^ni ■t.:L^t':l■ Return to LIBRARY OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY WOODS HOLE, MASS. Loaned by American Museum of Natural History PROCEEDINGS 1^ OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. VOL. IV. 1846, 1849. PHILADELPHIA. PRINTED FOR THE ACADEMY, Br Merrihew Sc Tlioiiipson, 7 C»rl»-r'» AIIpj, 1860. 61'^ INDEX TO VOLUME IV. Abert, Lieut. J. W., don. to lib., 111. Adams, C. B., don. to lib., Ill, 263, 265. Adams, Mr., don. to mus., 137. Agassiz, Prof. Louis, don. to lib.. Ill, 176. ; on the distinction between the fossil Crocodiles of the green sand of New Jersey, 169; letter from to Dr. Gibbes in relation to Dorudon serra- tus, 4. Alexander, Dr., don. to mus., 241. AUinson, Geo. B., don. to mus., 109. American Acad, of Arts and Sciences, don. of memoirs of, 143.; of Proceed- ings, 32, 82, 243. Amer. Philosoph. Soc, don. of Trans- actions of, 31 ; Proceedings of, 54, 189, 261 ; Resolution by to deposit its collections of organic remains with the Acad. Nat. Sci., of Philada., 247. American Journal of Agriculture and Science, don. of by editors, 30, 31, 32. Anderson, J. D., don. to mus., 109, 241. Asiatic Society of Bengal, don. by of Journal, 81. Ashmead, Samuel, don. to mus., 29, 52, 69, 163, 176, 241 : remarks on a pe- culiarity in the calcareous spar from Rossie Lead mines, 6. Ashmead, H. E., don. to mus., 109. Audubon, J. J., don. to mus., 164. Australian Museum, don. to mus., 175. Ayr, William, don. to mus., 205. Bache, Prof. A. D., don. to lib., 189. Bachman, Rev. Dr., Notes on the gene- ration of the Virginian Opossum, 40. Baird, Prof. S. F., don. to mus., 29, don. to lib., 263. Babbage, Charles, don. to lib., 31, 81. Beasley, Theophilus, don. to mus., 103. Berendt, Dr., ^don. to lib., 166. Blanchard, M.Emile, don. to lib., 111. Bovy, Mons., don. to mus., 29. Boston Society of Natural History, don. of Journal of, S2; of Proceedings, 111. Bourcier, M., don. to mus., 137. Boye, Dr. M. H.,don. to lib., 191. Bogerslawski, Prof., don. to lib., 243. Bridges, Dr. Robert, don. to lib., 190 ; don. to mus., 138, remarks on esti- mates relating to the length of the year, 58. Bryan, Wm. C, don. to mus., 109. British Association, don. to lib., 55. Browne, Peter A., paper read by, en- titled " Reasons for believing that animal torpidity is influenced by elec- trical currents," 2. Bristol Institution, don. to mus., 163. Budd, Charles T., don. to mus., 164, 175. Burlington College, don. to mus., 109. Butcher, William, don. to mus., 109. By-Laws, amendments to, 50, 148. Calcutta Journal of Nat. Hist., don. of by editors, 177. Cantor, Dr. Theodore, don. to lib., SI. Carpenter, Dr. Wm. S., don. to mus., 137. Cartwright, Dr. Samuel, don. to lib., 242. Carson, Dr. Joseph, don. to mus., 109. Carey, John, don. to lib., 32. Cassin, John, remarks on the man- agement of monkeys in captivity, 3 ; -, description of new species of Cyano- corax, 26 ; descriptions of new species of Vidua, Briss., Euplectes, Sw., Py- renestes, Sw., and Pitylus, Cuv., 65 ; description of a new Tanagra, 85 ; Catalogue of Birds collected by Mr. Wm. S. Pease, 87; description of Owls, supposed to be new, 121 ; de- scriptions of new species of Nyctale and Sycobius, 157 ; Notes of an ex- amination of the family Vulturidae, J 58; remarks on a specimen of Anas Rafflesii from Louisiana, 195; De- scriptions of new species of Capri- mulgidae, 236; special report, as Cura- tor, on the Ornithological collection of the Academy, 256. Chambers, Andrew R.,don to mus., 79. IV. INDEX. Club of Members, don. to mus., by, 29. Committees, Scientific, for 1818, '2 : for 1849, 148. Committee on Mr. Nuttall's descrip- tions of new plants from the Rocky Mountains ami California, collected by W. Gambel, 3 ; on Dr. Leidy's paper on some bodies in the Boa constrictor resembling the Pacinian corpuscles, 3 ; on Mr. Cassin's descriptions of new species of Cyanocorax, 7 ; on Dr. Bachman's Notes on the generation of the Virginian Opossum, ST); on Dr. Hallo well's descriptions of two new species of Onychocephahis from Africa 35 ; on Dr. Mydleton Mitchell's re- marks on the generation of the Opos- sum, 3G ; on Mr. Henrv C. Lea's catalogue of the Tertiary Testacea of the U. S., 36 ; on Dr. Leidy's descrip- tion of Merycoidodon Culbertsonii, 36 ; on Dr. Dickeson's paper, Micro- scopic examination of the development of the foetus of the Succinia amphibia, 57; on Major M'Call's Notes on Mexi- can birds heretofore not fully de- described, 58 ; on Mr. Conrad's ob- servations on new Eocene fossils from Vicksburg, Mississippi, 58; on Dr. R. W;, Gibbes Monograph of the fossil Squalids of the U. S., 65; on Mr. Cassin's descriptions of new species of Vidua, Euplectes, Pyrenestes and Pitylus, 65 ; on Dr. Gambel's descrip- tion of a new Mexican Quail, 74; on Dr. Gambel's descriptions of new Californian Quadrupeds, 76 ; on Dr. Hallowell's Notes of the post-mortem appearances observed in a Cynocepha- lus porcariuSjSo ; on Mr. Cassin's de- scription of a new Tanager from the Rio Negro, 84 ; on Mr. Pease's paper on the Geology and Natural History of part of Mexico, 85 ; on a Catalogue of Mexican birds by the same, 85; on Mr. Conrad's descriptions of new species of recent Shells, 120: on Dr. Gambel's Catalogue of the Columbidac in the collection of the Academy, 120; on Mr. Cassin's descriptions of new Owls, 120; on Dr. Gambel's Contri- butions to American Ornitholojy, 120; on Dr. Hallowell's description of a new Salamander from California, 120 ; on Dr. Morton's Additional ob- servations on a new livins species of Hippopotamus, 149 ; on Mr. Cassin's Catalogue of the Vulturidae and Stri- gidae in the collection of the Academy, 150; on Mr. Cassin's descriptions of new species of Nyctale and Sycobius, 150; on Mr. Conrad's descriptions of new fresh-water and Marine Shells, 150; on Mr. Cassin's notes on the Vulturida; and Strigidae in the collec- tion of the Academy, 150; on Dr. Hallowell's notes of a post-mortem examination of a Cynocephalus, 150; on Dr. Gambel's remarks on the Birds of Upper California, 169; on Dr. Gambel's Notes on the Pidgeons, 169 ; on Prof. Haldeman's description of new species of Cryptocephalus, 169; on Dr. Keller's memoir on Cili- ary cells of some marine naked Mol- lusca, in embryo, 109 ; on Dr. Meigs* observations on the reproductive or- gans and on the foetus of the Delphinus nesarnak, 172 ; on Dr. Leidy's re- marks on the fragments of Tapirus Americanus fossilis in the collection of the Academy, 179 ; on Dr. Hal- lowell's description of a new species of Eryx, 183; on Dr. Savage's com- munication on the Driver Ants of West Africa, 184; on Prof. Halde- man's descriptions of new species of Hymenoptera, 193 ; on Dr. Savage's paper on the Termitidae of West Africa, 209 ; on Mr. Van Amringe's letter proposing a new system of Zoological classification, 224 ; on Mr. Cassin's descriptions of new species of Caprimulgida;, 234 ; on Dr. Gibbes* descriptions of new species of Mylio- bates from the Eocene of South Caro- lina, 245 ; on Dr. Leidy's descriptions of two species of Distoma, 247 ; on Dr. Leidy's description of new Ento- phyta, 248 ; on Dr. Le Conte's paper "an attempt to classify the Longicorn Coleoptera of America north of Mexico," 248 ; on Dr. Morton's paper on the size of the brain in the various races of Man, 248 ; on a paper by Professor Baird, Revision of the North American Tailed-Batrachia, 204. Committee on Dr. Savage's paper on the Driver Ants of West Africa, ob- servations by, 200. Conrad, T. A., don. to mus., 138; don. to lib., 30; Descriptions of two new genera, and new species of recent shells, &c., 121; descriptions of new fresh-water and marine shells, 152. Cook, John, don. to mus., 69 ; don to lib., 205. Cooper, C. C, don. to lib., 52. Correspondents elected: Blythe, Edward, Calcutta, 78. INDEX. V. Brydges, Sir Harford, England, G8. Cantor, i)r. Theodore, Bengal Medical Service, 78. Cobb, Prof. J., Kentucky, 107. Doane, Rt. Rev. George W., New Jersey, 107. Dowler, Dr. Bennett, New Orleans, 68. Ehrenberg, Chr. Gotfried, Berlin, 51. Eschricht, Prof., Copenhagen, .51. Fischer, de Waldheim M., Moscow, 107. Frennont, Col. J. C, U. S. A., 51. Goodsir, .Tohn D., Edinburgh, 260. Henderson, Dr. A. A., U. S. N., 74. Holmes, Francis S., Charleston, S.C. 78. Jackson, Dr. R. M. S., Pennsylvania, 74. Jones, Dr. Wm. L. Riceboro, Geo., 51. Kaup. Jean Jacq., Darmstadt, 2S. Kirtland, Dr. J. P., Ohio, 107. Michel, Dr. Mydleton, Charleston, 162. Porcher, Dr. Francis P., S. Carolina, 224. Ravenel, Henry W., S. Carolina, 162. Scoresby, Rev. Wm. D. D. England, 28. Schouw, Prof. J. Fred., Copenhagen, 51. Sharpey, Wm. S., London, 260. Strickland, Hugh E., London, 78. Shumard, Dr. Benj. E., Kentucky, 107. Tiedemann, Dr. Frederick, Hiedel- berg. 64. Tuckerman, Edward, Massachusetts, 107. Van Amringe, Wm. F., New York. 68. Verreaux, M. Jules, Paris, 149. Wood, Dr. W. Maxwell, U. S. N., 3. Yandell, Dr. L. P., Kentucky, 107. Culbertson, Joseph, don. to mus, 52. Curators, report for 1848, 132 ; for 1849, 254; announcement by of reception of a collection of Sivalik fossils from the East India Company, 75. Cramer, Charles, don. to lib., 30, 1 10. Dallas, George M., don. to lib., 55, 81. Dana, R. H., don. to lib., 54. Dana, J. D., don. to lib., 32, 242. Dana, S. L., don. to lib., 112. Dantzig Nat. Hist. Society, don. to lib., 166. Davenport, Mrs., don. to mus., 137. Dawson, Dr., of Phila., don. to mus. ,109. Dawson, J. W., of Pictou, N. S., don. to mus., 69 ; Notes of specimens of the Wheat Midge from Nova Scotia, 210. Denny, Henry, don. to lib.,31, 166,242. Desilver, Thomas, don. to mus., 261. Dewey, William, don. to mus., 79. Dickeson, Dr. M. W., don. to mus., 29; don. to lib., 31. Dilhvyn, L. W., don. to lib., 140, 165. Dix, J. L., don. to lib., 143. Doubleday, Edvv.,don. to mus., 109,110. Dowler, Dr. Bennett, don. to lib., 112, 166, 188, 265. Dundas, James, don. to mus., 176. East India Company, don. to mus., 79. Election ofCorres. and Rec. Secretaries, 74; of Record. Sec, 183. Eyre, M. D., don. to mus., 138. Faraday, Michael, don. to lib., 189. Fisher, J. Coleman, don. to mus., 241. Fisher, Thomas, don. to mus., 51. Fischer, de Waldheim M., don. to lib., 54,265. Fitton, Wm. Henry, don. to lib., 164. Fletcher, Charles S., don. to mus., 138. Eraser, John F., don. to lib., 176. Fremont, Col. J. C, don. to lib., 111. Gambel, Dr. William, don. to mus., 175; don. to lib.. 54; observations on some birds from Florida, collected by Dr. Hermann, 71 ; description of a new Mexican Quail, 77 ; contributions to Amer. Ornithology, 126 ; resignation as Record. Sec, 179. Gartland, F. X., don. to mus., 187. Geneva Nat. Hist. Society, don. of me- moirs of, 81. Germain, L. J., don. to mus., 51, 109, 137. Gibbes, Dr. R. W., don. to mus., 109 ; don. to lib., 166, 205; letter to from Prof. Agassiz in relation to Zeuglo- don cetoides, 4 ; letter from to Dr. Morton on same subject, 57. Gilliss, Lieut., TJ.S.N., don. to lib., 205. Gliddon, George R., don. to mus., 69; don. to lib., 143. Goddard, Dr. Paul B., don. to mus., 29, 187. Gould, Dr. A. A., don. to mus., 163 ; don. to lib.. 111. Gourlie, Wm. Jr., don. to mus., 163. Graff, Mrs. C. H., don. to mus., 138. Grant, Dr. W. R., don. to mus., 110. Gray, Dr. Asa, don. to lib., 32, 176. Gray, J, E., don. to lib., 81. VI. INDEX. Griffith, Dr. R. E., don. to mus., 51, 69, 262 ; dep. in lib., 52, 54, 55, 56, 71, 81, 112, 140, 142, 164, 165, 176, 178, 205, 20G, 243,244, 266. Griffitli, M. E., don. to mus., 163. Hagedorn, Mr., don. to mus., 187. Haldeman, S S., don. to mus., 109; don. to lib., 32, 55, 82, 244, 269; remarks on the fibrous lava from the Hawaiian Islands, 5 ; descriptions of new spe- cies of Cryptocephalinae, 170; de- scriptions of some new Hymenoptera, 203. Haldeman, Lieut., don. to mus., 109. Halloweli, Dr. E., don. to mus., 51, 109, 241; descriptions of two new species of Onychocephalus from Africa, 59 ; post-mortem appearances observed in a Cynocephalus papion, 62; post-mor- tem examination of a Cynocephalus porcarius, 86; on a new Salamander from Upper California, 126 ; post- mortem exam, of a Cynocephalus, 151 ; correction of an error in the locality of the Salamander described at page 126, 183 ; description of a new Eryx from Madras, 181; remarks on the young of Coluber venustus, 245. Hare, Dr. Robert, don. to lib., 32. Harris, Edward, don. to mus., 79, 109, 241. Harrison, Mr., don. to mus., 1S7. Hays, Dr. Isaac, don. to lib., 244. Hazzard, H., don. to mus., 187. Heerman, Dr., don. to mus., 30, 81, 137, 175. Hembel, William, t'on. to mus., 164; don. to lib., 143, 243; letter declining a re-election as President, 247;' reso- lutions by Academy relative thereto, 248, Henderson, Dr. A. A., don. to mus., 138. Henry, Dr. Bernard, don. to mus., 261. Heuland, H., don. to mus., 137. Historical Soc. of Penna., don. of Pro- ceedings of, 31. Hobson, William, don, to mus., 69. Holmes, Francis S., don, to lib., 143. Horsfield, Dr. Thomas, don. to mus., 80; don. to lib., 82. Howard, John G., don. to mus., 205. Imperial Soc. of Nat. of Moscow, don. of Bulletin of, .54, 142, 243, 269, Imperial Mineralog. Soc. of St. Peters- burg, don. to lib., 177. Jackson, Dr. J. B. S-, don. to lib., 55. Jackson, Dr. Chas. T., don. to lib., 31, 72. Jameson, William, Jr., don. to mus., 51. Johnston, Prof. J., don. to mus., 164. Johnson, Prof. W. R., don. to lib., 70, 177, 189; communication from, 84. Jones, G. N., don. to mus., 79, Jones, Dr. Wm. L., don. to mus., 52. Journal of Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, don. of by Editor, 32, 52, 70, 81, 138, 191,243,269. Keller, Dr. Wm., on ciliary cells in some marine naked MoUusca in em- bryo, 173; remarks on calculi from the bladder of the whale, ISO ; analy- sis of the same, 185. Kilvington, Robert, don. to mus,, 30 ; don. to lib., 110, 111. Lacordaire, Th,, don. to lib., 138, 191. Lambert, John, don. to mus., 29, SO ; don. to lib., 31, 72, Lea, Isaac, don, to lib., 178. Lea, Henry C, catalogue of the Tertiary Testacea of the United States. 95, Le Conte, Dr. John L., don. to lib., 265. Lepsius, Prof., don. to lib., 189, Leeds Literary and Philosoph. Society, don, to lib., 31. Leidy, Dr. Joseph, don. to mus., 110, 261; don. to lib., 31, .52, 138, 139, 143, 178, 189 ; on the existence of the eye in the perfect Cirrhipoda, 1; re- marks on the hair of a Hottentot boy brought to Philada, by Capt, Chase, 7; on certain bodies resembling Paci- nian corpuscles in the Boa constrictor, 27; on a new fossil genus and species of Ruminantoid Pachydermata, Mery- codoidon Culbertsonii, 47; on the de- velopment of the Purkinjean corpuscle in bone, 116; on the existence of the intermaxillary bone in the embryo of the human subject, 145; on the Ta- pirus Americanus fossilis, 180; on the existence of Entophyta in healthy animals, as a natural condition, 225; on the odoriferous glands of the Inver- tebrata, 234 ; descriptions of new genera and species of Entophyta, 249. Letters from individuals : Allinson, George B,, 84. BacLe, Prof, A. D., 73. Bancroft, Hon. George, 57. Beck, Dr. T. Romeyn, 245, 248. Berendt, Dr., 150. Berzelius, the Baroness, 147. Blythe, Edward, 183. Bowman, A. H., 65. INDEX. VU. Brown, Richard, 36, 74. Cantor, Dr. Theodore, 73. Carpenter, Dr. Wm. M., 1. Cautley, Major P. T., 120. Cobb, Prof. J., 150. Dana, J. B., 149. Denny, Henry, 2. Dowler, Dr. Bennett, 84. Eschricht, Prof., 184. Faraday. Michael, .35. Fischer de Waldheim, M., 195. Foulke, William P., 247. Fremont, Col. J. C, 76. Gibbes, Dr. R. W., 1, 179. Gilliss, Lieut. J. M., 120. Grecx, John A., 84. Hembel, William, 224, 247, 249. Henderson, Dr. A. A., S3. Hildreth, Dr. S. P., 1. Holmes, F. S., 83, 81. Horsfield, Dr. Thomas, 73, 115, 172. Jameson, William, 183. Jackson, Dr. Charles T., 5. Jackson, Dr. R. M. S., 84. Johnson, Walter R., 84. Jones, Dr. Wm. L., 65. Kaup, J. J., 83. Kenworthey, Dr. C. T., 149. Kern, Richard H., 245. Lacordaire, Prof. Th., 115, 194. Leidy, Dr. Joseph, 73. McMinn, J. M., 246. Michel, Dr. Mydleton, 172, 183. Morse, A. H., 224. Motchaulsky, M. Victor, 249. Nicholson, Dr. Charles, 115. Norman, Benj. M., 84. Parkinson, Caspar, 234. Porcher, Dr. F. P., 245. Prince de Wied, 193. Ravenel, Henry W., 172, 248. Redfield, Wm. C, 39. Savage, Rev. T. S., 5, 35. Scoresby, Rev. Wm., 76. Selby, Prideanx J., 36. Shelley, Dr. Joel Y., 1. Shumard, Dr. Benj. F., 145. Smith, Dr. H., 145. Smith, Joseph, 36. Squier, E. George, 172. Strickland, Hugh E., 115. Sturm, F. and J. W., 245. Sturm, Prof. J., 65. Thompson, William, 5. Tuckerman, Edward, 115. Van Arrringe, Wm. F., 83. Verreaux, M., 183. Wood, Dr. Wm. Maxwell, G. Yandell, Dr. L. P., 145. Letters from Societies, &c.: Amer. Acad, of Arts and Sciences, 120. Amer. Philosoph. Society, 36, 74, 83, 116, 180,224. Asiatic Soc. of Bengal, 74. British Museum, 172, 183. Directors of E. India Co. Mus., 73, 172. Edinburgh Geological Soc, 179. Geological Soc. of London, 1,73, 172. Imperial Soc. of Naturalists of Mos- cow, 35, 116, 209. Linnean Soc. of London, 6, 83. Lyceum of Nat. Hist, of New York, SI, 179,224. Resents of Univ. of the State of New York, 149. Royal Acad, of Sciences of Brussels, 194. Royal Bavarian Academy of Sciences, 149, 224. Royal Society of London, 248. Royal Society of Copenhagen, 74. Smithsonian Institution, 116, 246. Society for developing the mineral resources of the United States, 65. Western Acad, of Nat. Sciences, 245. Lewis, Dr. E. J-, don. to mus., 69,241. Librarian's Report for 1848, 130 ; for 1849, 252. Linnean Assoc, of Penn. College, don. of Journal of, 31, 32, 52, 54, 70, 72, 81, 82, 110,112, 140. Linnean Society of London, don. of Transac. of, 32 : of Proceedings, 111. Longchamps, Ed. de Selys, don. to lib., 269. Lyceum of Nat. Hist, of New York, don. of annals of, 1 11. Marcou, M. Jules, don. to lib., 177. Markoe, Francis, Jr., don. to mus., 79. Mantell, G. A., don. to lib., 164, 266. McAndrew, Mr., don. to mus., 163. McCall, Major Geo. A., Notes on some Mexican Birfis heretofore not fully described, G3. McFarland, Rev. W., don. to mus, 176. McMinn, J. M., don. to mus., 261; let- ter from on the ' snow flea,' 246. McMurtrie, Dr. H., don. to mus.. 137. Medical Examiner, don. of by editors, 265. Meigs, Dr. Charles D., don. to mus.,29y 188; on the mode of copulation of the Opossum, 58; letter on the effects of deep-sea pressure on the uterus of the Cetacea, 193. Members elected : Barton, Thomas Pennant, 17 !. Vlll, INDEX. Belknap, Henry, 179. Biddle, Alexander, 7S. Cook, John, 3. Cope, Caleb, 3. Dillingham, Wm. H., 3. Fouike, Wm. P., 247. Goddard, Rev. Kingston, 3. Grant, Dr. Wm. R., 260. Haines, Robert, 3. Horner, Prof. Wm. E., 162. Henry, Dr. Bernard, 179. Lea, Henry C.,28. Lejue, Wm. R., 28. Lewis, Dr. Francis W., 239. Meigs, Prof. Charles D.,51. Norris, Octavius A., 239. Roberts, Edward, 64. Smith, John Jay, 28. Smith, Dr. Francis G., 162, Whitman, Wm. I;:., 28. Wilson, Wm. S., 68. Wolgemuth, F. F., 28, Michael, Capt. W,, don, to mus., 175. Michel, Dr. Mydleton, on the generation of the Opossum, 46. Moricand, M., don. to mus., 164. Morris, Miss E, C, don. to mus., 17.5; don. to lib., 177. Morris, Miss M. H., on Cecidomyia culmicola, 194. Morton, Dr. S. G., don. to and dep. in mus.. 29, 51, 52, 69, 80, 137, 187, 241, 261; don. to lib., 32, 52,72, 143, 164, 188, 189, 190, 265; observations on a Bushman Hottentot boy brought to Philada., 5; remarks on some ancient Peruvian crania from Pisco, 39 ; on some crania of Shoshonee Indians, 75; on an antique silver image from Peru, 115; observations on the size of the brain in various races and families of man, 221 ; on a specimen of " bloody bread," 246. Morton, Wm. T. G., don. to lib., 176. Moss, Theodore F., don. to mus., 138, 175, 188, 241. Neill, Dr. John, don. to mus., 241, Newbold, Wm, L., don. to mus., 175; remarks on some peculiarities in the African cranium, 221. Nott, Dr. Josiah C, don, to lib., 205, Nuttall, Thomas, don. to lib., 82; de- scriptions of plants from the Rocky Mountains and California, collected by W, Gambel, 7, Officers for 1848, 136; for 1849, 260, Palmer, A, A., don to lib,, 111, Pease, Wm, S,, observations on the geo- logy and natural history of Mexico, 9 1 . Peirce, Jacob, remarks on a hybrid be- tween the Guinea fowl and Peacock, 35. Percival, Thomas C, don. to mus., 137; don. to lib., 70, 81. Percival, Miss M., don. to lib., 244. Piddington, Henry, don. to lib., 244. Pitcher, R., U. S. N., don. to mus., 241. Pickering, Dr. Charles, on the faculty of vision in the Balani, 2 ; remarks in relation to estimates of the length of the year, 58. Powel, Samuel, don, to mus,, 138. 187, 205, 241, Publication Committee of Acad, Nat. Sci., don. to lib., 82, 205, announce- ment by, of publicaf ion of part 2, new series of journal, 75; do. of part 3, 193. Pulte, Dr. J. H,, don, to lib., 52. Prince de Wied, don to lib., 205, Professeurs du Jardin des Plantes, don. to mus., 109, Ravenel, Dr, E., don. to lib., 188. Read, James, don. mus., 187 ; don. to lib., 71. Recording Secretary, report of, for 1848 and 1849, 251. Redfield, Wm. C, don. to mus., 109. Redfield, John H., don. to lib., Ill, Regents of University of State of New York, 82, 138, 166, 189. Reid, Mr., don. to mus., 137. Report of committee on Mr. Conrad's additional descriptions of tertiary fos- sils of the United States, 64 ; on Dr. Gibbes' monograph of the fossil squa- lida3 of the United States, 65; ap- pointed to prepare a corrected list of members and correspondents, 116; on Prof. Johnson's letter proposing to memorialize Congress on the import- ance of adding a naturalist to the as- tronomical expedition to Chili, 116; on Mr. Cassin's catalogue of the vul- turida; and strigidas in the collec- tion of the Academy, 150; on Dr. Morton's additional observations on a new species of hippopotamus, 162 ; on Dr. Gambel's remarks on the birds of California, and also on his notes on the Columbida3 in the collection of the Academy, 171 ; on Dr. Meigs' ob- servations on the reproductive organs, and on the foetus of the Delphiniis Nesarnak, 174, on Prof. Haldeman'.s descriptions of new cryptocephalin.T, 179 ; of the committee appointed to INDEX. IX. superintend the printing of a new edition ol' the by-laws, 179 ; on Prof. Baird's revision of the North Ame- rican tailed-batrachia, 209; of the committee on proceedings in reference to the sale of Say's American con- chology, 209; of the committee ap- pointed to enquire into the expediency of altering the room adjoining the library, so as to adapt it to the pur- poses of the latter, 246; on Dr. Gibbes' descriptions of new species of Mylio- bates from the Eocene of S. Carolina, 247 ; on Dr. Leidy's descriptions of two species of Distoma, 248; on Dr. Le Conte's memoir on the Longicorn Coleoptera of the United States, 249. Report on the Ornithological collection of the Academy by Mr. Cassin, 256. Retzius, Prof., don. to lib., 189, 20.5, 269. Resignation of Corresponding and Re- cording Secretaries, 73. Resolutions : to present the thanks of the Academy to M. Bovy for a me- dallion of Cuvier, 2 ; to inform M. Vattemare that the Academy was prepared to exchange with the Eu- ropean Museums, 2 ; to request of Dr. Shelly further information respecting the locality for certain fossils in Berks Co., Pa., G; to present a copy of the proceedings to Dr. Savage, 36 ; to present part 1, new series of Jour- nal to M. Fischer de Waldheim, 36 ; presenting the thanks of the Society to Prof. W. R. Johnson for his ser- vices as Corresponding Secretary, 73; presenting the thanks of the Society to Mr. J. Lambert for his services as Recording Secretary, 74; presenting the thanks of the Society to the Court of Directors of the East India Co.'s Museum for a collection of casts of Sivalik fossils, 76; presenting the thank? of the Society to Dr. Thomas Horsfield for a cast of the cranium of Sivatheriumgio;anteum, 76 ; instruct- ing Secretary to invite the members of the American Association for the advancement of Science to visit the Academy while in Philadelphia, 83 ; to present to Dr. Wm. Blanding parts 1 and 2, new series of the Journal, 120 ; appointing a committee to su- perintend the printing of a new edition of the by-laws, 171 ; to loan from the cabinet to Agassiz the cranium of a Manatus, 174; to present to the Prince de Wied part 2, vol. 8, first series, and parts 1,2 and 3, new series of the Journal, 194; to appoint a committee respecting proposed alterations in the room adjoining the library, to adapt it to the purpf>ses of the same, 245; to present to the Western Academy of Natural Sciences portions of the Proceedings, 245. Rogers, Prof. H. D., remarks on the for- mation of mountain ridges, 145. Royal Academy of Sciences of Belsium, don. to lib., 208. Royal Bavarian Academy of Sciences, don. to lib., 106, 243. Ruschenberger, Dr. W. S.,don. to mas., 176. Sanborn, D. M., don. to mv7s., 109. Savage, Rev. T. S., don. to mus., 29 ; letter to Dr. Hallowell in relation to the habits of some African animals, 36; on the Driver ants of Western .\frica, 195 ; on the species of Ter mitidce of West Africa, 211. Say, Mrs. Lucy W., don. to lib., 164, 165, 166, 177, 178, 189. Sergeant, John, Jr., don. to lib., 190. Sergeant, J. D., don. to mus., 188. Silliman, B. Jr. don. to lib., 265. Silliman's Journal, don. of by editors, 31, 54, 71, 81, 110, 138, 164, 177 189, 191j 243, 265. Skelton, Dr., don. to mus., 69. Skerret, Dr., don. to lib., 52. Smith, Mrs. J. B., don. to mus., 69. Smithsonian Institution, don. to lib., 205. Spooner, Mrs. J. E. don. to mus., 137. Squicr, E. G., don. to lib., 165. State of South Carolina, don. to lib., 166. Stoever, M. L., don. to lib., 143. Stott, Mrs. Eliz. extracts from will of, 74 ; don. to lib. by Executors of, 81. Sturm, Jacob, don. to lib., 72. Sturm, F. & J. W., don. to lib., 265.' Sullivant, Wm. S., don. to lib., 71. Taylor, R. C, don. to mus., 261 ; don. to lib.. 111. Taylor, J. H., don. to mus., 69. Taylor^ James, don. to mus., 51. Thompson, Wm., don. to mus., 187, don. to lib., 190, 191. Townsend, J. K., don. to mus., 51. Troost, Dr. Gerard, don. to lib., 176. TJ. S. Treasury Department, don. to lib., 81. Van Amringe, Wm. F., don. to lib., 72. Vargas, Dr., don. to mus., 69. X. INDEX. Vattemare, Alexander, don. to lib., 31. Vaux, Wm. S., don. to mus., 109, 176, 261. Verneuil. M. de, don. to lib., 31. Verreaux, M. Ed., don. to mus., 163, 187. Walker, Peter, don. to mus., 205. Warren, Dr. J. C, don. to mus., 175. Watson, John, don. to mus., 165, 271. Watson, Dr. Gavin, don. to mus., 29, 30, 51, 69, 79, 176, 187, 21i, 261. Weissmuller, Mr., don. to mus., 163. Western Academy of Natural Sciences, don. to lib., 166. Wilson, Dr. T. B., don. to mus., 29,51, 69, 79, 109, 110, 137, 138, 163, 175, 176, 187, 241, 261 ; dep. in mus., 29, 52, 138, 175; don. to lib., 263, 264, 265. 266, 267, 268, 269, 270.; dep. in lib., 30, 31, 32, 33, 52, 54, 55, 56,70, 71, 72, 81, 82, 110, 111, 112, 138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 164, 165, 166, 167, 176, 177, 178, 188, 189, 190, 191, 205, 206, 207, 208, 242, 243. Wilson, E. T. and C. W.,don. to mus., 211. Wilson, Edward, don. to mus., 163; don. to lib., 110, 267. Wistar, Dr., don. to mus., 241. Wislezenus, Dr. A., don. to lib., 70. Wood, William S., doa. to mus., 29, 13S. Woodhouse, D. Samuel W., don. to mus., 69, 138. Wyman, Dr. Jeffries, don. to lib., 54, 188. Yandell, Dr. L. P., don. to lib., 70. Young, Aaron, Jr., don. to lib., 31. Zoological Society of London, don. of Transactions and Proceedings of, 32. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, OF PHILADELPHI A^ [rrr " -mm January 11th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. S. P. Hildreth, of Marietta, Ohio, dated December 2-ith, 1847, relating to a peculiar variety of the Glow- worm. A letter from Dr. Joel Y. Shelley, dated Hereford, Berks county, Pennsylvania, in reference to some valuable fossil remains from that vicinity, was read and referred to the Geological and Mineralogical Committee. A communication was read from the Secretary of the Geological Society of London, dated Somerset House, 4th of November, 1847, acknowledging the receipt of recent numbers of the Proceedings. Dr. Morton read a letter addressed to him by Dr. R. W. Gibbes, dated Columbia, S. C, December 25th, 1847, in relation to the Basil- osaurus, and announcing a new fossil genus Saurocetus. A letter was read from Dr. William M. Carpenter, of New Orleans, dated December 11th, 1847, enclosing a communication addressed to the Academy, by Dr. E. Pilate, of Opelousas, S. C, dated October 29th, 1847, and proposing exchanges of Books or objects of Natural History. Referred to the Curators. Dr. Leidy remarked, that the existence of the eye in the perfect condition of the Cirrhopoda, has been denied by all anatomists up to the present time, but its presence in the larva or imperfect stages is very generally acknowledged. Several years since, having received some living specimens of Balanus rugosiis adhering to an oyster, he sub- mitted them to dissection, in the course of which, he noticed upon the dark purple membrane which lines the shell and muscular columns running to the opercula, on each side of the anterior middle line, a small, round, black body, surrounded by a colourless ring or space of the membrane, which, upon submitting to a low power of the micro- scope, he found to be an eye, composed of a vitreous body, having nearly two-thirds of its posterior part covered by pigmentum nigrum, and attached to a nervous filament, which he afterwards traced to the PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. — VOL. IV. NO. I. 1 ^ [Jan. supra-oesophageal ganglia. The presence of this organ in other species or genera, he had not yet had an opportunity of determinino-. (See Plate, Fig. 4.) Dr. Pickering mentioned in confirmation of the Balani possessing the faculty of vision, that in their native situations, he had frequently observed them suddenly retract their cirrhi, and close the opercula, when the hand was passed over and above them. January 18th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. Mr. Peter A. Browne read a paper, entitled " Reasons for believing that animal torpidity is influenced by the annihilation, or interruption, of electrical currents ;" which was referred to Dr. Bridges, Professor Johnson, and Dr. Pickering. A letter was read from Henry Denny, Esq., dated Philosophical Hall, Leeds, December 7th, 184-7, addressed to the Secretary of the Academy, presenting several numbers of the Proceedings of the Geo- logical and Polytechnic Society of the West Riding of Yorkshire. On motion of Mr. Tovvnsend, the Corresponding Secretary was directed to present the thanks of the Society to Mons. A. Bovy, the artist of a beautiful medallion of Baron Cuvier, presented by him this evening through Mr. A. Vattemare. On motion of Dr. Leidy, the Corresponding Secretary was instructed to inform Mr. Vattemare, that the Academy was prepared to com- mence a system of exchanges of objects of Natural History, with the Museums of Europe, as soon as lists of the especial wants of the latter were made out and furnished to the Society. January 2Wi, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. On motion of Professor Johnson, it was Resolved, That a new and revised edition of the "Notice of the Academy," be prepared under the superintendence of the author, in such manner as to give a condensed view of the present state, as well as past history of the Institution, and that five hundred copies be printed for the use of the Academy. On motion of Dr. Bridges, Resolved, That Peter A. Browne, Esq., be requested to present to the Library of the Academy, a copy of his paper, entitled " Reasons for believing that animal torpidity is in- fluenced by the interruption or annihilation of electrical currents." The following Committees were elected for the ensuing twelve months : Geological and Miner alogical. J. Price Wetherill, T. A. Conrad, Samuel George Morton, William S. Vaux, Thomas B. Wilson, Samuel Ashmead, John Lambert. % 1848.] Zoological. Robert E. Griffith, John Cassin, S. S. Haldeman, Edward Harris, Edward Hallowell, William Gambel, Joseph Leidy. Botanical. Robert Brid,g;es, R. E. Griffith, William S. Zantzinger, Gavin Watson, Robert Kilvington. Physics. Walter R. Johnson, John S. Phillips, Paul B. Goddard, Thomas G. Percival, Samuel Powel. Library. R. Bridges. T. C. Percival, S. B. Ashmead, Benjamin J. Kern, M. Carey Lea. Committee on Proceedings. S. G. Morton, C Corresponding and J. S. Phillips, A Recording Secretaries, W. S. Zantzinger, (_ ex-officio. Caleb Cope, Esq., William H. Dillingham, Esq., John Cooke, Esq., and the Rev. Kingston Goddard, of Philadelphia, and Robert Haines, Esq., of Germantown, were elected Members, and Dr. William Max- well Wood, U. S. N., was elected a Correspondent, February 1st, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A communication was presented, entitled, " Descriptions of some new plants collected by Mr. William Gambel in the Rocky Mountains, and California, by Thomas Nuttall, F. L. S.'' Referred to Dr. Bridges, Mr. Gambel, and Dr. Zantzinger. Dr. Leidy read a paper " On some peculiar bodies in the Boa Con- strictor, resembling the Pacinian corpuscles," which was referred to a committee, consisting of Drs. Hallowell, Morton, and Bridges. Mr. Cassin, referring the Academy to a paper by Professor Percy, " On the management of Monkeys in captivity," published in the Proceedings of the Zoo- logical Society of London, for 1844, made some remarks on that subject. He characterized Prof. Percy's observations, as highly judicious and evidently the result of much experience, — he (Mr. C.) wished however to point out the fact, that in the enumeration of articles suitable for the diet of those animals in confmement. Prof. P. had mentioned no animal food, except milk, an omission difficult to account for, as Prof. P. observes in the same paper, " the Marmozet eats spiders with great avidity." Mr. C. stated that it was a well known fact, that many of the American species fed not upon fruit solely, but also upon insects, bird's eggs, and even 4 [Feb. birds, and he had also ascertained, that several African species not only devoured insects with eagerness, but also caught them vs'ith great dexterity. A specimen of the Cei-co}}ithecus saher/ts, observed by him, was very I'ond of the common cockroach, and upon being furnished with a daily supply of that insect, actually recovered perfect health alter symptoms of disease had made their appearance. This individual caught cockroaches with surprising adroitness, and when one escaped, he would watch for it to reappear with the patience and quiet of a cat. Mr. C. stated as his opinion, that all the African monkeys (and perhaps all others) were insect eaters, and to a person aware of the large number and enor- mous size of many of the species of Coleoptera of Africa, it would appear a reason- able supposition that those insects were eaten by monkeys. All monkeys in confinement should be furnished with animal food, either insects, or raw mutton, or beef, cut into tiiin strips resembling worms, which he had found to be the best substitute. Mr. C. stated that much of the disease of those animals in captivity, was doubtless to be attributed to the fact, that they were invariably, as far as he had observed, restricted to vegetable food. February 8th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Chairman read a letter addressed to him by Dr. R. W. Gibbes, dated Columbia, S. C, January 27th, 1848, enclosing another from Prof. Agassiz, addressed to Dr. Gibbes, dated Charleston, December 23d, 1847, and coinciding with him in the opinion that the Basilo- saurus of Harlan, or Zeuglodon celoidcs of Owen, is generically dis- tinct from the species described by Dr. Gibbes under the generic name of Dorudon, and published in these Proceedings. The following is a portion of the letter of Professor Agassiz : — " I have examined the interesting fossil remains of Cetacea which you left with me yesterday. On close comparison, I have satisfied myself that Basilosaurus or Zeiiglodoii. cetoides, is generically distinct from your second species, which you first described under the generic name of Dorudon. The hollowness of the teeth cannot be indicative of a mere young age of that animal, as the form of the lower jaw is altogether difTerent in the two animals : Zeuglodon having a continuous fissure connecting the alveoli, and another groove along the edge of the jaw-bone, which are wanting in Dorudon. Besides, the posterior branch of the jaw is also different, the two lamcUre of the bone rising to the same height, and much higher in Zeuglodon, than in Dorudon, which has a deep depression upon its external sur- face, owing to the difference in the heiglit of the two laminae. Again, Zeuglodon has deep pits upon the external surface of the lov.-er jaw, shewing that the teeth of the upper jaw left an impression upon the lower, resting upon it, as in the croco- diles of our days, when the mouth is shut. The other portions of the jaws of Dorudon are from the upper jaw, the one with one tooth being from the left side, the other with three teeth being from the right side. I am therefore sorry that you have withdrawn your genus, in deference to the suggestion of Prof. Owen, as he did not insist upon their generic identity, but rather alluded to the close affinity of these remains. The isolated tooth, though imperfect, is highly interesting, as indicating a new genus of Sauroid Cetacea, allied to Me^alosaurus by the form of the tooth, but difTering byithe form of its root. I would propose to call it Sauro-cHits G-ihhesii. It will easily be distinnuished from the fang of Dorudon, by its great flatness and acute serrated edge. In the form of these anterior teeth tliere is another generic difference between Zeuglodon and Dorudon, worth mentioning; in the former being blunt and short, whilst Dorudon has them acute and sharp upon the edges. 1 thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me to examine these highly 1848.] 5 interesting remains. As soon as I reach Boston, I shall avail myself of the op- portunity of Dr. Warren's collection, to ascertain whether the Zeuglodon of South Carolina is specifically identical with the large species of Alabama, which I begin to doubt." A letter was read from the Rev. Thomas S. Savapre, addressed to Dr. Hallowell, dated Natchez, Miss., January 15th, 18 tS, stating that he had drawn up some flicts connected with the habits of three of the specimens of Natural History from Africa, lately presented by him to the Society, and had forwarded them with sketches of two of the serpents in a recent state, with some account of them as connected with the superstition of the natives of that part of Africa. A letter from William Thompson, Esq., addressed to Dr. Griffith, dated Donegal Square, Belfast, January 11th, 184-8, was read, acknow- ledging the receipt of a donation of shells from Dr. Griffith and the Academy, and returning his thanks therefor ; also stating that he was preparing to forward in return, a number of species of Echinodermata and MoUusca, and of Alg(B, about one hundred and fifty species ; and also offering to transmit, if desired, specimens of Irish Crustacea and Zoophytes, also Cirrhipoda, Annelidce, and Amorphozoa, and fossils from the green sand formation of his vicinity. A letter was read from Dr. Charles T. Jackson, addressed to the Academy, dated Boston, January 20th, 18-18, relating to the proposed erection in Paris of a monument to M. Etienne Geoffi'oy St. Hilaire, and enclosing a printed circular on the subject, dated Paris, April 30th, 1847, signed by Dumeril, Arago, Dumas, Serres, L. Elie de Beaumont, Jomard, Regnault, and Roche, and soliciting the co-operation of scien- tific societies and individuals in this country. Professor Haldeman made some remarks ou the fibrous lava of the Hawaian Islands, and referred to the formation of a similar material in anthracite blast-furnaces. When the hearth of the furnace is some- what chilled, and the slag not highly fluid, if the blast is allowed to escape over it, it will be drawn out into long threads, which form bunches resembling flax. According to Mr. Dana, the fibrous lava (which Prof. H. proposes to call Stypnite,) is formed from masses of fluid lava cast into the air and struck by the wind. Dr. Morton oifered some observations of the Bushman Hottentot boy, now in this city, and who was brought here under the kind and paternal auspices of Capt. Chase, United States Consul at the Cape of Good Hope. This gentleman has ex- pressed his intention to be present, with the boy, at a future meeting of the Academy; and in view of this arrangement, Dr.M. stated that he should confine his remarks to a few very interesting points. The boy is supposed to be about eighteen years of age, is three feet eleven inches in height, and of slender make. His complexion is that of a dried leaf, as described by travellers among these people ; the head is elongated, flattened on the coronal region ; full behind, and rather broad between the parietal bones. The face does not project ; the nose is so flat as scarcely to be seen in profile ; the cheek-bones wide, and the forehead low but not receding. The hair is arranged in delicate tufts, of a straight and cylindrical form, each tuft being inserted separately into the scalp, so that the intervening light skin presents a strong contrast with the black hair. If these tufts are examined, the hairs composing them are found to be spiral, and so intimately blended as to give the whole fasciculus a compact appearance, and an extraordinary flexibility. The hairs are very fine; but Dr. M. observed that his friend Dr. Meigs had called 6 [Feb. his attention to the remarkable fact, that they are flattened, like tape, and as seen under a power of forty or fifty diameters of Chevallier's microscope, each hair has the precise appearance of an ordinary steel watch-spring. Dr. M. had repeated the experiments of Dr. Meigs, with that gentleman's assistance, using one of Oberhauser's microscopes, with the same result. Dr. M. also adverted to a prominence at or near the top of the sacrum, which, so far as he could judge from a very imperfect examination of it, as covered with the boy's usual dress, seems to be a prolongation of the spinous and transverse processes over the region in question ; and which would appear to be the osseous frame-work of that fatty cushion which is of proverbial occurrence in the Hottentot women. Dr. M. expressed a hope that he might yet be able to examine this structure more carefully, and report the facts to the Society. The boy's head corresponds, in most of its developments, to those of two Hottentot skulls in Dr. M.'s collection, sent him by Mr. John Watson, of Cape Town. The mental and moral questions con- nected with the history of this youth, possess an extreme interest, but can only be correctly judged of after more extended inquiries. Mr. Ashmead made some remarks on what he considered a peculiarity in the calcareous spar, from the Rossie Lead mines, in New York. The general form presented by fractured crystals of calcareous spar is rhomboedrous. Cleavage is perfect parallel totheprimary planesof a rhomb, andis therefore three-fold. Some time since, Avhile engaged in reducing to convenient size for the cabinet, some specimens of double refracting spar from the above locality, he observed that some of the fractured crystals were susceptible of mechanical division in different directions from those of the planes of a rhomboedron ; this induced him to slice off the laminae wherever he found cleavage was perfect, and by proceeding with this sort of dissection, the result was a nucleus, of a perfectly geometrical form. It is a solid, bounded by six isosceles triangular planes of similar lustre, or two obtuse three-sided pyramids, placed base to base ; it has but one axis passing through opposite solid angles; assuming the axis to be vertical, the base is an equilateral triangle. As the faces are not parallel, but inclined to each other, it is suscepti- ble of perfect cleavage in six directions. The solid angle of the apex is similar to the obtuse solid angle of the rhomb, therefore, by truncating the alternate solid angles of the rhomb, this solid is produced. On motion of Dr. Leldy, the Corresponding Secretary was requested to make some further inquiry of Dr. Joel Y. Shelley, of Berks county, respectinfz; the locality of certain fossils from his vicinity, and the depth at which they were found by him. February Ibth, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. William Maxwell Wood, U. S. N., dated Philadelphia, February 11th, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. A letter M^as read from the Secretary of the Linnean Society of London, dated Soho Square, December 30th, 1847, acknowledging the receipt of recent numbers of the Proceedings of the Academy. A supplement to a communication presented at the meeting of Feb- ruary 1st, 1848, entitled "Descriptions of some new plants collected by Mr. William Gambel in the Rocky Mountains and California, by Thomas Nuttall, F. L. S.," was read and referred to the same Commit- ■tee, viz., Dr. Bridges, Mr. Gambel, and Dr. Zantzinger. 1848.] 7 Mr. Cassin read a paper, containing " Descriptions of new species of Birds of the genus Cynnocorax Boie, specimens of which are in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia," which was referred to the following Committee, viz., Dr. Wilson, Mr. Gambel, and Mr. Townsend. Professor Henry D. Rogers exhibited and explained his Geological Map of Pennsylvania, and also a " Section of the Southern Anthracite coal basin at Pottsville." Dr. Leidy mentioned to the Society, that he had examined the hair of the Hottentot boy, and that his observations corroborated the state- ment of Dr. Morton, made at last meeting, that it was much com- pressed or flattened. Transverse sections varied in outline from an oval to a very compressed lenticular form. February 29th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Committee on Mr. NuttalPs paper, read 1st and llth insts., reported in favour of publication in the Journal and Proceedings. Descriptions of Plants collexted by Mr. William Gambel in the Rucky Mountains and Upper Calif ornia. By Thomas Nuttall. *GAMBELlA.t Natural order, ScROPHULARiNiE. Tribe, ANTiRRHiNEiK. Calyx 5-parted, nearly equal. Corolla hypogynous, the tube cylindrical, sac- cate at the base, orifice narrowly pervious, the border bilabiate, the palate rather prominent, smooth, upper lip erect; the lower spreading, all the segments nearly equal and oblong. Stamina four, arising from the base of the corolla tube, in- cluded, didynamous :' no sterile filament: anthers bilocular, oblong Ovarium bilocular, with many ovules, seated upon a glandular torus. *7^/e simple, cla- vate, entire. Capsule subglobose, 2-celled, opening below the summit by two or three irregular apertures. Seed, [not seen.] — A spreading bush, with verti- cillate, entire, coriaceous leaves, and axillary and terminal conspicuous scarlet flowers. Allied to Galvezia, but with a prominent palate and a saccate spur at the base of the corolla. G. speciosa. Hab. In the island of Santa Catalina on the coast of California. Flowering in the month of February. *CROSSOSOMA.t Calyx 5-leaved, imbricated, somewhat coriaceous and persistent, the leaves unequal and concave, with colored margins. Corolla of 5 subsessile, oval petals. Stamina perigynous, about 25, on a fleshy disk; anthers adnate. Urarics two fin honor of Mr. William Gambel, a naturalist, who has explored Upper Cali- fornia, and made an interesting collection of the plants of that country. J From xpoaao^ f'-ugc, and ffw^a a body; in allusion to the fimbriate arillus. 8 [Feb. to five, united at base into a short stipe, 1-celied ; ovules many, attached to the ventral suture in a single crowded series. Sliginas thick and sessile, recurved. Capsules two to five, coriaceous and cylindric, opening longitudinally and in- wards, many-seeded. Seed roundish-reniform, nearly surrounded by a deeply fringed arillus. Embryo not seen. — A Californian shrub, with alternate, entire, crowded, exstipulate leaves, and 1-flowered, short, terminal branchlets ; flowers white. C. CaUfornica. Har. Abundant on the borders of streams in the island of Catalina, off the coast of Upper California. Flowering in February. TRIFOLIUM. §. *Physantha.. ( Tnvolucrarium.) With the calyx 5-cleft, one or two of the di- visions smaller. Corolla marcescent. The vexillum transformed into a physi- form sac, which at length envelopes the very small wings and monopetalous carina. Stigma capitate. Legume stipitate, 2 to 5-seeded, included in the calyx. T. *stmophyllain. .\nnual, branching from the base; leaves ternate, smooth and linear, distantly serrulate; stipules subulate, sparingly denticulate; pe- duncles elongated, filiform, heads small and nearly round, the vexillum, at length, forming a membranous inflated sac of equal breadth throughout, embracing the small wings and small carina, which is monopetalous, with but one broad claw attached to the vexillum. Hab. The island of Catalina, near Santa Pedro, Upper California. Flowering in February. T . '* G amhelii . Perennial and decumbent, smooth, branching from the base; leaflets roundish-oval or cuneate-oval, obtuse, very minutely and sharply ser- rulate; stipules membranaceous, dilated, entire, with subulate, slender points; peduncles about the length of the leaves; involucrum about S-cleft, the seg- ments lanceolate, acuminate; teeth of the calyx trifid,or simple, with setaceous points; legume stipitate, 3 to .'i-seeded ; wings longer than the vexillum. Hab. Island of Catalina, St. Simeon and Pueblo de los Angeles. A large, robust species, with shortish branches, very large stipules, and heads of large flowers, which appear to have been whitish, with purple tips to the carina ; heads of flowers 1 to H inches across; the vexillum very wide below, so as to conceal the other petals ; the wings and carina are also united ; leaflets three quarters of an inch long, and about the same breadth. T. *cilkdum. Q. Smooth and erect, but little branched ; lower leaves on very long petioles; leaflets cuneate-elliptic or oblong, obtuse, minutely and sharply serrulate; bractes adnate, subciliate, herbaceous, entire and acutely acuminate; capitnli axillar and terminal, rounded, many-flowered, destitute of involucrum, but subtended by a cicatrised circle of points ; the flowers attached to a cylindric torus, often ending in a long subulate point beyond the capitulnm ; segments of the calyx unequal, one of the teeth small, the rest lanceolate, sharply acuminated and bristly ciliated with stiff" hairs ; vexillum enclosing the other petals, which are small; legume flat, stipitate, about 1-seeded. HiB. Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper California. Stipules herbaceous ; the leaves rather thick and strongly veined, with forked vessels ; calyx nearly the length of the ochroleucous flower. This is again a Physan-iiia, but without a proper involucrum. 1S4S.] 9 T. ^demidatum. Q. Smooth, stem erect, a little branched, lower leaves on very long petioles; leaflets obcovdate or oboval, minutely and sharply serrulate ; stipules membranaceous, entire and setaceously acuminated; capituli axillary and terminal, rounded, many-flowered, without an involucrum, but with a cica- trised circle in its place, the flowers attached to a conic torus of the same struc- ture ; segments of the calyx subequal, linear lanceolate, sharply acuminated, nearly the length of the small ochroleucous flower; pod stipitate, about 2-seeded. H-vB. With the above, which it much resembles, but the vexillum is not unusually inflated. About a span high ; a rather small annual, and very smooth in every part. Leaflets about three-quarters of an inch long, three to four lines wide. Flowers small, with the teeth of the calyx very long and conspicuous. T. ^diversifolum. Q. Small and smooth, branching from the base; leaflets linear or oblong, obtuse, perfectly entire, or repandly and rather sharply serru- late towards the apex; stipules nearly entire, with subulate points; peduncles longer than the leaves ; heads very small, 8 to 10-flowered; involucrum 6 to 8-parted, the divisions entire, ovate, obtuse ; calyx nearly half the length of the short flowers, the teeth simple and acute ; legume 2-seeded. Hab. Near St. Simeon, Upper California. Remarkable for the diversity of its foliage, some of the leaflets being linear and quite entire, others with the same slightly serrulate ; in other plants they are cuneate-oblong, and even emarginate. The plant about a span high, with reddish flowers and a deep purple tipped carina. ASTRAGALUS. fi. MicROLOBTUM. Annual or perennial? Flowers various. Legume small, scarcely exserted beyond the calyx, 1-seeded. K. *Catal!.nensis. Q. Nearly erect and much branched ; stipules ovate, dis- tinct, leaflets linear, deeply emarginate, five to seven pair, as well as the stem, scattered with appressed hairs ; flowers ochroleucous, in capitate heads ; seg- ments of the calyx subulate, obtuse, thickly clad with rough white and black hairs, the segments all inclined to the lower side ; legume scarcely exserted, scabrous. Hab. On the island of Catalina, in Upper California. Flowering in Feb- ruary. A. *nigrescens. Annual; nearly erect and much branched; stipules ovate, acuminate; leaflets cuneate-linear, deeply emarginate, nearly smooth; flowers ochroleucous, in short oval spikes, at length nodding; segments of the calyx subulate, acute, clothed with shortish black hair; legume ovate, acute, and villous, a little exserted ; cells 1-seeded. Hab. With the above, which it greatly resembles, but difl^erent in the calyx and pod; flowers less crowded and pedicellate, the calyx not so deeply divided, nor clothed with such long rough hairs ; bractes minute, chaffy, subulate; stipules partly united at the base. PHLOX. P. *brijoides. Densely crespitose, very small ; leaves closely imbricated in 4 rows, the ciliar pubescence extending beyond the points of the oblong-lanceo- 2 10 [Feb. late, very acute short leaves; flowers scarcely exserted ; segments of the calyx obtuse; those of the corolla cuneate, entire. Hab. On the dividing ridge of the Rocky Mountains. (Nuttall.) P. *nana. Dwarf and many-stemmed, viscidly pubescent; leaves rather long and linear, acute, the upper ones alternate; peduncles few, from the termi- nal branches, and as well as the calyx pilose; flower exserted, with the tube twice the length of the calyx segments ; border of the corolla longer than the tube, segments cuneate, emarginate. Hab. Near Santa Fe, Rio del Norte. Flower large and red. Stems many from the same perennial root, 4 to 5 inches high ; the lower leaves 1 1 inches long, from 1 to 2 lines wide, quite flat, and more or less clothed with a small glandular pubescence. Flowers few, and as large as any in the genus ; segments of the calyx linear and acute; the tube of the corolla about twice its length. Corolla more than an inch across. Cells of the ovarium 2-seeded. PoLEMONiuM *uiscosum. Dvvarf ; every part covered with a short, viscid pu- bescence; leaves nearly as long as the short flower stems, segments rounded, ovate or subcordate, very small and short ; flowers in small terminal clusters ; corolla much longer than the elongated lanceolate segments of the calyx ; ovaries 2 or 3 in each cell. Hab. On rocky ledges towards the sources of the Platte Flowering in June. (Nuttall.) GILIA. G. * multijlora. Biennial, erect and much branched from the base; stems low and pubescent; leaves pinnatifid, mostly trifid, segments narrow linear and mucronulate, above simple; flowers disposed in sessile or pedicellate axillary clusters; tube of the corolla about twice the length of the curved calyx; the segments of the corolla oblong and mucronulate; stamens somewhat exserted. Hab. Sandy hills along the borders of the Rio del Norte, (New Mexico.) Flowering in August. S. *ALLOPHyLLuar. Annual. Leaves dissimilar and broad, obscurely 3 to 5-parted, with distinct partial petioles. Stem difTusely branched, the flowers small, partly funnel-form, disposed in cymose racemes. Capsule oval, the cells 2-seeded; the seeds roundish, not angular. Closely allied to Col- lomia, but with the cells of the capsule 2-seeded. G *divaricatii. Annual, diffusely branched and subdecumbent, viscidly puberu- lous ; leaves alternate, digitately united at the base; leaflets 3 to 5, lanceolate acute, attenuated into a petiole, two or four much smaller than the others; branches forked, ending in cymose racemes ; calyx obcoiiic, divided nearly to the base, enlarging with the ripening of the fruit; the segments lanceolate acute, viscid ; corolla small and slender, the tube more than twice the length of the small calyx ; segments of the border oblong ; stamens somewhat exserted, an- thers roundish. Hab. Monterey, Upper California. §. *Chrysantha. Annual, pubescent. Leaves sessile, opposite, palmately di- vided, with entire linear segments. Flowers fastigiate, somewhat corymbose on filiform peduncles, (yellow) segments of the calyx acute. Corolla funnel- 184-8.] 11 form, with a short tube, the segments oval and entire. Anthers ovate. Stamens exserted beyond the throat of the corolla. Ovules in the capsule about 20. G. *aurea. Corolla smooth, about twice the length of the calyx; segments of the leaves short and hispid, 3 to 6. Hab. Santa Barbara. Flowering in April. ^. Perennials or biennials, with the leaves often sparingly pinnatifid towards the extremity, or entire and linear, fleshy. Flowers in condensed clusters, capi- tate or in spikes, generally white. Corolla tubular, with a deeply 5-cleft, spreading border. Stamens shortly exserted or even with the summit of the tube. Stigmas very short. Ovaries 2 to 4 in a cell, rarely 1. — *Elafhocera. G. congesta. (Hooker.) Common in the Rocky Mountain region. G. ^crebrifo/ia. Perennial and branching from the base ; leaves entire, linear, acute and fleshy, smooth, crowded so as to conceal. the stem ; flowers in capi- tate clusters; stamens exserted to the length of the corolla segments. Hab. Big Sandy Creek of the Colorado of the West. Flowering in July. (Nuttali.) G. *spici:ifa. Perennial; leaves linear, fleshy; flowers in clusters, spiked; stem and calyx lanuginous, segments of the calyx linear acute and viscid; tube of the corolla exserted; stamens at the summit of the tube. Hab. On the hills near Scott's Bluffs of the Platte. Flowers white, segments oblong. (Nuttali.) G. *trijida. Biennial; radical leaves linear; cauline trifid towards the ex- tremity, fleshy and smooth ; flowers clustered in spikes; stem and calyx pubes- cent, segments of the calyx linear and very acute ; tube of the corolla exserted ; stamens at the summit of the tube. Hab. With the above, which it greatly resembles, except in the leaves; cells of the capsule each with three or four ovules. About a span high, (Nuttali.) G. *pumila. Perennial? branching from the base ; flowers in terminal clus- ters, subtended by long leaves, wooly at their base ; leaves fleshy, trifid at the extremities ; segments narrow, linear, spinulose at points ; corolla small, the tube exserted ; stamens extending a little beyond the orifice of the tube. Hab. Near the first range of the Rocky Mountains of the Platte. Flowering in May. (Nuttali.) G. (CoLLOMioiDEs) ^Jillfolia. Q. Erect and rigid ; stenis smooth below, nearly simple; leaves mostly trifid ; the segments setaceous and rigid ; capituli corymbose and whitely woolly ; tube of the corolla about the length of the calyx; segments of the border lanceolate; stamens shorter than the corolla. Hab. Near Santa Barbara, Upper California. LEPTOSIPHON. L. *hlcolor. Branching from the base ; leaves 3, 5 to 7-cIeft, the lowest much shorter; lower segments oblong-linear, cuneate, the upper subulate, all more or less roughly ciliate; segments of the calyx subulate, lanceolate ; tube of the corolla three times the length of the funnel-formed border, its seg- ments oval and rounded ; stamens about half the length of the border. Hab. On moist rocks, on the Oregon near the outlet of the Wahlamei; the only place where we saw it, (Nuttali.) 12 . [Feb. FENZLIA. F. *speciosa. Copiously branching from the base, nearly glabrous ; leaves linear, entire ; flowers pedunculate, (concolor, nearly white ?) border of the corolla as long as the elongated segments of the smooth calyx. Hab. On the island of Catallna. Flowering in February. F. *concinna. (■). Very dwarf and somewhat pubescent, branching from the base; leaves linear, flowers nearly sessile ; segments of the caly.K longer than the cup. Hab. Near Santa Diego, Upper California. Flowering in May. (Nuttall.) LEPTODAC TYLON. L. *cxspitosum. Diffusely casspitose, herbaceous and smooth; leaves imbricated, the segments about 3, flat, with sharp subulate points ; the tube of the corolla exserted ; segments cuneate, entire. Hab. On the borders- of the Platte, and hills near Scott's Blufi^s. Flowering in May. (Nuttall.) EUTOCA. E. ^alhijlora. Q. Glandularly pilose and viscid ; stem erect and branching; leaves broad-ovate, shortly petiolate, subcordate, angularly biserrate ; racemes curved, elongated, many-flowered, calyx segments spaithulate-linear, obtuse ; co- rolla not much longer than the calyx ; capsule many-seeded. ' Hab. Santa Barbara, Upper California. E. *speciosa. Q. Stem erect and simple; leaves broad ovate, subcordate, doubly serrate, almost lobed, beneath strongly nerved, and, as well as the stem and calyx, hispid and viseidly glandular ; racemes at the summit of the stem, several, circinate, not elongated ; flowers on short pedicels ; segments of the calyx spathulate-linear ; capsule with more than fifty roundish, very rugose seeds. Hab. Near St. Diego, Upper California. (Nuttall.) *EUCRYPTA.t Calyx 5-parted, without external appendages ; lobes oval or ovate.. Corolla tubular companulate, half .5-cleft, deciduous, without internal appendages; the lobes rounded; the aestivation with three segments exterior and two interior. Stamens 5, equal, arising from the base of the corolla, smooth, somewhat ex- serted; anthers small and oval, nectary none. Ovary depressed, globose, 1- celled ; placentas 2, free, externally septiferous, each with four dissimilar ovules. Style elongated, very shortly bifid. Stigmas minute. Capsule 2.valved, dividing parallel with the placenta, presenting four roundish, rugose seeds ; concealed in the adnate parietes, as it were, of each of these valves are, (when perfect,) two other seeds, which are even and elliptic ! separated from the other seeds by a perfect membranaceous partition, parallel with the deep con- cavity of the valves, and each of these partitions is again divided internally by a proper transverse septum; so that the capsule is in fact 4-ceiIed, witli closed partitions, and the division of the adnate placentas presents the large circular cavity of the capsule, as if merely 1-celied, with two hemispherical valves! Seed with a corneous, large albumen ; embryo straight, minute, central, not t So called in allusion to the concealed cells of the capsule. 1848.] 13 half the length of the albumen. — Annuals with bipinnati/id leaves, with the flowers in loose racemes. E. *paniciilata. Flowers in a loose terminal panicle; stem viscid; uppermost leaves pinnatifid, segments of tlie calyx oval, obtuse. H.\.B. Near Santa Barbara, Upper California. Flowering in April and May. E. *folinsa. Leaves all bipinnatifid, hirsute ; racemes not longer than the leaves ; segments of the calyx ovate, acute. Hab. With the above, which it much resembles, but a lower, less viscid plant, with rather smaller flowers and capsules. COLLOMIA. ^. Calyx obconic, scarcely cleft to the middle, with foliaceous segments. Flowers racemose, scattered. Intensely bitter to the taste. — *Picracoi,la. C. *linuiJes. Leaves narrow-linear, scattered, ending in a short mucro ; flowers small, scattered, subsessile, the calyx shorter tnan the tube of the co- rolla. Hab. Banks pf the Platte. (Nuttall.) PHACELIA. P. *canescens. Canescent and hirsute ; leaves spathulate, oblong or sublan- ceolate, entire; racemes condensed into circinate clusters; corolla twice the length of the calyx ; stamens exserted, the filaments pilose. Hab. In the Rocky Mountains and Blue Mountains of Oregon. (Nuttall.) p. *glandulosa. Annual or biennial, very pilose, with a soft, short, shining pubescence ; the stems and calyx covered with blackish, viscid, resinous glands; leaves pinnatifid ; the segment.^ somewhat toothed, short and roundish ; flowers shortly pedicellate in crowded circinate spikes; segments of the calyx oblong; stamens exserted ; style pilose. Hab. About Hams' Fork of the Colorado of the West, on dry, bare hills. (Nutlall ) NAVARRETIA. N. ^minima. Q. Smooth, dwarf, depressed and branched from the base; leaves somewhat bipinnately divided, with iew and divaricate, subulately sharp segments; floral leaves simply pinnately dissected ; calyx with three of the segments usually entire ; corolla longer than the tube of the calyx; ovary cells 2-seeded. Hab. Plains of the Oregon, near Walla. Walla, (\uttall.) Seldom more than an inch high; segments of the leaves quite acicular ; flowers small and white, the tube exserted a little beyond the calyx; the stamens slightly exserted. ERIOGONUM. E. *acaule. Very dwarf, stemless and cscspitose, the caudex much divided, leaves whitely tomentose, oblong-linear, reflected so as to be semi-cylindric ; involucrum wholly sessile, few flowered, 4 or 5- toothed, the teeth very ob- tuse. Hab. On the summit of the Rocky Mountains, near the Colorado of the West, at the highest land. A very remarkable dwarf species, forming dense tufts, independent of the subterraneous woody caudex, not an inch high, whitely 14 [Feb. tomeiitose. Leaves about a line wide and about 3 or 4 long. Flowers yellow and bright, externally somewhat pubescent, as well as the germs. E. *Andhitt,m. 8temless, ceespitose, the caiidex much divided ; leaves small and spathulate, wholly and whitely tomentose, reflected on the margin ; scapes all radical, terminating in a single capitulum; involucrum divided nearly to the base, the segments about 8, leafy ; flowers yellow, small. Hab. With the above. (Nuttall.) With a woody brown subterraneous stem, terminating with cjBspitose tufts of white, softly tomentose leaves ; scape 2 or 3 inches high, with a small umbel of bright yellow flowers, which are pubescent externally, and reflected from the multifid involucrum, which is divided into eight small, leafy appendages. Germ smooth. Stigmas rather long. E. *denudatum. Annual, very smooth, excepting the under surface of the leaves, which are tomentose; leaves all radical and small, roundish reniform, on long petioles ; stems many, all from the base, naked and scapoid, terminating in a single invohicrum, or corymbosely terminated by 2 or 3; involucres double, the outer or bractes short and 3-cleft, the inner 8-toothed and strongly ribbed, bearing tufts of abortive filaments ; perigonium smooth, (purple.) Ka.b. In the Rocky Mountains of Upper California. E. *racf'.mos!t.m. Scape naked and whitely tomentose, as well as the elliptic ovate leaves, sparingly forked at the summit, with the solitary involucres ses- sile and forming a spike ; involucrum very woolly, obsoletely toothed, subtended by a 3-cleft sheathing involucel or bractes; perianth smooth, oblong, attenuated at the base, (flowers ochroleucous?) Hab. Colorado of the V\ est. E. '^ellipticum. SufFiuticose ; barren branchlets at the base of the scapoid stem; leaves elliptic or olilong-elliptic, beneath whitely tomentose, above nearly smooth; umbel compound, the forked divisions and general umbel involucrate; the involucels leafy and spreading; involucrum campanulate, lanuginous, 6-cleft, the segments rather longer than the tube, very many-flowered ; perianth exserted, oblanceolate, attenuated to the pedicel, smooth, (or pubescent ?) Hab. Kocky Mountains. (Nuttall.) j3. megacephalum. Leaves oblong, subelliptic ; perianth pubescent; umbel simple. Hab. With the above. E. *gcn!culu(uiu. SufFruticose, low and considerably branched ; stems clus- tered ; leaves linear, somewhat oblong, revolute on the margin, pubescent above, tomentose beneath ; umbels simple, of few rays, the involucrum of the umbel long and leafy; proper involucrum campanulate, many-flowered, lanuginous; the border many-cleft, the divisions spreading and nearly as long as the cup; ■ flowers yellow, numerous and small, obconic, externally pubescent towards the base. Hae. In the Rocky Mountains, on the western slope. (Nuttall.) E. *cerniium. Q. Leaves all radical, round oval, upon longish petioles, very whitely tomentose beneath, less so above; scape smooth, two or three times dichotomous ; involucres solitary, pedicellate, smooth, pedicels exserted, at 1848.] 15 length cernuus ; involucrate bractes 3-cleft, acute, appressed ; teeth of the iiivo- liicriim acute ; flowers few and small ; segments of the perianth unJulated Hab. On the plains of the Oregon and in the Rocky Mountains. (Nuttall.) E. *iiiicrotheca.. Suffruticose and dwarf; stems slender and clustered, at first arachnoid tomentose ; leaves linear-oblong, nearly smooth above, whitely tomen- tose beneath, shortly petiolate, the petiole widened at the ba^e ; umbel two or three times di or trichotomous, each division bracteate ; the involucrum small and distinct, pubescent, about G-flowered ; the teeth about six, ovate, obtuse; flowers yellow, very small. Hab. On the sides of hills in Oregon, cast of Walla- Walla (Nuttall.) E. *cn)vpanufufui}i. Leaves all radical, clustered upon a thickish caudex, linear- spathulate or narrowly oblong, narrowed below into longish petioles, whitely tomentose on both surfaces ; scaj)es smooth and naked ; umbel about twice tri- chotomous, few-flowered ; bractes acute, a little tomento.se on the margins ; in- volucrum campanulate, about 6 to lO-flowered, smooth, with obtuse teeth; peri- anth yellow, smooth. Hab. On the western declivity of the Rocky Mountains. (Nuttall ) E. *brevicauUs. Branches very short, arising from a woody caudex, clustered, tomentose ; leaves linear lanceolate, long and rather acute, attenuated into a very long petiole, whitely tomentose beneath, less densely above ; upper sea- poid stem very smooth; the bractes acuminated, tomentosely margined ; umbe two or three times compounded, with very long rays ; teeth of the canpanulate involucrum acute; flowers smooth, yellow and very small. Hab. On the upper plains of the Oregon. (iXuttall ) E. *gyrophyUum. With a woody caudex ; lower leaves clustered towards the base of the stem, oblong-lanceolate, acute, attenuated at the base, beneath to- mentose and yellowish-white, above slightly pubescent and green; a verticel of leaves on the stem, about 6, subsessile, oblong; umbel simple, of many short rays, with a leafy, spreading involucrum, tomentose within and without, many- flowered, shallow and simple, with longish, reflected teeth ; perianth smooth, exserted. Hab. Kocky Mountains of the Platte. (Nuttall.) E. *angiistif(iUuiii. SuflVuticose. with infertile branches towards the base; leaves fasciculated and verticillated, linear-acute, narrowed below, whitely to- mentose beneath, greenish but pubescent above, a verticel of about six leaves on the short stem ; umbel simple, subtended by long, leafy bractes ; divisions of the many-flowered involucrum reflected, pubescent; perianth reflected, smooth. Hab. Western slope of the Kocky Mountains. (Nuttall.) E. *effusum. Suffruticose ; leaves linear, oblong, obtuse, beneath whitely tomentose, above pubescent, greenish ; stem tomentose, two oi three times tri- chotomous, divaricate ; bractes ternate, lanceolate-acute ; (flowers not seen.) Hab. In the Rocky Mountains. (Nuttall.) E. *micranfhum. Leaves nearly all radical, arising from a thickish, woody caudex, linear-spathulate, or narrowly oblong lanceolate, narrowed below into longish petioles, whitely tomentose on both surfaces; scapes, bractes and invo- lucres tomentose ; umbel decompound, pedicels of the second divisions very short, with about three involucres in each; bractes acute or acuminate ; invo- .16 [Feb. lucres campanulate, very small, the teeth obtuse; flowers smooth, small and yellow, dioicoLis ? Hab. In the Rocky Mountains of Oregon. (T. Kultall.) In aspect nearly allied to E. campanu/utum, but with rather longer and nar- rower leaves, and the involucres most of them sessile. E. '^'alburn. Nearly stemless, with a woody caudex ; leaves very whitely to- mentose, spathulate-obovate, obtuse, usually longer than the petiole ; bractes mi-nute, appressed ; umbel nearly simple, of few rays; involucrum tomentose, angular, with shortish teeth; flowers numerous, smooth. Hab. Rocky Mountains of Oregon (Nuttall.) E. *rosniarinifolium. Shrubby and much branched, sm.ooth or somewhat pu- bescent; leaves clustered, nearly linear, revolute on the margin, slightly tomen- tose beneath; umbel pedunculate, compound, bractes leafy, numerous ;. involucres usually smooth, with acute teeth ; perianth mostly glabrous. Hab. Near Santa Barbara, Upper California, (\uttal!.) ^. foliolosum. Leaves more acute, with the petiole, young branches and the perianth, externally near the base, pilosely pubescent. Hab. With the above. E. *verticillafum. Biennial ; stem dichotomously branching, the offsets all subtended by verticles of sessile, lanceolate, very acute leaves, in 3's; radical leaves oblong, as well as the stems and branches whitely tomentose, attenuated below into long petioles ; flowers wholly unknown. Hab. Near St. Diego, Upper California. We have not seen the plant in flower, but the remarkable characters, some- what resembling those of E. iomentotum, and unlike any other species, perhaps justifies our giving it a passing notice. E. ^lenelhim. Densely caespitose, with a woody, multifid, short caudex ; leaves roundish, ovate or elliptic, on short petioles, not exserted from the caespi- tose mass, whitely tomentose on both sides, as well as the scape and involucrum ; capitulum solitary, rather small ; involucrum cylindric, with obscure teeth, cluster of involucres 8 or 10 sessile ; flowers small, purple ; segments of the peri- anth oblong, not very unequal. Hab. In the Rocky Mountains, on the western slope. -EUCYCLA.t Pcrimith membranaceous, colored, petaloid, dimorphous, the three outer di- visions, orbicular, concave; the three inner linear-oblong, emarginate, connivent into a cylinder. Stamens 9, with short filaments, membranous at base. Sfi/les three, of moderate length, with small, capitate stigmas. Adicniuin attenuated, triangular. Einbryo excentric ; radicle superior; cotyledons flat. E. *ovnlifoli,a. Leaves all radical, short and roundish-ovate, whitely tomen- tose; capitulum made up of several sessile, whitely tomentose involucres; outer segments of the yellow perianth rather narrower at base, the inner emarginate segments exserted. Eriogonum ovalifoUum. Nutt., Journ. Acad. Nat Sci., Philad. Hab. Sources of the Missouri. Flowers bright yellow. fin reference to the circular figure of the perianth. 1848.] 17 E. ^purpurea. Leaves all radical, short and roundish-ovate, whitely tomen- tose ; capitulum made up of several sessile, smoothish, tomentosely margined involucres; outer segments of the purple perianth orbicular, sometimes emargin- ate at base ; the inner emarginate, narrow, segments scarcely exserted. Hab. Rock}' Mountains of the Platte. Scape about a span high, arising from a multifid woody caudex; flowers larger than in the preceding and purple ; filaments much shorter than the perianth, with a torn membranous margin at base ; three stamens seated on each of the inner narrow segments ; embryo rather short. CHORIZANTHE. C. *nudicaule. Annual; radical leaves narrow spathulate, pubescent, with long, slender petioles, tomentose beneath; scapiform stem nearly naked, the summit trichotomous, the branchlets once or twice bifid, the flowers cymosely conglomerated ; stem and very unequal toothed involucrum lanuginous ; segments of the sessile, exserted perianth oblong, obtuse. IIab. Santa Barbara, Upper California. Flowering in April. C. *angustifolia. Annual and small ; leaves all linear-spathulate, softly la- nuginous, as well as the branches; stem trichotomous, the heads of flowers somewhat racemose ; involucrum pilose, with very unequal, uncinate spreading teeth, subulate to their base; perianth minute, the segments obtuse and without points. Hab. Pueblo los Angeles, Upper California. Flowering in April. C. *discolor. Annual or biennial, and rather dwarf; leaves all radical in a rosulate cluster, the primary nearly smooth, rather large, spathulate-oblong, obtuse or emarginate, rather smooth above, whitely tomentose beneath ; the jietioles, stem and involucrum very hairy ; the involucrum with spreading, very unequal teeth subulate to their base; scape low, doubly trichotomous, the flowers in cymose clusters. Hab. St. Diego, Upper California. C. *procumbe7is. Annual or biennial, softly pilose ; leaves spathulate, rather small ; stem nearly naked, procumbent, the branches extremely divaricate and fragile, cymose ; flowers in small clusters ; involucrum with the teeth subulate to the base, slightly uncinate, unequal ; perianth segments oblong, entire, (yellow) pubescent. Hab. With the above. Flowering in April and May. (Nuttall.) A very remarkable species by its procurhbent habit and extreme fragility ; the branchlets and clusters of flowers disjointing into numerous fragments on the slightest touch, like a Loranthus. C. *uncinata. Like the preceding, but with the teeth of the involucrum strongly and remarkably uncinate and nearly equal ; the tube is almost smooth and strongly ribbed ; it is likewise yellowish, as well as the pubescent perianth. Hab. With the above. (Nuttall.) ^. Perianth exserted ; the segments oblong, deeply fringed towards their base, (red) styles very long — *Ptilosepal4. C. -^Jimbriata. Annual; leaves all radical, spathulate-oval, pilose beneath; scape trichotomous ; flowers in compound cymes ; involucrum pubescent, 3 18 , [Feb. the teeth subulate, unequal: perianth torn at the sides into long capillary fringe. Hae. With the above. (Nuttall.) PTEROSTEGIA. P. '^dlphyUu. O- Pubescent ; leaflets binate, each division obcordate or bilobed ; comnnon petiole on the lower leaves very long; achenium with the angles acute. ^. *biloba. Leaves nearly all 2-lobed, the lobes sometimes emarginated. Hab. Near Santa Barbara. Flowering in May. P. *micruplnjUa. Q. Somewhat hirsute; leaflets binate, the lower ones twice compounded, divisions obcordate or unequally bilobed, the lobes some- times with a single tooth; common petiole on the lower leaves elongated, the upper leaves sessile ; achenium with obtuse angles. Hab. With the above, which it greatly resembles, but always smaller leaved and more pubescent. * NEMACAULTS.f Involucr urn, none; the flowers monoicous, disposed in round clusters at the joints of the filiform stem, subtended and mixed with elliptical bractes. Feriantli obconic, 6-cleft. Stamens 3. Styles 3, very short, with small subcapitate stigmas. Achenium ovoid, angular only at the summit. — Califirnian annuals, the leaves wholly, and the bractes on the upper side densely and whitely tomentose ; stems smooth or viscid, filiformly elongated and nearly naked, with the flowers disposed in sessile round heads at the joints of the stem, and subtended and mixed with small, elliptical, marginated bractes. The flowers resemble those of Eriogoiium, but the habit, absence of involucrum, and paucity of sta- mens, at once distinguish it. N. *denudnia. Hab. St. Diego, Upper Californiaj in sandy places near to the sea shore. Flowering in April and May. (Nuttall.) N. *foliosa. With the above, from which it perhaps is not distinct; the leaves are much longer, the stem a little glutinous, and with most of the joints of the stem leafy. •OXYTHECA.J Dioicous or monoicous. Involucrum small, 4 to 5-toothed, obconic, few- flowered, (3 to 5,) the teeth mostly spinulose. Female perianth closed to the summit, about 6-toothed ; male and hermaphrodite shortly 6-cleft. Staments about 6 ? Achenium compressed, Ssided, elliptic. Style 3. Embryo excen- tric, in a somewhat fleshy perisperm, antitropus. Coiyledones oval, flat ; radicle elongated, curved. — Annuals, with the leaves generally hirsute, nearly all radical ; panicle or branches trichotomous and very divaricate, the ramifications sub- tended by verticillated bractes, free or united, into a cup. Involucres very small, solitary and pedicellate, 4 to .5-toothed, the teeth terminating in very long, sharp, rigiil bristles, more rarely unarmed; perianth pubescent; the branches clothed with viscid, pedicellate glands. Somewhat allied to Chorizanthe, but with the involucrum more than l-flowered, and the achenium compressed. fFrom the singular prostrate, thread-like stem. J In allusion to the peculiar involucrum 1848.] 