brown, cinereous or dull green with sometimes some very indistict spots of darker or of dusky. The triangular spot on the vertex is often evanescent as is likewise the vertebral line of paler, or green or reddish. The white line bounding the black spot from the orbits is frequently wanting as is also the spot itself, as well as the one from the arm along the side. Upper lip with sometimes three white perpendicular bars. Throat and breast often varied with dusky. Tympanum rather indistinct. In one specimen the color was brown with a golden gloss. Length 1-4, head "45, arm J8, leg 2'8 in., thigh *75, tibia -85, foot 1*2 in. Found in immense numbers in every piece of water in the Southern States, and teas a few years ago commonly known by the name of Savannah Cricket. A. crepitans. A, crepitans Baird Proc. Acad. N. S. vol. vii. p. 59. Hylodes gryllus Holbrook 1. c. plate 33, and Dekay N. H. N. Y. p. 22 No. 51. Body above with small warts of different forms and irregular disposition, which are frequently of a yellowish brown color. Color above obscure green or olivaceous, dotted all over with extremely minute points of black, a short oblong and oblique dark brown or black spot, often with a white line below it, proceeds from the orbit to the insertion of the arm, another of the same oblong form and oblique direction formed from the juxtaposition of very small specks of black, runs from near the axilla half way down the side, and a third one farther behind reaches almost to the groin, all these however vary in form, and the third one is frequently evanescent. Lips generally whitish spotted with black, chin and throat granulate sometimes yellow, most frequently white and often speckled with dusky, top of the nose with transverse wrinkles, tympanum small and indistinct, of the color of the body. Body beneath white, with a fold on the breast betv< een the arms. Abdomen rugoso-granulate, punctate. Legs beneath grey, thighs on the under and hinder parts granulate with white, one of the granules on each side of the anus larger and very conspicuous, above these is an angular darker 1855.] 427 spot. Arms and legs barred or spotted with darker or dusky, thighs with one or two darker spots, tibia a little varied in the same manner. Very much resem- bles the preceding but the head is shorter and blunter, the body likewise is not as slender or as graceful in form as in A. gryllus, having a considerable resem- blance to a toad. Varies extremely in color and in other marks. The only un- varying marks which I have been able to discover are the warts on the back, the dusky line from the axilla on the side (which sometimes almost vanishes) the darker angular spot above the anus (which at times is scarcely perceptible) and the while granules on the hinder and under parts of the thighs. They are found of a green color with a reddish line along the middle of the back, and olivaceous with a red or green vertebral line, in the majority of specimens however this line is entirely wanting. In some the warts on the back are few in number, and the lower ones on each side coalesce into a line resembling a cutaneous fold. In others a few dark spots of greater or less size are seen on the back, and there is on the head a large triangular spot of dusky, the base of which is placed be- tween the orbits, the apex pointing backwards often to be only traced by three narrow lines forming a triangle frequently reduced to one transverse bar, and again being sometimes entirely wanting. Theie are likewise in some a few large oblong spots of cinereous dusky ou the back, which are so placed as to form a recurved vitta on each side of the vertebral column, they are however sometimes not joined together and then may be said to be scattered irregularly. The upper lip is sometimes white varied with black, sometimes entirely white, of which c dor is also the lower lip, almost always dotted with black. The black spot from the orbit to the arm is often wanting and its place occupied by the enlarged inferior white line. In many individuals the spot from the axilla is the only one visible on the side. The fingers in all are slightly bullated at the ex- tremity, which gives it the faculty of supporting itself on smooth perpendicular surfaces. Whether all the variations above mentioned are permanent in the individuals where they have been observed, or depend upon the will of the animal, I have not been able to determine precisely. In many instances however, they are the voluntary changes which for some unknown reasons this creature chooses to make in its appearance. Length 1-2 in., head -3, arm -6, leg 1-7, thigh -4, tibia -5, foot -6. Inhabits the Northern and Middle States. CHOROPHILUS Baird. G. nigrita. Ran a nigrita L. C. 1. c. Cystignathus nigritus Holbrook 1 c. pi. 26. Acris nigrita Dumeril, 1. c. p 509. Body elongated rather narrow, above with numerous small warts. Color above dark slate, with more or less of oblong, oval or round sometimes very numerous black spots, which often form stripes. Upper lip white, which color often extends to the insertion of the arm. Irids golden. Tympanum distinct, black or of the color of the body. A broad black band extends from the nose through the eyes and along the sides to beyond the middle of the body. Beneath whitish, sometimes tinged with yellow with a few black spots irregularly assem- bled in groups, cancellately reticulate (in dead specimens appearing granulate) arms and legs spotted and barred with black ; thighs and tibiae granulated, more or less covered with small warts. A very slight scarcely perceptible web between the second and third and between the third and fourth toes, the fourth and fifih are closely united at the base. Fingers and toes with small dilations at then tips. Chin often dusky. Inhabits Georgia and S. Carolina in ditches and ponds. This species has been placed by Dr. Holbrook in the genus Cystignathus, to which it cannot possi ly be referred, as it has the vocal vesicle under' the chin and not at the corners of the mouth. M. Dumeril has called it an Acris. Thai genus has the toes properly and strongly webbed. 428 [December, C. ornatus. Cystignathus ornatus Holbrook 1. c. pi. 25. Body short and broad. Above smooth, pale brown or dove or slate color, with numerous specks of black. Lips whitish, yellowish or flesh color. Irids golden. Tympanum small, black, distinct. Top of the head with a large, ir- regular, triangular, dusky spot, the base of which lies between the eyes, and the apex points backward, this with a long stripe of the same color on each side of the vertebral column is sometimes very distinct, at others not visible. A black vitta extends from the point of the nose through the eye and tympanum to near the insertion of the arm, ana is sometimes continued on until it joins another which runs along the sides to the middle of the body ; there are one or two spots of the same color towards the hind part of the body, frequently however wanting ; when present all these black maiks are bordered by yellow or white. Beneath except on the throat cancellately reticulate, white or yellowish with numerous black specks assembled in irregular groups. Legs above with trans- verse bands of darker or dusky, thighs behind granulate and often spotted with yellow ; there is generally a black spot on the outer part of the shoulder. The tongue in this species is much rounder than in the preceding, it is also more slightly emarginate and less narrowed at the base. Length 1.3 in., leg 1.8, tibia and foot 1.2. Inhabits Georgia, very common in the pine barren ponds. HYLA. H. versicolor. H. versicolor L 0. 1. c. Tree frog of Pennant Arct. Zool. ii. Supl. p. 81. Dendrohyas versicolor Wagler. Body very broad and blunt, above covered with small warts ; beneath every where granulate, the granules on the throat and chin are so Email, that these parts appear almost smooth, tibia beneath reticulate. The color above varies at will from pale brown to different shades of ash and to green, with a few irre- gular spots or blotches, variable both in color and in form, which at times are so arranged as to assume the appearance of an oblique angled cross ; there are also numerous specks of black on different parts of the body. Beneath the color is white, the inner and hinder sides of the thighs are of a deep yellow or orange color, the under side with that of the tibia deep flesh color, both of them reticulate with black. Inhabits from New York to the lower and warmer parts of Georgia, where however it is very rare. This animal is the analogue of the Hyla arborea of Europe. H. lateralis. Cinereous frog, Penn. 1. c. p. 82. H. lateralis Daudin. Rana bilineata Shaw iii. p. 136. Hyla or Calamita lateralis aliorum. Hyla viridis Holbrook 1. c. pi. 29. Variety of Hyla viridis of Europe Laurenti, Synop. Rept. p. 33. Body rather narrow and elongated. Varies in being above of various shades of green sometimes nearly black, the green color however being by far the most common, the other marks are constant. The line on the sides is either yellow or silvery. In the spring it is found in rice-fields in astonishing quantities. Is commonly known by the name of the bell-frog, its notes resembling the sound of small bells. It is frequently called the fried bacon frog, as its voice seems to some ears to repeat those words. Laurenti considers it as a variety of Hyla arborea which he calls viridis, although it had borne the former name for many years before he wrote his synopsis. Our American animal has but little resemblance to the European, especially in form. H. femoralis. Daudin, 1. c. p. 19. Calamita femoralis, Merrem. p. 171. No. 11. Auletris femoralis, Wagl. p. 201. The darker marks on the head and back are sometimes evanescent, but the yellow spots on the hind part of the thighs are always more or less distinctly visible. The chin is cancellately reticulate, sometimes speckled with dusky sometimes altogether of that color. The color of the body above varies at the will of the animal. 1855.] 429 It is wrong in Dumeril and Bibron to say that this species is a variety of H. squirella. In shape and size the difference is most considerable. The latter animal during the warm season is always to be met with about houses, the H. femoralis never. Besides, their notes are entirely different. H. squirella. H. squirella Daudin, 1. c. p. 18. Calamita squirella Merrem. p. 171, Xo. 13. Auletris squirella Wagl. p. 201. Color varying at the will of the animal from green to brown of different degrees of intensity, spotted and speckled irregularly with darker or dusky and sometimes with paler, often however of a uniform color. A darker line extends from the nostrils to the eyes and through them to the insertion of the arm (this is sometimes evanescent) ; beneath this darker line extends a white one which reaches nearly to the groin ; sometimes interrupted or broken into three or four parts. The dark line on the vertex between the eyes never fails entirely, al- though it is sometimes reduced to a rather large spot on each eyelid. Toes not so much palmate as in the preceding species. H. delitescens. H. delitescens L. C. I. c. p. 181. Holbrook, 1. c. pi. 32. Variable at will from cinereous to brown, more or less distinctly spotted with darker. Differs especially from the former in having a larger and blunter head. The exterior portion of the thighs and the whole of the under side of the arms and legs i3 yellow, the legs also are not barred, but varied and speckled with darker, chin and throat smooth. Toes as in the preceding species. Inhabits Georgia. In the spring it is found very numerous under the bark of dead trees. H. pickeringii. Hylodes Pickeringi Holbrook, 1. c. pi. 34. Above smooth, light-brown or fawn-color with lines and spots or specks of dusky, the first of these most frequently arranged so as to form an oblique angled cross, a line of the same color on the top of the head forming an angle pointing backwards, and another extending from the nose to the insertion of the arm, this last sometimes not apparent, indeed all the dusky marks are frequently so indistinct as to be scarcely observable, beneath whitish granulate, arms and legs marked with transverse bars of darker or dusky. This is a true Hyla and wot an Hylodes : it is never found in the water, but on the leaves of plants and under the bark of dead trees. H. ocularis. H. ocularis Daudin, 1. c. p. 32. Hylodes ocularis Holbrook, pi. 35. Above brown or bronzed or silvery grey, very finely speckled with dusky or darker, a tolerably wide band of black proceeds from the tip of the nose to the middle or beyond the middle of the sides, this is bordered beneath with white. Chin and under side of the thighs speckled with black. Legs speckled like the back and more or less spotted and barred with dusky, fingers and toes all fur- nished with small disks. Length .6. ^Inhabits Georgia. The smallest of all known Ranina. From the small size of this and the preceding species, the web between the third and fourth toes is not very perceptible. SCAPHIOPUS Holbrook. S. solitarius Holbrook, iv. pi. 27. Above olive brown, dusky, of various shades, with blotches of darker or black, and two lines of pale yellow or whitish from the orbits to the vent, and some- times another of the same color on the sides ; tympanum small, pale