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LIBRARY  OF  MARINE  BIOLOGICAL  LABORATORY 

WOODS     HOLE,    MASS. 


Loaned  by  American  Museum  of  Natural  History 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


ACADEMY  OF  NATURAL  SCIENCES 


OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


VOL.  III.  1846  &  1817. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED     FOR     THE     ACADEMY, 
By  Merrihew  &  Thompson,  7  Carter's  Alley. 

1848. 


1/ 


A  5  7 '/ 


INDEX    TO    VOLUME    III. 


Abadie,  Dr.,  don.  to  mus.,  10. 
Abert,  Col.,  don.  to  lib.,  141. 
Abert,  Lieut.,  don.  to  mus.,  210. 
Academy  of  Sciences  of  Munich,  don. 

to  lib.  of  memoirs  of,  78,  2(30. 
Adams,  C.  B.,  don.  to  lib.,  9,  117,  196; 

don.  to  mus.,  213. 
Agassiz,  M.,  don.  to  lib.,  117. 
Alger,  Francis,  don.  to  lib.,  38. 
American  Philosophical  Society,  don. 

of  proceedings  of,  89,  119,  218 
American  Acad,  of  Arts  and  Sciences 

of  Boston,  don.  of  memoirs  of,  98, 

142,  190,  196,  270. 
American  Journal  of  Agriculture  and 

Science,  don.  of  by  editors,  38,  50, 

184,  220,  240,  256,  309,  329. 
Annales  des  Mines,  68,  141. 
Ashmead,  Samuel,  don.  to  lib.,  316; 

don.  to  mus.,  329. 

Bachman,  Rev.    Dr.,   communication 

from,  184. 
Baker,  Capt.  H.  F.,don.  to  mus., 303. 
Balfour,  Dr.  E.,  don.  to  lib.,  269. 
Barratt,  Dr.  Joseph,  don.  to  lib.,  98. 
Beasley,  Thomas,  don.  to  mus.,  193. 
Bell,  John,  don.  to  mus.,  193. 
Blanding,  Dr.  Wm.,  don.  to  lib.,  37, 

70,  208. 
Bonaparte,  Chas.  L.,  don.  to  lib.,  232. 
Bossange,  Edward,  don.  to  lib.,  261. 
Boston    Society   of  Natural   History, 

don.  of  proceedings  of,  50,  68,  89, 

187,  237;  of  journal,  194. 
Boudin,  Dr.,  of  Paris,  don.  to  lib.,  14. 
Bridges,  Dr.  R.,  don.  to  lib.,  275. 
British  Association,  don.  to  lib.,  98. 
Bronn,  Prof.,  don.  to  mus.,  271. 
Browne,  Peter   A.,  don.  to    lib.,  218, 

304;   don.  to  mus.,  303. 
Burmeister,  Heermann,  don.  to  lib., 

327. 
By-laws,  amendments  to,  128,  252. 


Calcutta  Journal  of  Natural  History, 
don.  of  by  editors,  231. 

Cassin,  John,  don.  to  mus.,  12,  239  ; 
on  an  instinct  probably  possessed 
by  the  Herons,  (Ardea,  L.,)  137, 
description  of  a  new  rapacious  bird 
in  the  Museum  of  Acad,  of  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  199  ;  de- 
scription of  a  new  Buceros,  and  a 
notice  of  the  Buceros  elatus,Temm., 
330  ;  descriptions  of  three  new  spe- 
cies of  the  genus  Icterus,  Briss.,  332. 

Churchman,  John,  don.  to  mus.,  30. 

Cincinnati  Horticultural  Society,  don. 
to  lib.,  89. 

Cincinnati  Society  of  Pennsylvania, 
don.  to  lib.,  237. 

Committees,  Scientific,  for  1846,  13; 
for  1847,  1 14. 

Committee  to  inquire  into  the  con- 
dition of  the  bequest  of  the  late 
Wm.  Warder,  Esq.,  to  the  Acad., 
195. 

Committee  to  examine  into  the  expe- 
diency of  converting  the  lecture 
room  into  a  portion  of  the  museum, 
252. 

Committee  to  confer  with  M.  Vatte- 
mare  on  the  subject  of  exchanges, 
274. 

Committee  on  Mr.  Conrad's  descrip- 
tions of  new  fossil  and  recent 
shells  of  the  United  States,  10  ;  on 
a  paper  by  Mr.  Phillips,  describing 
new  fresh  water  shells,  12;  on  Dr. 
R.  W.  Gibbes'  paper  on  the  fossil 
Squalida;  of  the  Eocen«  of  the  U.  S., 
29;  on  Mr.  E.  Harris'  paper  on  the 
difference  of  level  between  the 
waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and 
those  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  30  ;  on 
Prof.  Locke's  notice  of  a  new  As- 
terias  from  the  blue  limestone  of 
Cincinnati,  30;    on   Mr.   Gambol's 


IV. 


INDEX. 


"  Remarks  on  the  Birds  of  Upper 
California,"  40;  on  Dr.  Morton's 
description  of  two  new  species  of 
Echinodermata,  from  the  Eocene  of 
the  U.  S.,  41  ;  on  Dr.  E.  Hallow- 
ell's  paper  on  the  anatomy  of  the 
Harpyia  destructor,  4'J  ;  on  Dr. 
Hallowell's  description  of  a  new 
bat  from  Western  Africa,  50;  on 
Dr.  Leidy's  "  Remarks  on  the  ana- 
tomy of  the  abdominal  viscera  of 
the  Sloth,"  50  ;  on  Dr.  Leidy's  paper 
on  the  anatomy  of  Spectrum  femo- 
ratum,68;  on  Prof.  Haldeman's  de- 
scription of  Unio  abacoides,  71;  on 
Dr.  Leidy's  description  of  a  new 
genus  and  species  of  Entozoa,  91  ; 
on  Prof.  Owen's  "Observations  on 
fossils  from  the  Brunswick  Canal, 
Geo.,  in  the  cabinet  of  the  Acad. 
of  Nat.  Sciences  of  Philadelphia," 
92;  on  Dr.  Morton's  description  of 
two  living  hybrid  birds,  between 
Gallus  and  Numida,  97 ;  on  Dr. 
Leidy's  paper  on  the  mechanism 
which  closes  the  membranous  wings 
of  the  genus  Locusta,  98;  on  Prof. 
Haldeman's  paper  on  several  new 
genera  and  species  of  insects,  115; 
on  Mr.  Cassin's  "Note  on  an  in- 
stinct supposed  to  be  possessed  by 
the  Herons,  especially  the  genus 
Ardea  L.."  123;  on  a  paper  by  Mr. 
Grant,  of  Philadelphia,  on  hybrid  ity 
in  animals,  130;  on  Dr.  Leidy's 
paper  on  the  situation  of  the  ol- 
factory sense  in  the  terrestrial 
tribe  of  thegasteropodous  mollusca, 
132  ;  on  a  paper  by  Prof.  Haldeman. 
describing  one  new  genus,  and 
several  new  species  of  insects,  147  ; 
on  Mr.  Germain's  paper  on  some 
effects  of  Electricity  and  Galvanism, 
having  seemins  analogy  to  the  puri- 
fication and  circulation  of  the  blood, 
1 17  ,  on  Mr.  Tuomey's  notice  of 
the  cranium  of  Z^uododon  cetoides 
found  near  Charleston,  S.  C,  14  9:  on 
P.  A.  Browne's  paper  proposing  a 
new  nomenclature  for  the  class 
mammalia,  192  ;  on  Mr.  Cassin's 
description  of  a  new  rapacious  bird 
in  the  collection  ot  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia, 
198;  on  Dr.  Gibbes' description  o<" 
fossil  remains  from  the  Eocene 
green  sand  of  South  Carolina,  19S; 


on  Lieut,  Abert's  description  of  a 
new  Quail,  from  New  Mexico,  209  ; 
on  Dr.  Le  Conte's  paper,  "  Frag- 
menta  Entomologica,  212;  on  Dr. 
Hare's  paper,  "  Objections  to  the 
electrical  theories  of  Franklin,  Du- 
fay  and  Ampere,"  219;  on  Dr. 
Leidy's  paper  "on  the  natural  his- 
tory of  Belostoma,"  231 ;  on  Major 
McCall's  description  of  a  new 
Pigeon  from  Mexico,  231;  on  Prof. 
Haldeman's  "descriptions  of  Cole- 
optera,  chiefly  in  the  cabinet  of  Dr. 
J.  L.  Le  Conte,"  239;  on  Dr.  Mor- 
ton's memoir  on  the  position  of  the 
ear  in  ancient  statuary  and  paint- 
ings, 243  ;  on  Prof.  Haldeman's  de- 
scriptions of  new  Coleopterous  in- 
sects of  the  United  States,  244  ;  on 
Dr.  Leidy's  description  and  anatomy 
of  a  new  subgenus  of  Planaria,  216; 
on  Dr.  Leidy's  paper  on  two  new 
species  of  Planaria,  247 ;  on  Dr. 
Gibbes'  description  of  new  Squa- 
lidae  from  the  Tertiary  of  South 
Carolina,  250  ;  on  Dr.  Hallowell's 
description  of  a  new  Coluber,  261  ; 
on  Dr.  Leidy's  paper  on  the  Fossil 
horse  of  America,  201 ;  on  Mr. 
Conrad's  "  Observations  on  the  Eo- 
cene formation  and  descriptions  of 
105  new  fossils  from  the  vicinity  of 
Vicksburg,  Miss.,"  276;  on  Prof. 
Haldeman's  description  of  a  new 
Unio,  312  ;  on  Dr.  Leidy's  paper  on 
a  new  genus  and  species  of  fossil 
Ruminant*.  Poebrotherium  Wilsoni, 
318;  on  Dr.  Hallowell's  paper  on 
the  horned  viper  of  Western  Africa, 
318;  on  Mr.  Cassin's  paper  on  two 
species  of  Buceros,  probably  new, 
&c,  328;  on  Mr.  Cassin's  descrip- 
tions of  three  species  of  the  genus 
Icterus,  presumed  to  be  new,  Sec'., 
329. 

Conrad,  T.  A.,  don.  to  mus..236,  239, 
255,  269;  don.  to  lib.,  256,  261  ; 
descriptions  of  new  species  of  fos- 
sil and  recent  shells  and  corals,  19; 
observations  on  the  Eocene  forma- 
tion, and  description  of  105  new 
fossils  of  that  period,  from  the  vi- 
cinity of  Vickrburg,  Miss.,  280. 

Correspondents  elected  : 

Aall  Nicolai,  Christiana,  Sweden, 

48. 
Adams,  Prof.  C.  B.,  Vermont,  115. 


INDEX. 


V. 


Baird,  Wm.  M.,  Reading,  Pennsyl- 
vania, 48. 
Barratt,  Dr.  J.  H.,  South  Carolina, 

145. 
Brevoort,   J.    Carson,   New   York, 
222. 
Bromfield,    Dr.    Wm.    A.,  Isle    of 

Wight,  193. 
Brown,   Richard,  Cape  Breton,  N. 

S.,  129. 
Chipman,   Prof.    Isaac     L.,    Nova 

Scotia,  213. 
Davis,  Dr.  Edwin  H.,  Chilicothe, 

Ohio,  222. 
Dawson,  J.  W.,  Pictou,  N.  S.,  129. 
Delafield,  Major  Joseph,  New  York, 

96. 
Eyton,  Thomas  C,  London,  139. 
Farraday,  Michael,  London,  349. 
Gourlie,  Wm.,  Jr.,  Glasgow,  48. 
Gray,  Geo.  Robert,  London,  139. 
Hammond,    Ogden,  Charleston,   S. 

C,  193. 
Harden,  Dr.  John  M.  B.,  Liberty 

Co.,  Georgia,  96. 
Herschell,  Sir  J.  F.   W.,   London, 

349. 
Jackson,  Dr.  J.  B.  S.,  Boston,  115. 
Kippist,  Richard,  London,  139. 
Korthals,  Dr.   P.  W.,  Leyden,  299. 
Lawrence,    Dr.    George    N.,    New 

York,  213. 
Logan,  Wm.  E.,  Canada,  129. 
Lonsdale.  Wm.,  London,  349. 
McCall.  Major  Geo.  A.,  222. 
Nicholson,    Dr.     Charles,    Sydney, 

New  South  Wales,  14. 
NilNon,  Prof.,  Lund.  Sweden,  319. 
Reizius,  Dr.  Andreas,    Stockholm, 

129. 
Redtield,  J.  II.,  New  York,  90. 
Robb.  James,  Frederickton,  N.  B., 

129. 
Savage,    Rev.    Thomas    S.,    Cape 

Palmas,  Africa,  35. 
Selby,    Prideaux    John,    Northum- 
berland, England,  340. 
Smith,  Dr.  J.  Lawrence, Charleston, 

S.  C,  9G. 
Smith,  Charles  Hamilton,  London, 

139. 
Squier.  E.  George,  Chilicothe,  O., 

2'22. 
Sturm,  Jacob,  Nuremburs,  209. 
Verneuil,  M.  de,  Paris,  88. 
Yon  Gerolt,  Baron.  Prussia,  14. 
Wilson,  Edward,  Wales,  Eng.,  88. 


Zuccarini,  Prof.  Joseph,  Munich, 
Bavaria,  105. 

Culbertson  Joseph,  dep.  iji  mus.,  316. 

Curators,  announcement  by,  of  the 
arrival  of  the  "  Rivoli  collection"  of 
birds,  and  their  deposit  by  Dr.  T. 
B.  Wilson  in  the  Academy,  97  ;  com- 
munication from,  in  reference  to  a 
mass  of  small  black  insects  received 
from  the  Rev.  Mr.  McFarland,  and 
collected  by  him  from  the  surface  of 
the  snow  on  the  28th  Dec,  1846,  on 
the  Broad  Mountain,  Schuylkill  Co., 
Pa.,  186;  report  for  1S47,  339. 

Da  Costa,  John  C,  don.  to  mus.,  196. 

Dana,  J.  D.,  don.  to  mus.,  31;  don. 
to  lib.,  119,  146,  147,  187. 

Darlir.srton,  Dr.  Win.,  don.  to  lib., 
214,  210,  276. 

Dawson,  J.  W".,  of  Pictou,  N.  S.,  don. 
to  lib.,  220,  271 ;  on  the  gypsum  of 
Nova  Scotia,  272. 

Dawson.  Dr.,  of  Philadelphia,  don.  to 
lib.,  276;  don.  to  mus.,  276. 
|  Davis,  Alex.  C,  don.  to  mus.,  129. 
!  De  Candolle,  portrait  of,  received  for 
lib.,  217. 

De  Harden,  L.,  don.  to  lib.,  106. 

D'Orbiirny,  M.  Alcide,  don.  to  lib., 
90,  309. 

Dickeson,  M.  W.,  don  to  mus.,  99, 
1 19,  326;  deposit  in  mus.,  109  ;  re- 
marks on  his  collection  of  fossil 
bones  from  the  vicinity  of  Natchez, 
106:  on  alligator  tracks.  &c.  100; 
on  the  mode  o!"  compression  off  e 
cranium  by  the  Choctaw  Indiam, 
308. 

Dillingham,  Wm.  IT.,  don.  to  lib.,  277. 

Donations  to  museum  by  a  club  of 
members,  17,  329. 

Donnelly,  Edward,  don.   to  mus.,  35. 

Duke  of  Northumberland,  don.  to  lib.. 
304. 

Edwaids.    Wrn.    IT.,    don.    to    mus., 

210,  214. 
Edwards,  Amery,  don.  to   mus.,  2  14. 
Elwyn,  Dr.  A.  L.,  don.  to  mus.,  69  ; 

don.  to  lib.,  08,69,  122. 
Eschricht,  Dr.,  don.  to  lib.,  117,118. 
Eustis,  Capt.,  U.  S.  A.,  don.  to  mus., 

232. 
Everest,  Col.,  don.  to  lib.,  256. 

Figeac,  Champollion,  don.  to  lib.,  270. 


VI. 


INDEX 


Fisher,  Redwood,  don.  to  lib.,  315. 
French,  Benj.  F.,  don.  to  lib.,  1U5. 

Gambel,  Wm.,  don.  to  mus.,  31,  97, 
289;  don.  to  lib.,  11,  275;  remarks 
on  the  birds  observed  in  Upper  Ca- 
lifornia, 44,  110,  154,  200;  ob- 
servations on  a  species  of  Picus 
from  Georgia,  278. 

Geneva  Natural  History  Society,  don. 
of  memoirs  of,  217. 

Gesner,  Abraham,  don.  to  lib.,  106. 

Germain,  Lewis  J.,  don.  to  mus.,  17, 
31,  38,  97,  118,  1-18,  274,  303;  don. 
to  lib.,  256. 

Gibbis,  Dr.  R.  W.,  don.  to  mus., 
122  ;  don.  to  lib.,  29,  187,  218,  270  ; 
on  the  fossil  Squalidae  of  the  United 
States,  41  ;  descriptions  of  new 
species  of  Squalidae  from  the  Terti- 
ary beds  of  South  Carolina,  266. 

Gibbes,  Dr.  Lewis  R.,  don.  to  lib., 
247. 

Gillis,  Lieut.,  don.  to  lib.,  119. 

Gliddon,  George  R.,don.  to  lib.,  122  ; 
remarks  on  some  casts  of  Egyptian 
tablets,  216. 

Goddard,  Dr.  Paul  B.,  don.  to  lib., 
135,  148. 

Goodall,  Dr.,  don   to  mus.,  122. 

Gould,  Dr.  A.  A„  don.  to  lib.,  119, 
148. 

Graham  Major  J.  D.,don.  to  lib.,  142. 

Gray,  Dr.  Asa,  don.  to  lib.,  10,  135, 
146,  261. 

Griffith,  Dr.  R.  E.,  don.  to  mus.,  148, 
211,  214,  223,  230,  232,  236,  316; 
don.  to  lib.,  211, 237, 2  10,  2  14,  260. 
275;  deposit  in  lib.,  226,  227,  228, 
304,  305,  306,  307,  317,  327,  328. 

Griffith,  Miss,  don.  to  mus.,  210. 

Haight,  Richard  K.,  don.  to  lib.,  37. 

Hall,  Prof.,  don.  to  lib.,  189. 

Haldeman,  Prof.  S.  S.,  don.  to  mus., 
14,  70,  119,  210  ;  don.  to  lib.,  236  ; 
remarks  on  Unio  crassus,  15;  de- 
scription of  Unio  abacoides,  75;  on 
several  new  genera  and  species  of 
insects,  121;  descriptions  of  several 
new  species  and  one  new  genus 
of  insects,  149;  correction  of 
his  published  papers,  318;  re- 
marks on  Salamandra  erytbronota, 
Green,  and  S.  cinerea,  Green,  315. 

Hfllowell,  l)r  Edward,  don.  to  mus., 
31,  50,  122,  192,  211  ;  don.  to  lib., 


119,  232;  description  of  a  new 
species  of  bat  from  Western  Africa, 
52 ;  on  the  anatomy  of  Harpyia  de- 
structor, 84;  description  of  the  lo- 
cality whence  a  collection  of  fossil 
bones  presented  to  the  Academy  by 
Mr.  Wm.  Pancoast,  had  been  ob- 
tained, and  an  enumeration  of  the 
same,  130;  description  of  a  new 
species  of  Coluber  inhabiting  the 
United  States,  278 ;  on  the  horned 
viper  of  Western  Africa,  319. 

Hare,  Prof.  Robert,  observations  on 
the  combustion  of  gum  in  oxygen 
gas,  210  ;  on  the  weather  of  the 
spring  of  1847,  216. 

Harris,  Edward,  don.  to  mus.,  36, 
129;  on  the  difference  of  level  be- 
tween the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  and  those  of  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  34. 

Heerrnan,  Dr.  A.  L.,  don.  to  mus., 
119,  232. 

Hembel,  Wm.,  don.  to  lib.,  90. 

Herbert,  Rev.  Wm.,don.  to  lib.,  211. 

Hildreth,  Dr.  S.  P.,  don.  to  mua., 
269. 

Histoire  nat.  de  Pile  de  Cuba,  don.  of 
by  members,  148. 

Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania, 
don.  to  lib.,  49,  68,  89. 

Hodge,  John  L.,  deposit  of  an  Egyp- 
tian mummy  and  sarcophagus,  69. 

Hodgson,  Wm.  B.,  don.  to  lib.,  122. 

Huffnagle,  Dr.  Charles,  deposit  in 
museum,  146. 

Imperial     Society    of    Naturalists    of 

Moscow,  don.  to  lib.,  29. 
Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St. 

Petersburg,  don.  to  lib.,  29. 
Ingersoll,  Joseph  R.,  don.  to  lib.,  36, 

37,  38. 

Jackson,  Dr.  J.  B.  S..  don.  to  lib., 
225. 

Jaeger,  Dr.  G.,  don.  to  lib.,  90,  91. 

Jenkins,  Dr.  J.  C,  don.  to  mus.,  97. 

Johnson,  Prof.  Walter  R.,  don.  to 
mus..  36,  108,  122,  129,  187,  1S9, 
192,210,212,230,  2  10,  269;  don. 
to  lib..  36,  194;  remarks  on  Mr. 
Piddington's  11th  memoir  on  th? 
law  of  storms  in  India,  17;  inform- 
ing   the  society  of  his  having  pre- 

I  sented  to  the  Library  Committee 
of  Congress  a  series  of  resolutions 


INDEX. 


\  11. 


passf  d  by  it,  asking  for  an  increased 
edition  of  the  scientific  reports  of 
the  exploring  expedition,  37 ;  re- 
marks in  relation  to  a  bill  before 
Congress  on  that  subject,  79;  ob- 
servations on  floating  docks,  50  ; 
remarks  on  drift,  109 ;  on  the  cellu- 
lose of  the  Borneo  palm,  186 ;  on 
the  dust  of  anthracite  furnace  flues, 
191 ;  on  a  new  plan  for  representing 
geological  strata  on  paper,  218; 
announcement  of  the  deposit  in  the 
Institution  of  Mr.  H.  Seybert's  che- 
mical apparatus  and  library  of 
chemical  works,  224;  on  a  peculiar 
sediment  from  a  steam  boiler,  318; 
on  some  fossil  bones  from  Berks 
Co.,  Pennsylvania,  318. 

Kenworthy,  Dr.,  don.  to  mus.,  31. 
Kern,  Benjamin  H.,don.  to  mus.,  255. 
Kilvington,    Robert,   don.    to    mus., 

230,  246. 
Kinberg,  J.  G.  H.,  additions  to  mus. 

from,  in  exchange,  12. 
Korthals,  Dr.  P.  W.,  don.  to  lib.,  236. 

Lambert,  John,  don.  to  lib.,  304,  316  ; 
election  as  Recording  Secretary, 
299. 

Le  Conte,  Dr.  J.  L.,  don.  to  mus.,  269. 

Leeds  Philosophical  Society,  don.  to 
lib.,  49,  191. 

Leidy,  Dr.  Joseph,  don.  to  mus., 
148,  244  ;  don.  to  lib.,  225  ;  on  the 
anatomy  of  Spectrum  femoratum, 
80  ;  description  of  a  new  genus  and 
species  of  Entozoa,  100 ;  on  the 
mechanism  which  closes  the  mem- 
branous wings  of  the  genus  Lo- 
custa,  104;  on  an  Entozoon  from  the 
thigh  of  a  hog,  108;  on  the  situation 
of  the  olfactory  sense  in  the  terres- 
trial tribe  of  the  gasteropodous 
mollusca,  136  ;  instance  of  the  great 
fecundity  of  the  Cryptogamia  men- 
tioned by,  195;  discovery  of  crys- 
tals in  the  cellular  structure  of 
species  of  Parmelia,  210;  on  the 
cranium  of  a  New  Hollander,  217  ; 
on  an  Entozoon  from  the  pericardium 
of  Helix  alternata,  220  ;  request  to 
change  the  name  of  an  Entozoon  de- 
scribed by  him,  from  Cryptobia  to 
Cryptoicus,  239  ;  remarks  on  Squa- 
tina  Dumerili,  247  ;  description  and 
anatomy  of  a  subgenus  of  Planaria, 


248  ;  description  of  two  new  species 
of  Planaria,  251,  on  the  fossil  horse 
of  America,  262;  on  the  slow  de- 
structibility  of  animal  tissues  in  cer- 
tain states,  313;  on  a  new  genus  and 
species  of  fossil  ruminants,  Poe'bro-  f 
therium  Wilsoni,  322;  additional 
observations  on  the  fossil  horse  of 
America,  328. 
Letters  from : 

Abert,  Col.  J.  J.,  228. 

Adams,  Prof.   C.  B.,   12,  49,  189, 

217. 
Agassiz,  M.,  37. 
Bache,  Prof.  A.  D.t  10,  91. 
Bailey,  Prof.,  39. 
Baird,  Prof.  S.  F.,  209. 
Baird,  William  M.,  68. 
Barratt,  Dr.  J.  P.,  194. 
Breckenridge,  Wm.  D.,  144. 
Bromfield,  Dr.  Wm.  A.,  228. 
Brown,  Richard,  143,  229,  317. 
Clot  Bey,  M.  D.,  32. 
Cramer,  Charles,  189. 
Dawson,  J.  W.,  220. 
De  Hauer,  the  Chevalier,  312. 
De  Jonnes,  M.,  71. 
Delafield,  Major,  98. 
Everest,  Col.,  259. 
Eyton,  Thomas  C,  192. 
Falconer,    Dr.,    (E.    India.     Co.,) 

308. 
Fehlands,  John,  312. 
Gourlie,  Wm.,  Jr.,  78. 
Graf,  Mr.,  149. 
Gray,  Dr.  Asa,  92. 
Haldeman,  Prof.,  S.  S.,  278. 
Harden,  Dr.  J.  M.  B.,  106. 
Hammond,  Ogden,  197. 
Hering,  Dr.  E.,  242. 
Hildreth,  Dr.  S.  P.,  274. 
Huffnagle,  Dr.  Charles,  98. 
Kinberg,  J.  G.,  12. 
Kippist,  Richard,  211. 
Lamarepicquot,  M.,  68. 
Land,  Capt.  John,  212. 
Locke,  Prof.,  30. 
Logan,  Wm.  E.,  231. 
Lyell,  Charles,  12,  92. 
Maclure,  Alexander,  79. 
Meigs,  H.,  71. 
Mitchell,  Dr.  J.  K.,  191. 
Morris,  Rev.  J.  G.,  209. 
Morris,  Miss  M.,  238. 
Norwood,  Dr.  J.  G.,  30. 
Owen,  Prof.  Richard,  15. 
Piddington,  Henry,  Jr.,  16. 


V 1 1 1  - 


INDEX. 


Pitcher,  Dr.  Zina,  98,  132. 
Redfield,  J.  H.,  98,  100. 
Redfield,  ffm.  C,  299. 
Retzius,  Prof.  Andreas,  210. 
Robb,  James,  147. 
Rowe,  M.  W.,  27G. 
Savage,  Rev.  Dr.,  195,  240. 
Silliman,  Benj.,  Jr.,  15,  10. 
Seybert,  Henry,  229. 
Tainnau,  Dr.  Frederick,  217. 
Taylor,  Richard  C,  78. 
Thompson,  Wm.,  318. 
Tremper,    Judge,    12,   IS,    79,  91, 

109,  191. 
VonTschudi,  Dr.,  91. 
Von  Gerolt,  Baron,  18. 
Von  Jaeger,  Dr.  George,  231. 
Wickersham,  C.  P.,  99,  108,  119. 
Wilson,  Edward,  118. 
Wyman,  Dr.  J.,  243. 
Letters  from  societies,  &c. : 

American  Philosophical  Society,  12, 

91,  192,  219,  233. 
American  Academy   of  Arts    and 

Sciences  of  Boston.  18,  98. 
Boston  Society  of  Natural  History, 

238. 
British  Association,  30. 
Essex  Co.  (Mass.)  Natural  History 

Society,  91. 
Imperial  Mineralogical   Society  of 

St.  Petersburg,  30. 
Linnean   Society    of    London,    15, 

237. 
Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New- 
York,  91. 
Royal  Academy  of  Sciences  of  Mu- 
nich, 201. 
Royal  Bavarian  Academy,  219. 
Royal  Society  of  Agriculture  and 

Science  of  Lyons,  99. 
Trustees  of  Western  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  144. 
Lewis,  Dr.  E.  J.,  don.  to  lib.,  184. 
Librarian,  report  of,  for  1847,  237. 
Life  membership  conferred  on  R.  C. 

Taylor,  Esq.,  75. 
Lindsley,  J.  B.,  don.  to  mus.,  10. 
Linnean  Association  of  Pennsylvania 
College,  don.  of  journal   of,  11,  68, 
78,   105,   129,   142,   147,   184,    I'M, 
209,  218,  225,  231,  2:17,  250,277, 
310,  319. 
Linnean  Society   of  London,  don.  ot 
transactions  of,  15;  proceedings  of, 
15,  129. 
Locke,  Prof.,  description  of  an  Asterias 


from  the  blue  limestone  of  Cincin- 
nati, 32. 
Logan,  Wm.  E..  don.  to  lib.,  231. 
Longchamps,  Ed.de  Selys,  don.to  lib., 

147. 
Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New 

"York,  don.  to  lib.,  38,  105, 194,  250. 
Mactier,  Wm.  L.,  don.  to  mus.,  270. 
Mantell,  Gideon  A.,  don.  to  lib.,  245. 
Martins,  Charles,  don.  to  lib.,  261. 
McCall,  Major    George    A.,    don.  to 

mus.,  22  1 ;  description  of  a  supposed 
new  species  of  Columba  inhabiting 

Mexico,  with  sonif1  account  of  the 

habits  of  the  Geococcyx  viaticus, 

Wagler,  233. 
McEuen,  Dr.  Thomas,  don.  to   mus., 

210,  217. 
McMurtrie,  Dr.  H.,  don.  to  lib.,  275. 
Meigs,  Dr.  Charles  D.,  don.  to  mus., 

219,  255,  315. 
Melsheimer,  Dr.  F.  E.,  descriptions 

of  new  species  of  Coleoptera  of  the 

United  States,  53,  158. 
Members  elected : — 

Allinson,  George  Boyd,  205. 

Dallas,  George  M.,  320. 

Dickeson,  Dr.  M.  W.,  115. 

Emery,  Moses  H.,  269. 

Fisher,  Coleman,  Jr.,  145. 

Germain,  Lewis  J.,  48. 

Hartshorne,  Dr.  Edward,  213. 

Kern,  Richard.  213. 

Kern,  Dr.  Benjamin  J.,  209. 

Kern,  Edward  M.,  299. 

Lambert,  John,  129. 

Lea,  M.  Carey,  209. 

Lennig,  Charles,  299. 

Lewis,  Dr.  Elisha  J.,  8S. 

Ludlow,  Dr.  John  L.,  320. 

McClellan,  Dr.  John  H.  B.,  326. 

Neill,  Dr.  John,  213. 

Pancoast,  Dr.  Joseph,  349. 

Powel,  Samuel,  235. 

Rogers,  Prof.  James  B.,  299. 

Sargent,  Dr.  F.  W.,  269. 

Sergeant,  J.  Dickinson,  299. 

Skerrett,  Dr.  David  C,  205. 

Thomson,  Ambrose  W.,  115. 
Mohr,  Paul,  don.  to  lib.,  270. 
Moricand,  D.  J.,  don.  to  lib.,  217. 
Morris,  Rev.  Dr.,  don.  to  lib.,  10. 
Morris,  Miss  M.,  don.  to  mus.,  131, 

189,  236;   remarks  on  the  larva  of 

Cicada  septendecim,  132,  190. 
Morrison.  John,  don.  to  lib.,  210. 
Morton,  Dr.  S.  G.,  don.  to  mus.,  38, 


INDEX. 


IX. 


183,  215 ;  deposit  of  crania  in  mus., 
38,  69,  109,  135, 194,  196,  220,  276, 
303,  309,  316;  don.  to  lib.,  9,  31, 
37,  78,  184,  276,  277,  327;  re- 
marks on  some  cretaceous  fossils 
from  the  green  sand  near  Burling- 
ton, N.  J.,  32, 39  ;  on  some  Peruvian 
remains  from  the  vicinity  of  Arica, 
39;  description  of  two  new  species 
of  fossil  Echinodermata  from  the 
Eocene  of  the  TJ.  S.,  51 ;  on  the 
position  of  the  ear  in  the  ancient 
Egyptians,  70;  on  the  occasional 
union  of  the  spheno-temporal  and 
coronal  sutures  in  the  human  sub- 
ject, 71;  on  two  hybrids  between 
Gallus  and  Numida,  101  ;  paper  on 
hybridity  of  animals,  considered  in 
reference  to  the  question  of  the 
unity  of  the  human  species,  1 18, 
121 ;  address  at  the  first  meeting  of 
the  society  in  the  new  library  and 
meeting  room,  207 ;  on  an  aboriginal 
cranium  obtained  by  Dr.  Davis  and 
Mr.  Squier  from  a  mound  near 
Chilicothe,  Ohio,  212  ;  remarks  on 
an  Indian  cranium  found  near  Rich- 
mond, on  the  Delaware,  and  on  a 
Chenook  mummy,  330. 

Moss,  Theodore  F.,  don.  to  mus,  148, 
183,  187,  246  ;  resignation  of  office 
of  Recording  Secretary,  2G8. 

Murchison,  Roderick  Impey,  don.  to 
lib.,  49. 

National  Institute,  don.  to  lib.,  131. 
Nott,  Dr.  J.  C,  don.  to  lib.,  31. 

Oakford,  Richard,  don.  to  mus.,  244. 
Officers    for    1847,    138;    for    1848, 

348. 
Owen,  Prof.  Richard,  observations  on 

certain  fossils  from   the  collection 

of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences 

of  Philadelphia,  93. 

Pancoast,  Wm.,  don.  to  mus.,  118. 
Passerini,  Carlo,  don.  to  lib.,  108. 
Pease,  Wm.,  don.  to  mus.,  236,  240. 
Peirce,  Prof.,  don.  to  lib.,  214. 
Pennock,  Dr.  C.  W.,  don.  to    mus., 

50,  217,  219,  316. 
Percival,  Thomas  C,  don.  to  mus., 

224,255. 
Peterson,  T.  B.,  don.  to  lib.,  256. 
Phillips,  John   S.,  don.  to  mus.,  10, 

316;    description   of  a  new   fresh 


water  shell,  and  observations  on 
Glandina  obtusa,  PfeifT,  66. 

Piddington,  Henry,  Jr.,  don.  to  lib., 
16,  247. 

Pisani,  Dr.  Ascagne,  don.  to  lib.,  105. 

Pollock,  J.  R.,  don.  to  mus.,  303, 
309. 

Porcher,  P.  Peyre,  don.  to  lib.,  316. 

Providence  Franklin  Society,  don.  to 
lib.,  49,  209. 

Publication  Committee  of  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences,  don.  to  lib., 
327  ;  announcement  by,  of  the  pub- 
lication of  the  1st  No.  of  the  new 
series  of  the  Journal  of  the  Acad., 
328. 

Ravenel,  Dr.  E.,  don.  to  mus.,  326. 

Raymond  &  Waring,  don.  to  mus., 
314: 

Read,  James,  don.  to  lib.,  226. 

Recording  Scretary,  report  of,  for 
1844  and  1847,  334. 

Redfield,  John  H.,  don.  to  lib.,  38. 

Redfield,  Wm.  C,  don.  to  lib.,  147. 

Regents  of  University  of  State  of  New 
York,  don.  to  lib.,  68,  327. 

Report  of  committee  appointed  to  de- 
vise additions  to  the  hall  for  ac- 
commodating Dr.  Wilson's  col- 
lection of  birds,  79,  92  ;  on  Dr.  R. 
W.  Gibbes'  paper  on  fossils  from 
the  green  sand  of  South  Carolina, 
198,  221;  on  Prof.  Hare's  paper 
entitled,  "  Objections  to  the  elec- 
trical theories  of  Franklin,  Dufay 
and  Ampere,"  221;  on  papers  by 
Dr.  Gibbes,  Dr.  Le  Conte  and  Dr. 
Leidy,  239;  on  the  propriety  of  al- 
tering the  lecture  room,  and  adapt- 
ing it  to  the  purposes  of  a  museum, 
259:  on  the  subject  of  exchanges 
with  M.  Vattemare,  314. 

Report  of  the  library  committee,  sub- 
mitting a  plan  for  book  cases  in  the 
new  library,  189. 

Report  of  publication  committee  on 
Prof.  Adams'  proposal  to  publish 
his  paper  on  the  Natural  History 
of  Jamaica  in  the  Journal  of  the 
Academy,  222. 

Report  on  the  ornithological  depart- 
ment by  Mr.  Cassin,  343. 

Resolutions:  authorizing  the  geologi- 
cal committee  to  put  up  a  collection 
of  duplicate  fossils  for  M.  D'Or- 
bigny,  17  ;  desiring  the  publication 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


ACADEMY   OF   NATURAL  SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA.. 

Vol.  III.  JAN.  AND  FEB.,  1846.  No.  1: 

Stated  Meeting,  January  6,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Report  on  the  chemical  examination  of  Mineral  Waters  for 
the  city  of  Boston.  By  Benjamin  Silliman,  Jr.  Boston, 
1845.     From  the  Author. 

First  Annual  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Vermont.  By  C.  B. 
Adams.     Burlington,  Vermont  1845.     From  the  Author. 

Synopsis  Conchyliorum  Jamaiciensium,  &c.  By  C.  B.  Adams. 

From  the  same. 
Fresh-water  and  land  Shells  of  Vermont.     By  C.  B.  Adams. 

From  the  same. 

The  Culture  of  Silk,  or  an  essay  on  its  rational  practice  and 
improvement ;  in  4  parts.  By  the  Rev.  Samuel  Pullein.. 
8vo.  London,  1758.     From  Dr.  Morton. 

Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,  for  1844 
and  1845.     From  the  Society. 

Two  additional  sheets,  completing  the  map  of  the  U.  S.  coast 

2 


10  [Jan.,  1846. 

survey  of  New  York  Harbor  and  Bay.     From  the  Trea- 
sury Department,  through  A.  D.  Bache,  Esq. 


A  communication  was  read  from  A.  D.  Bache,  Esq.,  dated 
Washington,  Dec.  9,  1845,  presenting  the  above. 

Mr.  Conrad  read  a  paper,  intended  for  publication,  entitled 
"Descriptions  of  nineteen  new  species  of  fossil  and  recent 
Shells  and  Corals  of  the  United  States ;"  which  was  referred 
to  a  committee  consisting  of  Mr.  Phillips,  Dr.  Pickering,  and 
Mr.  Harris. 


•    Stated  Meeting,  January  13,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Mr.  Phillips  presented  specimens  of  the  following  Shells : 

Paludina  apicina,  Phillips,  from  Uraguay ;  Physa  princeps. 
Phillips,  and  Glandina  obtusa,  Pfeiffer,  from  Yucatan. 

Specimen  of  Unio  Sowerbianus,  Lea,  from  Nashville,  Tenn. 
From  Mr.  J.  B.  Lindsley. 

Fossil  bone  of  a  Whale's  ear,  from  the  Desert  of  Atacama. 
Peru.     From  Mr.  J.  F.  Watson. 

Recent  shell  limestone,  from  Anastasia  Island,  Coast  of  Flo- 
rida.    From  Dr.  Abadie. 

DONATIONS    TO   LIBRARY. 

American  Journal  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  No.  1.  Vol.  I.  2d 
Series,  January,  1846.     From  the  Editors. 

Musci  Alleghaniensis,  sive  Spicilegia  Muscorum  atque  He- 
paticarum  quas  in  itmere  a  Marylandia  usque  ad  Geor- 
giam  per  tractus  montium,  A.  D.  1843,  decerpserunt  Asa 
Gray  et  W.  S.  Sullivant,  &c,  Columbus,  Ohio,  1845.  From 
the  Authors. 

Contributions  towards  a  history  of  Entomology  in  the  United 


Jan.,  1846.]  11 

States.  By  John  G.  Morris,  D.  D.,  Baltimore,  1845.  From 
the  Author. 
Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College.    No.  1.    Vol.  2.     From   the  Asso- 
ciation. 

A  history  of  British  fossil  Mammalia  and  Birds.     By  Richard 

Owen,  F.  R.  S.,  &c.     Parts  9  and  10.     From  Dr.  T.  B. 

Wilson. 
The  following  works  in  the  Hawaiian  language,  published 

in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  were  presented  by  Mr.  William 

Gambel : 

Ka  Palapala  Hemolele,  2  vols.,  (The  Holy  Bible) ;  Ke 
Kanoha  Hou,  (The  New  Testament) ;  Ke  Kumu  Hawai, 
(The  Hawaiian  Teacher) ;  Ka  Hele  Malihini  ana,  (The 
Pilgrim's  Progress) ;  Hoike  Akua,  (A  Theology) ;  Ka 
Hope  no  ka  Helunaau,  (An  Arithmetic) ;  Ke  Kumu  Kana- 
wai,  (The  Laws  of  the  Sandwich  Islands) ;  He  Hoike- 
houna,  (A  Geography) ;  He  Piliolelo,  &c,  (A  Grammar  of 
the  English  Language ) ;  0  Ke  Kokua  no  ka  Hawaii,  &c, 
(A  Primer  of  the  English  Language);  Ka  Mooolelo,  &c, 
(A  History  of  the  Christian  Church.) 

Also,  from  the  same  donor,  the  following  in  the  English  lan- 
guage : 

History  of  the  Sandwich  Islands.     By  Sheldon  Dibble.     La- 

hainaluna,  1843. 
Sandwich  Island  Gazette.     Vols.  1,  2  and  3—1836  to  183H. 
The  Polynesian.     Vols.  1  and  2—1840  to  1841. 
A  Vocabulary   of  the    Hawaiian    Language.     Lahainaluna. 

1836. 

Documents  relating  to  the  restoration  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands'  Flag,  1843. 

Statistics  relating  to  the  Sandwich  Islands. 


Letters  were  read : 

From  M.  C.  B.  Adams,  dated  Middlebury,  Vermont,  Dec. 
31,  1845,  returning  acknowledgements  for  a  copy  of  the  Pro- 


12  [Jan.,  1846. 

ceedings  of  the  Academy,  from  January,  1844,  to  October, 
1845. 

From  Jacob  Tremper,  Esq.,  dated  Dresden,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  8, 
1846,  replying  to  a  request  from  the  Corresponding  Secretary 
to  endeavor  to  procure  for  the  Society  a  copy  of  the  Natural 
History  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  stating  the  terms  upon 
which  it  could  be  obtained. 

Mr.  Phillips  read  a  paper,  intended  for  publication,  describ- 
ing new  fresh-water  shells,  with  observations  on  Glandina 
obtusa,  Pfeif. — specimens  of  all  of  which  have  been  presented 
by  him  this  evening.  Referred  to  the  following  Committee : 
Mr.  Conrad,  Dr.  Leidy,  and  Dr.  Morton. 


Slated  Meeting,  January  20,  1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

% 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

The  Curators  exhibited  a  large  collection  of  Quadrupeds 
and  Birds  in  skin  ;  fishes  and  reptiles  in  spirits  ;  insects,  plants, 
fossils  and  minerals,  received  in  exchange  from  Mr.  J.  G.  H. 
Kinberg,  of  Lund,  Sweden. 

Mr.  Cassin  presented  two  reptiles  from  Western  Africa, 
presumed  to  be  new. 

Specimens  of  Indusial  limestone,  or  Travertine  of  Auvergne, 
with  numerous  small  Paludinae  attached  to  tubes  of  Phry- 
geenea :  from  Valliere,  near  Moulins,  France.  Presented  by 
Richard  C.  Taylor,  Esq. 


A  communication  was  read  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society,  dated  Dec.  5,  1845,  return- 
ing acknowledgments  for  Nos.  10  and  11  of  the  Proceedings. 

Mr.  Cassin  read  a  translation  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Kinberg, 
dated  Lund,  Sweden,  November,  1845,  in  relation  to  the 
collection  received  from  him  and  exhibited  this  evening. 

The  Chairman  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  Charles  Lyell,  dated 
Darien,  Georgia,  January  8,  1846,  requesting  permission  from 


Jan.,  1846.]  13 

the  Academy  to  take  to  London  for  a  short  period,  for  further 
investigation  and  comparison  by  Professor  Owen,  the  fol- 
lowing fossil  specimens  from  the  Brunswick  canal,  Georgia, 
presented  to  the  Institution  by  Mr.  J.  Hamilton  Cooper,  of 
Georgia,  viz : 

Lower  incisor  tooth  of  Hippopotamus  ;  fragment  of  same ; 
fragment,  supposed  to  be  that  of  a  Hippopotamus ;  tooth  ef 
a  horse ;  Sus  Americanus,  Harlan  ;  supposed  tibia  of  a  Bos  ; 
humerus  of  do. 


Meeting  for  Business,  January  27, 1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Society  having  received  several  reports,  and  authorized 
the  Geological  Committee  to  loan  Mr.  Lyell  the  fossil  speci- 
mens referred  to  in  his  letter,  read  at  last  meeting,  proceeded 
to  an  election  for  Standing  Committees  for  the  present  year, 
with  the  following  result : 

COMMITTEES  FOR  1846. 

Geological  and  Mineralogical. 

J.  Price  Wetherill,  Wm.  S.  Vaux, 

S.  G.  Morton,  Walter  R.  Johnson, 

T.  A.  Conrad,  Samuel  Ashmead, 

Theodore  F.  Moss. 

Zoological. 

John  S.  Phillips,  John  Cassin, 

Edward  Harris,  John  K.  Townsend, 

Wm.  S.  Zantzinger,  Joseph  Leidy, 

William  Gambel. 

Botanical. 

Robert  Bridges,  Gavin  Watson, 

Wm.  S.  Zantzinger.  Robert  Kilvington, 

William  Gambel. 


14  [Feb.,  1846. 

Physics. 

Isaiah  Lukens,  Paul  B.  Goddard, 

Walter  R.  Johnson,  J.  S.  Phillips, 

Theodore  F.  Moss. 

Library. 
Robert  Bridges,  Robert  Pearsall, 

W.  S.  Zantzinger,  Geo.  W.  Carpenter, 

Samuel  B.  Ashmead. 

Committee  on  Proceedings. 
S.  G.  Morton.  (    Corresponding  and 

John  S.  Phillips,  *{    Recording  Secretaries, 

Joseph  Leidy,  ^  ex-qfficio. 

ELECTION   OF    CORRESPONDENTS. 

Charles  Nicholson,  M.  D.,  of  Sydney,  New  South  Wales, 
and  the  Baron  Von  Gerolt,  Prussian  Minister  at  Washington, 
were  elected  Correspondents  of  the  Academy. 


Stated  Meeting,  February  3,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

Specimen  of  Unio  crassus,  Say,  var.  fasciatus,  Raf.,  from  the 

Susquehanna  river.     From  Mr.  Haldeman. 
A  small  collection,  in  skin,  of  European  Birds.     From  R.  C. 

Taylor,  Esq. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Eighteen  publications,  in  pamphlet  form,  on  Medicine,  Sur- 
gery, Pathology  and  Physiology,  in  the  French,  Italian 
and  Latin  languages,  by  the  following  named  authors : 
MM.  Huot,  Bernard,  Lefevre,  Laveran  et  Millon,  Pidoux, 
Rognetta,  Chevalier,  Parise,  Mojou,  Boudet,  Rolando, 
Francisco  Paolo  de  Chiara,  Garbiglietti,  Paolo  Fabrizj,  and 


Feb.,  1846.]  15 

C.  A.  Roesch.     From  Dr.  J.  C.  M.  Boudin,  of  Versailles, 
through  Richard  K.  Haight,  Esq.,  of  New  York. 

Bulletin  semestrial  de  la  Societe  Royale  de  Medecine  de 
Marseille.  lme-  Annee.  No.  1.  2me-  An.  No.  1.  and  2. 
4me-  An.  No.  1  and  2.     From  the  same. 

A  dissertation  upon  the  origin  of  Mineral  Coal.  By  Charles 
Whittlesey,  (late  of  the  Geological  Corps  of  Ohio,)  Cleve- 
land, 1845.     From  the  Author. 

The  American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.  Vol.  46.  No.  1. 
January,  1844.  From  the  Editors,  (in  compliance  with  a 
request  from  the  Academy,  for  completing  the  series  in  the 
Library.) 

Transactions  of  the  Linnean  Society  of  London.  Vol.  XIX. 
Part  4.  4to.  London,  1845. 

Proceedings  of  the  same,  from  November,  1844,  to  June, 
1845  ;  and  List  of  the  Linnean  Society  for  1845.  From  the 
Society. 


Letters  were  read : 

From  Benjamin  Silliman,  Jr.,  dated  New  Haven,  January 
25,  1846,  accompany  the  donation  of  the  No.  of  Silliman's 
Journal  received  this  evening. 

From  the  Linnean  Society  of  London,  dated  November  7, 
1845,  returning  acknowledgements  for  certain  Nos.  of  the 
Proceeding  of  the  Academy,  and  for  Vol.  8,  Part  1,  of  the 
Journal,  transmitted  at  the  request  of  the  Society. 

From  Professor  Owen,  of  London,  dated  Nov.  11,  1845, 
in  reference  to  the  fossil  genus  Dorudon,  of  Dr.  R.  W.  Gibbes, 
published  in  the  Academy's  Proceedings.  He  considers  this 
genus  to  be  the  same  as  the  Zeuglodon,  (Basilosaurus  of 
Harlan,)  to  which  genus  also  belongs  the  very  extensive 
series  of  bones  recently  brought  from  Alabama  by  Dr.  Koch, 
and  now  exhibiting  in  this  city. 


Mr.  Haldeman  offered  some  remarks  on  the  specimen  of 


16  [Ffb.,  1846. 

Unio  crassus  presented  by  him  this  evening,  and  stated  that 
it  is  one  of  those  which  he  placed  in  the  river  Susquehanna? 
in  a  living  state,  in  the  year  1841,  a  record  of  which  fact  will 
be  found  at  page  104,  Vol.  1,  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Aca- 
demy. As  no  western  species  of  Unio,  except  U.  viridis, 
Raf,,  had  hitherto  been  found  in  that  river,  Mr.  Haldeman 
had  no  doubt  that  the  present  specimen  was  in  reality  one  of 
those  referred  to.  The  growth  had  been  inconsiderable,  and 
the  genera]  appearance  very  little  changed.  The  other  indi- 
viduals of  this  and  other  species  seem  not  to  have  survived. 


Stated  Meeting,  February  10,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Memoirs  with  reference  to  the  law  of 
Storms  in  India,  &c.  By  Henry  Piddington.  Calcutta, 
1845.     From  the  Author. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  Piddington,  dated  Calcutta, 
September  8,  1845,  accompanying  the  donation  of  his  Me- 
moirs above  announced,  and  calling  the  attention  of  the  So- 
ciety to  the  Postscript  to  the  11th  Memoir,  page  64,  "  where 
a  curious  experiment  will  be  found  detailed,  which  sets  the 
whole  question  of  circular  or  converging  winds  (winds  blow- 
ing towards  a  centre)  completely  at  rest,  for  these  seas  at 
least." 

A  letter  was  read  from  Benjamin  Silliman,  Jr.,  dated  New 
Haven,  February  6,  1846,  requesting  on  behalf  of  M.  Alcide 
D'Orbigny,  of  Paris,  exchanges  between  him  and  the  Aca- 
demy, both  of  books  and  specimens  of  Natural  History,  and 
suggesting  especially  the  transmission  of  the  publications  of 
this  Society  for  such  of  M.  D'Orbigny 's  works  as  may  be  de- 
sirable for  its  Library. 


Feb.,  1846.]  17 

Professor  Johnson  then  read  to  the  Society  the  portion  of 
Mr.  Piddington's  Memoir  referred  to  in  his  letter,  and  added 
some  remarks  in  confirmation  of  the  correctness  of  the  views 
of  the  author  on  the  subject. 

Dr.  Morton  announced  that  he  had  recently  received  letters 
from  Mr.  I.  G.  Strain,  U.  S.  N.,  a  Correspondent  of  this 
Institution,  dated  from  the  China  seas,  detailing  the  causes  of 
failure  of  his  late  expedition  into  the  interior  of  Brazil.  Mr. 
S.  was  on  his  return  home,  and  expressed  an  ardent  hope  of 
being  enabled  to  make  a  renewed  effort  to  accomplish  the 
objects  of  his  undertaking. 


On  motion  of  Mr.  Phillips,  Resolved,  That  the  Geological 
Committee  be  authorised  to  put  up  a  collection  of  the  dupli- 
cate fossils,  to  be  forwarded  to  M.  D'Orbigny. 


Stated  Meeting,  February  17,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

Prepared  specimen  of  Orthogariscus  mola,  from  the  Capes  of 
Delaware.  Presented  by  Messrs.  Phillips,  Cassin,  and 
Hazard. 

The  following  specimens,  prepared  and  mounted,  were  pre- 
sented by  Messrs.  Haldeman,  Cassin,Bridges  and  Morton, 
viz  : 

Cebus  apellus  ?  South  America,  C.  hypoleucus,  and  two 
other  species  ;  and  Jacchus  vulgaris,  Geoff. 

Rib  bone  of  a  cetaceous  animal  found  in  the  green  sand  near 
Burlington,  New  Jersey ;  also  fragments  of  fossil  bone ; 
Baculites  ovatus,  and  Scaphites  Cuvieri,  from  the  vicinity 
of  Morristown,  New  Jersey.  Presented  by  Mr.  Germain, 
of  Burlington,  through  Dr.  Hallowell. 


18  [Feb.,  1846. 

Letters  were  read : 

From  the  Baron  Von  Gerolt,  Prussian  Minister  at  Wash- 
ington, dated  February  9,  1846,  returning  acknowledgments 
for  his  election  as  a  Correspondent. 

From  Jacob  Tremper,  Esq.,  dated  Dresden,  New  York, 
February  9,  1846,  calling  the  attention  of  the  Society  to  the 
advantages  and  importance  of  the  adoption  by  scientifiic  bodies 
throughout  the  Uuited  States,  of  some  general  rules  for  keep- 
ing meteorological  registers  for  comparison,  &c. 

From  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  of 
Boston,  dated  February  8,  1846,  communicating  a  copy  of  a 
letter  addressed  by  a  committee  of  that  Society  to  the  Joint 
Library  Committee  of  Congress,  desiring  the  publication  of  a 
larger  edition  of  the  Scientific  Reports  of  the  late  U.  S.  Ex- 
ploring Expedition,  and  soliciting  the  co-operation  of  this 
Institution  in  the  matter. 

The  copy  of  the  letter  referred  to  was  read  also  by  the 
Corresponding  Secretary. 


Professor  Johnson  offered  the  following  Resolutions,  which 
where  adopted,  and  copies  ordered  to  be  transmitted  to  the 
American  Academy  at  Boston,  and  to  the  Library  Committee 
of  Congress. 

Resolved,  That  the  memorial  of  the  American  Academy  of 
Arts  and  Sciences  of  Boston,  to  the  Joint  Library  Committee  of 
Congress,  asking  for  the  publication  of  a  larger  number  of  copies 
of  the  scientific  volumes  containing  the  results  of  the  late  South 
Sea  Exploring  Expedition,  meets  the  cordial  approval  and  con- 
currence of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  view  of  this  Academy,  the  present  num- 
ber of  100  copies  only,  printed  on  public  account,  is  utterly  in- 
adequate to  supply  the  demand  for  this  work,  especially  as  about 
one-half  of  that  number  is  understood  to  be  distributed  in  dona- 
tions to  Foreign  Governments,  while  none  are  allowed  to  Scien- 
tific Societies  at  home. 

Resolved,  That  while  the  results  of  other   American  Exploring 


Feb.,  1846.]  19 

Expeditions,  and  of  other  scientific  labors,  performed  in  obedience 
to  the  requirements  of  Government,  have,  by  a  just  and  liberal 
policy,  been  made  widely  known  to  the  public,  the  present  course 
of  printing  100  copies  only  of  the  labors  of  the  South  Sea  Expe- 
dition, and  which,  therefore,  scarcely  deserves  the  name  of  a 
publication,  does  equal  injustice  to  the  nation  which  has  borne 
the  expense,  and  to  the  meritorious  individuals  who  have  per- 
formed the  scientific  duties 

Resolved,  That  this  Academy  having,  by  special  request  of  the 
Navy  Department,  afforded  its  aid  and  counsel  in  the  preparation 
of  the  Expedition,  deems  itself  justified  in  complaining  of  the 
treatment  which,  in  common  with  all  the  other  scientific  bodies 
then  consulted,  it  receives  by  the  existing  arrangement, — that  of 
being  compelled  either  to  forego  the  possession  of  the  works  in 
question,  or  to  pay  such  a  price  as  private  speculation  may  affix 
to  public  documents  prepared  by  public  officers,  and  the  entire 
expense  of  which  (with  an  exception  too  insignificant  to  mention) 
has  been  defrayed  out  of  the  public  treasury. 


Meeting  for  Business,  February  24,  1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  on  Mr.  Conrad's  paper,  read  6th  January 
last,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

Descriptions  of  New  Species  of  Fossil  and  Recent  Shells  and  Corals. 

By  T.  A.  Conrad. 

TERTIARY  FOSSIL  SHELLS. 

Cerithium  ? 

Cerithium?  ccelata.  Plate  1,  fig.  19.  Turrited,  whorls  with  four  revolv- 
ing ribs  on  each,  the  superior  pair  large,  elevated,  and  obliquely  crenate  ; 
the  lower  pair  small,  approximate,  inferior  one  very  near  the  suture;  lines 
of  growth  profoundly  undulated. 

Locality.  Island  of  Huaffo,  near  Cape  Horn.  In  Tertiary  clay.  Dr. 
James  Eight?. 

This  remarkable  shell  is  imperfect  in  the  last  volution,  and  it  is  uncertain 
whether  it  should  be  referred  to  Turritella  or  Cerithium.     The  rib  in  the 


20  [Feb.,  1846. 

middle  of  the  whorls  is  largest,  and  the  crente  have  a  different  direction 
from  those  in  the  superior  rib.  A  variety  occurs  with  only  three  ribs,  one 
of  the  inferior  pair  being  wanting 

Tellina. 

Tellina  JTuaffoensis.  Plate  1,  fig.  20.  Subtriangular ;  right  valve  ventri- 
cose  ;  anterior  side  subcuneiform ;  margin  obliquely  truncated,  extremity 
rounded  ;  beaks  medial ;  posterior  margin  regularly  rounded  ;  basal  margin 
nearly  straight  in  the  middle  ;  surface  without  other  lines  than  those  of 
growth. 

Locality.     Occurs  with  the  preceding. 

These  two  fossils  are  imbedded  in  drab  colored  clay,  the  geological  age 
of  which  is  uncertain.  I  have  no  doubt,  however,  that  it  is  posterior  to  the 
Eocene  period. 

MIOCENE  SPECIES. 

EtJLIMA. 

Eulima  eborea.  Plate  1,  fig.  21.     Subulate,  whorls  9  ;  suture  slightly  de- 
fined ;  aperture  somewhat  oblique,  ovate-acute. 
Locality.     Suffolk,  Virginia. 

E.  migrans.  Plate  1,  fig.  22.     Subulate,  very  narrow  or  slender  ;  suture 
indistinct ;  aperture  direct,  oblong-ovate,  acute. 
Locality.     Occurs  with  the  preceding. 

Odostomia. 
Odostomia  limnia.  Plate  1,  fig.  4.     Subfusiform,  polished,  whorls  4;  con- 
vex ;  suture  impressed;  aperture  oblong-ovate,  half  the  length  of  the  shell ; 
columella  slightly  folded. 

Locality.     Yorktown,  Virginia. 

0.  protexta.  Plate  1,  fig.  5.  Subulate,  minutely  cancellated,  with  five 
volutions,  those  of  the  spire  being  subangulated  near  the  base;  labrum  sub- 
angulated  above  the  middle ;  columella  with  a  prominent  fold  in  the 
middle. 

Locality.     Yorktown,  Virginia. 

Delphinula. 
Delphinula  arenosa.    Discoidal,    whorls   3,    slightly    convex ;    minutely 
striated  longitudinally  ;  base  regularly  convex  :  umbilicus  profound.     Dia- 
meter £  of  an  inch. 

Locality.     Yorktown,  Virginia. 

D.  lyra.    Plate  2,  fig.  27.     Vide  Journ.  A.  N.  S.  vol.  vii,  p.  141. 

Locality.     Suffolk,  Virginia. 

Bulla. 
Bulla  subspissa.  Plate  1,  fig.   29.     Oblong-oval,  thick,  ventricose  in  the 
middle ;  labium  rounded  or  ventricose  ;  margin  of  labrum  straight  above  : 
base  minutely  umbilicated. 

Locality.     Calvert  Cliffs,  Maryland. 


Feb.,  1846.]  21 

Bonellia. 
Bonellia  lineata.  Plate  1,  fig.  23.     Vide  Proceed.  A.  N.  S.,  vol.  i.  p.  32. 

CALYPTILEA. 

Subgenus  Dispotcea,  Say. 

All  the  species  of  this  genus  found  in  the  United  States  belongs  to  Say's 
genus  Dispotcea,  which  forms  a  very  natural  and  distinct  group,  if  the  cha- 
racters of  the  shells  are  any  criterion  of  generic  distinction.  The  following 
list  of  species  occur  in  the  Miocene  strata  of  the  Union  : 

C.  (Dispotcea)  corrugata,  Brod.  \      Recent  on  the  coast  of  Central  Ame- 
D.  ramosa,  Con.  J  rica,  and  fossil  in  Virginia. 

C.  (Dispotcea)  costata,  Say,  \      Recent ;  coast  of  Central  Hmerica. 
C.  rugosa,  Brod.  )      Fossil  in  Maryland. 

C.  (Dispotcea)  multilineata,  Con.   Fossil.     Wilmington,  North  Carolina. 

C.  (Dispotcea)  dumosa,  Con.  "  '•  " 

Trochus. 
Trochus  peralveatus,  Plate  1,  fig.  25.  Vide  Proceed.  A.  N.  S.,  vol.  i.  p.  30. 

Myodora. 

Myodora  arenosa,  Con.  (Pandora  arenoso,  Con.)  Foss.  Shells  of  Tert. 
Form.,  p.  4,  pi.  1,  fig.  3. 

Eocene  species. 

Ampullaria  ? 

Ampullaria  ?  perovata.  Plate  1,  fig.  16.     Ovate,  body  whorl  ventricose  ; 
spire  conoidal?  aperture  subovate,  half  the  length  of  the  shell. 
Locality.     Claiborne. 

I  possess  but  one  imperfect  specimen  of  this  shell.  It  is  rather  elevated 
for  an  Ampullaria  ;  but  to  this  genus  or  to  Paludina,  the  form  of  the  aper- 
ture more  nearly  allies  it,  than  to  any  marine  genus  which  is  known  to  me. 

Caricella. 

Shell  pyriform,  with  ribs  or  spines  :  spire  short,  apex  thickened  or  papil- 
lated  ;  beak  somewhat  produced  and  slightly  curved,  pointed,  not  emarginate 
at  base  ;  columella  with  four  or  five  oblique,  prominent,  compressed  plaits, 
decreasing  in  size  towards  the  base,  as  in  Milra. 

In  my  publication  entitled  "  Fossil  Shells  of  the  Tertiary  Formations,' 
I  propose  the  above  name  for  a  group  of  Claiborne  shells,  and  re- 
ferred it  as  a  subgenus  Turbinella,  but  the  characters  are  sufficiently  dis- 
tinctive to  constitute  a  genus.  The  want  of  an  emarginate  base  widely 
separates  it  from  Mitra  or  Voluta.  The  labrum  is  always  simple,  without 
teeth,    and    thin.     The  following  species  may  be  designated:  C.  bolaris, 


22  [Feb.,  1846. 

(Mitra,)  Con.     C. pyruloides,  (Turbhiella,)  Con.     C. prozten uis,  Con. 

_    .  ,,  f  Voluta  prisca,  Con. 

(7.  doliata, 


«{ 


V.  Cooperii,  Lea. 
This  genus,  so  far  as  I  know,  occurs  only  in  the  Eocene  strata. 

Cardium. 

Cardium  Nicolleti.  Plate  I,  fig.  14.  Vide  Proceed.  Acad.  N.  S.  vol.  1 
p.  33. 

Anomia. 

Anomia  jugosa.  Plate  1,  fig.  14.     Vide  Proceed.  A.  N.  S.  vol.  1,  p.  310. 

POLYPARIA  (SILURIAN.) 
Cyathophyllum,  Lam. 

C  calophyllum?  pustulalum.  Plate  1,  fig.  24.  Turbinate,  somewhat 
curved  towards  the  base,  and  with  numerous  elevated  pustules,  most  of 
which  have  a  central  perforation: 

Locality.     State  of  Ohio,  in  Silurian  limestone,  Dr.  Riley. 

The  rays  are  visible  on  only  a  small  portion  of  the  specimen,  the  rest 
being  imbedded  in  compact  gray  limestone. 

EOCENE  SPECIES. 

TtlRBINOLIA. 

Turbinolia  elaborate,.  Plate  1,  fig.  30.  Subcuneiform ;  base  acute,  in- 
curved, lamellae  thin,  numerous,  branched,  smooth  becoming  very  irregular 
or  sinuous  where  they  approach  the  centre;  sides  profoundly  sulcated  or 
ribbed,  the  ribs  densely  and  distinctly  porous,  many  of  them  divaricated, 
the  intervals  with  remote  transverse  lamella. 

Locality.     Near  City  Point,  Virginia. 

T.  pileolus.  Plate  1,  fig.  26.     Vide  Proceed.  A.  N.  S.,  vol.  1,  p.  327. 

Madrepora. 

Madrepora  vermiculosa.  Ramose,  branches  cylindrical  ;  cells  remote,  un- 
equal, a  little  prominent,  interstices  with  thick,  equal,  vermicular  striae, 
minutely  granulated. 

Locality.     Occurs  with  the  preceding. 

This  is  a  rare  species  ;  the  undating  striae  are  large  and  ornamental. 

DEVONIAN   SHELLS. 
Monotis,  Bronn. 
This  genus  occurs  in  the  Devonian  shales.    I  have  not  observed  a  species 
in  any  other  formation. 

Monotis  radians. 
Syn.  Plerninca  radians.     Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  vol.  viii.  p.  252,  pi.  15 
fig.  1. 


Feb.,  1846.]  23 

Monotis  Poulsoni.  Plate  1,  fig.  32.  Suborbicular,  ventricose,  not  oblique, 
ribs  about  44  in  number,  obtusely  rounded,  interstices  nearly  flat,  about  as 
wide  as  the  ribs,  with  minute  transverse  wrinkles  ;  umbo  broad  and  the 
summit  prominent;  anterior  and  posterior  margins  rounded. 

Locality.     Jersey   shore,   Lycoming   county,  Pennsylvania.      (Devonian 

shale.) 

This  beautiful  species  occurs  in  a  dark  shale  of  the  same  geological  age 
and  appearance  as  the  shale  of  the  Chemung  Narrows  in  New  York,  which 
i3  a  part  of  the  Devonian  System. 

It  is  dedicated  to  my  friend  Charles  A.  Poulson,  Esq  ,  to  whose  splendid 
collection  it  belongs. 

M.  elevata.  Plate  1,  fig.  31.  Obliquely  oval,  somewhat  ventricose,  ribs 
about  42  in  number,  prominent,  acutely  rounded,  interstices  very  narrow, 
except  towards  the  anterior  hinge  margin,  where  the  ribs  are  larger  ;  an- 
terior and  posterior  margins  nearly  straight ;  anterior  side  very  short. 

Locality.     Occurs  with  the  preceding  species  in  the  same  rock. 

Cabinet  of  Mr.  Poulson. 

SILURIAN  SPECIES. 

AVICULA. 

Avicula  ferruginea.  Plate  1,  fig.  28.  Subrhomboidal ;  left  valve  pro- 
foundly ventricose  ;  anterior  side  profoundly  contracted  ;  umbo  very  promi- 
nent;  extremity  of  anterior  wing  angulated ;  the  margin  beneath  slightly 
emarginate  ;  margin  of  posterior  wing  straight  and  direct. 

Locality.     Jersey  shore,  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Cabinet  of  Mr.  Poulson. 

This  speeies  abounds  in  the  Fossiliferous  iron  ore  of  the  Middle  Silurian 
series. 

CARBONIFEROUS  SPECIES. 
Strophomena. 
Strophomena  nassula.     Hinge  area  wide  ;  valve3  with  approximate  acute 
radiatiDg  strise,  and  finer  concentric  lines  ;  one  valve  flat,  with  three  or  four 
large  concentric  undulations. 

Locality.     Jersey  shore,  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania.     Mr.  Poulson. 

RECENT  SHELLS. 
Cyrena. 
Cyrena  Floridana.  Plate  1,  fig.  1.    Triangular,  subequilateral,  ventricose  : 
summits  prominent,  concentrically  striated  ;  posterior  side  with  an  obtust 
fold  near  the  margin  ;  color  whitish,  varied  with  violaceous,  both  externally 
and  internally. 
Locality.     Tampa  Bay,  Florida. 


24  [Feb.,  1846. 

Venus. 

Venus  cuneimeris.  Plate  1,  fig.  13.  Inequilateral,  triangular ;  ventricose 
anteriorly  ;  flexuous  and  compressed  posteriorly ;  posterior  side  cuneiform  ; 
surface  with  obtuse  concentric  ribs,  profound  on  the  umbo,  and  with  minute 
radiating  raised  lines  ;  color  yellowish,  varied  with  fulvous  or  brown,  some- 
times in  spots,  in  other  specimens  with  rays  ;  within  purple  and  white,  with 
a  whitish  margin. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay. 

Nucula. 

Nucula  eborea.  Plate  1,  fig.  4.  Ovate-acute,  ventricose,  with  minute, 
concentric,  very  regular  lines  ;  surface  highly  polished,  ivory  white  ;  ante- 
rior side  rostrated,  pointed,  rather  longer  than  the  posterior  side. 

Locality.     Keys  of  Tampa  Bay  :  rare. 

Modiola. 

Modiolapapyria.  Plate  1,  fig.  8.  Ovate-oblong,  extremely  thin,  pellucid  ; 
ligament  margin  long,  rectilinear  ;  posterior  margin  obliquely  truncated  ; 
basal  margin  slightly  contracted  ;  color  greenish  with  browu  angular  spots. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay. 

ASTARTE. 

Astarle  flabella.  Plate  1,  fig.  3.  Ovate-triangular,  profoundly  compressed, 
and  having  ten  flattened  radiating  ribs  ;  posterior  basal  margin  obliquely 
truncated ;  color  white,  with  fulvous  spots. 

Locality.     Bgmont  Key,  Tampa  Bay. 

This  species  approaches  A.  radians,  Con.,  a  Miocene  fossil,  but  it  is  not 
so  fiat,  and  has  fewer,  wider,  less  prominent  ribs. 

A.  triquclra.  Plate  1,  fig,  6.  Very  small,  triangular,  elevated,  equilateral 
and  symmetrical,  ventricose,  polished,  white,  sometimes  brown  or  purple  on 
the  disk  in  form  of  a  broad  ray. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay. 

Osteodesma,  Desk.  (Ltonsia,  Turton.) 
Osteodosma  hyalina  ?  Plate  1,  fig.  1.     A  variety  of  the  northern  species, 
more  elongated  than  those  of  the  eastern  coast.    I  have  some  doubts  of  the 
specific  identity. 

Solecurtus. 

Solecurtus  fragilis,  var.  Plate  1,  fig.  10.  Oblong,  straight,  color  viola- 
ceous, rayed  with  bluish  white ;  epidermis  olive,  the  rays  visible  upon  it ; 
interior  rib  oblique;  teeth  two  in  each  valve,  very  unequal  in  size. 

Locality.     Egmont  Key,  Tampa  Bay. 

LUCINA. 

Lucina  nassula.  Lentiform,  equilateral,  with  concentric  lamelliform  striae, 
distant  above,  approximate  towards  the  base:  and  with  approximate  radiating 
prominent  lines  ;  posterior  side  compressed  towards  the   margin,  and  with 


Feb.  1846.]  26 

one  or  two  of  the  radiating  striae  larger  than  the  rest;  lunule  large,  ovate- 
acute,  prominently  striated  ;  inner  margin  deeply  crenulated. 
Locality.     Tampa  Bay,  Florida. 

Corbcla-. 

Corbula  limatula.  Plate  1,  fig.  2.  Subtriangular,  inequilateral,  polished, 
concentrically  striated,  the  striae  of  the  lesser  valve  finer  and  less  distinct 
than  those  of  the  opposite  valve  ;  posterior  extremity  truncated  ;  summits 
prominent ;  color  whitish,  tinged  with  pale  brown  on  the  umbo. 

Locality.  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Dredged  up  on  the  sounding  lead  in  deep 
water  off  the  coast  of  Florida. 

Pollia. 

Pollia  tincta.  Plate  1,  fig.  9.  Short,  subfusiform  ;  whorls  7,  somewhat 
channelled  or  contracted  above  ;  longitudinal  ribs  large,  remote ;  revolving 
lines  robust,  alternated  with  fine  lines  ;  lines  of  growth  well  defined,  be- 
coming prominent  wrinkled  lines  on  the  spire  ;  color  greenish-white,  varied 
with  large  irregular  brown  or  ferruginous  spots  j  aperture  half  the  length 
of  the  shell;  labrum  striated  within,  margin  plicated;  labium  with  a  prom- 
inent fold  near  the  summit,  and  somewhat  corrugated  towards  the  base. 

Locality.  Mouth  of  Manatu  river,  of  Tampa  Bay,  Florida,  inhabiting 
sand  bars. 

P.  cancellaria.  Plate  1,  fig.  12.  Fusiform,  with  longitudinal  plicae,  and 
more  elevated,  distant,  undulated,  revolving  costse,  and  intermediate  fine 
lines  ;  whorls  longitudinally  rugose  ;  aperture  half  as  long  as  the  shell ;  la- 
brum with  distant,  acute,  prominent  lines  within  :  columella  distinctly 
plaited  at  base  :  beak  recurved  ;  color  cinereous. 

Locality.     Ship  Island,  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Murex  cellulosa.  Short-fusiform,  with  large,  prominent  revolving  lines  or 
costas,  the  interstices  with  transverse  wrinkled  lines,  largest  on  the  varices, 
and  giving  the  shell  a  cellular  aspect;  beak  much  curved  ;  color  cinereous  ; 
aperture  small,  obovate,  purplish  within. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay.     Inhabits  oyster  beds. 

M.  Tampaensis.  Fusiform,  with  acute  varices,  and  distant  revolving  cas- 
tas, about  eight  in  number,  from  angle  of  body  whorl  to  base  ;  spire  scalar  - 
iform  ;  whorls  with  two  revolving  ribs  on  each  ;  labium  with  obtuse  teeth  : 
color  cinereous,  with  purplish  brown. 

Locality.     Occurs  with  the  preceding  species. 

M.  ostrearum.  Fusiform,  with  revolving  ribs  alternated  in  size,  and  with 
longitudinal  wrinkles  ;  spire  elevated,  scalariform  :  base  umbilicated  : 
within  livid. 

Locality.     Occurs  with  the  preceding. 

3 


26  [Feb.,  1846. 

MaEGINELLA. 

Marginella  succmea.  Plate  1,  fig.  17.  Elevated;  labrum  sinuous,  aperture 
contracted  above,  comparatively  wide  at  base  ;  columella  4-plaited  ;  color 
amber;  margin  of  labrum  entire. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay.     Very  rare. 

M.  albilabris.  Short-subovate,  of  an  olive  color,  with  a  white,  much 
thickened  margin,  extending  over  the  base ;  labrum  straight,  denticulate 
within:  columella  with  one  obscure  plait  at  base. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay. 

Oliva. 
Oliva  mulica.  Plate  2,  fig.  34.     Common  in  St.  Joseph's  Bay,  Florida,  liv- 
ing in  the  tand  in  shoal  water,    leaving  a  trail  by  which  its  habitat  can 
readily  be  discovered. 

Trochus. 

Trochus  2'ampaensis.  Plate  2,  fig.  35.  Conical ;  whorls  61,  concave  ; 
with  revolving,  approximate,  densely  beaded  lines,  alternated  in  size  ;  base 
flat,  striated,  lines  crenulated  by  transverse  wrinkles ;  umbilicus  moderate, 
forming  a  rather  deep  canal  behind  the  labium  ;  color  whitish-brown  and 
dark  purple,  variegated. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay. 

Triton  lineolatum.  Plate  1,  fig.  18.  Elevated,  with  brown  revolving  lines  ; 
spire  scalariform,  with  numerous  varices  or  costaj  on  the  body  whorl  ;  they 
are  generally  smaller,  and  crenulate  the  revolving  lines;  labrum  with  four 
teeth  within.     Length  |  of  an  luch- 

LocaWy.     Tampa  Bay. 

Cerithium  protextum.  Subulate,  elongated,  with  longitudinal  curved 
acute  costae,  and  fine  revolving  lines;  whorls  15,  slightly  convex;  ribs  di- 
vided and  somewhat  dislocated  by  an  impressed  line  below  the  suture  ; 
color  purplish-black  ;  within  the  same. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay  ? 

The  specimen  described  is  more  than  three-fourths  of  an  inch  long,  but 
the  usual  size  is  less  than  half  an  inch. 

Bulla. 

Bulla  succinea.  Plate  1,  fig.  5.  Cylindrical,  very  thin,  diaphanous,  of  an 
auiber  color,  and  marked  with  crowded,  minute,  revolving,  wrinkled  lines  ; 
columella  copcave  or  channelled  towards  the  base  ;  labrum  straight ;  sum- 
mit above  the  line  of  the  apex. 

Locality.     Tampa  Bay. 

Crepiddla. 
Grepidula  maculosa.     Subovate  ;  anterior  side   flattened  ;    back  acutely 


Fmk.  1846.]  2T 

rounded  ;  umbo  compressed  ;  color  white,  with  irregular  brovrn  opots  aonis- 
what  iu  ray-like  series.     Length  1£  inch.     Breadth  |  inch. 
LncaXUy      Mullet  Key,  Tampa  Bay. 

Dkntauum. 

Dentalium  cboreum.  Curved  above,  inclining  to  be  straight  interiorly, 
thin,  translucent,  very  slender,  very  gradually  tapering  to  a  very  acute  apex  ; 
white,  without  lines,  highly  polished.     Length  |  inch. 

Locality.     Southern  coast  of  Florida. 

Dr.  Morton  offered  the  following,  which  was  adopted : 
Hemlved,  That  the  8th  Vol.  of  the  Journal  of  the  Aeadeoi y 
be  presented  to  M.  D'Orbigny,  of  Paris, 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF   THE 


ACADEMY    OF   NATURAL  SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA.. 
Vol.  III.  MARCH  AND  APRIL,  1846.  No.  2. 


Stated  Meeting,  March  3,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscou, 

Nos.  2  and  3,  for  1843.     From  the  Society. 
Verhandlingen    der    Kaiserlich-Russischen   Mineralogischen 

Gesellschaft  zu  St.  Petersburg.     2  vols.  1843  and  1844. 

From  the  Society. 
A  Memoir  of  James  De  Veaux,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.     By 

Robert  W.  Gibbes,  M.  D.,  of  Columbia,  S.  C.  8vo.     From 

the  Author. 


Dr.  Morton  presented  a  paper  by  Dr.  Robert  W.  Gibbes,  of 
Columbia,  S.  C,  "  On  the  fossil  Squalidae  of  the  Eocene  of 
the  Southern  States,"  which  was  read  and  referred  to  a 
committee  consisting  of  Mr.  Phillips,  Dr.  Morton  and  Dr. 
Hallowell. 

A  paper  by  Mr.  Edward  Harris,  "  On  the  difference  of 
level  between  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  those  of 

5 


30  [March,  1846. 

the  Atlantic  Ocean,"  was  referred  to  the  following  committee : 
Dr.  Elwyn,  Dr.  Pickering  and  Mr.  Phillips. 


Letters  were  read : 

From  the  Imperial  Society  of  Naturalists  of  Moscow,  ac- 
companying the  Nos.  of  the  Bulletin  of  that  Society  presented 
this  evening. 

From  the   British    Association  for   the   advancement   of 
Science,  announcing  that  a  copy  of  Herschel's  Catalogue  of 
Stars  had  been  adjudged  to  the  Academy  by  the  Association 
and  stating  the  mode  in  which  it  could  be  obtained. 


Stated  Meeting,  March  10, 1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Chairman  read  a  letter  from  Prof.  Locke,  dated  Medi- 
cal College  of  Ohio,  Feb.  2,  1846,  containing  a  notice  of  a 
fossil  Asterias  from  the  blue  limestone  of  Cincinnati,  with  a 
drawing  of  the  same.  Referred  to  the  following  committee  : 
Dr.  Leidy,  Dr.  Morton  and  Dr.  Pickering. 

The  Chairman  also  read  a  portion  of  a  letter  from  J.  G. 
Norwood,  M.  D.,  of  Madison,  Indiana,  dated  Feb.  25,  1846, 
desiring  the  communication  to  the  Academy  of  an  accompany- 
ing printed  description  and  figures  of  a  new  fossil  fish  from 
the  Palsezoic  rocks  of  Indiana,  by  Drs.  Norwood  and  D.  D. 
Owen,  for  which  they  propose  the  name  Macropetalichthys 
rapheidolabis. 

"  This  is  (as  far  as  is  known  to  the  describers)  not  only  the 
first  instance  of  finding  scutcheoned  fishes  in  this  country, 
but  also  the  lowest  position  in  which  remains  of  vertebratae 
have  been  found,  if  we  except  defensive  fin  bones,  which 
occur  in  New  York,  nearly  in  the  same  geological  position, — ■ 
viz :  in  the  corniferous  group — and  the  scales  of  fishes, 
which  the  Professors  Rogers  traced  throughout  the  Clinton 
group  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia." 


March,  1846.]  31 

Stated  Meeting,  March  24,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Specimen,  in  spirits,  of  Loligo  Bartramii,  Lesueur,  from 
Caraccas.     Presented  by  Dr.  H.  McMurtrie. 

Sterna  of  fourteen  species  of  N.  American  birds.  Presented 
by  Mr.  William  Gambel, 

Specimen  of  Septaria,  from  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Barber,  Bar- 
ber  Co.,  Alabama.  From  Dr.  Charles  Kenworthy,  through 
Dr.  Watson. 

A  fine  collection  of  fossils,  from  the  green  sand  near  Burling- 
ton, N.  J.,  consisting  of  Baculities  ovatus,  Ammonites  pla- 
centa, A.  Delawarensis,  Scaphites  Cuvieri,  Nautilus  De- 
kayi,  with  undertermined  casts  of  Strombus,  Cardium, 
Pina,  Inoceramus,  Cuculloea,  Turritella,  Panopcea,  &c. 
From  Mr.  Germain,  of  Burlington,  through  Dr.  Hallowell. 

A  collection  of  marine  and  fresh  water  shells.  From  Dr. 
Hallowell. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Structure  and  classification  of  Zoophytes.  By  James  D.  Dana, 
A.  M.,  Geologist  of  the  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition,  during 
the  years  1838,  '39,  '40,  '41  and  '42.  4to :  Philadelphia. 
From  the  Author. 

Memoir  on  the  probable  constitution  of  matter  and  laws  of 
motion,  &c.  &c.  By  J.  L.  Riddell,  M.  D.  From  the  Au. 
thor. 

On  the  Nile  alluvium  of  Nubia,  (extracted  from  the  Proceed- 
ings of  A.  N.  S.,)  being  a  letter  from  Prof.  Lepsius  of  Ber- 
lin, and  an  analysis  by  Prof.  W.  R.  Johnson.  From  Dr. 
Morton. 

On  the  Unity  of  the  Human  Race,  (from  the  Southern  Quar- 
terly Review,  No.  17,  Jan.,  1846.)     From  Dr.  J.  C.  Nott. 


32  [March,  1846. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Clot  Bey,  M.  D.,  dated  Cairo, 
Egypt,  Jan  21,  1846,  acknowledging  the  reception  of  his 
diploma  as  a  correspondent,  and  expressing  his  desire  and 
intention  to  further  the  objects  of  the  Academy. 

Dr.  Morton  offered  some  observations  (intended  for  publi- 
cation in  the  American  Journal  of  Science)  on  the  Ethno- 
graphy and  Archaeology  of  the  Aboriginal  race  of  America. 

Dr.  Morton  called  attention  to  the  cretaceous  fossils  pre- 
sented this  evening  by  Mr.  Lewis  Germain,  and  especially  to 
the  numerous  fine  fragments  of  Ammonites  Delawarensis,  of 
which  only  a  single  specimen  had  hitherto  been  discovered  in 
the  cretaceous  beds  of  New  Jersey  or  Delaware.  Even  that 
specimen  had  been  lost  or  mislaid,  and  there  remained  no 
voucher  for  the  species,  excepting  an  uncertain  fragment  from 
Alabama,  which  is  now  identified  with  the  A.  Delawarensis, 
by  means  of  Mr.  Germain's  collection. 

The  SeapJtites  Cuvieri  is  more  perfect  than  any  other  hitherto 
found,  excepting  only  the  specimen  in  Mr.  Conrad's  cabinet, 
and  which  is  figured  in  Dr.  Morton's  synopsis  of  organic  re- 
mains. 

The  Bacuiitcs  ovatus  of  Say,  heretofore  a  very  rare  species, 
is  here  represented  by  nearly  twenty  finely  characterised 
specimens.  The  Nautilus  Dekayi  is  also  almost  perfect ;  and 
the  Ammonites  placenta,  Pholadomya  occidentalis,  Pecten 
quinquecostatus,  a  Strombus,  Turritella,  and  various  other 
genera,  are  found  in  this  remarkable  series,  which  was 
obtained  from  a  single  marl  excavation,  about  five  miles  east 
of  Burlington,  in  New  Jersey. 


Meeting  for  Business,  March  31,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  following  notice 
by  Prof.  Locke,  (contained  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Dr.  Mor- 
ton, and  read  at  the  meeting  of  March  10th,)  of  an  Asterias 
from  the  blue  limestone  of  Cincinnati,  reported  in  favor  of 
publication. 

"I  herewith  send  you  a  drawing  of  an  Asterias  from  the  blue 
limestone  of  Cincinnati.     It  seems  to  be  five-rayed  and  free,  thu? 


March,  1846.] 


3o 


differing  essentially  from  the  "  Agelacrinites"  (Asteriacrinites) 
of  the  New  York  reports,  which  is  also  found  here,  attached, 
almost  always,  to  a  Strophomena  or  some  other  large  shell,  but 
rather  rare.  This  last  it  will  be  recollected,  has  five  rays  ex- 
tended on  an  acicular  disk,  reaching  even  beyond  the  rays.  The 
specimen  from  which  this  drawing  has  been  made,  i3  so  far  as  I 
know,  the  only  one  which  has  been  found  here ;  it  is  therefore 
rare.  Whether  it  be  identical  with  an  Asterias  described  by  Dr- 
Troost  as  occurring  in  the  rocks  of  Tennessee,  I  cannot  say,  as  I 
have  never  seen  his  account. 


Asterias  antiquata. — Blue   limestone,    Cincinnati. 

a,  An  entiochite. 

b,  Atrypa  minnta? 

c,  Ceriopora  milliporacea.     Locke. 


34  [March,  1846. 

"  I  saw  in  the  proceedings  of  your  Society  a  notice  of  Dr.  Tay- 
lor's specimens,  describing  them  as  from  the  carboniferous  lime- 
done.  Mr.  Featherstonhaugh  and  Dr.  Troost  have  given  authori- 
ty, I  believe,  for  calling  this  limestone  the  carboniferous,  and  in 
a  paper  read  before  our  geological  Association,  I  maintained  the 
same  views  chiefly  from  Lithological  characters.  The  more  ac- 
curate test  by  the  fossil  remains,  I  am  convinced  determines  our 
limestone  to  be  the  equivalent  of  the  Lower  Silurian.  With  this 
view  it  is  interesting  to  find  the  Asterias  at  so  low  a  point  in  the 
geological  column ;  as  it  was  formerly  supposed  not  to  extend 
below  even  the  secondary  rocks." 


The  Committee  on  Mr.  Edward  Harris's  paper  on  the  dif- 
ference of  level  between  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
and  those  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  reported  in  favor  of  pub- 
lication. 

On   the  Difference  of  Level  between  the    Waters  of  the   Gulf  of 
Mexico  and  those  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

By  Edward  Harris. 

While  on  a  passage  along  the  coast  of  Florida  in  the  spring  of 
1844,  in  the  U.  S.  Revenue  Cutter  Nautilus,  Capt.  Waldron, 
having  on  board  Mr.  Stacy,  U.  States  Commissioner  for  the  in- 
spection of  the  Lighthouses,  we  stopped  on  the  28th  of  April  to 
examine  at  Key  Biscayne,  the  ruins  of  the  lighthouse  burnt  by 
the  Indians  in  1836.  The  next  day  we  took  the  boats  with  kegs 
to  procure  water  for  the  vessel ;  passed  inside  of  Cape  Florida, 
and  ascended  the  Miami  River  about  five  miles  to  where  it  issues 
from  the  Everglades.  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  water 
from  the  everglades  falls  into  the  river  over  an  exceedingly 
porous  limestone  rock  resembling  Travertine,  so  open,  that  in  nu- 
merous places  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  which  are  about  two 
hundred  yards  in  length,  the  water  spouts  up  from  the  small 
round  holes  in  the  rock,  in  little  natural  fountains  of  from  one  foot 
to  eighteen  inches  in  height.  I  estimated  the  fall  at  from  seven 
to  eight  feet,  which  cannot  be  far  from  the  truth,  as  there  is  a  mill 
at  their  foot  for  grinding  the  Coontic  root,  {Zamia  integrifolia , 


April,  1846.]  35 

from  which  the  Florida  arrow  root  is  made,)  having  a  dam  six  feet 
high, with  a  fall  in  the  tail-race  to  high  water  in  the  river,  of  not  less 
than  18  inches.  There  had  been  a  severe  drought  of  five  months, 
and  the  bed  of  the  everglades  was  quite  dry,  with  the  exception  of 
the  brook  running  over  the  rapids,  which,  as  far  up  as  I  explored  it, 
lay  upon  the  travertine  rock,  at  about  eighteen  inches  below  the 
level  bed  of  the  everglades  of  hard  sand,  and  covered  with  a  strong 
wiry  grass  from  two  to  three  feet  high.  This  fact  of  the  fall  of  the 
waters  of  the  everglades  into  the  Atlantic,  has,  so  far  as  I  can  as- 
certain, hitherto  remained  unpublished  ;  nor  have  I  been  able  to 
learn  that  it  was  known  to  our  officers  during  the  war.  Their  op- 
erations were  principally  on  the  Gulf  side  of  the  Peninsula,  where 
they  entered  and  passed  long  distances  into  the  everglades  without 
meeting  with  obstruction  to  the  boat  navigation.  It  appears  to  me 
that,  considered  in  connection  with  the  great  rapidity  of  the  Grulf 
6tream  in  passing  through  the  Straits  of  Florida,  indicating  a  flow 
from  a  higher  level,  this  fall  is  a  very  strong  link  in  the  chain  of 
evidence  which  goes  to  prove  that  the  sea  is  at  a  higher  level  on  the 
Western  than  on  the  Eastern  coast  of  the  peninsula  of  Florida. 


ELECTION. 


The  Rev.  Thomas   S.   Savage,  M.  D.,  of  Cape  Palmas, 
Africa,  was  elected  a  Correspondent. 


Slated  Meeting,  April  7,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

A  large  collection  of  Reptilia,  in  spirits,  from  Brazil.  Pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Edward  Donnelly,  through  Mr.  Cassin. 

A  very  fine  collection  of  African  shells,  presented  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Savage,  of  Monrovia,  through  Mr.  Phillips,  con- 
sisting of  the  following : 


36 

Solen  Guineensia 

Thracia :  ■ 

Mactra  Saulii 
M.  exoleta  ? 
Lucina 


[April,  1846. 


Cerithiuni  granulatum 
Melania  aurita 

Melanipus 

Pleurotoma 


L.  columbella 
Psammobia  galathea  ? 
Tellina  strigosa 


Cancellaria  cancellata 

Triton  : 

Fusus  nifat 
Buccinum  • 


Oyrena  

Venus  plicata 
Venus 


V.  rotundata 
Oytherea  floridella 
C  prostrata 
Cardium  ringens 
C.  costatum 
Cardita  ajar 
Area  senilis 

Pecten 

Helix  Blandingiana 
Achatina  involuta 
Pupa  capitata 
Cerithiuni  muricatum. 


Purpura  coronata 
P.  neritoidea 
Terebra  senegalensis 
Cassis  fasciata 
Murex  cornutus 
Strombus  bubonius 

Turritella 

Marginella  cornea 
M.  Adansonii 
M.  persicula 
Oliva  acuminata 
0.  hiatula 
Voluta  Neptuni 
Conus  papilionaceus 


Mounted  specimen  of  Strix  nyctea,  from  the  vicinity  of  Phila- 
delphia.    From  Mr.  John  Churchman,  through  Mr.  Cassin. 

Two  specimens  of  fossiliferous  iron  ore,  from  the  vicinity  of 
Cumberland,  Md.     From  Prof.  Johnson. 

Albino  specimen  of  Scalops  Canadensis,  from  Moorestown, 
N.  J.     From  Mr.  Edward  Harris. 

DONATIONS   TO   LIBRARY. 

Report  of  the  Exploring  Expedition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains 
in  1842,  and  to  Oregon  and  California  in  1843  and  1844. 
By  Brevet  Capt.  J.  C.  Fremont.  Washington :  1845.  From 
Jos.  R.  Ingersoll,  Esq. 

Another  copy  of  the  same.     From  Prof.  Johnson. 


April,  1846.]  37 

Report  on  Atlantic  Mail  Steamers,  by  the  Committee  of  Con- 
gress on  Post  Offices  and  Post  Roads.  Read  March  27th, 
1846.     From  Jos.  R.  Ingersoll,  Esq. 

Seventeenth  Annual  Report  of  the  Inspectors  of  the  Eastern 
State  Penitentiary  of  Pennsylvania.  Philadelphia,  1846. 
From  Dr.  Morton. 

The  London  Athenaeum  for  Aug.  and  Sept.,  1843,  containing 
several  papers  of  interest  in  Natural  Science.  From  Dr. 
Wm.  Blanding. 

The  following  pamphlets  were  received  from  Richard  K. 
Haight,  Esq.,  of  New  York. 

Memoire  sur  le  traitement  de  l'alienation  mentale,  par  M.  le 
Dr.  A.  Petit.  Paris,  1843.  De  la  meningite  cerebro- 
rachidienne,  et  de  l'encephalo-meningite  epidemiques :  par 
J.  F.  Rollet.  Paris,  1844.  Nouvelle  methode  de  traite- 
ment de  l'empoisonnement  par  l'arsenic,  &c. :  par  M.  Rog- 
netta,  D.  M.  P.     Paris,  1840. 


The  Chairman  read  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  M.  Agassiz, 
dated  from  Neufchatel,  Switzerland,  acknowledging  the  re- 
ceipt of  his  notice  of  election  as  a  Correspondent,  and  an- 
nouncing his  intention  of  visiting  this  country  for  scientific 
purposes  during  the  present  year. 


Prof.  Johnson  informed  the  Society  that  he  had  presented 
in.  person  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Library  Committee  of 
Congress,  a  copy  of  the  resolutions  passed  at  a  recent  meeting 
of  the  Society,*  asking  for  an  increased  edition  of  the  scien- 
tific reports  of  the  late  South  Sea  Exploring  Expedition,  and 
stated  that  the  committee  were  favorably  disposed  towards 
the  measure. 

*See  page  18  of  last  number. 


38  [April,  1846. 

Stated  Meeting,  April  14,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

Fine  specimen  of  Pecten  Mortoni,  Ravenel  ;  from  the 
Miocene  of  Soutb  Carolina.     From  Dr.  Morton. 

An  additional  series  of  fossils  from  the  green  sand  near  Bur- 
lington, N.  J.,  including  also  fine  specimens  of  Clypeaster 
florealis,  and  Trochus  leprosus ;  also  a  large  and  a  small 
tooth  and  two  vertebrae  of  Mosasaurus  occidentalis.  From 
Mr.  Lewis  Germain,  of  Burlington. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  ten  mummied  Peruvian  crania,  and 
two  entire  mummied  bodies  in  their  wrappings ;  collected 
by  Mr.  William  A.  Foster,  of  this  city,  at  the  cemetery  of 
Arica. 

Specimen  of  Pholadomya  occidentalis,  from  the  cretaceous 
deposits  of  New  Jersey.     From  Dr.  Morton. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

American  Quarterly  Journal  of  Science  and  Agriculture ;  by 
Drs.  E.  Emmons  and  A.  J.  Prince.  Vol.  2,  No.  2.  Albany, 
1845.     From  the  Editors. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.  2d  Series,  No.  2. 
March,  1846.     From  the  Editors. 

Annals  of  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New  York. 
Vol.  4,  No.  5.     New  York :  1846.     From  the  Lyceum. 

Notices  of  new  localities  of  rare  minerals  and  reasons  for 
uniting  several  supposed  distinct  species.  By  Francis 
Alger.  (From  the  Boston  Journal  of  Natural  History.) 
From  the  Author. 

Descriptions  of  some  new  species  of  shells.  By  John  H.  Red- 
field.  (From  the  4th  vol.  of  Annals  of  Lyceum  of  Natural 
History  of  New  York.)     From  the  Author. 

Mineral  lands  of  the  United  States.  A  message  from  the 
President  of  the  United  States  in  reply  to  a  resolution  of 


April,  1846.]  39 

the  House  of  Representatives  of  6th  of  January  last,  con- 
cerning the  mineral  lands  of  the  United  States.  From 
J.  R.  Ingersoll,  Esq. 


Dr.  Morton  read  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  addressed 
to  him  by  Prof.  Bailey,  of  West  Point. 

"  I  have  lately  hit  upon  some  processes  for  revealing  vege- 
table structure  in  anthracite  coal,  which  have  yielded  results 
of  unhoped  for  interest  and  beauty.  I  get,  not  mere  traces 
of  parenchymatous  tissue,  as  by  Schultz's  process,  described 
in  Silliman's  Journal,  No.  1,  new  series,  but  I  readily  obtain 
surfaces  of  several  square  inches,  entirely  covered  over  with 
dotted  or  scalariform  vessels,  (bothrenchyma)  in  so  perfect 
a  state,  that  their  minute  markings  may  be  seen  as  easily  as 
upon  the  vessels  of  a  recent  plant. 

"I  can  prepare  these,  either  as  opake  or  transparent 
objects,  and  all  to  whom  I  have  shown  them,  including  Tor- 
rey,  Gray,  Prof.  Henry  and  others,  think  them  very  beautiful. 

"  A  brief  notice  of  these  will  appear  in  the  forthcoming 
number  of  Silliman's  Journal." 

Dr.  Morton  offered  some  remarks  upon  the  additional 
fossils  from  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J.,  presented  this  evening  by 
Mr.  Lewis  Germain.  Among  the  most  remarkable  are  three 
specimens  of  Olypeaster  florealis,  of  which  only  a  single  im- 
perfect specimen  had  hitherto  been  found,  and  which  had 
served  the  purpose  of  specific  description.  The  series  also 
contains  a  fine  specimen  of  the  Trochus  leprosus,  not  before 
found,  north  of  the  cretaceous  beds  of  Alabama.  The  cha- 
racteristic species,  Pecten  quinquecostatus,  and  Baculites 
ovatus,  are  also  among  Mr.  Germain's  collections,  together 
with  a  very  large  and  a  small  tooth,  and  two  vertebrae  of  the 
Mosasaurus  occidentalis,  in  admirable  preservation. 

Dr.  Morton  also  made  the  following  observations  on  the 
Peruvian  remains  deposited  by  him  this  evening. 

These  ten  crania  and  two  mummied  bodies,  were  exhumed 
from  the  Indian    cemetery  at  Arica,  under  the   direction  of  our 


40  [April,  1846. 

member,  Mr.  Wm.  A.  Foster,  now  resident  in  Lima.  "  This 
cemetery/'  observes  Mr.  Foster,  "lies  on  the  face  of  a  sand-hill, 
sloping  towards  the  sea.  The  extent  of  surface  occupied  by  these 
tombs,  as  far  as  we  explored,  I  should  say  was  five  or  six  acres. 
In  many  of  the  tombs  three  or  four  bodies  were  found  clustered 
together,  always  in  the  sitting  posture,  and  wrapped  in  three  or 
four  thicknesses  of  cloth,  with  a  mat  thrown  over  all." 

The  most  interesting  circumstance  connected  with  these  heads 
is  the  fact  that  with  two  exceptions  they  present  the  artificial 
form  of  horizontal  elongation,  though  in  very  variable  degrees. 
The  most  casual  notice  will  convince  any  one,  that  this  conforma- 
tion has  been  in  part  produced  by  compresses  on  the  forehead, 
and  partly,  as  Dr.  Goddard  has  suggested,  by  the  use  of  simple 
rotary  bandages.  Thus  a  double  compress  has  been  applied  to 
the  forehead,  one  bearing  on  each  side  of  the  frontal  suture  of  in- 
fancy ;  these  have  been  kept  in  their  places  by  a  bandage  brought 
from  the  base  of  the  occiput  obliquely  over  the  forehead ;  while  the 
parietal  bones  have  been  depressed  by  carrying  the  same  band- 
age alternately  over  the  top  of  the  head,  immediately  behind  the 
coronal  suture. 

Any  person  who  is  acquainted  with  the  form  and  pliableness 
of  the  infant  head  at  or  soon  after  birth,  will  readily  conceive  how 
effectually  the  above  plan  would  operate  in  moulding  the  cranium 
into  the  elongated  or  cylindrical  form ;  for  while  it  prevents  the 
anterior  portion  from  rising,  and  the  sides  from  expanding,  it  al- 
lows the  occipital  region  an  entire  freedom  of  growth ;  and  thus 
without  diminishing  the  volume  of  the  brain,  merely  forces  it  into  a 
different,  though  unnatural  direction,  and  preserves,  at  the  same 
time,  the  symmetry  of  the  whole  structure. 

The  series  of  skulls  presents,  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner, 
all  the  grades  of  this  process  ;  leaving  no  longer  a  doubt  as  to  the 
.  precise  means  by  which  it  has  been  accomplished. 


Stated  Meeting,  April  21,  1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

Mr.    Gambel    read    a    paper     containing     remarks     on 
the  birds  of  Upper  California,  which  was  referred  to  a  com- 


April,  1846.]  41 

mittee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Cassin,  Townsend  and  Wood- 
house. 

Dr.  Morton  read  a  description  of  two  new  species  of  fossil 
Echinodermata  from  the  Eocene  of  the  United  States.  Re- 
ferred to  Prof.  Johnson,  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor  and  Dr.  Zantzinger. 


Meeting  for  Business,  April  28,  1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  following  paper, 
read  3d  of  March  last,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

On  the  Fossil  Squalidce  of  the  United  States. 
By  Robert  W.  Gibbes,  M.  D.,  of  Columbia,  South  Carolina. 

Upon  a  careful  comparison  of  the  descriptions  and  plates  of  the  admirable 
work  of  Agassiz,  uSur  les  Poissons  Fossiles,"  belonging  to  the  Library  of 
the  South  Carolina  College,  I  have  identified  in  my  collection  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  teeth  of  Squalides.  I  have  three  which  I  cannot  refer  to  any  of 
his  species,  and  therefore  consider  them  probably  new. 

1.  Charcharodon  megalodon,  Agassiz.     Eocene,  S.  C. 

Agassiz  refers  this  to  the  Miocene,  as  Lord  Enniskillen  has  a  specimen 
from  the  "molasse"  of  Switzerland,  and  Mr.  Charlesworth  notices  it  from 
"  the  crag  "  of  England.  My  finest  specimen  measures  six  inches  in  length, 
and  five  across  (he  root. 

2.  Charcharodon  rectideus,  Agassiz.     Post  Pliocene,  S.  C,  from  Eocene. 
This  measures  five  inches  in  length,  and  four  and  a  quarter  inches  across 

the  base  of  the  root.  It  was  sent  to  me  as  found  in  an  excavation  on  the 
suburbs  of  Charleston,  for  the  foundation  of  a  building  at  the  rail  road  depot. 
Beds  of  Post  Pliocene  underlie  that  city,  and  among  the  shells  of  that  forma- 
tion these  teeth  (two)  were  found.  If  no  mistake  occurred,  (as  my  friend 
had  them  twelve  years,)  and  they  were  actually  found  here,  they  were  pro- 
bably washed  down  from  the  Eocene  marl,  which  is  only  a  few  miles  off. 
A.  fine  C.  megalodon  was  found  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  and  occasionally 
other  Eocene  and  Miocene  remains  are  found  on  the  beaches  close  by. 

I  have  classed  it  with  my  Eocene  specimens,  as  Agassiz,  from  a  specimen 
in  the  "  Museum  d'Histoire  Naturelle  de  Paris,"  has  referred  it  to  this 
period.    He  says  :  "  La  nature  des  fragmens  attaches  a  1'  os  basilaire  d'  un« 


42  [April,  1846. 

de  ces  dents  me  fait  presumer  que  c'est  du  calcaire  grossiere."  Note,  p.  250, 
torn.  iii. 

3.  Charcharodon  leptodon,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Locality  unknown.     Ag. 

4.  Charcharodon  megalotis,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Tertiary.  Ag. 

5.  Charcharodon  productns,  Ag.    Eocene,  S.  C.     Swiss  molasse.    Eocene 

Ag. 

6.  Charcharodon  sidcidens,  Ag-     Eocene,  S.  C.     Tertiary.  Ag. 

7.  Chorcharodon  angusiidens,  Ag.     Eocene,   S.   C.     Tertiary  of  Kressen- 

burg.  Ag. 

8.  Charcharodon  heterodon,  Ag.      Eocence,  S.  C.      Tertiary  of  Normandy. 

Ag. 

9.  Charcharodon  semis  err  atus,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Isle  of  Malta.  Ag. 

10.  Charcharodon  turgidus,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Sands  of  Flonheim.     Mio- 

cene. Ag. 

11.  Charcharodon  lanceolalus,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Ferruginous  sand,  Kres- 

senburg.  Ag. 

12.  Charcharodon  poli/gurus,  Ag.    Eocene,  S.  C.     Swiss  molasse.     Eocene. 

Ag- 

13.  Charcharodon  auriculatus,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Dax.     Miocene.  Ag. 

14.  Charchorodo?i  Mortoni,  Gibbes.     Eocene,  S.  C.     New. 

This  tooth  is  four  inches  long,  three  inches  across  the  root,  an  inch  and  a 
half  thick  from  the  most  prominent  part  of  its  anterior  surface  ;  it  is  inequi- 
lateral, with  fine  uniform  dentelures  ;  both  the  anterior  and  posterior  sur- 
faces are  convex,  though  the  former  trebly  so ;  the  enamel  is  thin  and 
cracked  in  striae,  similar  to  the  Lamna  elegans  ;  the  root  or  basilar  bone  i3 
very  thick  and  concave  ;  the  right  extremity  slightly  exceeding  the  left. 

I  propose  to  name  this  fine  species  after  Dr.  S.  G.  Morton,  who  was  the 
first  to  illustrate  our  Tertiary  Geology. 

15.  Corax  (galeus)  pristodontus,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Chalk  of  Maestricht. 

Ag- 

16.  Corax  ("galeus)  (new?)     Eocene, S.  C. 

IT.  Oaleocerdo  minor,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     SwiBS  molasse.  Ag. 

18.  Galeocerdo  latidens,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Unknown.  Ag. 

19.  Hemipristis  serra,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Swiss  molasse.  Ag. 

20.  Hemipristis paucidens,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Unknown.  Ag. 

21.  Lamna  elegans,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Crag  and  London  clay.  Ag. 

22.  Lamna  crassidens,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Inferior  oolite,  &c.  Ag. 

23.  Lamna  Hopei,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Isle  of  Sbeppy.     Eocene.     Ag. 

24.  Lamna  cuspidala,  Ag.    Eocene,  S.  C.    Swiss  molasse.  Ag. 

25.  Otodus  macroius,  Ag.     Cretaceous,  N.  J.     London  clay.  Ag. 

26.  Otodus  appendicular,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Chalk.  Ag. 

27.  Otodus  apiculatus,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Calcaire  de  Veteuil.     Eocene  ? 

Ag.    ' 

28.  Otodus  obliquus,  Ag.    Eocene,  S.  C      Characteristic  of  London  clay. 

Ag. 


April,  1846.]  43 

29.  Oxyrrhina  ziphodon,   Ag.     Eocene  and  Miocene,   S.   C.    Gypsum  of 

Montmartre.  Ag. 

30.  Oxyrrhina  hastalis,  Ag.    N.  Jersey,  and  Eocene,  S.  C.     Swiss  molasse 

Eocene,  Ag. 

31.  Oxyrrhina  mantelli,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  C.     Chalk  of  England.  Ag. 

32.  Oxyrrhina,  (new  ?)     Eocene,  S.  C. 

33.  Oxyrrhina,  (new  ?)     Eocene,  S.  C. 

34.  Oxyrrhina  retrofiexa,  Ag.     Miocene,  S.  C.     Locality  unknown.  Ag. 

35.  Pristis  acutidens,  Ag.     Eocene,  S.  0.    Bagshot,  England.     Eocene.  Ag. 

Rays. 

36.  1.  Myliobates  micropleurus,  Ag.    Eocene,  S.  C.    London  clay.  Ag. 
2.  Myliobates  Owenii,  Ag.    Eocene,  S.  C.     London  clay.  Ag. 

Palatum  Piscium. 

I  have  several  specimens  of  what  is  figured  by  W.  Smith  among  the  spe- 
cimens from  the  crag  of  England  (in  his  prints  on  colored  paper  of  "  Strata 
Identified  by  Organized  Fossils,"  1816,)  as  palates  of  fishes.  I  suppose 
these  are  what  Mr.  I.  Lea  speaks  of  (in  Contributions  to  Geology,  p.  203,) 
as  found  in  the  sand  of  Claiborne,  and  as  figured  by  Brander.  Some  of  them 
are  mineralized  by  iron,  and  others  calcareous  ;  all  which  I  hare  are  from 
the  Eocene. 

Among  my  collection  from  the  Eocene  of  South  Carolina,  I  have  several 
fragments  of  claws  and  casts  of  varieties  of  Cancer.  Two  specimens  are 
well  marked,  and  resemble  closely  Cancer  punctulatus,  Desmarest,  and 
Cancer  Leachii,  Desm. 

I  have  lately  procured  a  tolerably  good  specimen  of  the  remarkable  fossil 
sent  to  the  Academy  by  Dr.  E.  Ravenel,  of  S.  Carolina,  resembling  somewhat 
a  Belemnite.  I  would  respectfully  suggest  the  probability  of  its  being  the 
spine  of  Myriacanthus  paradoxus,  (Agassiz,)  deprived,  by  attrition,  of  its 
tubercles.     Agassiz,  pi.  6,  vol.  iii,  and  p.  38,  vol.  iii. 


44  [April,  1846. 

The  Committee  on  Mr.  Wm.  Gambel's  paper,  read  at  last 
m  eeting,  reported  in  favour  of  publication. 

Remarks  on  the  Birds  observed  in  Upper  California. 

By  William  Gambel. 

ACCIPITRES. 

Cathartes  Californianus,  Shaw.     Californian  Vulture. 

This  immense  and  interesting  bird,  rivalling  the  condor  in  size,  and  con- 
fined exclusively  to  the  Pacific  coast,  is  particularly  abundant  in  California 
during  winter  ;  when  they  probably  come  from  Oregon,  as  they  are  said  to 
disappear  from  the  region  of  the  Columbia  at  that  time. 

It  is  not  always  so  shy  and  difficult  of  approach,  as  has  been  reported,  and 
like  the  Turkey  buzzard,  it  is  most  so  when  solitary,  but  often  ventures  to  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  towns  without  much  fear  of  man.* 

It  is  very  voracious,  and  nothing  less  than  the  carcase  of  a  horse  or  cow  can 
make  a  meal  for  many  of  them ;  but  such  food  is  abundant,  at  least  in  the  fall 
of  the  year,  where  the  dry  pasturage  has  been  destroyed  by  fire,  accidentally 
or  intentionally,  by  the  Indians.  These  fires  extend  over  large  tracts  of  coun- 
try, and  in  consequence  many  cattle  perish,  as  well  as  from  the  summer 
drought. 

It  is  not  uncommon  to  see  them  assemble  with  the  gulls,  and  greedily 
devour  the  carcase  of  a  whale  which  had  been  cast  ashore  ;  they  will  also 
frequently  pursue  wounded  game. 

The  male  in  perfect  plumage  has  the  skin  of  the  head  and  neck  orange- 
yellow,  and  the  irides  carmine. 
Cathartes  aura,  Linn.     Turkey  Vulture. 

The  Turkey  buzzard  is  quite  as  abundant  and  familiar  in  California  as  it 
is  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  United  States.  It  is  seldom  molested,  on  ac- 
count of  its  usefulness  in  ridding  the  neighbourhood  of  the  towns  and  farm 
houses  of  the  refuse  of  the  cattle,  which  are  slaughtered  in  great  numbers. 

*I  may  mention  here  an  instance  of  the  great  disposition  in  the  Vultures  to 
become  domesticated,  and  to  show  how  much  they  differ  in  character  from 
the  other  Accipitres  with  which  they  are  classified.  A  Condor,  which  I  saw 
in  Valparaiso,  Chili,  during  the  early  part  of  last  year,  was  allowed  to  roam 
the  city  at  large,  and  from  its  remarkable  docility  received  kind  treatment 
from  every  one.  It  would  follow  and  walk  alongside  of  a  person  like  a  dog, 
for  a  considerable  distance,  and  offer  no  resistance  to  being  handled  or  have 
its  feathers  or  wings  smoothed  down.  It  would  ascend  a  long  hill  leading  to 
a  part  of  the  city  where  the  foreigners  resided,  and  when  tired  of  the  place, 
or  after  having  obtained  all  it  could  procure  to  eat,  it  would  spread  its  large 
wings  and  soar  down  to  the  city,  alighting  perhaps  on  a  steeple  or  other 
lofty  point.  It  would  receive  the  caresses  of  children,  and  permit  them  to 
beat  it  with  switches,  or  even  to  attempt  to  get  upon  its  back.  It  was  fond 
of  thrusting  its  bill  into  my  pocket,  and  under  the  straps  of  my  pantaloonB, 
at  the  same  time  shutting  its  eyes  and  allowing  me  to  rub  and  scratch  its 
head.  In  fact,  I  think  that  I  have  never  met  with  any  bird  which  exhibited 
more  tameness  or  greater  confidence  in  man  than  this  large  and  remarkable 
Condor.  I  was  informed  that  several  other  similar  instances  had  been  known 
there. 


April,  1846.]  4.r> 

The  Carrion  Crow  (C.  atratus,  Wils.)  is  very  common  about  the  Gulf  o! 
California,  and  at  Mazatlan,  particularly,  may  be  seen  around  the  town  in 
large  gangs.  In  company  with  them  I  think  I  have  also  seen  that  new  and 
perfectly  distinct  species  detected  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy,  and 
described  by  my  friend  Mr.  Cassin.*  Probably  both  may  be  found  in 
Upper  California. 
Haliatus  leucocephalus,  Linn.     Bald  Eagle. 

Abundant ;  in  winter  feeding  on  the  ducks  and  geese  which  cover  the 
plains  in  immense  flocks. 

I  have  found  the  nest  on  high  isolated  rocks  along  the  coast,  containing 
eggs  as  early  as  the  middle  of  February. 

An  interesting  circumstance  connected  with  this  noble  eagle,  as  the  em- 
blem  of  our  country,  is,  that  it  was  held  sacred  by  the  native  tribes  of  Indian? 
of  the  coast  and  interior  of  California,  as  I  have  frequently  been  informed. 