19 0. *dendroidea. Leaves all linear, radical, hirsute; scape divaricately di and trichotomoiis ; peduncles capillary; invohicrum about 3-flowered ; awns twice the length of the involiicrum. Hab. On the sar.d hills of the Rocky Mountains, near Lewis' River. 0. *fuliosa. Leaves liuear-lancsolate, hirsute ; divisions of the trichotomous stem subtended by verticils of leaves ; awns of the involucrum about its length. H\B. With the above, which it much resembles ; it is, however, a much stouter plant. The leaves about 2 inches-long and 2 to 3 lines wide. §. *GoMPHOiHECi Dioicous, Annualj stem naked, verticillately branched and very divaricate. Involucrum small, about 5-toothed, 5-flowered ; without awns. 0. *i(la/idulusa. Leaves all radical, roundish and pilose ; branches verticillate, branchlets very numerous and divaricate, the ultimate ones and pedicels capillary; flowers exserted, pubescent. Ha'b. Rocky Mountains of Upper California *STENOGONUM.t Monoicous. Involucrum none. Flowers naked, in axillary clusters. Perianth triangular, 6-cleft. Stamens 6 ? Styles minute, with capitate stigmas. Achenium conic, triangular, the angles sharp and salient, with a margin. — A small, smooth, rather succulent annual plant of the Rocky Mountains, dichotomously subdi- vided and branched ; leaves entire, opposite or ternate ; flowers yellow, in axillary and terminal clusters, subtended by small, similar, leafy bractes. In the want of involucrum, approaching Nemacaulis, but the habit, flower and achenium are very distinct. 6*. sahuginosu7n. Hab. Bare saline hills of the Colorado of the West, in the Rocky Moun- tains. Flowering in June and July. (Nuttall.) *HELIOMERIS.J Capitulum many-flowered, heterogamous ; rays ligulate, in a single series, neuter; discal florets tubular, hermaphrodite. Involucrum irregularly imbricated and leafy, in about two series, and rather spreading. Receptacle conic, the palea embracing the florets, lanceolate and acute. Corolla, rays ligulate, (10 — 12,) those of the disk tubular, the tube short, throat wide and cylindric, border 5-toothed. Stigmata with oblong tips. Achenia laterally compressed, some- what tetragonous, smooth, and without any pappus. H. multijtorus. A perennial tall herb, exactly resembling an Helianthus, with narrow, entire, somewhat scabrous leaves, the lower ones opposite ; flowers yellow, terminal, numerous. Hab. In Upper California, (Mr. Gambel,) and in the Rocky Mountains collected by Mr. Gordon. CHRYSOTIIAMNUS. C. *depressus. Suffruticose and dwarf, nearly smooth; leaves rigid, lance-linear, very acute, 1-nerved; flowers in small corymbs; involucrum fin allusion to the sharp and slender angles of the achenium. tin allusion to its close affinity to Helianthus. 20 [Feb. closely imbricated, the scales in 5 rows, lanceolate, acutely acuminated, smooth, the lowest very small, 1 -nerved and somewhat carinate ; pappus fulvous. Hah. In the sierra of Upper California. Nearly allied to C. pumila, but with a different involucrum. Achenia smooth, 5-ribbed. *OXYTEN[A.t Cflj9«7u/Mm heterogamous, many-flowered, the marginal ones in a single series, apetalous and feminine. Florets of the disk tubular, masculine. Involucrum composed of a single series of imbricated, ovate, rather rigid scales, (about 5.) Receptaculum small and flat; its palea narrow, spathulate and membranaceous, tufted with long hairs. — Male Flowers. Corolla obconic, with a narrow tube; border .5-toothed. Anthers distinct FE>rALE. Corolla none. Stig;maia terete, filiform, smooth. Achenia bluntly obovate, obcompressed and ridged on the inner side, covered with dense white hairs, situated beneath the scales of the involucrum and without pappus. O. acerosa. A large, erect, spreading bush, with the inflorescence of an Tva ■ the leaves alternate, acerosely linear and rigid, pinnately divided into trifid or more com- pound divisions ; capituli sessile, arranged in a compound panicle, as in many Artemisias. The whole plant very bitter, but with very little aroma. In habit more allied to Artemisia than Ira. Appears to be nearly related to Euphrofsyne. of DecandoUe, as well as to Pycrothunmus and Cyclacluena, which last, how- ever, is not sufficiently distinct from ha, Hab. Rocky Mountains, near Upper California. Flowering in October and November. GNAPHALIUM. G. *ramosissiminn. Stem tall and stout, very much branched, the branches fastigiate; leaves and stem green but pubescent, the former linear-lan- ceolate, acuminate, strongly decurrent, viscidly pubescent ; heads mostly peduncu- late in scattered corymbs ; scales of the yellowish-white involucrum oblong- lanceolate, subacute, longer than the florets; achenia smooth. Hab. Monterey. Flowering in September and October. STEPHANOMERIA. S. *elata. Stems stout, erect, grooved and attenuated upwards ; leaves almost filiformly linear, the lowest somewhat pinnatifid, the upper la- ciniately toothed at the embracing base; flowers in a small terminal panicle, (blue,) florets about 10 ; achenia cylindric-oblong, 5-grooved, somewhat rugose. Hab. Santa Barbara, Upper California. PTILOMERIS. P. *tenella. Pappus of 8 to 10, cuneiform, obtuse fringed scales, in the rays minute ; involucrum campanulate, about 8 leaved ; scales ovate, somewhat obtuse ; leaves mostly opposite, pinnatifid, the divisions few, narrow linear. Hab. In thevicinityof Pueblo de Los Angeles, Upper California. Flowering in April. Very distinct from the Hymenoxys Californica of Hooker. P. *affi.nis. Similar to the preceding, excepting the pappus, which is fimbri- + From olt'T'fvJjf acuminate. In allusion to the rigid narrow foliage 1848.] 21 ate along the margin of the narrow scales, all terminating in awns, excepting the rays, which have the same short awnless pappus as in the preceding. Hab. With the former. That these are true species, as well as the one which I called P. coronaria, I am persuaded by the fact of their retaining tiie same relative character when cultivated. HEMIZONIA. H. *decumhens. Annual, hirsute, pubescent; heads nearly solitary at the summit of the branches; leaves entire, linear, rather obtuse; rays 10 to 15, cu- neate, 3-Iobed ; achenia rugose, with a short, curved beak; pappus of the disk flowers none. Hab. Near Monterey. A good deal resembling H. fascicu/ata. §. Heads hemispherical, many-flowered, corymbose; rays 20— 25, receptacular chaff", in a single series, not united ; pappus none ; leaves pinnatifid. — Madiomeris. H. *macrocephala. Annual ? hirsute ; leaves irregularly pinnatifid, acute, upper ones entire and sessile ; flowers subcorymbose, head hemispherical, many- flowered ; rays 20 to 30, cuneate, 3 lobed; achenia incurved, rugulose, with an oblique apex and stipitate at the base. Hab. At St. Simeon, Upper California. MONOLOPIA. M. *la:iceolata. Young branches and leaves at first somewhat tomen- tose, at length nearly smooth ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, distantly and irregularly toothed, sessile, all alternate, above entire and amplexicaule, acute ; peduncles tomentose ; leaves of the involucrum usually 8, ovate, divided nearly to the base; rays a little longer than the disk; florets all fertile ; receptacle conic, smooth, with projecting papillfe. Hab. Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper California. Flowering in April, ERIGERON. E. ^stenophyllum. Nearly smooth, stem even and cylindric, corym- bose at the summit ; leaves filiform, rather numerous and scattered, minutely scabrous ; involucrum about 3 series, scales linear-lanceolate, acute ; rays nu- merous, elongated, (30 or more.) 2 to 3-toothed ; pappus fulvous, scabrous, with an outer short white series ; achenia nearly smooth and compressed. Hab. In California, (Monterey ?) CH.^NACTIS. C. *denudata. Biennial; glandularly pubescent; peduncles exceedingly long; involucrum viscidly pubescent, rather tomentose; scales linear-lanceo- late; ray-flowers irregular, expanded, shorter than the disk. Hab. Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper California. DIETERIA. S. Involucrum hemispherical, the scales linear and acute ; achenia obovoid and compressed, in the young state with numerous striatures, at length covered with a silky villus; pappus of several series of unequal scabrous bristles, the outer series shorter and more slender, (those in the lay, as in the rest of the genus, much shorter and less numerous.) Biennial or perennial, leaves pinnately lobed or incised ; the lobes ciliated or pointed with bristles. Receptacle fimbrillate or chaffy. Flowers of one colour.— SiDERANTHL'S. (Perhaps a genus.) 22 [Feb. D. *p;racilift. Biennial, erect; stem pilose, branching above, the 1-flowered slender branchlets forniing a fastigiate corymb; lower leaves pilose, pinnatifid ; the segments oblong obtuse, upper leaves linear, simple and sessile, entire, or minutely toothed, strongly ciliated with slender white bristles, which terminate al! the lobes of the leaves; involucrum not viscid. Hab. Santa Fu, ^Nevv Mexico.) Flowering in August. MICROPUS. M. ^heterophyllus. Annual, erect, simple, slender; densely lannginous above, tomentose below; leaves below linear acute, above lanceolate, obtuse and sessile; capituli lateral and terminal, more densely lannginous; discal florets about ^, masculine 3 to 5. IIab. Santa Barbara, Upper California. Very nearly allied to M. augusti- fdJiiix, but the heads appear larger and more woolly, and the upper leaves are difTerent. POLYPAPPUS. P. *.iericciis. Shrubby; younger branches and leaves sericeous ; branches very leafy, ending in small corymbose clusters of flowers; leaves Jance- linear, l-ncrvcd, eiitire, acute, at length nearly smooth ; achenia smooth. Hab. In Upper California, towards the Rocky Mountains. BULBOSTYLIS. § * PsATiiYROTus. t Anuual, and dichotomously branched ; involucrum of a nearly single series of loosely imbricated, slightly striated scales ; pappus short and scabrous, shorter than the florets; style not bulbous; achenia turbinate, densely villous. B. *annun. Very dwarf and dichotomously branched, clothed everywhere with greenish furfuraceous scales, and somewhat viscid; leaves cuneate-obovate, toothed at the apex; flowers nearly sessile, crowded into an irregular corymb. Hab. Rocky Mountains, near Santa Fe. QUERCUS. Q. GaniheUi. Leaves obovate, shortly petiolate, narrowed below, sinuately lobed, dilated and somewhat 3-lobed at the summit, beneath pubescent, the lobes rather obtuse, the upper ones subdentate; fruit sessile, small, the cup hemisplierical, scales ovate-acute; the glande ovate and acute, about half im- mersed in the cup; the conic summit short. Hai5. On the banks of the Rio del Norte, but not abundant. With the aspect of our northern oaks, but very distinct; in the leaf approaching a little to L. oh- tusiloba, but without any near affinity. OROBANCIIE. 0. *multiJlora. Pubescent ; branching from the base ; flowers subimbri- cated, scales lanceolate-acute; peduncles very short; flowers purplish, re- curved; calyx deeply ."j-cleft, bibracteate at base; segments long and linear ; anthers tufted with hairs. Hab. Sandy ground along the borders of the Rio del Norte. Flowering in September. t In reference to the extreme fragility of the branches. 1848.] 23 ASCLEPIAS. A. ^macrophtjUa. Stem erect and smooth ; leaves verticillate in 3's or 4's, very long and smooth, linear-lanceolate, below and on the branches oppo- site, on very short petioles; peduncles shorter than the leaves; nmbels and flowers rather small and smooth; lobes of the corolla oblong-ovate; process of the nectaries strongly curved, acute ; stype of the nectaries rather short. Hab. Near Monterey, Upper California. ST.AINLEYA. S, *frui!cosa. Smooth ; leaves lanceolate, entire, or sparingly denticulate, attenuated into a longish petiole; lamina of the petals longer than the claws; stipe more than twice the length of the pedicel. Hab. Rocky Mountains of California. A shrubby species, with flowers very similar to those of S. pinnatijida. Leaves 2 to 2| inches long, less than half an inch wide, the uppermost linear, all thick and apparently succulent. BARTONIA. B. *multiJlora. Biennial'' stem smooth, white and shining, corymbosely branched ; leaves narrow-lanceolate, sinuate, pinnatifid, attenuated below and sessile; flowers subtended by one or two linear bractes ; petals 10, oblong- oval, obtuse ; capsule urceolate, with three to four valves; segments of the calyx long and subulate ; seeds in a double series, winged. Hab. Sandy hills along the borders of the Rio del Norte. Santa Fe, (Mexico.) Flowering in August. NICOTIANA. N. *caudata. Annual; leaves lanceolate, sessile, acuminated with very long caudated points ; flowers conglomerated in a terminal panicle upon short peduncles; segments of the calyx and corolla much acuminated. Hab. Near Monterey. Upper California. ERIODYCTION. E. ^angusiifolium. Stem and younger leaves glutinous ; leaves long, linear, entire, revolute on ihe margin; beneath canescent and reticulated; flowers small, in paniculate cymes ; sepals linear, somewhat hirsute. Had. On the sierra of Upper (California; not seen in flower. HUMULUS. H. * Americanus. Leaves 3 to 5-lobed, the upper sometimes entire; inner divisions lanceolate-acuminate, denticulate along the apex ; scales of the cone ovate, acute, the lower ones acuminate. Hab. 'J'hroughout the United States in alluvial situations. I have also most luxuriant specimens from the borders of streams (Ojito de Navajo) in the Rocky Mountains, near the line of New Mexico, collected by Mr. Gambel. *CALYCODON. Spikekts, 1-flowered, the flower sessile, bearded at the base. Glumes 2, un- equal, shorter than the flower, membranaceous, the lower truncate, acutely 3-toothed, the lower smaller, 1-toothed. 'Palcx 2, the lower sublanceolate, cari- iiate, terminating in a longish scabrous awn, at length indurated, with a silky 24 [Feb. pilose margin ; the upper palea lanceolate, 1-nerved, indurated and involute. Anthers 3. Sligmas 2, plumose. — A scabrous leaved grass, with a simple inar- ticulated culm, terminated by a loose, narrow, somewhat spiked panicle. So called in allusion to the remarkable toothing of the calyx. C. montanum. Hau. In the Kocky Mountains, near Santa Fe, Mexico. Flowering in August. MUHLENBERGIA. (§ * Trichochloa) ^purpurea. Annual, dwarf; much branched from the base and many-jointed; glumes very short and obtuse; palete and awns purple, the latter capillary, many times longer than the palea, the inner one acute and shortly awned. Hab, Santa Barbara, Upper California, and the island of Catalina. CALAMAGROSTIS. § * Feichagrostis. — Spikelets 1-flowered, the flower sessile, with long hairs at the base. Glumes 2, subequal, membranaceous, acute, longer than the flower, the lower vsith a short terminal awn. Palese 2, very acute, the lower carinate, ending in an exserted capillary awn, the upper l-nerved acuminate. Carijopsis free, cylindric-oblong, much shorter than the glume. C. *Andina. Kab. In Upper California, on the Colorado of the West. FESTUCA. § * Chloropsis. — Spikelets unilateral, 2-flowered, or with the third abortive ; flowers hermaphrodite, distichal. Glumes 2, carinate, unequal. Palew 2, the lower lanceolate, hirsute and concave, ending in a long, slender awn, the upper bicarinate. Stamens 1. Ovary sessile. Styles 2, very short, with plumose stigmas Caryopsis lanceolate, smooth, concave above, nearly free. — A slender Californian annual grass, with a simple, filiform culm, ending in a small, nearly simple, spiked panicle; the spikelets sessile on a continuous, angular rachis, at length cernuus. So closely allied to the Chi,oride.t;, that at first I imagined it would prove a species of Euiriana; it is still, however, a Festuca in habit. F. microst'ichys. Hab. Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper California. §. *TRACHrcARPHA. — Spikelets many-flowered, secund, seated on the sides of a branching angular rachis. Glumes 2, the upper minute. Palese 2, the lower with a long awn and strongly ciliated on the margin. Caryopsis adhering to the upper palea. F. me(j!;ulura. Slender leaves and elongated, simple culm, smooth; panicle spiked, elongated, the branchlets angular and appressed; paleae and their long awns very scabrous , uppermost floret of the spikelet abortive. Hab. Santa Barbara, Upper California. MELICA. M. ^panicoides. Panicle elongated, many-flowered, the flowers small and numerous; glumes 1-flowered, with a small, infertile rudiment; palece smooth, scarcely longer than the acute glumes. ' Hab. Santa Barbara. Flowering in April. 1848.] 25 M. *poxoidcs. Panicle narrow, many-floweret?, the spikelets erect; spikelets ■with two flowers perfect, and a small rudiment extending beyond the acute glumes; lower palea 5-iierved. Hae. Santa Barbara, Upper California. *STENOCHLOA.t Splkelctfi about o-flowered ; flowers distichal, hermaphrodite. Glumes 2, awn- less, lanceolate, acute, much exceeding the spikeiet in length, Puhx 2, awn- Jess, the lower concave, ovate, nearly nerveless and pubescent, the upper bicari- nate. Slamina 3. Ovarium stipitate. Stylts 2. Stigmas plumose. Caryupsis free, oblong-lanceolate. S. Californica Hab. Island of Santa Catalina. *PLEO.°OGO]Nr. Spikelets 1 flowered. Glumes 2, nnequal, nearly as long as the flower ; the lower with two awns, the upper entire, with one awn. Falea: 2, the lower oblong, with the apex produced into a short awn, the upper without awn and 2nerved. Stamens 3. Styles 2. Stigmus pilose, slender.— Culm compressed, somewhat branched ; leaves linear, short and rigid ; spikes terminal, simple, not jointed. P. setosun^. Hab. Mountains of Santa Fe, Mexico. MONARDA. M. *peciinata. Biennial? slightly pubescent; leaves oblong-lanceolate, denticulate, shortly petiolate ; capituli proliferous, rather small, subtended by herbaceous bracts, some of them purplish, ovate-acute, strongly ciliated, as weil as the elongated, setaceous teeth of the calyx; corolla widely ringent, the tube scarcely exserted beyond the calyx. Hab. Near Santa Fe, New Mexico. HEDEOMA. H. *ciliala. Perennial ; minutely pubescent, branching much from the base; leaves linear-obtuse, shortly petiolate, entire ; flowers, two or three to- gether in the axills ; calyx hirsute, with long, unequal ciliate teeth; corolla about the length of the calyx. Hab. In the Rocky Mountains, towards Santa Fe. SISYMBRIUM. S. *reflexum. Smooth; leaves somewhat lyrate pinnatifid, the ter- minal lobe toothed, upper leaves nearly entire and denticulate ; flowers small ; petals linear-spathulate, a little longer than the colored calyx ; pods subterete, very long, nearly sessile, rigidly reflected and acuminated with the style. Hab. Near St. Pedro, Upper California. URTICA. U. *holosericea. Perennial and tall; leaves opposite, large, on long peti- oles, cordate-ovate, acute, above lanceolate, coarsely serrated, smooth, beneath silky villous, as well as the stems and petioles, the latter also pilose ; flowers tSo called in allusion to its macilent appearance. 4 26 [i^EB. tetrandrous, in axillary, filifortn, compound racemes, the upper clusters stylife- rous only. Hab. Near Monterey, Upper California. PEUOEDANUM. ^. Carpels with two of the lateral ribs undulately winged; vitttc indistinct, 1 or 2; commissure *Peccelimum. P. *abrolanifi)Uu)n. Somewhat pubescent, branching from the base ; leaves ternately decompound, ultimate segments narrowly linear ; involucels about 7 to Qleaved, the leaflets palmate, distinct, petiolulate, nearly as long as the um- bellet; fruit obovate-elliptical, with a broad, winged margin, and some of the inner ribs with undulated membranaceous margins. Hab. Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper California. (A single specimen, not far enough advanced to ascertain the ultimate character of the fruit.) Tlie Committee on Mr. Cassin's " Descriptions of two new species of Cyanoco?-ax, contained in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia," reported in favour of publication. Descriptions of new species of the Genus Cyanocorax, Boie, of which specimens are in the collectio7i of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadefphia. By John Cassis. CxANOCoaAX Harrissit nobis. Head crested, which, with the cheeks and entire front of the face and neck, to the breast, are brownish black. Occipital region and back of the neck, white, which colour gradually blends into that of the back. Upper surface of the body, wings and tail, glossy violet blue, darker on the wings and tail. Under parts of the body, from the breast to the under tail coverts, including the latter, of the same colour as the back, but more tinged with cinereous. Inner webs of primaries, and under surfaces of the wings and tail, black. Bill and legs, black. Tail without white. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 14 inches, wings 8 inches, tail 7 inches. Hab. Guayaquil, South America. The specimen now described belongs to the Rivoli collection, and is labelled, " Corvus cle Guayaquil." This species belongs to the same group as C. cayanus, Lin?!., C. cyanopogon, Weid., and others, but may readily be distinguished from any described species, by the uniformity of the colours of the upper and under parts of the body, and also by the entire absence of white on the tail. I have named this handsome bird in honour of Edward Harris, Esq., of Moores- town. New Jersey, the early friend and associate of Mr. Audubon, and author of various valuable contributions to the natural history of North America. Cyanocorax concolor, nobis. Entire plumage glossy ultramarine blue, except the inner webs of the primaries, and the under surfaces of the wings and tail. which are black. Bill and lesjs black. No crest whatever. 1848.] 27 Total length of skin, from lip of bill to end of tail about 12^ inches, wing G-3-. inches, tail G;^ inches. 10-. HvB. South America. This species, of which one specimen in the Rivoli collection is now described, is remarkable for the uniform colour of its plumage, in which respect it differs from any other species known to me. It is, however, more nearly related to C. viridkyanus {D' Orb.) C. ornaius (Lfss.) and C. urmillutus (G. ]\ Gray,) than to any others, from which I infer that it is, in common with those beautiful species, an inhabitant of the northern part of South America. The Committee on Dr. Leidy's paper, entitled " On certain bodies resembling the Pacinian corpuscles in the Boa constrictor," reported in favour of publication. On some bodies in the Boa Constrictor resemlling tlue Faciman ccrpiiscles. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. While engaged with my friend, Dr. Hallowell, a few weeks since, in dissecting the specimen of Boa constrictor presented to the Academy by Dr. Watson, I observed along the course of the nervi intercostales, at or towards their anterior extremity, a number of small, hard, rounded, or ovoid bodies, which, to the naked eye, had very much the appearance of the corpuscula Pacini of man and other mammifera, and such an opinion I expressed at the time to Dr. Hallowell. These bodies average from three to seven in number to each nerve, and generally measure eight millemetres in diameter. They are white, shining, and opalescent in appearance, and are closely attached to the side of the nerve, • enclosed within its sheath and projecting beyond its outline, instead of being attached to a pedicle derived from an adjacent nerve, as in the Pacinian corpuscle of man. Upon investigating the structure of these bodies through the aid of the micro- scope, I find that they consist of a central, globular mass, measuring .33 mille- metres in diameter, invested by a series of semitransparent capsules in the neigh- borhood of fifty in number. The central mass is semi-opaque, homogeneous, granular in structure, slightly yellowish in colour, and has in most cases a darker and more consistent nucleus having apparently the same composition. Acetic acid had almost no influence upon it. With the greatest care, and the use of the highest powers of the micro- scope, I could discern nothing more than a finely granular constitution in it. A somewhat analogous appearance I have noticed in the nervous structure in the interior of the Pacinian corpuscle of the new-born child. The capsules enclosing the central mass form a stratum of the same or one- third greater diameter; they are perfectly distinct from one another, are further separated by the endosmosis of fluid, and have the same appearance as those of the Pacinian corpuscle of man. Evidently fibrous, or composed of the white fibrous element, they are rendered quite translucent by the application of acetic acid. Situated upon their inner surface, at nearly regular distances from one another, are situated projecting, elongated oval, or fusiform, a few sigmoid, gran- ular nuclei, larger than those of the Pacinian corpuscle of man, and measuring .025 mil. in length, by .0075 mil. in breadth. The outermost capsules become blended with the white fibrous tissue, forming the sheath of the nerve. No nerve fibril passes into the interior of these bodies, although from their great resemblance to the Pacinian corpuscle I had expected to 28 [Feb. find such an arrangement. Generally I found them situated on one side of a nerve projecting from the bundle of nerve tubules and enveloped in the same sheath, but in several instances I found them separating, or situated between several of the nerve tubes, the tubes so separated, after passing the bodies, resuming their position along with the others. Besides being invested by the nervous sheath, they are more closely held in connection with the nerve by means of transverse fibres of white fibrous tissue. After having thus discovered and examined these curious bodies in the Boa, I expected to find the same in other serpents, and ' I accordingly obtained a Coluber constrictor and Leptophis sauritus, into which I carried my comparative researches, but without finding the least trace of a similar or analogous structure. From their absence in these two serpents, it occurred to my mind that they might be the ova of entozoa — but the entire struc- ture precludes any idea of this kind — and although they have several of the most important elements of structure of the Pacinian corpuscle, yet they have no nerve, of which as a conductor, ifwe consider the Pacinian corpuscle in any way the centre of any kind of nervous or other power, must be considered as a sine qua non ; but if a mere filament of distribution, it would be comparatively of little importance, and the close apposition of the bodies with the nerves in the Boa, might possibly answer the same purpose. But if they are of the nature of the Pacinian corpuscle, why not exist in all serpents ? In this maze of perplexity, I present these observa- tions to the Academy, and hope that future researches will throw some light upon the subject. Before finishing with these remarks, it may be important for me to state that I saw none of these bodies in any other situation in the Boa, than along the nerves mentioned, although I examined all other parts carefully, excepting the viscera and their attachments. Explanation of the Figtires. Fig. 1. Represents a portion of an intercostal nerve of the Boa constrictor, with the sheath removed, and exhibiting five of the bodies which resemble the Pacinian corpuscle, acted upon by dilute acetic acid, and highly magnified. The upper three bodies on the left side, it will be observed, have separated some of the nerve tubules from the main body of the nerve; a. Central mass of granular substance ; h. external investing capsules ; c. nuclei of the capsules. Fig. 2. Represents a portion of a nerve, with the sheath removed from one side, and one of the "bodies " with the sheath remaining upon the other side, acted on by dilute acetic acid, and more highly magnified than Fig. I. a. nervi tubuli ; b. fibrous sheath of the nerve ; c. several primitive nuclei of the fibrous element of the sheath; d. one of the "bodies"; e. central granular mass; /. ex- ternal investing capsules ; g. nuclei of the capsules. Fig. 3. Represents a portion of several of the capsules very highly magnified so as to exhibit the structure of the nuclei, a. capsules; b. nuclei. Fig. 4. Represents the eye of Balanus rugosus, much magnified, a. optic nerve ; c vitreous body. William E. Whitman, Esq., John Jay Smith, Esq., William R. Lejee, Esq., Henrj^ C. Lea, Esq., and Francis F. Wolgemuth, Esq., all of Philadelphia, were elected Members, zxxA the following were elected Corresponde7its : Rev. William Scoresby, D. D., of England. Jean Jaq. Kaup, of Darmstadt. Fwl Fxf2^ -m % ff^-. *•(.,' &Q.- ^^ Wi- ^ d v^ c 'iUmiU m 1 n i t -''^t T? fh ;i " li""!!'' -ir ^^ ^/<^. -5- «^ (i --- / I Ilf.J. ? Jos LuJirM-D oUZ On. ScoTU- ir-^ SlU-rn. kS-l.S.| ^9 DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM IN January and February, 1848. Jamiary Ath. Cynocephalus Sphjmx. From Dr. G. Wat?on. Scolopendra gigas/, from jMaracaibo. From Dr. C. D. Meigs. Copper Ore, from the vicinity of Princeton,. N. J. From Dr. D. C. Skerrett. Specimen of a Taenia, and an Ascaris, from the intestine of an ox. From Dr. Dickeson. Dr. Wilson presented crania of the following : — Yulpes fulvus, Procyon lotor, Felis domesticus, Putorius vison, Scalops aquaticus, Sciuriis vulpinus, S. striatus, Strix nasvia, Quiscalus versicolor, Picus auratus, Chelonura serpentina, Rana pipiens. January Wth. Mounted specimen of Felis chibi-gouazou. From Dr. P. B. Goddard. Two hundred and twenty-six specimens of shells, comprising sixty genera and one hundred and twenty species, from Western Africa. From the Rev. Thos. S. Savage. Two species of Serpula and one of Spatangus, and specimens of Achatina perdix, A. striata, and A. purpurea. From the same. January 18fA. Mounted skeleton of Trionyx ferox. From Dr. Meigs. Mounted skeleton of Bubo virginianus. From Mr. Lambert. Mounted skeletons of Falco lineatus, Sturnus ludovicianus, and Scolopax Wilsoni. From Dr. Wilson. Procyon lotor, and Hapale cedipus, (two specimens.) From Dr. Watson. Mass of Fossil Corallines, from Havana; and six species of fossil Helix, one of Paludina, one of Helicina and one of Pupa, from the Drift, West of Natchez, Miss. From Dr. Dickeson. Five Peruvian crania, and fragments of two others, presented to Dr. Morton by Dr. Joseph Wilson, U. S. N. Deposited by Dr. Morton. Medallion of Cuvier. Presented by the artist, Mons. A. Bovy, through Mr. Vattemare. Fehrziary 1st. Eggs of fifty-six species, and the nests of twenty-four species, of American Birds. Presented by Prof. S. F. Baird, of Carlisle, Pa. The Ornithological collection of M. Boucier, of Lyons, consisting of 1039 speci- mens. Deposited by Dr. Wilson. Fehruary^Sth. Dr. Dickeson deposited Chelonura Temminckii, (head, carapace and sternum,) head of a Chelonian, crania of Kinostenaon pennsylvanicum, Emys picta, E. mo- bilensis, E. floridana, E. serrata, and E. insculpta ? Mounted specimen of Hapale ccdipus. From Dr. Watson. Mounted specimen of Gerbillus canadensis. From Dr. Wilson. February 15tk. Trionyx ferox, (mounted,) and a remarkable dwarf variety of Gallus domesti- cus. From Mr. Wm. S. Wood. Mounted skeleton of Ardea herodias. From Dr. Wilson. Cynocephalus sphynx. From Dr. Watson. Specimen of Lophius piscatorius, from Manhattan Bay. Presented by Messrs. Ashmead, Pearsall, Percival, Hallowell, Wilson and others. Vomer , from , in spirits. From Mr. Samuel Ashmead. 30 [Fkb. Ftbrnari/ 2:2./. Specimen of Cynocephalus porcarius. From Dr. G. Watson. Specimen (in flower) of an Acacia, from New Holland. From Mr. Kilvington. A collection of American Lepidoptera. From Dr. Heerman. DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY IN January and February, 1848. January -ith. Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich Russischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft zu St. Petersburg, 1845, 1846. From the Imperial Mineralogical Society, through Charles Cramer, Esq. American Journal of "Agriculture and Science, Dec, 1847. From the Editor. Dr. Wilson deposited the following works: Second voyage dans I'interieur de I'Afrique par le Cap de Bonne Esperance dans les annees, 1783, 1784 and 1785 : par F. Levaillant. 5 vols. Svo. Outlines of the Geography of Plants, &c. By J. F. Meyen, M. D. Trans- lated by Margaret Johnston. Svo. Illustrations of British Mycology: by Mrs. T. J. Hussey. Parts 1 — 7. 4to. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera, by Edward Doubleday. Part 13. 4to. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. No. 134. Reports and Papers on Botany ; By Zuccarini, Griseback, Nagell, and Link. 8vo. Johannis Henrici Linckii de Stellis Marinis liber singularis. Folio. A Statigraphical list of British fossils. By James Tennant, F. G. S. 12mo. The Bird-fancier's Recreation; an 18mo. vol. published in London in 1783. Reports on the progress of Zoology and Botany. 1841,1842. Svo. Catalogues of the Leverian, London and YarmoTith Museums; in one vol. Svo. Catalogue of the Minerals in the United Service Museum ; catalogues of the Museum of the Sussex Scientific and Literary Institution at Brighton ; of the Finsbury Missionary Museum; of Sir Hans Sloane's Museum; of Rackstrow's, Forster's and others' collections; and of the objects of Natural History and Ethnography composing the G^iiana Exhibition. A geographical and comparative list of the Birds of Europe and North America. By Charles Lucien Bonaparte. Svo. Lectures on Metallurgy, delivered at the London Institution, Feb., 1823, by John Taylor, Esq. Svo. The Mineral Topography of Great Britain. By A. W. Tooke, F. G. S. Memorandum of objects of Geological interest in the vicinity of Dublin. Examen critique du Cosmos de Humboldt ; par A. J. Rey de Morande. Report of an Expedition into the interior of British Guiana in 1835 and 1836.' By Robert Heermann Schomburgk, Esq. Description of a new species of Plesiosaurias, in the Museum of the Bristol Institution. By Samuel Stutchbury. Verzeichness aller in Europa vorkommenden Geschlechter der Insekten nach Latreille's system; goordnet von Craft Ernst Hoffmann. An P2ssay on the study of the Animal Kingdom. By Robert E. Grant, M. D. Monographia Psittacorum ; auctor Wagler. 4to. Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. By Andrew Smith, M. D. No. •25. 4to. Recueil de cent-trente-trois Oiseaux. Folio. January Wth. Etwas ueber die Natur-wunder in Nord-America, zusammengetragen von Charles Cramer. Svo. From Mr. Conrad. Naturgeschichte der Infusionsthiere von Prof. S. Kutorga. Svo. and Atlas. From the same. 1S4.8.] 31 Report and Resolves of the Legislature of Maine respecting international and literary exchanges. From Aaron Young, Jr., Esq. Fauna der Vorweit; von Dr. C. G. Giebel. Part 2. 8vo. From Mr. Lambert. On the Cypress Timber of Mississippi and Louisiana. By M. W. Dickeson, M. D.,and Andrew Brown. From Dr. Dickeson. Proceedings of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Vol 1. Nos. 11 and 12. From the Society. Note sur le parallelisme des Depots Paleozoiqnes de I'Amerique Septentrionale avec ceux de I'Europe, &c. From the Author, M. de Verneuil. A selection of the Correspondence of Linneus and other Naturalists from the original manuscripts. By Sir J. Edwards Smith. 2 vols. 8vo. Deposited by Dr. Wilson. Oken's Isis. No. 8, for 1847. From the same. Palaeontology of New York. By James Hall. Vol. 1. 4to. From the Author. Jamiary 18?/i. Report of the Joint Library Committee of the Legislature of New York on the subject of International exchanges. From M. Alex. Vattemare. Proceedings of the Geological and Polytechnic Society of the West Riding of Y'orkshire. Vols. 1 and 2, (to 1846 inclusive.) From Mr. Henry Denny, of Leeds, England. ^ Twenty-seventh Report of the Council of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. 1847. From the Society. Researches into the comparative strijcture of the Liver. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. From the Author. Henry G. Bohn's Catalogue of Books. Vol. 1. 8vo. From the Publisher. The Carices of the Northern United States : By John Carey. From Dr. Zantzins;er. Dr. Wilson deposited the following: — Voyage autour du Monde sur les Corvettes I'Uranie et la Physicienne en 1817, 1820. Texte, tomes 10, 4to; planches, tomes 4, folio. Voyage autour du Monde de la Corvette La Fa\'orite pendant les annees 1830, 1831 and 1832. Texte, tomes 5, 8vo. ; Hydrographie, tome 1, folio. Histoiredu voyage, tome 1, folio. Avium species nova?, quas in itinere per Brasiliane an. 1817 — 1820, collegit et descripsit Dr. T. B. de Spix. 2 vols., folio. Manuel du Libraire et de I'amateur de livres: par T. C. Brunet. 5 vols. 8vo. Fehruary 1st. Bibliotheca historico-naturalis : von Wilhelm Engelmann. Erster band. 8vo, Deposited by Dr. Wilson. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. X., new series. Part 1. 4to. From the Society. The American Journal of Science and Arts. Second series. No. 13. January, 1848. From the Editors. The Literary Record and Journal of the.-Linnean Association of Pennsylvania College. Vol. 4, No. 3. From the Association. American Journal of Agriculture and Science. Vol. 7, No. 1. From the Editor. A statement of the claims of Charles T; Jackson, M. D., to the discovery of the applicability of Sulphuric Ether to the prevention of pain in surgical opera- tions. By Martin Gay, M. D. From Dr. Jackson. Tribute to American Geologists. (Translated from " Lemons de Geologic pra- tique par M. Elie de Beaumont," by Charles T. Jackson, M. D.) From the same. Observations on the Temple of Serapis at Pozzuoli, near Naples, &c. By Charles Babbage, Esq. 8vo. 1847. From the Author. Revue Zoologique. No. 10, for 1847. Deposited by Dr. Wilson. The Anatomy of the Human Body. By William Cheselden. 8vo. From Dr. Dawson, of Philadelphia. 32 [Feb. A compendium of the Anatomy of the Human Body. By Andrew Fyfe. 3 vols. 8vo. A very old work [small 4to., without title) on " Dystillations," in four books or parts. From Dr. Morton. Vehrnarij Sl/i, Literary Record and Journal of the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania College. Vol. 4, No. 4. From the Association. Lamarck's Genera of Shells. Translated from the French. By Augustus A. Gould, M. D. 12mo. From Prof. Haldeman. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. 3, Part 4. 4to. Proceedings of the same, Nos. 155 to 177 inclusive. Reports of the Council and Auditors of the same for 1847; and List of the Fellows, Honorary, Foreign, and Corresponding Members of the same for 1847. From the Society. Bulietinof the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Vol. l,No. 13. Dec, 1847. From the Society. Objections to the theories severally of Franklin, Dufay and Ampere, &c. By Robert Hare. From the Author. On a law of cohesive attraction as exemplified in a Crystal of Snow. By James D. Dana. From the Author. On ceftain laws of cohesive attraction. By James D. Dana. From the same. Origin of the constituent and adventitious minerals of Trap and the allied rocks. By James D. Dana. From the same. Notice of Dr. Blum's treatise on pseudomorphous minerals, and observations on pseudomorphism. By James D. Dana. From the same. Fehr2iary 15th. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. Vol.22. Part 2. 4to. London, 1847 ; Proceedings of the same, Nos. 30 to 33 inclusive ; and List of the same for 1847. From the Society. The Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Nos. 1, 2 and 3. July, Aug. and Sept., 1817. Singapore. From the Editor. The American Journal of Agriculture and Science. Vol. 7, No. 2. From the Editor. February 22d. The Musci and Hepatica; of the Northern United States. By Wm. S. Sullivant. From Dr. Asa Gray. The Carices of the Northern United States. By John Carey. From the same. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, pp. 161 to 296. From the Academy. Dr. Wilson deposited the following works : — Elements of Conchology, according to the Linnean system : By the Rev. E. J. Burrow, 8vo. Elements of Concholosy. By Emanuel Mendes da Costa. 8vo. Description d'une collection de Mineraux, formee par M; Henri Heuland. 3 vols. 8vo. and Atlas. Outlines of the Geology of the vicinity of Cheltenham. By R. J. Murchison. New edition. 8vo. A history of the Molluscous Animals of Scotland, with an account of the Cir- rhipedal Animals of the N. E. District. By Wm. Macgillivray. Second edition. 12mo. The Ancient World, or picturesque sketches of Creation. By D. T. Anstead. 12mo. Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia from Moreton Bay to Port Es- sington, in 1844 and 1845. By Dr. Ludwig Leichardt. 8vo. Description of the Rapacious Birds of Great Britain. By Wm. Macgillivray. 12mo. Ornithologia nova. 2 vols. 12mo. Birmingham, 1743. Wanderings in South America, the North West of the United States, and the 184.8.] 33 Antilles, in 1S12, 1816, 1820 and 1834, &c. By Charles Waterton, Esq. Fourth edition. 12mo. A Synopsis of the Birds of Australia and the adjacent islands. By John Gould. Parts 1 to 4. 8vo. Narrative of a Journey to the shores of the Polar Sen, in 1819, 1820, 1821 and 1822. By John Franklin, Capt. R. N. 4to. Narrative of a Second Expedition to the shores of the Polar Sea in 1825, 1826 and 1827. By John Franklin, Capt. R. N., &c. 4to. Historia naturalis Testaceorum Brittanice. By Emanuel Mendes da Costa. 4to. Indian Zoology. By Thomas Pennant. Second edition. 4to. A Natural History of British Birds, &c. By Mr. Hayes. Folio. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Nos. 135, 136. The Quarterly Journal of the Geographical Society of London. Vol. 3. Part 1. Illustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. J. T. Hussey. Part 9. 4to. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. By Edward Doubleday. Part 14. 4to. The Genera of Birds. By George Robert Gray. Part 42. 4to. A list of Rocks and Strata, arranged in the order they generally occur in, with reference to Sowerby's works. Dr. Wilson also presented a very fine collection of Medals in Copper bronzed, executed in Paris, and arranged on a board covered with crimson velvet, and per- forated for the purpose of receiving them ; the whole enclosed in a highly finished frame of black walnut, glazed on both sides. The collection embraces the fol- lowing : — Georges Cuvier, Linnaeus, Hans Sloane, Priestley, Xavier Bichat, Bergman, F. J. V. Broussais, Lavoisier, E. Riippell, Vesalius, Geoffroy St. Hilaire, Bar- tholinus, F. J. Gall, Gaspard Monge, Jean and J. P. J. D'Arcet, Pictet, O. de Serres, Lacaille, Berzelius, Colombus, Saussure, Fernel, Aldrovandus, Buffon, James Cook, Lavater, Bernard de Jussieu, J. J. Rousseau, Galvani, Newton, Dupuytren, Kant, Bonnet, Hatier, Ambroise Pare, Franklin, J. Coster, Harvey, Sydenham, Roger Bacon, Boerhaave, P. A. Beclard, Leibnitz. t 5 i 1848.] 35 March Ith, 1848, Dr. Bridges in the Chair. Dr. Morton read a communication from the Rev. Dr. Bacliman, of Charleston, S. C, entitled, " Notes on the generation of the Virginian Oj)ossum (Didelpliis Virginiana) ;'' which was referred to the following Committee : Dr. Morton, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Hallowell. Mr. Peirce stated to the Society, that within the last week, he had had an opportunity of seeing several interesting specimens of a hybrid between the Guinea fowl and Peacock. They were the property of a farmer residing near Phcenixville, in this State, were about four months old, and possessed, in a marked degree, the distinctive characters of both parents. He expressed a hope of being enabled to obtain one or more of them for the Society's collections. March 21st, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from Sir Michael Faraday, dated Royal Institution, London, 24th February, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. Dr. Hallowell read a paper, entitled " Descriptions of two new species of Onychocephalus from the Western Coast of Africa ;" and also communicated some " Notes of the post mortem appearances of a Cynocephalus papion, which died at the Menagerie in Philadelphia." Both of which papers were referred to a Committee, consisting of Dr. Leidy, Dr. Morton, and Dr. Wilson. Dr. Leidy presented a communication from Prof. Haldeman, descri- bing numerous species of Jlphodius, and designed as a supplement to his Entomological papers, read at previous meetings of the Society, and reported for publication in the next number of the Journal. Re- ferred to the Committee on the former papers. April Uh, 1848. Mr. Phillips in the Chair. A letter was read from the Rev, Dr. Savage, addressed to Dr. Hallowell, dated Natchez, Mississippi, March 10th, 1848, desiring numbers of the Proceedings in which he was deficient, and in relation to a communication which he had transmitted for publication in the Proceedings, on the habits of some of the Reptilia of Western Africa. A letter was read from the Secretary of the " Societe imperiale des Naturalisles de Moscou," dated Moscow, May, 1847, accompanying the donation of the Numbers of the Bulletin of the Society, announced this evening. The Rev. Dr. Bachman communicated through Dr. Morton, some PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELnilA. — VOL. IV. NO. 11. 6 36 [Apkjl, additional observations on the generation of the Opossum, which were read and referred to the Committee on the previous paper, viz : Drs. Morton, Leidy, and Hallowell. Dr. Morton also read a letter from Dr. Middleton Michel, of Charleston, S. C, addressed to the Rev. Dr. Bachman, containing some highly interesting " Facts concerning the habits and generation of the Opossum." Referred to the above Committee. Mr. Henry C. Lea communicated, for publication in the Journal, a paper entitled " Catalogues of the Tertiary Testacea of the United States ; by Henry C. Lea." Referred to a Committee, consisting of Dr. Morton, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Conrad. Dr. Leidy read a paper, describing a new fossil genus of Ruminan- toid Pachyderms, {Merycoidodon Culhcrtsonii;) which was referred tcJ Drs. Wilson, Morton, and Pickering. On motion Resolved, That a copy of the Proceedings, as far as pub- lished, be presented to the Rev. Dr. T. S. Savage. On motion, also Resolved, That a copy of the first number of the New Series of the Journal, be presented to M. Fischer de Waldheim. Jlpril nth, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. Letters M'ere read — From Prideaux John Selby, Esq., dated Twizell House, Northum- berland, England, March 14th, 1848, returning acknowledgments for his election as a correspondent : — From Richard Brown, Esq., dated Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, N. S., March 1st, 1848, offering for the acceptance of the Academy, a number of interesting coal fossils from that region : — From Mr. Joseph Smith, of Amherst, N.S., dated March 29th, 1848, in relation to the " Joggins main seam of Coal " in that vicinity : — From the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society, dated April 9th, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of the last number of the Proceedings. A letter was read from the Rev. Dr. T. S. Savage, addressed to Dr. Hallowell, dated. Natchez, Miss., Jan. 10, 1848, containing the follow- ing interesting information, in relation to the habits of some specimens of Natural History from Africa, recently presented by the writer to the Society. «' It was my intention to have made an earlier communication on the habits of several of the specimens of Natural History, which I sent to the cabinet of the Academy of Natural Sciences, from Liberia, but having been much occupied in matters of higher moment, I have not found the time to do it, and, even now, I must defer my observations on the ants, &c. At the present time, I propose to give a few facts respecting but one specimen of the Saurians, ^of which I send several, some of which I think will prove to be new) and two Ophidians. I. Crocodilida, At this distance of time, I cannot say whether I found this 1848.] 37 to be an alligator or gavial, but, my impression is, that it was the latter. The question, however, you will be able to decide. It was captured at Cavalla, a mission station of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and a coast town belonging to the tribe of Africans called Grebos, the aboriginal inhabitants of the region of Cape Palmas. Its local native name is the same as that given to the dog, which, adopting as we do, the principles of Pickering for the reduction to writing of the Indian languages, is written Kbinh, not easily expressed in English. Its habits are the same, in general, as those of the crocodile proper, and alliga- tor. It inhabits the smaller fresh water streams and standing water in the low grounds, feeding on fish and aquatic reptiles. It digs a hole in the bed or banks of streams for a temporary abode, whence it springs upon its unwary prey. It deposits its eggs on the surface of the ground, and covers them over with leaves and light trash, in which particular, it differs from the crocodile proper, and alligator. It is timid and harmless, frequently taken by the natives and esteemed highly for food. This individual would not have escaped the caldron, had it not been for a fortunate junction of circumstances with their superstitions. 2. Ophidians. Amphisboena. I send a sketch taken soon after its capture, which accurately shows its colours in a recent state. It was captured by one of my Missionary associates on the beach. It is stated in works on Natural History, that its food is principally ants. I am inclined to think this correct, as it is the opinion of intelligent natives in Africa, from the fact, that this animal inhabits the domicils of the " white ant" (Termes bellicosus of Smeathman, T. fatale of Linn.) and hence has received the name of Nj/onh-re-tedi, literally the white ant snake. It is not often visible, and its dubious character renders it an object of great dread to the natives, it being considered dangerous to look upon it. It is con- sidered an extraordinary Fetish, i. e., something that has the power in itself, of exerting a direct influence upon other bodies, for good or evil. Of this reptile an evil influence is always predicted. Viper. (Cerastes nasicornis, Hal Proceed. A. N. S, Vol. Ill, p. 319.) The natives dread this serpent more than any other known. It is very venomous — slow and sluggish in its movements — retreats from man, except when trodden on, or opposed in its progress. It inhabits both high and low grounds, feeding on rats, the smaller reptiles, and fresh water fish that inhabit the marshes. Its vicinity is known by a peculiar sound-, somewhat like a suppressed groan ; this is succeeded by a hissing or blowing noise. The former is a warning that every one, acquainted with its habits, remembers and knows well the necessity of heeding; the latter indicates a readiness to bite. When it is about to make an attack, it flattens its head and body, retracting itself upon its tail, and then, with its mouth enormously distended, its fangs protruded, and eyes flashing fire, it darts at its prey. It is said not to spring, but, with the latter part of its body and tail fixed to the ground, to strike at its victim. The poison is very intense; generally it proves immediately fatal, but some- times hours will intervene. It is probably modified in its action, in such cases, by the difference of susceptibility in persons, superficial character of the wound, and perhaps other incidental circumtances. 38 [Apuii., The native treatment for the bite of this, and all other serpents, is, to /luck out the poison .- make a free incision over the wound, and apply the juice of an unknown plant, sometimes a strong decoction of the same. Recovery is some- limes said to occur, but very rarely, however. A direct, deep flesh wound is supposed always to prove fatal. The symptoms are, severe pain in the parts— rigors more or less palpable — sensation of heat — vomiting — profuse perspiration and purging. If not much reduction of vital energy attend, there is a possibility of recovery ; but if, on the contrary, an early sickness comes on, there can be no hope — death soon follows. A case occurred at one of our mission station.?, supposed to be from the bite of this viper, though it is not certain. A young man had been out in search of Palm-nuts (fruit of the Elais guiniensis.) As he was returning, he heard the warning sound, but knowing the habits of the reptile, and supposing it to be on one side, he proceeded without precaution, and was bitten in the calf of his leg. He represented himself as being immediately disabled. He halloed' till some one came to his relief, and was carried on the mission premises, which were at hand. It is supposed that a half hour, perhaps an hour, had passed. The leg, when fust seen, was greatly swollen, nearly to the size of his thigh: the skin was tense and hot, with great pain in the surrounding parts. A free incision was made, and the blood pressed out. Stimulants and narcotics were freely given, and recovery succeeded. The intensity of the poison has been manifested several times in the case of dogs. One case of this kind came under my immediate notice. Some of the mission scholars had permission to spend an afternoon in hunting. They pro- cured for this purpose a valuable dog from a neighbouring colonist. They had not left the road for the thicket long, before they heard a piercing cry of dis- tress from the dog. They ran immediately to the spot, where they saw this viper, and the dog lying on his back, as if in convulsions. They shot the ser- pent, and carried them both to the road, by which time the dog was dead. From a minute examination into the circumstances of the case, I was convinced that not more than fifteen minutes could have transpired from the bite, to the death of the dog. The original of the sketch I send, you have in the cabinet. It was captured on the high grounds of my own premises. In company with one of my asso-i ciates, I was drawn to the spot by the barking of our dogs. We found them surrounding the viper, and not twice its length from it. It was retracted upon itself, as already described, its body and tail flattened, and the latter acting as a fulcrum ; from this as a fixed point, it was darting forward alternately at the dogs. At every stroke, its jaws were widely extended, its fangs protruded to a fearful length, and its eyes rolled and flashed terribly to the beholder. My companion, being a good marksman, succeeded in biinging down the serpent without injury to the dogs. It measured as follows: — Length 3.U-12 feet; greatest circumference of the abdomen 9.1-12 inches ; width of the head at base 3 inches ; length of head 2..5-8 inches; length of the horny processes over the nose 7-16 of an inch. Its abdomen M-as considerably distended, on opening which, three rati, and other food undigested, were discovered. It may not be irrelevant here to remark, that several cases of bites and stinga of venomous reptiles and insects, have come under my notice at (-ape Talmas, 1848.] 39 which I have treated on the principles ahove stated. I have heard of deaths fronn these causes, hut none have fallen within my observation. One case, that of a colonist, nearly proved fatal, hut I supposed it was from the time the poison had to act in the system before he came under treatment. He was a sawyer, and was in the act of preparing a log for the saw, when he was bitten by a snake which he observed retreating. Being intent upon his work at the time, he did not get a good view of it, but said it presented a green aspect, probably another species. He had but one companion, who carried him on his back for two or three hours, when he reached my premises. The wound was in the foot ; this was greatly swollen, as vias also the leg as high as the knee. He seemed to be greatly prostrated and in great pain ; vomited several times a light-coloured watery fluid. I immediately administered, in large doses, strong rum and sulphate of morphine, and made a free incision over the wound. So reduced was the vitality of the parts that scarcely any blood flowed at first, but a passive hemorrhage came on subsequently, to stop which the blood vessels had to be taken np and tied. The whole limb up to the groin, became enormously swollen ; a bad sore followed from the incision, and the cuticle of the leg, to a great extent, came off. He recovered at the end of three weeks. The statement is made in works on Natural History, and by travellers, that the centipedes and scorpions of tropical climates are deadly poisonous. But in respect to those of West Africa, it is incorrect. Many stings from both have come within my notice, and have proved no more than the stings of bees and wasps." Dr. Morton offered the following remarks on the ancient Peruvian crania from Pisco, deposited by him this evening. He pointed out the fact that all the crania in his collection from this locality, upwards of seventy in number, have been modified by pressure into artificial forms, in one of which the head is extended or elongated in the upward direction, though in very different degrees, while in another class, the pressure has been so applied, as to flatten the forehead, and to widen and elongate the whole structure, in the manner yet practised by the Indian tribes of Oregon. Dr. Morton read translations from the works of several of the earliest travellers and historians of Peru, — Cieza, Torquanda and Garciloso de la Vega, containing descriptions of these very forms of the head, and the artificial processes that were then in use to produce them. Dr. M. concluded by remarking, that if no other evidence had descended to us than the statements of these authors, the facts would never have been believed • but we have now abundant proof of their correctness, in the multitudes of desiccated bodies that yet remain in the Peruvian cemeteries, and which, in that dry climate, have resisted the ravages of time and temperature for hundreds, and perhaps for thousands of years. .^pril I8t/i, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair, A letter was read from William C. Redfifld, Esq., dated New York, April 17th, 1848, expressing his thanks and those of Professor Agassiz, ^^ [April, for the specimens of fossil fishes loaned to them by permission of the Society, for comparison and description, and returning the same to the Cabinet. ^pril 25th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Committee to whom was referred Dr. Bachman's communica- tions in relation to the generation of the Opossum, and also the letter oC Dr. Middleton Michel, of Charleston, S. C, on the same subject, addressed to the Rev. Dr. Bachman, reported in favour of publication. Notes on the Generation of the Virgmian Opossum (^Didelphis Virgiiiiana.^ By John Bachman, D. D. Under an impression that the following extracts from notes made at intervals during the last few years, may throw some additional light on the natural history of one of the most interesting of American quadrupeds, I communicate them for the information of the Society. March 1st, 184G. — Received to day five female opossums, captured last night. One of these had ten young in the pouch; another nine; the third had eleven ; the fourth fourteen, 'i'hey were all very diminutive, and appeared to be nearly the same age — about two or three days. The fifth was a small animal of the preceding autumn, and I was doubtful whether she had been impregnated. March 3d. — On the evening of this day, I examined my small female opossum The mammary organs were considerably distended, and I began to suspect that I had erred in my previous conjectures, and concluded to dissect her on the fol- lowing day. March 4th. — At 7 o'clock this morning, when prepared to commence my dis- section of the opossum, I discovered three young in the pouch, and supposing that so small a female would produce no additional number, I concluded that 1 would spare her life. She was confined in a box in a room wheie I was writing. When I occasionally looked at her I found her lying on her side, her body drawn up in tho shape of a ball ; the vulva appeared to reach the pouch, which was occasionally distended with her paws. At 6 o'clock in the afternoon, as she had appeared very restless for several hours, I was induced to examine her again, when I discovered that she had added four more to her previous number, making her young family now to consist of seven. With no inconsiderable labour, and the exercise of much patience, I removed three of the young from the teat, one of which perished under the proce.=s. The three weighed twelve grains, averaging four grains each. I replaced the two living ones in the pouch; at 9 o'clock examined her and found the young again attached to the teats. The young were naked, blind, ears protuberances covered by an integument ; mouth closed, with the exception of a very small orifice sufficiently large to receive the small attenuated teat. Tail \ inch in length. March li. — Weighed the largest of the young, and found that it had increased to 30 grains. Length of body 1* inch, tail ^ inch. The nostrils were now open. The young were very tenacious of life, as on removing two they remained 1848.] 4.1 alive through a cool night in a room containing no fire, anJ still evidenced a slight motion at 12 o'clock on the following day. 'l"he teats of the mother, after the young had been gently drawn off, measured an inch in length, having been much distended, and appeared to have been drawn into the stomach of the young. March IGth. — The dark colour of the eye can be seen through the transparent skin, but it is still perfectly closed. A few hairs have mude their appearance on the moustache. I'he orifice of the ears beginning to be developed. Nails visible and sharp. The porich of the young females is quite apparent, and the sexes may be determined as soon as born. They voided urine and excrement — used their prehensile tails, which were seen entwined around the necks of others even at a week old. February and March, 1847. Made a number of observations on a large number of females. As they, however, all had young in their pouches before I procured them, I will only notice one experiment made in order to ascertain the manner in which the young became attached to the teats. March 11th.— Conjecturing that the young were aided by the mother in finding the teat, and believing that she would not readily adopt the young of another, or afford them any assistance, I removed six of the ten which composed her brood — returned two of her own to the pouch, together with three others, fully double the size, that had been obtained from another female. She was soon observed doubled up, with her nose in the pouch, and continued so for an hour, when she was examined, and one of her own small young was found attached to the teat. Seven hours afterwards she was again examined, and both the small ones were attached, but the three larger ones still remained crawling about the pouch. March 12ih. — The mother seemed now to have adopted the strangers, and the whole family of different sizes were deriving sustenance from her. February 11th, 1848.— Having received from the country a large female that appeared to be impregnated, I this day dissected her. As soon as the uterus was removed from the body of the animal, which had just been killed and was yet warm, I observed the whole mass in irregular motion. There were nine young that would evidently have been produced in one or two days. Three were con- tained in one department and six in the other. They lay embedded in a thick dark-brown mucous substance, which filled and greatly distended the sacs. They possessed more life and motion than I had previously been led to suppose. One of them moved several inches on the table, and survived two hours. I attempted to weigh this uterine fcetus, and as far a.s I could ascertain with an imperfect pair of scales, it weighed 3 grains. Although naturalists at the present day could scarcely enter'ain a doubt that the process of generation in this species did not differ materially from those of the Kangaroo and other Marsupialia, yet I am not aware that the young of the Virginian Opossum had been previously detected in the uterus. The short period of gestation, the reluctance of many of them in copulating in a state of confinement, unless perfectly domesticated, rendered the discovery one of considerable difficulty. I have moreover found, that during the period of ges- tation, the females, like those of some other species, particularly the Bear, can seldom be found. In February, 1847, by offering premiums to servants, I procured from various localities, in three nights, 35 opossums, and there was not a single female in 42 . [April, the whole number. As soon, however, as the young were contained in the pouch, I received more females than males. February 14th, 1848. — Dissected a small female that had been captured six days before. She proved impregnated, but in a much earlier stage of develop- ment than the one I examined three days ago. On opening the uterus, I found five on one side and seven on the other. These were nearly the size of a garden pea, and resembled pellucid vesicles. Under a microscope the germinal mem- brane represented a cellular structure as in olher animals. The corpora-lutea corresponded with the number of ova. The manner in which tiie act of copulation is effected is no longer a subject of conjecture, although I have not personally observed it. An intelligent coloured man in whose veracity I place great confidence, was requested five years ago to watch this process. He assured me that he had observed the female receiving the embraces of the male while lying on her side. Within the last few weeks. Dr. Middleton Michel of this city, an intelligent and close observer, who has devoted much time to the investigation of this subject, has observed this process with two female opossums which he has preserved in a domesticated state. He informs me that they received the male whilst lying on their right side. From various observations I have made for the last three years, I had set down the period of gestation in the opossum at 17 days. I received a female, said by the servant to have been captured in the act of copulation. She pro- duced her young on the seventeenth day. I had, however, placed her with a male that I kept in confinement at the time ; but she exhibited such a savage temper towards him, that for the sake of peace, I was compelled to separate them after three days. Dr. Michel, however, informs me that a female in his possession, produced young on the fourteenth day. Although I was at first confident that the true period was 17 days, I think it probable that from the superior advantages Dr. Michel has possessed with his animals in a state of domestication, he may have approximated nearer to the true time than myself. In the second volume on American Quadrupeds, now in the course of publica- tion, the history of this animal will be treated more in detail. Further Observations on the Generation of the Opoxsiim. By the Rev. Dr. Bachman. February I5th, 1848. — On the morning of this day I received five female opossums from the country, three of whom I was informed by Col. Hail, (who zealously and successfully interested himself in procuring specimens for my examination), had produced young in the box in which they were confined, a day or two previous to their having been sent. Their several pouches contained eight, nine, and eleven young. There were two, as he informed me, in the stale in which I was anxious to obtain them ; as they had not yet produced their young. On examination, however, 1 discovered that one of the two had evi- dently brought forih amid the joltings consequent on her conveyance from the country. Five young were in the pouch. I observed, on examination, that a sixth was lying at the bottom of the box, and was still living. Supposing it possible that all the young had not been excluded, I concluded to sacrifice the mother; and was repaid for an apparent cruelty, exercised very reluctantly, by lS-i8.J 43 discovering that the female was still in the act of parturition; a rennaining young one was found in the vagina, within half an inch of the external surface. It was moving, head downwards, among a reddish-brown mucous mass, such as had been previously observed in the uterus of a female already referred to. There was not even the rudiment of a placenta. If it had previously existed, it must have been ruptured in the passage of the fcEtus, and escaped my most care- ful search. I was however under an impression that I discovered the slight rudiment of an umbilical cord. The nostrils were open ; the lung-^ were filled with air ; and, on a subsequent experiment, they were observed to float on the surface of water. On dissecting the uterus it was found flaccid and nearly empty, a slight brown mucus on the sides only being visible. On the afternoon of the same day I had the remaining female destroyed. On dissecting down to the uterus, I found it greatly distended — full of young, and, as t then supposeil, near the period of production. There was a constant but irregular motion in the various parts; and I felt confident that I would now be furnished with the long sought for opportunity of making a thorough investigation of the various particulars that required farther elucidation. I concluded, how- ever, previously, to have a drawing made of the uterus as it presented itself in this state; this consumed the remainder of the evening. As the weather was warm I made a slight incision in the parts, and placed the whole in alcohol. On the following morning, when, with a scientific friend, we entered on the exami- nation, I was greatly disappointed and mortified, to find that the whole had been so much dissolved by the alcohol that we could make no satisfactory examina- tion. The young were lying in broken fragments in the midst of the unctuous and now considerably diminished mass. I now can scarcely suppQse that the motion I had observed for an hour while the drawing was in progress could have been any other than a muscular contraction and dilation of the different parts of the uterus itself, and not of the young, which were evidently not sufficiently advanced to have occasioned it. I would here observe that where the outward integuments of animals are so very tender as those of young opossums a few days previous to their birth, it is advisable to dilute the alcohol to more than half its original strength, as I find the young one that was fully formed, taken from the mother a few moments before birth by the Caesarean operation referred to, has been preserved in good order in alcohol thus diluted. In conclusion I will yet add a brief summary of the present state of our know- ledge of the natural history of an animal, whose anatomical structure and peculiar habits have led to the adoption of many vulgai errors, and produced several con- tradictory theories among physiologists. We will thus be enabled to see what important points still remain for farther investigation, and will at the same time be gratified to observe that, although our progress in the investigation of a sin- gularly perplexed subject has been very slow, yet there has been a gradual advance in our knowledge, leading us to the conviction, that in a very few years the history of the opossum will be as correctly and familiarly known to the community at large as that of the hare or squirrel. 1. The interesting group of the Marsupialia has recently been arranged by Owen into five tribes and families, and sixteen genera : these include about seventy known species, to which additions are continually making ; the Virginian opossum being, however, the only species known in the United States. The 7 I 4i4> [April, osteological characters of the latter species have been so accurately described and delineated that little remains to be added in this department. 3. The organs of generation being found perfect and adapted to their peculiar uses — the double uterus to the bifurcated organ of the male — should have in themselves been sufficient to have thrown doubts on the assertions of our early authors — Marcgrave, Pison, Valentyn, Beverly, the Marquis of Chastellux, Pennant, and others — that "the pouch was the matrix of the young opossum, and that the mammsc aie, with regard to the young, what stalks are to their fruits." 3. The mode of copulation, although differing from that of the majority of quadrupeds, is far from being the only exception to a general law ; our porcupine (Hystrix dorsata) may be cited as another instance. In this respect the actions of animals correspond with their peculiar organization, and the structure of the genital organs, as well as the whole anatomy of the opossum, are in accordance with this habit. 4. The question propounded in 1819, to naturalists, by Geoffroy, "Are the pouched animals born attached to the teats of the mother?" is satisfactorily answered. 5. The period of gestation being between fifteen and seventeen days, is in this respect shorter than that of any other known species (tluit of the Kangaroo being thirty-eight days), suggests the idea of the probability of some modification of uterine structure, approaching in some respects that of the birds and ovo- viviparous reptiles. G. Although the period of gestation is so short, the young are far more per- fectly developed at birth than has been usually supposed. The views of Blu- rnenbach, who likens them to abortions, as well as those of Dr. Barton, (I quote from Griffith as I have not recently seen the original) appear in this particular surprisingly inaccurate. "The Didelphes," he says, "put forth, not fcetuses, but gelatinous bodies ; they weigh at their first appear- ance generally about a grain, some a little more, and seven of them together weighed ten grains." My observations have convinced me that they are far from being merely "gelatinous bodies," but that they are pretty well developed, indeed nearly as much so as the young of the white-footed mouse and several other species of Rodentia. They are covered by one integument — nourished by the mammse — breathe through nostrils— are remarkably tenacious of life, and are capable of a progressive movement at the moment of their birth. Hence I am not fully satisfied with the accuracy of the terms used by De Blainville nnd Dr. Barton — when they speak of two sorts of gestation — one uterine and the other mammary. It is admitted that for so large an animal as the adult opossum, the young are not only very small, but feeble, and are for several weeks sustained in a kind of secondary domicil, termed the pouch, where they receive warmth, and that they continue during this period firmly attached to the teats, which they do not relinquish till they are pretty well grown. It will be recollected, however, that there is in several of our animals an approach to this latter peculiarity. The white-footed mouse (Mus Icucopus); the Florida rat (Neotoma Floridana), and several species of Bats are known, the two former to travel, and the latter to fly about for one or two weeks, with their young attached to their teats, and that these young are not only blind and naked, but nearlj-^ as helpless as those of the opossum. It will be farther recollected that there are several species in 1848.] 45 the extensive group of Mammals to which the opossum belongs, that are desti- tute of the pouch, the young in these cases adhering to the teats like those of the Florida rat, &c., exhibiting an approach to species of a different conformation. 7. The manner in which the young are placed into the pouch and attached to the teati, I have referred to in my observations on the female that brought forth her young in the room where I was sitting, on the 4th March, 1846 (although I was not at the time aware that she was in the act of parturition). She was reclining in the corner of the cage, a little on one side, with her shoulders some- what elevated; her body was much doubled, the vulva nearly reaching the pouch, the latter being occasionally opened by her paws. She was busily em- ployed with her nose and mouth licking, as I thought, her pouch, but which I after- wards ascertained was her young. I came to the conclusion that she shoved them into the pouch, and with her nose or tongue moved them to the vicinity of the teats, where, by an instinct of nature, the teat was drawn into the small orifice of the mouth by suction. I observed subsequently that the well-formed young I extracted from the vagina, which T rolled in warm cotton, was instinc- tively engaged in sucking at the fibres of the cotton, and had succeeded in draw- ing into its mouth a considerable length of thread. I may here remark that on the 21st of February of the present year a female opossum was sent to me late in the evening. She had been much wounded on being captured, and died in con- sequence a few days afterwards. On the morning after I received her I perceived in her pouch seven young ; they had not been attached and were dead ; abortion had taken place, and they had evidently been placed in the pouch by the mother's imcontroUable attachment to her offspring even after they were dead. 8. The opossum is one of the most prolific of our quadrupeds. I consider the early parts of the three months of March, May and July as the periods when they successively bring forth ; it is even probable that they breed still more fre- quently, as I have observed the young during all the spring and summer months. I find in my notes the following memorandum: «' May, 1830. In searching for insects I was removing with my foot some sticks composing the nest of the Flo- rida rat. I was startled on finding my boot unceremoniously and rudely seized by an animal which I soon ascertained was a female opossum. She had in her pouch five very small young, whilst seven others, about the size of full grown rats, were detected peeping from under the rubbish, and were captured." 