olive. Back warty, the warts of different sizes and colors, some of them dark brown or dusky, others orange colored or red. This curious animal so much resembling a frog in its maxillary and palatine teeth, and a toad in its pnrotids, the form of its body and its subterranean life, gives a fair example of some of our systematic arrangements. It has been placed by M. Dumeril among the frogs, when to all intents and purposes it is 430 [December, as much a toad as any of the genus Bufo. The flat spur, as it has been called, at the root of the first toe on the internal margin of the metatarsus, is nothing more than a much developed form of a scale or disk occupying the same situation in most animals of this family. Although very seldom seen except when accidentally turned up by the spade or the plough, yet the Scaphiopus is a very common animal in Georgia. When- ever the South East storms occur at the Autumnal Equinox, the surface of the earth is covered with them, and their dismal croakings add to the horror of the howling winds and the deluges of water which pour down from the heavens. They have also been found in Connecticut and Massachusetts. When placed upon the ground they dig with remarkable celerity, and soon entirely bury themselves in the earth. BUFO. B. musicus Daudin 1. c. p. 92, pi 32. B. lentiginosis Holbrook v. pi. i. This species like all its congeners varies very much in color and in the form and disposition of the spots. This variation depends entirely on the will of the animal. It is generally however of a very dark dusky, sometimes light grey and even reddish. I cannot conceive how it has ever received the name oilen- tiginosus, which as I have shown before under Telmatobius is as unlike this animal as any species can be. The Rana lentiginosa of Shaw, of which he gives in his general Zoology a tolerably good figure, although copied from Cates- by, is perfectly smooth, more resembling a frog than a toad, and therefore well called by him the land frog ; whereas the B. musicus is very rough and makes no approach to a frog in its form and habits. It walks rather than hops. Bar- tram's red toad of Florida was a mere variation of this species, the difference being nothing more than an accidental or voluntary change of color. The species figured under the name of Bufo cognatus of Say, in the explora- tion of the Red River of Louisiana by R. B. Marcy, Capt. U. S. A. appears to be this animal. B. americanus L. C 1. c. Holbrook 1. c. pi. 4. This species like the preceding varies very much in [color; it rather hops than walks. B. erythronotus Holbrook, I. c v. pi. 2. Not having been able for years to obtain a living specimen of this animal I shall say nothing more of it than that it bears not the sliuhtest resemblance to the Bufo lentiginosus (B. musicus) as stated by Mr. Girard in Proceed. A. N. S. vol. p. 86. B. qtjercicus Holbrook, 1. c. v. pi. 3. Above thickly covered with small warts,, dusky with a few irregular black spots, many of the warts particularly those on the sides whitish or reddish; a very distinct line of one of these colors runs from the point of the nose along the vertebral column to the vent. Beneath the body is granulate, white, more or less varied particularly on the fore part with black. There is a supraorbital ridge straight and very distinct ; upper jaw slightly emarginate. Thumb equal in length to the first finger, feet with two calli, the interior one exactly resem- bling a toe and equal in length to the first toe. Length 1. 1, arm *6, leg I inch. Very common in Georgia in wet places, under logs and pieces of wood. ENGYSTOMA Fitzinger. E. cyrolinense. Microps Wagler, Stenocephalus Tschudi. Varying at will very much in color, from dusky to brown, olive-cinereous or yellow cinereous, more or less varied, spotted or speckled with black, beneath pale brownish white, punctate so as to appear spotted. Very common in the low country of Georgia under logs. In De Terville's Natural History, Bosc confounds this animal with Daudin's Bufo gibbosus. He 1855.] 431 says he found it in South Carolina, but brought none thence to France, as the skin was so thin and tender, that he was unable to preserve or even describe it : to me the skin appears as strong as that of any other species of Ranina of the same size. These are all the species of this family of reptiles which I have been able to see in a living state. I hold it to be impossible for any one to make a correct description of an animal which has the power of changing its color at will, un- less he has it alive ; and this power they all possess in a greater or less degree ; when preserved in alcohol they always fade. The difficulty of procuring de- scriptions made on the spot where the objects are found, has rendered this part of natural history as confused and unsatisfactory, as the researches of bota- nists who draw up their accounts of plants from dried specimens. There are a few species with which I was formerly acquainted but which I have not met with or been able to obtain. Among these are a frog which seemed intermediate between R. pipiens and R. palustiis, two Hylae inhabiting Georgia, and another probably an Acris which I formerly described in the Annals of the Lyceum of New York under the name R. pumila. Mr. Baird describes some in the Proceedings of our Society, which have been sent to him from Texas, Mexico, and other remote parts of our country. These I do not here treat of, being certain that I shall never see them in a living state. There is in the waters of ponds and ditches a small frog whose note exactly resembles the bleat- ing of a lamb, so truly as to deceive any one. This animal I have seen, but never succeeded in catching it. It is very common in Georgia and I have heard it as far north as Norfolk in Virginia. It is left to the inhabitants of those parts of our country to determine what it is. Observations on the North American species of Bats. By John Le Conte. Notwithstanding all that has been written by Rafinesque, F. Cuvier and Dr. Bachman on the bats of North America, a diligent study has shown me consid- erable errors in the accounts of all. Before proceeding to a description of these animals, it is necessary to remark, that every bat which I have seen, has an uncer- tain numberof transverse wrinkles or plaits on the outer portion of the ear, and has the toes furnished with rather long and fine hairs, as it were fimbriated, wherefore these two marks are omitted as furnishing no good specific characters. All our bats except the Molossus belong to the same genus ; the trifling difference in the number of the teeth does not afford a sufficient reason for considering them as different. M. F. Cuvier in the first volume of the Nouv. Annales du Museum, divides the genus into three sections, the Serotinoids, the Noctuloids and the Murinoid?. The form of the cranium seems to be the chief mark in distin- guishing them from each other. The Serotinoids may be described as having the cranium somewhat inflated and rounded, the jaws short, widened and ele- vated at the extremity, the facial angle 43°. The European species as far as I can collect, have four upper incisors. In this country we have but two belong- ing to this section, the Noveboracensis and the cinereus, both of which have but two upper fore teeth. The Noctuloids have the skull rather straight and flat on the top, and the jaws more extended, the facial angle is 30°. They all have four upper incisors except the crepuscularis which has like those of the first di- vision but two. The Murinoids are known by having the cranium inflated and rounded, the jaw3 elongated a little raised in front with a considerable depres- sion separating them from the cranium, the facial angle is 22°. The V. pallidus which has buc two upper fore teeth appears to me to be a Murinoid ; all the rest have four upper fore teeth. As for what has been called a Plecotus (even by myself) it certainly belongs to this division : it differs considerably from the Plecotus auritus of Europe, in the form and position of the ears. I am not writing about the animals of a foreign country, and therefore I say no more on u 432 [December, this head, than that the P. aurilu3 as far as regards the skull appears to be a Seroti- noid. My remarks on the Molossus will appear when I come to describe that species. Vespertilio noveboracensis Linn. New York bat, Pennant Arctic Zool. vol. i. p. 184. V. rubellus Palisot de Beauvois, Catalogue of Peale's Museum. V. monachus and tessellatus Rafinesque. Nycticeius Atalapha and Atalapha americana ejusd. Taphyzous rufus Lesson. It likewise belongs according to Leach to his genus Scotophilus, Taphizous rufus. Harlan's description is made from an infamous figure in Wilson's Ornithology. Dentition. Upper Jaw, incisors l-l simple, distant. Canines 1-1, hollowed out behind with a perpendicular septum dividing the concavity for its whole length False molars 1-1, concave on the outer and inner surfaces, the calca- neum produced behind into a lobe. Molars 3-3, the first and second with six cusps, three exterior, small apparently formed from the basal ridge which sur- rounds the teeth ; two intermediate and one exterior ; the third with three cusps ranged transversely and one posterior. Lower Jaw. Incisors six, biemarginate. Canines 1-1. False molars 2-2, the anterior one very small. Molars 3-3, with five cusps, two exterior and three interior, the basal ridge wanting interiorly. A young one taken from the mother's breast, had in the upper jaw, the inci- sors, the canines, and the false molars; in the lower jaw, the canines and one false molar on each side, all of them hooked like the claws of the toes. Face black, hairy ; nose blunt, emarginate. Ears brown, short, round, almost concealed in the fur, a little hairy, orillon cultriform, blunt, one half the length of the ear, and sparely hairy. Membrane dusky, generally reddish brown along the antibrachium, and more or less so along the great part of the length of the fingers ; a portion of the base on each side is hairy, so as to form a straight line from the shoulder to the foot ; spot at the base of the thumb white, a few hairs of the same color or of rufous extend down the fourth finger: beneath from the body to the end of the os humeri it is thickly covered with rather long hair, along the fore arm more sparsely so, for nearly one half the wridth of ihe wing. The interfemoral membrane includes the whole of the tail, on the upper surface it is densely hairy, the hair being of the general color of the body, sometimes tipped with white, never cinereous at the base ; on the under surface it is naked except at the base, where there is an oblong patch of hair extending along the tail, for one third of its length. Feet black, thickly covered with hair. Color extremely various, scarcely any two being found exactly alike. A very common variety has the hair above four-colored, that is to say, black or dark cinereous at the base, then yellowish brown or fawn-colored, afterwards dark ru- fous or reddish brown, or orange-tawny or purplish brown, finally very slightly tipped with white, very often with a distinct ring of a darker shade around the neck. Beneath, the hair is three colored, the base dark or light cinereous, then one of the other colors, and tipped with white, so that the pelage is varied with cinereous and the other colors, and powdered over with white : this last color forms a conspicuous spot at the axilla. The pelage is however above sometimes only three-colored, being as before dark cinereous at the base, then pale yellowish, and afterwards bright light rufous or orange without any white tips or very few of them, so as to appear uniformly rufous or orange, be- neath rather paler. The lighter the color above, the more does the membrane incline to reddish brown. They have been found of a uniform cream color, and even white, the base of the hair being always cinereous, but are most com- monly of different shades of rufous or tawny. The darker the ground the more apt are the hairs to have white tips, although some of dark shades have been found without any of these. Length 2 in. Tail 1.6. Extent 11.3. Head -7. Ears -25. Orillon -1. This, the commonest species in the United States, is found everywhere from Canada to Florida, from one end of the country to the other equally numerous. It may even extend into South America, as the description by Lesson of the V. bo- 1855.] 