Another  large  brown  Eagle,  the  Aguila  rial,  (probably  the  bird  of  Wash- 
ington,) is  said  by  the  Indians  and  others  to  be  occasionally  observed  here. 
Pandion  Carolinensis,  Gmel.     Fish  Hawk. 

Common  along  the  coast,  particularly  the  rocky  islands,  where  they 
breed.     At  Santa  Catalina  I  found  them  nesting  on  the  precipitous  cliffs, 
in  February,  along  with  the  bald  eagles. 
Butaetes  Sancti  Johannis,  Gmel.     Rough-legged  Buzzard. 

Common  in  the  prairie-valleys  during  winter,  keeping  much  on  the 
ground.     The  adult  in  his  dark  livery,  although  frequently  seen,  is  much 
less  common  than  the  young. 
Buteo  borcalis,  Gmel.     Red-tailed  Buzzard. 
Very  abundant;  as  also  in  the  interior  in  the  ranges  of  the  Rocky  mountains. 
Buteo  lineatus,  Gmel.     Red-shouldered  Buzzard. 

The  shrill  kee  ou  of  this  handsome  species  may  be  heard  at  all  timet 
around  the  vineyards  and  farms  of  the  lower  portions  of  Upper  California, 
where  it  is  more  abundant  than  about  Monterey. 
Bnteo  Swainsoni,  Bonap.     Rocky  Mountain  Buzzard. 
Buteo  viontana,  Nutt.  Man.,  p.  112,  2d  ed. 
B.  vulgaris,  Aud.,  pi.  372,  et  auc. 

This  species  was  first  brought  from  the  far  countries  by  Richardson,  who 
considered  it  identical  with  the  European  Buteo  vulgaris. 

Bonaparte  in  his  comparative  list  of  the  birds  of  Europe  and  America,  dis- 
tinguishes it  by  the  specific  name  of  Swainsoni,  quoting  Audubon's  descrip- 
tion and  plate  of  the  specimen  brought  from  Oregon  by  Townsend. 

My  friend  Nuttall  retains  the  common  buzzard  as  an  inhabitant  of  the  fur 
countries,  on  the  authority  of  Richardson,  and  refers  Bonaparte's  synonym 
to  that  species,  describing  this,  which  he  considers  sufficiently  distinct,  un- 
der the  name  of  White-throated  Buzzard,  Buteo  montanus. 

Richardson  describes  the  nest  as  containing-from  three  to  five  eggs,  equal 

*Cathartes  Burrovianus,  Cassin,  Proc.  Acad,  Nat.  Sciences,  vol.  2,  p.  212. 

6 


46  [April,  1846. 

in  size  to  those  of  the  common  fowl,  and  of  a  greenish  white  colour,  with 
n  few  dark  brown  blotches  at  the  thick  end.  Townsend,  who  brought  it 
from  the  Rocky  mountains,  found  it  breeding  there  in  July,  the  nest  con- 
Mining  two  white  eggs. 

A.  L.  Heermann,  M.D.,  during  a  recent  trip  to  the  prairies,  found  this 
species  breeding  near  the  Platte  River,  and  also  procured  the  eggs,  of  which 
he  kindly  furnished  me  with  a  drawing  and  description.  It  is  considerably 
smaller  than  that  of  the  European  buzzard,  and  differs  from  it  in  being  pure 
white,  with  a  few  dark  brown  blotches  on  the  smaller  end,  while  the  latter  is 
of  a  bluish  or  greenish  tinge,  with  faded  marks  of  a  neutral  tint,  apparently 
sunk  into  the  shell,  and  scattering  blotches  of  dark  brown.  The  account 
given  me  of  its  nest  by  Dr.  Heermann  agrees  so  exactly  with  that  of  Rich- 
ardson, that  I  have  no  doubt  of  its  being  the  same  bird. 
Elanusleucurus,  Bonap.     White-tailed  Elanus. 

This  active,  beautiful  hawk,  is  not  unfrequent  in  California.  At  the  mission 
of  St.  John,  between  Monterey  and  St.  Francisco,  I  procured  three  specimens 
in  one  day.  It  flies  low  and  circling  over  the  plains  in  the  manner  of  a 
marsh  hawk,  feeding  on  the  small  birds  which  are  so  abundant  on  the 
ground.  It  is  easy  of  approach  when  perched  on  trees,  and  utters  a  very 
loud  shrill  cry,  particularly  when  wounded  and  caught,  fighting  viciously. 

Falco  anatum,  Bonap.     Peregrine  Falcon. 

Occasionally  seen  along  the  coast,  nesting  on  cliffs  near  the  sea. 
Falco  Columbarius,  Linn.     Pidgeon  Falcon. 

Common  throughout  the  Western  coast. 
Cercneis  Sparverius,  Linn.     Sparrow  Hawk. 

This  familiar  little  species  is  abundant  throughout  the  country. 

Astur  Fuscus,  Gmel.     Sharp-shinned  hawk. 

Our  pugnacious  and  daring  little  marauder  appears  to  be  distributed 
over  the  whole  of  N.  America. 

Astur  Cooperii,  Bonap.     Cooper's  Hawk. 

The  most  remarkable  similarity  exists  between  the  plumage  of  this  spe- 
cies and  the  former  in  every  age  ;  and  although  the  great  difference  in  size 
renders  it  impossible  to  mistake  them,  I  think  that  if  we  depended  upon 
the  plumage  alone,  no  sufficiently  distinguishing  marks  could  be  given. 
We  find,  in  fact,  in  every  department  of  natural  science,  that  those  cha- 
racters, which  in  one  genus  or  family  can  be  relied  upon  as  showing 
specific  differences,  are,  in  others,  almost  useless,  or  at  best  perplexing. 

This  bird  is  common  throughout  the  Pacific  coast. 

^trigiceps  uliyinosus,  Gmel.     Marsh  Hawk. 

In  low  valleys  or  marshes  throughout  California,  the  Rocky  mountains, 
and  New  Mexico,  we  are  sure  to  find  this  widely  disseminated  species. 
Bubo  Vii-ginianus,  Grmel.     Great  Horned,  or  Cat  Owl. 

Common  in  the  wooded  regions  of  Upper  California, 


April,  184b\]  47 

Athene  aocialis,  Nobis.     Burrowing  Owh 

Sfrix  cunicidaria,  Bonap.,  Aud.,  Nutt. 

This  bird,  which  hitherto  has  been  considered  the  same  throughout  the 
wide  range  of  North  and  South  America,may,I  think,  be  separated  on  as  good 
grounds  as  many  of  the  owls  which  are  generally  admitted  to  be  distinct.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  repeat  here  the  excellent  descriptions  which  have  been  given 
by  Bonaparte  and  Audubon  of  N.  American  specimens  of  the  burrowing  owl 
I  shall  merely  state  wherein  I  think  ours  differs  from  the  S.  American  species 

1  conceive  it  to  differ  in  the  general  colour,  being  lighter  in  our  species, 
with  the  markings  and  quills  usually  of  a  pale  yellowish  or  cinnamon  hue 
while  in  the  other  the  colour  is  always  much  deeper  and  approaching  dusky. 

The  most  marked  difference  exists  in  the  feet  and  legs,  which  are  in  ours 
slender  and  delicate,  while  in  the  other  they  are  longer  and  much  stouter. 

The  wing3  are  shorter,  and  have  the  first  and  fifth  quills  equal,  if  any- 
thing, the  first  longest:  in  the  S.  American  the  fifth  quill  is  considerably 
ionger  than  the  first. 

The  bill  in  ours  is  smaller  in  every  way,  and  of  a  dusky  horn  colour,  ex- 
cept at  the  ridge  and  edges  ;  in  the  other  it  appears  to  be  dusky  only  at  the 
base. 

But  how  can  either  of  these  agree  with  the  description  given  of  the  Co- 
'juimbo  owl,  by  Brisson,  as  being  so  much  larger,  with  the  tail  of  a  dirty- 
white  colour  and  immaculate  ? 

I  have  seen  this  bird  in  New  and  Old  Mexico,  on  the  Rocky  mountains, 
and  in  California  ;  in  each  place  presenting  little  difference  in  its  habits.  It 
always  lives  in  burrows  in  the  ground,  either  solitary,  as  I  have  frequently 
seen  it,  or  in  small  companies.  If  it  can  avail  itself  of  the  labours  of  othe? 
animals,  it  will  always  do  so,  so  that  it  is  a  constant  interloper  in  the  habi- 
tations of  the  prairie  dogs,  and  in  California  in  those  of  the  large  ground 
squirrel,  which  is  there  so  very  common.  It  however  often  digs  for  itself, 
and  lives  in  scattered  companies  of  four  or  five. 

Xuttall  is,  I  think,  mistaken  with  regard  to  its  migrating  from  California 
in  August.     I  have  seen  it  there  at  all  periods  of  the  year. 

On  the  prairies  its  note  is  said  to  resemble  that  of  Marmots,  with  which  it 
is  associated.  The  account  which  Yieillot  gives  of  its  nocturnal  habits  and 
note,  has  been  doubted  by  Bonaparte  and  my  friend  Nuttall.  During  the 
breeding  season,  while  sleeping  near  their  burrows,  I  have  been  awakened 
by  its  low,  measured  and  solemn  cry,  uttered  much  in  the  manner  of  its 
^on^eners,  but  peculiarly  solemn. 
Nyctale  Acadica,  Gmel.     Little  Night  Owl. 

I  procured  but  one  specimen  of  this  species  at  Monterey  in  October. 

Strix pratnicola,  Bonap.     Barn  Owl. 

This  delicate  feathered  and  familiar  fowl,  which,  hitherto,  I  believe  has  not 
been  known  to  exist  west  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  I  found  very  abundantly  in 
California,  and  presenting  all  the  habits  ascribed  to  its  European  relative.  Its 
favorite  resort  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  towns  and  ruined  Missions,  al- 
though it  may  he  found  also  about  farm  houses, and  occasionallyin  the  prairie 
valleys,  which  furnish  it  with  abundance  of  mice  and  other  small  animals  for 


48  [April,  1846. 

subsistence.  It  makes  its  nest  under  the  tiled  roofs  of  the  houses  of  the  towns, 
numbers  under  one  roof,  and  shows  but  little  fear  when  approached.  I  have 
scarcely  ever  visited  a  mission  without  disturbing  some  of  these  birds,  which 
were  roosting  about  the  altar,  chandelier,  &c,  of  the  chapel,  and  hearing 
the  bendition  of  the  Padre  for  drinking  all  the  oil  out  of  the  lamps.  Every 
where  in  California,  when  speaking  of  it,  we  are  sure  to  be  told  of  its  pro- 
pensity for  drinking  the  sacred  oil ;  with  what  truth  I  cannot  say. 

The  specimens  which  I  have  examined  agree  in  every  respect  with  those 
from  this  side  of  the  continent,  and  present  the  constant  characters  given 
by  Audubon  to  distinguish  it  from  the  European  species. 

(To  be  continued.) 


The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Correspondents  of 
the  Academy. 

William  M.  Baird,  of  Reading,  Pa. 

William  Gourlie,  Jr.,  Esq.,  of  Glasgow,  Scotland. 

Nicolai  Aall,  of  Christiana,  Sweden, 

And  Mr.  Lewis  Germain,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  was 
elected  a  Member  of  the  same. 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


ACADEMY   OF    NATURAL   SCIENCES 

OF     PHILADELPHIA. 

Vol.  III.  MAY  AND  JUNE,  1846.  No.  3. 

Stated  Meeting,  May  12,  1846. 
Mr.  Phillips  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

A  History  of  British  fossil  mammalia  and  birds.  By  Richard 
Owen,  F.  R.  S.  Part  xi.  London :  Dec.,  1845.  From 
Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson. 

Bulletin  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  Vol.  1, 
No.  5.     From  the  Society. 

Proceedings  of  the  Providence  Franklin  Society.  Vol.  1, 
No.  1.     From  the  Society. 

A  Geological  map  of  England  and  Wales.  From  Roderick 
Impey  Murchison,  Esq.,  of  London,  through  Professor 
Silliman. 

Annual  Report  of  the  Leeds  Philosophical  Society  for  1844 
and  '45.     From  the  Society. 


Dr.  Hallowell  read  a  paper,  entitled  '  Some  account  of  the 
Anatomy  of  the  Harpyia  destructor,  or  Harpy  Eagle  of  S. 
America.'  Referred  to  a  committee  consisting  of  Drs.  Morton, 
Bridges  and  Leidy. 

8 


50  [May,  1846. 

Dr.  Hallowell  also  read  a  description  of  a  new  species  of 
bat  from  Western  Africa,  which  was  referred  to  Mr.  Cassin, 
Drs.  Leidy  and  Zantzinger. 

Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper  entitled  "  Remarks  on  the  Anatomy 
of  the  abdominal  viscera  of  the  Sloth,  Bradypus  tridactylus, 
L.,"  accompanied  with  two  drawings  representing  the  uterus 
containing  an  embryo,  and  the  embryo  with  its  membranes. 
Referred  to  Drs.  Morton,  Hallowell  and  Goddard. 


Stated  Meeting,  May  19,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 
Specimen,   in  spirits,    of  Pteropus  Haldemani,  Hallowell,  a 

new  species  of  bat  from  Western  Africa,  described  by  Dr. 

Hallowell  in  a  paper  read  at  last  meeting.     Presented  by 

Dr.  Hallowell. 
Jaw  of  a  Shark,  taken  off  Cape  Island,  N.  J.  ;  also  the  beak 

or  muzzle   of  Squalus  pristis,   Linn.,   (common   Saw-fish,) 

from  the  same  locality.     Presented  by  Dr.  C.  W.  Pennock. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  Jan., 
1846.     From  the  Society. 

A  Synopsis  of  the  Fishes  of  North  America.  By  David 
Humphreys  Storer,  M.  D.  4to.  Cambridge:  1846.  From 
the  Author. 

American  Journal  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  Vol.  1,  No.  3.  New 
series.     From  the  Editors. 

American  Quarterly  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science,  con- 
ducted Drs.  Emmons  and  Prime.  Vol.  3,  No.  2.  From 
the  Editors. 


Prof.  Johnson  offered  some  observations  on  the  subject  of 
floating  docks,  illustrating,  by  means  of  models  and  drawings, 
the  principles  of  construction,  and  their  application  to  prac- 
tical purposes. 


May,  1846.]  51 

Meeting  for  Business,  May  26,  1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Monthly  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was 
read  and  adopted. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  following,  re- 
ported in  favor  of  publication. 


C5> 


Descriptions  of  Two  New   Species  of  Fossil  Uchinodermata,  from 
the  Eocene  of  the  United  States. 

By  Samuel  George  Morton,  M.  D. 

Genus  Cidaris. 

C.  Alahamensis.  Compressed,  pentagonal,  the  angles  rounded 
so  as  to  form  a  ten-sided  figure.  Ten  rows  of  tubercles,  with 
nine  or  ten  in  each  row.  Ambulacra  arranged  in  five  pairs, 
with  delicate,  slightly  oblique  fissures  separated  by  a  double  ele- 
vated line.  Surface  between  the  tubercles  and  ambulacra  finely 
granulated. 

Genus  Galerites. 

G.  ?  Agassii.  Elevated,  hemispherical,  with  four  pairs  of  am. 
bulacra  which  diverge  from  the  apex  and  meet  at  the  margin, 
having  each  two  rows  of  pores  connected  by  transverse  fissures. 
Surface  marked  by  numerous,  distinct  granulations,  which  are 
continued  over  the  whole  base  of  the  fossil. 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  dedicating  this  remarkable  species  to 
M.  Louis  Agassiz,  whose  profound  researches  into  this  class  of 
organized  beings  have  thrown  much  new  light  on  their  structure, 
affinities  and  geological  relations. 

Both  these  fossils  were  found  by  Dr.  Albert  Koch,  in  the  Eocene 
strata  of  "Washington  Co.,  Alabama,  and  by  him  politely  submit- 
ted to  me  for  description. 


52  [May,  1846. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  a  description  of  a 
new  bat  from  Western  Africa,  by  Dr.  Hallowell,  reported  in 
favor  of  publication. 

Description  of  a  New   Species  of  Bat  from   Western  Africa. 

By  Edward  Halo  well,  M.  D. 

PTEROPUS  Haldemani. 

Description. — General  expression  ferocious;  head  resembling 
that  of  a  dog ;  ears  of  moderate  size,  smooth  for  the  most  part, 
obtuse  at  the  tip,  hairy  at  base  externally ;  there  is  no  tragus ;  body 
dark  brown  above;  neck,  occiput  and  vertex  same  color,  but 
lighter  than  upon  the  back  ;  wings  and  interfemoral  membrane 
of  a  sienna  brown  color  above  and  below;  thorax  and  upper 
part  of  abdomen  and  sides  brown  ;  the  rest  of  the  abdomen  is 
white;  there  are  two  long  and  thin  hairs  upon  the  muzzle;  lips 
full,  nostrils  prominent,  their  margins  being   surrounded  by  a  fold 

of  the  skin  ;  eyes  rather  large,  irides ;  wings  long  ;  that  portion 

of  the  membrane  included  between  the  phalanges  naked,  the  re- 
mainder more  or  less  hairy  above  and  below  ;  upper  surface  of 
the  interfemoral  membrane  hairy,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
part  at  its  posterior  extremity  which  is  naked  ;  under  surface  also 
hairy,  but  much  less  so  than  upper ;  no  tail ;  tibia  and  fibula  in- 
cluded within  the  membranes;  four  slender  toes,  compressed,  of 
nearly  equal  length,  the  outer  one  being  a  little  shorter  than  the 
others;  they  are  sparsely  furnished  with  thin  hairs,  varying  in 
length  ;  the  terminal  phalanx  of  each  is  provided  with  a  robust, 
sharp  and  ineurvated  nail.  The  index  finger  like  the  thumb  is 
also  furnished  with  a  short  and  ineurvated  nail. 

Measurements.  Inches. 

Total  length, 3£ 

Length  of  head,  .....         If 

Distance  between  anterior  margin  of  nostril  and  ante- 
rior canthus  of  eve,  -         -         -         -         -         I  J_ 

10 

Distance  between  angle  of  mouth  and  anterior  can- 
thus  of  eye,             -               f 

Length  of  neck,  body  and  tail,            ...  3 

Length  of  forearm,            .....  3 

Length  of  tibia,         -        ...         .         .         -  lj 

Spread,              14} 

Length  of  thumb.               | 


May,  1846.]  53 

Dental  Formula. 

Incisors.  Canines.  False  Molars.  Molars 

2 2  1 1  1 1  2 2 


-1 


This  species  I  have  named  after  my  esteemed  friend,  S.  S.  Haldeman, 
Esq.,  author  of  the  N.  American  Liinniades,  who  obtained  it  with 
other  African  animals  from  Dr.  Groheen,  Physician  to  the  American 
Colonization  Society. 

Descriptions  of  New  Species  of  Coleoptera  of  the  United  States. 

By  F.  E.  Melsheimer,  M.  D. 

(Continued  from  Vol.  2.  page  318.  ) 

Cantharida,  Leach. 

Cantharis,  Geoffr. 

Lytta  atrata.     Body  black,  immaculate,  Fabr.  Syst.  El.  ii.  70. 

Var.  ?  a.  Black,  with  the  head  obscurely  rufous.  3—1  1.  long.  Lytta  convolvuli, 
Melsh.  MS. 

It  is  much  smaller  than  the  atrata,  and  differs  from  that  species,  aside  of  other 
characters,  in  being  more  obviously  ashy-pubescent  on  the  lateral  margins  of  the 
elytra. 

Both  occur  on  the  flowers  of  bind  weed,  {Convolvulus  sepium,  L.) 

C.  nigricornis.  Blackish,  clothed  with  a  dense  yellowish-ashy  pubescence. 
3  1.  long.     Alabama. 

Blackish  or  dark  brownish,  densely  yellowish  pubescent ;  head  with  the  medial 
impressed  line  distinct ;  antennae  longer  than  the  thorax,  slightly  thickened  in 
the  middle,  with  the  second  joint  a  little  smaller  than  the  fifth;  black,  glabrous  ; 
eyes  blackish  ;  labrum  and  palpi  black;  thorax  with  the  sides  almost  parallel, 
with  the  dorsal  line  distinct;  beneath  and  feet  as  above. 

Zonitis,  Fabr, 

Z.  lineata.  Testaceous-yellow  ;  elytra  pale  testaceous,  with  a  broad  vitta  and 
tibiae  dusky.     4  1.  long;  1^1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Crioceris  lineata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Testaceous-yellow;  head  deeply  and  densely  punctured,  with  the  vertex  im- 
punctured,  shining;  mandibles  with  the  apical  half  piceous-black;  palpi  dull 
testaceous  ;  antenna? :  two  basal  joints  brownish  ;  thorax  transverse,  round- 
ed, glossy,  with  a  few  scattered  punctures  ;  medial  line  feebly  impressed  :  scu- 
tellum  color  of  the  thorax,  densely  punctulate,  with  the  tip  impunctured  ;  elytra 
testaceous,  rugulose,  somewhat  distantly  punctulate  ;  each  with  a  broad,  lon- 
gitudinal reddish-brown  band  in  the  middle,  which  attains  neither  the  base  nor 
the  apex  ;  two  or  three  narrow,  obsolete,  raised  lines :  beneath,  femora,  and 
tarsi  color  of  the  thorax  and  head  ;  tibiae  and  knees  dusky  ;  tarsi  simple  ;  claws, 
besides  being  cleft,  are  distinctly  pectinate,  and  each  claw  furnished  with  along 
hair  from  near  the  base. 

2.  Z.  mandibular  is.  Crioceris  mandibular  is,  Melsh.  MS,  Form  and  size  of  the 
preceding. 


54  [May,  1846. 

Color  of  the  head,  palpi,  mandibles,  body  beneath,  femora  and  tarsi,  as  in  the 
preceding  ;  eyes  as  in  the  preceding,  black  ;  head  and  thorax  punctured  as  in 
the  preceding;  the  latter  each  side  of  the  middle  with  a  short,  longitudinal 
profound  impression;  scutel  as  in  the  preceding;  elytra  uniform,  very  pale 
testaceous,  lessrugulose,  and  more  closely  and  distinctly  punctured  than  in  the 
preceding,  otherwise  as  in  the  preceding;  tibiae  darker  than  the  femora,  and 
each,  as  in  the  preceding,  with  two  spines  at  tip  ;  claws  as  in  the  preceding. 

Nemognatha,  Illig. 

N.  bimaculata.  Black ;  thorax  yellow,  with  two  blackish  spots.  3  1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Black,  densely  black  hirsute  :  head  profoundly  and  densely  punctured  ;  an- 
tennae black,  filiform,  with  the  second  joint  smallest,  the  following  subequal, 
first  and  second  joint  rather  hirsute  ;  eyes  black  ;  a  triangular  dull  rufous  spot 
between  the  antennae  ;  mandibles  testaceous,  with  the  tips  and  labrum  piceous  : 
thorax  yellowish,  much  and  finely  punctured,  narrower  than  the  head,  narrower 
at  base  than  before  the  middle ;  angles  rounded  ;  basal  edge  straight  ;  sides 
straight  from  the  base  to  the  anterior  curve  ;  each  side  of  the  middle  before  the 
base,  with  a  roundish  oval  brownish  spot:  elytra  finely  shagreened,  with  two 
longitudinal,  oblique,  raised  lines  before  the  middle,  very  obscurely  defined  ; 
wings  fuliginous  :  beneath  as  above  ^posterior  and  intermediate  feet  blackish  : 
anterior  ones  brownish. 

CEdemeridce,  Leach. 

ISCHNOMBKA,   Steph. 

I.  unicolor.  Black ;  elytra  with  three  faint  longitudinal  raised  lines.  3  1- 
long.     Pennsylvania. 

Necydalis  unicolor,  Melsh.  MS. 

Black,  opake :  head  very  minutely  punctured  and  wrinkled,  with  the  front 
dull  cyaneous  ;  tip  of  the  clypeus  testaceous  ;  labrum  black  ;  antennae  fuscous> 
with  two  basal  joints  and  palpi  dull  testaceous  :  thorax  punctured  like  the  head, 
each  side  before  the  middle  somewhat  depressed  ;  sides  behind  the  anterior  mar- 
gin abruptly  deflexed,  and  there  on  the  lateral  margins  a  fine,  short,  transverse 
raised  line  ;  medial  space  somewhat  flattened,  with  an  obsolete  raised  dorsal  line: 
elytra  finely  shagreened,  with  three  fine,  rather  obsolete  lines,  beneath  black- 
cyaneous  :  feet  blackish-brown,  tibiae  and  tarsi  paler,  all  with  a  bluish  reflexion. 

Nacerda,   Stev. 

1.  N.  lateralis.  Rufo-testaceous,  eyes,  lateral  margins  of  the  thorax  and 
elytra,  and  abdomen,  blackish.     4  1.  long ;  1  1.  wide,    Pennsylvania. 

Rufo-testaceous,  finely  ashy-pubescent,  finely  shagreened  :  antennae ;  la- 
brum long,  indented  at  tip;  palpi  testaceous  ;  eyes  large,  round,  deep  black  : 
thorax  rather  oblong,  narrowed  posteriorly ;  faintly  impressed  in  front  of  the 
scutel,  and  even  less  so  each  side  of  the  middle  behind  the  anterior  margin  ; 
sides  each  with  a  black  spot,  much  dilated  at  the  anterior  margin,  and  acute 
towards  the  hind  angles,  which  it  does  not  attain  :  elytra  paler  than  the  thorax 
and  head,  with  the  sides  parallel ;  a  broad  blackish  vitta,  which  does  not 
cover  the  lateral  edge  and  tip  ;  general  color  of  the  entire  sutural  space  not  as 
broad  as  one  of  the  vittae  :  abdomen  brownish  :  pectus  and  feet  testaceous- 
yellow. 


May,  1846.]  55 

2.  N.  dorsalis.  Pale  testaceous,  with  a  spot  on  the  vertex,  a  dorsal  band,  and 
two  elytral  vittse,  fuscous.     4| — 5§  1.  long  ;— 1^  1.  wide.     Carolina? 

Pale  testaceous,  clothed  with  a  very  fine  ashy  down,  very  minutely  sha- 
greened  :  head  with  a  brownish  band  in  the  face  (  $ ),  or  only  obvious  on  the 
vertex  (<^) ;  antennae  and  palpi  testaceous,  the  former  with  the  two  terminal 
joints  equal,  both  together  about  as  long  as  the  tenth  (J^);  eyes  large,  deep  black , 
emarginate  at  the  base  of  the  antenna? ;  thorax,  as  is  common,  widest  before, 
with  the  sides  slightly  sinuate  or  retuse  in  the  middle  ;  each  side  of  the  middle 
with  two  roundish  impressions,  placed  quadrangularly, obvious  in  the  <^,  less  so 
in  the  $  ;  a  brownish  entire  dorsal  band  ;  sides  in  the  middle  obsoletely  brown : 
elytra  slightly  narrowed  behind,  each  with  two  longitudinal  brownish  bands, 
confluent  before  the  apex  :  beneath  and  feet  color  of  above,  or  in  a  $  specimen 
with  the  three  terminal  segments  brownish. 

Xylophilus,  Latr. 

X.fasciatus.  Black  ;  antenna?,  palpi,  feet,  and  base  and  apex  of  the  elytra, 
testaceous.     1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Black,  ashy-pubescent :  head  minutely  punctured,  with  the  mouth  dull  tes- 
taceous ;  antennae  and  palpi  testaceous  ;  the  former  as  long  as  the  thorax,  slightly 
thickened  towards  the  apex,  with  the  second  and  third  joints  subequal  in  length, 
the  second  rather  more  robust  than  the  third  ;  maxillary  palpi  with  the  terminal 
joint  large,  securiform:  thorax  not  wider  than  the  head,  suborbiculate,  with  the 
sides  parallel ;  more  coarsely  punctured  than  the  head  ;  medial  line  obsolete  : 
scutellum  black,  coarsely  punctured  :  elytra  wider  than  the  thorax,  punctured, 
punctures  large,  profound,  vicinal,  testaceous-yellow,  with  a  common,  broad, 
blue-black  fascia  in  the  middle  ;  scutellar  region  dusky  ;  feet  testaceous  :  abdo- 
men piceous :  pectus  black,  rough  with  large  punctures  :  posterior  femora 
rather  clavate. 

Melandryidce,  Leach. 

Mklandrya,  Fabr. 

"Black  ;  thorax  with  grooves  ;  front  with  an  impressed  dot ;  elytra  striate 
and  punctured."     Melandrya  striata,  Say,  Narrative  of  an  Expert.  App.  p.  286. 

Var.  a.  Sculptured  as  in  the  preceding,  dull  rufous,  with  the  eyes  and  elytra 
black  ;  palpi  and  tarsi  testaceous  ;  tibise  testaceous-yellow  ;  body  beneath  and 
femora,  like  the  thorax,  dark  dull  rufous.  Serropa/pus  thoracicus.  Melsh. 
Catal. 

Var.  b.  Sculptured  as  in  the  type,  with  the  frontal  impression  slight,  almost 
obsolete ;  black  above,  beneath  and  femora  chestnut-brown  ;  tibia?,  tarsi  and 
palpi  testaceous,  the  two  former  tinged  with  rufous.  4^  1.  long  ;  1^  1.  wide 
or  only  about  half  as  large  as  the  type,  or  preceding  variety.  It  is  Serropalpus 
bicolor,  Melsh.  Catal. 

1.  M.  ?  umbrina.  Fuscous,  ashy-pubescent  ;  antenna?  and  feet  rufous.  5  1. 
long  ;  1^  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Serropalpus  umbrinus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Elliptic,  brown,  densely  ashy-pubescent,  finely  and  densely  punctured  :  head 
with  the  clypeus  broad,  obtusely  rounded  and  glabrous  at  tip  ;  labrum  trans- 
verse, almost  covered  by  the  clypeus ;  each  side  between  the  antenna?  with  an 


56  [May,  1846. 

obtuse  impression  ;  antennae  longer  than  the  thorax,  filiform,  rufous  ;  first  joint 
clavate,  second  one-third  smaller  than  the  third,  which  is  slightly  longer  than 
the  fourth ;  joints  5 — 10,  subequal,  terminal  joint  longest,  rather  fusiform; 
palpi  brown,  pilose,  with  the  terminal  joint  robust,  obliquely  truncate  at  tip  or 
slightly  securiform ;  eyes  black,  transverse,  slightly  emarginate  ;  thorax  sub- 
trapezoidal,  as  wide  at  base  as  the  elytra,  with  the  anterior  edge  truncate,  and 
the  posterior  one  slightly  bisinuate  ;  sides  very  feebly  rounded  ;  hind  angles 
rather  acute  ;  each  side  of  the  middle  at  base  with  a  small  and  profound  impres- 
sion ;  scutellum  small,  transverse-oval :  elytra  more  than  four  times  longer 
than  the  thorax  ;  an  obtuse  sutural  groove  behind  the  middle  ;  beneath  darker  ; 
feet  dull  rufous  ;  tibia?  armed  with  two  moderate  spurs  at  tip  ;  tarsi  long,  very 
slender,  simple,  with  the  posterior  pair  4-jointed,  first  joint  longer  than  the 
following  ones  taken  together. 

Var.  a.  As  the  preceding,  but  much  lighter  tinted.  Serropalpus fuscus, 
Melsh.  Catal.  This  species,  in  consequence  of  having  the  palpi  not  serrated, 
cannot  be  placed  in  the  genus  Serropalpus,  nor  in  that  of  Melandrya  ;  perhaps 
it  ought  to  be  referred  to  the  genus  Scotodes,  Esch.,  of  which  I  have  as  yet 
seen  no  definition. 

Hypulus,  Payk. 

H.  trifasciatus.  Rufous ;  head  and  three  elytral  bands  black.  2J  1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Pubescent,  densely  and  finely  shagreened :  head  black,  densely  granulate, 
sometimes  with  the  cranial  and  frontal  sutures  very  distinct;  apex  of  the  clypeus, 
and  mouth  rufous  ;  antenna?  rufous,  robust, very  slightly  longer  than  the  thorax  ; 
palpi  prominent,  rufous,  with  the  terminal  joint  compressed:  thorax  rather  quad- 
rate, slightly  widest  before  the  middle,  with  the  anterior  edge  truncate,  and 
bisinuate  at  the  posterior  one  ;  a  profound  fovea  each  side  of  the  middle  at  base  ; 
rufous,  sometimes  with  the  middle  of  the  anterior  margin  dusky  ;  elytra  rufous, 
with  three  common,  black  fascia? ;  the  first  is  on  the  base,  broadest  on  the  scu- 
tellar  region,  where  it  sends  off  a  branch  towards  the  middle  fascia,  which  it 
nearly  reaches  ;  middle  or  second  fascia,  is  placed  beyond  the  middle,  the  third 
or  posterior  one  is  immediately  before  the  apex  which  it  almost  covers  :  feet  and 
beneath  more  decidedly  rufous  than  the  elytra. 

Scraptia,  Latr. 

S.  palUpes.     Dark  fuscous,  feet  testaceous  :  1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Dark  brown  above,  minutely  punctured,  and  shagreened :  head  black,  mi- 
nutely and  deeply  punctured,  with  two  longitudinal  impressions ;  mouth  dusky  ; 
palpi  testaceous  ;  antenna?  long,  filiform,  fuscous;  thorax  short,  transverse,  trun- 
cate in  front  and  behind,  with  the  sides  rounded  ;  a  large  and  obtuse  impres- 
sion eaoli  side  at  base  ;  medial  line  obsolete :  elytra  widest  behind  the  middle  ; 
beneath  pale  brown  :  feet  pale  testaceous. 

Var.  a.  Chestnut  brown ;  head  and  thorax  darker  ;  frontal  impressions  ob- 
solete ;  lateral  thoracic  impressions  small,  an  obvious  one  in  front  of  the  scutel- 
lum.    Hallomenus  minutus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Var.  b.  Size  and  form  of  the  type  ;  head  black,  with  the  frontal  impressions 
as  in  Var.  a :  antenna?  as  in  the  type  ;  thorax  impressed  as  in  Var.  a,  dull  tes- 


May,  1846.]  57 

taceous;   elytra    dull    testaceous,  indeterminately   black    at   apex  and    lateral 
margins;  beneath  dusky  ;  feet  as  in  the  type,    Sallomenus  plagiatus,  Melsh.  MS. 

Kallomencs,  Payk. 

1.  H.  scapularis.  Fuscous;  antenna?,  feet  and  humeri  testaceous.  1^  1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Hallomenus  humeralis,  Melsh.  Catal, 

Oblong-ovate,  dark  dull  reddish-brown,  pubescent,  finely  and  densely 
wrinkled;  bead  finely  and  con fertly  punctured,  with  the  eyes  deep  black,  lunate; 
antenna?,  palpi  and  feet  testaceous ;  mouth  piceons :  thorax  each  side  of  the 
middle  at  base  with  a  small  fovea:  elytra  with  the  anterior  exterior  angles 
rufo-testaceous :  pectus  as  above:  abdomen  palish  brown. 

2.  H.  ?  quadripustulata.  Blackish;  elytra  with  four  testaceous  spots,  lj  1. 
long.     Pennsylvania. 

Elliptic,  blackish,  pubescent,  densely  and  obviously  shagreened  or  wrinkled, 
somewhat  glossy:  head  punctulate ;  eyes  transverse,  black;  antennae  short; 
testaceous,  with  the  apical  half  black  and  arcuated;  second  and  third  joints 
subequal,  palpi  testaceous,  terminal  joint  of  maxillary  large;  thorax  tranverse, 
widest  in  the  middle,  rounded  at  the  sides,  with  the  edges  margined  ;  basal 
edge  subtruncate,  with  the  hind  angles  acute;  anterior  edge  truncate,  with  the 
anterior  angles  deflexed  ;  an  obsolete  impression  each  side  towards  the  hind 
angles ;  scutel,  small,  black  :  elytra  with  a  large  testaceous  spot  at  base,  and 
a  rather  transverse-oval  similarly  colored  one  midway  the  apex  and  middle: 
feet  pale  brown,  or  testaceous,  the  femora  sometimes  piceous.  The  antennae, 
which  are  somewhat  thickened  towards  the  apex,  and  the  thorax  in  its  outlines, 
differ  greatly  from  those  of  the  preceding  species,  which  is  a  true  llallomenus. 
It  might  perhaps  be  placed  more  correctly  in  the  genus  Xilita. 

Orchesia,  Latr. 

1.  0.  sericea.     Testaceous;  eyes  black.     2  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 
Rufo-testaceous,    yellowish    sericeo-pubescent,    densely   and    finely  rugose - 

punctured :  beneath  rather  glabrous,  and  deeper  colored.     Perhaps  identical 
with  micans,  Illig.,  or  only  a  local  variety  of  that  species. 

2.  0.  castanea.  Fuscous;  antennae,  palpi  and  feet  rufous.  1\  1.  long;  |  1. 
wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Hallomenus  castaneus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Slender,  brown,  yellowish-sericeous,  densely  shagreened  :  head,  dull,  dark 
rufous,  with  the  labrum,  palpi,  feet  and  antennae,  rufous;  eyes  black:  thorax 
with  the  two  basal  foveas  distinct:  abdomen  color  of  the  feet:  pectus  darker, 
in  a  certain  light  blackish. 

3.  0. gracilis.    Fuscous;  eyes  plumbeous.    2  1. long;  £  1.  wide.    Pennsylvania. 
Hallomenus  gracilis,  Melsh.  Catal. 

.Slender,  brown,  pubescent,  densely  and  finely  shagreened :  head  as  in  the 
preceding;  eyes  lead  color;  antennas,  palpi,  feet  and  beneath,  as  in  the 
preceding  species :  thorax,  with  the  basal  foveas  somewhat  obsolete.  Closely 
allied  to  the  preceding  species,  but  it  is  always  smaller,  comparatively  more 
slender,  and  with  a  coarser  vesture. 

9 


58  [May,  1846 


EUSTROPHUS,    IlHg. 

1.  E.  4-maculatus.  Dull  rufous  ;  elytra  black,  with  four  fulvous  spots.  2J 
1.  long  ;  lj  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Dull  rufous  or  chestnut  red,  finely  pubescent,  finely  rugose-punctured  :  head 
color  of  the  thorax ;  antennas  and  palpi  rufous,  the  former  with  the  last  joint  of 
the  clava  paler ;  eyes  black :  thorax  each  side  of  the  middle  at  base  with  a 
short,  acutely  impressed  line;  scutellum  transverse,  rounded  at  tip,  punctulate: 
elytra  black,  with  very  faint  traces  of  longitudinal  obtuse,  raised  lines  ;  each 
with  two  large  fulvous  spots,  of  which  the  first  is  posted  on  the  humeral  angle, 
and  extends  obliquely  to  the  subsutural  margin,  where  it  is  narrower  than 
at  its  origin  ;  second  or  posterior  spot  is  a  little  before  the  apex,  and  is 
transverse,  and  reaches  nearly  to  the  suture :  abdomen  paler  than  the  thorax  ; 
feet  and  pectus,  densely  sericeous. 

2.  E.  niger.  Black  above ;  beneath  reddish  brown  ;  elytra  punctate-striate. 
2\  1.  long  ;  1  \  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Mycetophagiis  niger,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black,  very  minutely  and  densely  punctured,  ashy-pubescent ;  mouth  piceous  ; 
antennae,  palpi  and  feet  rufous  ;  thorax  each  side  of  the  middle  at  base  with  an 
obsolete  obtuse  impression:  scutellum  as  in  the  preceding:  elytra  punctate- 
striate,  striae  very  fine,  punctures  approximate:  beneath' dusky  reddish-brown. 

This  species  differs  from  bicolor,  Fabr.,  which  it  resembles  by  its  striate  elytra, 
in  the  outline  of  the  body  ;  that  of  bicolor  is  like  quadrimaculatus,  nob.,  obovate, 
and  that  of  niger  is  rather  elliptic. 

Cistelidce,  Leach. 
Eryx,  Steph. 

"Sanguineous;  head,  elytra  and  feet  black."  Cistela  amcena.  Say,  Journ. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  iii.  268. 

Var.  a.  As  the  preceding,  with  the  suture  and  lateral  edges  of  the  elytra 
rufous. 

Allkcula,  Fabr. 

A.  pilosa.  Fuscous;  antennae,  palpi  and  tarsi  testaceous.  4  1.  long;  1^1. 
wide.    Pennsylvania. 

Cistela  pilosa,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Oblong  elliptic,  dark  brown  above,  ashy-pubescent ;  head  stronglj'  and  densely 
punctured,  with  the  frontal  suture  distinct;  clypeus  obtusely  rounded,  and 
piceous  at  tip  ;  labrum,  antennae  and  palpi  testaceous ;  the  former  rather  piceous ; 
the  latter  with  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary  distinctly  securiform ;  thorax 
transverse,  as  wide  at  base  as  the  elytra,  where  it  is  wider  than  at  apex,  with 
the  sides  rounded  ;  basal  edge  rather  straight ;  anterior  edge  together  with  the 
anterior  angles  obtusely  rounded  ;  regularly  and  deeply  punctuate  ;  each  side 
of  the  middle  towards  the  hind  angles  with  an  obsolete  shallow  transverse 
impression  ;  medial  line  fine,  impunctured  ;  a  small  obtuse  triangular  impression 
in  front  of  the  scutel,  which  is  transverse,  with  a   few  transverse   series   of 


May,  1846.]  59 

punctures:  elytra  elongate,  with  sides  almost  parallel;  punctate-striate,  the 
striae  and  punctures  very  fine;  interstices  convex,  punctulate  and  rugulose  : 
beneath  and  feet  dark  chestnut-red,  glossy;  tarsi  testaceous.  May  be  placed 
in  the  new  genus  Cteniopus,  Solier. 

Mycetocharus,  Latr. 

1.  M.  niger.     Black  above  ;  feet  rufous.     2}  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 
Cistela  nigra,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black  above,  slightly  pubescent,  rather  glossy:  head  densely  punctulate; 

palpi  :   antennae    reddish    brown,    with   two  basal   joints   paler:    thorax 

punctured,  punctures  not  dense,  rather  shallow  :  elytra  punctate-striate,  with 
the  striae  obtuse  and  the  punctures  minute,  the  interstices  transversely  rugose : 
beneath  chestnut-red  ;  feet  rufous. 

2.  M.  ruficornis.  Fuscous;  antenna,  palpi,  feet  and  base  of  the  elytra 
testaceous.     2  1.  long.      Pennsylvania. 

Cistela  axillaris,   Melsh.  Catal. 

Brown,  pubescent,  densely  punctulate;  antennas,  labrum,  palpi  and  feet 
testaceous ;  thorax  at  base  each  side  of  middle  with  a  small  and  profound 
impression;  dorsal  impression  obsolete:  scutel  brown:  elytra  densely  rugulose; 
towards  the  suture  with  faint  traces  of  the  interstices  ;  base  broadly  and 
indeterminately  testaceous  :  beneath  pale  brown:  femorarather  pale  testaceous. 
This  species  is  distinct  from  the  fraterna,  Say,  which  is  not.  as  Say  states,  the 
axillaris  of  M.  Catal.  i 

Cistela,  Fabr. 

1.  C.fuliginosa.  Dark  fuscous  ;  antennas  and  tarsi  dull  rufous.  5-6  1.  long  ; 
1^-2|  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Cistela  fuliginosa,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Dark  brown  or  blackish,  finely  ashy-pubescent ;  head  densely  punctulate, 
with  the  frontal  suture  distinct;  clypeus  and  labrum  dull  rufo-piceous ;  palpi 
dark  piceous  ;  antennae  dull  dark  rufous,  long,  slender  in  the  J  very  slightly 
serrate:  thorax  with  the  outlines  as  is  common  ;  very  finely  rugose-punctured 
punctures  confluent;  basal  margin  each  side  of  the  middle  with  a  slide 
impression;  transversely  and  obsoletely  indented  in  front  of  the  scutellum- 
sides  befpre  the  hind  angles  slightly  indented  ;  9  with  numerous  small,  obsolete 
impressions  on  the  disk,  and  a  large  one  each  side  behind  the  anterior  angles  : 
scutellum  finely  and  densely  punctured  ;  elytra  punctate-striate,  striae  profound 
with  the  punctures  minute,  the  insterstices  convex,  wrinkled,  and  numerously 
and  minutely  punctured  :  beneath  somewhat  piceous  ;  tarsi  color  of  the  antennas. 

C.  punctulata.  Black,  strongly  punctured ;  palpi  and  tarsi  rufous.  4J  1.  long ; 
2  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Cistela  picipes,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black,  clothed  with  a  fine  but  not  dense  ashy-pubescence ;  head  with  large, 
profound  and  rather  distant  punctures  ;  frontal  suture  very  distinct  and 
profound ;  clypeus  at  tip,  and  labrum  dull  rufo-piceous ;  palpi  yellowish- 
rufous ;  antennae  long,  slender,  dull  reddish-brown:  thorax  punctured  as  the 
head,  with  the  punctures  rather  larger,  deeper,  and  less  vicinal ;  the  ordinary 


60  [May,  184(1 

basal  impressions  obsolete ;  scutellum  with  a  longitudinal  impunctured  space 
in  the  middle  :  elytra  strongly  punctate-striate,  the  interstices  rugose,  and  with 
distant  punctures :  pectus  punctured  and   colored  as  the  thorax ;  abdomen 

:    femora  dull  chest  nut -red  ;     tarsi  color  of   the   palpi  ;    tibia?  darker. 

Distinct  from  the  picipes,  Fabr. 

3.  C.  fuscipes.  Fuscous;  three  basal  joints  of  the  antennae  and  feet 
testaceous,    4£  1.  long ;  U  1.  wide;  J*;  5}  1.  long;  1|  1.  wide.    Pennsylvania. 

Cistela  fuscipes,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Brown,  clothed  with  a  fine,  dense,  ashy-pubescence :  head  very  minutely 
and  confluently  punctured,  with  the  front  somewhat  indented  ;  a  longitudinal 
impressed  line,  extending  from  the  vertex  to  the  apex  of  the  clypeus,  very 
distinct  in  the  £  ;  frontal  suture  obsolete  ;  clypeus  at  tip,  labruni  and  palpi, 
dull  testaceous  :  thorax  punctured,  punctures  intensely  minute  and  crowded  ; 
basal  impressions  obscure  ;  anterior  edge  dull  rufous  ;  posterior  angles  promi- 
nent and  acute,  particularly  in  the  V  :  scutel  punctured  as  the  thorax  :  elytra 
punctate-striate,  with  the  stria?  profound  and  the  punctures  transverse  and 
close  set,  the  interstices  punctured  as  the  thorax,  and  in  the  £  rather  alternately 
wide  :  beneath  as  above  ;  feet  pale  yellowish-testaceous,  the  tibia?  and  tarsi 
rather  deeper.     The  specific  name  is  somewhat  inappropriate. 

C.  brevis.  Black  ;  antenna?,  palpi  and  feet  rufous.  Say,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sc.  hi.  269.  It  may  be  added  to  the  above  character  that  the  antenna?  are 
serrate,  mostly  fuscous,  with  three  basal  joints  testaceous. 

C.  sericea.  Pale  testaceous,  immaculate  ;  elytra  absolutely  striated  near 
the  suture.  Length  about  one-fifth  of  an  inch.  Say,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc. 
iii.  270.     Long's  Expedit.  App.  p.  285. 

Var.  ?  a.  Fuscous,  antennae,  palpi,  tibia?,  tarsi  and  suture  of  the  elytra, 
rufous  ;  the  stria?  of  the  latter  almost  entirely  effaced.  Length  somewhat 
less  than  the  preceding.      Cistella  pulla,  Melsh.  MS. 

Var.  ?  b.  Dull  rufous,  with  the  head  and  throat  above  blackish  ;  stria?  of 
the  elytra  feebly  defined.  Length  of  var.  a.  Smaller,  but  altogether  like 
thoracica,  Fabr.,  variety  of  murina,  Fabr. 

4.  C.  nigrans.  Black-brown  ;  elytra  punctate  striate.  33  1.  long  ;  1  L  wide. 
Pennsylvania. 

Cistela  atra,  Say,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  v.  242. 

Black-brown,  ashy-pubescent ;  head  deeply  and  not  closely  punctured ; 
frontal  suture  distinct ;  eyes  closely  approximating  above  ;  antenna?  fuscous  ; 
palpi  piceous  ;  thorax  subquadrate,  slightly  widest  in  the  middle,  with  the 
sides  obtusely  rounded  ;  truncate  in  front,  slightly  waved  behind  ;  punctured, 
punctures  profound,  numerous,  but  not  crowded ;  an  obtuse  impression  in 
front  of  the  scutellum  :  elytra  deeply  punctate-striate,  the  interstices  convex, 
rugose  ;  beneath  and  feet  piceous.  The  specific  name  atra  has  been  applied 
by  Fabricius  to  a  different  species. 

Var.  a.  As  in  the  preceding,  with  the  antenna?,  palpi  and  feet  testaceous ; 
sometimes  the  antenna?,  tibia?  and  tarsi,  dull  rufous.     4  1.  long.     Alabama. 


May,  1846.]  01 

Helopidcej  Steph. 

IlELors,  Fabr. 

H.  tumidus.     Black-brassy;  elytra  gibbose.      65  1.  long;   3\  1.  wide.      Penn- 
sylvania. 

Helops  ovatus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Ovate,  convex,  brassy-black,  glossy :  head  densely  rugose-punctured,  trans- 
versely obtusely  indented  between  the  antennae,  with  theclypeus  honey-yellow 
and  impunctured  at  tip  ;  labruui  piceous  at  tip  ;  antenna  half  the  length  of  the 
body,  filiform,  dull  reddish-brown,  with  the  basal  joints  piceous  ;  first  joint cla- 
vate,  second  short,  obconic,  third  joint  as  long  as  the  two  following  ones  united, 
cylindric,  fourth  joint  shorter  than  the  fifth,  the  three  penultimate  joints  obconic, 
slightly  thicker  than  the  preceding  ones  ;  palpi  piceous  :  thorax  subquadrate, 
somewhat  wider  than  long,  slightly  wider  behind  than  before,  where  it  is  not 
strongly  emarginate  ;  posterior  edge  truncate  ;  angles  subrectilinear,  edges  finely 
margined,  convex,  punctured  as  the  head ;  scutellum  obtuse-triangular,  polished 
with  sparse  punctures  :  elytra  at  base  not  wider  than  the  thorax,  in  the  middle 
nearly  twice  as  wide  as  at  base,  with  the  sides  rounded  ;  apex  acuminate  ; 
above  strongly  convex,  punctate-striate,  with  the  strke  fine  and  slightly  im- 
pressed, and  the  punctures  small,  oblong,  and  deeply  impressed  ;  interstices 
flat,  distantly  punctulate :  beneath  and  feet  pitchy-black ;  tarsi  mostly,  tibiae 
sometimes,  ferruginous  ;  anterior  femora  clavate,  with  a  small  tooth  towards 
the  tip.  This  insect,  on  account  of  its  very  frequent  occurrence,  has  been 
doubtless  already  described.  I  should  not  hesitate  to  consider  the  H.  cisteloides 
of  Germar  identical  with  the  present  species,  if  that  accurate  entomologist  had 
not  stated  that  the  thorax  of  cisteloides  was  "  postice  paullo  angustior, "  which 
is  not  the  case  in  our  species,  but  in  numerous  specimens  before  me  the 
thorax  is  in  every  instance  postice  paullo  latior. 

Diaperidce,  Westeo. 
Tkachyscelis,  Latr. 

T.Jlavipes.     Black;  feet  testaceous.     1§  1.  long.  Virginia. 

Ovate,  black,  glossy  :  head  impunctured,  transversely  sulcate  between  the 
antennae  ;  labrum,  mouth,  palpi  and  antennas,  rufo-testaceous,  the  clava  of  the 
last  pale  testaceous  ;  a  small,  round  indentation  on  the  vertex  ;  thorax  short, 
transverse,  moderately  convex,  impunctured,  shining,  slightly  emarginate  in 
front,  behind  obtusely  rounded,  with  the  sides  strongly  rounded  ;  angles  round- 
ed ;  scutellum  obtuse-triangular,  piceous :  elytra  as  wide  at  base  as  the  base 
of  the  thorax,  widest  in  the  middle,  with  the  sides  rounded  ;  above  moderately 
convex,  punctate  striate,  with  the  two  or  three  sutural  striae  wider  and  deeper 
impressed  than  the  lateral  ones  ;  interstices  fiat,  impunctured  ;  beneath  and 
feet  clothed  with  a  long  ashy  pile,  latter  rufo-testaceous. 

Neojiida,  Ziegl. 

1.  N.  sanguinicollis.    Dull  sanguineous  ;  elytra  black,  punctate-striate ;  head 
mutic.     1|  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 
Diaperis  bicolor,  Melsh.  Catal. 


62  [May,  1846. 

Ovate,  dull  sanguineous  :  head  minutely  punctured,  margined  and  obtusely 
rounded  at  apex  ;  eyes  black  ;  antennae  color  of  the  head,  thickened  towards  the 
tip,  with  the  fourth  joint  longer  than  the  third,  the  second  joint  shorter  than 
any  of  the  other  joints  ;  terminal  joint  thickest,  subglobose  :  thorax  glossy,  mo- 
derately convex,  short,  transverse,  feebly  notched  in  front,  slightly  bisinuate 
behind,  where  it  is  wider  than  at  apex,  and  as  wide  as  the  base  of  the  elytra  ; 
sides  feebly  rounded  ;  above  very  minutely  and  distantly  punctured  ;  each  side 
of  the  middle  at  base  with  an  obsolete  impression  ;  hind  angles  subrectilinear  : 
scutellum-  triangular,  color  of  the  thorax  :  elytra  black,  tinged  with  rufous,  par- 
ticularly at  the  sides,  base  and  tip;  punctate-striate,  with  the  striae  fine  and 
slightly  impressed ;  interstices  flat,  polished,  impunctured :  beneath  deeper 
colored  than  the  thorax,  coarsely  punctured  ;  feet  rufo-testaceous.  Sometime? 
the  thorax  is  dusky  sanguineous,  and  the  elytra  entirely  black. 

2.  N.  rafa.  Dull  rufous,  shining  ;  beneath  and  feet  rufo-testaceous.  2J  1. 
long  ;  1 J  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Short,  ovate,  dull  rufous  ;  glossy  :  head  very  minutely  punctured,  rounded 
at  apex,  an  arcuated  impressed  line  between  the  antennae,  and  a  small  obtuse 
indentation  on  the  vertex;  antennae  rufo-piceous,  slightly  thickened  towards  the 
tip,  with  the  third  joint  longest,  and  second  shortest ;  terminal  joint  ovate  ;  eyes 
black  ;  terminal  joint  of  the  palpi  triangular  ;  thorax  formed  like  in  the  preced- 
ing, shining,  punctured  as  the  head  ;  each  side  of  the  middle  at  base  with  an 
obtuse  impression  :  scutel  triangular :  elytra  punctate-striate,  striae  fine,  punc- 
tures small,  close  set ;  interstices  flat,  almost  impunctulate :  feet  and  epipleiiifie 
testaceous-yellow.  Resembles  much  in  the  outlines  of  the  body  Diaperis  rufi- 
conris,  but  that  species  is  black  and  opake,  and  is  also  somewhat  differently 
sculptured. 

Platydema,  Laporte. 

P.  picilabrum.  Black  ;  antennas,  labrum,  palpi  and  feet  rufo-piceous.  If — 
2\\.  long  ;  f — 1  1 -5th  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania.     Numerous. 

Oblong,  deep  black,  sometimes  with  a  greenish  reflection,  shining ;  head  con- 
fertly  punctulate  ;  mouth,  palpi  and  basal  joints  of  the  antennas  rufo-piceous, 
the  latter  with  the  clava  frequently  testaceous  yellow  ;  transversely  indented 
between  the  antenna' :  thorax  transverse,  notched  in  front,  bisinuate  behind, 
where  it  is  wider  than  before,  with  the  sides  feebly  rounded  ;  angles  subob- 
tuse  ;  above  deusely  punctulate  ;  a  profound  impression  each  side  of  the  middle 
at  base  :  scutellum  subtriangular,  impunctured  :  elytra  punctate-striate,  the 
interstices  flat,  very  minutely  and  obsoletely  punctured  :  beneath  black,  some- 
what piceous  ;  two  terminal  abdominal  segments  impunctured  :  feet  dark  rufo- 
piceous. 

Tenebrionidee,  Steph. 

Hypophlceus,  Fabr. 

1.  H.  nilidus.  Castaneous  ;  feet  rufous.  3  1.  long  ;  §  1.  wide.  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Hypophlcem  nilidus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Cylindric,  dark  chestnut-red,  shining  ;  head  deeply  punctulate,  bitransversely 
impressed  :  antennae  color  of  the  thorax,  with  the  tip  and  mouth  rufous  :  thorax 


May,  1846.]  63 

convex,  oblong-quadrate,  slightly  narrowed  posteriorly,  with  the  sides  almost 
rectilinear  and  finely  margined ;  truncate  before  and  behind ;  surface  numerously 
yet  not  densely  punctulate  ;  posterior  edge  depressed  ;  scutellum  transverse, 
coarsely  punctured  :  elytra  cylindric,  with  the  sides  parallel ;  somewhat  obso- 
letely  punctulate,  punctures  placed  in  series :  feet  lighter  than  the  body  beneath. 

2.  H.  parallelus.  Ferruginous-red,  shining  ;  feet  paler.  II  1.  long.  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Parallel  moderately  convex,  rusty-red,  shining,  very  minutely  punctured 
and  wrinkled ;  head  bi-transversely  impressed,  the  anterior  impression  is 
profound,  and  between  the  antennae  and  the  eyes,  the  posterior  one  is  slight 
and  betweeu  the  eyes,  which  are  black  ;  antenna?  color  of  the  head  or  slightly 
paler  ;  thorax  quadrate,  truncate  behind,  slightly  bisinuate  in  front,  with  the 
sides  rectilinear  and  almost  parallel ;  hind  angles  rounded,  anterior  ones  promi- 
nent, acute ;  margined :  scutellum  transverse,  elyti-a  obscurelypunctulate  with 
the  punctures  ranged  in  regular  and  approximate  series  :  feet  rufo-testaceous. 

3.  H.  thoracicus.     Rufous  ;  elytra  black.     1£  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 
Hypophlaus  thoracicus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Rufous,  shining :  head  obscurely  rugose-punctulate,  with  a  transverse 
impressed  line  between  the  antennse ;  an  obsolete  impression  between  the 
eyes  ;  mouth  and  antennae,  testaceous-yellow  :  thorax  subquadrate,  posteriorly 
slightly  narrowed,  with  the  sides  almost  rectilinear ;  anterior  and  posterior 
edges  truncate,  with  the  angles  subobtuse  ;  surface  finely,  profoundly  and 
distantly  punctured  ;  a  small  shallow  longitudinal  impression  on  the  middle 
of  each  of  the  lateral  margins  :  scutellum,  black,  transverse :  elytra  hardly 
more  than  twice  as  long  as  the  thorax,  black,  with  the  suture  narrowly  and 
obsoletely  rufous  ;  cylindric ;  very  minutely  and  distantly  punctured,  punctures 
scarcely  ranged  in  series,  and  at  apex  obsolete  ;  abdomen  dusky,  tinged  with 
rufous  :  feet  and  pectus  rufous. 

4.  H.  1  niger.  Black ;  feet  castaneous  ;  elytra  punctate-striate.  4.1-5  1. 
long  ;  1-1  \  1.  wide.    Pennsylvania. 

Ilypophloeus  castaneus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Elongate,  cylindric,  rather  deep  black,  glossy :  head  subtriangular,  flattened 
and  impressed  in  the  middle,  distinctly,  deeply  and  distantly  punctured ; 
mandibles  robust,  prominent,  and  with  a  strong  tooth  at  tip;  eyes  orbiculate, 
plane,  antenna?  piceous,  hardly  longer  than  the  head,  with  the  clava  three 
jointed,  compressed,  serrate  on  one  side,  basal  joint  and  palpi  dark  rufo-piceous, 
the  latter  filiform  ;  thorax  longer  than  wide,  wider  at  apex  than  at  base,  with 
sides  almost  straight  and  finely  margined  ;  basal  middle  almost  truncate,  with 
the  basal  lateral  third  slightly  obliquely  truncate  ;  apex  slightly  tri-emarginate  ; 
angles  subacute  ;  surface  punctured  as  the  head ;  scutellum  large,  sparsely 
punctured  and  rounded  at  apex  :  elytra  remote  from  the  thorax,  as  wide  as 
the  base  of  thorax,  with  the  sides  parallel  to  near  the  apex  ;  deeply  striate, 
with  edges  of  the  stria?  crenate,  the  interstics  rather  convex,  eacli  with  a  row 
of  minute,  oblong,  distant  punctures  :  beneath  blackish,  or  dark-chestnut ; 
the  femora  chestnut-red ;  the  tibia?  and  tarsi  blackish  ;  the  latter  pentamerous  ; 
the  former  compressed,  and  dilated  towards  the  tip,  and  spinous  on  the  outer  edge. 
5.  H.  ?  nigellus.  Dark  reddish-brown  ;  femora  chestnut-red.  31.  long;  \  1. 
wide.     Pennsylvania. 


64  [May,  1846. 

Hypophlaus  nigellus,  Welsh.  MS. 

Form  entirely  of  the  preceding,  blackish,  strongly  tinged  with  reddish-brown  : 
head  not  longitudinally  indented  in  the  middle,  formed  and  punctured  as  in 
the  preceding  :  eyes,  palpi  and  antenna?  as  in  the  preceding :  outlines  of  the 
thorax  as  in  the  preceding,  with  the  punctures  much  more  dense  :  scutellum 
and  elytra  formed  and  sculptured  as  in  the  preceding ;  beneath  and  feet 
entirely  as  in  the  preceding. 

6.   H.  ?  teres.     Castaneous.     2  1.  long  ;   J  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 
Hypophlaus  teres,  Melsh.  MS. 

Form  of  the  two  preceding  species,  chestnut-red  :  head  formed  as  in  the 
preceding,  and  similarly  punctured,  with  an  obsolete  impi-essed  line  between 
the  eyes,  which  are  as  in  the  preceding  ;  mandibles  formed  as  in  the  preceding, 
piceous  ;  antennae  and  palpi  rufous  ;  outlines  of  the  thorax  as  in  the  preceding, 
the  punctuation  as  in  that  of  niger :  elytra  cylindric,  slightly  narrowed  from 
the  base  towards  the  apex,  not  as  wide  at  base  as  the  apex  of  the  thorax  ; 
sculptured  as  in  the  two  preceding  :  beneath  and  feet  dark  rufo-piceous  ;  form 
of  the  tibia?  and  tarsi  as  in  the  preceding  species.  The  three  last  described 
species  cannot  with  any  propriety  remain  in  this  genus  ;  they  are  more  fitly 
placed  in  the  genus  Trogosita. 

Ulojia,  Megerle. 

1.  U.  impressa.  Castaneous  ;  head  and  thorax  profoundly  impressed.  5  1. 
long  ;  2  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Tenebrio  impressus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Subparallel,  chestnut-brown,  glossy:  head  much  and  strongly  punctured, 
flattened,  with  a  profound  lunate  impression  before,  behind  which  is  a  narrow 
transverse  indented  line,  joined  to  the  former  by  a  short  medial  indentation  ; 
antenna?  dark  rufo-piceous,  clothed  with  yellowish  pile;  palpi  testaceous: 
thorax  transverse,  plano-convex,  widest  in  the  middle,  where  it  is  wid<>r  than 
the  base  of  the  elytra,  strongly  emarginate  in  front,  slightly  waved  behind, 
with  the  sides  obtusely  rounded,  and  finely  margined  ;  angles  subobtuse ; 
surface  minutely  and  densely  punctured,  strongly  and  irregularly  impressed  on 
the  middle  of  the  anterior  margin  ;  a  small  obtuse  indentation  in  front  of  scutel, 
and  frequently  an  obsolete  one  on  each  hind  angle  ;  scutel  rounded  at  apex  ; 
elytra  moderately  convex,  with  sides  almost  parallel  and  straight,  very  slightly 
widest  in  front  of  the  apical  curve ;  crenate-striate,  the  interstices  impunctured  ; 
feet  and  beneath  somewhat  darker  than  above,  with  the  femora  lighter  and 
clearer.  Distinct  from  the  culinaris,  Fabr.,  but  resembles  retusa,  Fabr.,  in 
size,  convexity,  and  impression  of  the  middle  of  the  anterior  thoracic  margin  ; 
from  which,  however,  it  differs  in  other  essential  characters. 

2.  TJ.  picea.  Blackish-piceous  above  ;  feet  castaneous  ;  elytra  narrowed  at 
tip.     3\  1.  long;  1§  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Tenebrio  piceus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Ovate,  blackish,  tinged  with  reddish-brown,  picous :  head  finely  mgose- 
pnnctured  ;  slightly  convex  and  hardly  transversely  indented,  between  the  eyes 
and  antenn:e,  anteriorly  obtusely  rounded  ;  month  and  palpi  testaceous-yellow  ; 
antenna*  rathermore  slenderthanis  common,  pale  In-own,  with  two  nasal  joints 
and  tip  of  the  terminal  one  paler:   thorax  transversly  subquadrate,  slightly 


May,  1846.]  65 

emarginate  in  front,  feebly  bisinuate  behind,  with  the  sides  slightly  rounded  ; 
very  slightly  widest  before  the  middle  ;  above  moderately  convex,  densely 
punctulate  ;  an  obtuse  impression  each  side  of  the  middle  towards  the  base,  and 
another  obsolete  one  on  each  area  of  the  bind  angles  ;  anterior  edge  rufo-pice- 
ous:  scutellum  rufo-piceous  :  elytra  convex,  widest  in  the  middle,  narrowed  to 
the  tip,  which  is  acutely  rounded;  crenate-striate,  the  interstices  flat  and  scarce- 
ly punctulate  ;  the  fourth  and  fifth  striae  abbreviated  and  confluent  near  the 
apical  third  :  beneath  strongly  punctured,  dark  reddish-brown-piceous  ;  feet 
dark  rufous,  glossy.     The  antennae  sometimes  testaceous. 

Iphthinus,  Dej. 

I.  areus.     Black-brassy  above  ;  beneath  and  feet  simply  deep  black  ;  femora 
strongly  clavate.     1$  1.  long  ;  2f  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Tenebrio  cereus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black,  with  a  greenish  brassy  tinge,  shining  :  head  opake,  hardly  convex, 
densely  and  finely  punctured  or  granulate,  obtusely  rounded  in  front ;  mouth 
and  palpi  piceous  ;  antennae  blackish-piceous  ?  first  joint  short,  clavate,  second 
shorter,  obconic,  third  longest,  subcylindric,  the  three  following  ones  decreasing 
in  length,  obconic,  the  four  penultimate  joints  transverse,  subglobular,  terminal 
joint  short  ovate,  dull  ferruginous  :  thorax  transverse  quadrate,  moderately  con- 
vex, truncate  before  and  bisinuate  behind,  where  it  is  narrower  than  before  the 
middle ;  sides  slightly  rounded  to  near  the  posterior  contraction  ;  posterior 
angles  rectilinear,  anterior  ones  obtusely  rounded  ;  distinctly  margined ;  surface 
irregularly  and  sparsely  punctured,  strongly  indented  behind  towards  the  hind 
angles ;  a  small  impression  in  front  of  the  scutellum  ;  medial  line  obsolete  and 
punctulate  ;  anterior  edge  slightly  elevated  iu  the  middle  :  scutellum  triangular, 
impunctured  :  elytra  wider  than  the  thorax,  convex,  rather  more  strongly  so 
behind  the  middle,  where  it  is  also  somewhat  wider  than  before;  shining,  finely 
crenate-striate,  the  interstices  broad,  minutely  and  very  obscurely  punctured ; 
the  fourth,  fifth  and  sixth  spaces  confluent  near  the  apical  third,  leaving  the 
two  intermediate  lines  unconnected  ;  tips  widely  and  very  obtusely  sinuate, 
conjointly  acutely  rounded :  beneath  and  feet  deep  black,  glossy,  with  the  fe- 
mora strongly  clavate  towards  their  tips  ;  anterior  tibiae  simple,  curved.  This 
species  may  prove  to  be  the  Helops  americanus  of  Pal.  de  Beauvois,  Ins.  p.  122, 
pi.  30,  fig.  6.  The  antennae  of  the  present  specimen,  and  the  only  one  in  my 
collection,  are  entirely  coated  with  a  gummy  substance,  in  consequence  of 
which  its  true  color  cannot  be  determined. 

Blapstinus,  Dej. 

1.  B.   mcestus.     Black  ;   feet  slightly  paler.     2  1.  long  ;   1  1.  wide.     Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Oblong-suboval,  black  :  head  strongly  punctate,  with  a  feeble  arcuated  im- 
pression between  the  antennae  ;  clypeus  slightly  emarginate  at  apex  ;  antennae 
blackish,  with  the  second  and  fifth  joints  equal ;  third  joint  longest ;  joints  of 
the  clava  transverse,  with  the  apical  one  short-ovate  ;  palpi  piceous-black  : 
thorax  transverse,  emarginate  in  front,  bisinuate  behind,  rather  wider  at  base 
than  at  apex,  with  the  sides  slightly  rounded  and  finely  margined  ;  angles  sub- 

10 


66  [May,  1846. 

acute  ;  surface  profoundly  and  rather  densely  punctulate  ;  each  side  of  the 
middle  with  an  obsolete  basal  impression  :  scutellum  small,  transverse,  rounded 
at  tip:  elytra  punctate-striate,  the  interstices  flat,  minutely  and  distantly  punc- 
tured :  beneath  glossy ;  femora  tinged  with  reddish-brown,  piceous  ;  tibiae  and 
tarsi  paler,  piceous. 

2.  B.  ceneolus.     Black-brassy ;  feet  as  in  the  preceding.     Pennsylvania. 

Slightly  shorter  and  narrower  than  the  preceding,  which  it  much  resembles, 
but  it  differs  from  that  species,  apart  of  being  somewhat  shorter  and  distinctly 
narrower,  and  of  its  brassy  color,  in  having  the  thorax  shorter  and  more  pro- 
foundly emarginate  in  front,  and  more  strongly  bisinuate  behind  ;  in  the  elytra 
being  less  profoundly  punctate-striate,  and  the  interstices  more  convex,  and 
less,  and  more  obscurely  punctulate. 

To  be  continued. 


The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  following  paper 
by  Mr.  Phillips,  read  13th  of  January  last,  reported  in  favor  of 
publication. 

Description  of  a  Neiu  Fresh-water  Shell,  and   Observations  on 

Grlandina  obtusa,  Ffeif. 

By  John  S.  Phillips. 

Physa  princeps.  Testa  elongata  conica,  luteo  vel  griseo  cornea, 
nitida,  lineis  albis  interrupts  longitudinalibus  picta ;  anfractibus 
5 — 6-subconvexis ;  suturis  appressis  distinctis  ;  apice  acuto  ; 
apertura  elongata ;  plica  columellari  obsoleta. 

Shell  elongated,  conic,  yellow  or  grey  horn  color,  highly 
polished,  with  white,  somewhat  interrupted  lines  of  growth  fol- 
lowing the  marks  of  growth  ;  whorls  5 — 6,  slightly  convex  ;  su- 
tures appressed  distinct ;  spire  conic  ;  apex  acute  ;  aperture  elon- 
gated, regularly  rounded  below,  acutely  angular  above,  columellar 
fold  obsolete. 

Length  1^-,  breadth   5jL  ,  length  of  aperture  ^5  of  an  inch. 

See  plate  I,  fig.  11,  in  No.  1. 

This  beautiful  Physa  was  brought  from  Yucatan,  Central 
America,  by  my  friend  Mr.  Norman,  the  enterprising  traveller 
and  author  of  "  Rambles  in  Yucatan,"  &c. 

Among  other  species  brought  by  Mr.  Norman  from  Yucatan, 
were  some  specimens  of  a  Glandina,  of  which  I  have  found  no 
description  that  would  at  all  apply,  except  that  of  G.  obtusa,  Pfeif., 
from  Nicaragua,  (Proceedings  of  the  Lond.   Zool.  Soc,  1845.) 


May,  1846.]  67 

If  this  species  from  Yucatan  be  the  G.  obtusa,  Dr.  Pfeiffer  has 
described  a  young  shell,  the  dimensions  of  the  Nicaragua  shell 
being,  length  9|  lines,  diameter  5  lines ;  last  whorl  rather  longer 
than  spire  of  the  Yucatan  shell ;  d.  14  lines  ;  diameter  5^  lines  ; 
aperture  5J  lines.  The  character  of  the  surface  in  Gr.  obtusa  is 
not  noticed.  The  specimens  from  Yucatan  are  minutely  striated 
longitudinally,thestria3  the  strongest  near  the  sutures  and  becoming 
"weaker  towards  the  aperture  ;  these  striae  are  crossed  by  very 
minute  revolving  lines,  giving  the  shell  under  a  good  glass  a 
slightly  granular  aspect.  The  Gr.  obtusa  is  described  as  "  ovata 
utrinque  attenuata ;"  these  adult  shells  have  the  two  last  whorls 
almost  cylindrical. 

See  plate  1,  fig.  33,  in  No.  1. 

Should  it  prove  to  be  distinct  from  the  Nicaragua  species,  I 
would  propose  the  name  of 

G-landina  (Achatina)  cylindracea.  Testa  sub-cylindracea,  apice 
obtusa,  solidula,  pellucida,  pallidissime  carnea,  longitudinaliter 
tenue  striata,  striis  decussatis  lineis  exilissimis,  anfractibus  7,  vix 
convexiusculis  ;  sutura  crenulata,  apertura  mediocre,  spira  bre- 
viore ;  columella  basi  contorta,  et  subito  truncata ;  peristomate 
simplici ;  marginibus  callo  tenuissimo  vix  junctis  ;  dextro  medio 
non  dilatato. 

Length  1  *1  diameter  i!L  ,  length  of  aperture  51. 

°  100  100  '  &  r  100 

Shell  subcylindrical,  apex  obtuse,  moderately  thick,  pellucid, 
very  pale  flesh  color,  finely  striated  longitudinally,  the  striae 
crossed  by  very  minute  lines  ;  whorls  7,  slightly  convex  ;  suture 
crenulate ;  aperture  moderate,  shorter  than  the  spire ;  columella 
curved  at  the  base,  and  suddenly  truncated ;  outer  lip  thin ;  not 
dilated  in  the  middle;  inner  lip  scarcely  covered  by  a  slight  callus. 


The  Monthly  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was  read 
and  adopted. 

On  motion  of  Prof.  Johnson  :  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  Har- 
lan's Med.  and  Phys.  Researches  be  presented  to  the  Essex  Co. 

(Mass.)  Nat,  Hist.  Society. 


68  [June,  1846. 

Stated  Meeting,  June  2,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Annales  des  Mines.  4me-  Serie,  Tome  7,  Livs.  1,  2  and  3  de  1845, 
and  Tome  8,  Liv.  4  de  1845.     In  exchange. 

Proceedings  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  Vol.  1, 
No.  4.     From  the  Society. 

Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History.  April, 
1846.     From  the  Society. 

The  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 

Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.  2,  No.  7.  From  the  Associa- 
tion. 

Fifty-ninth  Annual  Report  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  of 
the  State  of  New  York.     Albany,  1846.     From  the  Regents. 

Dr.  Elwyn  presented  a  large  number  of  "works,  chiefly  on  subjects 
of  Natural  Science,  originally  forming  part  of  the  collection 
of  the  late  Dr.  James  Mease. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Win.  M.  Baird,  Esq.,  dated  Reading, 
June  1st,  1846,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice  of  elec- 
tion as  a  Correspondent. 

Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper  intended  for  publication,  entitled 
"Anatomy  of  Spectrum  femoratum,  Say,"  with  numerous 
drawings,  representing  the  different  parts  and  organs  of  the 
insect.  Referred  to  Mr.  Haldeman,  Drs.  Hallowell  and  God- 
dard. 

Dr.  Morton  presented  a  letter  from  M.  Lamarepicquot,  a 
French  naturalist,  who  has  established  his  residence  on  the 
Upper  Mississippi,  with  the  view  of  investigating  the  habits, 
&c,  of  the  Mammiferse  of  that  region.  The  letter  was  ad- 
dressed to  F.  Markoe,  Jr.,  Esq.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  National  Institute,  and  by  him  referred  to  the  Academy 
through  Dr.  Morton,  with  a  request  to  examine  into  the  state- 


June,  1846.]  69 

merits  which  it  contained.  These  were  in  reference  to  a  discov- 
ery made  by  the  writer  and  supposed  by  him  to  be  new,  of  three 
distinct  excretory  passages,  a  urethral,  a  vaginal,  and  an  anal, 
in  the  female  Gopher,  (Geomys  bursarius  ?)  A  number  of  speci- 
ments  had  been  examined,  and  this  peculiar  conformation  found 
to  be  constant. 


Stated  Meeting,  June  9,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

A  large  collection  of  minerals,  chiefly  from  New  Hampshire, 
Presented  by  Dr.  Elwyn. 

Mr.  Hodge,  of  Philadelphia,  deposited  in  the  Hall  a  perfect 
Egyptian  mummy,  enclosed  in  its  original  Sarcophagus,  from 
Catacombs  of  Thebes. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  two  Indian  crania  from  mounds  in  the 
vicinity  of  Chilicothe,  Ohio,  presented  to  him  by  Dr.  Davis  and 
Mr.  Squier  of  that  city ;  and  two  others  from  mounds  in  Bun- 
combe Co.,  N.  Carolina,  from  Dr.  Hardy,  of  Ashville  in  that 
State. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Notice    sur    l'Eurypterus    de   Podolie,  et   le    Chirotherium    de 

Livonie,  par  G.   Fischer  de  Waldheim.     From  Mrs.   L.  W. 

Say. 
A    portion    of  the   Plates   of    Blainville's    Malacology.     From 

the  same. 
Carte    Geognostique    des    districts    de    Mines    de    l'Etat    de 

Mexico  :    par   Frederick    cle    Gerolt  et  Charles  de  Berghes : 

with    a    pamphlet    explanatory   of  the   same.      From   Baron 

Gerolt. 
Dr.    Elwyn    presented  an    additional  collection  of  works  from 

the  Library  of  the  late  Dr.  James  Mease,  including  31  Nos. 

of  the  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Geographique  :  7  Nos.  of  Til- 


70  [June,  1846. 

loch's  London  Philosophical  Magazine  and  Journal,  Transac- 
tions of  the  Literary  and  Historical  Society  of  Quebec,  Vol. 
3,  Part  2 ;  First  Supplement  to  the  Philadelphia  Med.  and 
Phys.  Journal,  by  Benj.  Smith  Barton,  M.  D.,  and  a  num- 
ber of  addresses,  memoirs,  lectures,  &c,  chiefly  on  subjects 
of  Natural  Science. 


Dr.  Morton  made  some  remarks  on  the  position  of  the  ear  in 
the  ancient  Egyptians. 


Stated  Meeting,  June  23,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

A  collection  of  organic  remains,  reptilia,  and  fresh  water  shells. 
Presented  by  Dr.  William  Blanding. 

A  collection  of  Reptilia  and  fishes  from  Western  Africa.  Pre- 
sented by  Dr.  Blanding  and  S.  S.  Haldeman. 

Specimen,   in  skin,   of  Mustela  ,   from  East  Tennessee. 

Presented  by  Mr.  Haldeman. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Statisque  de  l'Espagne :  par  Alex.  Moreau  de  Jonnes.  Paris, 
1834.  Statisque  de  la  Grand-Bretagne  et  de  1' Irian  de :  par 
Alex.  Moreau  de  Jonnes.  2  vols.  Paris,  1837  and  1838. 
Recherches  statisques  sur  l'esclavage  Colonial  et  sur  les 
moyens  de  le  supprimer :  par  Alex.  Moreau  de  Jonnes.  Paris, 
1842.     From  the  Author. 

Lexicon  Physico-Medicum,  or  a  new  Medicinal  Dictionary. 
Auctore  J.  Quincy.  Taken  from  the  British  at  the  storming 
of  Stoney  Point,  July  16th,  1770.)  From  Collinson  Steven- 
son, M.  D. 

Geological  Survey  of  Canada ;  Report  of  Progress  for  1844. 
Montreal,  1846.     From  Richard  C.  Taylor,  Esq. 


June,  1846.]  71 

A  letter  was  read  from  H.  Meigs,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the 
local  committee  of  the  Association  of  American  Geologists  and 
Naturalists,  dated  New  York,  June  5,  1846,  transmitting  a 
number  of  printed  circulars  of  that  Association  for  distribution 
among  the  members  of  the  Academy. 

A  letter  from  M.  Alex.  Moreau  de  Jonnes  was  read,  accom- 
panying his  works  presented  this  evening. 

Mr.  Haldeman  read  a  description  of  Unio  abacoides,  a  new 
species,  which  being  intended  for  publication,  was  referred  to  a 
committee  consisting  of  Dr.  Hallowell,  Mr.  Phillips  and  Mr. 
Conrad. 

Mr.  Fisher  made  some  remarks  on  the  comparative  ra- 
pidity of  growth  of  plants  at  different  periods  of  their  exist- 
ence. 

Dr.  Leidy  exhibited  recent  leaves  of  the  common  Elm,  (Ulmus 
fulva,)  each  having  on  the  upper  surface  several  large  pyriform 
excrescences,  which  were  hollow  and  impervious,  and  contained 
multitudes  of  Aphides  in  different  stages  of  development,  from 
the  larva  to  the  perfect  insect. 

Dr.  Morton  made  some  observations  on  the  occasional  union 
or  continuation  of  the  spheno-temporal  and  coronal  sutures  in 
the  human  subject.  He  finds  it  frequent  in  the  Negro,  occasional 
in  the  Hindoo,  Egyptian  and  aboriginal  American,  but  has  found 
no  instances  of  it  in  the  European.  He  proposes  to  continue 
his  observations,  and  to  present  the  precise  results  at  a  future 
meeting  of  the  Society. 

Dr.  Morton  also  exhibited  casts  of  some  remarkable  human 
effigies,  and  other  relics  taken  from  Indian  mounds  in  the  vicinity 
of  Chilicothe,  Ohio,  by  Dr.  Davis  and  Mr.  Squier,  of  that 
city. 


Meeting  for  Business,  June  80,  1846. 

Vice  President  Wetherill  in  the  Chair. 

The    Committee  on  Dr.   Leidy's  paper  on  the  Anatomy  of 
Bradypus  tridactylus,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 


72  [June,  1846. 


Remarks  upon  the  Anatomy  of  the  Abdominal  Viscera  of  the  Sloth,  Bradypus 

tridactylus,  Linn. 

By  Joseph  Leidt,  M.  D. 

A  living  specimen  of  the  three-toed  sloth,  which  was  lately  brought  to  this 
city  from  South  America,  having  died  a  short  time  since,  I  have  been  enabled, 
through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Wood,  preparer  of  specimens  in  natural  history, 
to  procure  the  greater  part  of  the  abdominal  viscera  and  the  uterus. 

Descriptions  of  the  anatomy  of  this  animal  have  been  given  by  several  authors, 
but  unfortunately  not  without  a  great  deal  of  discrepancy  in  the  statement  of 
the  simplest  matters  of  fact,  which  I  cannot  account  for  in  any  other  way  than 
by  suspecting  several  species  to  have  been  indiscriminately  described  as  the 
same.  Such  cases  of  discrepancy  are  by  no  means  unfrequent  in  Zootomy, 
arising,  no  doubt,  in  many  cases,  from  the  too  exclusive  attention  in  tbe 
preparation  and  preservation  of  the  exterior,  to  the  careless  examination,  or 
even  total  neglect  of  the  interior. 

Regretting  exceedingly  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  extend  my  observations 
to  the  whole  anatomy  of  the  animal,  I  must  be  content  to  give  a  few  cursory 
remarks  upon  the  material  obtained,  which  I  proceed  to  do  at  once. 

The  stomach,  according  to  Cuvier,  in  his  Regne  Animal,  Tome  I.  p.  217, 
"is  divided  into  four  sacks  analogous  enough  to  the  four  stomachs  of  the 
ruminantia,  but  without  folds  or  other  salient  parts  in  the  interior/'  Dr. 
Harlan,*  in  his  account  of  the  anatomy  of  this  animal,  writes,  "the  stomach 
consists  of  a  large  paunch,  in  no  way  furnished  with  compartments  like  that 
of  the  ruminantia,  as  is  asserted  by  Buffon,  who  also  errs  in  attributing 
ruminating  faculties  to  the  animal ;  but  this  organ  presents  a  structure  differing 
from  that  of  any  other  animal  with  which  we  are  familiar,  being  furnished 
with  numerous,  long,  conical  cul-de-sacs." 

The  specimen  of  the  stomach  which  I  have  investigated  agrees  with  the 
account,  so  far  as  it  goes,  of  Cuvier.  Taken  as  a  whole,  this  organ  is  irregular 
in  shape,  large,  capacious,  and  sacculated.  It  is  evidently  divided  into  four 
compartments,  or  distinct  portions,  by  contractions,  partitions,  and  difference 
of  structure.  The  first  compartment  is  the  largest  and  corresponds  to  the  paunch 
of  the  ruminantia ;  it  is  separated  from  the  second  compartment  by  a  well  marked 
and  prominent  ridge,  is  lined  by  a  soft  mucous  membrane,  having  in  it  nu- 
merous follicles  of  a  large  size,  is,  comparatively  with  the  other  portions,  thin  in 
its  parietes,  and  has  projecting  upwards  from  it,  possessing  the  same  structure, 
a  "  long,  conical  cul-de-sac, "  the  only  one  found  in  connection  with  the  stomach 
in  this  specimen.  The  second  and  third  compartments  are  next  in  size,  and 
are  separated  from  each  other  by  a  partition  of  the  same  structure  projecting 
from  each  side  of  the  cavity  of  the  organ.  The  oesophagus  opens  into  the 
second  compartment,  but  as  it  was  cut  off  close  to  the  stomach  I  am  unable  to 
say  anything  about  it.  The  lining  mucous  membrane  of  these  two  latter  com- 
partments presents  a  rigid,    rough  and  thick  epithelia,  surface  resembling  in 

•Observations  on  the  Anatomy  of  the  Sloth,  Bradypus  tridactylus*  Linn.  Medical 
and  Physical  Researches,  p.  544.     Philadelphia,  1836, 


June,  1846.]  73 

structure  the  cuticular  lining  of  the  gizzard  of  birds.  A  deep  fold  of  the  lining 
and  intermediate  or  muscular  membrane  passes  from  the  left  of  the  opening  of 
the  oesophagus  into  the  second  compartment,  transversely  along  the  side  of  the 
third  compartment  into  the  fourth,  being  somewhat  analogous  to  the  arrange- 
ment in  the  ruminantia  for  conducting  the  ruminated  food  into  the  fourth 
stomach.  The  fourth  compartment  is  narrow  and  intestiniform ;  the  muscu- 
lar tunic  at  its  inferior  half  obtains  a  sudden  increase,  being  extremely  thick 
and  strong.  The  internal  surface  at  the  commencement  presents  a  patch  of 
soft  mucous  membrane  extending  about  two-thirds  round  the  circumference  of 
the  cavity,  and  about  an  inch  in  width,  and  is  surrounded  by  an  abrupt,  thick- 
ened, and  papillated  ridge  of  the  epithelial  structure,  giving  it  somewhat  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  excavated  ulcer.  The  remaining  part  of  the  surface  is  formed 
of  the  same  epithelial  structure  as  in  the  second  and  third  compartments,  but  is 
thicker,  and  is  thrown  into  numerous  transverse  and  longitudinal  folds,  and  has 
at  its  commencement  several  large  and  deep  follicles,  with  mouths  from  one  to 
two  lines  in  diameter.  The  pylorus  is  small,  and  presents  no  valvular  arrange- 
ment, but  is  capable  of  being  perfectly  closed  by  the  agency  of  the  very  thick 
muscular  tunic  and  the  approach  of  the  internal  longitudinal  folds. 

The  duodenum  comes  off  from  the  stomach  by  a  very  abrupt  thinning  in 
structure.  Its  lining  mucous  membrane  is  soft  and  villous,  but  has  no  valvule 
conniventes.  The  openings  of  the  hepatic  and  pancreatic  ducts  into  it  are 
about  one  inch  apart. 

The  other  part  of  the  small  intestine  is,  comparatively,  rather  short,  and 
appears  to  be  pretty  uniform  in  diameter,  although  it  has  a  gradual  increase 
downwards,  being  the  reverse  in  this  point  in  man  and  some  other  animals. 
The  muscular  coat  of  the  small  intestine  is  rather  thin;  the  mucous  coat  pre- 
sents a  structure  like  that  of  the  duodenum. 

The  distinction  between  the  small  intestine  and  colon  is  pretty  well  marked 
but  the  latter  does  not  extend  beyond  the  former  to  a  sufficient  degree  to  form 
a  ccecum.  The  commencement  of  the  colon  is  about  ten  lines  in  diameter,  but 
decreases  as  it  passes  forwards  or  ascends,  until  at  its  anterior  part,  the  diameter 
is  less  than  that  of  the  small  intestine  ;  it  gradually  increases  again  as  it  de- 
scends, until  it  emerges  in  the  extremely  dilated  rectum.  It  is  not  at  all  saccu- 
lated, which  appears  to  have  been  otherwise  the  case  in  Dr.  Harlan's  specimen. 

The  liver  is  formed  of  large  acini,  is  very  little  lobulated,  and  has  no  gall 
bladder. 

The  pancreas  and  spleen  present  nothing  of  interest. 

The  kidnies  are  small,  and  present  internally  but  a  single  papilla  renalis  pro- 
jecting into  the  pelvis  of  these  organs. 

The  uterus  in  this  individual  is  in  a  pregnant  condition,  being  probably 
about  four  or  six  weeks  advanced.  Its  size  in  this  condition  is  a  little  more 
than  one  half  that  of  the  unimpregnated  adult  human  uterus,  and  is  pyriform 
in  shape.  The  ovaries  are  about  the  size  of  a  coffee-grain,  and  at  one  extremi- 
ty are  in  contact  with  the  uterus.  The  Fallopian  tubes  are  correspondingly 
short.  In  structure  the  uterus  is  fibro-muscular ;  the  cavity  of  the  neck  is 
lined  by  a  mucous  membrane  thrown  into  numerous  longitudinal  folds.  The 
cavity  of  the  body  contains  a  single  embryo.  The  two  portions  of  the  mem. 
brana  decidua,  the  reflexa  and  vera,  are  combined,  forming  a  thickness  of  five 

11 


74 


[June,  1846. 


or  six  lines,  and  possesses  a  decided  vascularity.  The  chorion  is  connected  to 
the  decidua  by  its  shaggy  surface,  but  an  amnion  is  not  distinguishable,  being 
probably  not  yet  formed. 

Passing  from  the  sides  of  the  cavity  of  the  chorion,  is  a  delicate  cellular  tissue, 
filled  with  a  transparent  serous  fluid,  the  corpus  reticulare,  in  which  the  embryo 
is  suspended  by  the  duct  of  the  allantois  and  vessels  to  the  upper  part  of  the 
chorion,  at  the  point  where  the  future  placenta  is  formed.  The  embryo,  in  its 
curved  position,  measures  six  lines  in  length,  and  exhibits  the  cerebrum,  cere- 
bellum, chorda  dorsalis,  the  rudimentary  vertebne,  ribs,  and  extremities,  and 
the  heart,  the  liver,  the  stomach  and  urinary  bladder. 

Conceiving  the  pregnant  uterus  at  this  stage  to  be  of  more  than  ordinary 
interest,  I  present  the  following  figures  of  the  same  as  it  appeared  on  dissection. 

Fig.  1. 


Fig.  1,  Represents  the  uterus  laid  open,  the  size  of  nature,  exhibiting  :  1,  The 
decidua;  2,  The  chorion;  3,  The  corpus  reticulare;  4,  The  embryo. 
Fig.  2. 

Fig.  2,  Represents  the  embryo,  twice  the  size  of  nature. 

1,  The  cerebrum;  2,  The  cerebullum  ;  3,  The  chorda  dorsalis; 

>A  4,  The  rudimentary  vertebrae;  5,  The  ribs;  6,  The  extremi- 

ties;  7.  The  heart;  8,  The  liver ;  9,  The  stomach;  10,  The 


va  urinary  bladder. 


June,  1846.  ]  7 5 

The  Committee  on  the  following  description  of  a  new  species 
of  Unio,  by  Mr.  Haldeman,  read  at  last  meeting,  reported  in 
favor  of  publication. 

Description  of  Unio  abacoides,  a  new  species. 
By  S.  S.  Haldeman. 

Shell  subovate,  obtusely  and  regularly  rounded  posteriorly,  disks 
approximate,  chestnut  brown  and  pale  green,  with  green  radiating  in- 
terrupted capillary  lines,  and  a  tendency  to  form  a  submedial  nodulous 
ridge:  primary  teeth  robust,  their  inner  margin  nearly  at  right  angles 
with  the  short  lamellar  teeth  :  pallial  and  muscular  impressions  well 
marked  :  nacre  white,  roseate  posteriorly. 

Length  2|,  height  2,  diameter  1&  inches. 

Allied  to  U.  dromas,  Lea,  and  U.  intermedius,  Conrad,  but  is  pro- 
portionally longer  than  either.  In  its  outline  and  small  transverse 
diameter  it  resembles  U.  abacus.  I  am  indebted  for  this  interesting 
shell  to  the  liberality  of  Dr.  Foreman,  who  received  it  from  Eastern 
Tennessee. 


The  Monthly  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was  read 
and  adopted. 

The  Society  then  unanimously  conferred  a  Life-Membership 
on  Richard  C.  Taylor,  Esq.,  of  this  city. 

Dr.  Morton  offered  the  following  : 

Whereas,  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  has  purchased  the  magni- 
ficent collection  of  Birds  called  the  Rivoli  collection,  now  in 
Paris,  embracing  10,000  specimens,  mounted  and  named,  and 
Dr.  Wilson  having  expressed  a  wish  that  they  should  be  arranged 
in  the  Hall  of  the  Academy,  and  his  fellow  members  warmly  and 
cordially  seconding  his  proposition,  it  is  hereby 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  members  be  appointed  to 
devise  such  additions  to  the  present  building  as  may  be  necessary 
for  this  purpose,  and  to  report  a  plan  of  the  same  to  the  Academy 
without  delay. 

The  preamble  and  resolution  were  unanimously  adopted,  and 
the  Committee  appointed  to  consist  of  Dr.  Morton,  Mr.  Vaux, 
Dr.  Bridges,  Mr.  Pearsall  and  Dr.  Wilson. 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


ACADEMY    OF    NATURAL   SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA. 

Vol.  3.  JULY  AND  AUG.,  1846.  No.  4. 

Stateed  Meeting,  July  7,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

The  chairman  announced  that  the  extensive  and  valuable 
collection  of  Fossil  organic  remains,  deposited  in  the  Academy 
by  Richard  C.  Taylor,  Esq.,  had  been  purchased  by  Mr.  J, 
Price  Wetherill  and  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson,  and  is  now  pre- 
sented by  them  to  the  Society. 

A  full  notice  of  this  collection  will  be  found  at  page  261, 
Vol.  2,  of  the  Proceedings. 

Mr.  J.  Price  Wetherill  presented  the  entire  collection  of  or- 
ganic remains,  hitherto,  deposited Jby  him  in  the  Academy,  and 
embracing  two  distinct  series,  as  follows  : 

1.  The  Steinhaur  Collection,  which  was  made  in  England 
nearly  forty  years  ago  by  the  late  Rev.  Henry  Steinhaur.  It 
is  particularly  rich  in  fossil  plants  from  the  coal  basin  of  York- 
shire, and  in  Testacea  and  Zoophytes  from  the  lias,  oolitic, 
and  cretaceous  formations  of  various  parts  of  Great  Britain. 

2.  The  Clifford  Collection,  which  was  made  by  the  late  in- 
defatigable Mr.  Clifford  of  Cincinnati,  and  purchased  from  his 


78  [July,  1846. 

heirs  by  Mr.  Wetherill.  It  contains  an  extensive  and  beautiful 
series  of  fossil  remains  of  the  Carboniferous  deposits  of  the  Val- 
ley of  the  Mississippi ;  together  with  the  skeleton  of  the  Mega- 
lonyx  laqueatus  of  Dr.  Harlan,  and  numerous  bones  and  teeth 
of  the  Mastodon,  Elephant,  &c. 

The  whole  number  of  specimens  is  nearly  3000 ;  which, 
added  to  those  previously  in  the  Society's  possession,  and  the 
beautiful  collection  of  Mr.  Taylor,  now  the  property  of  the 
Academy,  constitute  an  extensive  and  most  instructive  geo- 
logical cabinet. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Some  observations  on  the  Ethnography  and  Archaeology  of 
the  American  Aborigines.  Ry  Samuel  George  Morton,  M.  D. 
New  Haven,  1846.     From  the  Author. 

Abhandlungen  der  Mathem:  Physikalischen  classe  der 
Koeniglich  :  bayerischen  AkademiederWissenschaften.  4to. 
Munchen,  1845.  Bulletin  der  Koenigl :  Akademie  der  Wis- 
senschaften,  (from  September  17,  1844,  to  January  7, 
1846.)  Almanack  do.  do.     From  the  Academy. 

Andentungen  zur  characteristic  der  organischen  libens  nach 
seinem  auftreten  in  den  verschiedenen  erd  periodeden.  Fes- 
trede  gelesen  in  der  offertlichen  sitzung  der  Kgl :  bayer: 
Akad  :  der  Wissensch  :  zu  Munchen  zer  feier  ihres  sich- 
sund  achdzigsten  stiftungages  au  28  Marz,  1845.  Von  Dr. 
A.  Wagner.     From  the  Anthor. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts,  second  series,  Vol.  1. 

No.  4.     July,  1846.     From  the  Editors. 
Literary  record  and  Journal  of  the    Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College,  Vol.  2.  No.  9.     From  the  Associa- 
tion. 


A  letter  was  read  from  William  Gourlie,  Jr.,  Esq.,  dated 
Glasgow,  June  2, 1846,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice 
of  election  as  a  correspondent. 

A  communication  from  Mr.  Richard  C.  Taylor,  dated  July 
3d,  1846,  returning  thanks  to  the  Society  for  the  Life-mem- 
bership conferred  on  him  at  last  meeting. 


July,  1846.]  79 

The  Committee  appointed  at  last  meeting,  to  devise  such 
additions  to  the  present  building  as  may  be  necessary  for 
accommodating  the  splendid  collection  of  mounted  birds,  re- 
cently purchased  in  Paris  by  Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson,  reported  a 
plan,  which  was  adopted  ;  and  on  motion  of  Prof.  Johnson  it 
was 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  be  continued,  and  that  they 
be  aiithorised  and  instructed  to  carry  into  effect  said  plan,  as 
submitted  by  them  this  evening. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Morton,  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of 
this  Society  be  presented  to  John  Price  Wetherill,  Esq.,  for 
the  extensive  and  valuable  collection  of  British  and  American 
Fossils  presented  by  him  liiis  evening ;  a  collection  which  is 
admirably  adapted  to  convey  instruction  in  the  most  pleasing 
departments  of  Geological  Science,  and  which  is  accepted  by 
his  fellow  members  as  one  of  many  proofs  of  his  regard  for 
the  interests  of  this  Institution. 


Stated  Meeting,  July  14,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Jacob  Tremper,  Esq.,  dated  Dresden, 
N.  Y.  July  6,  1846,  containing  some  general  meteorological 
observations  made  by  himself  in  his  vicinity  ;  and  requesting 
the  transmission  to  him  of  Vols.  1  and  2  of  the  Proceedings. 

The  chairman  read  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Alexan- 
der Maclure,  dated,  New  Harmony,  Ind.,  July  6,  1846,  stat- 
ing his  intention  to  transfer  to  the  Academy  all  his  right,  title, 
and  interest  in  certain  Virginia  lands. 

Prof.  Johnson  read  some  extracts  from  a  printed  copy  of  a 
bill  now  before  Congress,  from  -the  Library  Committee,  pro- 
viding for  the  publication  of  an  additional  number  of  copies  of 
the  Scientific  reports  of  the  late  South  Sea  Exploring  Expe- 
dition. 

Prof.  Johnson  made  some  remarks  in  relation  to  the  bill, 


80  [July,  1846. 

and  congratulated  the  Society,  on  the  prospect  of  a  copy  being 
soon  obtained  for  its  Library. 


Meeting  for  Business,  July  8,  1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  on  Dr.  Leidy's  paper  on  the  Anatomy  of 
Spectrum  femoratum,  Say,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

On  the  Anatomy  of  Spectrum  femoratum,  Say. 
By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

Spectrum  femoratum  is  one  of  those  singular  insects  which  from  their 
appearance,  in  localities  where  they  are  found,  are  commonly  known  under 
the  name  of  "  Walking  Sticks." 

This  species  was  first  described  by  the  distinguished  naturalist,  formerly 
in  connection  with  our  Society,  Thomas  Say,  and  a  description  and  drawing 
of  it  will  be  found  in  the  third  volume  of  his  American  Entomology.  Indi- 
vidual specimens  have  been  found  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States,  but  I 
have  not  learned  of  any  place  where  it  i3  abundant,  excepting  in  the  State 
of  Iowa,  from  whence  I  obtained  my  specimens,  through  Dr.  B.  J.  Kern, 
who  informs  me  they  are  found  in  considerable  numbers,  frequenting  high 
bluffs  or  dry  exposed  situations,  creeping  on  the  ground  or  on  decaying 
timber. 

It  belongs  to  the  order  Orthoptera,  family  Mantidas.  The  male  insect 
measures  2  inches  9  lines  in  length,  and  one  line  in  breadth  ;  the  female, 
3  inches,  7  lines  in  length,  and  2  lines  in  breadth  at  the  thorax,  and  3J 
lines  at  the  abdomen. 

The  head  is  oval;  the  eyes  are  somewhat  protuberant.  It  has  no  sim- 
ple eyes.  The  antennae,  in  the  male,  are  about  2  inches  in  length  ;  in  the 
female,  1£  inches  ;  setaceous,  and  numerously  jointed,  the  joints  (Fig.  1.) 
being  long,  oval  and  hirsute. 

The  thorax  has  three  segments,  the  two  posterior  of  which  form  full  one 
third  the  length  of  the  whole  body.  The  smallest  rudiment  of  wings  does 
not  exist.  The  anterior  and  posterior  pair  of  legs,  in  the  male,  are  two 
inches  in  length,  the  intermediate  pair  one  and  one-half  inches  ;  in  the 
female  they  are  all  about  half  an  inch  shorter.  They  are  narrow,  and 
much  separated  in  the  walking  position.  The  thighs  of  the  central 
pair  of  legs  in  the  male  are  comparatively  thick  and  the  thighs  of  the  central 
and  posterior  pairs,  have  at  their  distal  extremity  an  acute  projecting 
spine,  long  in  the  male,  short  in  the  female.  The  tarsus  (Fig.  2.) 
is  five  jointed,  each  joint  being  furnished  with  stiff  hairs  and  at  the  under 
part  of  the  distal  extremity,   a  pair  of  hard,  smooth,   shining  black  tuber- 


July,  1846.]  81 

cles.  The  last  joint  is  armed  with  two  hooked  phalanges  having  placed  be- 
neath them  a  round  and  thick  soft  pad.  The  abdomen  has  nine  segments. 
The  last  abdominal  segment,  in  both  sexe3,  is  furnished  with  two  short 
eaudal  appendages.  The  external  part  of  the  sexual  apparatus  is  articulated 
with  the  ventral  plate  of  the  seventh  abdominal  segment. 

Of  the  digestive  apparatus.  The  oral  organs  are  mandibulate  or  masticatory. 
The  labium  (Fig.3,)  is  in  fourpieces,two  of  which  are  external  and  one  longer 
than  the  internal.  They  are  somewhat  claviculate  in  shape,have  each  a  black 
spot  at  the  extremity  and  articulate  with  the  mentum,  properly  a  fifth  piece 
to  the  labium.  The  labial  palpi  (Fig.  3,  a,)  articulate  with  the  mentum,  are 
hirsute,  and  three-jointed,  two  of  the  joints  being  oval  and  the  third  lanceo- 
late in  shape.  The  tongue,  (Fig.  4.)  which  is  internal  as  regards  the  mouth 
and  is  generally  considered  to  belong  to  the  labium,  is  fiat  from  side  to  side, 
of  a  curved  triangular  form,  corneous  in  structure,  and  ciliate  upon  its  upper 
edge. 

The  maxilla?  (Fig.  5,)  are  tridentate  and  slightly  hairy.  The  maxillay  palpi 
(Fig.  5,  a.)  are  five-jointed  and  hirsute  ;  the  first  two  joints  are  subrotund, 
the  next  two  conical,  and  the  last  one  lanceolate  in  form.  The  niandibuke 
(Fig.  6,)  are  very  hard,  short,  and  strong,  and  present  a  triangular  molar 
surface,  with  two  of  the  sides  raised  into  trenchant,  sharp  edges,  resembling 
very  much  a  gouge,  and  well  adapted  for  cutting  the  harder  vegetable  sub- 
stances. The  labrum  (Fig.  7,)  is  slightly  convex  and  emarginated.  The  intes- 
tinal canal  (Fig.  8,)  extends  in  a  straight  line,  the  length  of  the  body,  from 
the  mouth  to  the  anus,  and  is  broad  and  capacious  throughout.  The  pharynx 
is  almost  null.  The  cesophagus,  at  first  narrow,  after  a  few  lines  of  its  course 
almost  abruptly  dilates  into  a  tube  of  large  calibre,  extending  nearly  one  half 
the  length  of  the  whole  canal,  and  may  be  considered  in  the  light  of  a  com- 
bined crop  and  cesophagus,  as  it  appears  to  be  a  receptacle  of  the  food,  in 
which  the  latter  undergoes  some  change  preparatory  to  being  received  into 
the  stomach,  and  I  will,  hence,  call  it  the  oesophageal  crop.  (Fig.  8,  a.)  Its  in- 
ferior part  (Fig.  9,)  becomes  contracted  in  shape  like  the  neck  of  a  Florence 
flask,  and  projects  into  the  cavity  of  the  stomach.  The  orifice'opening  into 
the  stomach  is  narrow,  and  has  a  valve-like  appendage  connected  to  its  lip. 
The  exterior  or  muscular  tunic  of  the  oesophageal  crop  is  thick  and  strong  i 
its  transverse  fibres  are  well  marked.  The  epithelium  is  comparatively 
thick  and  tightly  adherent  to  its  basement  membrane. 

Thi3  portion  of  the  alimentary  canal  I  found  to  be  full  of  coarse  particles 
of  decaying  wood,  which  I  infer  to  be  the  food  of  the  animal. 

The  stomach  (Fig.  8,  b.)  is  about  half  an  inch  in  length,  and  of  very  little 
greater  breadth  than  the  preceding  receptacle.  Its  parietes  are  compara- 
tively thin,  and  present  internally  numerous  transverse  rugae  which  pass 
from  a  longitudinal  ruga  in  front  to  a  corresponding  one  behind.  The 
muscular  investment  is  very  thin  ;  the  epithelial  surface  is  soft  and  readily 
separable  from  the  basement  membrane,  which  latter  makes  up  the  greater 
part  of  the  thickness  of  the  stomach. 

The  duodenum  (Fig.  8,  c.)  is  only  distinguishable  from  the  stomach  by  a 
narrowing  of  its  capacity  and  the  disappearance  of  the  ruga?.  It  presents 
the  same  structure  as  the  stomach.     Its  length  is  about  three  times  that  o 


82  July,  1846. 

the  latter,  and  it  receives  near  its  middle,  where  it  undergoes  a  narrow- 
contraction,  the  biliary  vessels.  The  contained  mass  of  the  stomach  and 
duodenum  has  a  pultaceous  consistence. 

The  ilium  (Fig.  8,  e.)  is  not  more  than  four  lines  in  length,  is  exceedingly 
contracted,  and  opens  directly  into  the  rectum. 

The  rectum  (Fig.  8,  f.)  is  about  the  same  length  as  the  ilium,  is  mode- 
rately capacious,  and  has  thick  musculo-epithelial  parities.  It  presents 
internally  several  columns  or  longitudinal  folds,  which  give  a  columnar 
appearance  to  the  excrement  of  the  animal.  The  anus  opens  at  the  extre- 
mity of  the  last  abdominal  segment  between  the  caudal  appendages. 

The  salivary  glands  (Fig.  8,  g.)  two  in  number,  are  placed  laterally  upon 
the  anterior  part  of  the  oesophageal  crop.  In  structure  they  are  of  the 
highest  order,  being  granulated  or  conglomerate,  one  of  the  rarest  forms  in 
the  economy  of  insect  life.     Their  ducts  open  into  the  mouth. 

The  biliary  vessels  (Fig.  8,  h.  Fig.  11,)  are  numerous,  moderately  long, 
and  form  a  double  attachment  to  the  duodenum.  They  are  connected  at  their 
commencement  to  the  external  tunic  of  the  duodenum  just  above  the  middle, 
in  three  rows,  (Fig.  10,)  one  below  the  other,  from  whence  they  pass  down- 
wards nearly  to  the  termination  of  the  duodenum,  then  doubling  upon  them- 
selves, running  forwards,  they  finally  form  the  connection  of  entry  about 
the  middle  of  the  duodenum,  at  the  contraction  before  mentioned,  (Fig.  11.) 
When  highly  magnified,  they  present  a  structure  of  basement  membrane 
filled  interiorly  with  organic  nuclei  and  cells,  (Fig.  12.) 

The  Generative  apparatus. — In  the  female:  The  ovaries  (Fig.  8,  i.)  two  in 
number,  are  placed  within  the  abdomen  on  each  side  of  the  duodenum,  and 
are  about  18  lines  in  length.  Each  ovary  consists  of  numerous  ovigerous 
tubes  (Fig.  13,  a.)  4  or  5  lines  in  length,  which  commence  very  narrow,  gra- 
dually dilate,  and  join  a  common  tube,  the  oviduct.  The  ovigerous  tube 
contain  ova  in  various  stages  of  development,  from  a  mere  point  at  their 
commencement  to  the  fully  formed  ovum  at  their  termination.  The  perfected 
ova  measure  l£  lines  in  length,  are  oval  and  smooth.  The  oviducts  (Fig. 
8,  j,  Fig.  13,  b.)  are  narrower  and  pass  backwards  and  join  each  other  be- 
neath the  ileum  to  form  a  common  canal,  the  vagina.  The  vagina  (Fig. 
13,  c.)  is  2£  lines  long,  its  external  orifice  is  placed  between  an  oval  ventral 
plate  (Fig.  13,  d.  Fig.  14,  a.)  articulating  with  the  extremity  of  the  ventral 
plate  of  the  sixth  abdominal  segment,  and  an  upper  convex  plate  provided 
with  four  curved  and  pointed  forceps,  (Fig.  13,  e.)  articulating  with  the 
seventh  abdominal  segment,  which  probably  acts  the  part  of  an  ovipositor. 

In  the  male,  the  genitalia  are  very  simple.  The  testes  (Fig.  15,  a.)  consist 
of  a  pair  of  comparatively  thick  and  short  tubes,  forming  each  a  single  con- 
volution, and  joining  each  other  beneath  the  ilium  to  form  the  ductus  ejacu- 
latorious  (Fig.  15,  b.)  which  proceeds  to  the  penis.  The  penis  (Fig.  15,  c.) 
is  external  to  the  body,  and  is  placed  below  the  eighth  abdominal  segment, 
but  articulates  with  the  seventh.  It  is  short,  semi-oval  in  form,  with  a  short 
pointed  process  behind,  is  enveloped  by  chitinous  membrane,  and  is  received 
in  a  calx  (Fig.  15,  d.)  formed  of  chitine,  which  articulates  with  a  small  con- 
vex segment  attached  to  the  ventral  plate  of  the  seventh  abdominal  segment. 


July,  1846.  83 

The  Nervous  system.— The  cerebrum  (Fig.  17,  a.)  placed  above  the  oeso- 
phagus, in  form  is  like  two  pyriform  bodies  placed  side  by  side,  with  the 
apices  anterior  and  divergent  to  the  base  of  the  antennae.  From  the  most 
anterior  part  of  each  lateral  mass  passes  off  the  antennal  nerve,  (Fig.  17  b.) 
and  from  the  external  side,  just  posterior  to  the  latter,  the  optic  nerve,  (Fig. 
17,  c.)  From  the  base  of  the  optic  nerve  and  the  cerebrum  immediately  pos- 
terior proceed  two  small  branches,  which  unite  to  form  a  single  cord,  the 
analogue  of  the  sympathetic  nerve  (Fig.  17,  d.)  which  passes  backwards  along 
the  side  of  the  oesophageal  crop,  to  which,  after  dividing  into  two  principal 
branches,  it  is  ultimately  distributed  by  numerous  minute  twigs.  Antero-in- 
feriorly  the  cerebrum  sends  off  two  branches  which  pass  forwards,  unite,  and 
form  the  frontal  ganglion  (Fig.  17,  e.)  from  which  proceeds  backwards,  be- 
neath the  cerebrum,  a  single  cord  running  along  the  upper  surface  of  the  oeso- 
phageal crop  nearly  to  its  termination.  These  two  latter  branches, the  frontal 
ganglion,  and  the  single  resulting  cord,  constitutes  the  nervus  recurrens,  or 
nervus  vagus,  (Fig.  17,  f.)  The  nervus  vagus,  after  passing  the  cerebrum, 
forms  a  small  swelling,  which  gives  off  minute  ramuscles  to  the  salivary 
glands  and  neighboring  part  of  the  oesophageal  crop.  It  also  forms  a  gang- 
lion (Fig.  17,  g.)  of  moderate  size  upon  the  lower  part  of  the  oesophageal 
crop,  from  which  proceed  six  principal  nerves  to  be  distributed  to  the  oeso- 
phageal crop  and  stomach. 

The  ventral  cord  consists  of  a  chain  of  eleven  ganglia,  connected  in  their 
length  by  a  double  commissure. 

The  first  of  this  chain,  the  cerebellum,  (Fig.  17,  i.)  is  a  cordiform  gang- 
lion situated  beneath  the  commencement  of  the  oesophagus,  and  connected 
to  the  cerebrum  by  its  appropriate  commissures,  gives  off  the  mandibulary, 
maxillary,  and  labial  nerves. 

The  three  following  ganglia  are  the  thoracic  ganglia,  (Fig.  18,  a.)  the 
first  of  which  is  simple,  the  two  others  double.  These  give  off  nerves  both 
to  the  extremities  and  to  the  neighboring  parts. 

The  seven  remaining  ganglia  are  the  abdominal.  (Fig.  18,  b.)  They  are 
all  single  and  give  off  numerous  minute  ramuscles  in  their  vicinity. 

Explanations  of  the  figures. 

Fig.  1.  Fart  of  one  of  the  antenna*  of  spectrum  femoratum,  highly  magnified. 

Fig.  2.  Tarsus  of  do.,  magnified. 

Fig.  3.  The  labium,  magnified;  a,  the  labial  palpi. 

Fig.  4.  The  tongue,  magnified. 

Fig.  5.  The  right  maxilla  and  palpus,  (a,)  magnified. 

Fig.  6.  The  right  mandibula,  magnified. 

Fig.  7.  The  labrum,  magnified. 

Fig.  8.  The  intestinal  canal,  &c,  of  the  female,  the  size  of  nature  ;  a,  oeso- 
phageal crop;  b,  stomach;  c,  duodenum  ;  e,  ileum  ,  f,  rectum;  g,  salivary 
glands ;  h,  biliary  vessels  ;  i,  ovaries ;  j,  oviducts  ;  k,  an  ovum  in  its  pas- 
sage down  the  oviduct ;  1,  inferior  ganglion  of  the  nervus  vagus. 

Fig.  9.  The  inferior  portion  of  the  oesophageal  crop  and  stomach  laid  open. 

Fig.  10.  Shows  the  connection  of  the  commencement  of  the  biliary  vessels 
with  the  duodenum. 

Fig.  11.  Biliary  vessels  and  place  of  opening  into  the  duodenum. 