0. An interesting inquiry remains to be answered. Is the opossum a placental or a non-placental animal? If I am to understand by this term, whether the opossum has or has not a placenta, I can readily answer in the negative. In these intricate matters the naturalist should, if possible, see with his own eyes, and speak at all times as feeling himself firm on his own feet. I have had all the opportunities I could have desired of perfectly satisfying my own mind on this subject, but can only state that in all the examinations I have made I could never find the slightest appearance of a placenta, and I do not bslieve that one exists. I am, however, far from being equilly satisfied on another point, to which I confess my observations were not directed until it was almost too late to make the necessary investigations. Although I do not believe that a placenta exists, or that there is any attachment of the fcctus to the parietes of the uterus, it does not from hence follow as a necessary consequence that there is no allantois. If an animal has a placenta there is a sure evidence of the pre-existence of an allantois ; but there is in many animals, and especially among the smaller species of Mar- 46 ■ ' [April, snpialia, a modified structure in these parts; and the allantols, umbilical cord, as well as the omphalo-mcsenteric arteries and veins may exist in the absence of a placenta. In the very unsatisfactory examinations I have been enabled to make on this subject, I came to the conclusion that there was some reason to believe that an allantois existed, and that there were some traces of the omphalo- mesenteric vessels running through the mucolis substance in which the young lay imbedded. It is proper, however, to observe, that my friends Prof. Hume and Drs. Harlbeck and Michel, who subsequently examined the well preserved spe- cimen of the 15th, and the imperfect remains of the contents of the other uteri, came to the very opposite conclusion. I nevertheless hazard the conjecture that these appendages may yet be found in the uterus at an advanced stage of preg- nancy. This suspicion, however, remains either lo be confirmed or refuted by a more favourable opportunity for examination. Owen, in describing, in 1834, the foetus and membranes of the Kangaroo at apparently the middle period of uterine gestation, found its condition such as obtains in the viper and other ovo- viviparous reptiles, there being no trace of the existence of an allantois In 1837, however (see Magazine of Nat. Hist., p. 481), having received another specimen in a more advanced stage, he found numerous ramifications of the um- bilical vessels constituting a true allantois. The umbilical cord extended three lines from the abdominal surface of the foetus. Having seen and examined that specimen, I may have unconsciously formed a theory which has misled me in conjecturing that I had observed a similar organization in the opossum. Letter from MiJdleton Michel,, M. D., of Charleston, S. C. To tlie Rev. .Tuhn Baclinian, U. D. Dear Du. — You will oblige me by adding the few facts which I am able to state, concerning the habits and generation of our Opossums, to your valuable communication, addressed to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural f^ciences. 1st. I have first noticed their mode of copulation, which, though singular in itself, finds its explanation in the position and structure of the penis. The female, after repeated solicitations on the part of the male, which are conducted as among other animals, finally reclines upon her left side, beijig drawn into this position by the male ; his front legs are employed in securing her, while the hinder ones are made to pass on each side of the loins of the female, over and between htr hind legs. The penis, measuring two inches and more, is thus brought into more immediate relation with the sexual organs of the female. Copulation lasted five minutes. The sperm passes along the lateral canals, its only possible course, as the bifurcated organ of intromission is received to some distance into them. 2d. I have further determined, that the period of gestation is not twenty and twenty two davs as has been believed I placed a female with the male on the 27th of January, and on the 2Sth, at 7| o'clock, A. M., I witnessed them en- gaged in the act. She was left three days with the male, then isolated, and on the 12th of February, fifteen days after the first coitus, had her young, six in number, in the pouch. Admitting that the period may vary from fifteen to seventeen days, the having settled this point I regard of pai amount importance in answer to another question to be presently examined. 3d. The rut begins in January and continues till June, as I have seen ynuiin just received into the pouch during these months. 1848.] 47 4th. Tlie number of yoiing is from six to Ihirteen. I have had a female wiih thirteen in the pouch; never less Xh&nfivr^ 5th. 'ilie size of the young at birth is four lines in length, two in breadth , weight four grains. 6th. The structure of the male and female organs has been well described by Cowper, I'l/ron, De Bltinville, Home, and others. But I would remark that there is no communication between the uterine extremity of the lateral tubes (or the sinus, as I would term ii.) and the vagina, as figured by Home and others. 7th This leads me to mention that parturition takes place as foHoivs: the young pass down tlirough the lateral tubes, there being no other exit for ihem, and immediately after parturitidu these canals are very much enlargerl. The mode of transmission to the pouch is a part of the process hitherto un- known, which I have recently witnessed as well as the nature of the circum- stances would permit. The female stood on her hind legs, and ihe body being much bent, the young ap|)eared at the vulva ; they were licked into the pouch. They were born without any trace of an umbilical cord, The pouch was not interfered with for some time, when her mouth was introduced into it while her front paws held it open ; after this manoeuvre was completed, the little ones were all found attached to the teats, I wou'd further remark that this attachment is an instinctive acton their part, as it is impossible to conceive of any interference of the mother effecting it- The mouths of the embryons present but an infinitely small opening, compared w-ith the size of the teat, and with the hand it is an almost impossible attempt to attach them. 8th. The ova in the vesicles are larger in proportion than in other mammalia; the vitellus is enveloped by a thin vitelline membrane. The germinal vesicle is, however, in the same position as in other mammals; the transformation in the tubes, where I have met with one, after fecundation, appears the same as in the rabbit. In the uterus, the germinal membrane has the same structure and ap- pearance as in the rabbit. I'his stage I witnessed, through Dr. Uachman's kind- ness, as he gave me the uterus to e.xainine. 9th. Whether these animals be placental or non-placental, is a question which I cannot positively decide until I have finished the series of observations pro- posed, but the inference that they are not placental, is rendered legitimate, first, by the peculiarities in the structure of the brain and other organs, which show their close proximity to the bird ; second, by no allantois attached and conveying blood vessels to the chorion ; third, by the short period of gestation; for the ova were discovered in the uterus on the ninth day, and the period of gestation being fifteen or sixteen days would render such" a structure needless. The Committee on Dr. Leicly's description of a new fossil genus of Ruminantoid Pachydermata, reported in favour of publication. On a Ni:w Fossil Genus and Species of Riiniinuntoid racliydermata : Merycoido' don Cii/hcrfsonii. By Joseph Leidy, M. D. Meryroidndon.* This genus is founded u[)oii two fragments handed to me by Dr. Morton, who obtained them for the cabinet of the Academy, from Mr. Cul- juJjpvxolC^W' rumino ; £1805- forma; ogwi', dens. 48 • [April, bertson, the same gentleman who lately enriched our collection by the deposit of the cranium of Poebrotherium, described in the number of the Proceedings for Nov. and Dec, 1847. One of the fragments is a small portion of the upper jaw of the right side, con- taining the posterior two molar teeth, and attached to a jrartion of the same kind of matrix, which partially enveloped the cranium of Pocbrotherium. The two teeth are perfect, with the exception that the antero-external demicone of the penultimate molar is broken away. The penultimate molar has four fangs, the interna! ones of which are divergent from the external. The last molar was just upon the point of protruding so that the crown only is formed. The other fragment is a portion two inches long of the right side of the infe- rior maxilla, and contains the posterior three molars. The internal half of the crown of the antepenultimate molar is destroyed, as is also a small projecting point on the internal surface of the penultimate molar. The last molar is in the same condition as the corresponding superior tooth. The external part of the upper enameled surface of the crown of the antepenultimate molar is worn away from the outside inwardly, as is also the edge of the same part of the crown of the penultimate molar. The enamel is thin and about as rugose as that of Cervus virginianus. The molars, like those of Merycopotamus,' have the antero-posterior cleft di. viding the primary lobes, forming two bends triangular convex,' inwards in the superior teeth, outwards in the inferior teeth; producing a crown having the ruminant pattern. The inner demicones of the superior molars are triangular convex. Their inner surface inclines outwards from the base, at an angle of 65 degrees, and is a very little concave in this direction. 'I"he outer surface is concave, inclined at an angle of about 50 degrees, and runs into the outer demicones at the depth of from three to three and a half lines from the apex of the latter. "The exposed part of their base is surrounded by a projecting ridge, about one-fifth of a line deep on the anterior and posterior sides of the tooth, and perceptible internally merely as a slight rising of the base, excepting opposite the interlobular depres- sion, where a small irregular and rather inconspicuous tubercle exists, apparently formed by the union of the ridge of the two internal demicones at this point, but no ridge passes from this tubercle outwards into the interlobular fissure as in Merycopotamus. The inner demicones fold around the external convexities of the exterior demi- cones. The antero-external edge of the enamel fold of the postero-internal demi- cone projects a line or more between the postero-external edge of the antero in- ternal demicone, and the postero-external demicone, causing the latter edge to bend abruptly forwards towards the antero-external demicone. The points of the exterior demicones project above those of the interior, less in the last than in the penultimate molar. The internal surface is triangular con- vex, with a little vertical inclination. The external surface is concave from side to side, nearly vertical, and is slightly elevated in a vertical line in the middle. The postero-external angle of the postero-external demicone of the penultimate molar, forms a strong, rounded, vertical prominence, which in the last molar is * Vol. 2, pi. 140, Fig. 8, 18i8.] 49 considerably more developed, so as to present the appearance of an almost dis- tinct 'Tonical column. Opposite the interlobular depression of the last molar, the exterior demicones combine to form a strong and much projecting, triangular, vertical ridge, the base of the triangle corresponding to the base of the crown. A similar ridge, though not quite so prominent, exists at the antero-external angle of the antero- external demicone. These ridges probably also existed in the penultimate molar, which is not capable of being determined from the imperfi ction of the s[iecimen. These teeth differ from the molar tooth of the Merycopotamus, figured in Owen's Odontography,* by being much smaller, the ridge along the base of the iimer demicones being neither so strong nor rugged, in the projection of the ena- mel fold on the crown separating the antero-internal, from the postero-external demicone, by the presence of the two strongly prominent external ridges, and the absence or very slight development of the convex ridge at the bottom of the ex- ternal concavities. The inferior molars, in general appearance resemble tho^e of Dichobune, Cuv. The exterior demicones are a little longer and about as broad as the interior superior ones, and their external prismatic surface is not so much inclined. At their base, on the front and back of the teeth, there exists a ridge corresponding in its characters to that of the superior internal demicones. Between the two demicones at their base, exists a triangular tubercle, apparently produced by the union of the basial ridges of the demicones at this point. 'J he supero-internal face is concave, but does not descend so much as the correspomling surface of the supero-internal demicones. The points of the inner demicones, when compared with the exterior ones, rise higher than the corresponding or exterior demicones of the superior teeth. Their external surface is compressedly triangularornearly convex, and nearly vertical. Internally they are more oblique, concave from side to side, but ele- vated into a broad convex ridge in the middle. The posterior angle has the ap- pearance of being slightly twisted inwards, so as to produce a small prominence. Below the posterior prominent angle of the antero-internal demicone, and pro- jecting from the base of the posterior demicone, is a small tubercle that looks as if squeezed in the angle of separation between the demicones. In the specimen, the posterior molar has but two lobes, which if it be the nor- mal condition, would be a remarkable peculiarity among the ruminantoid Pachy- dermata. A third lobe might have existed which has been broken off, although the tooth has no appearance of such a loss. The breadth of the lower jaw, below" the penultimate molar, is about equal to that of Cervus virginianus, and internally, just above th? base and parallel to it, it is deeply depressed. The species I have named " Culbertsonii," in honor of the family, to vphom science is indebted for the preservation of these interest- ing remains. Measureme7its.-]^ Superior molars : — , Penultimate : Greatest heighth of crown, at exterior demicones, ... .5 * Owen's Odontography, Vol. 1, p. 566. t The measurements are taken in English inches and parts of ditto. 50 [Apiul, Greatest transverse diameter, at base of posterior demicones, << antero posterior diameter, " heigiith of internal anterior demicone, «' «« " posterior " }3readth of internal demicones, at base, Length of external fangs, . . , . . «« internal " ..... Posterior : Greatest heighth of crown, externally, " transverse diameter, .... (• antero-posterior diameter, Length of internal demicones, .... Liferior molars : Antepenultimate : Greatest heighth of crown, internally, . " transverse diameter, .... " antero posterior diameter. Penultimate : Greatest heighth of crown «' transverse diameter, . . . , . " antero-posterior diameter, . , , Posterior : Greatest heighth of crown, ..... " transverse diameter, .... '• , antero-posterior diameter, Breadth of lower jaw below penultimate molar, .7 .675 .375 .3 .475 .4 .35 .5 .7 .8 .3 .375 .5 .6 -4 .5 .6 .433 .5 .65 LOS Explanal'wn of the Figures. All the figures are of the size of nature. Fig. 1. Represents an external view of the fragment of the upper jaw of the right side, containing the posterior two molar teeth of Merycoidodon Culbert- sonii. Fig. 2. Superior view of the same fra4ment, as fig. 1. Fig. 3. Hxternal view of the fragment of the lower jaw on the right side, con- taining the posterior three molar teeth. Fig. 4. Internal view of the same fragment as fig. 3. Fig. 5. Superior view of the same fragment as fig. 3. The Committee on two papers by Dr. Hallowcll, entitled " De- scriptions of two new species of Onychocephalus," and " Notes of the post mortem appearances of a Cynocephalus papion," reported in favour of publication.* An amendment to Article IX, Chapter 8, of the By-Laws, altering one of the days of admission of the public from Saturday to Friday, was adopted. *These papers will appear in the next number of the Proceedings. 1848.1 ^51 ELECTION. Charles D. Meigs, M. D., of Philadelphia, was elected a Member, and : — Professor Eschricht, of Copenhagen, Christian Gotiried Ehrenburg, of Berlin, Prof. J. Frederick Schouw, of Copenhagen, Col. J. C. Fremont, U. S. A., William L. Jones, M. D., of Riceboro, Georgia, were elected Correspondents of the Academy. DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM In March and April, 18-18. March 1th. Two hundred specimens of American and Foreign Lepidoptera. From Dr. Wilson. Two crania of Vulpes fulvis, one of Strix ncevia, one of Falco , and one of Pipelo erythropthalmus. From Dr. Wilson. Cineras vittata, from the Baltic. From Dr. Griffith. March Uth. Several specimens of Copper Ore, from the Bristol Mines, Connecticut. From Mr. T. Fisher. Specimen in skin of Petaurista taguanoides, from Port Jackson. From Mr. James Taylor. Musci and Hepaticae, from the Andes of Quito, collected by Mr. Wm. Jameson, and presented by him through Seth Swainson, Esq., U. S. Consul at Guayaquil. The following extensive and valuable collections of Fossils were presented by Dr. T. B. Wilson. 1. Mr. Conrad's collection oi Americaii Fossils, containing about one thousand species and three thousand specimens, and including the originals of Dr. Morton from the cretaceous formation. 2. A general collection of British Fossils, from the Tertiary to the Lias in- clusive, and also Fishes from the Old Red Sandstone, containing about two thousand five hundred species, and eight thousand specimens. This collection embraces a part of the selected specimens from the Cabinet of the late Miss Benett, of England, all of which have not yet been received. 3. A collection of Italian Fossils, from the Tertiary of Piedmont, containing about six hundred species and two thousand specimens. 4. A collection of German Fossils from the Tertiary, Solenhofen Slate, Musch- elkalk, Zechstein, Kupferscheifer, Lias and Silurian, comprising about five hun- dred species and six hundred and fifty specimens. March 2\st. Mounted Skeleton of Ursus Americanus, (young). From Mr. L. J. Germain. Mounted Skeleton of Procyon lotor. From Mr. L. J. Germain and Dr. Watson. Skeleton of Cynocephalus papion, (young). From Dr. Watson. Skeletons of Hapale cedipus, and of Monitor ornatus. From Dr. Hallowell. Fifteen Peruvian crania from Pisco, near Lima, and three Peruvian vases, col- lected by Mr. William A. Foster, and deposited by Dr. Morton. Specimen of Scaraboeus tityus, from Cape May, From Dr. Townsend. 8 52 [April. April ^th. The second portion of the Rivoli collection of Birds, containing two thousand five hundred and eighty-four specinnens. Deposited by Dr. T. B. Wilson. Mounted Skeleton of Vulpes fulvis. From Mr. Ashmead. Two fragments of the jaWs of a new fossil genus of Mammalia, {Merycoidodon Cidbertsonii, Leidy,) found near the " Black Hills," Western Missouri. De- posited by Mr. Joseph Culbertson. Fifteen additional Peruvian crania from Pisco, and one Peruvian vase. Deposi- ted by Dr. Morton. Original specimen of Picus Lecontei. Deposited by Dr. William L. Jones, of Riceboro, Georgia. April 18th. Two hundred and seventy-eight specimens from the Crag, Chalk, Lias, and Upper Silurian formations of England, and ten additional specimens from the Benett collection. Deposited by Dr. Wilson. DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY In Makch and April, 1848. Fnigmens d'histoire naturelle systematique et physiologique sur les Musair- aignes : par G. L. Duvernoy. 4to. From Dr. Morton. Organon der Weltgeschichte von Dr. J. H. Pulte. 8vo. From the Author. Literary Record and Journal of the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania Col- lege, Vol. 4. No. 5. From the Association. The Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Nos. 4 and G. From the Editor. Caloric, origin, matter and law of the Universe. By Trastour. From the Author. Metamorphosis et historia Naturalis [nsectorum. Auctore Joanne Goedartio. 2 vols. 12mo. From Dr. Leidy. Memoir on the reproduction of the Opossum. By Charles D. Meigs, M. D. From the Author. System der Urweltleichen Konchylien : Von Heinrich G. Brown. Folio. From Dr. Griffith. Dial of the Seasons, or a portraiture of Nature. By Thomas Fisher. 8vo. From the Author. The following were deposited by Dr. Wilson : Nouveaux elernens de Botanique et de Physiologic vegetale : par Achille Richard. 4th edition. 8vo. The Entomology of Australia. By George Robert Gray. 4to. Part 1. Genus Phasma. The natural history of many Zoophytes, collected by the late John Ellis, Esq., and arranged and described by the late Daniel Solander, M. D. 4to. Die im Bernstein befind lichen organischen reste der Vorwelt von Dr. George Carl Berendt. Part 1. Folio. Fauna Caspio-Caucasia, nonnuUis observationibus novis illustravit Edwardus Eichwald. 4to. Lectures on Physiology, Zoology, and the natural history of Man. By William Laurence. 8vo. Essai historique sur les Races Anciennes et Modernes de I'Afrique Septentrio- nale; par Pascal 1 Duprat. 8vo. An Introduction to the study of Natural History, in a series of Lectures, delivered in New York by Professor Agassiz. 8vo. Travels in North America, in the years 1841-2. By Charles Lyell, Esq. F. R. S. 2 vols. 8vo. Rapports du Physique et du Moral de I'Homme • par P. J. G. Cabanis. 2 vols. 8vo. lcS4-8.J 53 Synopsis of the species of Insects belonging to the family ol Phasmiilce. By George Robert Gray. 8vo. Philosophic Zoologique, &c.: par J. B. P. A. Lamarck. 2 vols. nvo. The Natural History of Man. By James Cowles Prichard, M. D., F. R. S. 2d edition. 8vo. Ethnographical Maps to the same work. By J. C. Prichard, M. D. Folio. Researches into the physical history of Mankind. By J. C. Prichard, M. 1). ■J vols. 8vo. Voyage a la Nouvelle Guinee : par M. Sonnerat. 4to. Dissertation sur les varietes naturelles qui caracteriscent la physionomie des Hommes des divers climats et des differens ages. Ouvrage posthume de M, Pierre Camper. Traduit du HoUandois par H. J. Jansen. 4to. A history of British forest trees, indigenous and introduced. By Prideaux John Selby, F. L. S. 8vo. A catalogue of plants growing in the vicinity of Berwick upon Tweed. By J. V. Thompson Esq. 8vo. Werner's nomenclature of colours, with additions, &c. By Patrick Syme. Svo. A history of British Quadrupeds, including the Cetacea. By Thomas Bell, F. R. S. Svo. Discours sur les Revolutions de la surface du Globe : par M. le Baron Cuvier. Svo. Les Peuples de le Russie : 2 vols. Folio. Journal of researches made in Natural History during the voyage of the H. M. S. Beagle. By Charles Darwin, F. R. S. Svo. Treatise on insects injurious to gardeners, foresters, and farmers. By Vincent Kceller, Translated from the German by J. and M. Loudon. Svo. Taxidermy : with the biography of Zoologists and notices of their works. By William Swainson, F. R. S. Svo. Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation. 2d edition. Svo. The principles of Descriptive and Physiological Botany. By the Rev. J. S. Henslow. Svo. Vegetable substances used for the food of Man. 12mo. Manual of the Practical Naturalist. 12mo. Memorials of John Ray ; edited by Edwin Lankester,- M. D. Svo. The Anatomy of the Brain, with a general view of the Nervous System. By J. G. Spurzheim, M. D. Translated from the French, by R. Willis. Svo. Animal and Vegetable Physiology considered with reference to Natural Theology. By Peter Mark Roget, M. D. (Fifth Bridgewater Treatise.) 2 vols. Svo. The second, third, and fourth Bridgewater Treatises. By John Kidd, M. D., the Rev. Wm. Whewell, and Sir Charles Bell. In one Vol. Svo. The sixth Bridgewater Treatise. By the Rev. Wm. Buckland, D. D. In two vols. Svo. The ninth Bridgewater Treatise. By Charles Babbage, Esq. Svo. An introduction to Entomology. By Wm. Kirby and Wm. Spence. 4th edition. 4 vols. Svo. Southern Ichthyology ; or a description ol the Fishes of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. By John Edwards Holbrook, M. D. No. 2. 4to. A monograph on recent and fossil Crinoidea. By Thomas Austin, Esq., and T. Austin, Jr. 4to. Nos 1—6. Illustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. T. J. Hussey. 4to. Parts S and 10. Illustrations of Indian Ornithology. By T. C. Jerdon, Esq. Parts 1,2, and 3. Ito. Noveau manuel de Botanique ; par MM. Girardin et Jules Juillet. 12mo. The Cabinet Cyclopcedia : conducted by the Rev. Dionysius Lardner. Fishes, Amphibia, and Reptiles, 2 vols.; Animals in Menageries, 1 vol.; Classification of Quadrupeds,! vol.; Geography and Classification of Animals, 1 vol.; Study of Natural History, 1 vol.; Habits and Instincts of Animals, 1 vol.; Malacolosry, 1 vol.; History and Natural arrangement of Insects, 1 vol. 54- [April, Comptes Rendus. Tomes 24 and 25. 1817. Revue Zoologique. No. 11. 1847. Oken's Isis for 1845, and No. 10 for 1847. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. By Edward Doubleday. No. 15. 4to. Phycologia Britannica. By William Henry Harvey, M. U. Parts 1 — 25. 8vo. Voyage de la Coquille. Botanique, Atlas folio. Hydrographie, 1 vol. Folio. Petrefacta Germaniaa ; von August Goldfuss. Geology, introductory, descriptive, and practical. By David Thomas Anstead, F. R. S. 2 vols. 8vo. A history of British Zoophytes. By George Johnston, M. D. Vols. 1 and 2. 8vo. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. 1. 2d series. No. 1. A history of British Crustacea. By Thomas Bell, F. L. S. Parts 1 — 6. 8vo. United States Exploring Expedition : Zoophytes, by James D. Dana. 4to.; Ethnography and Philology, by Horatio Dale, 4to. An introduction to the Comparative Anatomy of Animals, by C. G. Carus, M. D.: translated from the German by R. T. Gore. 2 vols. 8vo. Atlas 4to. Geology of the Voyage of the H. M. S. Beagle. By Charles Darwin. Svo. On the alternations of generation : by Steenstrup. March 2lst. Identities of Light and Heat, of Caloric and Electricity. By C. Campbell Cooper. Svo. From the Author. American Journal of Science and Arts. No. 11. 2d series. From the Editor. Littell's Living Age. No. 201. March 18th, 1848. From R. H. Dana, Jr. April -Ith. A description of the character and habits of Troglodytes gorilla, by Thomas S. Savage, M. D., and of the Osteology of the same, by Jeffries Wyman M. D. 4to. From Dr. Wyman. Literary record and Journal of the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania Col- lege. Vol. 4. No. 6. From the Association. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. 4. Nos. 38 and 39. From the Society. Descriptions of plants collected in the Rocky Mountains and California by Mr. Wm. Gambel. By Thomas Nuttal!. From Mr. Gambel. Spicilegium Entomographia^ Rossicce. Auctore G. Fischer de Waldheim. Svo. From the Author. Oryctographie du Gouvernement de Moscou par G. Fischer de Waldheim. Folio. From the same. Notice sur quelques Sauriens fossilns du Gouvernement de Moscou; par G. Fischer de Waldheim. Ito. Froni the pame. Entomographie de la Russie, par G. F. de Waldheim. Vol. 4. (Orthopteres de la Russie.) 4to. From the same. Bulletin de la Societe Imperials des Naturalistes de Moscou Nos. 1, 2, 3' 1846. No. 4, 1845. From the Society. De I'Encephale, ou Cervcau en general et en particulier : par Chaussier. Svo. Deposited by Dr. Griffith. Memoir de Geo-zoologie sur les Oursins fossiles des environs de Dax : par M. Giateloup. From the same. Tabula affinitatum animalium, &c.; Auctore Johanne Heerman. 4to. From the same. A collection of Dresses, ancient and modern, after the designs of Holbein, Vandyke, &c. 2 vols. Folio. From the same. Dr. Wilson deposited the following works : — Recherches sur les Ossemens fossiles : par Georges Cuvier. 1th edition. 1^) vols. Svo. Atlas, 2 vols. 4to. niustrations of Ornithology. By Sir Wm. Jardine, and Prideaux John Selby. New series. 1 vol. 4to. 1848.] 55 Exotic Conchology. By Wm. Swainson, F. R. S. 2J edition. 4to. The Conchologist's Nomenclator. By Agnes Catlovv, and Lovell Reeve. 8vo. Catalogue raisonne de Coquilles, &c. 12mo. A history of British Mollusca and their shells. By Prof. Edward Forbes, and Sylvanus Hanley. Part 1. 4to. Lamarck's genera of Shells; translated from the French by J. G. Children. 8vo. The Conchological Illustrations. By G. B. Sowerby, Jun. 8vo. An illustrated and descriptive catalogue of recent shells. By Sylvanus Hanley, F. L. S.; the plates forming a third edition of the Index Testaceologicus by Wm. Wood. Text, parts 1 and 2 ; Plates, parts 1 and 2. The Linnean System of Conchology. By John Mawe. 8vo. A Conchological Manual. By George B. Sowerby, Jun. Third edition. 8vo. A Manual of the land and fresh-water shells of the British Islands. By Wm. Turton, M. D. New edition by Jno. Edward Gray. IQmo. A Conchological Dictionary of the British Islands. By Wm. Turton, M. D. 12mo. British Fauna. By Wm. Turton, M. D. 12mo. The Conchologist's Text Book. By Capt. Thomas Brown. Fifth edition. 12mo. Conchylia Insularum Britannicarum. By Wm. Turton, M. D. -Ito. Nouveau manuel complet du Naturaliste preparateur, par M. Boitard. 12mo. Conchologia iconica : Monographs of twenty-nine Genera of Shells. By Lovell Reeve. 4to. Species Conchyliorum. Vol. 1. Part 1. 4to. A catalogue of the Shells in the collection of the late Earl of Tankerville, with an Appendix by G. B. Sowerby. 4to. Illustrations Conchyliologiques, ou descriptions et figures de toutes les coquilles commes vivantes et fossiles ; par M. Chenu. 76 Liv. Folio. Legons elementaires d histoire naturelle par M. J. C. Chenu. 8vo. Testacea fluviatilia quas in itcnere per Brasiliam an. 1817-20 collegit et pinguenda curavit Dr. J. B. de Spix. 4to. Choix de Coquillages et de Crustaces par Frangois Michel Regenfuss. Folio. Thesaurus Conchyliorum : or Monographs of Genera of Shells : edited by G. B. Sowerby, Jun. 2 vols. 4to. The Zoology of the Voyage of the Sulphur. Vol. 2. Ito. Mollusca, by R. B Hinds, Esq. Genera of recent and fossil shells. By George B. Sowerby, Jun. 2 vols. 8vo.- April llth, De Lalande's Catalogue of Stars. 8vo. From the British Association. LaCaille's Catalogue of Stars. 8vo. From the same. Geological Report of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, in 1839. By David Dale Owen, M. D. From the Hon. G. M. Dallas. English Botany. By James Edward Smith. 14 vols. 8vo. Deposited by Dr. Griffith. The Botanical Magazine. By William Curtis. 13th, 14th, and 15th vols. Svo. From the same. Journal of an Expedition to explore the course and termination of the Niger. By Richard and John Lander. 2 vols. 12mo. From the same. Recherches sur le systeme nerveux et sur celui du cerveau : par F. J. Gall et G. Spurzheim. 4to. From the same. Descriptive Catalogue of the Anatomical Museum of the Boston Society for medical improvement. By J. B. S. Jackson, M. D. From the Author. Corrections and additions to his ])nper on tlie Lonjicornia of the United States. Bv S. S. ITaldeman. From the Author. 56 [April. April \^th. Memoirs of the life of Dr. Thomas Beddows. Cy John Edmonds Stock, M. D. 4to. Deposited by Dr. GriHith. Dr. Wilson deposited the following: — Illustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. T. G. Hussey. Part xi. 4to Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. By Andrew Smith, M. D. No. 26. 4to. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Second series. Vol.1. No. 2. Phycologia Brittanica. By William Henry Harvey, M. D. Part 26. A history of British MoUusca and their Shells. By Prof. Forbes and Sylvanus Hanley. Part 2. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. By Edward Doubleday. Part 16. 4to. The Genera of Birds. By George Robert Gray. Part 43. 4to. Voyage en Abyssinie : par MM. Ferrett et Galinier. Texte, livs. 1-4. Plan- ches. 1 — 4. Folio. Memoir on the naturalization of the Alpaca. By William Walton. 8vo. Notice of Zamia gigas. By James Yates, Esq. 8vo. A familiar history of Birds. By the Rev. Edward Stanley, F. L. S. 2 vols. 12mo. Manual of British Botany. By Charles Cardale Babington, F. L, S. Second edition. 8vo. Essays on Natural History, chiefly Ornithology. By Charles Waterton, Esq. Second edition, first and second series. 2 vols. ]2mo. The Natural History of Birds. By Robert Mudie. 12mo. Woodarch's introduction to the study of Conchology. By J. Mawe. Fourth edition. 8vo. A manual of the British Algae. By William Henry Harvey, M. D. 8vo. Narrative of a Survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia in 1818-'22. By Capt. Phillip P. King. 2 vols. 8vo. Contribution towards a history of Swansea. By Lewis W. Dilwyn. 8vo. Observations on Natural History. By the Rev. Leonard Jenyns,F. L. S. Svo. Voyage dans I'Afrique Australe dans les an. 1838 — 1844. Par M. Adolphe Delegorgue. 2 vols. Svo. Bibliotheque Conchyliologique Chenu. Ire serie, tomes 1 — 4; 2me serie, tome 1. Svo. Souvenirs d'un voyage dans I'Indede 1S34 a 1839. Par M. Adolphe Delessert. Svo. A voyage around the World, particularly to the N. W. coast of America, in 1785— '88. By Capt. Nathaniel Portlock. 4to. Receuil de Coquilles decrites par Lamarck, publie par M. Benjamin Delessert. Folio. 1848.] 57 Maxj 2d, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from the Hon. George Bancroft, dated U. S. Legation, London, 14th April, 1848, stating that he had received from the Hon. East India Co. a proposal to present to the Academy a series of casts of India Fossils in the Company's possession, and request- ing instructions on the subject. Dr. Dickeson communicated a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled ''Microscopic examination of the development of the foetus of the Succinia amphibia,^^ which was referred to Drs. Griffith, Hallowell, and C. D. Meigs as a Committee. Dr. Morton read the following communication from E.. W. Gibbes, M. D., of Charleston, S. C. " In June, 1845, I submitted to the Academy, an account of a non-descript fos- sil from tiie Eocene of South Carolina. I expressed the opinion that it was generically different from any previously published specimens, and called it DoRDDoy serratus. Casts of the teeth were forwarded to Prof. Owen, by my friend Dr. S. G. Morton. In the "Proceedings'' of the Academy of Feb. 1846, a notice appeared that a letter had been receiTed from Prof. Owen, of London, dated November 11th, 1845, in reference to the fossil genus Dorudon. He con- sidered it to be the same as his genus Zeiiglodon (Basilosauhus, Harlan,) to which also he referred the very extensive series of bones collected by Dr. Koch, in Alabama, then on exhibition in London. Prof. Owen's letter was kindly forwarded to me by Dr. Morton, who wrote me that he considered Prof. Owen's authority as decisive, and that I must yield my genus, requesting me at the same time to prepare for the Academy's Journal, then about to be resumed, a paper on the jiresent knowledge of Zecglodon. In deference to such high authority, I yielded the genus, though in my reply I ex- pressed the opinion that I still thought the character different. In my paper published in the first number of the Journal, I described Dorudon as a second species of Zeu^ludoii, giving Prof. Owen's letter, and stating the characters upon which I had made its generic distinction, expressing the opinion that what I had considered a very important character, " should not be set aside." On a visit to Charleston, in December last by Prof Agassiz, I took the op- portunity of submitting the specimens (some of which he had not seen) again to his critical inspection, and the result was that he adopts all tlie characters upon which I had based the genus, and upon his authority I respectfully reclaim the genus DoRUDON. The following letter he kindly sent me in relation to the specimens, as well as to his discovery among my fossils of a new genus, which he names Sauuocetus."* *See the letter referred to, at page 4, Vol. 4, No. 1 of these Proceedings. PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. — VOL. IV. NO. III. 9 f>S (May, May 9th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. Dr. Pickering called the attention of the Society to the fact that in all the estimates relating to the length of the year, no reference had been made to the time taken for light to reach us from the sun, about eight minutes and a half. He supposed that if that estimate was taken into the calculations, a slight difference would be found in the results. Dr. Bridges remarked that the same estimate was taken at the com- mencement of the calculation as at the end — that the relative position of the sun to the earth was the same at both times; and he asked if the consequence was not, that the length of time between each posi- tion so estimated would be precisely the same as if the allowance spoken of by Dr. Pickering wa^ made ? The effect of making such allowance would only be to add eight minutes and a half to each end, which would, of course, leave the difference between such ends the same as before. Dr. Meigs offered some remarks on the mode of copulation in the Opossum, which he felt satisfied was performed mo)-e canino, as ob- served by Dr. Ellerslie Wallace of this city; and that the statements contained in a recent communication to the Academy on this subject, by Drs, Bachman and Michel, that the connection took place in a lateral position, were erroneous. May 16th, 1848. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. Dr. Gambel presented and read a communication from Major McCall, entitled " Some Notes on Mexican Birds heretofore not fully described ;" which was referred to a Committee consisting of Dr. Gambel, Mr. Harris, and Dr. Wilson. May 23, 1848. Mr. Vaux in the Chair. Dr. Bridges presented a paper by T. A. Conrad, being "Additions" to his " Observations on the Eocene formation and descriptions of one hundred and five new fossils of that period, from the vicinity of Vicksburg, Mississippi, with an appendix," read on the 12th October, 1847, intended to be embodied with that communication, and for pub- lication in the Journal. Referred to the former Committee, Dr. Griffith being substituted for Dr. Leid}^, absent. 1S4S.] 59 Maij 30ih, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. (The following papers were reported for publication in the last No. but unavoidably deferred.) Description of two new species of Onychncephalus, from the Western Coast of Africa. By Edward Halloweli., M. D, Onychocephalus. Dumeril and Bibron. Generic Characters. — Head provided with plates; depressed, terminating in front in a thin or cutting edge. Rostral plate folded under the snout, and expanding as a disk upon the head, of variable form. An anterior frontal, a frontal properly- called, a pair of supra-oculars.a pair of parietals, an inter-parietal, a pair of nasals, a pair of frontonasals, a pair of preoculars, a pair of oculars. Nostrils hemidis- coidal opening inferiorly between the nasal and the frontonasal. Eyes lateral, distinct." Onychoeephalus Liberiensis. (See Plate, fig. 1 and 2.) Specific Characters. — Length of tail equal to*transverse diameter of head taken at its middle; tail incurvated, conical, terminating in a spin"?; the upper portion of the rostral plate very convex, quadrilateral, its cutting edge slightly arched, not extending across the snout; colour above blackish, variegated with yellow; under surface yellow, with black spots upon the sides. De.scripfiun. — Head rather small, wedge shaped above, rounded anteriorly; the rostral plate is large, convex superiorly, presenting four sides at its upper sur- face ; of these the jiosterior is rounded where it lies in contact with the anterior frontal ; the lateral margins are slightly curved and are in contact with the frontonasal; the anterior margin forms a projecting convex edge where it is continuous with the under surface of the rostral which is four-sided; the lateral margins of this under portion of the rostral are concave, so as to receive the nasal plates which lie along their exterior border; the inferior margin is the most nar- row, its mid lie portion, (about one-third of It) projecting backward, and forming part of the margin of the upper lip; the nasal plate is long and narrow, broadest near the middle, being somewhat triangular in shape, the apex presenting forward; the nostrils are elongated narro v slits, looking outward and backward, and are placed in the fronto nasal suture, formed by the juxta position of the nasal and fronto nasal plates ; the fronto-nasal are narrow and o! long, much broader below; anteriorly they lie in contact with the rostral, presenting a slightly undulating line at their junction; the posterior margin is deeply incurvated except toward its superior extremity ; it lies in contact with the preocular which is received into the hollow formed hy its posterior margin; the preocular has the form of an oval disk with a s ip rior and inferior extremity, which are pointed; the ocular plate, which is immediately behind it, is very large; its posterior margin is con- 60 [May Tex, the anterior concave; the eye is placed in the angle formed by the junction of the preocular, and the supraocular; the latter is a narrow, oblong plate, with a rounded posterior margin ; the anterior frontal is a large plate immediately in contact with the rostral, measuring two lines in its transverse direction in the specimen examined ; its posterior margin is rounded; the frontal is a very small plate compared with the anterior frontal, also with a rounded posterior margin ; it is in contact in front with the anterior frontal, and with the preocular; im- mediately behind it is the inter-parietal which is less extended in the transverse direction than the frontal, and its posterior border is much less convex than that of the former plate, and of the scale behind it; the inter-parietal are placed imme- diately behind the supraocular and the posterior frontal, and are in contact at their internal margin with the fiontal,and externally with the ocular ; the supra labials, four narrow, elongated plates, margin each side of the upper lip; that nearest the angle of the mouth is the longest; the eyes are small, but distinct, placed upon theside of the head near the superior extremity of the preocular; scales upon the chin, neck, and throat small, increasing in size upon the body and tail, where they are of nearly uniform size ; these scales are rounded posteriorly, more ex- tended transversely than in length. There are 28 longitudinal and 309 transverse rows upon the body, and 11 rows upon the tail. Coloration. — Above brownish, approaching to black, clouded with yellow; under surface yellow for the most part, presenting a few spots of black, chiefly upon the sides. Dimfnsio'is. — Entire length 2 feet 4 lines : length of head 5 lines; greatest breadth 4 lines ; length of tail 5 lijjes ; greatest circumference of body 2 inches, 9 lines. Habitat. — Liberia, Western Coast of Africa. A specimen in the Museum of the Academy. Habits. — Dr. Savage informs me that this animal inhabits the domicils of the I' white ant" ^Termes bellicosus of Smeathman,) which probably constitutes its food, and hence has received ihe name of Ni/onk're-teai, literally the iv Idle ant snake. (See Proceed, for April, 1848, p. 37.) Its tenacity of life is very re- markable. Onychocephalus nigro-lineatus. (See Plate, fig. 3.) Specijic Characters. — Tail short, of same length as head measured transversely; rostral plate four-sided, longer than broad, rounded posteriorly, the sides slightly convex; nostrils in the fronto nasal suture; body cylindrical, slemler, presenting numerous lines of black upon a ground of silvery grey. Deticription. — Head small, depressed, convex in front, rostral plate more ex- tended in the longitudinal direction than transversely, its sides slightly convex, rounded posteriorly ; the under part of the rostral is urceolate in form, having a small projection at its posterior extremity; it is somewhat excavated laterally, passing backward between the nasal plates ; it presents a well defined edge, at the line of demarcation between its superior portion, extending across it ; the nasal are narrow, oblong plates, placed between the frontonasal, and the rostral at its inferior part, in contact above with the fronto-nasal ; the fronto-nasal are situated above between the rostral and the preocular; they are much more nar- row superiorly than at their inferior portion, where they are in contact with Fi^.2. Fi:^.-f Fia. 3. 1848.] 61 the nasal ; the nostril, the greater part of which is in the fronto-nasal, occu- pies the fronto-nasal suture; the anterior frontal is a well defined plate lying innnnediately posterior to the rostral, and in contact also in front with the fronto nasal plates, this portion being excavated to receive the corresponding por- tion of the latter; it is convex upon its posterior border, where it is in con- tact with the posterior frontal and the supraocular, the latter being exterior to it, and also to the fronto-nasal ; the preocular is triangular in form, its widest part being downward, lying in front of the ocular and in contact with the supra- ocular; the eye, which is snnall, but distinct, is placed in the angle fornned by those two plates; the ocularis large, convex upon its posterior border ; it is in contact above where it fo'msan acute angle, with the inter-parietal superiorly with the supra-ocular, anteriorly with the preocular, and inferiorly with the superior labials; the frontal is much smaller than the anterior frontal ; it has immediately behind it the inter-parietal, and upon the external aspect of its pos- terior border the parietal ; the inti^r-parietal is a small plate resembling the frontal in form, but smaller; the parietals are more extended in the transverse direction than longitudinally ; in front they touch the ocular and supraocular, latero-exter- nally the frontal, and posteriorly the inter-parietal; four small quadrangular plates margin the upper lip on each side; the eyes are latero-superior placed as above mentioned ; the body is slender, of nearly uniform size, somewhat thicker near the middle, covered with scales which are broader than they are long, presenting a rounded margin posteriorly, somewhat smaller near the head than upon other parts of the body ; of these scales there are 29 longitudinal, and 344 transverse rows; there are 16 rows upon the tail ; the tail terminates in a pointed spine. Coloration. — (From a specimen in spirits.) The entire under surface of the animal is yellow, without spots ; the back presents iO narrow black lines, ex- tending from the head to the extremity of the tail ; of these the two exterior are less distinct than the rest; the three central ones become broader toward the tail; the intervening portion i.s white or silvery grey. Dinteasio/is. — Length of head 2 lines; greatest breadth transversely 2i lines; length of tail 2 lines; length of body 8 inches 2 lines, (I'r.) greatest circum- ference 7 lines. llubllat. — Liberia, West Coast of Africa. Specimen in the Museum of the Academy. General Observations. — The reptiles above described, belong to the first section of the Ophidians, described by Uumeril and Bibron; viz., the Scolecophidians,* or vermiform non venomous serpents. There can be no doubt, we think, that they are new. But three species of the genus Onychocephalus are described hy them in their Erpetoiogie generale, or Histoire Naturelle complete des reptiles, which con tains descriptions of all the species of reptiles known. They are the Ony- chocephalus Delaiandii, multilineatus, and unilineafus The first is figured in the work of Dr. .'\ndrew Smith, upon the Zoology of Southern Africa, and does not bear the least resemblance to either of them, differing from both in size and in the relative proportions of the head and tail, and in its coloration, being of an uniform brown colour, both upon its upper and under surface In multilineatus the tail is double in length the breadth of the head, and the body presents a series of white lines upon a ground of silvery grey. In unilineatus a single black line passes along the median line of the back, which is of an olive-brown colour. * P'rom SxwTujjj fxdj, vermis, lumbricus, et o^i^, serpens. 62 [May, Notes of the post mortem appearances of a Cynncpphalus Papion, which died at the Menagerie in Philadelphia. By Edward Halloweli, M. D. The animal is young, measuring about fourteen inches in length. Head — Brain not examined. Thorax. — The upper lobes of the right lung are firmly adherent to the pleura; the whole of this portion of the lung is infiltrated with tubercular matter, firm to the touch, and having a white caseifornn appearance ; the entire mass measures three inches in length, by two in breadth, French measure; the lowest lobe of this lung is of a brick dust red colour; presenting numerous tubercles immediately beneath the pleura, varying in size from that of a grain of sand t) two lines and a half ; the two lobes of the opposite lung are slightly adherent, and studded with tubercles, the largest of which measures five lines in its greatest extent; the gene- ral colour of this lung is reddish-brown. The tubercular infiltration above men- tioned, occupies the whole of the uf)per lobes o*" the right lung which have a uni- formly dull white colour throughout, and are resisting ^o the touch; the lowest lobe is partially hepatized, containing a number of tubercles, most of which are observed immediately beneath the pleura; the base ol the right lung is partially adherent to the diaphragm. ') here are two distinct lobes to the left lung, the upper presenting a slight fissure upon its anterior border; the tissue of both is im- perfectly crepitant, containing numerous tubercles deposited near the surface of the lung beneath the pleura; the largest of these measures four Imes in d atrieter; the lining membrane of the cesophagus is pale, having a slight rosy tint and appears healthy ; the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi is pale ; the bronchial glands are tuberculous, but not remarkably enlarged. Hta/i — The two surfaces of the pericardium are adherent throughout, their separation requiring some effort ; the external surface of the heart is covered in nearly its whole extent with a thin layer of false membrane of a slightly yellow colour, giving it an appearance of roughness ; the general colour of the pericardium is pale with a tinge of redness ; upon the surface of the heart, imbedded in its tissue, innmediately beneath the peric irdiuin are several snnall tubercles, having the sanne aspect as those of similar dinnensions found in other organs ; the ven- tricles are ennpty containing no coagula. Abdomen. — The liver is divided into four lobes, one of which presents two small subdivisions; it is of a brownish red colour; about a dozen scattered tubercles, the largest having the size of millet seed are observed in its subperi- toneal tissue; it measures four inches transversely, by two inches four lines in its longitudin .1 d ameter. and fourteen lines in depth ; its tissue when cut into presents nothing remarkable; the ga/l-b/adder is moderately distended with bile of a brown colour and almost fluid consistence. S/jlctn — The spleen measures two inches ten lines in length and fifteen lines in its greatest breadth ; it pre- sents upon its convex surface numerous elevations, caused by the deposition of tuberculous matter within its tissue, giving it a highly bosselated appear- ance, resembling in some degree the cancerous dep sits observed in the human liver; the largest of these measures seven lines in diameter, and is elevated about three lines above the surface of the spleen; the tuberculous deposite resembles in colour that of the lung, and appears to be composed of numerous 1848.] 63 agglomerated granules ; ten of these large masses may be counted upon its sur- face; the general colour of the spleen is brownish-red. The s/owafA measures three and a half inches transversely, by two inches four lines in its small diameter, when moderately distended; the fibres of its muscular coat are seen very distinctly through the peritoneum; it is quite pale externally, and no tubercular deposites are observed upon it; it contains a large quantity of pultaceous matter resem- bling thin gruel mingled with portions of a bright yePovv colour ; the mucous membrane is pale, presenting, however, a slate coloured tinge, which is most marked at its pyloric portion, where it is much softened ; the mucous fol- licles are not apparent. 'I'he large intestine contains a considerable quantity of foecal matter, of a bright orange co/our throughout; the lining membrane is pale; the small intestine measures seven feet, eight and a half inches in length; the large intestine measures ten feet, three and a half inches in extent, exclusive of the cspcnm, which is two and a half inches in length; there is no appendicula vermiformis ; the mucous membrane of the large intestine is much corrugated, but pale and apparently healthy. The mucous follicles are quite distinct when the intestine is held up to the light; there are no valvulsE conniventes in the small intestine, nor are any glands of Peyer to be seen; the solitary glands of the small intestine also, are not apparent; the mucous lining of the small in- testine in quite pa'e throughout, and no tubercles or ulcerations are observed in any part of it, or of tne large intestine; it contains a quantity of brownish looking matter. Tho general api^earance of the large intestine, viewed externally, is pals, with a slight rosy tint, in portions mingled with yellow, the lat'er colour being that of its contents; n> tubercles are observed in the subp ritoneal tissue of either the small or large intestine ; several of the mesenteric glands are enlarged, the largest being six lines in length, by five in breadth. The kidneys, when cut into, present nothing remarkable; no tuber Ics are observed upon their surface; Xhe pancreas is a slender organ, measuring four inches (Fr.) transversely, by half an inch in breadth, of a brownish colour, throughout presenting no tubercles ; bladder pale. The Committee on the following communication by Major McCall, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Some Notes on Mexican Birds, heretofore not fully described. By George A. McCall, U. S. .\. Orpueus curvirostris,* Swainson. Length 10 inches, 5 lines. The bill is curved and rounded on the ridge, the upper mandible slightly projecting; measured on the ridge it is 1 in. 2 1 ; the commissure I in. 5 1. its colour dusky. Irides bright carmine, of conspicuous lustre; indeed, the eye is a striking feature of this bird. Tarsus rather robust, and 1 in. 5 1. in length ; middle toe and nail 1 in. 3 1. General colour above, light hair-brown, fading to ash-colour about the head, ■while towards the tail it deepens to chesnut. The feathers of the back are loose-webbed; and all the feathers at base are slate-colour. Chin, throat, breast, belly and vent, whitish; the breast obscurely mottled with light brown. Pri- * Called by Mexican peasants " Ouitacoche." 64< [June, maries dusky, edged with white on the outer vanes ; greater and lesser wing coverts hair-brown, also slightly tipped with whitish. Lower tail-coverts hair- brown, broadly edged and tipped with whitish. Tail of twelve feathers, chesnut ; the two nniddle ones loose-webbed, the three exterior tipped with white. There is little difference between the sexes; the female is perhaps a trifle less in size, and its general markings are more obscure. 0. curviroslris is rather common about Matamoras, (Mexico.) The song of the male is a clear warble, not unlike the native notes of the mocking bird, but he has neither the imitative powers nor the volume of voice of the latter. On the Rio Grande this bird nested in the hedge rows near the farm houses, and was constantly seen perched upon their roofs, singing with much volubility and all the familiarity of the house-wren. CoLUMBA leucnptera, Linn. C. Trudeauii, or Texan Turtle /)oi'e,'Audubon. This very graceful bird — one specimen of which only Audubon mentions as having been received or seen by him — was exceedingly abundant at Matamoras, in JMay and June, (1816,) large flocks daily feeding in our camp, and with re- markable confidence approaching quite near the tents. But although common in Mexico, I have some doubts as to ihe propriety of its being denominated a Texan Dive; for 1 never saw it in Eastern Texas, neither did I while on an extensive hunting excursion, which embraced the country along the Nueces River for seventy miles above Corpus Christi, see a single individual of this species, although game of every description was most abundant. Nor did I see one on the whole route from the Neuces to the Rio Grande, until we crossed the latter river into Mexico. Mr. Audubon's specimen was, therefore, possibly but a straggler from the neighboring Republic. About the last of June they disappeared from the vicinity of Matamoras, and passed probably to the interior. Tn January following I shot a few stragglers, on small streams, near the Sierra Madre. For the table, this bird is far superior to C. Carolinensis, the breast being larger and fuller, and the meat of quite a delicate flavor. And in its style of flight it resembles C JE/zas more than C. Carolinensis. The female differs but little from the male, except that the metallic reflections on the neck, &c. &c. are less vivid. The Committee to whom was referred Mr. Conrad's " Additional descriptions of Tertiary fossils of the United States," reported in favor of publication in the Journal. ELECTION. Edward Roberts, Esq., of Philadelphia, was elected a Member, and Frederick Tiedemann, M. D., of Heidelburg, a Correspondent of the Academy. 1848.] 65 June 6th, 1848- Vice President Mouton in the Chair. Letters were read from Prof. J. Sturm, of Nuremburg, dated March 2o, 1848, and from Dr. Wm. L. Jones, of Georgia, dated 29th May, 1848, severally acknowledging the receipt of their notices of election as Correspondents. A letter was read from A. H. Bowman, Esq., dated Fort Johnson, South Carolina, in relation to exchanges with the Academy of coast shells from that vicinity. A communication was read from Dr. R. W. Gibbes, of Columbia, S. C, entitled " Monograph of the Fossil Squalidse of the United States," and intended for publication in the Journal. Referred to a Committee, consisting of Drs. Gambel and Morton, and Mr. Conrad. June 20tk, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. Mr. Cassin read a paper, describing new species of the genera Vidua, Euplectus, Pyrenestes and Pitylus. Referred to Dr. Gambel, Dr. Townsend and Mr. Harris. Mr. Cassin also read a communication on the probable identity of Pica Nuttalii with the P. Hudsonica. Referred to the same Com- mittee. On leave granted, a report from the Committee on Dr. R. W. Gibbes' paper, on the Fossil Squalidte of the United States, was read and adopted, recommending the same for publication in the next No. of the Journal. A circular was read from the "Society for the development of the Mineral resources of the United States," announcing its recent forma- tion in Philadelphia, and stating its objects, and requesting the co- operation of the Academy in the same. June 27th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Committee on the following paper by Mr. Cassin, reported in favour of publication. Descriptions ofnevj species of Birds of ilie genera Vidua, Briss.,- Euplectus, Sw.,- Pyrenestes, Sw.; and Pitylus, Cuv.; specimens of which are in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. By John Cassin. Vidua albonotata, nobis. Shoulders yellow. Primaries white at their bases, and for about one-third of their length. Greater wing coverts also tipped with white, which, with that portion of the primaries of the same colour, forms a conspicuous white spot on the wing. 10 66 [June, Lesser wing coverts tipped with brown. All other parts of the plumage glossy black. Bill light blue, at the edges of the mandibles pearly white/ Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail about C| in., wing 3, tall 3 3-lOth inches. Hab. Port Natal, Eastern Africa. This bird belongs to that group of species which appears to form the genus Coliuspasser, Riippel. From either of those species (V. Jlavopiera, Viell.; V. macrocerca, Licht.; V. axillaris, A. Smith and others,) it may readily be dis- tinguished by the white spot on the wing, and the pearly character of the bill Three specimens of this interesting species are included in the many valuable acquisitions of the Academy made through the judicious exertions of Mr. Edward Wilson, who secured them in Paris. Vidua concolor, nobis. Plumage entirely black. Bill strong, conical. General form and appearance of Vidua pay anensis, Gm., (^V. rubritorques, Swainson,) but the bill is larger, and the tail and wing feathers are broader, with no vestige whatever of the red collar which characterizes that species. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail about 12 inches, wing 2 8-10; tail 8^ inches. Hab. Africa. Of this species one specimen only is in the Rivoli collection, without label. It is closely allied to the Vidua riibritorques, Swainson, but has the bill larger than either of ten specimens of the latter which I have examined. The entire absence of the red collar is, however, the most striking comparative cha- racter. EuPLECTEs nigroventris, nobis. Entire upper parts of the plumage bright scarlet, except the wings and tail, which are hair-brown, with paler margins. Cheeks and entire under parts (from the base of the bill) deep black, except the thighs and under tail coverts, which are pale reddish-white. Hab, Zanzibar. Total length, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 4| inches, wing 2 3-lOths, tail 1^ inches. This species, one specimen of which from the Rivoli collection is now described, is more nearly related to Eupledes Jlammiceps, Swainson, than to any other species known to me. From that species, as well as from all others of this genus, in which the bright scarlet jJumage predominates, it may easily be distinguished by the uniform deep black of the entire under surface of the body. The inferior tail coverts and thighs are pale reddish white in the speci- men now described, but I suspect that in the more adult bird, they become scarlet, and also that the wings and tail become darker. 1848.] 67 Pyrenestes coccineur^ nobis. Head, neck, rump, upper tail coverts and flanks, glossy crimson. Upper surface of the tail of the same colour, but not so glossy. All other parts of the plumage, brown, some feathers of the back and a few of the wing coverts margined with red. Hab. Western Africa. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail about 4 4-lOths inches, wing 2 3-lOths, tail 1 9-lOths inches. Very similar in colour to Pyrenestes ostrinus, (Viell.) but is much smaller and less robustly organized. The bill especially is comparatively weak. In the species now described the crimson does not extend to the breast as in P, ostrinus. The measurements of the two species are as follows : P. ostrinus, (Viell.) P. coccineus, Cassin. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail about 5 6-lOths inches. . 4 4- 1 0th inches. Length of wing from flexure to tip of longest primary 2 8-lOths " . 2 3-lOths " Length of tail . . . 2 4-lOlhs >< . 1 9-lOths <> Length of bill from gape . 7-lOths <' . 5-10th8 «< Breadth of under mandible . 7-lOths " . 5-lOths <« The dimensions of the specimen of P. ostrinus here given, agree almost exactly with those given by Mr. Swainson in Birds of Western Africa, (Vol. L p. 158) and also with Viellot's plate Ois. Chant, pi. 48. For a line specimen of the rare Pyrenestes ostrinuf, (Viell.) the only specimen in the collection of the Academy, we are again indebted to Mr. Edw. Wilson, who obtained it in Paris. The Academy possesses three specimens of the smaller species now described, two of which were presented by Robt. McDowell, M.D., Surgeon at Sierra Leone, and the other was presented, with other inte- resting birds, by Rev. Wesley Johnson, a pious and learned gentleman attached to an American Mission at Monrovia, Western Africa. PiTYhvsJlavo cinereus, nobis. Loxia canadensis, Linn, variety A. Lath. Gen. Hist. V. p. 282. Space about the base of the bill extending to the eyes, and including the chin, black. Front and top of the head, sides of the neck, breast, and under surface of the wings at the shoulders, bright yellow, running into green on the neck and back. Upper part of the back, wings and tail yellowish green. Scapular region, lower part of the back, rump, upper tail coverts, abdomen and under tail coverts light cinereous gray. Middle of the belly and under tail coverts nearly white. Hab. South America. Total length, of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail about 7 inches, wing 4, tail 3 inches. 68 [June, I have seen one specimen only of this species, which beionged to the Rivoli collection. It is nearly related to Loxia canadensis, Linn., which it strongly resembles in general appearance, but may at once be distinguished by the cinereous lower portion of the whole body above and below, which colour is separated from the yellow of the breast by a well defined line, while in L. canadensis the entire inferior surface is bright yellow. The bill of the species now described is larger than that of either of eight spe- cimens of L. canadensis which I have examined. ELECTION. William S. Wilson, Esq., of Philadelphia, was elected a Member, and William F. Van Amringe, Esq., of New York, and Sir Harford JBrydges, of London, were elected Correspondents. 1848.] 69 DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM In May and June, 1848. May 2d. Fifteen specimens of Silurian Fossils, from the Hudson river group, Troy, N. Y. Presented by Dr. Skelton, of Troy, through Dr. Morton. Twenty-five Gypsiferous Fossils, lower part of Carboniferous series of Nova Scotia. From J, W. Dawson, Esq., of Pictou, N. S. May 9th. Monotis Poulsoni, Conrad; from Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. Presented by Mr. J. H. Taylor. Skin of Myrmecophaga jubata, from S. America. Presented by Dr. Vargas, of Venezuela, through Dr. C. D. Meigs. Cebus capucinus. From Dr. Watson. Seven Crania, from Pisco, near Lima. Collected by Mr. Wm. A. Foster, and deposited by Dr. Morton. Rallus Virginianus. From Dr. E. J. Lewis. May 25th. Fifty-four specimens of Fossils, from the Red Crag and Coralline Crag of Eng- land. Presented by Dr. Wilson. A collection of iive hundred British Coleoptera, named and arranged. Pre- sented by Mr. Wm. Hobson, of Kingsessing, through Dr. Watson. A collection of American Coleoptera, in spirits. From Dr. Watson. June, \^th. Mounted specimen of Mustela erminea, from the vicinity of Philada. From Dr. S. W. Woodhouse. Mounted specimen of Phasianus pictus (fem.) Presented by Mrs. John B. Smith, of Philadelphia. A fine specimen of Allophane, from . From Mr. Ashmead. Two specimens of Quartz, from Guanaxato, Mexico. Presented by Dr. Grif- fith. June 2Qth. * Amblyopsis , and Astacus , from the Mammoth cave, Kentucky ; several specimens of Atrypa concentrica,"from Eighteen Mile Creek, Lake Erie, N. Y. ; one of Hippa emerita, from Beasley's point, N. J.; Encrinitic marble, from Lockport, N. Y. ; head of an Encrinite, from Kentucky, and a beautiful specimen of crystallized carbonate of lime, from the Mammoth cave. Presented by Mr. Samuel Ashmead. Coal Fossil (Calamites) from Carbondale, Pennsylvania. From Mr. John Cook. Dr. Morton deposited four crania, viz. : an Azteck, ancient Peruvian, Kaffir, and a Hottentot. A large collection of mummied objects, from the Egyptian Catacombs. De- posited by George R. Gliddon, Esq. 70 [June, DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY In May and June, 1848. May 2d. Flore generale des Environs de Paris, selon la methode naturelle. Par F. F. Chevallier. 2d edition. Vols. 1 and 2. 8vo. From Mr. Percival. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Supplement to No. 5 and No. 6. From the Editor. Pamphlets on various subjects connected w^ith physical science and geology, addresses, memoirs, &c., published by Prof. Walter R. Johnson, in 5 vols. 8vo. From the Author. Report of the Stockholders of the Dauphin and Susquehanna Coal Company. 1848. From the Directors. Dr. Wilson deposited the following : Phycologia Britannica. By William Henry Harvey, M. D. Part 27. 8vo. A history of British Mollusca and their shells. By Prof. Edward Forbes, and Sylvanus Hanley. Part 3. 8vo. The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, (London.) No. 13. Bvo. Illustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. T. J. Hussey. Part 12. 4to. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. 1. 2d series. No. 3. Esquisses Ornithologiques ; description et figures d'Oiseaux nouveaux, ou peu connus. Par le Vte. Du Bus. Livs. 1, 2, and 3. 4to. Caroli A. Schreiber's Collectanea ad Faunam Brasiliae. No. 1. 4to. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. By Edward Doubleday. Part 17. 4to. Zoologia typica. By Louis Fraser. Part 12. 4to. The Birds of Australia. By John Gould. Part 30. Folio. Palaeontographica. Beitrage zur naturgeschichte der Vorwelt herausgegeben von Dr. W. Dunker, und Herm. Von Meyer. Vol. 1. Nos. 1, 2, 3. 4to. Abbildungen und beschreibungen neuer oder wenig gekanntner Conchylien herausgegeben von Dr. R. A. Philippi. Vols. 1 and 2, and Nos. 1 and 2, Vol 3. 4to. A voyage to the islands Madeira, Barbadoes, Jamaica, &c. By Sir Hans Sloane. 2 vols. Folio. May 9th. Contributions to the Geology of Kentucky. By Lunsford P. Yandell, M. D., and Benjamin F. Shumard, M. D. 8vo. pamphlet. From Dr. Yandell. Literary Record and Journal of the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania Col- lege. Vol. 4, No. 7. From the Association. Memoir of a Tour to Northern Mexico, connected with Col. Doniphan's expe- dition in 1846 and '47. By A. Wislezenus, M. D. 8vo. From the Author. The following were deposited by Dr. Wilson. Natuurkundige beschryving einer Uitmuntende vermameling van Zeldsaame Gedierten, bestaaude in Oost-en West Indische, &c.; door A. Vosmaer. 4to. Fauna Japonica; auctore Ph. Fr. de Siebold. Pisces. Decas 15. Folio. Die Skelete der Raubvogel abgebildet und beschreiben von Dr. E. D'Alton, d. A., und Dr. E. D'Alton, d. J. Folio. Die Skelete der Straussartigen vogel abgebildet und beschreiben von Dr. E. D'Alton, d. J. Folio. Recherches d'Anatomie comparee sur le Chimpanze. Par W. Vrolik. Folio. Mauritii Herold Exercitationes^de Animalium vertebris carentium in ovo for- matione. Pars 1. Folio. M. Heroldii disquisitiones de animalium vertebris carentium in ovo formatione. De generatione Insectorum in Ovo. 1 vol. Folio. Symbolae physicae, seu icones et descriptiones Animalium quas in itinere per Africam borealem et Asiam Occidentalem F. G. Hemphrich et C, G. Ehrenberg studio novae aut illustratae redierunt. Folio. Insecta Nos. 1 — 3, and text; Mammalia Nos. 1 and 2, and text ; Aves No. 1 ; Evertebrata No 1, and text. 1848.] 71 Die Skelete die Vierhander, abgebildet und verglichen von Dr. Chr. Pander, und Dr. E. D'Alton. Folio. Darstellung neuer oder wenig bekanntner Saugethiere nach den originalen des Zoologischen Museums der Universitat zu Berlin. Von Dr. H. Lichtenstein. Folio. Zoologischer Atlas von Dr. Friedr. Eschscholtz. Folio. Revue Zoologique, par la Societe Cuvierienne. Nos. 9, 10, 11, and 12, for 1846; No. 12, 1847 ; No. 1, 1848. The Viviparous quadrupeds of North America. By J. J. Audubon, and Rev. John Bachman, D. D. Nos. 25, 26, and 27. Oken's Isis. Nos. 11 and 12, 1847 ; Nos. 1 and 2, 1848. Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte, gerundet von A. F. A. Wiegraann; herausgegeben von Dr. W. F. Erichson. No. 3, 1847. No. 1, 1848. Tableau elementaire d'Ornithologie, par Sebastin Gerardin. 2 vols. 8vo. May 23d. The American Journal of Science and Arts. 2d series. No. 15. May 1848. From the Editors. Melanges de Botanique et des voyages : par Aubert du Petit-Thouars. Ime. receueil. 8vo. From Mr. James Read. A discourse on self-limited diseases. By Jacob Bigelow^, M. D. From Dr. Griffith. Jttne Qth. Dr. Wilson deposited the follovi^ing works : A Monograph of the Macropodidae, or family of Kangaroos. By John Gould. Parts 1 and 2. Folio. The Birds of Australia. By J. Gould. Parts 31, 32, 33, 34. Folio. The Fossil Flora of Great Britain. By John Lindleyand William Hutton. 3 vols. 8vo. Conchologia iconica. Monographs of nine genera. By Lovell Reeve. 4to. Iconographie Zoophytologique. Par Hardouin Michelin. 2 vols. 4to. Phycologia Britannica. By William Henry Harvey, M. D. Part 28. 8vo. A history of British Mollusca and their Shells. By Prof. Edward Forbes and Sylvanus Hanley. Part 4. 8vo. Hlustrations of the Birds of Jamaica. By Philip Henry Gosse. Parti. 8vo. The Zoology of the voyage of the Erebus and Terror. Part 7. Fishes by Sir John Richardson. 4to. Hlustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. T. J. Hussey. Part 13. 4to. The Zoology of the Voyage of H. M. S. Samarang, in 1843— '46. No. 1. 4to. Fishes by Sir Jno. Richardson. The Annals and Magazine of Nat. History. 2d series. Vol. 1. No. 4. Palajontographica! Society. A Monograph of the Crag Mollusca, or descrip- tions of Shells from the middle and upper Tertiaries of the East of England. By Searles C. Wood. Part 1. 4to. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. l^y Edward Doubleday. Part 18, 4to. Monographie der Papageien, von Chr. L. Brehm. Parts 1, 2, 3. 4to. Nomenclature of Coleopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part 2. 12mo. Index Testarum Conchylioriim quae adservantur in Museo Nicolai Gaultieri. Folio. Deposited by Dr. Griffith. Musci AUeghenienses, sive Spicilegia Muscorum atque Hepaticarum quos in itinere a Marylandia usque ad Georgiam A. D, 1842, decerpserunt Asa Gray et W. S. Sullivant. Concinnavit et exposuit W. S. Sullivant. 2 Vols. 4to. Enumeratio, 1 Vol. 8vo. From Mr. Sullivant. Contributions to the Bryology and Hepaticology of North America. By Wm. S. Sullivant. Parti. 4to. From the Author. The Musci and Hepaticae of the Northern United States. By Wm. Sullivant. 12mo. From the Author. 72 [June. Fauna der Forvelt, von Dr. C. G. Giebel. Part 3. 8vOi From Mr. J. Lambert. An investigation of the Theories of the Natural History of Man, byPrichard, and others. By William F. Van Amringe. 8vo.- From the Author. The Pyramids of Gizeh ; the surveys by J. E^ Perring, Esq.; notes and refer- ences to the plans, &c., by E. J. Andrevi^s, Esq. : (Vyse's Pyramids.) Elephant folio. From Dr. S. G. Morton. June 2Qth. Literary Record and Journal of Linnean Association of Pennsylvania College. Vol. 4. No. 8. From the Association. A defence of Dr. Charles T. Jackson's claims to the discovery of Etherization. By Joseph L. and Henry C* Lord. From Dr. Jackson. Beschreibung einer neuen art von Anophthalmus. Von Dr. J. Sturm. From the Author. Anopht.ialmus. Neue gattung aus der famille der Caraben. Von Jacob Sturm. From the same* Dr. Wilson deposited the following works : Suites a Buffon, formant avec les ceuvres de cet auteur, un cours complet d'histoire naturelle. 49 Vols. 8vo. Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux de Paradis et des Rolliers, suivie de celle des Toucans et des Barbus. Par Francois Le Vaillant. 2 Vols. Folio. Histoire naturelle des Promerops et des Guepiers. Par F. Le Vaillant, faisant suite a celle des Oiseaux de Paradis par le meme. 1 Vol. Folio. Voyage en Abyssinie, execute pendant les Annees 1839 — '43 par une Commis- sion scientifique, &c. ; publie sous les auspices de M. le Baron de Mackau. Text, 5 vols. 8vo. Plates 15 Livs. Folio. Exploration scientifique de I'Algerie pendant les annees 1840 — '42^ 38 Livs. 4to. Illustrations de Zoologie, &c. Par P. Lesson. 4to. Memoire sur les Belemnites. Par M. H. Ducrotay de Blainville. 4to. La Conchyliologie. Par M. Desaiilier D'Argenville. 3d Edition. 3 Vols. 4to. Manuel de I'histoire naturelle des Mollusques et de leurs Coquilles. Par M. Sander Rang. r2mo. Elements des Sciences naturelles. Par A.M. Constant Dumeril. 3d Edition. 2 vols. 12mo. Prodrome d'une histoire des Vegetaux fossiles. Par M. Adolphe Brongniart. 8vo. Des Dents des Mammiferes, considerees comme caracteres Zoologiques. Par M. F. Cuvier. 8vo. Histoire des Polypiers Coralligenes flexibles, vulgairement nommes Zoophytes. Par. J. V. F. Lamouroux. Svo. 1S48.] 73 July nth, 1848. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read from : — Dr. Theodore Cantor, of the Bengal Medical Service, dated Fort William, January 8th, 1848, presenting copies of his publications on subjects of Natural History in India. From Prof. A. D. Bache, Superintendant of United States Coast Survey, dated Washington, June 15th, 1848, accompanying a donation from the Treasury Department of Maps of Edgartown, Black Rock, and Bridgeport Harbors. From Dr. Joseph Leidy, Chairman of the Curators of this Institu- tion, dated London, May 30th, 1848, announcing numerous donations to the Society, from various European Societies, distinguished na- turalists and other sources, and among them a valuable series of casts of fossils from the Sivalik Hills, to be presented by the Hon. East India Company. From Dr. Thomas Horsfield, Curator of the East India Company's Museum, dated East India House, June 22d, 1848, announcing that he had shipped for the Academy, the collection of casts of India fossils, (referred to in Dr. Leidy's letter,) together w^ith a cast of the cranium of Sivatherium giganteum, from the original in the British Museum, presented by himself; also several numbers of his splendid work on the plants of Java, &c. And a letter from the Secretary of the Court of Directors of the Hon. East India Company, dated June 8th, 1848, announcing the pre- sentation to the Society, of the collection of casts of fossils above referred to, and enclosing a list of the same. A letter was also read from the Secretary of the Geological Society of London, dated June 1st, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of No. 1, Vol. 1, New Series, of the Journal of the Academy, and of several numbers of its Proceedings. July 25M, 1848. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. Communications were read from the Recording and Corresponding Secretaries, resigning their respective offices, the latter in consequence of his removal from Philadelphia. The resignations were accepted, and the following resolutions unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be, and they are hereby tendered, to Prof. Walter R, Johnson, for his iaithful discharge of the duties of Corresponding Secretary, during the several years that he has been the incumbent of that office. PROCEEn. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF I'lIII.ADELPHIA. — VOL. IV, NO. IV. 11 7-i [August, Resolved, That the sincere thanks of this Society be tendered to Mr. John Lambert, for his able and assiduous attention to the duties of the Recording Secretaryship during his incumbency of that office. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, addressed to Dr. Charles HufFnagle, dated January 1-ith, 1848, accompanying the donation by that Society to the Academy, of 14 volumes of the Asiatic Researches, and 9 volumes of their Journal. Dr. Morton read to the Society, the following extracts from a printed copy of the will of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Stott, of Phila- delphia : " To the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, I bequeath my Plantce Asiaticee Rariores, in three large folio volumes bound in Russia leather, by Dr. Wallich, Superintendant of the Botanical Gar- den at Calcutta." " By Dr. Samuel George Morton, I give and bequeath to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, two thousand dollars, in trust, to invest and keep the same in good security, or in good estate, and to apply the annual income to meet the expenses of the printing and publishing such papers communicated to the Academy, as they shall direct." The Academy then proceeded to an election for Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, with the following result : — Correspondins; Secretary — John Cassin. Recording Secretary — William Gambel, M. D. ELECTION OF CORRESPONDENTS. Bennett Dowler, M. D., of New Orleans. A. A. Henderson, M. D., U. S. N. Robert M. S. Jackson, M. D., Indiana county, Pennsylvania. August \st, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Royal Society of Copenhagen, dated April 20th, 1847, acknowledging the receipt of recent numbers of the Proceedings. Also a letter from the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society, to the same effect. An extract from a letter from Richard Brown, Esq., addressed to Prof. Johnson, dated Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, July 15th, 1848, in relation to a new fossil plant, (Artesia or Sternbergia) recently ob- tained in his vicinity. Dr. Gambel exhibited, and read the description of a new Mexican Quail, which was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. Cassin, Dr. Townsend, and Dr. Bridges. Dr. Gambel exhibited and 'made some observations upon several Birds, recently collected in Florida by Dr. Heerman, among them Rosthramus hamatus, Vireo longirostris, and Ardea Pealii, notices of which will be prepared for publication in Ihe Proceedings. 1848.] 75 ^iugust 8th, 184-8. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Curators exhibited the extensive and valuable collection of casts of Sivalik fossils, presented by the Hon. Court of Directors of the East India Company to this Society. (See list at page 79.) The Publication Committee announced the publication of the second Number of the New Series of the Journal of the Academy. Dr. Morton offered the following remarks on four skulls of Shosho- nee Indians, deposited by him this evening. " They are the first cranial remains of that singular tribe, that have ever been brought to this city. They were obtained by our associate, Col. J. C. Fremont,* a gentleman whose extensive explorations have enriched every branch of natural science. The Shoshonees, or Diggers, are proverbially known for their low position in the mental and moral scale of our aboriginal tribes. They wander about in small commu- nities ; have no villages ; build no cabins ; plant no corn, nor cultivate any vegetable. The}'- protect themselves from the weather, under the edges of rocks, and go scantily clothed in the skins of wild animals. " Two out of four of these skulls are so small, so receding in the fore- head, and so depressed over the whole coronal region, that they could not, by intrinsic evidence alone, have been identified with any branch of the aboriginal American race. They want the vertical occiput and general rounded form of the Indian head, and have a narrowness of the face unusual with these people. I submit the following brief memoranda : " 1. Skull of a woman of thirty-five or forty years of age. The anterior region is contracted in all its diameters ; the forehead very low and receding, so as to give a facial angle of but seventy degrees. The posterior region is remarkably full in proportion, and the internal capacity gives seventy-three cubic inches as the bulk of the brain. " 2. Another skull of a woman of twenty-five or thirty years, of a conformation like the preceding. The facial angle is larger, but the in- ternal capacity is but seventy-one cubic inches. " 3. Skull of a woman of fifty. The developments much like those of the two preceding heads. The forehead is very low ; the face broad, heavy, and protruding ; but the vertex is high, and the occiput combines the vertical form and great lateral diameter with that of the common Indian head. Internal capacity eighty-four cubic inches. " These three crania were found nearly together, a few miles from the expansion of Humboldt's river in the Shoshonee country, and Captain Fremont was entirely satisfied that they belonged to people of that nation. " Heads of such small capacity and ill-balanced proportions, could •They were obligingly placed in my hands by Mr. Edward M. Kern, the in- genious draftsman of Col. Fremont's expedition. 76 [August, only have belonged to savages ; and it is interesting to observe such remarkable accordance between the cranial developments, and mental and moral faculties. Perhaps we could nowhere find humanity in a more debased form than among these very Shoshonees, for they possess the vices, without the redeeming qualities of the surrounding Indian tribes; and even their cruelty is not combined with courage. A well formed head is no evidence of superior intellect ; but on the other hand, a head that is defective in all its proportions, must be almost in- evitably associated with low and brutal propensities, and corresponding degradation of mind; and such is pre-eminently the case with the wretched Shoshonees. " 4. The fourth skull of this series is the very type of Indian confor- mation ; broad and full in the inter-parietal region ; the occiput vertical and the vertex itself remarkably prominent. The face is broad ; the nose salient ; the skull thick ; and the whole structure massive to an extreme degree : yet this head, which is that of a man of sixty years, has an internal capacity of ninety-one cubic inches, or ten above the average of his race. The tribe to which he belonged could not be as- certained. The skull was picked up on the western slope of the Cali- fornian mountains, and among the haunts of the Shashonees ; but its developments would lead me to refer it to some other and more intel- lectual tribe." The following resolutions were oifered by Dr. Morton, and unani- mously adopted : — Resolved, That the cordial thanks of this Society be tendered to the Hon. Court of Directors of the East India Company, for their very liberal and most interesting donation of a series of casts of the Sivalik fossils, which have been safely received, and are now in progress of arrangement in the collections of the Academy. Resolved, That the grateful thanks of this Society be presented to their associate, Dr. Thomas Horsfield, for his present of the cast of the cranium of Sivatheriumgiganteum, (which has been received in perfect condition, and will form a most valuable addition to the Academy's series of Sivalik fossils,) and also for the accompanying copies of the Plantae Javanicoe rariores, and Annulosa Javanica. August 22d, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. Letters were read from the Rev. Wm. Scoresby, D. D., dated Whitby, Yorkshire, England, July 19th, 1848, and from Col. J. C. Fremont, dated Washington, D. C, August 19th, 1848, severally acknowledging the receipt of their notices of election as Correspon- dents. Dr. Gambel read a paper describing new Californian Quadrupeds, which was referred to the following Committee : Mr. Cassin, Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Bridges. 184S.] 77 August 29th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Committee on the following papers by Dr. Gambel, reported in favour of publication : — Description of a nevi Mexican Quail. By William Gabidel, M. D. Ortyx ^thoeacicus. With a full somewhat pointed crest, the feathers of which are black, obscurely mixed with dull-brown and rufous. Nape mottled with black and bright rufous, and traversed by two interrupted white lines, which commence of a cinereous colour about the front and pass over the eyes. 'J'hroat and cheeks pale cinereous, each feather with a narrow black margin. Sides of neck, breast and sides pale rufous; deepest on sides of neck, where the feathers have a fevr scattering black spots. Lower part of belly and vent white. Under tail coverts rusty-white, mottled with black. Tail very short and rounded, its colour dark-brown, with freckled irregular bars of rusty-white. Lower part of back and upper tail coverts irre- gularly variegated with different shades of grey, fulvous and black. Upper part of back dark rufous, the centres of the feathers greyish, and traversed by fine irregular, dusky lineations. Wings and scapulars beautifully variegated with black, rufous and grey ; wing coverts and scapulars having the upper vanes deep black, margined and lined with rufous, the lower vanes greyish freckled, and blotched with black, while the shafts are dull whitish. Tertiaries on their upper vanes with broad fulvous margins. Feet and legs pale, bill black. Irides chocolate-brown. Length 8 inches, wing 5 inches, tail 2 inches, tarsus 1 3-lOths, ridge of bill 6-lOths, from angle of mouth 7j|-10ths. This appears to be an undescribed species of that group of quails which so much resemble our common 0. virginianus. The present, however, is readily distinguished from that species by its much longer bill and very short tail, as well as its general markings, particularly beneath; the breast and sides being of a plain fawn colour, or pale rufous. The only specimen from which I describe was brought from Jalapa, Mexico, by Mr. Pease. It does not appear to be quite adult, and the markings about the head and throat may be somewhat different in the old bird, still, however, its characters are sufficiently marked. Judging from description, it must very nearly resemble the O. pectoruUs, of Gould ; but besides the difference of markings, he makes no mention of that species having a crest. The length of the bird, as well as of the wing, is in this also, just one inch greater, which would hardly be the case in a young bird. Descriptions of two new Californian Quadrupeds. By Wm. Gambel, M. D. Dipodoinys *c!gilis. Colour above yellowish-brown, mixed with dusky; beneath pure white, ex- tending half way up the sides. Head elongated, tapering from the ears to a sharp point- Ears nearly round, sparsely hairy. Eyes large, dark brown. A large 78 [August, pouch on each side of the head, opening externally on the cheeks. Both hind and fore feet with four toes and the rudiment of a fifth. The hind legs very long and strong. Tail very long, slender, covered with hair, and ending in a pencillated tuft. Length 10| inches, including the tail, which is 6| inches. ^ , _ (2 incisors, m xi I 10 upper ' „ T^ . , c ,. ieeth, 1 ) 8 molars. Dental System, „„ < ', . . •^ 20 j ,„ , 0 2 incisors. f 10 lower ^ , ) 8 molars. In the upper jaw the incisors are divided by a longitudinal furrow. This beautiful Jerboa-like animal is an abundant inhabitant of the vineyards and cultivated fields of the Pueblo de los Angeles, Upper California. Like the other pouched animals, it forms extensive burrows, traversing the fields in different directions, and are only dislodged during the process of irriga- tion. They leap with surprising agility, sometimes the distance often feet or more at a spring, and are difficult to capture. ATus * Calif ornicas. Dark grey; lighter about the head and shoulders; above tinged with light brown; on the sides almost fulvous. Beneath almost white. Fore feet with four toes and the rudiment of a fifth. Hind feet with five toes. Tail nearly five inches in length, pretty thickly covered with short rigid hairs. Head acutely conical ; ears large, rounded, thin, sparsely hairy ; one inch in length, and 5-8ths in breadth. Length of the body 4^ inches. Old male, — bristles, of the nose 2| inches. I captured but a single specimen of this species in a field near Monterey, Upper California, which, with those of the former, I had the misfortune to lose. The Committee to whom was referred the duty of preparing a cor- rected list of Members and Correspondents, presented a report, which was adopted, and two hundred and fifty copies of the list ordered in ^to. form. The following committee was appointed to superintend the publication of the same : Drs. Zantzinger, Griffith, and Bridges. ELECTION. Alexander Biddle, Esq., of Philadelphia, was elected a Member, and the following were elected Correspondents : — Hugh E. Strickland, Esq., of London. Edward Blyth, Esq., of Calcutta. Francis S. Holmes, Esq., of Charleston, S. C. Theodore Cantor, M. D.. of the Bengal Medical Service. 1848.] 79 DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM In July and August, 1848. J7dy nth, 1848. Two Cabinets of Shells, containing about 1200 specimens, forming part of the Hyde Cullectioti. Presented by Andrew R. Chambers, Esq., of Philadelphia. A collection of Mollusca, Cirrhipeda, and Crustacea, amounting to 54 speci- mens. Presented by Dr. Thomas 13. Wilson. Very fine specimen of Lepidendron, from the vicinity of Pottsville, Pa. From William Dewey, Esq. Two fine specimens of fossil plants, from Schuylkill Co., Pa. From G. N. Jones, Esq. Augtist \st. Two fine specimens of Terebratula Harlani, (Morton,) from Timber Creek, New Jersey. Presented by Mr. Edward Harris. The following specimens of New Minerals were presented by Francis Markoe, Jr., Esq., of Washington, through Dr. Morton, viz. : Arkansite, 2 specimens, from Magnet Cave, Hot Springs Co., Arkansas ; Scarbroite, from Scarboro, Eng- land ; Pyrrhite, from the Azores ; Ozarkite, from Magnet Cave ; and Schorlanite, from do. Dr. Watson presented two rolled specimens of Producta and Encrinites, from Ohio. Atigiist 8th. The following large and valuable collection of casts of Fossils from the Sivalik Hills, was presented by the Court of Directors of the Hon. East India Company. Dinotherium Indicum, part of Lower Jaw, from Perim Island. Do. do. Vertebra, do. do. Elephas insignis. Cranium, from Sivalik Hills. Do. hysudricus. Grinder, do. do. Do. namadicus, do. from Nerbudder. Elephas, first Vertebra, from the Sivalik Hills. Do. Cliftii, Grinder, from Ava. Mastodon perimensis, Cranium, from Perim Island. Do. do. Grinder of the Lower Jaw, from Perim Island. Do. sivalensis, part of Cranium, from the Sivalik Hills. Do. do. 3 spec. Grinders, upper and lower, from the Sivalik Hills. Do. latidens. Grinder and part of Palate, do do. Hippopotamus (Tetraprotodon) palaeindicus, anterior part of the Lower Jaw, from Nerbudder. Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon) sivalensis, Cranium, from the Sivalik Hills. Do. do. do. Lower Jaw, Do. (Tetraprotodon) paljeindieus, Cranium, Rhinoceros palaeindicus. Do. Sus giganteus. Do. Equus namadicus, Do. from Nerbudder. Do. sivalensis, Do. from Sivalik Hills. Do. do. Lower Jaw, part, from Sivalik Hills. Sivatherium giganteum, fern.. Cranium, Do. do. Horn part, Do. do. Cranium, fragment, Mastodon angustidens. Grinder. Do. latidens, do. Do. longirostris, do. Merycopotamus dissimilis. Cranium, from the Sivalik Hills. Do. 2 spec. do. Lower Jaw, do. do. Do. do. Humerus, do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do do. do do. do 80 [August, Calicotherium sivalense, Cranium and Lower Jaw, from the Sivalik Hills. Do. do. part of Upper Jaw, do. do. Do. do. part of Lower Jaw, do. do. Hippohyus sivalensis, Cranium, do. do. Equus Do. Cranium, part, with range of teeth, from Sivalik Hills. Do. Vertebra, Hippotherium antilopinum, Lower Jaw, part, Sivatherium giganteum, Tarsal Bones, Camelopardalis affinis, Cervical Vertebra, Capra, part of the Cranium, Sivatherium giganteum. Vertebra, Do. do. Lower Jaw, fragment, Do. do. Femur, do. Do. do. Anterior extremities restored, Camelus sivalensis, Cranium, Camelopardalis, Humerus, Bos, Cranium, with part of Horns, from Nerbudder. Do. Cranium. Ursus (Hyasnarctos) sivalensis, Ispec, Cranium, Do. do. 2 spec. do. Femur, Emys Hamiltonoides, Emys, Colossochelys Atlas, Humerus, Do. do. Episternum, Do. do. Triphosternum, Leptorhynchus giganteus, Muzzle, Do. gangeticus A, part of Cranium, Do. do. B, do. do. Crocodilus biporcatus, do. do. Capra, do. do. Felis palncotigris, 2 spec. Cranium, Do. cristata, do. Canis, do. Do. do. Hyaina, A, do. Do. B, do. Ursus (Hyajnarctos) sivalensis. Lower Jaw, Enhydridon ferox. A, Cranium, Do. do. B, do. Do. do. C, do. Machairodus sivalensis, A, Cranium, fragment, Do. do. B, do. Quadrumana, Simia, Lower Jaw, part, Aves, Fam. Struthionidae, fragment of Left Tibia, Pisces, Fam. Silenids, fragment, Lutra palaeindica, Cranium, Colossochelys Atlas, (young,) Cranium, Crocodilus biporcatus, (young,) part of Cranium, Seven smaller pieces, undetermined. Also, a cast of a Meteorite, from India. A small box containing 37 specimens of smaller size, most of them without names. In addition to the above, a fine cast of the cranium of Sivatherium giganteum, taken from the original in the British Museum, was received from Dr. Thomas Horsfield. Dr. Morton deposited four crania of the Shoshonee tribe of Indians, collected by Mr. Edward M. Kern. Mr. Lambert presented a specimen of Amblyopsis spelaeus, and of Astacus pellucidiis, from the Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. 18 48. J 81 Aug. 15t/i. Fifty-nine specimens, comprising twenty species of Lepidoptera, from Florida, Key West, and Charleston, collected and presented by Dr. Heermann. Also, from the same donor, eggs of Sterna Cayenna, S. fuliginosa, S. stolida, Pelecanus fuscus, Phalocrocorax floridanus, Ardea nycticorax, A. ludoviciana. DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY In July and August, 1848. July 11 tk. Memoires de la Societe de Physique et d'Histoire naturelle de Geneve. Tome XI. Part 2. 4to. Paris : 1848. From the Society. Notices sur les Plantes rares cultivees dans le jardin b'otanique de Geneve. Par Aug. P. et Alphonse De Candolle. 4to. From the same. Catalogue of Mammalia inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and Islands. By Theodore Cantor, M. D. From the Author. Spicilegium Serpentium Indicorum, by Dr. Theodore Cantor. From the same. General Features of Chusan, &c. By Dr. Cantor. From the same. Catalogue of Reptiles inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula and Islands. By Dr. Cantor. A portion of the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of London, for 1842, describing Coleoptera from Chusan and Canton, by the Rev. F. W. Hope. From Dr. Cantor. Strawberry Report. Read before the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, Aug., 1847. From Mr. Percival. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Vol. 2. Nos. 1 and 2. From the Editor. American Journal of Science and Arts. Second series. Vol. 6. No. 16. From the Editors. Literary Record and Journal of the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania Col- lege. Vol. 4. No. 9. From the Association. Thoughts on the Principles of Taxation, &c. By C. Babbage, Esq. From the Author. United States Coast Survey: Maps of Edgartown, Black Rock, and Bridge- port Harbors. From the United States Treasury Department, through Prof. A. D. Bache. Narrative of the Arctic Land Expedition to the mouth of the Great Fish River and along the shores of the Arctic Ocean in 1833— '35. By Capt. Back, R. N. 8vo. Deposited by Dr. Wilson. Comptes rendus, from Jan. 3d to April 14, 1848. From the same. J till/ 181//. Plantas Asiaticae Rariores, &c. By Nathaniel Wallich, M. and Ph. D. 3 vols, folio. From the late Mrs. Elizabeth Stott, of Philadelphia, through her executors. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Vols. 8, 9, (incomplete,) 10, (do.,) 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16; and Asiatic Researches, vols. 6 to 20. 4to. From the Asiatic Society, through Dr. Chas. Huffnagle. Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents for 1847. From the Hon. Geo. M. Dallas. List of the genera of recent MoUusca, their synonyma and types. By J. E. Gray. From the Author. The following were deposited by Dr. Griffith : Historia Animalium a Wolfgango Franzio. 6th edition. 12mo. Florum et Coronariarum odoratarumque nonnullarum herbarum historia. Auctore Remberto Dodonceo. 12mo. Historia Medica, &c., Auctore Gulielmo Vanden Bossche. 4to. Descriptio Terrae Sanctae et regionum fmitimarun, auctore Borchardo ; item Itiuerarium Hierosolymitarum Bartholomcei de Saligniaco, (in one vol. 4to.) 82 [August^ Flora Virgiliana, seu Catalogus Plantarum in Virgilii operibus occurrentium. 8vo. Flora Classical herausgegeben von Dr. Julius Billerbeck. 8vo. The following were deposited by Dr. Wilson: — A voyage to Abyssinia in 1809 and 1810, by order of the British Government. By Henry Salt, Esq., F. R. S. 4to. A Voyage round the World ; but more particularly to the N. W. Coast of America in 1785 — '88, in the King George and Queen Charlotte, Capts. Portlock and Dixon. By Capt. George Dixon. 4to. Fauna Orcadensis, or the natural history of Orkney and Shetland. By the Rev- George Low. 4to. Narrative of travels and discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in 1822, '23, and '24. By Major Denham, Capt. Clapperton, and the late Dr. Oudney, &c. 4to. Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo. By the late Commander Clapperton. 4to. An attempt towards the natural history of the Fossils of England, in a cata- logue of the English fossils in the collection of J. Woodward, M. D. 2 vols. 8vo. Eduardi Luidii apud Oxonienses Cimiliarchae Ashmoleani Lithophylacii Britannici Ichnographia. 8vo. Caroli a Linne Systema Naturae. r2th edition. 2 vols. 8vo. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. 1. 2d series. No. 5. p^ycologia Britannica. By William Henry Harvey, M. D. Part 29. Conchologia iconica — Genus Bui imus. By Lovell Reeve. 4to. Illustrations of the Birds of Jamaica. By Philip Henry Gosse. Part 2. 8vo.. Abbildungen und Beschreibungen neuer oder wenig gekanntner Conchylien^ von Dr. R. A. Philippi. Vol. 3. No. 3. 4to. niustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. T. J. Hussey. Part 14. 4to. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. By Edward Doubleday. Part 19. 4to. A history of British Mollusca and their shells. By Prof. Forbes and Sylvanus Hanley. Part 5. 8vo. August \st. Literary Record and Journal of the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania Col- lege. Vol. 4. No. 10. From the Association. Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, March 2, 1848. From the Regents. Statistics of Coal: prepared by Richard Cowling Taylor. 8vo. Presented by Dr. Wilson. Aitg2cst Sth. Plantae rariores Javanicse, quas in Insula Java, annees 1802 — 1818 legit et inves- tigavit Thos. Horsfield, M. D. Parts 1, 2 and 3. 4to. From the Author. Annulosa Javanica. By Wm. S. Macleay, Esq. No. 1. 4to. From Dr. Horsfield. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. New Series. Vol. 1. No. 2. 4to. From the Publication Committee. August 15th. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 1. pp. 297-346. 8vo. From the Academy. Descriptions of N. A. Coleoptera, chiefly in the cabinet of J. L. Le^Conte, M. D. By S. S. Haldeman. 4to. From the Author. Descriptions of Plants collected by Wm. Gambel, M. D., in the Rocky Moun- tains and Upper California. By Thomas Nuttall. 4to. From the Author. August 22d. The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. By J. J. Audubon and Rev. J. Backman. No. 28. Elephant folio. Deposited by Dr. Wilson. Comptes Rendus. Nos. 16-22, for 1848. From the same. Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte, von A. P. A. Wiegmann. No. 4, 1847. From the same. Boston Journal of Natural History. Vol.5. No. 4. From the Boston Society of Natural History. 1848.] 83 September 5tk, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. J- J. Kaup, dated Darmstadt, Auf^ust 4, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Corres- pondent, and recommending the purchase by this Society, of certain collections of fossil remains and European Lepidoptera offered for sale in Germany, and enclosing catalogues of the same. A communication was read from the Secretary of the Linnean Society, of London, dated June 22d, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of Part 1, Vol. 1, New Series of the Journal of the Academy, and of recent Nos. of the Proceedings. An extract from a letter from Francis S. Holmes, Esq., dated, Charleston, South Carolina, August 24th, 1848, was read, proposing an exchange of a series of fossils from the Eocene of that State, for a copy of j.the first series of the Journal of the Academy; which was agreed to, and the Publication Committee directed to make the ex- change. September 18tk, 1848. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read from Dr. A. A. Henderson, U. S. N., dated Septem- ber 16, 1848, and from Wm. F. Van Amringe, Esq. dated Montgomery, Orange Co., N. Y., September 12th, 1848, severally acknowledging the receipt of their notices of election as Correspondents. A communication from the Secretai-y of the American Philosophical Society, dated Philadelphia, September 15, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of late Nos. of the Proceedings. Prof. Haldeman exhibited specimens of a fruit, which he supposed to be hybrid between the Chinquapin and the common Chestnut. A hy- brid between the Chinquapin and the Spanish Chestnut, was also shown to exist. The following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to address a letter to the officers of the American Association for the advancement of Science, inviting the members of that body to visit the Hall of the Academy during their stay in Philadelphia. October 3d, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. Dr. Hallowell read a paper intended for publication, entitled "Notes of the post-mortem appearances observed in a Cynocephnlus porcarius,'' which was referred to a Committee consisting of Drs. Leidy, Zant- zinger and Morton. PROCEED. ACAD, NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. — VOL. IV. NO. V. 12 84 [October A communication was presented from Dr. E,. W. Gibbes, of Colum- bia, South Carolina, entitled "Monograph of the Fossil SqualidtE of the United States, continued," which was referred to the Committee on the former portion of the memoir. Mr. Cassin read a paper describing a new Tanager from the Rio Negro, {Tancii^ra nigro-aurita,) which was referred to a Committee consisting of Drs. Wilson, Gambel and Bridges. On leave granted, the Committee to whom was referred Mr. Henry C. Lea's catalogue of Tertiary Fossils of the U. S., reported in favour of publication in the Proceedings. October 10th, 1848. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A communication was read from Prof. Walter R. Johnson, Secretary of the American Association for the advancement of Science, dated Philadelphia, September 25th, 1848, returning the acknowledgements of that body for " the liberal and handsome manner in which the numerous and splendid collections of the Academy were offered for the inspection of the members." A letter was read from Francis S. Holmes, Esq., of Charleston, S. C, dated October 2d, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. Also a letter from Mr. George B. Allinson, dated October 3d, 1848, acompanying his donation of minerals, this evening announced. October 17M, 1848. Mr. Vaux in the Chair. Letters were read : — From the Secretary of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, dated October lOth, 1848, acknowledging the receipt of Nos, 1 and 2, New Series of Journal of the Academy : — From Dr. Bennet Dowler, dated New Orleans, October 3d, 1848, and from Dr. R. M. S. Jackson, dated Blairsville, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 7th, 1848, severally acknowledging the receipt of their notices of election as Correspondents: — From John A. Grecx, dated New York, October 15, 1848, announc- ing that he had forwarded for this Society recent Nos. of the Annals of the Royal Agricultural Society of Lyons. October 2Uh, 1848. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from Mr. B. M. Norman, of New Orleans, dated October 6th, 1848, announcing the late decease of Dr. William M. 1848.] 85 Carpenter of that city, a correspondent of this Institution, and stating that at the request of the latter, he had transmitted for the cabinet of the Academy, the specimens of Tapir fossils, described and figured by Dr. Carpenter in SilJiman's Journal, New Series, No. 2. A letter vvas read from Prof. Walter R. Johnson, addressed to Dr. Morton, dated Washington, October 18, 1848, recommending to the Academy to memorialize Congress on the advantage and impor- tance of an examination into the Natural History of the Southern portion of Chili, and of adding one or more naturalists to the astronomical expedition now fitting out by the U. S. Govern- ment for that region, under the command of Lieut. J. M. Gillies, U. S. N. Referred to a Committee consisting of Dr. Morton, Dr. Bridges and Mr. Vaux. Mr. Cassin read a communication from Mr. Wm. S. Pease, intended for publication, describing the geological features of the district of country lying between Puebla and the Gulf of Mexico, with some re- marks on its Natural History. Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Townsend, and Mr. Vaux. Mr. Cassin also presented a Catalogue of Birds, collected by Mr. Wm. S, Pease, during the march of the Army of the United States from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. Referred to Drs. Townsend, Gambel and Woodhouse. October 31st, 1848. Vice President Mokton in the Chair. The Committee on Mr. Cassin's description of a new Tanager, re- ported in favour of publication. Description of a new Tanagra, in the Collection of the Academy of Naiural Sciences of Philadelphia. Br John Cassin. Tanagra nigro-aurita, nobis. Superior and point of the inferior manjible, black, — other portion of the infe- rior mandible, yellow. Head above, chin and throat, ending in a point on the breast, crimson. A broad stripe fro.n the base of the bill, including the eye and ear, glossy black. This stripe completely separates the crimson of the upper part of the head from that of the throat. Entire upper surface of the body, except the head, black, which is also the co. lour of the wings and tail. Under parts of the body from the breast, white. Legs, in the dried skin, nearly black. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 65 inches ; wing 3 1-lOth ; tails 8-lOth inches. Hab. Rio Negro, South America. This species very much resembles both Tanagra gularis, Linn, and capitata, 86 [October, D'Orbigny, from either of which it may be distinguished by its black nares and ear;:, and also by the absence of purple on the breast. In the species now de- scribed, of which I have seen six specimens, the throat and breast are of the same colour, exactly as the upper part of the head, without the slighest appear- ance of the purple into which the crimson changes in both the species men- tioned. The legs, also, in the present species, are nearly or quite black, in which respect they differ from those of T. capilntu, which are yellow. A specimen of this remarkable species was obtained in Europe by Mr. Edward Wilson, to whose valuable additions to the collection of the Academy I have fre- quently alluded. I have also seen other specimens, two of which I procured from a collection, brought from the Rio Negro by Mr. John Willf, an intelligent mer- chant, formerly resident at Para. The Committee on the following communication by Dr. Hallowell, reported in favor of publication : Notes of ihe post-mortem appearanca observed in a Cynocephalus porcarius, tvhich died in the Menagerie at Philadelphia. By Edward Hali.oweli,, M. D. The right lung is greatly enlarged and tuberculous; the tuberculous matter exists in the form of infiltration, and is disseminated in masses leaving inter- vening spaces of hepatized lung of a brick-red colour, firm and resisting to the touch ; the greater portion of the lower lobe of this lung, as well as a very con- siderable part of the upper, is occupied with this matter ; the opposite lung is comparatively healthy, a few tuberculous dei)osits being observed at its root and apex, and also in the lower lobe, which is somewhat congested. Several of the bronchial glands are enlarged, one of them measuring fourteen lines in length. Pericardium pale, containing no serosity ; coronary veins much enlarged. Abdomen. Mucous membrane of oesophagus pale, apparently healthy ; the liver is of a dark-chocolate colour, and has four lobes; the second of these counting from the right is the largest; the liver measures five and a half inches transversely, three inches antero-posteriorly, and one and a quarter in depth ; no tuber- cles are observed in it; the gall-bladder, which lies in a sulcus upon the under surface of the largest lobe is moderately distended with bile, tinging its parietes a light-green colour ; the spleen measures three and three quarter inches in length by one and a half in breadth in its broadest part ; it is elongated at its right ex- tremity, tapering.almost toa point ; the opposite extremity is rounded, the entire organ presenting a somewhat triangular form ; no tubercles are observed in any part of it ; its tissue is of a deep-purple colour, almost black from congestion ; the stomach measures six inches transversely, by three and a half from the entrance of the oesophagus to its greater curvature ; its muscular fibres are very apparent; the oesophagus enters it about the middle of the lesser curvature ; the mucous membrane of the stomach is of a brownish-red colour near the pylorus, elsewhere of a pale onion tint ; no crypts are observable ; the pancreas measures three inches transversely, one and a quarter in its greatest breadth near its head; the large intestine, including the coecum, measures two feet nine and a half 1848.] 87 inches (Fr.) in length ; the ccECum measures two inches five lines in length ; the mucous memhrane of the large intestine is of a greenish olive tint throughout; the isolated crypts are very distinct ; the small intestine measures six feet two inches ; the mucous membrane is apparently healthy, of a pale onion tint, slightly reddened in portions ; the isolated glands are very numerous near the upper ex- tremity of the duodenum; there are no valvuloe conniventes ; eight plaques of Peyer are counted in the ileum ; the largest is about one and a half inches in length; the mesenteric glands are healthy; the kidneys ave of nhrick-red colour; tissue healthy; bladder not examined. The committee to whom was referred the following catalogue of Mexican Birds, reported in favor of publication. Catalogue of Birds collecled hy Mr. Wm. S. Pease, during (he march of the Army of the United Slates from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. By John Cassin. Upon publicity being given to the fact that the Department of War of the United States of America intended sending an expedition, to consist of both Naval and Military forces, against the city of Vera Cruz, Mr. Wm. S. Pease, Meniber of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, and Correspondent of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, proposed to embrace an opportunity which would thus probably offer, of his accompanying the military force into Mexico. Having succeeded in effecting a suitable arrangement, Mr. Pease joined the army under General Scott, at Vera Cruz, and continued with it until the final evacuation of the country. The facilities for collecting and for observation possessed by Mr. Pease were necessarily of a restricted character, resulting from the position of the army in a hostile country, and particularly so during the marches, when it was constantly attended by bands of armed inhabitants, or guerillas, who hovered in its vicinity for the purpose of committing depredations upon persons who ventured away from the main body. Notwithstanding all disadvantages, however, Mr. Pease made very interesting collections of birds, insects, and other productions of the country. Mr. Pease represents himself as particularly indebted to Col. G. W. Hughes of the 1st Regiment Maryland infantry, and to'Olis Hoyt, M. D., Surgeon of the Mas- sachusetts volunteers, and medical director of the general hospital at Jalapa; whose kindness and encouraging treatment of Mr. Pease, are honorable to those gentle- men as friends of science, and worthy of the character of American officers. 1. Spizaetus tyrannus, (De Wied) PI. col. 73. From the neighbourhood of Perote, rare ;— an adult female. 2. Herpetotheres cachinnane, (Linn.) Viell. Gal. 19. 3. Falco sparverius, Linn. Aud. Birds of Am. pi. 42; Mr. Pease observes : " Only found about the upper part of the tierra iemplada, very common." 4. Asiur nitidus, (Lath.) PI col. 87. 5. Micrastur guerilla, nobis (n. s.) °8 [OcTonER, Adult 5 . ?— Entire upper surfoce of tlie body, heaJ, wings and tail, hair brown, a shade darker on the head Feathers on the cheek and jaw, brown, which colour forms a partial collar on the front of the neck. Throat, fore neck, abdomen and under tail coverts, white, with a few brown spots or bars on the latter. Neck encircled by a narrow band of white, ail the feathers of which are tipped or edged with brown. Breast, flanks and thighs, white, every feather having about three bands of the «ame brown as the back. Edge of the wing at the flexure and inner wing coverts, white; many of the feathers with lunated spots of brown. All the quill feathers with broad white bars on their inner webs ; fifth primary longest. Upper tail coverts spotted with white. Tail with four or five narrow white bars, and tipped with white. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 15 inches, wing 7, tail 6| Inches. Young 9 . ?. Under parts tinged with fulvous or buff. Breast, flanks and thighs with the bands much narrower, and the throat with a more decided brown collar. Feathers of the back and wing coverts, with ferruginous and white spots. Upper tail coverts with the white markings more numerous- Superciliary feathers white, tipped with brown. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 14 inches, wing 65, tail 6 inches. Hab. Near Jalapa, Mexico. This species considerably resembles some stages of plumage of the M. xanfho- thorax (Cuv.) and the M. leucauchen, (Temm.) PI. col. 92, 306, (which are pro- bably identical.) It may readily be distinguished from either of those by the entire absence of the rufous chesnut color of the breast and back, and by the much broader, and lesser number of the bands upon the under surface of the body. In the species now described, the character of the white markings of the tail is also different from that of M. xanthothorax or of leucauchen, and more approaches that of the larger species, M. hrachyterus, (Cuv.) These markings are broad and truncated at the shaft of the feather, instead of ending acutely and forming tri- angles, as in those species. Two specimens ( 5 and 9 . ? ) were brought by Mr. Pease; a third speci- men of the samfe species, in more adult plumage, was previously received from Paris, in the collections made by Mr. Edward Wilson. 6. Accipiter fuscus, (Gm.) Falco velox, Wilson, Am. Orn, 45, 46. Near Jalapa all the year. The two specimens (nearly adult and young 9 ) brought by Mr. Pease, are perfectly similar to others obtained in the vicinity of this city. In both sfiecimens the tall is quite even, in which respect they differ from Mr. Svvainson's description of A. mexicanus. 7. Accipiter Conperi, (Bonap.) And. Birds Am. pi. 36, 141. A young male from near Jalapa. Dr. Kaup, in the Isis, 1847, page 178, and Mr. Gray, in List of specimens of Birds in the British Museum, give Acciyiter Cooperi (Bonap.) as a synonyme for 184S.J 89 Accipiter pileatus (De Wied) PI. col. 205, This is not correct, as may readily be ascerlained by reference to numerous specimens of loth those species in the collection of this Academy. In fact but a small degree of resemblance exists between any age or se.x of the two species, so far as I have seen. The A. Cuoperi, is much the larger, nor have I ever seen a specimen of this species assuming plumage at all approaching that represented in Pi. col. 205. 8. Circus cijaneus. (Linn.) Young birds from near Jalapa. 9. Ephialles atricapilla, (Natt.) PI. col. 145. 10. Syrnium, ? A species to which I am not at present prepared to attach a specific name. I have reason to suppose that it is one of the species which Mr. Gray has named in his List of the Rapacious birds in the British Museum, of which no description has come under my notice, if published. 11. ISyctidromus Derbyanus, Gould. Icon. Av. ii. pi. 2. A young bird from the neighbourhood of Jalapa, where it lives all the year. 12. Mumotus braslliensis, (Lalh.) Near Jalapa, found in thickets, iris red In the specimen brought by Mr. Pease, and also in two others from Mexico in the Rivoli collection, the crown of the head is much lighter coloured than is usual in South American specimens. 13. Trogon mexicanus, Swainson, Gould. Mon. PI. 2. 14. Trogon exalapensis, Du Bus, Esquisses Orn. I. pi. 2. Two males, from the neighbourhood of Jalapa. 15. Trogon amhiguus, 1. Gould. Mon. pi. 4. A young bird, sufficiently ambiguous at least to be referred to this species. Of these three species, Mr. I'ease has the following note: "Live on the tierra icmplada the greater part of the year, in the thickets bordering small streams, very shy, but when alarmed flying only a short distance and endeavouring to conceal themselves. The plumage appears to be very slightly attached to the skin, and if you are so unfortunate as to wound a specimen, it is almost entirely lost in the struggles of the bird." 16. Alcedo americana, Gm. pi. Enl. 591. Neighbourhood of Jalapa, all the year, 17. Alcedo vestila, Lesson. Traite, I. p. 242." I give this name on the faith of labels attached to specimens in the Rivoli collection, M. Lesson's description being too short to enable me to identify the species satisfactorily. IS. Cyanocorax ornatus, (hesson.\ Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 41. On the sides of the mountains all the year. 19. Cyanocorax peruvlanus, (Gm.) Le Vaill. Ois. de Par. 46. The specimen brought by Mr. Pease, agrees exactly with the description of Garrulus luxuosis, Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 100, which is also Mexican. I can find no difference, however, between the present specimen and the young C. pernvianus, from South America. Mr. Pease notes : "This species lives on the sides of the volcanoes all the 90 [October,' year ; Mexican name, pepe vtrdt. "Very similar in its habits to the other species brought by me, ail of which are very numerous on the ticrra templada, and the hills bounding the plains of Perote and Puebla on the east." 20. Cymidcorax concolor, Cassin. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philad., Feb. 1848. The second specimen of this species which has fallen under my notice. It differs in no respect from my description, except perhaps that the feathers of the head are slightly elongated or subcrested. Of this si)ecies .Mr. Pease remarks: "Common on the hills bordering the plains of Puebla, about Pinal and the mountains skirting the valley of Mexico on the east ; remains all the year ; difference of the sexes is in size alone. Iris light brown." 21. Sturyiel/a hippocrepis, Wagler. Isis, 1832, p. 281. A species much resembling the common *'. ludoviciana, but differing in several important characters. It may easily be distinguished by its shorter and more pointed bill, and smaller size. This species is well described in De Sagra's Cuba, under the name of S. ludo- viciana. 22. Icterus melanocephalus, Wagler. Isis, 1829, p. 756. Icterus Auduhunii, Giraud. New species of N. A. birds, 1S41, ((olio edition.) Common in the neighbourhood of Jalapa, and also found on the tierra calienle ; called b3''the Mexicans, culandria iquimite, from the name of a fruit which it feeds upon. Iris yellowish white. 23- Icterus gularis, (Licht.) Des Murs. Icon. Orn. i. jil. 'J. 24. Yphunles Buliimore, (Linn.) 25. Agelaius ceneus, (Licht.) Isis, 1827, p. 758. Common in the vicinity of the Puente Nacional. 26. Guiraca ludoviciana, (Linn.) Jalapa, in February, March, and April. 27. Guiraca coerulea. (hinn.'^ Jalapa. 28. Guiraca melanocephala, Swainsou. And. Birds of Am. .373. Common near Jalapa, in February, March, and April. 29. Einbcrnagra ulbinucha, D'Orb. et La Fres. Rev. Zool. 1833, p. 165, Jalapa; iris light brown. 30. Embernasrra hrunnei-nucha, La Fresnaye. Rev. Zool, 1839, p. 97. Jalapa ; iris brown. 31. Sullator airiceps, Lesson. Gervais, Atl. de Zool. pi. 28. On the hills near Jalapa, in December, January and February. Iris light brown. 32. Saltaiorruhicus, Viell. T. flammiceps, Temm.. PI. col. 177. On the hills at the foot of Perote, living in thickets. 33. Tanagra vicarlus, Lesson. Cent. Zool. 68. Iris light brown ; on the hills at the foot of the volcanoes. 34. Pyranga sestiva, (Gm.) Near Jalapa. 33. Euphonia elegantissima, Bonaparte. Du Bus, Esqu. Orn. pi. 8. Neighbourhood of Jalapa, in February, March and April. 1848.] 91 36. Euphonia occipitalis, Du Bus. Esqu. Orn. part iii, pi. 14. It is the female of this beautiful species, which is described and figured by M. Du Bus. The male is as follows : Above, glossy parrot-like green, which is also the colour of the throat to the breast, where it is terminated by a narrow crecsent of glossy chesiiiit brown. Breast, middle of the abdomen and under tail coverts, yellow. Flanks green. Occipital spot and semicollar on the front of the neck, pale blue. According to Mr. Pease, this species is found among low thickets, in ravines, at the foot of the mountains, from October to February ; not comm.on. Mexican name, ysabeliia. 37. Tiaris olivaceus, (Linn.) Lath. Gen. Hist. V. p. 340. Ernberiza olicacea, Liim. Tiaris pusillus, Swainson. Near Jalapa ; iris nearly black. 38. Tiaris nitens, (Linn.) Near Quarterpec ; not common ; iris nearly black. 39. Carduelis vmgellanicus, (Viell) Aud. Birds of America, 394. 40. Pteroghsatis prasiniis, hicht. GouldMon.pl. 18. Neighbourhood of Jalapa, during April, May, and June ; iris chocolate coloor. 41. Crotophaga sulcirostra, Swainson. Gervais, Atlas de Zool, pi. 17. ]\Iale and female very similar in plumage ; from the Puente Nacional, where, according to Mr. Pease, this species is numerous, flying in flocks ; iris white. 42. Fiaya cayana, (Linn.) Mr. Pease's specimens are precisely similar to specimens from South America. 43. Picus varius, Linn. Common on the lower part of the tierra calienie all the year. 44. Melanerpes formicivorus, Swainson. PI. col. 451. Upper part of the tierra calitnte, and as far as the foot of the mountains j feeds on high trees ; iris white ; sexes similar. 45. Centurus subelegans, (Bonaparte.) On the tierra caliente, and the hills above, all the year ; sexes similar. fTo be continued.} The Committee on the following paper by Mr. Pease reported in favor of publication. Observations on the Geology and Natural History of Mexico. By Wm. H. Pc.tsE. Haviti" noticed among the published correspondence from the army in Mexico, but little information respecting the n:»tnral features of that country, I take the liberty of presenting to the Academy the result of a few hasty observations made on a part of the route from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. But few op- portunities for scientific investigations were afforded to those connected with the army, on account of the active operations they were incessantly engaged in, from the time of leaving the coast until the return of the army. I was enabled, how- 14 92 [October, ever, principally in company with scouting parties, to visit that part of the country between the range of volcanoes, bounding the plains of Perote and Puebla on the east, and the Gulph of Mexico, comprising the greater part of the f^tate of Vera Cruz, and to make some collections in Natural History. J'he general outlines of the country I presume it is unnecessary for me to detail. The plains of Cuetlachlan, or the fierra culienie. as they are more usually called, comprise that region of country bordering the Gulph of Mexico. They are about twenty. five miles in width, extending back to the Plan del Rio by a gradual ascent of thirty feet per mile, with but lew elevations or depressions, except at the river Antigua, and other small streams which pass through them in a north easterly direction. Beyond the Plan del Rio the ascent increases over a regular succession of hills and plains, until you reach the loot of the range of mountains in which the peaks of Orizaba, Perote and others are situated. This range forms the rim or eastern boundary of the plains of Anahuac, which are more commonly known as the tierra ieniplada, and are about thirty five miles in width. The sides and top of this mountain range are called the tierra fria, immediately beyond which lay the great table lands of Mexico. The table lands extend, with little or no variation in their general level, to the Cordilleras bordering the Pacific Ocean, though they are divided into several plains by ranges of volcanoes and porphyritic rocks. 'J'he iierra callcnie is bordered on the Gulph of Mexico by low sand hills, from four to six miles in width, not bare as has been represented, but coveied with a thick chapparel, or thicket of Cacti and thorn bushes, to within reach of the water. Great numbers of fresh water and land shells are found on these hills and on the beach, thrown up from the Gulph, which may be referred to living species. After passing these hills a few miles, I notired at one locality a layer of lime- stone. It is covered by a coarse conglomerate of volcanic and porphyritic rocks, which extends over the whole upper part of the tierra culienie, rendering the surlace rou^h and stony. At the Puenta Nacional it is exposed to the de| th of two hundred leet, interstratified irregularly with veins of fine sandstone. Deep gullies are worn through it to the rivers, by the drainage of the plains during the wet season. The rivers are the only source of irrigation, receiving no supplies in their con se from the mountains to the coast. 'J'he greater part of the plains is covered with a dense growth of vegetation, so thick that it would seem almost impossible for the soil to support more, and ihe trees and busnes are loaded with an innumerable variety of parasitical plants and vines, interlacing and binding them together, in such a manner as to render them absolutely impenetrable. On other parts, particularly between the con- glomerate and the coast, the chapparel is more open, dotted with clumps of low dwarfish trees and Cacti, and atlbrd grazing to herds of half wild cattle, in which the property of the inhabitants principally consists. To the south of Vera Cruz the cultivation of cotton has been introduced; it is of white fine quality, but perhaps from want of proper cultivation, the staple is very short, so that when worked it requires to be mixed with other varieties. The inhabitants live mostly on the small bottom lands of the rivers, their crops consisting of corn, chili, and frijoles. They are a puny and sickly peo- ple, being subject to intermittent and typhoid fevers, during the months after the close of the wet season. Though the temperature at the Puenta Nacional, 1848.] 93 in the months of September, October and November, averaged 80° at 3 P. M. with little variation, the atmosphere was so loaded with moisture that it was im- possible to keep our lighting tools Iree from rust for twerity-lbur hours at a time, protect them as we might. The animals met with at the Fueuta Nacional and on tlie tierra caliente, are forth:! greater part common to 'i'exas and the north; the common i\eer is abundant, though of small size; the red fox, the prairie wolf, arid the spotted liger cat ate frequently met with, and the Puma also, though more frequently in the mountains above. Reptiles are exceedingly numerous, though of lew species. The royal Iguano, as it is called, is found in the cliffs bordering the river Antigua, and ijrows to a very large size: one killed by a Mexican measuring nine feet in length. The tiesh of this species, as well as that of others, is considered quite a delicacy by the inhabitants. I observed a curious habit of a species of lizard, which has not been noticed before to my knowledge; it is that of passing over the water in an erect pos tion, resting on its hinder parts, and propelling itself by its hmd feet, its tail laying horizontally on the water, acting as a rudder. In the San Juan and Antigua rivers I noticed an alligator which appeared to be dif- fereiit from our common spec;es ; the young, a specimen of which I caught, is entirely black, without the usual yellow markings on its back. Land and fresh water shells are scarce ; the bed> if the streams being very stony; nearer the coast, however, they may perhaps be more abundant. After passing the tierra caliente, the ascent increases over the tierra templada, as above stated, to the foot of the mountains. The whole ol the surface of this part of the country is much broken by low ranges of volcanic hills and deep ravines or barrancas, as they are called, of two to five hundred feet in depth, which run, . commonly, at right angles from the mountain chain above. The city of Jalapa derives its name from that of an ancient Indian village, a few leagues distant, and signifies " built among barrancas.'' • Most of the hills are of volcanic formation, though they are not all so, as I have seen stated. 'J"he limestone shows itself in the valleys at the foot of the moun- tains, and in the barrancas, when of sufficient width. It is, of course, very much altered from its connection with the volcanic rock, being uncrystallized and wh teried. It is not fossiliferous, and, as far as I noticed, unstratified. At Qu-r- terpec, a few leagues south of Jalapa and at other places, it is burnt by the In- dians, atid the lime is sold in the neighbouring towns and cities. The soil of the valleys is rich, and under cultivation produces during the whole year, rice, coffee, tobacco, sugar cane, corn and other vegetable productions, fruit, &c.;Of both tropical and temperate climes, in great abundance. The ave- rage of temperature I should place lower than Humboldt. During the months of January and February, there were several nights of severe frosts in the neighborhood of Jalapa and below, which stripped the trees on the hills of their foliage, but I was told it was of very unusual occurrence. Every one who has visited this country must agree with Humboldt, that the region comprising the tierra templada anJ the eastern slope of the mountains above, is "one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the v\orld." Ko other part of the world, perhaps, can present scenery of such sublime and picturesque beauty. When travelling over the rough and barren hills, strewn with volcanic rocks, the scene is suddenly changed by coming upon the edge of a barranca or ravine, its bottom lands several hundred feet below you, highly cultivated in 94 [October, fields of sugar cane, corn, &c., dotted with the straw-thatched cottages of the Indians, and presenting a most perfect panorama or picture of nature's own paint- ing, enclosed, as it were, in a frame of black and jagged rocks, which form its perpendicular sides, without a vestige of vegetation growing upon them. F'ar ofT below, lays stretched out the tierra caliente, having the appearance of an immense park, bounded on the horizon by the Gulf; and yet, elevated as your position seems to be, on turning to look m the opposite direction, Orizaba, with its silvery cap of eternal snow, and the base and rocky peak of Perote, still stand above you eight or nine thousand feet. In addition to the animals on the tierra caliente, I noticed the raccoon, the opossum, the bassaris astuta, or ring-tailed weasel, as it is called by the Mexi- cans, and several species of deer. I noticed also a porcupine, which struck me as difTerent from the common species. 'J'he puma and jaguar are also met with in the mountains. The mammalia of this part of Mexico seem lo be identical with, or nearly allied to, more northern species, while the birds for the greater part are found also much farther south. Lizards are less numerous, but snakes more so than on the tierra caliente. The plants I should think more characteristic than either mammalia or birds, and present a rich field for investigation. The two species of Jalapa root are collected in small quantities, only on the sides of the mountains by the Indians, the greater jiart exported, being brought from the north and west of the city of Mexico. In the neighbourhood of Jalapa, and on the road passing over the mountains, I noticed several beds and hills of sand, in some of which are deposits of the sulphate of lime, finely crystallized in the form of sand. I was told by the Mexicans that they had dug up here young clams, perhaps cyclas. I mention this fact in confirmation of my opinion that the plains of Anahuac above, or of Perote and Puebla, as they may be called, have been drained by one of the many revolutions (geological, not political,) which this countrj' has passed through. The eastern part of the plains above, for the distance of twelve or fifteen miles, is sandy; beyond are salt beds and soda. In many localities, at the depth of ten or twelve feet, I saw fossil fresh water shells of the genera planorbis, lymnea, physa, and others, which it is reasonable to suppose once lived at the bottom of lakes which covered these plains, as well as that of the valley of Mexico. The volcanic mountains which form the boundaries to the plains, are flanked by ranges of limestone hills, similar in character to those below on the tierra templada. Undoubtedly the range which bounds the plains of Anahuac to the east, is very rich in mineral treasure, as specimens of silver ore are frequently brought in by the Indians, but they, like those of Peru, conceal their knowledge of the localities with the utmost care. About three leagues from Perote I saw a vein of sulphuret of silver three feel in width, associated with blende and sulphate of copper. 1848.] 95 Catalogue nf Ihe Tertiary Testacea of the United States. By Henry C. Lea. The following list is intended as a mere mechanical assi-tance to the student of onr Tertiary Testacea. The descriptions of these species are scattered through the Transactions of learned Societies, Scientific Jonrnals, Pamphlets, and other publications difficult of access, presenting a serious obstacle to any one endea- vouring to identify specimens. Labouring under this difficulty myself, I pre- pared this catalogue, and from my experience of its convenience, I presume that it may be found of assistance to others. I have endeavoured to introduce the recent shells which have been observed in a fossil state, as far as I have seen them noted, but as no regular record has been kept of the.Ti, I fear that in that particular, especially, this list may be found imperfect. I have not attempted to determine the conflicting synonymes, either generic or specific, but have merely given the names with a reference to the publications in which they are alluded to or described. REFERENCES. Jour. Acad. Pro. Acad.- Sil. Jour.— " " N. Trans. Phi Trans. Geo Best. Jour. Nat. Inst.— (Jont. Geol. Tert. Foss. Med. Tert.- — Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelpliia. -Proceedings " " " " " Silliman's American Journal of Science and Arts. S. " " " " " New Series, (commenced in 1846. 5 . — Transactions of the American Pliilosophical Society. I. — Transactions of the Geolog:ical Society of Pennsylvania. — Boston Journal of Natural History. Bulletin of the National Institution. — Contributions to Gsologv, hy Isaac Lea. —Fossil Shells of the Tertiary Formations of North America, by T. A. Conrad. -Fossil Shells from the Medial Tertiary of the United States, by T. A. Conrad. CATALOGUE. ACTEON. Andersoni, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. angulatus, H. C . Lea, Trans. Phil . ix. costellatus, Con., Tert. Foss. elevatus, Lea, Cent. Geol. glans., H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. globosus, H. C. Lea, " '• granulatus, H. C. Lea, " idoneus, Con., Tert. Foss. laevis, H. C. Lea, Sil. Journ. xl. lineatus. Lea, Cont. Geol. magnoplicatus, H. C. Lea, Sil. Journal, xl. melanellus. Lea, Cont. Geol. melanoides. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. milium, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. nitens, H. C. Lea, " " " novellus. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. ovoides. Con., " " vi ponailius, Con., Tert. Foss. punctatus, Lea, Cont. Geol. A. pygmaeus. Lea, Cont. Geol. sculptus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. simplex, H. C. Lea, " " striatus. Lea, Cont. Geol. turbinatus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Aligena. A. lasvis, H, C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. striata, H. C. Lea, " '< Amphidesma. A. ajquale. Say, Sil. Jour. xli. ffiquatum. Con.. Pro Acad. i. bellastriatum. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. carinatum, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. constrictum, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. inaequale, Say, Jour. Acad. vii. linosum, Con., Tert. Foss. Mississippiense,Con., Pro. Acad. iii. nuculoide, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. protextum. Con., " subobliquum, '< " 9G [October, A. subovatum, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. subreflexum Con., . " vii telliiiula, Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. transversum. Say, " xxviii. Ampullaria. A. perovata. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Anatina. A. antiqua, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Ciaibornensis, Lea, Cont. Geol. teilinoides, H. C. Lea, Trans. PliiL ix. A.ncillahi A. A. altilis, Con., Teit. Foss. lymneoides, Con., " scamba, Con., " " staminea, Con., " subglobosa. Con., " tenera. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Anolax. A. gigantea, Lea, Cont. Geol. phcata. Lea., '■ " A.VIiDIXELLA. A. Virginiana, Con., Med. Tert. ornata, Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. Anomia- A. ephippium, Linn., Jour. Acad. vii. jugo-a, Con., Pro. Acad. i. Ruffini, Con., '<■ " Ahca. A. aequicostata. Con., Med. Tert. arata, Say, Jour. Acad iv. brevidesma, Con., Med. Tert. buccula, Con., " " caelata. Con., " " callipieura. Con., " " centenaria. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. cuculloides, Con., Tert. Foss. depleura, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. idonea, Con. Tert. Foss, improcera, Con., Med. Tert. incile, Say. Jour. Acad. iv. lienosa, Say, Sil. Jour. xli. limula. Con., Tert. Fo5S. lineolata, Con., Med. Tert. maxiUata, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. Mississippiensis.Con., Pro. Acad. iii. pexata. Say, Sil. Jour, xxiii. plicatura, Con., Med. Tert. ponderosa. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. propatula. Con., Med. Tert. protracta, Rogers, Trans. Phil. v. rhomboidella, Lea, Cont. Geol. scalaris. Con., Pro. Acad. i. etaminea, Say, Med. Tert. stillicidium. Con., Tert. Foss. subrostrata. Con., Jour. Acad. viii. subsinuata. Con., Med. Tert. transversa. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. triquetra, Con., Pro. Acad. i. Artemis. A. acetabulum, Con., Tert. Foss. concentrica. Born, Jour. Acad. vii. elegans. Con., Pro. Acad. i. AsTAHTK. A. abbreviata. Con., Med. Tert. arata. Con. " " callosaj Con., Tert. Foss. Coheni, Cou., Med. Tert. concentrica. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. cuneilormis. Con., Med. Tert. exaltata,Con., Jour. Acad. viii. lineolata, H. C. Lea, Trans., Phil. ix. lunulata, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. lyrata, Sil. Jour., xli. minor, Lea, Cont. Geol. miiiutissima, Lea., " Nicklinii, Lea., " obruta. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. parva Lea, Cont. Geol. perplana, Con., Med. Tert. planulata, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. proruta, Con., Tert. Foss. radians, Con., Med. Tert. recurva. Lea, Cont. Geol. sulcata. Lea. " " symmetrica, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. teilinoides. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. undulata. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. ungulina. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. varians, Con., Jour. Acad. viii. vicina, Say, Jour. Acad. vii. AviCULA, A. argentea, Con. Pro. Acad. iii. Ciaibornensis, Lea, Cont. Geol. limula, Con. Tert. Foss. multanguJa, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. trigona. Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. I3alaxus. B. Finchii, Lea, Cont. Geol. humilis. Con., Sil. Jour. ii. N. S. incile, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. ovularis. Lam., Sil. Jour. xli. peregrinus, Morton, Jour. Acad. viii. Proteus, Con. " " vii. tintinnabulum, (?) Lam. " vi. BoXKLLIA. B. lineata, Con., Jour. Acad. viii. terebellata. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. BurCINTM. B. altiie. Con., Tert. Foss. amcrnum. Con. " " aratum. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. avarum. Con., Sil. Jour, xxviii. bilix, Con., Pro. Acad. i. filicatum, Con. " " fossulatum. Con. " frumentum, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil, ix. 1S4S.] 97 B. harpuloide, Con., Pro. Acad. i. integrum, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. iiiterruptum, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. laqueatuni, Con., Tert. Foss. lienosum, Con., Pro. Acad. i. lunatum, Say, Sil. Jour. xli. Mississippense, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. multirugatum. Con., Sil. Jour. xli. obsoletum. Say, " " quadratum. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. quadrulatum, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. parvum, H. C. Lea. Sil. Jour. xl. perlatum Con., Tert. Foss. porcinum, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. pranruptum. Con., Pro. Acad. i. prorsum. Con., Tert. Foss. protractum, Con., Pro. Acad. i. pusillum, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. sagenum. Con., Tert. Foss. Sowerbii, Lea,Cont. Geol. sexdentatum, Con., Pro. Acad. I. trivittatum. Say, Jour. Acad. vi. Tuomeyi, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. BuLlMUS. B. Floridanus, Con.,Sil. Jour. ii. N. S. Bulla. B. acuminata, Sow., Jour. Acad. vi. crassiplica, Con., Pro. Acad, iii, cylindrus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Dekayi, Lea, Cont. Geol. occulta, Mighels, Eost. Jour. iv. petrosa. Con., Sil. Jour. ii. N. S. St. Hillairii, Lea, Cont. Geol. subpissa. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. B U I. ). I N A . B. canaliculata. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. Byssharca. B. cuculloides. Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. lima, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Marilandica, Con., Med. Tert. Mississippiensis,Con., Pro. Acad. iii. protracta, Con. " " " Btsso>ita. B. petricoloides, Lea, Cont. Geol. Caltptr.'ea. C. costata, Say, Sil. Jour. ii. corrugata, Brod., " i. N. S. grandis. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. ' pileolus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. rugosa, Brod., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. trochiformis. Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. CaNCKI LAKIA. C. alternata, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. alveata, Con., Tert. Foss. bahylonica. Lea, Cont. Geol. biplicifera, Con.. Jour. Acad. viii. corbula, Con.. Pro. Acad. i. C. costata. Lea, Cont. Geol. elevata,Lea. " •' engonata. Con., Jour. Acad. viii. funerata, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. gemmata. Con., Tert. Foss. lunata. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. Mississippiensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. multiplicata, Lea, Cont. Geo. parva. Lea, " " perspectiva. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. plagiostoma, Con. " " " plicata. Lea, Cont. Geol. pulcherrima, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. sculptura, Lea, Cont. Geol. tesselata, Lea. " " Capulup. C. luguLris, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. C AUDITA. C. abbreviata. Con., Sil. Jour. xli. alticostata, Con., " " xxiii, bilineata. Con,, Pro. Acad. iii. Blandingi, Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. Carolinensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. densata, Con., Pro. Acad. ii. granulata. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. perplana, Con., " " xli. planicosta. Lam., Tert. Foss. subquadrata, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. subrotunda. Con. " " tridentata. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. vigintinaria. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. ■ CAUniTAMETlA C. arata, Con., Med. Tert. carinata. Con., Pro. Acad. i. proctracta. Con. " '■ " (Jaudwm, C. acuti-laqueatum, Con., I\Ied, Tert. craticuloide, Con. " " diversum, Con., Fro. Acad. iii. eversum. Con. " '•' " glebosum, Con. " " " isocardia, Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. laqueatum. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. leptopleura. Con , Jour. Acad. viii. magnum. Born, Sil. Jour, xxviii, NicoUeti, Con., Jour. Acad. viii. quadrans, Rogers, Trans. Phil. vi. sublineatum. Con., Sil. Jour. xli. Vicksburgense, Con.. Pro. Acad. iii. Virginianum, Con., Med. Tert. Caricf.lla, C, demissa. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. doliata. Con. " " praetenuis. Con. '•' " pyruloides, Con. " " Cassidatii a. C. lintea. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Chassis. ■ C. brevicostata. Con., .Tour. Acad. vii. 98 [October, C. cffilata, Con., Journ. Acad., vii. caelatura. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Hodgiij Con. Sil. Jour., xli. Mississippiensis,Con., Pro. Acad. iii. nupsrus, Con., 'Pert. Foss. Tatii, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Cl^MOIlIA. C. oblonga, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. CfiRTTuru^r. C. bicostellatum. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. CaroUnens^, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. clavulus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. curtu.n, H. C. Lea. " " " dcelaleum, H. C. Lea. " " '•' dislocatiim, Say, Jour. Acad. vii. monllirerum, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. nassula, Con., .lour. Acad. vii. siliceam. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. solitarium. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. striatum, Lea, Cont. Geol. uuilineatum, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. Chama. C. arcinella. Lam., Sil. Jour, xxviii. congreiiata, Con. " " xxiii. corticosa, Con. " Mis3issippiensis,Con. Pro. Acad. lu. Chenopcs. C. llratus. Con. Pro. Acad. iii. (yHITOX. C. transenna, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. (^L.iTHR'inO.V. C. cuneatus, Gray, Jour. Acad. vi. CONIS. C. adversariu?, Con. Sil. Jour. xxix. Claibornensis, Lea, Cont. Geol. diluvianus, Green, Nat. Inst. No. 2. gyratus, Morton, Jour. Acad. viii. parvus, H. C Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. sauridens. Con., Tert. Foss. COUBIS. C. distans, Con., Tert. Foss lamellosa, Lam. '• " staminea. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. undata. Con., Tert. Foss. CORBULA. C. Alabamiensis, Lea, Cont. Geol. alta, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. compressa. Lea, Cont. Geol. contracta, Say, Jour. Acad. vii. cuneata. Say, " " iv- elevata. Con. Nat. Inst. No. 2. elons;ata, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. engonata. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. gibbosa. Lea, Cont. Geol. idonea. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. inasqualis, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. intastriata, Con., Pro. Acad. in. Murchisoniana, Lea, Cont. Geol. nasuta. Con., Tert. Foss. C. oniscus, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. Crassatella. C. aLxformis, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. alta. Con., Tert. Foss. capri-cranium, Rogers, Trans. Phil, vi. Marilandica, Con., Tert. Foss. melina, Con. " " Mississippiensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. palmula. Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. protexta. Con., Tert. Foss. rhomboidea. Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. turgidula, Con., Pro. Acad. i. undulata, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. CREPIDtJLA. C. convexa, Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. cornu arietis. Lea, Cont. Geol. cornucopia, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil, ix. costata, Morton, Jour. Acad, vi, cymbaeformis, Con., Pro. Acad. ii. densata. Con. " " i. dumosa. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. fornicata. Say, Sil. Jour. xli. giauca. Say, " " xxviii. lamina, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil, ix; lirata, Con., Sil. Jour, x.xiii. plana. Say, " " xxviii. pond3rosa,H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. spinosa. Con., Pro. Acad. i. unguiformis. Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. Cristellaria. C. rotella, Con., Sil. Jour. ii. N. S. ClirPTOSTOMA. C.perspectivum, Say, Nat. Inst. No. 2. COCULL.'EA. C. gigantea, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. onochaela, Rogers, Trans. Phil. vi. transversa, Rogers. " " CuLTEULUS. C. Caribceus, Linn, Sil. Jour. i. N. S. CUMI-VGIA. C. tellinoides. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. CrpRiEA. C. Carolinensis, Con., Sil. Jour. xU. lintea. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. sphasro'.des. Con. " " C vPRirAnniA. C. arata, Con., Tert. Foss. CrREXA. C. Carolinensis, Bosc, Sil. Jour, xxviii densata. Con., Pro. Acad. i. ( Itthf.rka. C. aequorea. Con., Tert. Foss. albaria, Say, Am. Con. astartaeformis, Con. Pro. Acad. iii. Carolinensis, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. comis. Lea, Cont. Geol. concentrica. Born, Jour. Acad. iv. convexa, Say, " " " 1848.] 99 C. discoidalis, Con., Tert. Foss. elevata, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. elevata, Coa., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. erycinoides, Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. eversa, Con. Pro. Acad. ii. Floridana, Con., SiL Jour. ii. N. S. giijantea, Laro., Jour. Acad. vii. globosa, Lea, Cont. Geol. Hydiana, Con., Tert. FoiS. Hydii, Lea, Cont. GeoL imitabilis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. lenticularis, Con., Trans. Pliil. vi. liciata. Con., Pro. Acad. ii. Marilandica, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. metastriata, Con., Med. Tert. minima, Lea, Cont. Geol. Mississippiensis,Con., Pro. Acad, iii. Mortoni, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Nuttalli, Con., "• " " obovata, Con., " " ovata, Rogers, Trans. Phil. v. pandata, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. perbrevis. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. perovata. Con., Tert. Foss. Poulsoni, Con., '• " pyga, Con., Pro. Acad. ii. reposta, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Sayana, Con., Sil. Jour, xxviii. semipunctata, Con., " i. N. S. sobrina, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. sphaerica,H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. subcrassa, Lea, Cont. Geol. subimpressa. Con., Pro. Acad. ii. subnasuta. Con. Jour. Acad. viii. trigoniata, Lea, Cont. Geol. Delphinula. D. aperta, H. C.Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. arenosa. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. concava, H.C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. costulata,H. C. Lea. " depressa. Lea, Cont. Geol. globulus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. lipara, H. C. Lea, " " " lyra, Con. Jour. Acad. vii. naticoideSjH. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. obliquestriata, H. C. Lea. " " " plana, Lea, Cont. Geol. trochiformis, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Dentalium. D. alternatum. Lea, Cont. Geol. arciforme, Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. attenuatum, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. coarctatum. Lam., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. dentale, Lam. " " " Mississippiense,Con., Pro. Acad. --ii. thalloide, Con., Tert. Foss. thallus, Con., Jour. Acad, vii, turritum, Lea, Cont. Geol. DiPLODONTA. D. Americana,De France, Sil. Jour, xli. DlSPOT^A. D, constricta, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. corrugata, Rrod., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. costata, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. dumosa, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. grandis. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. multilineata, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. ramosa, Con., Jour. Acad. viii. rugosa, Brod., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. DONAX. D. funerata. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. limatula, Con., Tert. Foss. Egehia. E. Bucklandi, Lea, Cont. Geol. indata. Lea, nana. Lea, nitens, Lea, ovalis, Lea, plana, Lea, rotunda. Lea, subtrigona. Lea, " trianguiata. Lea, " veneriformis,Lea, " ECPHORA. E. quadricostatus. Con., Pro. Acad, i. Emarginula. E. arata, Con., Tert. Foss. Erycina. E. cequorea. Con., Tert. Foss. rectilinearis. Con., " " Eryci.nella. E. ovalis. Con., Med. Tert. Ellima. E. eborea. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. migrans. Con., " " " Fasciolaria. F. elevata. Lea, Cont. Geol. Lamberti, Sow^., Jour. Acad. vi. mutabilis, Con., Jour Acad. vii. parvula, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. plicata, Lea, Cont. Geol. rhomboidea, Rogers, Trans. Phil. vi. Ficus. F.-. Mississippiensis,Con., Pro. Acad, iii. FiSSURELLA. F. alticosta, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. catilliformis, Rogers, Trans. Phil. v. Claibornensis, Lea, Cont. Geol. graeca. Lam., Jour. Acad. vi. Griscomi,Con., " " vii. Marilandica, Con., " " Mississippiensis,Con.,Pro. Acad. iii. nassula, Con., Med. Tert. redimicula. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. tenebrosa. Con., Tert. Foss. FiSTULANA. F. elongata, Desh., Nat. Inst., No. 2. larva. Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. 14 100 [October, Fl'lgoraria. F. Mississippiensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. FULGUK. F. canaliculatus, Linn., Jour. Acad. iv. carica, Gmel. contrarius, Sil. Jour, xxxix. coronatus, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. excavatus, Sil. Jour, xxxix. fusiformis, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. incilis, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. maximus, " " xli. perversus, Lam., " " rugosus, Con., Pro. Acad. i. tuberculatus. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. Fusus. F. acutus, Lea, Cont. Geol. altilis, Con., Tert. Foss. anomaluSjH. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. bicarinatus. Lea, Cont. Geol. bellus. Con., Tert. Foss. ena. G. ligula, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Gnathadon. G. cuneatus, Gray, Sil. Jour, xxviii. Grayi, Con., " " xxxviii. minor, Con., " " xli. Gkatell'pia. G. Moulinsii, Lea, Cont. Geol. GKYrn.EA. G. vomer, Morton, Jour. Acad. vi. Hiatella. H. lancea, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil, ix. HlPPAGUS. H. isocardiodes, Lea, Cont. Geol. HiPPONlX. H. pygmaeus. Lea, Cont. Geol. Infundibulum. I. carinatum, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. centrale. Con., Sil. Jour. xli. concentricum, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. gyrinum, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. perarmatum, Con., " " viii. trochiforme. Lea, Cont. Geol. urticosum, Con., Tert. Foss. ISOCARDIA. I. fraterna. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. Markoei, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. rustica, Sow^., Med. Tert. Kellia. K. fabagella. Con., Pro. Acad. i. mactroides. Con., " " " Lepton. L. mactroides, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Lima. L. papyria. Con., Jour. Acad. viii. staminea. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. LiTHODOMUS. L. dactylus, Sil. Jour. i. N. S. LiTTORINA. L. antiquata. Con., Tert. Foss. LoRIPES. L. Americana, Con., Pro. Acad. i. eburnea. Con., " " iii. elevata, Con., " " i. turgida, Con., " " iii. 1848.] 101 LuCINA. I-. acclinis, Con., Tert. Foss. alveata, Con., " " anodonta. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. carinifera, Con., Tert. Foss, compressa, Lea, Cont. Geol. contracta, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. cornuta. Lea, Cont. GeoL crenulata. Con., SiL Jour. xli. cribraria. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. dlvaricata, Lam. " " " dolabra, Con., Tert. Foss. Foreman!, Con., Jour. Acad. viii. impressa, Lea, Cont. GeoL Jamaicensis, Lam., SiL Jour. i. N. S. lens, H. C. Lea, Trans. Piiil. ix. lunata. Lea, Cont. GeoL metastriata. Con., Med. Tert. MississippiensiSjCon., Pro. Acad. iii. modesta, Con., SiL Jour. i. N. S. rnultistriata, Con., Pro. Acad. i. pandata, Con., Tert. Foss. papyracea, Lea, Cont. GeoL perlevis. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. pomilia. Con., Tert. Foss. punctulata, H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. radians, Con., SiL Jour. xli. raduia. Lam., " " i. N. S. rotunda. Lea, Cont. Geol. speciosa, Rogers , Trans. Phila. v. squamosa, Lam., Med. Tert. subobliqua. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. subplanata. Con., " viii. subvexa. Con., Tert. Foss. symmetrica. Con., " trisulcata. Con., SiL Jour. xli. undula, Con., Med. Tert. LuTRAHlA. L. canaliculata. Say, Jour. Acad. vii. lapidosa. Con., Sil Jour. i. N. S. papyria. Con., Tert. Foss. Mactiia. M. clathrodon. Lea, Cont. GeoL clathrodonta, Con., SiL, Jour, xxiii. confraga. Con., " " congesta. Con., " " crassidens. Con., " xli. decisa, Con., Tert. Foss. delumbis. Con., " " dentata. Lea, Cont. Geol. fragrosa. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. funerata, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. grandis, Linn., Jour. Acad. vi. Grayi, Lea, Cont. Geol. incrassata, Con., Med. Tert. lateralis. Say, Jour. Acad. vii. Mississippiensis,Con.. Pro. Acad. iii. modicella. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. parilis, Con., Tert. Foss. M. ponderosa, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. prcetenuis, Con., Tert. Foss. pygmaea. Lea, Cont. Geol. subcuneata. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. subparilis, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. solidissima, Chem., " xxviii. tellinoides. Con., " " triquetra. Con., Pro. Acad. i. Mahginella. M. anatina, Lea, Cont. GeoL biplicata, Lea, " *' columba, Lea, " " conulus, H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. crassilabra. Con., Tert. Foss. crassilabra, Lea, Cont. Geol. denticulata. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. eburneola. Con., vn. exilis, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. incurva, Lea, Cont. GeoL larvata. Con., Tert. Foss. limatula. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. ovata, Lea, Cont. GeoL plicata. Lea, " " perexigiia, Con., Jour. Acad. viii. semen, Lea, Cont. Geol. Melania. M. vetusta. Con., Tert. Foss. Melongena. M. alveata. Con., SiL Jour, xxiii. armigera. Con., Tert. Foss. crassicornuta. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. MlTHA. M. bolaris, Con.' Tert. Foss. Carolinensis, Con., SiL Jour. xli. cellulifera, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. conquisita. Con., " " " doliata, Con., Tert. Foss. eburnea, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xL elegans, H. C. Lea, " " Flemingii, Lea, Cont. GeoL fusoides, Lea, " " gracilis, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. Humboldtii, Lea, Cont. GeoL lineata. Lea, " " minima, Lea, " " MississippiensisjCon., Pro. Acad. iii. pactilis. Con., Tert, Foss. perexilis. Con. " " staminea. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Vicksburgensis, Con., " " MonioLA. M. cretacea. Con., Trans. Geol. Ducatelli, Con., Med. Tert. MississippiensisjCon., Pro. Acad. iii. spinigera, H.C.Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. MoNOCERAS. M. armigerum. Con., Tert. Foss. fusiforme, Lea, Cont. Geol. pyruloide, Lea., " " sulcatum. Lea., " " 102 [October. M. vetustum, Con., Tert. Foss. MONODONTA. M. exoluta, Con., Pro. AcarL i. glandula, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. MoNOPTYRHr A. M. Alabamiensis, Lea, Cont. Geol. elegans. Lea, " '< MUREX. M. acuticosta. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. alternatus, Lea, Cont. GeoL engonatus, Con., Tert. Foss. Mantellii, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Mississippiensis,Con., Pro. Acad.iii. septemnarius, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. umbrifer, Con., Tert. loss. Mta. M. arenaria, Lin., SiL Jour, xxviii. corpulenta. Con., Med. Tert. mercenaria, Say, Jour. Acad. vi. praelonga, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. producta. Con., Med. Tert. reflexa, H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. Mtalina. M. subovata, Con., Med. Tert. Mtoconcha. M. incurva, Con., Med. Tert. Mtotioiia. M. arenosa. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. MroPAHo. M. costatus, Lea, Cont. GeoL Mysia. M. Americana, Con., Med. Tert. nucleiformis, Wagner, Jour. Acad. viii. rotundata, Sil. Jour, xxviii. Mttilus. M. hamatus. Say, SiL Jour, xxviii. incrassatus, Con., " xli. Natiica. N. Missisippiensis, Con., Pro. Acad.iii. Nassa. N. cancellata, Lea, Cont. GeoL impressa, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Innata, Say, SiL Jour. i. N. S. obsoleta. Say, " xxviii. quadrata. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. trivittata. Say, SiL Jour, xxviii. Natica. N. aetites, Con., Tert. Foss. aperta, H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. canrena, Lam., Sil. Jour. xli. Caroliniana, Con., " " crassilabrum, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. duplicata, Say, Sil. Jour. xli. eborea, Con., Tert. Foss. eminula. Con., " " fragilis. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. gibbosa, Lea, Cont. Geol. heros, Say, Sil. Jour. xli. N. interna. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. limula. Con., Tert. Foss. magno-umbilicata. Lea, Cont. GeoL mamma. Lea, " '« minima, Lea, " " minor, Lea, " " Mississippiensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. parva. Lea, Cont. Geol. percallosa. Con., Sil. Jour. xli. perspectiva, Rogers, Trans. Phil. v. semilunata. Lea, Cont. Geol. sphrerulus, H. C. Lca,Trans. Phil.ix. striata, Lea, Cont. Geol. Vicksburgensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Nautilopsis. N. Vanuxemi, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Nautilus. N. Alabamiensis, Morton, Jour. Acad, viii. NUCULA. N. acuta, Con., Sil. Jour, xxviii. acutidens, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. asqualis. Con., Tert. Foss. asquilatera, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. antiqua, Mighels, Bost. Jour. iv. bella. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. Brogniarti, Lea, Cont. Geol. calcariensis. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. carinata, H. C.Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. carinifera. Lea, Cont. Geol. Carolinensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. caglata. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. concentrica. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. cultclliformis, Rogers, Trans. Phil. v. diaphana, H. C. Lea, " " ix. dolabelia, H. C. Lea, " " " Jacksonii, Gould, Bost. Jour. iv. laevis. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. liciata, Con., Pro. Acad. i. limatula, Say, Sil. Jour, xxvii. magna, Lea, Cont. Geol. magnifica. Con., Tert. Foss. media. Lea, Cont. Geol. mucronata. Con. Pro. Acad. iii. obliqua. Say, Sil. Jour. ii. opulenta, Con., Tert. Foss. ovula. Lea, Cont. Geol. parva, Rogers, Trans. PhiL v. pectuncularis, Lea, Cont. GeoL plana. Lea, plicata, Lea, Portlandica, Hitchcock, Bost. Jour, i proxima. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. pulcherrima, Lea, Cont. GeoL S(;dgvvickii, Lea, " " semen. Lea, " " serica, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. subtrigona, Con., " " tellinula. Con., Sil. Jour. ii. N. S. 1848.] 103 N. Vicksburgensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. NUMMULITES. N. Floridanus, Con., Sil. Jour. ii. N. S. Mantelli, Morton, " xxiii. Odostomia. O. limnea, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. protexta. Con, " " " Oliva. 0. Alabanaensis, Con., Tert. Foss. ancillariaeformis, H. C. Lea, Trans. Pliil. ix. bombylis, Con., Tert. Foss. canaliciilata, H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. Carolinensis, Nat. Inst. No. 2. constricta. Lea, Cont. Geol. dubia, Lea, " " duplicata. Con., Pro. Acad. i. gracilis, Lea, Cont. Geol. Greenoughi, Lea, " idonea, Sil. Jour. xli. litterata. Lam., Jour. Acad. vii. minima. Lea, Cont. Geol. Mississippiensis,Con.,Pro. Acad. iii. mutica, Lam., Sil. Jour. xli. Phillipsii, Lea, Cont Geol. zonalis. Lam., Jour. Acad. vii. Oniscia. O. harpula, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Orbiccla. O. lugubris, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. multilineata, Con., Med. Tert. Orbis. O. rotella, Lea, Cont. Geol. OSTRKA. 0. Alabamensis, Lea, Cont. Geol. bellovacina, Nat. Inst. Carolinensis, Con., Tert. Foss. compressirostra. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. disparilis. Con., Med. Tert. cretacea, Morton, Jour. Acad. viii. flabellula. Lam., " " vi. Georgiana, Con., " " vii. divaricata, Lea, Cont. Ceol. lingua-canis. Lea, " " lateralis, Nillson, Nat Inst, panda, Morton, " " percrassa. Con., Med. Tert. pincerna, Lea, Cont. Geol. radians. Con., Tert. Foss. sculpturata. Con., Med. Tert. sellaeformis. Con., Tert. Foss. semilunata, Lea, Cont. Geol. sinuosa, Rogers, Trans. Phil. v. subfalcata. Con., Med. Tert. Vicksburgensis, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Virginiana, Gmel., Tert. Foss. OVUT.A. O. iota, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Paludina. '' P. glabra, Con., Pro. Acad, i. Pasuora- P. arenosa. Con. Jour. Acad. vii. crassidens, Con., Med. Tert. trilineata, Say, Sil, Jour, xxviii Paxop^a. P. abrupta. Con., Pro. Acad. i. Americana, Con., Med. Tert. dubia, H. C. Lea, Trans, Phil. ix. elongata. Con., Trans. Geol. Goldfussii, Wagner, Jour. Acad. viii. oblongata. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. porrecta. Con., Med. Tert. reflexa, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. Pasiihea. P. aciculata. Lea, Cont. Geol. alveata. Lea, " " cancellata, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. Claibornensis, Lea, Cont. Geo!. diaphana, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. eburnea, H. C. Lea, " " '< elegans, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. exarata, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil, ix guttula. Lea, Cont. Geol. laevigata, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. lugubris, Lea, Cont. Geol. minima, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. notata. Lea, Cont. Geol. ornata, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. ovulum, H. C. Lea, " " " secale. Lea, Cont. Geol. striata, Lea, " " subula, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. sulcata. Lea, Cont. Geol. turbinopsis, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. umbilicata, Lea, Cont Geol. Patella. P. acinaces, H. C.Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Pectejt, P. anatipes, Morton, Trans. Phil. ix. biformis, Con., Pro. Acad. i. calvatus, Morton, Jour. Acad. viii. Clintonius, Say, " " iv. concentricus. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. decemnarius, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Deshaysii, Lea, Cont. Geol. dislocatus, Say, Nat. Inst. No. 2. dispalatus, Con., Med. Tert. eboreus. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. elixatus. Con., Pro. Acad. ii. Holbrookii, Ravenel, " Humphreysii, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. Jeffeisonius, Say. Jour. Acad. iv. Lyelli, Lea, Cont. Geol. Madisonius, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. Magellanicus, Lam., " " vii. Marilandicus, Wagner, " viii. 104 [October, P. membranosus, Morton, Jour. Acad, viii. micropleura, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Mortoni, Ravenel, Pro, Acad. ii. perplanus, Morton, Sil. Jour.xxiii. Poulsoni, Morton, Jour. Acad. viii. purpuratus, Lam, Sil. Jour, xxviii. Ro^ersii, Con , Jour. Acad. vii. septenarius. Say, " IV. tenuis, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. tricenarius, Con., Pro. Acad. i. vicenarius. Con., " " '< Virginianus, Con., Med. Tert. Pectitncclus. P. aratus. Con., Sil . Jour. xli. arctatus. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. aviculoides, Con., Tert. Fos?. Broderipii, Lea, Cont. Geol. Carolinensis, Con., Sil. Jour. xli. circularis. Con., " " xxviii. corbuloides, Con., Tert. Foss. cuneus. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. decisus. Con., Tert. Foss. declivis, Con., " " deltoideus, I^ea, Cont. Geol. elephantopus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. ellipsis. Lea, Cont. Geol. idoneus, Con., Tert. Foss. lentiformis. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. nninor. Lea, Cont. Geol. obliqua. Lea, " " parilis. Con., Pro. Acad. i. passus, Con., Med. Tert. ppctinatus. Lam., Sil. Jour, xxviii, perplanus. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. pulvinatus, Lam., Tert, Foss. quinquerugatus, Con. Sil, Jour. xli. stamineus. Con., <' " xxiii. subovatus, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. tricenarius. Con., Med, Tert, trigonella, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. tumulus. Con., Med. Tert. variabilis. Sow. Jour. Acad. vi. Peiiiploma. P. antiqua, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Pehna. P. torta. Say, Sil, Jour. ii. maxillata. Lam., Med. Tert, PETALOCo:«cnrs. P. sculpturatus, H. C. Lea, Tran.=!. Phil. ix. Pr.TRlCOLA. P. cenrenaria, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. fornicata. Say, Jour. Acad. vi. compressa, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. pholadiformis. Lam, .Tour. Acad. vi. Pholadomta. p. abrupta. Con.. Tert. Foss. Marilandica, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. PuOLAS. p. acuminata, Con. Med. Tert. arcuata. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. ^ costata, Linn., Sil. Jour, xxviii. ovalis. Say, " " ii. petrosa. Con , Nat. Inst. No, 2. rhomboidea, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. triquetra. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Phorus. P. humilis Con., Pro., Acad. iii. PiNXA. P. argentea. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Plagiostoma. P. dumosum, Morton, Jour. Acad. viii. Pianauia. P. nitens. Lea, Cont. Geol. Pleuhoto.ma. P. abundans, Con. Pro. Acad. iii. altcrnatum, Con., Tert. Foss. Beaumontii, Lea, Cont. Geol. bellacrenatum,Con.,Jour. Acad.viii. biscatenarium. Con., " " vii. caslatum. Lea, Cont. Geol. cance]latum,H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. catenatum. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. Childreni, Lea, Cont. Geol. cochleare. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. commune, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. congestum. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. cristatum. Con., " " " declivum. Con., " " " depyge. Con., Tert. Foss. Desnoyersii, Lea, Cont. GeoL dissimile, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. eboroide, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. elaboratum. Con., Tert. Foss. elongatum. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. gracile. Con. " " " Haeninghausii, Lea, Cont. Geol. inciliferum. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Leseurii, Lea, Cont. Geol. limatulum. Con., Jour. Acad, vi. Lonsdalii, Lea, Cont. Geol. lunatum, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Marilandicum,Con. Jour. Acad. viii. Mississippiense, Con., Pro. Acad, iii moniliferum. Lea, Cont. Geol. multisectum. Con., Pro. Acad. i. nuperum. Con., Tert. Foss. obliquum. Lea, Cont. Geol. parvum. Con., Jour. Acad., vi. porcellanum. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. pyrenoide, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. rotaedens. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. rotiferum. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. 1848.] 105 P. rugosum, Lea, Cont. Geol. Sayi, Lea, " " servatum. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. tabulatum. Con., Tert. Foss. tantulum, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. tenellum, Con., " " " tricatenarium, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. Virginianum, Con., " " " Plicatdla. p. densata, Con., Pro. Acad. i. lilamentosa, Con., Tert. Foss. Mantellii, Lea, Cont. GeoL marginata. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. ramosa. Lam., " " vi. rudis, H. C. Lea, Trans. Piiil. ix. Photo. P. vetusta. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. PsAMMOBIA. P. eborea. Con., Tert. Foss. filosa. Con., " " fusca. Say, Jour. Acad. vi. lintea,Con., Pro. Acad. iii. lusoria. Say, Jour. Acad. vi. papyria, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. PSAMMOCOLA. P. lucinoides,H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. regia, H. C. Lea, " " " Ptramidelia. P. arenosa. Con., Pro. Acad. i. elaborata,H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. larvata. Con., Tert. Foss. suturaIis,H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. Ptrula. P. canaliculata, Linn., Jour. Acad. iv. cancellata. Lea, Cont. GeoL carica, GmeL elegantissima. Lea, Cont. GeoL penita. Con., Tert. Foss. perversa. Lam., SiL Jour. xli. Smithii, Lea, Cont. GeoL sulcosa, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. tricarinata, Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. Ranella. R. caudata. Say, SiL Jour, xxviii. Rangia. R. cyrenoides, Des Moulins, SiL Jour. xxviii. RiNGICUiA. R. Mississippiensis,Con.,Pro. Acad. iii. ROSTELLABIA. R. Cuvieri, Lea, Cont. GeoL laqueata, Con., Tert. Foss. Lamarckii, Lea, Cont. GeoL velata. Con., Tert. Foss. KOTELLA. R. carinata, H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. lenticularis, H. C. Lea, " " " nana, Lea, Cont. Geol. subconica,H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. R. umbilicata, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. SATIGUINOLAniA. S. fusca. Con., SiL Jour, xxviii. lusoria. Say, " " " Saxicava. S. bilineata. Con., Med. Tert. distorta. Say, Jour. Acad. vi. pectorosa. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. rugosa, Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. SCALAHIA. S. acicula, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. carinata, Lea, Cont. Geol. clathra, Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. cornigera,H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. elegans,H . C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. expansa. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. lineata. Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. micropleura, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. microstoma, H. C. Lea, " «' nassula. Con., Tert. Foss. pachypleura,Con., Jour. Acad. viii. planulata. Lea, Cont. Geol. procera. Con., Pro. Acad. i. quinquefasciata, Lea, Cont. Geol. sessilis. Con., Tert. Foss. trigintanaria. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. venusta, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. SCOBINEHA. S. Cffilata, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Sehpula. S. anguina, H. C. Lea, Trans. PhiL ix. convoluta, H. C. Lea, " « " granifera. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. ornata, Lea, Cont. Geol. squamulosa, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. SlGATlETUS. S. arctatus,Con., Tert. Foss. bilix. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. canaliculatus,Sow. Nat. Inst. No. 2. declivis. Con., Tert. Foss. fragilis, Nat. Inst. No. 2. Mississippiensis,Con., Pro. Acad. iii. SiLiacAniA. S. Claibornensis, Lea, Cont. GeoL vitis, Con., Tert. Foss. Solarium. S. alveatum. Con., Tert. Foss. amconum. Con., " " antrosum. Con., " " bilineatum. Lea, Cont. Geol. canaliculatum. Lea, Nat. Inst. No. 2. cancellatum, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. elaboratum. Con., " <' " elegans. Lea, Cont. Geol. exacuum. Con., Tert. Foss. funginum, Con., " " granulatum. Lea, Cont. Geol. Henrici, Lea, " " 106 [October, S. nuperum, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. ornatum, Lea, Cont. Geol. patulum, Lam., Nat. Inst. No. 2. scrobiculatum, Con., Tert. Foss. stalagmiunn. Con., " " trilineatum. Con., Jour. Acad. viii. triliiatum, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. SoLECURTUS. S. Blainvilli, Lea, Cont. GeoL Cariboeus, Linn.. Sil. Jour, xxviii. SOLKN. S. ensiformis. Con., Pro. Acad. i. ensis, Linn., SiL Jour., xxxviii. directus, Con., Pro. Acad. i. magnodentatus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. SpU/EHELLA. S. subvexa. Con., Med. Tert. SPIIIOHBIS. S. tubanella. Lea, Cont. Geol. Stalarmium. S. margaritaceum. Con., Tert. Foss. Strigii-la. S. carnaria, Turton, Sil. Jour, xxviii. Tellika. T. cequistriata, Say, Jour. Acad. iv. alta. Con., Tert. Foss. alternata, Say, Nat. Inst. No. 2. arctata. Con., Pro. Acad. i. biplicata, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. declivis, Con., " " " egena, Con., " " " lenis. Con., Pro. Acad. i. lintea, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. lusoria. Con., Med. Tert. papyria. Con., Tert. Foss. pectorosa, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. plana. Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. producta, Con., Med. Tert. Ravenelli, Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. scandula, Con., Jour. Acad. vu. serica, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Sillimani, Con., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. sub3equalis,Con., Pro. Acad, m- Vicksburgensis, Con., " " " Terebra. T. constricta, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. costata. Lea, Cont. Geol. curvilirata, Con., Pro. Acad. 1. dislocata. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. divisura. Con., " " iii. gracilis, Lea, Cont. Geol. loxonema, Con., Nat. fnst. No. 2. multiplicata,H. C.Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. polygyra. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. simplex, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. lantula, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. venusta, Lea, Cont. Geol. Tehebratvla. T. canipes, Ravenel, Pro. Acad. ii. lachryma, Morton, Jour. Acad. viii. Teredo. T. calamus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. fistula, H. C. Lea, " " « simplex. Lea, Cont. Geol. Thracia. T. transversa, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil, ix. Triq.uetra. T. aequorea. Con., Sil. Jour. i.N. S. rectilinearis. Con., " " Triton. T. abbreviatus, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. crassidens, Con., " " " Mississippiensis, Con., " " pyramidatus, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour, xl. Trochus. T. agglutinans, Auct., Sil. Jour. i. N. S. aratus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. armillus, H. C. Lea, " " " bellus, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. conus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. eboreus, Wagner, Jour. Acad. viii. humilis, Con., " " vi. labrosus, Con., " " vii. lapidosus. Con., " " " lens, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Mitchelli, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. peralveatus, Con., " " viii. philanthropus. Con., " vii. pianulatus, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. Ruffinii,H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. reclusus. Con., Jour. Acad. vi. torquatus, H. C . Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. Tuba. T. alternata. Lea, Cont. Geol. striata. Lea, sulcata. Lea, TuRBINELLA. T. demissa. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. fusoides, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. perexilis. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. praetenuis. Con., Tert. Foss. prisca. Con., " " protracta. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. pyruloides. Con., Tert. Foss. Wilsoni, Con., Pro. Acad. iii. Turbo. T. biliratus. Con., Pro. Acad. iii. caperatus. Con., Jour. Acad. vii. glaber, H. C.Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. lineatus, Lea, Cont. Geol. naticoides, Lea, " " nitens. Lea, " " parvus, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. rusticus, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. 1848.] TCIIUITKLLA. T. alternata, Say, Sil. Jour, xxviii. alticostata, Con. Jour. Acad. rii. bipertita, Con., Pro. Acad. i. carinata. Lea, Cont. Gcol. carinata, H. C Lea, Si!. Jour. xl. exaltata, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. fluxionalis, Rogers, Trans. Phil, vi gracilis, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. humerosa, Con., Trans. Geol. indenta. Con., Jour. Acad. vui. laqueala. Con., " " vi. lineata. Lea, Cont. Cxcol. _ Mississippiensis,Con., Pro. Acad.ui Mitchelli, Sil. Jour. xli. monilifera, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour.xl. Mortoni, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. obruta, Con., Tert. Foss. octonaria. Con., Jour. Acad. vu. perlaqueata. Con., " " viu. plebeia,Say, " " ly- quadristriata,Rogers, Trans. Phil. v. terstriata, Rogers, " ". variabilis, Con., Jour. Acad.vi. Typhis. T. acuticosta, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. curvirostratus, Con., Pro. Acad. ui. gracilis. Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. Venericahdia. V. ascia, Rogers, Trans. Phil. vi. Blandingi, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. granulata, Say, " " iv- parva, Lea, Cont. Geol. planicosta, Lam., Jour. Acad. vi. rotunda. Lea, Cont. Geol. Sillimani, Lea, " " transversa. Lea, " " Venebcpis. V. subvexa, Con., Sil. Jour, xxiii. Venus. V. alveata, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. 107 V. ascia, H. C. Lea, Trans. Phil. ix. cancellata, Linn., Sil. Jour, xxviii. capax, Con., Pro. Acad. i. corlinaria, Rogers, Trans. Phil. vi. cribraria. Con., Pro. Acad. i. deformis. Say, Jour. Acad. iv. Ducatelli, Con., Med. Tert. Floridana, Con., Sil. Jour. ii.N.S. inosceriformis, Wagner, Jour. Acad. viii. latilirata. Con., Pro. Acad. i. latesulcata, Con., Med. Tert. mercenaria, Linn., Sil. Jour. xli. metastriata, " " i. N, S. Mortoni, Con., Jour. Acad. vii. paphia, (?) Lam., « " vi. penita. Con., Sil. Jour. ii. N. S. permagna. Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. Rileyi, Con., Med. Tert. staminea, Con., Nat. Inst. No. 2. tetrica. Con., " " " tridacnoides. Con., Med. Tert. Vehmetus, V. lumbricalis. Lam., Sil. Jour, xxviii. VOLUTA. V. Carolinensis, Sil. Jour, xxxix. Cooperi, Lea, Cont. Geol. Defiancii, Lea, " '< dubia, H. C. Lea, Sil. Jour. xl. gracilis, Lea, Cont. Geol. Lamberti, Sow., Jour. Acad. vi. . Parkinsoni, Lea, Cont. Geol. mutabilis, Con., Pro. Acad. i. parva, Lea, Cont. Geol. petrosa, Con., Tert Foss. Sayana, Con., " " solitaria, Con., Jour. Acad. vi. striata, Lea, Cont. Geol. Vanuxemi, Lea, " " VoLVARIA. V, galba, Con., Tert. Foss, ELECTION OF CORRESPONDENTS. J. P. Kirtland, M. D., Cleveland, Ohio. Prof. J. Cobb, M.D., Louisville, Kentucky. Prof. L. P. Yandell, M. D., do. do. Beniamin E. Shumard, M. D. do. do. Rio-ht Rev. George W. Doane, Burlington, N.J. Edward Tuckerman, Esq., Cambridge, Mass. M Fischer de Waldheim, Moscow. 16 1848.] 109 DONATIONS TO THE MUSEUM In Skptkmber and October, 1848. September 5th. Saurian Vertebra, from a marl bed on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, From Mr. D. M. Sanborn. Fruit of Mammea Americana. From Mr. Wm. Butcher, through Mr. Cassin. Large and fine specimen of Ammonites Delawarensis Morton, from Centreton, New Jersey ; Exogyra costata, two Rostellaria, a series of Coprolites, Yellow ochre, and Fossil wood, from New Jersey. Also two specimens of Gordius Aquaticus, from Burlington, New Jersey. From Mr. L. J. Germain. Portion of the jaw of Mosasaurus with two nearly perfect teeth, from Freehold, New Jersey, and a fine specimen of Voluta imperialis and Natica fluctuatus. From Burlington College, in exchange. ^ September VJth, Hippocampus , from India, and a collection of Reptilia and LarvjB. From Burlington College, in exchange. Iron Geode, from President's Island, Mississippi. From Prof. Haldeman. Tooth of Elephas primogenius, from Mississippi, and a collection of Fish and Crustacea. From W. C. Bryan, Esq., of New York, through Prof. Haldeman. October 3d. Casts of teeth of Dorudon serratus, Gibbes, and of five species of Charcharodon. From Dr. R. W. Gibbes, of Columbia, S. C. Coluber eximius (young), and two specimens of Quartz. Presented by Dr. Hallowell. Two stuffed serpents, from New Jerusalem. Presented by Mr. H. E. Ashmead, of Philadelphia. Mounted specimen of Tenosaura acanthura, Scincus fasciatus, and a specimen of Endymion regalis, from Tampico. Presented by Lieut. Haldeman, U. S. A., through Prof. Haldeman. Three specimens of SphaeriaRoberti, growing from the head of the larva of Va- nessa itea, from New Holland. Presented by Dr. T. B. Wilson. Medallion cast of the head of John Gould, Esq., F. R. S., of London, the cele- brated ornithologist. From the same. Numerous fragments of fossil shells, from the drift hills of Brooklyn, N. Y. Presented by William C. Redfield, Esq., of New York. Crassatella Mississippiensis, and Ostrea Georgiana, from Vicksburg, Miss. From Mr. J. D. Anderson, through Mr. Conrad. Fine casts of Anoplotherium commune, (Cuv.) and Paloeotherium medium, (Cuv.) From the Professors of the " Jardin des Plantes " of Paris, through Dr. Leidy. October 10th. Mr. W. S. Vaux presented a crystal of Beryl, from Aworth, New Hampshire, weighing 185 pounds, and measuring three feet three inches in circumference and eighteen inches in length. Specimen of polished Quartz. From Dr. Dawson, of Philadelphia. A very fine collection of British Coleoptera, numbering between eight hundred and nine hundred species, systematically arranged and labelled. Presented by Mr. Edward Doubleday, of London. A collection of Minerals, chiefly iron ores. Collected and presented by Mr. George B. Allinson. Several very fine specimens of Elba iron ore. Presented by Dr. Joseph Carson. One hundred and nineteen mounted specimens of American birds. Presented by Mr. Edward Harris. 110 [October. October nth. Cast of the metatarsal bone of the Dodo. From Mr. Edward Doubleday, of Lomlon. Mounted skeleton of Manura superba. From Dr. Wilson. Living specimen of Crotalus durissus. From Dr. Grant, of Philadelphia. Two specimens of Iron ore. From Dr. Leidy. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY In September and October, 1848. September 5th, ' American Journal of Science and Arts. New Series. No. 7. From the Edi- tors. Literary Record and Journal of Linnean Association of Pennsylvania College. Vol.4. No. 11. From the Association. Loudon's Hortus Britannicus. 2d edition. From Mr. Kilvington. Iconographie Ornithologique. Par O. Des Murs. Livs. 10 and 11. 4to. Pre- sented by Mr. Edward Wilson. The following were deposited by Dr. Wilson: Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol.2. 2d series. Nos. 6and7. Forbes' and Hanley's British Mollusca. Parts 6 and 7. Harvey's Phycologia Britannica. Parts 30 and 31. Gosse's Illustrations of the Birds of Jamaica. Parts 3 and 4. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. No. 14. Comptes Rendus. Tome 25. Nos. 23, 24, 25. Oken's Isis. No. 3, 184S. Zoology of the voyage of the Samarang. No. 2. Crustacea, Part 1. Doubleday's Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. Part 20. Hussey's British Mycology. Parts 15 and 16. Austin's Recent and Fossil Crinoidea. No. 7. Reeve's Conchologia Iconica. Parts C3 and 64. Gray's Genera of Birds. Part 44. Journals of two expeditions of discovery in N. W. and W. Australia, in 1837, '38, and '39. By George Gray, Esq. 2 vols. 8vo. Three expeditions into the interior of Eastern Australia. By Major T. L. Mitchell. 2 vols. 8vo. A history of British Sponges and Lithophytes. By George Johnson, M.D. 8vo. History of the Royal Society of Londan. By Thomas Sprat. 4to. ^dologie, ou traite du Rossignol Franc, ou Chanteur, &c. 12mo. Travels to discover the source of the Nile, in the years 17C8-73. By James Bruce of Kinnard, Esq. 5 vols. 4to. Memoir of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. By his Widow. 4to. Dissertation on the AntiS. erythrurhynchos De Wied, Bey. Zur Natur. Brazil. ] Adult male. — Length, 19 inches : extent of wings, 3 ft. 9 in. : Length of wing, 15 in. : outer tail feathers, 7^ in. : tarsus, 1 inch and 2-lOths, black : bill bright red, along the ridge, 2.| in. : from corner of the mouth, 3^ in. : from symphysis to point, beneath, 1 inch: depth at commencement of feathers, 7-IOths inch. 1848.] 129 This noble species so abundant on our southern coast, has for a long time been considered the S. cayana of Latham, notwithstanding its disparity with his de- scription both in size and colouration. It seems to me that the Cayenne Tern must have been founded upon the immature plumage of one of the yellow-billed species of the Brazilian coast, since described by Lichtenstein, probably the S. magnirostris. Young birds of our species would agree pretty well with the erythrorhyncha of Brazil, described by the Prince De Wied, as they are somewhat smaller and less proportioned, yet we hesitate to give it that name, until its identity can posi- tively be proved, particularly as the Terns of that coast are peculiar. The representative of the regia in the old world, is the S. velox of Riippell, though quite distinct. Sterna elegans, Gamb. Adult male With the general plumage of S. regla ,• length, 17 in. : of wing, 12 gin. : of outer tail feathers, 6 and 8-lOths in. : tarsus, 1 and 1-lOth in. : middle toe and nail, 1 and2^-10ths in.: bill bright red, along the ridge 2 and 6-lOth in. : from corner of mouth, 3 and 3-lOths in. : from symphysis to point beneath, ]^ in. : depth at commencement of feathers, 5-lOths in. This elegant species differs from the former not only in proportions, but in the delicate hue of the under parts, which are of a satiny cream colour when living, but faded very much in the dried specimen. The bill is of the same colour as in the regia, and as long, but much more slender; the prominent angle beneath half an inch farther from the point, and the depth at base two tenths of an inch less. Wings two and a half inches shorter, but of the same colour in every respect. Legs pure black, the tarsus nearly as long as in the former, but the toes much shorter. Tail long, pure white and deeply forked, whole top of head from the bill, pure black, extending into an ample flowing crest as in the former species. The representative of this species in the old world is the S, affinis, Riippell, but it differs from that species in nearly the same respects as S, regia does from S. velox. I procured this species on the Pacific coast of Mexico, particularly at Mazatlan at the mouth of the Gulf of California. It is exceedingly delicate in its plumage, and graceful in its mode of flight. I found them congregated in numbers on the sandy shoals of the Bay in the month of April, uttering as they flew a grating Kingfisher-like note. The Report of the Corresponding Secretary for November and De- cember was read and adopted. The Annual Report of the Recording Secretary was read and adopted. The Annual Report of the Treasurer was read and referred to the Auditors. The Librarian read the following report, which was ordered to be published. 130 [December, REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN For 1848. The Librarian respectfully presents the following statement for the present year. The total additions to the Library, of all descriptions, since the 1st of January, 1848, amount to 1349. 'J'he subjoined table exhibits the various subjects em- braced in this number, with the proportion of volumes, periodicals and serials, and pamphlets in each subject. General Natural History and Mammalogy, . • . . Botany, Conchology, Geology, ...... Helminthology, .... Ornithology, Herpetology, Ichthyology, Entomology, Mineralogy, Anatomy and Physiology, . Phys. Science and Chemistry. Medicine, Transactions of Societies, An- nals, Journals, Proceedings of Societies, &c., . . . Biography, History, Antiquities, Voyages and Travels, . . Geography, Bibliography, Education, Reports, Maps, Miscellaneous, .... VOLUMES. J^ Periodicals Folio. 4to. Svo. l2mo. Total Vols. and Serials in Parts, N'os., &c. Pamph- lets. Total. 9 31 93 21 154 91 40 285 4 5 3S 5 52 57 12 121 4 30 35 13 82 133 9 224 4 o 2 28 1 3G 2 IS 16 70 2 9 7 23 9 4S' 36 G 90 1 1 2: 3 5 o 1 3, 2 4 9 3 4 10 S 31 20 6 57 1 1' 2 3 2 7 20 29 1 16 46 3 12 15 7 22 1 1 2 i 4 6 41 13 1 1 54 101 155 2 2 4! 4 1 1 2i 2 5 1 6 1 7 21 27 59 2 109 8G 195 1 2 10 1 3 10 4 10 7 10 1 10 o 6 6 9 15 Total, 1349 The whole have been derived from the following sources: from authors 79 ; from editors 24 ; from menibers, correspondents, and others 70 ; from Societies 72; from Dr. Wilson, on deposit, 1029 ; from Dr. R. E. Griffith, on deposit, 72. Three Charts of the United States coast Survey were received from the Trea- sury Department, through Prof A. D. Bache. The aggregate additions to the Library in 1847, as stated in the report of that year, amounted to 1072, the greatest numbe'r in any single year since 1835, when Mr. Maclure's donations were received. The additions of the present year exceed those of 1847 by 277. 1848.] 131 'I'he deposits by Dr. Wilson in 1847 were remarkable for their numbei and value. In their selection also, andiin their adaptation to the wants of the Society, which it has always been his chief desire and pleasure to consult, the excellent judgment characteristic of that gentleman was abundantly shown. The obliga- tions then incurred were sufficiently great, but the statement just presented, exhibits a total of additions derived from him this year nearly double that of the last. The entire number of volumes, periodicals and serials in parts or numbers, and pamphlets, which Dr. Wilson has deposited to the present date, is as follows ; Volumes, Folios 96, Quartos 212, Octs. 293, Duod. 57, total 858 Periodicals and Serials '' 428, " 407, " 145, " 17, " 997 in pfirts, nos., &c. '^ Pamphlets, .... « 8, « 35, " 43 Total 1898 To our fellow member. Dr. Robert E. Griffith, belongs the credit of being the next largest contributor to the Library during the present year, as he was also in 1847. Nearly 250 works have been added by Dr. Griffith within the last two years ; many of them highly valuable for their antiquity and rarity. Among the contributions this year, is a fine copy of Vyse's celebrated and splendid work on the Pyramids of Egypt, in elephant folio, for which the Society is indebted to Dr. Samuel George Morton. To the same gentleman, it is also under great obligations for a donation of the first five volumes of the Asiatic Researches. The Academy's series of that important and frequently consulted work is now nearly complete, one volume only being wanting. The Academy had also the singular good fortune to obtain, at the same period, another set of the same volumes, from its venerable President Mr. William Hembel. Through the liberality of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Stott, of Philadelphia, the Library has been enriched the present year by the addition of Wallich's elegant work, PlantfE Asiaticte Rariores, in three large folio volumes. To the different scientific Societies, American and foreign, with which the Academy is in correspondence, its acknowledgements are due for their usual courtesy and attention, in furnishing their transactions and other publications ; especially to the Zoological and Linnean Societies of London, the British Asso- ciation, the Geneva Society, the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the Royal Agricul- tural Society of Lyons, the Royal Bavarian Society, the Imperial Society of Natu- ralists of Moscow, the Imperial Mineralogical Society of St. Petersburg, the American Philosophical Society, the New York Lyceum, the Boston Society of Natural History, and the American Academy. From numerous distinguished correspondents, authors, &c,, and from editors of scientific journals, at home and abroad, the Academy continues to receive their valuable publications, regarding them as evidences of the general interest ftlt in its success, and of their desire to promote its objects and usefulness. The rapid accumulations from all these sources during the last few years, have now nearly occupied the available space in the present apartment, which, at the time of the removal of the Library into it from the Hall, less than two years ago, was considered ample enough for any ordinary rate of increase for a consid- erable period. If, therefore, the Society should be so fortunate as to continue to 19 ^^■^ [December, enjoy even a moderate share of that liberality which latterly has been so lavishly bestowed upon the Library, it will become necessary during the ensuing year to decide upon some plan for furnishing additional accommodations for the Books in the adjoining rooms. A new printed catalogue of the Library, or an appendix to the last will soon be required. The present catalogue was published in the year 1837, and em- braced, according to the report of the Committee appointed to prepare it, 6890 volumes, besides 435 Maps and Charts. The Library has rapidly increased since that date, and at the present time cannot contain less than 10,000 volumes, nraps, charts, &c. An accurate enumeration will, however, be made of the wor-ks contained in each department, and the result submitted in the next annual report. Rich as are the collections of works in the Library, on Natural History, Voy- ages and Travels, History, Biography, Antiquities and the Fine Arts, &c., and liberal as have been the recent additions of Dr. Wilson, we are still greatly defi- cient in the transactions of foreign learned societies. In this Institution these publications are of indispensable importance for successfully conducting investigations in the different branches of science. From the gratifying testi- monials which the Academy continually receives of the estimation in which it is held by distinguished societies abroad, we are encouraged to believe, that a more extended correspondence, and offer of interchange of publications with these bodies, would be followed by the desired result, and the deficiencies promptly supplied. The design stated in the last annual report of furnishing to the Society a list of miscellaneous works, which it is proposed to reject from the Library, has been unavoidably deferred until next year. The propriety of this measure is generally admitted by the members, the space which these books now occupy being greatly needed for the accommodation of others of more utility. There are also duplicates of many natural history works of much value, which might be advantageously exchanged. A list of these will also be prepared and presented to the Society at an early period. Wm. S. Zantzinger, Librarian. Hall of the Academy, December 26t/i, 1848. The following Report of the Curators was read by the Chairman, Dr. Leidy, and ordered to be published. REPORT OFTHECURATORS For 1848. The impetus given to the progress of the Academy within a few years by the extensive and valuable additions to its museum and library from several of its members, still continues in full vigour. The treasures of nature are constantly being poured into its stores, sister societies observe us with emulation, and our journal is abundantly supplied with original memoirs on subjects of Natural His- tory. 1848.] 133 Since the report of the Curators for 1847 was presented to the Academy, the Eastern and North-East basement rooms, appropriated to part of the museum, have been finished, and the collections in Mineralogy, Conchology, Entomology, &c., have already been nearly arranged in them. Further accommodations also have been made for the extension of the Ornitholo- gical collection in the hall of the Academy, by the construction of a rowr of foot cases on the outer edge of the upper or third gallery, similar to those previously existing on the same part of the second gallery. Every department of the museum has been, and continues to be, carefully attended to, and to most of them, additions have been made during the year 1848, of which we will now give a summary. The Mammalogical collection, in its present condition, numbers 234 mounted specimens, besides a number of skins, all in a good state of preservation. It has received an addition of 16 specimens during the past year, principally from Drs. Watson, Wilson, Goddard, and Mr. Wm. Wood. The Ornithological cabinet, under the patronage of Dr. Wilson, still continues to be the most extensive department of our museum, as well as one of the richest collections in the world. This gentleman, during the past year has greatly increased it, by the deposit of the second portion of the Rivoli collection, coutaining 2584 specimens, and the collection known as that of M. Boucier, of France, comprising 1039 specimens. We have also to acknowledge our indebtedness to the liberality of Mr. Edward Harris, for the donation of a collection of rare North American birds, including nearly all the species discov- ered by Harris and Audubon during the last expedition of those gentlemen to the mouth of the Yellow Stone river. Besides the foregoing, we have received from members and others 14 specimens, several of which are unique, as the Picus Lecontei, from Dr. Jones of Georgia, &c. Dr. Wm. Gambel, the Recording Secretary, presented to the Society, a few evenings since, a complete catalogue of the Columbids in the Academy's collec- tion. Catalogues of the Vultures and Owls are also nearly ready and will apf)ear in an early number of the Proceedings. To our collection in Oology, has been added, through the kindness of Professor Baird of Carlisle, a donation of eggs of 56 species of 41 genera of American birds, 24 species of which were accompanied by the nests. To Dr. Heerman we must also express our thanks for seven rare species of eggs from Florida. The Conchological department is still in progress of arrangement by Dr. R. E. Griffith, in the horizontal cases occupying the floor of the east basement room, and has been much enriched during 1848 from the private cabinets of Dr. Griffith and Dr. Wilson. I'hese latter have not yet been formally presented through the Curators. We are much indebted to Dr. T. S. Savage, whose zeal in science is only excelled by his former labours in the religious office of missionary to West- ern Africa, for the donation of 226 specimens of shells, comprising 120 species of GO genera of rare shells from Western Africa. To Mr. Andrew R. Chambers of Philadelphia the gratitude of the Society is owing for the gift of two cabinets, containing 1200 specimens of shells, being part of the well known Hyde collection, formerly deposited in Peale's museum. The collection of Crustacea has been arranged by Dr. Bridges during the past J 34. [December, summer in the north east basement room of the Academy. During the year we have received nine specimens. The collection in Herpetology and Ichthyology is at present undergoing arrangement preparatory to its removal to the flying gallery in the east base- ment room. The number of species of Reptilia is as follows : Batrachia 120'; Sauria 150 ; Ophidia 242 ; Chelonia?. A conjectural estimate of the number of fishes amounts to 450 species. During 1848, the collection received an addition of 12 species of reptilia, and 16 species of fishes. The collection in Comparative Anatomy ts in good condition, gradually in- creases, and comprises at present, exclusive of Dr. Morton's extensive series of human crania, 307 crania of mammalia, 658 do. of birds, 68 do of reptilia, 30 do. of fishes, and 39 mounted skeletons. The collection of Dr. Morton continues to be probably the largest in the world, numbering at present 819 human crania, besides 28 casts of crania of various nations, ancient and modern. During 1848 we have received 12 mounted skeletons, from Drs. Wilson, Wat- son, Meigs, and Halloweli, and Messrs. Germain, Lambert, and Ashmead ; 21 crania from Dr. Wilson ; and the deposit of 73 crania, principally human, by Dr. Morton. The collection in Palaeontology, so far as arranged, is contained in the two double rows of horizontal cases occupying the floor of the hall, which, when the last report of the Curators was written, had not been finished. It has been greatly enriched during the past year from a variety of sources. We expres.? our thanks for a magnificent, and, to the American palaeontologist for study and comparison, an invaluable gift, from the Honourable Court of Directors of the East India Company, consisting of 124 well made and coloured casts of fossils from the Sivalik Hills of India, comprising casts of fragments of 36 species of 25 genera of mammalia ; 1 species of bird ; 5 species of 4 genera of reptilia ; and 1 species of fish. We cannot appreciate too highly the intelligence of this honour- able and celebrated body, when a voluntary gift of such an expensive charac- ter is made, having no other object in view than the promotion of science. We also feel our indebtedness to Dr. Thomas Horsfield, Curator of the East India Company's museuni, for a fine cast of the cranium of Sivatherium giganteum, the original of which is in the British Museum. To the memory of the late Dr. Carpenter, of New Orleans, we owe our grateful recollections, for the donation of one-half of the inferior maxilla and several teeth of the fossil Tapirus Americanus. To Dr. T. B. Wilson, the lasting gratitude of the Academy is owing, for the largest and most valuable donation in natural history probably ever made in America, consisting of the following collections : Mr. Conrad's collection of American fossils, containing about 3000 specimens and 1000 species; (in this collection are the originals of Dr. Morton from the cretaceous formation,) a general collection of British fossils, containing 9402 specimens, comprising 2935 species ; (this collection includes the selected specimens from the cabinet of the late Miss Bennett, of England;) a collection of 2 155 specimens, comprising 501 species, from the cretaceous formation of France; a collection of German fossils, containing 650 specimens of 500 species ; a collection of Italian fossils from the tertiary of Piedmont, containing 2000 specimens of 600 species ; the total of which is 17,207 specimens, and 5545 species. Dr. Wilson has also de- posited a very perfect specimen of Ichthyosaurus iiitermedius. To Mr. Joseph 1848.] 135 Culbertson, we are indebted for the deposit of the unique specinnens of the new genus of fossil mannnnalia Merycoidodon. The professors of the Jardin des Plantes have presented to us several of their beautifully made casts of Anoplo- tnerium and Paleotherium. Besides the foregoing we have received 128 speci- mens from various members and others. In Entomology, it affords us pleasure to say, that the collection is in an ex- cellent state of preservation, and is in steady progress of arrangement by Dr. Zantzinger, and from the many donations in the past two years already numbers several thousand specimens of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. 'i'he impression which unfortunately exists, that this department of natural science is not sufficiently cared for in this institution, we hope will be henceforward removed. Members and friends of the Academy need not now hesitate before preseming or depositing collections of insects in the institution, as the danger of their destruction from neg- lect or other causes no longer exists. At present, this like the other departments, is under the constant supervision of two officers, whose duty it is not to permit any portion of the property of the Society which is placed in their charge to suffer from neglect or depredation. In the course of the last year Dr. Wilson presented 200 specimens of American and foreign Lepidoptera to the cabinet. We also acknow- ledge our indebtedness to Mr. Wm. Hobson, of Kingsessing, for the donation of 500 determined specimens of British Coleoptera ; to Mr. Edward Doubleday, of the British Museum, for a very fine collection of about 900 determined and ar- ranged species of British Coleoptera; and to Dr. A. L. Heerman, our fellow mem- ber, for numerous specimens of American Lepidoptera, chiefly from Key West, Florida, many of which are rare. The Cabinet of Mineralosy and Geology during the past summer has been carefully .and almost completely' arranged by our fellow members Messrs Vaux, Ashmead and Hambel. It has received snme rich additions during the last year, among which should be particularly mentioned a very large and valuable donation from Dr. Wilson, numbering in all 2039 specimens, almost exclusively European, many of them of the rarest and choicest character. Our cabinet of European minerals is now one of the best in the country, although still very deficient in American specimens. The example which has been set by Dr. Wilson we hope may induce others to supply this deficiency. To M. Boucier of France, through Dr. Wilson, we have become indebted for the donation of 70 very fine specimens of blue and green carbonate, and red oxide of copper, among which are many and r ir^, modifications of the primitive crystal- line form. Nor should we fail to mention the deposit by Mr. Vaux, of an enormous crystal of Beryl, weighing 185 lbs., from Acworth, New Hampshire. Besides these there were presented 40 specimens of minerals by several of the members and others. Among them, are some of the more lately discovered minerals, pre- sented by Mr. Markoe of Washington, and some fine specimens of Elba iron ore from Dr. Carson. The unrestricted admission of persons to the museum of the Academy upon the afternoons of Tuesdays and Saturdays, having been found to be attended with some injury and even destruction of its furniture, caused the Society, last year, to change one of the days of exhibition, viz. Saturday, to Friday, and to issue gratuitous tickets of admission, to be obtained from members upon ap- plication. This arrangement has been followed by the most beneficial effects ; 136 [December, persons really desirous of inspecting the collections, take the trouble to procure a ticket, with which they feel responsible for their conduct; the introduction of crowds is also avoiiled, which, from constant motion, give rise to dust, so detri- mental to the more perishable articles in a natural history collection. The janitor, who keep^ a register of the names and residences of visitors to the Museum on the Exhibiiion days, informs me that upwards of three thousand persons have availed themselves of this privilege since the middle of May las*, when the new arrangement went into effect. This is an average of about 380 admissions per month, or nearly 5000 per annum. Joseph Leidv, December 26lh, 1848. Chairman of Curators. The Academy then proceeded to an election for Officers for 1849. The following were reported by the tellers as elected. PRESIDENT. William Hembel. VICE PRESIDENTS. J. Price Wetherill, Samuel George Morton, M. D. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. John Cassin. RECORDING SECRETARY. William Gambel, M. D. LIBRARIAN. William S. Zantzinger, M. D. TREASURER. George W. Carpenter. CURATORS. Joseph Leidy, M. D. William S. Vaux, Samuel Ashmead, John Cassin. AUDITORS. Robert Pearsall, William S. Vaux, Robert Bridges, M. D. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. William S. Vaux, S. G. Morton, M. D. William Gambel, M. D. Robert E, Griffith, M. D. Samuel Ashmead. 1848.] 137 DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In November and December. November 1th. Cranium of Allisrator Mississippiensis, one of a Delphinus, three of the Orang of Borneo, and one of a Simla. Deposited by Dr. Morton. Two living specimens of Phrynosoma cornuta, from New Mexico. From Dr. McMurtrie. Two specimens S and % of Sciurus cinereus, from Delaware. Presented by Dr. Heerman. Trichiurus lepturus, from Long Island. From Mrs. Jane E. Spooner, of New York, through Prof. Germain. A curious variety of the domestic duck (Anas boschus) having the toes uncon- nected by webs; raised near Mount Laurel, N. J. Presented by Mr. Percival. One hundred specimens of Reptilia, collected in South Carolina, and presented by Mr. Reid. November Wth. Numerous specimens of Salt from Mingo lake, in Texas, about'50 miles from Metamoras, Mexico ; with the following memorandum : " The lake is a mile and a half in length, and half a mile in width, and so strongly formed is the body of salt on the surface, that wagons, or loaded mules, can be driven over it, without danger of breaking through. The rapidity of its formation, without any artificial process, or mechanical aid, is most remarkable, as the inhabitants cut it out, in large blocks, or cakes, around the margin of the lake, and in a day or two it is replaced by another supply, equally thick." Brought from Metamoras by Col. Wm. Davenport, U. S. A., and presented by Mrs. Davenport. Eleven human Crania — Shawnee, Seminole, and nine Peruvian, and one cast of a Caffre. Deposited by Dr. S. G. Morton. Cranium of Emys — River Amazon, Four large specimens of Ostrea Georgiana, from Shell Bluff, Savannah river. From Mr. Reid, of S. Carolina. Ardea rufescens, young, and Picas tridactylis, t and % from Europe. From Dr. Heerman. Three fragments of maxillae of fossil Tapirus Americanus ? described in Silli- man's Journal for 1846. From Texas. Presented by the late Wm. M. Carpenter, M. D., of New Orleans, through Mr. B. M. Norman. November 21st. Cast of an Asterias found at Scoharie, N. S. Presented by Mrs. J. E. Spooner, through Prof. L. J. Germain. Four specimens of Fossils from Catskill, and one specimen of an Orthoceras. Presented by Prof. L. J. Germain. Fourteen hundred and ninety-three specimens of foreign minerals ; 21 speci- mens of American minerals ; 135 specimens of Vesuvian m.inerals ; 90 specimens of Auvergne minerals and rocks, and 300 specimens of New Holland minerals and rocks. Presented by Dr. Wilson. Seventy specimens of blue and green Carbonate of Copper, from Chessy, France. Presented by Mons. Bourcier, of Lyons, through Dr. Wilson. Specimen of Chromate of Lead from Berisoff, Siberia. Presented by Mr. H. Heuland, of London, through Dr. Wilson. A large specimen of Stalactite, from Derbyshire, presented by Mr. Adams, of Derbyshire, through Dr. Wilson. One hundred and sixty-five species (427 specimens) of British Fossils, chiefly from the Chalk, Wealden, Oolite, Carboniferous, Limestone and old Red Sandstone formations; 150 species (643 additional specimens) from the Bennett collection ; 138 [December, 501 species (2155 specimens) iVoiii the Cretaceous formation of France. Pre- sented by Dr. Wilson. A very perfect specimen of Ichtliyosaurus intermedins. Deposited by Dr. Wil- son. Mounted specimen of Simla Satyrus. Presented by Mr. T. C. Percival and Dr. Bridges. December 5th. Three specimens of Stigmaria in sandstone, and one specimen of Ferns in slate, from Hazleton coal field From Mr. Samuel Powel. Nine specimens of Fern &c., in slate, from Tamaqua mine. Presented by M. D. Eyre. Sulphuret of Copper from Schuyler mines, N. J. Presented by T. F. Moss. Pholas californica, from California. From Dr. A. A. Henderson, U. S. N. Ephialtes Asio, adult female, and young male, from Chester county, Pa. Pre- sented by Dr. S. W. Woodhouse. Two specimens, male and female, of albino Numida meleagris, raised in Abing- don, Montgomery county. Pa. Presented by Chas. S. Fletcher. Decemhe)- \2th. Four specimens of Eocene strata of Vicksburg. Presented by T. A. Conrad. Collection made by Mr. W. S. Pease, in Mexico, consisting of one skin of Bassaris, one skin of Pseudostoma; reptilia (of the genera Columella, Lepto- phus, Xenodon, Salamandra, &c.,) and six tortoises ; fifty specimens Lepidoptera ; and several minerals. Presented by Dr. T. B. Wilson. Also, 131 bird skins, from the same collection. Deposited by the same. December I'^th. Mounted specimen of Hydromys (Myopotamus) coypus, from Chili. Pre- sented by Dr. T. B. Wilson. Mounted specimen of Sciurus ferruginiventris, from Monterey, Mexico. Pre- sented by Mr. Wm. Wood. Amblyopsis pellucidus, from Mammoth cave, Kentucky. Presented by Mrs. C. H. Greff. DONATIONS TO LIB,RARY, In November and December, 1848. November 1th. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Vol. 2. Nos. 6, 7, 8. From the Editors. American Journal of Science and Arts. Second Series. No. 18. From the Editors. Monographie des Coleopteres subpentameres de la famille des Phytophages. Par M. Th. Lacordaire. 2 vols. 8vo. From the Author. Revision de la famille des Cicindelides, par M. Lacordaire. From the same. Annales de la Societe Royale d' Agriculture, &c., de Lyon. Tome ix. 8vo. From the Society. Annales de la Societe Linneenne de Lyon. Annees, 1845 — '46. 8vo. From the same. Note sur I'emploi du sucre pour preserver les chaudieres a vapeur des incrus- tations salines. Par M. Quinon. From the same. Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York on the condition of the Cabinet of Natural History. From the Regents. Ueber den Ban derGanoiden, &c., von Joh. Miiller. From Dr. Leidy. Beitriige zur Kenntniss der natiirlichen Familien der Fische. Von J. Miiller. From the same. 1848.] 139 Bericht iiber die von Hernn Korh in Alabama, gesammeltpn fossil ien Knochen- reste seines Hydrarchus. Von J. Miiller. From the same. Fernere Benierkungen iiber den ban der Ganoiden, Von J. Miiller. From the same. Beschreibung neuer Asteroiden. Von J. Miiller und F. H. Troschel. From the same. Observationes quaedam Entomologicrc de Oxybelo unigkime, atque Milto- gramma conica. Auctore C. Th. E. de Siebold. From the same. Dr. Wilson deposited the following works r An introduction to the Birds of Australia. By John Gould. 8vo. Bibliographia Zoologize ct Geologic, By Prof. Louis Agassiz. Edited by H. S. Strickland. Vol. 1. 8vo. The Correspondence of John Ray. Edited by Edwin Lankester, M. D. 8vo. (Ray Society Publication.) Phycologia Britannica. By William Henry Harvey, M. D. Part 33. 8vo. Palceontographica. Beitriige zur Naturgeschichte der Vorwelt. Herausgegcben von Dr. W. Dunker und Herm. Von Meyer. Vol. 1. No. 4. 4to. Zeitschrift fnr Malakozoologie. Herausgegeben von Karl Th. Menke, M. J)., nnd Dr. Louis Pfeiffer. Jan., 1848. Illustrations of the Birds of Jamaica. By P. H. Gosse. Part G. Svo, Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Part 66. 4to. History of British Mellusca and their Shells. By Prof. Ed. Forbes, and S. Hanley. Part 9. 8vo. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. 2. 2d series. No, 0. Monograph of the British Nudibranchiate Mollusca. By Joshua Alder and Albany Hancock. Part 4. 4to. Illustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. T.J. Hussey. Part 18. 4to. Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. By Andrew Smith, M. D. No. 28. 4to. The Kntomological Cabinet, being a Natural History of British Insects. By George Samouelle. 2 vols. 12mo. The Entomologist's Text Book. By J. 0. Westwood. 12mo. .Tohannes Godartius on Insects. 4to. Nomenclature of Coleopterous Insects in the collection of the British Museum, Part 3, List of Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the British Museum. Ap- pendix. The Birds of Australia. By John Gould. Parts 35 and 36. Folio. Essays on the Microscope. By George Adams. 4to.; and Atlas 4to. Monograph of the British Naked-eyed Medusa;. By Edward Forbes. 4to. (Ray Society Publication.) The Dodo and its kindred. By H. E, Strickland and A. G. Melville, M- D, 4to. D' Amboinischer Rariteitkamer, &c. Door Geo. E. Rumphius. Folio. Revue Zoologique. No. 6. 1848. Comptes Rendus. Tome 28. Nos. 7, 8, The following were deposited by Dr. R. E. Griffith: Abulfedas descriptio ^^gypti ; edidit J. D. Michaet^lis. 8vo, Prosperi Alpini de Plantis ^.gypti liber- 4to. Fabi Columnac Lyncei Fhytobasanos cui accesit vita Fafei et Lynceoum notitia annotationesque in Phytobasanon Jano Planco Ariminense auctore. 4to. Kiliani Stobnei Opuscula. 4to. Compendium Florae Germaniae. Scripserunt M. Jos. Bluff et Car. Ant. Fin- gerhuth. 2 vols. 13mo. Caroli Clusii Atrebat. Rariornm aliquot Stirpium per Hispanias observatorum historia. 8vo. Index systematicus Musaei Geversiani. Svo. The Philadelphia Medical and Physical .Tournal; By Benj. S. Barton, M. D. Vol. 3. Svo. 20 140 [December, November 2lst. Literary Record and Jouriidl of the Liiinean Association of Pennsylvania Col- lege. Vol. 3. No. 2. From the Association. Descriptions of some of the species of naked, air-breathing IVlollusca, inhabit- ing the United States. By Amos Binney. Deposited by Dr. Griffith. Notice of some works, recently published, on the nomenclature of Zoology. By A. A. Gould, M. D. From the same. Descriptions of twelve new species of Uniones. By Isaac Lea. From the same. Descriptions of some new Fossil Shells from the Tertiary of Petersburg, Va. By Henry C. Lea. From the same. Third Annual Report on the Geology of Vermont. By C. B. Adams. From the same. Description d' un genre nouveau de Coquille vivante. Bivalve, des Mers de Chili. Par M- Des Moulins. From the same. Beschreibung der in der grossen knochen Hbhle-Tennessee (N. A.) gefun- denen fossilen Knochen des Megalonyx laqueatus von Dr. Harlan; verdeutschtdurch Charles Cramer. From Mr. Cramer. Materials for a Fauna and Flora of Swansea, and the neighbourhood. By L. W. Dillwyn. 8vo. From the author. Review of the references to the Hortus Malabaricus. (L. W. Dillwyn.) From the same. Hortus Collinsonianus ; an account of the plants cultivated by the late Peter CoUinson. 8vo. (L. W. Dillwyn.) From the same. Some account of a Lusus of the hybrid Cytisus Adami, at Sketty Hall. By L. W. Dillwyn. 8vo. From the same. Dr. Wilson deposited the following : Voyage in Abyssinie ; par MM. Ferrett et Galinier. TexteLivs.5 — 8. 8vo. Planches, Livs. 5 — 8, folio. Verhandelingen over de Naturlijke Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche overzeesche Bezittingen. Land en Volkenkunde. No. 10. Folio. Over de Zoogdieren von den Indischen-Archipel, door Salomon Miiller. Folio. Symbolae Physicae. (F. G. Hemprich et C. G. Ehrenberg.) Insectac,Decas 4to. Folio. Fauna Japonica ; Auctore P. F. de Siebold. Sauria.et Batrachia, No. 1; Che- Ionia, No. I ; Ophidia, No. 1 ; Crustacea, Nos. 1 — 5 ; Aves, Nos. 3—6. Folio. Fauna Marchica. Die Wirbclthiere der Mark Brandenburg, bearbeitet von J. H. Shultz. Nos. 1—4. Notes et observationes sur la ponte des Oiseaux qui se trouvent ;'i 1' ouest de la France. Par J. C. Lapierre. 8vo. Revue Zoologique. Nos. 7, 8. 1S18. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. 2. 2d series. No. 10. The South African Quarterly Journal. 2d Series. Nos. 1, 2, 3. Ova Avium plurimarum ab O. des Murs. • Tentamen Monographia? generis Phaston. Par M. Brandt. Rapport sur une Monographie de la famille des Alcadees. Par M. Brandt. Die voUstandigste Naturgeschichte des In-und Auslandes. Von H. G. Ludwig Reichenbach. Nos. 1 — 39. Svo. Ornithologischer beitrag znr Fauna Groenlands von Carl llolboU. Svo. Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve. No. 67. 4to. niustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. Hussey. Part 10. 4to. Illustrations of the Birds of Jamaica. By Philip H. Gosse. No. 7. Phycologia Britannica. By Wm. H. Harvey, M. D. Part 31. A history of British Mollusca. By Prof. Forbes and Sylvanus Hanley. Part 10. Svo. Notes sur les mammiferes et sur 1' Ornithologie do 1' ile de Madagascar. Par M. Victor Sganzin. 4to. The Taxidermist's Manual, &c. By Capt. Thomas Brown. 12mo. M. Th. Briinnichii Ornithologia Borealis, kc 12mo. 1848.] 141 Contributions towards a Catalogue of Plants indigenous to the neighbourhood of Tenby. Svo. Contributions to Ornithology, 1848. By Sir Wm. Jardine. Galerie des Mollusques, ou Catalogue des Mollusques et CoquiUes du Museum de Donai. Par JNIM. Potiez et Michaud. 4 vols. Svo. Historia natural y moral de las Indias , per el Padre Joseph de Acosta. 4to. Animal Chemistry. By Justus Liebig, M. D. Edited by Wm. Gregory, M.D. 2d edition. Svo. Familiar letters on Chemistry. By Justus Liebig, M. D. Edited by John Gardner, M. D. 3d edition. 2 vols. Svo. Chemistry in its applications to Agriculture and Physiology. By Justus Liebig, M. D Edited by Lyon Playfair. Ph. D. 3d edition. Svo. Taschenbuch e'er Deutschen Vogelkunde oder kurze Beschreibung aller Vogel Deutschlands von H. de Meyer und Prof. Dr. Wolf. 2 vols. Svo. A practical Treatise on British Song Birds. By Joseph Nash. Svo. Ornithologisches Taschenbuch von und fiir Deutschland oder kurze Beschrie- bung aller Vogel Deutschlands von J. M. Bechstein. 12mo.- A narrative of a visit to the Mauritius and South Africa. By Jas. Backhouse. Svo. A narrative of a visit to the Australian Colonie?. By James Backhouse. Svo. Faune Ornithologique de la Sicile, par Alfred Malherbe. Svo. Synopsis Mammalium. Auctore J. Baptista Fischer, M. D. Svo. Description des Mammiferes et d' Oiseaux recemmeut decouverts, &c. Par M. LesBon. Svo. (Supplement aax osuvres de BufTon.) Faune de Maine et Loire. Par P. A. Millett. 2 vols. Svo. A catalogue of the organic remains of the county of Wilts. By Etheldred Benett. 4to. A systematic catalogue of British Insects, &c. By James F. Stephens. Svo. Traite sommaire des Coquilles tant fluviatiles que terrestres qui se trouvent aux environs de Paris. Par M. Geoffroy. 12mo. The natural history of the rarer Lepidopterous insects of Georgia; collected' from the observations of Mr. John Abbott. By James Edward Smith, M. D. 2 vols. Folio. Histoire generale et iconographie des Lepidopteres et des Chenilles deL' Ame- rique Septentrionale ; par le Dr. Boisduval et M. J^ Le Conte. Tome Ime. Svo. Traite de Fauconnerie ; par MM. H. Schlegei, et J. A. O. Van Wolverhorst. Livs. 1. et 2. Elephant folio. Ittiolitologia Veronese del Museo Bozziano ora a.nnesso a quello del Conte Giovambattista Gazola e di altri Gabinetti di Fossili Veronesi. Folio. Jacobi Christiani SchoefFeri Elementa Ornithologica. 4to. 2d edition. Versuch einer Naturgeschichte der Krabben und Krebse, &c. Von Johann F. W. Herbst. 4to., and Atlas folio. Libellulinre EuropsaR, descriptK ac depictae a Tbussaint de Charpentier. 4to. An introduction to Lamarck's Conchology. By Edmund A. Crouch. 4to. Systematische Darstellungder Fortpflanzung der Vogel Europa'smit Abbil. der Eier. Im Vereine mit Lud. Brehm und G. A. W. Thienemann ; herausgegeben von F. A. L. Thienemann. 4to. Traite Anatomique de la Chenille qui ronge le bois de Saule, &c. Par Pierre Lyonet. 4to. Jacobi Theodori Klein naturalis dispositio Fchinodermatum. Sciagraphia Lithologica curiosa sur Lapidum figuratorum nomenclator, olim a celebri J. J. Scheuchzero, auctus &c. a J. T. Klein. Jacobi T. Klein historia Piscium naturalis, &c. Cin 1 vol. 4to.) Vergniigen der Augen und des Gemuths in Vorstellung einer Allgemeinen Sammlung von Muschlen und Schneckden von Georg Wolfgang Knorr. 6 vols, in 3. 4to. Ausfiihrliche Nachricht von neuentdeckten Zooliten unbekanntner vierfiisiger Thiere, &c. Von J. F. Esper. Folio. Descriptiones et icones Amphibiorum. Auctore Dr. J. Wagler. Folio. 142 [Dkckmber, lllustjalions of Zoology, &c. By James Wilson. Folio. Teutsche Oniithologie, oder Naturgeschichte aller Vogel Teutchlaiuls; heraus- gegeben von Borkhausen, Lichthanier uiid Berker dem Jiingen. Folio. Descriptions and anecdotes of the Orang-Outangs now exhibiting at the Egyp- tian Hall, Piccadilly. Dell' Uccello JVIessicano qraezalt e dei Trogonodi cui appartienne di Carlo L- Bonaparte. List of Specimens of British animals in t\x British Museum. Part ls.t. List of specimens of Briti^ih sponges in the same. Synopsis of the contents of the same. Description, iiistory, and anecdotes of the Giraffes, now exhibiting in the Surrey Zoological (Jardens. By J. E. Warwick. 2d edition. Svo. Report of the Council and Auditors of the Zoological Society of LondicMi, 1832 to ISlb. Report on the farm of Do., at Kingston Hill, for 1832. List of the Fellows and Members of the same, 1S47. Lis-t of the Animals in the gardens in Do., 1833 and 1S37. Gardens and menageries of the same delineated. (Quadrupeds and Birds, 2 vols. Svo. The Tower Menagerie. Svo. The learned Societies and printing clubs of the United Kingdoai. By the Kev- A. Hume, L. L. D. Svo. The London Catalogue of Books from 1815 to 1846. Svo. The Book collector's hand-book. Svo. 1845. Catalogue raisonne d' Oiseaux de P Algerie, par M. Alfred Malherbe. Catalogue des objects d' bistoire naturelle composant le Cabinet de MM. Yer- raux, pere et Ills. Catalogue de tons les objects dans un cabinet d' histoire naturelle en vente a Lorienne. ^Ito. Catalogue du Musee Departmental des Antiqiiites de Rouen. 12mo. Catalogue des genera, ct des especes les plus remarkab les comprenant lacollec- tione de Coquilles de M. Castellin. Svo. Catalogue des Crustacees dans le Boulonnais, par M. Bouchard Chanteraux ; Observations sur le genre Ancyle, par le meme, (in one vol.) Catalogue des Mollusques a I' etat vivant dans le department du Pas-de-Calais, par le meme. Svo. Musee des Thermes et de 1' hotel de Cluny. Notice. 12mo. The Naturalist's Library. Introduction to Entomology, Vol. 1; Mammalia, Horses, 1 vol ; Natural history of Dogs, 2 vols ; Fishes of Guiana, 2 vols; Mar- supialia, 1 vol.; Introduction to the Mammalia, 1 vol. The Library of Entertaining Knowledge. Domestic habits of Birds, 2 vols. ; Architecture of Do., 2 vols.: Faculties of Do., 2 vols.; The Menageries, Qua- drupeds, Svols.; Insect Architecture, 3 vols. The Natural History of Selborne. By the Rev. Gilbert White ; with notes by Capt. Brown. 12mo. Catalogue of the recent Shells in the collection of John Adamson, Esq. The Dublin University Museum ; Jiine, 1S47. Report of the Meteorological Committee of the South African Association, 1836 and 1837 ; Annual Reports of Do., 1830—1833 ; Regulations of Do., 1832. Annual Reports of the Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for 1845 and '46. Abstract of Proceedings of the Cape of Good Hope Association for exploring Central Africa. Svo. Comptes Kendus. Nos. 9, 10, 11. Tome 27. Isis von Oken. Heft I. 1848 December 5/h. Bulletin de la Socii^te Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscow. Nos. 3, 4, 1S47. 1, 2, 1848. From the Society. Zeitschrift fiir Malakozoologie ; herausgegeben von Karl Th. Mcnke. 1841, 1846. Deposited by Dr. Griffith. Synopsis of the Flora of the Western States. By John L. Riddell. Svo. Yrhm the same. 1848.] 143 Manuel d' Entomologie; par M. Boitard. 2 vols. r2mo. From Dr. Leidy. De Selachiorum et Ganoideorum Encephalo. Auctor Gulielmus Buscii. 4to. From the same. Disquisitiones anatomico-comparativ^ de membro piscinm pectorali. Auctor Carohis Mettenheimer. 4to. From the same. Prof. Patterson's Address before the Linnean Association of Pennsylvania Col- lege. From M. L. Stoever, Esq. Notes on the Geology of Charleston, S. C. By F. S. Holmes. 3 copies. From the author. Report on the subject of International Exchanges. By Alexander Vattemare. From J. L. Dix, Esq. Hermolai Barbari Patritii Venetii in C. Plinii naturalis historiae libros castiga- tiones. 8vo. ir)34. From Dr. Morton. Asiatic Researches. Vols. 1 — 5. 4to. From the same. Asiatic Researches. Vols. 1 — 5. 4to. From Wm. Hembel. Dr. Wilson deposited the following: Journal de la navigation autour du Globe de la Thetis et de 1' Esperanee, pen- dant les Annees 1824 — '26. Texte. 4to. tomes 2; Planches folio, tome 1. Voyage au Pole Sud et dans 1' Oceania sur les Corvettes L'Astrolabe et La Zelee pendant les an. 1837 — '40, Texte 8vo., tomes 9; planches folio, tomes 6. Voyage antour du monde sur la fregate la Venus, pendant les an. 1836 — 39. Texte 8vo. tomes 9, planches folio, tomes 4. Histoire naturelle des Perroquets, (pour faire suite aux deux vols, de Levail- lant.) Par le Dr. A. B. Saint Hilaire. Folio. Exposition methodique des genres de I'ordre des Polypiers ; par J. Lamouroux. 4to. Histoire naturelle des lies Canaries; par MM. Webb et Bertholet. Tomes 4to. 8, folio, 1. Traite elementaire de Conchyliologie. Par C. P. Deshayes. 8vo. Histoire naturelle des Oiseaux d' P2urope; par Pierre Boitard. 4to. Traite elementaire de Paleontologie. Par F. J. Pictet. 4 vols. 8vo. Histoire des Coquilles qui vivant aux environs de Paris. Par Biard. 12mo. The Orj ithologist's Text Book. By Neville Wood, Esq. 8vo The Naturalist's Library. Natural history of the Birds of Great Britain. By Sir W. Jardine. 4 vols. 8vo. Deeenihcr 12?/i. Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. New series. VoL 3. 4to. From the Academy. The anatomy of the human body. By John and Charles Bell. 3 vols. 8vo. From Dr. Dawson. December Vith. The Ethnological Journal. Edited by Luke Burke, Esq. No6. 1, 2, 3, 4. June, July, August, and September, 184S. From the Editor, through G. R. Gliddon, Esq. / 1849.] 