433 nariensis in the Zoology of the voyage of the Coquille agree? very well ; but the figure of the animal which accompanies it is so wretchedly executed, as to be of no use in determining the point. V. cinereus. Palisot de B(;auvois, 1. c. V. pruinosus Say, Long's Expe- dition vol. i. p. 168. Dentition the same in every respect as in V. noveboracensis. Hair above four-colored, that is to say, black at the base, then reddish-brown, afterwards black, and tipped with white: beneath two-colored, the lower half dark cine- reous, the upper yellowish or grey, so that the pelage of the animal appears on the upper side, variegated with reddish brown and black, and powdered over with white, this latter color so disposed as to form transverse curved and wa- ving lines, on the under side, yellowish grey on the sides and cinereous mixed with grey on the other parts. Head above and throat yellowish grey; face hairy ; chin very dark brown : nose flat, blunt, emarginate. Ears black, sim- ple round, densely covered both within and without on the anterior portion, with short yellowish grey hair, leaving a distinct narrow, naked margin. Orillon cultriform, blunt and sparsely hairy, half the length of the ear. Membrane dusky, for one third its breadth along the arm brown ; sometimes beyond this spotted with brown, very much so near the body. A portion next the body in a straight line from the shoulder to the feet is hairy. There is generally a small white hairy spot at the anterior joint of the humerus (sometimes how- ever the hairs are pale brown, not white), and another at the base of the thumb. The membrane beneath is hairy as far as the third finger for nearly half its breadth, this hairy space joins another of the same width along the sides, and there is generally a large white spot at the axilla or insertion of the humerus. In- terfemoral including the whole of the tail, above densely hairy, beneath only at the base, forming a roundish deeply emarginate patch, feet black, sparingly hairy. Length 3 inches. Tail 2-1. Extent 16-8. Head -94. Ear -48. Orillor, .25. I have given to this species the name imposed upon it by Palisot de Beauvois, ann. 1796 in the catalogue of Peale's Museum, although I am not certain that it differs from the V. lasiurus of Linnaeus. This last is said by Temminck to inhabit Cayenne and North America. The description of Temminck suits our animal very well, but whether the two are the same, remains yet to be deter- mined. The figure in Schreber is undoubtedly taken from a V. noveboracensis The V. bonarien3is described and figured by Lesson in the Zoology of the voy- age of the Coquille vol. i. p. 137 tab. 62, may be either the one or the other, the figure is so excessively bad that nothing can be made of it. This is the largest of all the bats found in the United States, it is not common, and is seen more frequently in the middle than in the northern or southern states. I have never had it in my power to examine more than six or seven individ- uals of this species, and therefore cannot say how far the colors may vary. V CREPCSCULARIS. Dentition the same as in the two former species. Hair black, above tipped with chestnut brown, beneath with paler or cinereous brown more or less distinctly varied by the black of the lower part of the hair. Head rather depressed, face flat, black, naked, with a few scattered, long, coarse hairs, and a small wart over each eye ; nose broad, flat, blunt, emarginate ; chin with a small double wart on the lower part. Ears shorter than the head, tri- angularly ovate, rounded at the point, slightly emarginate on the hinder edge, dusky, naked. Orillon short, dolabriform, blunt. Membrane very thin, dusky, naked except a narrow space next the body. Interfemoral including the tail except the two last joints naked, except a small portion of the base which both above and beneath is slightly bjairy. Length 2-2. Tail 1-4, naked part -15. Extent 10-5. Head *7. Ears -3. Oril- lon -19. Inhabits Georgia. This is the V. creeks of F. Cuvier, this name however being unmeaning and 434 [December indeed ridiculous, I have substituted for it the name given to it by me many years ago and mentioned in Dr. McMurtrie's translatioa of the Regne Anunale. All the species of American Bats described by the illustrious French Natural- ist in Xouv. Annales du Museum vol. i. p. 1 were given by me to his brother the Baron, aud I distinctly remember this species as having been among them. V. fuscus. Palisot de Beauvoisl. c, V. arcuatus Say, Long's expedition 1. c, V. gryphus Cuvier 1 c. p. 15. Dentition. Upper jaw. incisors 2-2, the anterior one emarginate, the posterior one very small. False tuolars 1-1 concave on the outer and inner surfaces. Lower jaw false molars 2-2. Molars and canines in both jaws like these of the preceding species. Hair long dark plumbeous, above tipt. with chestnut brown of different shades of intensity, passing into rusty brown and fawn color, beneath with paler shades of the same colors and sometimes with cinereous brown or grey. Face black, du Hab. Catskill Mountains, N. Y., and White Mountains, N. H. H. squarrosum Linn. Sp. PI. p. 1693. Hah. Woods, White Mountains, N. H. Mr. Vaux, on behalf of a Committee appointed In 1852, to collect funds for enlarging and improving the Hall, read the following Report : — The Committee, as constituted by the Academy, September 2S, 1852, to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of enlarging and altering the Hall, beg leave to present the following Report : — The amount originally esiimated as requisite for the contemplated improve- ments was $6,500, which the Committee were soon enabled to announce to the Society had been obtained. But before a contract had been closed for the work, a great advance took place in the price of labor and materials. Other im- portant alterations and additions also were proposed. A new estimate was then 44-8 [December, made, greatly exceeding the first. The Committee continued their labors, and they have now the pleasure to state in this, their final report, that their efforts were crowned with success, and that the whole amount required for carrying out the plan of the Building Committee, including the alterations referred to, and others also which became necessary during the progress of the work, has been subscribed, collected and paid over to the Treasurer. The following are the names of the contributors, and the sums subscribed by each : — $3,693 Robert Bridges, 650 John Cooke, Thomas B. Wilson, Isaac Lea, J. Price Wetherill, William S. Wilson, A Subscriber, James Dumlas, George W. Carpenter, Richard Wister, Edward Harris, Joseph D. Brown, George B. Wood, Robert Pearsall, Augustus E. Jessup, Thomas D. M utter, Charles D. Meigs, . John K. Mitchell, . George Ord, Charles F. Beck, Alex. W. Johnston, E. J. Lewis, . John Grigg, William R. Lejee, . George A. McCall, M. D. Lewis, Jacob G. Morris, . Joseph Pancoast, John Le Conte, C. W. Pennock, Chas. Henry Fisher, Thomas T. Lea, Nathan Smeth. Three Vertebrae of a species of Crocodile from the Green Sand of New Jersey. From Prof. S. S. Haldeman. Two specimens of Histerocarpus , with the Uterus of the same ; from California. Presented by Dr. W. P. Gibbons. Fruit of Bertholettia excelsa. Presented by Dr. Ruschenberger. June 20^/j. Twelve specimens of Fossils, from San Pedro, California ; Shark's Tooth, from Santa Barbara, California. Presented by Dr. Heermann. Beautifully mounted Skeleton of a Setter Dog. Presented by Mr. John Lambert. Ophidium marginatum, from Delaware Bay. Presented by Mr. Hamilton, through Mr. S. G. Morton. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In May and June, 1854. May 9th. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Vol. 7, Nos. 4 and 5. From the Editors. Journal of the Society of Arts of London. Nos. 49 — 62. From the Society. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, No. 37. From the Society. Reports of the Proceedings of the Geological and Polytechnic Society of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1852. From the Society. Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, Annual Report for 1852 and 1853. From the Society. Geological Map of Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior. By J. D. Whitney. From the Author. Vlll. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, March and April, 1854. From the Society. Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History. Vol. 6, Nos. 2 — 4. From the Lyceum. Collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Vol. 1, Nos. 1 — 6, May, 1851 to Nov., 1853. From the Society. American Journal of Science and Arts, May, 1854. From the Editors. New York Journal of Medicine. New series, Vol. 12, No. 3. From the Editors. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal. No. 13, April, 1854. From the Editors. On the Serpents of New York. By Spencer F. Baird. From the Author. 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Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, &c. No. 4. 2d ed. By John Cassin. Sylva Sylvarum, or a Naturall Historie written by the Rt. Hon. Francis Lord Verulam Vt. St. Alban. Published after the Author's death by Wm. Rawley, D.D. Folio. 1635. A description of East Florida, with a Journal kept by John Bartram of Phila- delphia, upon a journey from St. Augustine up the River St. Johns as far as the Lakes. 3d ed. 4to. 1769. The Animal Kingdom, or the Zoological System of the celebrated Sir Chas. Linnaeus; Mammalia and Birds; being a translation of that part of the Systema Naturae published by Gmelin ; with additions by Robert Kerr. 4to. 1791. The Geographical, Natural and Civil History of Chili, translated from the original Italian of the Abbe Molina. 2 vols. 8vo. Wilson's American Ornithology ; with notes by Jardine, and a Synopsis of American Birds by T. M. Brewer. 8vo. Conchologia Iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Parts 121 and 126. Palaeontographica. Beitragezur Naturgeschichte der Vorwelt. Herausg. von W. Dunker und H. von Meyer. 4to. Vol. 1, No. 6 ; Vol. 3, No. 6. Malakozoologische Blatter fur 1854. Feb. Von Menke und Pfeiffer. May 16th. Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon. By Wm. L. Herndon and L. Gibbon, U. S. N. (Senate Document.) 8vo. and Atlas. From Dr. Ruschen- berger. History, &c, of the Indian Tribes of the United States. By Henry R. School- craft, LL.D. Part 4. Folio. From the U. S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 3, pp. 1 — 104. From the Academy. Boston Journal of Natural History. Vol. 6, No. 3. From the Boston Society of Natural History. IX. Sixty-Seventh Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. 8vo. From the Regents. Geometrical measurement of the distances from crest to crest of the Baro- metric Waves in a Cyclone. By H. Piddington. From the Author. Bulletin de la Societelmperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. 1852, Nos. 3 and 4 ; 1853, Nos. 1 and 2. From the Society. Kongl. Vetenskaps Akademiens Handlingar for Av. 1851. 8vo. From the Academy. Ofversigt af K. Vetenskaps. Akad. Forhandlingar 1852. 8vo. From the same. Denkschriften der K. Akad. der Wissen. Mathemat-Naturwissen. classe. 5 band, lste lief. 4to. From the Academy. Zeitschrift der Deutschen geologischen Gesellschaft. 5 band, 3 heft. 8vo. From the Society. Jahrbuch der k. k. Geologischen Reichenstalt 1853, 4 Jahr. No. 2. From the Institute. Sitzungsberichte der k. Akad. der Wissen. Mathemat-Naturwissen. classe. Band 9, heft 3, 4, 5. Band 10, heft 1, 2, 3. Band 11, heft 1, 2. 8vo. From the Academy. Kleinere Schriften von Alex, von Humboldt, ler band. Geognostische und phystkalische Erinnerungen. 8vo. and Atlas. From the Author. De AnatomiaCorvorum. Pars lma. Osteologia. Auctor H. A. Bernstein. Svo. From the Prince de Wied. May 23d. Descriptions of new fiuviatile Shells of the United States. By J. G. Anthony. From the Author. Remarks on some Fossil Impressions in the Sandstone Rocks of Connecticut River. By J. C. Warren, M.D. Svo. From the Author. Charleston Medical Journal and Review for May, 1854. From the Editors. New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal for May, 1854. From the Editors. Genera des Coleopteres. Par M. Th. Lacordaire. Tome ler. 8vo. From the Author. Archives de Physiologie, de Therapeutique et d'Hygiene, sous la direction de M. Bouchardat. No. 1, Jan., 1854. Memoire sur la Digitaline et la Digitale. Par E. Homolle et T. A. Quevenne. From M. Quevenne. Beitrage zur gesammten Natur-und Heilwissenschaft ; herausg. von Dr. W. H. Weitenweber. Vols. 1, 2, 3, and Nos. 1, 2, Vol. 4. 8vo. From Dr. Weiten- weber. Der Arabische Kaffee. Von Dr. W. Weitenweber. 8vo. From the Author. Denkschrift uber August Joseph Corda's Leben und literarisch.es Werken. Von W. H. Weitenweber. From the same. Dr. J. C. E. Hoser's Ruckblicke auf sein Leben und Werken. Von Dr. Wei- tenweber. From the same. Aus den Leben und Werken des Hern Dr. J. Th. Held's. Von Dr. Weiten- weber. From the same. June 6th. Wiirttembergische naturwissenschaftliche Jahreshefte. 1854, No. 2 and Atlas. From the Association. Denkschriften der. k. Akad. der Wissenschaften. Mathemat-naturwissen. classe. 6 band. 4to. From the Academy. Sitzungsberichte der k. Akad. der Wissen. Mathemat-naturwissen. classe. Band 11, heft 3, 4. Svo. From the same. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte. Herausg. von Dr. F. H. Troschel. 1851, No. 6; 1852, Nos. 3, 4, 5 ; 1853, Nos. 1, 2. 8vo. From Dr. Troschel. Ueber die Werthbestimmung Zoologische Merkmale. Von J. Victor Cams. From the Author. Bericht uber die Verhandelungen der k. Sachsischen Gesellschaft der Wissen. zu Leipzig. Mathemat. phys. classe. From the Society. X. Ueberdie bestimmung der Massen und der Tragheitsmomente symmetrischen rotationskorper von Ungleichformiger dicktigkeit. Von 0. Schlomilch. From the same. Ueber einige Allgemeine Reihenentwickelungen und deren Anwendung auf die Elliptischen Funktionen. Von 0. Schlomilch. From the same. Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society. (Proceedings for 1852, '53 and part of 1854.) From the Society. On the Albert Mine, Hillsboro', N. B. By J. W. Dawson, of Pictou, N. S. From the Author. On the Coal Measures of the South Joggins, N. S. By J. W. Dawson. From the same. Annual Report of the Trustees of the New York State Library, March, 1851. From the Trustees. History of Vermont, natural, civil and statistical. By Zadock Thompson. 8vo. From the Author. Report of an Expedition down the Zuniand Colorado Rivers. By Capt. L. Sit- greaves. 8vo. From Col. J. J. Abert. Notes and Commentaries during a voyage to Brazil and China in 1848. By W. S. W. Ruschenberger. 8vo. From the Author. The Principles of Botany, as exemplified in the Phanerogamia. By Harland Coultas. 8vo. From the Author. An additional collection of Autographs of distinguished scientific men. From Dr. John Torrey. Odontographie. Vergleichende Darstellung des Zahnsystemes der lebenden und fossilen Wirbelthiere. Von C. G. Giebel. 5 lief, 4to. From Dr. Wilson. Die Wichtigsten formen des Thierreichs. Von Dr. Hermann Pompper. Folio. From the same. Comptes Rendus. Tome 38, Nos. 14 — IS. From the same. London Athenaeum for April, 1854. From the same. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France, 1853, No. 4. Svo. From the same. June 20th. Natural History of the Red River of Louisiana, (reprinted from the Report of Capt. Marcy.) Descriptions of new genera and species of North American Frogs. By S. F. Baird. From the Author. Descriptions of new species of Fishes from Texas, New Mexico and Sonora. By S. F. Baird and C. Girard. From the Authors. Descriptions of new species of Reptiles, collected by the U. S. Expl. Exp., Capt. Wilkes. By Chas. Girard. From the Author. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal, No. 14. From the Editors. Einige Beobachtungen uber Clymenien ; mit besonderer Riicksicht auf die Westphalischen Arten. Von Dr. Guido Sandberger in Wiesbaden. From the Author, through Dr. Genth. Dr. Wilson presented the following on the usual condition : Cornptes Rendus. Tome 38, Nos. 19 and 20. London Athenaeum for May, 1854. Journal of the Franklin Institute for June, 1854. Malakozoologische Blatter fur 1854. Nouv. Suites a Buffon. Erpetologie generale, ou hist. nat. des Reptiles. Tome 7, lme partie. Par MM. Dumeril et Bibron. Svo. Notice historique de la Menagerie des Reptiles du Museum d'hist. nat., et ob- servations qui y'ont ete recueillies par le Dr. A. Dumeril. XI. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In August, 1854. August 1st. Very large specimen of Testudinaria elephantipes. From Mr. James Dundas. A collection of Cretaceous Fossils from Alabama; also a collection of Fossils from the Eocene of Virginia. Presented by Mr. Joseph Jones, of Georgia. Fruit of Quercus , from Greece. From Dr. P. B. Goddard. A collection of fresh-water Shells, from Buenos Ayres. From Dr. Kennedy. Crotalophorus Kirtlandii. From Prof. Holbrook. August Sth. A collection of Cretaceous Fossils from Dallas Co., Texas. From Mr. A. Gouhenaut. Silurian Fossils from Shenandoah Co., Virginia. From Dr. J. C. Fisher. Condylura cristata from Maine. From Mr. John Merrick. Centipede, a Mygale, and Hymenopterus insects from Dallas Co., Texas. From Dr. Chas. R. Pryor. Fossils from San Pedro and Santa Barbara, California ; fragments of Fossil wood and two species of fossil Ostrea, from the Desert of the Colorado; speci- mens of Lead and Fluor from Mesilla Valley, N. M. ; Copper Ore from Sonora, Mexico; Cinnabar from San Joaquin, California, and fragment of Meteoric Iron from an annular mass weighing 1200 lbs., at Teucson, Mexico ; also an Indian Cranium from Pinos village, Mexico. Presented by Dr. A. L. Heermann. August 22d. Five specimens of Birds and three Mammals, from Honduras. Presented by Mr. Amory Edwards. Coal Fossils, from Boone Co., Virginia. From Mr. T. F. Moss. Two specimens of Crotalophorus Kirtlandii, from Ohio. Presented by Prof. Kirtland. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In July and August, 1854. July lth> Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. No. 38. From the Society. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Nat. History, vol. 4, pp. 337 — 352 and 401 — 416; Index and title page, vol. 4. From the Society. American Journal of Science and Arts, July, 1854. From the Editors. July \\th. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson, on the usual condition : Revue et Magasin de Zoolosie, 1853, No. 10. Comptes Rendus. Tome 38, No. 21. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. May and June, 1854. Annales des Sciences Naturelles. Tome 20, No. 6. Schreber "Die Saugthiere" Fortgesetzt von Wagner. Supplementband, 5 Abth. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Lief. Naumannia. Archiv. fiir die Ornithologie vorzugsweise Europa's. Herausg. von E. Baldanus. 1853, No. 3. London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine. Mav and June, 1854. Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Nos. 127, 128, 12*9. Palaeontographica. Beitrage zur Naturgeschichte der Vorwelt. Von W. Dun- ker und H. Von Meyer. 4 band, lste lief. 4to. Illustrations of the Birds of California, &c. By John Cassin. No. 5. 301. Hymenoptera Europoea, praecipue Borealea ab A. G. Dahlbom. 2 vols. 8vo. Histoire naturelle generate des Genres Organiques. Par M. Isidore Geoff. St. Hilaire. Tome ler, 8vo. Recherches sur la generation des Huitres. Par C. Davaine. Orthoptera Europcea. Auctore L. H. Fischer. 4to. Conspectus Systematicus Orthopteroruin Europae. Auctore L. H. Fischer. July Y&th. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Jan. to June, 1854. From the Society. Proceedings of the Boston Soc. of Nat. History, vol. 4, pp. 353—400. From the Society. Report of the Geology of the Coast Mountains and part of the Sierra Nevada. By Dr. J. B. Trask. From the California State Superintendent of Public In- struction. Observations on the genus Unio. By Isaac Lea. Vol. 3. 4to. (To complete the copy in the Library.) From the Author. Description of a new species of the genus Unio. By Isaac Lea. From the Author. Description of nineteen new species of Colimacea. By Tsaac Lea. From the Author. Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Vol. 6. 4to. From the Smith- sonian Institute. New Orleans Medical and Surg. Journal, for July, 1854. From the Editors. August 1st. Transactions of the American Ethnographical Society. Vol. 3, part 1. 8vo. From'the Society. Charleston Med. Journal and Review for July, 1854. From the Editors. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 3, No. 3. From the Editors. Gelehrte Anzeigen. Herausg. von Mitgl. der k. bayer. Akad. der Wissen. Band 36, 37. 4to. From the Academy. Bulletin der k. Akad. der Wissen. Jahrgang 1853. 4to. From the same. Rede zur Borfeyer des hohen Geburtslestes Sr. Maj. des K. Maximilian II von Bayern 26 Nov., 1853. Von Fried, v. Thiersch. From the same. Wegweiser fur die Besucher des k. Botanischen Gartens in Munchen. Von Dr. C. F. P. von Martius. 12mo. From the same. Afrika von den Entdeckungen der Portugiesen. Von Dr. Fr. Kunstmann. From the same. Ueber die Bewegung der Bevolferung im Konigreiche Bayern. Von Dr. F. von Hermann. From the same. Comptes Rendus. Tome 38, Nos. 22, 23. From Dr. Wilson. London Athenaeum for June, 1854. From the same. Annales. des Sciences Naturelles. 4me serie, tome 1, Nos. 1, 2, 3. From the same. Journal of the Franklin Institute for July 1854. From the same. August 8th. Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum, or Trees and Shrubs of Great Britain. By J. C. Loudon. 8 vols. 8vo. Deposited by Mr. A. Brazier. The Metallic Wealth of the United States. By J. D. Whitney. 8vo. From the Author. The Microscopist ; or a complete manual on the use of the Microscope. By Jos. Wythes, M.D. l2mo. 2d edition. From the Author. August 22d. Novorum Actorum Acad. C. L. C- Nat. Curiosorum, Vol. 24 pars 1. 4to. From the Academy. Memoires de la Societe de Physique et d'Histoire Nat. de Geneve. Tome 13, part. 2. 4to. From the Society. Xlll. Memoires de la Societe du Museum d'Hist. Nat. de Strasbourg. Tome 1, 2, 3 et livs. 2, 3 du Tome 4. 4to. From the Society. Jahrbuch der k. k. Geologischen Reichenstalt. 1853, 4 Jahrgang, No. 3. From the Institute. Wurttembergische naturwissenschaftliche Jahreshefle. 1850, No. 3. From the Society. Ornithologische Notizin, von J. Cabanis. 1, 2, 8vo. From the Author. Portions of " Ersch und Gruber's Encyclopaedia," containing ornithological descriptions and notices by Dr. Cabanis. From Dr. Cabanis. Ueber die in Oberkalifornien beobachteten Vogel, von Wm. Gambel. (Aus dem Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philada. Vol. 3) mit Bemerkungen von J. Cabanis. From the same. Nomenclator Avium Musei Zoologici Berolinensis (Dr. H.Lichtenstein.) From the Author. Verzeichniss der Doubletten des Zoologischen Museums der k. Universitat zu Berlin* Von Dr. H. Lichtenstein. From the Author. Notice sur une nouvelle espece de Singe d'Afrique. Par P. J. Van Beneden. From the Author. The Tourist's Guide to the chief Towns and Villages of the Island of Jamaica. By G. Annaboldi. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson, on the usual condition : Comptes Rendus. Tome 38, Nos. 25, 26; Tome 39, No. 1. London Athenaeum for July, 1854. London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine, July, 1S54, and Sup- plementary number. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, July, 1854. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, No. 8. Naumannia. Archiv fur die Ornithologie vorzugsweise Europa's. Von E. Bal- danus. 1854, les quartal. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France. 3me serie, tome 1. 8vo. Journal ot the Franklin Institute for August 1854. Synopsis Muscorum Frondosorum omnium hucusque cognitarum. Auctore C. Muller. 2vols. 8vo. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In September and October, 1854. September 12 th. A collection of about 1500 specimens of American and European Lepidoptera. Presented by John A. Guex, Esq. Seventy species of Land Shells, chiefly from the Island of Madeira. Presented by Dr. Aibers, of Berlin, through Mr. 1. Lea. September 19th. Six specimens of Kinixis denticulata (erosa Bell ;) two of Chamaeleo dilepis Leach; two of Monitor niloticus, two of Euprepis Blandingii; an undetermined species of Echis, one of Hyla, Leptophis smaragdina, Dryophis Kirtlandii and Kana Bibronii. All from the Gaboon country, YVest Africa, and presented by M. Bellonni Duchaillu. Also from the same locality, by the same donor, a collection, in spirits, of Crustacea, one of Fishes, and several Mammalia. Mounted specimen of Geomys Oregunensis, from Iowa. From the Iowa Ly- ceum, through Dr. A. Shaw. Crotalus durissus, from near Pemberton, N. J. From Dr. Coleman, of Pem- berton. Specimen of Sand from the Artesian Well at St. Louis, from a stratum 8 feet thick, 2200 from the surface. From Mr. Isaac Lea. XIV. October 3d. Three specimens of Sceloporus (Tropidolepis) undulatus ; two living specimens of Tropidonotus sipedon (young ;) a living specimen of Heterodon platyrhynos, very darkly colored, but when exposed to a strong light presenting the marks of platyrhynos; a living young specimen of H. platyrhynos ; a living young Cory- phodon constrictor, (Col. constrictor Linn.;) thirteen specimens of Heterodon platyrhynos, in spirits ; two young Tropidonotus sipedon, in spirits ; Herpeto- dryas aestivus ; five remarkably fine specimens of Coryphodon constrictor. All from Beesley's Point, N. Jersey, and presented by Mr. Samuel Ashmead. Tropidonotus rhombifer andT. transversus, from the borders of the Arkansas River; Stenodactylus fuscus, several specimens; Iguana tuberculata Laurenti, Cyclura denticulata Wiegmann, Zamenis tricolor, Microphis quinque-lineatus, Elaps zonatus and Elaps divaricatus, and two specimens of Elapoidis fasciatus. All from Central America, and presented by Dr. Woodhouse. October 10th. Skull of an Alligator, from Venezuela. Presented by Dr. A. J. Dietz. Nummulitic Limestone, from near Florence. From Mr. Lea. The fossil fragment upon which was established the Camelops Kansansus, from Kansas Territory. Presented by Henry Pratten, Esq., of New Harmony, Indiana. October llth. Sceloporus biseriatus, var. azureus, Phrynosoma coronatum, Urosaurus graci- osus, Gerrhonotus multicarinatus, Cnemidophorus undulatus, Utah stansburiana, Tropidonotus parietalis, Tropidonotus ordinatus, Coronella balteata, Crotalus cerastes, Crotalus Lecontei, Rana longipes,Hyla nebulosa, Hyla scapularis, Bufo halophyla, Crotaphytus fasciatus, Dipso-saurus dorsalis, Eumeces quadrilineatus. From California, and presented by Dr. Heermann. A specimen of Crotalus tergeminus Say, presented by Col. McCall, and two specimens of the same species by Prof. Kirtland, of Ohio. Fossil Cetacean vertebra, from the banks of the Potomac River, Virginia. Presented by Mr. Gilliams. Hippocampus Hudsonius,and Diodon maculo-striatus, from New Jersey coast. From A. L. Heermann, M.D. A Portrait of Charles Alexandre Lesueur ; painted by Charles Wilson Peale for his Museum Gallery, in 1817 or 1818. Presented by Mr. George Ord. October 24th. Nasua solitarius, from South America. Presented by Dr. Leidy. Spermophilus tridecimlineatus, from Arkansas. From J. D. Sergeant, Esq. Belone truncata, from Chesapeake Bay. From Mr. Aubrey H. Smith. A collection of Plants from New Holland. Presented by Mr. Kilvington. A valuable collection of Marine Shells from the Sandwich Islands. Presented by Dr. Le Conte. The following Fishes, from California, were presented by Dr. A. L. Heer- mann : Cottopsis gulosus, Clupea mirabilis, Pogonycthys inequaelobus, Gadus proxi- mus, Labrax clathratus, Holconotus rhodoterus, Apodycthys violaceus, Sebastes rosaceus, Embiotoca lineata, Gunellus ornatus, Porycthys notatus, Sebastes fas- ciatus, Sphyrrena argentea, Belone exilis, Scorpaena guttata, Anarrhichas felis, Blennius gentilis, Scorpoenicthys marmoratus. XV. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In September and October, 1S54. September C)th. The Young Conchologist's Book of Species. By Sylvanus Hanley. 8vo. From Mr. H. C. Hanson. Bulletin of the American Geographical and Statistical Society. Vol. i. part 3 for 1S54. From the Society. American Journal of Science and Arts, Sept., 1854. From the Editors. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 4, No. 3. From the Editors. Cape Verde and Hatteras Hurricane of August and Sept., 1853. By VVm. C. ReJfield. From the Author. September 12th. New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal for September, 1854. From the Editors. Monographic des Guepes solitaires. Par H. F. de Saussure. Nos. 3, 4, 5, C. From the Author. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1854. Nos. 1 — 6. From Dr. Wilson. Comptes Rendus. Tome 39, Nos. 2 — 6. From the same. Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, &c. No. 6. By John Cassin. From the same. Journal of the Franklin Institute for Sept., 1854. From the same. September 19 th. United States Patent Office Report for 1853, part 1. 8vo. From the Patent Office. Twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Natural History Society of Montreal, May, 1854. From M. H. Latour. October lOtk. Proceedings of the California Academy of Natural Sciences. Vol. 1, pp. 1 — 6. From the Society. Charleston Medical Journal and Review, September, 1854. From the Editors. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. 5. pp. 1 — 16. From the Society. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. No. 39. From the Society. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Vol. 7, Nos. 6 — 12. From the Editors. Principles of Comparative Physiology. By Wm. B. Carpenter, M.D. New American, from the 4th London Edition. By F. G. Smith, M.D. 8vo. From Dr. Smith. Transactions of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. Vols. 1 and 2, 1851 and 1852, 8vo. From Mr. J. A. Lapham. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson, on the usual condition : Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Parts 131 and 132. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, for August and September, 1854. London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine for August and Sep- tember, 1854. London Athenaeum for August, 1854. Thesaurus Conchyliorum. By G. B. Sowerby, Jr. Part 15. Comptes rendus, Tome 39, Nos. 7, 8. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1854, No. 7. Malakozoologische Blatter, Jan., 1854. Insecta Britannica. Vol. 3. Lepidoptera Tineina. By H. T. Stainton. 8vo. XVI. October 11th. The Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal. Vol. 3, No. 5. From the Editors. Report of the Special Committee of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution on the Distribution of the Income. From the Institution. Essai sur les Terrains Superficiels de la Vallee du Po, aux environs de Turin. Par MM. Ch. Martins et B Gastaldi. From the Authors. Report of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, showing its progress during 1852. 4to. From the U. S. Treasury Department, through Prof. A. D. Bache. Untersuchungen iiber den Farbenwechsel des Afrikanischen Chamaeleons. Von Ernst Briicke. From the Author, through Prof. Dunglison. Ueber die Farben, welche triibe Medien im auffallenden und durchfallenden Lichte zei^en. Von Prof. Briicke. From the same. Ueber die VVirkung complementer gefarbter Glaser beim Binocularen sehen. Von Prof. Briicke. From the same. Die Arbeitsthiere. Von Prof. Briicke. From the same. October 24tk. Memoires de PAcademie Royale des Sciences, &c, de Belgique. Tome 27. 4to. From the Academy. v Memoires Couronnes et Memoires des Savants Etrangers, publies par l'Acad. Roy. de Belgique. Tome 25. 4to. From the same. Memoires Couronnes et Memoires des Savants Etrangers, publies par l'Acad. Roy.de Belgique. Collection in 8vo, tome 5, 2e partie, tome 6, lme partie. From the same. Bulletins de l'Acad. Royale des Sci. de Belgique. Tome 19, 3me partie, tome 20, lme, 2e, 3me part., tome 21, lme part., et annexe aux Bulletins 1853, 1854. From the same. Annuaire de l'Acad. Royale des Sci. de Belgique, 1853, 1854. 12mo. From the same. Of the Constants of Nature. Class Mammalia. By M. Ch. Babbage. From the same. Proceedings of the New Orleans Academy of Sciences. Vol. 1, No. 1 ; also Constitution and By-laws of the same. From the Academy. A System of Mineralogy, comprising the most recent discoveries. By James D. Dana. 4th edition, 8vo. From the Author. London Athenaeum for September, 1854. From Dr. Wilson. Journal of the Franklin Institute for Oct., 1854. From the same. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1854, No. 8. From the same. Comptes Rendus, Tome 39, Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12. From the same. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In Novemeer and December, 1854. November 1th. Mounted specimens of Cercopithecus sabaeus, Cercocebus fuliginosus and Ateles melanochir. Received in exchange. Skin of the Argus pheasant, and several valves of Dipsas plicata, with images artificially formed on the inner surface. From China. Presented by Capt. Drinker. A collection of Plants from the Azores. From Mr. R. Kilvington. November Wth. One hundred specimens of Plants from California. Presented by Mr. Henry Pratten, of New Harmony, Indiana. Slab of Red Sandstone, with an impression of an unknown character, from Connecticut. From Mr. Samuel Breck. November 1\st» Three Tarantulas and three Scorpions, from Antigua ; two Reptiles, from XV11. Barbadoes; and a fine specimen of the Jaws of a Shark. Presented by Dr. W. H. Freeman. Hematite, from Centre Co., Pa. Presented by Col. McCall. Mr. John A. Guex's collection of Coleoptera, containing nearly seventeen thousand species, systematically arranged in accordance with modern nomen- clature ; with a catalogue of most of the species. Presented by Mr. Guex. December 5th. Specimens of Native Copper and Iron Ore, from Lake Superior: Sulphuret of Iron and Gold-bearing Quartz, from California ; and Copper Ore, from Cuba. Also, two Lizards, from the same. Presented by Dr. Gavin Watson. Diodon , Trunk fish, a Frog, and two Mammals, from the West Indies. From Dr. W. H. Freeman. Skeleton of Heterodon platyrhynos. From Dr. Hallowell. Fine specimen of Crystalline Slag, from Spring Mill, Pa. From Mr. Theo- dore H. Rand. Twenty-four specimens of Mammals, from the Eonaparte Collection. Pre- sented by Dr. Wilson. December 12tk. Specimen of Belone truncata, from Chesapeake Bay. From Mr. Chas. S. Smith. The following were presented by the Smithsonian Institution : Skins of Cervus tarandus, L. 5 and th. Dr. Wilson presented the following on the usual condition : — Journal of the Franklin Institute for Dec, 1854, and Jan., 1855. The London Athenaeum for Nov., 1854. Annates des Sciences Naturelles. 4me. serie. tome 2, No. 2. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie. 1854. No. 10. Species general et iconographie des Coquiiles vivantes. Par L. C. Kiener. 138 liv. Malakozoologische Blatter fiir Nov. 1854. January 23d. The History of Barbadoes. By Sir Robert Schomburgk, Ph. D. 8vo. From Dr. Wm. H. Freeman. Report and Charts of the Cruise of the U. S. Brig Dolphin. By Lieut. S. P. Lee, U. S. N. 8vo. and Atlas. From the TJ. S. National Observatory. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, July to Dec, 1854. From the Society. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal for Jan., 1855. From the Editors. Comptes Rendus, tome 37, Nos. 19 — 23. From Dr. Wilson. February 6th. Report on the Agriculture and Geology of Mississippi. By B. L. C. Wailes. 8vo. From the Author. The History of British Guiana. By Henry G. Dalton, M.D. 2 vols. Svo. From the Author. The History of an Expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1755, under Major Gen. Edward Braddock. Edited by Winthrop Sergeant. 8vo. From the Penn- sylvania Historical Society. Report of the Sanitary Commission of New Orleans on the Epidemic Yellow Fever of 1853. Svo. From Dr. E. H. Barton, of New Orleans. The Elements of Botany. By M. Adrien de Jussieu. Translated by James H. Wilson. 8vo. From Mr. A. Brasier. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. 5, pp. 81 — 96. From the Society. Proceedings of the California Academy of Natural Sciences, Vol. 1, pp.7 — IS. From the Society. Journal of the Society of Arts (London) Nos. 106—110. From the Society. Rectification of Mr. T. A. Conrad's " Synopsis of the Family of Naiades of North America." published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Feb., 1853. By Isaac Lea. From the Author. Charleston Medical Journal and Review, Jan., 1855. From the Editors. New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal for Jan., 1855. From the Editors. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson on the usual condition : — London Athenseum for December, 1854. Lehrbuch der Geognosie von Dr. Carl Fried. Naumann. 2 band. 8vo. Neue Untersuchungen iiber die Physicalische Geographie und die Geologie der Alpen von Adolph Schlagintweit und Hermann Schlagintweit. Royal 8vo. and Atlas folio. Ueber den Bau und die Entwickelung des Brustbeins der Saurier. Von Dr. H. Rathke. Beitriige zur Mykologie. Von George Fresenius, M. D. Heft 1, 2. 4to. Der Fossile Gavial von Boll in Wiirtemburg. Von Dr. E. D'Alton and Dr. H. Burmeister. Folio. Die Conchylien des norddeutschen Tertiargebirges von Dr. Ernst Beyrich. Lief 1,2,3. 8vo. February \3th. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal, Feb., 1855. From the Editors. Biographical Notice of Dr. Charles Caldwell. By B. H. Coates, M.D. From the Author. xxm. Odontographie. Vergleichende Darstellung des Zahnsystemes der lebenden und fossilen Wirbelthiere. Yon C. G. Giebel. (conclusion.) From Dr. Wilson. Journal of the Franklin Institute, Feb., 1855. From the same. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In March and April, 1855. March 6th. Specimens of Coluber punctatus, and C. eximius, from Philadelphia. Presented by Dr. Watson. Ocipode arenaria, from Beesley's Point, N. J. From Mr. Chas. C. Ashmead. Selenite, from Lockport, N. Y. From Mr. Edward Miller. Trachynotus spinosus ?, from Beesley's Point. From Mr. S. Ashmead. Mounted specimen of Procyon lotor. From Dr. Leidy. April 3d. Thirty-six specimens, twenty -five species of fishes, obtained in the market at Rio de Janeiro, and one species Chcetodon, taken at sea off Brazil; five speci- mens of Peneus setiferus, from Brazil; two do. Cerataspis monstruosis, do.; six do. Mytilus, do. ; two do. Ostrea. Presented by Dr. W. S. W. Ruschen- berjjer and Thos. J. Turner, U. S. N. Fourteen specimens, twelve species of fishes, Mississippi River ; and three spe- cimens of Emys picta. In exchange from the Smithsonian Institution. One specimen Asterias, from the Mediterranean. Presented by Dr. J. C. Fisher. One specimen Astrea ? ; Larvae of Phyllophaga,'from Rhode Island ; Semi- bituminous coal, from Broad Top Mountain. Presented by S. Powel. Uranite, from the banks of the Schuylkill, Philadelphia. Presented by Theod. D. Rand, of Philadelphia. April 10th. Fruit of Abies communis. From Dr. Fisher. A collection of Carboniferous Fossils, from Rush Creek, near New Harmony, Indiana, and a collection of Fresh- water Shells, from the Wabash River, near New Harmony, Ind. Presented by James Sampson, Esq. April Ylth. Two specimens Meles taxus, from Greenland: one do. Phoca barbala, do. ; one do. Phoca grcenlandica, do.; one cranium of Cervus elaphus, do.; one specimen of Tarandus rangifer, do.; fifty-five bottles Invertebrate animals, do.; one specimen Canis antarcticus, from Falkland Islands. Presented by Dr. Thos. B. Wilson. One specimen of Canis lagopus, Linn. ; two of Lepus grcenlandicus; and one of Phoca hispida ; from Greenland. Presented by Mr. Wm. S. Vaux. Mounted specimen of Tarandus rangifer, from Greenland. Presented by Col. Geo. A. McCall. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In March and April, 1855. March 6th. Journal of the Society of Arts, (London,) Nos. 63 — 68, and 85 — 105. From the Society. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte. Von H. Troschel. 1854. No. 3. From the Editor. Flora Medica. A Botanical Account of all the more important plants used in Medicine. By John Lindley. 8vo. From Mr. A. J. Brasier. XXIV. Rough Notes of an exploration for an inter-oceanic canal route by way of the Rivers Atrato and San Juan, in New Grenada. By John C. Trautwine. 8vo. From the Author. o The Hi>tory of Mason and Dixon's Line. By John H. B. Latrobe. An Address before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Nov. 8th, 1854. From the Author. American Journal of Science and Arts for March, 1855. From the Editors. An Essay to prove the contagious character of Malignant Cholera. By Ber- nard M. Byrne, M.D. 2d edition. Svo. From the Author. Dr. Wilson presented the following, on the usual condition : — Comptes Remlus. Tome 39, Nos. 25, 2b'; Tome 40, Nos. 1, 2, 3. Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 4me serie. Vol. 2, No. 3. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie. 1854. No. 12. London Athenaeum, for Jan. 1855. Mikrogeoloiiie. Das eiden und felsen schaffende Wirken des unsichbtbar kleinen selbstandigen Lebens auf der Erde. Von Chr. Gott. Ehrenberg. 2 vols, folio. March 13 th. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal, for March, 1855. New York Medical Times for March, 1855. From the Editors. Nineteenth Annual Report of the Managers of the New York Institution for the Blind. From the Managers. Report of the State Librarian to the Legislature of Pennsylvania for 1854. From the State Librarian. Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, &c. By John Cassin. No. 8. From Dr. Wilson. Journal of the Franklin Institute for March, 1855. From the same. March 20th. Monographie des Guepes Sociales. Nos. 1, 3, 6. ParH. De Saussure. From the Author. Statistical View of the United States; being a compendium of the Seventh Census. By J. D. De Bow. 8vo. From Mr. Isaac Lea. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. 5, pp. 97 — 128. From the Society. Apr it 3d. Histoire Naturelle, Physique et Politique de l'lle de Cuba. Par M. Ramon de la Sagra. Nos. 73,74. From Messrs. Vaux, Elwyn, Clay and Carpenter. Pioceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. 5, pp. 129 — 144. From the Society. Charleston Medical Journal and Review for March, 1855. From the Editors. The New York Quarterly. Vol. 4, No. 1. April, 1855. From the Editors. Dr. Wilson presented the following, on the usual condition: — The Imperial Dictionary, English, Technological and Scientific. Edited by John Ogilvie, LL.D. 2 vols, imperial 8vo. Testacea Britannica, or Natural History of British Shells. By George Mon- tajiu. 2 vols. 4to. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1855, No. 1. Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 4me serie. Tome 2, No. 4. London Athenaeum for February, 1855. Comptes Rendus. Tome 40, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. April 10th. Niger Flora: or an enumeration of the Plants of Western Tropical Africa, collected by the late Dr. Theod. Vogel in 1841. Edited by Sir Wrn. Hooker. 8vo. Deposited by Mr. A. J. Brasier. The American Sportsman. By Elisha J. Lewis, M. D. 8vo. From the Author. XXV. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Vol. 8, Nos. 5 and 6. From the Editors. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. No. 40. From the Society. Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique d'Acclimatation. No. 1. Mars 1854. From the Society. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal for April, 1805. From the Editors. New York Medical Times for April, 1855. From the Editors*. Life in its Physical Aspects. By Chas. Girard. From the Author. April 11th. Victoria Regia. The Great Water Lily of America. By J. Fisk Allen. Elephant Folio. From the Author. Natural History of New York. Agriculture. By E. Emmons, M.D. Vol. 5. 4to. Report of the North American Coal Company, Jan. 12th, 1855. From Dr. J. C. Fisher. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. 5, pp. 145 — 160. From the Society. On Adipocire and its Formation. By Charles M. Wetherill, M. D. From the Author. Dr. Wilson presented the following, on the usual condition: — L'organisation du Regne Animal. Par Emile Blanchard. Livs. 11, 12, 13, 14. Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Nos. 136 — 139. Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology. By Dr. Todd. Part 43. Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie. Auctore L. Reichenbach. Lief. 4. Comptes Rendus. Tome 40, No. 9. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Dec, 1854, and Jan., Feb. and March, 1855. London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine. Dec, 1854 and supplement, and Jan., Feb. and March, 1855. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science. No. 10. Malakozoologische Blatter. Von Menke und Pfeiffer. Dec, 1854, and Jan-, 1855. Journal of the Franklin Institute for April, 1855. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In May and June, 1855. May 8th. Skull of a Japanese. From Dr. Liner, U. S. N. Thirty-eight species of Fossil Shells and Corals, from the Tertiary beds of Jackson, Miss., being the original specimens described by Mr. T. A. Conrad in Wailes' Agric and Geol.of Mississippi, and in the Proc Ac. Nat. Sc. Pre- sented by B. L. C. Wailes, Esq., through Mr. Conrad. Three specimens Triton ingens, from New Jersey. From Mr. Saml. Ashmead. Three specimens Phosphate of Lead, from North Carolina. Presented by Dr. Horner. May 22d. Pelecanus trachyrhynchus, from the Coast of California. Presented by Lieut. W. P.Trowbridge, U. S. A. Three specimens Phrynosoma cornutum ; two specimens Triton ingens; Ocypode arenaria; living specimen Triton tigrinus ; and Loligo ; from Beesley's Point, N. J. Presented by Chas. C. Ashmead. Petromyzon nigricans; numerous small species of Fishes; from Beesley's Point, N. J. Crangon septemspinosus, from Delaware Bay. Presented by Samuel Ashmead, Esq. XXVI. Gelasimus ? and Sesarma reticulata ; from Dennis Creek, N. J. Presented by Mr. Thos. Beesley. Stalactites, from the Cave of St. Lorenzo, Bay of Samana, Republic of Do- minica. From Capt. McClellan, U. S. A. Two specimens of Smoky Quartz, from Philadelphia County. From Mr. Kilvington. June 5th» A suite of twelve specimens of Calcareous Spar ; fine specimen of Zinc Blende with Quartz; all from the Wheatley Mine, near Phcenixville, Pa., and presented by Mr. Charles M. Wheatley. A large collection of TJnios, from Ohio. Presented by Dr. Watson. Very large and fine specimen of Silicified Wood, from Long Branch, N. J. Presented by Dr. William Camac. Portraits of Dr. Gerard Troost and of Mr. William Maclure, from the Peale Collection. Presented by Wm. S. Vaux, Esq. Portrait of Mr. C. A. Lesueur, from the same collection. Presented by Mr. George Ord. A collection of Birds; Condylura cristata ; Macacus nemestrinus, (mounted.) From Mr. John Krider. June \1tlu Collection of remains of the Megatherium from Skiddaway, Georgia, consist- ing of the distal extremity of a humerus, six fragments of ribs, four fragments of vertebrae, and a fragment of the lower jaw. Presented by Dr. Robert W. Gibbes, of Columbia, S. C. Tooth of fossil Elephas, found near Wilmington, N. C. Presented by the same. Large mass of Mineral Charcoal, found in a vein of Grey Ash Anthracite. Presented by E. Bender, of Minersville, Pa. Fossil Tooth of Horse, from Galway Co., Ireland. Presented by W. D. Hartman, M. D., of West Chester, Pa. Specimen of Crystalline Heating Furnace Cinder, from Fairmount Rolling Mill. Presented by C. E. Smith, Esq. Living Coluber eximius ; Heterodon platyrhynos. Presented by Mr. S. Ash- rnead. Two specimens Emys guttata. From Dr. Wilson. Living Triton tigrinus, from Beesley's Point, N.J. From Chas. C. Ashmead. Asterias , from California. Presented by Mr. S. Ashmead. June \§th. A fine suite of Minerals, from the Wheatley Mine near Phcenixville, Pa., as follows: — Eleven specimens Phosphate of Lead; nine do. Carbonate of Lead ; four do. Sulphate of Lead ; two do. Chromo-molybdate of Lead ; one do. Yellow Molybdate of Lead; two do. Carbonate of Lead with Carbonate of Copper. Presented by Chas. M. Wheatley, Esq. One species Fistularia; four do. Aspergillum ; one do. Clavaselfa ; one do. Teredo ; one do. Xylophaga ; ten do. Pholas. Presented by T. B. Wilson, M.D. Two Fossil Shells; eleven specimens Crystals of Sulphate of Lime; from Isle of Mayo; three specimens of Queen of the Termes beilicosus, from Monrovia, Liberia ; one specimen Goliathus giganteus, from Elmina, Africa. Presented by Dr. J. L. Burtt, U. S. N. Sertularia, from New Jersey Coast. From S. Ashmead, Esq. Collection of Ferns, from Goree, W.Africa. Presented by Dr. J. L. Burtt, U. S. N. Specimen of Tuckahoe, (Lycoperdon solidum,) from New Jersey. From Dr. Ilallowell. XXV11. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In May and June, 1855. May 1st. Fossil Footmarks in the Red Sandstone of Pottsville, Penn. By Isaac Lea, LL.D. Folio. From the Author. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Session 1853-54. From the Society. Proceedings of the California Academy of Natural Sciences. Vol. 1, pp. 23 — 34. From the Academy. An Outline of Medical Chemistry, for the use of Students. By B. Howard Rand, M.D. 8vo. From the Author. May 8th. American Journal of Science and Arts, May, 1855. From the Editors. Charleston Medical Journal and Review, May 1S55. From the Editors. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. New Series. Vol. 3, part 1. From the Publication Committee. Proceedings of the National Institute, Washington, D. C. New Series. Vol. 1, No. 1. From the Institute. Dr. Wilson presented the following, on the usual condition. Beitrage zur Ornithologie Afrikas. Von Baron J. W. von Muller. Lief 3 — 4. Flora Tertiaria Helvetia?. Die Tertiiire Flora der Schweiz bearbitet von Dr. Oswald Heer, lste lief. Folio. Untersuchungen uber den Bau und die Bildung der Pflanzenzelle. Von Dr. N. Pringsheim. lste Abth. 4to. Abbildungen und Beschreibungen der Blattwespar-Larven, &c. Herausg. von C. G. A. Brischke. lste leif. Xenia Orchidacea. Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Orchideen von H. G.Reichen- bach, fils. Heft. 2—3. 4to. Bryologia Javanica seu descriptio Muscorum Frondosorum Archipelagilndici. Auctoribus F. Dozy et J. H. Molkenboer. Fascic. 1 — 5. Synopsis Plantarum Glumacearum. Autore E. G. Steudel. Fascic. 2 — 7. 8vo. Zeitschrift fur Wissenschafftliche Zoologie. Herausg. von C. T. von Siebold and A. Kolliker. 6 band, heft 2. Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 4me serie. Tome 2, No. 5. Comptes Rendus. Tome 40. Nos. 3 0, 11, 12. The London Athenaeum for March, 1855. Malacographia Maderensis. Auctore J. C. Albers. 4to. Schaedel, Hern und Seele des Menschen und der Thiere nach Alter, Geschlecht und Race. Von Emil Huschke. Folio. Die Versteinerungen der Steinkohlenformation in Sachsen. Von Hanns Bruno Geinitz. Folio. May 15th. Annales des Mines. 5me serie, tome 5, 3me liv. de 1854, tome 6, 4me liv. de 1854. From the "Ecole de Mines." Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Genera des Coleopteres par M. Th. Lacor- daire. Tome 2. Svo. From the Author. Jahrbuch der K. K. Geologischen Reichsanstalt. 1854, No. 3. 8vo. Abhandlungen der Mathemat-phys. Classe der K. Bayer. Akad. der Wissen. 7 Band, 2 Abth. 4to. From the Academy. Recherches sur les Crinoides du Terrain Carbonifere de la Belgique. Par L. de Koninck et H. Le Hon. From the Authors. Ueber die Fossilen Fische aus der Braunkohle des Siebengebirges. V&n Dr. F. H. Troschel. From the Author. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. 5, pp. 161 — 176, From the Society. 31 XXV111. Bulletin of the Pottsville Scientific Association, Schuylkill Co., Penna. Jan. and Feb. 1855. From the Association. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal for May, 1855. From the Editors. Johann Latham's Allgemeine Uebersicht der Vogel. Aus dem Englischen ubersetzt und mit Anmerlungen und zusaken verschen von J. M. Bechstein. 8 parts. 4to. From Dr. Wilson. Vollstandiges Register uber alle vier Bande oder acht Thiele von J. Latham's Allg. Uebersicht der Vogel. Von D. Von Rademacher. 4to. From the same. Journal of the Franklin Institute, May 1855. From the same. May 22d. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Vol. 21, part 3. 4to. From the Society. Proceedings of the same. Nos. 52 — 58; and List of the Society for 1854. From the same. Journal of the Society of Arts (London). Nos. 115 — 118. From the Society. First Supplement to Dana's Mineralogy. By the Author. From the Author. Description de quelques nouvelles especes d'Echinodermes Fossiles. Par M. Hardouin Michelin. From the Author. Note sur quelques Echinides fossiles. Par H. Michelin. From the Author. June 5th. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. Vol. 5, pp. 177 — 192. From the Society. Report on the Geology of the Coast Mountains, California. By Dr. John B. Trask. From the Author. The Natural History and Antiquities of Selbourne. By the late Rev. Gilbert White. A new edition, with notes by Sir Wm. Jardine. 8vo. From Mr. A. J. Brazier. Tenth, 17th, 19lh, 20th, 22d and 23d Memoirs on the Law of Storms in the Indian and Chinese Seas. By Henry Piddington. From the Author. On the quantity of Silt held in suspension by the waters of the Hoogly at Calcutta, in each month of the year. By H. Piddington. From the Author. On the Cyclone-Wave in the Sunderbunds. By H. Piddington. From the Author. On the Comparative Action of the Marine and Aneroid Barometers and Sim- piesometer in Cyclones. By H. Piddington. From the Author. The Quarterly Journal of the Chemical Society, London. From the Society. Verhandelingen van het Bataviaash jGJenootschap van Kunsten en Weten- schappen. Deel 25. 4to. From the Society. Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal-Land-en Volkenkunde,' uitgegeven door het Batav. Genoot. van Kunsten en Weten. Jaargang 1. 