Fig.  12.  Portion  of  a  biliary  tube,  highly  magnified. 


84  July,  1846. 

Fig.  13.  Lower  part  of  the  female  generativevapparatus  ;  a,  an  ovigerous 
tube  containing  ova ;  b,  lower  part  of  the  oviducts;  c,  vagina;  d,  oval 
ventral  plate  ;  e,  upper  plate. 

Fig.  14.  The  posterior  four  segments  of  the  abdomen  of  the  female;  a, 
oval  ventral  plate  ;  b,  upper  plate. 

Fig.  15.  Genitalia  of  the  male,  magnified;  a,  testus  ;  b,  ductus  ejacula- 
torius  ;  c,-  penis  ;  d,  calyx. 

Fig.  16.  The  posterior  five  segments  of  the  abdomen  of  the  male. 

Fig.  17.  Magnified  view  of  the  cerebrum  and  cerebellum  ;  a,  cerebrum  ;  b, 
antennal  nerve  ;  c,  optic  nerve ;  d,  sympathetic  nerve  ;  e,  frontal  ganglion  ; 
f,  nervus  vagus;  g,  ganglion  at  the  termination  of  the  nervus  vagus  ;  i,  cere- 
bellum. 

Fig.  18.  Magnified  ;  a,  thoracic  ganglia  of  the  ventral  cord  ;  b,  abdominal 
ganglia. 


The  Committee  on  Dr.  Hallowell's  paper  on  the  Anatomy 
of  Harpyia  destructor,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

On  the  Anatomy  of  Harpyia  destructor,  Cuv.,  or  Harpy  Eagle  of  South 

America. 

By  Edward  Hallowell,  M.  D. 

The  animal  from  which  the  following  description  was  taken,  died  in  one 
of  the  menageries  of  Philadelphia  of  a  tuberculous  affection  of  the  lungs. 
It  is  remarkable  for  the  great  development  of  the  lower  extremities,  which 
are  sufficiently  powerful  to  enable  it  to  carry  off  a  goat  with  facility.  It  is 
even  stated  that  it  has  the  power  to  carry  off  the  dead  body  of  a  man,  but 
such  accounts  are  evidently  fabulous.  It  is  said  to  be  solitary  and  to  feed 
upon  sloths  and  other  small  quadrupeds. 

Vertelrce.  There  are  13  cervical  vertebras.  The  bodies  of  the  four  first  are 
quite  short;  the  seventh  measures  six  and  a  half  lines  in  depth  upon  its  ante- 
rior face;  the  transverse  processes  attached  to  the  anterior  extremities  of  these 
vertebrae  are  well  characterized,  the  longest  being  4  lines  in  length;  a  small 
tubercle  exists  at  the  base,  at  the  inner  margin  of  the  process  in  the  sixth, 
seventh,  eighth  and  ninth.  Inferior  spinous  processes  are  observed  in  the  first, 
second,  fourth  and  fifth, and  from  the  eleventh  to  the  last;  the  superior  spinous 
processes  are  well  marked  in  the  second,  third,  fourth  and  fifth,  and  in  the 
tenth,  eleventh  twelfth  and  thirteenth  ;  the  superior  spinous  process  of  the 
thirteenth  is  square,  and  resembles  that  of  the  first  dorsal,  except  that  its 
breadth  is  not  so  great.  There  are  inferior  spinous  processes  to  the  five 
first  dorsal ;  and  there  is  a  rudiment  of  one  attached  to  the  sixth ;  those 
attached  to  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  are  the  longest;  the  middle  one 
of  these  three  is  broader  at  its  base  than  either  of  the  others  ;  the  inferior 
spinous  processes  of  the  caudal  vertebrae  are  five  in  number ;  a  complete 
foramen  for  the  transmission  of  an  artery  exists  in  each  of  the  four  pos- 
terior ;  in  the  first  it  is  not  observed  ;  the  bony  processes  passing  from 
one   transverse   process    to    another   are    well    defined,    but    there    is   no 


July,  1846.]  85 

anchylosis ;  there  are  no  spines  or  processes  attached  to  the  anterior  face 
of  the  lurabo-sacral  bone  ;  a  slight  ridge  exists  near  its  posterior  extremity; 
the  fourth  and  fifth  transverse  processes  of  the  caudal   vertebrae   are  more 
developed  than  either  of  the  others  ;  transverse  processes  are  observed  in 
all  bat  the  two  last ;  the  dorsal  spinous  process  of  the  penultimate  vertebra 
is  well  characterized  ;    none  of  the  caudal  vertebr  e   are  truly  anchylosed  ; 
there  are  eight  caudal  vertebras  and  nine  dorsal  ;  the  vertebrae  present  nu- 
numerous  foramina  for  the  transmission  of  air  ;  the  spinous  processes  of  the 
dorsal  vertebne  are  all  separated  ;  none  of  their  bodies  are  truly  anchylosed. 
The  keel  of  the  sternum  is  well  developed  ;  there  are  no  notches  in  the  pos- 
terior border ;    near  its   extremity  are  two  large  foramina,  eleven  lines  in 
length,  which  extend  to  within  two  and  a  half  lines  of  the  posterior  margin  ; 
the  coracoid  bones  are  remarkably  strong  and  powerful,  being  greatly  ex- 
panded at  their  base  ;  the  furcula  is  separated  from  the  sternum  a  distance  of 
nearly  half  an  inch.    The  scapula  and  clavicles  present  nothing  remarkable 
in  their  conformation  ;  there  are  eight  ribs,  two  of  which  appear  to  be  want- 
ing, the  pits  for  their  reception  being  alone  observed  ;  the  six  which  exist  are 
attached  to  the  sterno-costal  bones  ;  there  are  caudal  appendages  to  the 
second,  third,  fourth  and  fifth;  that  of  the  second  meets  the  anterior  margin  of 
the  fourth  about  its  middle  ;  none  of  the  ribs  are  anchylosed  with  the  pelvis. 

Cranium.  The  foramen  magnum  is  nearly  horizontal ;  two  well  marked  de- 
pressions exist  upon  the  posterior  and  inferior  aspect  of  the  occipital  bone  ; 
between  them  is  a  small  ridge  four  lines  in  length  ;  it  is  very  narrow,  pre- 
senting a  marked  contrast  in  this  respect  with  the  ridge  in  the  same  part 
in  the  grey  vulture  of  Africa  which  measures  half  an  inch  in  breadth  ;  the 
supraorbitar  and  lachrymal  bones  are  of  nearly  equal  length  ;  the  former 
is  rounded  at  its  posterior  extremity  where  it  presents  a  broad  expansion, 
the  corresponding  part  of  this  bone  in  the  grey  African  vulture  terminates 
in  a  point ;  that  part  of  the  skull  immediately  above  these  depressions  is 
much  flattened  ;  the  ossa  communicantia  are  seven  lines  in  length  and  of 
moderate  thickness.  The  opening  for  the  nostrils  is  four  lines  in  breadth  ; 
the  posterior  extremity  of  the  lower  jaw  does  not  project  beyond  the  up- 
per ;  the  cranium  presents  generally  a  smooth  surface  exteriorly. 

Anterior  Extremities.  The  numerous  is  well  developed.  On  its  internal 
aspect  is  a  well  marked  ridge,  presenting  a  broad  and  somewhat  rough 
surface,  incliaing  backwards,  beneath  which  is  the  hole  for  the  transmis- 
sion of  air ;  the  humerus  immediately  below  this  is  compressed  laterally, 
having  a  triangular  form  ;  it  is  concave  near  its  inferior  extremity  pos- 
teriorly, and  convex  in  front;  the  middle  of  the  bone  is  smooth  and 
rounded  ;  the  inferior  articulating  surface  presents  two  oblong  convexities 
for  articulation  with  the  bones  of  the  forearm,  with  a  narrow  fossa  be- 
tween them ;  there  is  but  one  carpal  bone  in  the  subject  under  examination, 
but  there  is  clearly  a  smooth  articulating  surface  for  another  ;  the  radius  is  a 
long  and  slender  bone,  having  about  one  half  the  diameter  of  the  ulna  ;  there 
are  two  small  ridges  upon  its  distal  extremity;  the  ulna  has  a  well  marked  ole- 
cranon process;  the  metacarpal  bone  corresponding  with  the  radius  has  three 


86  [[July,  1846. 

times  the  breadth  of  the  bone  opposite,  at  its  middle ;  there  are  two  pha- 
langes to  the  radial  finger ;  the  ulnar  phalanx  is  a  slender  styhforni  ap- 
pendage pointed  inferiorly. 

The  pelvis  is  narrow  in  front,  broad  posteriorly  ;  it  presents  a  small  pro- 
cess on  each  side  three  lines  behind  the  last  rib  ,  that  portion  of  the  pelvis 
comprised  between  this  process  and  the  cotoloid  cavity  is  much  compressd; 
the  ossa  pubis  look  backwards  as  in  most  birds ;  the  cotyloid  cavity  is 
incomplete  posteriorly. 

Posterior  extremities.  There  is  no  proper  neck  to  the  femur;  the  large 
trochanter  presents  a  well  marked  rough  process  posteriorly ;  there  is  no 
small  trochanter  ;  on  the  lower  side  of  the  trochanter  at  its  inferior  extremity 
upon  the  anterior  face  of  the  bone,  is  a  foramen  three  lines  in  length  and  two 
in  breadth,  for  the  admission  of  air ;  the  outer  condyle  of  the  femur  is  large  ; 
the  groove  upon  inferior  part  is  well  marked;  there  is  a  rough  eminence  upon 
its  external  face,  with  a  depression  in  front  of  it ;  the  upper  surface  of  the 
tibia  is  flat  for  the  most  part ;  the  anterior  margin  projects  considerably  be- 
yond the  anterior  face  of  the  bone,  but  there  is  no  spine  extending  upwards 
as  in  some  birds  ;  the  superior  extremity  of  the  tibia  is  remarkable  for  the 
deep  pit  which  it  presents  upon  its  posterior  face  ;  it  measures  twelve  lines 
in  length  ;  there  are  two  holes  at  its  distal  extremity  situated  posteriorly, 
with  an  oblique  ridge  between  them ;  it  is  triangular  in  form  above, 
rounded  in  the  middle,  and  flattened  inferiorly ;  a  marked  depression  ex- 
ists upon  the  anterior  face  of  it,  at  its  inferior  extremity.  The  foramen  for 
the  transmission  of  the  interosseous  artery  is  placed  two  and  a  quarter 
inches  from  the  head  of  the  tibia,  about  a  line  from  its  junction  with  the  fi- 
bula ;  the  fibula  is  a  slender  bone  anchylosed  with  the  tibia  in  the  greater 
part  of  its  extent,  as  in  other  birds.  The  tarso  metatarsal  is  the  most  remark- 
able bone  in  the  body  ;  it  is  a  large  and  powerful  bone,  concave  posteriorly, 
presenting  numerous  very  well  marked  depressions  and  elevated  ridges  upon 
its  anterior  aspect ;  there  is  a  foramen  for  the  transmission  of  air  near  its 
outer  margin,  five  lines  from  its  proximal  extremity;  there  is  also  another  two 
lines  in  breadth,  and  two  in  extent,  near  its  inner  margin,  within  two  and  a 
half  lines  of  the  superior  margin  of  the  outer  groove,  at  the  extremity  of  the 
bone;  the  outer  aspect  of  the  bone  is  flat  in  nearly  its  whole  extent,  presenting 
a  smooth  surface  ;  it  measures  seven  lines  in  an  antero-posterior  direction  at 
its  middle  ;  its  inner  margin  forms  a  sharp  edge  extending  the  whole  length 
of  the  bone  as  far  as  its  junction  with  the  accessory  bone,  for  the  articulation 
with  the  first  phalanx  of  the  powerful  back  toe  ;  the  articular  eminences  at 
the  extremity  of  the  bone  are  separated  from  each  other  by  intervals  each 
about  two  lines  in  breadth  ;  the  middle  eminence  is  the  largest ;  the  remain- 
ing two  are  of  nearly  equal  size  ;  the  articulation  of  the  accessory  bone  is 
placed  seven  lines  and  a  half  above  the  level  of  the  anterior  toes  ;  the  access- 
ory bone  is  large  and  triangular  in  shape,  presenting  a  smooth  surface  for  its 
articulation  with  the  first  phalanx  of  the  hind  toe  ;  its  posterior  margin  mea- 
sures thirteen  lines  in  length ;  it  presents  a  sharp  edge  continuous  with 
that  of  the  inner  margin   of  the  tarso   metatarsal  bone  for  seven   lines 


July,  1846.] 


87 


of  its  extent,  the  remaining  portion  being  expanded  laterally,  and  pre- 
senting a  somewhat  oval  and  rough  surface.  The  toes  are  strongly  devel- 
oped ;  the  back  toe  and  inner  toe  are  the  most  powerful ;  the  first  phalanx 
of  the  inner  toe  is  remarkable  for  its  shortness  ;  it  is  somewhat  quadrangu- 
lar in  shape,  and  presents  a  deep  groove  upon  its  posterior  extremity,  for 
articulation  with  the  tarso -metatarsal  bone. 


Measurements. 


Feet. 


Height,  measured  from  extremity  of  beak  to  extremity 
of  middle  toe,     ..... 

Bi-parietal  diameter  of  head 
Vertical,  do.  do. 

Depth  of  upper  mandible  at  base, 

"        lower         "         '   "  . 

Length  of  lower  mandible, 

"  upper  following  the  curve 

Breadth  of  coracoid  bone  at  base, 
Width  of  interspace  between  clavicles  at  time  of  junction 
with  posterior  and  superior  margin  of  coracoid  bone, 
Length  of  scapula,  .... 

Length  of  sternum] measured  from  anterior  extremity 
of  keel,        ...... 

Breadth  of  sternum  .... 

Greatest  depth  of  keel  of  sternum,     . 
Length  of  fourth  sterno-costal  bone, 
Breadth  of  pelvis  anteriorly, 
Greatest  breadth  posteriorly, 

Distance  between  anterior  extremity  of  pelvis  and  pos- 
terior margin  of  cotyloid  cavity,     . 
Distance  between  anterior  margin  of  cotyloid  cavity 

and  posterior  extremity  of  pelvis, 
Length  of  lumbo-sacral  bone, 
caudal  vertebrae, 
last  bone  of  coccyx, 
humerus,  .... 

radius,         ..... 

ulna,  , 

metacarpus,  .... 

hand,      ..... 

thumb,         ..... 

first  phalanx  of  radial  finger,  . 
"         second     "  "  "  . 

"         ulnar        '  "  •' 

Breadth  of  first       "  "  «  . 

Length  of  femur,  .... 


« 


Inches. 

Lines 

n 

0 

2 

5 

1 

8 

1 

3 

3 

2 

4 

1 

3 

2 

4 

4 

4} 

2 

Hi 

1 

2 

1 

5 

1 

10 

(I 
(( 


tibia, 
fibula, 


2 

11 

2 

19 

2 

1 

5 

6 

9 

7 

7 

8 

2 

3 

4 

2 

1 

1 

2 

10* 

5} 

5 

4 

8 

5 

4 

4 

7J 

88 


Length  of  tarso-metatarsal  bone, 

"         proximal  phalanx  of  hind  toe,       . 
Breadth  at  proximal  extremity,     .... 
Length  of  distal  or  terminal  phalanx  of  hind  toe  at  base, 
"         proximal  or  first  phalanx  of  inner  toe, 

second  "  " 

third  "  " 

first  phalanx  of  middle  toe, 

second     "  "  ... 

third        "  "  .  . 

fourth  at  base, 

first  phalanx  of  outer  toe,     .  .  . 

second     "  "  .  . 

third       "  "... 

fourth  phalanx  of  outer  toe, 

fifth  at  base,  (along  inferior  surface,) 

hind  claw  measured  along  its  upper  curve, 

inner  claw,  .... 

"         middle  claw,       .... 

"         outer  claw,  .... 

Distance  between  distal  extremity  of  hind  claw  and  distal 

extremity  of  middle  claw,  .... 

Distance  between  distal  extremity  of  hind  claw  and  distal 

extremity  of  inner  claw,       . 

(To  be  continued.') 


it 
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« 

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[July, 

1846 

Inches. 

Lines 

3 

9 

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11 

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4 

The  Monthly  report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was 
read  and  adopted. 

ELECTIONS. 

Elisha  J.  Lewis,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  was  elected  a 
member : 

And  Mr.  Edward  Wilson,  formerly  of  Philadelphia,  now 
of  London, 

And  M.  de  Vernueil,  President  of  the  Geological  Society 
of  France,  were  elected  Correspondents  of  the  Academy. 


August,  1846.]  89 

Stated  Meeting,  August  4,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

One  hundred  species  of  Plants  from  Texas,  Missouri,  Illinois, 
&c,  from  the  collections  of  F.  Lindheimer,  Dr.  Engelmann, 
and  C.  A.  Geyer.  Presented  by  Dr.  Engelmann,  of  St. 
Louis. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Patents  for  the  year  1845,  read 
24th  Feb.  1846.— pp.  1184.  From  the  Hon.  J.  R.  Inger- 
soll. 

Charter,  Constitution,  and  By-Laws  of  the  Cincinnati  Horti- 
cultural Society,  with  a  report  of  its  transactions  for  1843 
'44  '45.     From  the  Society. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  Vol.  4. 
No.  34.  September  to  December,  1845.     From  the  Society. 

Proceedings  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  Vol.  1. 
No.  6.     From  the  Society. 

Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Natural  History  Society,  pp.  121 
to  136  inclusive.     From  the  Society. 

Mr.  Webster's  vindication  of  the  Treaty  of  Washington  of 
1842.     Washington,  1846.     From  the  Author. 

Charts  of  the  Harbors  of  Annapolis,  Maryland,  and  New 
Bedford,  made  under  the  direction  of  A.  D.  Bache,  Esq. 
Superintendent  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey.  From  the  Trea- 
sury department,  through  Prof.  Bache. 

Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  presented  the  following  valuable  works, 
in  4  vols.  8vo.,  illustrated  by  numerous  colored  plates ;  by 
R.  P.  Lesson : 

Histoire  Naturelle  des  Oiseaux-mouches. 

"  "         "       Oiseaux  de  Paradis  et  des  Epimaques. 

»  "         "       Colibris. 

Les  Trochilidees,  ou  les   Colibris  et  les    Oiseaux-mouches. 


90  [August,  1846. 

Also,  from  the  same  donor,  Part  xii  (completing  the  work) 

of  Prof.   Owen's   History   of  British  fossil  mammalia  and 

Birds. 
Manual  de  Malacologie  et  de  Conchyliologie :  Par.  H.  M. 

Ducrotay  de  Blainville.     1  vol.  8vo.  with  a  vol.  of  Plates. 

Paris,  1825.     Presented  by  William  Hembel,  Esq. 
Greenough's  large  Geological  map   of  England  and  Wales, 

with  a  4to  memoir  explanatory  of  the  same.     From  the 

same. 
Atlas  der  Cranioscopie,   &c,  von  Dr.   Carl  Gustav.  Cams. 

Heft  1.  4to.  Leipzic,  1843.     From  Dr.  Morton. 
Notice  sur  un  nouveau  genre  de  Cetace  des  Rivieres  du  centre 

de   l'Amerique  meridionale,  par  M.   A.   D'Orbigny.  4to. 

From  the  Author. 
Extrait  des  Rapports  (Acad.  Royale  des  Sciences  de  France,) 

sur   les   rcsultats    scientifiques  du   voyage    de    M.  Alcide 

D'Orbigny   dans  l'Amerique  du   sud,  pendant  les  annees 

1826,  '27,  '28,  '29,  '30,  '31,  '32  and  '33.     4to.     From  the 

same. 
Ueber  eine   bisher   unbekannte,  krankhafte  veranderung  an 

Menschenknochen  aus  Peru,  von    Dr.    Eugen    Zschokke. 

Aarau,  1845.     From  Dr.  J.  J.  Von  Tschudi. 
Fauna  Peruana.    Reptilia.     Von    Dr.    J.  J.    Von    Tschudi. 

From  the  Author. 
Nachtriigliche  bemerkungen   zu  meinem  Conspectus  Avium, 

&c.     Von  Dr.  von  Tschudi.     From  the  Author. 
Orthop"disches  Institut ;  Von  J.  Heine,  M.  D.  4to.     From 

Dr.   G.  Jaeger. 
Ehrenged  chtniss  des  konigl :  Wurtemburgischen  Staatsraths 

von  Kielmeyer,  von  Dr.  G.  Jaeger.     From  the  same. 
Karl  Franz's  Bellingeri's  anatomisch-plrysiologishe  untersuch- 

ungen  iiber  das  Ruckenmark   und  seine  nerven — Deutsch 

bearbeitet  von  Dr.   Heermann  Kaulla.      4to.     Stuttgart, 

1833.     From  the  same. 
Versuche  und  Beojpachtungen  iiber  den  kartoffelban  und  die 

krankheiten  der  kartoffeln  besoinders  im  Jahr  1845.     Mit 


August,  1846.]  91 

cinem  anhans  iibcr  kiintslich  erzeugten  Guano.     Von  Dr. 

Eb.  Fr.  Manz.     Stuttgart  1845.     From  the  same. 
Beitrage  zur  Petrefaktenkunde,  von  Heermann  von  Meyer. 

Fossil  S'auo-etliiere.     4to.     From  the  same. 
G.  F.  Jaeger  Dr.  A.  C.  N.  C.  S.  de  monstrosa  folii  Phoenicis 

dactyliferse  conformatione,  &c.;  cum  tabulis  4  lithographicis. 

4to.     From  the  same. 
Der  Schadelban   des    Mosasaurus  durch  beschreibung   einer 

neuen  art  deiser  gattung  erlautert :  Yon  Dr.  August  Gold- 
fuss.     4to.     From  the  same. 
Newspaper  article  on  the  geology  of  Middletown,  (Conn.)  and 

vicinity.     By  Joseph  Barratt,  M.  D.     From  the  Author. 


Letters  were  read : 

From  A.  D.  Bache,  Esq.  dated  Washington,  July  31,  1846, 
presenting  the  charts  received  this  evening. 

From  the  Secretary  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society, 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  certain  numbers  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Academy,  furnished  at  the  request  of  the  Li- 
brarian of  that  Societv. 

From  the  Secretary  of  the  New  York  Lyceum  of  Natural 
History,  dated  Aug.  5,  1846,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of 
the  last  number  of  the  Proceedings. 

From  Dr.  J.  J.  Yon  Tschudi,  dated  St.  Galen,  April  4, 
1846  ;  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  Academy's  Proceed- 
ings, and  presenting  the  works  received  this  evening. 

From  Judge  Tremper,  dated  Dresden,  N.  Y.,  July  1846, 
giving  the  results  of  observations  and  experiments  made  by 
himself,  with  the  view  of  ascertaining  the  amount  of  evapora- 
tion from  land  and  water  surface  in  his  vicinity,  and  also  the 
temperature  of  Seneca  Lake. 

A  paper  by  Dr.  Joseph  Leidy,  entitled,  '  Description  of  a 
new  genus  and  species  of  Entozoa,'  was  read  and  referred  to 
Dr.  Zantzinger,  Mr.  Phillips,  and  Dr.  Morton. 

The  Chairman  exhibited  a  living  specimen  of  a  bird,  which 
with  another  of  the  same  description,   had  recently  been  ob- 


92  [August,  1846. 

tained  by  Mr.  Augustus  E.  Jessup,  from  a  farm  "in  the  vici- 
nity of  Wilmington,  Delaware,  where  they  had  been  raised. 
These  birds  present  certain  characters,  which  justify  the  pre- 
sumption that  they  are  hybrids  between  the  common  domes- 
tic fowl  and  the  guinea  fowl.  They  will  be  fully  described 
in  a  subsequent  number  of  the  Proceedings. 

A  report  from  the  Building  Committee  was  presented  and 
read,  stating  that  a  contract  had  been  entered  into  with  a 
competent  person,  for  making  the  proposed  alterations  and 
additions  to  the  Hall ;  the  work  to  be  commenced  forthwith, 
and  to  be  completed  on  the  1st  of  February  next. 


Stated  Meeting,  August  11,  1846. 

Dr.  Bridges  in  the  Chair. 

Dr.  Morton  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  Charles  Lyell,  dated 
London,  July  14,  1846,  enclosing  a  communication  from 
Prof.  Owen,  entitled,  '  Observations  on  the  fossils  from  the 
geological  cabinet  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of 
Philadelphia,  collected  from  the  Brunswick  Canal,  Georgia, 
by  J.  Hamilton  Couper,  Esq.,  and  presented  by  the  latter  to 
the  Academy.' 

The  paper  was  read  and  referred  to  the  following  commit- 
tee :  Dr.  Morton,  Dr.  Hallowell,  and  Mr.  Richard  C.  Taylor. 

Mr.  Lyell  stated  in  his  letter  that  the  fossils  described  in 
the  paper,  and  transmitted  to  Prof.  Owen  through  himself  for 
that  purpose,  would  be  shortly  returned  to  the  Academy,  with 
a  drawing  of  Harlanus  Americanus. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  Asa  Gray,  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  of 
Boston,  dated  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Aug.  4,  1846,  announcing 
that  a  copy  of  vol.  2,  new  series,  of  the  Memoirs  of  that  So- 
ciety, had  been  forwarded  for  the  Academy,  and  offering  to 
supply  any  other  published  vols,  of  the  Memoirs  not  already 
contained  in  its  Library:  also  requesting  in  exchange  the 
publications  of  the  Academy. 


August,  1846.]  93 

Whereupon,  on  motion  of  Dr.  Morton,  it  was 
Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  vols.  1  and  2  of  the  Proceedings, 
and  such  volumes  of  the  Journal  as  were  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Publication  Committee,  be  presented  to  the .  American  Aca- 
demy, at  Boston. 


Meeting  for  Business,  Aug.  25,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 
The  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  following  com- 
munication, reported  in  favor  of  publication. 
Observations  071  certain  Fossils  from  the  Collection  of  the  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia, 
By  Richard  Owen,  Esq.,  F.  R.  S.,  &c.  &c. 

[The  organic  remains  which  form  the  subject  of  the  following  paper  by 
Prof.  Owen,  are  apart  of  the  series  collected  by  James  Hamilton  Couper, 
Esq.,  during  the  excavation  of  the  Brunswick  Canal,  near  Darien,  in  Geor- 
gia. Prof.  Owen,  having  expressed  a  wish  to  examine  these  fossils,  they 
were  transmitted  to  him  through  Mr.  Charles  Lyell,  by  authority  of  the  Aca- 
demy, and  the  following  highly  interesting  memoir  was  promptly  returned. 
Besides  the  references  by  Prof.  Owen  to  Dr.  Harlan's  original  paper  in  the 
American  Journal  of  Science,  some  valuable  remarks  by  Mr.  Couper  him- 
self, will  be  found  in  volume  I.  of  these  Proceedings,  page  216.] 

Genus  Bos. 

No.  1.  Distal  half  of  right  humerus:  it  is  about  one-sixth  less 
than  the  same  part  in  Bos  primogenius,  and  more  resembles  that  of 
the  Aurochs  :  it  belongs,  probably,  to  a  species  of  Bison. 

No.  2.  The  left  tibia  of  the  same  species. 

Genus  Equus. 
No.  3.  Fragments  of  a  lower  molar  tooth  of  the  size  of  the  Equus 
cahcllus :  but  the  specific  character  not  determinable. 

Genus  Mastodon. 

No.  4.  A  portion  of  tusk,  labelled  Hippopotamus,  but  satisfacto- 
rily known  to  have  belonged  to  a  Proboscidian  Pachyderm  by  the 
decussating  curved  lines,  intercepting  lozenged -shaped  spaces,  at 
the  transverse  fractures  of  the  ivory  at  the  two  ends.  (The  struc- 
ture is  shown  in  British  Fossil    Mammalia,  p.  291,  fig.   101,  c.) 

13 


94  [August,  1846. 

Transverse  fractures  of  the  tusks  of  Hippopotamus,  show  fine  con- 
centric lines,  as  figured  in  British  Fossil  Mammalia,  p.  402,  fig.  160. 
From  the  size,  shape  and  slight  degree  of  curvature  of  the  Geor- 
gian fossil,  it  may  probably  have  belonged  to  the  left  side,  lower 
jaw,  of  the  Mastodon  giganteus. 

Genus   Harlamus. 

No.  5.  The  middle  part  of  the  right  ramus  of  the  lower  jaw  of  a 
large  Pachyderm,  with  the  last  three  (or  true)  molars,  part  of  the 
premolar  next  in  advance,  and  part  of  the  socket  of  another  premo- 
lar. The  crowns  of  all  these  teeth  appear  to  have  been  worn  down 
by  mastication  to  their  base ;  they  present  the  proportions,  and  the 
last  molar,  in  a  cast  transmitted  to  me  by  my  lamented  friend,  Dr. 
Harlan,  appears  to  retain  the  anterior  of  the  two  large  transverse 
ridges,  which  characterize  the  teeth  of  the  genus  Lopliiodon,  Cuv.: 
it  likewise  possesses  the  large  posterior  lobe  or  talon,  which  dis- 
tinguishes this  tooth  in  the  Lophiodon  from  that  of  the  Tapir. 
The  teeth  of  the  fossil  from  Georgia  a  little  exceed  in  size  those  of 
the  Lophiodon  Isselanus  (Grand  Lophiodon  d'hsel,  Cuvier,  "  Os- 
semens  Fossiles,"  ed.  1822  ,  torn.  2.  pt.  1,  p.  184,  pi.  3,  fig.  3,)  the 
antero-posterior  diameter  of  the  last  molar  in  that  species  being  one 
inch  and  eight  lines,  and  in  the  present  fossil  one  inch  and  ten 
lines.  But  the  depth  of  the  jaw  below  the  middle  of  the  last  molar 
in  the  present  fossil  is  three  inches ;  whilst  that  in  the  Lophiodon 
Isselanus  in  the  figure  cited,  is  scarcely  two  inches ;  and  Cuvier 
expressly  states  (p.  186,)  that  it  surpasses  in  depth  the  correspond- 
ing part  of  the  jaws  of  the  Lophiodon  medius  (pi.  3,  fig.  1,)  which 
has  molar  teeth  of  the  same  size  as  in  the  Lophiodon  Isselanus. 

The  present  fossil  has  been  described  and  figured  in  "  Silliman's 
American  Journal  of  Science,"  vol.  43,  1842,  pi.  3,  fig.  1,  under 
the  name  of  Sus  Americana ;  Br.  Harlan  conceiving  that  from 
its  general  appearance  and  number  of  the  teeth  this  fragment 
bore  a  close  analogy  with  the  same  part  in  the  Sus  bahirussa, 
Buff,  acknowledging,  however,  that  the  Babyroussa  "  was  a 
much  smaller  animal."  Besides  the  difference  of  size,  the  last 
molar  in  the  fossil  has  the  anteror  transverse  ridge  proportion- 
ally larger,  and  the  posterior  lobe  proportionally  smaller  than  in 
the  Babyroussa,  resembling  the  Lophiodon  in  the  points  in  which 


August,  1846.]  95 

it  thus  differs  from  the  species  of  Sus  cited.  The  form,  of  the 
fossil  jaw  differs  at  the  part  supporting  the  last  molar  from  that  in 
the  Babyroussa,  where  the  socket  of  the  last  molar  overhangs  the 
inner  surface  of  the  ramus,  whilst  in  the  fossil  the  inner  surface 
of  the  ramus  beneath  the  last  molar  describes  a  gentle  convexity 
from  the  tooth  to  the  lower  margin  of  the  ramus.  The  outer  part 
of  the  ramus  of  the  jaw  of  the  Babyroussa  begins  to  expand  be- 
low the  fourth  and  fifth  molars,  counting  forwards  from  the  last, 
to  form  the  socket  of  the  large  tusk;  but  the  fossil  jaw  does  not 
offer  the  least  indication  of  an  enlargement  for  that  purpose ;  and 
the  fractured  anterior  end,  as  displayed  in  the  cast,  is  very  different 
in  shape  from  the  corresponding  part  of  the  jaw  in  the  Baby- 
roussa, and  shows  merely  the  wide  dental  canal,  and  no  socket 
for  the  tusk  which  would  be  here  situated  in  the  Babyroussa  or 
Wild  Boar. 

The  nearest  approximation  which  I  could  [make  from  a  study 
of  a  cast  of  the  fossil  in  question  to  any  known  existing  or  extinct 
animal,  was  to  the  great  tapiroid  Pachyderms ;  but  I  added  in 
my  description  of  this  cast  in  the  Catalogue  of  Fossil  Mamma- 
lia and  Birds  in  the  College  of  Surgeons  4to.  1845,  p.  198,  "  that 
ulterior  discoveries,  may,  indeed,  show  that  the  Lophiodont  denti- 
tion was  combined  with  other  characters  in  the  American  fossil? 
necessitating  a  generic  distinction,  and  it  is  well  to  remember  that 
the  dentition  of  the  Macranchenia  of  South  America,  a  three-toed 
Pachyderm  with  an  astragalus  almost  identical  with  that  of  the 
Lophiodon,  and  of  a  size  which  agrees  with  the  jaw  of  the  fossil 
Sus  Americana  of  Harlan,  has  yet  to  be  discovered." 

The  original  of  the  cast  shows  the  course  of  the  enamel  on  the 
outer  side  of  the  penultimate  molar ;  it  there  defines  an  anterior 
lobe  of  the  crown  about  one-third  the  antero-posterior  extent  of 
the  crown,  by  a  close,  straight  fold  of  enamel  penetrating  inwards 
about  2J  lines. 

The  anterior  lobe  or  transverse  ridge  of  the  corresponding  tooth 
of  a  Lophiodon  might,  perhaps,  present  a  similar  appearance,  if 
worn  down  to  the  base  of  the  crown. 

But  in  the  present  fossil,  the  enamel  proceeds  to  define  a  mid- 
dle lobe  on  the  outer  side  of  the  crown,  shorter  than  the  foregoing, 
beyond  which  the  enamel  and  dentine  are  worn  obliquely  away 
to  the  base  of  the  posterior  fang ;  the  indication  of  the  middle  ex- 


96  August,  1846.] 

ternal  lobe  or  festoon  of  enamel  is,  however,  decisive  against  its 
generic  relationship  with  Lopliiodon. 

This  indication  of  the  arrangement  of  the  enamel,*  slight  as  it 
is,  reminds  one  of  that  in  the  lower  molars  of  the  Toxodon,  and 
another  feature  of  resemblance  is  the  apparent  interruption  of 
the  enamel  at  the  anterior  part  of  the  molar  in  the  fossil.  If  the 
presence  of  two  distinct  fangs  in  the  Georgian  Fossil  were  adduced 
as  distinguishing  it  from  the  Toxodon,  it  might  be  replied  that 
perhaps  the  long  curved  rootless  molars  in  that  animal  at  the  last 
period  of  age  might,  as  in  the  Horse,  acquire  roots. 

But  the  trilobed  character  is  on  the  outside  of  the  molar  in 
question,  and  on  the  inside  of  those  of  the  Toxodon;  in  which 
also  the  middle  lobe  only  has  a  coat  of  enamel,  not  the  anterior 
or  posterior  of  the  inner  lobes :  there  is  no  doubt,  therefore,  that 
the  Georgian  Pachyderm  is  generally  distinct  from  Toxodon,  as 
it  is  from  Lophiodon ;  and  it  would  seem  to  have  diminished  the 
interval  which  divides  the  strange  Gliriform  Pachyderm  of  South 
America,  from  the  more  normal  Tapiroid  forms  of  Pachyderms 
which  are  found  fossil  in  the  old  world. 

As  naturalists  have  accepted  the  latinized  Indian  word  Tapirus 
as  the  generic  name  of  the  existing  American  Pachyderm,  which 
makes  the  nearest  approach  to  the  present  remarkable  fossil,  they 
will  probably  sanction  the  application  to  the  genus  and  species 
which  it  represents,  of  the  name  Harlanus  Americanus  ;f  in  honor 
of  the  indefatigable  and  accomplished  Naturalist  by  whom  the  fossil 
was  first  made  known  to  Science. 

Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  London,  July  8th,  1846. 


The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Correspondents  of 
the  Academy : — 

J.  Lawrence  Smith,  M.D.,  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 
John  M.  B.  Harden,  M.D.,  of  Liberty  Co.,  Georgia. 
John  H.  Redfield,  Esq.,  of  New  York. 
Major  Joseph  Delafield,  of  New  York. 

*  Fossil  Mammalia  of  the  Beagle,  pi.  v.,  fig.  2. 

f  A  drawing  of  this  fossil  has  been  made  in  London  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  Professor  Owen,  but  not  yet  received.  It  will  appear  in  a  future 
number  of  the  Proceedings. 


PROCEEDINGS 

OF   THE 

ACADEMY   OF   NATURAL  SCIENCES 

OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

Vol.  hi.    SEPTEMBER  AND  OCTOBER,  1846.    No.  5. 

Stated  Meeting,  September  1,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Specimen,  in  skin,  of  Buteo  unicinctus,  Temm.  (Falco  Harrisii, 
Aud.)  from  the  vicinity  of  Natchez.  From  Dr.  J.  C. 
Jenkins  of  Natchez. 

A  small  collection  of  insects,  in  spirits.     From  Mr.  Gambel. 

Mr.  Germain,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  presented  an  additional 
series  of  cretaceous  fossils,  from  the  marl  strata  west  of 
that  city,  embracing  the  genera  Ammonites,  Scaphites, 
Baculites,  Mya,  Coprolites,  and  some  others,  with  frag- 
ments of  fossil  wood. 

The  Curators  announced  that  the  splendid  collection  of  Birds 
purchased  in  Paris  by  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson,  and  known 
as  the  Rivoli  collection,  has  arrived,  and  is  now  deposited 
in  the  Hall  of  the  Acadamy. 


Dr.  Morton  read  a  paper,  describing  two  living  hybrid 
birds,  between  the  genera  Gall  us  and  Numida ;  which  was 
referred  to  Mr.  Cassin,  and  Dr.  Leidy. 


14 


98  [September,  1846. 

Stated  Meeting,  September  15,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences 
of  Boston.  Vols.  1,  3,  and  Part  1,  vol.  4,  old  series,  and 
vols.  1  and  2,  new  series.     4to.     From  the  Academy. 

The  Catalogue  of  Stars,  by  the  British  Association  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  Science ;  containing  the  mean  right  ascen- 
sions, and  north  polar  distances,  of  8377  fixed  stars,  re- 
duced to  January  1,  1850  ;  &c,  &c.  London,  1845.  4to. 
From  the  British  Association. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.  New  series,  vol.  2, 
No.  5,  September,  1846.     From  the  editors. 


Letters  were  read : 

From  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  American  Aca- 
demy of  Arts  and  Sciences  of  Boston,  Dated  August  26, 1846, 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  volumes  of  the  Proceedings 
and  Journal,  authorized  by  a  late  resolution  of  the  Academy, 
to  be  presented  to  that  Institution. 

From  Mr.  John  H.  Redfield,  dated  New  York,  September 
11,  1846,  and  from  Major  Joseph  Delafield,  of  same  date, 
severally  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  their  notices  of  elec- 
tion as  correspondents. 

From  Dr.  Z.  Pitcher,  of  Detroit,  dated  September  3,  1846, 
addressed  to  Dr.  Morton,  proposing  to  exchange  duplicate 
Bird  skins,  collected  by  the  late  Mr.  Douglas  Houghton. 
Referred  to  the  Zoological  Committee. 

Dr.  Joseph  Leidy  read  a  paper  '  On  the  mechanism  which 
closes  the  membranous  wings  of  the  genus  Locusta,'  which 
was  referred  to  Mr.  Haldeman,  Dr.  Hallowell,  and  Dr.  Bridges. 


September,  1846.]  99 

Stated  Meeting,  September  22,  1846. 
Vice  President  Wetherill  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO   MUSEUM. 

Specimens  of  Unio  bullatus,  U.  quadrulus,  U.  plicatus,  U. 
globulus,  U.  lugubris,  Say,  U.  Nashvillianus,  U.  parvus, 
Anadonta  subglobosa,  Paludina  vivipara,  and  P.  integra; 
from  Lake  Concordia,  and  Ouichita  river,  Louisiana ;  also 
Limonites  from  the  Natchez  Bluffs.  Presented  by  Dr. 
Dickeson. 


Letters  were  read : 

From  the  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Agriculture,  &c, 
of  Lyons,  dated  20th  June,  1846,  presenting  to  the  Academy 
eight  volumes  of  its  Annals,  and  requesting  in  exchange  the 
publications  of  this  Society. 

From  the  agent  of  the  Lyons  Society,  dated  New  York, 
September,  1846,  announcing  that  the  volumes  referred  to 
had  been  received  by  him,  and  awaited  the  order  of  the 
Academy. 

From  Dr.  Charles  Huffnagle,  of  Calcutta,  addressed  to  Dr. 
Morton,  announcing  that  he  had  transmitted  for  deposit  in 
the  Academy,  a  large  number  of  specimens  of  Natural  His- 
tory from  India. 

From  Mr.  C.  P.  Wickersham,  dated  Kennett  Square, 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  15, 1846,  addressed 
to  the  Curators,  offering  to  present  to  the  Academy  a  large 
slab  of  sandstone,  from  the  Portland  quarries,  near  Middle- 
town,  Connecticut,  containing  impressions  supposed  to  be  of 
the  kind  called  Ornithoidichnites. 


100  [September,  1846. 

Meeting  for  Business,  Sept  29,  1846, 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  committee  on  Dr.  Leidy's  paper,  on  a  new  genus  and 
species  of  Entozoa,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

Description  of  a  new  genus  and  species  of  Entozoa. 
By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

In  the  course  of  an  investigation  of  the  anatomical  structure  of 
the  terrestrial  gasteropoda  of  the  United  States,  I  discovered  a 
microscopic  entozoon  inhabiting  the  fluid  contained  in  the  vessie 
copulatrice  or  spermatheca  of  Helix  albolabris,  since  which  I  have 
found  it  to  exist  in  two  other  species,  Helix  tridentata,  and  Helix 
alternata,  and  I  have  no  doubt  of  its  existence  in  others,  not  yet 
having  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  further.  As  there  ap- 
pears to  be  no  known  genus  in  which  this  animal  can  be  placed, 
I  have  been  necessitated  to  form  the  following : 

Cryptobia.  Animal  minute ;  form  exceedingly  proteoid  ;  inter- 
nal organization  cellular  or  granular. 

C.  helicis.  Colorless;  form,  ordinarily  elongate,  ellip- 
solid,  fusiform,  or  ovate;  caudated,  caudse  opposite,  one  longer 
than  the  other.  Internal  granular  structure  consisting  of  two 
large  cells  and  numerous  minute  granules.  Total  length  from 
the  126th  to  the  100th  of  a  line.  Habitat,  the  vessie  copulatrice 
or  spermatheca  of  Helix  albolabris,  Helix  [tridentata  and  Helix 
alternata. 

The  name  of  this  genus  is  derived  from  x/wrd?,  hidden  and 
PiSat}  to  live.  This  singular  entozoon  in  its  general  appearance 
and  organization  appears  to  be  intermediate  between  Cercaria 
seminis  and  Filaria.  Its  varied  form  and  movements  are  curious 
to  observe ;  at  one  moment  globular,  then  oval,  ovate,  fusiform,  sig- 
moid, crescentic,  &c,  it  appears  as  if  it  would  outvie  the  kalei- 
doscope in  its  changes.  The  motions  are  vibratile,  rotary,  with 
a  lateral  progression,  or  whirling  in  circles  like  the  insect  Gyrinus. 

Cryptobia  helicis  might  be  confounded  with  the  spermatozoa 
of  the  animals  in  which  they  are  parasitic,  on  account  of  the  organ  in 
which  they  are  found  being  connected  with  the  generative  appara- 
tus, and  its  supposed  use  as  a  spermatheca,  but  they  may  be  readily 


September,  1846.]  101 

distinguished  ;  the  spermatozoa  of  Helices  generally  having  either 
a  uniform  sigmoid  or  a  beaded  body,  with  an  enormous  propor- 
tionate length  of  tail,  and  a  slow,  vibratile  motion.  It  may  be  well 
to  mention  that  C.  helicis  does  not  exist  in  the  collapsed  state  of 
the  generative  organs. 

The  subjoined   sketch  represents  some  of  the  principal  forms 
of  the  animal,  highly  magnified. 


The  committee  on  the  following  description,  by  Dr.  Morton, 
of  two  living  Hybrid  Birds,  reported  in  favour  of  publication. 
Description  of  two  living  Hybrid    Fowls,  between    Gallus    and 

Numida. 
By  Samuel  George  Morton,  M.  D. 

The  singular  birds  which  form  the  subject  of  this  communica- 
tion, were  bred  on  a  farm  about  seven  miles  from  Wilmington,  in 
the  State  of  Delaware.  The  person  who  raised  them  states,  that 
the  eggs  that  produced  them  differed  in  no  respect  from  those  of 
the  guinea  fowl,  were  part  of  a  large  number  that  were  hatched 
at  the  same  time,  and  that  the  birds  are  known  to  be  just  four 
years  old.  My  friend,  Mr.  Augustus  E.  Jessup,  having  accident- 
ally observed  these  birds  on  the  above  mentioned  farm,  pur. 
chased  them  of  the  proprietor,  and  sent  them  to  my  care>  with  a 
request  that  they  might  be  eventually  placed  in  the  Collections  of 
the  Academy.  Both  are  yet  living  and  in  good  health  ;  and  the 
following  description,  in  which  I  have  been  materially  assisted  by 
my  friend  Mr.  William  Gambel,  has  been  drawn  up  after  many 
examinations,  made  during  a  month  and  upwards  that  the  birds 
have  been  in  the  charge  of  Mr.  Robert  Kilvington,  horticulturist 
of  this  city. 


102  [September,  1846. 

The  first  of  these  birds  is  mottled  with  the  colour  of  a  reddish 
brown  chicken  and  guinea  fowl,  (Numida  meleagris.)  Back  and 
rump  lineated  with  darkish  brown  and  whitish,  and  a  tinge  of 
yellowish  brown.  Greater  wing-coverts,  and  margins  of  secon- 
daries, reddish  brown ;  breast,  belly,  sides  and  under  tail-eoverts, 
dirty  white,  with  scattering  feathers  of  the  same.  Quills  and 
tail-feathers  dusky  brown,  lineated,  and  finely  speckled  like  those 
of  the  guinea  fowl.  Two  quills  in  one  wing  and  one  in  the  tail  are 
entirely  white.  Wings  concave  and  rounded,  one  foot  in  length 
from  flexure.  First  quill  an  inch  and  a  half  shorter  than  the 
second,  which  last  is  one  inch  shorter  than  the  third ;  3 — 8  quills 
about  equal.  Tail  of  fifteen  feathers,  rounded  ;  the  two  middle 
ones  longest  and  pointed. 

Heads  sparsely  covered  with  feathers,  almost  bare  for  a  consi- 
derable distance  around  the  eye.  Upper  mandible  dusky,  except 
at  tip,  which,  with  the  lower  mandible,  is  whitish  ;  towards  the 
base  it  is  somewhat  striated,  and  covered  by  a  reddish,  fleshy 
cere,  elongated  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth  into  barbies,  which, 
however,  are  only  rudimentary  in  comparison  with  those  of  the 
guinea  fowl.  Beneath  the  skin  a  distinct,  hard,  bony  ridge  can 
be  felt,  extending  over  the  top  of  the  head.  Another  bony  ridge 
extends  over  the  eye,  giving  it  a  sunken  appearance.  The  nos- 
trils are  half  closed  by  a  fleshy  membrane ;  sides  of  head  and 
front,  white.  Top  of  head  and  nape  with  linear  black  feathers, 
elongated  on  the  nape  into  hackles.  Neck  and  upper  part  of  the 
breast  reddish-brown.  Tarsus  very  stout,  with  large,  divided 
acutellas ;  length  3|  inches;  middle  toe  and  nail  2f  inches.  Total 
length  about  two  feet. 

The  second  of  these  birds  bears  yet  more  resemblance  to  a 
guinea  fowl,  both  in  shape  and  colour,  than  the  preceding,  not 
being  so  much  mottled  with  reddish-brown  feathers,  but  princi- 
pally with  white.  The  bill  appears  to  be  not  so  much  arched ; 
the  upper  mandible  is  barbled  as  in  the  other,  and  the  head  is  in 
general  the  same,  Back,  shoulders  and  upper  tail-coverts  dusky, 
lineated  with  whitish  like  the  guinea  fowl ;  greater  wing-coverts, 
fading  into  white,  the  tertiaries  being  margined  with  the  same. 
One  quill  white.  Quills  like  the  other  as  to  colour  and  markings ; 
3d  to  6th  nearly  equal.  From  flexure  the  wing  measures  11  £ 
inches. 


September,  1846.]  103 

Back  of  head  and  neck  with  black  linear  feathers,  not  so 
much  like  hackles,  as  those  of  the  other  bird.  Breast,  beneath 
and  sides,  whitish.  Tail  nearly  plucked  out,  as  in  the  other; 
upper  tail-coverts,  full  and  pendant.  The  bare  flesh  around  the 
eye  in  both  birds  is  tinged  with  blue. 

The  sounds  which  these  birds  utter  are  also  intermediate,  but 
partake  much  more  of  the  harshness  of  the  guinea  fowl,  although 
tbey  occasionally  cluck  not  unlike  the  common  hen. 

They  are  shy,  wild  and  resentful,  boldly  attacking  any  one  who 
irritates  them.  They  have  several  times  escaped  from  custody, 
and  flown  a  hundred  yards  or  more,  when  they  alight  and  run 
with  great  celerity. 

The  sex  of  these  birds  has  not  been  determined  with  certainty, 
but  the  male  characters  seem  to  predominate.  During  the  four 
years  they  were  on  the  farm,  they  were  never  observed  to  have 
sexual  intercourse  with  any  other  fowls.  It  is  designed  on  a 
future  occasion  to  notice  their  anatomical  peculiarities,  when 
the  productive  organs  will  be  carefully  examined. 

It  has  been  remarked  by  a  distinguished  naturalist,  that  "many 
of  the  birds  which  compose  the  gallinaceous  order,  appear  to 
be  less  difficult  to  unite  with  strange  species,  than  those  of  any 
other  order.  From  the  great  majority  of  pheasants,  mongrels 
may  thus  be  produced  ;  all  the  Hoccos  (Crax)  will  couple  together 
in  a  state  of  domestication  ;  the  pheasant  will  ally  with  the  cock  ; 
the  last  with  the  turkey,  with  which  the  hoccos  born  in  the  do- 
mestic state  will  also  unite.  It  appears,  in  fact,  very  possible  to 
produce  mongrels  from  the  major  part  of  those  gallinas  which 
are  suceptible  of  cultivation."* 

The  latter  remark  receives  strong  corroboration  from  the  facts 
we  have  adduced  in  this  paper;  and  we  believe  that  a  hybrid 
progeny  between  the  guinea  fowl  and  common  fowl  is  now  for 
the  first  time  made  knowu  to  naturalists.  The  fact  derives  its 
peculiar  interest  from  the  remoteness  of  the  genera  which  have  thus 
produced  an  intermediate  variety. 

*  Griffith's  Cuvier,  VIII.  pp.  173,  175, 176.  Prichard, Researches 
into  the  Physical  History  of  Mankind,  1,  p.  140.     3d  ed. 


104 


[September,  1846. 


The  committee  on  the  following  paper  by  Dr.  Joseph 
Leidy,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

On  the  mechanism  which  closes  the  membranous  wings  of  the  genus 

Locusta. 
By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

The  membranous  wings  or  alee  of  the  locusts  while  at  rest  are 
folded  up,  like  a  closed  fan,  beneath  the  anterior  pergamentaceous 
wings.  These  are  opened  or  expanded  by  the  contraction  of 
appropriate  muscles  (extensores  alse)  contained  within  the  thorax; 
the  tendons  of  which  are  inserted  into  the  ribs  or  longitudinal 
veins  at  the  root  of  the  wings.  When  one  of  the  wings  is  sepa- 
rated from  the  body  of  the  insect,  and  stretched  open  by  the 
fingers,  upon  letting  go,  it  will  be  found  instantly  to  close  or  re- 
sume the  position  of  rest. 

The  mechanism  which  produces  this  closure  in  the  separated 
wing,  as  well  as  when  attached  to  the  living  animal,  I  find  to 
be  spiral  ligamentous  bands,  wound,  like  the  thread  of  a  screw, 
around  the  transverse  or  connecting  veins,  which  latter  are  also 
flexible.  By  this  arrangement,  upon  the  contraction  of  the  alary 
extensors,  the  spring-like  ligaments,  or  ligamenta  spiralia  as  I 
will  call  them,  are  stretched  in  the  expansion  of  the  wings,  and 
upon  the  relaxation  or  cessation  of  the  action  of  the  muscles,  the 
physical  properties  alone  of  the  ligamenta  spiralia,  in  resuming 
their  unstretched  state,  close  the  wings.  These  ligamenta  spiralia 
are  numerous,  and  exist  in  all  the  species  of  Locusta  possessing 
perfect  alas  which  I  have  examined.  To  this  short  description  I 
append  a  drawing  of  several  of  these  ligaments,  magnified,  from  a 
preparation  in  Canada  balsam,  of  one  of  the  alse  of  Locusta  Caro- 
lina. 


Octobek,  1846.]  105 

election  of  correspondent. 

Prof.  Joseph  Zuccarini,  of  Munich,   Bavaria,   was  elected 
a  correspondent  of  the  Academy. 


Stated  Meeting,   October  6,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Annals  of  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New  York. 
Nos.  6  and  7,  Vol.  4.     From  the  Lyceum. 

Sur  l'usage  inopportun  des  medicamens.  Essai  du  docteur 
Ascagne  Pisani.  Traduit  de  l'ltalien  par  Louise  Desmon- 
ceaux.     Naples,  1846.  12mo.  3  copies.  From  the  Author. 

Annales  des  Sciences  physiques  et  naturelles  publiees  par  la 
Societe  Royale  d' Agriculture,  &c,  de  Lyons.  Tomes  8. 
8vo.     From  the  Society. 

Natural  History  of  the  State  of  New  York,  (published  by 
authority  of  the  government  of  the  State)  11  vols.  4to.,  in- 
cluding : 

1.  Zoology  of  New  York,  Parts  1,  2,  3,  and  5.  By  James 
E,  Dekay. 

2.  Mineralogy  of  New  York,     By  Lewis  C.  Beck,  M.  D, 

3.  Botany.  A  Flora  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Vol.  1.  By 
John  Torrey. 

4.  Geology  and  Palaeontology  ;  comprising  Geology  of  the 
1st  Geological  district  of  New  York,  by  William  W. 
Mather  :  of  the  second  Geological  district,  by  Ebenezer 
Emmons,  M.  D. :  of  the  3d  Geological  district,  by  Lardner 
Vanuxem  :  of  the  4th  Geological  district,  by  James  Hall. 

Also,  a  Geological  map  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Purchased 

by  order  of  the  Academy. 
Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 

Pennsylvania  College.     Nos.  10  and  11,     Vol.  2.     From 

the  Association. 
Historical  collections  of  Louisiana,    By  Benjamin  F.  Frencfc 

New  York,  1846.  8vo,     From  the  Author. 


106  [October,  1846. 

Report  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  province  of  New  Brims- 
wick,  with  a  topographical  account  of  the  Public  lands  and 
the  districts  explored  in  1842.  By  Abraham  Gesner,  F.  G.  S., 
Provincial  Geologist,  &c.  St.  Johns,  1843.  From  the 
Author. 

Naturgeschichte  derr  Infusionsthiere.  Von  Professor  S. 
Kutorga.  Mit  einem  Atlasse.  St.  Petersburg,  1839.  Carls- 
ruhe,  1841.  From  L.  de  Harden,  Esq.,  through  Charles 
Cramer,  Esq. 

Classification  of  the  forest  trees  of  New  Brunswick.  By  M. 
H.  Perley,  Esq.  (a  newspaper  slip.)     From  the  Author. 


A  letter  was  read  from  J.  M.  B.  Harden,  M.  D.,  of  Liberty 
county,  Georgia,  dated  18th  September,  1846,  acknowledg- 
ing the  receipt  of  his  notice  of  election  as  a  correspondent. 

Also  a  letter  from  J.  H.  Bedfield,  Esq. ,  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary of  the  N.  Y.  Lyceum,  dated  24th  September,  1846, 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  last  number  of  the  Proceed- 
ings. 


Dr.  Dickeson  exhibited  a  large  and  remarkably  varied  series 
of  fossil  bones,  obtained  by  him  from  the  vicinity  of  Natchez, 
Miss.  The  collection  embraces  the  entire  head  and  half  of  the 
lower  jaw  of  the  Megalonyx  Jeffersoni,*  now  for  the  first  time 
discovered ;  together  with  many  parts  of  the  skeleton,  and  indeed 
of  several  skeletons  of  that  animal,  sufficient  to  enable  its  com- 
plete osteological  reconstruction.  The  stratum  that  contains  these 
organic  remains,  is  a  tenacious  blue  clay  that  underlies  the  dilu- 
vial drift  east  of  Natchez,  and  which  diluvial  deposit  abounds  in 
bones  and  teeth  of  the  Mastodon  giganteum. 

*  Dr.  Dickeson  originally  suggested,  from  partial  comparisons,  that 
this  cranium  belonged  to  the  Megalonyx,  and  not  to  the  'Mylodon,  as  others 
had  supposed ;  his  opinion  was  fully  confirmed  by  M.  Agassiz  on 
a  recent  examination ;  and  this  distinguished  naturalist  has  proved  the 
Megalonyx  laqueatus  of  Harlan,  to  belong,  not  to  Megalonyx,  but  to  some 
other  but  nearly  allied  genus. 


October,  1846.]  107 

The  animals  associated  with  the  Megalonyx  are,  an  Ursus,  a 
Bos,  two  species  of  Cervus,  one  or  two  species  of  Equus,  and 
several  undetermined  genera,  all  which  are  now  in  progress  of 
delineation  and  description  for  the  Academy's  Journal. 

Dr.  Dickeson  presented  another  relic  of  yet  greater  interest; 
viz.,  the  fossil  os  innominatum  of  the  human  subject,  taken  from 
the  above  mentioned  stratum  of  blue  clay,  and  about  two  feet 
below  the  skeletons  of  the  Megalonyx  and  other  extinct  genera  of 
quadupeds. 

This  ancient  relic  of  our  species,  is  that  of  a  young  man  of  about 
sixteen  years  of  age,  as  determined  by  its  size  and  form,  and  by  the 
fact  that  the  epiphyses  have  separated  from  the  tuberosity  of  the 
ischium,  and  from  the  crista  of  the  ilium.  Nearly  all  the  os 
pubis  is  wanting,  the  upper  posterior  part  of  the  ileum  is  broken 
away,  and  but  half  the  acetabulum  remains.  That  this  bone  is 
strictly  in  the  fossil  state,  is  manifest  from  its  physical  characters, 
in  which  it  accords  in  every  respect  of  color,  density,  &c,  &c, 
with  those  of  the  Megalonyx  and  other  associated  bones.  That 
it  could  not  have  drifted  into  the  position  in  which  it  was  found, 
is  manifest  from  several  facts :  1.  That  the  plateau  of  blue  clay 
is  not  appreciably  acted  on  by  those  causes  that  produce  ravines 
in  the  superincumbent  diluvial ;  2.  That  the  human  bone  was 
found  at  least  two  feet  below  three  associated  skeletons  of  the 
Megalonyx,  all  which,  judging  from  the  opposition  or  proximity 
of  their  several  parts,  had  been  quietly  deposited  in  this  locality, 
independently  of  any  active  current  or  other  displacing  power; 
and  lastly,  because  there  was  no  admixture  of  diluvial  drift  with 
the  blue  clay,  which  latter  retains  its  homogeneous  character 
equally  in  the  higher  part  that  furnished  the  extinct  quadrupeds,  and 
in  its  lower  part  that  contained  the  remains  of  man.  Dr.  Dicke- 
son has  announced  his  intention  of  returning,  at  an  early  period 
of  the  present  autumn,  to  resume  his  explorations  in  this  prolific 
and  most  interesting  locality ;  and  it  is  earnestly  hoped  that  his 
researches  may  lead  to  a  further  elucidation  of  this  important 
question  in  science. 


Dr.  Leidy  stated  that  he  had  lately  detected  the  existence 
of  an  Entozoon  in  the  superficial  part  of  the  extensor  mus- 


108  [October,  1846. 

cles  of  the  thigh  of  a  hog.  The  Entozoon  is  a  minute,  coiled 
"worm,  contained  in  a  cyst.  The  cyst  are  numerous,  white 
oval  in  shape,  of  a  gritty  nature,  and  between  the  30th  and 
40th  of  an  inch  in  length. 

The  Entozoon  he  supposes  to  be  the  Trichina  spiralis, 
heretofore  considered  as  peculiar  to  the  human  species.  He 
could  perceive  no  distinction  between  it  and  the  specimens 
of  T.  spiralis  which  he  had  met  with  in  several  human  sub- 
jects in  the  dissecting  rooms,  where  it  had  also  been  observed 
by  others,  since  the  attention  of  the  scientific  public  had  been 
directed  to  it  by  Mr.  Hilton  and  Prof.  Owen. 

Dr.  Leidy  also  exhibited  a  singular  knotted  mass  of  living 
Gordii,  or  hair  worms,  with  numerous  long  strings  of  ova  at- 
tacked, which  had  been  taken  a  few  days  since  from  one  of 
the  hydrants  of  this  city. 


Stated  Meeting,  October  13,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

Numerous  specimens  of  minute  recent  and  fossil  Shells  from 
the  shore  of  Seneca-  Lake,  N.  Y.  Presented  by  Judge 
Tremper. 

Native  Copper  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  From  Professor 
Johnson. 

A  large  slab  of  Sandstone,  from  the  Portland  Quarries,  near 
Middletown,  Connecticut,  containing  numerous  marks  of 
Ornithoidichnites.  Presented  by  Messrs.  C.  P.  Wicker- 
sham,  and  L.  F.  Jones,  of  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Continuazione  delle  osservzioni  nell'  anno  1841,  sulle  larve 
di  Scolia  flavifrons.  Da  Carlo  Passerini.  Firenze  1841. 
4to.     From  the  Author. 


October,  1846.]  109 

Professor  Johnson  read  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Judge 
Tremper,  in  continuation  of  his  observations  on  the  tempera- 
ture and  evaporation  of  Seneca  Lake  ;  also  some  remarks  on 
the  increased  rapidity  of  evaporation  from  the  earth,  when 
the  herbage  is  closely  cropped,  as  in  grazing  and  pasture 
fields,  and  the  causes  thereof. 

Dr.  Dickeson  stated,  that  having  noticed  some  tracks  re- 
sembling Ornithichnites,  -which  were  produced  by  the  Alliga- 
tor, he  was  induced  to  cause  some  tracks  to  be  made  in  clay 
by  that  animal,  several  of  which  impressions  he  exhibited. 
He  also  mentioned  that  tracks  of  other  animals  had  been  re- 
peatedly noticed  by  him,  which  he  thought  closely  resembled 
the  so-called  bird  tracks  of  the  sandstone  slab  this  evening 
presented  to  the  Society. 

Dr.  Dickeson  also  made  some  interesting  observations  in 
relation  to  the  habits  of  the  Alligator. 

Professor  Johnson  offered  some  remarks  on  Drift : — He  re- 
marked that  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  John's,  N.  B.,  he  had  met 
with  some  well  marked  examples  of  diluvial  action,  as  evin- 
ced by  scratches  on  the  rocks  at  great  depth.  In  some  cases 
the  grooves  were  to  be  found  well  marked  on  the  side  of  the 
rock,  while  on  the  other  no  such  action  was  manifest ;  but 
boulders  not  in  situ  were  deposited  there,  as  if  from  the  action 
of  a  current  in  a  direction  from  the  grooved  to  the  unaffected 
side  of  the  rock.  These  boulders  also  exhibited  grooves  on 
their  surface. 


Stated  Meeting,  October  20,  1846. 
Vice  President  Wetherill  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO   MUSEUM. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  six  embalmed  heads  of  ancient  Egypt- 
ians, presented  to  him  by  A.  C.  Harris,  Esq. 

Dr.  Dickeson  deposited  a  very  extensive  collection  of  speci- 
mens in  fossil  zoology,  comparative  anatomy,  Indian  relics, 
&c,  obtained  from  the  Natchez  bluffs,  the  southern  lakes 
and  rivers,  the  aboriginal  mounds,  &c. 


110  [October,  1846. 

Mr.  Gambel  read  a  continuation  of  his  '  Remarks  on  the 
Birds  of  Upper  California,'  which  was  referred  to  Messrs. 
Cassin,  Townsend,  and  Woodhouse. 


On  motion  of  Dr.  Morton,  the  Curators  were  authorized  to 
receive  on  deposit,  and  to  furnish  accommodations  in  the 
Hall,  for  the  large  and  interesting  collections  of  Dr.  M.  W. 
Dickeson,  deposited  on  this  evening. 


Meeting  for  Business,  October  27,  1846. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  committee  on  Mr.  Gambel's  paper  read  at  last  meet- 
ing, reported  in  favor  of  publication. 


Remarks  on  the  Birds  observed  in  Upper  California. 

By  William  Gambel. 

[Continued  from  page  48,  vol.  iii.J 

PASSERES. 

Hibondo  thallassina,  Swains.     Violet-green  Swallow. 

This  beautiful  species  I  fonnd  passing  to  the  northward  through  Califor- 
nia, in  the  spring. 

Hirundo  fu'lva,  Vieill.     Republican  Swallow. 

This  is  the  most  abundant  swallow  on  our  western  coast,  and  arrives  in 
California  about  the  latter  part  of  February  or  beginning  of  March.  They 
immediately  resort  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  towns,  missions  and  farm- 
houses, and  soon  commence  repairing  their  old  retort-shaped  nests,  with 
which  sheltered  walls,  the  eves,  and  even  window  frames  of  the  houses,  are 
sometimes  nearly  covered.  The  nest  is  also  frequently  made  on  the  trunks 
of  large  trees  in  the  woods.  They  are  very  loath  to  quit  their  old  nesting 
places,  and  will  persist  in  building  them  up,  however  often  they  may  be 
destroyed  either  by  the  rain  or  the  inhabitants. 

Chelidon  bicolor,  Vieill.     White-bellied  Swallow. 

This  is  also  a  common  species,  and  a  few  appear  to  remain  all  winter,  but 
the  greater  part  arrive  about  the  latter  part  of  February.     At  Santa  Barbara, 


October,  1846.]  Ill 

I  found  their  nests,  as  usual,  in  the  knot  holes  of  the  evergreen  oaks  in 
April. 

Cotyle  riparia,  Linn.     Bank  Swallow. 

Common  ;  burrowing  their  nests  in  the  sandy  banks  of  small  streams  and 
creeks,  which  have  worn  deep  ravines. 

I  also  observed  another  swallow,  not  far  from  Monterey,  in  August, 
with  a  deeply  forked  tail,  like  our  barn  swallow,  but  apparently  differently 
marked. 

Ceryle  alcyon,  Linn.     Kingfisher. 

Common  along  the  whole  of  the  western  coast.  In  California  it  is  never 
observed  to  frequent  the  inland  streams  and  creeks,  being  exclusively  found 
along  the  rocky  shores  and  islands. 

Calliphlox  rufa,  Gmel.     Rufous  Humming  Bird. 

This  beautiful  little  flame  bearer  is  not  unfrequent  throughout  California. 

Calliphlox  anna,  Less.     Anna  Humming  Bird. 

Trochilus  icterocephalus.     Nutt.  Man.  Orn.  vol.  1,  2d  Ed.  p.  712. 

A  very  abundant  and  interesting  species,  numbers  passing  the  winter  in 
California;  at  such  times  inhabiting  sheltered  hill  sides  and  plains,  where  at 
all  seasons  a  few  bushy  plants  are  in  flower,  and  afford  it  a  scanty  subsist- 
ence. They  appear,  however,  in  greater  numbers  about  the  latter  part  of 
February  and  during  the  month  of  March  ;  the  country  is  soon  carpeted 
with  flowers,  and  the  Anna  humming  bird,  revelling  among  their  sweets, 
commences  the  duty  of  rearing  its  young.  About  the  Pueblo,  the  vineyards 
and  gardens  are  its  favourite  resort,  forming  its  delicate  downy  nest  in  a 
small  flowering  bush,  or  some  concealed  spot  about  the  fence.  In  April 
and  May  these  may  be  found  in  almost  every  garden. 

In  other  parts  it  attaches  its  nest  almost  exclusively  to  a  low,  horizontal 
branch  of  the  evergreen  oak,  (Quercus  agrifolia)  so  common  throughout  the 
country  ;  the  nest  is  small,  being  about  an  inch  in  depth  and  one  and  a  quar- 
ter in  diameter;  it  is  not  very  thick,  and  is  formed  in  the  most  delicate  man- 
ner of  pappus  and  down  of  various  plants,  held  together  and  matted  into  a 
soft  felt  with  spider's  webs,  which  latter  I  have  frequently  observed  them 
collecting  for  the  purpose  in  the  spring  along  hedges  and  fence  rows,  and  at 
first  supposed  they  were  only  searching  them  for  gnats  and  small  insects 
which  might  be  entangled,  but  in  a  nest  which  I  now  have  the  base  is  formed 
of  a  few  dried  male  aments  of  the  oak,  and  which  with  the  adjoining  felt- 
like matting  of  pappus,  is  agglutinated  and  bound  around  the  twig  with  a 
thick  layer  of  spider's  web.  The  eggs,  as  usual,  are  two,  white  and  ellip- 
tical. The  note  resembles  that  of  the  Rufous  humming  bird,  and  is  a  slender 
chep,  frequently  repeated,  but  during  the  breeding  season  they  are  very 
pugnacious,  and  the  little  combatants  dart  through  the  trees,  like  meteors, 
uttering  a  loud  and  repeated  twittering  scold.     It  has  the  same  habit  also, 


112  [Octobek,  1846. 

that  has  been  remarked  in  the  rufous  humming  bird,  that  of  ascending  in 
clear  weather  to  a  considerable  height  in  the  air,  and  then  descending  with 
great  rapidity,  uttering  at  the  same  time  a  peculiar  note. 

Nuttall,  who  brought  this  species  from  California,  did  not  procure  the 
male,  but  saw  it  frequently,  and  supposed  it  to  have  a  yellow  spot  on  the 
crown.  I  discovered  that  that  which  deceived  him  in  this  respect  was  the 
glutinous  pollen  of  a  tubular  flower  upon  which  it  feeds,  adhering  to  the 
rigid  feathers  of  the  crown,  and  making  it  look  as  if  it  really  had  a  yellow 
head.  I  have  also  seen  the  bill  for  half  its  length  covered  in  the  same 
manner. 

Sitta  carolinensis,  Briss.     Carolina  Nuthatch. 

This  species  is  common  in  the  pines  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  also  in 
the  wooded  regions  of  the  western  coast. 
Sitta  canadensis,  Linn.     Canada  Nuthatch. 

I  found  this  little  wanderer  very  abundant  in  the  mountains  of  the  inte- 
rior of  California  in  October,  roving  in  company  with  busy  flocks  of  the 
Parus  montanus  nobis. 

Sitta  pygm&a,  Vigors.     Pigmy  Nuthatch. 

Extremely  abundant  in  winter  in  Upper  California,  sometimes  almost 
covering  the  trunks  and  branches  of  the  pine  trees,  through  which  they  ex- 
clusively forage.  Around  Monterey,  particularly,  the  trees  at  times  are  alive 
with  the  noisy  little  creatures,  incessantly  uttering  their  monotonous  queru- 
lous notes  as  they  run  around  the  branches.  The  note  is  generally  a  repeated 
whistling,  wit,  wit,  which,  when  one  commences,  the  rest  join  in  ;  they  also 
utter  a  whistling  trill,  at  the  same  time  industriously  searching  the  tree 
throughout,  and  only  leaving  it  when  every  crack  has  been  examined  for 
the  concealed  insect  fare. 

Harpes  rediviva,  Nobis,  Proceed.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  vol.  2,  p.  264. 
Promerops  de  la  Californie  Septentrionale,  La  Perouse.     Atlas  to  voy- 
ages, pi.  47. 

This  very  remarkable  bird  was  first  noticed  by  La  Perouse,  who  figured 
it  in  the  atlas  to  his  voyages,  and  subsequently  by  other  writers  when 
treating  of  the  Tenuirostres,  on  his  authority,  as  a  Promerops. 

On  comparison,  it  will  be  found  more  properly  to  belong  to  the  great 
family  Certhidae,  and  is  allied  to  the  oven  birds  of  S.  America,  (Furnarius) 
both  in  general  appearance,  and  as  far  as  I  can  gather,  in  habits  also,  but 
the  bill  bears  a  greater  resemblance  to  some  of  the  large  wren-like  birds 
(Thryothorus  ?)  of  tropical  America. 

It  does  not  stand  alone  in  our  country;  I  have  lately  been  shown  by  Mr 
Audubon  a  specimen  received  from  near  Galveston,  Texas,  which  he  sup- 
posed to  be  the  bird  I  had  described,  but  upon   comparison,  it  proved  to 
be  a  distinct  species  with  the  bill  more  curving  at  the  tip,  and  not  so  much 
flattened,  of  which  no  doubt  a  description  will  soon  be  published. 


October,  1846.]  113 

Troglodytes  Bewickii,  Aud.     Bewick's  Wren. 

Common,  keeping  in  low  bushes  and  piles  of  brush,  as  well  as  about  old 
dead  trees  and  logs,  over  and  around  which  it  flits  with  the  greatest  ac- 
tivity, uttering,  when  approached,  the  usual  grating  scold  of  the  wrens. 

Troglodytes  palustris,  Wils.     Marsh  Wren. 

I  found  this  species  in  small  reedy  marshes  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  of 
the  interior,  in  October. 

Troglodytes  sylvestris,  Nobis.     Audubon's  Wood  Wren. 

T.  Americana^  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  vol.  2,  p.  452,  pi.  179. 

A  summer  resident  among  the  evergreen  oaks  of  California,  in  which 
it  sings  and  breeds. 

I  have  changed  the  name  of  this  species  from  that  given  by  its  discoverer, 
because  that  a  Troglodytes  Americanus,  from  Cayenne,  was  described  by 
Cuvier,  in  the  Gal.  du  Paris.     See  Lesson's  Traite  de  Ornithologie,  p.  400. 

Sial,  artica,  Swains.     Artie  Blue  bird. 

This  beautiful  azure  songster  is  common  throughout  the  northern  pro- 
vinces of  Mexico.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Santa  Fe  it  is  abundant,  keeping 
about  the  houses  and  gardens  where  they  breed,  sometimes  forming  its 
nest  in  boxes  which  are  stuck  up  for  the  purpose  by  the  inhabitants.  In 
the  ranges  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  far  as  California,  we  frequently  found 
it,  and  always  associated  with  the  S.  Mexicana,  both  at  this  season  occa- 
sionally uttering  their  cheerful  song  to  remind  us  of  home. 

Sialia  Mexicana,  Swains.     Western  Blue  bird. 

S.  occidentalis,  Townsend,  Aud. 

This  species  is  found  throughout  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  company  with 
the  former,  and  in  California  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  species.  In 
April  and  May,  I  found  it  breeding  in  the  knot  holes  of  the  evergreen 
oaks.  During  winter  they  assemble  in  small  flocks,  and  frequent  the 
weedy  plains  and  valleys  of  the  mountains. 

Turdds  migratorius,  Linn.     American  Robin. 

We  found  the  Robin  scatteringly  throughout  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
a  few  are  found  at  all  seasons,  in  California. 

Tukdus  nosvius,  Gmel.    Varied  Thrush. 

I  have  only  observed  this  beautiful  species  to  pass  through  California 
during  the  spring  and  autumn,  in  silent  flocks. 

Tordds  minor  Gmel.     Hermit  Thrush. 

T.  nanus.    Dwarf  Thrush.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.  5,  p.  204,  pi.  419  ;  Nutt. 

Man.  p.  396. 
T.  solilarius.     Auc. 

The  confusion  hitherto  existing  in  the  description  of  the  nearly  allied 
group  of  Thrushes  to  which  this  belongs,  has  rendered  the  determination 
of  the  species  exceedingly  difficult,  and  at  best  but  a  matter  of  uncertainty, 


114  [October,  1846. 

The  Dwarf  Thrush  of  Audubon  was  founded  upon  specimens  from  the 
Atlantic  States,  and  no  doubt  upon  the  true  Hermit  Thrush. 

Mr.  Pickering,  and  also  Mr.  Nuttall,  must  have  had  the  T.  olivaceus, 
since  characterized  by  Drs.  Brewer  and  Giraud  before  them,  and  mis- 
taking it  for  the  Hermit  Thrush,  when  they  distinguished  the  T.  nanus  as  a 
species. 

An  examination  of  specimens  of  the  T.  minor  from  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  coasts  of  North  America  shows  no  difference  in  any  way,  except 
that  perhaps  the  western  one  is  somewhat  smaller,  yet  the  difference  is 
scarcely  appreciable.  From  the  measurement  of  many  western  specimens, 
I  found  its  length  to  be  6|  inches,  and  the  extent  of  wings  Hkinches  ;  the 
tail,  wings,  and  relative  length  of  quills  the  same  as  in  our  eastern  one, 
and  in  fact,  I  think  it  can  in  no  possible  way  be  distinguished  as  specifi- 
cally different.  A  European  specimenalso  of  the  same  species,  from  the  Ri- 
voli  collection,  now  in  the  Academy,  is  the  same  in  every_respect  as  our  own. 

That  which  is  most  remarkable  in  the  character  of  this  delicate  and 
gentle  bird,  is  its  solitary  and  retiring  disposition  ;  avoiding  the  ruthless 
gaze  of  man,  it  glides  into  the  deepest  shade  of  the  forest  or  underwood, 
and  is  but  seldom  seen,  except  unconsciously,  when  earnestly  engaged, 
scratching  upon  the  ground  in  search  of  food  ;  or  else,  it  be  discovered 
while  perched  upon  a  low  leafy  branch  or  twig,  when  it  allows  a  very 
near  approach,  as  if  depending  for  concealment  and  security  upon  the 
thickness  of  the  foliage  and  bushes  around. 

In  the  wooded  regions  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  I  found  it  not  uncom- 
mon, always  keeping  on,  or  very  near  the  ground.  It  is  very  frequent 
throughout  California,  and  in  the  spring  may  be  found  in  the  retired 
hedges  of  the  vineyards,  where  very  possibly  it  breeds. 

Mimus  montanus,  Towns.     Mountain  Mocking  bird. 

We  occasionally  met  with  individuals  of  this  mocking  bird  along  the 
bushy  banks  of  streams  in  the  interior,  during  September  and  October, 
then  silent. 

Mimus  polyglottis,  Linn.     Common  Mocking  bird. 

I  observed  a  few  of  these  in  sheltered  ravines  during  the  winter,  and  in 
May,  around  Santa  Barbara,  the  woods  were  ringing  with  their  inimitable 
song,  at  this  time,  mimicking  Bullock's  oriole,  and  the  western  Blue  bird. 

Cincltjs  Americanus,  Swains.     American  Dipper. 

A  few  of  these  are  found  along  the  solitary  streams  of  the  interior. 

Anthus  Ltidovicianus,  Licht.     American  Titlark. 

This  species  appears  to  be  one  of  the  most  extensively  distributed  of  N. 
American  birds,  beingfound  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  our  coun- 
try. In  the  desert  regions,  between  Santa  Fe  and  California,  it  was  one  of 
the  few  birds  we  met  with  ;  then  going  in  small  flocks,  either  on  the  plains 
among  arid  Artemesia  and  sage  bushes,  or  along  the  courses  of  rivers  and 
small  streams.     In  California  it  is  abundant,  particularly  in  winter,  when 


October,  1846.]  115 

it  frequents  the  seashore  to  pick  up  insocts,  and  perhaps  small  shells,  from 
the  seaweed  which  is  cast  ashore. 

Requlus  calendula.      Ruby- crowned  Kinglet. 

This  species,  like  many  of  the  most  diminutive  birds,  is  found  dis- 
tributed over  the  whole  extent  of  our  vast  continent,  thereby  showing  its 
connection  as  a  single  zoological  centre  or  province  of  creation. 

In  the  highest  ranges  of  the  Roeky  mountains,  we  met  with  the  Ruby- 
crowned  wren  in  large  flocks,  roaming  in  company  with  the  Parus  minimus, 
Towns.,  also  in  large  flocks,  enlivening  those  dreary  solitudes  with  their 
restless  activity  and  twittering  while  in  search  of  food.  Throughout  Cali- 
fornia it  is  equally  abundant ;  ever  varying  habits  and  note  making  it  but 
too  often  the  victim  of  llie  gun  in  supposition  of  being  something  else. 


The  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was  read  and 
adopted. 

By  permission  of  the  Society,  a  paper  was  read,  entitled, 
'  On  several  new  genera  and  species  of  Insects,  by  S.  S. 
Haldeman,'  which  was  referred  to  a  committee,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Leidy,  Hallowell,  and  Bridges. 

ELECTION. 

Ambrose  W.  Thomson,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  M.  W.  Dickeson,  of 
Philadelphia,  were  elected  Members : 

And  J.  B.  S.  Johnson,  M.  D.,  of  Boston,  and  C.  B. 
Adams,  Esp.,  of  Vermont,  were  elected  Correspondents. 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


ACADEMY    OF    NATURAL   SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA. 

Vol.  hi.  NOV.  AND  DEC,  184G.  No.  6. 

Stated  Meeting,  November  3,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

A  large  collection  of  fossil  bones  of  a  young  Mastodon, 
taken  from  the  farm  of  Mr.  William  Pancoast,  near 
Plattsburg,  New  Jersey.  Also  a  human  cranium  and 
numerous  fragments  of  other  human  hones,  from  the  site 
of  a  supposed  Indian  cemetery,  about  10  miles  east  of  Bur- 
lington in  that  State.  Presented  by  Mr.  Pancoast,  through 
Dr.  Hallowell. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Second  Annual  Report  of  the  Geology  of  Vermont.  By 
C.  B.  Adams.     Burlington,  Vt.,  1846.     From  the  Author. 

Address  to  the  British  Association  for  the  advancement  of 
Science.  By  Sir  Roderick  ImpeyMurchison.  London,  1846. 
From  M.  Agassiz. 

Eloge  de  Louis  Levin  Jacobson.  Discours  prononce  in  Da. 
nois  a  l'Academie  royale  des  Sciences  de  Copenhague  ;  Se- 
ance du  V"  Mars.  1844 ;  par  D.  F.  Eschricht,  M.  D.  Co- 
penhague, 1844.     From  the  Author,  through  Dr.  Morton.. 

18 


118  [Nov.,  1846. 

De  organis  quae  respiratione  et  nutrione  foetus  manmialium 
inserviunt.  Prolusia  academica  quani  scripsit  D.  F.  Esch- 
richt,  M.  D.     Hafnise,  1837.     From  the  same. 

Cm  undersogelsen  af  de  Nordiske  Hvaler  af  D.  F.  Eschrict, 
M.  D.     Kjobenhavn.     From  the  same. 

Undersogelsen  over  Hvaldyrene  af  D.  F.  Eshricht : 

Forste  af  handling — Bernserkninger  over  Cetologiens  tidligere 
og  Nservserende  skjebne. 

Anden  af  handling — Anatomisk  Beskrivelse  af  de  ydre  foster- 
former  hos  to  Nordiske  Fiuhval-arter,  med  Anvendelse 
paa  Physiologien  og  Zoologien. 

Tredie  afhandling — Om  fosterformene  Bardihvalernes  erna- 
rings-og  Forplantelsesredskaber. 

Fjerde  afhandling — Om  Naebhvalen.      From  the  same. 

Anatomische  unter  suchungen  iibcr  de  Clione  Borealis.  Ha 
Carl  Holbbll  und  D.  F.  Eschrict,  M.  D.  Kopenhagen, 
X838.     From  the  same. 

The  North  American  Sylva.  By  Michaux  and  Nuttall. 
Vol.  I.     Philadelphia,  1842.     In  exchange. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  Edward  Wilson,  dated  Leyd- 
stip  House,  near  Tenby,  Pembrokeshire,  England,  22d  Sept.-. 
1846,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice  of  election  as 
a  Correspondent. 

Dr.  Morton  read  a  portion  of  a  paper  intended  for  publi- 
cation in  the  American  Journal  of  Science,  on  Hybridity  in 
animals  considered  in  reference  to  the  question  of  the  Unity 
of  the  Human  Species. 


Stated  Meeting,  November  10,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

Mr.  Lewis  Germain,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  presented  an  ad- 
ditional number  of  fossils  from  the  marl  strata  near  that 
place.  Also  the  tooth  of  a  Sphyraena  from  Mullica  Hill, 
New  Jersey. 


Nov.,  1846.]  119 

Original  specimen  of  Rafinesque's  Mazama  salinaria.  Pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Haldeman.  [Mr.  H.  stated  that  this  was  in 
reality  merely  a  single  prong  of  the  horn  of  a  Cervus,  the 
interior  being  mineralized. 

Two  fine  specimens,  in  skin,  of  Falco  leucocephalus.  From 
Dr.  Heermann. 

Dr.  Dickeson  presented  twenty-six  species  of  fossil  Helix  from 
the  Drift  west  of  Natchez ;  and  also  deposited  six  human 
crania,  four  of  which  are  from  the  mounds  near  that  place. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Astronomical  Observations  made  at  the  Naval  Observatory, 
Washington,  under  orders  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
dated  Aug.,  1838.  By  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Gilliss,  U.  S.  N. 
Washington,  1846.     From  Lieut.  Gilliss. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  Vol.  4, 
No.  35.     Jan.  to  June,  1846.     From  the  Society. 

The  American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.  New  series. 
Vol.  2,  No.  6.     From  the  Editors. 

Expedition  shells,  described  for  the  work  of  the  U.  S.  Ex- 
ploring Expedition.  By  Aug.  A.  Gould,  M.  D.  Boston, 
1846.     From  the  Author. 

On  the  Volcanoes  of  the  Moon.  By  James  D.  Dana.  New 
Haven,  1846.     Erom  the  Author. 

Medical  Examiner,  Vol.  4,  No.  6,  containing  an  article  by 
Dr.  E.  Hallowell,  on  the  habits  and  post  mortem  appear- 
ances of  a  Chimpanzee  (Simia  Troglodytes)  which  died  in 
Philadelphia.     From  Dr.  Hallowell. 


Letters  were  read, 

From  Mr.  C.  B.  Adams,  dated  Middlebury,  Vermont,  Nov. 
5,  1846,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice  of  election 
as  a  Correspondent. 

And  from  Mr.  C.  P.  Wickersham,  dated  Kennett  Square, 
Chester  Co.,  Pennsylvania,  Oct.  26,  1846,  addressed  to  the 
Corresponding  Secretary,  containing  the  following,  in  refer- 


120  [Nov.,  1846. 

ence  to  his  recent  donation  to  the  Academy,  of  a  fine  speci- 
men of  fossil  tracks  in  the  red  sandstone  of  the  Connecticut 
Valley. 

"It  may  not  be  improper  for  me  to  add,  that  we  were  shown  on 
a  large  block  of  stone,  by  a  gentleman  connected  with  the  quar- 
ries, tracks  resembling  those  of  some  of  our  land  animals,  per- 
haps those  of  a  mink  in  size.  They  were  very  distinct,  though 
rather  lightly  impressed,  there  being,  I  believe,  two  rows  across 
the  stone.  And  that  early  last  spring  I  found  among  some  frag- 
ments, thrown  out  in  consequence  of  sinking  a  well  deeper,  in 
Rockyhill,  Ct.,  a  specimen  of  fossil  shell,  or  something  having  a 
close  resemblance  to  one.  One  side  of  it  is  very  perfect,  the 
other  is  embedded  in  the  stone,  and  is  probably  a  small  bi-valve, 
nearly  an  inch  in  length,  and  near  three  quarters  of  an  inch  in 
breadth.  I  sent  it  to  Professor  Silliman,  with  permission  to 
deposit  it  in  the  cabinet  of  Yale  College.  If  a  shell,  it  appears 
to  be  the  first  we  have  any  account  of  as  having  been  found  in  the 
sandstone  of  the  Connecticut  Valley. 

The  suggestion  that  the  fossil  tracks  may  probably  be  those  of 
some  Sauroid  reptile,  is  doubtless  worthy  of  attention.  But  from 
the  few  observations  I  made  during  my  four  years'  residence  at  the 
University  of  that  place,  I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  they  can 
never  be  attributed  to  any  other  than  biped  animals  of  some  type 
or  other.  Where  opportunity  is  afforded  for  the  inspection  of  a  large 
number  of  successive  tracks,  they  are  found  to  be  at  regular 
intervals,  along  a  line  in  the  direction  of  the  motion  of  the  centre 
of  gravity  of  the  animals;  and  the  line  drawn  through  the  heel 
and  centre  toe  makes  but  a  small  deflexion  from  the  line  of  motion 
of  the  animal.  In  all  the  tracks  which  I  have  carfully  noticed,  each 
alternate  track  exactly  resembles  that  which  precedes  it,  and  in 
some  cases  where  there  is  a  slight  peculiarity  in  one  of  the  feet, 
this  fact  is  very  apparent.  The  heel  of  the  track  does  not  exhibit 
any  sign  of  the  impression  of  a  portion  of  the  leg  adjoining  the 
foot,  not  even  where  the  animal  has  passed  up  or  down  a  small 
declivity,  as  was  the  case  with  some  tracks  on  that  portion  of  the 
specimen  in  your  museum,  destroyed  by  the  workmen  in  our 
absence.     If  uric  acid   is  found  only  in  the  excrements  of  birds, 


Nov.,  1846.]  121 

the  analysis  of  some  of  the  coprolites  found  iu  the  valley  is  pretty 
conclusive  evidence  that  birds  did  exist  there  at  the  time  the  sand- 
stone was  forming. 

Now  if  we  take  the  Crocodile,  Alligator,  or  any  of  the  Saurian 
type  with  which  we  are  acquainted,  we  should  expect  to  see  their 
tracks  made  at  irregular  intervals,  and  at  some  distance  on  either 
side  of  a  plane  passing  perpendicularly  through  the  centre  of 
gravity  of  the  animal  in  the  direction  of  its  motion,  especially 
when  we  consider  the  width  the  feet  are  separated,  and  the 
clumsy  manner  in  which  these  animals  must  move.  These  ani- 
mals would,  in  all  probability,  leave  the  print  of  a  portion  of  the 
leg  next  the  foot,  and  which,  if  I  mistake  not,  is  the  case  with  the 
fossil  tracks  acknowledged  to  be  of  the  Sauroid  character,  found 
in  the  same  valley. " 

Dr.  Morton  concluded  the  reading  of  his  memoirs  on  u  Hybridity 
in  animals  considered  in  reference  to  the  question  of  the  Unity  of 
the  Human  Species,"  and  after  some  general  remarks,  submitted 
the  following  conclusions  : 

1.  A  latent  power  of  hybridity  exists  in  many  animals  in  the 
wild  state,  in  which  state,  also,  hybrids  are  sometimes  produced. 

2.  Hybridity  takes  place  not  only  among  different  species,  but 
also  among  different  genera ;  and  the  cross-breeds  have  been 
prolific  in  both  cases. 

3.  Domestication  does  not  cause  this  faculty,  but  merely 
evolves  it. 

4.  The  capacity  for  fertile  hybridity,  cceteris  paribus,  exists 
in  animals  in  proportion  to  their  aptitude  for  domesticity  and  culti- 
vation. 

5.  Since  various  species  of  animals  are  capable  of  producing  a 
fertile  hybrid  offspring,  hybridity  ceases  to  be  a  test  of  specific 
affiliation. 

6.  Consequently,  the  mere  fact  that  the  several  races  of  man- 
kind produce,  with  each  other,  a  more  or  less  fertile  progeny, 
constitutes,  in  itself,  no  proof  of  the  unity  of  the  human  species. 


122  [Nov.,  1846. 

Stated  Meeting,  Nov.  17,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Casts  of  Charcharodon  Mortoni>  Gibbes,  C.  rectidens,  Agassiz, 
and  C.  megalodon,  Ag.,  from  the  Eocene  of  South  Caro- 
lina.    From  Dr.  R.  W.  Gibbes,  of  S.  Carolina. 

Tooth  of  a  Mosasaurus,  from  New  Jersey.  From  Dr.  Hal- 
lowell. 

Specimen,  in  spirits,  of  Mantis  religiosa,  from  Caraccas. 
From  Dr.  Goodall,  through  Dr.  Hallowell. 

A  series  of  Iron  ores,  from  Nova  Scotia.  From  Prof.  John- 
son. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Memoir  on  the  Megatherium  and  other  extinct  gigantic  quad- 
rupeds of  the  coast  of  Georgia ;  with  observations  on  its 
geological  features.  By  Win.  B.  Hodgson.  New  York, 
1846.     From  the  Author. 

Ancient  Egypt,  her  Monuments,  History  and  Archaeology, 
and  other  subjects  connected  with  Hieroglyphical  Lite- 
rature. By  Geo.  R.  Gliddon.  10th  edition,  with  an  Ap- 
pendix.    From  the  Author. 

A  monograph  of  the  fresh-water  univalve  Mollusca  of  the 
United  States.  By  S.  S.  Haldeman.  Nos.  7  and  8.  From 
the  Author. 

Dr.  A.  L.  Elwyn  presented  the  following : 

Some  account  of  the  Siren  lacertina  and  other  species  of  the 
same  genus  of  amphibious  animals.  (In  a  letter  from 
Prof.  Barton,  of  Philadelphia,  to  John  Gottlob  Schneider, 
of  Saxony.)     Philadelphia,  1821. 

Ueber  die  Bartmiindigen  enzianarten,  (Gentianse  fauce  bar 
bata)  Von  Dr.  Nees  von  Esenbeck. 

Synopsis  Specierum  generis  Asterum  per  baccarum,  &c. — 
Auctore  Chr.  Godofred  Nees  ab  Esenback,  M.  D.  Er- 
langre,  1818. 


Nov.,  1846.]  123 

An  account  of  a  new  method  of  making  anatomical  prepara- 
tions.    By  Joseph  Swain.     London,  1820. 

Facts  and  observations  on  liver  complaints.  By  John  Faith- 
born,  M.  D.     Philadelphia,  1822. 


Mr.  Cassin  read  a  "  Note  on  an  instinct  supposed  to  be 
possessed  by  the  Herons,  especially  the  genus  Arclea,  L.," 
which  was  referred  to  Messrs.  Phillips,  Harris  and  Gam- 
bel. 

Prof.  Johnson  announced  to  the  Academy  the  decease  of 
our  late  fellow  member,  Isaiah  Lukens,  Esq.  After  some 
very  appropriate  remarks  on  the  character,  high  qualities  and 
scientific  attainments  of  the  deceased,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  submitted  by  him : 

Resolved,  That  this  Academy  has  heard  with  deep  regret  the 
loss  it  has  sustained  in  the  demise  of  our  late  able  and  excellent 
associate,  Isaiah  Lukens,  one  of  ths  earliest  members  of  this 
institution. 

Resolved,  That  through  the  whole  period  of  its  existence,  this 
Academy  has  felt  the  beneficial  influence  of  the  personal  worth 
of  our  late  coadjutor,  and  of  his  firm,  unwavering  support  of  the 
interests  of  this  institution;  of  his  sound  and  discriminating  judg- 
ment in  various  departments  of  science ;  of  his  constant  devotion 
to  knowledge  and  the  useful  arts,  and  of  his  sincere  uncompromis- 
ing love  of  truth. 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Academy  deeply  sympa- 
thize with  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  deceased  in  the  bereave- 
ment they  have  sustained  by  the  death  of  our  lamented  associate ; 
that  they  recall  with  a  melancholy  pleasure  the  many  happy  and 
profitable  hours  which  they  have  passed  in  his  society;  that  they 
dwell  with  unmixed  satisfaction  on  the  memory  of  his  free  and 
generous  spirit,  ever  ready  to  communicate  of  his  abundant  stores 
of  useful  knowledge,  ever  wise  and  liberal  in  his  estimate  of  the 
labors  and  characters  of  others,  ever  modest  and  reserved  in  what 
concerned  his  own  peculiar  and  distinguished  merits. 

Resolved,  That  we  cherish  a  deep  sense  of  the  value  of  that 
combination    of    intelligence    with    useful    labor   for   which    our 


124  [Nov.,  1846. 

departed  friend  was  so  signally  characterized,  and  cannot  with- 
hold the  tribute  of  our  admiration  from  that  devotion  to  duty 
which  found  him,  as  his  lamp  of  life  was  drawing  to  its  last  faint 
glimmer,  still  at  his  post,  iutent  on  the  fulfilment  of  a  professional 
service,  while  his  dying  breath  expressed  his  gratitude  for  the 
privilege  of  having  lived  at  a  period  when  so  much  of  truth  and 
improvement  had  been  developed  in  the  world,  and  that  in  his 
day  and  generation  he  had  been  permitted  to  share  in  the  many 
and  varied  enjoyments  which  science  and  ingenuity  had  dif- 
fused. 

Resolved,  That  a  member  of  the  Academy  be  appointed  to  pre- 
pare a  suitable  memoir  of  our  departed  fellow  member. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolutions  be  communi- 
cated to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  with  the  heartfelt  condolence 
of  the  Academy  on  this  mournful  occasion. 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted,  and  Prof. 
Johnson  appointed  to  prepare  the  memoir. 


Meeting  for  Business,  November  24,  1846. 
Vice  President  Wetherill  in  the  Chair. 

The  Monthly  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was 
read  and  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  the  following  paper  by  Mr.  Haldeman, 
reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

On  several  Neio  Genera  and  Species  of  Insects. 

By  S.  S.  Haldeman. 

Whilst  engaged  in  making  dissections  of  the  mouth  of  several 
species  of  Copris  for  the  purpose  of  learning  their  true  generic 
character,  I  was  struck  with  the  dissimilarity  existing  in  the  la- 
brum.  I  consider  the  European  Copris  lunaris  as  the  type  of  the 
genus,  because  European  naturalists  have  usually  constructed 
the  genera,  and  the  type  should  be  a  species  whose  habits^are 
well   known.     To  prevent    confusion,  the   author  who  subdivide? 


Nov.,  1846.]  125 

an  old  genus,  should  generally  be  allowed  to  decide  what  portion 
is  to  retain  the  old  generic  name.  The  rule  which  adopts  as  the 
type  the  species  which  stands  first  in  an  author's  work,  is  not 
applicable  in  all  cases,  because  these  were  not  always  considered 
the  type  of  the  genus.  An  author  might  name  a  genus  Geo- 
trupes  from  the  known  habits  of  a  European  species,  and  com- 
mence his  list  with  a  large  exotic  species  having  entirely  different 
habits,  and  not  really  congeneric  with  it.  In  such  a  case  it  would 
be  obviously  improper  to  consider  the  latter  as  the  type  of  the 
genus  Geotrupes.  Moreover,  instead  of  being  the  type,  the 
initial  species  may  have  been  thus  placed  from  its  resemblance 
to  the  preceding  genus ;  and  it  is  obvious  that  the  animal  which 
most  nearly  approaches  another  genus,  cannot  be  the  type  of  that 
to  which  it  really  belongs. 

1.  Brachycopris.  The  type  of  this  new  genus  is  the  well 
known  Copris  Carolina.  In  Copris  the  labrum  is  subquadrate, 
rather  widest  anteriorly ;  the  anterior  margin  transverse,  slightly 
emarginate,  with  a  medial  projecting  appendicle,  and  the  ex- 
terior margins  rounded.  In  Brachico- 
pris  the  labrum  is  distantly  triangular, 
widest  at  base,  and  much  narrowed  an- 
teriorly, where  it  is  deeply  emarginate, 
leaving  a  lateral  aculeate  process,  the 
appendicle  projecting  from  the  base  of 
the  emargination,  as  represented  in  the 
figure.  The  basal  articulation  of  the 
labial  palpi  is  proportionally  much 
larger  than  in  Copris.  This  body  is  con- 
tracted in  length ;  and  in  the  type,  the  elytra  are  sulcate  and  the 
tibiae  unarmed. 

Copris  molossus  would  upon  first  view  be  placed  nearer  to  C. 
Carolina  than  to  C.  lunaris,  or  the  American  C.  anaglypticus, 
Say.  Its  labrum,  however,  associates  it  with  these.  Mr.  Hope 
has  made  it  the  type  of  his  genus  Catharsius.  It  has  the  labium 
more  regular,  more  nearly  quadrate,  and  the  anterior  half  only 
of  the  medial  solid  portion  is  covered  with  hair,  the  posterior 
portion  presenting  a  smooth  furrow  with  a  well  defined  margin. 

2.  Prionus  fissicornis.  General  characters  as  in  P.  imbri- 
cornis.  Blackish  brown,  antennre  thick,  imbricate,  reaching  the 
middle  of  the  elytra,  25  articulate,  canaliculate  beneath  by  means 
of  a  deep  emargination  in  the  articulations,  which  are  somewhat 
v-shaped  when  detached,  the  posterior  branch  the  longer,  with 
its  apex  incurved:  prothorax  with  three  lateral  teeth.  11  lines 
long. 

For  this  interesting  species  I  am  indebted  to  my  friend  Dr.  J. 
L.  Le  Conte,  who  found  it  near  the  Rocky  mountains.     It  is  re- 


126  [Nov.,  1846. 

inarkable  for  the  emargination  and  number  of  the  articulations  of 
the  antenna?,  which  are  more  numerous  than  in  any  native  species 
hitherto  described.  The  globular  base  of  the  second  is  not  enu- 
merated; twenty-four  are  imbricate,  and  the  final  one  has  a  small 
additional  process  rising  out  of  its  concavity.  In  P.  imbricornh 
the  antennae  of  the  male  have  nineteen,  and  of  the  female,  seven- 
teen articulations. 

3.  Sphenostethus.  Allied  to  Prionus.  Head  small,  narrower 
than  the  thorax,  concave  above;  eyes  slightly  emarginate  ante- 
riorly ;  antennae  less  than  half  the  entire  length,  slender  and  com- 
pressed, second  articulation  longest,  subsequent,  ones  gradually 
decreasing,  with  a  tendency  to  serration  beneath ;  mandibles  ro- 
bust, toothed ;  palpi  with  the  terminal  articulation  triangular : 
prothorax  transverse,  narrower  than  the  elytra,  contracted  ante- 
riorly, concave  posteriorly,  the  external  margins  unarmed  :  pro 
and  mesosternum  conjointly  carinate,  in  close  contact,  the  latter 
entering  an  acute  emargination  of  the  former  :  scutel  triangular  : 
elytra  separately  rounded  at  base,  moderately  tapering  and 
dehiscent;   sides  incurved,  apex  minutely  serrate  :  feet  slender. 

4.  S;  serripermis.  Shining  black,  punctate  scabrous  above;  front 
with  a  wide  depression  having  an  impressed  medial  line;  pro- 
notum  with  two  approximate  impressed  punctures  upon  each 
side  arranged  diagonally,  medial  line  visibly  impressed  poste- 
riorly; external  margins  convex,  emarginate  at  the  posterior 
angles ;  posterior  margin  convex  in  the  centre  and  concave  late- 
rally :  elytra  meeting  the  pronotum  in  close  contact,  a  shallow 
scabrous  impression  at  the  base ;  apex  finely  serrate.  Length 
11£  ;  prothorax  2;  elytra  8;  width  at  base  4  lines. 

A  single  specimen  taken  in  south-eastern  Pennsylvania.  An- 
other seen  in  Le  Conte's  cabinet,  probably  taken  in  New  York. 
Probably  allied  to  Prionus  muticus,  Fabr.  ii.  265.  It  is  remarka- 
ble for  the  close  contact  of  the  prothorax  with  the  elytra  and  scutel 
above  and  the  mesosternum  below. 

5.  Molorchus  tenuipes.  Black,  frontal  line  deeply  impressed  : 
prothorax  cylindric  :  elytra  dark  fuscous,  obsoletely  fulvous  at  base  : 
medial  and  posterior  feet  very  slender.     3  lines  long. 

The  larva  inhabits  detached  branches  of  the  genus  Carya, 
(hickory),  the  perfect  insect  appearing  in  May  in  S.  E.  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

6.  Enoplixjm  venustum.  Dark  brown,  with  minute  fulvous 
hairs :  middle  of  the  elytra  with  a  broad  irregular  transverse  silvery 
band.     4$  lines  long.     South-eastern  Pennsylvania. 

Base  and  half  the  terminal  articulation  of  the  antennae,  palpi, 
anterior  tarsi,  and  base  of  the  femora,  pale  yellow :  pronotum  tu- 
berculate  :  elytra  with  numerous  dilated  impressed  punctures  : 
apex  pale  yellowish  brown,  and  with  the  base  marked  with  a 
few  small  spots  of  yellow;  the  central  white  portion  has  several 


Nov.,  1846.]  127 

spots  of  black,  and  is  bounded  posteriorly  by  a  black  zigzag  line, 
the  black  enlarging  towards  the  suture ;  medial  and  posterior 
feet  pale  yellow  ;  the  femora  with  the  middle  and  the  tibice  with 
the  terminal  half,  brown.  Apparently  allied  to  E.  bimacirfatum, 
Mels.,  Proceed.  Acad.  2,  307.  According  to  Dr.  Le  Conte  this 
is  the  venustum  of  Dejean's  Catalogue. 

7.  Heterodromia  [Fani.  Donaciadae.]  Body  slender,  punc- 
tate-scabrous :  head  advanced ;  eyes  rather  prominent,  reticulate ; 
antennre  11-articulate,  slender,  longer  than  the  head  and  pro- 
thorax,  first  articulation  longer  than  the  second  and  third,  last 
fusiform  :  mandibles  strong,  short,  incurved  :  palpi  3-articulate, 
final  articulation  subsecuriform,  prothorax  subelongate,  narrowed 
behind :  elytra  subparallel,  narrowing  towards  the  apex,  wider 
than  the  prothorax,  conjointly  rounded  at  tip :  feet  slender,  sub- 
elongate,  posterior  femora  incrassate. 

8.  H.  velox.  Thickly  punctured,  hirsute,  pale  yellow ;  head, 
anterior  margin  of  the  prothorax,  and  seventh,  (at  the  apex)  eighth, 
ninth  and  tenth  articulations  of  the  antennae,  black  :  elytra  lineate 
punctate,  with  a  tendency  to  fuscous  behind  the  middle  :  abdo- 
men obscure  fuscous,  feet  pale.     4}  millim.  long. 

Var.  a.  Having  three  transverse  fuscous  dots  on  the  pronotum, 
and  a  large  sutural  fuscous  spot  at  the  base  of  the  elytra. 

Found  in  May,  upon  grass  and  under  stones  and  rubbish,  in 
Pennsylvania,  Carolina,  Alabama  and  Ohio.  It  runs  with  great 
rapidity,  and  resembles  some  of  the  Carabidae.  The  species  de- 
scribed might  at  first  view  be  taken  for  the  Demetrias  atricapiUus, 
Linn. 

9.  Trogus  nubilt'pennis.  Fulvous ;  antennae,  eyes,  vertex,  and 
five  terminal  segments  of  the  abdomen,  with  half  the  preceding 
one,  black  :  wings  fuliginous,  mottled  with  a  few  spots  of  yellow 
in  the  middle  and  at  the  base  :  mesosternum  tipped  with  black  : 
abdomen  shining  black  beneath  :  inside  of  the  base  of  the  femora 
and  trochanters  blackish  :  tibiae,  tarsi,  front  and  base  of  the  an- 
tennas beneath,  yellow.     11  lines  long,  expanse  19. 

About  a  year  ago  I  sent  a  description  and  specimen  abroad, 
which  seems  to  differ  from  the  present  one,  as  the  segment  of  the 
abdomen  upon  which  the  two  colors  meet  is  described  with  "  ma- 
cula longitudinali  nigra  in  medio,  et  nigro-marginato ;"  and  the 
wings  "fuligine  fiavoque  nubilatis."  There  are  a  few  minute 
white  specks  upon  the  alar  nervures ;  one  on  the  medial,  a  little 
within  the  small  intercubital  cell;  one  exterior  to  the  same  cell ; 
and  two  on  the  interdiscoidal  nervure  running  from  it. 

10.  Ibalia  macuh'pennis  £  .  Yellow  ;  meso-and  metathorax  black, 
except  the  scutel  and  two  longitudinal  bands  above,  and  a  spot 
beneath  the  wings  :  eyes,  apex  of  the  antennae,  base  of  the  coxae, 
and  middle  of  the  femora,  (the  greater  part  of  the  posterior  ones) 


128  [Nov.,  1846. 

black  :  posterior  tibia)  blackish  towards  the  apex :  wings  yellow, 
apex  and  a  central  spot  fuliginous.  7  lines  long,  11  expanse. 
South  eastern  Pennsylvania,  in  May  and  June. 


The  following  amendments  to  the  By-Laws  were  adopted: 

Chap.  V.  Art.  VI.,  to  commence  thus :  "  The  duty  of  the 
Librarian  shall  be  to  attend  daily  at  the  Hall  from  11  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  to  2f,  P.  M.,  &c." 

And  to  add  to  the  same  Chapter  : 

Art.  VIII.  The  Chairman  of  the  Curators  shall  attend 
daily  at  the  Hall  from  2§-,  P.  M.  until  sunset,  to  perform 
the  duties  of  his  office. 


The  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  offered  by  Dr. 
Morton,  were  adopted  : 

Whereas,  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  has  made  this  institution 
the  depository  of  his  magnificent  collection  of  Birds,  which, 
from  the  number,  beauty  and  variety  of  its  specimens,  al- 
ready ranks  as  the  fourth  extant ;  and 

Wliereas,  Dr.  Wilson  is  assiduously  extending  and  perfect- 
ing this  collection  for  the  interests  of  science  and  of  this  in- 
stitution ;  and 

Wliereas,  The  collection  of  the  Academy  is  comparatively 
small  and  incomplete,  and  must  continue  to  be  so,  inasmuch 
as  the  former  incentive  to  increase  it  no  longer  exists,  and 
also  since  two  collections  in  Ornithology  are  unnecessary 
and  inexpedient ; 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  collection  of  birds  now 
belonging  to  the  Academy,  be  merged  in  the  Wilson  Col- 
lection. 

Resolved,  That  the  galleries  nOw  occupied  by  the  Orni- 
thological collection  of  the  Academy,  with  such  of  the  cases 
as  may  be  required,  be  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  joint 
collection. 

Resolved,  That  the  Zoological  Committee  be  authorized 
and  instructed  to  carry  into  effect  the  foregoing  resolutions. 


Dec,  1846.]  129 

election. 

Mr.  John  Lambert,  of  Philadelphia,  was  elected  a  Member, 
and  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Correspondents  of 
the  Academy : 

J.  W.  Dawson,  Esq.,  of  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia. 

W.  E.  Logan,  Esq.,  Geologist  of  Canada. 

Richard  Brown,  Esq.,  of  Sydney,  Cape  Breton. 

James  Robb,  Esq.,  of  Frederickton,  New  Brunswick. 

Andreas  Retzius,  M.  D.,  of  Stockholm. 


Stated  Meeting,  December  1,  J.846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Remarkably  large  and  fine  specimen  of  Sulphuret  of  Lead,  or 
Galena,  (weight  exceeding  100  lbs.)  crystallized  in  cubes 
from  the  mine  of  Mr.  Sanders,  near  Galena,  Illinois.  Pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Alex.  C.  Davis,  of  Galena,  through  Richard 
D.  Wood,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia. 

Mounted  specimen  of  Tyrannus  verticalis,  Say,  from  New 
Jersey.     Presented  by  Mr.  Edward  Harris. 

Sctttella  quinquefaria,  from  the  Eocene  of  Georgia,  and  a 
number  of  Silurian  fossils  from  Nova  Scotia.  From  Prof. 
Johnson. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.  3,  No.  1.  From  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

Transactions  of  the  Linnean  Society  of  London.  Vol.  xx., 
Part  1.  4to.     London,  1846. 

Proceedings  of  the  same  ;  pp.  261  to  304. 

List  of  the  Society  for  1846.     From  the  Society. 

Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London.  Part  xiii. 
1845. 

Report  of  the  Council  and  Auditors  of  the  same  for  1846. 
From  the  Society. 


130  [Dec,  1846. 

Mr.  Grant,  of  Philadelphia,  read  a  paper  containing  ob- 
servations on  Hybridity  in  Animals,  which  was  referred  to 
a  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Cassin,  Phillips  and  Mor- 
ton. 


Stated  Meeting,  Dec.  8,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

A  communication  was  read  from  the  Essex  Co.  (Mass.) 
Natural  History  Society,  dated  Dec.  1,  1846,  acknowledg- 
ing the  receipt  of  recent  Nos.  of  the  Society's  Proceedings. 

Dr.  Hallowell  read  a  description  of  the  locality,  near  Platts- 
burg,  New  Jersey,  whence  the  fossil  bones  of  a  young  Mas- 
todon, presented  at  a  late  meeting  of  the  Society,  had  been 
obtained  by  himself  and  other  members. 

Dr.  H.  gave  the  following  enumeration  of  the  bones,  for 
which  the  Academy  is  indebted  to  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Pancoast,  the  proprietor  of  the  farm  on  which  they  were 
found. 

Eleven  ribs  nearly  perfect,  seven  of  which  belong  to  the 
left  side ;  one  rib  of  same  side  much  mutilated ;  two  scapulae 
imperfect ;  a  humerus,  two  feet  three  inches  long  (French 
measure)  with  the  head  separated  from  it;  three  cervical  ver- 
tebrae and  six  dorsal  well  preserved ;  one  lumbar  and  four 
caudal  vertebrae ;  two  vertebral  spinous  processes ;  the 
ossa  innominata,  fractured,  with  the  acetabula  perfect, 
but  the  foramina  thyroidea  incomplete,  and  the  ischia 
partly  broken  off;  one  patella ;  the  head  of  the  os  femoris  and 
upper  portion  of  the  shaft  of  the  bone  ;  a  scaphoid  and  other 
small  bones  of  the  feet ;  with  numerous  undetermined  frag- 
ments of  bone.  Besides  these,  there  are  two  others,  sup- 
posed to  be  the  zygomatic  processes  of  the  temporal  bones. 
The  epiphyses  are  separated  from  the  upper  extremity  of  the 
os  humeri  and  of  the  femur,  which,  with  the  size  of  the 
bones,  indicate  that  they  belonged  to  a  young  animal. 


Dec.  1846.]  131 

The  following  resolutions,  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Zoological  Committee,  were  presented  by  the  Chairman  of 
the  Commmittee : 

Resolved,  That  in  incorporating  the  Ornithological  col- 
lection of  the  Academy  with  that  of  Dr.  "Wilson,  the  Zoolo- 
gical Committee  will  withdraw  from  exhibition  such  speci- 
mens, the  property  of  the  Academy,  as  shall  be  found  dupli- 
cates in  the  joint  collection. 

Resolved,  That  the  duplicates  be  deposited  in  the  north- 
east basement  room. 

The  resolutions  were,  on  motion,  approved. 


Stated  Meeting,  Dec.  15,  1846. 
Mr.  Vaux  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

A  number  of  fine  fossils,  from  the  Silurian  rocks  of  Columbia 
Co.,  Pennsylvania.     Presented  by  Mr.  H.  S.  Stephens. 

Prof.  Johnson  presented  from  Miss  Morris,  of  Grermantown, 
numerous  specimens  of  Cicada  septemdecim,  some  of  them 
in  the  living  state.  They  had  been  recently  found  in  that 
vicinity,  firmly  attached  by  the  proboscis  to  the  roots  of 
fruit  trees  which  had  been  gradually  decaying  for  several 
years. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Fourth  Bulletin  of  the  National  Institute.  Feb.  1845  to 
Nov.  1846.  Washington,  D.  C,  1846.  From  the  Insti- 
tute. 

The  following  very  valuable  works  were  deposited  by  Dr. 
Thomas  B.  Wilson : 

Fauna  Japonica ;  auctore  Ph.  Fr.  von  Siebold.  18  fasciculi. 
Aves,  Mammalia,  Pisces.  Elaborantibus  C.  J.  Temminck, 
et  N.  II.  Schlegel.     Folio. 