145 January 9th, 1849. Mr. AsHMEAD in the Chair. Letters were read from Dr. B. F. Shumard, dated Louisville, Ken- tucky, November 20, 184S, and Dr. L. P. Yandell, of same date, severally acknowledging the receipt of their notices of election as Correspondents. A letter was read from H. Smith, M. D., dated St. James' Place, London, 1st December, 1848, proposing exchanges of Reptilia with the Academy, and transmitting a list of those in his possession. Re- ferred to the Curators. Prof. H. D. Rogers stated that his views of the formation of moun- tain ridges by the upheaving of the crust of the earth I'rom subterranean causes, had been amply confirmed in a tour to Europe, which he recently made for that ])ur])ose. Dr. Leidy offered the following observations on the existence of the intermaxillary bone in the embryo of the human subject: The immortal Goethe, I believe, was the first to point out the existence of the OS intermaxillare in the human subject, but it has only been observed in an abnormal condition, or where there has been an arrest of development in con- nection with some cases of hare-lip; and the period of life in which it is found as a distinct piece, and its exact limits, have not yet been accurately determined.. The universality of the presence of the os intermaxillare in all animals below man, its presence as a distinct piece in an abnormal, condition in man, always defined by a lateral fissure which characterizes it as the incisive bone, and the uniform existence of a transverse fissure behind the incisive alveoli of the os maxillare superius of the human foetus at birth, have led many anatomists to suspect its normal and independent existence in the embryotic condition of man at an earlier period than it has been sought for. As the negro in his anatomical characters is not so far removed from the embryological condition as the white, it is to be presumed that the intermaxillary bone would remain longer distinct; and under such an impression I have several times desired medical students, from our Southern States, whose opportunities of investigating the anatomy of the negro are frequent, to make this a subject of inquiry. Such an opinion cannot be considered unworthy of attention, when it is recollected that Tschudi mentions the existence of a true os interparietale, as a constant condition, in certain branches of the aboriginal inhabitants of Peru, the Chinchas, Aymaras and Huancas. Recently having had an opportunity of examining several human embryos, in one of them I was fortunate enough to detect the intermaxillary bone as a dis- tinct and independent piece. This embryo measured one inch and eleven lines from heel to vertex, arid I presumed it to be about nine or ten weeks old. In it ossification had already advanced in the superior maxillary and inter- rROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF FHILAPELPHIA. — VOL. IV. XO. VII. 21 H6 [January, maxillary bones sufficientiy to £:ive them a determinate form, and their appear- ance, when magnified, is represented in the figures 1 and 2, which were taken from the specimens through the aid of the camera lucida. Fi-. 1. Fig. 2. b-- Fig. ] represents the superior maxillary and intermaxiMary bones, much mag- nified, of a human embryo. The diawing was taken from the right side through the aid of the camera lucida, which reverses its position, a. superior maxillary bone; b. intermaxillary bone; c. line of articulation between the two bones; d. falatine process; e. alveolar groove. Fig. 2 represents the antero-inferior surface of the sepnrated intermaxillary bone, much magnified. (From the left side, but reversed by the cameio.) a. ascend- ing or nasal process; 5. articulating surface for the superior maxillary bone ; c, incisor alveoli. The greatest breadth of the two bones in apposition is one line and two-thirds; the greatest height, being at the ascending or nasal process, is one line. The two pieces present a facial portion, consisting of the ascending or nasal process and part of the body of the bones ; an alveolar ridge and groove and a palatine process projecting backward from the superior maxillary bone. They are easily separable at this period, and the articulation passes through the alveolar ridge, at a point corresponding to the separation between the incisor alveoli and the canine alveolus, and extends transversely inwards behind the incisor alveoli, and verti- cally upwards, dividing the nasal process into two nearly equal portions. On the posterior surface of the nasal process the articulation is at the bottom of a comparatively deep and wide groove, which, however, does not appear to be part of the lachrymal canal, as the latter appears afterwards and external to the former groove. The preparations exhibiting these interesting points which prove the existence of the same law, throughout the animal kingdom, governing the forma- tion of the upper maxillary bones, I present for the inspection of the members of the Academy. In an embryonic skeleton in the Wislar Museum, measuring three and one 1849.) 147 eighth inches in length, and purporting to be about nine weeks old, which, however, I think too young, the maxillo-intermaxillary articulation is still evident at the ascending process, but it does not divide the latter so equally, being more internal and inferior, apparently from a more rapid development of the nasal processof the true maxillary bone. Just above the alveolar ridge they are already auchylosed together. In another embryo, in the same museum, measuring three and one-fourth inches in length, the two bones have become firmly united, excepting behind the incisor alveoli, but the line of original separation is readily traced out, from a greater degree of thinness and transparency along its course. The nasal process of the true maxillary bone has so much increased beyond the nasal process of the intermaxillary bone, that the latter no more ascends to the summit of the former, but is considerably inferior and internal. In the fcctal skeleton, measuring five inches in length, all traces of the inter- articulation have disappeared, except behind the incisor alveoli, which latter portion, as is well kuQwn, does not usually disappear until some time after birth, and in some instances is found in the adult cranium. January 23c^, 1S49. Mr. Phillips in the Chaifv A letter was read from the Baroness Berzelius, dated Stockholm, September 15, 1848, announcing to ttie Academy the decease of her late husband, the Baron Berzelius, a Correspondent of this Institu- tion. January 30M, 1849. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. The Auditors reported that they had examined the account of the Treasurer for 1848, and had found it correct. The Monthly Report of the Corresponding Secretary was read and adopted. The resolution offered by Dr. Leidy, at the last meeting for business, was then taken up, that the following Article of the By-Laws be amended : '■'■Chap. 6th, Art. 1. There shall be seven standing committees, viz. — the Auditors, to consist of three members; the Mineralogical and Geological Committee, and the Zoological Committee, to consist of seven members each; the Publication, Library and Botanical Com- mittees, and the Committee on Physics, to consist every one of five members, whose term of service shall be one year. And all these, except the Auditors and Publication Committee, shall be elected at the last meeting of January in each year." So as to read thus : "There shall he fifteen Standing Committees, viz.: 1. The Ethno- logical Committee ; 2, the Committee on Comparative Anatomy and 14-8 [January, General Zoology ; 3, Committee on Mammalogy; 4, ou Ornithology ; 5, on Herpetoloffy and Ichthyology ; 6, on Conchology ; 7, on Ento~ viology ; 8, on Botany; 9, on Palceontology; 10, on Geology and Mineralogy; 11, on Physics: 12, on the Library: 13, on the Proceedings; 14, the Auditors; and 15, the Publication Committee ; each to consist of Mrce members, whose term of service shall be one year. And all these, except the Auditors and Publication Committee, shall be elected at the last meeting in January of each year." The amendment was adopted. The Society then proceeded to an election for the Standing Com- mittees, in accordance with the above amended By-Lav/. The follow- ing members were elected: COMMITTEES FOK. 1849, 1 . Ethnology. S. G. Morton, J. S. Phillips, Charles Pickering. 2. Comparative Anatomy and Physiology. Joseph Leidy, S. G. Morton, Edward Hallowell. 3. Mammalogy. J. S. Phillips, Joseph Leidy, S. W. Woodhouse. 4. Ornithology. Edward Harris, John Cassin, William Gambel. 5. Herpetology and Ichthyology. Edward Hallowell, Robert E. Griffith, J. K. Townsend. G. Conchology. Robert E. Griffith, T. A. Conrad, Henry C. Lea. 7. Entomology and Crustacea. S. S. Haldeman, Robert Bridges, Wm. S. Zantzinger. 8. Botany. Robert Bridges, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Gavin Watson. 9. PalcEontology. T. A. Conrad, Richard C. Taylor, Thomas B. Wilson. 1849.] H9 10. Geology and Mineralogy. J. Price Wetherill, Samuel Ashmeacl, William S. Vaux. 11. Physics. Thomas C. Percival, . . Samuel Powel, Robert Kilvington. 12. Library. Robert Pearsall, A. L. Elwyn, John Lambert. 13. Committee on Proceedings. S. G. Morton, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Joseph Leidy. ELECTION OF CORRESPONDENT. M. Jules Verreaux, of Paris, was elected a Correspondent of the Academy. February 6tk, 1849. Mr. Phillips in the Chair. A letter was read from the Regents of the University of the State of New York, dated Albany, 31st January, 1849, acknowledging the receipt of late Numbers of the Proceedings. A letter addressed to Vice President Morton, from J. B. Dana, Esq., dated New Haven, January 26, 1849, desiring the Academy to unite with other Institutions in petitioning Congress to increase the edition of the Scientific portion of the U. S. Exploring Expedition M'orks. Referred to the following Committee: Mr. Cassin, Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Leidy. Also a letter from Dr. C. T. KenWorthey, dated Petersburg, Va., February 2, 1849, requesting information in regard to making collec- tions in Zoology, and tendering his services for such purpose during his stay in South America, which country he is about to visit. A Memoir by Dr. Morton was rea,d, entitled "Additional Observa- tions on a new living species of Hippopotamus," intended for publication in the Journal. Referred to Mr. Phillips, Dr. Hallowell, and Dr. Gambel. February ISth, 1849. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read : From the Secretary of the Royal Bavarian Academy of Sciences, dated Munich, acknowledging the receipt of the Journal and Proceed- ings, and transmitting the Publications of that Institution. 150 [February, From Prof. J. Cobb, dated Louisville, Kentucky, February 6th, iS-iO, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as Corres- pondent. From Dr. Rereiult, dated Dantzig, 1st October, 184-8, accompanying a copy of the first Number of his work on Fossil Remains found in Amber, this evening presented, and requesting exchanges of North American fossils of the same description for those of Europe. J\Ir. Cassin presented a Catalogue of the Vttlturidcr and Strli;idrp in the Collection of the Academy, intended for publication in the Pro- ceedings. Referred to a Committee, consisting of Drs. Wilson, Gambel and Townsend. Professor Agassiz made some observations on the remarkable resemblance of the existing North American Fauna and Flora to that of the Tei-tiary period of the Old World. February 2Qth, 1849. Dr. B. H. CoATES in the Chair. Mr. Cassin read a paper entitled " Descriptions of new species of the genera A^ydnh and Sycnbius, specimens of which are in the Col- lection of the Acad. Nat. Sci. of Philadelphia. ' Referred to a Com- mittee, consisting of Dr. Wilson, Dr. Gambel, and Dr. l^ridges. ]\lr. Conrad read a paper entitled " Descriptions of new fresh-water and marine Shells," which was referred to Mr. Phillips, Dr. Griffith, and Dr. Gambel. Mr. Cassin read some " Notes of an examination of the families Vulturid.T; and Strigida^ in the Collection of the Acad. Nat. Sci. of Philadelphia." Referred to the Committee on the previous paper of this evening. Dr. Hallowell presented a communication entitled " Notes of the post-mortem appearances of a Cynocep/uilus? which died in the Mena- gerie at Philadelphia." Referred to Drs. Leidy, Keller and Gambel. February 27 f/i, 1849. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. The Committee on Mr. Cassin's " Catalogue of the Vulturidse and Strigids in the Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia," reported in favor of publication. [This paper will be found at the end of the present number, and is the com- mencement of a series of similar catalogues of the families in the Ornithological collection of the Academy, which it is the design of the Committee on that department to prepare for publication as soon as possible.] 1849.] _ 15 J The Committee on the following paper by Dr. Hallowell, reported in favor of publication, JVotes of the fost-morteTn appearatices of a Cynocephaius ? which died in the 3Tenagerie at Philadelphia. By Edward Hallowell, M. D. Head. — Brain not examined. Thorax. — There are three lobes to the right lung and three to the lel't. They present a reddish-brown colour, mottled with grey, and are crepitant, except at the base of the lower lobe of the right, which is firm and resisting to the touch. The surface of both lungs is studded with tubercles, deposited beneath the pleural covering. But few are observed in the lobes of the left, or the upper lobes of the right, but they are thickly agglomerated in xhelou-est lobe of the latter, which is filled with them ; they are of a light yellow colour, from one line and less to nearly a line in diameter, firm to the touch, and imbedded in a hepatized tissue. The mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi, traced to the smallest ramifications of the latter, does not present any remarkable degree of redness, being rather pale than otherwise. The bronchial glands are enlarged and tuber- culous ; the largest is to the right of the trachea, and measures six lines in its greatest extent; on cutting into it, a quantity of white cheesy matter makes its escape. Mucous membrane of the oesophagus pale. The heart is small, measur- ing one inch four lines in length, by one inch (Fr.) in breadth. The pericardium contains about a teaspoonful of citron-coloured serosity. The auricles are moderately distended with dark-coloured blood; a solitary tubercle about the size of a pin's head is observed at the entrance of the vena cava into the right auricle. Ahdomen. — The liver has four distinct lobes and a smaller lobule; it is of a light brown colour above, dark green beneath, except in the interspaces between the lobes; it presents numerous tuberculous deposits upon its upper and under surface, of a larger size than are usually met with in the liver — the largest upon the under surface measuring five lines in diameter : on cutting into several of them they are found to be filled with tuberculous matter, of a yellowish colour tinged with green. The spleen is very greatly enlarged, measuring three inches three lines in length, by one and three-quarters in breadth ; it is of a pale reddish colour mottled with white, having its surface throughout studded with tubercles ; the central portion, on cutting into it, presents the dark-coloured appearance usually observed in the spleen, and four or five nodules of tuberculous matter; upon the periphery of the organ the deposit appears to exist in the form of infil- tration, extending four lines within its substance at its posterior extremity. The stomach does not differ materially in shape from the human, and when laid open, measures four inches (Fr.) from one extremity to the other; there is a well marked pylorus ; the oesophagus enters the stomach about midway between the pylorus and the opposite extremity; its muscular fibres are very apparent ; it contains a quantity of greenish looking fluid, having a disagreeable odour; the mucous membrane is pale throughout, and does not appear softened, presenting no trace whatever of inflammation ; no tubercles are 152 [February, observed upon its surface. The small intestine is five feet six and a half inches (Fr.) in extent; it has no valviila; conniventes, neither does it present any glands of Peycr, nor are any solitary glands observed; the intestine, slit up its entire length, is perfectly pale, both upon its external and iinier surface, and no soften- ing of tlie mucous membrane is noticed; it contains a quantity of greenish fluid; no yellowish matter is observed at ils upper extremity; it contains no tnbcrcles, and there are no ulcerations. The large intestine is two feet two and a half inches in extent; there is a distinct ccecum, but no appendicula vermiformis; it contains a quantity of greenish-looking fluid, similar to that in the small intestine ; the mucous membrane throughout is quite pale, and appears to be healthy; held up to the light the mucous follicles are very distinct, but are not very abundant, and are more irregular in their outl.ne than those of the human subj<^ct ; they are surrounded by a dark-coloured border, and several dark points are observed within tlie circumference of the greater number, (in some of them there are as many as six.) Mesenteric glands, move or less tuberculous, and yet the animal does not appear greatly emaciated ; the disease appears to be more fully developed in these glands than in any of the other organs ; one of them is much enlarged, measuring Iburteen lines by thirteen in size; adherent to it is another, thirteen lines by ten; these glands are filled with a white homogenous matter, of the consistence of thick cream; no marks of inllammation are found to exist in any part of the body, except in the lowest lobe of the right lung, where the tubercle* are thickly agglomerated, the tissue of the organ being firm and resisting to the touch. Both kidneys are tuberculous. They are sixteen lines in length by ten in breadth; upon the convex margin of the left, near its anterior extremity, is a deposit three lines in diameter, resisting to the touch, ami elevated considerably above its surface; it is composed of numerous small white bodies; other tuber- culous deposits, of various sizes, from that of a grain of sand to a line or more in diameter, are observed upon the surface, for which portion of the kidney they appear to have a predilection. Bladder healthy. The Committee on Mr. Conrad's Description of new Shells reported in favor of publication. Descriptio)is of new frcsli water and marine Shells. By T. A. CoNEAD. The following new fresh water shells from Georgia w"re kindly loaned mc for description by J. Hamilton Couper, Esq. , LNIO. U. secariformis. Suborbicular, thick, compressed; valves slightly convex; umbo llattehed, marked with obtuse, narrow, divaricated plaits; plaits on the lower half of the valves obscure and interrupted; umbonial slope rounded; pos- terior slope with strong oblique plaits towards the apex ; beaks eroded ; epidermis black; within white; cardinal teeth large, direct, profoundly sulcated. li: \\. Inhabits Flint River, Georiria. U. stagiialis. Widely elliptical, ventricose, rather thin; towards the posterior 1849.] 153 extremity very thin and fragile ; anteriorly regularly rounded ; posteriorly some- what pointed, with an acutely rounded extremity; basal margin regularly curved ; summits prominent, eroded ; posterior margin very oblique and nearly straight ; epidermis ochraceous and olivaceous; rays green, not very distinct on the middle and anterior side, but more so posteriorly, some rather broad, others linear ; posterior slope dark coloured, rayed ; within white and highly iridescent posteriorly; cardinal teeth much compressed and oblique, double in each valve; lateral teeth very slightly curved, finely granulated. Sj. Inhabits mill ponds ; Ogeechee River, Georgia. U. Ogeecheensis. Elliptical, thin, inflated ; posterior side somewhat pointed, extremity subangular ; valves slightly contracted from beak to base; summits rather prominent, decorticated, slightly undulated; epidermis ochraceous with interrupted green rays, some of them broad ; within white, highly iridescent posteriorly; cardinal teeth oblique, compressed; lateral teeth rectilinear. 3. Inhabits Ogeechee River, Georgia. Allied to the preceding, but has a lighter coloured epidermis with more distinct rays, is proportionally longer; the cardinal tooth in the left valve is longer and less lobed, and the lateral teeth are straight, without granules, and less oblique than in the preceding species, which is a larger shell. U. oratus. Widely elliptical, ventricose, gaping at both ends; posterior gape wide; anterior extremity rather acutely rounded; posterior margin sinuous, extremity subangular ; basal margin forming a nearly regular curve ; summits prominent; umbo and beak eroded; epidermis ochraceous, polished; cardinal teeth compressed, oblique ; lateral teeth straight ; within white, inuch stained with waxen yellow. Z\. Inhabits Flint River, Georgia. This shell has the polished epidermis of U. cariosus, but is without a ray. It is longer in proportion than that species with very different cardinal teeth, which are much nearer parallel with the margin above : the shell also gapes far wider in the only specimen I have seen. U. rosaeeus. Widely elliptical, ventricose above; posterior margin obliquely truncated, slightly sinuous; extremity subangular or acutely rounded ; epidermis ochraceous and dark brown ; rays indistinct, frequently broad, but composed of fasciculi of lines; surface with fine radiating wrinkles ; within deep rose-purple; cardinal teeth prominent, oblique, compressed, trifid or 3 teeth in the left valve. 3i. Inhabits Savannah River. Allied to U. ochraceus. Say. U. eontrarius. Elliptical, moderately thick; valves somewhat flattened or plano-convex ; umbo and beak not prominent, much eroded ; umbonial slope acutely rounded; posterior margin straight above, truncated, direct; epidermis deep ochraceous, with linear radiating wrinkles, and obscurely rayed about the umbo; within pale flesh-colour stained with waxen yellow ; cardinal teeth direct, thick, sulcated, not very prominent ; lateral teeth reversed, or the double tooth in the right valve. 3 1-5. Inhabits the Ogeechee River. 22 154" [February, U. nncleopsis. Obtusely subovate, slightly oblique, thick, not ventricose ; umbonial slope rounded ; posterior slope with a few obscure plaits ; posterior nnargin subtruncated ; basal margin slightly tumid near the middle ; epidermis ochraceous, with a series of green spots along the umbonial slope ; posterior slope obsoletely striated ; within bluish white ; cardinal teeth thick, direct, single in the right valve. Ij. Inhabits Etowah River. U. limatuliis. Siibelliptical, convex ; posterior side somewhat pointed; um- bonial slope angular; posterior slope subcarinated in the middle; posterior margin obliquely truncated; extremity truncated, direct; basal margin regu- larly rounded; beaks not prominent, eroded; epidermis highly polished, dark brown and ochraceous, obscurely rayed ; within flesh colour or pale salmon ; cardinal teeth oblique, compressed, double in each valve ; lateral teeth long, slightly curved. 2. Inhabits Savannah River. U. aratas. Trapezoidal, thick; valves flattened on the sides, slightly con- tracted, marked with irregular arched, obtuse, interrupted folds, extending from the beaks noai^ly to the base; umbonial slope angular; posterior slope plicated; beaks not prominent, profoundly eroded ; ligament margin elevated; posterior extremity truncated obliquely inwards; basal margin contracted; epidermis nearly black; within white, with a purple margin; cardinal teeth direct, very thick, sulcatcd ; lateral teeth slightly arched. Inhabits Flint River, Georgia. Allied to U. Sloatianus and trajiezoides. Lea. JMaruarttana, Sc/ium, M. Elotoaensis. Oblong-ovate, thin and fragile, widely contracted from beak to base; umbonial slope ventricose, with a plano-convex or flattened surface; ligament margin rather elevated; posterior submargin slightly concave; umbo- nial slope angular posteriorly; beaks eroded; posterior extremity angular; margin rounded towards the base; basal margin subrectilinear ; within bluish and purplish, iridescent; cardinal tooth in the right valve rather long, oblique, compressed, curved, prominent; in the opposite valve the tooth is widely bifid, the posterior lobe pyramidal. Inhabits Etowah River. Allied to M. Raveneliana, Lea. Melania. M. calatura. Ovate-oblong, turreted ; volutions 6, with longitudinal ribs and unequal prominent revolving lines, subnodulous where they cross the ribs ; the ribs on the body whorl do not reach the middle ; the colour ochraceous and brown; aperture narrow, elliptical ; labium with interior brown bands; superior part of columella somewhat callous. Inhabits Savannah River. Melania perangulata. Subulate; volutions 9 or 10, with an acutely carinated angle on all except the body whorl, which is subcarinated ; on each whorl of the spire is a revolving granulated line above the carina; colour olive brown. Inhabits Savannah River. 1849.] 155 Melania 7iebidosa. Elongate conoidal ; volutions 6 or 7, with revolving raised lines ; whorls of the spire carinated below the middle, above which they are lon- gitudinally ribbed, and have 2 or 3 revolving granulated lines ; granules com- pressed ; aperture widely elliptical ; colour ochraceous, with brownish-black stains. Inhabits Savannah River. Melajiia percarinata. Elongate conoidal ; volutions of the spire with a cari- nated line below the middle, and a revolving granulated line above ; body whorl with a granulated revolving line near the suture, and 3 carinated lines, the superior one largest, the lower one fine ; colour dark olive brown. Inhabits Savannah River. Melania symmetriea,. Subulate ; whorls 9, slightly convex, with longitudinal slightly curved, narrow ribs, interrupted near the suture by a revolving granu- lated line; ribs on the body whorl not extending as far as the middle; margin of labrum profoundly rounded; colour ochraceous and black. Inhabits Savannah River. Near the apex, two or three volutions have a fine granulated carinated line. The folloviing neio and interesti7ig Shells are from, the coasts of Loiuer California and Peru, and were 'presented to the Academy by Dr. Thomas B. Wilson. SOLECARDIA, Con. Shell bivalve, equivalve ; hinge with 2 diverging cardinal teeth, and a linear oblique cartilage pit between; cardinal plate profoundly grooved on each side of the teeth; muscular impressions 2, small, rounded, remote from the margins, particularly from the base ; pallial impression entire. S. ehurnea. Oblong oval, equilateral, ventricose, thin ; extremities nearly equally rounded; basal margin arched; valves white, shining, minutely sha- greened, towards the base minutely rugose, with fine impressed radiating lines; concentric lines towards the base finely waved, indenting the margin. 1 2-10: 8-10. In this singular bivalve the pallial impression shows no junction with the adductor impressions, but joins the extremities of the cardinal plate. The mus- cular impressions are as distinct on the exterior as on the interior. Petricola. P. sinuosa. Subtriangular ; inflated anteriorly; profoundly sinuous pos- teriorly ; ribs radiating, prominent, acute, except towards the anterior margin, where they are replaced by closely-arranged lines ; basal margin profoundly sinuous ; within brown, cavity of umbo white ; cardinal teeth prominent, 2 in one valve, and one broad one in the other. 8-10 : 6-10. Family Anatenidce. Cyathodonta, Cc7i. An inequivalved bivalve ; hinge with a broad, not very projecting, cartilage fosset, which is carinated near the margin ; muscular impressions rounded, indis- tinct ; pallial impression with a large rounded sinus. I5() [February, C iinditlata. Subovate, inequilateral, very thin and fragile, with obliquely concentric undulations, profound on the anterior side, and suddenly becoming obsolete towards the posterior extremity, which is truncated and direct; posterior slope of the deeper valve obscurely tricarinated ; cartilage pit robust; valves with minute, very closely arranged, granulated radiating lines. 12-10: 1 nearly. Family Pholadida. Pholadopsis, Con. Inequivalved ; right valve produced posteriorly, left valve overlapping the opposite ; cartilage situated on a projecting callus. P. ■pectinata. Ovate, very thin and fragile, profoundly gaping posteriorly; profoundly ventricose anteriorly ; valves with elevated waved laminae terminating near a profound sinus, which extends from beak to base ; right valve undulated near the posterior end, reflected, margin pectinated ; both valves have concentric lines. Parapholas, Con. P. bisitlcata. Ovate-oblong ; anterior accessory valves or deposit strong, shining, gibbous on the margin of aperture, and having obscure decussated striae, the transverse ones a little raised; anterior side of the larger valves with nume- rous prominent crenulated radii; a slightly oblique sulcus extends from beak to base, and a slightly impressed line runs from the beak to the posterior end of the closed portion of the base ; between the two impressed transverse lines the valves have closely-arranged, rugose, longitudinal laminae, and posterior to these the lamina; are remote and elevated. 2^. Penitella. P. Wilsonii. Ovate-oblong, very thin, profoundly ventricose ; valves with a furrow from beak to base ; the papyraceous anterior valves very wide ; anterior valves with numerous oblique waved laminrr, and radiating acute ribs; ligament margin sinuous; posterior side with concentric distant undulations ; two small accessory valves behind the beak, which are reflected posteriorly; membrana- ceous appendage with a sinuous or concave margin where it joins the shell, and a deep annular groove anterior to the middle. 2^. Triton-. T. perforatus. Subpyriform ; volutions 5 or 6 ; ribs revolving, flattened, slightly prominent, wide and narrow alternately, with narrow interstices and an occasional revolving line ; angle of body whorl tuberculated ; spire scalariform, the angle of each whorl with a tuberculated rib or carina; color cinereus ; epi- dermis brown, rough, hairy, longitudinally ribbed; aperture wide; margin of labrum sinuous above, profoundly ribbed ; ribs about half an inch long, on an ochraceous submargin ; columella with white folds, and narrow, dark brown interstices; beak bent, umbilicated. 3 8-10: 2J. Oliva. O. propatnla. Ovate-oblong, slightly gibbous towards the base; colour pale ochraceous, marked with a few longitudinal zigzag brown lines, and with darker transverse hair-like lines, and a few spots ; rohimella patulous, deeply sulcated inferiorly; deposit at the base carinated in the middle. 2J: 1 1-10. 1849.] 157 The Committee on Mr. Cassin's Descriptions of new species of Nyctale and ^ycobius, reported in favor of publication. Descriptions of New Species of the genera Nyctale,Brehm.,and Sycohius, Vieill ; specimens of which are in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. By John Cassin. Genus Nyctale, Brehm. Handb. Nat. Vog. Deuts. p. 111. Nyctale Harrisii, nobis. Front, face, nuchal collar, and under surface of the body yellowish white, or buff colour. Spot between the eye and the bill, and a broad occipital band, black, — the latter covering the greater part of the hind head. Feathers covering the ear, black. Throat with a few black feathers, and many of the feathers of the ruff on the front neck conspicuously tipped with black. Upper surface of the back and wings deep reddish-brown ; wing coverts with conspicuous round spots of white ; all the quill feathers also irregularly marked and spotted with white on the edges of both webs ; scapulars largely edged with white and buff. Upper tail coverts brown, spotted with white. Tail black, with about three pairs of rounded white spots on every feather. Tarsi thickly feathered to the toes, and with the whole under surface of the body buff colour. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 7i in.; wing, 52 ; tail, 2f inches. Hab. South America ? The specimen now described was obtained from Mr. J. G. Bell, Taxidermist, of New York, who has no accurate recollection of its locality, but is of the opinion that it came from South America. I have named this singular and beautiful little species in honor of Mr. Edward Harris, of Moorestown, N. J., Chairman of the Ornithological Committee of this Academy, and a distinguished naturalist. Genus Sycobius, Vieillot. Syeohius scutatus, nobis. % Upper part of the head and neck, broad pectoral band and under tail coverts bright crimson ; the crimson of the breast uniting on the sides of the neck with that of the head. Throat and ears black, — which colour forms a large gular patch extending to, but scarcely including the eyes. All other parts of the body black. 9 Broad pectoral band and under tail coverts crimson ; all other parts, includ- ing the head, black. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 55 inches; wing, 3f; tail, 2i inches. Hab. Western Africa. 158 [February, Two pairs of the species now described were brought to this country by Robt. MacDowell, M. D., SuPireon attached to the colonial government of Sierra Leone, who collected them in Western Africa. It bears a greater resemblance to the Sycobius rubricollis, (Swainson,) Vieill. Ois. chant, pi. 43, than to any other species which I have found described; but from this and all others it may readily be distinguished by its under tail coverts being crimson, and also by its broad pectoral band of the same colour. The Committee on Mr. Cassin's "Notes on the Vulturidte and Strij^idae in the Collection of the Academy," reported in favor of pub- lication. Notes of an Kxaminatioii of the family Vulturidas, in the coUection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. By John Cassin. 1. Gyp» fiilvus, (Gm.) Under this name, either Ornithologists have confounded several distinct spe- cies, or the species itself assumes an unusual variety of characters. There are now exhibited in the collection of the Academy, sixteen specimens of Vultures, which have been described as at least four species; but as they all bear more or less intimate relationship to the Gyps fulvus, (Gm.) of Europe, their claims as distinct species have been but partially recognized, and a question seems to be, whether the birds so described, which I may observe, are, for the greater part, from widely different localities, really present characters sufficient to entitle them to specilic distinction, or only such as may be attributed to age or season, or to what naturalists have rather vaguely called variety. I have long held as a principle, that however small a peculiar character may be, if it is regularly and constantly reproduced in the generation of an animal, or in other words, is uniformly and with certainty transmitted from parent to offspring, that animal is entitled to be regarded as a distinct species, and is differ- ent from any other. The transmission of character can be, of course, most satisfactorily ascer- tained in the natural habitation of the species, but if a series sufficiently exten- sive, or any considerable number of specimens, invariably present a peculiar cha- racter, the student in a museum may assume, quite justly, that he has sufficient evidence. In the present case the number of specimens is not sufficiently large to warrant a conclusion, but they appear to present uniformly different characters enough to induce the opinion that the following are specifically distinct : Gyps fulvus^ (Gm.;) Gyps Kolhii, (Daud.;) Gyps indicus, (Temm.;) Gyps tejtinrostris, Hodgson. 2. Gyps indicus, (Temm.) This species is in an extraordinary state of confusion. Mr. Temminck describes and figures a Vulture in PI. Col. i., liv. 5, pi. 26, supposed by him to be the " Vultur indicus, Lath.," which name and authority he gives at the head of his article, and in the text of same vol., liv. 72, art. V. imperialis, alludes to it as the same as Vultur leuconotus, Gray. 111. Tnd. Zool., 1849.] 159 pi. 15, which differs so entirely from M. Temminck's plate, that the latter must have considered it as either the young or adult of his species. But it appears that V. leuconotus, Gray, is the adult of Vultur bengalensis, Gm., and it also appears that M. Temminck's plate does not represent the last named species in any known stage of plumage, consequently his text and plate refer to different birds. Col. Sykes in "Catalogue of Birds, observed in the Dukhun," Proc. Zoo. Soc, London, 1832, p. 77, gives " Vultur indicus, Lath., Temm., PI. Col. 26," as an abundant species, and the remark is inserted that " Col. Sykes' specimens are no doubt referable to M. Temminck's species." Mr. H. E. Strickland, in Ann, and Mag. Nat. Hist., xiii., p. .34, presumes Vultur leuconotus, Gray, to be the same as Vultur indicus, Temm. ; and in same volume, p. 205, mentions Y. indicus, Scop, and Lath., and V. indicus, Temm., as though he meant two species. Mr. E. Blyth, in <' Remarks upon the birds presented by Mr. Hodgson, to the British Museum," same journal, xx., pp. 315, 387, insists that "Vultur indicus, Scop, and Lath., is Gyps tenuirostris, Hodgson," so that whenever he speaks of Vultur indicus, (as in same journal, xiii., p. 115,) he means, of course, Gyps tenuirostris, Hodgson. M. C.J. Sundeval, in same journal, xviii., p. 459, speaks of V. indicus, Temm., as a species similar to V. fulvus, but different from V. bengalensis, and evidently is of opinion that V. indicus is distinct from either. He states, too, that he saw none near Calcutta, which were yellowish-brown, and therefore " presumes that the so coloured Vultur indicus, never, or rarely, occurs near Calcutta." Mr. J. E. Gray, in Catalogue Rap. Birds in Brit. Mus., inserts "Vultur indicus, Temm.," as a synonyme for the Gyps fulvus, Gm. All the four specimens labelled " Vultur indicus," in the Rivoli collection, are also labelled as coming from South Africa. These specimens comprise two young, one male probably adult, and one female, also probably adult. The young certainly bear a much greater resemblance to M. Temminck's plate than do any others in the collection ; hence I am inclined to the belief, that Vultur indicus, Temm., PI. Col. 26, is an African bird, and, as stated in the preceding article, a distinct species. What " Vultur indicus, Scop, and Lath." may be, is more than I can tell from the descriptions, but at any rate, I see no reason to cavil at Mr. Blyth's conclu- sion ; the descriptions of both Scopoli and Latham, and especially the figure in Sonnerat's Voy. India, ii., pi. 105, do appear to me, however, quite unsatisfac- tory. 3. Sarcorampkus grypjius, (Linn.) Naturalists and travellers seem to have decided that the male of this species is the larger. If this is true, it appears to be the only instance in which such is the case in the Rapacious birds, and is a singular exception to the general rule that the female is the larger in this order. 4. Cathartes aura, (Linn.) , British and American naturalists consider this name as applicable to the bird figured by Wilson, Am. Orn. pi. 75, fig. 1, and Audubon, B. of Am. pi. 151; but some continental European authors have applied it to the Cathartes jota, Molina, which is understood to be the same as Vultur atratus, Bartram Travels, p. 289, figured by Wilson, Am. Orn. pi. 75, fig. 2, and Audubon, B. of Am. pi. 106. 160 [February, The former are correct, and the latter appear to have been led into error by the Ftatement of Buffon who figures the C. jota in PI. Enl. 187, and states in the text PI. Knl. i, p. 136, that it is called " ouroua ou aura." Daudin, Traite d'Orn. ii. p. 19, under C. aura, cites Biiffon's plate. Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 2, describes the C. jota under the name of Cathartes aura, and also cites Buff. PI. Enl. 187. Vieillot> in Ois. de I'Am. Sept. pi. 2, figures C. jota, and in his text cites Vultur aura, Linn, as a synonymc, though he also figures the true C. aura, Linn , pi. 2, bis. and gives its correct name. M. D'Orbigny, in Voy. dans I'Am. Merid. Ois. p. 31, although he describes and figures the C. aura by its proper name, yet quotes C. jota, «* Ch. Bonap.," and Vultur atratus, Wilson, Orn. Am. ix. pi. 75, fig. 1, as synonymes, which is an error, as he would readily have ascertained by referring to Wilson's figure as quot- ed by himself. There is moreover a further difficulty. It seems desirable to know whether Liniineus described from North or South American specimens, as the Prince De Wied has described the North American bird as a species distinct from the C. aura, Linn., under the name of Cathartes septentrionalis, De Wied ; — the original descrip- tion I have not seen, but it is copied at length in Tschudi's Fauna Peruana, Orn. p. 74. It is probably now quite impossible to ascertain from what part of America the specimens described by Linnaeus were actually brought, but fortunately the diffi- culty last stated, as well as all the former, is easily settled without such know- ledge. As synonymous with Vultur aura, Linnaeus himself in Syst. Nat., 12th edition, i., p. 122, cites Catesby, Carolina 1, pi. 6, and Sloane's Jamaica ii., pi. 254, both of which are clearly the same bird as that figured by Wilson and Audubon, under the same name, so it would appear sufficiently evident that whatever other species may inhabit America, the common bird of North America is the true C. aura, Linn. I beg leave to add, that that excellent observer and accurate naturalist Mr. George Ord, expressly states, in Am. Orn. ix., p. 99, " The Vultur which Sir Hans Sloane has figured and described is undoubtedly the Vultur aura," that is to say, it is the same as the species figured by Wilson. The figure of the head in D'Orbigny's Voyage dans I'Am. Merid., pi. 1, fig. 3, appears to me to be that of the true C. aura, Linn., or the same as the North American species, and the same as that described by Spix, Av. Bras. 1, p. 2,under the name of Cathartes ruficollis, Spix, which is, therefore, a synonyme. 5. Cathartes Burrovianus, Cassin. This is a species described by me from a specimen brought from Mexico, and is the smallest of all known Vultures. The Rivoli collection contains one speci- men of this bird, which is more adult than the specimen described. This may be the species which is alluded to by Pennant, in Arctic Zoology, (as quoted by Mr. Ord,) who say* that the Turkey Vulture of the West Indies is •' far inferior in size to that of North America." The plumage of the specimen in the Rivoli collection, is clear black, like that of the specimen previously in the collection of the Academy ; the secondaries hav- ing slightly palter margins, but with no mixture or edging of brownish which pre- vails in the plumage of all the specimens of C. aura which I have seen. The 12 inches L8 IC 8k li 2h IC o (( 184.9.] 161 feathers on the neck, instead of forming a pcrlcctly circular, or nng-like rati, as in C. aura, in the present species, extend decidedly upwards on the back of the neck ; in the specimen here alluded to, almoit to the occiput. The following are the measurements of the two species. C. aura, ( Linn,,' C. Burmviiiniis, Caesin . Total length from tip of bill to end of tail (mounted specimens), 30 inches. Wing from flexure to tip of longest primary, 23 " Tail, 12 " Tarsus, 2| « Bill from gap direct to tip 2i " 6. Catkartes jota, {MoVina.) I am not without suspicion that the bird described by the Abbe Molina, in Es- say on the Natural History of Chili, p. 245, (M. Gruvel's French translation,) is not the same as the Vultur atratus, Burtram, Travels, p. 289. There are in the collection of the Academy three specimens which are clearly the latter, being the same birds given by Wilson and Audubon ; one of these w'as presented by Mr. Audubon, another was obtained in Florida, and presented by Dr. McEuen ; the third belongs to the Rivoli collection, but there is a fourth speci- men w-hich is materially different. It belongs to the Rivoli collection and is without label. This last specimen is not only much smaller than the former, but it has the head quite smooth and not carunculated or rugose, as in the common species of North America. In fact its head resembles that of the C. aura, (Linn.,) more than it does the C. atratus, (Bart.,) and is covered by such a comparatively clear and smooth skin that I can readily suppose it to be coloured in the living bird, which would be strictly as described by the Abbe Molina, or at least as his French translator says for him, p. 246, " sa tete est sans plumes, couverte d^une peau ridee de couleur ro/tsse." Mr. Audubon, Orn. Biog. ii., p. 52, describes his bird as "the head having a hlach, rugose, carunculated skin, sparsely covered with short hairs and downy behind," which is precisely the case in the three specimens alluded to, but I quote Mr. Audubon's description, because he, as well as the Abbe Molina, probably described from recent specimens. The one specimen here alluded to is as above stated smaller than either of the others, as will appear by the following measurements. Mr. Audubon's specimen. Smaller Bpecimen. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail 25 inches 19i Wing from the flexure to tip of longest primary 17 " 15i Tan 7^ " 7 7. The family Vulturidac has been arranged apparently in a manner only pro- visional according to the Natural System, by Mr. Swiinson, Lardner's Cab. Cy. Birds, i. p. 280, and ii. p. 205. Notwithstanding such high authority as Mr. Swainson, I am disposed to think the Gypinae (of my catalogue) the subtypical group, and the Sarcoramphinae appear to me to present characters sufficient to warrant the conclusion that they are the true Rasorial Vultures. In confirmation of my opinion of the Sarcoramphinae, I may refer to the well 23 162 [February, known fact that the spccirs of Cathartcs arc amcng;st the most confidaiit and familiar of birds, and that such disposition seems also to extend to Sarcoramphus. In a note to " Remarks on the Birds observed in Upper California," by Dr. William Gambcl, in Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philada. new series, ((Juarto) Vol. i. p. 25, he mentions having seen at Valparaiso a specimen of the Condor so com- pletely domesticated that it was allowed to roam the city at large, and so entirely docile that it offered no resistance to being handled, and would even permit the caresses of children, or their attempting to get upon its back. " In fact," he con- tinues, " I think I have never met with any bird which exhibited more tameness or greater confidence in man than this large Condor." After first premising that in all matters relating to Natural History I am a strict circularian of the school of MacLeay, Vigors and Swaiiison, I beg leave to present the following as my views of the classification of the subfamilies of Vulturidee. 1. Typical, Vulturin February, 1819. J an nary '2d, Indicis generum A[aIacozoorum primordia: conscripsit A. N. Ileermannsen. fascic. 1 — 9. 8vo. From Mrs. Lucy W. Say. Verzeichniss der Conchylien welche sich in der Sammlung von IL E. Anton. 4to. The same. Enumeratio Molluscorum Siciliae. Auctore R. A. Philippi. Ito. Vol. 1. The same. Historia Molluscorum Sueciae; a Sv. Nillson. 8vo. The same. Beskrivelse af nogle nye Slangearter, ved J. Th. Reinhardt. -Ito. From Dr. S. G. IMorton. Fragmens d'anatomie sur I'organisationdes Serpens, par G. L. Duvernoy. 8vo. The same. Friedrich Tiedemann von den Duvernoyschen, Bartholinschen oder Cowper- schen Druscn des Weibes, &c. 4to. From the same. Observations on Belemnites and other fossil remains of Cephalopoda, disco- vered by Mr. R. N. Mantell in the Oxford Clay in Wiltshire. By G. A. Mantell, Esq., LL. D. 4to; From tne author. On the structure of the maxillary and dental organs of the Iguanodon. By G. A. Mantell. Ito. From the author. January Ot/i, American Journal of Science and Arts. 2d series. No. 19. From the Editors. A statigraphical account of the section from Alherfield to Rockcn-end on the S. W. Coast of the Isle of Wight. By Wm. Henry Fitton, M. 1). Svo.and Chart. From the author. Dr. Wilson deposited the following: L>*^^^^^^^'^^MU4 28 LlBRAR '202 [Aug. Tlie chief question remaining to be disposed of relates to the female. The thorax of the soldiers presents no observable alar cicatrices, and as they arc •anomalous in their small size when compared with the male Dorylus, we must search for the normal female in some large unrecognized form. The specimens named rubella, although distinct from arceiix, resemble it very closely, even to the details of the oral organs. The form of the labium, as de- termined by a careful dissection, does not agree with Mr. Westwood's figure. His representation of the maxilinc (in which he has omitted the mando and galea) is more accurate. Both species have a posterior lateral spine on the tliorax, and a compressed sharp spine directed backwards and placed beneath along the middle of the abdominal peduncle, which has also a small lateral tubercle. In rubella the sternum is carinated, and has a spine upon each side of the carina, between the medial co.xas. The head is rather less contracted posteriorly than in arcetis. The general similarity is sufficiently great to make the two species congeneric ; *ind if Dorylus nigricans is taken as the male of rubella, it will be difficult to assign a male to arcoisjTom among the described species of Dorylus. The ab- dominal peduncle of arcetis is slightly smaller than in rubella, whilst the insect is rather larger, so that a Dorylus with a small peduncle may be the correspond- ing male ; and among these D. glabratus S/d-. might be chosen, as it is larger than nigricans. There is, however, too much discrepancy in the color to admit such a conclusion without hesitation, arcetis being black. We are, therefore, inclined to regard Dorylus arcens as a black species with a large peduncle, yet to be discovered as a male. The last character is possessed by D. planiccps Ilald. which, although taken at Cape Palmas by Dr. Savage, is too small to cor- respond with arcens, and its color is lighter than in nigricans. Dr. Goheen brought specimens oi rubella from Monrovia, a locality 1500 miles distant from that specified by Dr. Savage. Explanation of the figures. Fig. 1, 2, head of Dorylus nigricans, the latter having the mandibles iciuoved to show the absence of the mouth : 3, half of the head of a soldier : 1, mandible ol a worker: 5, maxilla, and 6, half the labium, from a soldier of r«ie//a; all magnified. 1849.] ' 203 The Committee to whicli was referred the following paper by Prof. Haldeman reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. On several nevj Hym.eiioptera of the genera Ampiclex, Sigalphus, Chelonus and Dorylus. By S. S. Haldeman. AMPULEX J urine. § Discoidal nervure having its origin near the posterior extremity of Romand's subdiscoidal recurvent nervure (discoidal of Shuckard), it curves forward and ter- minates in the cubital nervure beyond the 1st transverso-cubital near the middle of the 2d cubital area. A. PENSYLVANTCus Hald. Black somewhat glossy, sparsely punctulate ; an- tennae fuscous; mandibles and tibiae dull rufous, tarsi paler: pronotum with tiie medial line impressed ; alae hyaline, external third dusky but becoming colorless towards the apex and centre, basal third varied with pale dusky : metanotum exarate, with 9 longitudinal ridges, between which there are short transverse sulci : abdomen polished. 5 lines long, expanse about the same. Inhabits woods, taken in S. E. Pensylvania in September. On account of the obliquity of the median recurrent nervure (Romand), the interior angles of the 1st discoidal and 1st cubital are acute, and similar. Radial and cubital nervures nearly parallel, the latter rectilinear. SIGALPHUS Latr. (triaspis Holiday.') S. TIBIALIS Hald. Dark fuscous : head, disk of the thorax, middle of the 1st and 2d segments of the tergum, exserted ovipositor, beneath and feet,/a;vo?/5 : eyes black ; antennae flavous, base and apex pale fuscous ; vertex, a macula behind the eyes, and the posterior tibiae and knees, fuscous. 2 lines long. S. E. Pensylvania. The flavous portion of the abdomen extends from the base to the 2d impressed transverse line. CHELONUS Jurine. § Eyes with hairs ; 3 cubital areae, 2d triangular, with the external apex trun- cate ; abdomen coalite, without sutures. Ch. basilaris Say. Bost. J. nat. hist. I, 26G. S. E. Pensylvania, in June. Ch. sobrinus Hald. Black, scabrous : abdomen with a subbasal flavous fascia interrupted in the middle; surface minutely scabrous with a tendency to become sulcate towards the base : antennae dark fuscous with the two basal articulations rufous : palpi and feet pale flavous ; medial femora, and apex of the tibiae pale fuscous ; posterior coxae, femora and tibiae (except the base of both) dark fus- cous : tarsi obscure toward the apex, posterior ones entirely so. 2 lines long. S. E. Pensylvania, in June. §Eyes with hairs, 3 entire areae, 2d irregular, abdomen coalite with 1 indis- tinct suture ; metathorax with a spine upon each side. Ch. lunatus Hald. Black, scabrous, basal third of the abdomen pale flavous; tergum with numerous longitudinal sulci: mandibles and basal articulation of the antennae rufous: feet flavous, apex of the tarsi black; exterior half of the poste- 204. , [AiTG. rior femora and of the tibiae llucl : stigma black, nervures fuscous. 3 liii. lonij. S. E. Pensylvania, in June. The abdomen has a single transverse impressed line near the base, beyond which the flavous color extends in a convex lunar form. DORYLUS Fahr. § Abdominal peduncle hemispherical, nearly the size of the succeeding segment ; mandibles incurved, antennae short. D. rvA.yiCEvs .Ilald . Glossy helvolus, fulvous pilose ; wings feintly tinged ; man- bles, base of antennae, ocelli and feet rufonx : eyes dark and prominent : hair long upon the head, thorax, apex and peduncle of the abdomen : mandibles wide at base, but narrowed upon the inside from the middle to the apex, which is well incurved, with the apex sharp and black. Long. 10, expanse 15, mandibles 1, antennae 2 lines. Presented to the Acud. Nat. Sci. by Dr. T. S. Savage, who brought it from Caps Palmas, W. Africa. The feet are very short and the femora much com- pressed. The antennae are slender subulate, with 11 articulations, of which the last is not readily distinguishable, the basal one is about one-third the entire length. On leave granted, a paper was ])resented from Prof. S. F. Baird, of ("arlisle, Penn., entitled, " Revision of the North American tailed- Batrachia, with descriptions of new genera and species," which being intended ibr publication in the Journal of the Academy, was referred to a committee, viz.. Dr. Bridges, Dr. Hallowell and Dr. Leidy. 1849.] 205 DONATIONS TO MUSEUM In Ai.:gi-st 1849. August 1th. Very fine specimen of Ardea alba, from Chester Co., Pa. From Mr. William Ayr, through Dr. Tovvnsend. Numerous specimens of Anatifa vitrea, in spirits, from Long Branch, N. J. From Mr. John Cooke. Scutella (Echinarachnius) trifaria, from the same locality. From Mr. Samuel Powel. August 2lst. Coluber venustus Hal., (C. occipito-maculatus Storer,) with five young, and Coluber vernalis, from Luzerne Co., Pa. From Mr. Peter Walker through Dr. Watson. Mass of fossil Flustra, from Long Branch, N. J. From Mr. Samuel Powel. Two living specimens of Columba cyanocephala, and several insects, from Cuba. From Mr. John G. Howard, of Cuba, through Mr. Cassin. Mounted specimen of Anas Rafflesii King, from Opelousas, La. From Dr. E. Pilate, of Opelousas, through Mr. Cassin. DONATIONS T'O LIBRARY In August 1849. August 1th. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. New Series. Vol. 1. Part 3. 4to. From the Publication Committee. Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehorig; von Dr. E. Riippell. Folio. From Maximilian, Prince de Wied. Circular, prepared by direction of the Secretary of the Navy, in relation to the Astronomical Expedition to Chili. By Lieut. M. F. Maury, U. S. N. From Lieut. Gilliss, U. S. N. Two lectures on the connection between the biblical and physical history of Man. By Josiah C. Nott, M. D. From the Author. Reports of the Smithsonian Institution, exhibiting the plans, operations, &c., to Jan. 1, 1849. From the Institution. Proceedings of the American Association for the advancement of Science, at its meeting in Sept., 1848. From Dr. Gfiffith. Catalogue of the Library of South Carolina College. From Dr. R. W. Gibbes. Address delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Entomological Society of London, 22d of Jan., 1849. By William Spence. From Major MeCall. Dr. Wilson deposited the following: — The Genera of Birds, by G. R. Gray. Part 48. The Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. By E. Doubleday. Part 28. Illustrations of British Mycology. By Mrs. T. J. Hussey. Part 26. The Annals of Natural History. Vol. 3. 2d Series. No. 17. Phycologia Brittanica. By \V. H. Harvey, M. D. Part 41. Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Part 73. Zeitschrift fur Malakozoologie. Von R. T. Menke, M. D., und Dr. L. Pfeiffer. Nos. 8,9, 10, for 1848. The Geologist, for the years 1842 and 1843. Edited by George Moxon, Esq, Svo. Lehrbuch der Piiysiologie. Von R. Wagner. Svo. 3 Nos. 206 [Aug. An Ornithological Index, arrangntl according to the Synopsis Avium of M. Vjcr.irs. r.y T. B. L. Baker, Esq. 8vo. Ornitliologischer Atlas der aussereuropiiischen Vogel; von Dr. C. W. Hulin. Nos. 1 — 0; fortji;esetzt von H. C. Kiister. Nos. 7 — 11. 8vo. Die Kunst Vogel als Calge zu boreiten, auszustopfen, &c. Von C. L. Brelun. 12nno. A compenilium of tlic Ornitholoiry of Great Britain. By John Atkinson. 8vo. Theorie positive de 1' ovulation spontancc, ct de la fiicondation des Mammi- feres et de I'espece humaine. Par F. A. Pouchet. 8vo. and Atlas. Ito. Ornitologia Toscana, del Dottore Paolo Savi. 3 vols. Svo. Les Oiseaux d'Europe ducrites par C. J. Temminck. 2 vols. Svo. Natiirlichos System der Amjihibien. Von Dr. J. Wagler. Svo. and Atlas. Agenda Geoiinostica. Von C. C. von Leonhard. 12mo. A Natural History of the Mammalia. By G. R. Waterhonse. 2 vols. Svo. A jieneral introduction to the Natural History of Mammiferous Animals, &c. By W. C. L. Martin. 2 vols. Svo. Descriptiones ct iconcs Animalium Rossicorum. Auctore J. F. Brandt. Aves. fascic. 1. 4to. Description de pliisieurs nonvellcs espijces d'Orthoceratites et d'Ostracites. Par M. Picot de Lapeirouse. Folio. D. J. Chr. Schafler's Abhandlungen von Insecten. 3 vols. 4to. Recherches sur les Ossemens fossiles decouverts dans les Cavernos de la pro- vince de Liege : par le Dr. P. C. Schmerling. 2 vols, 4to, and Atlas folio. Recherches sur les Ossemens humatiles des Cavernes de Lunel-Vi jI. Par Af, de Serres. 4to. System der Acalephen, von Dr. Fr. Eschscholtz. 4to. An Introduction to the study of Conchology. By Samuol Brookes. Ito. Recherches sur la rubefaction des ea'ux et leur oxygenation par les animalcules et les Alsiues. Par A. et C. Morren. 4to. Entwickelungsgeschichte der Natter, (Coluber natrix.) Von Dr. H. Rathke. 4to. Zur Morphologie reisebemerkungen aus Taurien, von H. Rathke. 4to. Untersuchungen iiber die Bildung und Entwickelung des Flusskrebses von TT. Rathke. Folio. Recherches sur I'histoire naturelle et Tanatomic des Limules. Par T. Van der Iloeven. Folio. P. S. Pallas, M. 0. >riscellanpa Zoologica. 4to. Entwickelungsgeschichte des Kaninchen-Eies. Von T. L. VV. BischofF. 4to. Belcmnites des Terraincs cretaces inferieurs des environs de Castellan, (Basses Alpes.) Par J. Duval jouve. 4to. Entwickelungsgeschichte der Cephalopoden. Von Dr. Albert Kiilliker. 4to. Charakteristik der Schichten nud Petrefacten des Sdcksisch-bohmisclien Ivieidegebirges. Von H. B. Geinitz. 4to. Geognostische Beschreibung dos Landes zwischcn der Untern Saar, und dem Rhine. Von J. Steininger. 2 vols. 4lo and Atlas. Beitriige zur Pllanzenkunde der Vorvvelt. Von J. G. Rhode. Folio. .1. T. Klein specimen descriptionis Petrefactorum Gedanensium. Folio. Chioris Protogaca. Beitriige zur Flora der Vorwelt. Par F. linger. No 1 — 7. Folio. Faunnla Indica. Concinnatns a T. Latham et H. Davis. Folio. Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. Von Dr. Miiller ct Or. J. Henle. 3 Nos. Folio. August 2\st, Bullt'tin de FAcadt'-mie Royale des Sciences de Bel' Olivi, Ito. Analos di Cieiici;is Natiirales. (Madriil.) Vols. 1-7. Svo. Abbildung und Ueschreibung der Fische. Von J. C. lleppe. 8vo. Abbildiingon natmhistorischer Gegenstiinde. Von J. F. Blumenbach. 8vo. Genera des Insectes. Par E. Gucrin et A. Pescheron. 8vo. 1849.] 209 September Mh. Mr. Phillips in the Chair. A letter was read from J. W. Dawson, Esq., of Pictou,Nova Scotia, accompanying a communication on the " Wheat Midge," as found in that country. The latter was referred to Dr. Leidy, Prof. Haldeman and Dr. Zantzinger. Also a letter from the Rev. Thomas S. Savage, covering a commu- nication entitled " Observations on the species of Termitidse, of West Africa, described by Smeathman as Termes bellicosus, and by Linn^us as T. fatalist Referred to Dr. Zantzinger, Prof. Haldeman and Dr. Hallowell. September Wth. Vice President Morton in the Chair. On leave granted, the Committee to which was referred Prof. S. F. Baird's paper, entitled '' Revision of the North American Tailed-Batra- chia," presented a report, recommending the same for publication in Part 4, New Series of the Journal, which was adopted. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, dated May, 1849, accompanying the donation of Nos. 3 and 4, for 1848, and No. 1 for 1849, of the Bulletin of that Society. September 25th. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A report was presented from the Committee on Proceedings, in reference to the sales of copies of Say's American Conchology, effected since 1844, and the purchase made with the proceeds, of works on Conchology, for the Library, in accordance with the instruc- tions of the donor, Mrs. Lucy W. Say. The statement made in the present report and in a previous one in 1844, exhibited'a total of §85.50 received since 1841, for copies of Say's Conchology, and a total of $78. .30 expended for works on Conchology added to the Library. The following is a list of the latter : — Donovan's British Shells, 5 vols. ; Herrmannsen's Primordia (as far as published) ; Nillson's Hist. Mollusc. Suecice ; Philippi's Enumeratio Mollusc. Sici- liae ; Anton's Catalogue of Shells: ; Michaud's completion of Drapar- naud ; Morelet's Molluscs of Portugal ; Potiez and Michaud's ' Galerie des Mollusques ;' Risso's Molluscs of Southern Europe ; Beck's index Molluscorum; Froriep's Mollusca; Mliller's Index MoIIuscorum Gro- enlandije, and the last volume of the Brussels reprint of Deshayes' edition of Lamarck. The Committee to which was referred Mr. J. W. Dawson's commu- PR'OCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCT. OF PHIT-ADELPHIA. — VOL. TV. NO. XI. 29 210 [Sept. nicatlon on llie " Wheal Mids:e" of Nova Scotia, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Notice of speciinetis of the Wheat Mitlge from Nova Scotia. By J. W. Dawson. Tills destructive little creature has, within the last four or five years, extended its ravagos to Nova Scotia. It made its appearance first in the western counties, and has gradually extended its limits eastward. It is now found in every part of the Province, and has, in some districts, caused an almost total abandonment of wheat culture. The specinnens accompanying; this notice, were reared from the larva state; and as 1 believe this has not often been attempted with success, I shall shortly state the means by vrhich they were obtained. Wiien I first became acquainted with this insect, I procured specimens of the full grown larvcn and placed them in a phial, with the view of observing their assumption of the perfect state in spring. None of them, however, appeared, and 1 subsequently learned that sinailar experiments had been tried without suc- cess ; the belief among entomologists being, that the larva descends into the ground to complete its changes. I could not, however, ascertain that this belief had been confirmed by actual experiment or observation. To satisfy myself on this point, (obviously of importance in reference to the means which may be devised for destroying these animals,) I obtained a fresh supply of the larvce in that motionless and apparently torpid stale in which th'iy are found in the ripe wheat in autumn. In the month ot November, a few dozens of these larvae were placed on the surface of moist soil in a flower pot, in which a carnation was growing. In the course of two days they had, with the exception of a few which were crushed or otherwise injured, descended into the ground, leaving their delicate membranous cases on the surface. Their power of burrow- ing havinsr been thus ascertained, they were allowed to remain undisturbed during winter, the spot where they had disappeared being covered with a glass shade. During winter the flower pot was watered as the growth of the carnation re- quired. A similar experiment having been tried in another pot, the insects were sought for in the ground after their disappearance. Very few were found, and these had still the larva form. They were, however, most flexible and showed some degree of activity. On being placed on the surface, they endeavoured to burrow, by means of a worm like motion, and in doing so they seemed to have the power of fixing the anterior part of the body pretty firmly to the soil. They were found to have penetrated to the depth of about an inch. It thus appeared that the stiffness and torpidity of the larvae in the ripe grain, are but temporary, and that when they fall Irom their place within the chaff scales, upon the moist ground, and cast their skins, they accjuire the activity and strength necessary lor pene- trating into the soil, while still in the larva form. The insects were not again seen until the last week of June, when they began to appear in the imago state, and as early a> the tenth of July the whole had emerged. At that date there was no wheat in blossom in this vicinity, but the development of the insectis had probably been hastened by the warmth and shelter ol the house. The emergence of the midg<-s aj)peare(l to take place in the eve- 184.9.] 211 ning, but was not actually observed. After they had taken wing, their pupa cases remained projecting from the ground, and were white and membranous. When examined by the microscope, they showed the true chrysalis form, the wings and other external organs being distinctly marked on them. The remainder of the larva» procured in autumn having been kept dry in a paper box, have lost their orange color, and appear to be quite dead, moisture being apparently absolutely necessary to their entering on the pupa stage. The insects obtained in the above described manner, were of both sexes. The females agree in their characters with the figures and descriptions of the European Cecidomyia Tritici.* The males, which I have not seen figured or described, are distinguished by their smaller size, differently formed abdomen, and longer and more hairy antenna?. I am not aware whether the mode of hybernation of the wheat midge or " weevil," is generally known to farmers in the United States. If not, it is well worthy of attention, since, by cutting the wheat early, and carefully collecting the larvas contained in the chaff, and dust separated from the grain, a large propor- tion of the ensuing year's brood may be destroyed. On the other hand, if the larva be allowed to be scatteied over the fields or barn yard, a plentiful supply of " weevils " for the next crop is secured. This method was proposed several years since by Prof. Henslow, but 1 have not been able to ascertain whether it has been used extensively in America. The Committee on the following paper, by Dr. Savage, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Obseivatiova oh the species of TeniiitidcB of West Africa, described by Smeathma?i as Termes hel/icos//s, and by Linnaus as T. fntalis. By T. S. Savage. Having read a condensed account and many extracts from the communication of Dr. Smeathman to the Philosophical Society of London, on the insect in ques- tion, it seemed to me that no room was left for the discovery of additional facts. But, residing in the locality of the Termes, I felt a desire to know personally their economy ; first, from motives of interest in the general subject of Natural History) and secondly, in order to discover some way of preventing their sup- posed attacks on our buildings. As I proceeded, I noticed some mistakes made by Dr. S., or his many copiers, ■which induced me to record my own observations. Of these the following is a summary. I would here remark, that I have never seen the original nor entire publication of Dr. Smeathman's paper; but, what I have seen, is sufficient to show that he was an acute observer, a man of indomitable perseverance, and accurate to a re- markable degree. The best account that I have read of his paper, is that of Edward Newman, Esq.,F. R. S., in his "Familiar Introduction to the History of Insects." It is free from the mark? of a prurient imagination, and indicates • Curtis, Journ. of Agric. Society, England. 212 • [Siii-T. more of a desire to relate tlic simple trutli ia the liistory ol tlic ii;sect, than any that I have seen. The figures, however, which stand at the head of his account, are decidedly bad. The first thing tliut strikes a visitor who is familiar with Adamson's and Smeathman's observations, when he arrives on the coast of Africa, is the great sparseness of the Termites' hills. Instead of "acres so thickly covered, as to appear like the huts of native si-ttiements," his eye may wander over acres v.'iih- out seeing one ; one cause of this sparseness may have arisen to some extent, from the introduction of civilization. The visitor usually lands first at the Eu- ropean or American settlements, where the hills in t'ueir immediate vicinity are mostly destroyed. This has be^'U done, first, from the notion that the insect " ate down their dwellings ;" and, secondly, froni tlio superiority of the clay of which thsy are constructed, which is used for buildin:^ purposes. At no point, however, between Cape Verd and the Gaboon river, will the stranger remark them for their numbers. They more frequently occur on plane and t!at lands; making their appearance especially soon after the lands have been cleared for planting, at which time trees are left girdled and prostrate to decay. The features which first strike the beholder are their great size and form. These have been well represented by Smeathman, though two hills cannot b; found exactly alike. Their contour is generally that of a hay-stack — the surfac; never regular, always marked with protuberances and upward projections, often not unlike " turrets," as termed by Smeathman. Sometimes the hill presents the aspect of a mound having been worn down by the heavy rains, or, if in the vicinity of a village, by children playing upon it. In such'Cases they may be forsaken. When they present distinct upward projections, or turrets, they are known lo be in the process of enlargement. This is always the mode in which these in- sects increase their domicils. Turrets are projected one after another, and the intervening spaces filled out, so as to make a continuous surface. Within each of these turrets is a cavity which leads down as a passage, into the interior of the hill, or terminates in some other passage, keeping up a free communication througliout the structure. When hills present in their general outline the form of a hay stack, they have arrived at their maximum size. Their height in such cases is from 12 to 15 feet perpendicular measurement, the circumference at base from ."iO to 60 feet ; at two-thirds the height, or around the base of the " dome," from 30 to -10 feet. The materials have for their base, clay, generally strongly tinged with oxide of iron in the recent state; after exposure to the sun and atmosphere, it takes on a lisjht color, approaching a dull yellow, in some cases white. There is an admix- ture, more or less, of other substances incidentally occurring, as gravel, leaves, straw, &r. Sometimes the clay presents a dark, slaty aspect, which is incorrectly stated in books, to be an indication of a different species of insects. This fact is owing to different colored clays, existing in different localities. The strength of these structures is incalculably great ; as an evidence of thi8> Smeathman states that they are often mounted by wild bulls, and four men were known to stand on one to spy a vessel at sea. But more than this, t/ici/ vovld Siiftain more iti'd bulls ami men than could pass ill y nwunt them. The particles 184-9.] 213 of clay are ceaiented together by a lluid excreted from the mouth of the insect, (not as Smeathnian says, by gums elaborated from the different kinds of wood on which they teed). This, by exposure to the sun and atmosphere, becomes ex- ceedingly hard and tenacious on the surface, added to which, the action of the well known principle in mechanical philosophy involved in the arched form of the structure, gives to it a vast degree of strength. This feature in the economy of of the Termes fatalis — the strength of the domiciles — is a wise provision in na- ture. It guards the hills against the heavy, wasting rains of the country, and enables them to resist the shock of decayed fallir/g trees, which so often occur on recently cleared grounds. When it is known that it is the practice of the natives of Africa not to plant the same piece of ground two years in succession, but let it lie fallow four or five years, and clear up a new spot every year, and as many trees are girdled and left to decay and fall, the wisdom of this feature will be un- derstood. On clearing away the shrubbery and grass around the base of a hill, several covered ways or clay tubes will be seen leading to neighboring stumps and decayed logs. These tubes, sometimes 12 inches in diameter at base, gradually diminish, ramifying, as they proceed outward. If their connection with the hill be broken, as many holes will be seen, constituting mouths of passages which run in a sloping direction to a depth of 12 or IS inches under the domicil. These passages expand into basement rooms, bounded by clay pillars, supporting a series of arch-work on which rest the " cellular work," " royal apartments," and super- incumbent interior portions of the structure. The exterior of the hill consists of a clay wall varying in thickness on the dif- ferent sides from 6 inches to Ij feet. Throughout this wall there are cavities, cells and passages, anastamosing and running from the base to the apex, forming a communication with the " dome." Within, at the base, elevated to a height of one to tvofret above the >ivrfac(i of the ground, and central in respect to the cir- cumference of the hill, is the apartment of the king and queen, styled by Smeath- man "the royal chamber,"' surrounded by many other apartments or chambers, containing eggs and young of various sizes and stages of growth, all supported by the arch-work mentioned. It will be observed, that Mr. Smeathman states that the ''royal apartments " are on a level with the surface of the ground ; but, iti every case, I have found them elevated from one to two feet, depending on the height of the structure. Indeed, at certain seasons, this elevation becomes a matter of necessity in many localities. Were it otherwise, the royal pair would be in danger of inundation during the long and violent rains of that country. Immediately above the royal apartments, extending across and up the sides of the hill, to about two-thirds their height, are the nurseries " of Smeathman, a yellow, dry, comb-like, granulated substance, enclosed in moist red clay, so moist that it can be made by the hands into balls. In this substance are numerous narrow serpentine cavities, or cells, containing eggs and young in different stages. Scattered on the surface are perceived, in a recent state, many minute white globular fungi. Immediately above, and interior to the nurseries, lie the " maiia- zines" of Smeathman, rising to the height of about a foot. These are a cellular arrangement of soft clay, filled with a dark-brown granulated substance, supposed 21 ^ [Skpt. by Mr, S. to W the ''food." It is very moist, and appears to be vegetable sub- stance, comminuted and reduced to this state by the insect. Between the royal apartments and nurseries, is the first floor of Smeafhman ; immediately above the ma^razines, is the second, then comes the "dome," a large cavity in the upper part of the structure. With the dome there is a communica- tion by nmriprous passa>;ps with the different parts of the hill, and thus a free cir- culation of warm air krpt up, giving a uniform temperature to thedomicil. The principles of philosophy known in the tendency of air to an eijuiiibrium, its ascent when rarihed, condensation and descent iu coming in contact with a colder me- dium, thus securing a uniformity of temperature, are all involved in this peculi- arity of structure. The statement of Dr. Smeathman respecting the primary size and subsequent mode of increase of the royal apartments, is a matter of deduction, though wn- doubtedly correct. In small hills the queen is Ibunrl of corresponding size. As the hills increase, the size ot the queen and her apartments are known to increase. The adjacent portions must be taken down to meet this enlargement. This is true also of otncr portions of the structure. As the outer projections, or turrets, are sent up from within, and the intervening spaces filled out, a portion of what was previously the exterior, must be removed to admit of the expansion of the inte- rior arrangements, the nurseries, magazine?, &c. This change and removal must be more or less true also, of almost all parts of the domicil. The community was divided by Smeathman into three orders ; 1st, the workers, 2d, soldiers, 3d, the perfect insects, male and female, or king and queen ; a fourth order, or state was subsequently noticed by Latreille among another species in the south of France, at Bordeaux, (Termes lucifigus). It was afterwards observ- ed in the East Indies, and incidentally noticed by an anonymous writer in manu- script on a Ceylonese species (Kirby and Spence"s Introduct., 2d vol. .'j.'i p.) This was the nympha or pupa state of the u-nr/.eis, in which rudimental wings were observed. The same state was inferred and averred of T. fatalis, by Messrs. Kirby and Spence, and adopted by compilers. I have never known this inference to be confirmed by any observer, writing on the African species; but, I am happy in beinir able to assert the fact from personal observation, and, further- more, to declare the sa^ne of the soldiers. I have seen both with rudimental wings distinct. Messrs. Kirby and Spence suppose the piip.-e to be equally active with their respective larvae, which is not the case; they are exceedingly delicate and sluggish. Of these several orders, the laborers are by far the most numerous. They seem to be susceptible of two divisions — larger and sma/Ur laborers. The latter exceed the former in numbers, and are found chiefly in the domicil. The work about the hill, such as constructing, repairing, bearing away the eggs from the maternal department, &c,, seems to be done by them. Of the larger size, some few are found in the hill, but they exist in greater numbers in the covered ways, about and in, the objects of plunder. The mandibles of this division are very hard and strong, and admirably adapted to the perfornr.ance of what I suppose to be their part in the community, which is the comminuting of the different kinds of wood on which they prey, and the reducing of the clay from which their hills are made, to a portable condition, A like division of labor I have noticed among the Driver ants of Africa, ( Anomma arcens, and A. rubella) . Messrs. Kirby and Spence are incorrect when they say (Introduct., 2d vol., p. 40-11,) that "they 1849.] / 215 carry in their mouths a mass of mortar half as Lig as their bodies, leadytemppred, made of the finer parts of gravel, which, worked up to a proper consistence, hardens to a substance re.