8vo. From the same. Dr. Wilson presented [he following on the usual condition. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1855. Nos. 1, 2, 3. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science. No. 11. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. April and May, 1855. London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosoph. Magazine. April and May, 1855. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Nos. 260 — 264. Conchologia Iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Part 140. London Athenaeum for April, 1855. Bonplandia. Zeitschrift fur die gesammte Botanik. Jahrgang 1855. Nos. 3—4. Comptes Rendus. Tome 40. Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16. Synopsis Plantaium Glumacearum. Autore E. G. Steudel. Fascic. 8, 9. Schreber, " die Siiugthiere." Fortgesetzt von Wagner. Supplementband. 5 Abth. 8, 9 Lief. Histoire naturelle des mollusques terrestres et fiuviatiles de France. Par A. Moquin-Tandon. 2e. liv. Novitates Conchologicae. Von Dr. Louis Pfeiffer. Lief. 1. 4to. XXIX. Spicilegium Molluscorum Terris Orientalis Provincial Meditteranensis pe- culiarium. Auctore J. R. Roth. Die Tertiare Flora von Schossnitz in Schlesien. Herausg. von Hein. Rob. Goeppert. 4to. Untersuchungen uber Pteropoden und Heteropoden. Von Dr. Carl Gegen- bauer. 4to. Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology. By Robert B. Todd, M. D. Part 45. • June \2th. Sitzungsberichte der k. Akad. derWissen. Mathemat-Naturwissen. Classe. Band 12, heft 5, band 13, heft 1, 2. From the Academy. Jahrbiicher der K. K. Central- Anstalt fiirMeteorologieund Erdmagnetismus. Von Karl Kreil. Band 1, 2, 1848-9-50. 4to. From the same. Register zu den ersten 10 Banden der Sitzungsberichte der Math.-Natur. Classe der k. Akad. der Wissen. From the same. Jahrbuch der k. k. Geologischen Reichsanstalt, 1854. 5 Jahrgang, No. 2. From the Institute. Wurttembergische Naturwissen. Jahreshefte. Herausg. von Prof. Mohl, Pleininger, &c. &c, in Stuttgart. Her Jahrgang, 1 heft. From the Editors. Die Geologische Uebersichtskarte des Mittleren Theiles von Sud-Amerika von Franz Foetterle. From the Author. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte. Herausg. von Dr. F. H. Troschel. 1854, No. 4. From the Editor. Novorum Actorum Acad. C. L. C. Nat. Curiosorum, vol. 24, pars 2. 4to. From the Academy. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Jan. to April, 1855. From the Society. Characteristics of some new species of Mammalia collected by U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, under Major Emory. By S. F. Baird. From the Author. Note upon the viviparous Fishes inhabiting the Pacific Coast of North America, with an enumeration of the species observed. By Chas. Girard. From the Author. Map of Honduras and San Salvador, Central America, showing the line of the proposed Honduras Inter-oceanic Railway. By E. G. Squier. From Dr. S. W. Woodhouse. Dr. Wilson presented as follows, on the usual condition : — Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 4me. serie, tome 3, No. 6. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie. 1854, No. 11, 1855, No. 4. Comptes Rendus. Tome 40, Nos. 17, 18, 19, 20. Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, and Oregon, &c. By John Cassin. No. 9. Journal of the Franklin Institute, June, 1855. A supplement to the Imperial Dictionary. Edited by John Ogilvie,L.L. D. Royal 8vo. London Athenaeum for May, 1855. June \§th. Entomologische Zeitung. Herausg. von dem entomolog. Vereine zu Stettin. 15 Jahrg. No. 1. From the Asssociation. Linnaea Entomologica. 9 Band, 8vo. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal for June, 1855. Report on the Iron of Dodge and Washington Counties, Wisconsin. By Jame Gr. Percival. From Mr. J. A. Lapham. XXX. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In July and August, 1855. July 3d. Three fragments of fossil bones ; 14 specimens of a fossil Ostrea ; numerous specimens Anadonta trapezialis and two species Ampullaria ; 2 skins male and female Macacus nemestrinus Geoff. ; 3 skins hedge squirrel ; 2 species saurians, 3 serpents, 4 Batrachians, and a collection of coleopterous and hemipterous insects ; all from South America. Presented by Dr. H. W. Kennedy, of Buenos Ayres. One specimen of Lycodon unicolor from Western Coast of Africa, Isle de Dorg; and 1 Chamasleon, Fernando Po. Presented by Dr. Burtt, U. S. N. Asterias caput medusae from West Indies. From Mr. I. Lea. Blast furnace cinder, with 6 and 8 sided prisms. Presented by C. E. Smith. Rutillated quartz from Middlesex, Vt. From Mr. A. E. Power. Three specimens brown Blende and three of Arseniate of Lead ; Cubical Galena with Phosphate of Lead ; Quartz and Blende ; and Fluor Calc. Spar, from the Wheatley mine near Phoenixville, Chester Co., Pa. ; two specimens of Malachite from Ambriz, Africa. Presented by Charles M. Wheatley, Esq. July 1*1 th. Twenty-seven specimens of the following fishes : Lepidosteus platostomus, Polyodon folium, Scaphyrhynchus platyrhynchus, Pimelodus ccerulescens, Centrarchus hexacanthus, Labrax multilineatus, Po- motis , Sclerognathus , Catostomus , Hyodon tergisus ; all from St. Louis, and presented by the Smithsonian Institution. A collection of terrestrial and marine shells, consisting of 98 specimens of 34 species, from various parts of the world ; 3 specimens of a fossil Pecten and 1 of a fossil Balanus, Gorgonia, near Bay of Panama; 1 fossil Spirifer, Porto Praye, Cape de Verd Islands ; 21 species of seeds from Western Africa, Madeira, &c. ; 3 specimens of Gorgonia; 90 fishes, Madeira; 1 fine specimen Dendrophyllea ramea, Madeira ; mass of vegetable gum resin, nest of hemipt, insects, Liberia ; head of pipe fish and skin of Ray ; 4 specimens Lava, from Mauna Loa, Hawaii ; 4 specimens minerals, Chili ; crystals sulphate of lime, Cape de Verde Islands ; centipeds, scorpion, guinea worm, spiders and leeches, Africa ; tubes of an Annelide, head of Mayo, collection of insects from Africa, Cape de Verde and Azores. Presented by Dr. J. L. Burtt, U. S. N. Nine specimens of Helix haemastoma, 3 Achatina , from Ceylon ; fruit of Trapa bispinosa, from China ; specimen of the glass coral, Hyalonema Sieboldi, from the Japan coast. Presented by Capt. H. A. Adams, U. S. N., through Dr. Goddard. July 2Uh. Coleoptera and Crustacea from Atlantic City, N. J. From Dr. Zantzinger. Silurian Fossils from near Cincinnati, Ohio. From Theodore F. Moss, Esq. Reptiles and a Scorpion from Caraccas. Presented by Dr. J. Cheston Morris- August lAth. A large mass of Water-worn Sandstone, from Big Coal River, an affluent of the great Kanawha, Virginia. Presented by Messrs. Edwin Mitchell, John M. Mitchell and L. Brognard, of Philadelphia, through Mr. W. G. E. Agnew. August 2\st. One serpent from China. Deposited by Mr. Durand. Three specimens of Echinus granulatus ; 3 of Ophiura ; 3 of Sponges, (3 species ;) " of Corals ; 6 epecies of Crustaceans ; 6 species of Shells. From Point Judith R I. Presented by Dr. Leidy. XXXI. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In July and August, 1855. July 3d. Tiansactions of the Albany Institute. Vol. 3, and part 1, vol. 4. From the Institute. Proceedings of the California Academy of Natural Sciences. "Vol. 1, pp. 1 — 46. From the Academy. Annual Report of the Trustees of the State Library of New York, March, 1855. From the Trustees. Sixty-eighth Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, March, 1855. From the Regents. Eighth Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York on the condition of the State Cabinet of Natural History, Jan., 1855. From the same. American Journal of Science and Arts, July, 1855. From the Editors. Martin Behaim, the German Astronomer and Cosmographer of the time^ of Columbus. An Annual Discourse before the Maryland Historical Society, Jan. 25,1855. By John G. Morris, D.D. From the Author. J%dy 11th. Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. Auctore Alph. De Can- dolle. Parts 11, 12, and 13, 4 vols. 8vo. Principes d'Osteologie Comparee. Par Richard Owen. 8vo. From the Author. Chemical Examination of the Bakers' Bread of Philadelphia. By C. M. Wetherill, M. D. From the Author. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson on the usual condition : — Annals and Magazine of Natural History, June, 1855. London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine, June, 1855. Traite de Palneontologie. Par T. J. Pictet. Tome 3, 8vo. and Atlas 4to. Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques Terrestres et Fluviatiles de France. Par A. Moquin-Tandon. 2e. liv. L'Organisation du Regne Animal. Par Emile Blanchard. lOe. liv. Folio. Schreber, "die Siiugthiere." Fortgesetzt von Wagner. Supplementband. 5 Abth. 10, 11 lief. Oonchologialconica. By Lovell Reeve. Nos. 141, 142, 143. Palaeontographica. Beitrage zur Naturgeschichte der Vorwelt. Von W. Dunker und H. von Meyer. 5 band, lste lief. Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 4me. serie, tome 3, No. 1. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1855. No. 5. Comptes Rendus. Tome 40. Nos. 21, 22, 23, 24. Bonplandia. Zeitschrift fur die gesammte Botanik, 1855. No. 10. London Athenaeum for June, 1855. Journal of the Franklin Institute for July 1855. July 24. New York Quarterly. Vol. 4, No. 2, July IS55. From the Editors. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal, July, 1855. From the Editors, Fungi Caroliniani exsiccati. Fungi of Carolina, illustrated by natural speci- mens of the species. By H. W. Ravenel. Fasc.2. 4to. From the Author. The Great Tree on Boston Common. By J. C. Warren, M. D. 8vo. From the Author. August 1th. A Memoir on the Extinct Sloth Tribe of North America. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. 4to. From the Author. Notice of Producti found in the Western States and Territories ; Notice of the Genus Chonetes, from the same ; Notice of Fossils from the Carboniferous 33 XXX11. Serie3 of the sam°. By J. G. Norwood and Henry Pratten, of the Illinois Geo- logical Survey From the Authors. Archives de Physiolozie, de Therapeutique et d'Hygiene. No. 2, Oct., 1854. Memoir sur Paction therapeutique et physiologique des Ferrugineux. Par T. N. Quevenne. Svo. From the Author. Geological Map of Wisconsin. By J. A. Lapham. From the Author. Abhandlurupn der Philosophisch-philolog. Classe der k.bayerischen Akad. der Wissen. Vols. 1 — 6, and No. 1, Vol. 7. 4to. From the Bavarian Government, through C F. Hagedorn, Esq., Consul for Bavaria at Philadelphia. Abhand. der Historischen Classe der k. bayer. Akad. der Wissen. Vols. 1 — 6, No. 1 , vol. 7. From the same. Abhandl. der Mathemat.-Phys. Classe der k. bayer. Akad. der Wissen. Vols.. 1 — 6, No. 1, vol. 7. From the same. Monumentorum Boicorum Collectio Nova. Vols. I — 9. 4to. 1828 — 1853. From the same. Annalen der k. Sternwarte bei Miinchen. Von Dr. J. Lamont. Vols. 1 — 6. Svo. From the same. Bulletin der k. Akad. der Wissen. 1849 — 1853. From the same. Beobachtungen des Meteorologischen Observatoriums auf dem Hohenpeissen- berg von 1792 — 1850. Von Dr. J. Lamont. From the same The following were presented by Dr Wilson on the usual condition : — Zeitschrift fur Wissenschaft. Zoologie. Herausg. von C. T. von Siebold und A. Kolliker. Vol.7, Nos. 1, 2; vol. 6, Nos. 1, 3, 4; vol. 5, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 ; vol. 4, Nos. 3,4. Annates des Sciences Naturelles. 4me. serie, tome 3, No. 2. Comp'es Rendus. Tome 40, Nos. 25, 26. Untersuchungen uber die Entwickelung der Wirbelthiere. Von Robert Remak. Folio. Die Adergeflechte des Menschlichen Gehirnes. Von Dr. Hubert Luschka. 4to. Die Grundsatze der Agricultur-Chemie. Von Justus von Liebiu. Ueber die Befruchtung und Keimung der Algen. Von Dr. N. Pringsheim. August 2\st. Acadian Geology : an account of the Geological structure and mineral re- sources of Nova Scotia, &c. By J. W. Dawson. 8vo. From the Author. A Catalogue of the Birds in the Museum of the Hon. East India Company. Vol. 1. 8vo. From the East India Company through Dr. Horsfield. Fungi Caroliniani exsiccati; fascic. 3. By H. W. Ravenel. From the Author. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal for August, 1855. From the Editors. Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indie. Uit^egeven door de Natuurkundiiie Vereeniging in Nederlandsch Indie. Deel 7, nieuwe serie, deel 4, af. 5, 6. From the Association. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In September and October, 1855. September Atk. Capybara ; Howling Monkey; two bats; two specimens ofTestudo carbonaria; Kinosternum ; Crocodile; two specimens of Pipa, one of Hyla ; Boa and three other serpents; six snouts of the Saw-fish (Pristis) ; jaws of the Tapir, Dasyprocta ; and eggs of Testudo carbonaria. Presented by C. T. Hering, Esq., of Surinam. A collection of about fifty species of coleopterous insects from Old Calabar, Africa. Presented by Dr. Le Conte on account of Andrew Murray, Esq., of Edinborough. Eggs of ten species of birds; four specimens Scialia macroptera ; ten speci- mens fishes; a bat ; all from Texas. Also, four skulls of grizzly bear ; two do. XXX1U. Orvus macrotis ; one do. Coyote; one do. Fox; one do. Wild Cat ; one do. Mephitis ; two do. Sciurus ; three do. Lepus ; two do. Spermophilus ; and six do. of birds; from California. Presented by Dr. A. L. Heermann. A collection of carboniferous fossils and a few vertebrate miocene fossils. From the neighborhood of Fort Riley, Kansas. Presented by Dr. W. A. Hammond, U. S. A. A collection of cretaceous fossils, Texas ; and a specimen of Unio laticostatus. from Brazos River. Presented by Mr. Moore. Fossil shark's tooth, from Maryland. Presented by C. McMurtrie. Cypricardia Leidyi, Lea, from the old red sandstone, near Pottsville. Presented by Dr. Leidy. September Wth. Libinia canaliculata ; Lupa dicantha; Platyonichus ocellatus ; Ocypode arenaria ; Gelasimus pugilator ; Gelasimus,n. s. ; Limulus occidentalis ; Crangon septemspinosus ; Sesarma reticulata; Hippa talpoidea ; Idotea triloba; Caligus cristatus ; Pagurus policaris; a collection of Fishes; skulls of two species Ardea ; and a small collection of Coleoptera. From Beesley's Point, N. J. Presented by S. Ashmead, Esq. Salamandra lateralis, from Carlisle, Pa. Presented by Samuel B. Ashmead. Slab of new red sandstone with Foot-marks, from Turner's Falls, Conn. Pre- sented by Roswell Field. September \&th. Six Fossils from San Antonio, Texas. Presented by Dr. A. L. Heermann. Two Nodules of Carb. Iron with a species of Nautilus as a nucleus. From Salt Sulphur Springs, Va. Presented by J. Lambert, Esq. Lacerta viridis, Lacerta agilis, Elaphis Esculapii, Anguis fragilis ; from the Forest of Fontainbleau, France. Presented by Dr. W. H. Taggart. October 2d. Eunice gigantea, Platurus fasciatus, Rana palustris, Salamandra maculata, several specimens of Remora and two other fishes ; also, three specimens of Cicada, of large size. Presented by Constant Guillou, Esq. Four minerals from Lebanon Co., Pa. Presented by Wm. Rank, Esq. Specimen Nitride and Cyanide of Titanium from Spring Mills. Presented by Dr. Rand. Sponge from Delaware Bay. From Mr. Ashmead. October 9th. Fifty species of sixteen genera of terrestrial and fiuviatile shells of Cuba. Presented by Senor F. A. Sauvalle, of Cuba. Platalea leucorodia? from Egypt. From Mr. G.Latham through Dr. Elwyn. Twenty-nine species of Marine Algae from Beesley's Point, N. J. From S. Ashmead, Esq. October \6th. Five cretaceous Fossils from Alabama, and a Fossil Ostrea from Georgia. Presented by Joseph Jones, Esq. Ichthyodorulite of Hybodus curtus, Ag. Presented by Dr. Wilson. Skeletons of a mouse and two chimney swallows, (Acanthilis pelasgia). Pre- sented by Edward Harris, Esq. Fossil coral, and a small collection of fresh water recent shells; from Wisconsin. From the late Rev. Charles Fox through Mr. Cassin. Fossils from the Carboniferous Limestone of England and Ireland of the fol- lowing Genera : — Psammodus, Helodus, Cochliodus, Chromatodus, Strophodus, Oracanthus, Goniatites, Orthoceras, Nautilus, Euomphalus, Cirrus, Bellerophon, Pleurotomaria, Pileopsis, Natica, Rostellaria, Terebra, Turritella, Trochus, Amplexus, Spirifer, Pecten, Avicula, Isocardia, Mytilus, Cardium, Productus and XXXIV. Atrypa, comprising 105 species and 281 specimens. B. Wilson. Presented by Dr. Thorna? DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In September and October, 1855. September Ath> Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Vol. 7. 4to. From the Smithso- nian Institution. Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1854. Arts and Manu- factures. 2 vols. 8vo. From the U. S. Patent Office. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, pp. 3 93 — 208. From the Society. Description of a new Mollusk from the Red Sandstone near Pottsville, Penna. By Isaac Lea. From the Author. Dr. Wilson presented the following on the usual condition : — Die Pflanze und ihr Leben. Von M. Schleiden Dr. 4th edition. 8vo. Aus derNatur. Die neuesten Entdeckungen aus dem Gebeite der Naturwissen- schaften. Vols. 1 — 5. 8vo. Die Natur. Zeitung zur Verbreitung Naturwissenschaftlicher Kentniss und Naturanschauung fur Leser aller Stande. Herausg. von Dr. Otto Ule und Dr. Karl Muller. 1853. Nos. 1—27. 1855. Bonplandia. Zeitschrift fur die gesammte Botanik. 1855. No. 11. London Athenseum for July, 1855. Journal of the Franklin Institute for August, 1855. September Wth. Denkschriften der k. Akad. der Wissen. Mathemat-natur. Classe. Band 8. 1854. From the Academy. Sitzungsberichte der k. Akad. der Wissen. Mathemat. -natur. classe. 1854, Nos. 1, 2, 3 ; 1855, Nos. 1, 2. From the same. Archiv fur Kunde osterreichischer Geschichts-Quellen. Herausg. von der aufgestellten Commission der k. Akad. der Wissen. 14 band. No. 1. 1855. From the same. Notizenblatt. Beilage zum Archiv fiir Kunde osterreich. Geschichtsquellen. 1855. Nos. 1—12. From the same. Gelehrte Anzeigen. Herausg. von Mitgl. der k. bayerischen Akad. der Wissen. Band 39. 4to. From the Academy. Almanach der k. bayer. Akad. der Wissen. fur das Jahr 1855. From the same. Nachrichten von der Georg-Augusts-Universitat und der k. Gesellschaft der Wissen. zu Gottingen. 1854. Nos. 1 — 17. From the Society. Verhandlungen der k. Russischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft zu St. Peters- burg. 1842, '43, '44, '45, '46 and '54. From the Society. Schriften der in St. Petersburg gestifteten Russiscb-Kaiserlichen Gesellschaft fiir die gesammte Mineralogie. ler band, lste, 2e abth. From the same. American Journal of Science and Arts for September, 1855. From the Editors. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal for September, 1855. From the Editors. Journal of the Franklin Institute for September, 1854. From Dr. Wilson. October 2d. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 3, pp. 105—184. From the Society. Charleston Medical Journal and Review for September, 1855. From the Editors. XXXV. A voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Oc?an and round the world, in 1790-95, in the Discovery sloop of war, and the Tender Chatham, under the command of Capt. George Vancouver. New edition, 6 vols. 8vo. 1801. From Mr. A.G. E. Agnew. Two folio volumes, containing numerous specimens of the works of the late eminent engraver, Alexander l.awson, with some original drawings by Alex- ander Wilson and others. From Miss Lawson, through Prof. S. S. Halde- man. Dr. Wilson presented the following on the usual condition : — Annals and Magazine of Natural History, for July, August and September, 1855. London, Edinburgh and Dublin Philosophical Magazine, July, August and September, 1855, and supplement No. of do. Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, No. 12, July, 1855. Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology, parts 46 and -17. Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve, parts 144, 145, 146, 147 London Athenaeum, for August, 1855. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Text and plates for 1850- '51 and '52. Comptes Rendus. Tome 41, Nos. 1 — 8. Schreber "die Saugthiere."' Fortgesetzt vcn Wagner. S pplementband, 5 Abth. 12, 13 Lief. Annales des Sciences Naturelles. 4me serie. Tome 3, No. 3. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie. 1855, Nos. 6, 7. Histoire n&tureJe des Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles de France. Par A. Moquin-Tandon. Liv. 3. Memoires de la Soeiete des Sciences de Bordeaux. Tome I, No. 2, January, 1855. Description des Animaux fossiles du Terrain carbonifere de Belgique. Supple- ment, 4to. Iconum Botanicarum index locupletissimus. Ry Geo. Aug. Pritzel,Ph. D. Imperial 8vo. Geographie Botanique Raisonnee. Par M. Alph. De Candolle. 2 vols.8vo. Geodephaga Britannica. A monograph of the carnivorous Ground-beetles in- digenous to the British Isles. By J. F. Davison. 8vn. Siluria. The History of the oldest known rocks containing organic remains. By Sir Roderick Impey Murchison. 8vo. October 9t//.. Giornale dell' I. R. Istituto Lombardo di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti e Biblioteca Italiana. Nuovaserie. Fascic 1 — 30. From the Institute. Memoire della Reale Accademia delle Scienze di Torino. Serie 2da. Tome 14,4to. From the Academy. Recueil des Actes de l'Academie Imperiale des Sciences, Belles-T^ettres et Arts de Bordeaux. 1854, 2e et 3me trimestre. From the Academy. Memoires de la Societe Imperiale des Sciences Naturelles de Cherbourg. Tome 2, 1854. From the Society. Proceedings of the American Association for the advancement of Science. 8th Meeting, May, 1854. From the Association. Proceedings of the California Academy of Natural Sciences. Vol. 1. pp. 47- 66. From the Academy. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. 21, part 1. 4to. From the Society. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson on the usual condition : — Jahrbueh fur Mineralogie, Geognosie, &c. Htrausg. von Dr. K. C v. Leon- hard und Dr. H. G. Bronn. 22 vols. 8vo. 1S3I-1851. Six Ethnographical Maps. By .!. C. Prichard, M. D.,to accompany his works on the Natural History of Man. Folio. XXXVI. The Ethnographical Library, conducted by Edwin Norris. Vol. 2. Native Races of the Russian Empire. By R. G. Latham, M. D. 8vo. Manual of Geology, practical and theoretical. By John Phillips. 8vo. Lectures on the comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Invertebrate Animals. By Richard Owen. 2d edition, Svo. The Ferns of Great Britain : illustrated by J. E. Sowerby ; the descriptions &c, by Charles Johnson. 8vo. Lippincott's Pronouncing Gazeteer, or Geographical Dictionary of the world. 2 vols, imperial 8vo. A Manual of Marine Zoology of the British Isles. By P. H. Gosse. Part 1 . 12 mo. Etude de Pappareil reproducteur dans les cinq classes d'animaux vertebres. Par G. J. Martin St. Ange. 4to. October lQlh. Ofversigt af Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Forhandlingar, 1853-4. From tr f> Academy. Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar, 1852, 1853. From the same Oversigt over det Kgl. danske Videnskabernes SelskabsForlandlingar og dets Medlemmers Arbeider i Aaret.1854. From the Society. Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indie. Uitgegeven door de Natuurkundige Vereeni^ing in Nederlandsch Indie. Nieuwe serie. Deel 1. Af. 1—6, Deel 2, Af. 1—4. From the Association. Giornale dell' I. R. Istituto Lombardo di Scienze, &c. ; nuova serie, fascic. 31—36. 4to. From the Institute. Resumen de las Actas de la Academia Real de Ciencias de Madrid de 1850 a 1851. From the Academy. Wiirtembergische naturwissenschaftliehe Jahreshefte. 1854, No. 2. From D ft the Wurtemberg Nat. History Association. Recueil des Actes de {'Academic Imperiale des Sciences, &c, de Bordeaux. 1854, 3me trimestre. From the Academy. Journal of the Society of Arts, (London,) Nos. 119 — 136. From the Society. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, vol. 5, pp. 209—224. Fiom the Society. Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal, for October, 1855. From the Editors. Syndesmologia sive historia ligamentorum humani corporis. Auctore Josias Weitbrecht D. M. 4to. From Mr. Cassin. October 23*/. Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle. Vol. 4. liv. 4 ; vols. 5, 6, 7,8, livs. 1, 2. From the Museum. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson on the usual condition : — Natural History of Man. By J. C. Prichard, M. D. 4th edition, by Edwin Norris. 2 vols. Svo. Suites a Buffon. Histoire nat. des Reptiles. Par MM. Dumeril et Bibron. Vols. 7, 9. 8vo. Anatomie und Physiologie der Pflanzen. Von Dr. F. Unger. Svo. London Athenaeum for September, 1855. Journal of the Franklin Institute for October, 1855. DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In November and December, 1855. November 6th. Three Gar fishes ; one glass snake, from Georgia. Fossil Ostrea, from Georgia, four fossils (Cretaceous), from Alabama. Pre- sented bv Jos. Jones, Esq. XXXY11. One Squilla ; one scorpion ; four Coleoptera ; one Lepidoptera ; five Orthop- tera, one hemiptera, from Trinidad. Presented by Dr. Samuel Lewis. Trigonocephalus contortrix. From J. C. Hughes, Pottsville. Ten specimens coal plants, Carbondale, Pa. Presented by Henry Drinker, Esq., of Montrose, through Mr. Vaux. Numerous nodules of carbonate of iron, with a species of Goniatite as a nu- cleus, and one specimen of calcareous earth, from Salt Sulphur Springs, Vir- ginia. Presented by N. Harrison, Esq., through Mr. J. Lambert. Five species shells, from Simoda ; col lection of plants, from Japan ; four birds' heads, fromLoochoo; one Medusa. Presented by Dr. Jos. Wilson, U. S. N. Fruit of Cyamus, from Kansas. From Dr. Carson. Over 1,500 specimens of Coleoptera, from various parts of Italy, many of which are new to the collection of the Academy ; 190 bird skins from ditto. Presented by Mr. Guex. Two bottles of Mexican Coleoptera. Presented by the Smithsonian Insti tute, through Dr. Le Conte. November 13*A. Fifry-seven specimens of two species serpents j'thirty specimens of four species frogs; three specimens Emys Muhlenbergii. From the vicinity of Philadelphia. Presented by Drs. Hallowell and Leidy. Two crystals of Mica. Presented by Jacob Peirce. One Echinus, from Valparaiso. Presented by Dr. Ru%2# . ^-ww******0""" A Fruy.ne] 1 -'I Brimosaurus §randis, Leidy. 4-6 Cimoliasgofrfi wb hthPhl Proceed. A N. S of Phil1 Vol. VTI Plate IV CYPRICARDIA LEIDYI . LEA. J Mafiee Bel. T Sinclair's hth Plula "Proceed A ::.S.Philad.Voi:VH Plate YI. HYLA GRATIOSA.Le Come On Sterna "by VPZ Hitchcock . Utkof J.T."BawenJJhil /r-- MBL/WHOI LIBRARY H lfi(3N L