Verhandelingen   over   de   Naturlijke  Geschiedenis   der   Ne- 


132  [Dec,  1846. 

derlandsche   overzeesche  Bezittengen   door  de   leden  der 

Natuurkundige  commissie  in  Oost-Indie  en  Andere  Schrij- 

vers.     Zoologie.     12  Nos.     Folio. 
Systeniatische  Uebersicht  der  Vogel  Nord-Ost  Afrikas.    Von 

Dr.  Ed.  Riippell.     1  vol.  8vo.    Frankfort  Am.  Main.  1845. 
Neue   Wirbelthiere    zu  der  Fauna  von   Abyssinien   gehbrig 

entdeckt  und  beschrieben  von  Dr.  Ed.  Rtippell.     1  vol.  4to. 

Frankfort  Am.  Main,  1835-40. 
The  Genera  of  Birds.     By  Geo.  Robert  Gray,  F.  L.  S.     Il- 
lustrated with  about  350  plates,  by  David  Win.  Mitchell, 

B.  A.  F.  L .  S.,  &c.     28  parts,  4to. 
Iconographie  Ornithologique.     Nouveau   recueil  general   de 

planches   peintes    d'Oiseaux  :    par  0.  des  Murs.     3  Livs. 

4to. 
The  Viviparous  Quadrupeds  of  North  America.     By  John 

James   Audubon,    and   the    Rev.  John    Bachman,  D.   D 

Ninety-three  plates.     Elephant  folio. 


Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper  "  On  the  situation  of  the  olfactory 
sense  in  the  terrestrial  tribe  of  the  gasteropodous  mollusca," 
which  was  referred  to  Mr.  Phillips,  Mr.  Haldeman,  and  Dr. 
Morton. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  Zina  Pitcher,  dated  Detroit, 
Michigan,  Dec.  3,  1846,  transmitting  a  Catalogue  of  Birds  in 
the  University  of  Michigan,  and  soliciting  exchanges  in  seve- 
ral departments  of  Natural  History. 


The    following   remarks   by   Miss   Morris,    communicated 

through  Professor  Johnson,  fully  explain  the  circumstances 

which   led  to,  and  accompanied  the  discovery  of  the  larvse 

of  Cicada  septendecim  preying  on  the  roots  of  fruit  trees : 

.  I  have,  for  a  number  of  years,  believed  that  the  failure  of  fruit 
on  trees  over  tweuty  years  old,  was  mainly  owing  to  the  ravages 
of  the  larvae  of  the  Cicada  septendecim,  though  Entomologists 
have  heretofore  considered  them  harmless,  or  nearly  so,  believing 
that  the  principal  injury  caused  by  them  was  received  on  the 
branches  of  the  trees  when  depositing  their  eggs.  But  from  the 
fact  of  their  burrowing  into  the  earth  the  moment  of  their  escape 


Dec,  1846.]  133 

from  the  eggs,  and  their  living,  as  all  acknowledge,  on  the  sap  of 
the  roots  of  plants,  I  was  led  to  think  that  the  constant  drain  of 
sap  required  to  nourish  so  many  thousands  of  grubs,  of  from  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  to  an  inch  in  length,  must  be  more  than  a  tree 
could  live  through,  and  yield  good  fruit.  I  was  confirmed  in  this 
opinion  by  an  experiment  made  by  J.  B.  W.,  New  York,  and 
published  in  the  November  number  of  the  Horticulturist,  page 
227.  The  method  prescribed  to  renovate  an  outcast,  is  to  dig  a 
trench  four  feet  wide  and  twenty  inches  deep,  around  the  tree, 
leaving  a  ball  of  earth  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  then  to  fill  the 
trench  with  rich  earth  and  compost.  The  author  states  that  the 
experiment  succeeded,  and  that  in  three  years  the  tree  was  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  and  yielded  fine  fruit.  The  writer  attributes 
the  change  to  the  new  and  rich  soil  with  which  he  supplied  the 
tree.  I  argue,  that  on  cutting  off  the  larvae  of  the  Cicada,  which 
he  did  when  he  cut  off  so  large  a  portion  of  the  roots,  he  removed 
the  real  disease,  and  the  tree  was  then  in  a  condition  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  congenial  soil  placed  around  it ;  and  new  life  was 
given  to  roots  and  branches. 

Under  this  impression,  I  superintended  a  similar  experiment  on 
a  pear  tree  that  had  been  declining  for  years,  without  any  appa- 
rent cause,  and  agreeably  to  my  expectations,  I  found  the  larvae 
of  the  Cicada  in  countless  numbers  clinging  to  the  roots  of  the 
tree,  with  their  suckers  piercing  the  bark,  and  so  deep  and  firmly 
placed,  that  they  remained  hanging  for  half  an  hour  after  being 
removed  from  the  earth.  From  a  root  a  yard  long,  and  about  an 
inch  in  diameter,  I  gathered  twenty-three  larvas ;  they  were  of 
various  sizes,  from  a  quarter  of  an  inch  to  an  inch  in  length. 
They  were  on  all  the  roots  that  grew  deeper  than  six  inches  below 
the  surface.  The  roots  were  unhealthy,  and  bore  the  appearance 
of  external  injury  from  small  punctures.  On  removing  the  outer 
coat  of  bark,  this  appearance  increased,  leaving  no  doubt  as  to 
the  cause  of  the  disease. 

The  larvae  were  enclosed  in  a  compact  cell  of  earth,  with  no 
outlet  except  that  in  immediate  contact  with  the  root,  and  as 
there  were  no  galleries  or  holes  leading  from  these  cells,  I  infer 
that  the  grubs  never  leave  the  roots  they  first  fasten  on  ;  which 
may  account  for  the  great  difference  of  size;  the  small  ones  being 
starved  specimens  of  the  same  brood :  though  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  that  there  are  two  species,  differing  sufficiently  in  size  to  ac- 
count for  the  discrepancy  in  the  size  of  the  larvae  now  found.  I 
noticed  this  difference  in  1817,  and  again  in  1834  :  the  note  of 
the  smaller  variety,  or  species,  is  much  shriller  than  that  of  the 
larger,  and  will  never  be  mistaken  when  noticed. 

The  Cicado  is  too  well  known  to  need  a  description  here;  I 
will  therefore  only  notice  its  habits  as  they  have  fallen  under  my  own 
observation,  and  make  a  few  extracts  from  an  article  published  in 

19 


134  [Dec,  1846. 

the  National  Gazette,  and  written  by  my  brother,  Mr.  Thomas 
W.  Morris,  in  1834. 

The  eggs  require  forty-two  days  to  mature  in  the  branches  of 
the  trees  j  they  then  burst  the  shell  and  appear,  a  minute  but 
active  fac  simile  of  the  parent  in  the  larvae  state,  except  the  ab- 
sence of  the  wing  cases ;  they  require  but  a  few  moments  to 
stretch  their  limbs  and  prepare  for  labor,  before  they  unloose  their 
hold  on  the  twiggs  on  which  they  had  been  deposited,  and  fall  to 
the  ground,  where  they  immediately  disappear  in  search  of  food 
in  the  roots  of  the  tree.  If  the  eggs  that  are  about  to  hatch  be 
placed  over  a  glass  jar  filled  with  earth,  the  young  grubs  will  in 
a  few  hours  after  their  escape  from  the  eggs,  be  seen  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  jar  endeavoring  to  force  their  way  still  deeper — when 
first  hatched  they  are  quite  white,  but  soon  change  to  yellowish 
brown.  They  exist  in  separate  tribes,  occupying  different  sec- 
tions of  country ;  making  their  appearance  in  different  years,  but 
invariably  after  the  same  interval  of  time.  For  a  year  or  two 
before  the  arrival  of  the  main  body,  a  few  scattered  individuals 
are  generally  found. 

Mr.  Morris  thus  describes  them,  as  noticed  by  him  at  various 
times  and  places  : — 

"In  November,  1812,  I  found  a  large  number  of  locust  grubs 
under  an  old  apple  tree,  between  two  and  three  feet  below  the 
surface,  having  every  appearance  of  such  as  now  issue  from  the 
ground,  and  nearly  of  the  same  size.  On  the  27th  of  June,  1815, 
I  saw  a  portion  of  one  of  their  countless  tribes  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains,  extending  from  the  summit  of  the  Chestnut 
ridge  into  the  State  of  Ohio,  beyond  Steubenville  ;  occupying  every 
shrub  and  tree  except  the  pines,  and  the  walnut,  hickory,  and 
some  of  the  same  family.  On  my  return  in  the  latter  end  of  the 
following  month,  not  an  individual  of  the  myriads  which  had  oc- 
cupied that  space  was  to  be  seen ;  the  tops  of  the  forests  for  up- 
wards of  a  hundred  miles  appeared  as  if  scorched  by  fire.  In 
1832,  just  seventeen  years  after,  I  noticed  a  newspaper  para- 
graph, which  stated  that  the  locust  had  appeared  in  that  neigh- 
borhood in  large  numbers. 

The  northern  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  were 
visited  by  them  in  1826,  when  I  had  another  opportunity  of  see- 
ing this  extraordinary  insect.  On  my  way  from  Easton,  through 
New  Jersey  to  Milford  in  Pike  county,  Pennsylvania,  I  fell  in 
with  a  very  numerous  body  ;  how  far  they  extended,  I  was  unable 
to  learn,  but  they  did  not  disappear  from  my  route  until  after 
passing  through  a  large  part  of  Pike  county,  a  distance  by  the 
road,  of  more  than  sixty  miles  from  the  place  where  I  saw  them 
on  the  23d  of  May.  Trees  and  shrubs  are  necessary  as  places  of 
deposit  for  their  eggs ;  consequently,  though  numerous  in  the 
State  House  Square,  none  were  to  be  found  in  Washington  Square, 
which  in  1817  was  destitute  of  trees." 


Dec,  1846.]  135 

Stated  Meeting,  Dec.  22,  1846. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO   MUSEUM. 

Very  fine  specimen  of  Nail-headed  Calcareous  spar,  from 
Cumberland,  England.  Presented  by  Mr.  George  Thom- 
son, of  Liverpool,  through  Mr.  Samuel  Ashmead. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  the  following  crania:  Two  natives  of 
Madagascar,  presented  to  him  by  Lt.  Strain,  U.  S.  N. ;  a. 
Negro,  from  Dr.  Hardy,  of  Asheville,  S.  C. ;  a  Potawatomie, 
from  Dr.  Fussell ;  a  Kanaka  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  from 
Lt.  Strain,  and  an  Australian  Negro,  from  Dr.  J.  "Wilton, 
of  Gloucester,  England. 

Dr.  Hallowell  exhibited  a  living  Chgemeleon,  from  Malaga, 
the  property  of  Dr.  C.  W.  Pennock. 

DONATIONS   TO   LIBRARY. 

Prodromo  della  Grande  Anatomia ;  seconda  opera  postuma  di 
Paolo  Mascagni,  &c.  Firenze,  1819.  Folio.  From  Dr. 
P.  B.  Goddard. 

Chloris  Boreali- Americana.  Illustrations  of  new,  rare,  or 
otherwise  interesting  North  American  plants,  selected 
chiefly  from  those  recently  brought  into  cultivation  at  the 
Botanic  garden  of  Harvard  University.  By  Asa  Gray, 
M.  D.  Decade  1D.  4to.  Cambridge,  1846.  From  the 
Author. 

Contributions  to  the  Bryology  and  Hepaticology  of  North 
America.  By  Wm.  S.  Sullivant.  Part  1.  4to.  Cam- 
bridge, 1846.     From  the  Author. 

Report  of  the  season  of  1846,  with  a  table  showing  the  flower- 
ing of  fruit  trees,  the  first  opening,  full  flowering  and  ending 
of  each,  from  1837  to  1846,  inclusive,  &c.  By  Joseph 
Barrat,  M.  D.     Middleton,  Ct.     From  the  Author. 


136  [Dec,  1846. 

Annual  Meeting,  Dec.  29,  1846. 
Vice  President  Wetherill  in  the  Chair. 
The  Committee  on  the  following  communication  by  Dr. 
Leidy,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

On  the  situation  of  the   Olfactory  sense  in  the  terrestrial  tribe  of 
the  Gasterojoodous  Mollusca. 

By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

While  no  observer  of  the  habits  of  the  terrestrial  Gasteropoda 
doubts  the  existence  of  the  sense  of  smell  in  them,  but  on  the  con- 
trary, asserts  positively  that  it  does  exist,  the  anatomist  heretofore 
has  not  been  able  to  point  out  its  precise  seat. 

Swatnmerdam,  in  his  Biblia  Natura,  speaks  decidedly  of  the  ex- 
istence of  this  sense  in  the  Helix  pomatia,  but  offers  no  conjec- 
ture as  to  its  situation.  Blumenbach  remarks,  under  the  head  of 
Vermes,  "  Several  animals  of  this  class  appear  to  have  the  sense 
of  smelling,  as  many  land  snails  (Helix  pomatia,  &c.,)"  and  after- 
wards adds,  "  But  the  organ  of  this  sense  is  hitherto  unknown  ; 
perhaps  it  may  be  the  stigma  thoracicum."  Cuvier  in  his  Memoir 
sur  la  Limace  et  le  Colimacon,  after  remarking  the  delicacy  of  this 
sense,  thinks  it  probable  it  may  reside  "  Dans  la  pean  toute  en- 
tiere,  qui  a  beaucoup  texture  d'une  membrane  pituitaire." 

In  investigating  the  anatomy  of  this  tribe  of  Gasteropodous 
Mollusca,  I  detected  an  organ  which  appeared  to  have  been  en- 
tirely neglected,  or  has  escaped  the  notice  of  those  who  have  dis- 
sected these  animals.  It  is  a  depression  or  cul-de-sac,  having  its 
orifice  beneath  the  mouth,  between  the  inferior  lip  and  the  ante- 
rior extremity  of  the  podal  disk,  and  which  in  many  species  of  dif- 
ferent genera  is  elongated  backwards  into  a  blind  duct,  more  or 
less  deep,  occupying  a  situation  just  above  the  podal  disk,  within 
the  visceral  cavity.  In  Bulimus  fasciatus  it  extends  backwards 
as  far  as  the  tail,  and  is  several  times  folded  upon  itself;  in  Glandina 
truncata  it  extends  the  length  of  the  podal  disk ;  in  the  various  species 
of  Helix  it  is  found  from  a  superficial  depression  to  a  sac  the  length 
of  the  podal  disk;  in  Succioea  obliqua  it  is  of  considerable  length; 
in  Limax  and  Arion  it  is  a  superficial  depression  :  in  an  undeter- 
mined species  of  Vaginula,  hereafter  to  be  described,  I  found  it 
half  an  inch  in  length,  &c. 

It  is  composed  of  two  laminae ;  a  delicate  lining  mucous  mem- 
brane and  an  external  layer,  having  a  whitish  or  reddish  glan- 
dular appearance.  A  large  nerve,  on  each  side,  from  the  suboeso- 
phageal  ganglia,  is  distributed  to  its  commencement,  besides 
which  it  receives  numerous  smaller  branches  along  its  course 
from  the  same  ganglia.  Its  arterial  supply  is  derived  from  the 
cephalic  branch  of  the  aorta. 


Dec,  1846.]  137 

This  organ,  from  its  situation,  relative  size  to  the  degree  of 
perfection  of  the  olfactive  sense,  as  in  the  carnivorous  Glandina 
truncata,  &c,  its  structure,  and  nervous  supply,  I  think,  is  the  ol- 
factory organ.* 


The  Committee  on  Mr.  Cassin's  communication,  read  Nov. 
17,  1846,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

Note  on  an  Instinct  probably  possessed  by  the  Herons,  (Ardea,  Linn.) 

By  John  Cassin. 

Several  years  since,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  the 
Great  Heron  (Ardea  Herodias,  Linn.)  engaged  in  capturing  fishes, 
and  was  much  surprised  at  the  singular  facility  with  which  he 
struck  his  prey  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water.  This  was  done 
almost  invariably  by  striking  laterally  and  obliquely,  very  rarely 
vertically  or  nearly  so,  as  fishes  came  within  reach. 

It  appeared  to  me  at  that  time,  and  more  recent  observations 
have  tended  to  confirm  the  impression,  that  this  bird,  and  others 
which  procure  food  in  the  same  manner,  must  possess  an  instinc- 
tive knowledge  of  refraction. 

A  moment's  consideration  is  sufficient  to  warrant  the  inference 
that  this  knowledge,  if  possessed  at  all,  must  be  instinctive  and 
transmitted  from  parent  to  offspring;  for  it  is  obvious  that  if 
every  young  bird  should  be  obliged  to  acquire  it,  his  risk  of  starv- 
ing during  such  apprenticeship  would  be  imminent. 

My  observations  have  not  been  sufficiently  extended  to  fully 
justify  a  conclusion,  but  I  have  little  doubt  that  the  opinion  here 
expressed  is  correct, — my  object,  however,  is  more  especially  to 
ask  attention  to  this  remarkable  and  hitherto  unnoticed  subject. 


The  Monthly  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was 
read  and  adopted. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Treasurer  was  read  and  refer- 
red to  the  Auditors. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Librarian  was  read  and  adopted. 

*  Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  had  an  opportunity,  through 
the  kindness  of  Mr.  Cassin,  of  examining  a  specimen  of  Helix  poma- 
tia,  from  Europe,  in  which  I  find  the  organ  in  question  existing  as  a  fun- 
nel-shape depression  beneath  the  mouth,  and  extending  backwards  along 
the  podal  disk  for  the  distance  of  three- fourths  of  an  inch.  This  1  con- 
sider particularly  interesting,  as  thesame  species  has  been  minutely  dis- 
sected and  described  by  Swammerdam,  Cuvier,  and  others,  without  anv 
reference  whatever  to  this  cul-de-sac. 


138  [Dec,  1846. 

The  Society  then  went  into  an  election  for  Officers  for  the 
year  1847.     The  following  result  was  reported  by  the  Tellers: 

PRESIDENT. 

William  Hembel. 

VICE  PRESIDENTS. 

J.  Price  Wetherill. 

Samuel  George  Morton,  M.  D. 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY. 

Walter  R.  Johnson. 

RECORDING  SECRETARY. 

Theodore  F.  Moss. 

LIBRARIAN. 

Wm.  S.  Zantzinger,  M.  D. 

TREASURER. 

George  W.  Carpenter. 

CURATORS. 

Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D, 
William  S.  Vaux. 
Samuel  Ashmead. 
John  Cassin. 

AUDITORS. 
Robert  Pearsall. 
Wm.  S.  Vaux. 
Robert  Bridges,  M.  D. 

COMMITTEE   OF   PUBLICATION. 

Wm.  S.  Vaux. 
Walter  R.  Johnson. 
Thomas  B.  Wilson,  M.  D. 
Samuel  Ashmead. 
William  Gambel. 


Dec,  1846.]  139 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Correspondents  of  the 
Academy. 

Charles  Hamilton  Smith,  Esq.,  of  London. 
Thomas  C.  Eyton,  Esq.,  do. 

George  Robert  Gray,  Esq.,  do. 

Richard  Kippist,  Esq.,  do. 

M.  E.  Prisse,  of  Paris. 


The  following  Resolutions,  offered  by  Dr.  Bridges,  were 
unanimously  adopted. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Academy  be  presented  to 
the  late  Recording  Secretary,  Dr.  W.  S.  Zantzinger,  for  the 
ability  and  zeal  with  which  he  has  performed  the  duties  of 
that  office  for  the  past  five  years. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Society  be  presented  to 
the  late  Librarian,  Dr.  Joseph  Leidy,  for  the  able  and  faith- 
ful manner  in  which  he  has  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his  office 
for  the  past  year. 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


ACADEMY    OF    NATURAL   SCIENCES 


OF     PHILADELPHIA. 


Vol.  3.  JAN.,  AND  FEB.,  1847.  No.  7. 

Stated  Meeting,  January  5,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Casts  of  the  hand  of  Troglodytes  niger,  (Chimpanzee),  and 
of  the  inferior  extremity  of  the  radius  of  a  fossil  mammal 
obtained  near  Richmond,  Va.     From  Dr.  J.  Wyman. 

Sternum  of  Oidemia  perspicillata.     From  Mr.  Woodhouse. 

Specimens  in  skin,  of  Putorius  noveboracensis,  from  Bucks 
Co.,  Pa. ;  Sorex  brevicaudatus,  Say,  and  Vespertilio  caro- 
linensis,  Geof.,  from  Chester  Co.,  Pa. ;  and  V.  novebora- 
censis, L.,  from  Newark,  Del.     From  Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Annales  des  Mines.  4me-  Serie,  Tome  viii.  Livs.  5  and  6  de 
1845.     In  exchange. 

Twenty-sixth  Report  of  the  Council  of  the  Leeds  Philosophi- 
cal Society.     Leeds  :  1846.     Fom  the  Society. 

Message  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  communicating 
a  Report  of  an  Expedition  by  Lieut.  Abert  to  the  Upper 
Arkansas,  and  through  the  country  of  the  Camanche  In 
dians,  in  the  autumn  of  1845.     From  Col.  Abert. 


142  [Jan.,  1847. 

Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.  3,  No.  8.  From  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

Sound  and  Sanctified  Scholarship ;  an  Address  delivered  at 
the  Dedication  of  the  new  edifice  of  the  Western  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  on  Tuesday,  Sept.  8,  1846.  By 
David  H.  Riddle,  D.  D.  With  introductory  remarks  by 
George  Upfold,  D.  D.     From  the  Author. 

Observations  of  the  Magnetic  dip  at  several  positions,  made 
in  1840, 1842,  1843, 1844  and  1845.  By  Major  James  D. 
Graham,  U.  S.  Topographical  Engineer.  (From  the  Trans, 
of  Amer.  Phil.  Soc,  Vol.  ix.)  Philadelphia :  1846.  From 
the  Author. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences 
of  Boston.  May  26  to  Dec.  1,  1846,  inclusive.  From  the 
Academy. 

Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  works : 

Tableau  Encyclopedique  et  Methodique  des  trois  regnes  de 
la  Nature.  (Ornithologie.)  Par  l'Abbe  Bonnaterre  et  L.  P. 
Vieillot.     4  vols.  4to. 

A  General  System  of  Nature,  &c.  By  Sir  Charles  Linne: 
translated  by  Wm.  Turton,  M.  D.    7  vols.  8  vo. 

The  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.  M.  Ship  Sulphur,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Sir  Edward  Belcher,  R.  N.,  &c, 
during  the  years  1836  to  1842.  Edited  and  superintended 
by  Richard  Brinsley  Hinds,  Esq.,  Surgeon  to  the  Expedi- 
tion.    Vol.  1.  4to.     London :  1844. 

A  Monograph  of  the  Anatidse  or  Duck  tribe.  By  T.  C. 
Eyton,  Esq.,  F.  L.  S.,  &c.     1  vol.  4to.     London,  1838. 

Zoological  Lectures  delivered  at  the  Royal  Institution  in 
1806  and  1807.  By  George  Shaw,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.  2  vols, 
large  8vo.     London :  1809. 

Atlas  de  Zoologie,  ou  Collection  de  100  planches  comprenant 
257  fig.  d'animaux  nouveaux  ou  peu  connues,  classes 
d'apres  la  methode  de  M.  de  Blainville ;  avec  une  expli- 
cation par  M.  Paul  Gervais.     1  vol.  8vo.     Paris :  1844. 


Jan.,  1847.]  143 

A  selection  of  the  Birds  of  Brazil  and  Mexico.  The  draw- 
ings by  William  Swainson,  Esq.  1  vol.  8vo.  London  : 
1841. 

Beitrage  zur  Naturgeschichte  von  Brazilien.  Von  Maxi- 
milian Prinzen  zu  Wied.  Reptilia,  Aves,  Mammalia,  5  vols. 
8vo. 

Descriptiones  Animalium  quse  in  itinere  ad  Maris  Australis 
terras  per  annos  1772,  1*773  and  1774  suscepto :  collegil, 
observavit  et  deliniavit  Joannes  Reinoldus  Forster,  F.R.S.  ; 
nunc  demum  edita?  auctoritate  et  impensis  Academise  Lit- 
terarum  Regise  Berolinoe,  curante  Henrico  Lichtenstein. 
1  vol.  8vo.     Berlin  :  1844. 

Ornithological  Dictionary  of  British  Birds.  By  Col.  G.  Mon- 
tague, F.  L.  S.  2d  edition  :  by  James  Rennie,  F.  L.  S. 
8vo.     London  :  1831. 

Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  New  South  Wales ;  with  sixty-five 
plates  of  nondescript  Animals,  Birds,  and  other  natural 
productions.  By  John  White,  Esq.,  Surgeon  to  the  Settle- 
ment.    1  vol.  4to.     London  :  1790. 


Letters  were  read  : 

From  Richard  Brown,  Esq.,  addressed  to  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  dated  Sydney  Mines,  Nova  Scotia,  Dec.  9th, 
1846,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice  of  election  as  a 
Correspondent. 

The  following  extract  from  this  letter  is  interesting: 

"  I  have  visited  Cranberry  Head  several  times  recently,  and 
have  made  a  section  and  drawings  of  the  fossil  trees  there.  The 
first  tree  near  the  Point  is  based  upon  a  small  seam  of  coal :  lately 
a  large  piece  of  the  cliff  has  fallen  down,  and  part  of  the  tree 
with  some  of  the  coal  under  it.  Fortunately  it  has  exposed  two 
loDg  roots — one  branching  to  the  North  and  the  other  to  the 
South — about  seven  feet  each  way.  They  are  very  broad  and 
flat,  and  are  genuine  Stigmaria.  I  could  not  trace  any  rootlets, 
but  the  areolae  are  not  to  be  mistaken.  I  have  preserved  some 
large  pieces,  as  also  some  of  the  bark,  of  the  tree,  which  is  appa- 
rently an  irregularly  fluted  Sigillaria. 

In  a  bed  of  Shale,  some  twenty  feet  lower  in  the  section,  I  have 
also  found  several  small  upright  trees,  about   eight   inches    diarne- 


144  [Jan.  1847- 

ter,  filled  with  soft  shale,  but  having  a  pith  of  beautiful  bright 
coal,  1£  inches  in  diameter,  running  up  the  middle:  the  bark  is 
fluted ;  the  roots,  long  fibres,  something  like  the  leaves  or  rootlets 
of  Stigmaria." 

From  Wrn.  D.  Breckenridge,  Esq.,  dated  Washington, 
Dec.  29,  1846,  returning,  with  acknowledgments,  a  collection 
of  ferns  from  the  Berlin  gardens,  which  had  been  loaned  him 
by  permission  of  the  Society  for  examination  and  comparison. 

From  the  Trustees  of  the  Western  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, dated  Dec.  9, 1846,  referring  to  the  loss  by  fire  lately 
sustained  by  that  Institution  of  its  entire  Museum  and  Li- 
brary, and  asking  for  donations  towards  a  renewal  of  the 
same,  particularly  the  latter.  Referred  to  the  Library  Com-  • 
mittee. 


Meeting  for  Business,  January  26,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was  read  and 
adopted. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Henry  Seybert  to  de- 
posit his  valuable  chemical  apparatus  in  the  Academy,  to 
become  ultimately  the  property  of  the  Institution— unless 
withdrawn  by  himself  during  his  life  time — and  subject  to  its 
Rules  and  By-Laws  on  this  head,  be  accepted. 

The  Society  then  proceeded  to  elect  the  usual  Standing 
Committees  for  the  year.  The  following  result  was  reported  by 
the  Tellers : 

Committees  for  184". 
Geological  and  Mineralogical. 
J.  Price  Wetherill,  W.  R.  Johnson, 

S.  G.  Morton,  Samuel  Ashmead, 

Win.  S.  Vaux,  Theodore  F.  Moss, 

Lewis  T.  Germain. 


Jan.,  1847.]  145 

Zoological. 
J.  S.  Phillips,  John  Cassin, 

Edward  Harris,  J.  K.  Townsend, 

S.  S.  Haldeman,  William  Garabel, 

A.  L.  Heermann. 

Botanical. 

R.  Bridges,  R.  E.  Griffith, 

W.  S.  Zantzinger,  Gavin  Watson, 

R.  Kilvington. 

Physics. 
Walter  R.  Johnson,  John  S.  Phillips, 

Paul  B.  Goddard,  Theodore  F.  Moss, 

Henry   Seybert. 

Library. 

Robert  Bridges,  | Robert  Pearsall, 

Edward  Hallowell,  George  W.  Carpenter, 

S.  B.  Ashmead. 

Committee  on  Proceedings. 

S.  G.  Morton,  C      Corresponding  and 

John  S.  Phillips,  <      Recording  Secretaries, 

Wm.  S.  Zantzinger,  £  ex-officio. 

Coleman  Fisher,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia,  was  elected  a  Mem- 
ber. 

And  John  P.  Barratt,  M.  D.,  of  Barrattsville,  South  Caro- 
lina, was  elected  a  Correspondent. 


146  [Feb.,  1847. 

Stated  Meeting,  February  2,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

The  Curators  exhibited  a  fine  articulated  skelton  of  a  Bengal 
Tiger  of  very  large  size,  and  an  extensive  collection  of  hu- 
man and  other  crania,  recently  received  from  Dr.  HufTnagle 
of  Calcutta,  and  placed  by  him  on  deposit  in  the  Society's 
Cabinet. 

The  collection  embraces  the  following:  Cranium  of  a  native 
of  South  Australia  :  two  crania  of  Hindoo  fanatics,  taken 
from  the  Temple  of  Juggernaut :  cranium  of  an  individual  of 
a  Brahmin  caste  :  of  an  Affghan  from  the  field  of  Jug- 
daullek  :  of  a  Chinese  pirate  :  of  a  Malay  pirate  :  of  a  Hin- 
dostanee  :  and  several  other  human  crania  not  labelled. 
Also,  crania  of  the  following  animals : — Crocodilus  vul- 
garis, and  Gavialis  gangeticus,  (both  remarkably  large  and 
perfect  specimens,)  Trionyx  Indicus,  Sus  scropha,  Felis 
tigris  (five  specimens),  Canis  aureus  (two  spec),  C.  fami- 
liaris   (fox-hound    and   blood-hound,   three    spec),    Delphi- 

nus ,  Simia  satyrus    (young),  Simia ,  Antilope 

(two  spec)  &c,  &. 

Mr.  Cassin  presented  from  Mr.  Aaron  Sharpless,  of  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  two  fine  living  specimens  of  a  hybrid 
between  Numida  meleagris  (Guinea  fowl)  and  Meleagris 
galla-pavo  (turkey),  which  had  been  hatched  and  raised  on 
his  farm. 

DONATIONS  TO    LIBRARY. 

The  characters  of  some  new  genera  and  species  of  composite? 
from  Texas.  By  Asa  Gray,  M.  D.,  (from  the  Proceed,  of 
Am.  Acad,  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Dec  1S46.)  From  the 
Author. 

On  the    Origin  of  Continents.      By   James   D.    Dana,  (from 


Feb.,  1847.]  147 

the  Am.  Journal  of  Sciences,  vol.  3,  2d  series.)  From  the 
Author. 

On  Zoophytes.  No.  3.  By  James  D.  Dana,  (from  the  Am. 
Journ.  of  Science,  vol.  3,  2d  series.)     From  the  Author. 

On  three  several  Hurricanes  of  the  Atlantic,  and  their  rela- 
tions to  the  Northers  of  Mexico  and  Central  America,  with 
notices  of  other  storms.  By  William  C.  Redfield.  New 
Haven,  1846.     From  the  Author. 

The  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Associa- 
tion of  Pennsylvania  College,  vol.  3,  No.  4.  From  the 
Association. 

Recapitulation  des  Hybrides  observes  dans  la  famille  des 
Anatidees.  Par  Edm.  de  Selys  Longchamps.  From  the 
Author. 

Revue  critique  des  Oiseaux  d'  Europe,  par  le  Docteur  Schlegel. 
Extrait  de  la  Revue  Zoologique  par  la  Societe  Cuvierienne, 
Jan.  1845.     From  M.  de  Longchamps. 


A  letter  was  read  from  James  Robb,  Esq.,  dated  King's 
College,  Frederick,  N.  B.,  9th  Jan.  1847,  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  his  notice  of  election  as  a  correspondent. 

A  paper  by  Mr.  Haldeman,  describing  one  new  genus 
and  several  new  species  of  insects,  was  read  and  referred  to 
a  committee  consisting  of  Mr.  Markland,  Dr.  Leidy  and  Dr. 
Zantzinger. 

Mr.  Germain,  of  Burlington,  read  a  paper  entitled  "  A  col- 
lation and  statement  of  some  of  the  effects  of  Electricity  and 
Galvanism,  having  seeming  analogy  to  the  purification  and 
circulation  of  the  blood,"  which  was  referred  to  the  following 
committee :  Dr.  Bridges,  Prof.  Johnson  and  Mr.  Moss. 


148  [Feb.,  1847. 

Stated  Meeting,  Feb.  16,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Sternum  of  Strix  brachyotis,  and  the  fangs  of  a  molar  tooth 
of  Zeuglodon  cetoides,  Owen,  cut  transversely  to  exhibit 
its  internal  structure.     From  Dr.  Joseph  Leidy. 

Sternum  of  Aquila  leucocephalus.  From  Mr.  S.  W.  Wood- 
house. 

Two  specimens  of  Baculites  ovatus,  one  of  them  ten  inches  in 
length ;  also  a  fine  specimen  of  Ammonites  Delawarensis 
with  the  cast  of  the  same,  and  a  specimen  of  A.  placenta ; 
all  obtained  from  the  marl  pit  near  Moorestown,  N.  J. 
Presented  by  Mr.  Lewis  T.  Germain. 

Cranium  of  Zygsena  malleus.     From  Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith. 

Fine  specimen  of  Apophyllite  from  Andreasberg,  Upper 
Harz,  Hanover.     Presented  by  Mr.  Moss. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Histoire  Physique,  Politique  et  Naturelle  de  1'  He  de  Cuba ; 

par  M.  Ramon  de  la  Sagra.  Livs.  52,  53,  54.  From  Messrs. 

Wetherill,  Morton,  Phillips,  Clay,  Yaux  and  Elwyn. 
De  Candolle's  Prodromus  systematis  naturalis  regni  vegeta- 

bilis.     Parts  8,  9  and  10.     Purchased  by  Academy. 
Vermium  terrestrium  et  fluviatilium  seu  animalium  infusorio- 

rum,  helminthicorum,  et  testaceorum  non  marinorum,  suc- 

cincta  historia.     Auctore  Othone  Frederico  Muller.     Vol. 

1,  Part  1  ;  and  vol.  2,  quarto.     Hafnice,  1773  and  1774, 

From  Dr.  Paul  B.  Goddard. 
Eight  additional  pages  of  Dr.   Gould's  description  of  Shells 

of  the  Exploring  Expedition.     From  the  Author. 


Mr.  Gambel  read  a  paper  in  continuation  of  his  "  Remarks 
on  the  Birds  of  Upper  California,"  which  was  referred  to  the 
committee  on  the  former  portions. 


Feb.,  1847.]  149 

Dr.  Morton  read  a  notice  by  Mr.  M.  Tuoniey,  State  Geolo- 
gist of  South  Carolina,  of  his  discovery  of  the  Cranium  of 
Zeuglodon  cetoides,  Owen,  in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston ;  ac- 
companied with  a  drawing  of  the  same.  Referred  to  Dr. 
Morton,  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor  and  Dr.  Leidy. 

A  letter  was  presented  by  Mr.  Moss,  addressed  by  Mr. 
Graf  of  St.  Petersburg  to  Baron  Wrangel,  in  relation  to  ex- 
changes of  Birds  between  the  latter  and  the  Academy.  Re- 
ferred to  the  Zoological  committee. 

Mr.  Gliddon  presented  a  translation  of  the  Hieroglyphical 
inscription  on  the  Sarcophagus  of  the  Egyptian  Mummy  now 
in  the  Academy. 


Meeting  for  Business,  February  23,  1847. 
Vice   President  "Wetherill  in  the  Chair. 
The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  Mr.   Haldeman's  pa- 
per read  on  the  2d  inst.,  reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

Descriptions   of  several  new  species  and  one  new  genus  of  Insects, 

By  S.  S.  Haldeman,  A.  M. 

Blethisa  quadricollis.  Black,  somewhat  bronze ;  head  elon- 
gate, transversely  impressed  behind  the  eyes,  which  are  promi- 
nent ;  frontal  impressions  long  and  bisinuate,  posteriorly  connected 
with  the  transverse  impression  ;  labrum  quadrate,  slightly  bisinu- 
ate anteriorly ;  antennae  steel  blue,  as  long  as  the  head  and  pro- 
thorax,  four  basal  articulations  glabrous.  Prothorax  quadrate, 
bitruncate,  wider  than  the  head,  slightly  rounded  on  the  sides  an- 
teriorly, and  very  slightly  sinuated  behind  the  middle  ;  posterior 
angles  rounded ;  margin  depressed  and  reflexed ;  transverse  im- 
pressions very  deep,  the  anterior  one  in  the  arc  of  a  circle ;  dorsal 
line  deep,  transversely  wrinkled,  bi- abbreviated ;  basal  impressions 
deep,  punctured,  with  an  obtuse  slightly  elevated  ridge  near  the 
margin.  Elytra  a  little  wider  than  the  head,  obtusely  rounded 
behind;  deeply  punctate-striate,  strise  somewhot  interrupted; 
3d  interstice  with  four  or  five  large  fovea? ;  5th  with  three  foveae, 
the  anterior  one  being  behind  the  anterior  one  of  the  other  range  ; 
6th  with  two  fovese,  one  below  the  humerus,  and  one  (sometimes 


150  [Feb.,  1841 


obsolete)  towards  the  apex ;  margin  subcupreous,  with  confused 
ranges  of  smaller  punctures ;  legs  steel  blue ;  anterior  femora 
with  a  very  slight  prominence  in  the  female.  7  i  1.  long.  3  1. 
wide. 

Found  by  Mr.  Joshua  Child  upon  the  Southern  shore  of  Lake 
Superior.  The  elytra  agree  with  those  in  B.  multipunctata,  Fab. 
and  the  thorax  apparently  with  that  of  B.  esehscholtzii. 

*Chorea.  Body  short,  robust,  and  of  a  rather  solid  consistency; 
head  small,  deflected  ;  maxillary  palpi  robust,  prominent,  last 
joint  largest,  and  triangular;  antennae  short,  serrate,  not  sensibly 
tapered,  placed  between  the  eyes  and  a  little  removed  from  them, 
which  renders  them  approximate;  they  are  inserted  upon  each 
side  of  a  slight  frontal  elevation,  and  are  borne  parallel,  arched 
over  the  thorax  and  extending  a  little  beyond  the  scutel.  Protho- 
rax  short,  transverse,  inflated,  anterior  angles  obtusely  rounded, 
posterior  ones  produced  in  a  sharp  angle.  Scutel  rounded.  Ely- 
tra elongate,  texture  solid,  with  wings  beneath.  Abdomen  of  five 
inflated  segments.  Feet  slender,  the  posterior  coxae  very  long,  be- 
ing as  long  as  the  femur  proper,  which  is  much  reduced  in  length, 
although  the  limb  is  of  ordinary  length.  Tarsi  with  short  hair,  but 
scarcely  pulvillate;  penultinate  articulation  bilobed.  Probably  a 
female. 

A  single  individual  taken  upon  the  porch  of  my  residence.  It 
endeavored  to  liberate  itself  by  a  sharp  click,  which,  with  the  shape 
of  the  prothorax,  led  me  to  suppose  it  an  Elater.  The  click  was 
produced  by  approximating  the  anterior  femora  along  the  breast  and 
separating  them  with  a  sudden  jerk  which  could  be  heard  and  felt. 
There  is  nothing  apparent  in  the  structure  of  the  anterior  feet  to 
indicate  this  peculiar  use  of  them. 

Chorea  pulsator.  Dull  black,  minutely  punctured,  slightly 
hairy;  palpi  bright  testaceous  :  tarsi  and  tibiae  dull  rufuus  ;  prono- 
tum  covered  with  piliferous  punctures,  dorsal  line  not  apparent ; 
elytra  with  nine  strise  filled  with  large  elongate  punctures.  4  1. 
long.     Pennsylvania,  in  April. 

Eburia  distincta.  Flavescent,  covered  with  a  short  whitish 
pubescence;  labrum  fringed  with  fulvous  hair;  front  imprest; 
medial  line  of  the  head  glabrous  posteriorly ;  prothorax  subcy- 
lindric,  narrowed  before,  with  an  anterior  and  posterior  transverse 
impression ;  sides  armed  with  a  short  spine ;  disk  on  each  side,  a 
little  before  the  middle,  with  a  round  black  glabrous  tubercle; 
elytra  with  a  basal  and  medial  pair  of  approximate  stigmata,  the 
former  somewhat  oblique,  the  latter  with  the  interior  one  about 
half  the  length  of  the  exterior.  10 — 12  lines  long.  Georgia  and 
Mississippi. 

Distinguished  from  the  more  northern  species  E.  4-geminata  Say, 
distincta  Dejean,  by  a  more  dense  pubescence,  less  globular  protho- 
rax with  its  deeper  lines  and  larger  tubercles ;  and  the  shorter  in- 
ternal posterior  stigma. 


Feb.,  1847.]  151 

Enaphalodes  simpiicicollis.  Dark  brown,  elytra  somewhat 
paler  from  a  short  pubescence;  prothorax  subglobular,  minutely 
granulate ;  dorsal  line  slightly  impressed  posteriorly,  a  lateral  ob- 
solete impression  before  the  middle  towards  the  exterior  margin  ; 
elytra  sparsely  and  deeply  punctured,  bi-spinose  at  tip.  11  £  1.  long. 
Georgia.  Distinguished  from  E.  lecontei,  Dejean,  (pulverulentum, 
Fabr.,  hitherto  considered  an  Elaphidion  by  me)  in  having  a  smaller 
prothorax,  a  darker  color,  and  in  being  less.  For  the  opportunity 
to  describe  this  and  the  next  species  of  Longicornia,  I  am  indebted 
to  the  kindness  of  my  friend  Dr.  J.  L.  Le  Conte,  in  whose  cabinet 
they  are. 

Stentjra?  cyanea.  Brilliant  metallic  blue  with  greenish  re- 
flexions :  front  impressed,  antennas,  mandibles,  labrum,  terminal 
joint  of  palpi,  and  scutel,  black  ;  elytra  scabrous  with  confluent 
punctures  ;  femora  rufous,  apex  and  extreme  base,  with  the  tibiae 
and  tarsi,  blackish.     6  1.  long.  Lake  Superior. 

Ploiaria  maculata.  Drown,  superior  wings  pale  grey  with 
whitish  reticulations,  and  maculate  with  brown,  darkest  towards  the 
base,  where  there  is  a  long  conspicuous  triangle  with  its  apex  ex- 
tending to  the  base ;  anterior  edge  of  the  wing  with  a  single  series 
of  spots,  apex  with  a  semicircle  of  large  ones.  2.  1.  long.  Penn- 
sylvania, in  July. 

The  only  specimen  of  this  well  marked  species  is  imperfect,  and 
although  taken  several  years  ago,  a  second  individual  has  not  been 
seen. 


The  Committee  on  Mr.  Tuomey's  paper  read  at  last  meet- 
ing, reported  in  favor  of  publication. 

Notice  of  the  discovery  of  a  Cranium  of  the  Zeuqlodon. 
By  M.  Tuomey,  State  Geologist  of  South  Carolina. 

Almost  every  day  adds  something  to  our  knowledge  of  those 
remarkable  forms,  which  in  the  revolutions  of  time  have  passed 
out  of  existence.  In  18 — ,  Dr.  Harlan  described  and  figured  in 
the  Transactions  of  the  Geological  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  some 
fossil  bones  from  Alabama,  consisting  of  portions  of  the  upper  and 
lower  maxillae  of  an  animal  under  the  name  of  "  Basilosaurus," 
from  an  impression  that  they  belonged  to  a  gigantic  Saurian.  An 
examination  of  the  teeth,  however,  satisfied  Professor  Owen  that 
these  remains  belonged  to  a  Cetacean,  to  which  he  has  given  the 
name  "  Zeuqlodon." 

The  first  description  of  an  entire  tooth  of  this  animal,  was  given 
by  Mr.  Buckley,  in  a  concise  account  of  the  discovery  of  a  consi- 
derable portion  of  the  skeleton,  published  in  the  American  Journal 
of  Science  in  1843.  In  1845,  Dr.  K.  W,  Gibbes,  of  South  Carolina, 
published  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences 


152  [Feb.,  1847. 

of  Philadelphia,  accurate  figures  of  similar  teeth  with  fragments 
of  the  lower  maxilla.  The  teeth  being  hollow,  and,  in  his  opinion 
presenting  other  important  differences,  he  constituted  for  them  a 
new  genus,  "Dorudon." 

The  "  Hydrarchos,"  I  believe,  has  passed  away  without  advancing 
our  knowledge  upon  this  interesting  subject,  excepting  perhaps  that 
Prof.  Wyman  discovered  in  the  extremity  of  the  ribs  some  ceta- 
cean characters. 

The  next  important  development  consisted  in  the  publication  by 
Professor  Emmons,  in  the  American  Quarterly  Journal  of  Agricul- 
ture, beautiful  figures  of  the  teeth,  anterior  portion  of  lower  max- 
illae, together  with  a  portion  of  the  ramus  having  the  coronoid  pro- 
cess and  condyle  almost  perfect,  cervical  and  caudal  vertebras,  and 
a  rib.  But  up  to  the  present  time,  no  notice  has  appeared  of  the 
discovery  of  any  considerable  portion  of  the  cranium  proper — for 
the  mutilated  head  of  the  so  called  Hydrarchos  can  scarcely  be  con- 
sidered an  exception. 

Early  in  January  I  was  presented  by  F.  S.  Holmes,  Esq.,  with 
a  portion  of  the  left  upper  maxilla,  containing  one  tooth  and  the 
alveolse  of  several  others,  which  he  discovered  in  the  Eocene  beds 
of  Ashley  river,  about  ten  miles  from  Charleston.  Soon  after,  Prof. 
Lewis  R.  Gibbes,  of  the  College  of  Charleston,  visited  the  same  lo- 
cality, and  had  the  good  fortune  to  find  the  rest  of  the  scull,  much 
fractured,  but  so  carefully  were  the  fragments  collected,  that  with 
a  little  patience  we  were  enabled  to  restore  them  to  their  proper 
places.  It  is  then  altogether  to  these  gentlemen  that  we  owe  a 
knowledge  of  this  valuable  fossil. 

Description.  Occipital  bone  somewhat  semicircular,  transversely 
flat  or  slightly  concave,  central  portion  thin  ;  a  crest-like  ridge  sur- 
rounds the  superior  portion  terminating  in  the  suture  with  the  tem- 
poral bone.  Condyles  two,  articulating  surfaces  lunate,  and  almost 
enclosing  the  foramen  magnum.  Foramen  magnum  oval ;  trans- 
verse diameter  1J  inches,  vertical  diameter  1  inch;  transverse  pro- 
cesses thick,  spreading,  making  the  breadth  of  the  base  of  the  cra- 
nium equal  to  its  diameter  across  the  zygomatic  processes ;  jugular 
foramen  £  inch  in  diameter  ;  temporal  bones  small,  mastoroid  por- 
tion thick  and  strong  but  not  prominent ;  articulating  cavities  for 
condyles  of  lower  maxillae  large,  forming  about  30°  of  a  circle,  in- 
clining inwards  and  backwards;  maxillse  thick  and  strong,  vertical 
section  triangular;  a  cavity  for  nerves  and  vessels  runs  within  at 
the  points  of  the  roots  of  the  teeth  ;  alveolar  process  thick  ;  palatal 
bone  strong,  anteriorly  emarginate  and  horizontal,  posteriorly  de- 
scending below  the  alveolar  process. 

Frontal  bone  and  anterior  portion  of  maxillae  wanting ;  walls  of 
the  nasal  canal  smooth  ;  sutures  squamous ;  in  the  left  maxilla  one 
tooth  remains,  which  is  solid,  spear-shaped,  edges  coarsely  ser- 
rate, exterior  side  flattened,  interior  side  convex ;  agreeing  in  this 
respect  with  the  position  of  the  teeth  in  the  shark  ;  roots  double, 


Feb.,  1847.] 


153 


nearly  parallel,  and  inserted  obliquely  backwards;  in  the  right 
maxilla  are  the  alveolre  for  eight  teeth  with  double  roots.  In  the 
solidity  of  the  teeth  and  slight  divergency  of  the  roots,  this  speci- 
men agrees  with  the  figures  of  Dr.  Harlan  and  Prof.  Emmons. 

This  fossil  is  particularly  interesting,  as  it  removes  every  doubt, 
if  any  remain,  of  the  true  character  of  the  animal  to  which  it  be- 
longed. The  double  occipital  condyle  shows  it  to  have  been  a 
mammal,  while  the  squamous  sutures  and  a  symmetrical  form  refer 
it  to  the  Cetaceae. 


Dimensions.  Length  14 £  in.;  greatest  breadth  7£  in.;  height  5| 
in.;  length  of  enameled  portion  of  tooth  f  in.;  breadth  f  in.  It  was 
evidently  a  young  individual. 

Geological  position.  The  teeth  described  by  Dr.  Gibbes  were 
found  in  the  oldest  of  the  calcareous  beds  of  the  Eocene  of  South 
Carolina,  which  contain  Card ita  plan icosta  and  other  well  known 
Eocene  fossils,  together  with  Grypliea  mutabilis  and  Terebratula 
harlani,  which  are  also  common  to  the  cretaceous  formation.  And 
the  fossil  just  described  was  found  in  upper  beds  of  the  Eocene  so 
that  the  Zeuglodon  must  have  existed  through  the  whole  of  the 
Eocene  period;  a  period  which,  in  South  Carolina,  was  at  least 
sufficiently  long  for  the  deposition  of  three  hundred  feet  of  calca- 
reous and  sedimentary  matter;  a  fact  which  was  ascertained  by 
boring  at  Charleston. 


154  [Feb.,  1847. 

Remarks  on  the  Birds  observed  in  Upper  California. 

By  "William  Gameel. 
(Continued  from  page,  115.) 

PASSERES. 
Genus  *CHAM.£A.f 
Bill  short,  tapering  to  the  point,  acute  and  compressed.  Both  mandibles 
entire,  ridge  of  upper  elevated,  and  curving  nearly  from  the  base  ;  the  de- 
pression for  the  nostrils  large,  oval,  and  exposed ;  the  nostrils  opening  be- 
neath a  membrane  in  the  depression.  Wings  very  short  and  much  rounded. 
Tail  very  long  and  graduated.     Tarsus  long. 

Chamesa  fasciata,  Nobis.     Ground  Tit. 

Parus  fasciatus,  nobis,  Proceed.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.,  vol.  2,  p.  265. 

This  interesting  bird,  placed  provisionally  among  the  Titmice,  I  have  now 
made  the  type  of  a  new  genus,  not  being  able,  as  yet,  to  find  a  suitable  place 
for  it,  among  those  already  described. 

For  several  months  before  discovering  the  bird,  I  chased  among  the  fields 
of  dead  mustard  stalks,  the  weedy  margins  of  streams,  low  thickets  and 
bushy  places,  a  continued,  loud,  crepitant,  grating  scold,  which  I  took  for 
that  of  some  species  of  wren,  but  at  last  found  to  proceed  from  this  Wren- 
Tit,  if  it  might  so  be  called.  It  is  always  difficult  to  be  seen,  and  keeps  in 
such  places  as  I  have  described,  close  to  the  ground;  eluding  pursuit,  by' 
diving  into  the  thickest  bunches  of  weeds  and  tall  grass,  or  tangled  bushes 
uttering  its  grating  wren-like  note  whenever  an  approach  is  made  towards  it. 

But  if  quietly  watched,  it  may  be  seen,  when  searching  for  insects,  to 
mount  the  twigs  and  dried  stalks  of  grass  sideways,  jerking  its  long  tail,  and 
keeping  it  erect  like  a  wren,  which,  with  its  short  wings,  in  such  a  position 
it  so  much  resembles.  At  the  same  time  uttering  a  very  slow,  monotonous, 
singing,  chickadee  note,  like  pee  pee  pee  pee  peep  ;  at  other  times  its  notes  are 
varied,  and  a  slow  whistling,  contmuedpwit,pwit,  pwit,  pwit,pwit,  pwit,  may 
be  heard.  Again,  in  pleasant  weather  towards  spring,  I  have  heard  them 
answering  one  another,  sitting  upon  a  low  twig,  and  singing  in  a  less  solemn 
strain,  not  unlike  a  sparrow,  a  lively  pit,  pit,  pit,  tr  r  r  r  r  r  r  r,  but  if  dis- 
turbed, at  once  resumining  their  grating  scold. 

Pants  inornatus,  Nobis.  Plain  Titmouse.  Proceed.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  vol. 
2,  p.  265. 

The  Plain  Titmouse  I  first  discovered  near  Monterey  on  the  20th  of 
November.  It  was  actively  flitting  about  among  the  evergreen  oaks  of  the 
vicinity,  in  company  with  large  flocks  of  the  Chestnut-backed  and  Least 
Titmouse,  all  in  restless  activity,  searching  every  branch  for  insects. 

Among  the  busy  throng  I  could  not  well  distinguish  its  notes,  but  they 
appeared  to  resemble  very  much  those  of  the  common  Black-cap,  and  on 
my  following  it  up,  uttered  a  loud  scold,  erecting  its  high  and  pointed  crest; 
and  looking  as  angry  as  possible  at  the  intrusion. 

j-  From  ^a^a/,  on  the  ground. 


Feb.,  1847.]  155 

I  afterwards  found  it  common,  frequenting  in  small  flocks  tall  bushes  and 
branches  of  small  trees,  uttering  a  weak  and  slender  tsee  day  day,  tsee  day 
day  dait. 

Parus  montanus,  Nobis.  Rocky  Mountain  Titmouse.  Proceed.  Acad. 
Nat.  Sc,  vol.  1,  p.  259. 

I  have  already  stated  all  that  I  know  of  this  new  and  handsome  species,  in 
the  description  contained  in  the  number  of  the  Proceedings  above  referred  to. 
It  was  exceedingly  abundant  in  the  western  ranges  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, particularly  in  the  high  ridges  near  the  great  salt  lake,  in  the  wooded 
portions  of  which  they  were  roaming  in  large  flocks,  and  from  thence  to  the 
Californian  ridge,  on  the  other  side  of  which  I  never  saw  them.  In  habits, 
as  well  as  appearance,  it  resembles  very  much  the  P.  atricapillus,  but  is  at 
once  distinguished  by  the  two  white  lines,  running  over  the  top  of  the  head 
to  the  occiput. 

Parus  rufescens,  Towns.     Chestnut-backed  Titmouse. 
In  the  latter  part  of  summer  and  during  the  winter  season,  the  young  of 
this  species  are  found  around  Monterey  in  large  flocks. 
Parus  minimus,  Towns.     Least  Titmouse. 

This  interesting  and  most  diminutive  bird,  is  exceedingly  abundant  in 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  California.  During  winter,  the  otherwise  cheer- 
less woods,  are  alive  with  busy,  noisy  troops  of  these  industrious  birds, 
gleaning  their  scanty  fare  in  company  with  the  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet,  in 
every  possible  manner  and  position  from  bush  or  tree. 

It  is  curious  to  watch  them  in  this  anxious  solicitous  search  for  food,  keep- 
ing up  a  continual  twittering;  so  intent  are  they  in  their  employment,  that 
they  appear  to  lose  sight  of  danger,  and  often  have  I  been  so  surrounded 
by  a  flock,  that  I  could  have  almost  caught  them  in  my  hands. 

The  above  additional  species,  together  with  the  P.  scptcntrionalis,  recently 
described  by  my  friend  Mr.  Edward  Harris,  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Aca- 
demy, have  increased  the  number  of  North  American  Titmice,  exclusive  of 
the  Ground  Tit,  to  nine  species. 

Trichas  Marylandica.     Maryland  Yellow  Throat. 

This  species,  distributed  throughout  the  whole  of  North  America  is  com- 
mon, both  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  California. 

Vermivora  celata,  Say.     Orange-crowned  "Warbler. 

Flocks  of  this  species  are  common  during  winter  in  Upper  California, 
frequenting  low  bushes  and  margins  of  streams.  On  the  Island  of  Santa 
Catalina  in  early  spring  I  heard  its  simple  though  lively  song,  commencing 
in  a  loud  sweet  shrill  and  ending  tshg  up,  sometimes  considerably  varied, 
but  generally  er  r  r  r  r  r  tsl\4  up. 

Sylvieola  Auduboni,  Towns.     Audubon's  Warbler. 

This  handsome  warbler  is  abundant  throughout  the  West.  I  first  ob- 
served it  in  New  Mexico,  thence  through  the  ranges  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
to  California,  where,  particularly  during  winter,  the  young  birds  are  found 
in  large  flocks,  and  generally  in  the  tops  of  trees.     Its  habits  as  well  as 


156  [Feb.,  1847. 

appearance  {hey  resemble  the  Yellow  Rump,  S.  coronata,  and  like  them 
also,  display  a  great  deal  of  familiarity,  entering  the  towns,  and  resorting 
to  gardens  and  fence  rows,  and  even  the  corals  of  the  houses ;  frequently 
also,  descending  to  the  ground  with  the  Blackbirds  and  Sparrows. 

Sylvania  pusilla.     Wils.  (Nutt.)     Green  Black-capped  Flycatcher. 

Myiodyoctes  Wilsonii,  Aud. 

This  pretty  little  Sylvan  Flycatcher  is  common  both  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  California. 

Culicivora  coerulia,  Lath.     Blue-grey  Flycatcher. 

Abundant  in  Upper  California. 

Tyrannula  pusilla.     Swains.     Little  Pewee  Flycatcher. 

I  observed  this  species  to  be  plentiful  about  the  Pueblo  delos  Angeles  in 
Upper  California,  where  most  probably  they  breed.  During  the  month  of 
April,  it  frequented  the  hedges  of  vineyards  and  neighboring  trees,  uttering 
a  sweet  and  considerably  varied  song.  The  following  description  of  an 
adult  killed  there  in  the  spring,  may  be  useful,  to  show  that  it  is  the  same 
bird  as  that  described  by  Swainson  in  the  Arctic  Zoology,  and  that  found 
in  Labrador  by  Audubon.  Above  greenish  olive;  wings  and  tail  dusky 
brown,  the  coverts  tipped  with  dull  white,  forming  two  bands  on  the  wing: 
the  tertiaries  also  broadly  edged  with  the  same.  Belowyellowish,  brightest 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  throat  and  breast,  and  on  tbe  abdomen.  Feet  and 
legs  bright  lead-blue.  A  yellowish  ring  around  the  eye.  Upper  mandible 
black,  the  lower  pale  flesh  colored  ;  inside  of  both,  orange.  Tail  even,  2 \ 
inches  ;  wings  2|  inches.  Tarsus  |.  Bill  along  ridge  about  f ,  from  angle 
of  mouth  f .  Total  length  5  inches.  First  quill  a  little  shorter  than  the 
6th  ;  3rd  and  4th  nearly  equal.     The  bird  has  a  conspicuous  crest. 

Tyrannula  Saya,  Bonap.     Black-tailed  Flycatcher. 

T.  pallida,  Swans.     Syn.  Bds.  of  Mexico. 

This  species,  common  throughout  the  western  regions  of  our  country,  is 
particularly  so  in  California  and  the  northern  provinces  of  Mexico.  Its 
manners  much  resemble  those  of  the  common  Pewee,  frequenting  the  neigh- 
borhood of  towns,  weedy  hill  sides  and  plains,  darting  from  twig  to  twig 
after  passing  insects,  jerking  its  tail,  and  merely  uttering  a  single  weak  and 
singing  chip,  or  an  occasional  guttural  twitter,  but  very  different  from  the 
harsh  angry  tship  of  the  T.  nigricans,  with  which  it  is  so  often  associated. 
It  breeds  in  California,  and  no  doubt  like  its  dark  companion,  about  the 
houses  and  Missions,  but  I  did  not  find  its  nest. 

Tyrannula  nigricans,  Swains.     Black  Pewee. 

This  bird  is  abundant  in  California,  and  like  our  common  Pewee  is  particu- 
larly fond  of  being  near  the  habitations  of  man:  with  the  utmost  confidence,  it 
is  seen  familiarly  flying  about  the  corals  and  gardens,and  even  the  very  doors; 
over  which,  on  a  projecting  beam,  about  the  middle  of  April,  I  found  its  nest. 
It  was  large  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  and  consisted  of  a  solid  round  mason  work 


Feb.  1847.]  157 

of  clay,  intermixed  with  fibres  of  grass,  &c,  and  lined  with  a  thin  layer  of 
softer  materials,  blades  of  grass,  fine  strips  of  bark  from  the  neighboring 
vineyard,  and  horsehair,  and  contained  four  eggs.  This  was  the  second 
nest  which  had  been  built  that  year;  the  first  near  the  same  place  having 
been  destroyed  by  the  occupant  of  the  house,  this  was  commenced  stilt 
nearer  the  door.  I  was  informed  that  it  was  difficult  to  get  them  to  leave 
the  place  they  had  once  selected  for  their  nest,  and  that  if  it  were  torn  down 
they  would  at  once  commence  forming  another.  The  previous  year  three 
successive  nests  had  been  destroyed.  These  birds  are  constant  residents; 
and,  as  well  as  near  the  towns,  are  also  distributed  over  the  whole  country, 
either  in  the  margins  of  woods,  or  bushy  plains,  and  almost  always  in  pairs. 
They  are  very  pugnacious,  and  are  often  seen  fighting  together  in  the  air, 
and  darting  after  each  other  from  branch  to  branch,  at  the  same  time  ut- 
ring  their  peculiar  loud  and  angry  tship,  which  can  always  be  recognized. 
From  the  arrangement  of  its  colors,  at  a  little  distance,  when  sitting  with 
their  breasts  towards  you,  they  are  easily  mistaken  for  Snow  birds. 

Tyr annus  borealis,  Swains.     Olive-sided  Flycatcher. 

T.  Cooperii,  Nutt. 

I  found  this  species  scatteringly  in  the  Rocky  Mountains:  it  is  quite 
abundant  in  the  Pine  woods  of  Upper  California,  for  which  it  appears  to 
have  a  great  partiality.  In  the  latter  part  of  July  I  killed  the  young,  not 
yet  fully  fledged,  in  the  pines  near  Monterey,  where  they  must  have  bred. 

Tyrannus  verticalis,  Say.     Arkansas  Flycatcher. 

This  tyrant  is  an  abundant  resident  in  California.  Around  the  Pueblo 
de  los  Angeles  it  takes  possession  of  the  hedges  of  the  vineyards,  orchards 
and  gardens  ;  noisy,  pugnacious,  and  ever  on  the  alert,  it  suffers  no  intru- 
sion upon  its  dominions  ;  Hawk,  Raven,  or  Crow,  not  even  its  own  species, 
are  allowed  to  pass  unmolested.  For  this  reason  it  has  acquired  the  name 
of  Correcuerbo  (Crow-chaser)  by  the  inhabitants,  who  also  gladly  allow 
them  full  possession. 

Tyrannus  crinitus  ? 

A  large  species  of  Flycatcher,  very  much  resembling  the  Great  Crested, 
is  not  uncommon  in  California.  My  friend  S.  F.  Baird,  of  Carlisle,  Pa.,  is 
in  possession  of  a  specimen,  and  considering  it  distinct,  it  will  soon  be 
published  in  a  paper  he  has  prepared,  upon  the  North  American  birds  of 
this  family.  Near  Monterey  I  have  heard  it  uttering  the  paynp  note  of  the 
Great  Crested,  and  at  Santa  Barbara  they  were  breeding  in  the  knot  holes 
of  the  evergreen  oaks  in  May. 

Ptilogonys  Tozvnsendii,  Aud.     Townsend's  Ptilogonys. 

This  rare  bird  I  frequently  found  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  the  interior 
of  California.     See  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  for  April,  1843. 

Icleria  viridis,  Gmel.     Yellow-breasted  Chat. 

The  Chat  arrives  in  California  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  resorts  to 
the  hedges  of  vineyards,  gardens  and  bushy  places,  where  no  doubt  it  breeds. 

22 


158  [Feb.  1847. 

It  is  very  extensively  distributed  on  our  continent,  as  I  observed  it  also 
common  along  the  coast  of  Peru. 

Vireo  solitarius,  Vieill.     Solitary  Vireo. 

During  the  latter  part  of  summer  and  winter,  the  young  birds  of  this 
species  are  abundant,  frequenting  low  bushes  and  thickets,  in  small  flocks. 


Descriptions  of  New  Species  of  Coleoptera  of  the   United  States. 

By  F.  E.  Melsheimer,  M.  D. 

(Continued  from  Vol.  3,  page  66.) 

Crioceridce,  Leach. 

Donacia,  Fabr. 

1.  D.  cuprea.  Cupreous  above;  antennae  and  feet  testaceous,  the  former 
with  the  third  joint  longer  than  the  second;  the  latter  with  the  posterior 
femora  brown  at  tip.     3 — 3^1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cupreous,  tinged  with  bluish  above :  head  sparsely  greenish-ashy-pubes- 
cent, densely  and  very  minutely  rugose,  with  the  frontal  groove  most  fre- 
quently profound,  sometimes  obsolete ;  mouth,  palpi  and  antennae,  testa- 
ceous, the  latter  with  the  third  joint  distinctly  longer  than  the  second  ; 
mandibles  black  :  thorax  subquadrate,  hardly  as  long  as  wide,  narrower 
behind  than  before ;  obsoletely  and  very  distantly  punctulate  on  the  disk  ; 
confluently  and  very  minutely  rugose;  a  small  oblong  tubercle  behind  each 
anterior  angle ;  medial  line  indistinct,  sometimes  wanting ;  basal  margin 
rather  transversely  indented :  elytra  punctate-striate,  the  interstices  densely 
and  minutely  rugose,  with  two  obtuse  and  rather  obsolete  subsutural  im- 
pressions ;  humeral  angles  polished,  almost  impunctured  ;  apex  obliquely 
truncate ;  beneath  and  sides  of  the  head,  dull  silvery  sericeous :  feet  dull 
testaceous,  with  the  posterior  femora  in  particular,  brown  at  the  posterior 
half,  and  obtusely  toothed  towards  the  tip. 

Var.  a.     Elytra  golden-yellow. 

2.  D.  indica.  Black  above  ;  antennas,  tibiae  and  tarsi  dull  rufous  ;  thorax 
quadri-tuberculate ;  elytra  broad,  rounded  at  apex.  41.  long;  \\  1.  wide. 
Pennsylvania. 

Donacia  indica,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black,  glossy  above:  head  with  a  slight  bluish  tinge,  densely  rugose- 
punctulate ;  frontal  impressed  line  short,  distinct;  antennae  short,  dull 
rufous,  with  the  basal  joint  entirely,  and  the  apical  half  of  the  remaining 
joints,  brown  or  black  ;  second  joint  almost  as  long  as  the  third;  mouth 
brownish-piceous  :  thorax  distinctly  longer  than  wide,  not  half  as  wide  as 
the  elytra,  wider  at  apex  than  at  base ;  above  finely  confluently  rugose ; 
four  small,  obtuse,  polished  tubercles  before  the  middle,  placed  in  a  trans- 
verse arcuated  row,  the  two  posterior  or  middle  ones  small,  only  dis- 
tinctly seen  from  an  above  view;  medial  impressed  line  fine,  and  not  pro- 
found ;  anterior  angles  raised:  scutellum  ashy-brown-pubescent:  elytra 
wide,  comparatively  short,  transversely  rugulose,  punctate-striate,  with 
the   apex   decurved    and    rounded ;    an   obsolete    subsutural    depression : 


Feb.,  1847.]  159 

beneath  dusky  silvery-sericeous,  with  the  abdomen,  as  is  common,  pale  or 
reddish  brown  ;  femora,  excepting  at  base,  blackish  ;  base  of  femora,  tibiae 
and  tarsi  dull  rufous  ;  posterior  femora  hardly  toothed  at  tip.  This  is  a 
very  rare  species. 

"  D.  metallica.  Cupreous;  antennae  and  feet  rufous;  second  and  third 
joints  of  the  former  equal."     Say,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc,  v.  283,  2. 

Var.  c.     Blue  ;  antennae  and  feet  as  in  the  type. 

3.  D.  biimpressa.  Cyaneous  ;  thorax  with  an  orbiculate  impression  each 
side  of  the  middle;  elytra  finely  striate-punctate.  8  1.  long;  1  1.  wide. 
Pennsylvania. 

Cyaneous,  with  a  violaceous  or  greenish  reflection,  shining  :  head  dull 
silvery-sericeous,  confluently  rugose-punctulate,  with  the  frontal  line  pro- 
foundly impressed  ;  antennae  moderately  long,  brown,  with  the  base  of  the 
joints  more  or  less  dull  rufous  ;  second  joint  rather  shorter  than  the  third  ; 
mouth  and  palpi  brownish  :  thorax  longer  than  wide,  wider  at  apex  than 
at  base  ;  above  tinted  with  greenish,  finely,  deeply  and  distantly  punctured  • 
medial  line  fine,  more  deeply  impressed  before  the  middle  than  towards 
the  base  ;  a  small,  suborbiculate,  profound  impression  each  side  and  near 
the  middle  ;  lateral  tubercle  moderate,  oblong  ;  anterior  angles  slightly 
tuberculate  :  scutellum  dull  violaceous,  minutely  and  densely  punctured  : 
elytra  faintly  tinted  with  violaceous,  finely  transversely  wrinkled,  finely 
striate-punctulate,  sutural  region  obtusely  indented  in  two  or  three  places; 
an  oblique,  rather  obsolete,  indentation  from  the  humeral  angles  to  the 
suture  ;  apex  obliquely  truncate,  almost  rounded  :  beneath  blackish,  densely 
punctulate,  dull  silvery-sericeous  ;  femora  blackish  or  dark  brown,  with 
their  base,  tibiae  and  tarsi,  dull  dark  rufous  ;  hind  pair  of  femora  with  an 
obvious  tooth  towards  the  tip.     This  species  is  also  very  rare. 

Var.  a.  Elytra  violaceous,  sculpture  rather  stronger  than  in  the  type  ; 
thorax  darker  than  the  elytra,  with  the  two  dorsal  impressions  shallow  and 
somewhat  obscure ;  bases  of  the  antennal  joints  more  obviously  rufous 
than  in  the  type.     Donacea  violacea.  Melsh.  MS. 

4.  D.  aurichalcea.  Brassy-yellow,  shining  ;  antennae  with  the  third  joint 
somewhat  longer  than  the  second;  thorax  distantly  punctulate;  femora 
brassy-brown.     3  1.  long  ;  1  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Donacea  aurichalcea,  Melsh.  MS. 

Brassy-yellow,  shining :  head,  color  and  sculpture  as  in  the  preceding 
species  ;  antennae  moderately  long,  dull  rufous,  with  the  tips  of  the  joints 
black;  two  basal  joints  almost  black-brassy;  second  joint  one-fourth 
shorter  than  the  third  :  thorax  longer  than  wide,  wider  at  apex  than  at 
base  ;  above  distantly  punctulate,  with  the  medial  line  fine,  rather  obsolete  . 
lateral  tubercle  moderate,  oblong ;  anterior  angles  slightly  tuberculate  ; 
scutellum  ashy-pubescent,  minutely  and  densely  punctured  :  elytra,  apart 
of  the  color,  entirely  as  in  the  preceding  species  :  beneath  dull  silvery-seri- 
ceous;  femora  brassy-brown,  shining,  with  the  hind  pair  obviously  toothed 
towards  the  tip;  base  of  the  femora,  tibiae  and  tarsi,  dull  rufous.  Though 
the  present  species  is  destitute  of  the  two  thoracic  impressions,  so  con- 
spicuous in  biimpressa,  it  may  nevertheless,  perhaps,  be  a  variety,  if  not  the 
type,  of  that  species. 

6.  D.  rutila.     Brassy  yellow,  shining ;  antennae  testaceous,  with  the  third 


160  [Feb.,  1847. 

joint  longer  than  the  second  ;  thorax  longer  than  wide,  densely  and  very 
finely  wrinkled.     3£  1.  long  ;  1|  1.  wide. 

Brassy-yellow,  tinted  with  golden:  head  brassy-brown,  opake,  confluently 
rugosely  punctulate,  with  the  frontal  line  long,  deeply  impressed  ;  labrum, 
palpi  and  antenna,  rufo-testaceous  ;  the  first  shining,  impunctured  ;  the 
last  moderately  long,  slender,  with  the  third  joint  distinctly  longer  than 
the  second  :  thorax  somewhat  inequal,  dull  cupreous,  longer  than  wide, 
wider  at  apex  than  at  base,  densely  and  finely  rugose,  with  scattered  im- 
pressed punctures  ;  medial  line  distinct,  deeply  impressed  before  and  behind 
the  middle;  lateral  tubercle  moderate,  oblong,  obtuse;  anterior  angles 
slightly  tuberculate  :  scutellum  plumbeous-sericeous,  densely  and  minutely 
punctured  ;  elytra  strongly  tinted  with  golden,  and  with  a  faint  violaceous 
reflection,  punctate-striate,  transversely  rugose;  the  ordinary  humeral  and 
subsutural  depressions  faint ;  truncate  at  apex  :  beneath  dull  silvery-seri- 
ceous ;  terminal  abdominal  segments  rufous;  femora  brassy-brown,  with 
their  basal  third,  tibiae  and  tarsi,  dull  rufous  ;  hind  femora  not  toothed* 
Inhabits  Pennsylvania. 

6.  D.  nana.  Brassy-yellow,  tinted  with  green  ;  antennas  rufous,  second 
and  third  joints  subequal  ;  thorax  longer  than  wide  ;  medial  line  profoundly 
impressed.     2  1.  long  ;  §  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 

Head  dull  brassy-green,  densely  rugose-punctulate,  equal,  with  the  frontal 
impressed  line  distinct ;  mouth  rufo-piceous  ;  antenna  ordinarily  long,  dark, 
dull  rufous,  with  their  tips  blackish;  basal  joint  brassy-brown,  with  the 
second  joint  hardly  as  long  as  the  third  :  thorax  decidedly  longer  than 
wide,  obviously  narrower  at  base  than  at  apex  ;  cupreous,  finely  rugose, 
with  the  disk  polished  and  shining  ;  medial  line  entire,  wide  and  profound  ; 
basal  margin  transversely  impressed  ;  lateral  tubercle  obtuse,  slightly  ob- 
long ;  anterior  angles  very  feebly  tuberculate  ;  middle  of  anterior  margin 
ordinarly  elevated :  scutellum  plumbeous-sericeous;  elytra  rather  convex, 
brassy-yellow,  strongly  tinted  with  green,  finely  wrinkled,  striate-punctate  ; 
two  slight,  obtuse  subsutural  depressions  ;  apex  rounded  :  beneath  plum- 
beous-sericeous or  brassy-brown  ;  feet  brassy-brown,  glossy,  with  the  bases 
of  the  femora  and  tibiae,  dull  rufous  ;  hind  pair  of  femora  toothed.  This 
species  must  be  closely  allied  to  pusilla,  Say,  but  it  differs  from  that  species, 
according  to  Say's  description,  in  having  the  thorax  decidedly  less  punctured 
than  the  head,  and  its  middle  profoundly  grooved. 

"  D.  guadricollis.  Brassy-green  ;  thorax  with  the  impressed  line  and 
lateral  tubercle,  obsolete."     Say,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  v.  282,  1. 

Var.  a.     Dull  violaceous. 

Orsodacna,  Latr. 

"  0.  vittata.  Black,  punctured;  elytra  pale  testaceous  ;  suture  and  outer 
margin  black;  feet  rufous."     Say,  Jour.  Acad.  iii.  430. 

Var.  b.     Entirely  black.     Donacia  atra,  Melsh.  Catal. 

0.  tricolor.  Head,  thorax  and  feet  rufous  ;  elytra  testaceous,  with  the 
suture  and  lateral  submargin  black.     3 — 4  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Head  rufous,  with  the  vertex  indeterminately  black  ;  rugosely  punctured  : 
clypeus  sparsely  punctured  ;  labrum  impunctured  ;  antennae  blackish,  with 
3  basal  joints  obsoletely  rufous;  joints  2-4th  subequal;  palpi  and  mandibles 
rufous,  the  latter  with  the  tips  black;  eyes  black:  thorax  slightly  longer  than 


Feb.,  1847.]  161 

wide,  wider  before  the  middle  than  at  base,  with  the  sides  rounded  from  the 
posterior  contraction  to  the  anterior  angles,  which  are  also  rounded  :  scutel- 
lum  dull  rufous  :  elytra  testaceous,  with  the  suture  broadly  black  before 
the  middle,  and  gradually  narrowed  to  the  suture  towards  the  apex  ;  a  broad 
similarly  colored  submarginal  vitta,  which  attains  neither  the  lateral  edge 
nor  the  apex,  towards  which  it  is  narrowed  to  a  point;  deeply  and  densely 
punctured ;  two  very  narrow,  longitudinal,  almost  impunctured  lines  in  the 
middle:  postpectus  dusky;  abdomen,  antepectus  and  femora,  yellowish  ru- 
fous ;  apical  tsvo-thirds  of  the  tibiae,  tarsi  and  posterior  margins  of  abdominal 
segments,  dusky  or  black. 

Var.  a.     Black,  with  the  thorax  dusky  rufous. 

"  0.  Armemaca,  Knoch  :  punctate,  black,  feet  fulvous,  elytra  with  a  testa- 
ceous vitta.  Form  and  size  of  0.  Cerasi.'    Germar  Insect.  Sp.  Novas,  p.  526. 

Var.  a.  Head  and  thorax  dull  rufous,  the  former  with  the  vertex  black- 
ish ;  elytra  testaceous,  with  the  suture  broadly  reddish  brown,  a  similarly 
colored  submarginal  vitta  ;  beneath  reddish-brown  ;  feet  paler. 

Var.  b.  Black,  with  the  anterior  part  of  the  head  and  feet  yellowish-tes- 
taceous ;  a  broad  spot  at  base,  and  an  abbreviated  apical  vitta  at  the  suture, 
pale  testaceous.     Donacia  4-notata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Var.  c.     Entirely  black. 

Hispid «,  Kirby. 
Microrhopala,  Chevr. 

M.porcata.  Black;  elytra  with  three  raised  lines,  and  three  double  and 
one  triple  series  of  profound  punctures,     lj — 1_  1.  long. 

Hispa  porcata  and  minuta,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black  ;  head  with  three  longitudinal  impressed  lines  ;  antennae  blackish , 
with  a  tinge  of  reddish  brown  :  thorax  rough,  with  large  dilated  punctures, 
sometimes  with  a  narrow  impunctured  medial  line :  elytra  each  with  three 
longitudinal  raised  lines,  and  three  double  and  one  triple  series  of  profound 
subquadrate  punctures  ;  sometimes  a  more  or  less  obsolete  raised  line 
between  the  second  and  third  lines,  widely  interrupted  in  the  middle  ;  sutu- 
ral  edges  raised  ;  exterior  edges  entire  ;  apex  rounded  :  beneath  black  ;  feet 
dull  dark  chestnut  brown. 

Galerucidce,  Steph. 
Galeruca,  Geoffr. 

G.  femoralis.  Black  ;  thorax,  elytra,  tibre  and  tarsi  rufous  or  rufo-testa- 
ceous.     2^  1.  long. 

Galeruca  thoracica,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Head  black,  rugosely  punctulate,with  a  polished  transverse  raised  line  be- 
tween the  eyes,  interrupted  in  the  middle  by  a  distinct  impressed  medial  line  ; 
antennas  — ;  labrum  black,  entire,  rounded  at  apex  :  mandibles  dull  testaceous , 
dusky  at  tip  ;  palpi  blackish,  dull  testaceous  at  tip  ;  thorax  rufo-testaceous, 
transverse,  with  the  sides  acutely  rounded  in  the  middle  ;  above  with  large 
profound,  scattered  punctures  ;  each  side  of  the  middle  with  a  wide  dusky  in  - 
dentation  ;  medial  groove  obvious  behind  the  anterior  margin  and  before  the 
posterior  one,  dusky  like  the  two  indentations;  scutellum  blackish  or  piceous- 


162  [Feb.,  1847. 

brown  ;  elytra  color  of  the  thorax,  widest  behind  the  middle,  rather  numer- 
ously and  deeply  punctured,  and  like  the  thorax  glabrous ;  beneath  and 
femora,  black  ;  pleurae,  epipleurae,  tibiae   and  tarsi,  testaceous.     Very  rare. 

"  G.  atripennis.  Black  ;  thorax  rufous,  with  two  impressed  spots  ;  venter 
pale  yellowish  rufous."     Say,  Journ.  Acad.  Nat.  Sc.  iii.  461. 

Var.  a.  Testaceous  ;  antennae  and  eyes  black;  scutellum,  tibiae  andtarsij 
dusky.      Galeruca paleacea,  Melsh.  MS.     Referable   to    the    genus    Luperus, 

Geoffir. 

Calomicrcs,  Dillwyn. 

C.  thoracicus.  Black  ;  thorax  and  feet  testaceous-yellow.  2  1.  long.  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Crioceris  thoracica,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Head  deep  black,  with  the  clypeus  dusky-piceous  ;  very  minutely  punc- 
tured;  a  short  longitudinal  impressed  line  between  the  eyes,  interrupted  by 
a  short  transverse  one;  antennas  black  or  dark  brown,  more  than  half  the 
length  of  the  body,  with  the  joints  elongated ;  second  and  third  joints  short- 
est, equal ;  palpi  black,  piceous,  with  the  tips  dusky;  labium  and  gula,  tes- 
taceous ;  thorax  transverse,  testaceous-yellow,  hardly  punctulate,  with  the 
sides  obtusely  rounded  ;  anterior  edge  truncate  :  posterior  one  obtusely 
rounded  ;  an  obtuse  indentation  each  side  of  the  middle,  very  faintly  defined  : 
scutel  black  ;  elytra  oblong,  with  the  sides  parallel ;  deep  black,  shining, 
glabrous,  obsoletely  rugulose  and  punctured,  punctures  minute  and  distant; 
apex  rounded  :  postpectus  and  abdomen,  black  ;  antepectus  and  feet,  testa- 
ceous-yellow. 

(Edionychis,  Latr. 

1.  CE. /alias..  Black;  thorax  with  the  limb,  and  elytra  with  the  lateral 
margins  and  a  broad  vitta,  red.  2 — 2|  1.  long  ;  li — 1 J  1.  wide.  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Short-ovate,  black,  densely  punctured  :  head  very  dark  dull  red,  almost 
black,  coarsely  punctured,  with  a  longitudinal  impressed  line  between  the 
antennas,  which  are  short,  black,  with  the  fourth  joint  slightly  longest : 
thorax  finely  wrinkled,  and  somemhat  distantly  punctulate,  with  the  limb 
red  ;  and  the  disk  transversely  brown  or  dull  reddish  brown  :  scutel  black, 
finely  rugose-punctured  :  elytra  rugulose,  and  with  numerous  small,  pro- 
found punctures  ;  black,  each  elytrum  with  the  lateral  margin  and  a  broad 
medial  vitta,  red,  margin  and  vitta  united  at  tip  :  beneath  and  feet,  black- 
piceous ;  pleurae  and  epipleurse,  red;  posterior  femora  much  incrassated.  It 
may  be  necessary  to  add  to  the  foregoing  description  that  the  red  color  soon 
after  death  changes  into  a  dirty  testaceous,  and  that,  most  frequently,  there 
is  an  indentation,  more  or  less  obvious,  each  side  of  the  middle  behind  the 
anterior  margin  of  the  thorax.  This  species  must  be  closely  allied  to  mini- 
ata,  Fabr. 

2.  CE.  litnbalis.  Brown-piceous  ;  basal  joints  of  the  antennas,  lateral  mar- 
gins and  apex  of  the  elytra,  and  the  (wo  anteriorpairs  of  feet,  dull  testaceous. 
li — 2.  I.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Flat,  ovate,  brown-piceous  :  head  with  a  few  minute  scattered  punctures  ;  a 
profound  transverse  impressed  line  between  the  eyes,  intersected  in  the  middle 
by  an  obsolete  longitudinal  one  ;  eyes  deep  black  ;  antennas  fuscous,  with  the 
•Lx  first  joints  dull  testaceous;  palpi  and  two  anteriorpairs  of  feet,  dull  tes- 


Feb.,  1847.]  163 

taceous  :  thorax  impunctured,  with  the  lateral  margins  clearer  than  the  disk, 
and  rather  broadly  depressed  :  scutellum  impunctured  :  elytra  punctured, 
punctures  numerous,  small,  profound,  and  ralher  regular  and  equidistant: 
lateral  margins  and  apex  indeterminately  and  broadly  dull  testaceous  :  be- 
neath brown  or  blackish-piceous  ;  pleurae  and  epipleurse,  dull  testaceous  >' 
posterior  femora  rufo-piceous.  Closely  allied  to  quercata,  Fabr.,  which  it 
much  resembles  ;  that  species,  however,  has  the  thorax  always  testaceous, 
and  the  testaceous  color  of  the  lateral  margins  of  the  elytra  is  ever  clearly 
limited,  which  is  never  the  case  in  limbalis. 

2.  (E.  scalar  is.  Testaceous;  three  common  fasciae  of  the  elytra  black. 
21.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Attica  nitidula,  Melsh.  Catal. 
"      scalaris       "        MS. 

Flattish,  oval,  testaceous  above  ;  head  testaceous,  sculptured  as  in  the  pre- 
ceding species;  eyes  deep  black;  antennas  fuscous,  with  three  basal  joints  tes- 
taceous ;  palpi,  feet  and  antepectus,  testaceous  ;  thorax  impunctured  with  the 
lateral  margins  rather  broad  and  concavous  :  scutellum  black-piceous:  elytra 
punctured  and  rugulose,  punctures  minute  and  obsolete;  three  common,  broad 
irregular,  black  fasciae,  confluent  on  the  suture,  and  of  which  none  attains  the 
lateral  edges  :  the  front  and  broadestband  is  located  immediately  behind  the 
basal  edge,  the  intermediate  and  longest  one  on  the  middle,  and  the  posterior 
and  rather  shortest  band  is  placed  before  the  apex:  abdomen  and  postpectus 
reddish-brown-piceous :  posterior  femora  strongly  incrassated.  Closely  al- 
lied to  sexmaculata,  Illig. 

Pachyonychus,  Chevr. 

P. ? paradoxus.  Pale  rufous:  lateral  two-thirds  of  the  elytra  and  an- 
tennae blackish.     1| — 1|  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Form  altogether  that  of  a  Lema,  Fabr.  Head  with  a  few  minute  scattered 
punctures  :  a  short  impressed  cross  between  the  eyes ;  antennae  rather  robust, 
and  somewhat  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  body, blackish  or  dark  reddish- 
brown,  with  three  basal  joints  rufous:  second  and  third  joints  short,  subequal, 
together  not  much  longer  than  the  fourth:  palpi  color  of  the  head:  thorax  like 
the  head,  pale  rufous,  glossy,  transverse,  much  narrower  than  the  elytra,  trun- 
cate before  and  behind,  with  the  sides  feebly  rounded,  towards  the  hind  angles 
more  strongly:  finely  margined:  angles, each  with  a  small  mammiform  tubercle, 
from  each  of  which  arises  a  single  hair:  sparsely  punctured:  transverse  basal 
groove  entire,  punctured  :  scutellum  color  of  the  thorax,  impunctured:  elytra 
oblong-quadrate,  with  the  apex  rounded  :  punctate-striate :  interstices  min- 
utely and  distantly  punctured  :  black,  or  dark-reddish-brown,  with  the  su- 
tural  third  rufous  :  sometimes  the  apex  the  same  :  beneath  and  feet  color  of 
the  thorax  :  posterior  femora  ordinarily  incrassated :  penultimate  tarsal 
Joint  strongly  bilobed  :  posterior  nails  inflated. 

Disonycha,  Chevr. 
D.  abbreviaia.    Pale  fulvous  :  eyes,  antennnre,  three  elytral  vittae,  exterior 
edge  of  the  tibiae  and  tarsi  black.   3£  1.  long  :  If  1.  wide.     Pennsylvania. 
Ovate,  testaceous,  tinged  with  fulvous  :  head  with  scattered  minute  punc- 


164  [Feb.,  1847. 

tures:  three  profound  round  impressions  between  the  eyes  placed  triangularly: 
antennae  robust,  half  the  length  of  the  body,  black,  with  the  basal  joint  rufous: 
mandibles  with  the  tips  black  ;  thorax  impunctured,  each  side  of  the  middle 
with  a  small,  round  indentation  ;  scutellum  impunctured  :  elytra  distinctly 
widest  behind  the  middle  :  much,  finely,  and  profoundly  punctured  :  each  ely- 
trum  with  a  broad  vitta,  and  a  common  sutural  one,  black,  bands  equidistantly 
abbreviated  before  the  apex:  feet  color  of  the  body:  outer  edge  of  the  tibiae 
blackish:  tarsi  dusky:  posterior  femora  moderately  incrassated:  claws  simple. 

Graptodera,  Chevr. 

G.  kalmice.  Golden-cupreous  above  :  antennae  and  beneath  black.  1  \  1. 
long.     Pennsylvania. 

Attica  Kalmice,  Melsh.  MS. 

Oblong:  head  golden-green,  polished,  hardly  punctulate:  eyes  palpi  and  an- 
tennae, deep  black,  the  last  with  the  two  first  joints  metallic  :  mouth  piceous: 
thorax  color  of  the  head,  highly  polished:  disk  impunctured:  transverse  basal 
groove  profound,  entire  :  scutellum  small,  black-cupreous:  elytra  golden  cu- 
preous, shining,  punctured,  punctures  placed  in  irregular  series,  and  rather 
obsolete  towards  the  apex  ;  beneath  dark-cupreous  :  tibiae  and  tarsi  fus- 
cous: femora  cupreous,  glossy,  the  anterior  pair  almost  black. 

Var.  a.  Head  and  thorax  color  of  the  elytra,  with  the  abdomen  black- 
cupreous.  Attica  cuprea,  Melsh.  Catal.  This  species  is  found  on  the  Laurel, 
(Kalmialatifolia  and  glauca)  and  other  plants. 

Systkna,  Chevr. 

S.  blanda.  Testaceous  :  beneath  and  antennas  black  :  elytra  with  a  sutural 
vitta  and  lateral  margins,  reddish-brown.     1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Elongate  ;  head  dull  rufous,  glossy,  a  few  punctures  near  and  between  the 
eye3  ;  labrum,  eyes  and  last  joint  of  the  palpi,  deep  black  ;  antennae  slender, 
nearly  half  the  length  of  the  body,  blackish  or  brown,  with  the  base  of  the 
first  joint  testaceous  ;  thorax  pale  testaceous,  with  the  lateral  margins  more 
or  less  blackish  or  dusky ;  sides  slightly  rounded  ;  surface  with  a  few  obso- 
lete punctures  ;  scutel  reddish-brown  piceous  :  elytra  minutely  and  rather 
distantly  punctured ;  testaceous,  with  a  common  sutural  vitta  and  a  lateral 
one,  reddish-brown,  more  or  less  obvious ;  beneath  black-piceous  ;  pleurae, 
epipleurae  and  feet,  dull  testaceous. 

Crepidodera,  Chevr. 

1.  C.  violacea.  Dark  violaceous  above  ;  antennre,  palpi  and  feet,  yellow- 
testaceous.     1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Altica  Du  Chou,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Oval,  violaceous,  with  a  green  reflection,  shining  ;  head  impunctured,  very 
glossy,  with  the  clypeus  and  inner  margins  of  the  eyes  green  :  antennae  half 
the  length  of  the  body,  yellowish ;  labrum,  mouth,  palpi  and  feet,  color  of  the 
antennae  ;  thorax  transverse-quadrate,  with  the  sides  feebly  rounded  ;  above 
very  minutely  and  remotely  punctured;  a  distinct  transverse  basal  groove,  re- 
fracted at  each  end ;  scutellum  dark  violaceous  ;  elytra  striate-punctate  ;  be- 
neath black;  posterior  femora  brown-piceous.     Not  the  Altise  Du  Chou. 


Feb.,  1847.]  165 

Var.  a.  Above  purple-violaceous.  Sometimes  this  variety  has  the  face 
entirely  green,  the  thorax  rather  rugulose,  and  the  lateral  margin  green. 

Var.  b.    Like  the  type,  but  with  large  and  remote  punctures  on  the  thorax. 

Var.  c.  Smaller  than  the  type,  brilliant  brassy ;  head  brassy-green,  shin- 
ing ;  thorax  with  large  remote  punctures,  edges  green  ;  elytra  indented 
behind  the  base  towards  the  suture  ;  lateral  edges  green  ;  antennae,  feet 
and  beneath,  as  in  the  type  ;  posterior  femora  slightly  dusky  in  the  middle. 

Altica  opima,  Melsh.  MS.  This  may  prove  to  be  a  distinct  species.  C. 
violacea  resembles  H.  nana,  Say,  but  that  species  is  more  slender,  and  the 
sides  of  the  elytra  more  parallel. 

2.  C.  enjthropus.  Black;  head,  antennae,  thorax  and  feet,  rufous.  H  I. 
long.     Pennsylvania. 

Altica  rufipes,  Melsh.  Catal. 
"      erythropus  "     MS. 

Oblong- subquadrate:  head  rufous,  glossy,  impunctured;  antennae  and  tho- 
rax color  of  the  head  ;  eyes  blackish;  thorax  rather  convex,  glossy,  impunc- 
tured ;  sides  slightly  rounded  ;  base  with  a  transverse  groove,  refracted  at 
the  ends  ;  scutellum  rufous  ;  elytra  black,  punctate-striate,  the  interstices 
slightly  convex  ;  abdomen  black  :  antepectus  and  feet  rufous  ;  epipleurae 
dull  rufous. 

3.  Cfusco-esnea.  Dark  brown  brassy;  antennae  and  feet  rufous;  thorax 
with  an  entire  basal  groove,     lj  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Oblong,  brassy  brown  or  blackish,  glossy  ;  head  impunctured  ;  labrum 
piceous;  palpi  dull  rufous;  antennae  rufous,  with  the  second  and  third  joints 
subequal ;  thorax  narrower  than  the  elytra,  moderately  convex,  with  sides 
slightly  rounded ;  impunctured,  each  side  of  the  middle  a  small  obsolete 
indentation  ;  transverse  basal  groove  entire  ;  elytra  finely  and  distantly 
punctured  ;  sides  obtusely  arcuated,  with  the  greatest  width  about  the 
middle  ;  beneath  black,  or  dark  brown,  glossy  ;  feet  rufous ;  posterior  fe- 
mora sometimes  rufo-piceous. 

4.  C.  hirtipennis.  Black  ;  head  and  thorax  rufous  ;  elytra  testaceous,  hir- 
sute, punctate-striate.     §  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Head  rufous,  minutely  and  obscurely  punctured;  eyes  black ;  antennae  tes- 
taceous, with  the  second,  third  and  fourth  joints  short,  subequal,  the  second 
thickened  ;  palpi  black;  thorax  rufous,  transverse,  moderately  convex,  with 
the  sides  feebly  rounded;  densely  punctulate;  transverse  basal  groove  slight, 
entire  ;  elytra  dull  testaceous,  moderately  convex;  sides  slightly  arcuated  ; 
deeply  punctate  striate,  punctures  furnishing  short,  whitish  setae,  frequently 
with  a  common,  obsolete,  dusky  fascia  on  the  middle  ;  abdomen  and  post- 
pectus  blackish  ;  antepe  no  auii  feet,  pale  rufous;  posterior  femora  some- 
times dusky. 

5.  C.  atriventris.  Dull  rufous  ;  abdomen  and  postpectus  blackish;  elytra 
striate-punctate.     £  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Short-ovate,  dull  rufous,  glossy  ;  head  impunctured  ;  palpi  with  the  last 
joint  dusky;  antennae  slender,  testaceousjeyes  black;  thorax  short  transverse, 
narrower  than  the  elytra,  with  the  sides  feebly  rounded;  moderately  convex; 
very  minutely  punctured;  transverse  groove  profound,  refracted  at  both  ends! 
elytra  convex,  striate-punctate;  punctures  obsolete  towards  the  apex  ;  sides 
arcuated  ;  beneath  blackish,  or  dark  reddish  brown  ;  feet  testaceous. 


166  [Feb.,  1847. 

Psvlliodes,  Latr. 

P.  punctulata.  Brassy  black  ;  thorax  much  and  finely  punctured;  elytra 
striate-punctate  ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  pale  brown.     1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Form  of  striolata,  Illig.  Brassy  black  ;  head  impunetured,  rather  opake  ; 
palpi  dull  testaceous;  antennae  slender,  fuscous,  the  three  basal  joints  tes- 
taceous ;  10-jointed  ;  thorax  slightly  wider  at  base  than  at  apex,  with  the 
sides  feebly  rounded ;  finely  and  rather  densely  punctured  ;  scutellum  mi- 
nute ;  elytra  narrowed  behind  and  before,  striate-punctate,  the  punctures 
small ;  beneath  and  femora,  blackish-piceous  ;  tibiae  and  tarsi,  dull  pale 
brown,  the  former  dusky  towards  their  tips  ;  posterior  femora  much  in- 
crassated  ;  posterior  tarsi  inserted  before  the  apex  of  the  tibiae. 

Aphthona,  Chevr. 

A.  rubicunda.  Ferruginous  ;  eyes  and  suture  of  the  elytra  blackish.  1 
1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Altica  rubicunda,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Oblong,  ferruginous  ;  head  impunetured,  glossy,  darker  than  the  thorax, 
labrum  piceous  ;  palpi  black  ;  eyes  blackish  ;  antennae  color  of  the  thorax, 
four  or  five  terminal  joints  dusky ;  thorax  narrower  than  the  elytra,  trans- 
verse-quadrate, with  the  sides  feebly  rounded  ;  minutely  and  distantly 
punctured ;  each  side  of  the  middle  with  a  small,  obsolete,  subbasal  in- 
dentation :  scutellum  piceous  ;  elytra  rather  convex  with  the  sides  arcua- 
ted ;  rugulose,  minutely  and  distantly  punctured,  with  the  punctures  rather 
equidistant ;  suture  indeterminately  blackish ;  beneath  and  feet,  color  of 
the  elytra  and  thorax  ;  posterior  tarsi .  Perhaps  referable  to  the  ge- 
nus Thy  amis,  Stephens. 

Thyamis,  Steph. 

1.  T.  melanura.  Fuscous;  basal  joints  of  the  antennae  and  four  anterior 
feet,  dull  testaceous.     \\  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Altica  melanura,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Oblong-subovate,  dull  reddish-brown,  glossy  ;  head  impunetured,  pitchy- 
blackish,  tinged  with  rufous  ;  palpi  and  eyes  black,  the  first  piceous ;  an- 
tennae fuscous,  with  the  three  first  joints  testaceous  or  dull  rufous ;  thorax 
narrower  than  the  elytra,  transverse-subquadrate,  the  sides  slightly  round- 
ed ;  minutely  rugose  :  scutellum  piceous  ;  elytra  finely  and  distantly  punc- 
tured and  rugulose  ;  rather  convex,  with  the  sides  hardly  arcuated  except 
behind  the  middle  ;  beneath  blackish  or  dark  reddish-brown ;  four  ante- 
rior feet  testaceous ;  posterior  femora  pitchy-brown,  with  their  tarsi  dull 
testaceous,  their  tibiae  sometimes  of  the  same  color ;  first  joint  of  the  pos- 
terior tarsi  half  the  length  of  the  tibiae. 

2.  T.  testacea.  Testaceous ;  beneath  dull  pale  reddish-brown ;  antenna? 
long.     §  1.  long. 

Ovate,  above  testaceous  :  head  impunetured,  shining ;  eyes  and  ter- 
minal joint  of  the  palpi,  black  ;  labrum  piceous  ;  antennae  long,  slen- 
der, testaceous,  with  the  terminal  joints  dusky;  second  and  third  joints, 
as  in  the  preceding  species,  almost  equal  ;  thorax  narrower  than  the 
elytra,  subquadrate,  with  the  sides  slightly,  and  basal  edge  obtusely, 
rounded  ;  very  minutely  punctured  ;  scutellum,  color  of  the  elytra, 
which  are  rather  paler  than  the  thorax;  rugulose,  finely  and  distantly 
punctured ;  sides    arcuated ;    moderately   convex ;   beneath  dull  reddish- 


Feb.,  1847.]  167 

brown  ;  feet  pale  testaceous  ;  posterior  tibiae  very  slender;  posterior  tarsi 
half  the  length  of  their  tibiae.     Found  in  Pennsylvania. 

Dibolia,  Latr. 

D.  cerea.  Green  above  ;  antennas,  tibiae  and  tarsi,  testaceous.  1:}1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Altica  cerea,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Oblong-ovate,  green  and  slightly  brassy  above,  shining  ;  head  retracted  ; 
labrum,  mouth,  palpi  and  antennae,  testaceous,  or  rufo-testaceous  ;  thorax 
obsoletely  and  distinctly  punctulate  ;  sometimes  almost  blackish  :  elytra 
finely  striate-punctate,  with  the  punctures  obsolete  towards  the  apex :  be- 
neath and  posterior  femora,  black,  shining ;  abdomen  sometimes  reddish- 
brown  ;  four  anterior  feet  testaceous,  or  rufo-testaceous,  their  femora  some- 
times dusky  ;  posterior  tibiae  and  tarsi  color  of  the  anterior  one. 

CH.ETOCNEMA,    Steph. 

1.  C.  minuta.  Brassy-black  above;  basal  joints  of  the  antennae  tawny- 
testaceous  ;  elytra  punctate-striate.     |  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Altica  minuta,  Melsh.  MS. 

Ovate,  brassy-black  above,  shining:  head  minutely  and  confertly  punc- 
tured ;  rather  opake  ;  labrum  and  palpi,  black,  glossy  ;  antennae  short,  dark 
fuscous,  with  two  or  three,  and  sometimes  four  basal  joints  dull  or  tawny- 
testaceous  ;  thorax  very  minutely  and  rather  distinctly  punctured ;  trans- 
verse, convex,  with  the  sides  and  base  obtusely  rounded :  elytra  convex, 
with  the  sides  arcuated  ;  strongly  punctate-striate ;  exterior  interstices  con- 
vex :  beneath  blackish,  slightly  brassy,  distinctly  and  remotely  punctured  ; 
femora  brassy-black ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  dull  or  dusky  testaceous,  sometimes 
the  apical  half  the  tibiae  blackish. 

2.  C.  semichalchea.  Head  and  thorax  brassy-black  ;  elytra  black,  punc- 
tate-striate ;  basal  joints  of  the  antennae,  tibias  and  tarsi,  dull  testaceous. 
1 1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Ovate,  glossy:  head  brassy-black,  with  a  few,  small,  scattered  punctures 
between  and  near  the  eyes  ;  labrum  and  palpi,  dark  dull  reddish-brown  ; 
antennae  fuscous,  with  four  basal  joints  testaceous  ;  chorax  brassy-brown 
or  blackish,  transverse,  moderately  convex,  with  the  base  obtusely  rounded  ; 
the  sides  almost  straight ;  finely  wrinkled,  and  rather  densely  punctulate  ; 
elytra  black,  punctate-striate  ;  the  exterior  interstices  convex  ;  sides  arcu- 
ated ;  moderately  convex ;  beneath  black,  with  the  apical  segments  of  the 
abdomen  rugose-punctured  ;  femora  blackish  or  dark  reddish-brown,  glossy; 
tibiae  and  tarsi,  dull  testaceous. 

3.  C.  pulicaria.  Head  and  thorax  brassy-black  ;  elytra  black,  with  a 
green  tinge,  punctate-striate  ;  basal  joints  of  the  antennae,  tibiae  and  tarsi, 
testaceous.     £  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Altica  pulicaria,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Ovate  ;  head  brassy-black,  hardly  punctulate,  opake  ;  labrum  and  palpi, 
dull  rufo-testaceous ;  antenna?  rather  long,  slender,  fuscous,  with  four 
basal  joints  testaceous  ;  thorax  color  of  the  head,  transverse,  with  the  sides 
slightly  rounded;  moderately  convex,  scarcely  punctulate;  elytra  black, 


168  [Feb.,  1847. 

tinted  with  green;  moderately  convex  ;  punctate-striate ;  outer  interstices 
convex;  sides  arcuated;  beneath  blackish,  sparsely  punctured;  femora 
chestnut-brown  ;  tibiae  and  tarsi,  dull  testaceous  or  rufous. 

Sph^eroderma,  Steph. 

S.?  insolita.  Rust-red,  shining  ;  tip  and  basal  joints  of  the  antennas,  tes- 
taceous ;  thorax  narrow  :  elytra  broad,     f  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Light  ferruginous  shining;  head  impunctured;  tips  of  the  palpi  black, 
antennae  moderate,  slightly  thickened  towards  the  apex,  with  the  two 
apical  joints  testaceous,  the  four  preceding  black,  and  the  five  basal  ones 
testaceous  ;  second,  third  and  fourth  joints  short,  subequal,  the  second 
thickened  ;  thorax  much  narrower  than  the  elytra,  transverse,  convex,  with 
the  base  and  sides  obtusely  rounded  ;  impunctured  and  highly  polished  : 
elytra  broad,  subquadrate,  convex,  highly  polished,  with  effaced  series  of 
very  minute  punctures;  humeral  angles  prominent:  beneath  color  of  the 
elytra ;  feet  paler  ;  posterior  femora  moderately  incrassated  :  posterior  tibiae 
simple,  with  a  small  spur  at  tip  ;  penultimate  tarsal  joint  strongly  bilobed. 
This  insect  possesses  entirely  the  form  of  a  Eumolpus  and  though  a  true 
Haltica  Geoffr.,  it  cannot  remain  in  the  subgenus  Sphoeroderma,  Steph. 

Chrysomelidce,  Leach. 

Metachroma,  Chevr. 

1.  M.  throackus.  Dull  rufous  ;  elytra  black,  punctate-striate.  1  2-5ths 
!.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Eumolpus  thoracicus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Dull  dark  rufous  r  head  finely  punctured ;  a  longitudinal  impressed  frontal 
line,  not  crossing  a  transverse  line  between  the  eyes,  both  lines  sometimes 
obsolete  ;  palpi  and  antennae  paler  than  the  head,  the  last  with  the  five  ter- 
minal joints  subequal,  larger  than  the  preceding  ones  ;  eyes  black  :  thorax 
glossy,  minutely  and  distinctly  punctured  ;  an  obsolete  indentation  each 
side  towards  the  posterior  angles ;  scutellum  rufous,  impunctured ;  elytra 
black,  tinted  with  rufous,  particularly  towards  the  apex  ;  punctate-striate, 
less  deeply  towards  the  apex;  humeral  tubercles  impunctured:  beneath 
dusky  rufous ;  feet  paler.     Closely  allied  to  canellus,  Fabr. 

Var.  a.     Rufous ;  elytra  slightly  tinted  with  black. 

2.  M.  melanura.  Black  ;  head,  antennas,  apex  of  the  elytra  and  tarsi,  dull 
rufous.     1  3-5ths  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Eumolpus  melanura,  Melsh.  MS. 

Black  :  head  dull  rufous,  densely  punctulate  ;  longitudinal  impressed  line 
obsolete,  transverse  line  between  the  eyes  angulate,  distinct ;  mouth,  palpi 
and  antennas,  rufous,  the  last  formed  as  in  the  preceding  species;  thorax 
black,  with  the  anterior  edge  obsoletely  piceous  ;  glossy,  very  finely  and 
distantly  punctured;  scutellum  dull  rufous,  impunctured:  elytra  black, 
with  the  basal  edge,  humeral  tubercles  and  apical  third,  dull  pale  rufous  ; 
punctate-striate,  punctures  and  striae  obsolete  or  almost  absent  towards  the 
apex:  beneath,  femora  and  tibiae,  deep  black;  knees  and  tarsi,  dull  rufous. 
Size  and  form  entirely  of  i-notata,  Say,  of  which  it  may  prove  a  variety. 


Feb.,  1847.]  169 

Eumolpus,  Fabr. 

1.  E.  longipes.   Fuscous,  clothed  with  a  dense  ashy-pubescence  ;  feet  long, 
2  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Brown,  densely  ashy-pubescent:  head  dark  brown,  densely  and  deeply 
punctured,  ashy-pubescent;  a  longitudinal  impressed  frontal  line:  labrum 
piceous  :  antenna;  slender,  long,  rather  filiform,  fuscous,  with  three  or  four 
basal  joints  testaceous  ;  eyes  deep  black  ;  palpi  dull  testaceous  :  thoraxlonger 
than  wide,  much  narrower  than  the  elytra,  slightly  wider  behind  than  before, 
subcylindric,  with  the  sides  obtusely  rounded  ;  densely  and  profundly  punc- 
tured :  scutellum  small,  densely  ashy-pubescent :  elytra  with  shallow  punc- 
tured strias,  punctures  close-set;  interstices  transversely  wrinkled,  minutely 
punctured  :  outer  basal  angles  prominent;  apex  rounded  ;  beneath  and  feet 
blackish-brown,  ashy-sericeous  or  finely  ashy-pubescent ;  the  feet  more  than 
ordinary  long;  posterior  and  intermediate  femora  at  base,  testaceous. 

2.  E.  villosulus.  Ferruginous,  pubescent ;  antenna;,  palpi  and  feet,  testa- 
ceous-yellow.    If  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Eumolpus  villosus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Ferruginous  :  very  minutely  and  densely  rugose,  clothed  with  minute,  short 
hairs,  with  an  obtuse,  longitudinal  frontal  indentation  ;  antenna  as  in  the 
preceding  species  ;  yellowish  ;  labrum  and  palpi  similarly  colored  ;  eyes  deep 
black  :  thorax  transverse,  wider  at  base  than  at  apex,  with  the  sides  rounded, 
middle  of  anterior  edge  raised  ;  rugulose  and  clothed  like  the  head  ;  obtusely 
indented  on  the  middle  of  each  lateral  margin  and  in  front  of  the  scutel  : 
elytra  lighter  and  less  pruinose  than  the  bead  and  thorax  ;  pilose  like  the 
thorax,  with  the  hairs  more  distinct ;  with  fine  and  somewhat  obsolete  punc- 
tured striae  ;  interstices  fine,  convex ;  exterior  basal  angles  moderately  promi- 
nent; apex  acutely  rounded:  feet  testaceous,  or  testaceous-yellow.  It  be- 
longs perhaps  to  Chevrolat's  subgenus  3Iyochrous. 

Var.  ?  a.  Smaller;  head,  thorax  and  elytra  light  rust-red,  the  last  with 
a  common,  indeterminate  black  spot  on  the  middle.  Eumolpus  plagiatus, 
Melsh.  MS. 

3.  E.  pubescens.  Cupreous,  sparsely  asby-pubescent ;  head  with  a  pro- 
found frontal  indentation.     1| — 2  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Eumolpus  pubescens,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Dull  cupreous,  or  brassy-brown,  sparsely  ashy-pubescent:  head  densely 
punctured,  with  a  large,  profound  indentation  on  the  front;  labrum  and 
palpi,  black-piceous;  eyes  and  antenna;  black,  the  latter  moderately  long, 
with  five  terminal  joints  thicker  than  the  preceding  ones,  which  are  brassy  ; 
second  joint  robust;  joints  third  till  sixth  inclusive,  equal ;  thorax  trans- 
verse, feebly  waved  behind,  with  the  front  slightly  advanced  in  the  middle  ; 
sides  rounded;  rather  wider  behind  than  before:  minutely  punctured, 
densely  transversely  wrinkled :  scutellum  obtuse-triangular:  elytra  wider 
at  base  than  the  thorax,  narrowed  to  the  apex,  which  is  rounded;  with  ob- 
scure and  irregular  series  of  small  punctures ;  transversely  rugulose  ; 
humeral  tubercles  prominent  :  beneath  rugosely  punctured  :  feet  dull 
cupreous,  tinted  with  greenish. 

4.  E.  curtipennis.  Brassy-brown  ;  elytra  short ;  head  with  a  conspicuous 
frontal  indentation.     1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 


170  [Feb.,  1847. 

Brown-brassy,  shining :  head  finely  punctured,  with  an  obvious  frontal  in- 
dentation, anterior  to  which  is  a  transverse  arcuated  impressed  l>ne :  an- 
tennae, eyes,  labrum  and  palpi,  as  in  the  preceding  species  :  thorax  com- 
paratively large,  as  wide  in  the  middle  as  the  elytra,  contracted  and  trun- 
cate behind,  in  front  rounded  and  advanced  in  the  middle;  sides  rounded  ; 
minutely  punctured  and  rugulose  :  scutellum  rugulose  :  elytra  short,  with 
the  sides  feebly  arcuated  ;  rugulose,  with  obsolete  series  of  punctures,  which 
are  much  effaced  towards  the  apex,  the  latter  rounded  :  beneath  and  feet 
dark-brassy,  rugose-punctured.     Allied  to  the  preceding  species. 

Cryptocephalus,  Geoffr. 

1.  C.  M.  Nigrum.  Black;  thorax  and  elytra  testaceous,  the  former  with 
a 'black  character  like  the  letter  M,  the  latter  with  an  irregular  vitta  and 
several  spots,  black,     1£  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Pachybrachis  ~M.  Nigrum  ?  Dej.  Catal. 

StroDgly  punctured  :  head  black,  with  the  orbits  of  the  eyes  and  a  spot 
on  the  clypeus,  testaceons  ;  labrum  pale,  or  piceous ;  antennae  blackish, 
with  four  basal  joints  testaceous  :  thorax  less  strongly  punctured  than  the 
elytra,  testaceous,  with  a  black  character,  formed  like  the  letter  M ;  edges 
black  :  scutellum  testaceous,  with  the  lateral  margins  black  :  elytra  strongly 
and  irregularly  punctured,  some  of  the  punctures  are  arranged  in  irregular 
series  ;  testaceous,  with  an  irregular,  black  vitta,  abbreviated  before  the 
apex ;  lateral  submargins  each  with  three  black  spots,  of  which  the  ante- 
rior one  is  placed  on  the  humerus,  the  posterior  one  is  confluent  with  the 
vitta:  beneath  deep  black;  pygidium  black,  each  side  with  a  pale  spot  : 
feet  blackish,  with  the  femora  and  tibiae  varied  with  white.  This  species 
may  prove  to  be  a  variety  of  the  viduatus,  Fabr. 

2.  C.  atomarius.  Dark  fuscous,  speckled  with  whitish  ;  face  white  ;  femora 
varied  with  white.     \\  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cryptocephalus  historio,  Melsh.  Catal. 
':  atomarius,  Melsh.  MS. 

Black,  or  dark-brown:  head  punctulate ;  face  white,  with  the  sutures 
black  ;  antennas  fuscous,  with  three  or  four  basal  joints  lurid  :  thorax  densely 
punctulate,  varied  with  a  few  dull  testaceous  spots  ;  anterior  edge  and  an 
apical  medial  line  similarly  colored:  scutellum  black,  with  a  testaceous 
spot :  elytra  irregularly  and  profoundly  punctured,  punctures  ranged  in 
irregular  series  ;  varied  with  numerous  small  lurid  spots  ;  pygidium  imma- 
culate :  beneath  black  :  feet  black,  varied  with  white. 

Var.  a.  Black  ;  head  almost  immaculate;  labrum  and  a  double  spot  in 
front  of  the  antennae,  white  ;  thorax  almost  immaculate  ;  elytra  with  only 
a  few  small  lurid  spots  ;  femora  at  tip  whitish.  Cryptocephalus  conspersus, 
Melsh.  Catal.     This  is  probably  the  female  of  the  preceding  species. 

3.  C.  trinotatus.  Deep  black  ;  thorax  with  the  lateral  and  anterior  margins 
and  three  spots,  sanguineous  ;  front  with  two  similarly  colored  spots. 
lij — 2  1.  long.     Pennsy.runia. 