-?f;'iA/t«^ 5/o«r, of which their nests are constructed.'' The amount each insect carries at a time, is so small as to be hardly perceptible to the naked eye. When the work is done, it presents a minutely granulated appearance, like that of the "nurseries." Nor is it already "/cM^j^rf^," ready to be laid. The insect, when it arrives at the place of deposit, stops for an instant, and retaining his hold on the piece of clay, undergoes a slight tremulous movement, more perhaps like the spasmodic action of vomiting, when a fluid being seen tn be ea-cretel from the rnoitik over it, the clay is deposited. This cor- rects the supposition of imeathman, that the cementing medium was gum obtained from the trees on which they preyed. The outer surface of the work, when recent, presents a red, moist, granuhited appearance, but when acted on by the sun and atmosphere, it appi caches a dull white, or yellow, and is highly indurated, more so than simple clay dried in the sun can be. It, however, falls far short of the hardness of stone ; as the hill is penetrated, the clay becomes softer until the interior is found to be so plastic that it can bemade into balls under the pressure of the hand. The young of this order are seen of all sizes : the nT/mjihsE oi La- treille differing from the others apparently in no respect, but that of their rudi- mentary wings. Soldiers — Of this order, there seems to be ground for two divisions also, larger and smaller. When a breach isjmade in the hill, the smaller soldiers are seen with the labor- ers in small numbers, and retreat with them to the interior. Then appear the larger soldiers, whose duty especially it is to defend the community. Their con- duct, ferocious aspect, &c., have been well described by Smeathman, and need not be here repeated, It has been said, however, whether by Mr. S. or not, I cannot state, that in the act of biting, " they never quit their hold even though they are pulled limb from limb," (Kirby and Spence, Introduct., vol. 2, p. 40.) This assertion has been correctly made of the Driver ants of Africa, ( Anomma arcens and A. rubella,) but cannot be of the Termes fatalis. It is the habit of this insect to let go immediately after biting, and strike as fiercely at another place, doing this several times in quick succession. The manner in which its jaws operate, will not admit of a continued hold. Like scissors, (unlike the man- dibles of the Anomma,) they cross each other, separating the fibres by a clear cut through. In about fifteen minutes after the attack of the enemy, the work of reparation begins by the laborers, who accompanied by a few of the smaller soldiers, and occasionally a larger, appear in great numbers. In view of the duty performed by these two orders.it is a surprising factthat both males and females are without eyes. These, at particular seasons, leave the hills in vast numbers. " The rains " as they are familiarly termed in Africa, begin in May, sooner or later, and continue with some intermissions, until October. During the month of July, and sometimes extending into August, an intermission takes place under the name of " middle dries," dividing them into " early and latter rains." At the beo-inninf of these seasons — " early and latter rains," — the Termes swarm (if it may be so called ) in incalculable numbers. At their exit, so rapid is their ascent, that they present {he appearance of smoke rising from all parts of the hill. The holes throuo-h 216 [Sept. which they escape, are temporary, created for this purpose, and closed when the sv.-armiiiir ceases. During this process, the almos|ihere for many rods distant, seems to be filled with t.'iem. Hirds are then seen whirlinji and darting throu;j;li the air in quick pursuit — all ordeisof insect-eating animals, are now on the alert. Barn yard fowls are seen to jump up several feet from the ground, to catch them as they descend. Indeed, men as well as brutes, make them their prey. All tribes of Africans, however, do not cat them. The Grebos, who inhabit Cape Pal mas, and among whom these observations were made, reject them as food. Why, it is difFicult to tell, unless it be from the trouble attending their capture. It is not from any fastidiousness of taste, for they are known to eat snakes, toads, grubs, beetles, and even putrid moat, with zest. Tribes about fifty miles to the windward of Cape Palmas, use them as food. To cati-li them, bowls of water are set on the ground, into which they fall as their wings drop off". They are then roasted as shrimps, and the larger beetles (goliathi) arc said to be equally sweet. The individuals of the two sexes appear to be about the same size when they issue from the hill, Jiot exceeding half an inch. The largest queen I have ever seen at the head of a community, measured 43 inches in length. Messrs. Kirby and Spence state that the queen lives but two years, which is incorrect. I have observed the yearly increase of hills for fve years or more, and, when dissected, they have yielded a queen of corresponding size. To say that a successor to the original one might have been elected, would be gratuitous. Nothing is known of their habits to warrant such an assertion, while every thing we do know goes to prove that they live for many years. It is stated also, that but one queen is ever found in a hill. This, too, is in- correct. But one is generally found. 1 have known two to occur. They were contained in the same structure, called by Smeathman "the royal chamber," but separated by a septum of clay. The hill was of the usual size. It was "dug down " by a colonist at Cape Palmas, who, knowing that I was investigatmg the habits of the insect, kindly brought them to my residence. I regretted exceed- ingly my inability to decide the question which arose to my mind at first sight, " Is it a case of bigamy ?" The person who discovered them, took no notice, and was unable to say that he saw even one king. It occurred to me that it might be an anomaly. I therefore made inquiries at Mont Srnw/n, and thp different European settlements that I visited, and ascertained that the same thint had occurred at those points, though it was considered quite unusual. I am able here to confirm the truth of Mr. Pmcathman's statement, that the king and queen are permanently enclosed in thf^ir apartment, which has been doubted by the eminent writer of the article Tenniildie, in the British Cyclopae- dia of Natural History, (understood to be J. 0. Westvvood, Esq.) The sentence in which the doubt occurs, runs as follows : "The young queen of the hive swarms, is followed by a portion of the community; and the female after swarming, and the loss of her wings, is guarded by the worker ants ; there is, therefore, so much analogy in these circumstances, that we are almost tempted to consider that Smeathman must have erred in statin2;that theworking Termites imprison both the king and queen Termes. Tiiat it should he necessary for the latter to be carefully guarded, will be very evident ; but why the king in his helpless and wingless state, (for we consider that the loss of wings is consequent 1849.] 217 upon and not precedent to pairing, should be shut up, seems questionable. We make these obi^ervations with hesitation, because Latrielle, and Kirby and Spence seem to adopt, without hesitation, this statement of Smeathman." I feel it ray duty to notice particularly this doubt, coming as it does from a source of such high respectability as the present Corresponding Secretary of the London Ent. Soc, J. O. Westwood, Esq. It should be remembered that in penning this doubt, Mr. W. was sitting within doors at Hammersmith, Eng., many thousand miles distant from the scene of Mr. Smeathman's patient and prolonged observation. Mr. S. states what he Inev} to he a fact, and, respecting which, I can see no way in which he could be mis- taken. Mr. W. misapprehends a remark of Mr. Smeathman on their "swarm- ing," if it can be so called. I do not understand Mr. S. to state that the queen is accompanied by any other individuals than those of the two sexes — other per- fect males and females. He says that as vmrJcers are always to be found on the surface of th6grou7i(i, the king and queen are captured by them, and thus made to become the heads of new communities. On what foundation this statement rests, I know not; but must confess that in this part of their economy I think there exists a lucuna yet to be filled. As to the statement, however, involving the perpetual imprisonment of the king anti queen, I have no doubt. The facts respecting the structure of the "royal chamber" sufficiently prove it. Any one who has seen a fully developed queen, will say that she is incapable of progres- sion, and the fact that no aperture has been discovered in the " chamber " among the many hills dissected at different seasons, sufficient to admit of the ingress and egress of the king, and hardly of the larger class of soldiers, must suffice. It has been stated also by compilers of Smeathman, that the insect shrinks from light, which is a reason for their constructing covered ways. But, if it be remembered that the two orders — soldiers and workers — are perfectly blind, the assertion must appear to be gratuitous. The true cause of their erection of covered ways would seem to lie in the fact that the insect is a prey to a vast number of other insects, reptiles, &c. Smeathman and others state that Termes bellicosus is the insect which de- vours dwelling houses, furniture, &c. This also I consider an error. I doubted its accuracy at the inception of my observations, and made inquiries subsequently of intelligent observers at Sierra Leone and Montserrado, all of whom confirmed me in my doubts. The white ants found in our houses, preying on our furniture, books, &c., are smaller, and larger in projiortion to their breadth than T. belli- cosus. The soldiers which accompany the laborers and found with them in their covered ways along the sills, floors and roofs of our houses, differ palpably in these respects from those of T. bellicosus. I made known my doubts on this point to my correspondent, Mr. Westwood, of London, proving the truth of my statement by specimens taken from my own dwellings, but, unfortunately, the bottles containing them were broken, and I failed of my object. I consider these house eaters as the T. arborum of Smeathman. One of their nests, indeed, I found in the roof of my office, and by them great damage was done to the build- ing, besides many books were destroyed, having been eaten through and through. Another nest also was found in a small outbihilding ; the insects of these two nests corresponded to those found in my dwellings, &c., while marked differences existed between the latter and T. hellicosus. I regret exceedingly that the steps to prove this opinion have failed in the manner above stated. I hesitate not, however, to assert it, confirmed as it is by other observers. 30 21S [Sept. Hills disxecteJ, First hill opened 22il March, 1S42. General outlines very much like those of a hay stack ; situated in a valley. Measurement. Circumference at base, - - - - - . 34 ft. " at § height from base, - - - 25 ft. Height from apex to base on the surface, - - - 13 ft. '*' " " perpendicular, ... 9 jt. The work was begun with three men at 20 minutes past 4, P. M., and re- quired 2a hours to accomplish it. The material was reil clay obtained about two feet below the surface soil, the latter being a mixture of sand and decayed vegetable matter brought down from the surrounding hills. The surface was highly indurated, receiving a slight im- pression from a single blow of the mattock. The order first seen was the workers, who instantly retreated on exposure to the external air. They were succeeded by one, and then another, and then many of the larger class of soldiers, who, rushing out in great rage with jaws ex- tended, threatened vengeance on the intruders. The experiment of permitting them to bite was tried several times, when it was perceived that a drop of brownish fluid was exuded upon the part. The sensation was like that of a minute sharp cutting instrument, the jaws moving in cross direction like scissors. On breaking several of the upward projections or " turrets," they were per- ceived to be hollow, leading into the " dome," and the main passages in the walls down to the basement. These several passages were smooth, as if by being well worn by constant tread, and it undoubtedly is throucjh them that their food is brought from below to the "magazines." The first fragment of the hill ex- posed numerous apparent perforations, from the size of a shot to that of a dollar, which were increased by every stroke; these were the different passages, run- ning in every direction and anastomosing with each other, keeping up a commu- nication throughout the domicil. The walls seemed to be about twelve inches thick, and contained numerous cavities or cells of various sizes and shapes, with young in different stages of growth, extremely white and delicate. They communicated with each other and with the main passages. The number of young contained in them varied from twelve to twenty. When several were found in one cell, they were regularly and closely packed, with their heads converging towards the bottom. The first idea which this arrangement presented to my mind, was that of pigs in an autumnal night, stowed in the angle of a " Virginia fence." Having beaten away the wall of the hill, a layer of light-brown spongy sub- Btance was seen, its structure irregularly cellular, and enclosed in red moist clay of corresponding form; the "nurseries" of Smeathman. The cells con- tained young of different sizes; on the surface were visible numerous scattered minute white globular bodies, probably fungi. Messrs. Kirby and Spence sup- pose them to belong to the genus Mucor. But the mucoridei are generated from decayed animal and stercoraceous matter. Without a microscopic examination, they seem to me to be assigned more naturally to the Trichocisti, perhaps Tri- ehia,tkepi?i head fungi, which are known to spring from decayed vegetable substance. It is highly probable that the material of which these nurseries are made, is at base ve.-etable matter. Their extent, as thus observed, is from the 1S49.] 219 base to two-thirds the height of the sides of the hill. Centrally to these, and lying immediately under the floor of the " dome," was a series of cellular work, en- tirely of clay, filled with a chesnut-brown substance, very moist, having the appearance of rasped or gnawed wood, and other vegetable matter. These are Smeathman's "magazines," and " food," which, with the nurseries, constitute almost two-thirds of the contents of the structure. Throughout the nurseries were found young in different stages of growth ; those in the external cells were smaller and mostly without rudimental wings ; those in the interior cells were larger, with distinctly developed mandibles, and rudi- mentary wings generally, the pupse of soldiers. The young in the interior of this cellular work, with a few exceptions, were assuming the yellow color which marks the head and thorax of the workers and soldiers in their perfect or active state ; the exceptions were of a pure white. As the larger passages were opened, a strong current of warm air from within was perceptible. I attempted to look down the " dome," but was compelled to withdraw immediately, my respiration being affected, and the glasses of my spec- tacles coated with a film of moisture ; a strong, peculiar, but not unpleasant, odor was perceived. It was observed, that the deeper we penetrated, the more numer- ous became the young, and the more advanced were they in growth. The structure called the "royal chamber" by Smeathman, was discovered in position central in respect to the circumference of the hill, and about eighteen inches above the surface of the ground. Around and beneath it, was a connected series of clayey cellular work, in which were found the young, as before stated. The chamber v/z-s of an oblong shape, rounded at the ends and sides; flattened and thick above and below. It was supported on one side by two pillars, about J of an inch in diameter; on the other, it was attached to the surrounding clay work. I accidentally broke open the enclosure, being misled by the statement of Smeath- man, that it was situated on a level with the surface of the ground. The queen was discovered, surrounded by a large number of the larger laborers, a few sol- diers, and some of the more advanced pupae, all of whom were running rapidly round her, manifesting the greatest perturbation. The queen made great efforts at progression, constantly turning her head and thorax from side to side, but without moving in the least her huge abdomen. Her whole length was 4^ inches. The kin" evidently in great alarm, made repeated efforts to conceal himself under the abdominal folds of his consort. On examining further the " royal chamber," a wide cavity was observed run- ning horizontally along the upper part, or roof, externally, but without any signs of communication with the interior. On the under surface of the roof, or ceiling, is a long depression, corresponding in shape to the body of the queen, which gives her that freedom of motion necessary to the extension of her eggs. This motion is compound, first in a longitudinal, then transverse direction, alternately elonga- ting, contracting and widening her body, being marked with short, thick, trans- verse bands, the skin is thrown into folds, while these bands operate as so many fixed points, or centres of muscular action, forcing the eggs through their ducts to the place of exit. For sometime after exposure, the queen continued (he expulsion of her eggs, but, not as I am inclined to think, to the usual extent. They were white and very minute, and left untouched by the workers, who evidently continued in a state of the greatest alarm. The floor of the chamber was perfectly plane and smooth, exhibiting not the slightest impression from the body of the queen. The roof in the centre was 220 [Sept i of an inch thick ; the lloor about J ; at the line of conjunction about j. Po-te- riorly in the line of junction, between the roof and door was a small aporfure, sholteretl from above by a spur of clay runnin;? downwards, which was tliconly ■w-ay discovered of injiress and egress. It could not have admilted an insect iariror than the soldiers, and even to them, as it then appeared, it must have been a *' strait !;ate." The king could not have passed, and consequently, not the queen. It had the appearance of having been repeatedly closed and opened by collections of clay around it. That the queen is enclosed for life, is evident from the fact that she is, from her great size, incapable of progression of herself, or of being transported by any means within the power of the community. On clearing away the refuse at the base of the hill, the orifices of the main pas3a the cradle ol" the arts and sciences," have the least-sized brain of any Caucasian nation, exceptin;ing the receipt of No. 3, Vol. 1, Journal of the Acadi-my. From William llombel, Esq., dated October 4th, 18 19, accompany- inf his donation of 41 vols, of the Transactions of a London Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures, &c. — received this eve- ning. 1849.] 225 Dr. Leidy offered the following observations: — From the opinion so frequently expressed that contagious diseases and some others mi^ht have their origin and reproductive character through the agency of cryptogamic spores, which, from their minuteness and lightness, are so easily conveyed from place to place through the atmosphere, by means of the gentlest zephyr, or even the evaporation continually taking place from the earth's surface ; and from the numerous facts already presented of the presence of cryptogamic vegetation in many cutaneous diseases and upon other diseased surfaces, I was led to reflect upon the possibility of plants of this description existing in healthy animals, as a natural condition; or, at least, apparently so, as in the case of entozoa. Upon considering that the conditions essential to vegetable growth were the same as those indispensable to animal life, I felt convinced that ento- phyta would be found in healthy living animals, as well, and probably as fre- quently, as entozoa. The constant presence of mycodermatoid filaments growing upon the human teeth, the teeth of the ox, sheep, pig, &c., favored this idea, and accordingly I instituted a course of investigations, which led to the discovery of several well characterized forms of vegetable growth, of which, at present, I will give but a short description, for the purpose of establishing priority, and propose giving a more detailed account of them, with figures, in the second volume of the Journal. Enterobrus* a new genus of Confervaceae. Simple, attached, isolated filaments consisting of a long cylindrical cell, (containing protoplasma, granules, and large translucent globules enveloped in a primordial utricle,) with a distinct coriaceous peduncle or stipe of attachment, and at length producing at the free extremity one or two, rarely three, shorter cylindrical cells, (filled with the same matter as the parent cell.) Enterobrus elegants. Filaments, olive brown, brownish, yellowish, or color- less, at first forming a single spiral turn, and then passing in a straight or gently curved line to the free extremity. Peduncle, or stipe of attachment, adhering very firmly, coriaceous, uniformly brownish, narrower than the frond cell, papil- lary, columnar, elongated conical or pyramidal, expanded at base and at point of attachment to frond cell, marked with longitudinal lines, and frequently with transverse annular constrictions, wnth no definite interior structure. Length from l-3750th to l-400th of an inch; breadth l-3200th to l-16C6th. Frond cell much elongated, frequently reaching the le,ngth of 2 or 3 lines, uniformly cylin- drical, excepting at free extremity, where it is usually clavate ; breadth in full grown individuals pretty uniformly l-935th of an inch. Contents consisting of a colorless protoplasma, with more or less numerous fine, translucent, yellowish or colorless granules, measuring about 1- 15,000th of an inch, and numerous large, colorless, transparent globules or vesicles filled with fluid, averaging the l-2870th of an inch in diameter. End cells only existing in full grown individuals, one, usually two, rarely three in number ; the first one cylindrical, l-86th of an inch in length by 1-1 000th in breadth, filled with more granules and less globules than the parent cell; end cell clavate, l-135th of an inch long by l-750th broad, at the clavate end l-638th, filled with granular matter and a few globules. *E»'rtpov et ^pvof. 31 226 [Oct. Length of full grown individual 2 to 3 sometimes 4 lines. Habitat. Grows from the basement membrane of the mucous membrane of the small intestine of Julus marginatus, Say, occasionally from the same membrane at the commencement of the larjie intestine, and also from any part of the exterior surface of Ascaris infecta and Aorurus : entozoa infesting these portions of the intestinal canal of this animal. The youn;;ep *' ovpo. t Srpinroj ct gtofia. 184.9.] 231 situated about twenty-four rings above the anal aperture, which latter is placed between the last two annuli of the body. Ovary double ; ova l-333d in. long, by 1-400 in. broad. Length of body from 1-13 to 1-llth inch ; breadth at commencement of vcntri- culus l-118th inch ; at middle of body l-97th inch. Tail from 1-16 to l-15th inch long, by 1-888 in. broad at its middle. 2nd stib-gniHs, — TheJastoma.* Body cylindrical, attenuated anteriorly, strongly marked with moderately broad annuli. Mouth small, opening at the extremity of a small papilla. (Eso- phagus divided into two distinct portions, the first long and cylindrical, the second constituting the true cesophageal bulb. Tail more than half the length of the body. Tkelastoma attenuatum. — Female. Body attenuated anteriorly to commence- ment of the ventiiculus, opalescent white, divided into from 140 to 160 annnla- tions, of which there are from fifty-two to fifty-seven from the mouth to the com- mencement of the ventriculus. Tail very straight, or very slightly curved or bent, slender, inflexible and brittle, and sharply pointed. Mouth always pro- jected, small, surmounting a small papillary elevation formed by the first annul us of the body. Pharynx very short and narrow ; cesophagus strongly muscular, cylindrical, l-47th in. long, by l-533d in. broad; cesophageal bulb pyriform, l-17Sth in. long, l-222d in. broad. Ventriculus dilated alaeform at com- mencement, cylindrical throughout. Rectum short, pyriform. Generative aper- ture 42 annulations above the anal. Ovary double, ova l-333d in. long, by l-400th in. broad. Length of body from 1-lOth to l-8th in. ; breadth at middle l-95th in. Tail l-14th in. long, by 1-lllth in. broad at middle. Habitat, and Remarks. — Streptostoma agile and Thelastoma attenuatum are found together principally in the commencement of the large intestine of Julus marginatus, in numbers of from one to fifteen, and less frequently in the small intestine with Ascaris infecta, in numbers of from one to six. It is remarkable, that although I have found from one to fifteen of these two genera, in nine-tenths of the animals examined, I have never yet been able to detect a single male. Thelastoma always has the mouth projected, whilst Streptostoma has it retracted, producing, in some measure, but by no means wholly, the difference in size of the oral aperture. At first I was inclined to think these two animals were difl'erent stages of the same species, but the adults uniformly correspond to the descriptions given, and in all cases contained more or less perfected ova. Their movements are active, wriggling the body in a sigmoid manner and vibrating the delicate spiculated tail, which in sun-light resembles a shining acicular crystal. Thelastoma, from its form of oesophagus and narrower annulations and shorter tail than Streptostoma, occupies a position between the latter and Oxyuris. Gregari?ia Dufour. Body consisting of two distinct cells. Inferior cell the larger, marked * QtjXT} et otofia' 232 fOct. with delicate, parallel, longitudinal lines, (muscular 7) and filled with a fine granular matter, obscuring one or two nucleolo-nucleated-organic cells. Su- perior cell placed in a depression of the inferior, surmounted by a slight papilla in which may be detected two lines, apparently outlines, of an oral canal to the interior ol the cell which is filled with granular matter ; cell wall amor- phous and transparent. Grtgarina larvatx. Body opaque white, cylindrical or fusiform, frequently considerably dilated at the middle of the upper third. Superior cell a flat- tened or depressed sphere, received about one-half into a depression of the inferior cell, surmounted by a papillary elevation with traces of a com- munication with the exterior; interior filled with a finely granular mass re- sembling oil globules, and measuring from l-lCjOOOth to 1-7, 500th in. Length of cell, in smallest individuals l-123d in.; in largest l-80th by l-61st in. broad. Inferior cell elongated, cylindrical or fusiform, not communicating with the exterior nor with the interior of the superior cell ; filled with a mass of granules resembling that of the superior cell, rendering the larger indi- viduals opaque, but translucent in the smaller ones, and usually obscuring one or two comparatively large nucleolo-nucleated-organic cells, measuring from l-888th to l-.308th in. in diameter. Cell-wall marked with exceedingly regular, delicate, longitudinal, parallel lines about l-9375th in. apart, apparently muscular in character. Length from l-160th to l-;)Oth in., by l-8.30th to l-lUth in. in breadth. Habitat. — Found in numbers of from half a dozen to over a hundred, in the ventriculus of Julus marginatus. Gregarina is probably the larva condition of some more perfect animal, but in the 116 individuals of Julus which I have examined, 1 have not been able to detectany form which could be derivable from it. Creplin doubts itsanimality.' When 1 first discovered thisbody, thinking it to be a larva, I did not examine it carefully, and it was not until some time afterward when, being desirous of ascertaining its true na tare, upon examining some fresh specimens beneath the microscope, I detected movements of an animal character, and this led me to seek for muscular structure, which resulted in the discovery of the longitudinal lines of the inferior cell. These escaped the observation of Siebold, for he says, " Nach meine Beobach- tungen bestehen die Gregarinen aus einer harten glatten den Eihiillen der Insek- ten-Eier ahnlichen Haut."t The movements of the animal are exceed ingly sluggish, and consist of a very slow bending in any direction of any part of the inferior cell, most usually above the middle, rarely at the inferior extremity, but most frequently near the superior cell which is en- tirely passive. The superior cell is also frequently drawn or contracted within the inferior, and again protruded by the contraction of the latter, and the propulsion of the granular contents against it. The inferior cell is also frequently, more especially in younger individuals, intussuscepted within itself through a partial contraction; and again relieved by a general contraction of the cell-wall. •Nachtrage zu Gurlt'sVerzeichness der Thiere bei welchen Entozoen gefunden worden sind. Wiegmann's Archiv, 1846, 1 Band, S. 157. fVViegmann's Archiv, 1838, 2 Band, S. 308. 1S49.] 233 In the state in which Gregarina is found, it would probably hold a rank between the Trematoila and Trichina the lowest of the Nematoidea. Tiyctntherus,* a new gemis of Polygastrica, allied to Plesconia. — Body ovate, dilated posteriorly, compressed anteriorly, granulated, longitudinally lined, with an apparent operculum covering its anterior half, and having a semi-circle of cilia just within its margin inferiorly and posteriorly. Centre of the operculated portion furnished with a large trapezoidal finely granular areola. Posterior part of the body with a short fissure passing inwards and downwards. Nyctothenis velox. — Body white, ovate, conoidal, anterior margin rounded, obtuse; posteriorly acute< Posterior margin of the apparent operculum passing in a curved line upwards upon the middle of the body to within a short distance of the back, and furnished inferiorly with a point projecting backwards. With a line passing down from the back about the middle of the operculum to the trape- zoidal areola, giving the part of the body anterior to this the appearance of a head. Trapezoidal areola, with curved sides, finely granular. Posterior fissure communicating with the exterior, just above the acute termination of the body, and passing inwards and downwards, resembles an anal aperture. Areolae of the interior sarcous mass generally minute, one large and round pretty constantly to be observed at the inner termination of the posterior fissure. Length from l-254th to 1-lSOth in.; breadth from l-320th to l-254th in. Habitat. — Commencement of the large intestine of Julus marginatus, often found in considerable numbers. Remar/cf. — This genus is closely allied to Plesconia, but possess no appendages excepting the semi-circle of cilia, just within the edge of the apparent operculum. The animal swims in water with great ease and grace. After being in this fluid some time, the external investment bursts, and allows the protrusion of globular masses of sarcous matter, as in Leucophrys, but not to such a great extent. Note. — Since the above went to press, Dr. Leidy announced to the Academy that he had discovered two new species of the entophyte P'nterobrus ; one of them, E. spiralis, l-69thinch long, growing in the small intestine of Julus pusillus ; the other, E. attenuatus, l-24th inch long, growing more or less profusely with a second species of Cladophytum,C. clavatum, in the ventriculus of a coleopterous insect, Passalus cornutus. Thus has been established the law "that plants may grow in the interior of the healthy animal as a normal condition," and a new field has been presented for the investigation of the Cryptogamo-naturalist. [See forth- coming number of the Proceedings.] October l^th. Mr. Pearsall in the Chair. Mr. Cassin read a paper describing some new species of Birds, of the family of Caprimulgidse, specimens of which are in the collection * Nvxfoe/jpoj. 32 234. [Oct of the Acad. Nat. Sci. of Philada. Keferred toDrs. Wilson and Town- send, and Mr. E. Harris. October 23d. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from Mr. Caspar Parkinson, dated Philadelphia, Oct. 23d, IS^Q, offering for sale a collection of Marine Shells. Dr. Leidy made the following observations on the characters and intimate structure of the odoriferous glands of the Invertebrata. Nature has supplied most or all animals with some means of defence or protec- tion, through which their destruction is rendered limited. The character of such means varies exceedingly, some are encased in hard armour, some are endowed with great muscular strength, some with great rapidity of movement, others trust to their minuteness, some to their color, others feign death, many are furnished with formidable instruments, such as teeth, claws, aculei, Ike; others are sup- plied with organs which emit an odour so offensive that an aggressor is frequently compelled to leave what otherwise would have been its victim, &c. It is to the last mentioned organs to which I at present wish to direct, for a few moments, the attention of the meinhers : to the organs denominated odoriferous glands of ani- mals. Bodies of this, or of a homologous character, are possessed by nearly all animals, but they are not in all used as a means of defence. They give origin to the odour wiiich appears to be more or less peculiar to each species of animal, and which probably is in some way connected with the sexual instinct. The scent bag of the Moschus moschiferus is the homologue of theglandulac odorifera; Tysoiii of the human i)repuce; the tcgumentary mucous glands of mollusca, of annelides, of fishes, the tegumentary glands of reptiles, the perspiratory and seba- ceous glands of birds, and of mammals, the odoriferous glands of insects, the anal sacs of carnivora, &c., are all probably of a homologous character. Although varying in the degree of their complexity in different animals, and in the character of their secretion, yet the essential structure is the same through- out. Consisting of tubes or follicles of basement membrane, their complexity depends upon their greater or lesser length, their being simple or compound, straight or more or less convoluted, and isolated or aggregated, in connection ■with the mode of supplying to them their nutritive fluid. On the interior these cavities or tubes are covered with a single layer of nucleolo-nucleated organic cells, the true elaborators or manufacturers of the secreted matters of the glandular bodies. The secreted matter varies exceedingly in its propeities in different animals: in odor being found from that of the perspiratory fluid of man, through a great variety of shades, to that most powerful and odious of all odours, the secretion of the anal glands of the Mephitis Americana; in consistence from a semi-fluid state to the gaseous fluid of the Brachinus crepitans, &c. It is this which constitutes the material contained within the organic cells intermediate to the cell wall and the nucleus. The cell wall and nucleus are the agents in connection with the organic force which produce or elaborate the contained matter. And, indeed, this is the ultimate 1849.] 235 factor all organization; for all the innumerable objects of living nature, with such variety of form, connposit ion, and color, from the simplest to the most com- plex: from the vibrionic filament to the noble oak, from the bodo, or monas, up to man, arfe the result of a force in connection with an amorphous vesicle, the organic cell-wall, with the contained nucleus. Wonderful, in- deed, is it that the human mind at length has been enabled to penetrate so deeply into the mysteries of nature as to discover the starting point of life, the stile at which an invisible intangible cause operates in the production of all those beings we call organized. From this digression I return once more to the consideration of the odorifer.ous glands. In many of the higher animals, the structure of thc.?e have been carefully investigated, but riot to the same ex- tent in the lower animals. In HemipteroUs insects these bodies arc situated within the posterior part of the metathorax or anterior part of the abdomen, and consist of one or two, more or less long and convoluted coeca, which open exteriorly usually between the coxae of the middle and posterior legs. In the carnivorous Coleoptera, they are situated in the posterior part of the abdomen, on each side of the rectum, and usually open exteriorly upon the mem- brane, connecting the inferior and superior plate of the last abdominal segment on each side of the anal aperture. They generally consist of a number of follicles, which converge to one or more ducts, which join the neck of a reservoir for con- taining the secreted fluid. A number of these are figured by Dufour in the An- nales des Sciences Naturellcs for ^S■2<^. In the genus of Myriapoda, Julus, the odoriferous glands are placed upon each side of the body, every segment which has a double pair of legs jiossessing a pair of the glands, commencing anteriorly with the sixth segment, excepting the head, and terminating posteriorly with the penultimate segment. As the number of segments of the animal varies with its age, so will also the number of the odori- ferous glands. The adult Julus marginatus has usually fifty pairs, the Julus maximus, from New Grenada, S. A., has fifty-eight pairs, &c. The orifices of these glands opening exteriorly, correspond to a row of minute black dots on each side of the body, situated about midway between the superior and inferior median line. The glands of Julus consist of a globular body or sac, with an elongated conical neck, and resemble in form a florence flask with the mouth drawn to a point. In Julus marginatus they measure Ij- lines long, the body being I of a line in diame- ter. In structure they consist of an amorphous transparent basement membrane covered upon the interior surface with a single layer of secreting cells. The cells are polygonal, from mutual pressure, measure l-lG12th inch in diameter, and are filled with a yellowish fluid, and a fine purplish granular matter, which in mass gives them a dark purple color, and which, in the aggregate of the cells, gives the glands a very deep purple or almost black color. When the cells are compressed, or the contents pressed out, the granules exhibit lively molecular movement. In the centre of the m.ass of granular matter of the cell, and only seen upon compressing the latter, is a round, translucent nucleus, measuring the l-5000th inch in diameter, and containing a minute refractive nucleolus. The secreting cells vary in color in different insects, and in the aggregate give 236 [Oct. the color to the glandular bodies. The reservoir also is lined with cells. In Upis Pennsylvanica they are biownish, or nearly colourless, measure the l-7C0th inch in diameter, contain sonie finely granular brownish matter, ami a large round or oval, translucent, faintly granular nucleus,, measuring l-1200th inch, with a large, round or oval nucleolus l-2727th inch in diameter. The secretion of the glands of Julus marginatum, contained within the interior of the body, is deep yellow in color, and contains a few of the purplish granules of the celU. It resembles oil in consistence, but is soluble in water and alcohol. It is neither acid or alkaline, evaporates at a temperature of S.'iOo F., without residue ; is acrid to the tongue, Schiieiderian membrane, and conjunctiva, smells like iodohydric acid, and stains the cuticle brown. The last two properties led me to suspect the existence of iodine, but the usual reagents presented none. It probably belongs to a class of peculiar organic compounds, found in the odorifer- ous principles of animals, not yet investigated. Exteriorly the reservoirs of the odoriferous glands of insects are furnished with transverse mu?;cular bands, of a brownish color, about 1-I578th inch in breadth, and separated by wide intervals. In Julus, the body of the glands possesses no distinct muscular bands, but the neck is provided with them. References to the plate. Fig. 1. Represents one of the odoriferous glands of Julus niarginatHS, much magnified, exhibiting the secreting cells on the interior surface of the body, and the muscular bands of the neck. Fig. 2. Represents some of the secreting cells, lii'^lily magnified, a. cells in which the nucleus is concealed from tlie quantity of granular matter; b, nucleus; <•. cells in outline. Fig. 3. Three secreting cells very highly magnified, a. nucleus concealed by granular contents ; /;. a cell burst with a portion of the contents escaping. October aO/A. Dr. Bridges in the Chair. The Committee on Mr. (.'assiti's descriptions of new species of Capri- mulgidjE. reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Descriptinns of iieir.< speries of Lird.i of the I'amili/ Cajirimiilf^iilsc, xpfcimeris of vjldch are iti the Collectiou of the Acadrmy of Natural Sciences of Phila- delj'hia. By John C.\ssin. Genus Hydropsalis, Wagler, Isis 1832, page 1222. 1. Ilydropsalis limhatits, nobis. Adult 5 • ?• Form. Wings long, pointed, with the shafts of the primaries strong and slightly curved ; first primary longest, second and third deeply sinuatrd on their outer webs, and, with the first, having their external margins distinctly serrated. Tail excessively long, graduated, the two external feathers surpassing the next by about 14 inches; others regularly receding to the two in the middle; which an shortest. Tarsi feathered slightly below the knee. Webs of outer tail feathers narrow. Fitjt- / Fu, ? @f:^M^^-^.\r^^:-/ '.>-*■■; ■7. -isr . -»;^..v .r^^f%^:, .*?^^« ■ JJSi^; "^^ ■ '■ .' -'r .*■ . .' ':-;'-^". ■■•'.- ■ . * , • - ■ ■■'4;' -■' " -■' y " ■ '.' ■■ si;.- o\. '\'- ■ if* .^W ■^'}^-v~^' ... ^-^mm if^' ■ ' '■• . "'^ ■'J , r, '.. . •' ■ ■•*- '\' A ^-■.'•'iV ■ '. ' -'■ /'crwph. iviisio>is.-Tota\ length of skin, from the tip of bill to end of tail about 2 feet 5 inches, of the wing 9 inches, of the tail to end of external feathers, about 22 inches; length of two middle tail feathers about 3 inches. Colors.— Upper surface of the head, body and wing coverts brownish black- spotted and sparingly lined with pale fulvous. The wing coverts with round spots at their points of the same color. Superciliary region grayish white, every feather having narrow irre-ular lines of black. Hind neck with a semicollar of bright reddish fulvous. Under the eye an irregular whitish stripe. Scapular feathers with their external webs black with a few curved lines of fulvous remote from the tip, ^^hich is broadly man:ined with black, internal webs of scapulars nearly white irregularly striped and spotted with black; other scapulars nearly black, with pale fulvous margins externally. Throat before with a white collar. Chin, breast and belly irregularly mixed with brownish black and pale yellowish white, the latter color assumin-^ upon the breast the form of semicircular segments and lunular spots upon the lips of the feathers and the former (blackish) disposed to form very irregular narrow bands upon the Hanks and belly ; ventral region and under tail coverts paler Quills brownish black, having upon their internal webs four or five narrow transverse Imes of pale yellowish white, conspicuous when viewed from below and upon their external webs (except the first) several rounded or irre<^ular shaped spots of the same colour. Second and third quills where sinuated upon their outer webs, with a very slight margin of white. Secondaries obscurely tipped with whitish. •' First, second, and third tail feathers thron-jhout their whole len-th with their outer webs and about two-thirds of their inner webs brownish bIadc,-other por- tion of the inner webs, b „ g the internal margin of those feathers, white ; a few bright fulvous spots near the base upon the outer webs. Fourth and fifth tail feathers with similar colors, but more broadly bordered with white, which upon those, as well as the third, is sparingly spotted with brownish. Young 9 . ? Form. Tail deeply emarginate, but not excessively Ion- ex- ternal feathers exceeding the next by about 1^ inches only. _ ^/.,...«„.v..-Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail abou^ lo inches, wing S inches, tail to end of external feathers 7i inches ; length of middk tail feathers about 3* inches Co/.r..-Entire upper surface, tail included, brownish black, with numerous rounded spots and lines of reddish fulvous, assuming upon the tail the form of irre- gularor curved bands, which are more or less mottled and mixed with the brown- ish black of the other predominating portion. Throat with a semicollar of yel- lowish white. Entire under parts, brownish-black, banded and spotted with lulvous. Hab. — South America. Ois.-Thls very remarkable species may readily be distinguished by its very long forked tail, the feathers of which are irregularly graduated. I„ the latter b'^M-m '' ''''^'7, ^'°'" '^" ""''■ """'"""' ^'^'^'^"^•) '' ^l^i-h however it bears out little resemblance. There are in the collection of the Academy three specimens of this species wo males - the Rivoli collection, and a female which was fortunately pro red in Pans by Mr. Edward Wilson. ^ ' rocurea 238 [Oct. 2. Ily.lrnpnalix seginnitnlut, nobis. 5 riii(i(!lc age ? Form. Win'Jis moJerato, second prinnary sliijlitly longest, secoml, third and fourth deeply sinuate1, tail to end of external feathers about ioj inches; length of four middle tail feathers about 4 inche«. Colore. — Upper surface of head, body, scapulars and wing coverts brownish- black, spotted and obscurely lined Avith ferrugineous rufous, which color almost predominates upon the scapulars. Neck, behind, with an obscure ferrugineous semi-collar, before, with a semi- collar of rufous white. Body beneath, brownish black, with rounded ferrugineous spots upon the breast, and uivdh the belly \vith obscure bands and spots of pale ferrugineous and nearly wh.te. Wing feathers brownish-black; fir=t pritnary with a narrow pa'e reddish border upon its outer web for about half its length, second and third with a nale ferru- gineous spot at the point of sinuation. Secondaries with irregular bars of reddish and with narrow tips of the same color. The two external feathers of the tail with their shafts white upon the upper surface, outer webs white tinged with rufous, and handsomely marked (upon the outer webs) with semicircular segments of black, having for their bases the shaft of the leather. This marking is more conspicuous towards the base, and upon the under surface the black color of these semicircular segments extends to the shaft of the feather. Ail the other tail feathers brownish black, with bars of f.MTUgineou=! rufous ; upon the two middle feathers these bars are mottled with black. Young 9 ? Form. Tail ample, emarginate, and regularly graduated, the two external feathers being but little longer than the second. Dimehuoim. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 9 inches; wing CI; tail, to end of external feathers, about /j inches; length of middle feathers of tlie tail, about four inches. Colors. Entire plumage very similar to the male, but with all the tail feathers brownish black, barred with ferrugineous. Hub. Bogota, New Grenada. Ob.i. The two specimens now described belong to the RivoU collection, and have the appearance of being either young birds, or with the plumaie of winter. The male mav, however, be easily recognized by the curious marks upon the external webs of the outer tail feathers, described above. The colors in the present specimens, black and ferrugineous, are peculiar to this species, so far as I have seen. Genus Antrostomts. Gould. 3. Antrostomns serico-caiidatii s , nobis. Adult 5 Vnrvt. Wings rather long, third primary lonsest ; second, third 1849.] 239 and fourth siniiated on their outer webs; shafts slightly curved. Tail cuneiform, four middle feathers equal and longest. Bill rather long and flat; tarsi short, slightly feathered below the knee, DimeusioH.i. Total length of skin, from tip of bill to end of tail, about 11 inches; wing 7 J ; tail Oa inches. Colors. Head above, back, runnp, scapulars and wing coverts variegated with black and dark fulvous, the latter in rounded spots and narrow irregular lines, predominating upon the wing coverts, but the former (black) upon the head and scapulars. This color disposed lo form a broad longitudinal band on the head. Sides of the head, over the eyes, grayish ; every feather with transverse black lines. Keck behind with a semi-collar of deep reddish fulvous ; before, with a semi-collar of yellowish white, the feathers of which are tipped with black. Throat nearly black, breast below the collar, with deep fulvous spots and irre- gular lines, belly and ventral region with a predouiinating pale fulvous white, and some nearly pure white spots, every feather transversely lined and barred with black, under tail coverts fulvous, unspotted. Wing feathers brownish black, primaries with about 10 to 12 irregular shaped but rather triangular marks of deep fulvous upon their external webs, secondaries with irregular bars of pale fulvous, which bars are mottled with black. First, second and third feathers of the tail brownish black with several obscure and badly defined bands of reddish fulvous, and obliquely tipped in a very conspi- cuous manner, with fine, silky white. Fourth feather of similar color, but with- out the white tip, and v/ith the reddish fulvous bands more definite. Two middle tail feathers brownish black, and with about 10 to 12 bars on each web of deep reddish fulvous, well defined, and which are disposed obliquely from the shafts of the feathers, like a pinnate leaf, those bars broad and hioUled with black, — two middle feathers without white tips. Younger ? Funn. As above described, but with the second primary slightly the longest. Dimensiuns. Total length of skin from tip of bill to end of tail, about lOi inches, wing 7}, tail 5h inches. Colors. Very similar to the above, but with the grayish color extending over the whole of the head. Under parts much darker but with more numerous white rounded spots. Under tail coverts fulvous with black lines. The fine white tips of the external tail feathers tinged M'ith fulvous. Hub. South America. Obs. The distribution of the colors upon the upper surface of the body, in this handsome species resembles in some degree that of Scoloj>ax riisticola^ or oi S. inxnor. It is not similar to any other species known to me, and can at once be recog- nized by the silky white tips of the external tail feathers. These cross the fea- thers obliquely, and are so arranged that when the cuneiform tail is expanded, they form a continuous margin upon the ends of those three leathers. This is one of the few species of this family which have pretensions to beauty. Two specimens are in the collection of the Academy. ELECTION. Octavus A. Norris, Esq., and Francis W. Lewis, M. D., of Philadel- phia, were elected Members ol" the Academy. 1849.] i 241 DONATIONS TO MUSEUM. In September and Octobke, 1849. September 4th, Twenty-two Skeletons of Birds, as follows : Cygnus atratus, Aquila fusca, Milvus sph.'Enurus, Talegalus Lathami, Centropus gigas, Calyptoiynchus xantho- notus, Dacelo gigantea, Podargiis cinereus, Botauriis australis, Craclicus hypoleu- cus, Corcorax australis, Graucalus parvirostris, Myzantha pumila, Anthochoera Lewinii, Hsematopodus varius, Cuculus cinerascens, Platycircus pailiceps, Ceyx azureus, Acanthyza diemensensis, Coronica australis, Megapodius tremulus, Diomedea exulans. From Dr. T. B. Wilson. Coronella doliata, from Louisiana. From J. Coleman Fisher, Esq. A species of Diodon, and several specimeas of Corals and Shells from Long Branch, N. J. From Samuel Powel, Esq. Septemher Wth. Forty specimens of Gold, Silver and Lead Ores, from the mines of Cordova, South America. From T. F. Moss, Esq. Ichthyophilus from Sargus ovis, from Beasley's Point, N. J. From Samuel Ash- mead, Esq. September \Sth. A collection of Shells and Minerals. From Dr. E. J. Lewis. Stilbite, from Nova Scotia. From Dr. Hallowell. Metatarsal bone of Anoplotherium commune, from Montmartre, France. Deposited by same. October 2d. Mounted specimen of Lepidosteus ferox, from the Mississippi river. From Mr. J. D. Anderson. Teredo navalis. From R. Pitcher, U. S. N. Coluber , from Trinidad. From Dr. Watson. Aragonite, from Styria, Native Mercury from Idria, Miargerite and Feather Ore from BraundorfT, White Antimony from do., Pecten from the Jura of , Pecopterus, from Saxony. Presented by Theo. F. Moss, Esq. Fossil Wood from the Drift of New Jersey ; from Long Branch. Deposited by Mr. Samuel Powel. Stone Adze, found in New Jersey. From the same. October IQth. A collection of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Presented by Dr. John Neill. Mounted specimen of Chlamyphorus truncatus, (the original specimen descri- bed by Dr. R. Harlan in Vol. 1., Annals of Lyceum of New Yorkj. Also the cranium of the same. Presented by Dr. Wilson. Dwarf variety of Gallus Bankiva. From Dr; Wistar, of Germantown. Hybrid between the Mallard duckand the Muscovy. FromMr. Edward Harris. October 23d. Panopens, Grapsus, Dromia, Porcellana, Achelous, Sesarma, and two species not named, from Brazil ; Spondylus varius, and BuHmus haemastomus, from Para, Pholadomya, and Mountain Limestone, from South Wales. Presented by Dr. Wilson. Coryctes, Piremela, Porcellana, from England; Uraster, Ophiscoma, from Pembrokeshire, England. Presented by E. T. and C. W. W^son, of South Wales. Fine fragment of the inferior maxilla with bases of four teeth, of Mosasaurus , from the Green Sand, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Presented by Dr. S. G. Morton. Dr. Morton also presented to the Society all those fragments of Mosasaurus, heretofore deposited by him. Taphozousrufus, Harlan, captured on Quercus ferruginea. From Dr. Alexander. 33 242 [Oct. DONATIONS TO LIBRARY. In September and Octobek, 1819. September \th. Conspectus Crustaceorum quae in Orbis Terranim circumnavigatione Carolo Wilkes e Ciasse Reipublicae federatae duce lexit ct descripsit J. D. Dana. From the author. Synopsis of the genera of Gramnnaracea;. By J. D. Dana. From the same. Dr. Wilson deposited: Zeitschriftfiir Malakozoologie. Von K. T. Mcnke und Dr. L.PfeifJer. No. 1 for 1819. Comptes rendus : Tome 28, Nos. 17-26. Table des Comptesrendus, Tome 27. Revue et Magasin de Zoolozie par M. Guorin-Meneville. Nos. 1-5. Svo. The London Athenanun, lor June and July, 1S19. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. 3. Parts 5 and 6. Septemler Wth. The Pathology and treatment of cholera. By Samuel Cartvvright, M. D. From the author. Some remarks on premedication : and tlie doctrine of a retrograde action from collapsion of the absorbent and capillary vessels. By Samuel Cartvvright, M. D. From the same. A glance at the Fossil Flora of the Carboniferous Epoch. By Henry Denny. From the author. The following were deposited by Dr. Wilson : Zeitschrift fiir Malakozoologie, von K. T. Menke, M. D., und Dr. L. Pfei/Ter. No. 12 for 1818. Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der Zoologie und Vergleichenden Anatomic, von H. Schlegel. Nos. 1 and 2. 4to. Die Versteinerinigen des Norddeutsch-Kreidegebirges. Von F. A. Roemer. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. 4, new series. No. 10. History of British Mollusca, &c. By Prof. E. Forbes, and S. Hanley. Part 19. 8vo. Buffoni et Daubentoni figurarum Avium coloratarum nomina systematica col- legit H. Kuhl. Die Versteinerungen des Harzgebirges. Beschrieben von F. A. Roemer. Conchologia iconica. By Lovell Reeve. Part T-'j. Abbilduniien und Beschreibun'j;en neuer oder wenig gekannter Conchylien, von Dr. R. A. Philippi. Vol, ."3, Part 5. Palajontographia. Beitrage zur Naturgeschichte der Vorwelt. Von Dr. W. Dunker und H. Von Meyer. Vol. 2, Part 1. Illustrations of I>ritish Mycology. By ]Mrs. T. .1. Hnssey. Part 28. 4to. The genera of Diurnal Lopidoptcra. By E. Doubieday. Part JO. 4to. Chloris Protogaea. Von F. Unger. Nos. 8, 9, 10, folio. Die Versteinerungen des Norddeutschen Oolithen-Gebirges. Von F. A. Roemer. 4 vols. 4to. Skandmaviske Foglar af M. Korner. Ito. Vogel aus Asien, Africa, America und Neuholland. Von Dr. C. W. Hahn, 19 parts. 4to. Ornithologischer Atlas der Aussereuropoischen Vogel. Von H. C. Kiister. No. 15. Narrative of an attempt to reach the North Pole, in 1827, under the command of Capt. W. E. Parry, R. N. 4to. Report of the sixteenth meeting of the British Association, 1846. Report for 1847, 2 vols. Svo. Die Insel Heliroland. Untersuchungen iiber deren Grosse in Vorzeit und Ge- genwart. Von K. W. M. Wiebel. 4to. Die Petrefactenkunde auf ihrem jetzigen Standpunkte durch die Beschreibung 1849.] 243 seiner Sammlung versteinerter und fossiler Ueberreste des Thier and Pflanzen- reichs der Vorwelt erliiutert von E. F. Baron von Schlotheim. 1 vol. Svo., and atlas 4to. Nachtrage zur Petrefactenkunde von Baron Von Schlotheim. 2 vols. 8vo., and atlas. 4to. Vermium Intestinalium, praesertim Taeniae humanas, brevis expositio; Auctore P. C. F. Werner. 3 parts. Svo. North American Sylva. Nuttall's Supplement. Vol. 3. Part. 2. On the nature of Limbs. By Richard Owen. Svo. On the Homologies of the Vertebrate Skeleton. By Richard Owen. 1 vol. Svo. Oriental Memoirs. By James Forbes. 4 vols. Narrative of a voyage to the Pacific Ocean and Behring's Straits in H. M. Ship Blossom, in 1825-'28. 1 vol. 4to. Portraits of rare and curious Birds, with their descriptions, from the Menagery of Osterly Park. By W. Hayes and family. 2 vols. 4to. A Natural History of Birds. By Eleazer Albin. 3 vols. 4to. The EnsHsli Entomologist. By Thomas Martyn. 4to. A new Dictionary of Natural History. By Wm. F. Martyn, Esq. Folio. Conchology, or the Natural History of Shells. By George Perry. Folio. The Birds of Great Britain. By W. Lewin. 8 vols, in 4. 4to. September IStk. Proceedings 'of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Vol. 2. pp. 1-160. From the Academy. American Journal of Science and Arts. 2d series. No. 23. Sept., 1849. From the Editors. Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. Nos. 3 et 4, 1848, et No. 1, 1849. From the Society. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Vol. 3, Nos. 3, 4 and 5. From the Editor. ^ October 2d. Bibliotheea Animalis. Von Fr. E. Bruckmann; 8vo. Deposited by Dr. Griffith. Thomae Pancovii Herbarium. 4to. From the same. On the use of a new Micrometer, and its application to the determination of the parallax of Mars. By Prof. Dr. Von Bogerslawski. From the author. Uebersicht der Arlieiten und Veriinderungen der Schlesischen Gesellschaft fiir vaterlandische Kultur im Jahr 1849. Svo. From Prof. Bogerslawski. Gelehrte Anzeigen. Herausgeg. von Mitgliedern der k. bayer. Akad. der Wissenschaften. Nos. 26, 27, 1848. Svo. From the Academy. Abhandlungen der Mathematisch-physikalischen Classe der k. bayer. Akad. Vol. 5. No. 2. Ito. From the same. Bulletin der k. bayer. Akad. der Wis. Nos. 1-52, 1848. Die Chemie in ihrem Verhaltnisse zur Physiologic und Pathologic. Von. D. Max. Pettenkiiffer. From the same. Denkrede auf J. G. Zuccarini. Von C. F. P. V. Martins. From the same. Rede bei ErofTnung der Sitzung der k. b. Akad. der Wis. 28 Marz, 1848. Von. Dr. Carl Fried. P. V. Martius. From the same. Monograph of Steatoma, a new genus of new operculated land-shells. By C. B. Adams. From the author. Transactions of the Society instituted at London, for encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. 41 vols. Svo. From Wm. Hembel, Esq. Dr. Wilson presented the following : Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, from 1665 to 1840 inclusive, one hundred and eleven vols. 4to. The same from 1665 to 1800; abridjied by C. Hutton, L. L. D., George Shaw, M. D., and Richard Pearson, M. D. IS vols. 4to. The London Athenasum for Aug. 1849. Comptes rendus, Nos. 1-4. Tome 29. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, No. C. 244. [Out- October 23d. Memorials of John Bartram and Humphrey Marshall. By Wm. Darlington, M. D. Royal 8vo. From Miss Percival. Flora Carolinensis. By John L. E. W. Shecut. Vol. Jst. 8vo. Deposited by Dr. Griffith. De I'Homme Animal. Par le Dr. Felix Voisin. Svo. From Prof. Haldeman. Opuscoli Litterarii. 3 vols. 4to. From Dr. Isaac Hays. Opuscoli Scientifici. 4 vols. Ito. From the same. Notice of a remarkable hot wind in the Zillah of Purneah. By H. Piddington. From the author. Examination of some atmospheric dust from Shanghae, forwarded to the Asiatic Society of Bengal by Dr. Mac^owan. By H. Piddington. From the same. Notice of the ferruginous Spheriiles imbedded in sand stone, brought from Lul- leetpore in Bundelcuud, by Dr. f>pilsbury. By H. Piddington. From the same. Examination and Analysis of the Ball Coal of the Bardwan Mines. By H. Piddington. From the same. On the great diamond in the possession of the Nizam. By H. Piddington. From the same. lSi9.] 245 JYovember 6tk. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Dr. T. Romeyn Beck, dated Albany, October 24, 1849, acknowledging, on behalf of the Trustees of the iXew York State Library, the receipt of Nos. 9 and 10, Vol. 4, of the Proceedings of the Academy. Also, a letter from Francis Peyre Porcher, M. D., dated Charles- ton, S. C, October 1, 1849, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. Also, a letter from the Secretary of the Western Academy of Natural Sciences, dated Cincinnati, October, 1849, acknowledging the receipt of the last number of the Proceedings. The Recording Secretary read a letter addressed to Dr. Morton, by Mr. Richard H. Kern, a member of this Institution, dated Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1849, giving an interesting account of his recent Ethnolo- gical and ArchaBological explorations in New Mexico. Dr. Bridges presented a paper by Dr. R. W. Gibbes, of South Caro- lina, entitled " New species of Myliobates from the Eocene of South Carolina, with other genera not heretofore observed in the United States." Referred to Drs. Bridges, Morton and Leidy. Dr. Leidy made some remarks upon several new species of Ento- phyta, Enterobrus spiralis, and E. attenuatum, and a new species of Gregarina, discovered by him. On leave granted. Dr. Bridges offered a resolution to appoint a com- mittee to enquire into the expediency of appropriating the room ad- joining the Library for the purposes of the same, and also what altera- tions may be necessary, and to report to the Academy at next meeting. The resolution was adopted, and a committee appointed consisting of Drs. Bridges, Zantzinger and Wilson. On motion of Mr. Cassin, it was resolved, that the Committee on Proceedings be authorized to complete the copy of the Proceedings for the Western Academy of Natural Sciences. Jfovember ISth. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read, dated Niirnberg, July 24, 1849, from Messrs. Frederick and J. W. Stiirm, announcing the decease of their father Jacob Stiirm, a correspondent of the Academy. Also requesting an exchange of publications with the Society. Dr. Hallowell remarked that recently, a living specimen of the serpent, des- cribed in a former number of the Proceedings as Coluber venustus, was brou'^ht to the Academy by Dr. Watson, and gave birth to seven young, the animal bein<' viviparous. They varied in length from two inches, to three inches one and a half lines. The color is dark slate above, darker upon the head and lighter upon the PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA. — VOL. IV, NO. XII. 34 246 [Nov. abdomen. The white spots upon the occiput are very distinct. In four of the specimens there are three spots ; in the others tlicy coalesce more or less, in one of them forming a narrow irregular white band, the animal resembling very mach the adult Coluber punctatus. There is also a white spot. upon the upper jaw. The Chairman made some remarks upon a specimen of " bloody bread," the result of the Monas prodigiosa, given him by Prof. Eailey, of West Point, and obtained by the latter from Pruf. Ehrenberg, of Berlin, The Chairman also remarked, that the Charib Skull, deposited by him this evening, had been ohtaini'd in the island of Nassau, by the late Rev. Thomas Leaver, from whom it was diM'ived by Dr. T. C. Deans, of Newport, R. I., who presented it to Dr. Morton. On leave granted, the Committee appointed at last meeting, to en- quire into the expediency of altering the room adjoining the Library, so as to adapt it to the purposes of the same, made a report, embracing the details of a plan for the object proposed, and recommending that authority be given for an immediate commencement of the work. The report was adopted, and the Committee instructed to carry out the plan as described. JVovember 10th. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Mr. J. M. McMinn, dated Milesburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, addressed to Dr. Zant- zinger, containing the following : — " I send you some specimens of our ' Snow bug.' This insect occurs in great numbers on the mountains of Pennsylvania. I have frequently noticed them in mid-winter on the snow, but I never saw such a multitude of them together, as I witnessed on the 17th of February, 18-19, near the " Rattle Snake," on the Alle- ghany Ridge. The snow was entirely covered for the fourth of a mile along the road, and several rods on either side. The mercury in F. was standing at about 15 degrees ; the atmosphere was dry and clear. These little animals were quite stupid, and to all appearance had been but a short time there, and as it was about 9 o'clock in the morning, I judged that they arrived in the night. Their motion was slow, and those on the top were quietly endeavoring to get under. They did not appear to be eating any thing. The weather was too cold to remain and watch their movements, and the next day, when I again passed the ■pot, I could not detect a vestige of them. The wind had been strong from the north for several days, and I have noticed that we had strong north winds whenever I had seen them." A letter was read from the Librarian of the Smithsonian Institution, dated Washington, November 1, 1S49, acknowledging the receipt of Part 3, Vol. 1, of the Journal, and other publications of the Academy ; and also desiring that some deficiencies in the same be supplied. 1849.] 247 J\''ovember 27tk. Vice President Morton in the Chair. The Committee to which was referred the paper of Dr. R. W. Gibbes, describing new species of MyHobates from the Eocene of South Carolina, &.c., reported in favour of publication in the Journal of the Academy. The report of the Corresponding Secretary for October and Novem- ber, was read and adopted. The following communication was received from the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society : — " At a meeting of the American Philosophical Society, held on Friday eve- ning,November 2, 1849, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the Curators he authorized to deposit the fossil organic remains belonging to this Society, with the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, provided the Academy will agree to accept the deposit, and take proper measures for the preservation of the specimens, and by their proper officer, sign a receipt for the same, and agree to return them in good condition, when required by this Society." Extract from the minutes. Charles B. Trego, Secretary. , On motion of Mr. Cassin, the Curators of the Academy were autho- rized to receive the collection of Organic remains belonging to the American Philosophical Society, on the conditions proposed in the above resolution, with some slight modification. ELECTION. William Parker Foulke, Esq., of Philadelphia, was elected a Mem- ber of the Academy. December Ath. Mr. Vaux in the Chair. A letter was read from Wm. P. Foulke, Esq., acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a member. A communication was received and read from William Hembel, Esq., President of the Academy, declining a re-election to the office, assigning as his motive, the increasing infirmities of age, and his in- ability in consequence, to perform properly the duties of the office, or to take an active part in the affairs of the Society. Dr. Leidy read a memoir, entitled " Descriptions of two species of Distoma, with the partial history of one of them, by Joseph Leidy, M. D.," accompanied by drawings, and intended for publication in the Journal. Referred to Drs. Bridges, Morton and Hallowell. 248 [Dec. December 11///. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. T. Romeyn Eeck, dated Albany, Decem- ber 7th, 1S4"9, acknowledgintr, on behalf of the Regents of the Uni- versity of the State of New York, the receipt of the last number of the Proceedings. Dr. Bridges presented a paper from Dr. Le Conte, of New York, entitled "An attempt to classify the Longicorn Coleoptcra of the part of America north of Mexico," by John L. Le Conte, M. D., and intended for publication in the journal of the Academy. Referred to Drs. Bridges, Leidy and Hallowell. Dr. Leidy read a paper (accompanied by drawings,) intended for pub- lication in the Proceedings, entitled "Descriptions of new genera and species of Entophyta," by Joseph Leidy, M. D. Referred to Drs. Hallowell, Morton and Zantzinger. Dr. Morton read a portion of a paper designed for publication in the Journal, entitled " On the size of the Brain in various races and fami- lies of Man, with Ethnological Remarks :" by S. G. Morton, M. D. ; which was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. Phillips, Dr. Hallowell, and Mr. H. C. Lea. Oa leave granted. Dr. Bridges presented a report from the Commit- tee on Dr. Leidy's " Description of two species of Distoma, with the partial history of one of them," recommending the same for publication in the Journal. By request, the letter of Wm. Hembel,Esq., President of the Acade- my, presented at the meeting of the 4th inst., declining a re-election, was again read, and after some remarks by Mr. Cassin, the latter offered a series of resolutions, expressive of the great regret of the members at the determination of the President, and their unanimous wish that he would consent to retain the office. The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the Recording Sec- retary directed to furnish a copy of the same to Mr. Ilembel, signed by the officers and members present at this meeting. December ISih. Vice President Morton in the Chair. A communication was read from the Royal Society of London, dated Somerset House, August 18, 181-9, acknowledging the receipt of Parts 1 and 2, new series, of the Journal, and of several recent numbers of the Proceedings. A letter was read from H. W. Ravenel, Esq., dated Black Oak, Charleston District, S. C, December 7, iSiO, announcing the trans- mission to the Academy, of numerous botanical specimens, collected by himself, from that vicinity, including several new Cryptogamous plants. 1849.] 249 Also a letter from M. Victor Motchaulsky, proposing to exchange Russian Coleoptera for those of America. Also a communication from the President of the Academy, William Hembel, Esq , reiterating his desire to decline a re-election to the office, and expressing his acknowledgments for the sentiments contained in the resolutions passed at the last meeting of the Society. Dr. Morton read a continuation of his paper on the size of the Brain in the various races of Man, the first portion of which was presented at a former meeting. Referred to the same committee, viz., Messrs. Phillips, Hallowell and H. C. Lea. On leave granted, the Committee to which was referred Dr. Le Conte's memoir, '< An attempt to classify the Longicorn Coleoptera of that part of America north of Mexico," presented a report, recom- mending the same for publication in the Journal. December 2bth. Prof. W. R. Johnson, in the Chair. The committee to which was referred the following paper, by Dr. Leidy, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Descriptions {aecom]panied by drarvijigs,) of neio Genera and Species of Entophyta, By Joseph Leidy. M. D. Enterohrris spiralis. Yellowish, biownish, brown, or hyaline, forming a sin- gle, double, or triple spiral. Peduncle brownish or yellowish, columnar l-2500th in. long, by l-6000th in. thick. First or principal cell uniformly cylin- drical, filled with granules and globules, l-428-'Jth in. in diameter. Penultimate cell cylindrical, filled with granules and a few globules, l-428th in. long. End cell clavate, filled with granules, l-535th in. long, by l-3333d in. at broadest part. Length from l-70th to l-50th in., by l-4200th in. broad. Habitat. — Grows from the mucous membrane of the small intestine of Jului pusillus. Remarks. — This species is found in varying quantity from a half dozen indivi- duals up to fifty or more of various ages. The specimens of Jukis pusillus from which the plant was obtained, measured half an inch in length. Etiterobrus attenuat%is. Faintly brownish, yellowish, or hyaline, forming a double flexure or sigmoid curve, and then growing in a very straight course to its termination. Peduncle yellowish, columnar, sometimes double, l-66Gth in. long, by l-2300th in. broad. Principal cell attenuated at both extremities, rounded or truncated at the distal end, and filled with varying quantity of globules and granules. End cells? Length J -24th in. ; diameter at middle l-1500th in,; at sigmoid curve l-2300th in. ; at distal extremity l-2500lh in. Habitat. — Grows in profusion from the mucous membrane of the ventriculus of Passalus cornutus. 250 [Dec. Remarls. — This is a very graceful form, and is more disposed to grow in bunches or close together, than the other species. I have not met with it with the terminal two cells in twelve specimens of Passalus, which contained over a hundred of the plants, although from some of the individuals appearing truncated at the distal extremity, I think it probable tliat they may occur ; otherwise it would form a distinct genus. Cladophytiivi ramosisximiim. Filaments very long, very delicate, and very much branched, growing in fasciculi of moderate density from granular masses. Length l-75th in. ; thickness of principal filaments or trunks l-15000th in. Habitat. — Growing in moderate profuseness from the mucous membrane of Passalus cornutus. New Genus. Corynocladits.* Filaments hyaline, inarticulate, very compound; branches thicker than the trunk, clavate, without ramuli, growing from rounded or oval granular masses. Corynocladus radiatus. Comatose, growing in very dense bunches, occasionally •traggling ; branches spreading, terminal ones very long, simple, clavate, l-150th in. long. Length 1-lOOth in., diameter of trunk 1-10,000 in., branches l-600th in. Habitat. — Growing profusely in the ventriculus of Passalus cornutus, from the mucous membrane. New Genus. CRYrTODEs.-MA.f Filaments ribbon like, growing from attached granular masses. Consisting of a single cell, with a very delicate cell wall, and minute granular contents. C. t67inis. Filaments hyaline, compressed, attenuated at both extremities, growing in dense bunches from rounded granular masses. Cell wall very thin and delicate, granular contents of cell very line and indistinct, measuring from l-10,000th in. to 1-GOOOth in., with a few coarser granules, and occasionally a few globules, measuring l-187.5th in. Dimensions. Length of filaments l-500th in. to l-75th in. ; greatest breadth l-1700th in. Habitat. — Grows in profusion from the mucous membrane of the ventriculug of Passalus cornutus. Besides the foregoing, I have found numerous free or floating entophyta in the contents, usually of the posterior part of the alimentary canal, in mammalia, aves, reptilia, pisces, mollusca, insecta, &c. These, at present, I do not feel at liberty to describe as new or peculiar, from my want of acquaintance with cryp- togamic botany. A number of them, I have no doubt, if not peculiar, at least continue to grow luxuriantly in the intestinal canal ; such are various Mycoderma, &c. ; others very probably are swallowed with the food, and pass from the intes- tinal canal unchanged. Numerous drawings of these J exhibit to the Academy, and propose leaving them to future investigation, or to the consideration of cryp- togamic botanists, being a field well worthy of their researches. I also have a number of others, the character of v\hich is peculiarly entophytic : but these I have not yet studied out nor figured, but hope to present descriptions of them to the Academy in a very short time. * Kopv>a clava ; KxaJjj. f '^pt>rtT'oj> occultus; fit jjuj^i fascis. 1849.] 251 The Recording Secretary read the following report : REPORT OF THE RECORDING SECRETARY, For 1848 '49? As there is no Report of the Recording Secretary for the year 1848 entered upon the Minutes of the Academy, it will be proper to give a short account of the Transactions of the Society during the last two years. There were elected, during 1818, fourteen Resident Members and twenty-five Correspondents ; and during 1849, eight Resident Members and six Corres- pondents. In the former year a corrected list of the Members and Correspon- dents was published, which comprises 102 Life Members, and 143 Members paying annually: of these, 63 are deceased; and 518 Correspondents, of whom 85 are deceased. Since the publication of the list, one member has resigned, and another, Benjamin J. Kern, M. D., is deceased. From October, 1847, to the end of the last year, besides numerous minor com- munications, there have been fifty principal ones made to the Academy and published in its Proceedings, as follow : in General Natural History, one by Dr. Morton, two by Dr. Hallowell, two by Dr. Bachman, one by Dr. Michel, two by Dr. Keller, and ten by Dr. Leidy; in Mammalogy, one by Dr. Gambel ; in Ornithology, ten by Mr. Cassin, two by Dr. Gambel, and one by Major McCall ; in Herpetology, four by Dr. Hallowell ; in Paljeontology, one by Mr. Lea and three by Dr. Leidy ; in Conchology, two by Mr. Conrad ; in Entomology, three by Mr. Haldeman, one by Miss Morris, two by Dr. Savage, and one by Mr. Dawson ; in Botany, one by Mr. Nuttall ; and in Geology, one by Mr. Pease. With the beginning of 1848, anew series of the Journal of the Academy, in quarto form, was commenced, and to it, during the past two years, there have been twenty- seven articles contributed, as follow: in General Natural History, one by Dr. Mor- ton, one by Dr. Meigs, and two by Dr. Leidy; in Ornithology, five by Mr. Cassin and two by Dr. Gambel ; in Herpetology, one by Prof. Baird ; in Conchology, two by Mr. Conrad ; in Entomology, two by Mr. Haldeman and two by Dr. Le Conte ; in Botany, one by Mr. Nuttall; and in Paleontology, four by Dr. Gibbes, two by Mr. Conrad, one by Mr. Tuomey, and one by Prof. Owen. The publication of the Journal hereafter will be much assisted by an annual income derived from a legacy of two thousand dollars, bequeathed for that purpose to the Academy in 1848, by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Stott, of this city. During the same year the following amendment was made to the By-Laws, viz.: "Chap. VHL Art. IX. The Museum of the Academy shall be open to the gratuitous admission of the public on the afternoons of Tuesday and Friday from one o'clock until sunset." And during the last year the following amendment, viz.: " Chap. VI. Art. I. There shall be fifteen standing committees, viz. — 1, The Ethnological Committee ; 2, the Committee on Comparative Anatomy and General Zoology; 3, Committee on Mammalogy; 4, on Ornithology; 5, on Herpetology _and Ichthyology ; 6, on Conchology ; 7, on Entomology ; 8, on Botany; 9, on Palaeontology; 10, on Geology and Mineralogy; 11, on Physics; 12, on the Library ; 13, on the Proceedings ; 14, the Auditors ; each to consist of 252 [Dec. three members; and IT), the Publication Committee, to consist of five members ; whose term of service shall be one year. And all these, except the Auditors and Publication Committee, shall be elected at the last meeting in January of each year." After these alterations, a new edition of the Act of Incorporation and By-Lawi was published by order of the Academy. With these few statistics, etc. of the transactions of the Academy, the Secre- tary will conclude bystatina;, that the Society was never in a more flourishing con- dition than at present, as is plainly indicated in its published Proceedings. The Library and Museum have received, and continue to receive, constant large and valuable additions, as may be seen upon referring to the reports of the Librarian and Curators. Joseph Leidy, Recording Secretary, December 25, 1849. pro tempore. The Treasurer read the annual report, which was referred to the Auditors. The Librarian read the following report : — RErORT OF THE LIBRARIAN, For the year 1849. In presenting the annual report on the state of the Library, the Librarian again embraces the opportunity aflx)rdcd him, of congratulating the Society on the con- tinued advancement which his department has made in the present year. The additions to the Library will fully bear comparison in all respects with those of any previous year, as the following table will exhibit, in which they have been arranged in the usual form. OcniTal Niilural Hielory, . MaiiiinalocVi Ornitlioldgy, . . . - . Hprpelolopy, Jclithjolocy, . - . . . EnlomDlogy and Cruslacpa, Conchology and Ht-lmintho li>i;y. HotanT, Gpoluev, MiiipralocVi Anatomjr and Physiology, . 