Cryptocephalus  trinotatus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Deep  black  :  head  densely  punctulate,  with  two  reddish-fulvous  spots  be- 
tween the  eyes;  antennae  and  labrum,  black  :  thorax  confluently  punctured, 
with  the  anterior  edge,  lateral  margins,  two  oblique,  dilated,  abbreviated  lines 


Feb.,  1847.]  *  171 

at  base,  and  one  at  apex,  reddish-fulvous:  scutellum  black;  elytra  imma- 
culate, densely  and  coarsely  punctured:  pygidium,  beneath  and  feet,  deep 
black,  immaculate,  ashy-sericeous. 

4.  0.  castus.  Deep  black;  thorax  with  the  lateral  margins  and  two  spots 
at  base,  fulvous  ;  elytra  punctate-striate,  each  with  a  testaceous  spot  at 
apex.     \\  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cryptocephalus  castus,  Melsh.  MS. 

Deep  black  :  head  opake,  impunctured,  spotless  ;  labrum  and  antenna, 
deep  black,  the  latter  with  the  first  joint  shining :  thorax  impunctured, 
rather  opake,  with  the  lateral  margins  and  two  oblique,  dilated,  abbreviated 
lines  at  base,  fulvous:  scutellum  black:  elytra  deeply  punctate-striate  ;  in- 
terstices impunctured,  somewhat  convex ;  humeral  tubercle  small,  promi- 
nent; suture  raised  immediately  behind  the  scutel,  each  elytrum  with  a 
whitish  spot  at  apex  ;  beneath  and  feet  deep  black,  immaculate  ;  feet  shining. 

Var.  a.  Lateral  thoracic  margins  broadly  fulvous,  without  the  basal  spots. 

5.  C.  asculi.  Black,  thorax  with  the  lateral  margins  and  an  abbreviated 
line  at  tip,  dull  red  ;  elytra  varied  with  white.     1J  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cryptocephalus  Aesculi,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black;  head  confidently  and  obscurely  punctulate ;  orbits  of  the  eyes 
very  faintly  rufous ;  labrum  white ;  antennas  dull  brDwn,  the  basal  joints 
lurid;  thorax  densely  and  somewhat  coarsely  punctured  ;  lateral  margins 
dull  red  ;  a  longitudinal  medial  line  originating  at  apex  and  abbreviated 
behind  the  middle,  dull  fulvous  ;  scutellum  black;  elytra  ordinarily  punc- 
tured, varied  with  whitish  ;  basal  edge  white  ;  pygidium  and  beneath,  deep 
black,  spotless ;  feet  black,  with  the  anterior  femora  maculate  with  white. 

Var.  a.  Head,  thorax  and  feet  spotless  ;  elytra  with  the  basal  edge  and  a 
few  small  spots  towards  the  apex,  white;  femora  immaculate.  Perhaps  the 
female. 

6.  C.pectoralis.  Ferruginous,  maculate  with  black;  pectus  black.  1J 
1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Light  ferruginous  :  head  punctulate  ;  face  color  of  the  thorax,  with  a 
longitudinal  black  line  between  the  eyes,  the  latter  black  ;  antennae  color 
of  the  face  ;  labrum  and  feet  testaceous  ;  thorax  punctulate,  with  about  five 
obsolete  black  spots  :  scutellum  black  :  elytra  ordinarily  punctured,  inde- 
terminately maculate  with  black  ;  striae  black ;  abdomen  ferruginous  ; 
pectus  black,  or  dusky ;  femora  with  a  small  brownish  spot. 

7.  C.  hepalicus.  Ferruginous,  sometimes  sparsely  maculate  with  black  ; 
elytra  simply  and  densely  punctured.     1 — 1J1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cryptocephalus  hepaticus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Robust,  pale  ferruginous  ;  beneath  dusky  ;  head  densely  punctulate,  some- 
times faintly  clouded  with  brownish  ;  eyes  black  ;  antennae  moderate,  color 
of  the  head;  thorax  densely  punctured,  sometimes  obsoletely  clouded  with 
black;  scutellum  piceous;  elytra  densely  punctured,  without  any  of  the 
ordinary  longitudinal  rugae  or  raised  lines  ;  sometimes  with  four  or  five  spots 
before  the  tip,  and  one  on  the  humerus,  black;  pygidium  dusky  in  the 
middle  ;  abdomen  at  tip  dull  testaceous ;  feet  rufo-testaceous,  or  testaceous  ; 
sometimes  with  a  brown  spot. 


172  [Feb.,  1847. 

8.  C  tridens.  Black;  antennae  and  feet  testaceous;  head  varied  with 
whit.  ;  thorax  with  the  lateral  margins  broadly  white,  each  with  a  large 
subquadrangular  black  spot;  elytra  varied  with  white.     1J  1.  long.     Penn 

Cryptocephalus  tridens,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black :  head  irregularly  punctured,  varied  with  white  ;  antennas  and  feet 
testaceous-yellow  ;  labrum  white  ;  thorax  profoundly  and  irregularly  punc- 
tured, with  the  lateral  margins  broadly  white,  each  with  a  large  subtrapezoi- 
dal  blackish  spot :  scutellutn  black  :  elytra  deeply  and  irregularly  punctured, 
some  of  the  punctures,  towards  the  middle  and  sides,  ranged  in  irregular 
series,  their  interstices  convex:  each  elytrum  with  a  cruciform  spot  and 
apex,  white ;  pygidium  varied  with  white  ;  epipleurae  and  margins  of  the 
abdomen,  white.  Basal  edge  of  the  elytra  most  frequently,  and  occasionally 
an  abbreviated  longitudinal  line  at  the  middle  of  the  thoracic  apex,  white. 

9.  C.flavicornis.  Black;  antennae,  feet,  lateral  margins  and  two  basal 
spot3  of  the  thorax,  yellowish  ;  elytra,  each  with  two  similarly  colored  spots 
l£  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Black;  head  profoundly  punctured  ;  eyes  black,  with  the  superior  and  an- 
terior edges,  and  labrum,  white ;  antennae  and  feet,  testaceous-yell  jw  :  thorax 
profoundly  and*  inequally  punctured  ;  lateral  margins,  lateral  third  of  ante- 
rior and  posterior  edges,  and  two  dilated  short  basal  lines,  testaceous,  lines, 
forming  junctions  at  right  angles  with  the  inner  ends  of  the  colored  basal 
edge;  scutellutn  black:  elytra  deeply,  finely  and  inequally  punctured,  to- 
wards the  lateral  margins  irregularly  punctate-striate  ;  a  lateral  linear  spot 
a  little  before  the  middle  and  apex,  whitish ;  pygidium  each  side  with  a 
small  whitish  spot. 

10.  C.  luieipennis.     Black  ;  elytra  luteous,  with  the  lateral  and  basal  edges 
and  suture,  black ;  thorax  with  the  lateral  margins  and  two  basal  spots 
whitish.     If  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cryptoeephalus fasciatus  and  binoiatus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Robust,  black:  head  sparsely  punctulate,  with  a  longitudinal  impressed 
frontal  line ;  clypeus  white,  a  similarly  colored  transverse  spot  between  the 
eyes  ;  antennae  fuscous  or  blackish,  with  the  five  first  joints  and  mouth,  tes- 
taceous-yellow ;  thorax  sparsely,  very  minutely  and  obscurely  punctured, 
glossy  ;  lateral  maagins  narrowly,  and  a  spot  each  side  of  the  middle  before 
the  base,  testaceous,  tinted  with  yellow  :  scutellutn  black  ;  elytra  luteous  or 
ochreous,  with  the  suture,  lateral  and  basal  edges  and  humeri,  black  ;  be- 
hind the  middle  with  a  common,  arcuated  dusky  fascia,  being  sometime? 
formed  of  spots,  and  sometimes  entirely  wanting;  finely  punctate-striate  : 
interstices  flat,  impunctured  ;  pygidium  with  two  small  whitish  spots  at  tip  ; 
feet  black,  with  the  tarsi  fuscous  ;  coxas  of  anterior  feet  each  with  a  whit*- 
spot ;  a  similar  spot  each  side  of  the  anterior  margin  of  postpectus. 

11.  C.  mutabilis.  Dull  rufous  ;  thorax  with  the  anterior  and  lateral  mar- 
gins white  ;  base,  lateral  margins  and  apex,  the  same,  the  two  former  macu- 
late with  blackish  spots.     22  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cryptocephalus  nobilis,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Dull  rufous,  shining  ;  head  sparsely  punctured  and  impressed  on  the  front  . 
orbits,  clypeus  and  labrum  white  ;  antennas  pale  brown,  with  five  basal  joints 
testaceous ;  thorax  very  minutely  aud  distinctly  punctured,  polished,  with  the. 


Feb.,  1847.]  173 

front  and  side  margins  whitish,  broadly  at  the  anterior  angles  ;  edges 
dusky  :  scutellum  dusky  ;  elytra  darker  than  the  thorax,  shining,  with  the 
basal  and  lateral  margins  broadly  whitish,  the  latter  abbreviated  before  the 
apex,  and  containing  three  blackish  spots,  of  which  one  is  located  on  the 
humeral  tubercle ;  middle  of  the  base  with  a  large  dark  reddish  spot ;  apex 
whitish  ;  punctate- striate  ;  pygidium  strongly  punctured,  with  the  apex 
white;  beneath  blackish,  tinted  with  rufous;  two  or  three  apical  segments 
of  abdomen  and  feet  rufous.  This  species  varies  much,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  determine  which  is  the  type. 

Var.  a.  As  in  the  preceding;  thorax  with  two  oblique,  abbreviated 
whitish  basal  lines :  elytra  with  the  lateral  margins  not  abbreviated,  ma- 
culate with  rufous. 

Var.  b.  Smaller  than  the  type  ;  head  black,  marked  with  white  as  in  the 
type  ;  thorax  black,  highly  polished  and  scarcely  punctulate,  with  the  front 
and  side  margins  as  in  the  type  ;  a  transverse  series  of  four  impressed 
points  each  side  of  the  middle  towards  the  apex ;  elytra  black,  punctate- 
striate  ;  basal  edge,  apex  and  lateral  margins,  white,  inner  side  of  the  latter 
bisinuate  ;  humeral  tubercles  black  ;  feet  as  in  the  type  ;  antennae  color  of 
the  feet ;  beneath  black ;  a  large  quadrate  white  spot  in  the  middle  at  base 
of  the  abdomen.  Cryptocephalus  charus,  Melsh.  MS.  The  white  basal  ab- 
dominal spot  is  present  in  almost  every  specimen. 

12.  C.  clathratus.  Black;  head,  femora  and  thorax  fulvous,  the  latter 
with  the  lateral  margins  and  two  basal  spots,  yellowish ;  elytra  with  about 
sixteen  yellowish  spots.     If  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Crypto cephalus  clathratus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Head  pale  fulvous,  scarce  punctulate ;  a  slight  longitudinal  impressed 
line  between  the  eyes  ;  antennae  fuscous,  with  the  five  first  joints  testace- 
ous ;  eyes  plumbeous  ;  thorax  fulvous,  with  two  oblique,  dilated,  abbrevi- 
ated yellow  basal  lines ;  lateral  margins  yellcfw  ;  posterior  and  lateral 
edges  blackish  ;  surface  obscurely  punctulate ;  scutellum  piceous  :  elytra 
deep  black,  punctate-striate,  with  about  sixteen  yellow  spots,  placed  in 
four  transverse  series,  spots  in  the  basal  series  six,  all  linear,  eight  spots  in 
the  two  intermediate  series,  and  two  at  apex;  pygidium  strongly  and  coarse- 
ly punctured :  beneath  dusky,  tinted  with  rufous ;  a  whitish  spot  on  the 
middle  of  the  abdominal  base ;  femora  fulvous  ;  tibia?  and  tarsi  color  of 
the  abdomen. 

Var.  a.  Rufous  or  fulvous  ;  thorax  immaculate;  elytra  black,  with  about 
10  yellow  spots.     Cryptocephalus  puleher,  Melsh.  Catal. 

13.  C.  sulphuripennis.  Black  ;  elytra  pale  yellow,  maculate  with  black  ; 
thorax  with  the  lateral  margins  and  two  basal  spots,  yellowish  ;  feet  pale 
fulvous.     2  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Head  black,  sparsely  punctulate ;  orbits,  labrum  and  clypeus,  whitish  : 
antenna}  yellowish,  dusky  at  tip  ;  thorax  black,  distantly  punctulate,  with 
the  lateral  margins  and  two  oblique  basal  spots,  yellowish  ;  scutellum 
black ;  elytra  pale  yellow,  with  three  transverse  rows  of  small  black  spots, 
apical  row  formed  of  four  spots,  and  each  of  the  two  others  six :  punctate- 
striate,  punctures  dusky  ;  pygidium  black,  immaculate,  coarsely  punctured; 
beneath  deep  black :  feet  pale  rufous. 

14.  G.formosus.     Deep  black  ;  thorax  with  the  lateral  margins  and  two 


174  [Feb.,  1847. 

basal  spots,  fulvous  ;  elytra  with  thirteen  fulrous  spots.     Nearly  2  1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Deep  black  :  head  with  a  longitudinal  impressed  frontal  line;  punctulate; 
maculate  with  whitish  ;  antennae  blackish,  with  three  or  four  basal  joints 
yellowish  :  thorax  polished,  hardly  punctulate,  with  the  anterior  and  poste- 
rior angles,  and  two  oblique  basal  spots,  yellowish  ;  anterior  edge  similarly 
colored  ;  elytra  profoundly  punctate-striate,  with  thirteen  fulvous  spots, 
ranged  in  transverse  rows ;  two  of  the  spots  are  at  apex,  three  at  base,  and 
in  each  of  the  two  intermediate  rows  four;  beneath,  feet  and  pygidium, 
deep  black,  immaculate  ;  coxaea  of  the  two  anterior  feet  with  a  white  spot; 
abdominal  basal  spot  present. 

15.  C.  hamatus.  Black  ;  head,  thorax,  feet,  and  lateral  and  apical  margins 
of  the  elytra,  fulvous  ;  pygidium  and  tip  of  the  abdomen,  similarly  colored 
or  rufous.     1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Head  pale  fulvous, distantly  punctulate:  eyes  plumbeous,  variedwith  gold- 
en; antenna?  color  of  the  thorax,  dusky  at  tip;  thorax  fulvous,  varying  in  depth 
of  color  ;  sometimes  with  the  lateral  margins  and  two  oblique  basal  spots, 
faintly  yellowish;  surface  densely  and  minutely  punctured;  scutellumpiceons; 
elytra  black,  punctate-striate;  lateral  and  and  apical  margins  with  a  yellowish 
vitta,  curving  a  little  upon  the  first  entire  innerspace ;  base  with  two  short 
fulvous  lines,  the  one  at  the  suture  and  the  other  in  the  middle  ;  lateral  and 
apical  edges,  black  ;  basal  edge  sometimes  yellowish  :  beneath  black;  feet, 
tip  of  the  abdomen  and  pygidium,  fulvous;  abdominal  basal  spot  present. 

16.  C.  pretiosus.  Black,  shining  ;  head  and  thorax  maculate  with  white  ; 
elytra  punctate-striate,  with  an  abbreviated  fascia,  linear  spots  at  base,  and 
apex,  fulvous.     If  1.  long.     Pennsylvania.     Very  rare. 

Deep  black  :  head  rather  strongly  punctured  ;  a  longitudinal  profoundly 
impressed  line  between  the  eyes ;  orbits  and  clypeus  white  ;  antennae  black- 
ish, with  five  basal  joints'testaceous-yellow :  thorax  highly  polished,  very 
minutely  and  distantly  punctured;  a  spot  at  each  of  the  angles,  and  twooblique 
subovate  basal  spots,  white;  elytra  finely  punctate-striate,  with  a  broad  fascia 
in  the  middle,  somewhat  widely  interrupted  at  the  suture,  apex  and  six  short 
lines  at  base,  fulvous  or  yellowish  fulvous;  exterior  basal  line  or  spot  confluent 
with  the  fascia:  pygidium,  beneath  and  feet,  deep  black;  coxae  of  the  anteri- 
or and  middle  feet  each  with  a  white  spot ;   abdominal  basal  spot  present. 

Monachus,  Chevr. 

M.  viridis.  Dark  green  ;  antenna?,  mouth,  lateral  margins  of  the  thorax 
and  feet  yellowish,    f  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Cryptocephalus  smaragdinus,  Melsh.  MS. 

Dark  green,  slightly  brassy  ;  head  obscurely  and  very  minutely  punc- 
tured ;  a  slight  frontal  impression ;  clypeus,  labruni  and  mouth,  yellow- 
ish ;  antennae  similarly  colored,  with  the  tip  dusky ;  as  long  as  the  tho- 
rax, somewhat  thickened  towards  the  tip,  with  the  joints  short ;  thorax 
transverse,  wider  at  base  than  at  apex,  with  the  sides  rounded ;  trun- 
cate before  and  slightly  waved  behind  ;  posterior  angles  acute  ;  surface 
hardly  punctulate,  with  the  lateral  margins  dull  fulvous  ;  elytra  shin- 
ing, finely  and  obsoletely  striate-punctulate  ;  punctures  almost  want- 
ing   toward    the    apex  ;    feet    yellowish-fulvous ;     pygidium,    abdomen, 


Feb.,  1847.]  175 

and  postpectus,  black,  the  latter  tinted  with  reddish  ;  antepectus  color  of 
the  feet. 
Var.  a.    Head  and  thorax  dull  rufous. 

Gastrophysa,  Chevr. 

1.  G.  cenea.  Blue,  slightly  brassy  ;  antennae  black,  with  five  basal  joints 
testaceous.     2  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Eumolpus  cenms,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Blue,  tinged  with  greenish,  slightly  brassy  ;  head  deeply  and  distantly 
punctulate,  sometimes  with  an  obsolete  longitudinal  frontal  impression  ;  an- 
tennae black,  with  five  or  six  basal  joints  dull  testaceous  ;  palpi  pieeous  ;  tho- 
rax deeply  and  densely  punctulate  :  scutellum  impunctured  :  elytra  much 
punctulate,  with  the  punctures  longer  than  wide,  and  ranged  in  irregalar  and 
approximate  series  ;  beneath  and  femora,  greenish  black,  slightly  brassy  ;  ti- 
biae and  tarsi,  blackish,  or  dark  reddish-brown;  abdomen  sparsely  punctulate. 

Var.  a.  Elytra  cupreous. 

2.  G.  cyanea.     Blue  ;  beneath  and  feet  black.     2  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 
Chrysomela  Raphani,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Cyaneous,  shining:  head  punctured;  an  obsolete  longitudinal  impressed 
frontal  line  ;  labrum  and  palpi  piceous :  antennae  black,  or  dark  brown, 
with  four  basal  joints  glabrous,  shining  ;  thorax  strongly  tinged  with  green  J 
profoundly  and  densely  punctulate  :  scutellum  green  :  elytra  punctured  like 
the  thorax,  with  a  green  reflection  :  beneath  blackish ;  feet  similarly  col- 
ored, with  a  bluish  or  greenish  reflection. 

PHiEDON,  Meg. 

P.  wide.  Greenish,  or  dark  fuscous  brassy  ;  feet  piceous.  \\  1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Eumolpus  viridis,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Ovate,  greenish,  or  dark  fuscous  brassy,  rarely  cupreous  ;  shining  ;  head 
deeply  punctulate,  with  a  transverse,  arcuated  impressed  frontal  line :  an- 
tennae blackish  or  dark  brown  ;  thorax  very  minutely  and  obsoletely  punc- 
tured ;  scutellum  blackish,  impunctured  :  elytra  striate-punctate,  punctures 
small,  and  the  series  remote  :  beneath  blackish,  with  the  abdomen  densely 
punctured  ;  feet  blackish-piceous,  often  brassy. 

Erotylida. 
Tritoma,  Fabr. 

T.  basale.  Black  ;  basal  half  of  the  elytra  rufous.  If  1.  long.  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Black,  shining;  head  obscurely  punctulate  ;  antennas  black  ;  thorax  much 
and  rather  distinctly  punctulate  :  scutellum  piceous  :  elytra  with  the  basal 
half  rufous  :  finely  punctate  striate  ;  beneath  black,  distantly  and  distinctly 
punctulate  :  feet  black.  Differs  from  pulchrum,  Say,  which  it  much  resem- 
bles, in  being  more  numerously  and  distinctly  punctulate,  and  in  having  the 
basal  half  of  the  elytra  transversely  rufous,  the  rufous  color  extending  as 
far  down  on  the  lateral  margins  as  it  does  on  the  suture,  whilst  in  pulchrum 
the  rufous  color  occupies  only  a  short  space  behind  the  humeri,  and  extends 
down  the  suture,  sometimes  to  the  apex. 


176  [Feb.,  1847. 

Triplax,  Payk. 
T.  fasciata.    Yellowish  ;  head,  antennae  and  base  and  apex  of  the  elytra 
black.     2\  1.  long.     Alabama. 

Head  distinctly  and  not  densely  punctulate ;  black,  posteriorly  tinted 
with  rufous  ;  antenna;  black  ;  palpi,  feet  and  beneatb  testaceous-yellow  ; 
thorax  similarly  colored  ;  punctured  like  the  head:  scutel  color  of  the  tho- 
rax ;  elytra  broadly  black  at  base  and  apex,  with  a  broad,  common,  testa- 
ceous-yellow fascia ;  finely  punctate- striate. 

Endomychidcc,  Leach. 
Lycoperdina,  Latr. 

1.  L.  A-gultata.  Black;  elytra  with  four  rufous  spots;  thorax  rufous, 
with  the  disk  black.     If  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Endomychus  4-guttatus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Head  black,  shining,  sparsely  and  obscurely  punctulate;  labrum  and 
mouth  dull  fuscous  ;  antennae  black  ;  thorax  minutely  and  obscurely  punc- 
tured ;  rufous  most  frequently  with  a  broad,  entire,  black  dorsal  vitta  ; 
glossy ;  edges  dusky  ;  scutellum  black  ;  elytra  similarly  colored,  each  with 
a  large  subhumeral  spot,  and  another  behind  the  middle,  rufous  or  fulvous  ;. 
obscurely  punctulate  ;  postpectus,  feet  and  abdomen,  blackish,  the  latter 
with  the  tip  dull  pale  brown  ;  tarsi  similarly  colored  ;  antepectus  rufous. 

2.  L.  lutea.     Testaceous  ;  eyes  black.     1|  1.  long.    Pennsylvania. 
Endomychus  luteus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Testaceous,  glabrous  or  rather  thinly  clothed  with  minute  short  hairs, 
arising  from  very  minute  punctures  ;  antennas  darker  than  the  head  ;  eyes 
black  ;  thorax  with  the  lateral  margins  pale  testaceous,  pellucid  ;  femora 
pale  testaceous  ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  darker. 

3.h.pilosa.  Pale  ferruginous,  finely  pubescent.  If  1.  long.  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Endomychus  pilosus,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Palpi  ferruginous,  yellowish-pubescent ;  head  glossy,  indistinctly  punctu- 
late, hardly  pubescent;  eyes  black:  antennae  color  of  the  head,  with  the  clava 
darker :  thorax  indistinctly  punctulate,  slightly  pubescent,  glossy,  with  the 
lateral  margins  lighter  than  the  disk  :  elytra  obscurely  punctulate,  yellow- 
ish-pubescent,  with  the  suture  sometimes  dusky  ;  beneath  and  feet  as  above. 

This  species  and  the  preceding  one  may  be  referred  to  the  subgenus  Epx- 
pocus  of  Dejean's  Catalogue. 

4.  L.  crassicornis.  Rufous  ;  disk  of  the  thorax,  a  fascia  and  tip  of  the  ely- 
tra, black  ;  clava  of  the  antennae  much  dilated,     lj  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Endomychus  crassicornis,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Rufous,  glossy,  obscurely  and  distantly  punctulate,  glabrous  :  head  fre- 
quently dusky:  antennas  ydlowish-rufous,  with  the  three  terminal  joints 
greatly  dilated  in  £  s,  less  in  2s:  thorax  with  the  disk  black  ;  scutellum 
black:  elytra  with  a  broad  common  fascia  on  the  middle,  apex  and  anterior 
portion  of  the  suture,  sometimes  its  entire  length,  black :  beneath  color  of 
the  elytra  ;  feet  color  of  the  antennae. 

Var.  a.     Smaller  ;  apex  of  the  elytra  and  scutellum  color  of  the  elytra. 


Feb.,  1847.]  177 

5.  L.  apiealis.  Testaceous-yellow  ;  elytra  black,  with  the  apex  testace- 
ous.    1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Endomychus  fuscus  ?  Melsh.  Catal. 

Testaceous-yellow,  glossy  :  head  and  thorax  scarcely  or  very  indistinctly 
punctulate,  the  former  tinted  with  rufous,  the  latter  with  longitudinal,  an- 
teriorly abbreviated  basal  lines:  scutellum  black:  elytra  black,  with  the  apex 
indeterminately  testaceous  ;  obscurely  punctulate :  beneath  and  antennae 
color  of  the  thorax  :  feet  testaceous,  sometimes  colored  like  the  abdomen. 

Var.  a.  Entirely  pale  testaceous.  Endomychus  pallidus,  Melsh.  MS. 
Doubtless  immature  specimens. 

Coecinellidce  Leach. 
Coccinella,  Linne. 

1.  C.  seriata.  Pale  yellow  above  ;  head,  disk  of  the  thorax,  suture  and 
three  submarginal  spots  of  the  elytra,  beneath  and  femora,  black  ;  tibia? 
and  tarsi  testaceous.     1\  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  suluralis,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Ovate  :  head  deep  black,  immaculate ;  labrum,  palpi  and  antennas,  testa- 
ceous, the  latter  with  the  clava  dusky :  thorax  pale  yellow,  tinged  with 
rosaceous  ;  disk  and  middle  of  the  base,  black  :  elytra  color  of  the  thorax, 
each  with  a  series  of  three  large,  irregular,  submarginal  black  spots,  the 
first  of  which  is  hatchet-shaped,  and  placed  on  the  humerus  ;  the  second 
spot,  which  is  transverse-oval(  is  joined  to  the  first  by  a  short  neck,  and  to 
the  third  by  a  short  narrow  line  ;  the  third  spot  is  longitudinal-oval ;  su- 
ture with  a  bisinuate  black  vitta,  terminating  a  little  before  the  apex,  where 
it  is  joined  to  the  tip  of  the  posterior  spot :  beneath  and  femora,  black  ; 
tibiae  and  tarsi  testaceous,  the  former  with  the  apical  half  dusky  ;  abdo- 
mon  with  the  lateral  margins  rosaceous.  Allied  to  tibialis  and  parnelkesis, 
Say. 

2.  B.  concinnata.  Whitish  above;  head  and  thorax  maculate  with  black  ; 
disk  of  elytra  fuscous  ;  beneath  blackish  ;  feet  yellowish.  2\  1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  concinnata,  Melsh.  MS. 

Head  white,  tinged  with  yellowish,  with  two  longitudinal  black  lines,  in- 
terrupted in  the  middle  by  the  prevailing  color ;  eyes  black;  mouth  and  palpi 
yellowish,  the  latter  with  the  tip  dusky  ;  antennae  testaceous  :  thorax  color 
of  the  head,  densely  and  indistinctly  punctulate,  and  with  about  seven  large 
spots  and  two  geminate  punctures,  black  ;  spot  on  each  of  the  lateral  sub- 
margins  suboval,  one  on  each  side  of  the  middle  at  base  sublunate,  between 
which  and  the  lateral  spot  is  placed  the  double  puncture  or  dot;  two  anterior 
dorsal  spots  oblique,  oval :  posterior  dorsal  spot  small,  oval,  and  posted 
with  the  anterior  ones  triangularly  :  scutellum  blackish  :  elytra  whitish, 
stronger  tinted  with  yellowish  than  the  thorax,  with  the  disk  brown,  tinted 
with  reddish,  and  very  irregular  in  its  outline,  containing  in  its  middle  each 
side  and  near  the  suture  a  pale  yellowish  spot ;  densely  and  more  distinctly 
punctulate  than  the  thorax  :  beneath  blackish,  with  the  abdomen  strongly 
tinted  with  reddish  ;  feet  yellowish-rufous. 

Var.  a.  Head  black,  with  three  longitudinal  white  lines  ;  thorax  white,  with 
an  irregular  black  fascia:  two  short,  longitudinal  white  lines  in  the  middle  at 


1  78  [Feb.,  1847. 

base ;  beneath  and  femora  black ;  tibiae  and  tarsi  pale  testaceous.     Coccin- 
ella pini,  Melsh.  MS. 

3.  C.  venusta.  Red  above  ;  thorax  with  four,  and  elytra  with  ten  spots, 
black  ;  beneath  aud  feet,  black.     3|- 1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  venusta,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Hemispheric,  punctulate,  above  dull  red;  head  distinctly  punctured, 
black,  with  the  orbits  and  a  transverse  frontal  line,  dull  red ;  labrum  piceous, 
edged  with  dull  red  ;  antennae  testaceous,  with  the  tip  dusky  :  thorax  with 
four  very  oblique  black  spots,  of  which  the  two  basal  ones  are  large,  clavate 
or  sublanceolate,  and  united  at  their  base  ;  dorsal  spots  small,  ovate  :  scu- 
tellum  black,  triangular  :  elytra  more  obviously  punctulate  than  the  thorax 
each  with  three  submarginal,  and  two  subsutural,  large  black  spots,  one  of 
the  latter  resembles  an  inverted  comma;  suture  black  from  a  little  behind 
the  middle  to  near  the  apex,  where  it  is  dilated  and  becomes  confluent  with 
the  terminal  submarginal  spot ;  pleurae  and  epipleurae,  testaceous  yellow  ; 
pectus  and  abdomen,  black  ;  feet  similarly  colored. 

4.  C.  modesta.     Black  ;  elytra  pale  fulvous,  each   with   six   black   dots  ; 
thorax  with  the  lateral  and  anterior  margins  and  two  oblique,  abbreviated 
lines,  white  ;  head  with  a  white  frontal  fascia.     2f  1.  long.     Pennsylvania- 
Oblong  :  head  black,  with  a  broad,   anteriorly  tridentate,  white  frontal 

fascia  ;  antennae  and  palpi  dull  testaceous,  with  the  tips  black  or  dusky  : 
thorax  deep  black,  and  like  the  head  shining,  the  anterior  and  lateral  mar- 
gins narrowly  white  ;  a  short,  oblique  line  each  side  of  the  middle  similarly 
colored  :  scutellum    black  :  elytra  fulvous,  each  with  six  black  dots,  placed 

I,  2,  2,  1,  of  which  the  posterior  two  are  rather  larger  than  the  others  :  be- 
neath and  feet,  black ;  postpectus  each  side  at  tip  and  base  with  a  dull 
white  spot. 

Brachiacantha,  Chevr. 

1.  B.  ^-punctata.  Deep  black  :  elytra  with  four  fulvous  spots  ;  tibiae  and 
tarsi  dull  testaceous.     If  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  4-punctata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Deep  black,  shining,  finely  and  densely  punctured  :  head  immaculate;  an- 
tennae dull  testaceous  :  thorax  immaculate;  anterior  angles  obscurely  pice- 
ous :  scutellum  triangular  :  elytra,  each  with  a  subrotund  spot  at  base  on 
the  inner  angle,  and  another  similarly  shaped  and  sized  one  a  little  before 
the  apex,  and  nearer  to  it  than  to  the  suture,  fulvous  :  beneath  and  femora, 
black  ;  knees,  tibiae  and  tarsi,  dull  or  dusky  testaceous  ;  prickle  of  the  an- 
terior tibiae  robust,  prominent. 

2.  B.  fulvopustulata.  Deep  black  above  ;  front,  lateral  margins  of  the 
thorax,  and  four  spots  on  each  elytrum,  fulvous;  tibiae  and  tarsi,  testaceous. 

I I.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Deep  black,  shining,  densely  and  very  minutely  punctured  :  head  with  a 
jarge  yellowish  or  fulvous  frontal  spot ;  labrum  and  antennae,  testaceous  : 
thorax  with  a  large  whitish  spot  on  each  of  the  lateral  margins,  contracted 
on  the  posterior  angles  :  elytra,  each  with  four  pale  fulvous  spots,  placed 
1,  2,  1  ;  anterior  spot  occupies  the  inner  basal  angle;  posterior  one  is 
placed  a  little  before  the  apex,  nearly  equidistant  from  the  suture  and 
lateral   edge :  beneath   and   femora,    dull  ferruginous  ;    tibiae,    tarsi,   and 


Feb.,  1847.]  179 

apex  of  the  femora  testaceous  ;  tooth  of  the  anterior  tibiae  small.  Resem- 
bles somewhat  ursina,  Fabr.,  but  is  smaller  than  that  species,  and  differs 
in  the  elytral  spots. 

3.  B.  basalts.  Head,  aaterior  and  lateral  margins  of  the  thorax,  four 
basal  and  two  apical  spots  of  the  elytra,  pale  sulphureous:  two  thoracic 
spots,  elytra  and  beneath,  black.     1£  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Hemispheric,  very  minutely  punctured,  shining :  head  pale  sulphureous  ; 
eyes  similarly  colored,  with  a  dusky  pupil,  antennae  and  feet  color  of  the 
head :  thorax  color  of  the  head,  with  two  large  subtriangular  black  basal 
spots,  separated  by  a  narrow  dorsal  line :  elytra  black,  each  with  three 
large  pale  sulphureous  spots,  of  which  two  are  at  base  and  one  at  apex  5 
the  inner  basal  spot  is  much  larger  than  the  humeral  one  ;  the  apical  spot 
is  suborbiculate,  and  is  placed  nearer  the  edge  than  the  suture :  beneath 
blackish.     Perhaps  a  variety  of  feliiia,  Fabr. 

Hyperasis,  Chevr. 

1.  H.  maculifera.  Black;  head,  anterior  and  lateral  margins,  eight  elytral 
spots  and  feet,  yellowish.     1  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Black,  shining,  densely  punctulate :  head  yellowish,  eyes  black  ;  palpi 
and  antennas  color  of  the  head  :  thorax  with  the  anterior  margin  narrowly, 
and  lateral  margins  broadly,  yellowish  :  scutellum  rather  large,  black,  ob- 
scurely punctulate:  elytra  each  with  four  yellowish  spots,  placed  ],  2,  1 ; 
anterior  spot  humeral,  the  two  intermediate  ones  are  placed  transverse- 
obliquely,  and  the  posterior  spot  is  posted  near  the  apex  :  beneath  blackish  ; 
pleurae,  epipleurae,  parapleurae  and  feet,  color  of  the  head. 

Var.  a.  As  in  the  type,  but  with  the  head  and  anterior  margin  of  the 
thorax,  black.     Coccinella  ^-guttata,  Melsh.     Catal. 

Var.  b.  As  in  var.  a.,  but  the  humeral,  intermediate  and  apical  spots  of 
the  elytra  are  connected  by  a  yellowish  lateral  margin.  Coccinella  confluent, 
J.  Melsh.  MS. 

2.  H.  10-pustulata.  Black  ;  head,  lateral  thoracic  margins  and  ten  elytral 
spots,  fulvous  ;  feet  testaceous-yellow.     %  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  \O-pustulata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Shining  black :  head  indistinctly  punctulate,  yellowish-fulvous  ;  eye6 
black;  antennae,  palpi  and  feet  yellowish:  thorax  puuctured  like  the  head, 
with  the  lateral  margins  fulvous :  scutellum  comparatively  large :  elytra 
distinctly  and  densely  punctulate,  each  with  five  roundish  fulvous  spots, 
placed  2,2,1;  the  terminal  spot  is  confluent  with  the  apical  edge :  beneath 
black  ;  pleura  and  epipleurae  testaceous-yellow. 

Var.  a.  As  in  the  type,  with  the  head  and  thorax  entirely  b'.ack.  Cocci- 
nella \0-guttata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

3.  A.  leucopsis.  Black;  head,  lateral  margins  and  anterior  edge  of  the 
thorax  white;  elytra  with  two  fulvous  spots  on  the  middle.  $  1.  long. 
Pennsylvania. 

Black,  shining,  finely  and  densely  punctured:  head  whitish;  eyes  blackish; 
antennae  and  anterior  feet  dull  yellowish :  thorax  with  the  anterior  edge  and 
lateral  margins  white:  scutellum  moderate,  acute-triangular:  elytra  each  with 
an  orbiculate  fulvous  spot  on  the  middle;  beneath  blackish;  hind  feet  fuscous 


180  [Feb.,  1847. 

The  elytral  spots  of  this  species  are  sometimes  deep  scarlet,  and  the  tip  of 
the  clypeus  dusky.     It  is  the  biguttata  of  Melsh.  MS. 

4.  H.  fimbriolata.  Punctulate,  black;  front,  exterior  margins  of  the  thorax 
and  elytra,  fulvous:  anterior  feet  dusky  testaceous;  beneath,  and  intermediate 
and  posterior  feet  blackish  or  dusky  piceous.     1^  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  fimbriolata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Var.  a.     Thorax  immaculate.     Coccinella  lateralis,  Melsh.  Catal. 
Exochomus,  Redtenbacher. 

E.  praitexiatus.  Black  ;  head,  lateral  margins  of  the  thorax  and  elytra, 
two  basal  spots  and  a  common  central  one  of  the  latter,  fulvous :  feet  tes- 
taceous-yellow.    1J  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  prcetextata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Black,  densely  punctulate,  shining  :  head  fulvous  or  yellowish,  with  the 
clypeus  at  tip  slightly  emarginate  and  elevated  :  mouth  sparsely  whitish 
pilose ;  antennae  color  of  the  head  ;  eyes  blackish  :  thorax  with  the  lateral 
margins  broadly  fulvous  :  scutellum  very  small,  hardly  apparent :  elytra 
with  the  inner  basal  angles  triangularly,  and  the  lateral  margins  broadly, 
fulvous,  the  latter  with  the  lateral  margins  similarly  colored,  and  united  to 
a  large  common  central  spot  by  a  narrow  fascia,  spot  and  fascia  color  of  the 
lateral  margins  :  beneath  blackish  ;  feet  color  of  the  head.  The  labrum  is 
slightly  produced. 

Var.  a.  Head  and  thorax  uniform  black ;  femora  blackish ;  tibiae  and 
tarsi  dull  dusky  testaceous.     Coccinellce  fimbria,  J.  Melsh.  MS. 

Chilocorus,  Leach. 

C.  verrucatus.  Above  and  feet  black;  elytra  with  a  common  and  two 
basal  spots,  and  beneath,  red.     3|-  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  verrucata,  Enoch  MS. 

"         trimaculata,  Melsh.  Catal. 

"         tripustulata,  De  Geer,  Ins.  v,  393,  2  ? 

Black  above,  shining,  impunctured  :  head  black,  immaculate  ;  antennae 
rufo-testaceous  :  thorax  with  the  anterior  angles  and  edge,  obscurely  rufous; 
elytra  each  with  an  oblong  basal  spot,  and  suture  a  little  behind  the  middle 
with  a  common  linear  one,  cinnabar-red:  feet  blackish;  beneath  light 
scarlet-red  :  wings  fuliginous.  This  may  prove  to  be  a  variety,  but  no1 
type,  of  tripustulata,  De  Geer. 

Scvmnds,  Kugelann. 

1.  S.  collaris.  Black  ;  head,  anterior  and  lateral  margins  of  the  thorax. 
and  feet  rufous.     £  1.  long,     Pennsylvania. 

Coccinella  thoracica,  Melsh.  Catal. 

Subhemispheric,  black,  punctulate,  pubescent :  head  and  thorax,  rufous, 
the  latter  with  a  semiorbicular  black  basal  spot  in  front  of  the  scutellum, 
the  latter  very  small :  elytra  with  the  apical  margin  narrowly  and  obsoletely 
testaceous  :  beneath  black,  with  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  testaceous  ;  ante- 
pectus,  antenna  and  feet,  rufous  ;  hind  femora  at  base  dusky.  Size,  form 
and  markings  entirely  of  Coccinella  parvula,  Fabr.,  of  which  it  may  be  a 
local  variety. 

2.  S.  punctatus.  Black,  distinctly  punctured  ;  elytra  each  with  a  red 
spot.     $  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 


Feb.,  1847.]  181 

Oval,  deep  black,  shining,  pubescent:  head  black,  with  an  obscure, 
transverse,  impressed  line  below  the  front  labrura  month  and  antennae, 
piceous  :  thorax  finely  punctured,  with  the  anterior  edge  piceous  :  scutel- 
lum  distinct :  elytra  comparatively  strongly  punctured,  long  somewhat  di- 
lated before  the  middle,  each  with  a  small  orbicular  red  sp>t  near  the  mid- 
dle ;  humeral  tubercles  small,  distinct :  beneath  and  feet  blackish,  the  latter 
rather  piceous. 

3.  S.  ftavifrons.  Black  ;  head  and  a  large  spot  behind  the  middle  of  each 
elytrum,  yellowish  ;  tibiae  and  tarsi,  testaceous.     §  1.  long.     Pennsylvania. 

Coceinella  ftavifrons,  Melsh.  MS. 

Subhemispheric,  black,  shining,  pubescent,  punctulate  :  head  and  an- 
tennae, yellowish  ;  eyes  black  :  thorax  minutely  punctured,  with  the  ante- 
rior angles  obsoletely  testaceous  :  scutellum  minute  :  elytra  more  distinctly 
punctulate  than  the  thorax,  each  with  a  large  orbicular  yellowish  spot  be- 
hind the  middle,  and  nearer  to  the  suture  than  the  lateral  edge  :  beneath 
black  :  tibiae  and  tarsi,  testaceous  ;  femora  often  dusky,  sometimes  testa- 
ceous. 


[Note. — Dr.  Melsheimer's  "  Descriptions  of  new  North 
American  Coleoptera"  have  heen  in  course  of  publication  in 
these  Proceedings  since  April,  1844.  In  Vol.  II,  No.  2,  will 
be  found  the  commencement  of  this  valuable  and  elaborate 
paper.  The  additional  portions  have  appeared  at  such  inter- 
vals in  succeeding  numbers,  as  the  limits  to  which  the  Society 
is  in  some  measure  obliged  to  restrict  its  publications,  and 
the  claims  of  other  contributors  to  the  pages  of  the  Proceed- 
ings would  justify.  These  descriptions,  together  numbering 
about  six  hundred,  are  now  concluded.  The  great  care  and 
labour  bestowed  upon  them  by  the  author,  afford  the  best 
evidence  of  their  correctness,  and  consequently  of  their  value 
to  those  interested  in  this  particular  order  of  Insects.] 


PROCEEDINGS 

OF   THE 

ACADEMY   OF   NATURAL  SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA.. 

Vol.  III.        MARCH  AND  APRIL,  1847.  No.  8. 

Stated  Meeting,  March  2,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Mr.  Richard  C.  Taylor  presented  a  large  and  valuable  col- 
lection of  fossils  and  rocks,  from  various  parts  of  the 
world,  of  which  a  list  will  be  published  in  a  future  number. 

Specimen  of  Fluor  spar  with  crystallized  Galena,  from  Frei- 
burg, Saxony;  specimens  of  crystallized  Manganese  and 
Manganese  ore,  from  Ihlfeld,  Harz  Mountains ;  Analcime 
from  Fassathal,  Tyrol,  and  two  fossil  fish  from  the  Zech- 
stein  formation.     Presented  by  Mr.  Theodore  F.  Moss. 

The  following  mounted  skeletons  were  received  from  Dr. 
Morton  in  exchange,  viz  : — Bradypus  tridactylus,  Podar- 
gus  Stanleyanus,  Dacelo  gigantea,  and  Astur  Novae  Hol- 
landise. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Iconographie  Ornithologique  ;  par  0.  des  Murs.  4to.  4th 
and  5th  Livs.     Deposited  by  Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson. 

Revue  Zoologique ;  par  la  Societe  Cuvierienne.  Annees 
1838-1845.     From  the  same. 

Magasin  de  Zoologie ;  par  F.  E.  Guerin,  Annees  1831-1844. 

From  the  same. 

26 


184  [March  1847. 

Oken's  Isis  ;  Encyclopsedische  Zeitschrift  vorzuglich  fur  Na- 
turgeschichte,  vergleichencle  Anatomie  und  Physiologic 
Hefts  1-8.     1846.     From  the  same. 

The  Dog  :  by  William  Youatt.  Edited  with  additions  by  E. 
J.  Lewis,  M.  D.     Philadelphia,  1847.     From  Dr.  Lewis. 

Hybridity  in  Animals  and  Plants,  considered  in  reference  to 
the  question  of  the  Unity  of  the  Human  Species.  By  S. 
G.  Morton,  M.  D.     New  Haven,  1847.     From  the  Author. 

Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.  3.  No.  5.  From  the  Associa- 
tion. 

American  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science.     Conducted 
by   Dr.  E.  Emmons  and  A.  Osborn,  Esq.     No.  X.     Feb. 
1847.     From  the  Editors. 
The  folkming  were  received  from  Dr.  Morton,  in  exchange 

for  fourteen  Human  Crania  now  in  the  cabinet  of  the  Society  : 

Fauna  Boreali-Americana.  By  John  Richardson,  Esq., 
F.  R.  S.,  &c.  Part  1,  Mammalia.  Part  2,  Birds.  4to. 
London,  1829  and  1831. 

A  Supplement  to  the  Appendix  of  Captain  Parry's  Voyage 
for  the  discovery  of  a  North-west  passage,  in  the  years 
1819-20.  Containing  an  account  of  the  subjects  of  Natu- 
ral History.     4to.     London,  1824. 

Ornitholcgia  Suecica.  Auctore  W.  Nillson.  Pars  prior. 
8vo      Havnise,  1817. 

Tentamen  Systematis  Amphibiorum.  Auctore  Blasio  Mer- 
rem.     8vo.     Marburgi,  1820. 

Histoire  Naturelle  generale  des  Pigeons  et  des  Galinacees  ; 
par  C.  J.  Temminck.    3  vols.    8vo.    Amsterdam  and  Paris, 

1813. 

Principles  of  Geology.  By  Charles  Lyell,  Esq.,  F.  R.  S. 
4  vols.     8vo.  4th  Edition.  London,  1835. 


Dr.  Morton  read  a  comunication  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bach- 
man,  of  South  Carolina,  on  the  subject  of  Hybridity  in  Birds 
and  Quadrupeds. 


March,  1847.]  185 

The  following  communication  was  read  from  Messrs. 
Aaron  Sharpless  and  William  Kite,  of  Chester  country,  Penn- 
sylvania, dated  2d  mo.  18th,  1847,  in  reference  to  the  living 
Hybrids  between  the  Guinea  fowl  and  the  turkey,  lately  pre- 
sented by  them  to  the  Society. 

"  The  mother  was  a  common  Guinea  fowl,  the  survivor  of 
two  or  three  chicks  hatched  under  a  common  hen  two  years  ago 
from  eggs  presented  to  us.  From  ^constantly  associating  with 
the  poultry,  and  having  none  of  her  own  species  for  companions, 
she  was  rather  unusually  domestic. 

The  father  was  a  common  turkey  cock,  the  reputed  father  of 
our  flock  of  turkeys,  having  nothing  very  remarkable  in  his 
habits 

Last  spring  the  hen  having  arrived  at  maturity,  was  observed 
to  drop  one  or  two  eggs,  as  though  preparing  for  incubation. 
Supposing  them  to  lack  vitality,  we  procured  a  cock  of  the  same 
species  from  a  neighbor,  and  confined  them  together  in  a  coop 
for  a  few  days.  On  releasing  them,  the  new  comer  remained  for 
some  days  and  then  disappeared.  Supposing  our  object  to  have 
been  accomplished,  the  hen  was  now  suffered  to  form  her  nest  in 
peace,  which  she  did,  laying  twenty-two  eggs,  differing  in  no  re- 
spect that  we  can  now  remember,  either  in  size  or  colour  from 
common. 

When  within  a  few  days  of  maturing  these  eggs,  her  nest  was 
broken  up  by  an  opossum,  which  destroyed  nearly  all  of  them  ; 
she  however  gathered  the  remnant  together  and  brought  off  three 
chicks  :  the  surviving  two  are  those  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
Academy  ;  discovering  the  hybridity  of  these,  we  have  much  re- 
gretted the  loss  of  the  rest  of  the  brood. 

As  the  chicks  advanced  toward  maturity,  'they  began  to  excite 
our  attention  by  peculiarities  which  induced  us  to  suspect  their 
hybridity.  The  young  of  the  guinea  fowl  assume  the  colour  of 
the  adult,  but  these  always  had  the  rusty  brown  tinge  on  their 
plumage  which  now  marks  them.  They  never  were  able  to  com- 
pass the  note  of  their  mother  so  familiar  to  our  boyish  reminis- 
cence, but  always  ran  into  a  cracked  or  falsetto  key,  which  seem- 
ed laboured.  They  were  quiet  birds,  differing  in  this  from 
the    guinea,    whose    clamor    is   so    disagreeable   in    the    poultry 


186  March,  1847.] 

yard  as  to  induce  many  persona  to  discard  them.  In  the  figure 
of  these  birds,  their  heads,  and  the  size  and  appearance  of 
their  legs  and  feet,  there  is  a  greater  resemblance  to  the  turkey 
than  to  the  dung-hill  fowl,  the  only  other  bird  a  cross  like  the 
present  could  be  traced  to.  One  habit  they  had  peculiar  to 
the  turkey,  that  of  erecting  the  feathers  on  the  back  of  the  neck. 
The  plumage  of  these  birds  also  partakes  somewhat  of  the  pecu- 
liarities of  that  of  the  turkey,  though  curiously  blended  with 
that  of  the  pintado. 

In  a  poultry  yard  we  always  find  the  guinea  fowls  masters 
of  the  place,  in  which  peculiarity  our  hen  shared,  boldly  attack- 
ing any  who  offended  her,  and  readily  putting  the  cocks  to  flight. 
This  latter  circumstance  seems  to  negative  the  probability  of  the 
cross  we  are  examining  being  with  the  latter  fowl. 

We  consider  ourselves  further  confirmed  in  supposing  the 
turkey  before  alluded  to,  to  be  the  father  of  these  hybirds,  from 
the  face  that  he  was  the  only  male  turkey  then  in  the  poultry 
yard,  and  very  close  attentions  were  noticed  between  him  and 
the  hen,  which  were  fully  reciprocated  on  her  part,  though  the 
act  of  sexual  intercourse  escaped  our  observation." 


Professor  Johnson  offered  some  observations  on  the  cellu- 
lose of  the  Borneo  Palm,  and  its  reaction  with  Nitric  and 
Sulphuric  acids,  bywhich  it  was  apparently  converted  into 
Zyloidine,  and  not  into  Pyroxiline. 

The  Curators  exhibited  a  mass  of  minute  black  insects, 
"(Acari?)  which  had  been  received  from  the  Rev.  James  H. 
McFarland,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  by  whom  they  had  been  collected 
on  the  Broad  mountain, ''near  the  Summit  Coal  mines,  Schuyl- 
kill county,  Pa,  on  the  28th  of  December  last.  The  snow  for  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  along  the  road  was  covered  to  blackness 
with  these  insects,  and  heaps  from  which  a  peck  could  have 
been  collected,  were  frequent  on  the  road.  The  day  was 
warm  for  the  season.  A  few  more  were  obtained  on  a  sub- 
sequent day,  during  a  fall  of  snow. 


March,  1847.]  187 

The  Curators  having  announced  that  a  National  Medical 
Convention  was  to  assemble  in  this  city  in  the  early  part  of 
May  next,  it  was  on  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  Curators  be  authorized  to  tender  to  the 
delegates  from  the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia  to  the 
National  Medical  Convention,  the  use  of  the  Hall  of  the 
Academy  during  the  session  of  the  Convention. 

Also,  on  motion,  Resolved,  That  the  Library  Committee, 
in  conjunction  with  the  Librarian,  be  instructed  to  devise 
plans  for  book  cases  in  the  new  Library  and  Meeting  room, 
and  report  the  same  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Society. 


Stated  Meeting,  March  9th,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO   MUSEUM. 

Professor  Johnson  presented  the  following : 

Sigillaria  pachyderma,  from   South  Joggins,   Bay  of  Fundy, 
N.  S.,  and  also  from  Cranberry  Head,  Cape  Breton  ;  Stig- 
maria  fucoides  from  the  same  localities. 
The  following  minerals  were  presented  by  Mr.  Moss  : 

Feather  Ore,  and  Galena,  from  Freiburg,  Saxony ;  Carbonate 
of  Iron,  from  Erzburg,  Styria ;  and  Arragonite  from  Bohe- 
mia. 

DONATIONS   TO   LIBRARY. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts,  No.  8.     Vol.  3.    New 

series.     From  the  Editors. 
Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Natural  History  Society  ;  pp.  177 

to  192  inclusive.     From  the  Society. 
Geological  results  of  the  Earth's  contraction  in  consequence  of 

cooling.     By  James  D.  Dana.     New  Haven.  1847-  From 

the  Author. 


188  [March,  1847 

Anniversary  Address  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  of 
South  Carolina,  delivered  Nov.  26,  1847.  By  the  Hon. 
Mitchel  King.  Columbia,  S.  C,  1846.  From  Dr.  R.  W. 
Gibbes,  of  S.  C. 

Proceeedings  of  the  Agricultural  Convention,  and  of  the  State 
Agricultural  Society  of  South  Carolina,  from  ]  839  to  1845 
inclusive  :  to  which  are  added  a  memoir  on  the  subject  of 
slavery,  by  Chancellor  William  Harper,  and  a  letter  on 
Marl  by  Ex-Governor  James  H.  Hammond.  8vo.  Co- 
lumbia, S.  C,  1846.  From  the  same. 
The  following  works  were  deposited  by  J.  Price  Wether- 
rill,  Esq. : 

Histoire  des  Vegetaux  fossiles  ou  Recherches  Botaniques  et 
Geologiques  sur  les  vegetaux  renfermes  dans  les  diverses 
couches  du  globe.  Par  M.  Adolphe  Brogniart.  Livs.  1, 
2,  7  to  15  inclusive.     4to. 

Descriptions  of  the  inferior  maxillary  bones  of  Mastodons  in 
the  cabinet  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  with 
remarks  on  the  genus  Tetracaulodon,  &c.  By  Isaac 
Hays,  M.  D.     4to,     Philadelphia,  1833, 

Abbildungen  und  Beschreibungen  der  Petrefacten  Deutsch- 
lands  und  der  angrawzenden  Lander,  unter  Mitwirkung 
des  Herrn  Grafen  Georg  zu  Miinster,  herausgegeben  von 
August  Goldfuss.     Nos.  1  to  6  inclusive.     Folio. 

Recherches  sur  less  Ossemens  fossiles,  &c,  par  Georges  Cu- 
vier.  4me.  edition.  Vols.  1,  2,  3,  5,  6,  7,  8  (1st  part)  9, 
10  (1st  part.) 

The  Fossil  Flora  of  Great  Britain.  ■  By  John  Lindley,  Ph. 
D.,  &c,  and  Wm.  Hutton,  F.  G.  S.,  &c.  Vols.  1,  2,  and 
Nos.  3,  4,  5,  6,  7  and  8,  of  vol.  3. 

The  Mineral  Conchology  of  Great  Britian.  By  James 
Sowerby,  F.  L.  S.,  &c,  continued  by  James  D.  C.  Sowerby 
F.  L.  S.     Vol.  6. 

A  dissertation  on  the  nature  and  character  of  the  Chinese 
system  of  writing,  in  a  letter  to  J.  Vaughan,  Esq.  By 
Peter  S*  Duponceau,  L.  L.  D.  ;  to  which  is  subjoined  a 


March,  1847.]  189 

vocabulary   of  the  Cochinchinese  language.     By  Father 
Jos.  Morrone.  R.  C.  Missionary  at  Saigron.     8vo.    Phila- 
delphia. 1838. 
Plates  60,  63  to  68  inclus.,  70  to  75  inclus.,  86  to  89  inclus. 
of  Achille  Comte's  Regne  Animal. 


A  letter  was  read  from  C.  B.  Adams,  Esq.,  of  Middlebury, 
Vermont,  dated  17th  Feb.,  1847,  desiring  a  copy  of  vol.  1,  of 
the  Proceedings,  and  an  entire  copy  of  the  Journal  of  the 
Academy. 

Also,  a  letter  from  Mr.  Charles  Cramer,  of  St.  Petersburg, 
requesting  certain  portions  of  the  Proceedings. 

Dr.  Bridges,  from  the  Library  Committee,  in  compliance 
with  the  instructions  given  at  last  meeting,  submitted  a  plan 
for  Book  cases  in  the  new  Library  room,  which,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Committee,  was  laid  upon  the  table  for  the 
present. 


Stated  Meeting,  March  16th,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Specimens  of  Sigillaria  pachyderma,  Lepidodendron  elegans, 
and  Fucus?  From  Cape  Breton,  Nova  Scotia.  From 
Prof.  Johnson. 

An  additional  number  of  larvae  of  Cicada  septemdecim,  firmly 
attached  by  means  of  the  proboscis  to  the  roots  of  fruit 
trees.     From  Miss  Morris  of  Germantown. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

On  the  Geological  position  of  the  Castoroides  Ohioensis.  By 
James  Hall,  Esq.,  one  of  the  New  York  State  Geologists. 
Also,  a  description  of  the  cranium  of  the  same.  By  Jeffries 
Wyman,  M.  D.     4to.     Boston,  1846.     From  Prof.  Hall. 


190  [March,  1847. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Agriculture  ;  conducted  by 
Dr.  E.  Emmons  and  A.  Osborn,  Esq.  January  and  March, 
1847.     From  the  Editors. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Miss  Morris,  dated  Germantown, 
March  5th,  1847,  addressed  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary, 
containing  the  following  in  relation  to  the  larvae  of  Cicada 
septemdecim,  presented  this  evening. 

"  I  send  with  this  a  box  containing  the  larvae  of  the  Cicada 
which  I  promised,  and  believe  you  will  find  them  satisfactory 
evidence  of  the  truth  of  my  theory;  they  were  found  on  the 
roots  of  a  pear  tree,  which  I  had  under  examination  this  morning 
in  company  with  between  four  and  five  hundred,  which  I  gathered 
while  the  earth  was  being  removed  from  a  trench  four  feet  wide 
and  two  deep  that  was  dug  around  the  tree.  This  experiment 
was  in  every  way  satisfactory,  and  proved  beyond  a  doubt  the 
correctness  of  my  former  observations.*  My  only  surprise  was 
that  the  tree  had  lived  so  long.  I  then  removed  the  earth  from  a 
tree,  distant  about  twelve  feet.  A  quantity  of  earth  and  rubbish 
had  been  thrown  around  this  tree,  some  years  since,  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  the  tree  had  produced  a  fresh  and  vigorous  set 
of  roots  above  those  attacked  by  the  Cicada ;  passing  below  these, 
about  two  feet,  I  found  the  larvae  in  great  numbers,  but  from  the 
difficulty  of  getting  at  them,  I  believed  the  remedy  would  prove 
worse  than  the  disease ;  so  covering  them  up  with  fresh  earth  and 
manure  I  left  the  tree  to  its  fate.  I  then  went  to  a  distant  part  of 
the  garden,  and  caused  the  roots  of  another  tree  to  be  exposed, 
but  to  my  surprise,  found  but  few  Cicada,  not  more  than  a  dozen. 
This  tree  had  long  ceased  to  bear  fruit,  and  had  become  withered 
and  dried,  several  years  before  any  other  tree  appeared  to  suffer, 
but  in  1845  it  again  showed  signs  of  returning  life,  though  no 
care  had  been  bestowed  to  restore  it ;  and  in  the  following  year  it 
threw  out  several  fine  and  vigorous  shoots  from  the  branches. 
On  a  little  further  search  I  found  the  remedy,  as  well  as  the  dis- 
ease, at  the  root.  Mole  tracks  were  to  be  seen  in  every  direction 
around  the  tree  and  in  that  portion  of  the  garden.  I  then  ex- 
amined  four  other  trees,   and  found  that  where  the  mole  tracks 

*See  No.  6,  page  132. 


March,  1847.]  191 

were  to  be  found,  the  Cicada  had  nearly  disappeared,  while  they 
abounded  where  the  moles  had  not  been.  Many  larvse  of  the 
Scarites  Icevigatus  were  found,  no  doubt  doing  their  full  share 
to  rid  us  of  so  great  an  evil." 

Dr.  Leidy,  from  the  Curators,  read  a  letter  from  Dr.  J.  K. 
Mitchell,  Chairman  of  a  committee  of  the  delegation  from  the 
city  and  county  of  Philadelphia  to  the  National  Medical 
Convention,  returning  acknowledgments  to  the  Academy  for 
the  offer  of  its  Hall  for  the  use  of  the  Convention,  and  accept- 
ing the  same. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Judge 
Tremper,  dated  Dresden,  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1847,  containing 
some  Meteorological  observations. 

Professor  Johnson  communicated  some  observations  and  experi- 
ments on  the  dust  of  anthracite  furnace  flues.  Having  several 
years  since  ascertained  the  presence  of  large  quantities  of  salts  of 
ammonia,  both  sulphates  and  chlorides,  in  flues  aud  stove  pipes 
where  anthracite  is  consumed,  he  had  recentry  directed  attention 
to  this  as  a  source  from  which  a  moderate  supply  of  these  salts 
for  the  uses  of  horticulture  may  readily  be  obtained.  It  was 
therefore  deemed  worthy  of  a  trial  to  ascertain  in  what  proportion 
the  salts  soluble  in  water  might  occur  in  the  dust  of  a  flue,  such 
as  ordinary  practice  in  domestic  use  would  afford.  For  this  pur- 
pose, oue  pound  of  the  dry  dust  was  heated  with  successive  por- 
tions of  distilled  water  until  the  liquid  ceased  to  be  coloured,  or  to 
give  a  saline  residuum  on  complete  evaporation.  The  liquid 
was  of  a  dark  brown  colour,  and  on  analysis  afforded. 

Sulphate  of  lime,         .....  12.3  grains 

Sulphate  of  Ammonia,         ....  285.5 
Chlor-hydrate  of  Ammonia  with  undetermined 

compound  tarry  matter,         -         -  20.4 


Total  in  1  pound         -  478.8  grains,  or 

6.84  per  cent.,  or  including  the  losses  incident  to  the  several  steps 
of  analysis,  may  be  taken  at  7  per  cent. 


192  March,  1847. 

Professor  Johnson  exhibited  some  fine  specimens  of  the 
bark  of  a  Sigillaria,  converted  into  coal,  obtained  from  the 
coal  fields  of  Nova  Scotia. 


Stated  Meeting,  March  23d,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Micaceous  Oxide    of  Iron,  from    Nova    Scotia.     From  Dr. 

Hallowell. 
Lepidodendron    elegans,  Asterophyllites  equisitiformis,    and 

Calamites  connseformis  ;  from  Sydney,  Cape  Breton.  From 

Prof.  Johnson. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Thomas  C.  Eyton,  Esq.,  dated 
Wellington,  Shropshire,  England,  Feb.  18,  1847,  presenting 
a  case  of  insects,  and  asking  for  certain  exchanges  with  the 
Academy.     Referred  to  the  Zoological  Committee. 

A  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society  was  read,  acknowledging  the  receipt 
of  late  numbers  of  the  Proceedings. 

A  paper  by  Peter  A.  Browne,  Esq.,  proposing  a  new  no- 
menclature for  the  Class  Mammalia  was  read  and  referred 
to  Dr.  Leidy,  Mr.  Haldeman,  and  Dr.  Hallowell. 


[  Meeting  for  Business,  March  30,  1847. 

Mr.  Phillips  in  the  Chair. 

Dr.  Leidy  announced  the  recent  decease  of  Dr.  Amos 
Binney,  of  Boston,  late  a  Correspondent  of  the  Academy,  and 
offered  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  unanimously 
adopted. 


April,  1847.]  193 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  has  heard  with  feelings  of 
sincere  regret,  of  the  decease  of  our  late  Correspondent,  Dr. 
Ainos  Binney,  of  Boston,  President  of  the  Natural  History 
Society,  a  most  liberal  patron  of,  and  contributor  to  the  Sci- 
ence of  this  country. 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  condoles  with  the  Boston  Na- 
tural History  Society  for  the  loss  they  have  sustained. 

Resolved,  That  the  Corresponding  Secretary  transmit  a 
copy  of  the  above  resolutions  to  the  Natural  History  Society. 


The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Correspondents  of 
the  Academy : 

Ogden  Hammond,  Esq.,  of  Charleston,  S.   C. 
Wm.  A.  Bromfield,  M.  D.,  of  the  Isle  of  Wight. 


Stated  Meeting,  April  6,  1847. 
Vice   President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Several  specimens,  in  spirits,  of  the  very  young  foetus  of 
Didelphis  Virginiana,  taken  from  the  pouch  of  the  living 
animal.     From  Mr.  Thomas  Beasley,  of  New  Jersey. 

Several  specimens,  in  skin,  of  Pipra  chrysoptera.  From  Mr. 
John  Bell,  of  New  York. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Oken's  Isis,  No.  9,  for  1846.  Deposited  by  Dr.  T.  B.  Wil- 
son. 

The  Viviparous  Quadrupeds  of  North  America :  By  J.  J. 
Audubon  and  Rev.  H.  Bachman.  No.  21.     From  the  same. 


194  [April,  1847. 

Illustrations  of  the  Zoology  of  South  Africa :  consisting 
chiefly  of  figures  and  descriptions  of  the  objects  of  Natural 
History,  collected  during  an  expedition  into  the  interior 
of  South  Africa  in  1834,  '35,  '36,  fitted  out  by  "  The  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  Association  for  exploring  Central  Africa," 
&c.  &c.  By  Andrew  Smith,  M.  D.,  Director  and  Surgeon 
to  the  Expedition.  Nos.  1  to  23  inclusive.  4to.  London. 
From  the  same. 

Mr.  Webster's  vindication  of  the  Treaty  of  Washington  of 
1842,  in  a  speech  delivered  in  the  United  States  Senate, 
April  1,  1846.  From  Prof.  Johnson. 

The  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Associa- 
tion of  Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.  3.  No.  6.  From  the 
Association. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  John  P.  Barratt,  of  South 
Carolina,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice  of  election 
as  a  Correspondent.] 


Stated  Meeting,  April  13,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson  presented  a  number  of  specimens,  in 
spirits,  of  Platydactylus,  Scorpio,  &c,  from  Cuba. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  a  skull  of  Manatus  americanus,  from 
the  river  Amazon,  Saurian  bones  from  Mount  Holly,  N.  J. 
and  a  tooth  of  the  Asiatic  Elephant. 

DONATIONS   TO   LIBRARY. 

Annals  of  the  Lyceum   of  Natural   History  of  New  York. 

Vol.  4.  Nos.  8  and  9.     From  the  Lyceum. 
Boston  Journal  of  Natural    History.     Vol.  5.  No.  3.  From 

the  Boston  Society  ofNatural  History. 


April,  1847.]  195 

A  letter  was  read  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  S.  Savage, 
dated  Cape  Palmas,  Western  Africa,  January  1,  1847,  ac- 
knowledging the  receipt  of  his  notice  of  election  as  Corres- 
pondent. 

Dr.  Leidy  mentioned,  as  a  remarkable  instance  of  the  great 
fecundity  of  the  Cryptogamia,  that  in  a  puff-ball  (Lycoper- 
don)  of  large  size,  he  counted  under  the  microscope  27 
sporules  in  the  cubic  hundredth  of  a  line,  which  by  calcula- 
tion, allowing  for  cellular  tissue,  makes  the  total  amount  con- 
tained in  the  specimen,  1,007,669,000,000. 


On  motion  of  Prof.  Johnson,  Resolved.  That  a  committee 
be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  conditions  of  the  bequest  of 
the  late  William  S.  Warder,  Esq.,  to  this  Institution,  and 
to  ascertain  whether  the  conditions  on  which  said  bequest 
was  made,  have  not  been  so  for  realized  that  the  Academy 
may  be  justly  entitled  to  receive  the  benefit  intended  by  the 
testator. 

Messrs.  Johnson,  Pearsall  and  Carpenter  were  then  ap- 
pointed the  Committee. 


Stated  Meeting,  April  20,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  deposited  four  remarkably  perfect  Sau- 
rian skeletons  from  the  Lias  of  England,  each  contained  in 
its  original  matrix,  as  follow  : 

Skeleton  of  Icthyosaurus  tenuirostris,  measuring  8  feet,  4 
inches  from  the  tip  of  the  rostrum  to  the  end  of  the  tail. 
From  Glastonbury,  England. 

Skeleton  of  Icthyosaurus ,  7  feet  7  inches  from  the  tip  of 

the  rostrum  to  end  of  the  tail.     From  the  same  locality. 


196  April,  1847. 

Skeleton  of  Icthyosaurus ,  6  feet  7  inches  from  the  tip 

of  rostrum  to  the  end  of  tail.     From  Lyme  Regis,  England. 

Skeleton  of  Plesiosaurus  dolichodeirus  ?  measuring  6  feet  4 
inches  from  tip  of  snout  to  end  of  tail.     From  Lyme  Regis. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  a  human  cranium  from  an  embalmed 
body  found  in  a  tomb  at  Midian,  in  Arabia,  by  M.  Fresnel, 
and  by  him  presented  to  Dr.  Morton. 

Also,  skulls  of  Beaver,  (Castor  fiber,)  and  the  Coati  of  Para- 
guay. 

Specimens  of  Sponge  from  the  West  Indies  :  presented  by  Mr. 
John  C.  De  Costa. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

American  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science.  By  D.  E. 
Emmons  and  A.  Osborn,  Esq.  No.  12.  April,  1847.  From 
the  Editors. 

Catalogue  of  the  genera  and  species  of  Recent  Shells,  in  the 
Collection  of  C.  B.  Adams,  A.  M.  Middlebury,  Vt.  1847. 
From  the  Author. 

Charts  of  New  Haven  and  Little  Egg  Harbor.  From  the 
Treasury  Department,  through  A.  Bache,  Esq. 

Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  splendid 
works : 

The  Birds  of  Europe.  By  John  Gould,  F.  L.  S.,  &c.  6  vols. 
Folio.  London,  1837. 

A  Monograph  of  the  Odontophorinse,  or  Partridges  of  Ame- 
rica. By  John  Gould,  Folio.  Parts  1  and  2.  London, 
1844  and  1846. 

Icones  Avium,  or  Figures  and  Descriptions  of  new  and  inter- 
esting species  of  Birds  from  various  parts  of  the  globe.  By 
John  Gould.  Folio.  Parts  1  and  2.  London,  1837  and  1838. 

A  Century  of  Birds  from  the  Himalaya  Mountains.  By  John 
Gould.  Folio.  London,  1832. 

A.  Monograph  of  the  Trogonidae,  or  family  of  Trogons.  By 
John    Gould.  Folio.    London,  1838. 

A  Monograph  of  the  Rhamphastidse,  or  family  of  Toucans, 
By  John  Gould.  Folio.  London,  1834. 


April,  1847.]  197 

The  Birds  of  Australia.  By  John  Gould.  Parts  1  to  25  in- 
clusive.   Folio. 

The  Mammals  of  Australia.     By  John  Gould.  Folio.   Part  1. 

Zoologia  Typica ;  or  figures  of  new  and  rare  Mammals  and 
Birds  described  in  the  Proceedings,  or  exhibited  in  the  col- 
lections of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London.  By  Louis 
Fraser.     Quarto.  Parts  1  to  8  inclusive. 

The  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Erebus  and  Terror, 

.  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Sir  James  Clark  Ross,  R.  N., 

F.  R.  S.,  during  the  years  1839  to  1843'.  Edited  by  John 

Richardson,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.  4to.    Parts  1  to  5  inclusive. 

Iconografia  della  Fauna  Italica  par  le  Quattro  Classi  degli- 
Animali  vertebrati  di  Carlo  L.  Principe  Bonaparte,  Prin- 
cipe de  Canino  e  Musignano,  &c.  Tom.   1,  2  and  3. 

Monographic  de  la  famille  des  Myiotherinse :  par  E.  Mene- 
tries.  4to. 

Notices  of  the  Ornithology  of  Napal.  By  B.  H.  Hodgson. 
4to.  pamphlet. 

Recherches  sur  l'appareil  sternal  des  Oiseaux  considere  sous 
le  double  rapport  de  l'osteologie  et  de  la  myologie,  &c, 
par  M.  le  docteur  F.  J.  Herminier.  2d  edition,  8vo. 
Paris,  1828. 

An  account  of  the  change  of  plumage  exhibited  by  many 
species  of  female  Birds,  at  an  advanced  period  of  life,  &c. 
By  John  Butter,  F.  L.  S.,  &c.  8vo.  pamphlet. 

Revue  Zoologique ;  par  la  Societe  Cuvierienne.  Nos.  1  to  8 
for  1846,  and  No.  1  for  1847. 

The  Zoological  Journal :  conducted  by  Thomas  Bell,  J.  G. 
Children,  J.  de  Carle  Sowerby,  and  G.  B.  Sowerby.  5 
vols.    8vo.  and  an  Atlas. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  Ogden  Hammond,  dated  19th 
April,  1847,  returning  acknowledgments  for  his  election  as  a 
Correspondent. 

Mr.  Gambel  read  a  continuation  of  his  "  Remarks  on  the 
Birds  observed  in  Upper  California."  Referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee on  former  portions  of  the  paper. 


198  [April,  1847. 

Mr.  Cassin  read  a  "  Description  of  a  new  rapacious  Bird 
in  the  collection  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of 
Philadelphia."  Referred  to  Messrs,  Harris,  Townsend,  and 
Gambel. 

Dr.  Morton  read  "  A  description  of  Fossil  Remains  from 
the  Eocene  green  sand  of  South  Carolina.  By  Robert  W. 
Gibbes,  M,  D. ;"  which  was  referred  to  Drs.  Morton,  Wilson 
and  Leidy. 


Dr.  Leidy  communicated  an  observation  which  he  had 
made  in  the  human  adult  subject,  of  the  existence  of  a  spicu- 
lum  of  bone  developed  between  the  lamina  of  the  dura 
mater,  just  over  the  point  at  which  the  trigeminus  nerve 
pierces  that  membrane,  the  purpose  of  which  he  supposes  to 
be,  to  protect  the  nerve  from  pressure  as  it  passes  over  the 
superior  edge  of  the  petrous  portions  of  the  temporal  bone  to 
join  the  Casserian  ganglion. 


Mr.  Phillips  offered  the  following,  Avhich  was  adopted  : 
Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy,  as 
far  as  can  be  spared,  be  transmitted  to  Mr.    Moricand,    o* 
Geneva,  in  exchange  for  several  numbers  of  his  '  Plants  of 
Brazil,  lately  presented  to  the  Academy. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Gambel,  Resolved,  That  the  Publication 
Committee  be  authorized  to  commence  the  publication  of  a 
new  series  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy,  in  quarto  form. 


Meeting  for  Business,  April  27, 1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  on  Dr.  Gibbes'  paper  describing  fossil  re- 
mains from  the  Eocene  green  sand  of  South  Carolina,  re- 
ported in  favour  of  publication  in  the  forthcoming  number  of 
the  Journal  of  the  Academy. 

The  Committee  on  M.  Cassin's  paper  read  at  last  meeting 
reported  in  favour  of  publication. 


April,  1847,]  199 


Description    of   a  new  rapacious  Bird  in  the    Museum  of  the   Academy  of 

Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia. 

By  John  Cassin. 

Genus  Cymindis,  Cuvier. 

Cymindis  Wilsonii,  Nobis.  5  .  Body  above  entirely  dark  brown,  palest 
on  the  head,  beneath  white  ;  every  feather  from  chin  to  under  tail  coverts 
crossed  by  several  bars  of  bright  rufous  chesnut,  and  these  colours  extending 
upwards  into  a  collar  around  the  neck;  fourth,  fifth  and  sixth  primaries  longest 
and  nearly  equal,  external  webs  nearly  black,  internal  webs  of  outer  primaries 
white  at  base  and  for  nearly  half  their  length,  the  remaining  part  reddish  in- 
clining to  chesnut,  every  primary  (on  its  inner  web)  having  two  irregularly 
shaped  black  marks  and  tipped  with  black.  Tail  of  the  same  colour  as  the 
back  but  paler,  white  at  base,  and  crossed  by  about  four  broad  bars  which  are 
nearly  black,  the  second  bar  from  the  tip  accompanied  by  a  narrow  rather  in- 
distinct bar  of  rufous  ;  tip  of  tail  narrowly  edged  with  white.  Bill  very  large, 
(larger  than  in  any  other  species  of  this  genus,)  yellowish  white,  inclining  to 
bluish  horn  colour  at  base. 

0  .  Body  above  entirely  slate  colour,  palest  onjthe  head,  beneath  barred  with 
the  same,  the  bars  having  a  ferruginous  tinge. 

Total  length  of  mounted  specimen,  from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tail,  17  inches. 

Hab.     Island  of  Cuba. 

The  two  specimens  here  described,  were  presented  to  the  Academy  by  its 
esteemed  member,  Richard  G  Taylor,  Esq.,  the  eminent  Geologist,  who  has 
kindly  favoured  me  with  the  following  note  and  memorandum  from  hia 
journal : 

Philadelphia,  April  5th,  1847. 

Dear  Sir  :I  make  the  best  reply  in  my  power  respecting  the  pair  of  Hawks, 
the  skins  of  which  and  of  other  birds  were  brought  by  me  from  the  Island  of 
Cuba  ;  but  not  being  an  Ornithologist,  the  very  concise  description  that  I  can 
give  of  them  may  not  be  very  intelligible  nor  useful. 

The  locality  was  towards  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  island,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  port  of  Gibara,  in  the  province  of  Holguin.  The  range  of  country  more 
especially  traversed  by  me,  during  six  months  residence,  extended  from  the  sea 
coast  to  thirty  miles  inland,  either  into  the  savanna,  or  copper  region  of  the 
mountains.  I  have  particularly  described  this  country  in  the  Transactions  of 
the  Am.  Phil.  Society,  vol.  ix.,  pp.  204  to  218,  where  I  have  also  given  a  re- 
connoisance  map. 

My  journal  contains  a  short  note,  made  at  the  time  these  hawks  were  shot. 
My  companion  and  myself  saw  this  pair  in  company,  hovering  over  the  crest 

28 


200  [April,  1847. 

of  the  high  limestone  mountain  called  La  Silla,  about  seven  miles  from  the 
coast :  my  attention  was  called  to  them  by  my  companion,  a  resident  of  the 
island,  who  assured  me  they  were  extremly  rare,  and  he  hoped  we  should  be 
able  to  shoot  them  ;  we  were  then  on  the  peak  of  the  mountain,  and  after  a 
little  chase,  were  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  both  the  male  and  female.  My  note 
is  literally  as  follows  : 

"  Gabilan  azul,  blue  hawk  of  the  Spaniards,  male  and  female,  very  rare  and 
difficult  to  shoot.    Pupil  black,  with  a  greenish-yellow  iris." 

The  food  of  these  birds  was  stated  to  be  various  birds,  of  which  doves  were 
the  most  abundant  on  the  spot,  with  perhaps  an  occasional  relish  of  lizards, 
which  were  also  abundant.  I  understood  that  these  hawks  frequented  the 
most  lofty  and  solitary  peaks  and  were  not  often  seen  below.  We  considered 
ourselves  extremely  fortunate  in  the  acquisition  of  this  fine  pair  of  birds. 
Respectfully  yours,  Richard  C.  Taylor. 

Mr.  John  Cassin. 

The  bill  in  this  species  is  very  large  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  bird,  and 
it  agrees,  moreover,  tolerably  well  with  the  leritten  description  of  Falco  magni- 
rostris,  Gmelin, — so  does  the  young  Cymindis  uncaDitus,  Illig.  All  authors, 
however,  except  Dr.  Latham,  clearly  understood  the  F.  magnirostri3  to  be 
the  bird  figured  in  Enl.  464,  which  is  a  common  South  American  species  of 
the  genus  Astur. 

Dr.  Latham,  in  his  article  on  F.  magnirostris,  Gen.  His.  vol.  1,  p.  282,  gives  a 
description  of  a  bird  suspected  by  him  to  be  the  species  intended  by  Gmelin, 
which  applies  very  well  to  Cymindis  cayanensis,Gm.,  in  young  plumage,  but 
not  to  C.  Wilsonii. 

I  have  named  this  species  in  honor  of  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson,  as  a  slight 
tribute  to  his  merits  as  a  man,  and  his  munificence  as  a  patron  of  Zoological 
science. 


Remarks  on  the  Birds  observed  in  Upper  California. 

By  Wm.  Gambel. 

(Continued  from  page  158.) 

PASSERES. 

Lanius  Ludovicianus,  Linn.    Loggerhead  Shrike. 

L.  excubitoroides,  Swains.  Northern  Zool.  p.  115,  pi.  34. 

In  the  Shrikes  we  are  presented  with  a  group  of  birds  closely  allied  to  each 
other,  and  undergoing  such  changes  in  plumage  as  renders  them  difficult  to 
discriminate.    Although  examined  with  great  care  by  Swainson  in  the  Fauna 


April,  1847.]  201 

Boreali-Americana,  yet  he  appears  to  have  laid  too  much  stress  upon  char- 
acters subject  to  great  variation,  as  size,  relative  length  of  quills  and  color. 
The  adult  of  the  Loggerhead  is  a  beautiful  bird,  and  might  well  have  been 
called  excubitoroides,  for  the  resemblance  in  colour  and  marking  to  the  Euro- 
pean excubitor  is  very  great.  Above,  it  is  of  a  clear  pearl  grey  colour  with  the 
upper  tail  coverts,  and  exterior  edges  of  the  scapulars,  nearly  pure  white;  be- 
neath pure  white  ;  the  quantity  of  white  on  the  tail  feathers  varies,  but  gene- 
rally is  in  proportion  to  the  age  of  the  bird. 

The  relative  length  of  quills  in  the  Shrikes  is  an  uncertain  character,  and 
differs  very  much  according  to  age.  In  the  young  of  this  species,  the  second 
quill  is  generally  much  shorter  than  the  sixth,  but  in  the  adult,  equals  and  may 
even  exceed  the  sixth  in  length;  the  proportion  of  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  to 
each  other  is  also  exceedingly  various,  and  indeed  in  each  wing  of  the  same 
bird  it  is  very  common  to  find  the  proportion  of  the  quills  differing  very  mate- 
rially. This  I  have  found  to  be  the  case  in  the  European  and  both  American 
species. 

It  is  rather  strange  that  this  bird  so  abundant  in  the  southern,  western  and 
north  western  portions  of  our  country,  should  not  be  found  in  the  middle  and 
northern  Atlantic  States.     In  California  it  is  very  common. 
Lanius  septentrionalis,  Gmel.     Northern  Shrike. 
L.  borealis,  Vieill.     Swains. 

I  found  our  Butcher  Bird  in  the  Californian  ridge  of  mountains  in  Novem- 
ber, but  did  not  meet  with  it  along  the  coast  during  summer,  appearing  to  be 
replaced  by  the  Loggerhead,  which  is  a  summer  resident. 
Perisoreus  Canadensis,  (Linn.)     Bonap.     Canada  Jay. 
We  met  with  numbers  of  this  plain  and  familiar  bird  in  the  Rocky  moun= 
tains  of  the  interior. 

Cyanocorax  Stelleri,  (Pallas)  Bonap.     Steller's  Jay. 

This  species  is  occasionally  met  with  in  the  pine  groves  of  the  mountains 
from  New  Mexico  to  California. 

Cyanocorax  Californicus,  (Vigors)  Nobis.     California  Jay. 
Garrulus  Californicus,  Vigors,  Zool.     Beechy's  voyage. 
O.  ultramarinus,  Aud.  Nutt.     non  Bonap. 
The  California  Jay  has  been  hitherto  confounded  by  American  ornithologists 
with  the  Mexican  G.  ultramarinus,  accurately  described  by  Prince  Bonaparte, 
in  the  Journal  of  this  Society,  in  1825,  and  afterwards  described  and  figured 
also,  by  Temminck  in  his  Planches   colorees,  439.     It  is  strange  that  the 
Prince  himself  should  have  committed  the  same  error  of  confoundiug  the  two 
species  in  his  Comparative  list  of  the  Birds  of  Europe  and  North  America, 
quoting  at  the  same  time  Audubon's  plate  and  description,  which  is  clearly 
the  Californicus. 


f* 


r 


202  [April,  184T. 

The  distinctions  between  the  two  species  are  very  considerable,  and  may  be 
thus  stated. 

Cyanocorax  ultramarinus.  Cyanocorax  Californicus. 

Much  larger,  13  to  13  J  inches  in  Length  11J  to  12  inches. 

length. 

TT         -                ,.    ,    , ,         ,      ,  Back   brown.     A   broad   line   of 

Upper  parts  entirely  blue  ;    head 

,    ,      ,      ,  ,         .                ,  white  spots  extending  over  the  eye 

and  cheeks  blue  also,  except  space  l                      ° 

,    .            .,                   ,  ,.„  „,.  ,    .  the  length  of  the  head,  and  with  the 

between  the  eye  and  bill  which  is  s 

black                          •  space  anterior  to  the  eye  and  auri- 

culars  dusky. 

The  blue  extending  down  the  sides  A  crescent  of  blue  surrounds  the 

of  the  neck,  but  without  a  pectoral  uPPer  Part  of  the  breast- 

ban(i-  Throat  and  upper  part  of  breast 

Throat  only,  whitish;  all  the  rest  of  whitej  streaked  with  lines  of  dusky . 

the  under  parts  of  a  dirty  brownish  &n  the  pegt  beneath  tfae  collar  of  w 


white,  darker  on  the  breast.  ,  .  i      ,  .. 

'  brownish  white. 

Length  of  wing  7  inches.  Length  of  wing  nearly  5  inches. 

Tail  nearly  even,  length  Gf  inches.  Tail  graduated  or  much  rounded, 

length  5|  innhes. 

Tarsus  If  inches.  Tarsus  1|  inches. 

The  C.  ultramarinus  by  its  greater  size,  blue  colour  above,  and  absence  of 
pectoral  band,  together  with  its  very  different  proportion,  is  easily  distin- 
guished from  the  C.  Californicus,  which  is  much  smaller,  has  a  brown  back, 
a  white  superciliary  line,  and  a  dull  white  throat,  and  breast  surrounded  by 
a  collar  of  blue. 

The  G.  sordidus,  Swains.  (Syn.  Bds.  Mex.)  generally  quoted  as  a  synonym 
of  the  ultramarinus,  dose  not  agree  very  well  with  it,  unless  the  description 
were  taken  from  a  young  bird,  in  which  the  tail  is  irregularly  rounded,  and 
the  size  somewhat  less. 

The  California  Jay  is  a  very  abundant  species,  and  a  constant  resident. 
In  its  actions  it  is  exceedingly  restless,  and  at  the  same  time  sprightly  and 
graceful,  ever  flitting  from  tree  to  tree,  uttering  a  harsh  grating  jay,  jay,  and 
Sometimes  altering  it  to  kayic,  hay  ic.  Like  all  the  Jays,  they  are  very  fond 
of  scolding,  and  a  troop  of  them  will  surround  and  follow  almost  any  object 
that  attracts  their  attention,  with  their  teasing  disagreeable  cries. 

Pica  Hudsonica  (Sabine)  Bonap.     Common  Magpie. 

We  frequently  met  with  the  Magpie  on  our  route  from  New  Mexico  to  Cali- 
fornia. It  would  linger  around  our  camp  to  pick  up  the  offal,  and  sometimes 
boldly  steal  the  meat  which  was  hung  on  the  bushes  around. 

Pica  Nuttalii,  Aud.     Nuttall's  Magpie. 

I  felt  great  pleasure  on  arrivingat  Santa  Barbara,  in  Upper  California,  in  see- 
ing in  its  native  haunts,  this  distinct  and  beautiful  Magpie,  discovered  by  my 
fijend;  the  indefatigable  naturalist  and  traveller  after  whom  it  is  named  : 


April,  1847.]  203 

among  others,  a  just  tribute  for  the  invaluable  services  he  has  rendered  to 
natural  science,  during  more  than  thirty  years  of  his  life,  spent  among  us, 
in  untiring  investigation  of  the  productions  of  our  country. 

In  California,  at  least,  and  where  as  yet  I  believe  it  has  alone  been  found, 
this  Magpie  is  exceedingly  local,  being  confined,  as  far  as  I  have  observed,  to 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Santa  Barbara,  where  among  the  beautiful 
evergreen  oaks  (Quercus  agri/olia)  of  the  vicinity,  it  is   abundant. 

Sprightly  and  graceful  in  its  movements,  it  is  a  favorite  with  the  inhabitants; 
and  when  not  molested  shows  considerable  confidence,  often  being  seen  about 
the  doors  of  the  houses,  but  becoming  remarkably  shy  and  cautious  when 
chased  or  shot  at.  During  my  stay,  from  frequently  shooting  at  them,  although 
at  first  they  were  numerous  in  small  flocks,  they  at  length  became  so  scarce 
that  during  the  breeding  season  very  few  were  to  be  seen,  apparently  having 
gone  to  the  ravines  of  the  neighboring  mountains,  so  that  I  did  not  find  a  sin- 
gle recent  nest,  although  the  woods  were  full  of  those  of  the  last  year.  The 
old  nests  were  large,  and  built  loosely  of  sticks  like  that  of  a  crow,  and  situat- 
ed in  the  topmost  forks  of  the  trees,  well  concealed  by  the  foliage. 

Corvus  ossifragus,  Wils.     Fish  Crow. 

Abundant  along  the  Pacific  coast. 

Corvus  A7nerica?ius,  Aud.     Common  Crow. 

Also  abundant  throughout  the  Pacific  coast,  as  well  as  in  the  interior. 

Corvus  catatotl,  Wagler.     American  Raven. 

Fitted  by  its  organization  for  any  means  of  subsistence,  there  are  few  parts 
of  North  America  where  the  Raven  may  not  be  found. 

In  the  arid  region  between  the  Rio  Colorado  and  California,  its  ominous 
croak  renders  the  desert  solitude  more  dismal,  and  on  the  rocky  uninhabited 
Islands  off  the  coast  of  California,  it  is  the  companion  of  the  Fish-hawk  and 
Gulls;  but  in  California,  instead  of  being  scattered  and  solitary,  it  becomes 
one  of  the  most  abundant  and  familiar  of  birds,  and  in  company  with  its 
fellow-scavengers,  the  Turkey  vultures  and  dogs,  it  is  exceedingly  useful  in 
consuming  the  refuse  of  the  cattle  which  are  slaughtered  in  such  great  num- 
bers. At  the  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles,  so  abundant  were  they  in  and  around 
the  town,  that  I  have  counted  in  the  corral,  or  courtyard  of  a  single  house, 
as  many  as  150  at  one  time. 

Nucifraga  Columbiana,  (Wils.)  Aud.     American  Nutcracker. 

We  occasionally  met  with  this  peculiar  bird  in  the  mountains  of  the  interior, 
among  the  scattered  pine  groves. 

Quiscalus  majors,  Vieill.     Boat-tailed  Blackbird. 

This  large  and  handsome  blackbird  is  very  abundant  about  the  Gulf,  and 
occasionally  is  seen  as  far  north  as  Upper  California. 
Scolcophagus ferrugineus,  (Wils.)  Bire.     Rusty  Blackbird. 
We  found  this  species  very  common  in  New  Mexico  and  California,  as  also 


204  [April,  1847. 

the  S.  Mexicanus,  Swains,  lately  described  and  figured  by  Audubon   as 
Quiscalus  Breweri. 

Sturnella  neglecta,  Aud.     Western  Meadow  Lark. 
This  nearly  allied  species  we  found  a  bundant  on  the  prairies  in  New  Mexico, 
Rio  Colorado,  and  California.   In  the  spring  around  the  Pueblo  de  los  Angeles 
its  delicate  and  melodious  song  was  every  where  to  be  heard.     About  Monte- 
rey in  the  winter  it  kept  in  and  along  the  margins  of  the  pine  woods. 

Molothrus  pecorus,  (Gmel.)  Swains.     Cow  Blackbird. 

Abundant,  in  company  with  the  Rusty  Blackbird,  frequenting,  in  flocks, 
the  cattle  corrals  and  farm  houses  of  New  Mexico  and  California. 

Icterus  bullockii,  Swains.     Bullock's  Oriole. 

The  males  of  this  beautiful  bird  arrive  at  their  summer  quarters  about  the 
Pueblo  de  los  Angeles  and  Santa  Barbara,  in  California,  about  the  first  week 
in  April,  and  the  female  in  a  week  or  so  afterwards.  They  resort  to  the 
retired  hedges  of  vineyards  and  orchards,  and  occasionally  are  seen  among 
the  trees  in  the  town.  Its  song  during  this  joyful  season  is  uttered  in  a 
loud  clear  tone,  and  sometimes  varied,  but  generally  wek  te  tek  tshe-o  tske-o 
tshe-o,  wek  te  tek  tshe-o.  This  is  continued  at  intervals  while  flitting  through 
the  budding  trees  in  search  of  their  insect  fare.  When  it  observes  any  ob- 
ject of  suspicion,  it  utters  a  few  guttural  croaking  scolding  notes,  and  con-? 
ceals  itself  among  the  leafy  boughs. 

About  the  middle  of  April  I  saw  them  commencing  to  hang  their  nests  in 
the  manner  of  our  golden  Robin,  on  the  pendulous  branches  ef  the  willow  and 
other  trees  surrounding  the  vineyards,  and  as  far  as  I  remained  to  see  them 
completed,  they  were  made  with  the  same  ingenious  interweaving  of  delicate 
materials  to  form  a  pouch. 

Ageliaus  xantkrocephalus,  Bonap.     Yellow-headed  Blackbird. 
Abundant  in  California. 

A.  phaniceus,  (Linn.)  Vieill.     Red  winged  Blackbird. 
Abundant  in  New  Mexico  and  California. 

A.  tricolor,  Aud.     Three  colored  Blackbird. 

This  handsome  species,  discovered  by  Mr.  Nuttall,  and  sent  to  Audubon 
with  the  above  name,  is  abundant  in  California,  going  in  small  flocks  in 
company  with  the  other  species.  Its  notes  are  very  different  from  those  of 
the  red-wing,  with  which  it  associates,  being  a  kind  of  guttural  squeaking, 
like  that  made  by  a  dying  animal.  The  red  of  the  wing  cannot  be  seen 
when  they  are  closed,  looking  as  if  it  only  had  a  white  band. 

A.  gubernator,  (Wagler)  Bonap.     Two  colored  Blackbird. 
This  pretty  species  is  abundant,  also,  in  California,  and  along  the  western 
coast  of  Mexico,    It  is  often  found  in  company  with  the phceniceus,  which  it 


April,  1847.]  205 

so  much  resembles,  together  keeping  about  corrals  and  places  where  cattle 
have  been. 


ELECTION. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Members ; 
David  C.  Skerrett,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia. 
Mr,  George  Boyd  Allinson,  M 


PROCEEDINGS 

OF   THE 

ACADEMY*  OF   NATURAL  SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA.. 
Vol.  III.  MAY  AND  JUNE,  1847.  No.  9. 

Stated  Meeting,  May  4,  1847. 

The  Society  convened  this  evening,  for  the  first  time,  in  the 
new  and  commodious  Library  and  Meeting  Room  in  the 
basement  of  their  Hall.  On  this  occasion,  Vice-President 
Morton,  upon  taking  the  Chair,  addressed  the  Society  as 
follows  : — 

Gentlemen, — As  we  now  meet  here  for  the  first  time,  and 
under  circumstances  highly  auspicious  to  the  success  of  our  In- 
stitution and  to  the  interests  of  science,  1  beg  to  be  indulged  in  a 
few  remarks. 

On  the  evening  of  the  25th  of  January,  1812,  six  gentlemen 
met  at  a  private  residence,  the  home  of  one  of  them,  in  this  city. 
Their  objects  were,  conversation  and  improvement.  They  had 
often  met  before,  but  without  any  definite  intention  ;  but  they 
we're  now  incited  by  a  new  impulse,  a  prospective  enterprise. — 
Let  them  speak  for  themselves,  in  the  following  brief  but  emphatic 
declaration  : 

"  We  will  contribute  to  the  formation  of  a  museum  of  natural 
history,  a  library  of  works  of  science,  a  chemical  experimental 
laboratory,  an  experimental  philosophical  apparatus,  and  every 
other  desirable  appendage  or  convenience  for  the  illustration  and 
advancement  of  natural  knowledge,  and  for  the  common  benefit 
of  all  those  individuals  who  may  be  admitted  members  of  our  In- 
stitution." 

This  resolve  waa  adopted  at  the  second  meeting  of  the  found- 
ers,   one   week   after   their   primary   sitting,    on    which   occasion 

29  ' 


208  [May,  1847- 

Thomas  Say  was  also  present,  and  Dr.  Gerard  Troost  was  elect- 
ed first  President  of  this  Society.  Little  did  these  two  gentle- 
men, and  their  five  colleagues,  foresee  the  results  of  their  unpre- 
tending enterprise ;  for  Science,  in  this  country,  was  then  in  its 
infancy,  and  the  number  of  those  who  fostered  it   was  few  indeed. 

From  the  acorn  springs  the  oak ;  and  from  the  humble  efforts 
and  continued  self-sacrifices  of  a  few  private  individuals,  has 
arisen  this  Institution,  now  grown  to  the  manhood  of  science. 

Thirty-five  years  have  elapsed  since  those  seven  persons,  pri- 
vate citizens,  men  without  fortune  or  influence,  laid  the  fouudation 
of  our  Society.  That  their  intentions  have  been  ably  and  zeal- 
ously sustained,  through  periods  of  probation  and  uncertainty,  I 
can  safely  aver.  Trials  are  the  best  incentives  to  exertion  ;  and 
the  mind  knows  not  its  resources  uutil  forced  to  contend  with  ad- 
verse circumstances.  There  were  those  who  resolved  in  their 
minds,  who  vowed  in  their  hearts,  that  this  institution  should  suc- 
ceed. Many  of  them  are  now  in  their  graves;  but  their  me- 
mory is  inseparably  blended  with  the  annals  and  the  honours  of 
science.  Maclure,  Say,  Grodman,  Collins,  Conrad,  Harlan  and 
Keating — each  has  left  his  name  on  the  tablet  of  nature  ;  and 
could  the  venerable  Maclure  now  behold  the  institution  which  he 
so  ably  sustained,  and  so  munificently  provided  for,  how  would 
he  rejoice  in  the  consummation  of  those  hopes  which  he  so  ar- 
dently cherished  during  the  last  twenty-five  years  of  his  life  ! 

Among  our  living  members  are  many  to  whom  I  would  gladly 
award  the  just  meed  of  praise  for  their  signal  and  successful  exer- 
tions in  this  our  common  cause;  and  there  is  one  among  us  in 
the  prime  of  life,  and  full  of  zeal  in  diffusing  those  great  truths 
which  in  part  illustrate,  in  part  constitute,  the  laws  of  Omnipo- 
tence. He  has  come  to  us  clothed  in  the  spirit  of  science. 
What  he  has  accomplished,  every  eye  can  see.  An  hundred 
years  of  ordinary  prosperity  could  not  have  realized  so  much. 
To  say  less  would  be  unjust.  To  say  more  would  wound  a  mind 
that  shrinks  from  observation  and  eulogy. 

Let  us  continue  our  exertions  to  make  this  Institution  a  practi- 
cal school  of  Natural  History,  by  throwing  open  our  doors  to  all 
who  seek  knowledge ;  and,  supported  and  encouraged  by  the  flat- 
tering auspices  under  which  we  have  now  met,  let  us  redouble 
our  zeal  to  unfold  and  diffuse  the  truths  of  Science. 


DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 


Dr.  Wilson  presented  a  very  large  and  elegant  polished  slab  of 
Dendritic  Limestone,  from  the  vicinity  of  Bristol,  England. 

Dr.  William  Blanding  presented  a  mounted  specimen  of 
Condylura  cristata. 


May,  1847.]  209 

donations  to  library. 

The  American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.     New  Series. 

No.  9.     May,  1847.     From  the  Editors. 
Literary  Record    and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 

Pennsylvania  College.     Vol.  3.     No.  7.     From  the  Asso- 
ciation. 
Proceedings  of  the  Providence  Franklin  Society.     Vol.   1. 

No.  1.     April,  1847.     From  the  Society. 
The   following   works   were   deposited  by   Dr.    Thomas   B. 

Wilson : 
Zoological  Illustrations.      By  William  Swainson,  F.  R.  S. 

6  vols.     8vo.     London,  1820-1832. 
New  Illustrations  of  Zoology.    By  Peter  Brown.     1  vol.  4to. 

London,  1770. 
Gleanings  of  Natural  History.     By  George  Edwards,  F.  R.  S., 

&c.     7  vols.     4to.     London. 
Zoological  Illustrations  in  Java  and  the  neighboring  Islands. 

By  Thomas  Horsfield,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  &c.     1  vol.     4to. 

London,  1824. 
Illustrations  of  the  family  of  Psittacidae,  or  Parrots.     By 

Edward  Lear,  A.  L.  S.     1  vol.     Folio.     London,  1832. 
Cimelia  Physica :  figures  of  rare  and  curious  quadrupeds, 

birds,  &c.     By  George  Shaw,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  &c.     1  vol. 

Folio.     London,  1796. 


Mr.  Gambel  read  a  paper  by  Lieut.  J.  W.  Abert,  U.  S.  A., 
describing  a  new  Quail,  from  New  Mexico.  Referred  to 
Messrs.  Gambel,  Cassin,  Harris  and  Townsend. 

Dr.  Leidy  read  a  letter  from  Prof.  Spencer  F.  Baird,  of 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  describing  a  Hybrid  between  the 
Canvas-back  Duck  and  the  common  Duck. 

The  Librarian  read  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  John  G.  Morris, 
of  Baltimore,  requesting  certain  exchanges  of  books.  Re- 
ferred to  the  Librarian,  with  authority  to  act. 

Dr.  Morton  presented  a  paper  from  Dr.  R.  W.  Gibbes,  of 
Columbia,  S.  C,  in  continuation  of  his  description  of  the 
fossil  remains  of  the  Zeuglodon,  from  the  Eocene  of  South 


210  [May,  1847. 

Carolina,  with  additional  drawings  of  the  same.  Referred  to 
the  Committee  on  the  previous  portions  of  the  paper. 

Professor  Hare  made  some  observations  on  the  combustion 
of  gum  in  oxygen  gas,  and  stated  that  the  brilliant  light  which 
it  emitted  during  combustion,  proceeded  from  the  presence  of 
lime,  which  he  considered  an  essential  constituent  of  gums. 

Dr.  Leidy  stated  that  whilst  engaged  in  examining  the 
structure  of  some  Lichens,  he  discovered  numerous  octagonal 
crystals  intermingled  with  the  cellular  structure  of  several 
species  of  Parmelia.  Many  of  the  crystals  equalled  in  size 
the  greenish  cells  themselves,  although  none  of  them  appeared 
to  be  contained  within  the  latter.  As  chemical  analysis  has 
detected  in  these  plants  a  large  proportion  of  oxalate  of 
lime,  Dr.  Leidy  supposed  these  crystals  to  be  that  salt. 


Stated  Meeting,  May  11,  1847. 
Mr.  Phillips  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

A  large  massive  specimen  of  Copper  ore  from  the  Fleming- 
ton  Copper  Mines,  New  Jersey.  Presented  by  Dr.  Thos. 
McEuen. 

An  earthenware  Indian  utensil,  taken  from  a  crevice  in  a 
rock  on  Pine  creek,  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania. 
From  Mr   Thos.  H.  Taylor. 

Specimen  of  Astacus  affinis,  from  Kentucky.  From  Prof. 
Haldeman. 

Bituminous  coal  from  the  Tippecanoe  pit,  Clover  Hill,  Va., 
and  Fuller's  earth  from  the  same  locality.  From  Profossor 
Johnson. 

Mounted  specimen  of  Callipepla  squammata,  Gould,  from 
Mexico.     From  Lieut.  J.  W.  Abert,  U.  S.  A. 


May,  1847.]  211 

The  following  specimens  in   spirits,  of   Reptilia,   originally 

part  of  Prof.   Rafinesque's  collection,  were  presented  by 

Dr.  Hallowell,  viz. : — 
Lacerta  viridis,  var.  agilis,  Linn. ;  L.  caerulescens,  m.  &  f. ,  L. 

Brongniartii  Daudin  ;   L.  muralis  ;  L.  crocea ;  Anguis  fra- 

gilis  ;  Coluber  iEsculapii ;  C.  austriacus  ;  C.  tesselatus ;  C. 

natrix,  L.;  Vipera  ammodytes ;  Ranaarborea;  R.  esculenta; 

R.  temporaria ;    R.  fusca ;    R    ignea ;    R.  variabilis ;  R. 

vulgaris  ;  Salamandra  maculosa  ;  S.  atra  ;  S.  cristata ;  S. 

ignea ;  S.  tseniata. 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Medical  Botany  ;  or  descriptions  of  the  more  important  plants 
used  in  medicine ;  with  their  history,  properties  and  mode 
of  administration.  By  R.  Eglesfeld  Griffith,  M.  D.  8vo. 
Philadelphia,  1847.     From  the  Author. 

On  Hybridization  amongst  vegetables.  By  the  Hon.  and 
very  Rev.  William  Herbert,  L.  S.  D.,  Dean  of  Manchester. 
Part  1.     From  the  Author,  through  Dr.  Elwyn. 


The  Corresponding  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Richard 
Kippist,  Esq.,  Librarian  of  the  Linnean  Society  of  London, 
dated  March  4,  1847,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice 
of  election  as  a  Correspondent. 

Prof.  Johnson  made  some  remarks  upon  the  Tippecanoe 
coal  mines  of  Clover  Hill,  Virginia,  from  which  the  specimens 
presented  this  evening  were  obtained. 


Stated  Meeting,  May  18,  1847. 
Mr.  Phillips  in  the  Chair. 


DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

The  following  collections  of  Bivalve  Shells  (consisting  of 
162  species)  was  presented  by  Dr.  Robert  E.  Griffith, 
viz. : — 


212  [May,  1847. 

Aspergillum  1  species ;  Gastrochseia,  4  do. ;  Toredo,  4  do. ; 
Pholas,  8  do.;  Solen,  12  do.;  Solecurtis,  2  do.;  Mesodesma,  5 
do.;  Leguminaria,  1  do.;  Panopcea,  2  do.;  Periploma,  1  do.; 
Lutraria,  4  do ;  Mactra,  15  do.;  Crassitella,  3  do.;  Erycina, 
2  do.;  Mya,  2  do.;  Corbula,  1  do;  Pandora,  4  do.;  Anatina, 
1  do.:  Thracia,  1  do.;  Telliua,  78  do.;   Psammobia,  11  do. 

A  fine  specimen  of  Isis  hippuris,  from  the  China  seas.  Pre- 
sented by  Capt.  John  Land. 

Calamites  approximatus,  from  Hazleton,  Luzerne  county, 
Pennsylvania.     From  Prof.  Johnson. 


Dr.  Leidy  presented  a  paper  by  John  L.  Le  Conte,  M  D., 
of  New  York,  entitled  "  Fragmenta  Entomologica,"  describ- 
ing the  following  new  species  of  Coleopterous  Insects,  viz.: — 

Triplax  atriventris,  T.  vittata,  T.  ruficeps,  T.  taeniata  ;  Dyctiop- 
tera  substriata ;  Digrapba  affinis,  D.  apicalis,  Celetes  basalis, 
C.  tabida ;  Pedilus  Pulcber,  Canthon  perplexus ;  Hybosorus 
carolinus  ;  Ocbodseus  obscurus ;  Bothynus  uiorio,  B.  obsoletus, 

B.  pyriformis,  B.  variolosus  ;   Cantbaris  fulgii'er,  C.  nigricomis, 

C.  filiformis;  Spondylus  spbcericollis ;  Eros  incestus,  E.  timi- 
dus,  E.  seger,  E.  solicitus,  E.  socius,  E.  mollis,  E.  lascivus, 
E.  vilis ;  Phanaeus  torrens,  P.  difformis ;  Zenoa  vulnerata ; 
Steropes  occidentals ;  Monocerus  bifasciatus,  M.  serratus ; 
Pyrota  Engelmanii ;  Heliophilus  latimanus ;  Opatrum  fossor ; 
Tetraopes  femoratus  ;  T.  annulatus. 

The  paper  was  referred  to  the  following  Committee  : — Prof. 
Haldeman,  Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith,  and  Dr.  Pickering. 


Meeting  for  Business,  May  25,  1847. 

Yice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

After  some  preliminary  business  had  been  concluded,  Dr. 
Morton  made  a  few  remarks  on  an  aboriginal  cranium  ob- 
tained by  Dr.  Davis  and  Mr.  Squier,  during  their  researches 
in  the  mounds  near  Chilicothe,  Ohio.  Dr.  M.  observed  that 
it  possessed  in  a  remarkable  manner  all  those  characteristics 
which  pertain,  in  varioiis  degrees,  to  the  Indian  skull  in  every 
region  of  this  continent,  viz.: — the  vertical  occiput,  great 
vertical  diameter,  and  corresponding  width  between  the  parie- 


May,  1847.]  2ia 

tal  bones,  so  that  the  several  diameters  are  nearly  equal, 
giving  the  whole  head  a  singularly  high,  and  squared  or  conical 
form,  while  the  forehead  recedes  less  and  the  face  is  less 
prominent  than  is  usual  in  skulls  of  the  American  race.  Dr- 
M.  added,  that  he  had  in  his  possession  upwards  of  four  hun- 
dred Indian  crania,  but  that  this  was  more  beautifully  de- 
veloped, in  all  its  proportions,  than  any  one  of  them.  The 
relic  in  question  possesses  additional  interest  from  the  opi- 
nion of  the  gentlemen  who  found  it,  that  it  pertains  to  the 
race  of  aboriginal  mound  builders. 

ELECTION. 

Edward  Hartshorne,  M.  D.  ;  John  Neill,  M.   D. ;  and  Mr. 
Richard  Kern,  of  Philadelphia,  were  elected  Members. 

And  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Correspondents. 

Prof.  Isaac  L.  Chipman,  of  Acadia  College,  Nova  Scotia ; 
George  N.  Lawrence,  Esq.,  of  New  York. 


Stated  Meeting,  June  1,  1847. 
Vice   President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  valuable  casts : 

Icthyosaurus  latimanus,  and  Icthyosaurus  intermedius,  the 
originals  of  both  in  the  Bristol  Institution,  England  ;  Ptero- 
dactylus  crassirostris,  upper  and  under  view  ;  and  Head 
of  Pistosaurus.  Also,  an  original  specimen  of  Teleosaurus 
Chipmani  ?  from  the  Lias  of  Wurtemburg. 

Dr.  Wilson  also  presented  three  casts  of  Egyptian  tablets  from 
originals  found  at  Thebes,  and  now  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Goldney. 

The  following  collection  of  Shells  from  the  Island  of  Jamaica 

was  presented  by  Prof.  C.  B.  Adams,  of  Vermont,  viz.  : — 


214  [June,  1847. 

Helix  aspera,  H.  acutissima  and  var.  H.  lucerna,  H.  Cookiana, 
H.  epistylium,  H.  pulla,  H.  nemoraloides,  II.  sinuata,  H. 
Brownii,  H.  per-affinis,  H.  marginata,  H.  turbiniformis,  H. 
arboreoides;  Helicina  Leana,  H.  aureola,  H.  costata,  H.  pul- 
chella,  H.  Brownii ;  Cylindrella  nobilior,  H.  brevis ;  H.  san- 
guinea,  H.  carnea,  H.  Cumingii,  H.  seminuda;  Truncatella 
Cumingii  ;  Pedipes  quadrideDs;  Cvclostovna  mirabile,  C.  cre- 
nulatum,  C.  articulaturn,  C.  Grayanum,  C.  maritinura,  C  co« 
lunina,  C.  pulchrius,  0.  fascia,  C.  album,  var.  fuscura,  C 
Brownii,  C  corrugatum,  C.  lincina,  C.  album,  and  C.  linea. 

Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith  presented  a  collection  of  Shells  consisting  of 
fifty  species  of  Murex,  thirty-two  species  of  Triton,  and 
twenty  species  of  Ranella. 


DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

On  the  new  planet  Neptune ;  (from  the  Proceedings,  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  March,  1846.) 
From  Prof.  Pierce. 

Genera  Plantarum    secundum   ordines    naturales    disposita : 
Auctore  Stephano  Endlicher.     Nos.  1  to    8.   8vo.   From 
Dr.  William  Darlington. 
Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  : — 

Iconographie   Ornithologique,     Par.    0.  Des  Murs.   7th  Liv. 

The  Genera  of  Birds.  By  George  Robert  Gray  ;  with  plates 
by  David  William  Mitchell.     Parts  29  to  36  inclusive. 

Illustrations  of  the  Zoology  of  South  Africa,  &c.  By  Andrew 
Smith,  M.  D.,  &c.     No.  24. 

Oken's  Isis.     No.  10  for  1846,  and  No.  1  for  1847. 

The  Viviparous  Quadrupeds  of  North  America.  By  Audu- 
bon &  Bachman.     No.  22. 

Fauna  Japonica.     Auctore  P.   H.  von  Siebold.     No.  14. 

Verhandelingen  over  de  Natuurligke  geschiedenis  der  Neder- 
landsche  overzesche  bezettingen,  door  de  leden  der  Natuur- 
kundige  cpmmissie  in  Oost-Indie  en  andere  Schrijvers. 
Botanie,  parts  1  to  7  ;  Land-en  Volkenkunde,  parts  1  to  9. 

Zoologia  typica,  &c.     By  Louis  Fraser.     Nos.  9  and  10. 

The  Birds  of  Australia.     By  J.  Gould.     No.  26. 


June,  1847.]  215 

A  Natural  History  of  the  Birds  of  New  South  Wales.  By- 
John  Wm.   Lewin,  A.  L.  S.    1  vol.  4to.     London,    1828. 

Iconographie  du  Regne  Animal  de  M.  le  Baron  Cuvier. 
Par  M.  F.  E.  Guerin.  Vols.  1  and  2,  coloured  plates. 
Vol.  3,  text.    8vo. 

History  and  Description  of  the  Royal  Museum  of  Natural 
History.  Translated  from  the  French  of  M.  Delouze. 
Parts  1  and  2.  8vo.     Paris,  1823. 

Travels  in  New  Zealand ;  with  contributions  to  the  geogra- 
phy, geology,  botany,  &c,  of  that  country.  By  Ernest 
Dieffenbach,  M.  D.     2  vols.     8vo.     London,  1843. 

A  specimen  of  the  Botany  of  New  Holland ;  by  James 
Ed.  Smith,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  the  figures  by  James  Sowerby, 
F.  R.  S.  Zoology  of  New  Holland:  by  George  Shaw, 
M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  the  figures  by  James  Sowerby.  In  1  vol. 
4to.  London,  1793-94. 

Histoire  naturelle  des  plus  beaux  Oiseaux  chanteurs  de  la 
Zone  Torride ;  par  L.  P.  Vieillott.  1  vol.  folio.  Paris* 
1805. 

The  Magazine  of  Natural  History  and  Journal  of  Zoology, 
Botany,  &c,  conducted  by  J.  C.  Loudon,  F.  L.  S.,  &c.  '9 
vols.,  8vo.    London,  1829  to  1837. 

New  series  of  the  same  work  ;  by  Edward  Charlesworth, 
F.  L.  S.    4  vols.  8vo. 

Annals  of  Natural  History,  or  Magazine  of  Zoology,  Botany, 
and  Geology,  (being  a  continuation  of  Loudon's  Magazine 
of  Zoology  and  Botany,  and  of  Hooker's  Botanical  compa- 
nion) 18  vols.  8vo.  and  3  Nos.  of  vol.  19. 

Magazine  of  Zoology  and  Botany ;  conducted  by  Sir  Wm. 
Jardine,  P.  J.  Selby,  and  Dr.  Johnson.  2  vols.  8vo. 

The  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Beagle,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Fitzroy,  R.  N.,  during  the  years  1832, 
to  '36.  1  vol.  4to.    London,  1840. 