00 2(1 •i: 9 13 Gil r.i K fill ™ r > E.— 3 u 19 69 20 51 27 lit 10 415 223 1-1 5 3 4 8 12 15 fi 22 7 17 Tis Broiiehi ovrr .... Pliysical Sci. and Chemistry Medicine, Trang. and Proceed, of Soc , Annaln, Juiirnals, &c, VoyapeHand Travels, . . Hisliiry, Bioijraphy, AntiquiticM, Geoprapliy, Bibiiopriijihy Education, '- Miscellaneuui, .... _;. "2 »■ . *:*-«) > = !;.> -, c— ' o ■5.S!: II S.S £ . = '^ = u :. S C-2 z i. 44.' 223 11 238 2G3 82 30 2 2 3 1 D 2 1 789 533 a. E n) Ch 115 7 2 1 10 1849.] > 253 Of these, there were derived from authors 68 ; from editors 25 ; from members, correspondents, &c. 150; from Societies and Corporations 59 ; from Dr. Wilson 115S; making an aggregate of 1460 additions to the Library in 1849. The additions in 1847 amounted to 1072 ; in 1848 to 1349, and in the present year exceeding the last by 111. With one exception, these have been the most prosperous years for the Library since the foundation of the Institution. In these three years the additions have amounted to 3881; of which, 2773 are due to Dr. Wilson, and the remainder, 1108, have been derived from other sources. The Librarian has renewed gratification in calling attention to the continued liberality during the year of Dr. Wilson. The Library has always received a large share of the interest and zeal which this gentleman has steadily manifested for the Institution, and the results have been recorded on our minutes almost weekly for several years past, in the long lists of varied, well selected, and highly practical works which he has placed upon its shelves. Until within a short period, these works have been entrusted to the Society for the benefit of the members, without other restrictions than such as its rules, and a due regard for the property, required. Dr. Wilson has, however, thought proper to convert this splendid collection from a deposit into a donation, and I have now the pleasure of announcing to the Society that we shall soon be in possession of the whole collection, on the single condition that the use of the works be restricted to the Hall: none of them, therefore, will be loaned from the Hall on any pretext whatever. The numerous works in Mineralogy and Geology, Entomology, Herpetology and Ichthyology, Conchology, Botany, General Natural History, Mammalogy, Voyages and Travels, and the Periodicals have already been presented. The remainder will follow, as the time and leisure of the donor will admit of his preparing the lists. Among the additions this year are a n\imber of works on Conchology, obtained by purchase with the proceeds of the sale of several copies of Say's Conchology, for which latter the Society is indebted to the liberality of Mrs. Lucy W. Say, by whose instructions the fund is thus appropriated. We are under obligations also, this year, to Professor Agassiz, for a donation of numerous quarto volumes of the Transactions of two Swiss Natural History Societies ; and to our venerable President, William Hembel, Esq., for a valuable and scarce work in 41 vols. 8vo. the Transactions of the London Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manu- factures and Commerce. Dr. Wilson's donation of the Transactions of the Royal Society of London complete from the origin of the publication in 1665, to the middle of 1849, in 119 quarto vols., with the abridgement of the same, from 1665 to ISOO, in 18 quarto vols., by Hutton, Shaw and Pearson, has been received with the highest gratification by the members. In the last report, it was stated that further accommodations for the Books would soon be required, the space in the present apartment becoming rapidly occupied. This necessity has since greatly increased, and, in consequence a plan has been submitted to the Society, and received its sanction, for adapting one of the adjoining rooms to the purposes of a Library. The floor of this room, and that of the entry beyond, will be lowered to a level with the present Library, and laid on iron joist, with intervening brick arches, and a gallery con- structed similar to, and communicating with, that in the same. The work will 35 254 [T)ec. be commnnced foitliwitli, and will be compieted in a tew weeks. Tlie ImiKliiif;, with the exception ol" one room, will then be perfectly (ire-proof. When this improvement has been finished, and a new anansoment and distribution of the Library made, the exact No. of vols. &c. in each department, with tlie a;;!irei;ate, which it was intended to have appended to the present report, will be made known to the Society. WiM. S. Zantzinger, Hall of the Acadcnuj, Dec. Q."}, IS 19. Librarian. Dr. Leidy, Cliairman of the Curators, read the annual report as fol- lows : REPORT OF THE C U R A T O K S For 1849. It is with much pleasure the Curators, in presenting their Annual Report, can say that the collections of the Academy, during the year 1819, have increased to such an extent as to be indicative of a continuance of the extraordinary prosperity which it enjoyed the two preceding years. Most of the departments have been enriched, through donation and deposit, with many rare and valuable objects. Since the presentation of the last report of the Curators, there has been con- structed a line of horizontal, centrally vertical, double cases, down the centre of the Hall, for the further accommodation of the palanontological collection; a large, deep, horizontal, double case at the east end of the same, for the reception of the larger specimens of organic remains; aline of horizontal cases on the outside of the railing of the lower gallery, on each side of the Hall, for containing the Oological collection; and several vertical cases, occupying the landing of the stair-case in the south-east corner, for the extension of the Ornithological col- lection. A short account of the increase in the Museum during the past year we give under the head of each department. Mammalogy. — In this department, during the past year, we hare received 22 species of Mammalia, among which may be particularly mentioned the original specimen, described by 13r. Harlan, of Chlamyphorus truncatus, a magnificent albino deer, Cervus virginianus, presenteil by Dr. Wilson, and a fine Ornitho- rhynchus paradoxus, presented by Dr. Michael. Ornithology. — A special report upon this extensive department of our Museum has been prepared by Mr. Cassin, on which account it is unnecessary for us to make any remark upon it, except that during the past year there have been added to it, from other sources than Dr. Wilson, 61 species, 70 specimens of birds. In Oology we have been enriched by the deposit from Dr. Wilson of two very large and celebrated collections of birds' eggs. The first of these is a general and very extensive collection, made through a long period of time, and at great expense and trouble, by M. O. Des Murs, of Paris. This contains 1281 species, 3449 specimens, and 10 nests, of which 1011 species are determined. The second is a collection of birds' eggs, exclusively of Australia, made by Mr. John 1849.] 255 Gould of London. It comprises 303 species, 97C specinnens, and 33 nests, of which 295 species are determined. In the latter collection of eggs are 58 species contained in the former; deduct- ing these, the number of species in the two collections amounts to 1526, of which 1278 are determined. The whole number of specimens in the two col- lections is 4425. When we consider the difficulty of obtaining and determining oological specimens, the delicacy required in their preparation, and the care necessary for their preservation in transportation, we may in some measure form an esti- mate of the value of this rich deposit. Besides the above, we have received from several of the members 12 species and 15 specimens of birds' eggs, and 9 species of nests. Herpetology and Ichthyology. — In the past year these collections were removed, and rearranged upon the flying gallery of the east basement room. During the same time we have received 20 species, 50 specimens of reptilia, and 8 species, 11 specimens of fishes, among the latter of which is a very beautiful specimen of Lepidosteus ferox, Raf., from the Mississippi, presented by Mr. J. D. Anderson, of New Orleans. Mollusca. — In this department, the donations during the past year are unparalleled in America. To our generous and excellent fellow member, Dr. R. E. Griffith, we owe lasting gratitude for the splendid gift of 4907 species, over 12,000 specimens of shells, being the private collection made by this gen- tleman at much cost and pains, during a long series of years. To Dr. T. B. Wilson we are indebted, as ever, for the donation of 1707 species, over 3500 specimens of shells. These two collections comprise 5405 species, of which the odd 405 maybe cast off as duplicate, certainly not more, as we are informed by Dr. Griffith, who is Chairman of the Conchological Committee, and is engaged in arranging this department, which would leave a balance of 5000 different species. From the Australian Museum, in exchange, we received 111 species, 328 specimens, Australian, New Zealand, and South Sea Island shells. From various ether sources 105 species, 204 specimens of shells, principally presented by Mr. McAndrew, of England, Dr. Gould, of Boston, Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, Ireland, and Mr. Watson, of S. Africa. Insect a, Crustacea, and Arachnl.da. — The Entomological cabinet has received the addition of 200 species of insects, principally from Mr. Hagedorn, the Bava- rian Consul, and in exchange from the Australian Museum. Of Crustacea there have been obtained, by exchange and presentation, 59 spe- cies, 163 specimens, principally from M. E. Griffith, Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, Ireland, and Dr. Wilson. Of Arachnida we obtained 2 species, 4 specimens of Scorpio. Rcidiata. — Of these we have received an unusually large number, viz., 1 12 species, 120 specimens, principally from Mr. Thompson in exchange; the others presented by different members of the society. Most of them are Echinodertrata and Polypi. Comparative Anatomy. — To this part of our Museum an extensive addition has been made, through the liberality of our fellow-member Dr. P. B. Goddard, consisting of J OG crania of mammalia, 30 do. birds, 4 do. reptiles, and 3 do. fishes ; 256 [Dec. S skeletons of mammalia, G do. birds, and 2 do. reptiles; an I 21 other interesting pieces in comparative anatomy. Dr. Wilson also extended this collection by the donation of 22 mounted skele- tons of birds, principally Australian, and C other anatomical pieces. Besides the foregoing, there have been deposited and presented 39 other crania and pieces, principally by Dr. Morton. Botduy.— The herbarium has received the addition, through exchange and donation, of 160 species of Cryptogamia. Pa/aeo/ituIo^i/A — A large collection of organic remains has been added to the Museum by Dr. Wilson, consisting of 608 species, 1552 specimens of British fossils, many of which are very beautiful and rare. ^ From other sources we have received 197 fossils, principally from Messrs. Verreux of Paris, Budd, McMinn and Morton. A few weeks since our sister institution, the American Philosophical Society, passed a resolution to deposit its Collection of Organic Remains with the Academy. The large number of mammalian remains in this collection renders it one of the most important deposits which has yet been made to our Museum. When re- ceived, a more particular account of it will be given. Mineralogy and Geology. — The cabinet of Mineralogy contains over 3700 labelled specimens, exclusive of rocks. During the past year there were received 206 specimens, chiefly from Messrs. Moss, Verreux and Wilson. We will finish this brief report by stating that the collections in all the depart- ments are, at the present time, in a good state of preservation, and are gradually undergoing arrangement by the different committees. Joseph LEtoY, December ^oth, 1819. CJinirmaii of Curators. Mr. Cassin, from the Curators, road the following special report on the state of the Ornitholo";ical collection : o At the request of the Chairman of the Curators of this Academy, the under- signed begs leave to offer a Special Report upon the department o( Ornithology in which, as Curator, he has been exclusively enga^jed. Having had the honor of submitting a report of a similar character at the annual meeting in December 1817, I have now the pleasure of stating that the following collections which had been partly received or were about to be received at that period, have arHved, and have been completely arranged in our Ornitho- logical Galleries, within the past two years ; viz. the very extensive collection of the Prince Massena of Paris, the collection of M. Bourcier of Lyons, Dr. Gambel's North American collection, and all the very valuable and interestin"' collections obtained by purchase and exchange in Europe by Mr. Edward Wilson; while of the Australian collection of the distinguished. Ornithologist Mr. Gould, about two-thirds of the birds, and the entire collection of nests and eg^s, have been received. The detention of the latter, has arisen from the fact that it was found expedient to have the specimens mounted in Europe, the collection having been in siin at the time of purchase. 1849.] '251 It is perhaps unnecessary for me to again allude to the high scientific value of these collections or to the excellent condition in which they have reached their destination; I may state merely that all have fully answered the expectations of the sentlemen of this Academy, and have afforded great instruction and gratifica- tion to Zoologists and admirers of Natural History from all sections of our country- I beg to add that the extensive collections formed in the cities of Europe, expressly for this Society by Mr. Edward Wilson, at the instance of his brother, our esteemed associate, Dr. Thomas B. Wilson, have proved to be of especial interest. These were intended to supply deficiencies in the already comprehensive collections just named, an undertaking which appeared to me, I confess, very difficult at least, if not hopeless, but Mr. Wilson's success has been most remarkable. I have frequently alluded to his specimens in the papers which I have had the honor at various times of submitting to the society; it is sufficient to say further, that in the coarse of my examinations of species, when I have found, as has often been the case, a specimen in an unusual stage of plumage, or some odd looking variety, serving the most useful purpose of illustration, it was pretty certain to turn out to be one of Mr. Wilson's collecting. To him we are also indebted for several undescribed species, and a large number new to the collection. Our valued associate Mr. Edward Harris, has presented to the Academy, during the past year, his entire collection. This was formed during the long period of his connection with Mr. Audubon, and embraces many specimens of the various species described by the latter gentleman, and of many other rare or little known American species; in fact, never since the arrival of Dr, Townsend from the Columbia river, in 1837, has a collection come into the possession of this Society of a character so interesting to the student of North American Ornithology- The peculiar character of Mr. Harris' collection will readily be perceived when I state that it contains the original specimens of several of the species described by Mr. Audubon, such as Quiscalus Breweri, Sturnella neglecta, Frin- gilla Harrisii and Lincolnii, Alauda Spraguei, Embeiiza Bairdii, and Vireo Belli, numerous specimens of Emberiza pallida and grammaca, Fringilla aurocapilla, amcEua and Townsendii, Pica hudsonica and Nuttalii, Alauda rufa, Erythrospiza frontalis, Sturnella hippocrepis, Pipilo oregona and arctica, Hirundo thalassina Sialia arctica and occidentalis, Tyrannula Saya, Parus melanotis. Troglodytes brevirostris and obsoletus, Vermivora To)maei, Lophoitix plumifera, Tetrao obscurus aud phasianellus, and many others equally difficult to obtain. I must specially mention, however, a series of no less than 25 specimens of the intricately allied species of Colaptes, which inhabit our Western territory, referable to C. auratus, mexicanus, and Ayresii, which illustrates the judicious manner in which Mr. Harris formed his collection, and is additional, though unnecessary evidence of his excellent judgment in Ornithological science. The distinguished naturalist, Mr. J. J. Audubon, has presented the original specimen of Caprimulgus Nuttalii, Aud., and Colaptes Ayresii, Aud., both of which are valuable additions, and the former, as yet, an unique specimen of a very remarkable species from California. A collection of Asiatic birds, and an extensive collection of nests and eggs, have been presented by Professor Spencer F. Baird of Dickinson College. A collection of nests and eggs being then about to be formed in connexion with our Ornitho- logical collection, this donation was peculiarly acceptable, and evinces the con- :258 [D EC. tinued desire of tliis talented and accomplislied young natnralist to serve lliis Academy. Will. Gambel, M. D., has presented numerous specimens, among which are suites of specimens of IVIerula minor (Gm.), Wilsonii (Bonap.), and olivaceus Giraud.), and other obscure American species; in the study and elucidation of which he has been eminently successful. A.L. Meerman, M. D., has presented a large collection of eggs, collected by him in Florida, and numerous specimens of birds from the same locality. Of the letter I may enumerate as possessing especial interest, several specimens of Cymindis hamatus. Less., Vireo longirostris, Sw, Thalasseus regius, Gambel, Sternuia frenata, Gambel, and also numerous specimens of Ardea rufescens, Gm., and of Ardea Pealei, Bonap., representing various stases of plumage, and demonstrating that the latter is a distinct species as originally described by Mr. Bonaparte. W. S. Jones, M. D., of Riceboro, Georgia, has deposited the original and yet unique specimen of Picus Lecontei, Jones, a curious little tridactyle species dis- covered by him in Georgia, and possessing great interest as an addition to the fauna of this country. Another addition to our fauna, the Anas Rafflesii, King, has been made this year, by E. Pihite, M. D., of Opelousas, Louisiana, a specimen of which, being the first ever observed within the limits of the United States, has been presented by him to this Society. A specimen of Strix flammea, Linn., from Western Africa, very interesting on account of its locality, has been presented b^ our esteemed correspondent Mr. George N. Lawrence, of New York. The Academy has also to acknowledge its indebtedness to Mrs. John B. Smith of this city, for a beautiful specimen of Nycthemerus pictus, (Linn.), to C. Wistar, M. D., for an interesting specimen of a dwarf variety of the common fowl; to Mr. William Ayr for a specimen of the Egretta alba, (Linn) — to our valued associate Mr. Samuel Ashmead for various specimens collected by him at Cape May; to John G. Howard for two living specimens of Columba cyaiioccphala, Linn., brought by him from Cuba, expressly for the Academy, and for other donations. One of the most remarkable as well as valuable additions recently made to the Ornithological colh'ction is the extensive collection of nests and eggs formed by Mons. 0. des Murs, of Paris, author of the " Iconographie Ornithologique," now in the course of publication, and well known as an Ornithologist. This splendid collection, like nearly the whole of the present contents of our Ornithological galleries, came into possession of this Society through the influence of Messrs. Thomas B. and Edward Wilson. It embraces no less than 3450 specimens, being the eggs of 1281 species, from all parts of the world, in very perfect condition, many of which are to be obtained only with great difficulty. I may be allowed to state in connexion with this subject, that Mr Gould's collection of eggs previously alluded to, contains 976 specimens, or 303 species. The entire collection now in the Museum of the Academy, is but partially arranged, but deducting duplicates, it may safely be estimated as containing the eggs of about 1 R. E. Griffith, S. G. Morton, Thomas B, Wilson, R. Bridges, iM. D. Election of Member and Correspondents. Wm. Robertson Grant, M. D., of Philadelphia, was elected a. l/emftcr; and Mr. Wm. S. Sharpey, of London, and Mr. John D. Goodsir, of Edinburgh, were elected Correspondents. 1849.] 261 DONATIONS TO MUSEUM. In November and December, 1819. November Gt/i, Skin of Estrplda amandava. From Mr. Thomas Desilver. Mactra £:ran(lis, from Newport, R. I. From Dr. Morton. Two hundred and seventy-five species of Fossils from the London Clay, Gault, Spectron Clay, and Oolite of Great Britain. From Dr. Wilson. One hundred and fifty-four additional species from the Bennett collection. From the same. November 13th, A collection of Ferns from the Province of Veraguas, New Grenada. From Richard C. Taylor, Esq. Coluber sirtalis, from the vicinity of Philadelphia. From Dr. Watson. A collection of Fossils, principally Silurian, from Centre county, Pennsylvania. From Mr. J. M. McMinn. Cranium of a Charib, from the Island of Nassau. Deposited by Dr. Morton. November 20th. Specimen of Testudinaria elephantopus, from South Africa. From Mr. John Watson, throui^h Dr. Watson. Pickeringite, Alcaparosa, Hydro-borate of Magnesia, and Nitrate of Soda, from Peru. From Dr. Joseph Leidy. Numerous specimens, in spirits, of an insect, vulgarly termed "Snow bug, snow tiea," &c., taken from the surface of the snow, Feb. 18, 1849, on the moun- tains, Centre Co., Pennsylvania. From Mr. J. M. McMinn, of Centre county, Pennsylvania. A Finnish skull, a Sclavonic from Moravia, and a cast of another from Wal- lachia, and a Narraganset Indian from the same. Deposited by Dr. S. G. Morton. December Ath. Siren lacertina, a Scorpio, and a Hippocampus, from South Carolina. From Dr. Bernard Henry. A collection of Coleoptera, in spirits. From Dr. Watson. December \Sth. Two specimens of Trigonocephalus contortrix, and one of Heterodon simus. From Dr. Watson. Massive specimen of Brown Garnet, from Sussex county. New Jersey. Depo- sited by Mr. Vaux. Three hundred and forty-eight specimens of Fossils from the coal formations of Great Britain ; 32 do. from the Carboniferous Limestone of do.; Gl do, from the Magnesian Limestone of do.; 31-5 do. from the London Clay of do.; also six specimens of Calyrrieno Blumenbachii from the Dudley Limestone of Great Britain. Presented by Dr. Wilson. Dr. Wilson also presented 1596 species of recent shells of the follou-in" genera : Nautilus, 2 species; Argonauta, 7; Carinaria, 1; Cleodora, 2; Conus, 16-5; Cyprcea, 84; Ovulum, 10; Cymba, 3; Melo, 7; Voliita, 31; Oliva, PI; Ancil- laria, 16; Marsinella, nr,; P:rato, 3; Mitra, 137; Cohimbella, 70; Rbiiriia, 3; Terebra, 50 ; Nassa, 61; Buccinum, Qr^; Planaxis, 12 : Mangelia, 3 ; Strombus, 34; Oniscia, 2; Pterocera, 3; Rostellaria, 1; Struthiolaria, 2; Murex, 71; Ranella, 25; Triton, 50 ; Dolium, 3; Magilus, 1; Harpa, 4; Monoceros, 5; Purpura, 5; Ricinula, 19; Cassis, 19 ; Cerithium, 53; Turritella, 19; Turbinella, ]5; Faa- 36 262 [Dec. ciolaria, 9; Fu'«u3, 31; Pyrula, 10; Pleurotonia, 39; Cancellaria. 21; Phasianella, 2; Littorina, 33; Margarita, 3 ; Turbo, 31; Trochus!,85; Uoti-lla, S; I'horus, 3 ; Solarium, 'J; Delphiniila, TJ ; ScaLiria, 28 ; Eulima, 1 ; Rissoa, 34. Dr. Robert K. Giilfitli presented 3G'J8 species oi" recent bliells, of the following genera : Pcrna, 11 spocies ; .Malleus, 2: Avicula, 13; Lima, 9; Hinnita, 1; Pecten,GO; Plicatiila. 2 ; Spoiulylus, IT); Ostrea, 23; Vulsella, 2; Placuna, 2; Anoniia, 9; Terebratula, 10; Liimula, 2 ; Orbicula, 2 ; Crania, 1; Ilyahra, G; Cloodora, 1; Chiton, -1.3 ; Patella, 03; Siplionana, 0; Lottia, 2; Dcntaluirn, 9; Cenioria, 2 ; Umbrella, 2; Parmaphoriis, 2; Emarginula, 10; Fissurella, 37; Pileopsis, 5; Hipponix, S; Calyptr.Ta, lO; Uispot.ra, 14; Crepidiila, 20; Ancylus, 7; Hnliaea,!; Bulla, 38; Aplysia, 1; Vitrina,3; Helix, 475; Helicina, 21; Pupina, 1; Pupa, 72; Clausilia, Sr>; liulimus, 102; Partula, 7; Achatinflia, 22; Acbatina, 38; Succinea, 20; Auricula, 32 ; Piini;icula. 1; Scarabu^, 4 ; Cyclo^toma, OS; Truncatella, 8 ; Planorbis, .VJ; Physa, 22; Lyrnnaca, 50; Mdania, 130; Anculo-^a, 22 ; Kulima, G; lo, 2; Melanopsis, 9; Rissna, 20; Pirena, IG; Valvata, 9; Paludina, G4: Fossarus, 1; AmpuUaria, 20; Ampullacera, 1; Navicella, 3; Neritina, 91; Natica, C5 ; lantliina, 4; Veiutina, 3; Sis^aretus, 9; Stomatia,2; Haliotis, 32 ; Tornatella, G ; Pyianiidolla, 8; Vernictus, 5; Scalaria, 20 ; Skenea, 1; Delphiiiula, 7; Solarium, 9; Rotella, 5; Littorina, 32 ; Turbo, Trochus and JVInnodonta, 21G ; Planaxis, G ; Monoptyiinia, 1; Pha>iaiiell.i, 14; 'J'urntcila, 18 ; Ci-rithium, G 1; Pleurotoma, 5S ; Turbinella, 32; Cancellaria, IG; Fasciolaria, 12; Fusus, GG; Pyrula, 21; Struthio- laria, 1; Ranella, 40; Murex, Gl ; Triton, 43; Rostellaria, G; Pterocera, 10; Strotnbus, G6 ; Cassidaria, 8 ; Cassis, 25; Ricinula, 26 ; Purpura, 115; Tricho- tropis, 1; jMonoeeros, 10; Concholepas, 1; Harpa, 9 ; Dolium, 14 ; Puccinum,97; F.burna, 4; Terebra, 30; Colunibdla, 48; Mitra, 70; Voluta, 2U; Mariiinella, 3 I; Ovula, 9 ; Cypruja, 13G ; Terebellum, 1; Ancillaria, 5 ; Oliva, 75 ; Conus, 150; Spirula, 1; Nautilus, 2; Argonanta, 4; Sepia, 1. 1S49.] 263 DONATIONS TO LIBRARY. In Novembeu and Decemker, 1840. November Gth, Proceedinp of the American Philosophical Society- Vol. •'5. No, 13. April to September, 1849. From the Society. Descriptions of forty-four supposed new species and varieties of operculated land-siielis, from Jamaica. By C. B. Adams. From the Autlior. Revision of tiie North American Tailed-Batrachia, with descriptions of new genera and species. By Spencer F. Baird. From the Autiior. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson, on condition that they be not taken from the Hall: Revne et Magasm de Zoologie. Par MM. Guerin-Meneville et Focillon. No. 7, for 1849. Con-.ptes Rendus. Tome 29. Nos. ,5, G, 7, 8. The London Athenaeum, for September, 1849. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. 4. Second Series. No. 20. Elements of British Entomoloiry. By W. E. Shuckard. Part 1. Svo. Reports of the Proceedings of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liver- pool, from 184-5 to 1848 inclusive. Reports of the Committee of the Liverpool Royal Institution, from 1837 to 1849 inclusive. 'i'wenty-fifth Annual Report of the Literary and Philosophical Society at Kingston upon Hull, for the session ending May, 1818. An Essay on the credibility of the existence of the Kraken, Sea Serpent, and other Sea- monsters. First Report of the Liverpool Natural History Society. Address delivered at the meeting of the Proprietors of the Liverpool Koyal Institution, Feb. 182.'3. Proceedinss of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, for 1847 and 1848. De Musca-Cerambyce seu Cerambyce spurio. Epistola J. C. Schxfferi. A decade of curious insects ; some of them not described before. By J. Hill, M. D. Lectures on Erpetology; delivered at the British Institution, by Dr. Riley. Die Gattung Torpedo in ihrpn naturhistorischen und antiquarischen Be ziehunircn erlautert. Von .1. F. M. v. Olfus. 4to. Zur Naturgeschichte der Gattung Calandra, nebst Beschreibung einer neuen Art: Calandra Sommeri. Von H. Burmeister. Vorschlag zu einer neuen in die Classe der Glossaten einzufilhrenden Gattung Platypteryx. Von I. H. Laspeyres. Beitruge zur Naturgeschichte der Rankenfilsser (Cirripedia.) Von H. Bur- meister. An abstract of the characters of Ochsenheimer's genera of the Lepidoptera of Europe. By J. G. Children. Dissertatio sistens conspectum Historia; Entomologiae, &c. Auctor J. L. C. Gravenhorst. Dissertatio inauguralis de Coccionella? natura viribus et usu. Auctore J. G. Linck. An account of the rare fish Regulus glisnc, caught offCullercoats, 25th March, 1849. Remarks on the Linnean Orders of Insects, forming a short and familiar intro- duction to the study of Entomology. By a member of the Manchester Natural History Society. Job. Caspar Fucklin's Verzeichness der ihm bekannter Scbweizerischen Insek- ten. -Ito. 264 fUEc. 1). riiilipp Jerniin's Abhaiiillungeii von der Siirinamischen Kiiite odcr Pipa, &c. The Genera of Diurnal Lepiiioptera. By F.ilward Doubleday. Part Jl. Transactions of the Zoolouical !^ocicty of London. Vol. 1. Part 2. Philosophical Transactions of the Koyal Society of London. 1841 — 1SI5. 4to. Obscrvutiones Oryctotrno^^tica- et Clierricx' de Hauyna, ot ih' (juibusdani fossili- bus ipias cum h.rc ronrreta inveniuntur. Aiictore Jjcopold (Iniclin. Entdeckuni; einer dem Kreuz-steine. Von F. A. von lleinilz. 'J'raite Physique et Microscopique de I'Asbeste, I'Amiante, le Lin de Pierre ou de Terre et de quclques autres fossiles qui y out du rapport. Tiaduil de I'Alleinand de feu M. F. Lcdeniuller. Berichtc von der Konii^lichen Zootomischen Anstalt zu Wiirzburg. Aon Dr. A. Kolliker. An essay towards a natural history of Serpents. By Charles Owen, D. D. 4to. Petri Artedi Synonymia Piscium Gr.Tca et Latina emcndata,&c. Auctorc J. G. Schneider. 'Ito. jMoMo^raphiic Curculionum, Caraborum et Staphylinorum Suecia-. A. Gustavo de Paykull. (In one vol. bvo.) Transactions of the INIanchester Geological Society. Vol. 1. 8vo. Les Genres des Lisectes de Linne : constatis par divers echantillons d'lnsectes d'Anglpterre. Par J. Barbut. 4to. The Entotnoloiiist ; conducted by F.dward Nc-vvman. Svo. An account of the Fishes of the river Ganges and its branches. By Francis Hamilton, (formerly Buchanan,) M. D. 4to, and Atlas 4to. 'J'he Cabinet of Oriental JOntomology. By J. 0. Westwood, Ivsq. -Ito. British Butterflies and their transformations. By H. N. Humphreys and J. O. Westvvood. -Ito. Descriptions and figures of two hundred Fishes collected at Vizagapatan), on the coast of Coromai.del. By Patrick Russell, >L D. 2 vols, folio. Verzeichniss meinor Jnsocten-Samlung oder Entomologische Handbuch fur Liebhaber und Samniler. Von Jacob Sturm. 8vo. M. T. Briinnichii Kntomologia Hafni.x'. 1764. Monographia Tenthredinetaruui synonymia cxtricata. Auctore Am. Le Pelletier St. Fargeau. (In one vol. Svo.) Petri Artedi Sueci medici Ichthyologia, sive opera omnia de Piscibus vindi- cavit, recoznovit k.c. Carolus Linnrnis, j\L D. Svo. J. Bapt. Schluga, M. D., prima; line.i; cognitionis Insectorum. Svo. Fossils of all kinds digested into a method suitable to their mutual relations and affinity. By John Woodward, M. D. Svo. Instructions for collecting, rearing and preserving British and foreign Insects. By Abel Ingpen. Second edition. 12mo. Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester. First series. Vols. 1 — 5; Second series. Vols. 1, 2 and 5. Svo. Memoirs of the Wernerian Society for the years 1831-'37. Vol. 7. Svo. Roporis of the British Association for the advancement of Science, from 1831 to 18^5 inclusive, and also for 1848. Svo. Menioires pour servir a, I'histoire des Insectes. Par Charles De Geer. 7 vols. 4to. Serpenlium Brasilicnsium species novrr, ou histoire naturello des cspeces nouvelles de Serpens recueillies et observees pendant le voyage dans I'interieur du Hrisil dans les Annees lSH)-'20: public par Jean de Spix. 4to. Animalia nova; sive species novae Testudinum et Kanarum quas in itinere per Brasiliutn an. 1bil7-'20 suscepto, collegit et descripsit Dr. J. B. de Spix. Ito. Illustrations of British Entomology. By James F. Stephens, llausteilata. Vols. 1 — 1, Mandihulata, vols. 1 — 7, and Supplement. 8vo. British Entomology : being illustrations and descriptions of the genera of Insects found in Great Britain and Ireland. By John Curtis. Vols. 1 — 16. Svo. 1849.] 265 Novemler \2th. The Medical Examiner, conducted by F. G. Smith, M. D. and David Tucker, M. D. Vol. 5. Nos. 1 to 11. January to November, 1819. From the Editors. On Platygonus compressus : a new fossil Pachyderm. By John L. Le Conte> M. D. From the Author. Notice slir ie Crioceras Voronzovii de Sperk: par M. Fischer de Waldheim. From the Author. Calaio^ue of Skulls of ^fan and the Inferior Animals in the collection of S. G. Morton, M. D. Third edition. 1849. From the Author. Contributions to Physiology. By Bennett Dowler, M. D. From the Author. Contributions to Concliolo^y, Nos. 2 and 'A. Descriptions of new Helicida; from Jamaica. By C. B. Adams. From the Author. The American Journal of Science and Arts. Second series. No. 21. From the Editors. Descriptions and Analyses of several American minerals. By B. B. Silliman, Jr. ]\I. D. From the Author. Deutschlands Fauna, &c. Von Jacob Sturm : 5 Abtheilung. Die Insekten 19th Baiidchen. From F. & J. W. Sturm. Zimi Andenken an Dr J. Sturm. Von J. W; Hilpert. From the same. Dr. Wilson presented the following on the usual condition: Museum diluviarmm quod possidet J. J. Scheuchzer, M. D. 8vo. Manuel elementaire de Geologie appliquee a I'Agriculture eta, ITndustrie. Par Neree Boubee. 12mo. Scriptural Geology. 2 vols. Svo. Guide de Geologie-voyageur. Par Ami Boup. 2 vols. Svo. Uebersicht der geognostichen Verhiiltnisse Thiiringens und des Harzes. Die Riesenthiere der Urwelt oder das neuentdeckte Missourium Theriste- caulodon und die Mastodontoiden im Allgemeinen und Besondern. Von Dr. Albert C. Koch. Svo. Beitrage zur fossilen Flora der Juraformation Wiirttembergs. Von J. G. Kurr. Naturgeschichte des Niederdeutschlandes und anderen Gegendeni Von J. W. C. A. Freyhernn von Hupsch. Part \. 4to. Eduardi Luidii Lythophylacei Britannici Ichnographia. Svo. Meditationes physico-chemicae de origine Mundi, imprimis Geocosmi ejus- damque Metamorphosa : conscripta a J. G. Wallerio. Svo. Palaeologica zur Geschichte der Erde und ihrer Geschopfe. Von H. von Meyer. Svo. Outlines of an attempt to establish a knowl^'dge of extraneous fossils, on scien- tific principles. By Wm. Martin. Svo. PaltEontographical Society. Monograph of the Fossil Reptilia of the London clay, part 1, Chelonia, by Profs. Owen and Bell. Do. of the Eocene INIollusca. By F. C. Edwards. Part 1. Cephalopoda, (in one vol. 4to.) Beschreibung murkwiirdiger Kriluter-Abdriicke und Pflanzen Versteinorungen, Ein Beitrag zur Flora der Vorwelt. Von E. F. von Schlotheim. No. 1. 4to. Ueber das Gebirgssystem der Sierra Nevada und das Gebirge von Jaen im Sudiichen Spanien. Von J. F. L. Hausmann. Neue Gattungen fossilen Krebse aus Gebilden von bunten Sandstein bis in die Kreide. Von H. von Meyer. Hohen Messung einiger Oste und Berge-Zwischen Gotha und Coburg, &c. Von K. E. A. Von Hoff. Fossilia ^Egyptiaca Musei Borgiani Vclitris descripsit Gregorius Wad. November 20th. Insecta Caffraria annis 1838-'45, a J. A. Wablberg collecta ; descripsit C. H. Bohernan. Part 1. Fascic 1. Coleoptera. Svo. From Prof. Retzius, of Stock- holm. \ !26f> [Drc. The following were presented by Dr. Wilson on the usual condition : Extrait du coiirs de Zoologio il vegetables Ibund in the Carbonirorous and Ooli- tic deposits of Great Britain; describ(>ciencc, &c., (in one vol. folio.) The Natural History of Lancashire, Cheshire, and the Peak, in Derbyshire, &c. By Charles Leigh, M. D. Folio. Museum Wormianum: seu historia rerum rariorum qune Hasniae Danorum in cedibus authoris servantur: adornuta ab Olao Worm, }>1. D. Folio. Museum Tessinianum. Folio. Eight unpublished Plates to Indian Zoology by Major ITardwicke. Folio. Abbildungen aiis di'm Thierreiclie in Kupfersestochen von J. C. SusemihI. Ornitholo^ie 4 Hel'ts, Entomologie 1 Heft, Amphibioloi-ie 1 Heft. 4to. Die vollstiindigste Naturgeschichte des In-und Auslandes. Von H. G. L.Reich- enbach. Aves Gallinacenc. 4to. Essays upon Natural History and other miscellaneous subjects. By George Edwards. 8vo. Medical Zoology and Mineralogy. By John Stephenson, M. D. Svo. The Naturalist's Pocket-Book, or Tourist's Companion. Hy George Graves. Svo. Elements of Natural History, adapted to the present state of the Science. By John Stark. 2 vols. 8vo. Nachrichtcn von den Kaiserl.-iisterreicheschen Naturforschern in Brasilicn und den Rpsultaten ihrer Betriebsatnkeit. Parts 1 and 2. Svo. An Essay towards a natur.il history of the County of Dublin. By John Rutty, M. D. 2 vols. Svo. Synopsis of the Newcastle ^Tusoum. By George Townshend Fox, Esq. Svo. Memoir instructif sur la maniere de rassembler, de preparer,, &c., les diverses curiosites d'histoire naturelle. 8vo. An essay towards a natural history of Cumberland and Westmoreland. By Thos. Robin-on. Svo. 184.9.] 269 December 18//t. Ora Lefvcrns Byggnad af A. Retzius. From the Author. Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Vol. 3. No?. 6 and 7. From the Editor. Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. No. 4, 1S14; No. 1, 1S45. From the Society. Observations sur les phenomenes periodiques du Regne Animal, par Ed. de Sclys Longchamps. From the Author. Additional MSS. of the late Prof. E. F. Rafmesque. From Prof. Haldeman. Dr. Wilson presented the following, on condition that they be not taken from the Hall. Voyage en Abyssinie : par MAI. Ferrett et Galinier : Texte, livs. 9-12. Svo: planches, livs. 9-12. Folio. The Zoology of the Voyage of the Samarang. No. 5. 4to. The History of Sumatra. By \Vm. Marsden. 4to. Discoveries in Australia: with an account of the coasts and rivers explored and surveyed during the voyage of the Beagle in 1837-'43. By J. Lort Stokes, R. N. 2 vols. Svo. Narrative of a voyage round the world in H, M. S. Sulphur, lS3G-'42. By Capt. Sir Ed. Belcher, R. N. 2 vols. Svo. Travels in South Africa. By the Rev. John Campbell. First Journey, 3d edition. Svo ; 2d journey, 2 vols. Svo. Reisen in der Regentschaft Algier in den Jahren 1836, '37, '38 ; von Moritz Wagner. 3 vols. Svo. Herrn Carl Linnaei Reisen durch das Konigreich Schweden ; Reisen durch Oeland und Gothland; Reisen durch Westgothland, (in one vol. Svo.) A Tour through Sweden, Swedish-Lapland, Finland and Denmark, in a series of Letters. By Matthew Consett, Esq. 4to. Travels through Sweden, Finland and Lapland to the North Cape in 1798 and '99. By Joseph Acerbi. 2 vols. 4to. Viaggio in Dalmazia dell' Abate Alberto Fortis. 2 vols. 4to. Mission from Cape Coast Castle to Ashantee. ByT. Ed. Bowdich, Esq. 4to. Narrative of a second voyage in search of a North-west passage ; and of a resi- dence in the Arctic Regions in 1829-'33. By Sir John Ross, R.N. 4to. Reise durch Schweden, Norwegen, 'Lapland, Finland und Ingermannland in den Jahren 1817-'20 : von F. W. Von Schubert. 3 vols, Svo. De generis humani varietate natura : ed. 3ta : auctore J. F. Blumenbach, M. D. Svo. Grundriss der Naturgeschichte der Menschenspecies. VonC.F. Liuhvig. Svo. Commentatio philologica de Simiarum. Ab Auctore M. Anton A. H. Lich- tenstein. Synopsis of Quadrupeds. By Thos. Pennant. Svo. History of Quadrupeds. By Thomas Pennant. 2 vols. 4to. The Natural History of the Sperm Whale. By Thomas Beale. Svo. Library of Useful Knowledge. Cattle, their breeds, management and diseases. By Wm. Youatt. Svo. The Natural History of British Quadrupeds. By E. Donovan. 3 vols, in one. Svo. New Zealand: being a narrative of Travels and adventures during a residence in that country in 1831-'37. By J. S. Pollock, Esq. 2 vols. Svo. An account of the Arctic regions, with a history and description of the Northern Whale Fishery. By Wm. Scoresby, Jr. 2 vols. Svo. Narrative of a Journey to the Zoolu Country, in South Africa. By Capt. A. F. Gardiner, R. N. Svo. Narrative of the voyage of H. M. S. Samarang, in 1845-'46. By Capt. Sir Ed. Belcher, R. N. 2 vols. 8vo. 37 270 [Dbc. Briefe aus der Schwei/. nach Ihmovcr geschriebei. m deni .lahr 17G3. Voii i;7.tpeSQuadrupedun. e GUnum ordine. Auctore P. S. Pallas. 4to. Dr. Wilson also pvesented '^^^^:^^Z^,^^-;;;^.ner^o,y, and December, iS-VJ, alltho^e woiks P'^" ?"' ^ '''I'?^^^ iotany, General Herpetology, Ichthyology Entomology, Geology Concho^^^ I^/nod.cals. Natural History, Mammalogy, ^^^^es and 1 ravels anj me j^^^ ^^^1 on condition that they be not aken aom he l^al • 1 he L.^ ^^^^ V ^^_ vols, and G6G parts, pamphleis, &c., the titles oi nounced from time to time in the Proceedings. /v. / J''^92 il'-:.^- A ^' - ':' M^3. Fc^/f if -- >,v Fi^J- ,^^^^ |^-.>^^ ^tP? 3IERrCOlDO3)0jyClILBERT»S0MI,Zc7yr SmcjlamfLith T^r'om.'TUUuy*c^'an''S'tcTU- br:/t IT Kitrri Class AVES. I. Order R.^P TO RES. I. Family VULTURID^. I. Subfamily VULTURIN^. 1. Genus VULTUR, Linn. 1 . VULTUR. MONACHUS, Linii. Sijst. J\'af. i. p. 122. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 2. Vultur cinereus et cristatus, Gm. Syst. jYat. i. p. 24<7, 250. Vultur vulgaris et chincou, Daudin. Traits d''Orn. ii. p. 12, 16. Vultur arabicus, Briss. Orn. vi. Supp. p. 29. Edwards^ Birds. pi. 290. Vultur arrianus, Pic. La Peyr. Zool. des Pyrenees. Vultur leporarius, Gesner. Vultur niger et nigricans, B7iss. Brehm Vog. Deuts. p. 9. Vultur imperialis, Temm. PL col. 426. Polypterix cupido, Hodgson. Gray, Zool. Misc. 1844. 1. Adult, Moldavia, from the Rivoli collection. 2. middle age, Moldavia, from the same. 3. younger, Europe, from the same. 4. Adult, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 2. VULTUR OCCIPITALIS, Burchell. Ti-av. in South .Africa, ii. p. 310, 329. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. pi. 12. Vultur galericulatus, Temm. PL col. 13. R'upp. Atlas, pi. 22. 1, 2. Adults, Cape of Good Hope, from the Rivoli collection. 3. younger, Africa, from the same. 2. Genus OTOGYPS, G. R. Gray. 1. OTOGYPS AURicuLAUis, (Daud.) Lc Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. pi. 9. Vultur auricularis, Daudin, Txaite d'Orv. ii. p. 10, Vultur iEgyptius, Temm. PL col. 407. Vultur nubicus, Ham. Smith. Griffith's Cuvier, Aves. pi. 4. 1,2. Adults, Cape of Good Hope, from the Rivoli collection. 3. younger, Africa, from the same. 2. OTOGYPS CALVus, (Scop.) Gray, III. Ind. Zoo. pi. 15. Vultur calvus, Scopoli. Flora et Fauna Insuhriccz. Vultur ponticerianus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 7. Daud. Traite ii. p. 11. 1. Adult, India, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult female, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. II. Subfamily GYPINJE. 1. Genus GYPS, Savigny. 1. GYPS FULVus, (Gm.) Gotdd, B. of Eur. pi. 1. Biiffon. PL Enl. 426. Vultur fulvus, Gmelin. Syst. Mil. i. p. 249. Vultur percnopterus, Lafh. hid. Orn. i. p. 2. {not Linn.) Vultur leucocephalus, Meyer. Tasch. Dent. i. p. 7. Vultur trincalos, Bechstein. JYat. Dent. ii. p. 479. Vultur persicus, Pallas. Zoog. i. p. 377. Vultur albicollis, Lindermayer. Isis, 1843, p. 3241 1. Adult, Europe, presented by A. L. Heerman, M. D. 2. middle age, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 3, 4. Cape of Good Hope, from the same. 5. young. Cape of Good Hope, from the same. 6. Adult male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 7. Adult female, India, from the same. Vultur indlcus, Temminck. PL col. 26, (plate not text.) 8,9. Adults? Cape of Good Hope? from the Rivoli collec- tion. 10, 11. younger, Africa? from the same. Vultur Kolbii, Daudin. Traite d'Orn. ii. p. 15. 12, 13. South Africa, from the Rivoli collection. Gyps tenuirostris, Hodgson, [ubi?) Gray's Genera, pi. 3.? 14. India, from the Rivoli collection. 15. young female. ? 2. GYPS BENGALENSis, (Gm.) Gray, III. Ind. Zoo. pi. 14, 15. Vultur bengalensis, Gm. Syst. J^Tat. i. p. 245. Vultur chaugoun, Daud. Traite d'Orn. ii. p. 14. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Jlfr. pi. 11. Vultur leuconotus. Gray. III. Ind. Zoo. pi. 15. Vultur indicus. Lath. Ind. Orn. i, p. 7 ? 1. Adult male, Pondicherry, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult, India, from the same. 3, 4, 5. younger, India, from the same. III. Subfamily GYPAETINJE. 1. Genus GYPAKTOS, Storr. 1. GVPAETos BARBATUS, (Linn.) Gould,B. of Eur. -p]. 4: Gray^s Genera, pi. 1. Vultur barbatus, Linn. Syst. J\''nf. i. p. 123. Vultur niger et barbarus, Gm. Syst. A^al. i. p. 248, 250. Falco barbatus ct magnus, Gm. Syst. MU. i. p. 252. Vultur alpinus, Briss. Oni. i. p, 464. Vultur aureus, Gesnei\ Vultur bceticus, Aldrovandus. Gypaetos grandis, Storr. Gj^pai'tos castaneus, Baud. Traite d'Orn. ii. p. 26. Gypaetos leucocephalus et melanocephalus, Meyer. Tasch. deuts. Fog. i. p. 9, 10. Gypaetos Hemachalanus, Hutton. Jour. As. Soc. Beng. 1838, Gypaetus meridionalis, Blasws. Ri'ipp. Uebersicht. pi. 1.? Phene ossifraga et gigantea, Savigny. 1. Adult, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 2, 3. young, Europe, from the same. 4. G. meridionalis, Bias. Adult, Northern Africa, from M. Riippell's collection. Presented by J. E. Hol- brook, M. D. 5. G. hemachalanus, Hutton ? Adult male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 6. the same. Adult female, India, from the same. IV. Subfamily NEOPHRINJE. 1. Genus NEOPHRON, Savigny. 1. NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS, (Linn.) Selby, Brit. Orn. pi. A. Gould. B. of Eur. pi. 14. Vultur percnopterus, Linn. Syst. JVat. i. p. 123. Vultur fuscus, Gm. Syst. J\at. i. p. 248. Vultur leucocephalos et isgyptius, Briss. Orn. i. p- 457, 4G5. Vultur ginginianus, Baud. ii. p. 20, 21. Vultur meleagris, Pallas. Vultur stercorarius, La Peyrouse. Percnopterus segyptiacus, Stephens. Gen. Zoo. xiii. 1, 2. Adult, Africa, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult, Abyssinia, from M. Riippell's collection. Pre- sented by J. E. Holbrook, M. D. 4, 5. young, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 6. young, Europe? 2. NEOPHRON pileatus, (Burch.) Temm. PI. col. 222. Vultur pileatus, Burchell. Trav. S. Afr. p. 195. Cathartes monachus, Temm. PI. col. 222. Percnopterus niger. Lesson. Traite d'Orn. i. p. 29. Neophron carunculatus, A. Smith. S. Afr. Quar. Jour. ii. p. 253? 1, 2. Adult females, Africa, from the Rivoli collection. 3. young male. Country of the Ashantees, Western Africa. 2. Genus GYPOHIERAX, Riippell . 1. GYPOHIERAX angolensis, (Gm.) Gruy's Gcuera, jil. i: Jard.^- Selby. ///. JV. S. pi. 13. Falco angolensis, (imtlin. Syst. .Y(tt. i. p. 252. Polyborus! Iiypoleuciis, Bennett. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Lond. 1830, p. 13. 1. Male, nearly adult, Rio de Bontry, coast of Guinea. 2. Adult female. Western Africa, from the Rivoli col- lection. I V. Subfamily SARCORAMPHINJE. 1. Genus SARCORAMPHUS, Dumeril. 1. SARCORAMPHUS GRYPiius, (Linn.) Temni. PL col. 133, 408, 494. Vultur gryphus, Linn. Syst. jYaf. i. p. 121. Vultur magellanicus, S/uiw. AJus. Leverianum. pi. 1. Vultur Condor, S/taw. Gen. Zool. i. p. 2. 1. Adult male. South America, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult male. South America. 3. Adult female .' South America, from the Rivoli col- lection. 4. young male, Peru, from Dr. J. K. Townsend's col- lection. 5, 6, young, from the Rivoli collection. 2. SARCORAMPHUS PAPA, (Linn.) Buff. PL Eid. 428. VieilL GuL pi. 3. Vultur papa, Linn. Syst. J^'at. i. p. 122. Vultur sacra, Bartrum. Travels, p. 289. Lath. Gen. Hist. i. p. 11? Vultur monachus, Klein. Vultur elegans, Gerini. 1. Adult male. South America, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult female, Peru. Presented by W. S. W. Ruschen- berger, M. D., U. S. Navy. 2. Genus CATHARTES, Illis^er. 1. CATHARTES CALiFORNiANus, (Shaw.) ^ud. B. of Jim. pi. 411. Gray^s Genera, pi. 2. Vultur californianus, Shav:. Knt. Misc. ix. pi. 301. Cathartes vulturinus, Temm. PL col. 51. 1. Adult, California. 2. CATHARTES JoTA, (Mol.) Aud. B. of Am. pi. 106. Wilson. Am. Orn. pi. 75, fig. 2. Vultur jota, Molina. Sacrgio sulla Storia JVaturale del Chili. Vultur urubu, VieilL Ois. de I' Am. Sept. pi. 2. Vultur atratus, Bartram. Trnv. p. 289. Vultur foctens, Illiger. (Auct.) ubil '* Vultur aura. Linn." VieilL Ois. de I'Am. Sept. i. p. 23. "Cathartes aura," Spix. Av. Bras. i. p. 2. 1. Adult, Florida. Presented by Thos. McEuen, M. D. 2. Adult female, United States. Presented by Mr. J. J. Audubon. 3. Adult, South America? from the Rivoli collection. 4. nearly adult, South America, from the same. 3. CATHAUTES AURA, (Linn.) Aud. B. of Jim. pi. lol. Wilson, Am. Orn. pi. 75, fig. 1. Vultur aura, Linn. Sj/st. jYat. i. p. 122. Vultur brasiliensis, Briss. Orn. i. p. 468. Sloane''s Jamaica, pi, 254. Cathartes ruficoUis, Spix. Av. Bras. i. p. 2- Catesby's Carolina, pi. 6. Cathartes septentrionalis, De Wied. Tschudi, Faun. Peruana. Orn. p. 74. 1. Adult male, Florida. Presented by Thos. McEuen,M.D. 2. Adult, United States, 3. younger, from the Rivoli collection. 4. chick, South America ? 4. CATHARTES BURRoviANUS, Cassin. Proc. Acad. J^at. Sci. Philada. ii. p. 212, {March, 1845.) 1. Adult, South America? from the Rivoli collection. 2. younger, Mexico. Presented by Marmaduke Burrougli, M. D. r.« CATALOGUE OK THE S T E I G I D iE IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. BT JOHN CASSIN. III. Family STRIGID,f:. I. Suhfamih/ STBIGIJV^. 1. Genus STRIX, Linn. 1. STitix flammi:a, Linn. Sysf. .J\'af. i. p. 133. Gou/d, B. of Ear. pi, 36. .S'e%. Brit. Orn. pi. 24. Strix guttata, Brc/i7n. ViJg. Dents, p. 106. 1. Adult male, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 2, 3. Adult, France, from the same. 4. Adult male, Europe. 5. Adult female, France, Presented by J. Trudeau, M. D. 6. very young, France, from the Rivoli collection, 7. Adult, Western Africa, Presented by Mr, Ceo, IN. Law^rence. 2. sTKix PRATiNcoLA, Bonaparte, Geog. Sr Comp. List. p. 7, ./!ud. B. of.^im. pi, 171. Strix americana. And. 8yn. p, 2.5. " Strix flammea, Linn." Wilson. Am. Orn. vi. p. 57. 1. North America? from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult female, New Jersey, from Mr. John Cassia's collection. 3. STRIX PERLATA, Licht, Cat. Vvp. Berlin Museum, p. 59. Strix furcata, Temm. PL col. 432, 1. Adult, Cuba Presented by Richard C. Taylor, Esq. 2. middle age, from the Rivoli collection. 3. young, California, from Dr. Wm. Gambel's collection. 4. STRIX TENEBRicosus, Gould. Proc. Zool. Sac. London, 1845, p. 80. B. of Aust. i. pi. 3Q. Strix migera. Catnlogve of the Rivoli collection. 1. Adult female, Australia, from the Rivoli collection. 2. young male? N. S. Wales, from Mr. John Gould's collection. 5. STRIX cASTA.vops, Gould. Proc. Zoo. Sac. London, 1836, p. 140. JB. of Aust. i. pi. -.^S. 1. Male, Van Dieman's land, from Mr. Gould's collection. 2. Female, Van Dieman's land, from the same. 3. young male, Van Dieman's land, from the same. 4. Adult female, Australia, from the Rivoli collection. 6. sTRix PERSONATA, Vio;ors. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Land. 1831, p. 60. Gould, B. of Aust. i. pi. 29. Strix Cyclops, Gould. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Lond. 1836, p. 1-tO. 1. Adult malp, Western Australia, from Mr. Gould's col- lection. 2. Male, New South Wales, from the same. 3. Male, Southern Australia, from the same. 4, 5. Adult female, S. Australia, from the same. 6,7. Females, Australia, from the Rivoli collection. 8,9. younger, Australia, from the same. 10. Strix Cyclops, Gould. Swan River, Australia, from the same. 7. STRIX DELicATULA, Gould. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Loti. 1836, p. 140. B. of Aust. i. pi. 31. 1, 2. Adult males, Australia, from Mr. Gould's collection. 3. Female, Australia, from the same. 4,5. Australia, from the Rivoli collection. 6. Australia. Presented by C. Huffnagle, M. D. 8. STRIX CANDIDA, Tickell. Jour. As. Soc. Bengal, ii. p. 57. Jerdon, III. Ind. Orn. pi. 30. Strix longimembris, Jerdon. Madras Jour. Lit. and Set. 1839, p. 86. 1. Male, India. 9. STRIX JAVANICA, Gm. Syst. Jfat. i. p. 295. Gray S,- Mitch. Gen. Birds, pi. 15. 1. Female, India. 2. India? from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult male, from Capt. Boys' collection. 4. Adult female, from the same. 10. STRIX CAPENsis, A. Smith. S. Af. Quart. Jour. 1836. ///. .S^. Af. Zoo. Aves, pi. 45. Strix flammeoides. Cafrdogue of the Rivoli collection. 1,2. Adult females, Cape of Good Hope, from the Rivoli collection. 3. young female, Southern Africa, from the same. 2. Genus PHODILUS, GeofTroy. 1. PHODILUS RADIUS, (Horsf.) Temm. PI. col. 318. Strix badia, Horsfield. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. xiii. p. 139. Zool. Res. Java, pi. 36. 1. Male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 3. Genus OTUS, Cuvier. 1. OTUS vuLGAPas, Fleming. Brit. .7n. p. 56. Selhy, Brit. Orn. pi. 20. Strix otus, Linn. Syst. Aat. i. p. 132. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 39. Otus albicollis, Daudin. Orn. ii. p. 213. Strix deniinuta, Pallas. Trav. Russ. ii. p. 707 ? Otus europeus, Stephens. Gen. Zool. xiii. p. 57. Otus communis, Lesson. Tr. d^Orn. i. p. 110. Otus sylvestris, arboreus et gracilis, Brehm. Vijg. Deuis. p. 121. 1,2, 3, 4. Adults, France, from the Rivoli collection. 5, 6. younger, Europe, from the same. 7. very young, Europe, from the same. 2. OTUS wiLSONiANUs, Less. Traite d'Orn. i. p. 110. Wilson, Jim. Orn. pi. 51, fig. 3. Otus americanus, Bonap. Comp. List. p. 7. Strix peregrinator, Bartram. Trav. p. 289 ? 1. Adult female, near Chester, Penna., from Mr. Cassin's collection. 2. Adult, near Philadelphia. Presented by J. K. Town- send, M. D. 3. OTUS MExicANUs, Gm. Jlud. B. of Am. pi. 412. Strix mexicana, Gmelin. Syst. .Nat. i. p. 288. Strix americana, Gm. Syst. JS'at. i. p. 288 ? Strix longirostris, Spix. Av. Bras. pi. 9. Bubo clamator, Vieill. Ois, d'Am. Sept. pi. 20. 1, 2. Adult females, Bahia, from the Rivoli collection. 3. younger, from the same. 4. Adult male, Cayenne. 5. Adult, Surinam. Presented by C. Hering, M. D. 4. OTUS MADAGASCARlENsis, A. Smith. Cat. S. Af. Mus. 1. Male, Madagascar, from the Rivoli collection. 5. OTUS BRACHYOTUS, (Gm.) Gould^s B. of Eur. pi. 40. Wilson, Am. Orn. pi. 33, f. 3. Strix brachyotos et accipitrina, Gmelin. Syst. JVat. i. p. 289. Strix fEgolius et ulula, Pallas. Zoos;, i. p. 309, 322. Strix caspia, Shaw. (icn. Zoo. rii. p. 272. Strix tripennis, Schrank. Fauna Boica- Strix arctica, Sparrman. Mus. Carlson. Strix brachyura, .JVillson. Fauna Stiecica, p. 62. Otus palustris et agrarius, Brehm. Vog. Deuts. p. 124. 1, 2, 3. Adult, France, from the Rivoli collection. 4. Male, France, from the same. 5. very young, France, from the same. 6. Adult, Europe. Presented by A. L. Heerman, M. D. 7. Adult malo, Pcimsvlvaiiia. rrcseiiti'd Ity Juliii K. Townsend, M. J). 8. Adult female, New Jersey. Presented Ijv William Gamhel, M. D. 9. Female, Cordilleras, South America. 10. Rio La Plata, South America. Presented by W. S. W. Ruschenbergcr, M. D., U. S. Navy. 11. Male, Northern India. 12. Adult male, India, from Ca])t. Boys' collection. 13, l-i. Adult females, India, from the same. G. oTLs GALAPAfiOENSis, Gould. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lend. 1887, }>. 10. Voy. Bett'Tle. Birds, ]il. '.i. 1. Hawaii, Sandwich Islands, from Dr. Townsend's col- lection. 7. OTUS CAPENSis, A. Smith. S. .If. Qwirl. Jour. IS."]."). ///. ,S'. .■//■. Zool. Jli'cs, pi. ()7. Otus abyssinicus, Guerin. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 321. Firnl cS' Gali- nier. Voij. ^^byss. Ois. pi. 3. 1. South Africa, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult, ^lorocco. ;j Genus SYRNIUM, Savigny. 1. SYRNIUM ALuco, (Linn.) Selby\s Brit. 0/-/1. pi. 25. Gould, B.of Eur. pi. 4-7. Strix aluco, Linn. Syst. A*//, i. p. 132. Strix stridula, Linn. Syst. jYat. i. p. 133. Strix soloniensis, Gm. Syst. A''(if. i. p. 293. Strix sylvatica, S/urw. Gen. Zool. vii, p. 2:') 3. Strix sylvestris, alba, noctua et rufa, Scopoli. .^nn. Hist. .Xut. Syrnium ululans, Savigny. Esypie xxiii. p. 299. 1, 2. Males, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Female, France, from the same. 4. very young, b'rance, from the same, f), 6, 7. Europe. 2. SVKNIUM NEBJJLOSUM, (Gm.) Wilson's ^^m. Orn. pi. 33, f. 2. Df Kny, Mtt. Hist. JVew York. Orn. ])1. 10. Strix nebulosa, Gmelin. Syst. J\"at. i. p. 291. .'7ud. B. of .^Im. pi. 46. Strix chichictii, Gm. Syst. J\at. i. p. 2!Ui. />////. C/m. Hist. i. p. 364 ? Strix Fornandica, Shiw. Gen. Zool. vii. p. 263 ? 1. Adult female, Chester county, Penna. I'resented by Samuel W. Woodhousp, M. D. 2. Adult, near Chester, Penna., from Mr. Cassin's col- lection. 3, 4. Europe ? from the Rivoli collection. 3. SYR.\n:>i iTvALKXSE, (Pull.) (Jou/iJ\s B. of Kar. ])1. -i-i. Strix ui'alensis, Pallas. Travels Russia, .Ippendix, No. 25, Strix liturata, Retz. Fan. Sue. p. 79. Temin. PL col. '21. Strix macroura, .Xutterer. Meyer Tasc/i. i. p. 84. ''Strix iTiacrocephala, Meisner." Brelim. Voir. Deals, p. llo. 1. Adult, Sweden, from Mr. J. G. Kinberg's collection. 2. Adult, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 4. SYRNHJM Fr-scEscRNs, (Temm. & Schl.) Fauna Japonica, pi. 10. Strix fuscescens, Temm. tS* Schl. Faun. Jap. Aves, p. 30. 1. Adult female, .Tapan. 5. sYRNiuM ciNRREUM, (Gm.) Tiich. cS" Sw. Fauna Bar. Am. Birds, pi. 31. AuJ. B. of Am. pi. 351. Strix cinerea, Gmelin. Syst. JVat. i. p. 291. Strix lapponica, Relz. Fan. Sue. p. 79. Strix barbata, Pallas, Zooi^. i. p. 318. Strix acclamator, Bartram. Travels, p. 289. Strix fuliginosa, Shaw. Gen. Zoo. vii. p. 244. 1. Adult, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Female, Russia. 3. Adult female. Rocky Mountains, from Dr. Townsend's collection. 6. SYRNiuM LEPTOGUAMMicuM, (Temm.) PI. col. 525. Strix leptogrammica, Temminck. PI. col. iii p. (liv. 88.) 1. Male, nearly adult, Sumatra. 2. Female, Sumatra, from the Rivoli collection. 7. sYRNiuM HYLorHiLUM, (Temm.) Pi. col. 373. Strix hylophila, Temminck. PL co. ii. p. (liv. 63.) 1. nearly adult, Bogota, from the Rivoli collection. 2. younger, Bahia, from the same. 3. nearly adult, Rio La Plata. Presented by W. S> W. Ruschenberger, M. D., U. S. Navy. .8. ^YRNTUM FASCiATiM, (Vieill.) .^'ouv. Bicf. d'Hist. .XaL vii. p. 21? Strix fasciata, J'ieillof, [at supra.) Ency. .Meih. iii. p. 1288"? Syrnium zonocercus. List of Spec, of Birds in Brit. .Mus^f 1. South America, from the Rivoli collection. 2. younger, Bahia, from the same. 9. SYRNIUM viRCATPM, Cassin. Proc. Acad. Aw/. Sci. Phdada. iv. p. 124. (Dec. 1848.) 1. Adult, Bogota, from the Rivoli collection. 2. younger. South America, from the same. 3,4. Nlexico, from Mr. W. S. Pease's collection. r>. Adult male .' Trimdad, liom Mr. Cassia's collection. 6. Male, Cayenne. 7. Female, Cayenne. 10. SYRNiuM ALBOGULARis, Cassin. Proc. Acad. v\a/. Sci. Philada. iv. p. 124. (Dec. 1848.) 1. Adult male? South America, from the Rivoli col- s. lection. 2. Female, South America, from the same. 3. Female, South America. 11. sYRNiiTM sELOPUTo, (Horsf.) Tevim. PL col. 230. Strix seloputo, Horafield. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, xiii. p. 140. Strix pagadorum, Temminck. PI. col. ii. p. (liv. 39.) 1, 2. Adults, Java, from the Rivoli collection. 3. young female, Java. 12. SYRNIUM siNENSE, (Lath.) Gray^s 111. Ind. Zoo. pi. 21. Strix sinensis, Latham. Index Orn. Strix orientalis, Shaw. Gen. Zoo. vii. p. 257. Syrnium ocellatum, Lesson. Rev. Zoo. 1839, p. 289. Strix jougou. Catalogue of the Rivoli collection. 1, 2. Adult males, India, from the JRivoli collection. 3. Adult female, India. 4, 5. Adults, India, from the Rivoli collection. 6. nearly adult, India, from the same. 13. SYRNIUM NivicoLUM, Hodgson. Jour. As. Soc. Bernral, xiv. p. Ib.T. 1. young female, Sumatra. 14. SYRNIUM wooDFORDii, (A. Smith.) ///. Zoo. S. Africa, Aves, pi. 71. iVoctua Woodfordii, A. Smith. S. Afr. Quar. Jour. 1834. 1. Adult, Cape of Good Hope, from the Rivoli collection. 4. GeniLs NYCTALE, Brehm. FUNKREA, (Linn.) Gould's B. of Eur. pi. 40. merea, fjnn. Fauna Suecica, p. 2."^, \o. 7."). Spt. A'at. i. NVCTALE F\ Strix fur p. 133. Strix Tengmalmi, Gmdin. Sr/st. Xat. i. p. 291. Strix dasypus, Jirchs. Orn. Tasch. p. .57. "Strix noctua, Tengmalin." .Vi/lson. Fau. Sue. p. Hli. Nyctale pinotorum, abietum et planiceps, Brehm. I'iip. Deut. i. p. 112,11 3. J, 2. Adults, Europe, from the Rivoli collnctinn. 3, Adult, France. Prespiit»Ml by A. L. Hetrman, M. D. 2. nyctale acadica, (Gm.) Aud. B. of Jim. pi. 199. Strix acadica, Gvi. Syst. jYat. i. p. 296. Strix acadiensis, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 65. " Strix passerina, Linn." Wilson, Am. Orn. iv. p. 66. pi. 34, %. 1. "Strix albifrons?" Wilson, Am. Orn. iv. p. 67. 1,2. Adulls, from the Kivoli collection. 3. Adult, near Chester, Penna., from Mr. Cassia's col- lection. 4. Adult, California, from Dr. Gambel's collection. 3. NYCTALE HARRisii, Cussin. Proc. Acad. JVat. Sci. Philuda. Feb. 1849. 1. South America? from Mr. J. G. Bell's collection. II. Subfamihj BUBONINJE. 1. Genus BUBO, Sibbald. 1. BUBO MAXiMus, Sibb. Gould's B. of Eur. pi. 37. Selby, Brit. Orn. pi. 19. Bubo maximus, Sibbald. Scotia illustraia, Pars ii. Lib. iii. p. 15. Strix bubo, atheniensis, et scandiaca, Linn. Syst. JVaf. i. p. 131, 132. Bubo italicus, Briss. Orn. i. p. 482, Bubo albus. Baud. Traite ii. p. 210? Bubo europceus, Lesson. Traite i. p. 115. Bubo germanicus et septentrionalis, Brehm. Vbg. Deut. p. 119, 120. 1. Adult male, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult female, Europe, from the same. 3. Adult female, Switzerland, from the same. 4. Male, France. Presented by A. L. Heerraau, M. D. 2. BUBO viRGiNiANUs, Briss. Orn. i. p. 484. Wilson, Am. Orn. pi. 50, f. 1. Strix pythaules, Bartram. Travels, p. 2S9. Bubo pinicola, Vieill. Ois. de PAm. Sept. pi. 19. Aud. B. of Am. pi. 61. Bubo ludovicianus, Baud. Traite d^Or. ii. p. 210. 1, 2. Adult, North America, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult female. New Jersey, from Mr. Cassin's col- lection. 4. Male, nearly adult, Pennsylvania, from the same. 5. Adult female, Moorestown, N.J. Presented by Edward Harris, Esq. 6. Adult female. New Jersey. Presented by Ralph Ham- merslv, M. D. 2 7. Adult lemale, Pennsylvania. 8. nearly adult. 9. very young, Pennsylvania, Presented by A. F. JNIickle, M. D. 3. BUBO MAGELLANicus, (Gm.) Buffoji, PL Enl. 385. Strix magellanicus, Gmelin. Syst. Jfat. i. p. 286. {var. 6. S. bubo.) Strix nacurutu, Vieill. JVouv. Did. d'Hist. JVat. vii. p. 44-. 1,2. From the Rivoli collection, 3. liio Grande, South America, from the same, 4- California, irom Dr. Gambol's collection. 5. very old male. South America. 4. BUBO CRASsiRoSTRis, (Vioill.) Temm. PL coL 62. Strix crassirostris, Viei/lot. J\''otiv. Did. (THist. JVat. vii, p. 44. Strix macrorhyncha, Te.mminck. PL coL ii. p. (liv, 11.) 1, 2. Adults, South America, from the Rivoli collection. 5. BUBO CAPENSis, Daud. Traite d'Orn. ii. p. 209, v?. Smith. IlL Zoo. S. Afr. Aves, pi. 70, 1, Adult, Cape of Good Hope, from the Rivoli collection. 2. South Africa, from the same. 6. BUBO MACULosus, (Vieill.) Temm. PL coL 50. Strix maculosus, VieilL JYouv. Did. vii. p. l-l, Strix africana, Temminck. PL coL ii, p. (liv, 9.) 1. Adult male, Cape of Good Hope, from the Kivoli col- lection. 2, Adult female. Cape of Good Hope, from the same, 3, 4, 5. South Africa, from the same, 6. young. South Africa, from the same. 7. BUBO ciiN'EKASCENs, Gucrin. Rev. Zoo. 1843, p. 321, Ferret &; GnL Voy. Abyss. Ois. pi. 2. 1. Adult, Fazogloa, Eastern Africa, from the Rivoli col- lection. 2, 3, Fazogloa, from the same. 8. BUBO ASCALAPHUs, (Savigny.) Desc. de P Egypte, Hist. .M//. i. p. 1 10. Ois. pi. 3, f. 2. Strix ascalaphus, Savigny. Ascalaphia Savicrni, Gcoffroy. Mem. du Mus. 1830, p. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 38. 1. Adult male, Egypt, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult, Morocco, from the same. 9. BUBO BKNGALENSis, (Franklin.) Gould's Century of Birds, pi. 3. ^ Otus bensalensis, Franklin. Proc. Zoo. Soc. London, lS31, p. 115. Bubo? cavearius, Hodgson. Asiatic Researches, xix. p. 169. 1, 2. India, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult male, India. 4. Adult female, India. 5. Adult male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 10. BUBO oRiENTALis, (Horsf.) Temm. PI. col. 174, 229. Strix orientalis, Horsjield. Trans. Linn. Soc London, x'lu. p. 140. Strix sumatrana, Raffles. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, xiii. p. 279. Strix strepitans, Temm. PL col. ii. p. (liv. 30.) Bubo nipalensis, Hodgson. Asiatic Researches, xix. p. 172. 1. Adult, Java, from the Rivoli collection. 2. young, Java. n. BUBO coROMANDUS, (Lath.) Gray, III. Ind' Zoo. pi. 20. Strix coromanda, Latham. Ind. Orn, i. p. 9.5. Baud. Traite d^Orn. ii. p. 215. Urrua umbrata, Blyth. Jour. As. Soc. Beng. xiv. p. ISO. 1. Adult, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult male, India. 3. Adult female, India. 12. BUBO LACTEUS, (Temm.) PI. col. 4. Strix lacteus, Temm. PL col. ii. p. (liv. 1.) 1, 2. Adults, Senegal, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult, Fazogloa, from the same. 13. BUBO PEC TOR ALis, (Jerdon.) ? 1. Adult? Hi m.alay a mountains. 2. Genus KETUPA, Lesson. 1. K.ETUPA cEYLONENSis, (Gm.) Temm. PL col. 20. Strix zeylonensis, Gmelin. Syst. JsTat. i. p. 287. Strix Hardwickii, Gray. III. Ind. Zool. pi. 31. Strix Leschenaultii, Temm. PL col. ii. p. (liv. 4.) Strix dumeticola, Tickell. Jour. As. Soc. Beng. ii. p. 571. Cultrunguis nigripes, Hodgson. Jour. As. Soc. Beng. vi. p. 363. 1. Adult female, India, from the Rivoli collection. 2, 3. Adults, India, from the same. 2. KETUPA JAVANENSis, Lesson. Traite d'Orn. i. p. 114. Temm. PL col. 74. Strix ketupa, Horsjield. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, xiii. p. 141. "Strix ceylonensis, Lath." Temm. PL col. ii. p. (liv. 13.) f/ Less. Trait e d'Orn. i. p. 114. 1, 2. Adult, Java, from the Kivoli collection. 3. Adult, India. Presented by Gavin Watson, M. D. 3. KETUPA FLAVirES, Hodgson. 1. Adult male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 2. Adult female, India, from the same. 3. Genus LOPHOSTRIX. Lesson. 1. LOPHOSTRIX CRiSTATA, (Daud.) Lc Vnill. Ois. (I'JJf. pi. 48. Strix crislata, Daudin. Tmite d'Orn. ii. p. 207. Strix griseata, Lntham. Ind. Orn. Si/pp. 1, 2. Adults, Guiana, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult, South America, from the same. 4. Adult, Cayenne. Presented by C. Hering, M. D. 4. Genus EPHIALTES, Keyserling & Blasius. 1. EPHIALTES SCOPS, (Linn.) Selby''s Brit. Orr,. pi. 22. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 41. Strix scops, Linn. Syst. Md. i. p. 132. Strix pulchella, Pallas. Trav. Russia. Strix giu, Scopoli. Jlnnus. Hist. J\'at. Strix zorca et carniolica, Gm. Syst. Xat. i. p. 289, 290. "Scops Aldrovandi, Ray.'' Sclby. Scops europ.Tus, Lesson. Traite i. p. 106. Scops ephialtes, Suv. Egyple xxiii. p. 291. 1, 2. Adult females, France, from the Eivoli collection. 3. Adult female, Europe, from the same. 4, 5. younger, from the same. 6,7. Scops penmidi, Hodgson? India, from the Rivoli col- lection. 2. EPHIALTES suNiA, (Hodg.) Jtrdou^s lll.'Jnd. Om. pi. 41. Scops sunia, Hodgson. As. Res. xix. p. 175. 1, 2, 3. India, from the Rivoli collection. 3. EPHIALTES SENEGALEXSIS, (Swains.) Scops senegalensis, Swainson. B. of W. Jlf. {Mai. Lib.) i. p. 127. 1,2. Senegal, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult, Western Africa, from Mr. Cassin's collection. 4, 5. Adult, Western Africa. 6, 7, 8. Scops capensis, A. Smith, South Africa, from the Rivoli collection. 9. the same. Cape of Good Hope. Presented by Gavin Watson, M. D. 4. EPHiALTEs LEMPiJi, (Horsf.) Temni. PI. col. 99 ? ' Strix Lempiji, Horsfield. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. xiii. p. 140. Scops lettia, Hodgson. As. Res. xix. p. 176? Scops javanicus, Less. Traite i. p. 107? 1, 2. Adult males, India, from the Eivoli collection. 3,4. Adult females, India, from the same. 5. Adult male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 6. Adult female, India, from the same. 7,8. young, India, from the Rivoli collection, 9,10. "Strix noctula, Reinw." Temm. PL col. 99. India, from the Rivoli collection. 5. EPHIALTES LOPHOTES, (LesS.) ? Scops lophotes, Lesson. Traite d'Orn. i. p. 107"? 1. Adult, India? from the Rivoli collection. 2, 3, 4. younger. 6. EPHIALTES SAGiTTATUS, Cassin. Ptoc. Jlcad. Mat. Sci. Philada. iv. p. 121, Dec. 1848. 1. Adult? India? 2. young, Malacca? 7. EPHIALTES SEMiTORQUES, (Temm. &, Schl.) Fauna Japonica, pi. 8. Otus semitorques, Temm. Sf Schl. Faun. Jap. JJves, p. 25. 1. Adult, Japan, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult male, Japan. 8. EPHIALTES LEUcoTis, (Temm.) PL col. 16. Strix leucotis, Temminck. PL col. ii. p. (liv. 3.) 1, 2. Adult, Fazogloa, from the Rivoli collection. 3, 4. Adult, Senegal, from the same. 9 EPHIALTES Asio, (Linn.) Jjud. B. of Jim. pi. 97. Wilson, Am. Om. pi. 19, 42. Strix asio, Linn. Sysi. J^Tat. u p. 132. Strix nsBvia, Gm. Syst. J\'at. i: p. 289. Scops carolinensis, Brisson. Om. i. p. 497. " Strix albifrons ?" Bonaparte. Obs. " Bubo striatus ? Vieill." Bonaparte. Obs. 1 2. North America, from the Rivoli collection. 3. New Jersey. Presented by Ralph Hammersly, M, D. 4. Male, Pennsylvania. Presented by W. S. Zantzinger, M. D. 5. Female, Chester county, Penna. Presented by Samuel W. Woodhouse, M. D. 6. very young male, Chester county, Penna., from the same. 7. Strix na^via, Gm. Pennsylvania, from Mr. Cassin's col- lection. S. the same, North America, from the Rivoli collection. 9. the same, female, near Pliiladclphia. 10. the same, female, Pennsylvania. 10. EPHiALTKS CHOLiBA, (Vieill.) Spix. Jlv. Jivas. Jives, pi. 9. Des .Mum, PL peint. {Icon. Orn.) pi. 26. Strix choliba, Vieilloi. ..Yoj/r. Did. vii. p. 39. Strix crucigera et undulata, Spix. ^Iv. Bins. pi. 9, 10. Strix decussata, Lichtensiein. Cat. Dup. Jicrl. Mus. p. 59. Scops portoricensis, Lesson. Tr. iVOrn. i. p. 107. Strix tolchiquatli, Gm. Syst..Kat.i. p. 296 ? Azara Voy. iii. p. 126. 1,2, 3,4. Adult, South America, from the Rivoli collection. 5, 6. Brazil, from the same. 7. young, Cayenne. 8. young, South America. 11. EPHiALTES WATSONii, Cassin. Proc. Acad. J^^at. Sri. Philnda. iv. p. 123, (Dec. 1848.) 1. Rio Orinoco, South America, from the Rivoli col- lection. 2. South America. 3. Surinam. Presented by C. Horing, M. D. 12. EPiiiALTES ATRicAPiLLA, (Natt.) Temm. PI. col. 14.5. Strix atricapilla, JVatterer. {ubi?) Temm. PL col. ii. p. (liv. 25.) 1. nearly adult, Mexico, from Mr. W. S. Pease's col- lection. 13. EPIIIALTES NUDiPES, (Vieill.) Ois. Am. Sept. pi. 22^ Strix nudipes, Vieillot ? 1,2. Bogota, from the Rivoli collection. III. Subfamily NYCTEININ.l^. 1. Genus NYCTE A, Stephens. 1. NYCTEA NiVEA, (Daud.) Aud . B. of Am. pi. 121. Selhy, Brit. Orn. pi. 23. Strix nivea, Duudin. Traits d'Orn. ii. p. 190. Favn. Franc. Verteb. pi. 23. Strix nyctea, Linn. Syst. JVat. i. p. 132. Fau. Sue. p. 25. Strix Candida, Lnt/i. Ind. Orn. Supp. Strix erminea, SImw. Gen. ZooL vii. p. 251. Nyctea erminea et cinerea, Stephens. Strix wapacuthu, ViciU. Fauna Bor. Am. Birds, p. 99 ' Strix arrticus, Bnrlrnm. Trav. p. 289. I, 2. Europe ? from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult, New Jersey, from Mr. Cassin's collection. 4. younger. Presented by J. Trudeau, M. D. 5. Adult female, New Jersey. IV. Subfamily ATHENINjE. 1. Genus ATHENE, Boie. 1. ATHENE NocTUA, (Retzius.) Gould's B . of EuT . pi. 1-8. Strix noctua, Retzius. Fauna Suecica, p. 85. "Strix passerina, Gm." Temm. Man, i. p. 93. "Strix passerina, et accipitrina, Linn." Meyer Tasch. i. p. 81. Strix nudipes, J\'iUson. Orn. Suec. p. 68, pi. 2. Noctua glaux, Savigny. Egypte. 1 , 2. Adult, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult female, Algiers, from the same. 4, 5. Adult, France. 2. ATHENE PASSERINA, (Linn.) Gould's B. of Eur. pi. 50. Strix passerina, Linn. Syst. Js^it. i. p. 133. Faun. Suec. p. 26. Strix pusilla, Dcmdin. Traite. d'Orn. ii. p. 205. Le Vaill. Ois. d'Jlf.'jA.^Q. Strix pygmaea, Bechstein. JVat. Lent. ii. p. 978. "Strix acadica, Linn." Temm. Man. i. p. 96. 1. Adult, Europe, from the Rivoli collection. 3. ATHENE PASSERiNOiDEs, (Temm.) PL col. 344. .dud. B. of Am. pi. 432. Strix passerinoides, Temm. PI. col. ii. p. (liv. 58.) 1. Adult?" New Grenada, from the Rivoli collection. 2. Adult ? Brazil, from the same. 3, 4, 5. South America, from the same. 4. ATHENE puMiLA, (IHig.) Temm. PI. col. 39. "Strix pumila, llliger." Temm. Pi. col. ii. p. (liv. 7.) Strix pumila, Lickt. Cat. Dup. Ber. Mus. p. 60. Strix ferox, Vieiil. Mouv. Did. vii. p. 22. Strix minutissima, de Wied. Beifrage zur JVat. Bras. iii. p. 242. 1,2. St)uth America, from the Rivoli collection. 5. ATHENE SI.IU, (D'Orb.) De la Sagra^s Cuba, Ois. pi. 3. Noctua siju, D^Orbigny. De la Sagra^s Hist, de Pile de Cuba, Orn. p. 33. 1. Adult, Cuba. Presented by Richard C. Taylor, Esq. 6. ATHENE FERRUGiNEA, (de Wied.) Temm. PI. col. 199. Strix ferruginea, de Wied. Beit. Jfut. Bras. iii. p. 234. Strix phalceiioides, Baud. Tr. d'Orn. ii. p. 206 ? Vicill. Ois. d\im. Sept. pi. 15 ? "Strix pumila, Illig. ?' de IVied. {ut supra.) 1, 2, 3. Adult males, Brazil, from the Rivoli collection. 4, 5, 6. Adult females, Brazil, from the same. 7. Adult, Rio Negro, from Mr. Cassin's collection. 8, 9. younger, South America, from the Kivoli collection. 10. Female, Trinidad. 11. younger. South America. Presented by Gavin Watson, M. D. 12. S. ferruginea? Caraccas, from the Rivoli collection. 7. ATHKNE NANA, (Vig.) Gray tS" Mitch. Genera, pi. 12.' Strix nana, Vigors. Zoo. Jour. iii. p. 426. 1. America, from the Rivoli collection. 1,2. A. nana? Mexico, from M. Bruzin's ' jction. 1,2,3,4. A. nana? South America. l' 8. ATHENE BRAMA, (Temm.) PL col. 68. Strix brama, Temm. PI. col. ii. p. (liv. 12.) Noctua indica, VrankUn. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Lond. 1831, p. 1 \b. Noctua tarayensis, Hodgson. ^Is. Res. xix. p. 175. ijtrix persica, Vieill. Aomu. Diet. vii. p. 26. ? 1,2,3. Adult females, India, from the Rivoli collection. 4. Adult male, India. Presented by M. Burrough, M. D. 5. young, India, from the Rivoli collection. 9. ATHENE RADiATA, (Tickell.) Strix radiata, Tickell. Jour. .^s. Soc. Bens:, ii. p. 572. Strix eyrthroptcra, Gould. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Lond. 1837, p. 136. Athene undulatus, Blyth. Jour. As. Soc. Beng. xi. p. 457. 1,2. Adult females, Himalaya mountains, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult male, Himalaya mountains, from the same. 4, 5. younger, India. 10. ATHENE cucuLoiDES, (Vig.) Gould^s Ccntury, pi. 4. Noctua cuculoides, Vigors. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1820, p. 8. 1. Adult male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 2. Adult female, India, from the same. 3. India, from the Rivoli collection. 4. A. cuculoides? India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 11. ATHENE CASTANEorTERA, (Horsf) Temm. PL col. 98. Strix castaneoptera, Horsfield. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. xiii. p. 140. 1, 2, 3. Adults, Java, from the Rivoli collection. 12. ATHENE BUODIEI, (Burt.) Noctua Brodiei, Burton. Proc. Zoo. Sac. Land. 1835, p. 152. Noctua tubiger, Hodgson. As. Res. xix. p. 175. 1. Adult male, India, from Capt. Boys' collection. 2. Adult female, India, from the same. 3. India. 13. ATHENE SCUTELLATA, (Raff.) Tciiim. PL coL 289. Strix scutellata, Raffles. Trans. Linn. Sac. Land. xiii. p. 280. Strix hirsuta, Tcmm. PL coL ii. p. (liv. 49.) Strix lugubris, TickelL Jour. As. Soc. Beng. ii. p. 572. Athene malaccensis, Eyton. Ann. and Mug. JVat. Hist. xvi. p. 228 ? 2. Adults, India, from the Rivoli collection. ' "*. Adult, Sumatra, from the same. ■oitnger, Ceylon, from the same. 5. ' It, India. Presented by M. Burrough, M. D. 6. t female, India. 14-. ATHENE PERLATA, (Vieill.) Lc VailL Ois. d'Af. pi. 284. Temm. PL coL 34. Strix perlata, Vicillot. Jfouv. Did. vii. p. 26. Strix occipitalis, Temm. PL coL ii. p. (I'lv. 4.) 1. Adult, Western Africa. Presented by Edward Harris, Esq. 2, 3, 4. Adults, South Africa, from the Rivoli collection. 5. younger. Cape of Good Hope, from the same. 6, 7. Adult, Senegal, from the same. 8. younger, Africa, from the same. 9. Female, Cape- of Good Hope. 15. ATHENE cuNicuLARiA, (Mol.) Aud. B. of Am.-p\. 4>12. (from S. A. specimens.) Strix cunicularia, Molina. Sagg. Chili. Strix grallaria, Temm. PL col. ii. p. (liv. 25.) pi. 146 ? Strix californica, Aud. B. of Am. pi. 412. (name on plate.) Noctua coquimbana, Brisson.-, Orn. i. p. 155. 1,2. Adult females? South America, from the Rivoli col- lection. 3. younger, Rio La Plata. Presented by W. S. W. Ruschenberger, M. D., U. S. Navy. 4. Female, Peru. 5. Strix grallaria, Temm. South America, from the Rivoli collection. 16. ATHENE HYPUG^A, (Bjnap.) Bonaparte's Am. Orn. i. pi. 7. Strix hypugrea, Bonaparle. Am. Orn. i. p. 72. Asthenesocialis, Gamhel. Proc. Acad. Jfat. Sci. Philada, iii. p. 47. 4 1. Male, Columbia River. Presented by Edward Harris, Esq. 2. Adult male, Platte River. Presented by A. L. Heer- man, M. D. 3. very young, Western North America. Deposited bv Mr. E. M. Kern, and collectpd by him during Col. Fremont's Expedition of 184-.'). 4. Adult, Columbia River, from Mr. John G. Tiell's col- lection. 17. ATHENE? sTRKNUA, Gould. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Loud. 1837, p. 14'J. B.of^ust.i.])]. 35. 1,2, Adults, Australia, from the Rivoli collection. 3. New liouth Wales, from Mr. Gould's collection. 18. ATHENE? coNNivENs, (Lath.) Gould's B. of Aust. i. pi. 34. Falco connivens, Latham. Ind. Orn. Supp. p. 12. Athene? fortis, Gould. Proc. Zoo. Soc. Lond. 1837, p. 141. 1,2. Australia, from the Rivoli collection. 3. Adult male, Western Australia, from Mr. Gould's col- lection. 4-. Adult female, Western Australia, from the same. 5. Male, New South Wales, from the same. 6. Female, New South Wales, from the same. 19. ATHENE nooBooK, (Lath.) Gould's B. of Jlust. i. pi. 32. Strix boobook, Latham. Ind. Orn. Supp. 1. Adult, Swan River, Australia, from the Rivoli collec- tion. 2, 3. Males, Western Australia, from ?Jr. Gould's collection. 4'. Female, do. from the same. 20. ATHENE MACULATA, (Vig. &, Horsf.) Govld's, B. of Jlvst. \. p. 33. Noctua maculata. Vigors