The  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Blossom,  under  the 
command  of  F.  W.  Beechey,  R.  N.,  in  the  years  1826  to 
'28.   1  vol.  4to.    1839. 

Illustrations  of  British  Ornithology.  By  Prideaux  T.  Selby, 
Esq.  2  vols.,  plates,  folio  max. 


216  [June,  1847. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Prof.  Andreas  Retzius,  dated 
Stockholm,  April  25,  1847,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his 
notice  of  election  as  a  Correspondent  of  the  Academy,  and 
communicating  the  result  of  Prof.  Muller's  examination  of  the 
Hydrarchos  of  Dr.  Kock,  which  he  is  satisfied  is  identical  with 
the  Basilosaurus  of  Harlan,  (Zeuglodon  cetoides,  Owen ;)  a 
fact  long  since  announced  by  this  Society,  and  published  in 
its  Proceedings. 

Prof.  Retzius  also  stated  that  he  had  detected  a  cutaneous 
gland  in  the  Fox,  (Canis  vulpes)  near  the  root  of  the  tail, 
opening  on  the  surface,  and  emitting  an  agreeable  odour.  He 
considered  this  gland  characteristic  of  the  genus  Vulpes,  and 
desires  further  investigation  of  the  subject. 

Prof.  Hare  made  some  observations  on  the  weather  of  the 
past  spring,  referring  particularly  to  the  great  prevalence  of 
easterly  winds,  and  their  unnsual  and  remarkable  aridity,  and 
as  a  consequence,  the  retarding  of  vegetation. 

He  also  expressed  his  conviction  that  rain  only  occurred 
when  two  strata  of  clouds  existed ;  if  only  one  was  present, 
its  moisture  would  be  absorbed  by  the  surrounding  atmos- 
phere. 

Mr.  Gliddon  remarked  that  the  casts  of  Egyptian  tablets, 
presented  this  evening,  were  those  of  ordinary  funereal  tablets, 
which  were  frequently  found  with  the  mummies,  deposited 
by  the  friends  of  the  deceased.  They  probably  belonged  to 
the  18th  or  19th  Dynasty. 


June,  1847.]  217 

Stated  Meeting,  June  8,  1847. 
Dr.  McEuen  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Several  specimens  of  copper  ore  from  the  Flemington  Copper 

Mine,  N.  J.     From  Dr.  McEuen. 
A  collection  of  bird  skins,  reptiles,  &c,  from  the  Island  of 

Jamaica.     From  Dr.  C.  \V.  Pennock. 
A  portrait  of  the  late  distinguished  Botanist,  A.  P.  De  Can- 

dolle.     Received  through  Prof.  Asa  Gray. 

DONATIONS    TO     LIBRARY. 

Memoirs  de  la  Societe  de  Physique  et  d'  Histoire  Naturelle 

de  Geneve.     Tome  x.,  pt.  2.     Tome  xi.,  pt.  1.     From  the 

Society. 
Troisieme  Supplement  au  Memoire  sur  les  Coquilles  terrestres 

et  fluviatiles  de  la  Province  de  Bahia.     Par  D.  J.  Mori- 

cand.     From  the  author. 


The  Corresponding  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Prof.  C.  B. 
Adams,  dated  Boston,  May  22d,  1847,  accompanying  the 
donation  of  shells  announced  at  last  meeting,  and  proposing 
to  the  Society,  for  publication  in  its  Journal,  a  Memoir  on  the 
Natural  History  of  the  Island  of  Jamaica,  of  which  he  was 
the  author. 

The  letter  was,  on  motion,  referred  to  the  Publication  Com- 
mittee. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  Frederick  Tamnau,  of  Berlin, 
dated  March  22d,  1847,  making  enquiry  relative  to  a  box  of 
minerals  which  he  had  transmitted  to  the  Academy  at  a  for- 
mer period,  and  asking  an  equivalent  for  the  same ;  which 
was  accordingly  ordered  by  resolution  of  the  Society. 

Dr.  Leidy  called  the  attention  of  the  Society  to  a  cranium 
of  a  NeAv  Hollander,  in  which  the  remains  of  sutures  of  the 
incisive  bone  could  be  distinctly  traced. 

Mr.    Edward   Harris   exhibited    specimens   of    Amorpha 


218  [June,  1847. 

fruticosa,   raised   from   seed   brought  by   himself  from    the 
State  of  Missouri. 

Prof.  Johnson  exhibited  a  plan  for  forming  geological  sec- 
tions, in  which  the  different  strata  were  represented  by  the 
rock  itself  in  a  pulverized  state  upon  paper. 


Stated  Meeting,  June  15,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Patents,  exhibiting  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Patent  office  during  the  year  ending  Dec.  31, 
1845.     From  Peter  A.  Browne,  Esq. 

The  history  and  culture  of  the  Olive.  The  anniversary  ad- 
dress of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  of  South  Carolina, 
delivered  Nov.  26,  1846,  by  the  Hon.  Mitchel  King.  Co- 
lumbia, S.  C  ,  1846.  From  Dr.  R.  W.  Gibbes,  of  South 
Carolina. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  Vol.4. 
Nos.  36  and  37 ;  July  1846  to  March  1847.  From  the 
Society. 

The  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association 
of  Pennsylvania  College.     Vol.  3,  No.  8.     From  the  Asso- 
ciation. 
Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  fine  works : 

Planches  colorees  d'Oiseaux  :  par  C.  J.  Temminck.  5  vols, 
folio. 

Voyage  autour  de  Monde  de  la  Coquille,  pendant  les  annees 
1822,  '23,  '24  and  '25,  par  M.  L.  Duperry.  Zoologie  : 
par  MM.  Lesson  and  Garnot.  2  vols.  4to.  and  Atlas, 
folio.  Paris,  1826,  '30. 
Histoire  naturelle  generale  des  Pigeons  :  par  C.  J.  Temminck, 
(with  his  original  introduction,  and  proof  plates  before  let- 
tering,) 1  vol.  folio.     Paris,  1808. 


June,  1847.]  219 

Les  Pigeons ;  par  Madame  Knip,  nee  Pauline  de  Courcelles, 
premies  peintre  d'histoire  naturelle  de  S.  M.  l'lmpera- 
trice  Reine  Marie  Louise  :  le  texte  (ler.  tome)  par  C.  J. 
Temminck,  et  (2e.  tome)  Florent  Prevost.  Folio.  Paris, 
1811,  1834. 

A  letter  was  read  from  the  Royal  Bavarian  Academy  of 
Sciences,  dated  Munich,  April  26,  1847,  requesting  certain 
portions  of  the  publications  of  this  Society  for  completing 
the  series  of  the  same  in  the  Bavarian  Academy. 

A  communication  was  read  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society,  dated  May  7,  1847,  return- 
ing acknowledgments  for  late  numbers  of  the  Academy's 
Proceedings. 

Professor  Hare  read  a  memoir  intended  for  publication  in 
the  Journal  of  the  Academy,  entitled  "  Objections  to  the 
electrical  theories  of  Franklin,  Du  Faye  and  Ampere,  with 
some  suggestions  as  a  substitute." 

Referred  to  a  committee  consisting  of  Dr.  Bridges,  Mr.  H. 
Seybert,  and  Prof.  Johnson. 

Professor  Hare  stated  that  among  the  results  of  the  com- 
bustion of  gunpowder,  he  had  detected  the  formation  of  Sul- 
pho-cyanide  of  Potassium,  indicated  by  its  producing  a  blood- 
red  precipitate  with  the  per-salts  of  iron. 


Stated  Meeting,  June  22d,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

A  collection,  in  spirits,  of  Reptiles  from  Jamaica.  Presented 
by  Dr.  C.  W.  Pennock. 

Dr.  C.  D.  Meigs  presented  a  living  specimen  of  Hydrochoerus 
capybara  (Cavy,)  from  South  America,  and  a  living  speci- 
men of  Didelphis  Virginiana. 


220  [June,  1847. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  five  crania  of  Malays,  and  one  of  an 
Oceanic  Negro. 

DONATIONS   TO   LIBRARY. 

American  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science,  conducted  by 

Dr.  E.  Emmons  and  A.  Osborn,  Esq.     June  1847.     From 

the  Editors. 
On  the  destruction  and  partial  reproduction  of  forests  in  British 

North    America.     By   John   William   Dawson,    Esq.,    of 

Pictou.     From  the  Author. 

Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following : 
The   Viviparous  Quadrupeds   of  North   America  ;  by  J.  J. 

Audubon  and  Rev.  J.  Bachman,  D.  D.     Vol.  1,  large  8vo. 

New  York,  1846.       ■ 
Oken's  Isis,  No.  2,  for  1847,  and  Revue  Zoologique,  No.  2, 

for  1847. 


A  letter  was  read  from  J.  W.  Dawson,  Esq.,  dated  Pictou, 
N.  S.,  May  25,  1847,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice 
of  election  as  a  Correspondent. 


Dr.  Leidy  exhibited  a  drawing  of  an  Entozoon,  (a  species 
of  Distoma,)  found  in  the  pericardium  of  Helix  alternata. 
This  entozoon  is  half  a  line  in  length  by  a  quarter  of  a  line  in 
breadth,  a  large  comparative  size,  when  its  situation  is  con- 
sidered, being  equal  to  that  of  the  ventricle  of  the  heart. 
The  pericardium  was  perfectly  transparent,  and  presented  no 
appearance  of  cicatrix,  or  marks  of  external  communication. 
Dr.  Leidy  then  read  the  following  description  of 

Distoma  Helicis. — Oval,  flattened,  white  in  colour ;  oral 
disk  large,  round,  marked  by  radiating  lines :  posterior  disk 
central,  about  the  size  of  that  of  the  mouth,  radiate,  with  a 
dark  spot  in  the  centre.  Intestinal  canal  commencing  by  a 
fusiform  oesophagus,  the  apex  of  which  joins  a  round  stoma- 
chal cavity,  from  which  passes  off  on  each  side  a  convoluted 
intestinum,  which  proceeds  to  the  posterior  extremity  of  the 
body.     About  half  way   between  the   central  disk  and   the 


June,  1847.]  221 

posterior  extremity  of  the  animal,   I   indistinctly  observed 
what  I  presumed  to  be  the  generative  orifice. 

By  permission  of  the  Society,  a  report  was  received  from 
the  Committee  on  Dr.  R.  W.  Gibbes'  memoir,  entitled  "  On 
the  fossil  genus  Zeuglodon,  Owen,  with  an  account  of  speci- 
mens from  the  Eocene  green  sand  of  South  Corolina,"  recom- 
mending the  same  for  publication  in  the  forthcoming  number 
of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy.     The  report  was  adopted. 


Meeting  for  Business,  June  29, 1847. 

Mr.  Phillips  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  Prof.  Hare's  paper 
entitled  "  Objections  to  the  electrical  theories  of  Franklin, 
Du  Faye,  and  Ampere,  with  some  suggestions  as  a  substitute," 
reported  in  favour  of  publication  in  the  Journal  of  the 
Academy.     The  report  was  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  Mr.  Peter  A.  Browne's  paper,  proposing 
a  new  nomenclature  for  the  class  Mammalia,  reported  that 
the  views  taken  by  the  author,  although  novel  and  ingenious, 
did  not,  in  their  opinion,  justify  the  substitution  of  the  names 
proposed  for  those  in  use,  and  established  by  Cuvier  and 
others.  The  Committee  also  requested  that  a  copy  of  the 
paper  might  be  deposited  in  the  Library  of  the  Academy. 
The  report  was  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  a  paper  by  Lieut.  J.  W.  Abert,  U.  S.  A., 
describing  a  supposed  new  species  of  Quail  inhabiting 
New  Mexico,  reported  the  same  to  be  the  Ortyx  squamata, 
Vigors  ;  and  recommended  for  publication  the  following  por- 
tion of  the  communication. 

"  This  bird  appears  to  be  well  known  throughout  the  whole  de- 
partment of  New  Mexico,  for  a  sketch  that  I  had  made  of  it  was 
universally  recognized  by  the  inhabitants  of  that  country,  who 
called  it  "  La  Codorniz."  I  met  with  several  coveys  on  the 
banks  of  the  "  Rio  del  Norte,"  opposite  to  Socorro,"  but  I  had 
not  the  good  fortune  to   obtain  any  specimens  until  Nov.  12th, 


222  [June,  1847. 

when  in  the  neighbourhood  of  l  Bosqaecito,'  and  again  on  the 
9th  of  Dec.,  when  hunting,  about  eight  miles  to  the  north  of 
1  Fray  Cristobal.' 

These  birds  congregate  in  flocks  or  coveys  of  from  20  to  30  ; 
when  alarmed,  they  emit  a  chicking  note,  and  run  with  such  ra- 
pidity, that  it  is  difficult  to  get  a  second  sight  of  a  covey,  that  one 
may  have  startled  ;  they  seem  to  love  the  low  sandy  bottoms 
where  the  wild  sage  grows  ;  as  these  bottoms  are  covered  with 
little  knolls,  which  with  the  sage,  serves  to  secure  them  from 
their  enemies.  Although  not  hunted  by  the  people,  they  are 
shy.  When  forced  to  take  wing,  they  make  a  whizzing  sound 
that  startles  one,  scattering  as  they  fly,  so  that  when  they  alight, 
they  are  at  considerable  intervals  from  each  other,  but  they  soon  call 
together,  with  the  uttering  of  a  single  whistling  note.  I  dissected 
several,  and  found  them  to  contain  small  green  insects  of  the 
Hemipterous  order,  also  grass  seed  and  the  berries  of  the  mistle- 
toe, which  in  that  country  grows  on  nearly  every  cotton-wood 
tree.  The  female  bears  so  great  a  resemblance  to  the  male,  that 
dissection  alone  can  serve  to  determine  the  sex." 

The  Publication  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  Prof. 
C.  B.  Adams'  letter  of  May  22d,  relative  to  a  paper  on  the 
Natural  History  of  Jamaica,  reported  that  they  deem  it  at 
present  inexpedient  to  accept  the  proposal  of  Prof.  Adams,  in 
regard  to  publishing  the  same  in  the  first  number  of  the  new 
series  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy.  The  report  was 
adopted. 

The  report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was  read  and 
adopted. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted. 

Resolved,  That  subscribers  to  the  Journal  of  the  Academy 
be  entitled  to  the  Proceedings  of  the  same,  free  of  charge 
during  the  period  of  their  subscription. 

ELECTION. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Correspondents  of 
the  Academy : 

E.  George  Squire,  Esq.,  of  Chilicothe,  Ohio, 
Dr.  Edwin  H.  Davis,  do.  do. 

James  Carson  Brevoort,  Esq.,  of  New  York, 
Major  George  A.  McCall,  U.  S.  A.. 


PROCEEDINGS 

OF   THE 

ACADEMY    OF   NATURAL  SCIENCES 

OF     PHILADELPHIA. 

Vol.  III.        JULY  AND  AUGUST,  1847.  No.  10. 

Stated  Meeting,  July  6,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

The  following  collection  of  rare  and  valuable  shells,  princi- 
pally from  the  East  Indies  and  the  South  Seas,  was  presented 
by  Dr.  Wilson  ;  viz  : — 

Helix  Busbyii,  1  specimen  ;  Bulimus  Downsii,  4 ;  B.  inindoren- 
sis,  3;  B.  (undescribed)  from  Venezuela,  1  ;  B.  do.  do.,  2  ;  B. 
citrinus,  2 ;  B.  do.  reversed,  2 ;  B.  Funchii,  1  ;  Cardium 
rnultipunctatum,  1 ;  Pyrula  Mawei,  1 ;  Bivalve  (undescribed, 
from  Japan,)  1 ;  Murex  tenuispinosus  and  operculum,  1 ;  Co- 
nus  regius  (princeps),  2 ;  Trochus  Guilfordii,  1 ;  Ovula  volva, 
1 ;  Ranella  imperialis,  2 ;  Oliva  undata,  (white)  2 ;  Trigonia 
pectinata,  2 ;  Rostellaria  Powisii,  1  ;  Voluta  Delesertii,  1 ;  Ca- 
rinaria  vitrea,  1 ;  Cyprsea  vitellus  (white).  3  ;  Scalaria  varieosa, 
2 ;  Cyclostoma  inca,  3 ;  Unio  discus  ?  1  valve ;  Ostrea  iris 
(prismatica),  1;  Noera  longirostra,  1;  N.  undescribed.  1 ;  He- 
licina  (undescribed,  from  Venezuela,  2;  Spondylus  gsederopus, 
1 ;  Auricula  Caledonica. 

Dr.  Wilson  also  presented  a  collection  of  British  shells,  con- 
sisting of  65  specimens  :  also  seven  masses  of  Anatifa,  Sabella, 
Spatangus,  Balanus,  Serpula,  and  Velhella. 

Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith  presented  a  collection  of  shells  comprising 


224  [jULY,  1847. 

41  specimens  of  Fusus,  11  of  Pyrula,  8  of  Fasciolaria,  26  of 
Turbinella,  and  56  of  Pleurotoma. 

Mr.  T.  C.  Percival  presented  several  specimens  of  Minerals 
from  Montgomery  County,  Penn.  Also,  some  very  fine  spe- 
cimens of  the  fruit  of  Vanilla  aromatica,  both  wild  and  culti- 
vated, from  Tamaulipas,  Mexico. 

A  specimen  in  skin,  of  Garrulus  peruvianus,  and  one  of 
Icterus  cucullatus,  from  Mexico.  Presented  by  Major  G.  A. 
McCall,  U.  S.  A. 

Prof.   Johnson  announced  that  the  collection  of  Chemical 

apparatus  of  Mr.  Henry  Seybert,  together  with  his  library  of 

Chemical  works,  had  been  received,  and  were  now  on  deposit 

in  the  Institution.     The  apparatus  consists  of  1500  pieces  of 

the  following  descriptions : — 

Among  the  articles  of  glass  are  large  assortments  of  digesters, 
phials,  tincture  bottles,  jars,  globular  receivers,  matrasses,  tubes, 
funnels,  alembics,  retorts,  conical  foot  glasses,  air  pump  receivers, 
precipitating  jars,  syphons,  eudiometers,  alkalimeters,  mercurial 
bath  receivers,  adapters,  areometers  for  all  liquids,  with  250  re- 
agents and  other  preparations  in  jars  and  phials.  The  porcelain 
ware  includes  capsules  with  sockets,  evaporating  dishes,  mortars 
and  pestles,  plain  and  branched  tubes,  calcining  tests,  funnels, 
plates,  retorts,  cups,  &c.  The  earthen  ware  embraces  fire-clay 
"  tests,"  crucibles,  retorts,  crucible  covers  and  stands,  assay  fur- 
naces, chauffers,  muffles,  cupels,  &c.  The  platina  includes  co- 
vered crucibles,  forceps,  spatula,  spoon,  wire,  plate,  foil  and  grains 
Among  the  miscellaneous  articles  are  agate  mortars,  chemical 
lamps,  mouth  and  table  blowpipes,  portable  forge,  Papin's  di- 
gesters, leaden  tubes,  assayer's  table,  blowpipe  table  and  bellows,  a 
work  table,  a  variety  of  furnace  implements,  and  other  furniture 
essential  to  an  analytical  laboratory.  The  scales  and  weights  are 
in  six  cases,  and  of  sizes  adapting  them  to  different  chemical  re- 
searches. 

The   Library   contains    259    volumes,    by   the    following 
authors : 

Thenard,  Haiiy,  Brard,  Beudant,  Orfila,  Rickerand,  Magendie, 
(}ay  Lussac,  Bergmann,  Murray,  Fourcroy,  Kapeler  and  Caventou, 
Jourdan,  Karsten,  Ure,  Thompson,  Mirbel,  Faraday,  De  Lisle, 
Chaptal,  Berthollet,  Klaproth,  Sage,  Cramer,  Priestly,  Black, 
Schmeiser,  Kirwan,  Brongniart,  Berthier,  Lucas,  Humboldt,  Park, 
Jameson,  Accum,  Ingenhouz,  Spallanzani,  Chcvreul,  Homassel, 
Lavoisier,  Bache,   Lewis,  Maquer,  Henry,  Payen  and  Chevallier, 


July,  1847.]  225 

Vitalis,  Berzelius,  Aiken,  Cuvier,  Stromeyer,  Barat,  and  Rose ;  to- 
gether with  44  volumes  of  the  Annales  de  Chimie,  and  47  volumes 
of  the  Annales  de  Chimie  et  de  Physique. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

A  voyage  round  the  world  in  the  years  1800  to  1809,  in 
which  the  author  visited  the  principal  islands  in  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and  the  English  settlements  of  Port  Jackson  and 
Norfolk  Island.  By  John  Turnbull.  3  vols.  12mo.  Lon- 
don, 1805.     From  Dr.  Joseph  Leidy. 

The  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association 
of  Penn.  College.     Vol.  3.  No.  9.     From  the  Association. 

Review  of  Dr.  M.  Gay's  statement  of  Dr.  Jackson's  claims  to 
the  discovery  of  the  inhalation  of  ether  as  a  preventive  of 
pain.     By  J.  B.  S.  Jackson,  M.  D.     From  the  author. 

De   Candolle's  Prodromus,  Pars  7,  sectio  posterior.     Pur- 
chased by  Academy  to  complete  its  series. 
Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  works : 

A  History  of  the  fossil  fruits  and  seeds  of  the  London  Clay  : 
by  James  Scott  Bowerbank,  F.  G.  S.  Part  1.  8vo.  Lon- 
don :  1840. 

Illustrations  of  the  Geology  of  Yorkshire  :  by  John  Phillips, 

F.  R.  S.,  «fec.     Part  1,  the  Yorkshire  Coast ;  Part  2,  the 
Mountain  limestone  District.     4to.     London :  1835-86. 

Iconographie  Ornithologique :  par  O.  Des  Murs.     8th  Liv. 

Spicilegia  Ornithologica  exotica.  Auctore  J.  F.  Brandt. 
Fascia  1.     4to.     Petropoli :  1839. 

The  Animal  Kingdom  of  the  Baron  Cuvier,  enlarged  and 
adapted  to  the  present  state  of  Zoological  Science  ;  illus- 
trated after  the  original  drawings  of  Audebert,  Baraband, 
Cuvier,  &c,  (comprising  Mammalia,  orders  Bimana,  Quad- 
rumana  and  Cheiroptera.)  2  vols,  in  one.  4to.  Edinburgh : 
1839. 

Description  des  Coquilles  fossiles  des  environs  de  Paris  :  par 

G.  P.  Deshayes.     Tomes  1  and  2,  and  Atlas,  4to.     Paris : 
1824. 


226  [July,  1847. 

Monographie  des  plantes  fossiles  du  Gres  Bigarre  de  la  Chaine 

des  Vosges  :  par  W.  P.  Schiuiper  et  A.  Mougeot.     1  vol. 

4to.     Leipzig:  1844. 

Mr.  James  Read  presented  the  following  works : — 
Oalendricr  de  Flore  ;  ou.  etudes  de  fleurs  d'apres  nature  :  par 

Madame  V.  D.  C ;  3  vols.  8vo.     Paris,  1802. 

Traite  des  Jardins ;  ou  le  nouveau  de  la  Quintinye,  &c;  par 

M.  L.  B ;  4  vols.  8vo.     Paris  1775. 

Dr.  Robert  E.  Griffith  deposited  a  large  collection  of  valua- 
ble works,  many  of  them  very  rare  :  viz  : — 
D.  Georgii  Rudolphi  Boehmeri  Bibliotheca  scriptorum  His- 

torise  naturalis   (Economise  aliarumque  artium  ac  scienti- 

arum  ad  illam  pertinentium  realis  systematica.     9   vols. 

8vo.     Leipzig.     1685  to  1789. 

Kecreatio  mentis  et  oculi,  in  observatione  animalium  testace- 
orum  curiosis  naturae  inspectoribus  Italico  sermone  primum 
propositi  A.  P.  Phillippo  Bonanno,  1  vol.  4to.  Rome, 
1684. 

Deliciae  Cobresianse ;  J.  P.  Cobres  Buchersammluna;  zur 
Naturgeschicte.     2  vols.  8vo. 

Fauna  Groenlandica  ;  systematica  sistens  animalia  Groenlan- 
dioe  occidentalis  hactenus  indagata,  &c,  secundum  proprias 
observationes  Othonis  Fabricii.     1  vol.  8vo.     1780. 

Zoologiee  Danicee  Prodromus ;  seu  animalium  Danise  et  Nor- 
vegiee  indigenarum  characteres,  nomina,  et  synonyma  im- 
primis popularium.  Auctore  Othone  Friderico  Miiller.  1 
vol.  8vo.,  1776. 

Synopsis  novorum  generum,  specierum,  et  varietatum  testa- 
ceorum  viventium  anno  1834  promulgatorum,  &c.  Auc- 
tore Th.  Miiller.     1  vol.  8vo.,  1836. 

Bibliotheca  Physico-medica.  Zu  finden  bii  Leopold  Voss  in 
Leipzig.     1  vol.  8vo.,  1835. 

Jo.  Jacob.  Baieri  Sciagraphia  Musei  sui  accedunt  supplementa 
Oryctographise  Noricse  cum  figuris  Deneis.     1  vol.  4to. ,  1730. 


July,  1847.]  227 

Classes  Conchyliorurn.     Auctore  Carolo  Augusto  de  Bergen. 

1  vol.  4to.     1760. 
Kleine  beytrage  zur  Testaceotheologie  oder  zur  erkantniss 

Gottes  aus  den  Conchylien  in  einigen  sendschreiben  heraus- 

gegeben.     4to.     Frankfort  and  Leipzig :  1760. 
De  corporibus  marinis  lapidiscentibus  quae  defossa  reperiuntur; 

auctore  Augustino  Scilla ;  addita  dissertatione  Fabii  Colum- 

.nae  de  Glossopetris.     4to.     1747. 
Enunieratio  Molluscorum  Sicilies  cum  viventium  turn  in  tel- 

lure  tertiaria  fossilium,  quae  in  itinere  suo  observavit  auctor 

Rudolphus  Aniandus  Phillippi.     4to.     Vol.  2d  :  1844. 
Joann.  Bapt.   Bohadsch,   de  quibusdam  animalibus  marinis, 

eorumque  proprietatibus,  orbi  litterario   vel   nonduni   vel 

minus  notis.     4to.     1761. 
Recherches  sur  1' usage  des  feuilles  dans  les  plantes,  et  sur 

quelques  autres  sujets  relatifs  a  l'histoire  de  la  vegetation. 

Par  Charles  Bonnet.     4to.     1754. 
Jacobi  Theodori  Klein  tentamen  methodi  Ostracologicte,  sive 

dispositio  naturalis  Cochlidum  et  Concharum  in  suas  clas- 
ses, genera  et  species,  &c.     4to.     1753. 
Jani  Planci  Ariminensis  de  Conchis  minus  notis  liber.  &c. 

4to.     1750. 

Gerardi  Blasii  Amstelrsedamensis  Anatome  Animalium.    4to. 
1681. 

Delia  storia  naturale  marina  dell'  Adriatico.      Saggio  de  Sig- 
nor  dottore  Vitaliano  Donati  giuntavi  una  lettera  del  Signer 
dottore  Lionardo  Sealer.     4to.     1750. 
Rariora  Musei  Besleriani  quae  olim  Basilius  et  Michel  Ru- 

pertus  Besleri  collegerunt;  nunc  commentariolo  illustrate 

a  Johanne  Henrico  Lochnero.     Folio.     1716. 
Opere   postume    del    Conte   Giuseppe  Giovanni    Ravennate. 

Folio.     1755. 
Thesaurus  imaginium  Piscium  Testaceorum,  quse  Georgius  E. 

Rumphius,  M.  D.  collegit.     Folio.  1711. 
Zoophylacium    Gronovianum,    exhibens    Animalia    quae    in 

Musco  suo  adservavit,  examini  subjecit,  systematice  dis- 


228  [July,  1847. 

posuit  atque  descripsit  Laur.  Theod.  Gronovius,  J.  U.  D. 

Folio.     1781. 
Musgeum  calceolarianuni  Veronense  ab  Andrea  Chiocco,  4to. 
Jacobi   Breynii    Opera:    (viz.,    Fasciculi    rariorum    planta- 

rum ;    Icoues    et    descriptiones   rariorum   plantarum :    J. 

P.  Breyni  Jacobi  filii  dissertatio  botanico-medica  de  radica 

Ginsem,  seu  Nisi,  et   Chrysanthem  Bidente  Zeylanico  ac- 

mella   dicto :    Epistola    de   Melonibus  petrefactis    Montis 

Carmel;  Dissertatio  pliysica  de  Poly  thalamus.)  4to.  1739. 
Descriptiones  Tubulorum  Marinorum,  &c,  secundum  disposi- 

tionem  Musei  Kleiniani.     4to.     1781. 
Ueber  den  innern  bau  der  sec  und  einiger  anslandischen  erd 

und   Flussclmecten.      Ein   bersuch   von   Johann    Samuel 

Schraster.     4to.     1783. 
D.  Joh.   Fr.  Blumenbach's  Handbuch  der  Naturgeschichte. 

12mo.     1799. 
The  Conchologist's  Book  of  Species,  containing  600  species 

of  Univalves.     By   Sylvanus  Hanly,  B.  A.     2d  edition. 

8vo.     London,  1842.  * 
Kritisches  Register  zu  Martini  und  Chemnitz's  Systematis- 

chem  Konchylien-kabinet  von  Dr.  E.  Pfeiffer.    8vo.    1840. 
British  Marine  Conchology :   a  descriptive  catalogue  of  the 

Salt-water  Shells  of  Great  Britain.     By  Charles  Thorpe. 

12mo.     London  1844. 


Letters  were  read : 

From  Dr.  Wm.  A.  Bromfield,  dated  June  25,  1847  :  from 
Wm.  H.  Edwards,  Esq.,  dated  New  York,  29th  June,  1847  ; 
from  George  N.  Lawrence,  Esq.,  dated  New  York,  28th  June, 
1847 ;  and  from  Major  Geo.  A.  McCall,  U.  S.  A.,  dated 
Philadelphia,  July  2d,  1847,  severally  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  their  notices  of  election  as  Correspondents. 

From  Col.  J.  J.  Abert,  U.  S.  Topograph.  Engineers,  rela- 
ting to  an  Aerolite,  which  fell  on  the  25th  of  Feb.  last,  nine 
miles  from  the  town  of  Marion,  Iowa ;  and  enclosing  a  frag- 
ment of  the  same. 


July,  1847.]  229 

From  Henry  Seybert,  Esq.,  dated  Philadelphia,  July  5, 
1847,  in  reference  to  the  deposit  of  his  chemical  apparatus 
and  books  in  the  Institution,  the  conditions  of  the  deposit 
being,  that  the  whole  is  to  become  the  property  of  the  Society, 
unless  withdrawn  by  himself  during  his  life-time,  under  the 
usual  rules  regulating  such  deposits. 

From  Richard  Brown,  Esq,  dated  Sydney  Mines,  Cape 
Breton,  Nova  Scotia,  addressed  to  the  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary, of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  During  the  last  winter  months  I  frequently  went  into  the  Pits, 
and  rejoice  to  say  was  rewarded  by  the  discovery  of  some  remark- 
able fossils  in  the  roof  of  the  seam.  One  was  an  upright  Lepidoden- 
dron  12  inches  diameter,  with  roots  spreading  out  in  all  directions 
to  a  distance  of  7  to  8  feet  from  the  stem.  The  roots  near  their 
junction  with  the  stem,  present  rhomboidal  markings  combined 
with  areolae  of  stigmaria — nearer  to  the  extremities  of  the  roots, 
the  rhomboidal  spaces  disappear  and  the  surface  assumes  the  ap- 
pearance of  true  stigmarise.  A  pith  or  core  of  iron  pyrites  is  found 
in  some  of  the  roots.  I  sent  drawings  and  descriptions  of  this  fos- 
sil to  Mr.  Bunbury  about  a  month  ago.  You  will  probably  see 
them  in  the  Loudon  Geological  Journal,  for  August  next. 

I  have  also  got  another  remarkable  fossil,  a  complete  root-stock 
i)f  a  dome-shaped  figure,  but  the  stem  had  been  broken  short  off, 
and  the  bark  squeezed  together  by  the  mud  deposited  upon  it.  It  is 
covered  with  a  coaly  bark  10th  of  an  inch  thick  ;  presents  leaf  scars 
arranged  in  double  lines  similar  to  the  Sigillaria  alternans  of  Lind- 
ley  and  Hutton.  Roots  spread  out  in  all  directions,  marked  with 
areolae  of  stigmaria;  but  what  is  most  curious,  the  under  side  of  the 
root  exhibits  a  series  of  short,  obtuse  tap  roots,  arranged  nearly  in 

a  circle these   are  marked  with  scars  similar  to  stigmatise.     The 

under  side  of  the  root  is  also  covered  with  a  thin  coaly  bark — the 
vertical  tap  roots  are  3  inches  long,  2  in  diameter  at  their  junction 
with  the  root-stocks,  and  terminate  downwards  in  an  obtuse  point, 
the  shape  being  fusiform,  or  not  unlike  a  short  carrot. 

In  addition  to  these,  I  have  got  some  fine  specimens  of  fossil 
fruits  from  the  same  locality.  They  appear  to  have  been  similar  to 
those  of  Pandanus ;  the  seeds  being  arranged  on  the  surface  and 
continuing  in  towards  the  centre.  Before  compression  they  proba- 
bly resembled  a  fluted  melon  in  shape,  and  were  as  large." 

Prof.  Hare  presented  a  Synopsis  of  his  paper  on  Electricity 
(read  at  a  late  meeting  of  the  Academy,)  which  being  designed 


230  #  [jULYj  1847. 

for  publication  in  the  Journal,  as  the  commencement  of  said 
paper,  was  referred  to  the  same  committee. 


On  motion  of  Prof.  Johnson,  Resolved,  that  the  thanks  of 
the  Academy  be  presented  to  Mr.  H.  Seybert  for  his  liberality 
in  depositing  for  the  use  of  this  Institution,  to  an  indefinite 
period,  his  extensive  and  valuable  chemical  apparatus  and 
collection  of  works  on  chemistry. 


Stated  Meeting,  July  13, 1847. 
Mr.  Phillips  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Six  teeth  of  Physeter  macrocephalus,  in  different  stages  ;  and 
two  very  fine  specimens  of  recently  crystallized  Carbonate 
of  Lime,  obtained  from  an  aqueduct  upon  the  Erie  Canal. 
Presented  by  Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith. 

A  mass  of  granite  containing  fine  specimens  of  Tourmaline 
and  crystallized  Feldspar.     From  Mr.  Kilvington. 

Dr.  Griffith  presented  an  additional  collection  of  Shells,  con- 
sisting of  57  specimens  of  Cardium,  4  of  Cypricardia,  31  of 
Bulimus,  and  118  of  Helix. 

A  collection  of  200  species  of  Irish  Shells.  Presented  by 
Wm.  Thompson,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Belfast  Society  of 
Nat.  Hist, 

Five  specimens  of  Sertularia,  three  of  Spongia,  and  one  of 
Flustra,  from  England.     Presented  by  Dr.  Wilson. 

Prof.  Johnson  presented  a  set  of  Liebig's  apparatus  for  analy- 
sing organic  substances. 

The  Curators  exhibited  two  skeletons  of  the  Hybrid  birds  be- 
tween the  Guinea  fowl  and  Turkey,  and  between  the  former 
and  the  common  domestic  fowl,  both  of  which  were  recently 
presented  in  a  living  state  to  the  Academy. 


July,  1847.]  231 

donations  to  library. 

Calcutta  Journal  of  Natural  History.  Nos.  21,  22,  23,  24, 
from  April  1845,  to  Jan.  1846.     From  the  Editors. 

The  American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.  No.  10.  2d 
Series.     July,  1847.     From  the  Editors. 

Geological  Survey  of  Canada.  Report  of  Progress  for  the 
year  1845-6.  Same  for  1846-7.  From  Wm.  E.  Logan, 
Esq.  of  Montreal. 

Eight  Nos.  of  the  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean 
Association  of  Pennsylvania  College,  furnished  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  for  supplying  the 
deficiencies  of  the  same  in  the  Library. 


Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper,  intended  for  publication  in  the 
New  Series  of  the  Journal,  entitled  "Natural  History  of 
Belostoma."  Referred  to  Messrs.  Haldeman,  Wilson,  and 
Griffith. 

Mr.  Gambel  read  a  communication  from  Major  George  A. 
M'Call,  U.  S.  A.,  describing  a  new  Pigeon  from  Mexico,  and 
containing  an  account  of  the  habits  of  the  Geococcyx  viaticus,. 
Wagler.     Referred  to    Dr.    Wilson,  Mr.    Gambel    and   Mr. 
0  assin. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Wm.  E.  Logan,  Esq.,  dated  Mon- 
treal, 30th  June,  1847,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  notice 
of  election  as  a  Correspondent,  and  transmitting  the  Geologi- 
cal Reports  announced  this  evening. 

Also  a  letter  from  Dr.  Von  Jaeger,  dated  Stuttgard,  25th 
March,  1847,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  some  of  the  Pub- 
cations  of  the  Academy,  and  stating  his  intention  to  transmit 
others  in  return. 

32 


232  [July,  1847. , 

Stated  Meeting,  July  20,  1847. 
Dr.  Griffith  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO     MUSEUM. 

An  additional  collection  of  Shells  presented  by  Dr.  Griffith, 

consisting  of  329  specimens  of  the  following  genera: — 
Pecten,  45  sp. ;  Cardita,  17  ;  Venus,  1 ;  Cardium,  1 ;  Area, 

36  :  Machsera,  2  ;  Solen,  2  ;  Periploma,  1 ;  Strombus,  67  ; 

Rostellaria,  7;  Pterocera,    8;  Cassis,  24;  Cassidaria,  5; 

Achatina,  38 ;  Achatinella,  22 ;  and  Bulimus,  54. 
A   specimen,  in   skin,  of   Geococcyx    viaticus,   from   Agua 

Nueva,  and  one  of  Bassoris  astuta,  Lichst. c?,from  Monclova, 

Presented  by  Capt.  Eustis,  U.  S.  A. 
Two  mounted  specimens  of  the  chick  of  Numida  meleagris, 

white  variety.     From  Dr.  Heermann. 

DONATIONS  TO    LIBRARY. 

Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following : 

A  History  of  British  Birds.  By  William  Yarrell.  3  vols. 
8vo.,    and  Supplement. 

Histoire  du  Voyage  de  la  Coquille.     Atlas.     Folio. 

Summary  of  the  Transactions  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of 
Philadelphia  for  Dec.  1846,  to  April  1847,  containing  a 
paper  by  Dr.  Hallowell,  entitled  "  Cases  illustrative  of  the 
natural  history  of  Tuberculous  Diseases."  From  the 
author. 

On  the  endemic  gastro-follicular  Enteritis,  or  Summer  com- 
plaint of  children,  as  it  prevails  in  the  United  States. 
Bv  Edward  Hallowell,  M.  D.     From  the  same. 

Oatalogo  metodico  dei  Pesci  Europei  di  Carlo  L.  Principe 
Bonaparte.     4to.     Napoli,  1846.     From  the  author. 


Professor  Johnson  deposited,  on  the  part  of  Mr.  H.  Seybert, 
nine  additional  chemical  works,  for  use  in  the  Laboratory, 


July,  1847.]  233 

A  communication  was  read  from  J.  F.  Frazer,  Esq.,  Secre- 
tary of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  acknowledging 
the  reception  of  a  recent  number  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Academy.  v 


Meeting  for  Business,  July  27,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  on  Dr.  Hare's  Synopsis  of  his  paper  on 
Electricity,  reported  in  favour  of  publication  of  the  same  in 
the  Journal,  as  the  commencement  of  said  paper. 

The  Committee  on  Major  M' Call's  communication  read 
13th  inst.,  reported  in  favour  of  publication  in  the  Proceedings. 

Description  of  a  supposed  new  species    of   Columba,  inhabiting 
Mexico,  with  some  account  of  the  habits  of  the  Geococcyx  viaticus , 
Wagler. 

By  George  A.  M'Oall. 
Columba    *solitaria. 

Length  13  inches  9  lines.  Alar  extent  23  inches.  Wing,  from 
the  flexure,  7  inches,  5  lines.  Tarsus  1  inch;  middle  toe  1 
inch,  2  lines ;  first  toe  9  lines,  and  longer  than  the  third ;  Bails 
light  flesh  colour;  feet  and  legs  deep  red.  Iris  dark-orange.  Bill 
above,  1  inch,  1  line,  but  feathered  to  within  5  lines  of  the  tip'; 
reddish  near  the  base,  whitish  near  the  tip.  Head  chocolate-blue. 
Throat  chocolate-white.  Neck  and  breast  bluish-chocolate  with 
brilliant  reflections.  Back,  belly,  flanks,  underwing-coverts  and 
greater  exterior  wing-coverts  light  red  colour,  the  last  faintly 
bordered  with  white.  Lesser  wing-coverts  chocolate  red,  forming 
a  bright  shoulder  spot  of  elliptical  shape.  Quill  feathers  dusky, 
tinged  with  lead  colour  on  the  outer  vanes.  3rd  primary  longest. 
Upper  and  under  tail  coverts  bluish-lead  colour.  Tail  5  inches ; 
slightly  rounded  ;  of  twelve  feathers  ;  dusky. 

Individuals  of  this  fine  species,  which,  in  general  contour,  re- 
sembles Columba  (Enas,  were  found  on  the  Rio  Grande,  from 
Matamoras  to  Camargo — these  were  shy,  and  only  met  with  at 
intervals.  They  were  again  observed  on  one  or  two  of  the  smaller 
water  courses  between  the  former  place  and  Victoria,  but  never 
in   flocks ;  nor    were   more   than  half-a-dozen   seen    anywhere  in 


234  [July,  1847. 

a  single  day  while  hunting  over  large  extents.  Their  haunts 
were  in  the  neighborhood  of  running  streams  or  very  large  ponds 
of  clear  water — here  four  or  five  might  be  found  scattered  over 
some  20  or  50  acres;  thus  showing  little  sociability  even  on  their 
feeding  grounds.  But  most  frequently  he  is  found  alone,  perched 
near  the  water,  or  with  rapid  wing  shaping  his  solitary  course 
across  the  extensive  waste.  His  flight  is  extremely  bold,  as  he 
pitches  in  wide  irregular  zig-zags  through  the  air,  with  a  velocity 
scarcely  to  be  surpassed.  The  meat  for  delicacy  of  flavour  is  not 
excelled  by  any  of  the  family. 

Geococcyx   viaticus,  Wagler. 

(For  a  description  of  this  bird,  see  Proceedings  of  the  Academy, 
vol.  2,  No.  10.) 

The  G.  viaticus,  which  the  Mexicans  familiarly  call  Paisano. 
(countryman,)  is  found  in  Texas,  from  the  River  Nueces  to  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  in  Mexico,  from  the  seaboard  at  least  to  the 
Sierre  Hadre  ;  and  being  an  inhabitant  of  the  chaparral,  or  thorny 
thicket,  he  rarely  ventures  far  beyond  its  borders.  Although  the 
toes  of  this  bird  are  disposed  in  opposite  pairs  as  in  other  species 
of  his  family,  yet  the  outer  hind  toe  being  reverseable  and  of  great 
flexibility,  is  in  either  position  aptly  applied  in  climbing  or  perch- 
ing, as  well  as  on  the  ground.  Thus  he  at  times  pitches  along 
the  ground  in  irregular  but  vigorous  hops,  and  again  when  the 
outer  toe  is  thrown  forward,  he  runs  smoothly,  and  with  such 
velocity  as  always  to  be  able  to  elude  a  dog  in  the  chaparral,  with- 
out taking  wing.  He  feeds  on  coleoptera,  and  almost  every 
species  of  insects.  And  near  the  Nueces  where  the  snail  (Lym- 
nceus  stagnalis)  abounds,  it  is  also  greedily  eaten.  These  he 
snatches  from  the  ground  or  plucks  from  the  low  branch  of  a 
bush,  and  as  he  rarely  wanders  far  from  his  abode,  the  prize  is 
carried  to  a  particular  spot,  where  the  shell  is  broken  with  his 
strong  bill  and  the  animal  devoured.  Piles  of  these  shells  are 
often  found  that  would  half  fill  a  hat  crown. 

Although  dwelling  principally  on  the  ground,  he  is  ready  and 
expert  in  catching  his  prey  in  the  air,  in  which  act  his  movements 
are  full  of  animation — bounding  from  the  ground  with  a  sudden 
impulse  to  the  height  of  8  or  10  feet,  his  wings  and  tail  are  seen 
expanded  for  a  scarcely  appreciable  instant,  and  his  bill  is  heard 
to  snap  as  he  takes  his  prey,  when  he  drops  as  suddenly  to  the 
spot  from  which  he  sprang.  Here  he  will  stand  for  a  moment, 
bis  legs  apart,  and  his  tail  flirted  on  one  side  with  a  wild  and  ec- 
centric expression  of  exultation  in  his  attitude,  before  he  scampers 
under  corer  of  the  thick  chaparral.  At  first  I  thought — as  is  the 
general  impression  among  the  Mexicans — that  his  powers  of  flight 
were  extremely  limited;  but  he  will,  when  suddenly  alarmed  in 


Aug,  1847.]  23f, 

open  ground,  rise  with  a  light,  quick  motion,  and  continue  his 
flight  over  the  bushes  for  some  hundred  yards  apparently  with 
an  ease  that  would  argue  the  ability  to  sustain  a  longer  flight. 

Though  fond  of  shade  and  solitude,  he  will  at  an  early  hour  in 
the  morning,  climb  to  the  top  of  a  straight  leafless  branch,  there 
to  sit  and  enjoy  tbe  first  rays  of  the  sun. 

He  is  said  by  the  Mexican  rancheros  to  build  his  nest  of  loose 
sticks  either  in  a  low  thick  bush,  or  in  close  cover  on  the  ground. 
The  eggs  are  about  three  in  number,  of  a  whitish  colour. 


The  Monthly  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was 
read  and  adopted. 

Dr.  Morton  read  some  additions  to  Dr.  Gibbes'  paper,  sug  - 
gested  by  the   author,  which   were  referred  for  examination 
to  the  Committee  by  whom  the  paper  had  been  reported  for 
publication  in  the  Journal. 


ELECTION. 

Samuel  Powel,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  was  elected  a  Mem- 


ber. 


Stated  Meeting,  Aug.  3,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO  MUSEUM. 

Dr.  Wilson  presented  a  collection   of  Shells,  consisting  of 
285  specimens  of  the  following  genera  ; 

Aspergillus,  2  :  Teredo.  3  :  Pholas,  1 :  Solen,  12  :  Solemya,  2  : 
Glauconome,  1  :  Osteodesma,  2  :  Thracia,  2  :  Cleidothaerus,  1  : 
Lutraria,  b'  :  Mactra,  13  :  Crassatella,  3  :  Amphidesrna,  6 : 
Psammobia,  8  :  Telliua,  17  :  Donax,  1  :  Cyrena,  3  :  Astarte, 
4  :  Lima,  1  :  Hinnita,  1  :  Spondylus,  6  :  Placuna,  2  :  Terrebra- 
tula,  3 :  Mya,  3  ;  Melania,  3  :  Neritina,  3  :  Cancellaria,  2  : 
Turbinella,  1  :  Oardium,  8  :  Carnita,  3  :  Area,  12  :  Pectuncu- 
lus,  5  :  Nucula,  1  :  Unio  and  Anodonta,  13  :  Hyria,  1  :  My- 
tetopus,  1  :  Etheria,  6  :  Chama,  10  :  Lithodomus,  1  :  Modiola, 
2  :  Mytilus,  6 :  Pinna,  2  :  Perna,  1  :  Malleus,  2  :  Avicula,  12  ; 
Pedum,  1  :  Cytherea,  Venus,  Arthemis,  60  :  Pecten,  8  :  Pli- 
eatula,  3  :  Ostrea,  2  :  Lingula,  1  :  Crania,  1  :  Ungulina,  1  : 
Natica,  1  :  Triton,  3:  Cerithium,  2;  Pterocera,  2:  Pyrula,  1. 


236  [Aug.  1847. 

Mr.  William  Pease,  of  New,  York,  presented  four   species 
of  Terebratula. 

Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad  presented  the  following  Shells  ; 

Anceulotus  dilatatus  :  Tellina :  Pecten  dislocafu5; ;  P.  : 

Lucina  raduk :    Pyrula    piperata  :    Donax    variabilis :    Gnatho- 

don    flexuosus  :    Cyclas :    Cerithium  ,  3  :   Buccinum 

:  Coluinbella :  Marginella :  Unio ,  8  : 

Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith  presented  a  collection  of  264  specimens 
of  Shells,  of  the  genera  Dolium,  Harpa,  Buccinum,  Eburna, 
Cerithium,  Pyrena,  Crassitella,  Haliotis,  Purpura  and  Rici- 
nula. 

Dr.  Thos.  S.  Savage,  of  Cape  Palmas,  West  Africa,  pre- 
sented an  interesting  series  of  the  nests,  or  habitations  in  clay, 
of  the  large  white  ant  (Termes  bellicosus)  of  that  region, 
and  also  portions  of  dwellings  and  other  structures,  which  had 
been  subjected  to  the  ravages  of  this  insect.  Also,  numerous 
specimens,  in  spirits,  of  African  reptiles,  fishes,  cheiroptera, 
&c.     Among  the  reptiles  are  the  following  : 

ChatuEeleo  dilepis,  Leach ;  Typklops,  2  species,  Crocodilus,  Ceras- 
tes, Bucephalus,  Leptophis,  Eupressis,  Hemidactylus,  Tropi- 
dolepis,  Calotes,  Hyla.  Fishes, — Numerous  specimens  of 
Anabas  and  Leptorynchus.  Of  Cheiroptera,  —  Pteropus  Hal- 
demani,  and  an  undescribed  species  of  Phyllostoma. 

Additional  specimens  of  the  Hessian  fly,  and  portions  of  , 
stems  of  the  common  raspberry  plant,  containing  the  eggs 
and   larvse    of   an   insect    destructive   to   the   plant.     From 
Miss  Morris,  of  Germantown. 

DONATIONS     TO    LIBRARY. 

Muscorum  frondosorum    novae  species  in  Archipelago  Indico 

et  Japonia;  conjunctis  studiis  scripserunt  F.  Dozy  et  J.  K. 

Molkendoer.    Lugduni  Batavorum,  1844.    From  Dr.  P.  W. 

Korthals,  of  Leyden. 
Materials  towards  a  history  of  the  Coleoptera  longicornia  of 

the  United  States.     By  S.  S.  Haldeman,  A.  M.     (From  the 


Aug.  1847.]  237 

Trans.  Am.  Phil.  Soc.  vol.  x.)  4to.    Philada.,  1847.     From 
the  author. 

Proceedings  of  the  General  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  with 
the  Act  of  Incorporation  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
By-Laws  of  the  State  Society,  and  the  testimonial  to  the 
memory  of  General  Washington,  as  adopted  and  commu- 
nicated to  the  meeting  of  the  General  Society,  in  may, 
1800.     12mo.     Philada.,  1841. 

Also,  Proceedings  of  the  same,  with  the  original  institution  of 
the  order,  and  fac  simile  of  the  signatures  of  the  original 
members  of  the  State  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  8vo.  Phi- 
ladelphia, 1847.  From  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 
Cincinnati  Society,  through  Dr.  T.  McEuen. 

Transactions  of  the  Geological  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  Vol. 
1,  part  2.     From  Dr.  Griffith. 

Account  of  an  Expedition  from  Pittsburg  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, performed  in  the  years  1819-20,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Stephen  B.  Long.  Compiled  by  Edwin  James. 
2  vols.  8vo.  and  Atlas,  4to.     Philada.     1823. 

A  sketch  of  a  Tour  on  the  Continent  in  the  years  1786-87. 
By  James  Edward  Smith,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.  3  vols.  8vo. 
London,  1793. 

Enleitung  in  die  Conchylienfenntniss  nach  Linne,  von 
Johann  S.  Schrseter.  3  vols.  8vo.  Halle,  1786.  From  the 
same,  in  exchange. 

Annual  Report  of  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State 
of  New  York,  made  to  the  Legislature,  April  24,  1847. 
8vo.     Albany.     From  the  Regents. 

Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.  3,  No.  10.  From  the  Associa- 
tion. 

Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History. 
Vol.  2,  pp.  193  to  208.     From  the  Society. 


Letters  were  read  r 

From  J.  J.  Bennet,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Linnean  Society 


238  [Aug.  1847. 

of  London,  dated  Jan.  19,  1847,  acknowledging  the  receipt 
of  certain  Nos.  of  the  Journal,  recently  transmitted  at  the  re- 
quest of  that  Society. 

From  the  Librarian  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  His- 
tory, transmitting  certain  portions  of  the  Proceedings  of  that 
Society,  at  the  request  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the 
Academy. 

From  Miss  Morris,  of  Germantown,  dated  July  20,  1847, 
addressed  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  communicating 
the  following  in  relation  to  the  Hessian  fly,  and  to  the  insect 
destructive  to  the  Raspberry  plant: 


"  I  have  great  pleasure  in  handing  to  you  a  box  containing  the 
larvje  of  the  Cecidoniyia,  described  by  me  in  1841,  and  a  vial 
with  those  described  by  Dr.  Fitch. 

The  difference  is  so  marked  that  I  think  no  doubt  can  arise  in 
the  mind  of  any  one  that  there  are  two  species. 

The  species  in  the  vial  were  procured  from  New  Jersey  by 
Mr.  Haines,  and  presented  to  me  ;  from  the  same  source  I  ex- 
pect pupre  from  which  I  hope  to  obtain  the  flies  in  September. 

What  Las  retarded  the  earlier  development  of  the  Larvae  in  the 
centre  of  the  straw  it  is  impossible  to  conjecture,  but  I  fear  now 
they  will  all  perish,  as  they  have  not  attained  more  than  half  their 
growth,  and  the  straw  is  all  dead  and  ready  for  the  harvest. 

The  three  stems  of  raspberry  which  will  accompany  this,  con- 
tain the  nests  of  a  Hymenopterous  insect  which  has  troubled  us 
for  some  years,  but  whose  history  we  were  unacquainted  with 
until  this  morning,  when  I  discovered  them,  as  as  you  will  see,  in 
the  centre  of  the  stem.  In  one  you  will  find  eggs,  in  another 
jiupse,  and  a  third  contains  both  pupae  and  the  perfect  insect. 

I  am  not  prepared  to  say  whether  it  be  the  parent  or  larva  that 
causes  the  greatest  injury,  as  I  have  not  seen  the  worm  feeding 
on  the  pith,  but  am  well  assured  that  they  are  too  injurious  to 
suffer  them  to  remain  unnoticed.  This  spring,  in  many  of  the 
gardens  in  this  neighbourhood,  entire  rows  of  raspberries  were 
blighted  by  them;  it  is  said  the  worm  fed  on  the  pith,  but  I  am 
in  doubt,  as  I  found  a  worm,  which  I  am  inclined  to  think  was 
Lepidopterous,  in  their  nest,  but  may  have  been  a  starved  speci- 
men of  their  own  brood. 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  find  that  the  worm  feeds  on  the  pith 
of  the  raspberry,  and  that  its  history  is  briefly  this;  the  fly  de- 
posits its  eggs  in  the  new  shoot  or  summer  growth  in  the  fall,  and 
the  worm  feeds  on  the  pith  until  the  following  July,  whea  it  un- 
dergoes its  transformation." 


Aug.,  1847.]  239 

A  communication  from  Mr.  Haldeman,  intended  for  pub- 
lication in  the  new  series  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy,  en- 
titled "  Descriptions  of  Coleoptera,  chiefly  in  the  cabinet  of 
J.  L.  Le  Conte,  M.  D.,"  was  read,  and  referred  to  the  fol- 
lowing committee :  Dr.  Leidy,  Mr.  Townsend,  and  Dr.  Pick- 
ering. 


Dr.  Leidy  requested  permission,  which  was  given,  to 
change  the  name  of  a  new  genus  of  Entozoa,  described  by 
him  in  Vol.  3,  No.  5  of  the  Proceedings,  from  that  of 
Cryptobia  to  Crgptoieus,  the  former  name  having  been  pre- 
occupied. 

By  permission  of  the  Society,  reports  were  presented  by 
committees  on  papers  by  Dr.  Gibbes,  of  South  Carolina,  Dr. 
J.  L.  Le  Conte,  of  New  York,  and  Dr.  Joseph  Leidy,  read  at 
recent  meetings  of  the  Society,  recommending  the  same  for 
publication  in  the  Journal.     The  Reports  were  adopted. 


Stated  Meeting,  August  10,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair.    . 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

Fifty-seven  specimens  of  shells,  of  the  following  genera, 
presented  by  Dr.  Wilson  : 

Dolium,  1 ;  Ostrea,  13  ;  Aspergillus,  1 ;  Chama,  1 ;  Alasmo- 
donta,  2  ;  Unio,  1  j  Anodonta,  1 ;  Mesodesma,  1 ;  Sanguinola- 
ria,  2;  Pholas,  4;  Solen,  3;  Grlauconome,  1;  Cjtherea,  5; 
Venus,  1 :  Solecurtis,  1 ;  Pinna,  5  ;  Circe,  1 ;  Mactra,  1 ;  Vul- 
cella;  Pecten,  3  ;  Cardita,  2  ;  Trigonella,  1;  Modiola,  1 ;  Area, 
3  ;  Monoceros,  1 ;  Psammobia,  1. 

Mr.  Conrad  presented  six  specimens  of  shells  of  the  genera 
Corbula,  Cardita,  Pecten,  Cardium,  Astarte  and  Ostrea. 

Mr.  Cassin  presented  a  collection  of  African  shells,  and  also 
a  specimen  of  Unio  Nicklinianus. 

A  number  of  shells  from  the  Sandwich  Islands.     Presented 
by  Mr.  Gambel. 
J  33 


240  [Aug.,  1847. 

Egg  of  Rhea  Americana.     From  Miss  Griffith. 

Eggs  of  Cassicus  hsemorrhous  ?  C.  icteronotus,  Tinanius,  (two 
species ;)  Opisthocomus  cristatus,  Tantalus  loeulator,  Cyra- 
cus,    Crotophaga  major,  Ardea    alba,  A.  herodias,   Crax 

alector,    Psophia  crepitans,  Rallus  ,  Platalea   ajaja, 

Sterna  cyanea,  Charadrius ?.  Also,  one  egg  of  a  Che- 
Ionian,  and  one  of  a  Saurian.  Presented  by  Mr.  Wm.  H. 
Edwards  of  New  York. 

Six  specimens  of  fossils  from  the  clay  near  Baltimore,  and  a 
collection  of  Silurian  fossils.  From  Mr.  Wm.  S.  Pease,  of 
New  York. 

Anhydrous  peroxide  of  Iron,  from  York  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia.    Presented  by  Prof.  Johnson. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Practical  Geology  and  Mineralogy,  with  instructions  for  the 
qualitative  analysis  of  minerals.      By  Joshua  Trimmer, 
F.  G.  S.  8vo.     From  Dr.  Griffith,  in  exchange. 
Dizionario  botanico-Italiano    che   compende  i    nomi  volgari 
Italiani   specialimenti    Toscani   a  Vernacoli   delle  plante 
raccolti  da  diversi  autori  e  dalla  gente  di  campagnacol  cor- 
respondente  Latino  Botanico  compilatio  dal  dottore  Otta. 
viano  Targioni  Tozzetti.  8vo.     Firenze,  1825.     From  the 
same. 
The  fables  of  iEsop,  part  2d  :  in  the  Chinesejanguage.  From 

Mr.  John  Morrison,  of  New  York,  through  Dr.  Watson. 
Agricultural  Botany :  an  enumeration  and  description  of  use- 
ful plants  and  weeds  which  merit  the  notice,  or  require  the 
attention  of  American  agriculturists.     By  Wm.  Darlington, 
M.  D.  12mo.  Philadelphia,  1847.     From  the  Author. 
American    Quarterly  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science  ; 
conducted  by  Dr.  E.  Emmons  and  A.  Osborn :  Vol.  1.  No. 
2 ;  Vol.  2,  No.  1  ;  Vol.  3,  No.  1 ;  Vol.  4,  No.  1.     From  the 
Editors,  in  compliance  with  a  request  from  the  Society- 
Same  work,  for  July,  1847.     From  the  Editors. 


Aug.,  1847.]  241 

The  following  valuable  worksw  ere  deposited  by  Dr.  Wilson : 
North  American  Herpetology  ;  or  a  description  of  the  reptiles 

inhabiting  the  United  States.    By  John  Edwards  Holbrook, 

M.  D.    5  vols.  4to.     Philadelphia,  1842. 
Memoirs  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Great  Britain,  and  of 

the  Museum  of  Economic  Geology  in  London.     Vol.  1.  8vo. 

London,  1846. 
The  London  Geological  Journal,  No.  1,  Sept.  1846. 
The  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  London   Geological   Society, 

Vols.  1  and  2,  and  No.  1,  Vol.  3. 
Abbildungen  neuer    oder  unvollstandig  bekanntner  Amphi- 

bien,  nach  der  Natur  oder  dem  Leben  entworfen,  heraus- 

gegeben  und  mit  einem  erlantunden  Texte  begleitit  von  Dr. 

H.  Schlegel.  1  vol.  8vo.  and  Atlas,  folio.  Dusseldorf,  1837 — 

1844. 
Essai   sur  la   Physionomie   des  Serpens  :  par  H.  Schlegel. 

2  vols.  8vo.,  and  Atlas,  folio.     La  Haye,  1847. 
Physical  description  of  New  South  Wales  and  Van  Diemen's 

land.     By  P.  E.  De  Strzelecki.  1  vol.  8vo.  London,  1845. 
Voyage  a  Meroe,  au  Fluve  blanc  au  dela  de  Fazoql  dans  le 

midi  du  royaume  de  Sennar,  a  Syouah  et  dans  cinq  autres 

oasis  :  fait  dans  les  annees  1819,  '21  '22.     Par  M.  Frederic 

Caillaud,  de  Nantes.     4  vols.  8vo.,  and  Atlas,  2  vols,  folio. 
The  Medals  of  Creation :  or  first  lessons  in  Geology,  and  in 

the   study  of  organic  remains.     By  Gideon  A.  Mantell, 

F.  ft.  S.    2  vols.  12mo..  London,  1846. 
Geological  excursions  round  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  along  the 

adjacent  coast  of  Dorsetshire.     1  vol.  8vo.     London,  1846. 
Histoire  naturelle  des  Animaux  sans  vertebres.     Par.  J.  B. 

P.  A.  De  Lamarck.     10th  edition.  11  vols.  8vo.     London 

1833  to  1845. 
The  Old  Red  Sandstone  :  or  new  walks  in  an  old  field.     By 

Hugh  Miller.     2d  edition.  1  vol.  12mo.  Edinburgh,  1842. 
The  British  Miscellany.     By   James   Sowerby,  F.  L.  S.  12 

numbers  :     Also    the    Malacological    and    Conchological 

Magazine,  conducted  by  Geo.  B.  Sowerby,  F.  L.  S.  2  Nos.: 

the  whole  bound  in  one  volume,  8vo. 


242  [Aug.,  1847. 

The  Book  of  the  great  Sea-Dragons,  Ichthyosauri  and  Plesio- 
sauri,  &c,  with  30  plates  copied  from  skeletons  in  the 
author's  collection  of  fossil  organic  remains,  (deposited  in 
the  British  Museum.)  By  Thomas  Hawkins,  Esq.,  F.  G.  S. 
Folio.     London.     1840.  * 


A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  C.  Hering,  of  Philadelphia,  dated 
July  31,  1847,  in  reference  to  a  Museum  of  Natural  History 
in  Leipzig,  under  the  direction  of  Prof.  Poppig,  and  asking 
on  behalf  of  the  latter,  whether,  and  in  what  mode,  certain 
objects  of  Natural  History  of  this  country  could  be  procured 
for  the  same.     Referred  to  the  Zoological  Committee. 

The  following  communication  was  read  from  Mr.  Wm.  S. 
Pease,  of  N.  Y.,  containing  some  remarks  ->a  the  localities 
whence  the  fossils  presented  by  him  this  evening  were  ob- 
tained : 

"  The  basin  of  the  Chesapeake  and  its  tributaries,  the  Patapsco, 
Gunpowder,  and  other  rivers,  drain  a  vast  number  of  shallow 
vallies,  which  have  been  rendered  such  by  filling  up  with  clay, 
mostly  blue,  sometimes  variegated,  containing  stone,  iron  ore  in 
nodular  masses  with  lignite  and  sulphuret  of  Iron.  Near  Balti- 
more the  ore  is  very  abundant,  whilst  the  pyrites  and  lignite  are 
predominant  lower  down.  The  whole  rests  upon  hornblende  rocks. 
This  clay  is  often  intercalated  with  ferruginous  sands  and  gravel. 
These  gravels  often  unite  and  form  a  hard  conglomerate  rock, 
as  the  "  White  rocks"  in  the  mouth  of  Patapsco  river.  The 
whole  deposit  is  irregular  in  thickness,  enlarging  at  some  points 
and  thinning  off  very  much  in  others;  varying  much  also  in 
color  and  consistency.  It  is  always,  however,  highly  ferruginous  in 
its  composition,  with  one  exception,  and  that  in  the  case  of  a 
deep  leaden  or  black  colored  clay,  which,  upon  calcination,  be- 
comes white.  Hayden,  in  his  Geological  Essays,  speaks  of  lignite 
having  been  found  in  this  strata  with  shark's  teeth,  &c,  (doubtful.) 
The  fossils  accompanying  this  were  found  in  a  thin  vein  passing 
through  the  above  clay  formation,  which  enlarges  very  much  near 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  forms  the  hill  known  as  Telegraph  or 
Federal  Hill,  associated  with  lignite  and  sulphuret  of  Iron.  Cu- 
cullias  have  been  found  at  Bear  creek,  (emptying  into  the  Patap- 
sco) 5  or  6  miles  from  Baltimore,  partly  composed  of  earthy 
blue  Phosphate  of  Iron.  They  were  thrown  out  of  an  excavation 
for  a  well   about  25  feet  deep.     With  these,  other  fossil  traces 


Aug.,  1847.]  243 

were  recognized,  but  they  were  not  sufficiently  distinct  to  be  re- 
ferred to  any  class. 

Thuse  vegetable  impressions  I  would  refer  to  the  Henopteris 
or  Glossopteris,  and  are  new. 

In  the  Geological  Keport  of  the  State,  this  formation  is  placed 
below  the  Tertiary." 


The  Chairman  read  a  letter  from  Dr.  Jeffries  Wy  man,  dated 
Boston,  Aug.  5,  1847,  enclosing  sketches  of  crania  of  a  male 
and  female  supposed  new  species  of  Orang,  inhabiting 
Western  Africa,  brought  to  this  country  by  Dr.  Thomas  S. 
Savage.  Information  on  the  subject  was  requested  from  the 
Society. 

Dr.  Morton  read  a  portion  of  a  memoir  designed  for  pub- 
lication in  the  Journal,  "  On  the  position  of  the  Ear  in  the 
statuary  and  paintings  of  the  civilized  nations  of  antiquity ;" 
which  was  referred  to  a  Committee  consisting  of  Mr.  Grliddon, 
Dr.  Pickering  and  Dr.  Wilson. 

Dr.  Leidy  presented  an  instance  of  a  curious  optical  illusion 
arising  from  a  peculiarity  in  the  structure  of  the  intervertebral 
substance  of  man.  He  stated  the  external  third  of  each  disk  to  be 
composed  of  concentric  layers  of  non  elastic  or  white  fibrous  tis- 
sue, the  fibres  of  which  are  oblique,  those  of  the  alternate  layers 
crossing  each  other.  This  arrangement,  when  viewed  from  either 
side,  gives  rise  to  the  appearance  of  alternating  layers  of  while 
fibrous  tissue,  indicated  by  its  shiniug  whiteness  and  opacity,  aod 
of  cartilage,  indicated  by  its  semi-transparency  and  duluess,  and 
this  is  actually  stated  to  be  the  arrangement  in  anatomical  works 
generally,  and  even  in  the  late  and  very  excellent  Physiological 
Anatomy  of  Messrs.  Todd  and  Bowman. 

The  illusion  is  well  marked  :  if  a  disk  be  held  side-ways  in  the 
hand,  and  pins  be  stuck  in  what  seem  to  be  the  alternating  layers 
of  cartilage,  and  then  viewed  from  the  other  side,  the  pins  will 
actually  appear  to  have  changed  their  position  from  the  cartilage 
to  the  fibrous  layers. 

Dr.  L.  explained  the  illusion  by  supposing  it  to  be  produced 
in  the  one  case  from  the  rays  of  light  reflected  from  the  numerous 
points  of  the  fibres,  when  the  eye  is  opposed  to  them,  giving  rise 
to  a  divided,  and  consequently  white,  opaque  surface,  while  in  the 
other  direction,  the  rays  of  light  being  partly  transmitted  by  the 
extremities  of  the  fibres,  give  rise  to  the  characteristic  dulness  and 
semitransparency  of  cartilage. 


244  [Aug.,  1847. 

By  permission  of  the  Society,  a  report  was  received  from 
the  Committee  on  Prof.  Haldeman's  paper,  containing  de- 
scription of  new  Coleopterous  Insects  of  the  United  States, 
recommending  the  same  for  publication  in  the  new  series  of 
the  Journal.     The  report  was  adopted. 


Stated  Meeting,  August  IT,  184T. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    to     MUSEUM. 

Nests  of  Cassicus  icteronotus,  and  of  C.  hemorrhous.  From 
Mr.  Wm.  H.  Edwards,  of  New  York. 

A  collection  of  Reptilia,  in  spirits.  From  Mr.  Amory  Edwards. 

Fine  specimen  of  crystallized  Sulphate  of  Strontian.  Pre- 
sented by  Dr.  Wilson, 

Native  grains  of  Platinum.     Presented  by  Dr.  Joseph  Leidy. 

Mounted  specimen  of  Argus  giganteus.  From  Mr.  Richard 
Oakford. 

DONATIONS    TO     LIBRARY. 

Essai  de   Formules   botaniques,    representant  les  caracteres 

des  plantes  par  des  signes  analytiques  qui  remplacent  les 

phrases  descriptives,  &c.     Par  N.  E.   Seringe  et  Guillard. 

4to.     Paris  :  1836.     From  Dr.  R,  E.  Griffith. 
Histoire  naturelle  drolatique  et  philosophique  des  Professeurs 

du  Jardin  des  Plantes,  &c.     Par  Isid.  S.  De  Gosse.  12mo. 

Paris,  1847.     From  the  same. 

The  following  were  also  received  from   Dr.  Griffith,  in  ex- 
change : — 
Voyages  d'un  Naturaliste,  &o.  Par  M.  E.  Descourtilz.  3  vols. 

8vo.     Paris,  1800. 
A  Narrative  of  four  voyages  to  the  South  Seas,  Pacific  Ocean, 
&c,  &c,  from  the  year  1822  to  1831.     By  Capt.  Benjamin 
Morrell.     8vo.     New  York,  1832. 


Aug.,  1847.]  245 

Lepidoptera  Americana  ;  or  original  figures  of  the  Moths  and 
Butterflies  of  North  America,  &c.  By  Titian  R.  Peale. 
Vol.  1,  No.  1.     4to.     Philadelphia,  1833. 

.Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  : — 

The  Viviparous  Quadrupeds  of  North  America.  By  Audubon 
&  Bachman.    No.  23.     Folio. 

The  Genera  of  Birds.  By  George  R.  Gray,  F.  R.  S.  4to. 
No.  37. 

The  London  Geological  Journal.     No.  2.      Feb.  1847. 

The  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History.  No.  127. 
May,  1847. 

The  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Geological  Society  of  London. 
No.  10.     May,  1837. 

The  Birds  of  Australia.     By  John  Gould.     No.  27.     Folio. 

The  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Beagle,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Fitzroy,  R.  N.,  during  the  years  1832 
to  1836. — Birds:  by  John  Gould,  Esq.,  5 parts: — Fishes; 
by  the  Rev.  Leonard  Jenyns,  M.  A.  F.  L.  S.,  4  parts. — 
Heptiles :  by  Thomas  Bell,  Esq.     4  parts.     4to. 

Geology  of  the  Beagle :  1st  part,  The  structure  and  distribu- 
tion of  Coral  reefs,  by  Charles  Darwin,  M.  A.,  &c. ;  2d 
part,  Geological  observations  on  the  Volcanic  Islands  visited 
during  the  Voyage,  by  Charles   Darwin.     8vo. 

A  History  of  British  Starfishes,  and  other  animals  of  the  class 
Echinodermata.  By  Edward  Forbes.  8vo.  London, 
1841. 

Museum  Leverianum  :  containing  select  specimens  from  the 
Museum  of  the  late  Sir  Ashton  Lever,  with  descriptions  in 
Latin  and  English.  By  George  Shaw,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 
4to.     1792. 

On  the  fossil  remains  of  the  soft  parts  of  Foraminifera  dis- 
covered in  the  Chalk  and  Flint  of  the  South-east  of  Eng- 
land.    By  Gideon  Algernon  Mantell,  Esq.,  &c,  (from  the 
Philosophical  Transactions,  part  4,  for  1846.)     4to.     Lon 
don,  1846.     From  the  author. 


24G  [Aug.,  184T. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  Thomas  S,  Savage,  dated  Mid- 
dletown,  Conn.,  August  11th,  1847,  in  reference  to  the  collec- 
tion of  objects  of  Natural  History  received  from  him,  and 
announced  at  last  meeting ;  also  informing  the  Society  of  his 
intention  to  communicate  some  facts  relative  to  the  habits  of 
some  of  the  animals  sent. 

Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper  intended  for  publication  in  the 
Proceedings,  entitled  "Description  and  Anatomy  of  a  new 
and  curious  subgenus  of  Planaria,"  which  was  referred  to  a 
Committee  consisting  of  Mr.  Haldeman,  Dr.  Pickering  and 
Dr.  Griffith. 

Mr.  Gambel  presented  a  revised  copy  of  his  "  Remarks  on 
the  Birds  of  California,"  intended  for  publication  in  the  Jour- 
nal.    Referred  to  Messrs.  Cassin,  Townsend  and  AYoodhouse. 


Steted  Meeting,  Aug.  24,  1847. 
Dr.  Griffith  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Twenty-three  mineralogical  and  geological  specimens  from 
Lake  Superior :  and  a  specimen  of  a  new  species  of  Colu- 
ber from  the  same.     Presented  by  Mr.  Moss. 

Mr.  Robert  Kilvington  presented  1035  specimens,  comprised 
in  345  species,  of  British  Lepidoptera,  viz :  of  Diurna  57 
species,  Crepuscularia  18  species,  Pomeridiana  39  species, 
Nocturna  124  species,  Semidiurna  107  species. 

Eggs  of  forty-eight  species  of  European  Birds,  and  of  thirteen 
American  species ;  an  Asterias  ;  thirty-five  species  of  Ame- 
rican Lepidoptera,  and  a  number  of  foreign  Coleoptera, 
and  4  species  of  Crustacea.     From  Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson. 

A  prepared  specimen  of  Squatina  Dumerili,  taken  in  Dela- 
ware Bay.  Presented  by  Messrs.  Wilson,  Cassin,  and 
Leidy. 


AUG.,  1847.]  247 

DONATIONS   TO    LIBRARY. 

Description  of  a  new  species  of  Salamander.     By  Lewis  11. 

Gibbes,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.     (From  the  Boston  Journal 

of  Nat.  Hist.,  Vol.  5.  No.  1.)     From  the  author. 
Twelfth,  13th,  and  14th  Memoirs  with  reference  to  the  law 

of   Storms  in  India.     By  Henry  Piddington.     From  the 

author. 
Commentary  on  the  Hindu  System  of  Medicine.     By  T.  A. 

Wise,  M.  D.     8vo.    Calcutta,  1845.    From  H.  Piddington, 

Esq. 
Iconographie  Ornithologique :  publie  par  0.  Des  Murs.  Livs. 

1 — 8.     4to.    Presented  by  Mr.  Edward  Wilson,  of  Wales. 
Manuscript   Geological  Chart  (coloured,)  of  the  Silurian  rock 

formations  of  North  America.      By  Richard   C.   Taylor, 

F.  G.  S.     From  Mr.  Tavlor. 


Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper  accompanied  by  drawings,  of  two 
new  species  of  Planaria,  which  was  referred  to  the  following 
Committee  :  Dr.  Griffith,  Mr.  Haldeman,  and  Dr.  Pickering. 

Dr.  Leidy,  stated  in  reference  to  the  specimen  of  Squatina 
Dumerili,  presented  this  evening,  that  it  was  a  rare  species.  A 
description  of  it  was  first  given  by  Mr.  Leseuer  in  Vol.  1  of 
the  Journal  of  this  Society.  His  description  is  taken  from  three 
specimens,  all  males,  each  of  which  had  six  or  seven  distinct 
rows  of  teeth,  25  teeth  in  each  row.  The  specimen  on  the 
table  is  a  female,  is  four  feet  long,  and  has  ten  distinct  rows  of 
teeth,  counting  from  before  backwards,  and  five  teeth  in  each 
row,  in  the  lower  jaw  ;  and  nine  rows  with  the  same  number 
in  each  row,  in  the  upper  jaw.  The  intestinal  canal  is  very 
simple,  and  has  but  one  convolution  in  its  course.  The  oesopha- 
gus is  capacious  and  undefined  from  the  stomach :  both  are 
strongly  muscular. 

34 


248  [Aug.,  1847. 

Meeting  for  Business,  Aug.  31,  1847. 

Mr.   Cassin  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  on  the  following  papers  by  Dr.  Leidy,  read 
17th  and  24th  inst.,  reported  in  favour  of  publication  in  the 
Proceedings. 

Description  and  Anatomy  of  anew  and  curious  sub-genus  of  Planaria. 

By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

In  October,  1840,  Prof.  S.  S.  Haldeman  published  a  description  of 
an  animal  under  the  name  of  Planaria  gracilis.*  Upon  examination 
I  detected  such  a  remarkable  peculiarity  in  the  digestive  apparatus 
as  led  me  to  investigate  its  anatomy  in  detail,  and  to  form  for  it  a 
separate  snb-genus,  characterised  as  follows : 

Phagocala,  oblonga,  plano-convexa,  nuda,  contractus,  mucosa, 
antica  auricularia.  Apertura;  duoe,  ventrales,  ad  os  et  generationem 
pertinens.     Proboscides  multse. 

P.  gracilis,  nigricans,  lateribus  parallelis,  postero  acuto  abrupte, 
plerumque  antico  recto  ;  oculis  duobus.  Long.  91in.,lat.  llin.  Hab- 
itat in  fontibus  Pennsylvania?. 

Description.  Oblong,  limaceform,  naked,  convex  superiorly,  flat 
inferiorly,  very  contractile  ;  sides  ordinarily  parallel,  convex  when  the 
animal  is  in  a  contracted  state,  convergent  anteriorly  when  elongated  ; 
anterior  extremity  with  a  lateral  triangular  auricular  appendage, 
straight  in  front,  by  contraction  becoming  convex  or  concave  ;  poste- 
rior extremity  abruptly  pointed  ;  ocelli  two,  anterior  composed  of  an 
oblong,  semi-transparent  (nervous?)  mass  with  an  intensely  black  dot 
of  pigmentum  at  the  internal  posterior  part ;  ventral  apertures  two; 
oral  aperture  a  little  less  than  one-third  the  length  of  the  body  from 
the  posterior  extremity,  and  very  dilatable  ;  generative  aperture  half- 
way between  the  oral  aperture  and  posterior  extremity.  Colour  black 
or  iron  gray,  and  some  younger  specimens  latericeous. 

This  animal  I  have  only  found  in  abundance  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Prof.  Haldeman's  residence,  near  Columbia,  Pa.  In  a  spring  in  front 
of  his  house,  thousands  of  them  may  be  seen  gliding  along  the  bottom; 
some  of  them  occasionally  creep  up  the  sides  to  the  surface  of  the 

*  Supplement  to  number  one  of  "A  Monograph  of  theLimniades,  or  Fresh- 
water Univalve  Shells  of  North  America,"  containing  descriptions  of  ap- 
parently new  animals  in  different  classes,  &c.  'tBy  S.  S.  Haldeman.  Phila 
delphia.,  1840. 


Aug.,  1847.]  249 

water,  turn  upon  the  back,  and  by  making-  the  ventral  surface  con- 
cave, float  about  in  the  manner  of  the  Ltmniadce.  It  appears  to  be 
carnivorous  in  habit,  or  at  least  it  attaches  itself  to  animal  matter, 
dead  or  living,  in  preference  to  vegetable  matter.  When  irritated, 
it  throws  out  a  considerable  quantity  of  very  tenacious  mucus. 

In  structure  it  appears  to  be  intermediate  between  the  entozoic 
Distomata  and  the  annulose  Hirudinoe.  I  could  not  detect  any  trace 
of  annulation,  but  I  think  that  this  alone  would  hardly  be  sufficient 
to  place  it  lower  than  the  latter  animals,  because,  in  a  closely  allied 
animal,  the  Gordius  aquaticus,  although  there  is  no  annulation  in  the 
perfect  animal,  yet  in  the  embryo  state  I  find  it  to  exist. 

The  whole  animal  is  composed  of  a  delicate  granular  structure  :  the 
only  approach  to  muscular  fibre  is  in  the  longitudinal  striation  of  the 
integument  rendered  more  distinct  by  the  pigmentum  nigrum,  a  ra- 
diated appearance  around  the  oral  orifice,  and  a  faint  transverse  and 
longitudinal  arrangement  of  the  granules  entering  into  the  composi- 
tion of  the  proboscides,  seen  more  or  less  distinctly  in  the  continued 
movements  of  these  organs  when  slightly  compressed  beneath  the 
microscope. 

The  digestive  cavity  presents  the  same  dendritic  arrangements  as 
in  Planarzce  generally,*  but  instead  of  posessing  a  single  sucker  or 
proboscis,  the  full  grown  animal  has  not  less  than  twenty-three  ;  vary- 
ing, however,  in  this  respect  from  three  upwards,  according  to  the  age 
of  the  animal.  One  of  these  proboscides  joins  the  digestive  cavity 
at  the  posterior  part  of  the  anterior  division,  as  usual,  the  others  join 
the  remaining  two  divisions  at  their  internal  side  in  their  course  back- 
wards. They  are  considerably  longer,  but  narrower  than  in  P.  ladea,f 
and  when  not  in  use  are  closely  packed  together  within  the  animal, 
so  that  when  the  latter  is  placed  beneath  the  microscope  and  slightly 
compressed,  they  will  be  seen  pressing  upon  one  another  in  such  a 
manner,  that  if  one  changes  its  position,  it  will  be  instantly  occupied 
by  another.  Those  which  are  formed  last  are  smallest,  but  they  soon 
gain  their  full  size. 

When  the  animal  feeds,  the  whole  of  them  are  protruded  from  the 
oral  orifice,  the  longest  extending  out  full  one-third  the  length  of  the 
body.  As  they  are  all  convergent  to  the  same  orifice,  when  fully  pro- 
truded the  animal  becomes  puckered  up  and  increased  in  breadth  at 
the  expense  of  the  length.  In  this  state  the  anterior  extremity  is  erected 
and  the  posterior  brought  nearly  to  a  right  angle  with  it,  so  that  it 
looks  as  if  sitting  upon  its  prey  apparently  unconcerned,  with  itspro- 

*Duges,  An.  Sc.  Nat.       f  lb. 


250  [Aug.,  184T. 

boscides,  which  writhe  and  twist  about  as  if  they  were  totally  distinct 
organisms. 

If  one  of  these  animals  be  punctured  or  cut,  one  or  more  of  the 
proboscides  will  be  immediately  protruded  as  if  they  existed  under 
pressure,  and  will  move  about  in  all  directions  appearing  as  if  entirely 
without  the  control  of  the  animal ;  or  if  one  of  the  animals  be  crushed 
between  two  slips  of  glass  so  that  the  proboscides  will  be  torn  from 
their  attachment,  they  move  about  involuntarily,  always  in  a  line  for- 
wards or  towards  the  mouth,  which  they  do  by  contracting  the  stom- 
achal extremity  towards  the  oral,  the  latter  remaining  fixed.  In  this 
progressive  course  they  constantly  contract  and  dilate ;  the  mouth 
opens  and  any  matter  in  its  vicinity  rushes  in,  when  it  is  closed  and 
the  matter  passes  onwards,  and  by  the  alternate  contraction  and  dila- 
tation of  different  parts  of  the  same  tube,  it  is  thrown  backwards  and 
forwards  several  times,  and  finally  violently  expelled  at  the  tornax  - 
tremity.  When  they  have  escaped  from  the  ruptures  of  the  tegument 
produced  by  crushing,  or  when  snipped  off  with  a  pair  of  scissors 
whilst  an  animal  is  feeding,  they  will  present  the  same  curious  pheno- 
mena. In  fact  these  curious  independent  movements  caused  me  at 
first  to  mistake  the  organs  for  viviparous  young,  and  it  was  not  untd 
I  had  frequently  observed  the  animal  feeding,  and  examined  its  struc- 
ture beneath  the  microscope,  after  having  fed  them  upon  coloured 
food,  that  I  was  convinced  of  their  true  nature. 

Excrementitious   matter  is   expelled    from    the    digestive    cavity 
through  the  same  course  by  which  the  food  enters. 

Circulation.  There  appears  to  be  nothing  peculiar  about  the 
arrangement  of  the  blood  vessels,  if  such  they  be  ;  the  term  being  ap- 
plied to  two  semitransparent  lines  passingalong  each  side  of  the  ven- 
tral surface,  and  a  third  along  the  middle  of  the  dorsal  surface,  the 
three  freely  communicating  with  each  other  by  transverse  lines  and 
numerous  smaller  branches,  the  whole  forming  an  extensive  reticula- 
tion upon  the  surface  of  the  body.  At  the  anterior  part  of  each 
ventral  line,  I  distinctly  observed  a  dilatation  to  exist. 

Generative  apparatus.  As  in  all  Planarim  the  animal  is  androgy- 
nous. The  penis  is  a  bulbiform  organ  placed  between  the  oral  and 
generative  orifice  with  its  point  directed  towards  the  latter.  The 
point  is  straight,  or  contorted;  the  bulbous  portion  is  also  changeable, 
sometimes  elongated,  at  others  flattened  or  increased  in  breadth  at 
the  expense  of  the  length.  The  bulb  shows  through  the  thin  integu- 
ment, and  without  close  examination  may  be  taken  for  a  third  orifice. 
The  penis  is  perforate,  and  has  a  dilated  cavity  within  the  bulb.  Im- 
mediately above  the  penis  I  indistinctly  observed  a  somewhat  lobated 
organ,  which  appeared  to  join  the  penis  at  its  base  by  a  narrow  por- 


Aug.,  1847.]  •  251 

lion.     This  is  probably  the  testicle,  for  it  was  the  only  thing  I  could 
discover  in  connection  with  the  genitalia  to  correspond  to  it. 

In  two  individuals  only  could  I  see  part  of  the  female  organs.  This 
consisted  in  two  sigmoid  tubes  or  oviducts,  which  could  be  traced 
from  the  generative  orifice  a  short  distance  forwards,  one  on  each  side 
of  the  penis. 

I  could  detect  no  traces  of  a  nervous  system. 

The  eyes,  so  called,  have  been  previously  described.  It  is  still  a 
question  with  many,  whether  these,  as  well  as  the  corresponding  deep 
black  points  existing  in  very  many  of  the  lower  animals  of  the  inver- 
tebrate series,  subserve  the  purpose  of  eyes;  and  some  anatomists 
have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  deny  the  sense  of  sight  to  the  compara- 
tively perfect  eye  of  many  gasteropodous  mollusca.  The  experiments 
which  are  made  to  test  the  existence  of  this  sense  in  those  organs  for 
the  most  part  are  exceedingly  fallacious,  generally  being  performed 
by  concentrating  the  light  upon  them  through  a  lens.  Insects,  and 
even  serpents  and  frogs,  I  find  will  frequently  bear  the  impression  of 
a  sudden  glare  of  light  produced  in  this  way  without  any  inconveni- 
ence, at  other  times  they  will  seek  to  avoid  it,  but  Helix  albolabris 
will  occasionally  retract  its  tenticle  when  so  disturbed,  and  Phagocata 
will  frequently  raise  its  anterior  extremity  and  move  from  the  too 
great  light.  From  their  position,  which  is  always  such  as  to  be  well 
exposed  to  the  influence  of  the  light,  from  their  structure,  imperfect 
as  it  is  in  many  cases,  and  their  connection  with  the  nervous  system 
when  this  exists,  I  am  led  to  conclude  that  in  all  cases  they  are  or- 
gans of  vision. 

The  general  sensibility  of  Phagocata  is  very  considerable,  that  is 
it  contracts  with  great  readiness  from  the  slightest  disturbance.  The 
contraction  has  much  the  appearance  of  being  involuntary  and  is  very 
like  that  of  the  Medusae.  When  an  individual  is  irritated  at  any  point, 
contraction  commences  and  thence  rapidly  extends  throughout  the 
animal,  and  the  only  appearance  of  volition  is  in  the  effort  to  escape ? 
but  if  the  touch  be  too  rude,  apparently  involuntary  contraction  takes 
place  suddenly  and  appears  to  destroy  all  power  of  volition  for  the  ■ 
moment ;  the  animal  however  soon  revives  from  this  state  and  glides 
off  with  its  accustomed  speed. 

Some  experiments  which  I  performed  upon  Phagocata  confirm  the 
statements  that  the  Planarice  are  capable  of  repairing  injuries. 
When  an  individual  is  cut  into  two,  both  parts  after  a  time  become 
distinct  and  perfect  animals.  Division  carried  to  a  greater  extent  in 
some  instances  results  in  as  many  perfect  animals  as  there  are  parts, 
but  generally  I  have  found  that  when  cut  into  more  than  three  or  four 


252  [Aug.  1847. 

pieces,  the  intermediate  pieces  are  apt  to  die,  and  sometimes  the 
extremities  do  not  survive. 

I  exhibit  a  drawing  of  Phagocata  gracilis,  from  Prof.  S.  S.  Halde- 
man. 

A  drawing  of  two  individuals  feeding  upon  a  piece  of  a  Lumbricus. 

Do.,  representing  a  ventral  surface  with  the  proboscides  protruded. 

Do.,  representing  the  digestive  and  generative  apparatuses. 

Do.,  representing  five  of  the  proboscides  highly  magnified. 


Description  of  two  new  species  of  Planaria . 
By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

Planaria  macvUata.  Superiorly  convex,  faintly  blackish  or  brown- 
ish with  irregular  colorless  macula? ;  inferiorly  flat,  colorless  ;  anteriorly 
trapezoidal;  posteriorly  spatulate  or  oval ;  eyes  two,  anterior,  proxi- 
mate, composed  of  a  large  semi-transparent  mass  with  a  reniform  mass 
of  pigmentum  nigrum  at  the  postero-internal  part ;  oral  aperture 
ventral,  one-third  the  length  of  the  body  from  the  posterior  extrem- 
ity; proboscis  large  and  cylindrical.  Length  2  5  lines;  breadth  ^  line. 
Found  in  moderate  abundance,  in  the  ditches  below  the  city,  creeping 
upon  the  submerged  stems  of  aquatic  plants. 

Subgenus.     Prostoma,  Duges.     Mouth  anterior  and  terminal. 

Prostoma  marginatum.  Blackish,  narrow  lanceolate,  anteriorly 
truncate  ;  marginate,  margin  delicately  striate  ;  mouth  large  ;  pro- 
boscis large  and  oblong ;  eyes  two,  anterior,  distant,  each  consisting 
of  two  round  masses  of  pigmentum  nigrum  in  contact  with  each  other, 
and  of  which  one  is  larger  than  the  other ;  generative  orifice  one- 
fourth  the  length  of  the  body  from  the  posterior  extremity.  Length 
1  line.  A  single  specimen  found  with  the  preceding  ;  but  probably  not 
rare,  for  from  its  small  size,  it  escaped  my  notice  while  collecting  some 
of  the  former,  and  it  was  not  until  I  got  home  that  I  detected  its 
existence  in  the  vessel  of  water  containing  the  others. 

The  anatomy  of  P.  maculata  does  not  differ  from  that  of  Planaria 
lactea  as  given  by  Duges  in  the  Annales  des  Sciences  Naturelles.  In 
Prostoma  marginatum  the  digestive  cavity  has  not  the  dendritic  ar- 
rangement of  Planaria,  but  merely  consists  of  a  large  capacious  sac 
extending  as  far  back  as  the  posterior  third  of  the  body,  and  having  ;i 
ccecum  upon  each  side  of  the  proboscis.  The  penis  has  a  yellow  color 
and  consists  of  a  round  granular  mass,  with  a  moderately  long  and 
bent  spiculum  projecting  from  its  posterior  part.  The  arrangement 
of  a  female  apparatus  I  failed  to  trace. 


Amendments  to  Articles  7  and  8,  of  Chap.  vii.  of  the  By- 
laws, proposed  by  Dr.  Bridges,  were  adopted. 
These  Articles  now  read  as  follows  : 


Aug.  1847.]  253 

"  Art.  vii. — Members  may  borrow  books,  the  property  of 
the  Academy,  from  the  Librarian,  on  signing  a  promissory 
note  for  fifty  dollars,  which  shall  become  void  on  the  book 
being  returned." 

"  Art.  viii. — But  no  works  shall  be  loaned  from  the  Hall, 
on  any  account  whatever,  except  those  marked  with  an  aste- 
risk (thus  *)  in  the  Catalogue,  unless  by  an  affirmative  ballot 
vote  of  three-fourths  of  the  members  present  when  the  applica- 
tion is  made  ;  and  in  case  of  deposited  books  the  written 
consent  of  the  depositor  having  been  previously  obtained  : 
the  name  of  the  borrower  and  the  title  of  the  book  to  be  re- 
corded on  the  minutes,  and  security  given  for  its  safe  return 
by  note  or  otherwise  for  the  full  value  thereof,  according  to 
the  estimate  of  the  Librarian  or  Library  Committee." 


On  motion  of  Dr.  Leidy,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
examine  into  the  expediency  of  converting  the  present  lecture 
room  into  a  portion  of  the  Museum,  and  also  to  ascertain  what 
alterations  may  be  necessary  for  this  purpose,  &c,  and  to 
report  thereon  as  soon  as  practicable.  Committee,  Drs. 
Bridges,  Wilson  and  Morton. 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF   THE 


ACADEMY    OF    NATURAL   SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA.. 

Vol.  III.  SEPT.  AND  OCT.,  1847.  No.  11. 

Stated  Meeting,  September  7,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Dr.  Wilson  presented  sixty-five  specimens  of  recent  Corallines , 
comprising  forty  species  of  the  genera  Fungia,  Polyphyllia, 
Caryophyllia,  Megaphyllia,  Meandrina,  Agaricia,  Tridaco- 
phyllia,  Astrea,  Asteriopora,  Oculina,  Gemmipora,  Madrepora, 
Palmipora,  Alocopora,  Porites,  Pocillopora,  Tubipora,  Porites, 
Gorgonia. 

Mr.  Sowerby,  of  London,  presented  specimens  of  Gorgonia 
palma,  and  G.  petechizans. 

Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad  presented  an  extensive  collection  of  Fossils, 
consisting  of  about  2000  specimens,  from  the  Miocene  of 
France,  and  the  Eocene,  Cretaceous,  Oolitic,  ;Mountain  lime- 
stone, and  Silurian  formations  of  England  and  France. 

A  small  collection  of  Minerals  from  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania.    Presented  by  Mr.  Percival. 

Fine  specimen  of  ^crystallized  Carbonate  of  Lead,  from  North 
Carolina.     From.  Mr.  W.  S.  Vaux. 

Saturnia  cecropia,  and  S.  promethea,  three  fine  specimens.  From 
Mr.  Benjamin  H.  Kern. 

Dr.  C.  D.  Meigs  presented  a  living  specimen  of  Trionyx  ferox, 


from  Georgia. 


35 


256  [Sept.  1847. 

donations  to  library. 

A  history  of  the  molluscous  animals  from  the  counties  of  Aber- 
deen, Kincardine,  and  Banff,  to  which  is  appended  an  account 
of   the   Cirripedal   animals    of  the    same  district.     By    Wm. 
Macgillivray,    A.  M.      12mo.     London:    1843.    From    Mr. 
Peterson. 

An  account  of  the  measurement  of  two  sections  of  the  Meridional 
Arc  of  India,  bounded  by  the  parallels  of  18°,  3',  15",  24°, 
7',  11",  and  29°,  30',  48".  Conducted  under  the  orders 
of  the  Hon.  East  India  Co.,  by  Lieut.  Col.  Everest,  F.  R.  S. 
&c.  1  vol.  4to.,  and  an  Atlas  4to.  London,  1847.  From 
the  Author,  by  order  of  the  Court  of  Directors  of  the  E.  I. 
Co. 

The  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College,  Vol.  3.  No.  10.  From  the  Associa- 
tion. 

American  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science,  conducted  by  Dr. 
E.  Emmons  and  A.  Osborn,  Esq.  August,  1847.  From  the 
Editors. 

Monografia  del  genere  Murex  ossia  enumerazione  delle  princi- 
pali  speciei  dei  Terreni  sopracretacei  dell'  Italia,  per  Giovanni 
Michellotti.     4to.     Vicenza,  1841.     From  Mr.  Conrad. 

Annals  of  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New  York.  Vol. 
4.     Nos.  10,  11.  July,  1847.     From  the  Lyceum. 

Experiments  and  observations  on  Animal  Heat,  and  the  inflam- 
mation of  combustible  bodies.  By  A.  Crawford,  M.  D,F.  R.  S., 
&c.  1  vol.  8vo.  2d  edition.  London,  1788.  From  Mr.  L. 
J.  Germain. 

Experimental  researches  on  Electricity.     By  Michael  Farraday, 
D.  C.   L.,    F.    R.   S.,    &c.   2  vols.  8vo.     London,  1839-44. 
From  the  same. 
Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following : 

The  Genera  of  Diurnal  Lepidoptera,  &c.  By  Edward  Double- 
day,  F.  L.  S.,  illustrated  by  Wm.  C.  Hewitson.  Parts  1-9. 
4to. 


Sept.  1847.]  257 

Catalogues  of  the  Specimens  of  Mammalia,  Birds,  Reptiles, 
Insects,  Crustacea,  and  Myriapoda,  and  a  list  of  the  Osteo- 
logical  specimens,  contained  in  the  British  Museum. 

Odontography  ;  or  a  treatise  on  the  comparative  anatomy  of  the 
teeth,  their  physiological  relations,  mode  of  development,  and 
microscopic  structure  in  the  vertebrate  animals.  By  Richard 
Owen,  F.  R.  S.     2  vols,  large  8vo.     London,  1840,  '45. 

A  geological  survey  of  the  "Yorkshire  Coast;  describing  the 
strata  and  fossils  occurring  between  the  Humber  and  the  Tees, 
from  the  German  Ocean  to  the  Plain  of  York.  By  the  Rev. 
George  Young,  A.  M.,  and  John  Bird,  Artist.     4to.     Whitby, 

1822. 

Travels  in  Lycia,  Milyas,  and  the  Cibyratis,  in  company  with 
the  late  Rev.  E.  T.  Daniell.  By  Lieut.  T.  A.  B.  Spratt,  R.  K, 
and  Prof.  Edward  Forbes,  F.  R.  S.  2  vols.  8vo.  London, 
1847. 

Illustrations  of  Indian  Zoology,  chiefly  selected  from  the  collec- 
tion of  Major  General  Hardwicke,  F.  R.  S.  By  John  Edward 
Gray,  F.  R.  S.     2  vols,  folio.     London,  1830-34. 

A  History  of  British  Reptiles.  By  Thomas  Bell,  F.  R.  S.  8vo. 
London,  1837. 

An  Analysis  of  the  natural  classifications  of  Mammalia,  for  the 
use  of  Students  and  Travellers.  By  T.  Edward  Bowdich, 
F.  R.  S.     8vo.     Paris,  1821. 

An  Introduction  to  the  Ornithology  of  Cuvier.  By  T.  E.  Bow- 
dich.    8vo.     Paris.  1821. 

Elements  of  Conchology,  including  the  fossil  genera  and  the 
animals.     By  T.  E.  Bowdich.     8vo.     Paris,  1822. 

The  Canadian  Naturalist ;  a  series  of  conversations  on  the  natural 
history  of  Lower  Canada.  By  P.  H.  Gosse.  8vo.  London 
1840. 

A  Manual  of  British  vertebrate  animals.  By  the  Rev.  Leonard 
Jenyns,  M.  A.     8vo.     Cambridge,  1835. 


258  [Sept.  1847. 

Description  des  Coquilles  et  des  Polypiers  fossiles  des  terrains 
tertaires  de  la  Belgique.  Par.  P.  H.  Nyst.  4to.  Bruxelles, 
1843. 

Manual  d'Ornithologie,  on  tableau  systematique  des  Oiseaux  qui 
se  trouvent  en  Europe,  &c.  Par  J.  C.  Temniinck.  2nd.  edition. 
4me  Partie.     Paris,  1840. 

Revue  critique  des  Oiseaux  d'Europe :  Par  Mr.  H.  Shlegal.  8vo. 
Leide,  1844. 

Joannis  Raii  synopsis  inethodica  Avium  et  Piscium,  cum  ap- 
pendica  et  iconibus.     12mo.     Londoni.  1713. 

Ornithologia,  sive  synopsis  methodica  sistens  Avium  divisionem 
in  ordines,  sectiones,  genera,  species,  ipsarumque  varietates. 
A.  D.  Brisson.     2  vols.     8  vo.     Lugduni  Batavorum,  1743. 

Dissertatio  Zoologica  enumerationem  Mammalium  Capensium 
continens.     Auctore  Johanne  Smuts.     4to.     Leidae,  1832. 

Systema  Avium :  acutor  Dr.  Johannes  Wagler ;  pars  prima. 
Stuttgartise,  1827. 

The  London  Geological  Journal,  No.  3.     May,  1847. 

The  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History.     Nos.  128,  129, 

130. 
Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  :  January  12th 

to  May  25th,  1847. 

Sowerby's  Mineral  Conchology,  Nos.  106  to  113. 

Report  of  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  British  Association, 
to  consider  of  the  rules  by  which  the  nomenclature  of  Zoology 
may  be  established  on  a  uniform  and  permanent  basis.  8vo. 
pamphlet. 

Report  on  the  recent  progress  and  present  state  of  Ornithology. 
By  H.  E.  Strickland,  M.  A.,  &c.  8vo.  pamphlet.  London, 
1845. 


Dr.   Morton  read  a  paper  by  Dr.    R.  W.  Gibbes,  of  Colum- 
bia, S.  C,  describing   new  species  of  Squalides  from  the  Ter- 


Sept.  1847.]  259 

tiary  Beds  of  that  State  ;  which  was  referred  to  a  Committee  con- 
sisting of  Drs.  Leidy,  Morton,  and  Pickering. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Col.  Everest,  dated  Claybrook  Hall. 
Lutterworth,  England,  July  17th,  1847,  presenting  his  work 
announced  this  evening. 


The  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  consideration  of 
the  propriety  of  altering  the  Lecture  room,  and  adapting  it  to 
the  purposes  of  the  Museum,  reported  in  favor  of  the  same,  and 
submitted  a  plan,  which  was  approved ;  and  resolutions  were 
adopted,  authorizing  the  Committee  to  commence  the  work  as 
soon  as  practicable. 


Stated  Meeting,  September  10,  1847. 
Dr.  McEuen  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Dr.  F.  Roemer,  of  Berlin,  presented  the  following  fossils  from 
the  Green  Sand  of  Germany.  Thracia  1  species ;  Mya  1 ; 
Heteropora  1 ;  Tragos  1 ;  Exogyra  3 ;  Isocardia  1 ;  Ser- 
pula  1 ;  Nucleolites  1 ;  Terebratula  6 ;  Ceriopora  2 ;  Alo- 
colites  1 ;  Scyphias  2 ,  Ostrea  1 ;  Belemnites  1 ;  and  1  ear 
bone  of  a  fish.  Also,  one  specimen  of  Echinolampus,  from 
the  Middle  Tertiary  of  Germany. 

Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson  presented  the  following  mounted  specimens 
of  Mammalia.  Hylobates  leuciscus,  H.  syndactylus,  Ateles  beel- 
zebub,  Sus  scropha  from  Java,  Felis  leopardus,  F.  minuta,  F.  leo 
(young,)  Ursus  labiatus,  Paradoxurus  typus,  Manis  pentadac- 
tylus,  Antelope  tragulus,  A.  pygmtea,  Viverraindica,  V.  genetta, 
Cervus  muntjac,  Moschus  javanicus,  Didelphis  cancrivora,  D. 
minuta,  Canis  vulpes  (Europe,)  Talpa  Europoea,  Sciurus  stria- 
tum,  Lutra   barang,   Herpestes  mungoz,  Dicoteles  torquatus, 


200  [Sept.  1847. 

Bradypus  tridactylus,  (2  specimens,)  Dasypus  novemcinctus, 
(young)  Myrmecophaga  didactyla,  M.  bivittata.  Also,  an 
albino  Kangaroo,  from  the  Menagerie  of  the  King  of  Holland, 
an  unique  specimen,  and  supposed  to  be  a  new  species. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Diagnoses  Conchyliorum  terrestrium  et  fluviatilium.     Von  E.  A. 

Rossmassler.     Hefts.  1  &  2.  From  Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith. 
Gelehrte  anzeigen  herausgegeben  mitglieden  der  f.  bayer.    Acade- 

mie  der  Wissenschaften.     Vols.  16 — 23.     From  the  Academy. 
Die   ueberbleibsel  der  altagyptischen  menschenra^e.     Von   Dr. 

Franz  Pruner.     4to.  Munich,  1846.     From  the  same. 

Abhandlungen  der  Mathematisch-physikalischen  classe  der 
Koeniglich  bayer,  Acad,  der  Wissenchaften.  Vol.  4,  p.  3. 
4to.     From  the  same. 

Bulletin  der  Koeniglich  Acad,  der  Wissenschaften.  An.  1846, 
Nos.  1 — 7,  1847.     From  the  same. 

Almanach  der  K.  bayer.  Acad,  der  Wissensc.  fur  das  jahr 
1847.     From  the  same. 

The  organization  of  Trilobites,  deduced  from  their  living  affini- 
ties, with  a  systematic  review  of  the  species  hitherto  described. 
By  Heermann  Burmeister,  M.  D.  Edited  from  the  German 
by  Profs.  Bell  and  Forbes.  Folio.  London  :  1847.  Deposited 
by  Dr.  Wilson. 

The  Genera  of  Birds,  by  George  Robert  Gray.  Nos.  38  and 
39.     4to.     From  the  same. 

The  Birds  of  Australia.     By  John   Gould.  Parts   28   and  29  ; 

Folio.     From  the  same. 
The   Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.   B.  M.  Erebus  and  Terror. 

No.  10,  4to.     From  the  same. 
Oken's  Isis ;  38  vols.,  from   1817  to  1844,  inclusive.  4to.  Also 

No.  4,  for  1847.     From  the  same. 
Archiv.  fur  naturgeschichte.     Von    A.    F.   A.  Wiegmann ;  11 

vols.,  1835  to  1846,  and  No.  1,  1847.     From  the  same. 
Histoire  naturelle  des  Oiseaux  d'Afrique  ;  per  Francois  Le  vail- 

lant.  6    vols,    folio.    Paris,   1799 — 1808.       From    the    same. 


Sept.  1847.  ]  261 

Histoire  naturelle  des  Oiseaux  ;  par  M.  de  Buffon,  (  planches  en- 

luminees, ).   10   vols.,    folio.   Paris,    1771 — 1786.     From  the 

same. 
Revue    Zoologique,    par  la   Societe   Cuvierienne.     Nos.  3,  4,  5, 

and  6,  for  1847.     From  the  same. 
Petrifactions  recueillies  en  Amerique   par   Mr.    Alex,  de  Hum- 
boldt, et  par  Mr.   Charles  Degenhardt ;  decrites  par  Leopold 

de  Buch.  Folio.  Berlin,  1839.     From  Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad. 
Sur  les  spirifers  et  les  Orthis  ;  explication  de  deux  planches,  qui 

representant  la  structure  des    ces  coquilles.  Par  Leopold   de 

Buch.  Folio.     From  the  same. 
Explication  de    trois   planches    d'Ammonites ;  par   Leopold  de 

Buch.  4to.  texte,  planches  folio.     From  the  same. 
American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts,  2d  series,  No.  11.  Sept., 

1847.     From  the  Editors. 
On  the  growth  of  plants  in   closely   glazed  cases.     By  N.  E. 

Ward,    F.    R.    S.     8vo.    London;  1842.    From   the   author, 

through  Dr.  Asa  Gray. 
Note  upon   Carex  loliacea,  Lin.  and  C.    gracilis,    Ehrh.  By  Asa 

Gray,  ( from  Silliman's  Journal,  vol.  4. )     From  the  author. 
Voyage  botanique  le  long  des  cotes  septentrionales  de  la  Norvege 

depuis  Drontheirn  jusqu'  au  Cap  nord  :  par  Ch.  Martins.     From 

the  author. 
List  of  Osteological  specimens  in    the  collection  of  the  British 

Museum.  12mo.  London,  1847.     From  the  Trustees. 
Catalogue  general  de  Hector  Bossange.     Paris,  1843-47.  From 

E.  Bossange,  Esq.,  of  New  York. 


A  letter  was  read  from  the  Royal  Academy  of  Sciences  of 
Munich,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  certain  Nos.  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings. 

Dr.  Hallowell  read  a  description  of  a  new  species  of  Coluber, 
(  C.  venustus,  Hal. )  from  Copper  Harbor,  Lake  Superior,  which 
was  referred  to  a  committee,  viz  :  Dr.  Pickering,  Mr.  Phillips  and 
Prof.  Baird,  of  Carlisle. 

Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper  on  the  Fossil  Horse  of  America.  Re- 
ferred to  Drs.  Morton,  Hallowell  and  Pickering. 


262  [  Sept.  1847. 

Mr.  Townsend  exhibited  a  living  specimen  of  the  common 
mouse,  ( Mus  musculus)  which  possessed  the  remarkable  pecu- 
liarity of  uttering  notes  resembling  those  of  a  singing  bird. 
The  notes  were  uttered  in  very  rapid  succession,  and  although 
weak,  could  be  readily  [distinguished  at  the  distance  of  several 
yards.  The  animal  was  recently  taken  in  an  ordinary  trap,  by 
a  lady  residing  in  the  Northern  Liberties. 

Dr.  Warrington,  of  England,  exhibited  and  explained  the 
modus  operandi  of  an  instrument  of  his  own  invention,  which  he 
called  Spirometer,  the  object  of  which  he  stated  to  be,  to  test  the 
capacity  of  the  lungs  in  health  and  disease.  "  The  amount  of 
cubic  inches  of  air  the  lungs  are  capable  of  expelling,  being 
always  in  proportion  to  the  height  of  the  individual,  and  a  scale 
attached  to  the  instrument  indicating  with  accuracy  any  dimin- 
ished capacity,  a  standard  of  health  and  disease  could  be  thus 
readily  fixed,  and  the  disorganization  or  contraction  of  the  organ 
early  detected.  " 


Meeting  for  Business,  Sept.  28,  1847. 

Mr.  Phillips  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  following  paper,  by 
Dr.  Leidy,  reported  in  favor  of  publication   in  the  Proceedings. 

On  the  Fossil  Horse  of  America. 

By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

The  fact  of  the  existence  of  fossil  remains  of  the  horse  in  America  has  been 
generally  received  with  a  good  deal  of  incredulity,  arising,  perhaps,  from  the 
mere  fact  being  stated  of  their  having  been  found,  often  without  even  mention- 
ing the  associate  fossils,  and  in  all  cases,  previous  to  Mr.  Owen,*  without  des- 
cribing the  specimen.  At  present  their  existence  beiog  fully  confirmed, 
it   is   probably  as   much  a  wonder  to    naturalists  as  was   the   first    sight    of 

*  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Beagle,  part  1.    By  R.  Owen,  Esq.  London, 

1840. 


Sept.  1847.]  263 

the  horses  of  the  Spaniards  to  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  country,  for  it 
is  very  remarkable  that  the  genus  Equus  should  have  so  entirely  passed  away 
from  the  vast  pastures  of  the  western  world,  in  after  ages  to  be  replaced  by 
a  foreign  species  to  which  the  country  has  proved  so  well  adapted  ;  and  it  is 
impossible,  in  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  to  conceive  what  could 
have  been  the  circumstances  which  have  been  so  universally  destructive  to  the 
genus  upon  one  continent,  and  so  partial  in  its  influence  upon  the  other. 

The  remains  are  by  no  means  unfrequent,  and  according  to  William  Cooper, 
the  author  of  a  paper  entitled  "  Notices  of  Big-Bone  Lick,"  in  Featherstonhaugh's 
"Journal  of  Geology,"*  the  first  printed  notice  of  them  occurs  in  Mitchell's 
"Catalogue  of  Organic  Remains, "f  upon  referring  to  which,  I  find  mentioned 
pp.  7,  8,  that  a  cervical  vertebra  and  teeth  of  the  horse  were  found  associated 
with  the  Mastodon,  &c,  in  a  tract  extending  from  the  base  of  the  Neversink 
Hills  to  Bordentown,  New  Jersey.  The  author  of  "  Notices,  &c."  also  men- 
tions the  remains  of  the  horse  being  found  at  Big-Bone  Lick,  but  speaks  doubt- 
fully as  to  the  authenticity  of  such  remains  having  been  found  in  a  fossil  state 
in  this  country,  and  says,  p.  208,  "  I  saw  nothing  in  support  of  it  myself,  nor 
have  I  met  wilh  any  person  who  could  answer  for  such  a  fact  from  his  own 
careful  observation." 

Dr.  HarlanJ  mentions  the  sparing  existence  of  fossil  remains  of  the  horse, 
which,  from  the  heading  of  his  chapter,  he  has  referred  to  the  same  species  as 
the  existing  Equus  caballus. 

The  most  satifactory  account,  however,  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  is  given 
by  Mr.  Owen  in  the  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Beagle,  Part  1,  Fossil  Mam- 
malia, p.  109,  and  is  derived  from  two  teeth  obtained  by  Mr.  Darwin  in  South 
America.  One  of  them,  a  superior  molar,  was  far  decomposed,  and  Mr.  Owen 
observes,  "  every  point  of  comparison  that  could  be  established,  proved  it  to 
differ  from  the  tooth  of  the  common  Equus  caballus  only  in  a  slight  inferiority 
of  size."  The  other  a  superior  left  molar,  was  found  with  the  Mastodon,  &c, 
in  the  province  of  Entre  Rios,  and  is  figured  (PI.  xxxii.  figs.  13  and  14,)  in  the 
work.  One  of  the  figures  represents  an  antero-lateral  view  of  the  tooth,  and  is 
rather  smaller  in  size,  and  is  much  more  curved  than  in  the  corresponding 
tooth  of  the  recent  E.  caballus.  The  other  figure  represents  the  crown  of  the 
tooth  and  indicates  the  diameters  to  be  somewhat  less.  From  what  Mr.  Owen 
remarks  in  the  "  British  Fossil  Mammalia,5'^  this  is  a  species  which  he  proved 
to  be  distinct  from  all  European  fossil  and  existing  species,  and  from  the 
greater  degree  of  curvature  of  the  upper  molars||  he  has  designated  it  under 
the  name  of  Equus  curvidens.  In  the  cabinet  of  the  Academy  there  are  a  num- 
ber of  specimens  of  American  fossil  horse  teeth,  which  I  refer  to  two  distinct 
and  well  marked  species. 

The  first  of  these  I  consider  as  identical  with  the  Equus  curvidens,  of  which 

*Philada.,  1831,  vol.  1,  p.  208.  fNew  York,  1826. 

jMed.  and  Phys.  Researches,  Philada.,  1835,  p.  267. 

^London,  1846,  p.  398. 

HOdontography.     By  R.  Owen,  Esq.,  London,  1S40-45,  vol.  1,  p,.  575. 

36 


264  [Sept.  1847. 

there  are  ten  specimens  of  permanent  molars,  one  a  superior  posterior  molar  of 
the  left  side,  and  five  inferior  molars  of  the  right  side,  and  four  of  the  left  side. 
These  were  all  obtained  from  that  celebrated  fossil  bone  deposit,  Big-Bone 
Lick,  Kentucky,  where  they  were  associated  with  the  Mcgalonyx,  Mastodon,  &c, 
and  are  a  part  of  a  donation  to  the  Academy  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Wetherill.  The  ex- 
ternal cementum  is  almost  entirely  removed,  and  the  color,  which  is  brown  in 
the  inferior  molars,  a  bluish  black  in  the  superior  molars,  corresponds  with 
that  of  their  fossil  associates.  They  are  very  little  inferior  in  size,  both  in 
length  and  diameter,  to  the  corresponding  teeth  of  the  recent  E.  caballus.  The 
lateral  diameter  of  the  inferior  molars  hardly  varies  at  all,  the  difference  exist- 
ing in  the  transverse  diameter,  which  gives  to  the  teeth  a  rather  more  com- 
pressed appearance.  The  superior  posterior  molar  tooth  in  all  species  of  Equus 
is  much  curved,  so  that  but  little  difference  is  observable  in  this  respect  in  the 
fossil  specimen.  The  bodies  of  the  inferior  molars  are  considerably  more  curved 
laterally  than  is  usual  in  the  corresponding  teeth  of  the  recent  horse,  which 
fact,  however,  was  not  to  be  expected  from  the  greater  degree  of  curvature  in 
the  superior  molars. 

The  enamel  folds  generally  are  more  delicate,  but  I  do  not  find  sufficient  pe- 
culiarity in  their  course  to  render  them  characteristic.  On  comparing  the 
crowns  of  these  fossil  molar  teeth,  with  the  recent  species,  I  find  a  remarkable 
degree  of  resemblance  to  exist,  and  in  fact,  greater  differences  may  be  found  in 
this  respect,  in  different  individuals  of  the  existing  species.  The  posterior  part 
of  the  enamel  folding  of  the  posterior  tooth  is  rather  narrower,  and  has  a  deeper 
groove  upon  the  outer  side  than  I  have  seen  in  the  recent  tooth.  The  supe- 
rior molars  lead  to  more  positive  results  than  the  inferior,  yet  it  is  necessary  to 
be  very  careful,  for  if  we  do  perceive  more  differences  in  these  particular  teeth 
in  different  species,  than  exists  in  the  inferior  teeth,  so  also  do  we  find  a 
greater  variation  among  them  in  different  individuals  of  the  same  species.  This 
variation  in  the  same  species  is  very  striking  in  the  case  of  the  posterior  tooth 
of  the  recent  horse,  as  may  be  seen  by  comparing  any  number  of  specimens. 
In  this  particular  tooth  in  the  recent  horse,  there  is  always  a  disposition  to  the 
formation  of  a  third  isolated  enamel  fold,  always  small  and  posterior  to  the 
others.  Sometimes  it  appears  as  if  the  disposition  existed,  but  for  want  of 
room  in  the  process  of  development  of  the  tooth,  the  ordinary  posterior,  isola- 
ted enamel  fold  becomes  united  by  an  isthmus  to  the  peripheral  fold.  In  the 
fossil  tooth  no  disposition  of  the  kind  has  existed,  so  that  it  has  more  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  other  molars,  and  indicates  a  less  amount  of  room  for  develop- 
ment, and  consequently  a  smaller  jaw. 

From  the  foregoing  description  it  will  be  perceived  that  I  have  fixed  upon  no 
absolute  characters  for  determining  this  species  with  any  degree  of  accuracy, 
and  that  this  is  not  possible,  I  may  state  upon  the  authority  of  Cuvier,  who  ac- 
knowledged his  incompetency  to  find  characters,  "  assez  fixes,"  to  pronounce 
upon  any  species  of  horse,  examined  by  him,  from  an  isolated  bone,*  and  it  is 
therefore  only  from  their  being  fossil  American  teeth  coinciding  with   the  E. 

*Cuvier,  Ossemens  Fossiles,  4  Ed.  T.  3,  p.  216. 


Sept.  1847.]  265 

curvidens  as  described  by  Mr.  Owen,  more  than  with  any  other  species,  so  far 
as  I  am  capable  of  judging,  which  ha9  made  me  refer  them  to  that  species. 

The  second  species  is  founded  upon  twelve  specimens  of  teeth  which  have 
been  deposited  in  the  cabinet  of  the  Academy  by  our  enterprising  fellow-mem- 
ber, Dr.  M.  W.  Dickeson,  and  is  one  only  of  the  many  important  results  of  his 
palaeontological  researches  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  United  States. 
Ten  of  these  interesting  relics,  consisting  of  five  superior  and  five  inferior  mo- 
lars, Dr.  Dickeson  states  *  were  obtained,  together  with  remains  of  the 
Negalonyx,  Ursus,  the  os  hominis  innominatum  fossile,  &c,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Natchez,  Mississippi,  from  a  stratum  of  tenacious  blue  clay  underlying  a  diluvial 
deposit.  The  remaining  two,  both  right  superior  posterior  molars,  are  rolled 
or  water-worn,  and  were  found,  as  Dr.  D.  informs  me.  upon  one  of  the  Natchez 
Islands,  in  the  Mississippi  River.  All  the  specimens  have  the  exterior 
cementum  entirely  removed,  with  the  exception  of  one  inferior  molar  of  the 
right  side,  in  which  it  still  exists  upon  the  external  face,  and  much  of  the  in- 
ferior cementum,  and  part  even  of  the  dentine,  is  also  destroyed,  so  that  the 
enamel  folds  everywhere  stand  out  in  strong  relief. 

These  teeth  are  larger  than  those  of  any  species  heretofore  known,  recent 
or  fossil,  and  must  have  belonged  to  a  horse,  which,  in  point  of  magnitude, 
was  a  fit  cotemporary  for  the  Mastodon,  Elvphas,  $c. ,  and  worthy  of  the  large 
continent  which  produced  it,  and  I  have  therefore  named  it  Equus  Ameri- 
canus. 

Two  of  the  inferior  molar  teeth  measure  4.3  inches  in  length,  with  a  lateral 
diameter  of  1.25  of  an  inch,  and  a  transverse  diameter  of  .7  of  an  inch.  Two 
also,  of  the  superior  molars,  measure  3.9  inches  in  length  externally  with  a 
lateral  diameter  of  1.2  of  an  inch,  and  a  transverse  diameter  of  1.1  of  an  inch. 
The  inferior  molars  are  curved  from  without  inwards,  instead  of  laterally,  as  is 
usual.  The  superior  molars  are  curved  to  a  degree  intermediate  to  that  of  the 
Equus  caballus  and  Equus  curvidens. 

The  enamel  folds  are  one-fourth  thicker  than  in  the  recent  horse  and  the 
isolated  enamel  folds  of  the  superior  molars  are  much  more  plicated,  resem- 
bling in  this  respect  the  Equus  plicidens,  Owen.  In  one  of  the  two  superior 
posterior  molars,  there  is  an  additional  or  third  isolated  enamel  fold,  which 
is  oval,  and  two  or  three  times  larger  than  in  the  recent  horse,  and  in  the 
other  there  is  a  fourth,  small,  round,  isolated  enamel  fold.  Both  of  these 
teeth  indicate  a  greater  amount  of  room  for  development,  and  consequently  a 
larger  jaw.  Other  and  considerable  differences  will  be  noticed  upon  com- 
paring the  figures  2  and  3,  representing  the  crowns  of  these  teeth,  especially 
at  the  posterior  part,  which  might  lead  to  the  supposition  that  they  belonged 
to  distinct  species,  but  from  the  general  characters  of  the  two  specimens, 
added  to  reasons  before  stated,  relative  to  the  amount  of  variation  existing  in 
the  corresponding  tooth  of  the  recent  horse,  I  cannot  but  think  they  both  be- 
long to  Equus  Americanus. 


*Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  3,  p.  106. 


266  [Sept.  1847. 

There  is  in  the  cabinet  but  one  remaining  tooth,  to  which  I  shall  refer. 
This  is  an  inferior  middle  molar  of  the  left  side,  in  an  excellent  state  of  pre- 
servation, and  is  a  beautiful  specimen;  the  whole  of  the  exterior  cementum 
being  preserved  without  a  fissure,  apparently  through  the  agency  of  oxide  of 
iron  and  siliceous  matter,  which  have  rendered  it  as  hard  as  the  dentine  itself. 
It  was  found  with  the  bones  of  the  Mastodon,  Megatherium,  Harlanus,  &c> 
in  making  the  excavation  for  the  Brunswick  Canal,  near  Darien,  Georgia,  and 
was  kindly  presented  to  the  Academy  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Couper. 

It  is  straight,  and  although  not  longer  than  the  corresponding  tooth  of  the 
recent  horse,  with  a  very  little  increase  in  the  diameters,  character  enough  can- 
not be  found  in  it  to  consider  it  distinct  from  the  Equus  Americanus. 

References  to  the  Figures. 

Figs.  1  and  6,  and  4  and  5,  were  taken  from  the  same  specimens. 

Fig.  1.  Crown  of  a  superior  middle  molar  of  the  left  side;  antero-posterior 
measurement  1.2  in.,  transverse  1.1  in. 

Fig.  2.  Crown  of  the  superior  posterior  molar  of  the  right  side  ;  antero-poste- 
rior measurement  1.3  in.,  transverse  1.9  in. 

Fig.  3.  Do.  from  another  specimen. 

Fig.  4.  Crown  of  an  inferior  middle  molar  of  the  right  side  ;  antero-posterior 
measurement  1.25  in.,  transverse  .7  in. 

Fig.  5.  Internal  view  of  an  inferior  middle  molar  of  the  left  side;  greatest 
length  4.15  in.;  depth  of  its  curve  .15  in. 

Fig.  6.  Antero-lateral  view  of  a  superior  middle  molar  of  the  left  side;  great- 
est length  3.9  in,;  depth  of  curve  .3  in. 


The  Committee  on  the  following  communication,  hy  Dr. 
Gibbes,  of  South  Carolina,  reported  in  favour  of  publication 
in  the  Proceedings. 

Description  of  new  species  of  Squalides  from  the  Tertiary  Beds  of  South  Carolina. 
By  Robert  W.  Gibbes,  M.  D.,  Columbia,  S.  C. 

1.  Cab.char.odon  Mortoni. — I  have  only  two  specimens  from  the  Eocene, 
both  broken.  That,  of  which  a  cast  is  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy, 
was  probably  four  inches  deep,  and  three  inches  across  the  roots;  the  upper 
third  is  wanting.  It  is  somewhat  inequilateral — the  anterior  edge  sloped  in- 
wards, and  the  posterior  arched — both  the  outer  and  inner  surfaces  are  con- 
vex and  prominent,  the  latter  trebly  so.  The  enamel  is  thin  but  strong — 
cracked  in  striae  parallel  to  the  edges,  and  as  in  most  other  species  converging 
and  disappearing  towards  the  apex: — it  is  sloped  on  the  inner  face.  The 
cutting  edges  are  finely  indented,  the  dentelures  (if  I  may  be  allowed  to  adopt 
an  expressive  word  from  the  French)  are  very  small,  and  more  minute  near 
the  base  of  the  enamel.  Next  the  edges  on  both  faces  is  a  longitudinal  flat- 
tening, giving  the  appearance  of  undulations.  The  root  is  immensely  thick, 
an  inch  and  a  half,  and  constitutes  more  than  half  of  the  bulk  of  the  tooth. 
The  root  is  concave,  but  the  extremities   being  broken,   the  form  cannot  be 


Sept.  1847.]  267 

given  ;  the  structure  of  the  dentine  is  not  as  compact  as  in  C.  megalodon. 
A  partial  description  of  this  fine  species  was  given  in  a  previous  paper 
published  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Academy,  when  I  named  it  after  the 
distinguished  pioneer  of  Tertiary  Geology  in  the  United  States,  Dr.  Samuel 
Geo.  Morton. 

2.  Carcharodon  acntidens. — This  beautiful  species  resembles  C.  a»gus- 
tidens,  Agassiz,  but  is  very  acutely  pointed.  Of  four  specimens  which 
are  in  my  cabinet,  the  largest  cone  measures  three  inches,  and  it  is  more 
than  three  times  the  depth  of  the  root,  which  is  concave,  very  thick  and 
prominent  on  the  inner  face.  The  body  of  the  tooth,  or  enamelled  portion 
is  conical,  the  lower  third  swollen,  widest  next  the  lateral  denticles  which 
are  distinct  from  it.  The  inner  face  is  arched,  while  the  outer  is  nearly  flat, 
though  undulated  by  depression  next  the  edges,  and  having  a  deep  furrow 
longitudinally  in  the  middle  near  the  base  of  the  enamel,  which  extends  to 
the  root.  This  does  not  extend  as  low  on  the  inner  face,  and  is  sloped, 
leaving  an  interspace  next  the  root.  The  cutting  edges  are  sharp  and  finely 
indented,  the  serratures  very  close.  Most  of  the  specimens  are  straight,  but 
I  have  two  which  are  oblique.  There  are  examples  of  this  species  in  the 
Cabinet  of  the  Academy. 

3.  Carcharodon  lanciformis. — Very  flat,  acutely  pointed,  triangular,  nearly 
equilateral,  the  posterior  edge  slightly  sloped,  while  the  anterior  is  straight. 
The  root  is  not  much  thicker  than  the  base  of  the  cone,  very  concave,  the 
rami  not  symmetrical,  one  being  much  longer  than  the  other ;  in  the  small 
lateral  teeth  this,  however,  is  scarcely  perceptible.  The  edges  are  sharp  and 
finely  indented  ;  the  inner  face  elevated  ;  the  outer  plane,  in  some  specimens 
concave.  Viewed  laterally,  some  are  much  bowed  or  arched  forward.  In 
the  middle  of  the  outer  face  near  the  base  of  the  enamel,  is  a  longitudinal 
depression,  the  sides  of  which  are  elevated  and  unite  above  the  horizontal 
middle  line,  and  form  a  ridge  to  the  apex.  It  has  lateral  appendages,  which 
are  not  distinct  from  the  principal  cone.  The  enamel  extends  lower  on  the 
outer  face  than  on  the  inner. 

I  have  a  series  of  specimens  from  the  Eocene  beds  of  Ashley  and  Cooper 
rivers,  S.  C. 

4.  Oxyrhina  Desorii. — Prof.  Agassiz  described  under  this  name  specimens 
which  subsequent  experience  induces  him  to  consider  identical  with  Lamina 
cuspidata,  with  which  he  had  noticed  a  resemblance. 

I  take  pleasure  in  restoring  the  name  of  the  distinguished  M.  Desor,  the 
friend  and  co-laborer  of  M.  Agassiz,  in  this  department  of  science,  to  a  fine 
species  in  my  cabinet. 

It  is  very  massive— thicker  than  any  other  of  this  genus — in  this  respect 
resembling  Oxyr.  crassa,  but  not  so  broad.  Viewed  en  profit,  the  form  is 
similar  to  Lamna  Hopei,  much  curved  inwardly,  except  near  the  apex,  which 
is  flat.  The  edges  are  cutting  in  their  whole  extent,  the  base  of  the  enamel 
arched,   and  nearly  equal  on  both  faces,  the  root  very  thick,   compact  and 


268  [Sept.  1847. 

heavy.     I  have  six  specimens  from  the  Miocene,  and  three  from  the  Eocene 
of  South  Carolina. 

5.  Oxyrhina  SillimanL— Among  twelve  specimens  from  the  Eocene,  there 
is  much  uniformity  in  this  species.  The  cone  is  straight  or  very  slightly 
bowed  on  the  inner  surface,  equilateral,  acutely  pointed,  both  surfaces  convex, 
the  inner  much  more  so.  A  peculiarity  exists  in  the  great  breadth  of  the 
enamel  at  the  base,  which  is  similar  on  both  aspects.  The  root  is  thick,  and 
forms  one-third  of  the  height  of  the  tooth. 

I  attach  to  it  the  name  of  Prof.  B.  Silliman,  the  veteran  co- laborer  in 
American  Science. 

(5.  Otodus  levis. — This  has  very  much  the  form  of  Lamna  cuspida'a,  but  the 
position,  form  and  size  of  the  lateral  winglets  mark  it  as  a  true  Otodus.  It  is 
more  slender  than  any  other  of  this  genus,  lanciform,  equilateral,  straight, 
convex  on  the  inner  face,  and  undulated  on  the  outer  from  a  triangular 
depression  near  the  base  extending  longitudinally  nearly  to  the  apex.  The 
lateral  cones  are  broad  and  thick,  and  detached  from  the  base  of  the  enamel 
which  extends  lower  on  the  outer  face  than  on  the  inner.  I  have  a  single 
specimen  from  the  Eocene,  S.  C. 

7.  Glyphis  subulata. — The  cone  is  shorter  and  thicker  proportionally  than 
in  G.  hastalis,  Agassiz,  and  is  more  straight,  convex  on  both  surfaces, 
more  so  on  the  inner ;  the  upper  third  of  the  outer  face  is  fiat,  and  the  point 
has  a  tendency  outward.  A  sharp  lateral  edge  extends  from  the  apex  equally 
on  both  sides  two-thirds  of  the  length  of  the  cone,  and  is  uniformly  indented. 
The  root  is  thick,  the  enamel  extends  lower  on  the  outer  face  and  to  the 
root  on  both.  In  one  specimen  the  root  is  very  broad,  and  the  enamelled 
base  equally  so. 

I  have  only  two  specimens  from  the  Eocene,  S.  C. 

I  have  in  preparation  full  descriptions  of  all  the  genera  and  species  of 
Squalides  from  the  Tertiary  of  South  Carolina,  which  will  be  published  with 
figures  in  a  future  number  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy.  I  have  in  my 
collection  eight  genera  and  thirty-nine  species.  I  have  had  the  privilege  and 
pleasure  of  submitting  them  to  the  inspection  of  our  distinguished  visitor, 
Prof.  Agassiz,  who  has  kindly  and  liberally  given  me  much  information  as  to 
their  character  and  arrangement,  the  result  of  his  extensive  experience. 


A  communication  was  read  from  Mr.  Moss,  dated  Sept.  28th, 
1847,  tendering  his  resignation  as  Recording  Secretary,  in 
consequence  of  his  removal  from  the  city  ;  which  was  accepted, 
and  the  following  resolution  unanimously  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Academy  receives  with  regret  the  resigna- 
tion of  Mr.    Theodore  F.  Moss,   as   Recording  Secretary,   and 


Oct.  1847.]  269 

tenders  him  its  thanks  for  the  zeal  and  fidelity  with  which  he 
has  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  during  his  incumbency. 

On  motion,  also  Resolved,  That  at  the  next  meeting  for 
business,  the  Society  proceed  to  the  election  of  a  Recording 
Secretary. 

ELECTION. 

M.  Carey  Lea,  Moses  H.  Emery,  Benjamin  J.  Kern,  M.  D., 
and  F.  W.  Sargent,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  were  elected  Mem- 
bers ;  and  Jacob  Sturm,  Esq.,  of  Nuremberg,  was  elected  a 
Correspondent. 


Stated  Meeting,  October  5,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

Ocypoda  Urvillii,  from  the  Pacific  Coast.  From  Dr.  Joseph 
Wilson,  U.  S.  Navy. 

Transverse  section  of  a  fossil  tree,  18  inches  diameter,  from 
Athens,  Ohio,  and  numerous  specimens,  in  spirits,  of  rep- 
tiles, from  the  south-western  part  of  the  United  States. 
From  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth. 

Fossil    coniferous  wood  and    bark.     From    Professor  Johnson. 

A  number  of  American  Reptiles.  From  Dr.  George  Spack- 
man. 

Platycarcinus ?    from    Tampa    Bay,    Florida.      From 

Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad. 

Apus  longicaudatus ;  from  the  Rocky  Mountains.  From  Dr. 
J.  L.  Le  Conte. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Transactions  of  the  Botanical  Society  of  Edinburgh.  Vol.  2, 
parts  1,  2  and  3.  Edinburgh,  1845—46.  From  Dr.  Balfour, 
of  Glasgow,  through  Dr.  Watson. 


270  [Oct.  1847. 

Memoir  on  the  fossil  genus  Basilosaurus,  with  a  notice  of  speci- 
mens from  the  Eocene  green  sand  of  South  Carolina.  By 
Robert  W.  Gibbes,  M.  D.,  of  Columbia,  S.  C.  (From  the 
Journal  of  the  Acad,  of  Nat.  Sci.  of  Philada.,  vol.  1,  2d  series.) 
4to.  Philada.  1847.      From  the  author. 

A  synopsis  of  the  Birds  of  North  America.  By  J.  J.  Audubon. 
8vo.,  Edinburgh,  1839.     From  Dr.  Wilson.  * 

Annales  des  Lagides,  ou  Chronologie  des  rois  Grecs  d'Egypte 
successeurs  d' Alexandre  le  grand.  Par  M.  Champollion 
Figeac.    2  vols.,  8vo.     Paris,  1819.     From  the  author. 

Le  Sahara  Algerien,  etudes  geographiques,  statistiques,  et  histo- 
riques  sur  la  region  au  Sud  des  etablissements  Francais  en 
Algerie,  &c.  Par  M.  le  Lieut.  Col.  Daumas.  8vo.  Paris, 
1845.     From  Mr.  A.  Vattemare. 

De  l'organisation  des  Bibliotheques  dans  Paris.  Par  le  Comte 
de  Laborde.  8me.,  Lettre.  Etude  sur  la  construction  des 
Bibliotheques.     8vo.  Paris,  1845.     From  the  same. 

Movement  of  the  international  literary  exchanges  between  France 
and  North  America,  from  Jan.  1845  to  May  1846 ;  with  in- 
structions for  collecting,  preparing,  and  forwarding  objects  of 
natural  history,  written  by  the  Prof,  administrators  of  the 
Museum  of  Natural  History  at  Paris  ;  and  instructions  rela- 
tive to  Anthropology  and  Zoology.  By  M.  Isidore  Geoffroy 
St.  Hilaire.     8vo.  Paris,  1846.     From  the  same. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  pp. 
49 — 160.     From  the  Academy. 

Die  Petrefacten  der  Trias  und  des  Jura  sowie  der  Tertair-und 
Diluvial  Bildungen  Wiirttembergs,  nach  ihren  Schichtungs- 
verhiiltnissen  zusammengestellt  mit  geognostischem  Durchs- 
chnitt  von  P.  Mohr.  8vo.  pamphlet.  Stuttgart,;  1847. 
From  the  author. 

Verzeichniss  von  Mineralien  und  Gebirgsarten  bei  Paul  Mohr. 
From  the  author. 


Oct.  1847.]'  271 

Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following  works : 
History  of  British  Animals.    By  John  Fleming,  D.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
&c.     2d  edition.     8vo.      London,  1842. 

The  Philosophy  of  Zoology  ;  or  a  general  view  of  the  structure, 
functions  and  classifications  of  animals.  By  John  Fleming,  D.  D., 
&c.     2  vols.,  8vo.     Edinburgh,  1822. 

The  Naturalist's  Library.  Vols.  3,  4,  5,  6  and  13,  of  Orni- 
thology.    12mo. 

Untersuchungen  iiber  die  Fauna  Peruana  auf  einer  Reise  in  Peru 
Wahrend  der  Jahre  1838,  '39,  '40.  '41  and  '42.  Von  Dr.  J. 
J.  von  Tschudi.     Leiferungen  1 — 12.     4to. 

A  collection  of  geological  facts  and  practical  observations  in- 
tended to  elucidate  the  formation  of  the  Ashby  coal  field,  in  the 
parish  of  Ashby-de-la-Zouch,  and  the  neighboring  district. 
By  Edward  Mammat,  F.  G.  S.  1  vol.  4to.  Ashby-de-la- 
Zouch,  1836. 

Antediluvian  Phytology,  illustrated  by  a  collection  of  the  fos- 
sil remains  of  plants  peculiar  to  the  coal  formation  of  Great 
Britain.  By  Edmund  Tyrrell  Artis,  F.  S.  A.  F.  G.  S.  4to. 
London,  1838. 

Handbuch  der  Naturgeschichte  aller  Vogel  Duetschlands.  Von. 
Christian  Ludwig  Brehm.     8vo.  Ilmenau,  1831. 

A  Monograph  of  the  British  Nudibranchiate  Mollusca ;  with  figures 

of  all  the  species.     By   Joshua  Alder    &   Albany  Hancock. 

Parts  1,  2,  and  3.     4to.     London,  1845,  '46. 
The  Viviparous  Quadrupeds  of  North  America.     By  Audubon  & 

Bachman.     No.  24,  folio. 
Proceedings  of  the  Zoological    Society  of  London,    pp.    83  to 

98. 
The  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History.    No.  131.    Aug., 

1847. 


The  following  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  J.  W.  Dawson,  of 
Pictou,  N.  S.,  dated  Sept.  11,  '47,  addressed  to  Prof.  Johnson, 
in  answer  to  some  inquiries  made  by  the  latter,  respecting  the 
gypsum  of  that  section  of  county. 

37 


272  •  [Oct.  184T. 

"  The  gypsum  of  Nova  Scotia  has  attracted  considerable  attention  since  Mr. 
Lyell  published  his  reasons  for  supposing  it  to  be  older  than  had  been  previously 
supposed,  and  you  will  find  much  matter  relating  to  your  inquiries,  in  papers 
by  Mr.  Lyell,  Mr.  Brown  of  Sidney,  and  myself,  published,  within  the  last  few 
years,  by  the  Geological  Society  of  London.  I  do  not,  therefore,  profess,  in  this 
letter,  to  state  much  that  is  new,  but  merely  to  give  you  a  general  view  of  the 
appearances  I  have  observed,  and  the  conclusions  deducible  from  them. 

The  great  workable  deposites  of  gypsum  are  all  contained  in  the  carboniferous 
system,  and  most  of  them  in  its  lower  part.  The  new  red  sandstone  contains 
only  small  veins  and  thin  layers  of  gypsum,  of  no  economical  importance.  For 
proof  of  this,  I  may  refer  you  to  the  papers  above  mentioned,  and  to  that  on 
the  new  red  sandstone,  which  I  hope  will  be  published  in  the  course  of  this  year. 

The  great  masses  of  gypsum  quarried  in  this  Province,  are  the  outcropping 
edges  of  true  beds,  apparently  as  continuous  as  those  of  the  limestone  associated 
with  them,  though  perhaps  not  so  much  so  as  the  accompanying  sandstone  and 
shale.  These  beds  are,  however,  often  of  great  thickness,  and  this,  together 
with  the  tendency  of  their  surfaces  to  be  worn  into  "  pits,"  their  association 
with  soft  marls  and  sandstones  easily  removed  by  denudation,  and  the  disturb- 
ances to  which  our  carboniferous  strata  have  been  subjected,  often  prevent  their 
arrangement  from  being  distinctly  seen.  In  the  following  places,  however,  it 
is  very  evident : 

At  Ogden's  Point,  near  Antigonish,  the  descending  order,  seen  in  the  coast 
section,  is  as  follows  : 

1.  White  gypsum,  fine  grained  and  rather  hard,  in  thick  )      Aggregate 
laminae,  and  with  minute  crystals  of  carbonate  of  lime.  >       thickness 

2.  Reddish  gypsum,  large  grained  foliated.  )  over  100  feet. 

3.  Alternations  of  thin  beds  of  gypsum  and  of  grey  earthy  limestone. 

4.  Grey  limestone,  laminated  and  brecciated,  a  thick  bed. 

5.  Reddish  sandstones  and  shales. 

The  dip  of  these  beds  is  S.  S.  E.  25°,  and  the  lamination  or  subordinate  bed- 
ding of  the  upper  bed  of  gypsum,  coincides  with  this  dip.  The  beds  can  be 
traced  inland  for  several  miles  ;  the  outcrop  of  the  gypsum  running  parallel 
to  that  of  the  other  beds. 

A  section  somewhat  similar  to  the  above,  occurs  at  De  Bert  river,  but  there 
the  limestone,  which  is  fossiliferous,  does  not  alternate  with  the  gypsum  at 
their  junction ;  the  gypsum  is,  however,  evidently  a  bed  superimposed  on 
the  limestone. 

Two  of  the  smaller  beds  near  the  mouth  of  the  Shubenacadie  river,  afford 
good  illustrations  of  the  bedding  of  the  gypsum.  The  first  is  a  bed  of  black 
gypsum,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  It  is  12  feet  thick,  and  is  included  in 
beds  of  reddish  sandstone,  a  layer  of  which  separates  the  gypsum  into  two 
portions.  In  this  case  the  contrast  between  the  color  of  the  red  sandstone  and 
that  of  the  gypsum,  apparently  colored  by  coaly  or  bituminous  matter,  is  very 
striking.  The  other  instance  occurs  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  at  the  south- 
ern extremity  of  the  bay,  named  the  "  Bend."  It  is  a  bed  of  whitish  anhy- 
drite, with  some  common  gypsum  in  its  upper  part,  regularly  interstratified 
with  reddish  sandstones.  Near  this  bed  the  red  sandstones  are  traversed  by 
a  network  of  very  narrow  veins  of  fibrous  gypsum. 


Oct.  1847.]  273 

Near  the  entrance  of  Wallace  Harbor  is  a  bed  of  gypsum,  whose  relations 
are  as  follow,  in  descending  order  : 

1.  Reddish  clay  or  shale,  not  well  seen. 

2.  Grey  limestone  with  fossil  shells.     Its  fissures  and  the  cavities  of  the 

shells  filled  with  selenitic  gypsum. 

3.  White  granular  gypsum  ;  thickness  about  12  feet. 

4.  Reddish  clay  and  shales. 

5.  Grey  sandstone,  with  calamites  and  trunks  of  coniferous  trees. 
The  dip  of  these  beds  is  S.  S.  W.  20°. 

The  above  are  the  best  illustrations  which,  on  looking  over  my  notes,  I  can 
find  of  the  stratification  of  gypsum.  There  is,  however,  one  circumstance 
worthy  of  notice,  in  addition,  as  it  aids  in  generalizing  from  such  facts.  It  is 
the  rude  lamination  or  layering  observed  in  many  masses  of  gypsum.  This 
always  coincides  with  the  plans  of  stratification,  where  the  latter  can  be  ob- 
served, and  is  often  produced  by  the  presence  of  thin  layers  of  clay,  marl,  or 
limestone.  In  beds  whose  associated  rocks  cannot  be  seen,  this  lamination  is 
often  observable,  and  affords  an  evidence  of  stratification,  which  may  some- 
times be  farther  confirmed  by  a  comparison  with  the  nearest  visible  beds  of 
other  rocks.  In  some  cases  also,  this  layering  affords  proofs  of  disturbances. 
An  instance  of  this  is  the  enormous  bed  of  gypsum,  called  White's  or  the  Big 
Plaster  Rock,  on  the  banks  of  the  Shubenacadie.  The  indications  of  the 
singularly  contorted  laminae  of  this  bed  are  confirmed  by  the  vertical  position 
of  some  associated  thin  beds  of  marl  and  limestone. 

Anhydrite  very  frequently  accompanies  the  common  gypsum.  In  some 
cases,  as  at  White's  quarry,  and  the  bend  of  the  Shubenacadie,  it  forms  the 
lower  parts  of  beds,  which  above  consist  of  hydrous  gypsum.  In  other  instances, 
as  at  the  estuary  of  the  Avon  and  the  St.  Croix  river,  it  constitutes  the  mass  of 
greafbeds,  which  are,  however,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  beds  of  the  com- 
mon variety.  At  the  East  river  of  Pictou,  it  occurs  in  large  balls,  included  in 
a  thick  bed  of  hydrous  gypsum.  The  anhydrite  is  sometimes  also  dissemi- 
nated in  grains,  through  some  parts  of  the  beds  of  gypsum,  which  are  quarried  ; 
and  this  mixed  rock,  as  well  as  the  purer  anhydrite,  is  called  hard  plaster  or 
shark-stone,  by  the  quarrymen.  Anhydrite  has  not  been  observed  to  be  con- 
nected with  any  igneous  or  metamorphosed  rocks.  In  the  only  instance  which 
I  have  observed  of  the  occurrence  of  gypsum  in  rocks  altered  by  heat,  the 
gypsum  is  hydrous. 

The  gypsum  of  this  province  is  nearly  always  crystalline.  In  the  great  beds, 
whether  of  common  gypsum  or  anhydrite,  the  structure  is  always  foliated  or 
granular ;  sometimes  large  grained,  in  other  cases  so  fine  as  to  appear  compact 
or  chalky.  The  finer  grained  varieties  often  contain  groups  of  larger  crystals. 
In  the  true  veins,  occupying  fissures  in  the  sandstones,  limestones,  and  gypsum 
beds  themselves,  the  structure  is  invariably  fibrous.  Little  rounded  kernels  of 
gypsum,  sometimes  occurring  in  sandstones,  &c,  are  foliated. 

The  crystalline  structure,  and  great  comparative  purity  of  gypsum,  show  that 
it  is  a  chemical,  not  a  mechanical  deposit.     Its  constant  association  with  the 
limestones  of  the  carboniferous  system,  containing  marine  fossils,  (Terebratula 
Productus,  Orthoceras,  Corals,  &c.) prove  that  it  was  deposited  in  the  sea;  and 


274  [Oct.  1847. 

from  the  present  relations  of  the  carboniferous  rocks  to  older  systems,  in  this 
province,  it  is  probable  that  the  sea  basins  in  which  gypsum  was  deposited, 
were  not  very  extensive.  In  these  sea  basins  the  deposition  of  gypsum  alter- 
nated with  mechanical  deposits  of  sand  and  marl,  and  with  the  growth  of  shells 
and  corals;  but  the  conditions  which  produced  beds  of  gypsum,  were  unfavora- 
ble both  to  the  transport  of  sediment  and  the  existence  of  animals  or  plants. 

From  a  consideration  of  these  facts,  I  am  disposed  to  refer  the  formation  of 
gypsum  to  springs  and  rivers,  containing  free  sulphuric  acid,  and  poured  into 
seas  in  which  carbonate  of  lime  had  been  deposited.  The  sulphuric  acid  may 
have  been  derived  from  the  volcanic  regions  of  the  neighboring  ranges  of  older 
rocks,  and  may  have  been  a  product  of  the  oxidation  of  iron  pyrites,  which  still 
abound  in  some  parts  of  these  older  strata,  either  directly  by  the  action  of  air 
and  water,  or,  perhaps,  indirectly  by  the  formation  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen, 
and  its  oxidation  in  passing  through  fissures  in  contact  with  water  and  air.  To 
realize  the  operation  of  these  causes,  you  need  only  imagine  streams  like  the 
South  American  Rio  Vinaigre  flowing  into  a  sheltered  bay  containing  beds  of 
shells  and  corals,  or  into  the  space  between  a  coast  and  its  coral  reef.  I  do  not, 
however,  pretend  to  explain  the  mode  of  former  action  of  anhydrite  in  this 
way,  though  it,  like  the  common  gypsum,  has  evidently  been  deposited  in  beds 
by  water." 


A  letter  was  read  from  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth,  of  Marietta, 
Ohio,  dated  Aug.  19,  1847,  relative  to  his  donation  of  this 
evening. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Haldeman,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
confer  with  Mr.  A.  Vattemare,  on  the  subject  of  international 
exchanges.  Committee,  Prof.  Johnson,  Dr.  Leidy  and  Mr. 
Cassin. 


Stated  Meeting,  October  12,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Forty   specimens,    in   skin,    of  European   birds.      From    Prof. 

Bronn,  of  Heidelberg,  in  exchange. 
Meandrina   cerebriformis,    attached   to   Area   Noae,    M.    crispa 

with  Serpula  and  Pyrgonia  ;  Agaricia  ampliata  with  Pyrgonia, 

Pocilipora  damicornis ;  Megaphyllum  with  Nobia.     From  Dr. 

Wilson. 
A  mineral,  supposed  to  be  new.     From  Mr.   L.    J.  Germain. 


Oct.  1847.]  275 


DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Elementary  Chemistry,  theoretical  and  practical.  By  Geo. 
Fownes,  Ph.  D.,  edited,  with  additions,  by  Robert  Bridges, 
M.  D.,  2d  edition,  8vo.  Philadelphia,  1847.  From  Dr. 
Bridges. 

Bridgewater  Treatises.  Treatise  1.  On  the  adaptation  of 
external  nature  to  the  moral  and  intellectual  constitution 
of  Man.  By  the  Rev.  T.  Chalmers,  D.  D.  Treatise  8th. 
Chemistry,  Meteorology,  and  the  function  of  digestion.  By 
Wm.  Prout,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.  8vo.  Philadelphia,  1836. 
From  the  same. 

Elements  of  Physics  :  or  natural  philosophy,  general  and  medical, 
&c.  By  Neil  Arnott,  M.  D.  Edited  by  Isaac  Hays,  M.  D. 
8vo.     Philadelphia,  1845.     From  the  same. 

Lexicon  Scientarium ;  a  dictionary  of  terms  used  in  the  various 
branches  of  Anatomy,  Botany,  Zoology,  &c.  By  Henry 
McMurtrie,  M.  D.  12mo.  Philadelphia,  1847.  From  the 
Author. 

Histoire  des  Polypiers  coralligenes  flexibles,  vulgairement 
nommes  Zoophytes.  Par  J.  F.  V.  Lamouroux.  8vo.  A. 
Caen,  1846.     From  Mr.  Wm.  Gambel. 

Henrico  Joan.  Nepom.  Cranz  Classis  Cruciformium  emendata 
cum  fig.  aen.  in  necessarium  Instit.  Rei  Herbariae  Supplemen- 
tum.     8vo.     Lipsise,  1769.     From  Dr.  Griffith. 

On  the  influence  of  atmosphere  and  locality,  &c.  on  human 
health,  constituting  elements  of  Hygiene.  By  Robley  Dung- 
lison,  M.  D.     8vo.     Philadelphia,  1835.    From  the  same. 

Hector  Bossange :   Catalogue  des  livres  anciens.     8vo.     Paris, 

1846.     From  the  same. 
The  American  Mineralogical  Journal ;  conducted  by  Archibald 

Bruce,  M.  D.  Vol.  1.     8yo.     New  York,  1814.     From  the 

same. 


276  [Oct.  1847. 

Seven  tracts  in  the  Burmese,  Chinese,  and  Hindustan  lan- 
guages, chiefly  on  religious  subjects.  From  Dr.  Dawson  of 
Philadelphia. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  M.  W.  Rowe,  dated  New  Har- 
mony, Indiana,  Oct.  2,  1847,  containing  some  observations  on 
the  generation  of  the  Opossum. 

Mr.  Conrad  read  a  paper,  entitled  "  Observations  on  the 
Eocene  formation,  and  descriptions  of  105  new  Fossils  from  the 
vicinity  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.;  with  an  Appendix."  Referred  to 
a  Committee  consisting  of  Drs.  Wilson  and  Leidy,  and  Mr. 
Phillips. 


Stated  Meeting,  Oct.  19,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Two  vertebrae  of  a  Cetacean  and  three  Chelonian  bones  ;  from 
the  green  sand  of  New  Jersey.    Presented  by  Dr.  J.  Thomas. 

Sulphuret  of  Antimony  and  Talc,  from  Buraiah  ;  also  several 
species  of  Cyprsea  from  the  same.     From  Dr.  Dawson. 

Sulphate  of  Baryta,  from  Antrim,  Ireland.     Presented  by  Mr. 

Win.  L.  Mactier. 
Dr.  Morton  deposited  the  crania  of  a  Swede,    Chenouk  Indian, 

Bengalee,  Lepan  Indian   and   ancient   Phoenician.     Also,    a 

cranium  of  Phoca  vitulina,   and  casts  of  crania  of  a  Mexican, 

Burat,  Abyssinian  and  Patagonian. 

DONATIONS  TO  LIBRARY. 

Genera  Plantarum  secundum  ordines  naturales  disposita :  Auctor 
Henrico  Endlicher.  Fascic.  8-16.  8vo.  From  Dr.  Wm  .Dar- 
lington. 

Versuch   iiber   die  perspiration  einiger   mit  lungen   athmender 


Oct.  1847.]  277 

wirbelthiere ;  von    C.    L.    von    Erlach.     4to.     Bern,    1846. 
From  Dr.  Morton. 

Dissertatio  medica  inauguralis  continens  observationes  quasdam 
anatomicas  comparatas  de  Squatina  lsevi.  Auctore  Henrico 
Boursse  Wils.     Lugduni   Batavorum,   1844.     From  the  same. 

Esquisse  des  principaux  points  de  vue  sous  lesquels  ou  peut  con- 
siderer  1'anatomie  de  l'Homme  et  des  animaux  dans  sons  etat 
actuel.     Par  M.  Duvernoy.     Paris,   1840.     From   the   same. 

Quelques  observationes  sur  l'animal  de  la  Spirule,  et  sur  l'usage 
du  siphon  des  coquilles  polythalames.  Par  M.  H.  Blainville. 
Paris,  1838.     From  the  same. 

Fragment  d'anatomie  comparee  sur  les  organes  de  la  generation 
de  rOrnithorynque  et  de  l'Echidne;  par  G.  L.  Duvernoy. 
4to.     From  the  same. 

(ifversigt  of  slagtet  Erinaceus  af  Carl  J.  Sundevall.  From  the 
same. 

Faculte  de  Medecine  de  Paris.  These  pour  le  Doctorat  en  Med- 
ecine,  presentee  et  soutenue  le  22  Aout,  1845.  Par  Louis- 
Pierre  Gratiolet.     4to.     Paris,  1845.     From  the  same. 

Uber  den  bau  und  die  Lebensercheinungen  des  Branchiostoma 
lubricum,  Costa,  Amphioxus  lanceolatus,  Yarrell.  Von  J. 
Muller.  Folio.  Berlin,  1844.     From  the  same. 

Natural  History  of  New  York.  Agriculture  of  New  York.  By 
Ebenezer  Emmons  M.  D.  Vol.  1.  4to.  Albany,  1846.  Pur- 
chased by  order  of  the  Academy. 

Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 
Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.  3,  No.  12.  From  the  Associ- 
ation. 

An  Address  delivered  before  the  Chester  county  Horticultural 
Society  at  West  Chester,  Pa.,  September  10,  1847  :  by  Wm. 
H.  Dillingham;  with  the  Transactions  of  the  Society  for  1846, 
'47.     Philadelphia,  1847.     From  the  Author. 


278  [Oct.  1847. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Prof.  Haldeman,  dated  Columbia,  Oct. 
16,  1847,  calling  the  attention  to  a  collection  of  Birds  and  Rep- 
tilia  for  sale  at  Tampico,     Referred  to  the  Curators. 

Mr.  Gambel  exhibited  an  albino  specimen  of  the  Wood  Pewit, 
(Muscicapa  virens)  which  was  obtained  in  Liberty  county,  Georgia, 
by  Mr.  Win.  L.  Jones,  of  that  State,  and  also  a  specimen  of  a 
Woodpecker  resembling  Picus  pubescens,  but  probably  a  new 
species.  This  last  is  remarkable  in  having  only  three  toes,  and 
would  therefore  more  probably  belong  to  the  genus  Picoides  Lacep. 
{Apternus,  Swains.)  The  feet  are  slender  and  delicate,  without 
even  a  rudiment  of  a  fourth  toe  ;  in  other  respects  it  more  closely 
resembles  the  P.  meridionalis,  Swains.  (P.  G-airdnerii,  Aud. ) 
which  is  also  an  inhabitant  of  Georgia.  It  differs  in  having  the 
bill  more  compressed  at  the  base,  the  tips  of  the  tertiaries  -with- 
out emarginations,  the  primaries  narrower  and  more  pointed,  and 
in  the  toes  being  only  three  in  number. 


Meeting  for  Business,  Oct.  26,  1847. 
Mr.  Pearsall  in  the  Chair. 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred   Dr.  Hallowell's  paper, 

scribing  a  ] 
Proceedings. 


describing  a  new  Coluber,  reported  in  favor  of  publication  in  the 


Description  of  a  New  S  >ecies  of  Coluber  inhabiting  the  United  States, 

By  Edward  Hallowell,  M.  D. 

Coluber  venustus. 

Characters. — Head  sm  ■  rk  slender,   color    reddish-brown,  with  a  dorsal 

ash-colored  band  extend  "in  the  occiput  to  near  the  extremity  of  the  tail  ; 

four  narrow  bands  of  red  in  own  color  from  the  neck  to  the  commencement 

of  the  tail,  with  two  in:  iate  bands  of  the  same  color,  but  less  distinct  ; 

an  ash-colored,  band   r<  si  ag   that   upon   the   dorsum,  along  each  side  of 

the  abdomen  ;  abdomen  *  ick-red  or  copper  color;  tail  short. 

Description. — Head  sm  longated,  flattened   above,    covered   with   nine 


Oct.  1847.]  279 

plates  ;  of  these  the  vertical  is  pentagonal ;  the  occipital  are  also  pentagonal, 
their  anterior  margins  heing  in  contact  with  the  vertical,  supra-orbitar,  and 
superior  post-occular  plates  ;  the  supra-orbitar  are  pentangular,  and  in  contact 
posteriori/  with  the  occipital  and  posterior  superior  post-oculars,  internally  with 
the  vertical,  and  anteriorly  with  the  posterior  frontal ;  their  external  margin 
forms  the  upper  part  of  the  orbit,  and  is  in  contact  in  front  with  the  superior 
ante-ocular ;  they  do  not  project  beyond  the  eye ;  the  posterior  frontal  are 
quadrilateral ;  the  anterior  frontal  are  smaller  than  those  last  described  ;  their 
external  and  posterior  angle  is  somewhat  prolonged,  passing  in  between  the 
frenal  and  the  posterior  frontal  plate  ;  their  anterior  margin  is  rounded  ;  then- 
are  two  ante-ocular,  and  two  post-oculars,  of  the  posterior  the  superior  is  the 
larger  ;  the  frenal  plate  is  quadrilateral ;  the  nasal  is  single  ;  the  nostril,  which 
is  small,  is  placed  near  the  posterior  margin  ;  the  rostral  plate  is  hexagonal, 
incurvated  below  ;  it  is  in  contact  with  the  anterior  frontal,  the  nasal  and  the  an- 
terior labials  ;  in  the  specimen  examined  there  are  six  superior  labials  on  one 
side  and  seven  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  head,  exclusive  of  the  rostral ; 
of  these  the  fifth  is  the  largest ;  it  is  oblong  quadrilateral ;  eyes  of  moderate 
size,  placed  upon  the  side  of  the  head  ;  neck  slender,  body  rounded,  contracted 
near  the  anus,  thickest  near  the  middle,  covered  with  carinated  scales  ;  of  these 
there  are  fifteen  rows  ;  these  scales  are  bi-punctate  posteriorly  ;  the  interven- 
ing epidermis  is  black  ;  tail  short  and  tapering  to  a  point. 

Colour. — Head  brown  above;  irides .   An  ash-coloured  band  extends  along 

the  dorsum,  beginning  at  the  occiput  ;  it  is  narrow  upon  the  neck,  and  broadest 
near  the  middle  of  the  animal,  where  it  measures  one  line  and  a  quarter  in 
breadth ;  it  becomes  narrow  upon  the  tail,  and  is  finally  lost  towards  its  ex- 
tremity ;  two  longitudinal  bands  of  a  reddish-brown  colour  extend  along  each 
side  from  the  neck  to  the  tail,  the  superior  along  the  external  margin  of  the 
ash-coloured  dorsal  band,  the  inferior  along  the  lateral  margin  of  the  abdominal 
scuta  ;  there  is  an  intermediate  band  of  the  same  colour,  but  less  distinct  ;  the 
spaces  intervening  between  the  bands  are  light  brown  ;  the  chin  is  white,  pre- 
senting numerous  small  conglomerate  spots  of  a  black  colour  upon  its  surface  ; 
the  throat  is  also  white,  with  blackish  points,  most  numerous  upon  its  sides ; 
the  neck,  abdomen  and  under  part  of  tail  are  of  a  brick-red  colour  ;  lighter 
upon  the  neck  ;  an  ash-coloured  band,  resembling  that  upon  the  back,  extends 
along  each  side  of  the  neck,  and  of  the  abdomen  as  far  as  the  tail. 

Dimensions. — Length  of  head  4  lines  ;  greatest  breadth  2£  lines  ;  length  of 
body  9  inches,  (Fr.)  of  tail,  2  inches  5  lines. 

Abdomen. — Scuta  122.     Subcaud.  41. 

Habitat. — Michigan,  near  Copper  Harbour,  Lake  Superior.  This  species 
was  fojind  by  Mr.  Theodore  F.  Moss,  between  stones  upon  the  border  of  the 
lake,  and  presented  by  him  to  the  Acadamy  of  Natural  Sciences.  The  speci- 
men had  been  preserved  in  alcohol  two  weeks. 

No  animal  resembling  the  one  I  have  described  is  figured  in  Prof.  Holbrook's 
work  on  the  "Reptiles  inhabiting  the  United  States,"  and  I  have  therefore 
ventured  to  consider  it  as  new. 

Since  the  figure  of  this  animal  was  printed,  I  have  received,  through  the 

38 


280  [Oct.  1847. 

kindness  of  Dr.  Storer,  the  original  of  the  occipito-maculatus*  which  corres- 
ponds with  the  animal  described  in  many  particulars.  The  form  of  the  head 
and  neck  is  the  same,  as  are  also  the  plates  immediately  in  front  of  the  eye, 
which  are  two  in  number,  the  Tripidonatus  Dekayi,  with  which  it  has  been 
considered  identical,  presenting  but  one.  The  scales  are  likewise  carinated  and 
bi-punctate  posteriorly,  and  the  number  of  caudal  and  abdominal  plates  is 
nearly  the  same  in  both.  The  specimen  of  Dr.  Storer,  however,  is  much  more 
slender,  and  the  coloration  is  almost  totally  different,  which,  however,  may 
be  the  effect  of  long  immersion  in  spirits.  We  are  inclined  to  the  opinion, 
therefore,  that  notwithstanding  the  great  difference  in  their  size  and  coloration, 
the  two  animals  are  the  same. 

My  friend  Prof.  Baird,  to  whom  I  exhibited  the  specimen  brought  by  Mr. 
Moss,  states  that  it  is  very  abundant  in  the  north,  being,  in  fact,  the  most 
common  snake  along  Lake  Champlain.  In  Troy,  he  observes,  "  I  have  found 
one,  and  have  a  specimen  from  Georgia,  at  least  given  me  as  from  that  local- 
ity." It  is  certainly  remarkable,  that  an  animal  having  so  wide  a  geograph- 
ical distribution,  and  presenting  the  beautiful  appearance  which  it  does,  should 
be  so  little  known  to  naturalists. 


The  Committee  on  Mr.   Conrad's  paper,  read  12th  inst.,  re- 
ported in  favour  of  publication  in  the  Proceedings. 

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. 

By  T.  A.  Conrad. 

In  the  Spring  of  1844,  I  collected  about  109  species  of  Eocene  fossils,  most 
of  which  appear  to  be  new  species.  There  are  60  univalves,  42  bivalves,  and 
1  multivalve  shell,  and  6  or  7  polyps. 

Of  these  fossils,  I  can  identify  two  only  with  species  of  the  Claiborne  sands, 
Infundibulum  trochiformis  aud  Conus  saurodens.  Very  few  others  are  related  to 
species  of  the  Alabama  sand  strata ;  Lucina  Mississippiensis,  Sigaretus  Missis- 
sippiensis  and  Dentalium  Mississippiensis,  are  the  only  shells  which  might  be 
confounded  with  species  of  those  deposits. 

The  Vicksburg  group  contains  three  species  of  bivalves  which  have  much 
resemblance  to  Miocene  fossils  of  this  country.  Lima  staminea  approaches  L. 
papyria;  Corbula  engonata  is  allied  to  C.  inequalis,  Say;  and  Nucula  Vicks- 
burgensis,    to  N.  obliqua,  Say. 

I  have  not  observed  a  recent  species  in  this  group,  and  yet  it  is  decidedly 
more  modern  than  that  of  the  Claiborne  sands  ;  and  as  both  deposits  ha«e  but 
two  species  in  common,  I  thought  it  advisable  to  designate  the  former,  Upper 
or  Newer  Eocene,  and  the  latter  Lower  or  Older  Eocene,  as  the  two  divisions 
are  more  distinct  than  the  Older  and  Newer  Pliocenes. 

In  the  American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts,  I  have  given  a  sketch  of  the 

*  Reports  on  the  Icthyology  and  Herpetology  of  Massachusetts,  by  D.  Hum- 
phreys Storer,  M.  D.,  p.  230. 


Oct.  1847.] 


281 


Mississippi  Eocene,  and  observed  that  not*  more  than  10  species  would  be  found, 
on  comparison,  identical  with  Claiborne  shells.  I  had  reference  to  the  sand  at 
Claiborne,  and  not  including  the  limestone  above  it.  A  careful  comparison  has 
reduced  the  number  to  two  species,  for  the  Dentalium,  which  when  at  Vicks- 
burg  (without  a  Claiborne  specimen  for  comparison)  I  had  supposed  to  be  D. 
tkalloides,  is  a  distinct,  though  closely  allied  species. 

This  newer  portion  of  the  Eocene  in  Mississippi  is  represented  in  Alabama 
by  the  white  limestone  at  St.  Stephens  on  the  Tombeckbe  river,  and  the  simi- 
lar rock  which  constitutes  the  uppermost  stratum  at  Claiborne,  on  the  Alabama 
river  ;  all  being  admirably  connected  by  the  abundance  of  Nummulites  Mantelli. 
There  is  a  similar  limestone  in  Charleston  County,  South  Carolina,  in  which  I 
found  Scutella  Lyelli  and  Peclen  calvatus,  fossils,  of  the  Claiborne  limestone, 
and  both  rocks  are  probably  of  the  same  geological  age.  The  limestone  of 
Tampa  Bay,  Florida,  is  included  in  the  Upper  Eocene  series,  but  as  yet  no 
fossil  has  been  obtained  from  it  identical  with  a  species  of  the  Carolinas,  Mis- 
sissippi or  Alabama,  unless  it  is  a  specimen  of  C'archarias  megalodon,  which 
Capt.  Powell,  of  the  Navy,  found  on  the  bay  shore. 

The  only  species  of  Crassaiella  which  occurs  at  Vicksburg,  is  more  nearly  re- 
lated to  C.  lumida  of  the  Paris  basin  than  to  C.  alia  of  Claiborne. 

Ostrea  sellceformis  characterises  the  lower  division  of  the  Eocene  formation. 
It  occurs  abundantly  beneath  the  fossiliferous  sands  of  Claiborne  ;  at  Vance's 
Ferry,  South  Carolina:  and  on  the  right  bank  of  James  river,  below  City 
Point,  "Virginia.  I  also  refer  to  this  section,  the  localities  at  Fort  Washington, 
Piscataway,  and  Upper  Marlborough,  Maryland.  Other  characteristic  fossils 
are  Cardila  planicosta  and  Turritella  Mortoni,  the  former  occurring  at  Piscata- 
way ;  at  Claiborne,  Alabama ;  and  also  at  Marlbourne,  on  Pamunkey  river, 
Virginia,  the  residence  of  Edmund  Ruffin,  Esq. 

The  following  table  illustrates  the  two  editions  of  the  Eocene  : 

CHARACTERISTIC    FOSSILS. 


DIVISIONS. 


LOCALITIES. 


Upper 

or 

Newer  Eocene. 


Vicksburg,  Miss.,  white  limestone 
of  St.  Stephens,  and  of  Claiborne, 
Alabama,  and  part  of  that  in  Charles- 
ton Co.,  South  Carolina. 


Scutella  Lyelli. 

S Rogersi. 

Pecten  Poulsoni. 
Nummulites  Mantelli. 


limestone  in  the  vicinity  of  Tampa 
Bay,  Florida. 


Nummulites  Floridana. 
Cristellaria  rotella. 
Ostrea  Georgiana. 


Lower 


or 


Older  Eocene. 


Fossilliferous  sands  of  Claiborne, 
and  St.  Stephens,  Al.  of  the  Washita 
river,  near  Monroe,  La.;  Pamunkey 
river  at  Marlbourne,  and  Eocene 
green  sand,  on  James  river,  below 
City  Point,  Va.;  Fort  Washington, 
Piscataway,  and  Upper  Marlborough, 
Md. 


Cardita  planicosta. 
Blandinga. 


Crassatella  alta. 
Ostrea  sellaeformis. 
Turritella  Mortoni,  &c. 


*In  the  paragraph  alluded  to,  this  word  was  accidentally  omitted.  I  did  not, 
when  it  was  written  suppose  that  10  fossils  would  be  found  to  correspond  with 
the  species  of  the  Claiborne  sands. 


282  [Oct.  1847. 

The  upper  limestone  of  Shell  Bluff  on  the  Savannah  river  in  Georgia,  which 
contains  Ostrea  Georgiana  and  Scutella  quinquefaria,  overlies  the  strata  which 
contain  species  of  organic  remains  identical  with  those  of  the  Lower  Eocene  of 
Alabama  and  Virginia,  none  of  which  has  yet  been  found  associated  with  the 
two  characteristic  fossils  above  named.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Ostrea  Georgi- 
ana occurs  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  where  its  position  is  said  to  be  below  the 
Vicksburg  group.  It  is  therefore  the  line  of  demarcation  between  the  Upper 
and  Lower  Eocene. 

FOSSILS    OF    THE    NEWER    EOCENE  OF  MISSISSIPPI. 

Dentalium  Mississippiensis. 

Curved,  attenuated  above,  longitudinally  striated,  the  lines  alternated  in  size, 
Length  2  1-10.  Abundant.  It  differs  from  D.  thalloides,  nob.,  in  having  more 
numerous  and  much  less  prominent  lines.     It  is  very  abundant. 

There  is  another  species  which  occurs  in  fragments.  It  is  small,  rare,  and  is 
smooth,  polished  and  curved. 

Fissurella  Mississippiensis. 

Suboval,  rather  elevated,  with  numerous  unequal  radiating  lines,  and  fine 
transverse  lines,  giving  a  minutely  granulated  appearance  to  the  shell ;  foramen 
oval,  submedial.     Length  £,  very  rare. 

An  echinated  species  occurs  apparently  identical  with  I.  trochiformis  of  Paris, 
and  of  Claiborne,  Alabama. 

Solarium  triliratum. 

Discoidal,  with  three  thick  approximate  ridges  on  the  periphery;  suture 
channelled  ;  volutions  with  oblique  impressed  lines,  and  2  fine  revolving  lines 
on  each  whorl;  base  convex  with  three  revolving  impressed  lines  that  near 
the  umbilicus  profound,  and  with  coarse  rugose  transverse  lines.  Diameter 
"7-10.     Not  common. 

Bulla  crassiplica. 

Cylindrical,  narrowing  towards  the  base,  smooth  and  entire  ;  fold  at  base 
thick  and  prominent.     Length  2-10. 

Abundant  on  Dr.  Smith's  plantation,  6  miles  N.  E.  of  Vicksburg. 

1 .    Cyprcea  spheeroides. 

Short  ovate,  subglobose ;  posterior  end  narrow;  base  rounded;  aperture  nar- 
row, the  margins  with  numerous  teeth.     Length  l\. 

Very  rare.  Mr.  J.  D.  Anderson,  of  Vicksburg,  found  one,  and  I  obtained  only 
one  during  the  two  weeks  employed  in  collecting  the  fossils  around  Vicksburg. 

2.  Cyprcea  lintea. 

Ovate,  elevated,  ventricose,  with  four  approximate  equal  impressed  lines  ; 
base  ventricose,  profoundly  striated  ;  labrum  margin  much  thickened,  profound 
ly  striated  ;  summit  of  the  labrum  prominent ;  base  slightly  produced.     Length 
6-10.     Rare. 

Narica  Mississippiensis. 
Subglobose,  revolving  lines  fine,  regular,  equal ;  longitudinal  wrinkles  very 


Oct.  1847.]  288 

minute,  spire  very  short  ;  suture  somewhat  channelled  ;  umbilicus  rather  largt . 
Length  4-10. 

Sigaretus  Mississippiensis. 

Obliquely  oval,  with  fine  very  closely  arranged  wrinkled  revolving  lines  ; 
whorls  convex  ;  no  umbilicus.     Length  8-10. 

This  species  is    usually  much    smaller  than    the  specimen   described. 
scarcely  differs  from  a  species  of  Claiborne,  Alabama.     Not  very  common. 

1.  Natica  $Iississippiensis. 

Subglobose,  body  whorl  flattened  above  ;  suture  channelled  ;  spire  little  pro- 
minent; base  profoundly  callous;  aperture  moderate.     Length  8-10. 
This  rare  species  I  found  about  7  or  8  miles  N.  W.  of  Vicksburg. 

2.  Natica  Vicksburgensis. 

Subglobose,  whorls  4  or  5,  convex;  umbilicus  large;  columella  straight;  la- 
bium callous.     Length  6-10. 
This  species  is  common. 

Scalaria  trigintanaria. 

Turreted,  whorls  convex,  cancellated  with  numerous  prominent  lines,  the 
longitudinal  one  lamellaeform  and  elevated  towards  the  suture,  about  32  in 
number  on  the  body  whorl,  which  is  obtusely  carinated  ;  revolving  lines  equally 
prominent  with  the  longitudinal,  but  thicker;  base  below  the  carina  with 
minute  revolving  lines.     Length  9-10.     Very  rare. 

Turritella  Mississippiensis. 

Subulate,  volutions  flattened,  with  seven  revolving  lines  on  the  larger  ones 
the  penultimate  line  large  and  prominent ;  longitudinal  wrinkles  fine,  approxi- 
mate, much  curved,  crenulating  the  revolving  lines  ;  the  whorls  near  the  apex 
generally  with  two  prominent  distant  revolving  lines,  and  a  less  prominent  one 
margins  the  suture.     Length  3  inches.     Not  abundant. 

1.  Terebra  divisurum. 

Subulate,  with  nineteen  flattened  volutions,  obscurely  turreted  ;  polished  and 
with  longitudinal  curved  ribs,  dislocated  by  an  impressed  line  above  the  middle 
of  each  whorl  ;  ribs  obsolete  on  the  body  whorl  below  the  impressed  line. 
Length  2  inches.     Common. 

The  ribs  are  sometimes  obsolete  on  the  larger  whorls,  or  replaced  by  co 
wrinkles,  which  are  generally  distinct  on  the  body  whorl. 

2.  Terebra  tantula. 

Subulate,  with  longitudinal  ribs  dislocated  by  an  impressed  line  ;  whorls  with 
minute  revolving  lines. 

Very  similar  to  the  preceding,  but  narrower,  far  less  in  size,  and  distinguished 
by  the  revolving  lines  and  by  the  ribs  on  the  body  whorl,  which  extend  to  the 
beak.     Length  § .     Rare. 

1.  Pleurotoma  poreellana. 
Fusiform,  smooth  and  polished ;  whorls  11,  convex,  with  two  revolving  lines 
near  the  upper  margin  ;  the  interstices  transversely  striated  ;  body  whorl  with 


284  [Oct.  1847. 

revolving  impressed  lines,  commencing  near  the  upper  angle  of  the  aperture  ; 
volution  contiguous  to  the  apex,  papillated  ;  labium  striated  ;  aperture  rather 
more  than  half  the  length  of  the  shell ;  beak  perfectly  straight.  Length  \\. 
Rare. 

This  shell  may  perhaps  appertain  to  Brachytoma,  Swainson. 

2.  Pleurotoma  Mississippiensis, 
Turreted  ;  volutions  eight,  concave  above  and  plain  below,  with  longitudinal 
distant  rounded  ribs  ;  body  whorl  with  revolving  lines,  commencing  in  a  line 
with  the  summit  of  the  aperture  ;  beak  short,  a  little  curved.     Length  f . 

3.  Pleurotoma  servata. 

Fusiform  ;  whorls  ten,  with  rounded  longitudinal  ribs  and  prominent  strong 
revolving  lines,  a  fine  intermediate  line  on  the  body  whorl ;  volutions  concave 
above,  with  a  carinated  revolving  line  below  the  suture ;  beak  narrow,  elongated, 
slightly  bent,  acuminate ;  aperture  and  canal  rather  more  than  half  the  length 
of  the  shell.     Length  9-10. 

4.  Pleurotoma  congesta. 

Short-fusiform,  volutions  nine  or  ten,  with  revolving  raised  lines  and  longi- 
tudinal wrinkles;  spire  conical-acute;  whorls  slightly  contracted  in  the  middle, 
with  longitudinal  curved  irregular  stria?,  interrupted  in  the  middle  of  each 
whorl;  aperture  half  as  long  as  the  shell ;  beaks  slightly  twisted.  Length  1-1 0th. 
Very  abundant. 

It  approaches  the  genus  Brachytoma,  Swainson. 

5.  Pleurotoma  cristata. 

Fusiform,  whorls  ten,  angulated  in  the  middle,  except  the  two  from  the 
apex,  and  with  a  reflected  finely  dentate  carina ;  revolving  lines  distinct,  finely 
crenulated  ;  spire  scalariform;  from  the  upper  end  of  the  aperture  runs  a  promi- 
nent revolving  line,  much  larger  than  the  others :  lines  on  the  body  whorl 
below  the  angle  minutely  granulated;  beak  narrow,  produced.  Length  f.  Rare. 

6.  Pleurotoma  tantula. 

Slender ;  volutions  nine,  convex,  with  longitudinal  rounded,  slightly  curved 
ribs  ;  spire  elevated  and  acute  ;  suture  margined  by  an  indistinct  raised  line  ; 
beak  short,  narrow.     Length  4-10.     Rare. 

A  member  of  subgenus  Clavatula,  Lam. 

7.  Pleurotoma  tenella. 

Fusiform  ;  volutions  nine,  whorls  slightly  contracted  above,  with  longitudinal 
prominent  curved  lines,  and  a  prominent  revolving  line  near  and  below  the  su- 
ture ;  between  this  and  the  suture  an  impressed  line  ;  body  whorl  with  strong 
prominent  revolving  lines,  commencing  in  a  line  with  the  upper  end  of  the 
aperture,  and  sometimes  alternated  in  size  ;  ribs  frequently  obsolete  on  the 
body  whorl,  and  terminating  at  the  striated  space;  beak  narrow,  somewhat 
produced.     Length  8-10. 

It  probably  belongs  to  Swainson's  genus  Clavicantha. 

8.  Pleurotoma  cochlearis. 

Subfusiform,  with  elevated  revolving  lines,  alternated  with  fine  lines,  the  in- 


Oct.  1847.]  285 

terstices  with  fine  longitudinal  wrinkled  lines;  spire  elevated,  acute;  beak 
narrow,  straight.     Length  If.     Very  rare. 

The  specimen  figured  is  more  than  twice  the  size  of  any  other  specimen 
found,  though  it  is  an  abundant  species. 

9.     Pleurotoma  eborides. 
Turreted  ;  whorls  nine,  smooth,  flattened  above,  obscurely  nodulous  or  sub- 
costate  below  ;  beak  short.     Length  6-10. 

10.     Pleurotoma  abundans. 

Turreted:  whorls  ten,  concave  above,  with  a  crenulated  prominent  revolving- 
line  just  below  the  suture  ;  convex  portion  of  the  whorls  with  prominent,  acute, 
nearly  straight  ribs  and  regular  revolving  lines  ;  concave  portion  with  minute 
revolving  lines  ;  beak  narrow,  slightly  produced.     Length  f. 

It  belongs  to  subgenus  Clavatula,  Lam. 

11.  Pleurotoma  rotcedens. 
Narrow-subfusiform,  small,  with  a  profound  deeply  crenulated  carina  on  the 

body  whorl  and  in  the  middle  of  each  whorl  of  the  spire  ;  suture  margined 
with  a  prominent  line  below  and  a  minute  one  above  ;  large  volution  with  dis- 
tinct revolving  lines  and  minute  longitudinal  wrinkles  ;  beak  slightly  produced, 
narrow,  straight.     Length  \.     Rare. 

12.  Pleurotoma  decliva. 

Fusiform,  with  subangular  volutions,  with  strong  prominent  revolving  lines 
on  the  body  whorl,  alternated  in  size  ;  the  whorl  flattened  and  oblique  above 
the  angle,  with  four  unequal  revolving  lines  ;  lower  whorls  of  the  spire  with 
three  prominent  revolving  lines  on  the  lower  half,  and  a  fine  intermediate  line  ; 
upper  half  with  three  minute  revolving  lines,  and  a  larger  prominent  one  below 
and  near  the  suture  ;  aperture  and  canal  half  the  length  of  the  shell.    Length  1. 

Allied  to  P.  servata,  but  wants  the  longitudinal  ribs  of  that  species.     Rare. 

Phorus  humilis. 

Depressed  ;  volutions  five,  with  comparatively  large  shells  and  fragments 
adhering  :  body  whorl  very  wide,  much  depressed  ;  base  flat ;  near  the  peri- 
phery concave.     Width  8-10.     Height  \. 

I  found  but  one  specimen  of  its  shell,  which  seems  to  be  less  elevated  than 
the  other  species. 

Buccinum  Mississippiensis. 

Turreted  ;  whorls  eight,  three  from  the  apex  smooth  and  entire  ;  the  others 
with  longitudinal  regular  distant  ribs  and  intermediate  wrinkles  ;  revolving 
lines  raised,  alternated  in  size :  labrum  with  eleven  raised  lines  within,  not 
extending  to  the  margin  ;  columella  striated.     Length  5-10.     Common. 

Typhis  curvirostratus. 
Subfusiform  ;  volutions  8,  scalariform,  varices  or  ribs  profound  ;  tubes  long  ; 
that  near  the  margin  of  aperture  thick,  elongated,  beak  elongated,  spiniform, 
much  curved.     Length  1-10.     Not  uncommon. 


28G  [Oct.  1847. 

Murex   Mississippiensis. 

Subfusiform,  with  three  elevated  varices,  and  an  intermediate  prominent 
obtuse  longitudinal  ridge  ;  between  two  of  the  varices  on  the  body  whorl  is  a 
smaller  ridge ;  revolving  lines  prominent,  alternated  in  size,  profound  on  the 
varices ;  longitudinal  wrinkles  distinct ;  labium  with  six  prominent  lines 
within,  the  margin  regularly  foliated  ;  canal  long.     Length,  1  7-10. 

Xorth  American,  uncommon.  It  belongs  to  the  subgenus  Phyllonota  of 
3wainson. 

3felongena  crassi-cornuta. 

.Fusiform  :  whorls  concave  above,  and  having  a  series  of  thick  prominent 
nodes  on  the  angle  of  the  whorls  ;  on  the  body  whorl  they  are  very  large  and 
thick,  becoming  spines  towards  the  mouth,  that  nearest  the  margin  a  very 
thick,  long,  recurved  spine  ;  towards  the  base  is  a  series  of  thick  short  spines, 
revolving  lines  coarse,  unequal,  not  very  prominent,  waved  ;  longitudinal 
wrinkles  coarse  and  distinct.     Length  of  fragment  3. 

I  found  but  one  specimen  of  this  fine  shell,  and  cut  off  the  base  in  digging 
it  out  of  the  clay. 

The  genus  Melokgena  has  no  affinity  with  the  type  of  Pyrula  of  Lamarck 
FtrwiURof  Montford.)     Its  true  position  will  probably  be  among  the  Porpp- 
ris je.     I  have  referred  to  this  genus  the  Fusus  corona  of  Lamarck.     The  species  , 
have  a  remarkable  sinus  at  the  upper  end  of  the  labrum. 

1.  Fusus  spiniger. 

Fusiform,  with  revolving  lines,  and  a  series  of  elevated  acute  spines  on  the 
angle  of  the  large  whorl ;  the  series  continued  on  the  whorls  of  the  spire  near; 
the  suture  ;  two  upper  whorls  entire  ;  sides  above  the  tubercles  flattened,  with 
the  revolving  lines  fine  and  indistinct ;  volutions  seven ;  beak  produced  ; 
labrum  striated  within.     Length  If.     Very  rare. 

It  belongs  to  the  genus  Hemifusus  of  Swainson. 

♦  2.  Fusus  Mississippiensis. 

TV  arrow-fusiform  ;  volutions  eight  or  nine,  convex,  with  distant  profound, 
rounded  ribs,  and  fine  regular  ornamental  wrinkles  ;  canal  much  longer  than 
the  aperture  ;  labrum  striated  within  :  beak  narrow,  produced,  slightly  bent. 
Length  If. 

3.  Fusus   Vicksburgensis. 
Fusiform  ;  whorls  convex,  with  revolving  raised  lines  alternated  in  size, 
and  fine  longitudinal  wrinkled  lines  ;  large  whorl  ventricose  ;  beak  somewhat 
bent.     Length  1',. 

Ficus  Mississippiensis. 
Pyriform,  thin  and  fragile,  latticed,  with  acute  prominent  lines,  the  revolv- 
ing one  largest  and  distant,  the  interstices  with  minute  revolving  lines  ;  lon- 
gitudinal lines  closely  arranged,  equal;  spire  very  short,  whorls  convex,  the 
two  nearest  the  apex  entire  ;  large  volution  flattened  at  top.     Length     1£. 


Oct.  1847.]  287 

Chenopus  liratus. 

Ovate,  with  a  thick  dilated  labrum  ;  whorls  nine,  convex,  ribbed  longitudinal- 
ly, and  with  revolving  lines;  ribs  curved,  undulated  on  the  body  whorl  and 
subnodose  above;  body  whorl  gibbous  ;  aperture  narrow  ;  callus  of  the  labium 
profound.     Length  |.     Very  rare. 

I  have  adopted  the  above  generic  name  because,  as  Phillipi  observes,  the 
Pterocera  lambis  was  made  the  type  of  the  genus  Apoorhais. 

Ringicula  Mhsissippiensis. 

Ovate  acute,  whorls  five  or  six,  convex,  with  minute  revolving  lines  ;  su- 
ture profound,  margin  carinated  by  a  submarginal  impressed  line  ;  columel- 
la two-plaited.  Length  1-10.  Abundant  on  Dr.  Smith's  plantation  near  Vicks- 
burg. 

Actceon  Andersoni. 

Oblong  subovate  ;  whorls  six,  with  regular  impressed  revolving  lines,  inter- 
stices minutely  striato-punctate  ;  spire  acutely  conical,  whorls  convex  ;  lines 
on  the  shoulder  indistinct ;  aperture  about  equal  to  half  the  length  of  the  shell. 
Length  4-10. 

An  elegantly  formed  and  very  rare  species,  dedicated  to  James  D.  Anderson! 
Esq.,  of  Vicksburg,  who  first  collected  the  fosssils  of  that  locality  and  stud- 
ied the  species. 

1.   Cancellaria  Mississippiensis. 
Subovate ;  whorls  five  or  six,  turreted  ;  ribs  prominent,  ten  or  eleven  on  the 
large  volution,  one  or  two  considerably  larger  than  the  others;  revolving  lines 
raised,  distinct,  alternated  in  size  on  the  lower  half  of  the  body  whorl;   labrum 
striated  within  ;  columella  concave,  three-plaited.     Length  £. 

2.  Cancellaria  funcrata. 

Oblong  ovate  with  large  longitudinal  ribs  and  prominent  revolving  lines ; 
spire  rather  elevated,  turreted,  whorls  six,  convex  ;  two  from  the  apex  entire ; 
ribs  on  the  body  whorl  profound,  unequal ;  labrum  with  nine  prominent  lines 
within,  not  extending  to  the  margin  ;  columella  three-plaited.  Length  J.  Very 
rare. 

1.   Triton  crassidens. 

Subfusiform,  a  little  distorted ;  spire  acuminated ;  whorls  latticed,  the 
lougitudinal  ridges  rather  distant,  prominent;  body  whorl  with  the  longitu- 
dinal ribs  distant,  and  on  the  angle  some  of  them  very  prominent  or  snbtu- 
berculous ;  labrum  with  one  large  thick  prominent  tubercle,  and  with  trans- 
verse plaits  and  grains  :  columella  profoundly  excavated  ;  canal  short.  Length 
1  6-10. 

I  have  given  the  name  of  crassidens  to  this  species  to  distinguish  it  from  T. 
cancellinus,  the  large  tooth  on  the  labrum  being  very  thick  and  prominent- 
The  large  plait  on  the  upper  part  of  the  labium  in  much  smaller  than  the  cor- 
responding one  in  cancellinus.  It  differs  in  other  particulars  though  the  two 
species  are  nearly  allied. 

39 


288  [Oct.  1847. 

2.  Triton  abbreviatus. 

Short-subovate  :  whorls  six,  longitudinally  ribbed,  and  with  strong  alternated 
revolving  lines ;  whorls  of  the  spire  slightly  convex,  the  two  nearest  the  apex 
entire,  rounded  •  body  whorl  inflated,  anJ  having  one  large  varix  ;  the  ribs 
about  fifteen  in  number  ;  submargin  of  labrum  denticulate  ;  canal  short,  oblique, 
straight,  aperture  and  canal  about  half  the  length  of  the  shell.     Length  4-10. 

3.  Triton  Mississippiensis. 

Acutely  subovate ;  volutions  six  or  seven,  latticed,  the  longitudinal  and  re- 
volving lines  subequal  ;  one  varix  on  the  large  volution  opposite  to  that  on  the 
submargin  of  the  labrum,  both  elevated  and  narrow  or  subcompressed :  two 
varices  narrow  and  prominent  on  three  whorls  of  the  spire  ;  submargin  of  labrum 
with  six  teeth  ;  columella  with  five  transverse  plaits,  and  two  or  three  near  the 
upper  angle  of  aperture.     Length  J  nearly. 

Of  this  species  I  obtained  one  specimen  only. 

Cassidaria  lintea. 
Elliptical,  with  fine  closely-arranged  revolving  lines,  crossed  by  finer  longi- 
tudinal lines,  most  distinct  towards  the  margin  of  the  labrum  ;  spire  prominent, 
acute,  cancellated ;  penultimate  whorl  slightly  tuberculated  at  base  ;  angle  of 
large  whorl  with  unequal  small  tubercles,  wanting  towards  the  labium  mar- 
gin ;  labium  striated  above,  and  with  rugose  plaits  below  ;  submargin  of  labi- 
um striated  within,  margin  entire.     Length  \\. 

1.   Cassis  ccelatura. 

Short-elliptical,  with  revolving  lines  and  serious  of  nodes  and  granules  ; 
tubercles  profound  on  the  angle  of  the  body  whorl ;  spire  prominent,  whorls 
cancellated  ;  the  upper  half  with  a  profound  revolving  line  ;  labium  granulated 
and  striated  throughout,  the  upper  grains  indistinct ;  labrum  with  transverse 
prominent  lines.     Length  1^. 

2.  Cassis  Mississippiensis. 

Subovate  ;  whorls  sightly  concave  above,  the  angle  nodular;  body  whorl 
indistinctly  ribbed  or  waved  ;  revolving  lines  distinct  but  fine ;  body  whorl 
with  one  sharp  compressed  varix  or  carina  ;  apex  papillated  ;  pillar  with  trans- 
verse rugose  plaits  throughout ;  submargin  of  labrum  regularly  and  profoundly 
dentate.     Length  9-10.     Very  rare. 

Oniscia  harpula. 
Obovate,  latticed  ;  longitudinal  ribs  angular,  distant,  about  ten  on  the  large 
whorl,  with  a  slightly  foliated  and  waved  margin  ;  revolving  lines  large,  dis- 
tant, about  twelve  on  the  body  whorl ;  spire  scalariform,  the  ribs  divided  by  an 
impressed  line ;  submargin  of  labrum  obtusely  dentate.  Length  1  2-10.  Very 
rare. 

Fulgoraria  Mississippiensis. 

Elliptical,  volutions  nine,  fluted,  the  ridges  distant,  acute,  and  generally  one 
or  two  of  them  large,  thick  and  very  remote  from  each  other,  on  the  body  whorl; 
spire  conical,  acute ;  aperture  auriform  ;  columella  with  nearly  equal  plaits, 
not  oblique  ;  labium  thick,  with  a  sharp  margin.     Length  1J.  Common, 


Oct.  1847.]  28i* 

Oliva  Mississippiensis. 
Subelliptical ;  volutions  six  and  a  half;  on  the  middle  of  the  body  whorl  is  a 
slightly  impressed  revolving  line.     Length  1  1-10.     Usual  size  f .     Abundant. 

1.  Mitra  conquisita. 

Fusiform,  slender,  smooth  and  polished ;  whorls  eleven,  slightly  convex ; 
penultimate  whorl  entire,  except  at  the  summit,  where  there  are  two  impressed 
lines  forming  a  raised  line  between  them  ;  the  other  whorls  of  the  spire  with 
revolving  lines,  and  towards  the  apex  the  intervening  spaces  transversely 
wrinkled  ;  apex  acute  ;  body  whorl  above  the  aperture,  except  the  lines  near 
the  suture,  without  striae ;  inferiorly  striated ;  aperture  narrow ;  labium 
3-plaited.     Length  1  4-10.     Very  rare. 

2.  M'tra  Mississippiensis. 

Narrow-fusiform,  with  eight  whorls,  flattened  at  the  sides  and  slightly  sca- 
lariform;  whole  surface  with  revolving  unequal  lines  and  longitudinal  fine 
wrinkles,  obsolete  on  the  lines  but  distinct  on  the  intervening  spaces  ;  aperture 
more  than  half  the  length  of  the  shell ;  columella  3-plaited.  Length  If.    Rare. 

In  the  young  shell  the  strise  are  prominent  over  the  whole  surface,  but  in 
adult  specimens  they  become  slightly  impressed  lines  on  the  ventricose  portion 
of  the  body. 

3.  Mitra  cellulifera. 

Elevated-subfusiform ;  slender ;  whorls  slightly  turreted  ;  longitudinally 
ribbed  ;  interstices  with  transverse  impressed  lines,  resembling  punctae  or 
cells  ;  beak  produced ;  labium  4-plaited,  the  second  one  from  the  top  divided 
by  a  slightly  impressed  line.     Length  |.     Rare. 

4.  Mitra   staminea. 

Elliptical,  whorls  eight,  slightly  turreted,  longitudinally  ribbed  ;  ribs  small, 
numerous  ;  whorls  with  distinct  impressed  revolving  lines  ;  body  whorl  ventri- 
cose ;  aperture  about  half  the  length  of  the  shell ;  pillar  4-plaited,  the  three 
upper  ones  nearly  equal.     Length  4-10. 

5.  Mitra    Vicksburgensis. 

Elliptical,  small;  whorls  slightly  convex,  with  fine  longitudinal  ribs,  obsolete 
towards  the  suture  inferiorly  and  wanting  on  the  lower  half  of  the  body  ; 
suture  profound ;  aperture  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  shell ;  pillar 
4-plaited,  the  three  upper  ones  nearly  or  quite  equal  in  size. 

Distinguished  from  the  preceding  by  wanting  the  revolving  lines,  and  in 
being  wider  in  proportion  to  its  length.     3-10. 

Caricella  demissa. 
Subfusiform  ;  whorls  six,  convex,  one  or  two  whorls  near  the  apex  distinctly 
striated  longitudinally,  and  with  minute  revolving  lines  ;  upper  part  of  the 
whorls  slightly  concave  ;  apex  papillated,  first  and  second  volutions  smooth, 
entire  ;  beak  striated ;  aperture  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  shell ;  colu- 
mella 4-plaited.     Length  If* 

Scobinella. 

Shell  subfusiform,  with  a  deep  angular  sinus  in  the  labrum  as  in  Pleuro- 


290  [Oct.  1847. 

toma  ;  spire  long,  turreted  ;  pillar  lip  wanting ;  columella  with  plaits  decreas- 
ing in  size  downwards,  as  in  Mitra ;  canal  short. 

Scobinella    cozlata. 

Subfusiforrn ;  volutions  eleven,  slightly  scalariform,  with  longitudinal  ir- 
regular ribs  and  revolving  impressed  lines  ;  ribs  interrupted  on  the  spire  by  a 
tuberculated  convex  space  ;  suture  margined  by  a  row  of  fine  tubercles  or 
grains  ;  labium  with  four,  rarely  five  plates.     Length  1  3-10. 

This  singular  shell  is  perhaps  more  nearly  related  to  Pleurotoma  than  to 
Mitra.  The  plates  in  most  specimens  resemble  those  of  the  latter  genus,  but 
in  one  instance  where  there  are  five  plaits,  the  middle  is  the  largest  and 
thickest,  the  lowest  one  being  minute. 

1.  Turbinella     Wilsoni. 

Fusiform  ;  spire  elevated,  acute,  volutions  ten,  angular,  nodose,  the  larger 
volutions  somewhat  concave  above  ;  the  upper  volutions  with  revolving  lines, 
obsolete  or  wanting  on  the  lower  ones  ;  beak  with  coarse,  slightly  raised  revol- 
ving lines  ;  aperture  narrow  ;  columella  with  three  rather  distant  compressed 
plaits,  the  middle  one  largest ;  canal  long.     Length  5  inches. 

The  young  of  this  species  has  distinct  lines  on  every  part  of  the  shell,  ex- 
cept on  the  large  portion  of  the  body  whorl,  where  they  are  indistinct  and  re- 
mote. This  species  is  named  to  commemorate  the  scientific  zeal  of  Dr.  Thomas 
B.  "Wilson.     It  is  rare,  and  generally  very  imperfect. 

2.  Turbinella  protracta. 

Fusiform,  with  about  nine  volutions,  with  thick,  prominent,  longitudinal 
ridges,  and  revolving,  thick,  prominent  lines,  with  a  fine  intervening  line  ; 
longitudinal  wrinkles  distinct ;  whorls  concave  above ;  spire  elevated,  acute  ; 
columella  with  four  plaits,  the  lower  one  dentiform  ;  canal  long  ;  labrum  striated 
within.     Length  1  5-10. 

3.  Turbinella  perexilis. 

Narrow-fusiform,  with  convex  volutions,  having  large,  rounded,  longitudi- 
nal ribs,  about  six  on  the  large  whorl ;  revolving  lines  strong,  prominent,  dis- 
tant, with  a  fine  intermediate  line  ;  longitudinal  wrinkles  minute  and  orna- 
mental;  aperture  narrow  ;  labrum  striated  within:  columella  with  two  larg^ 
plaits;  beak  long  and  narrow.     Length  1. 

Distinguished  from  the  preceding  by  its  narrower  outline,  fewer  and  larger 
plaits  on  the  pillar,  &c.  It  is  probably  a  much  smaller  species,  but  as  I  have 
one  specimen  only,  its  greatest  size  cannot  be  determined. 

Panopcea   oblongata. 

Elongated,  very  inequilateral,  ventricose ;  extremities  rounded  :  umbo  promi- 
nent, undulated  ;  valves  slightly  contracted  at  base  in  a  line  with  the  urn- 
bones  :  valves  gaping  at  both  ends.     Length  3J. 

Occurs  in  its  original  vertical  position  generally  with  connected  valves,  but 
it  is  extremely  friable  and  difficult  to  obtain. 

1.  Mactra  3fississippiensis. 

Subtriangular,  equilateral,  very  thin  and  fragile,  plano-convex,  dorsal  margin 


Oct.  1847.]  291 

very  oblique,  nearly  straight,  extremity  acutely  rounded,  much  above  the  line 
of  the  base,  which  is  regularly  curved;  summit  prominent;  lunule  elongated, 
defined  by  an  impressed  line;  umbonial  slope  nearly  terminal,  angulated  and 
carinated  by  a  thin  line.     Length  1  8-10.     Height  1  4-10. 

Proportionally  more  elevated  than  M.  prcstenuis,  of  Claiborne,  Alabama,  and 
a  much  larger  species.     Rare. 

2.  Mactra  fimcrata.. 

Triangular,  small,  convex;  much  longer  than  high,  equilateral;  posterior 
end  angular.     Length  3-10.     Rare. 

A  mphidesma  Mississippiensis. 

Oblong-oval,  somewhat  compressed,  inequilateral,  smooth,  with  a  few  distant 
concentric  impressed  lines;  posterior  side  with  a  slight  fold,  end  obtusely 
rounded ;  anterior  end  rounded ;  cartilage  pit  very  narrow,  elliptical ;  lateral 
teeth  in  the  right  valve  distinct,  in  the  left  wanting?  Length  1  1-10, 
Height  7-10. 

1,  Psammobia  papyria. 

Oblong-oval,  or  somewhat  rhomboidal ;  very  thin,  compressed ;  posterior  side 
rather  wider  than  anterior;  and  posterior  to  the  umbonial  slope,  which  is  unde- 
fined, there  are  concentric  lamellaeform  lines;  anterior  margin  obliquely 
rounded ;  dorsal  margin  parallel  with  the  base.     Length  U.     Rare. 

2.  Psammobia  lintea. 
Oblong,  compressed,  with  rather  fine,  very  regular  concentric  lines  closely 
arranged ;  anterior  margin  acutely  rounded,  the  extremity  in  a  line  above  the 
middle  of  the  valve;  posterior  side  shortest;  hinge  line  rectilinear,  oblique ; 
posterior  side  with  acute  lines  larger  and  more  prominent  than  those  of,  the 
middle  and  anterior  side;  umbonial  slope  subangular.     Length  1J.     Rare. 

Crassatella  Mississippiensis. 

Ovate-trigonal,  inequilateral,  thick  and  ponderous ;  surface  coarsely  striated  ; 
summits  flattened,  sulcated;  umbo  plano-convex,  with  numerous  sulci,  obsolete 
behind  the  umbonial  slope,  which  is  angulated  and  subcarinated  above;  pos- 
terior extremity  truncated,  direct;  basal  margin  slightly  contracted  anterior  to 
the  umbonial  slope;  inner  margin  crenulated.     Length  3.     Common. 

This  species  is  variable  in  outline,  and  allied  to  C.  tumida  of  the  Paris 
basin. 

1.   Car  Hum  eversum. 

Ovate,  elevated,  subequilateral;  ventricose,  thin,  with  numerous  approximate, 
slender,  rounded  ribs  distinctly  crenulated  anteriorly  towards  the  margins;  um- 
bonial slope  subangulated;  posterior  extremity  subtruncated,  direct;  summit 
very  prominent;  ribs  crenulated  on  the  sides,  in  the  middle  of  the  valves,  or 
finely  aculeated.     Height  1  2-10.     Length  not  quite  as  much.     Rare. 

2.    Cardium  glebosum. 

Ovate,  ventricose,  with  numerous  flat  ribs,  slightly  carinated  on  the  margins 
and  numerous  approximate,  prominent  arched  scales.     Height  l\. 

Rare,  and  obtained  only  in  fragments. 


292  [Oct.  1847. 

3,  Cardium  diver  mm. 

Trigonal,  ventricose,  subequilateral,  thiii,  with  concentric  lines  and  more 
approximate,  fine,  but  obtuse  radiating  lines ;  umbonial  slope  rounded,  and  the 
posterior  space  from  the  umbonial  slope  with  profound  radiating  striae ;  posterior 
side  slightly  waved  or  contracted;  summits  very  prominent;  basal  margin 
rounded  in  the  middle,  contracted  posteriorly:  posterior  extremity  subtrunca- 
ted  ;  inner  margin  densely  crenate.     Height  12-10.     Length  13-10.     Abundant. 

Allied  to  C.  Nicolleti, nob.  When  viewed  through  a  magnifier,  the  inter- 
stices of  the  concentric  lines  have  a  singular  imbricated  appearance. 

4.    Cardium  Vicksburgense. 
Cordate,  ventricose,  with  about  twenty-four  ribs;  angular  and  profound; 
towards  the  anterior  margin  obsolete  ;  summit  prominent ;  nearest  the  anterior 
end;  anterior  margin  nearly  straight  and  direct;   posterior  end  subtruncated. 
Height  3-10.     Length  4-10  nearly.     Rare. 

1.   Tellina  pectorosa. 
Subtriangular,  elevated,  smooth  and  polished  ;  ventricose  ;  beaks  medial ;  an- 
terior end  obtuse,  rounded  ;  posterior  side  somewhat  cuneiform,  with  a  slight 
wave  or   fold;    basal   margin   profoundly    rounded.      Length   6-10.      Height 
5-10. 

2.   Tellina  serica. 

Elliptical,  inequivalved  ;  beaks  nearest  the  posterior  end  ;  concentric  lines 
very  minute  anl  closely  arranged;  anterior  side  slightly  bent  or  reflected. 
Length  7-10. 

3.  Tellina  Vicksburgensis. 

Triangular,  small,  with  regular  minute  concentric  lines  ;  anterior  end  rounded; 
posterior  submargin  angular  or  obscurely  carinated,  the  end  obliquely  trunca- 
ted;  posterior  side  shortest,  and  slightly  bent  or  waved;  lateral  teeth  in  the 
right  valve  only.     Length  3-10.     Height  \. 

Donax  funerata. 

Triangular,  small,  convex,  with  obsolete  radiating  lines  ;  anterior  side  short, 
end  truncated,  direct;  margin  within  finely  crenulated  ;  lateral  teeth  none. 
Length  3-10. 

Very  rare.     I  found  it  about  8  miles  N.  E.  of  Vicksburg. 

1.  Cytherea  Astartiformis. 

Trigonal,  elevated,  ventricose,  subequilateral,  with  numerous  regular  concen- 
tric grooves  and  obtuse  ridges  ;  lunule  not  defined  ;  summits  prominent ;  umbo 
flattened.     Length  6-10.     Height  £. 

This  shell  has  a  remarkable  resemblance  on  the  exterior  to  some  species  of 
Aslarle.     Rare. 

2.   Cytherea  imitabilis. 

Cordate,  inequilateral,  plano-convex,  with  numerous  concentric  prominent 
acute  ribs;  extremities  rounded  ;  basal  margin  regularly  curved  ;  lunule  ovate, 
defined  by  an  impressed  line.     Length  1  7-10.     Height  1  3-10.     Common. 


Oct.  1847.]  298 

3.      Cytherea  Mississippiensis. 
Subtriangular,  ventrieose,  elevated,   with  prominent  eonsentric  acute  ribs, 
rather  distant,  and  with  irregular  intervals  and  fine  intermediate  lines  :  poste- 
rior margin  somewhat  curved  ;  basal  margin  profoundly  rounded ;  summit* 
prominent;  inner  margin  entire.    Length  iy.    Height  the  same  nearly.   Rart-. 

4.    Cytherea  sobrina. 
Subovate,  ventrieose,  polished  ;  with  rather  obtuse  irregular  distant,  concen- 
tric, impressed  lines  ;    umbo   entire ;  extremities    rounded  ;  base   regularly 
curved.     Length  1  1-10.     Height  9-10. 

Very  abundant.  Almost  always  with  disunited  valves.  It  is  quite  thick  on 
the  anterior  side  towards  the  summit. 

5.    Cytherea  perbrevis. 
Ovate-triangular,  elevated,  ventrieose  :  the  posterior  and  anterior  margins 
equally  declining  and  very  oblique,  the  anterior  one  straight,  the  posterior 
slightly  curved;  beaks  medial;  surface  with  numerous  regular  impressed  lines  ; 
basal  margin  rounded.     Length  and  height  6-10. 

It  is  of  the  size,  and  has  somewhat  the  form  of  V.  Astartiformis,  but  the 
greater  elevation,  convex  umbo,  numerous  impressed  lines,  and  more  rounded 
base,  distinguish  it  from  that  species.     Rare. 

Corbis  slaminea. ' 
Suboval,  convex,  thin,  with  lamellseform  concentric  stride,  about  thirty-seven 
in  number  ;  posterior  side  with  a  slight  fold  ;  beaks  medial.     Length  1.  Rare. 

1.  Lucina  Mississippi ensis. 
Orbicular,  thin  and  fragile,  with  minute  obsolete  radiating  lines  ;  anterior 
side  shortest,  the  margin  obliquely  truncated,  angular  above  and  elevated ; 
inferior  margins  rounded  ;  posterior  end  obtusely  rounded  ;  lunnle  profound  ; 
cardinal  and  lateral  teeth  wanting.     Length  9-10.     Height  £. 

This  species  very  much  resembles  L.  subvexa  of  Claiborne,  but  wants  the 
impressed  line  on  the  posterior  side.     Rare. 

2.  Lucina  perlcvis. 
Orbicular,  with  lamellseform  concentric  lines,  and  very  minute  obsolete  radi- 
ating lines,  closely  arranged ;  beaks  medial ;  posterior  end  direct ;  cardinal 
teeth  small.     Length  4-10.     Height  rather  less.     Very  rare. 

The  shells  of  this  subgenus  are  orbicular,  generally  punctate  within,  often 
very  thin  and  ventrieose  ;  cardinal  teeth  small  and  compressed,  sometimes 
obsolete  or  wanting  ;  lateral  teeth  none.  Lucina  radula,  and  L.  edentula,  among 
recent  species,  belong  to  this  group. 

1.   Loripes?    turgida. 

Suborbicular,  very  thin  and  fragile,  with  minute  concentric  lines  ;  beaks 
medial;  umbo  and  summit  prominent ;  margins  regularly  rounded.  Height 
6-10.     Length  rather  more  than  5-10. 

2.  Loripes  eburnea. 
Suborbicular,  slightly  oblique,  convex,  with  minute  closely  arranged  concen- 


294  [Oct.  1847. 

trie  lines,  and  a  few  larger  impressed  lines  ;  posterior  margin  truncated,  direct ; 
anterior  end  and  anterior  basil  margins  regularly  rounded ;  posterior  basal 
margin  obliquely  truncated ;  beaks  nearest  the  posterior  end.  Length  6-10. 
Height  6-10  nearly. 

Corbula    intastriata. 

Subtriangular,  inflated,  rostrated  posteriorly ;  within  with  fine  radiating  lines ; 
Length  £.    Very  rare. 

1.    Corbula   alta. 

Subtriangular,  profoundly  elevated,  slightly  oblique ;  larger  valve  ventri- 
cose  ;  summit  very  prominent ;  umbo  broad ;  hinge  plate  thick,  with  large 
teeth  ;  smaller  valve  somewhat  flattened,  angular  over  the  umbonial  slope. 
Length  6-10  nearly.     Height  6-10. 

Occurs  abundantly  about  8  miles  N.  E.  of  Vicksburg,  and  always  water- 
worn. 

2.    Corbula  engonata. 

Triangular,  inequilateral,  small;  valves  nearly  or  quite  equally  convex,  and 
with  angular  concentric  ridges  ;  posterior  slope  concave  ;  umbonial  slope  cari- 
nated.     Length  3-10. 

Chama  Mississippiensis. 

Suboval,  irregular,  adhering;  larger  valve  ventricose,  with  numerous  irregu- 
lar radiating  lines,  squamose  inferiorly  ;  upper  valve  with  numerous  concen- 
tric lines,  with  numerous  small  scales.     Length  f.     Height  6-10. 

Rare,  and  occurs  on  Dr.  Smith's  plantation,  6  miles  N.  E.  of  Vicksburg. 

Pectunculus   arctatus. 

Short-ovate,  convex  depressed,  with  little  prominent  flattened  radii,  divided 
by  a  longitudinal  impressed  line  towards  the  base  ;  anterior  margin  truncated  : 
posterior  margin  nearly  rectilinear.  Length  § .     Height  6-10. 

Rare,  and  occurs  on  the  bank  of  Yazoo  river,  about  14  miles  from  Vicksburg. 

There  is  in  the  collection  a  valve  of  another  species  of  Pectunculus,  which 
is  small,  and  resembles  the  young  of  P.  pulvinatus. 

1.  Nucula  serica. 

Subelliptical,  with  minute  regular  concentric  closely-arranged  lines  ;  ante- 
rior end  acutely  angular ;  posterior  end  acutely  rounded  ;  posterior  side 
shortest.     Length  £.     Common. 

2.  Nucula    Vicksburgensis. 

Obliquely  subtriangular,  convex,  with  minute  obsolete  radiating  lines  about 
the  base  ;  lunule  elliptical,  very  large  and  impressed.     Length  ^.     Rare. 

Area  Mississippiensis. 

A  species  of  Area  occurs  in  great  abundance  at  Vicksburg,  which  Lesueur 
obtained  many  years  since  and  named  it,  but  I  have  forgotten  the  name,  and 
know  not  whether  he  published  it  in  Europe  or  not.  It  is  rhomboidal,  ventri- 
cose, with  rather  distant  ribs  in  the  right  valve,  slightly  grooved  in  the  middle  ; 
in  the  left  valve  ribs  double  and  granulated  ;  inner  margin  profoundly  toothed. 
Length  8-10. 


Oct.  1847.]  295 

1.  Byssoarca  lima. 

Trapezoidal,  cancellated  and  granulated ;  radii  largest  on  anterior  aud  pos- 
terior slopes,  but  becoming  obsolete  towards  the  posterior  extremity  ;  end  angu- 
lar, margin  above  obliquely  truncated ;  anterior  end  widely  truncated,  nearly 
direct;  basal  margin  undulated,  irregular  and  very  variable  in  outline ;  hinge 
line  crenulated  under  the  beaks,  profoundly  toothed  towards  the  extremities  : 
cardinal  area  with  lines  strongly  denned  and  angulated  under  the  apex.  Length 
2  9-10.     Rare. 

2.  Byssoarca  Misshsippiensis. 

Trapezoidal,  with  numerous  closely-arranged  radiating  lines,  crenulated  by 
fine  concentric  lines,  the  crenulation  most  distinct  anteriorly,  when  the  radii 
are  largest;  anterior  end  truncated  or  a  little  convex,  direct  :  posterior  margin 
obliquely  truncated  above  ;  basal  margin  widely  and  profoundly  arched  ;  hinge 
line  long,  linear,  minutely  crenulated,  expanded  towards  the  extremities,  and 
with  prominent  teeth  ;  cardinal  area  withfine  very  closely-arranged  lines,  angu- 
lated under  the  apex.     Length  1  6-10. 

Differs  from  the  preceding  in  having  a  longer  hinge,  finer  radii,  &c,  and  is  a 
much  smaller  species  and  more  abundant. 

3.  Byssoarca  protracta. 

Trapezoidal,  elongated,  with  numerous  radiating  lines,  some  of  which  are 
double,  and' others  alternated  in  size  and  finely  crenulated;  dorsal  margin, 
parallel  with  the  base  ;  anterior  margin  truncated,  posterior  a  little  concave, 
oblique,  end  very  acutely  rounded  or  subangular ;  basal  margin  slightly  con- 
tracted ;  hinge  line  long,  rectlinear,  very  regular  and  gradually  increasing  in 
width  towards  the  extremities  from  the  apex  ;  cardinal  area  wide,  depressed 
concave,  with  a  few  fine  impressed  angular  lines.  Length  1^.  Height  i 
nearly. 

A  pretty  species  of  which  I  found  one  valve  only. 

Avicula  argentea. 

Ovate-subquadrangular,  thin  and  fragile,  ventricose  above,  smooth  and  entire? 
anterior  wing  sharply  angular ;  posterior  wing  not  produced,  rectangular  at  the 
extremity  ;  posterior  end  angular,  extending  beyond  the  hinge  line  and  much 
above  the  line  of  the  base  ;  anterior  margin  and  base  form  a  regular  rounded 
outline.     Height  l£.     Length  1  4-10.     Not  common. 

Modiola  Mississippiensis. 

Slightly  arched,  elongated,  ventricose,  with  rather  fine  clo3ely-arranged  radi- 
ating lines  wanting  on  the  anterior  side  ;  region  of  umbonial  slope  inflated  pos- 
terior end  acutely  rounded;  beak  angulated  posteriorly;  substance  of  shell 
silvery  and  perlaceous.  2-10th  from  beak  to  base.  Rare,  except  in  one  spot, 
where  I  obtained  several  specimens  and  fragments. 

Pinna  argentea. 

Trianugular,  with  straight  margins  and  acute  summit ;  compressed  ;  substance 
highly  polished  and  silvery  ;  valves  with  longitudinal  radii  on   more  than  half 


296  [Oct.  1847. 

the  disc,  about  thirteen  in  number  ;  anterior  side  with  rugose,  obtuse,  oblique, 
finer  and  more  approximate  lines.     Length  2J.     Rare. 

Lima  staminea. 

Subovate,  oblique,  inflated,  with  fine  radiating  lines  ;  ears  very  small. 
scarcely  defined  ;  posterior  margin  rectilinear.     Height  4-10. 

Very  similar  in  outline  to  the  Miocene  species,  L.  papyria,  but  it  is  much 
smaller,  and  has  more  numerous  lines  anteriorly.     Rare. 

Pecten. 

A  valve  of  a  small  species  was  obtained.  It  is  orbicular  and  entire,  and  re- 
sembles P.  calvatus,  (Morton.) 

Ostrea    Vickshurgensis. 

Plicated;  very  irregular  and  adhering,  the  upper  valve  not  flat,  but  swelling 
in  an  irregular  manner.     Height  1|. 

There  is  nothing  peculiar  about  this  shell,  yet  it  is  clearly  distinct  from  any 
other  species  of  the  American  Tertiary  hitherto  described.     Common. 

Pholas  triquetra. 

Subtriangular,  depressed  and  angulated  posterior  to  the  middle,  and  with  an 
impressed  line  from  beak  to  base ;  surface  with  oblique  lines  anteriorly,  and  a 
few  radiating  towards  the  margin  ;  posterior  side  reflected  and  with  oblique  lines 
meeting  the  anterior  ones  at  an  angle ;  a  few  obsolete  radiating  lines,  one  more 
conspicuous  than  the  others,  near  the  margin.     Length  6-10.     Height  £. 

I  found  one  valve  only,  which  occurred  on  Dr.  Smith's  plantation. 

Madrepora  M  ississippiensis. 
Rounded;  cells  numerous,  very  unequal  in  size,  prominent,  some  of  them 
very  large,  the  sides  with  strong  longitudinal  lines,  and  the  interstices  with 
minute  closely-arranged  longitudinal  lines;  rays  about  fourteen,  minutely 
crenulated  on  the  edge,  alternated  with  a  short  plate  ;  centre  with  irregular 
grains.     Diameter  6-10. 

Madrepora  Vickshurgensis. 

Irregular,  ramose,  somewhat  flattened ;  cells  unequal  in  size,  with  a  slightly 
prominent  margin;  submargin  depressed,  striated  :  rays  alternated  with  a  short 
plate ;  centre  granulated. 

A  larger  species  than  the  preceding,  the  branches  being  sometimes  an  inch 
in  diameter.     Abundant. 

Turbinolia  caulifera. 
Somewhat  turbinate,    rather  long,  with   fine  equal   granulated  longitudinal 
lines;  base  stem-like;  rays  ramose  ;  larger  end  oval.     Length  8-10.     Rare. 

Lunulites. 
Two  or  three  species  of  Lunulites  occur  in  the  Eocene  of  Vicksburg. 

Lunulites   Vickshurgensis. 
Cup-shaped  or  somewhat  conical,  with   very  small  cells,   generally  equal  in 
size,  subaDgular,  and  between  each  series  is  a  minute  impressed  radiating  line : 
interior  striae  ramose  and  very  minutely  crenulated.     Height  \. 


Oct.  1847.]  297 

Descriptions  of  New  Eocene  Fossils  in  the  Cabinet  o/Lardner  VaNUXkm. 

The  following  organic  remains  were  obtained  from  Eocene  rocks  in  St.  Mat- 
thew's Parish,  Orangeburg  District,  S.  C,  by  Lardner  Vanuxem. 

1.  Nucula  mucronala. 

Elliptical,  convex  in  the  middle,  with  equal,  laminated,  not  closely-arranged 
lines,  about  seventeen  in  number  ;  anterior  side  longest,  the  end  acutely  pointed  ; 
a  submarginal  furrow  emarginates  the  base;  posterior  side  slightly  contracted, 
end  obtusely  rounded  or  subtruncated.     Length  9-10.     Height  5. 

2.  Nucula  carolinensis. 

Somewhat  elliptical,  convex,  with  rather  closely-arranged  prominent  concen- 
trie  lines,  wanting  on  the  posterior  side,  which  is  rather  shorter  that  the  an- 
terior and  regularly  rounded  at  the  end  ;  anterior  submargin  with  a  narrow 
groove,  bounded^by  a  subcarinated  line  ;  anterior  side  narrowed  and  rather  ob- 
tuse at  the  end.     Length  \.     Height  \. 

3.  Nucula  subtrigona. 

Subtriangular,  ventricose,  nearly  equilateral,  with  numerous  prominent  con- 
centric lines  ;  anterior  side  pointed,  flexuous  ;  submargin  angulated  :  anterior 
margin  sinuous,  end  angular;  ligament  margin  straight;  basal  margin  pro- 
foundly rounded.     Length  f.     Height  i  nearly. 

4.  Nucula  calcarensis.. 

Subovate,  ventricose,  with  minute  closely-arranged  concentric  lines ;  ante- 
rior side  longest,  pointed,  slightly  recurved,  without  a  submarginal  groove  or 
fold;  base  profoundly  rounded.     Length  7-16.     Height  £. 

1.  Cardita  vigintinaria. 

Suborbicular,  inequilateral,  ventricose,  with  about  thirty  square  radii,  about 
as  wide  as  the  interstices ;  umbonial  slope  rounded  ;  anterior  margin  subtrun- 
cated.    Length  7-8.  Height  7-8. 

2.  Cardita  carolinensis. 

Suborbicular  ?  profoundly  ventricose,  with  about  thirty  very  prominent 
square  radii,  on  the  anterior  side  sharp,  recurved  and  crenulated  ;  lunule  very 
broad  and  cordate,  deeply  impressed ;  hinge  thick ;  pit  anterior  to  the  cardi- 
nal tooth  small  and  profound. 

This  is  a  fragment  of  the  right  valve,  about  5-8ths  of  an  inch  long. 

3.  Cardita  bilineata. 

Subrhomboidal,  very  inequilateral,  with  about  twenty-four  wide,  flattened 
radii,  with  very  narrow  interstices,  a  carina  in  the  middle  of  each  rib,  with 
an  impressed  line  on  each  side  of  it ;  ribs  crenulated  anteriorly  ;  carina  some- 
what tuberculated  on  the  posterior  side  of  the  shell.     Length  f .     Height  9-16. 


298  [Oct.  1847. 

4.  Cardita  subquadrata. 

Trapezoidal,  compressed  ;  valves  flattened  in  the  middle  ;  radii  about  twenty- 
five,  broad  on  the  disk,  with  very  narrow  interstices,  and  each  rib  with  a  crenu- 
lated  carina  in  the  middle  ;  posterior  to  umbonial  slope  the  ribs  are  smooth,  not 
carinated  ;  anterior  side  short,  rounded  at  the  end  ;  posterior  margin  obliquely 
truncated.     Length  6-10.     Height  7-20. 

5.  Cardita  subrotunda. 

Orbicular,  inequilateral,  ventricose,  with  about  twenty-eight  rounded  promi- 
nent narrow  radii  ;  ligament  margin  very  oblique,  short ;  ends  obtusely  rounded 
inner  margin  slightly  crenulated.     Length  J.     Height  J. 

Turbo  biliratus. 

Turbinate  ;  volutions  four,  flattened  above ;  body  whorl  with  two  distant 
revolving  carinated  lines,  and  intermediate  fine  revolving  lines  ;  volutions  of 
the  spire  with  a  carinated  line  below  the  middle.     Length  f .     Width  f . 

1.  Cerithium  bicostellatum. 

Turreted  ;  volutions  eight  or  nine,  angular  and  carinated  below  the  middle  > 
body  whorl  bicarinated.     Length  f. 

2.   Cerithium  siliceum. 

Turreted  ;  whorls  rounded  below,  contracted  or  concave  above,  and  with  re- 
volving lines  ;  suture  profound.     A  fragment.     Width  § . 

Infundibulum  carinatum. 

Depressed,  with  a  suddently  elevated  acutely  conical  spire,  and  a  carinated 
line  revolving  at  the  suture.    -Length  of  fragment  f . 

All  the  preceding  fossils  are  from  the  Eocene  rocks  of  St.  Matthew's  Parish, 
Orangeburg  District,  S.  C.  Not  one  species  of  this  locality  is  known  in  the 
lower  Eocene  of  Claiborne  or  elsewhere,  nor  in  the  upper  Eocene  of  Vicksburg, 
and  therefore  the  relative  age  of  the  deposit  is  uncertain,  but  it  unquestionably 
belongs  to  the  Eocene  period.  .Near  this  rock  Mr.  Vanuxem  found  quite  a  dif- 
ferent class  of  shells,  consisting  of  casts  in  indurated  clay.  The  relative  posi- 
tion is  undetermined.  Two  of  the  shells  are  described  and  named  Tellina  sub- 
equalis  and  Lutraria  petrosa. 

Tellina  subequalis. 

Somewhat  elliptical,  nearly  equilateral ;  posterior  end  acutely  rounded  ;  an- 
terior slightly  bent,  end  rounded.  (A  cast.)  Length  \\.  Width  f. 

Madrepora  punctulata. 

Cylindrical,  ramose  with  prominent  cells ;  whole  surface  ornamented  with 
fine,  equal,  punctate,  impressed  lines.     Diameter  J. 

Locality.     St.  Mathew's  Parish,  Orangeburg,  S.  C.     Vanuxem. 

A  species  highly  ornamented  by  the  punctate  vermicular  lines.  It  occurs 
much  larger  than  the  speeimen  described. 

In  Vanuxem's  collection  there  is  a  cast,  from  the  Eocene  near  Long  Branch, 


Oct.  1847.]  299 

N.  J.,  resembling  Nautilus  zigzag,  (Sow.)  It  is  more  compressed  than  that 
species,  and  the  angles  of  the  septa  appear  to  be  in  contact  near  the  periphery. 
It  is  more  like  a  Goniatite  than  a  Nautilus,  and  may  properly  constitute  a 
genus,  which  I  propose  to  name  Nautilopsis. 

Nautilopsis  Vanuxemi. 

Length  2%.     Diameter  1  5-16. 

N.  zig-zag  may  be  referred  to  the  same  genus. 


The  Society,  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  adopted  at  last 
meeting  for  business,  proceeded  to  the  election  of  a  Recording 
Secretary  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Moss,  resigned — when  Mr.  John 
Lambert  was  unanimously  elected. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  Wm.  C.  Redfield,  dated  New  York, 
Oct.  19,  1847,  requesting  the  loan  of  the  Westfield  specimens  of 
fossil  fish,  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy,  for  the  purpose  of 
description  by  Mr.  Agassiz,  in  his  Memoir  on  the  American 
Fossil  Fishes  from  the  New  Red  Sandstone,  now  in  course  of 
preparation. 

On  motion,  the  By-law  relating  to  the  loan  of  specimens  from 
the  Museum,  was  temporarily  suspended,  and  the  request  of  Mr. 
Redfield  complied  with  by  the  Society,  under  proper  restrictions. 

ELECTION. 

Messrs.  Charles  Lennig,  J.  Dickinson  Sergeant,  Edward  M. 
Kern,  Charles  Klemm,  and  Prof.  James  B.  Rogers,  all  of  Phila- 
delphia, were  elected  Members  ;  and 

Dr.  P.  W.  Korthals,  of  Leyden,  was  elected  a  Correspondent. 


PROCEEDINGS 

or  THE 

ACADEMY    OF    NATURAL   SCIENCES 

OF    PHILADELPHIA.. 

Vol.  III.  NOV.  AND  DEC,  1S47.  No.  12. 

Stated  Meeting  Nov.  2,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS   TO    MUSEUM. 

A   living  "specimen   of   Ursus   Americanns,  from    Chicago, 

Michigan,  and  a  specimen  in  spirits  of  Salamandra  vene- 

nosa,   from    Michigan.       Presented    by    Mr.    Lewis    J. 

Germain. 
Numerous  specimens,  in  spirits,  of  Coleopterous  insects  ;  also 

Achatina   perdrix,  and  a  serpent   of  large   size,   probably 

new,  from  Africa.     Presented  by  Rev.  T.  S.  Savage. 
Fine  specimen  of  Squilla ,  from  the  West  India  coast. 

From  Captain  H.  S.  Baker. 
Stigmaria  ,  from    Lycoming    county,  Pennsylvania. 

From  Mr.  J.  R.  Pollock,  of  Philadelphia. 
Several  varieties  of  Copper  Ore,  from  the  Flemington  Copper 

Mine,  N.  J.     From  Peter  A.  Browne,  Esq. 
Dr.  Morton  deposited  six  elongated  heads  of  old  Peruvians, 

from  the  Tombs  at  Areca,  another  similar  one  through  Dr. 

Dickeson,  and  the  head  of  a  Mexican  officer  slain  in  one  of 

the  recent  engagements. 

41 


304  [Nov.  1847. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Fauna  der  Vorvelt  mit  steter  Berucksichtigung  der  lebenden 
Thiere-Monographisch  dargestellt   von   Dr.  C.   G.  Giebel. 
Svo.    Leipzig,  1S47.    From  Mr.  John  Lambert. 
Resultate  gcologischer,  anatomischer,  undzoologischer  unter- 
suchungen  iiber  das   unter  dem   namen  Hydrarchos,  von 
Dr.  A.  C.  Koch,  zuerstnach  Europa  gebrachte  und  in  Dres- 
den ausgestellte  grosse  fossile    skelett.    Von   Dr.    C.    G. 
Cams,  &c.    Folio.    Dresden  und  Leipzig,  1S47.  From  the 
same. 
Results  of  Astronomical  observations,  made  during  the  years 
1834-5-6-7  and  8,  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.     By  Sir 
John  F.  W.   Herschel.     4to.     London,  1S47.     From  the 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  through  the  Author. 
Oken's  Isis.    Nos.    5  and  6,  for   1847.     Deposited   by  Dr. 

Wilson. 
An  attempt   to   discover   some  of  the  laws  which  govern 
animal  torpidity  and  hybernation.     By  Peter  A.  Browne, 
LL.  D.  8vo.  pamphlet.     Philadelphia,    1847.     From  the 
Author. 
D.  R.  E.  Griffith  deposited  the   following  large  collection  of 

works  : 
The  elements  of  experimental  Chemistry.     By  Wm.  Henry, 

M.  D.  Fourth  American  edition.  Svo.  Philadelphia. 
1847. 

Tabula  affinitatum  animalium,  &c.  Auctore  Johanne  Her- 
mann, M.  D.     4to.   17S3. 

A  Dictionary  of  Chemistry.  By  William  Nicholson.  2  vols. 
4to.     London,  1795. 

The  Cabinet  of  Natural  History,  and  American  rural  sports, 
with  illustrations.     2  vols.  4to.  Philadelphia,  1S30,  '32. 

The  Universal  Gardener  and  Botanist,  or  a  general  dictionary 
of  Gardening  and  Botany.  By  Thomas  Mawe  and  John 
Abercronibie.     2nd  edition.  4to.  London,  1797. 

The  Theory  of  the  Earth  :  containing  an  account  of  the  origin 


Nov,  1847.]  305 

of  the  Earth,  and  of  all  the  general  changes  which  it  hath 

undergone,  or  is  to  undergo  'till  ihe  consummation  of  all 

things.      Folio.     London,  16S4. 
Melanges  interessans  et  curieux,  ou  abrege  d'historie  naturelle, 

morale,  civile,  et  politique  de  l'Asie,  I'Afrique,  l'Amerique. 

et  des  terres  polaires:  par  M.  R.  D.  S  *  *.  5  vols.  12mo. 

Paris,  1763. 
Melanges  d'historie  naturelle:  par  M.  A.  D.    2  vols.  12mo. 

A.  Lyon.  1763. 
Physionomies  nationales  des  Peuples,   ou   les  traites  de  leur 

visage  comparee  a  leur  mceurs  et  caracteres.  l2mo.  Paris. 
Historie   naturelle    des    animaux    par    Pline.       Traduction 

nouvelle  evec  le  text  en    regard,  par   P.   C.   B.   Gueroult. 

3  vols.  Svo.    Paris,  1S02. 
An  historical  disquisition  on  the  Mammoth,  and  other  tracts 

on  Natural  History,  in  one  vol.  Svo. 
Fossils  arranged  according  to  their  obvious  characters,  with 

their  history  and  descriptions,  &c.     By  J.  Hill,  M.  D.  Svo. 

London,  17S1. 
Familiar   letters  to   Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  describing  a 

winter  in  the  West  Indies.    By  Joseph  John  Gurney.  Svo. 

New  York,  1S40. 
The  Philosophy  of  Natural   History.     By  William  Smellie. 

8vo.  Philadelphia,  1791. 
Chemical   manipulation,  being   instructions   to    Students    in 

Chemistry,  &c.     By  Michael  Faraday,  F.  R.  S.,  &c.  First 

American    from  last   London    edition.     Edited    by  J.  K. 

Mitchell,  M.  D.     Svo.     Philadelphia,  1831. 
The  Economy  of  Nature,  explained   and  illustrated  on  the 

principles  of  modern  Philosophy.     By  G.  Gregory,  D.  D. 

3  vols.  Svo.     London,  1796. 
A  System  of  Chemistry  of  inorganic  bodies.     By  Thomas 

Thomson,  M.  D.    7th  edition.     2  vols.  Svo.     London  and 

Edinburgh,  1S31. 
A  system  of  Vegetables,  according  to  their  classes,  genera, 

&c,  in  2  vols.  Svo.    Translated  from  Murray's  Edition  of 


306  [Nov.  1847. 

Linnseus'  Systema  Vegetabilium.    By  a  Botanical  Society 

at  Litchfield.     Litchfield,  1793. 
Animal   Chemistry,  with    reference    to    the   Physiology  and 

Pathology  of  Man.    By  J.  Franz  Simon.     Translated  and 

edited  by  George  E.  Day,  M.  A.  8vo.  Philadelphia,  1845. 
Memoirs  of  the  Life  of  Dr.  Darwin.  By  Anna  Seward.  8vo. 

Philadelphia,  1804. 
Zoonomia,  or  the  laws  of  organic  life.    By  Erasmus  Darwin, 

M.  D.  2  vols.  8vo.     New  York,  1796. 
Principes  de  Physiologie,  oil  introduction  a  la  science  expe- 

rimentale,  philosophique,  et  medicale  de  l'homme  vivant. 

Par  Charles  Louis  Dumas.  2d  edition.  4  vols.  8vo.   Paris, 

1S06. 
Concours  sur  l'acetification    de  l'Alcool ;  question   proposee 

par  la  Societe  de  Pharmacie  de  Paris.  8vo.     Paris,  1S3S. 
Observations  on  the  Climate  in  different   parts  of  America, 

compared  with  the  climate  in  corresponding  parts  of  the 

other  continent,  &c.    By  Hugh  Williamson,  M.    D.     Svo. 

New  York.  1811. 
Manuel  du  fabricant  de  produits  chimiques,  &c:  par  M.  L.  S. 

Thillaye.     2  vols.  12mo.     Paris,  1829. 
Georg.  Casp.  Kirchmaieri  de  Paradiso,  &c.  12mo.   16G2. 
Arcana  of  Science  and  An,  or  an  annual   register  of  useful 

inventions  and  improvements,  &c.  2  vols.   12mo.  London, 
■  1837-8. 
The  Year  Book  of  Facts   in   Science   and   Art,  &c.     By  the 

editor  of  the  Arcana  of  Science.     12mo.     London,  1839. 
A  practical  Essay  on  the  analysis  of  Minerals.  By  Frederick 

Accum.     1st  American  edition.     12mo.     Philada.,  1809. 
The  Young  Chemist's  Pocket  Companion.  By  James  Wood- 
house,  M.  D.     12mo.  Philada.,  1797. 
The  Chemical  Pocket  Book.    By  James  Parkinson.     With 

an  Appendix,  by  James  Woodhouse,  M.  D.     12mo.  Phi- 
lada., 1802. 
Outlines  of  Medical    Botany.     By  Hugo   Reid.     2d  edition 

12  mo.  Edinburgh,  1S29. 


Nov.  1847.]  307 

A  popular  treatise  on  Vegetable  Physiology.  8vo.  Philada. 
1842. 

Organic  Chemistry  in  its  applications  to  Agriculture  and  Phy- 
siology. By  Justus  Liebig,  M.  D.  ;  edited  by  Lyons  Play- 
fair,  M<  D.  1st  American  edition,  by  John  W.  Webster, 
M.  D.     Svo.  Cambridge,  1841. 

Experiences  pour  servir  a  l'histoire  de  la  generation  des 
animaux  et  des  plantes.  Par  M.  l'Abbe  Spallanzani. 
3  vols.  8vo.     Paris,  1787. 

The  Bridgewater  Treatises.  Treatise  IV.  The  Hand,  its 
mechanism  and  vital  endowments.  By  Sir  Charles  Bell, 
F.  R.  S.  &c.     12mo.     Philada.  1833. 

The  Contemplation  of  Nature,  translated  from  the  French  of 
C.  Bonnet.     2  vols.  12mo.  London:  1766. 

A  Classical  Tour  through  Italy,  in  1803.  By  the  Rev.  John 
Chetwood  Eustace.  4th  edition.  4  vols.,  Svo.  Leghorn; 
1818. 

An  introduction  to  the  Science  of  Botany,  chiefly  extracted 
from  the  works  of  Linnaeus.  By  the  late  James  Lee.  4th 
edition.     8vo.  London  :   1S10. 

A  manual  of  Analytical  Chemistry.  By  Henry  Rose.  Trans- 
lated from  the  German,  by  John  Griffin.  Svo.  London  : 
1831. 

An  epitome  of  Chymical  Philosophy.  By  James  Freeman 
Dana.     Svo.  Concord,  N.  H.,  1825. 

Nouveau  systeme  de  Chimie  organique,  fonde  sur  des 
methodesnouvelles  d'observation.  Par  F.  V.  Raspail.  Svo. 
Paris:   1S33. 

Museum  Calonnianum.  Specification  of  the  various  articles 
which  compose  the  magnificent  Museum  of  Natural  His- 
tory, collected  by  M.  de  Calonne,  in  France.  Svo.  London  : 
1797. 

Rambles  in  Europe  in  1839,  &c.  By  William  Gibson,  M.  D., 

12mo.  Philada.  :  1841. 
An  expedition  of  discovery  into  the  interior  of  Africa,  through 
the  hitherto  undescribed  countries  of  the  great  Namaquas, 


30S  [Nov.  1847. 

Boschmans  and  Hill  Damaras  ;  conducted  by  Jas.  Edward 
Alexander,  K.  S.  S.    2vols.  12mo.     Philada.  1S3S. 


Dr.  Morton  read  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  Dr.  Fal- 
coner, of  the  East  India  Company,  in  relation  to  some  casts 
of  valuable  Sivalik  Fossils,  which  he  stated  could  be  obtained 
by  the  Academy  from  the  East  India  House  upon  applying 
to  the  latter  through  the  American  Minister  at  London.  The 
application  was  accordingly  ordered  to  be  made  through  the 
Corresponding  Secretary. 

Dr.  Dickeson  made  some  observations  on  the  mode  of 
compression  of  the  cranium  in  use  among  the  Choctaw 
Indians,  and  the  supposed  object  of  the  same. 


Stated  Meeting,  Nov.  9,  1S47. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS     TO    MUSEUM. 

Dr.  Wilson  presented  the  following  mounted  Mammalia: — 
Semnopithecus  comatus,  (2  specimens,)  Ateles  pentadac- 
tylus?  (2  specimens,)  Cercopithecus  pithecia,  C.  cynomal- 

gus,    Inuus    nemistrinus,  Cebus    apella,    Lemur   -, 

Harpale  rufimanus,  Heazus  tardigradus,  Viverra  mellivora, 

V. ,  (5   specimens,)   Mustela   zorilla,   M     Hernani, 

M.  erminea,.Gnlo  orientalis,Tapirus ,  Dasypus  tricinc- 

tus,  Sciurus  palmarum,  S.  plantani,  S.  melanotus,  S.  Ber- 

gianus,  S.  omnicolor,  (2    specimens,)  S.  ,  Pteromys 

sagitta,  P. ,  Hylagale  Javanica,  (2  specimens,)  Ptero- 

pus  minimus,  P.  edulis,  Galeopithecus  vnriegatus,  Vesper- 

tilio  serotinus,  V.  pipistrellus,  V.  aurilus,  V.  pictus,  V. 

(2  specimens,)  Sorex  araneus,and  four  Marsupial^.     Also 
the  following  Sauriaus  :— Polychrus    marmoratus,  Tejus 


Nov.  1847.]  309 

ameiva,  T.   monitor,  Platydactylus  vittatus,  P.  guttatus, 
Iguana  deli'catissima,  Tupinambis  elegans,  (2  specimens,) 

T.  bivittatus,  T.  ornatus,  Crocodilns ,  (young,)  Chelo- 

nia  viridis,  C. ,  Emys  serratus,  E. ,  Testudo , 

and  two  exuviae  of  Coluber  constrictor.  Also  several  frag- 
ments of  wood  bored  by  a  large  Teredo,  nests  and  eggs  of 
an  Edila,  from  the  East  Indies,  nest  of  Parus  caudatus, 
from  France,  and  a  species  of  Spongia,from  the  E.  Indies. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Pollock,  of  Philadelphia,  presented  a  beautiful 
and  remarkably  pure  specimen  of  the  newly  made  comb 
of  the  honey  bee. 

Dr.  Morton  deposited  crania  of  Ursus  arctos,  of  Sweden,  and 
of  the  Antilope  Americana,  of  New  Mexico. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Foraminiferes  fossiles  du  Bassin  tertiaire  de  Vienne,  decou- 
verts  par  son  Excellence  le  Chevalier  Joseph  de  Hauer, 
et  decrits  par  Alcide  D'Orbigny.  4to.  Paris,  1S46.  From 
the  Author. 

American  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science.  No.  18,  Oct. 
1S47.     The  Editors. 

Statistics  of  South  Carolina,  including  a  view  of  its  natural, 
civil,  and  military  history,  general  and  particular.  By 
Robert  Mills.  8vo.  Charleston,  S.  C,  1826.  In  exchange. 
The  following  works  were  deposited  by  Dr.  Wilson  : 

Reports  on  Zoology  for  1S43,  '44,  (Ray  Society.)  8vo. 
London,  1S47. 

Narrative  of  the  Surveying  voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Fly,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  F.  P.  Blackwood,  R.  N.,  in  Torres 
Strait,  Ne  v  Guinea,  and  other  islands  of  the  Eastern 
Archipelago,  during  the  years  1842,  '46,  together  with  an 
excursion  into  the  interior  of  the  eastern  part  of  Java. 
By  J.  Beete   Jukes,    M.   A.,  &c.    2  vols.  Svo.    London, 

1847. 
Figures  of  Molluscous  animals,  selected  from  various  authors; 


310  [Nov.  1847. 

etched  for  the  use  of  students,  by  Maria  Emma  Gray. 
Vol.  1.  8vo.  London,  1S47. 
Molluscous   Animals,   including    shell-fish,  &c.      By    John 

Fleming,  D.  D.,  &c.    8vo.  Edinburg,  1837. 
Elements  of  Physiophilosophy.      By   Lorenz  Oken,  M.  D., 
From  the  German,  by  Alfred  Tulk,  (Ray  Society,)  Svo. 
London,  1S47. 
The  Naturalist's  Library.     Vols.  7,  8  and  10,  of  Ornithology. 

12  mo. 
Geology  for  Beginners;  comprising  a  familiar  explanation  of 
Geology  and  its  associate  sciences,  &c.     By  G.  F.  Richard- 
son, F.  R.  S.     8vo.  London,  1843. 
The  Cabinet  Cyclopedia  ;  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Dionysius 
Lardner,  and  others.     Birds,  by  William  Swainson.  Vols. 
1  and  2.  Geology,  by  John  Phillips.  Vols.  1  and  2.  l2mo. 
Report  of  the  Geology  of  the  county  of  Londonderry,  and  of 
parts   of  Tyrone   and    Fermanagh.     By   J.  E.  Portlock, 
F.  R.  S.,  &c.     8vo.  Dublin,  1S43. 
Proceedings  of  the  Geological    Society   of  London.  Vols.  1 

2,  3  and  4.  Svo. 
Fossilia  Hantoniensia  collecta  et  in  Museeo  Britannico  depo- 

sita  a  Gustavo  Brander.  4to.  London,  1766. 
The    Annals   and  Magazine  of  Natural   History,  No.  132, 

Sept.  1S47. 
Observations  on  some  peculiarities  observable  in  the  structure 
of  the  Gannet  (Pelecanus  bassanus;)  and  an  account  of  a 
new  and  curious  insect,  discovered  to  inhabit  the  cellular 
membrane  of  that  bird.  By  George  Montagu,  Esq.,  F.  R.S. 
Svo.  pamphlet. 
Dalman's  Trilobites.     1  vol.  4to. 

Nomenclator  Zoologicus,  continens  nomina  systematica  gene- 
rum    animalium    turn    viventium    quam    fossilium,    &c. 
Auctore  L.  Agassiz.  4to.  Soloduri,  1S47. 
The  Genera  of  Birds.  By  George  Robert  Gray.  Part  40.  4to. 
The  Genera  of  Diurnal  Lepidoptera.     By  Edward  Double- 
day,  F.  L.  S.  Part  11.  4to. 


Nov.  1847.]  311 

A  natural  History  of  Fossils.  By  Emanuel  Mendes  da  Costa. 

Vol  1.  Part  1.  4to.  London,  1757. 
An  Introduction  to  Geology.     By   Robert  Bakewell.     Svo. 
2d  American   edition,   from  4th   London.     New    Haven, 
1833. 
Bartlett's  Index  Geologicus  (chart.) 

A  history  of  the  fossils  insects  in  the  secondary  rocks  of  Eng- 
land. By  the  Rev.  Peter  Bellinger  Brodie,  M.  A.,  &c. 
Svo.    London,  1S45. 

The  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Geological  Society  of  London. 
No.  11.  August,  1S47. 

Fossils  of  the  Tertiary  formations  of  the  United  States.  By 
T.  A.  Conrad.  Nos.  1,  2,  3. 

Geological  Survey  of  Pennsylvania.  1st,  2d,  3d,  4th  and  5th 
Annual  Reports.     By  Henry  D.  Rogers,  State  Geologist. 

Report  of  the  Geological  Reconnoisance'of  the  State  of  Virgi- 
nia.    By  Wm.  B.  Rogers.  Philada.,  1S36. 

Coloured  illustrations  of  the  eggs  of  British  Birds,  accom- 
panied with  descriptions  of  the  eggs,  nests,  &c.  By  Wm. 
C.  Hewitson.  34  Nos.  Svo.   London. 

Histoire  naturelle  des  Crustaces  fossiles,  fyc. ;  les  Trilobites, 
par  Alex.  Brongniart ;  les  Crustaces  proprement  dits,  par 
Anselme  Gae'ton  Desmarest.     4to.   Paris,  1S22. 

Description  des  animaux  fossiles  qui  se  trouvent  dans  le 
Terrain  Carbonifere  de  Belgique.  2  vols.  4to.  Liege, 
1S42,  '44. 

Fauna  Boreali-Americana ;  or  the  Zoology  of  the  northern 
parts  of  British  America.  By  John  Richardson,  M.  D., 
F.  R.  S.,  assisted  by  Wm.  Swainson,  Esq.,  and  the  Rev. 
Wm.  Kirby.  4  vols.  4to. 

Transactions  of  the  Geological  Society  of  London.  1st  series, 
complete  in  5  vols.  4to.  2d  series.  Vols.  1,  (part  2,)  2, 
3,  4,  5  and  6,  and  parts  1,  2  and  3  of  vol.  7.  4to. 

Icones  fossilium  sectiles.  4lo.  pamphlet. 

Beitrage  zur  Flora  der  Vorwelt.  Von  August  Joseph  Corda. 
Folio.  Prag,  1S45. 


312  [Nov.  1S47- 

An  account  of  the  English  colony  in  New  South  Wales,  from 
its  first  settlement  in  January,  1788,  to  August,  1801,  &c. 
By  Lieut.  Col.  Collins.  4to.  London,  1804. 

Narrative  of  an  expedition  to  explore  the  river  Zaire, 
usually  called  the  Congo,  in  South  Africa,  in  1816,  under 
the  direction  of  Capt.  J.  K.  Tuckey.  R.  N.  &c.  4to. 
London,  1818. 

Journal  of  a  voyage  for  the  discovery  of  a  north-west  pas- 
sage from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific ;  performed  in  the 
years  1S1 9-20,  in  H.  M.  ships  Hecla  and  Griper,  under 
the  orders  of  Wm.  Edward  Parry,  R.  N.,  F.  R.  S.  4to. 
London,  1821  ;  and  supplement,  4to.  London,  1824. 

Journal  of  a  second  voyage,  &c,  in  the  years  1821,  '22,  '23> 
in  H.  M.  ships  Fury  and  Hecla,  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Parry.  4to.  London,  1S24  ;  and  appendix,  4to.  Lon- 
don, 1S25. 

Journal  of  a  third  voyage,  &c,  performed  in  1824,  '25,  in  H. 
M.  ships  Hecla  and  Fury,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Parry.  4to.  London,  1S26. 

The  North  Georgia  Gazette  and  Winter  Chronicle.  4to.  Lon- 
don, 1S21. 

An  account  of  experiments  to  determine  the  figure  of  the 
earth,  by  means  of  the  pendulum  vibrating  seconds  in 
different  latitudes,  as  well  as  on  other  subjects  of  philoso- 
phical inquiry.     By  Edward  Sabine.  4to.  London,  1825. 


Letters  were  read  from  the  Chevalier  de  Bauer,  dated 
Vienna,  Sept.  22,  1S46,  presenting  the  work,  "Foraraine- 
feres  fossiles  du  Bassin  Tertiaire  de  Vienne." 

And  from  Mr.  John  Fehlands,  dated  Hamburg,  Oct.  14th, 
1S47,  acknowledging  the  receipt  by  Dr.  Tschudi  of  Vienna, 
of  the  Vols,  of  the  Proceedings,  sent  to  him  by  resolution  of 
the  Academy. 

A  paper  containing  a  description  of  a  new   Unio,  by  Mr. 


Nov.  1S47.]  313 

Haldeman,  was  read  and  referred  to  a  committee  consisting 
of  Dr.  Griffith,  Dr.  Wilson,  and  Mr.  Phillips. 

Dr.  Leidy  made  the  following  remarks  upon  the  very  slow 
destrnctibility  of  animal  tissues  in  certain  states. 

The  great  length  of  time  that  animal  matter  may  be  preserved 
in  a  recent  form,  in  ice,  is  so  well  known  as  hardly  to  need  refe- 
rence to  the  instance  of  the  Siberian  mammoth. 

Bones  and  teeth,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  resist  the  in- 
fluence of  exterior  agencies  better  than  any  of  the  other  tissues, 
and  then  follow  epidermic  tissue,  6brous  tissue,  &c.  Bones  of  the 
mastodon  have  long  since  been  determined  to  contain  almost  as 
much  gelatin  as  those  of  recent  animals,  and  I  have  lately  detect- 
ed, by  chemical  analysis,  the  existence  of  animal  matter  in  a  por- 
tion of  a  vertebra  of  the  Basilosaurus,  a  fossil  of  the  Eocene  tertia- 
ry period.  A  portion  of  this  animal  matter,  preserved  in  alcohol, 
I  exhibit  to  the  Academy.  It  has  a  flocculent  appearance,  con- 
tains no  gelatin,  but  readily  carbonizes  and  takes  fire,  giving  out 
an  odour  characteristic  of  burning  animal  substances;  the  ash  it 
leaves  behind  contains  a  large  proportion  of  oxide  of  iron. 

If  not  exposed  to  the  influence  of  air  and  moisture,  bones  will 
retain  their  animal  matter  for  an  indefinite  period  of  time.  We 
have,  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy,  bones  of  the  extinct 
Megalonyx,  from  White  Cave,  Tennessee,  which  look  as  fresh  as 
though  prepared  but  yesterday.  But  when  they  are  exposed  to 
air,  and  to  alternations  of  dryness  and  moisture,  or  a  constant  but 
slightly  moistened  state,  without  the  presence  of  carbonate  of 
lime,  silex,  or  oxide  of  iron,  which  tend  rather  to  the  preserva- 
tion than  destruction  of  the  animal  matter  contained  in  them,  the 
auimal  matter  is  gradually  and  almost  wholly  removed,  leaving 
nothing  but  the  earthy  constituents,  which,  if  they  do  retain  the 
original  form,  readily  crumble  to  pieces  from  the  slightest  vio- 
lence. Of  the  softer  animal  tissues,  the  preservation  of  insects 
in  amber,  a  resin  belonging  to  a  very  ancient  flora,  is  well 
known.  But  one  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  occurring 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  which  has  been  presented  to  my 
notice,  is  the  existence  of  portions  of  fibrous  membrane  and 
articular  cartilage,  attached  to  some  of  the  bones  of  the  Megalonyx 
before  spoken  of,  as  exhibited  in  these  specimens.  By  ex- 
amining this  piece  of  fibrous  membrane,  taken  from  one  of  the 
bones,  it  will  be  found  to  have  retained  all  the  characteristics  of 
perfectly  recent  membrane  ;  it  imbibes  moisture  and  becomes  as 
flexible  as  if  fresh.  The  articular  cartilage  has  become  hard  and 
brittle  and  yellow  in  colour,  and  looks  like  resinous  matter.  A 
fragment   beneath  the  microscope  presented  all    the  characters  of 


3J4  [Nov.  1S47. 

that  form  of  cartilage,  as  represented  in  this  drawing,  which  I 
took  from  it.  The  cartilage  corpuscles  are  well  preserved  and 
very  distinct.  By  soaking  it  in  water  it  does  not  become  tough 
and  flexible,  as  in  recent  cartilage,  but  swells  up  and  forms  a 
thick  jelly,  which,  after  a  few  hours,  dissolves  in  the  water,  and 
colours  it  yellow.  A  change  has  taken  place  in  it,  correspond- 
ing to  that  which  occurs  in  most  organic  tissues  when  constantly 
kept  in  the  dry  state.  The  atoms  or  molecules  undergo  a  change 
of  relation  in  regard  to  each  other,  or  new  chemical  combinations 
take  place  without  destroying  the  form  of  the  dried  object,  but 
destroying  the  power  of  its  resuming  its  original  form.  The 
change  is  an  exceedingly  slow  one;  in  many  instances,  after 
centuries  have  elapsed,  no  perceptible  change  has  taken  place. 
An  instance  in  point  was  lately  presented  to  us  by  Dr.  Morton, 
who  put  a  dried  ear  of  an  Egyptian  mummy  of  the  time  of  the 
Pharaohs,  into  water,  in  the  hope  that  it  would  resume  its  former 
proportions,  but  instead  of  so  doing,  for  a  few  days  it  appeared  to 
undergo  no  change,  except  colouring  the  water  yellow,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  articular  cartilage  of  the  Megalonyx.  It  then  sudden- 
ly underwent  rapid  decomposition,  and  in  the  course  of  a  day 
entirely  disappeared  ;  the  solution  for  two  days  exhaled  a  putrid 
odour,  which  then  disappeared,  leaving  the  fluid  coloured  yellow 
and  without  further  change. 


A  report  was  presented  from  the  committee  appointed  on 
the  subject  of  exchanges  with  M.  Vattemare,  proposing 
to  forward  to  him  for  works  lately  received  two  copies  of 
Vols.  1  and  2  of  the  Proceedings;  and  also  to  place  in  his 
hands  for  further  exchanges,  additional  copies  of  the  same, 
which  was  accordingly  ordered. 


Stated  Meeting,  November    16,   1847. 
Vice  President   Morton   in   the   Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Cytherea,  from  California,  presented  by  Dr.  Joseph  Wilson, 
U.  S.  N. 

Boa  constrictor,  12  feet  long.  Presented  by  Messrs.  Ray- 
mond &  Waring,  through  Dr.  Watson. 


Nov.  1847.]  315 

Several  living  Opossums,  for  Dr.  C.  D.  Meigs,  Dr.  Wat- 
son, and  Dr.  Wilson. 

Heads  of  echinal  spines  from  the  Sivalik  Hills.  Presented  by 
Dr.  Morton. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Iconographie  Ornithologique  ;  par  0.  Des  Murs.  Liv.  9.  4to. 

Presented  by  Mr.  Edward  Wilson. 
Revue  Zoologique.     Nos.  7  and  8,  1847.     Deposited  by  Dr. 

Wilson. 
The  National  Magazine  and  Industrial  Record.     Edited  by 

Redwood  Fisher.   18  Nos.  complete.  New  York,  1845-46. 

From  the  Author,  through  Mr.  Thomas  Fisher. 


The  following  extract  from  a  letter  from  Prof.  Haldeman, 
dated  11th  November,  1847,  was  read. 

"  Herpetologists  now  suppose  that  Salamandra  erythronota, 
Green,  and  S.  cinerea,  Green,  are  opposite  sexe3  of  the  same 
species.  The  two  are  frequently  found  under  the  same  stone 
or  log,  but  I  have  never  seen  one  with  intermediate  characters. 
I  recently  found  six  individuals  and  submitted  them  to  dissection. 
Four  of  cinerea,  opened  successively,  proved  to  have  gravid 
ovaries,  and  two  of  erythronota  to  be  males ;  but  to  be  certain,  I 
submitted  the  seminal  matter  to  microscopic  examination,  and 
found  spermatozoa,  although  not  fully  developed.  Subsequently 
I  found  two  erytlironota  with  gravid  ovaries,  so  that  not  being 
sexual,  and  no  intermediate  forms  having  been  observed,  I  am 
induced  to  believe  that  Green  was  right  in  proposing  two  species." 


Stated  Meeting  Nov.  23,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Fossil  Saurian  bones  in  a  matrix  of  conglomerate,  compris- 
ing several  vertebrae,  parts  of  paddle,  &c,  probably  an  un- 
described   extinct  animal.     Found  near  Hossack   Creek, 


316  [Nov.  1847. 

Berks  Co  ,  Pa.,  five  or  six  feet  below  the  surface.  Depo- 
sited by  Dr.  Joel  Y.  Shelley,  of  Berks  county. 

Specimens  in  spirits,  of  Leptophis  oestivus,  and  Coluber  exi- 
mius.     Presented  by  Dr.  Pennock. 

Fossil  bones  of  a  new  genus  of  extinct  Ruminants,  consist- 
ing of  the  cranium  and  parts  of  a  humerus,  ulna,  and 
radius.  Deposited  by  Mr.  Joseph  Culbertson,  of  Cham- 
bersburg,  Penn. 

Cranium  of  Vulpes  fulvus.     Deposited  by  Dr.  Morton. 

Native  silver  from  Guanaxato,  Mexico.  Presented  by  Dr. 
Griffith. 

Specimen  of  Loxia  cardinalis.     From  Mr.  Phillips. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

American  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts.  New  Series.  Vol.  4. 

No.  12.     From  the  Editors. 
On  the  inhalation  of  the  vapour  of  ether  in  surgical  operations. 

By  John  Snow,  M.  D.    8vo.    London,  1847.     From  Mr. 

Lambert. 
A  Medico-botanical  catalogue  of  the  plants  and  ferns  of  St. 

Johns,  Berkley,  S.  C.     An  inaugural   thesis  for  the  degree 

of  M.    D.     By  Francis  Peyre   Porcher.     8vo.  pamphlet. 

Charleston,  S.  C.1847.     From  the  author. 
Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association  of 

Pennsylvania  College.     Vol.4.  No.    1.     From  the  Asso- 
ciation. 
The  Geognosy  of  the  Island  of  St.  Helena,  in  a  series  of  views, 

plans,  and  sections,  with  remarks  and  observations.     By 

Robert  F.  Seale.  Folio.  London,  1S34.     From  Mr.  Saml. 

Ashmead. 

Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following : 
An  analysis  of  the  British  Ferns  and  their  allies.     By  G.  W. 

Francis,  F.  L.  S.  2d  edition.  8vo.  London,  1S42. 
A  history  of  British  Ferns  and  allied   plants.     By  Edward 

Newman,  F.  L.  S.  8vo.  London,  1S44. 


Nov.  1847.]  317 

The  Natural  history  of  Carolina,   Florida,  and  the  Bahama 

Islands,  &c.     By  Mark   Catesby,  F.  R.  S.  2  vols.  Folio. 

London,  1731. 
The  Genera  of  Diurnal  Lepidoptera.     By  Edward  Doubleday, 

F.  R.  S.  Part  12.  4to. 
The  Genera  of  Birds.     By  Geo.  Robert  Gray,  F.  R.  S.  Part 

41.  4to. 
The  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History.    No.  133. 
An  outline  of  the  Geology  of  Norfolk.     By  Samuel  Wood- 
ward. 8vo.  Norwich,  1733. 
The  Zoologist's  Text  Book,  &c.     By  Capt.  Thomas  Brown. 

2  vols.  12mo.  Glasgow,  1832. 
Memoires  presentes  a  l'Academie  Imperiale  des  Science  de 

St.  Petersburg.  Vols.  1 — 5,  and  vol.  6,  No.  2.  4to. 

Dr.  Griffith  deposited  the  following  : 
Symbolae  ad  historiam  Heliceorum.  Auctore  Dr.  Lud.  PfeifTer. 

8vo.  Casselis,  1841. 
Philosophic  Anatomiqne  ;  Des  Organs  Respiratoires  sous  le 

rapport  de  la  determination  et  de  1'identite  de  leurs  pieces 

osseuses  ;  par  M.  le  Ch.  GeofTroy  St.  Hilaire.     1  vol.  Svo. 

and  Atlas.  4to.  Paris,  ISIS. 
The  Naturalist's  Library  :  conducted  by  Sir.  Wm.  Jardine  ; 

Mammalia  6  vols.,  Ornithology,  8  vols.;  Icthyology,  1  vol. 

Entomology,  4  vols.  l2mo. 
Species  general   et  Iconographie   des  Coqnilles  vivantes,  &c. 

Par  L.  C.  Kiener.  8vo. 


A  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  RkinCrd  Brown,  of  Nova  Scotia, 
addressed  to  Prof.  Johnson,  dated  Sydney  Mines,  27th  Oct. 
1S47,  containing  the  following  in  relation  to  some  Fossil 
fruits  from  the  coal  steam  of  that  district: 

These  Fossils  were  found  in  one  part  of  the  mine  only,  scat- 
tered over  an  area  of  three  or  four  acres,  in  some  places  so  thick 
that  five  or  six  might  be  found  in  one  square  yard.  They  lie  in 
the  Shaie    Roof  immediately    in    contact   with    the    Coal    Seam. 


318  [Nov.  1847. 

Upright  stems  of  Lepidodendra  and  Sigillarise,  with  Stigmaria- 
like  roots,  are  frequent  in  the  same  area,  the  fruits  being  some- 
times found  under  their  roots.  I  have  broken  up  several  of  these 
Fossils,  and  found  decisive  marks  of  internal  structure  exhibiting 
their  membranes  of  carbonaceous  matter,  and  small  pipes  of  Iron 
Pyrites  terminating  in  scars  on  the  external  surface,  supposed  to 
be  seed  cells.  I  cannot  find  any  decribed  fossils  resembling 
them  more  nearly  than  the  Fruit  of  Podocarya  from  the  oolite, 
in  Buckland's  Bridgewater  Treatise. 


"ev 


A  letter  was  read  from  Mr.  Wm.  Thompson,  addressed  to 
Dr.  Griffith,  dated  Tunbridge  Wells,  Oct.,  1857,  announcing 
his  intention  to  present  certain  Mollusca  nudibranchiata,  in 
spirits,  and  British  Echinodermata  and  marine  Algse,  and 
also  some  fossils,  to  the  Academy. 

Dr.  Leidy  read  a  paper  "On  a  new  genus  and  species  of 
Fossil  Ruminantia,  Poebrotherium  Wilsonii ;"  which  was 
referred  to  a  committee  composed  of  Drs.  Pickering,  Bridges, 
and  Morton. 

Dr.  Hallowell  communicated  a  paper  on  the  "Horned. 
Viper  of  Western  Africa,"  with  a  figure.  Referred  to  Prof 
Haldeman,  Dr.  Pickering  and  Dr.  Leidy. 

Professor  Johnson  exhibited  a  specimen  of  a  boiler  sediment 
derived  from  a  steam  boiler  used  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey, 
which  uses  clear  spring  water.  It  is  dark  brown,  has  a  specific 
gravity  of  1.235,  contains  34.88  per  cent,  of  earthy  residue,  and 
65.12  per  cent.,  of  combustible  material,  melting  only  at  900 — 
1000  degrees,  though  it  softens  at  260,  and  exhales  an  empy- 
reumatic  odour  at  430°  ;  and  at  450p  becomes  reddish-brown  and 
brittle.  The  sediment  pulverized  and  boiled  in  alcohol  gave,  by 
slow  evaporation,  an  oily  substance,  which  separates  in  a  white 
hydrated  condition — but  the  water  is  lost  below  the  boiling  point 
of  alcohol,  leaving  the  oil  a  reddish-brown,  capable  of  softening 
at  150°,  and  becoming  fluid  at  180°.  The  earthy  matter  contains 
carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  as  well  as  silicate  of  alumina 
and  oxide  of  iron. 

Prof.  Johnson  also  offered  some  observations  on  the  fossil 
bones  from  Dr.  Joel  Y.  Shelly,  deposited  this  evening,  which, 
from  the  appearance  of  the  rock  adhering  to  the  specimens, 
he  judged  to  belong  to  the  formation  which  overlies  the  edges 


Nov.  1847.]  319 

of  the  Silurian  rocks  of  the  south  mountains,  and  which  is 
believed  to  be  of  the  same  age  as  the  so-called  Potomac  marble. 


r  Meeting  for  Business,  Nov.  20,  1847. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  on  Dr.  Hallowell's  paper,  on  the  Horned 
Viper  of  Western  Africa,  reported  in  favor  of  publication  : 

On  the  Horned  Viper  of  Western  Africa. 

By  Edward  Hallowell,  M.  D. 

Cerastes,  Wagler. 

Cerastes*  nasicornis. 

Syn.  Coluber  nasicornis.    Shaw,  General  Zoology,  p.  198. 

Characters. — Head  short  and  thick,  two  horns  upon  the  snout,  mouth 
large  ;  a  series  of  oblong  quadrilateral  bands  upon  the  back,  margined  with 
triangular  spots  of  black  ;  a  row  of  dark  colored  blotches  upon  each  side  of 
the  animal  in  contact  with  the  abdomen  ;  between  these  and  the  triangular 
lateral  blotches,  other  triangular  dark  colored  spots  with  their  bases  toward 
each  other  ;  tail  short. 

Descriptions. — Physiognomy  very  repulsive ;  head  short  and  thick,  de- 
pressed, presenting  two  horns,  each  four  lines  in  length  upon  the 
snout ;  opening  of  the  mouth  large,  extending  to  within  five  lines  of  the 
posterior  margin  of  the  occiput ;  two  large  and  powerful  fangs  on  each  side 
of  the  upper  jaw  ;  head  covered  with  rhomboidal,  hexagonal,  and  polygonal 
scales  which  are  carinated  ;  the  scales  are  largest  upon  the  occiput  and 
sides  of  the  head  posteriorly;  nostrils  large,  two  lines  in  diameter,  present- 
ing upward  and  slightly  backward  ;  eyes  rather  small,  latero-superior,  on 
a  line  with  the  nostrils,  and  three  lines  posterior  to  them,  slightly  project- 
ing, looking  outward  and  a  little  upward  ;  palatine  and  infra  maxillary 
teeth  recurved,  sharp,  pointed  and  strongly  developed  ;  tongue  long,  bifid 

*  Misprinted  Arastes  in  the  Proceedings,  vol.  ii.  p.  250. 

42 


320  [Nov.  1847. 

enclosed  in  a  sheath;  thirteen  plates  margin  the  upper  jaw  on  the  right,  and 
fourteen  on  the  left  side  of  the  head,  exclusive  of  the  rostral ;  the  tenth  on 
the  right,  and  the  eleventh  on  the  left  side  are  the  largest ;  the  shape  of  both 
is  pentangular ;  the  rostral  plate  is  also  pentangular,and  incurvated  inferiorly ; 
there  are  sixteen  plates  along  the  margin  of  the  lower  jaw,  exclusive  of  the 
mental,  which  is  broad  and  triangular  ;  the  anterior  geneials  are  oblong 
quadrilateral,  the  posterior,  large  and  rhomboidal.  Neck  contracted,  quite 
slender  compared  with  the  body,  which  is  somewhat  cylindrical  and  very 
thick  in  the  middle,  becoming  slender  towards  the  tail ;  tail  quite  short ; 
upper  part  aDd  sides  of  neck,  body  and  tail  covered  with  very  strongly 
carinated  scales  ;  many  of  these  scales  are  truncated  posteriorly. 

Color. — Upper  part  of  head  light  brown  ash  color ;  a  dark  colored 
triangular  blotch  exists  upon  the  side  of  the  head,  its  apex  touching  the 
posterior  margin  of  the  orbit ;  another  dark  colored  blotch,  an  inch  in 
length,  extends  along  the  margin  of  the  lower  jaw  ;  chin  and  throat  light 
straw  color,  with  numerous  small  black  spots.  A  series  of  oblong  quad- 
rangular bands  extends  along  the  dorsum,  commencing  at  the  neck,  and  iB 
lost  upon  the  tail ;  in  the  young  subject  they  are  bordered  with  white ;  at 
each  extremity  is  a  dark  triangular  blotch,  the  apices  of  which  touch  each 
other :  a  row  of  dark  colored  triangular  blotches  is  also  observed  along  the 
margins  of  the  quadrangular  bars,  contiguous  with  which  are  other  triangu- 
lar spots,  having  their  bases  toward  each  other;  these  are  not  represented 
in  the  figure  ;  there  is  also  a  row  of  triangular  spots  upon  each  side  of  the 
body,  in  contact  with  the  abdomen  :  abdomen  and  under  surface  of  tail 
etraw  color,  presenting  numerous  spots  of  black. 

Dimensions. — Length  of  head  2  inches,  3  lines  (Fr.)  ;  breadth  posteriorly, 
2  inches  ;  length  of  tail,  5  inches  3  lines ;  length  of  body,  2  feet  8  J  inches 
(Fr.)  ;  greatest  circumference  of  body,  8  inches  3  lines. 

Abdominal  scuta  128  ;  Subcaudal  27,  two  of  which  are  single,  (the  second 
and  third  from  the  anus,)  the  rest  bifid. 

Habitat. — Liberia,  Western  Africa.  Specimen  in  the  Museum  of  the 
Academy. 

General  Observations. — The  animal  from  which  the  above  description 
is  taken,  was  presented  to  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  by  Dr. 
Thomas  S.  Savage,  Colonial  Physician,  and  one  of  our  Correspondents. 
The  drawing  was  taken  from  a  young  animal,  eighteen  inches  in  length  ; 
the  coloration,  however,  does  not  vary  materially  from  that  of  the 
older  specimen,  except  that  the  general  tints  are  lighter,  and  in  the  points 
indicated.  It  has  no  resemblance  to  the  Vipera  cornuta,  Auct.,  a  beauti- 
ful figure  of  which  is  given  in  Dr.  Andrew  Smith's  Illustrations  of  the  Zoo- 
logy of  Southern  Africa,  plate  32.* 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  we  think,  that  this  is  the  animal  figured  by  Shaw, 

*  See  Schlegel,  Physiognomies  des  Serpens,  torn.  ii.  p.  583,  note. 


Nov.  1847.]  321 

and  described  under  the  name  of  Coluber  nasicornis.  The  figure  of  Shaw- 
does  not  represent  the  triangular  spots  at  the  extremities  and  sides  of  the 
quadrangular  bars  upon  the  back,  and  the  form  of  the  head  is  altogether  differ- 
ent ;  he  states,  however,  that  "  along  the  whole  length  of  the  back,  is  placed 
a  series  of  yellowish  brown  oblong  spots  or  marks,  each  of  which  is  imbedded 
in  a  patch  of  black,"  which,  although  a  somewhat  loose  description,  evidently 
refers  to  the  species  under  consideration.  Many  of  the  drawings  in  his  Zoo- 
logy, it  is  well  known,  are  exceedingly  incorrect.  It  is  remarkable  that  an 
animal  so  hideous,  and  provided  with  weapons  so  destructive,  should  possess 
the  beautiful  robe  which  it  presents  to  the  eye.  Why  this  animal,  and  others 
among  the  reptilia,  should  be  thus  endowed,  is  a  mystery  ;  for,  judging 
from  its  formidable  head,  and  powerful  fangs,  no  reptile,  not  even  the 
Orotalus,  or  Trigonocephalus,  is  so  deadly.  It  is  also  remarkable  that  ani- 
mals of  this  kind  should  exist  in  tropical  countries  associated  with  the  most 
beautiful  of  Flora's  productions. 

"  Malheur  au  voyageur,  (observes  Mons.  Spix,)  qui  ravi  de  toutes  les  riches- 
ses,  qu'une  nature  enchanteresse  deploie  autour  de  lui,  sepromene  dans  ces 
forets  delicieuses,  peuplees  d'une  variete  immense  d'arbres  gigantesques, 
foule  a.  ses  pieds  des  tapis  de  verdure,  enrichis  de  mille  fleurs  odoriferantes, 
qui  parfument  l'air  et  enivrent  ses  sens  ;  qui  elevant  sa  vue  vers  la  voiite 
celeste,  la  porte  sur  des  oiseaux  d'un  plumage  magnifique  dont  il  admire  le 
singulier  ramage ;  qui  ailleurs  remarque  des  essaims  d'insectes  cent  fois 
varies,  se  confondant  dans  leur  vol  folatre,  et  offrent  a  ses  yeux  d6ja  frappes 
d'etonnement,  un  spectacle  nouveau ;  les  rayons  du  soleil,  en  les  faisant 
resembler  a  autant  de  pierres  precieuses,  relevent  encore  Peclat  de  leurs 
couleurs  deja  si  multiplees; — malheur,  dis-je,  a.  l'impatient  et  zele  natural- 
iste,  qui  traverse  des  mers  pour  enrichir  les  sciences  de  ses  observations, 
lorsqu'assis  a  l'ombre  d'un  arbre,  aussi  ancien  que  les  siecles,  couronne  de 
fleurs  magnifiques,  telles  que  Paullinies,  Orchides,  Gouets,  Bromelies  et 
maintes  autres,  sert  de  tuteur  a  des  lianes  communes  a  divers  arbres,  qu'elles 
semblent  reunir  par  leur  formation  de  berceaux,  servent  d'echelles  pour 
monter  a  leur  sommet  eleve,  et  qui  nourrissent  en  meme  temps  sur  leurs 
troncs  un  nombre  infini  de  vegetaux,  il  etend  sa  main  pour  cueillir  une  fleur 
qui  se  trouve  pres  d'elle,  se  sent  tout  a  coup  atteint  de  la  morsure  d'un 
Trigonocephale  qu'il  ix  derange  dans  sa  quietude ; — un  poison  mortel  coule 
dans  ses  veines,  decompose  son  sang  et  son  etre,  et  le  fait  perir  d'ane  mort 
prematuree,  qu'il  trouve  a  trois  mille  lieues  de  sa  patrie  en  recompense  de 
son  zele.*" 

An  account  of  the  habits  of  this,  as  well  as  those  of  other  animals  recently 
presented  by  him  to  the  Academy,  has  been  promised  by  Dr.  Savage. 

*  Animalia  nova,  sive  Serpentium  Brasiliensium  species  novae  ;  par  Jean 
de  Spix,  p.  51. 


322  [Nov.  1847. 

The  Committee  on  Dr.  Leidy's  description  of  a  new  genus 
and  species  of  Fossil  Ruminants,  reported  in  favor  of  publi- 
cation : 

On  a  new  genus  and  species  of  fossil  Ruminantia:     Poebrotherium    Wilsoni. 

By  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D. 

Indirectly,  through  Mr.  J.  S.  Philips  and  the  influence  of  Dr.  S.  G.  Morton, 
the  Academy  has  become  the  depository  of  a  valuable  and  unique  fossil, 
received  through  Dr.  S.  D.  Culbertson,  of  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  from  Mr. 
Joseph  Culbertson. 

As  first  received,  it  consisted  of  a  mass  of  argillaceous  limestone,  having 
one  side  of  a  cranium  of  an  animal  exposed  to  view,  which,  by  the  patience 
of  Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson,  was  relieved  of  its  matrix,  and  the  lower  extremity 
of  the  humerus,  and  the  upper  extremity  of  the  ulna  and  the  radius  of  the 
right  leg  were  also  disclosed. 

The  top  or  vault  above  the  orbits  and  posterior  part  of  the  cranium  are 
wanting,  as  are  also  the  ossa  nasi,  03sa  intermaxillaria,  the  part  of  the  os 
maxillare  inferius  just  anterior  to  the  commencement  of  the  symphysis,  and 
the  zygoma  of  the  left  side,  but  sufficient  is  left  to  charcterize  it  as  a  remark- 
able genus  of  Ruminantia,  very  different  from  any  that  has  been  heretofore 
described. 

The  cranium  belonged  to  a  full  grown  or  adult  animal,  but  not  an  old 
one,  as  is  indicated  by  the  teeth. 

In  the  upper  jaw  are  seven  molars,  differing  in  this  respect  from  any 
ruminant  known,  living  or  fossil.  The  posterior  three  molar3,  usually  called 
true,  present  nothing  very  peculiar  in  their  conformation.  They  are  not  so 
square  as  in  Cervus,  but  are  more  like  those  of  Ovis,  being  much  broader 
than  wide,  so  that  they  have  a  compressed  appearance.  The  four  crescents 
upon  the  crowns  are  quite  simple.  Externally  these  teeth  present  two  and 
nearly  plane  surfaces,  separated  by  an  abrupt,  salient,  longitudinal  ridge  on 
a  line  with  the  notch  separating  the  anterior  and  posterior  pair  of  columns. 
Each  of  these  surfaces  has  a  longitudinal  rounded  ridge,  more  prominent 
upon  the  anterior  than  the  posterior  one,  but  neither  so  salient  as  the  first. 
The  antero-external  border  is  also  elevated  or  prominent,  so  that  each  of 
these  teeth  presents  externally  four  longitudinal  ridges.  As  is  usual,  these 
teeth  are  obliquely  situated  in  the  jaw,  and  the  anterior  part  of  one  folds 
over  externally  or  overlaps  the  posterior  part  of  the  one  preceding  it. 

The  anterior  four  molars  or  premolars  are  not  more  than  half  the  length 
of  the  true  molars,  and  differ  among  themselves  so  as  to  render  it  necessary 
to  examine  them  separately.  The  posterior  or  fourth  premolar  has  more  the 
characteristics  of  a  true  molar,  and  it  would  probably  not  be  wrong  to  con- 
sider it  as  an  additional  true  molar.  The  crown  presents  four  crescents, 
which  are  thicker  than  in  the  true  molars,  and  the  anterior  and  posterior 
pair  are  separated  by  a  comparatively  deeper  notch.     Externally  the  tooth 


Nov\   1847,]  323 

lias  four  ridges  corresponding  to  those  of  the  true  molars.  The  third  pre- 
molar, or  the  one  immediately  preceding  the  last,  has  upon  its  crown  a 
posterior  pair  of  thick  crescents,  and  an  anterior  cusp  which  has  the  appear- 
ance of  being  formed  by  the  blending  together  of  a  pair  of  crescents.  Ex  - 
ternally  it  is  trilobed,  the  lobes  being  separated  by  two  concave  depressions. 
It  is  shorter  but  broader  than  the  last.  The  second  premolar  is  com- 
pressed, faintly  trilobed,  and  presents  an  elongated  trenchant  crown.  The 
first  premolar  is  the  most  remarkable  characteristic  of  this  cranium.  It 
is  separated  from  the  others  by  a  concave  notch  of  .333  of  an  inch,  and  is 
on  a  line  with  the  anterior  mental  foramen.  It  is  implanted  in  the  jaw  by 
two  fangs,  which  are  divergent  and  placed  one  anterior  to  the  other.  The 
body  is  nearly  as  broad  as  the  second  premolar  and  is  of  a  compressed  pyra- 
midal form,  and  the  crown  has  a  trenchant  edge,  the  posterior  and  anterior 
part  of  which  form  an  angle  about  its  centre. 

In  the  lower  jaw,  in  the  specimen,  are  six  inferior  molars  iu  a  closed 
row  commencing  .25  of  an  inch  anterior  to  the  corresponding  six  molars 
above,  and  continuing  as  far  back  as  the  latter.  Besides  these,  and  separated 
from  them  by  a  concave  descending  notch  of  .45  of  an  inch,  just  anterior 
to  the  anterior  mental  foramen,  or  .15  of  an  inch  anterior  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  sympyhsis  posteriorly,  is  one  half  of  an  alveolus  for  an  addi- 
tional or  seventh  molar,  which,  when  the  specimen  was  first  received,  con- 
tained a  portion  of  a  fang,  since  mislaid.  This  additional  molar  in  the 
lower  jaw  is  possessed  by  only  one  other  known  genus  of  Ruminantia ;  the 
Dor  cat  her  ium,  of  Kaup. 

The  crowns  of  the  inferior  molars  are  enveloped  in  the  matrix  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  cannot  be  exposed  without  endangering  the  specimen. 
Externally  the  three  true  molars  present  their  columns  as  sharply  triangu- 
lar prisms,  as  in  Ovis,  &c,  and  have  no  intervening  points  or  cones,  as  in 
Cervus,  Dorcatherium,  §c. 

The  fourth  premolar  is  tri-lobed  externally,  each  lobe  presenting  a  cusp 
towards  the  crown.  The  third  and  second  are  compressed,  and  the  latter, 
I  can  perceive,  has  a  trenchant  crown. 

The  position  of  the  molars,  though  resembling  that  of  Dorcatherium,  con- 
siderably more  than  that  of  any  other  genus  of  Ruminantia,  differs  materially 
from  it,  for  while  the  teeth  reach  to  the  symphysis  in  the  latter,  in  the  for- 
mer they  even  extend  anteriorly  to  its  commencement. 

From  the  foregoing  description  of  the  teeth,  it  will  be  perceived,  that  in 
the  possession  of  a  seventh  molar  in  the  upper  jaw,  in  the  position  of  the 
molars,  and  in  several  other  minor  peculiarities,  this  genus  differs  from  all 
others  heretofore  known,  and  is  well  characterized,  and  I  therefore  propose 
for  it  the  name  of  ,"  Poe'brotheridm."* 

The  base  of  the  maxilla  inferius  presents  a  double  curve,  and  has  its  an- 
terior, central,  and  posterior  parts  very  nearly  on  the  same  line,  so  as  to 
give  the  lower  part  of  the  face  an  unusual  degree  of  squareness.  The  angle 
is  prolonged  upwards  and  backwards  into  a  well  marked  and  hook-like  pro- 

*  no*  herba,  (Ipom  pasco,  d-mpfera. 


324  Nov.  1847. 

cess  similar  to  that  of  many  Rodentia  and  Camivora,  and  exists  in  no  other 
Ruminantia  excepting  the  Camelidce.  Just  above  the  base,  where  it  curves 
downwards  and  backwards,  is  a  short  crescentic  depression  made  by  the 
attachment  of  the  masseter  muscle.  The  processus  coronoideus  has  been 
proportionately  about  as  long  as  that  of  the  Ovis  aries.  The  depression  be- 
tween the  processus  coronoideus  and  condyloideus  upon  the  outer  face  of 
the  ramus  is  comparatively  deep,  resembling  more  that  of  a  carniverous 
than  a  ruminating  animal.  The  anterior  mental  foramen  is  placed  im- 
mediately posterior  to  the  commencement  of  the  symphisis.  About  one  inch 
and  a  half  to  posterior  to  the  latter  foramen,  on  a  line  with  the  separation 
of  the  first  true  and  last  premolar,  is  another  and  smaller  foramen,  which 
is  common  to  most  Ruminants. 

The  ossa  maxillaria  superiora,  below  the  situation  of  the  ossa  nasi,  are 
very  much  depressed,  so  as  to  make  this  part  of  the  face  extremely  narrow. 
Just  anterior  to  this  depression  is  a  prominence  resembling  that  produced 
by  the  root  of  the  canine  tooth  of  the  3Ioschus,  although  I  doubt  very  much 
whether  this  animal  had  such  large  canine  teeth,  if  it  had  any  at  all,  because 
of  the  very  great  narrowness  of  this  part  of  the  face,  and  the  very  advanced 
position  of  the  first  premolar. 

The  infra  orbitar  foramen  is  further  back  or  more  approached  to  the  orbit 
than  usual,  being  situated  on  a  line  above  the  fourth  premolar. 

The  anterior  part  of  the  orbit  is  elevated  so  that  the  latter  looks  directly 
outwards. 

The  body  of  the  os  mala  is  narrowed  and  elongated  backwards.  The 
zygoma  proper,  or  that  which  is  posterior  to  the  frontal  process  of  the 
os  malae,  is  short. 

The  meatus  auditorius  externus  borders  immediately  upon  the  glenoid 
cavity.  The  tympanic  bone  is  inflated  and  comparatively  larger  than  in 
Bos  bovis,  Ccrvus  rufescens,  or  any  other  Ruminant  with  which  I  am  ac- 
quainted. Externally  it  projects  beyond  the  face  of  the  lower  jaw  and  the 
meatus  externus.  Viewed  posteriorly,  it  presents  two  parallel  ampullae, 
united  anteriorly,  and  separated  posteriorly  by  a  notch,  which  terminates 
in  a  deep  depression  below  for  accommodating  the  processus  styloideus. 

The  portion  of  os  humeri,  consisting  of  the  articular  surface  for  the  elbow 
and  posterior  sigmoid  cavity,  presents  nothing  peculiar. 

The  ulna,  where  it  is  broken  off  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  below  the 
articulation,  has  nearly  the  same  thickness  as  the  radius,  and  probably  has 
been  proportionately  larger  than  usual. 

These  bones  belonged  to  an  animal  rather  less  in  size  than  the  Dorca- 
Iherium. 

The  species  I  have  designated  Wilsoni,  in  honor  of  Dr.  Thomas  IB- 
Wilson,  the  munificent  patron  of  the  Natural  Sciences. 

Probable  habit  of  the  animal. — From  the  evidences  of  considerable  mus- 
cular strength  in  the  posterior  part  of  the  inferior  maxilla  and  the  trenchant 
crowns  of  the  anterior  premolars,  it  might  be  supposed  that  the  animal  was 
adapted  to  eating  flesh  as  part  of  its  food,  as  was  thought  by  Cuvier  to  have 
been  probably  the  case  with  the  Anoplotherium  gracile,  a  pachydermous  ani- 


Nov.  1847.] 


325 


mal  having  very  similar  characters,  but  I  should  think  its  general  structure 
would  entirely  preclude  the  idea  of  its  having  been  able  to  catch  liviDg 
animal  prey,  and  doubt  very  much  whether  its  food  could  have  been  other 
than  vegetable.  The  anterior  trenchant  molars  were  more  probably  in- 
tended for  cutting  branches  and  twigs  of  bushes,  or  tough  grasses,  which 
afterward  underwent  a  finer  trituration  with  the  true  molars. 

The  position  which  the  genus  should  occupy. — Poebrotherium  in  its  denti- 
tion approaches  the  Ruminantia  to  the  Pachydermata,  for  in  the  number  of  the 
molar  teeth  and  the  trenchant  nature  of  the  anterior  premolars  it  is  closely 
allied  to  the  Xiphodent  Anoplotherium,  while  in  the  true  molars  it  is  charac- 
teristically Ruminant,  and  its  position  would,  therefore,  probably  stand  thus  : 
Dorcatherium,  Poebrotherium,  Anoplotherium. 

Measurements*  of  the  head. 

In. 
Meatus  auditorius  externus  to  infra  orbitar  foramen       ...         3.1 

From  point  of  hook-like  process  of  inferior  maxilla  to  anterior  mental 

foramen 4.35 

Greatest  width  of  orbit 1.15 

Narrowest  part  of  face,  below  ossa  nasi         .....  .2 

Width  at  the  corono-condyloid  depressions  of  inferior  maxilla     .  1.6 

Width  at  the  coronoid  processes 2. 

Greatest  width  at  the  ossa  tympani 2.1 

Distance  between  ossa  tympani .375 

Width  of  os  tympanum  . .85 

Length  of  row  formed  by  the  posterior  six  superior  molars         .  2.5 

Notch  between  the  first  and  second  superior  premolars  .         .  .333 

Length  of  row  formed  by  the  posterior  six  inferior  molars     .         .  7. 

Notch  between  the  first  and  second  inferior  premolar         .         .  .45 

Measurements  of  superior  molar  teeth. 


7th  molar 

6  th 

a 

5th 

<( 

4th 

<( 

3rd 

it 

2nd 

(i 

1st 

K 

Length. 
.375 

.4 

.333 

.2 

.15 

.1 

.15 


Breadth. 
.6 

.55 

.45 

.375 

.4 

.35 

.3 


Thickness. 
.2 

.25 

.275 

.25 

.1 

.1 

.075 


Measurements  of  inferior  molar  teeth. 

Length.  Breadth. 

7th  molar         .         .  .3  .35 


6th 
5th 
4th 
3rd 

2nd 


.3 

.25 

.15 

.1 

.1 


.5 

.4 

.45 

.35 

.35 


*  The  measurements  are  taken  in  English  inches  and  parts  of  do. 


326  [Dec  1847. 

Measurements  from  bones  of  fore-leg. 

Transverse  diameter  of  lower  articular  surface  of  os  humeri  .  .  .75 
Antero-posterior  diameter  in  depressed  portion  of  same  .  .  .  .45 
uength  of  olecranon  above  the  lowest  part  of  the  articular  surface  of 

the  elbow  .  95 


Explanation  of  the  figures. 
No.  1.  Cranium  of  Poebrotherium  Wilsoni. 

2.  View  of  the  crowns  of  the  superior  molar  teeth  of  the  right  side. 

3.  Posterior  view  of  the  tympanic  bone. 

4.  Fragments  of  os  humeri,  ulna,  and  radius. 

No.  5.  Section  of  articular  cartilage,  frcm  the  articular  surface  of  the  head 
of  the  tibia  of  Megalonyx  laqueatus,  highly  magnified,  as  described 
on  page  313. 
6.  Portion  of  the  crown  taken  from  a  fragment  of  a  fossil  horse  tooth  ; 
see  page  328. 


The  Monthly  Report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  was 
read  and  adopted. 

ELECTION. 

The  Hon.  George  M.  Dallas,  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States,  John  H.  B.  McClellan,  M.  D.,  and  John  L.  Ludlow, 
M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  were  elected  Members. 


Stated  Meeting,  December  7,   1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS  TO  MUSEUM. 

Pecten  encyclicus,  Rav.,  from  South  Carolina.    Presented  by 
Dr.  Ravenel,  of  South  Carolina,  through  Dr.  Morton. 

Two  Trilobites,  and  a  cast  of  a  third,  from  the  vicinity  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio.     Presented  by  Dr.  Dickeson. 

Several  specimens  of  Diallage,  fromMarple,  Del.  Co.,  Penn. 
From  Dr.  George  Smith,  through  Mr.  Cassin. 


Dec.  1847.J  327 


DONATIONS   TO     LIBRARY. 

Handbuch  der  Entomologie  von  Hermann  Burmeister.  Vol. 

5.  8vo.  Berlin,  1847.     From  the  Author,  in  exchange. 
Disquisitio  anatomica,  nervum  trigeminum  partemque  cepha- 

licum  nervi   sympathetic!  Gadi   lotse    Linn,   cum    nervis 

iisdem  apud  hominem  et  Mammalia  comparans,&c.  Auc- 

tor  Eberhardus  Julius  Bonsdorff.     From  Dr.  Morton. 
Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia. 

New  series.   Vol.  1.  Part  1.  4to.  Philada.,  1S47.     From 

the  Publication  Committee. 

Dr.  Wilson  deposited  the  following: 
A  list  of  the  Genera  of  Birds,  with  their  synonyma,  and  an 

indication  of  the  typical  species  of  each  genus.     By  Geo. 

Robt.  Gray.  2d  edition.  8vo.  London,  1841. 
Voyage  de  la  Corvette  l'Astrolabe  pandant  les  annees  1826 

-'29,  sous  le  commandment  de  M.  D'Urville.  Text.  1  vol. 

4to.,  and  11  vols.  8vo.  Plates,  8  vols,  folio. 
Voyage  en    Islande  et  an    Groenland   execute  pendant   les 

annees  1835  and  '36,  sur  la  Corvette  La  Recherche;  publie 

par  ordre  du  roi  sous  la  direction   de  M.  Paul   Gaimard. 

Text,  9  vols.  8vo.  Plates,  3  vol.  folio,  et  1  vol.  8vo. 
The  Zoology  of  the  voyage  of  H.  M.  S.  Erebus  and  Terror, 

under  the  command  of  Capt.  Sir  James  Clark  Ross,  R.  N., 

during  the  years  1839  to  '43;  edited  by  John  Richardson? 

M.  D.,  and  J.  Ed.  Gray,  Esq.      Nos.  6—16.  4to. 
Saggio   orittografico  sulla   classe   dei  Gasterpodi  fossili  dei 

Terreni  Terziarii  del  Piemote  di    Luigi   Bellardi  e  Gio- 
vanni Michellotti.  4to.  Torino,  1840. 
Description  des  Cancellaires  fossiles  der  Terrains  Tertiaires 

du  Piemont,  par  Louis  Bellardi.     4to.   Turin,  1841. 

Dr.  Griffith  deposited  the  following: 
Tableaux  des  corps  organises  fsssiles  precede  de  remarques 

sur  leur  petrification  :  par  M.  Defrance,   8vo.  Paris,  1824. 


328  [Dec.  1847. 

A  treatise  on  the  management  of  Bees.     By  Thomas  Wild- 

mann.  8vo.  London,  1778. 
Harper's  Family  Library.     No.  LXI.  The  History  of  Nubia 

and  Abyssinia,  by  the  Rev.  Michael  Russel.  12mo.     New 

York,  1836. 


Dr.  Dickeson  exhibited  an  Indian  axe,  of  large  size,  which 
had  been  found  in  New  Jersey. 

The  Publication  Committee  announced  that  the  first  num- 
ber of  the  New  Series  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy  was 
published,  and  ready  for  distribution  to  subscribers. 


Stated  Meeting,  Dec,  14,  1847. 

Mr.  Vaux  in  the  Chair. 

Mr.  Cassin  read  a  paper,  describing  "  Two  species  of  Buce- 
ros,  probably  new,  with  a  notice  of  the  Buceros  elatus, 
Temm.  ;"  which  was  referred  to  a  committee  composed  of 
Dr.  Wilson,  Mr.  Harris,  and  Mr.  Gambel. 

Dr.  Leidy  made  some  observations  upon  fossil  remains  of  the 
horse  in  America,  in  connection  with  a  memoir  on  the  subject, 
read  by  him  some  time  previously,  and  published  in  the  last  num- 
ber of  the  Proceedings.  He  stated  that  in  the  35th  vol.  of  Silli- 
man's  Journal,  p.  201,  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  W.  M. 
Carpenter  to  Benj.  Silliman,  describing  a  fossil  horse  tooth  found 
in  Louisiana,  associated  with  Mastodon,  &c,  which,  from  the 
figures  and  measurements  accompanying  the  description,  he  re- 
ferred to  his  species  Equus  Americanus.  He  further  remarked 
that  Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad  had  informed  him  that  Mr.  T.  Nuttall  had 
found  teeth  of  this  same  species  on  the  Neuse  river,  N.  C.  Dr. 
L.  also  exhibited  a  fragment  of  a  superior  molar  of  the  left  side, 
from  the  collection  of  Dr.  Dickeson,  which,  from  the  greater  deli- 
cacy and  degree  of  folding  of  the  enamel  upon  the  crown,  (see 
fig.  6  in  the  plate,)  he  thinks  probably  belonged  to  a  third 
American  species.  The  depth  of  the  central  enamel  folds  is  pre- 
served in  the  fragment,  and  is  2  inches,  3  lines. 

Dr.  McEuen  exhibited  specimens  of  clarified  ginseng 
root,  (Panax  quinquefolium,)  which  had  been  perforated  by 
an  insect ;  and  desired  information  on  the  subject. 


Dec.  1847.]  329 

Stated  Meeting,  December  21,  1847. 
Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

DONATIONS    TO    MUSEUM. 

Three  hundred  and  forty-two  crania  of  Birds,  comprising  222 
species  ;  also  three  crania  of  Mammalia.  Presented  by  Dr. 
Wilson. 

Mounted  skeleton  of  Boa  constrictor.  Presented  by  Messrs. 
Watson,  Vaux,  Ashmead,  Lambert,  Percival  and  Leidy. 

Skeletons  of  Didelphis  virginiana,  aud  Mus  musculus.  Pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Wm.  G.  Wistar. 

Two  species  of  Trilobites.  Presented  by  Mr.  Samuel  Ash- 
mead. 

DONATIONS    TO    LIBRARY. 

Archiv.  fiir  Naturgcschichte  geriindet  von  A.  F.  A.  Wieg- 
mann,  herausgegeben  von  Dr.  W.  F.  Erichson.  No.  6, 
1846.     No.  2,  1S47.     Deposited  by  Dr.  Wilson. 

Oken's  Isis,  No.  7,  for  1847.     From  the  same. 

Verzeichniss  der  doubletten  des  Zoologischen  Museum  dei 
Konigl.  Universitat  zu  Berlin  nebst  Beschreibung  veiler 
bischer  unbekanntner  arten  von  Saugethieren,  Vogeln, 
Amphibien  und  Fischen  herausgegeben  von  Dr.  H.  Lich- 
tenstein.     4to.    Berlin,  1823.     From  the  same. 

The  Literary  Record  and  Journal  of  the  Linnean  Association 
of  Pennsylvania  College.  Vol.4.  No.  2.  From  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

American  Journal  of  Agriculture  and  Science;  conducted  by 
Dr.  Emmons  and  A.  Osburn,  Esq.,  Nov.  1847.  From  the 
Editors. 


Mr.  Cassin  read  a  paper  entitled,  "Descriptions  of  three 
species  of  the  genus  Icterus,  presumed  to  be  new ;  speci- 
mens of  which  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia."  Referred  to  Messrs. 
Wilson,  Harris,  and  Gambel. 


330  [Dec.  1847. 

Dr.  Morton  made  some  remarks  on  an  Indian  cranium  of 
singular  form  found  near  Richmond,  on  the  Delaware;  and 
also  on  a  Chenook  infant  mummy.  The  cranium  is  interest- 
ing on  account  of  its  locality,  and  from  its  having  the  atlas 
vertebra  continuous  with  the  occipital  bone.  No  trace  of 
suture  is  visible  ;  although  the  skull  has  pertained  to  an  indi- 
vidual not  exceeding  25  years  of  age. 

The  Chenook  mummy  is  from  the  Straits  of  Fuca  ;  the 
head  is  artificially  compressed  in  a  very  remarkable  manner, 
according  to  the  custom  of  these  people. 


Annual  Meeting,  Dec.  28,  1847. 

Vice  President  Morton  in  the  Chair. 

The  Committee  on  Mr.  Casein's  papers,  describing  new 
species  of  Buceros  and  Icterus,  reported  in  favour  of  publica- 
tion : 

Description  of  a  new  Buceros,  and  a  notice  of  the  Buceros  elatus,  Temm., 
both  of  which  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of 
Philadelphia. 

By  John  Cassin. 

Buokros  albo-cristatus,  (nobis.) — Capitehabentecristam,erectam,albamque; 
plumis  totis  subtiliter  nigro  terminatis  ;  multis  etiam  ad  basem  nigris  hoc 
colore  sursum  per  scapum  extendente. 

Rostro  nigro;  macula  magna,  flavido-alba,  ab  basi  ad  mandibulae  superioris 
medium  extendente. 

Corpore  toto,  alis,  caudaque  nigris,  nitore  nonnullo  virescente. 

Remigibus,  primariis  et  secundariis,  maculis  apicalibus,  parvis  et  albis  ; 
primariorum  nonnullis  maculis  parvis  et  albis  pogonio  externo. 

Cauda  longissima,  gradata  ;  duabus  rectricibus  intermediis  caeteris  longi- 
oribus  pollicibus  nonnullis  ;  totis  margine  apicali  large  albo  terminatis. 

Long.  tot.  (exuviae)  ab  rostri  apice  usque  ad  caudae  finem,  30  poll.;  caudae 
17  poll. 

Hab.     In  Africa  occidental!. 

Head  with  an  erect  crest,  which  is  white,  every  feather  minutely  tipped 
with  black;  many  feathers  of  the  crest  are  also  black  at  their  bases,  with 
colour  extending  upwards  along  their  shafts. 


Dec.  1847.]  331 

Bill  black,  with  a  large  yellowish  white  spot  extending  from  the  base  to 
the  middle  of  the  upper  mandible. 

Whole  of  the  body,  wings,  and  tail  black,  with  a  green  lustre. 
Primary  and  secondary  quills  with  small  white  spots  at  their  tips  ;  several 
of  the  primaries  have  also  small  white  spots  on  their  outer  webs. 

Tail  very  long,  graduated,  the  two  middle  feathers  exceeding  all  the  others 
by  several  inches  ;  all  the  tail  feathers  largely  tipped  with  white. 

Total  length  (of  skin)  from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tail,  2  feet  6  inches,  of  which 
the  tail  alone  measures  17  inches. 
Hab.     Western  Africa. 

The  specimen  above  described,  I  received  several  years  since  from  Robert 
MacDowell,  M.  D.,  surgeon,  attached  to  the  colonial  government  of  Sierra 
Leone,  and  an  enthusiastic  naturalist,  who  obtained  it  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Paul's  river. 

This  species  resembles  no  other  which  I  have  seen,  or  of  which  I  can  find  a 
description,  and  may  at  once  be  recognized  by  its  white  erect  crest  and  long 
tail. 

For  the  same  gentleman  I  have  received  several  other  specimens  of  this 
genus,  also  from  Western  Africa,  one  of  which  is  the  Buceros  elatus,  Temm., 
of  which  a  figure  of  the  head  and  bill  is  given  in  PI.  Col.,  521,  and  another 
may  be  the  female  of  the  same  species  ;  as  such,  however,  I  do  not  feel  war- 
ranted in  describing  it  at  present,  the  bills  of  the  two  specimens  differing  more 
materially  than  I  have  been  accustomed  to  seeing  in  the  same  species. 

Two  crania  of  the  Buceros  elatus  are  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  Morton,  one 
of  which  is  undoubtedly  from  Western  Africa.  As  this  species  appears  to  be 
known  only  from  the  figure  of  the  cranium  and  beak  above  alluded  to,  I  take 
the  liberty  of  giving  a  description  of  the  specimen  which  I  suppose  to  be  the 
male. 

Buceros  elatus,  Temm.  (PI.  Col.,  521,  accuratissima  figura  cranii  et  rostri) 
(  5  juv.  ?)  Corpore  et  alis  totis  nigris,  subtus  pallidioribus,  parvo  aut  nullo 
virore  metallico. 

Occipite  subcristato,  plumis  latis,  laxis  et  nigris. 
Rectricibus  duabus  intermediis  nigris  ;  omnibus  caeteris  toto  albis. 
Long.  tot.  exuviae,  ab  rostri  apice  usque  ad  caudae  finem  36  pollices. 
Hab.    In  Africa  occidentals 

Body  and  wings  entirely  black,  paler  beneath,  with  little  or  no  metallic 
lustre. 

Occiput  with  a  sub-crest  of  broad  lax  feathers,  which  are  black. 
Two  middle  tail  feathers  black,  all  the  others  entirely  white. 
Total  length  (of  skin)  from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tail  3  feet. 
Hab.    Western  Africa. 

The  supposed  female  is  very  similar  in  the  general  colouring  of  the  bodj, 
wings  and  tail,  with  the  whole  head  and  neck  rufous  chestnut,  which  colour 
extends  to  the  upper  part  of  the  breast. 


332  [Dec.   1847. 


Descriptions  of  three  new  species  of  the  genus  Icterus  {Briss.  ;)  specimens  of  which 
are  in  the  Museum  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia. 

By  John  Cassin. 

Icterus  maculi-alatus,  nobis. — Capite  toto,  dorso,  alis  et  cauda,  nigris  ; 
hoc  colore  ad  pectus,  ut  in  caeteris  hujus  generis  speciebus,  extendente. 

Scapularibus,  alarum  tectricibus  minoribus,  et  corpore  totosubtus  a  pec- 
tore  ad  caudam,  flavis ;  hoc  colore  in  pectore  et  scapularibus  intensiore. 

Alarum  tectricibus  majoribus  maculis  apicalibus,  albis,  subrotundis,  fas- 
ciam  in  alam  conspicuam  facientibus. 

Remigibus  primariis,  pogonio  externo,  prope  apicem,  attenuatis,  et  ubi 
coarctantur,  extus  albo-marginatis. 

Long.  tot.  exuviae,  ab  rostri  apice  usque  ad  finem  caudae  7£  poll.,  alae 
3.8-10,  caudae  3.4-10  poll. 

Hab.    Mexico  ;  prope  Vera  Cruz. 

Whole  head,  back,  wings  and  tail  black ;  this  color  extending  to  the 
breast,  as  in  other  species  of  this  genus. 

Shoulders,  lesser  wing  coverts,  and  entire  under  parts  of  the  body,  from 
the  breast  to  the  tail,  yellow,  darkest  on  the  breast  and  shoulders. 

Greater  wing  coverts  with  rounded  white  spots  at  their  tips,  forming  a 
conspicuous  bar  on  the  wing. 

External  webs  of  primaries  attenuated  near  their  tips,  and  at  the  point  of 
attenuation  edged  (externally)  with  white. 

Total  length  of  skin  from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tail  7J  inches,  wing  8.8-10, 
tail  3.4-10  inches. 

Hab.  Mexico,  near  Vera  Cruz. 

This  species  resembles  no  other  which  I  have  met  with,  and  may  readily 
be  recognized  by  its  conspicuous  and  peculiar  white  bar  on  the  wing,  formed 
by  large  white  spots  at  the  tips  of  the  greater  coverts.  Upon  examination 
it  will  be  found  that  these  spots  are  on  the  outer  webs  only. 

I  have  seen  one  specimen  only  of  this  species,  which  belonged  to  the 
Rivoli  collection. 

Icterus  auricapillus,  nobis.—  Capite  supra  nitide  aureo  flavo. 

Persona  vittam  frontis  formante,  oculos  in  totum  complectente,  ad  pectus 
excurrente,  nigra.     Dorso,  alis  et  cauda  eodem  colore. 

Scapularibus,  uropygio,  caudae  tectricibus  superioribus,  et  corpore  toto 
subtus  (a  pectore)  flavis. 

Alis  et  corporis  partibus  caeteris  prorsus  sine  albo. 

Long.  tot.  exuviae,  ab  rostri  apice  usque  ad  finem  cauda  7  poll.,  alae  3.6-10, 
caudae  3J  poll. 

Hab.  Mexico  et  America  meridionali. 

Head  above  bright  golden  yellow. 


Dec.  1847.]  333 

Mask  forming  a  frontal  band,  fully  including  the  eyes  and  extending  to 
the  breast,  black,  which  is  also  the  color  of  the  back,  wings  and  tail. 

Shoulders,  rump,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  entire  under  surface  of  the  body, 
(from  the  breast,)  yellow. 

No  white  on  the  wings  or  on  any  other  part  of  the  body. 
In  a  specimen  which  is  probably  that  of  a  young  bird,  the  black  of  the 
chin  is  mixed  with  yellow  ;  no  white  whatever  on  any  part  of  the  plumage. 
Total  length  from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tail,  about  7  inches,  wing  3.6-10, 
tail  3|  inches. 
Hab.     Mexico  and  South  America. 

Resembles  Icterus  cucullatus,  Swainson,  more  than  any  other  species 
known  to  me,  but  I.  cucullatus  is  very  conspicuously  marked  with  white  on 
the  wings,  which  is  not  the  case  in  the  species  now  described. 

The  T.  cucullatus  has  black  shoulders,  its  bill  also  is  longer  and  more 
slender,  and  in  other  respects  it  is  entirely  different. 

After  a  careful  examination,  with  the  advantage  of  the  Academy's  large 
collection  of  Icteri,  I  am  rather  surprised  that  I  can  find  no  description 
which  will  apply  to  this  species,  although  I  have  seen  it  occasionally  in  col- 
lections for  the  last  ten  years. 

Of  the  four  specimens  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy,  two  from  the 
Rivoli  collection  are  labelled  Mexico,  one  also  from  that  collection  is  with- 
out label  of  any  kind,  and  the  fourth  was  received  by  me  from  Brazil.  I 
have  also  seen  specimens  said  to  be  from  the  island  of  Trinidad. 

Icterus  Giraudii,  nobis. — Adultus.  Persona  lata,  vittam  frontis  formante, 
oculos  in  totum  complectente,  ad  pectus  excurrente,  laete  nigra. 
Alis  et  cauda  nigris,  sine  maculis  albis. 

Corpore  toto  supra,  subtus  a  pectore,  capite  supra,  et  scapularibus  nitide 
citriuo-flavis. 

Plumis  totis  sine  albo. 

Long.  tot.  exuviae,  ab  rostri  apice  usque  ad  finem  cauda  8  poll.,  alse  4.1-10, 
caudae  4  poll. 

Juvenis,  plumarum  flavo  saturate,  tincto  cum  aurantio  sordide  aut  cam- 
bogio. 
Alis  virescenti-marginatis. 

Juvenissimus,  plumarum  flavo  pallido,  nigro  in  gulam  inconspicuo. 
Sab.     Prope  Bogota,  in  Nova  Grenada. 

Adult.  Mask  broad,  forming  a  frontal  band,  fully  including  the  eyes,  and 
extending  to  the  breast,  fine  black. 

Wings  and  tail  black,  with  no  white  marks  whatever. 
Head  above,  entire  body  above  and  below  from  the  breast,  and  shoulders 
bright  lemon  yellow,  no  white  on  any  part  of  the  plumage. 

Young.  Yellow,  the  whole  plumage  tinged  with  dull  orange  or  gamboge 
color.    Wings  edged  with  greenish. 

Very  young.  Yellow  parts  of  plumage  paler,  in  some  parts  nearly  white, 
black  on  the  throat  scarcely  apparent. 


334  [Dec.  1847 

Total  length,  skin  of  adult,  from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tail  about  8  inches, 
wing  4.1-10,  tail  4  inches. 

Hab.     Bogota  in  New  Grenada. 

Resembles  Icterus  xanthornus,  (Linn.,)  more  than  any  other  species  with 
which  I  am  acquainted  or  have  found  described,  but  is  larger,  and  has  the 
mask  much  broader. 

In  I.  xanthornus,  the  gular  black  scarcely  exceeds  the  width  of  the  under 
mandible,  but  in  the  species  now  described,  it  fully  includes  the  eyes  and 
the  whole  base  of  the  bill.''  I.  xanthornus  has  also  white  markings  on  the 
wings,  which  is  not  the  case  in  any  stage  of  plumage  represented  by  the  five 
specimens  now  described. 

I  have  named  this  beautiful  species  in  honor  of  Jacob  P.  Girard,  Jr.,  Esq.. 
of  the  city  of  New  York,  author  of  "The  Birds  of  Long  Island,"  and  other 
important  contributions  to  American  Ornithology. 


The  following  Reports  were  then  read,  and  ordered  to  be 
published  : 

REPORT 

OF  THE  RECORDING  SECRETARY 

For  the  years  1846  and  1847. 

It  has  now  been  two  years  since  the  last  annual  Report  of  the  Record- 
ing Secretary  was  laid  before  the  Academy.  This  paper  will  therefore 
include  a  brief  statement  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Society  for  the  two  years 
past. 

During  the  year  1846,  twenty-six  Correspondents  and  five  Members  were 
elected.  Twenty  communications,  written  by  the  following  named  gentle- 
men, have  been  published  in  the  Proceedings,  viz. :  One  paper  by  Mr.  T.  A. 
Conrad,  entitled,  "  Descriptions  of  new  species  of  Fossil  and  recent  Shells 
and  Corals  ;"  one  by  Mr.  Locke,  "  On  an  Asterias  from  the  Blue  Limestone 
of  Cincinnati;"  one  by  Mr.  Edward  Harris,  "  On  the  difference  of  level  be- 
tween the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  those  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,' 
one  by  Robert  W.  Gibbes,  M.  D.,  of  Columbia,  S.  C,  "  On  the  Fossil 
Squalidse  of  the  United  States  ;"  one  by  Mr.  William  Gambel,  being  "  Re- 
marks on  the  Birds  observed  in  Upper  California ;"  two  by  Samuel  Geo. 
Morton,  M.  D.,  viz.  a  "  Description  of  two  new  species  of  Fossil  Echino- 
dermata,  from  the  Eocene  of  the  United  States,"  and  "  A  description  of  two 
living  Hybrid  Fowls,  between  Gallus  and  Numida;"  two  by  Edward  Hal- 
lowell,  M.  D.,  viz.,  "Description  of  a  new  species  of  Bat,  from  Western 
Africa,"  and  "On  the  Anatomy  of  Harpyia  destructor,  Cuv.,  or  Harpy  Eagle 
of  South  America;"  one  by  F.  E.  Melsheimer,  M.  D.,  being  "  Descriptions 
of  new  species  of  Coleoptera  of  the  United  States;"  one  by  Mr.  John  S. 


Dec    1847.]  335 

Phillips,  being  "  Descriptions  of  a  new  freshwater  shell,  and  observations  on 
Glandina  obtusa,  Pfeif ;"  five  by  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D.,  viz  ;,  "  Remarks 
upon  the  Anatomy  of  the  Abdominal  Viscera  of  the  Sloth,  Bradypus  tridac- 
tylus,  Linn. ;"  "  On  the  Anatomy  of  Spectrum  femoratum,  Say,"  "  De- 
scription of  a  new  genus  and  species  of  Entozoa,"  "  On  the  mechanism 
which  closes  the  wings  of  the  genus  Locusta,"  and  "  On  the  situation  of  the 
olfactory  sense  in  the  terrestrial  tribe  of  the  Gasteropodous  Mollusca ;" 
two  by  Prof.  S.  S.  Haldeman,  viz.,  "  Description  ^f  Unio  Abacoides,  a  new 
species,''  and  "  On  several  new  genera  and  species  of  Insects  ;"  one  by 
Richard  Owen,  F.  R.  S.,  &c,  being  "  Observations  on  certain  Fossils  from 
the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  of  Philadelphia;  and  one  by  Mr.  John 
Cassin,  viz.,  "Note  on  an  instinct  probably  possessed  by  the  Herons, 
(Ardea,  Linn.)" 

The  following  amendments  to  the  By-Laws  have  been  made  during  the 
same  year,  (1846)  viz  : 

Chap.  V.  Art.  VI.  to  commence  thus  :  "  The  duty  of  the  Librarian  shall 
be  to  attend  daily  at  the  Hall,  from  11  o'clock,  A.  M.  to  2\  P.  M.,  &c.  ;"' 
and  to  add  to  the  same  chapter, 

"  Art.  VIII.  The  chairman  of  the  Curators  shall  attend  daily  at  the  Hall, 
from  1\  o'clock,  P.  M.,  until  sunset,  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  office." 

From  the  commencement  of  the  present  year  (1847)  to  the  present  time, 
there  have  been  elected  thirteen  Correspondents  and  nineteen  Members. 

In  the  first  five  numbers  of  this  year's  "  Proceedings"  have  been  published 
thirteen  valuable  original  written  communications,  as  follows  :  one  by  Prof. 
S.  S.  Haldeman,  being  "  Descriptions  of  several  new  species  and  one  new 
genus  of  Insects  ;"  one  by  Mr.  M.  Tuomey,  State  Geologist  of  South  Caro- 
lina, being  a  "  Notice  of  the  discovery  of  a  cranium  of  the  Zeuglodon  ;" 
one  by  Mr.  John  Cassin,  being  a  "  Description  of  a  new  rapacious  bird  in 
the  Museum  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  of  Philadelphia ;"  three 
by  Joseph  Leidy,  M.  D.,  viz.,  "Description  and  Anatomy  of  a  new  and 
curious  subgenus  of  Planaria,"  "  Description  of  new  species  of  Planaria," 
"  On  the  fossil  Horse  of  America  ;"  one  by  Lieut.  Abert,  U.  S.  A., 
being  a  "  Description  of  Ortyx  Squamata ;"  one  by  Major  George  A. 
M'Call,  being  a  "  Description  of  a  supposed  new  species  of  Columba 
inhabiting  Mexico,  with  some  account  of  the  habits  of  the  Geococcyx 
viaticus,  Wagler ;"  one  by  Robert  W.  Gibbes,  M.  D.,  of  Columbia,  S.  C, 
being  a  "  Description  of  a  new  species  of  Squalides  from  the  Tertiary  Beds 
of  South  Carolina ;"  one  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Dawson,  of  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia. 
"On  the  Gypsum  of  Nova  Scotia;"  one  by  Edward  Hallowell,  M.  D.,  being 
a  "  Description  of  a  new  species  of  Coluber  inhabiting  the  United  States  ;" 
one  by  Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad,  being  "  Observations  on  the  Eocene  Formations 
and  descriptions  of  one  hundred  and  five  new  fossils  of  that  period,  from  the 
vicinity  of  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  with  an  appendix."  In  addition  to  these 
communications,  there  are  several  papers  in  progress  of  publication  for 
the  November  and   December  number  of  this   year.     A  number  of  very 

44 


336  [Dec.  1S47. 

valuable  and  interesting  verbal  communications  by  different  members  of  the 
Academy,  have  also  been  published  in  the  Proceedings. 

The  following  alterations  in  the  By-Laws  have  been  made,  viz. 

Art.  VII.  of  Chap.  VII.  to  read  as  follows  :  "  Members  may  borrow  books, 
the  property  of  the  Academy,  from  the  Librarian,  on  signing  a  promissory 
note  for  fifty  dollars,  which  shall  become  void  on  the  book  being  returned." 

Art.  VIII.  of  same  Chapter :  "  But  no  works  shall  be  loaned  from  the 
Hall  on  any  account  whatever,  except  those  marked  with  an  asterisk  (thus*) 
in  the  catalogue,  unless  by  an  affirmative  ballot  vote  of  three  fourths  of  the 
members  present  when  the  application  is  made  ;  and  in  case  of  deposited 
books,  the  written  consent  of  the  depositor  having  been  previously  obtained, 
the  name  of  the  borrower  and  the  title  of  the  book  to  be  recorded  on  the 
Minutes,  and  security  given  for  its  safe  return,  by  note  or  otherwise,  for  the 
full  value  thereof,  according  to  the  estimate  of  the  Librarian  or  Library 
Committee." 

Since  the  last  Annual  Report,  the  affairs  of  the  Academy  have  been  in  an 
exceedingly  flourishing  condition.  An  addition  of  thirty  feet  has  been  made 
to  the  building,  and  the  sessions  of  the  Academy  are  held  in  the  Library,  a 
comfortable  apartment  in  the  basement  of  this  addition — a  great  improve- 
ment over  the  immense  room  in  which  its  meetings  were  formerly  held. 
During  the  past  year,  the  lecture  room  has  been  altered  and  adapted  to  the 
purposes  of  the  Museum — an  alteration  greatly  needed  in  consequence  of 
the  immense  increase  in  the  different  departments  through  the  munificent 
donations  and  deposits  lately  received  by  this  Institution.  A  report  on 
the  state  of  these  departments  belongs  more  properly  to  other  officers  of  the 
Society ;  it  will  therefore  be  sufficient  here  simply  to  state,  that  during  the 
period  embraced  by  this  report,  a  greater  impetus  has  been  given  to  the 
Academy  than  it  has  received  at  any  previous  period  of  its  existence.  Du- 
ring the  last  two  years,  thanks  to  the  noble  liberality  of  a  generous  member, 
and  to  the  exertions  of  others,  it  has  made  such  rapid  strides  that,  in  the 
language  of  one  of  our  Vice  Presidents,  "  an  hundred  years  of  ordinary 
prosperity  could  not  have  realized  so  much."  It  has  completely  thrown  all 
lethargy  aside  ;  and,  fully  aroused  and  energetic,  is  now  performing  its  full 
quota  towards  the  cause  of  scientific  discovery  and  research. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by 

JOHN  LAMBERT, 

Recording  Secretary. 
December  28,  1847. 


Dec.  1847.]  337 

REPORT 

OP      THE      HBPvAEIAN 

For   1847. 

The  Librarian  is  enabled  on  the  present  occasion  to  exhibit  to  the  Society 
a  highly  flattering  statement  of  the  existing  condition  of  the  Library,  and  to 
congratulate  the  members  on  its  rapid  increase  and  the  great  additional  value 
which  it  has  acquired  during  the  year,  and  the  peculiarly  auspicious  circum- 
stances under  which  it  has  been  placed  since  the  last  Annual  Meeting. 

At  that  time,  the  Library  occupied  ranges  of  cases  on  either  side  of  the  large 
Saloon  or  Hall  in  common  with  the  collections  of  the  Society.  These  accom- 
modations were  imperfectly  adapted,  either  for  a  proper  display  of  the  Books, 
or  for  sueh  an  arrangement  of  them  as  would  afford  easy  and  convenient  re- 
ference. Many  of  the  cases  were  likewise  greatly  crowded,  their  contents  in 
consequence  abused  and  injured,  and  in  several  instances  it  was  necessary  to 
distribute  works  belonging  to  a  particular  department  into  cases  at  a  consider- 
able distance  from  each  other.  In  addition,  the  want  of  proper  daily  ventila- 
tion of  the  Hall  in  the  summer  season,  and  of  regular  warmth  during  the  win- 
ter, and  the  unavoidable  exclusion  of  the  members  from  the  Library  on  those 
days  when  the  Hall  was  open  to  the  public,  were  all  serious  obstacles  to  the 
prosecution  of  study,  on  the  very  spot  where,  on  the  contrary,  every  facility 
and  advantage  should  be  afforded.     For  the  latter  reasons  especially,  the 
necessity  of  a  separation  of  the  Library  from  the  Museum  had  been  long  felt 
and  acknowledged.  Happily,  through  the  spontaneous  liberality  of  an  indi- 
vidual member,  too  favorably  known  among  us  to  require  to  be  named,  the 
Society  has  been  enabled  to  remove  all  these  objections  and  disadvantages, 
and  I  have  the  pleasure  this  evening  to  present  this  report  in  a  new  apart- 
ment, expressly  designed  for  the  purpose  of  a  Library  and  Meeting  room,  and 
possessing  every  convenience  that  could  be  desired. 

The  removal  of  the  books  from  the  Hall  to  this  room  was  commenced  in 
the  latter  part  of  April,  and  their  arrangement  in  the  cases  was  completed 
about  the  close  of  the  following  month.  In  the  arrangement,  the  principal 
object  has  been  to  facilitate  access  to  those  works  likely  to  be  in  most  re- 
quest, and  accordingly  the  different  departments  of  Natural  History  occupy 
cases  on  the  floor  of  the  Library,  commencing  with  general  Natural  History, 
and  followed  by  Botany,  Conchology,  Geology,  Ornithology,  &c.  The  remain- 
ing cases  on  the  floor  contain  Anatomy  and  Physiology,  the  Journals,  and  the 
large  and  valuable  collection  of  works  on  Antiquities  and  the  Fine  Arts.  On 
the  gallery,  are  the  various  Dictionaries  of  Arts  and  Sciences  and  Encyclo- 
paedias, Physical  Science  and  Chemistry,  History,  Voyages  and  Travels, 
Biography,  &c. 

By  a  late  regulation  of  the  Society,  the  Librarian  is  required  to  be  in  at- 
tendance at  the  Library  daily  during  a  part  of  the  forenoon,  and  in  the  after- 
noon his  place  is  supplied  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Curators. 

From  these  measures  the  happiest  effects  have  already  resulted,  and  have 
fully  equalled  expectation.  Beside  the  greater  protection  necessarily  afforded 
to  the  Library  by  a  constant  and  daily  supervision  of  it,  they  have  tended,  per- 


338 


[Dec.  1847. 


haps  more  than  any  others  since  the  origin  of  the  Institution,  to  produce  a 
better  knowledge,  and  more  correct  appreciation  of  the  truly  legitimate  ob- 
jects of  the  latter,  to  invite  and  encourage  study  and  research,  and,  not  the 
least  of  all,  to  bring  together,  and  to  create  more  frequent  intercourse  be- 
tween, the  members  of  the  Society. 

The  number  of  additions  of  all  descriptions  to  the  Library  in  the  various 
departments,  during  the  presentyear,  is  exhibited  in  the  following  table  : — 


General  Nat.  History  > 


and  Zoology, 
Botany, 
Conchology, 
Geology, 
Ornithology, 
Herpetology, 
Ichthyology, 
Entomology, 
Mineralogy, 
Anatomy  and  "I 

Physiology,  J 
Helminthology, 
Physical  Science  ? 

and  Chemistry,  5 
Medicine, 

Carried  over, 


r 


m 
"o 
> 

m 
o  . 

-^  X 

M  > 
OS-- 
ft-3 

a. 

a 

ft 

184 

103 

3 

21 

28 

8 

41 

13 

6 

60 

38 

25 

79 

55 

9 

12 

2 

6 

12 

1 

2 

11 

9 

1 

31 

1 

8 

3 

4 
73 

453 

250 

Brought  over, 

Agriculture, 

Voyages  and  Travels, 

Languages, 

Bibliography, 

Education, 

Geography, 

Journals,  Annals, 
Trans.  &  Proceed,  of 
Soc,  Memoirs,  &c 

Biography, 

History, 

Useful  Arts, 

Antiquities, 

Addresses,  Reports,  &c 


Totals, 


.«) 


453 
1 

34 
1 

17 
2 

11 

97 

1 

2 
2 
8 
1 


o    . 


250 


109 


630    359  82 


p. 

a 

3 

ft 


73 

3 
1 

1 


Making  a  total  of  1072  additions  of  all  descriptions  to  the  Library  in  1847. 

Of  the  whole  number,  there  were  presented  by  authors  54  ;  by  editors  31 ; 
by  members,  correspondents  and  others  119;  by  Societies  56  ;  obtained  by 
purchase  or  exchange  25  ;  deposited  by  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson  586 ;  by  Dr. 
R.  E.  Griffith  163  ;  and  by  J.  Price  Wetherill,  Esq.,  96.  Two  charts  were 
derived  from  the  TJ.  S.  Treasury  Department ;  one  from  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor,  and 
one  from  Dr.  Wilson. 

The  above  statements  show  a  greater  increase  in  the  Library  during  the 
last  twelve  months,  than  has  occurred  at  any  period  since  that  in  which  it  re- 
ceived the  noble  contributions  of  its  early  benefactor  William  Maclure.  It 
will  be  seen  also  how  very  large  a  proportion  of  the  whole  number  of  additions 
has  been  derived  from  our  fellow  member  Dr.  Wilson.  From  a  reluctance  to 
occupy  the  time  of  the  Society  too  long  with  this  report,I  refrain  from  a  reca- 
pitulation of  the  titles  of  the  numerous  splendid  works  deposited  by  this  gentle- 
man, and  must  content  myself  therefore  with  referring  those,  who  may  be  de- 
sirous of  forming  some  estimate  of  their  great  value,  both  in  actual  cost,  and  as 
works  of  Science,  to  the  printed  Proceedings,  in  which  they  have  been  already 
fully  announced.  Nearly  all  of  them  have  been  imported  from  abroad  expressly 


Dec.  1847.]  339 

for  this  Library,  and  have  been  placed  here  by  him  with  the  sole  object  and 
desire  to  foster  and  encourage  a  spirit  of  investigation,  especially  in  the  de- 
partments of  Ornithology,  Geology  and  Conchology. 

In  these  acts  the  depositor  has  evinced  an  amount  of  disinterested  gene- 
rosity, and  of  zeal  for  the  promotion  of  science,  rarely  to  be  found  combined 
in  the  same  individual,  and  which  have  secured  for  him  the  lasting  esteem 
and  gratitude  of  all  connected  with  the  Institution. 

To  Dr.  Griffith,  the  Society  owes  its  highest  acknowledgements  for  the 
deposit  of  a  large  number  of  works  in  the  various  branches  of  Science,  many 
of  them  very  rare  and  old,  and  probably  contained  in  few  public  or  private 
Libraries  in  this  country. 

Through  Mr.  Wetherill,  the  Library  has  been  enriched  the  present  year, 
with  several  important  and  valuable  Geological  works,  and  it  is  also  in- 
debted to  him  for  completing  its  series  of  others,  parts  only  of  which  it 
previously  possessed. 

In  closing  this  report,  an  opportunity  is  afforded  me  of  stating  to  the  Society 
that,  during  the  ensuing  year,  the  Library  Committee,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Librarian,  propose  to  select  from  the  numerous  miscellaneous  works  in 
the  collection,  such  of  them  as  may  appear  either  extraneous  to  the  objects  of 
the  Society,  or  of  little  value  or  utility  in  any  form  to  the  members,  and  to 
exchange  these  for  other  works,  either  on  subjects  of  Natural  History,  or  of 
an  otherwise  really  useful  character,  and  also  to  allow  room  for  further 
additions  of  the  latter  description. 

A  list  of  those  proposed  to  be  rejected  will,  however,  be  first  submitted  to 
the  Society,  and  its  consent  fully  obtained,  before  any  action  will  be  taken 
by  the  Committee. 

Wm.  S.  Zantzinger, 
December  28M,  1847.  Librarian. 


REPORT 

OP     THE    CURATORS 

for  the  year  1847. 

At  no  time  since  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia  was 
instituted,  has  its  condition  been  more  prosperous  than  at  present;  and 
indeed,  it  is  such  as  to  form  an  important  epoch  in  the  progress  of  Natural 
Science  in  America.  This  successful  state  is  mainly  attributable  to  the 
interest  which  our  fellow-member  and  co-labourer,  Dr.  Thomas  B.  Wilson, 
has  latterly  taken  in  it.  In  1846,  this  gentleman,  through  his  brother,  Mr. 
Edward  Wilson,  of  Lydstep  House,  South  Wales,  a  Correspondent  of  the 
Academy,  purchased,  in  Paris,  the  large  and  magnificent  collection  in  orni- 
thology of  the  Due  de  Rivoli,  which,  upon  importing  to  this  country,  he 
resolved  to  deposit  in  the  Academy,  and  at  his  private  expense  increased 
the  building  to  an  extent  commensurate  with  the  end  in  view — the  accom- 
modation  of  this   vast  addition   to   the  Musuem.     More  space  was,  also 


340  [Dec.   1847 

obtained  in  the  museum,  by  removing  the  library,  which  had  occupied  several 
ranges  of  cases,  into  the  basement  room  of  the  new  part  of  the  building. 

In  May,  1847,  Dr.  Wilson  made  a  second  large  purchase  in  Ornithology, 
in  England,  of  Mr.  A.  Gould's  splendid  collection  of  Australian  birds, 
which  renders  a  further  increase  of  space  necessary  for  its  accommo- 
dation. For  this  purpose,  Dr.  Wilson  obtained  ready  permission  of  the 
Academy  to  convert  its  little  used  lecture  room  into  part  of  the  museumi 
which  work  is  rapidly  progressing  towards  completion.  The  north  east 
basement  room  is  also  undergoing  change  for  the  same  object.  In  accordance 
with  the  original  plan  of  the  building,  all  the  additions  and  improvements 
to  it  have  been  made  fire-proof.  When  completed,  the  collections  of  the 
Academy  will  be  contained  in  three  rooms,  as  follow  : 

The  first  or  upper   room,  or  hall,  is  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  in  length, 
by  forty-two    in    breadth,  and  is  lighted  from  above,  and  from  the  east 
and  west  extremities.     On  the  north  and  south  sides  are  three  galleries, 
and  four  ranges  of  vertical   cases,  and  a  range  of  foot  cases  at  the  outer 
edge  of  the  second  gallery.     On  the  west  side  are  three  galleries  and  four 
ranges  of  vertical  cases,  on  the  east  side  two  galleries  and  two  ranges  of 
vertical  cases.     The  two  lower  ranges  of  cases  on  the  south  side,  for  two- 
thirds  the  length  of  the  room,  corresponding  to  the  old  part,  are  occupied  by 
Dr.  S.  G.  Morton's  extensive  series  of  human  and  other  crania,  and  the  col- 
lection in  Comparative  Anatomy.     The  lowest  range  of  cases  on  the  north 
side,  for  the  same  extent  as  those  just  mentioned,  contains  the  collection  of 
Mammalia ;  and  the  range  above  this,  Dr.  Dickeson's   collection  of  Ameri- 
can antiquities  and   the   Carpological  cabinet,  and  leads  into  the  herba- 
rium room  in  the  north    east  corner.     All  the  remaining  ranges  of  cases 
mentioned  contain  the  Ornithological  collection.     The  floor  of  the  hall  is  to 
be  occupied  by  ranges  of  horizontal,  centrally  vertical,  double  cases  for  the 
reception  of  the  collection  in  Palaeontology.     One  of  these  ranges  has  been 
already  finished,  and  part  of  the  collection  arranged  in  it ;  the  others  are  in 
progress  of  construction.     At  the  east  extremity,  on   each   side,  is  a  strong 
vertical  case,  containing  the  skeletons  of  large  fossil  Sauri  in  massive  slabs 
of  lias  limestone. 

The  second  or  east  basement  room  is  forty-one  feet  in  length  by  forty  in 
breadth,  with  a  gallery  all  around  it  and  communicating  with  another 
running  through  its  centre.  This  room  will  be  appropriated  to  the  Minera- 
logical,  Conchological,  Herpetological,  and  Ichthyological  collections. 

Tbe  third,  or  north  east  basement  room  is  sixteen  feet  by  nine  feet,  has  a 
gallery  on  three  of  its  sides,  and  is  to  accommodate  the  collections  of 
Crustacea  and  Entomology. 

The  state  of  the  different  departments  of  the  museum,  as  they  at  present 
exist,  with  the  additions  which  have  been  made  during  the  past  year,  will 
now  be  briefly  referred  to. 

Mammalogy. — The  expensive  character  of  the  larger  objects  in  this  branch 
of  Zoology,  as  well  as  the  amount  of  space  required  for  their  proper  accom- 
modation, have  prevented  the  Academy  from  accumulating  any  great 
number  of  them.     We  possess  most  of  the  North  American  species,  besides 


Dec.  1847.]  341 

a  few  foreign  ones.  During  the  past  year  a  comparatively  large  number 
has  been  received,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  efforts  -will  be  made  towards  a 
further  increase.  We  enumerate  for  1847,  eighty  mounted  specimens  and 
five  skins  of  Mammalia,  chiefly  of  foreign  species,  presented  by  Dr.  Wilson, 
and  six  specimens  presented  by  Dr.  Thomas  S.  Savage,  Mr.  Germain,  &c. 

Ornithology. — Of  this  department,  in  which  at  this  time  we  stand  equal 
to  any  in  the  world,  a  special  report  is  hereto  appended,  prepared  by  Mr. 
John  Cassin,  who,  with  Mr.  Wm.  Gambel,  has  particularly  attended  to  its 
arrangement. 

In  Oology,  belonging  to  the  department  of  Ornithology,  in  the  past  year 
we  received  in  donations,  eggs  of  79  species  of  birds,  principally  from  Dr. 
Wilson  and  Mr.  William  H.  Edwards. 

Herpctology. — Our  collection  of  Reptilia  is  a  large  and  valuable  one.  A 
part  of  it,  however,  is  not  in  the  best  state  of  preservation,  but  will  be  early 
attended  to  in  the  coming  year,  and  before  any  loss  of  consequence  is  sus- 
tained. During  the  past  year  88  species  of  Reptilia  have  been  presented, 
chiefly  by  Drs.  Hallowell,  Savage,  Wilson,  and  Hildreth. 

Ichthyology. — In  this  department  we  have  not  made  much  advance.  It  is 
to  be  hoped  the  Academy  will  hereafter  encourage  this  branch  more  than  it 
has  done.  During  the  past  year,  Dr.  Thomas  S,  Savage  presented  several 
jars  of  fishes  from  Western  Africa,  many  of  which  are  probably  new,  and 
we  are  indebted  to  several  members  for  a  large  specimen  of  the  rare  Squatina 
Dumerili. 

Mollusca. — The  arrangement  of  the  conchological  cabinet  has  been  kindly 
undertaken  by  Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith,  who  with  the  greatest  liberality  is  also  in- 
corporating with  it  his  own  private  collection,  which,  as  he  progresses,  he 
presents  to  the  Academy.  In  this  step  he  has  been  followed  by  the  ever 
liberal  Wilson,  so  that  when  the  collection  is  fully  arranged,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  the  two  private  cabinets,  it  will  contain  between  9  and  10,000  spe- 
cies, many  of  them  of  the  most  valuable  character. 

During  the  past  year  there  have  been  presented  1209  species  of  shells  by 
Dr.  R.  E.  Griffith;  383  species  by  Dr.  T.  B.  Wilson;  200  species  by  Wm. 
Thompson,  Esquire,  of  Ireland  ;  40  species  by  Mr.  C  B.  Adams  ;  31  species 
by  Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad;  and  30  species  by  several  others,  inall  1893  species, 
and  almost  2300  varieties. 

Entomology . — The  destruction  of  the  Academy's  once  fine  collection  of 
Coleoptera  and  Lepidoptera,  for  a  while  quite  discouraged  those  members 
who  were  particularly  interested  in  this  department,  but  the  general  stimulus 
which  has  been  infused  into  the  Academy  by  the  rich  contributions  to  other 
departments,  has  aroused  them  once  more  to  exertion  in  the  formation  of  a 
new  collection,  which  already  bids  fair  to  surpass  the  one  lost.  Our  fellow 
member,  Mr.  R.  Kilvington,  during  the  past  year,  made  a  liberal  dona- 
tion of  1035  specimens,  comprising  345  species  of  British  Lepidoptera.  and 
Dr.  T.  S.  Savage  has  recently  presented  a  collection  in  alcohol,  of  large  and 


342  [Dec.  1847. 

magnificent  Coleoptera  from  Western  Africa,  many  of  which  are  new  spe- 
cies. 

Crustacea. — Our  collection  of  Crustacea,  numbers  162  species,  and  was 
carefully  arranged  during  the  past  summer  by  Dr.  Lewis  R.  Gibbes,  of 
South  Carolina,  and  catalogued  by  Dr.  R.  Bridges.  Twelve  species  have 
been  presented  the  past  year  by  several  of  the  members. 

Zoophytes Eighty-nine  specimens  of  fifty-nine  species  of  corallines  and 

sponges,  and  three  species  of  Echinodermata  have  been  presented  in  the 
course  of  the  last  year. 

Comparative  Anatomy. — Additions  still  continue  to  be  made  to  Dr.  S. 
G.  Morton's  large  and  magnificent  series  of  human  crania,  which  now  con- 
tains upwards  of  seven  hundred  specimens  of  many  nations  and  of  various 
epochs. 

At  present  there  appears  to  be  a  strong  disposition  amongst  the  members 
to  attend  more  particularly  to  the  heretofore  rather  neglected  department  of 
Comparatve  Anatomy.  During  the  past  year  3S5  crania,  comprising  260 
species  of  animals,  have  been  presented,  principally  by  Drs.  Wilson,  Morton, 
and  HufTnagle.  Among  the  number  may  be  particularly  mentioned  the 
very  large  and  perfect  specimens  of  crania  of  Crocodilus  vulgaris  and 
Gavialis  gangeticus.  Eight  mounted  skeletons  have  also  been  presented, 
among  which  are  a  fine  and  large  skeleton  of  Felis  tigris  from  Dr.  HufTnagle, 
and  a  beautiful  skeleton  12  feet  long  of  Boa  Constrictor  from  several  of  the 
members. 

Botany. — The  botanical  collection  comprises  upwards  of  40,000  species 
of  dried  plants,  and  about  1000  species  of  dried  fruits.  It  has  been  kept  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation  up  to  the  present  time,  but  has  lately  been 
slightly  injured  by  insects;  the  further  ravages  of  which,  will  however,  be 
prevented. 

Talaontology. — The  collection  of  organic  remains  which  occupied  the 
range  of  cases  on  the  upper  gallery  of  the  south  side  of  the  hall,  has  been 
removed  to  the  cases  prepared  for  its  reception  on  the  floor  of  the  hall,  and 
is  in  progress  of  arrangement  by  Dr.  Wilson.  It  has  received  very  exten- 
sive and  invaluable  accessions  during  the  past  year,  and  when  completely 
arranged  will  contain  in  the  neighbourhood  of  20,000  specimens.  In  it  are 
the  valuable  collections  of  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor,  J.  Price  Wetherill,  Esq.,  Dr. 
Morton,  Mr.  T.  A.  Conrad,  Dr.  Dickeson,  Miss  Benett,  &c.  The  last  year 
Dr.  Wilson  deposited  in  the  Academy  five  very  nearly  perfect  skeletons  of 
large  fossil  Saurians.  One  of  these  is  the  Plesiosaurus  Hawkinsii,  three  are 
species  of  Ichthyosauri,  and  the  fifth  is  the  Telosaurus,  or  Gavial  de  Boll  of 
Cuvier. 

Mr.  Conrad  presented  2000  specimens  from  the  Miocene  of  France,  the 
Eocene,  Cretaceous,  Oolitic,  mountain  limestone, and  Salurian  formations  of 
England  and  France.  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor  has  presented  an  extensive  collec- 
tion of  very  large  and  beautiful  specimens  of  coal  plants  of  Pennsylvania,  be- 
sides numerous  other  fossils,  which  have  not  yet  been  examined.     Numerous 


Dec.  1847.]  343 

specimens  of  coal  plants  from  Prof.  W.  R.  Johnson,  Green  sand  fossils  of 
Germany,  from  Dr.  F.  Roemer,  Silurian  fossils  of  New  York  from  Mr.  W.  A. 
Pease,  and  many  others,  have  been  received.  Dr.  Wilson  has  also  deposited 
about  10,000  fossils,  which  are  already  in  progress  of  arrangement,  and 
which  he  intends  presenting  to  the  Academy  so  soon  as  a  list  can  be  made  out. 
Mineralogy  and  Geology  — The  mineralogical  collection  is  at  present 
carefully  packed  up  in  boxes,  preparatory  to  its  removal  to  the  north-east 
basement  room,  now  undergoing  alteration.  We  are  indebted  to  the  gene- 
rosity of  Mr.  R.  C.  Taylor  for  a  donation  during  the  iast  year,  of  a  large  col- 
lection of  rocks,  comprising  several  thousand  varieties  from  different  parts  of 
North  America  and  the  West  India  Islands. 

Forty  specimens  of  minerals,  some  of  them  very  beautiful,  have  been  pre- 
sented by  members  and  others  during  the  past  year. 

In  the  course  of  the  arrangement  of  the  mineralogical  collection,  which 
several  gentlemen  have  kindly  consented  to  undertake,  we  have  good  reason 
to  believe  that  large  additions  will  be  made  from  the  private  cabinets  of 
members  interested  in  this  department. 

Physics. — The  last  year  Mr.  Henry  Seybert  deposited  in  the  Academy  a 
valuable  chemical  apparatus  for  the  use  of  the  members,  which  we  hope  ere 
long  may  prove  of  essential  service  to  the  Institution. 

The  great  increase  and  importance  of  the  museum  and  library  of  the  Aca- 
demy, have  rendered  it  necessary  that  both  should  be  under  regular  daily 
supervision.  The  Academy,  therefore,  has  made  it  the  duty  of  the  chairman 
of  the.  Curators  and  Librarian  to  be  present  alternately  during  certain  hours 
daily  for  this  purpose. 

We  conclude  this  report  by  stating  that  the  greatest  good  feeling  and  har- 
mony prevails  among  the  members  of  the  Society,  all  of  whom  desire  to 
promote  the  interests  of  this  noble  Institution  and  the  cause  of  science  in 
general. 

Joseph  Leidy, 
December  28th,  1847.  Chairman  of  Curators. 


SPECIAL  REPORT 

ON    THE  * 

ORNITHOLOGICAL  DEPARTMENT. 

The  operations  in  the  Ornithological  department  of  the  Academy  have  been 
of  so  highly  important,  not  to  say  of  so  extraordinary  a  character,  during  the 
year  now  about  closing,  that  the  undersigned  Curator,  who  has  been  exclu- 
sively engaged  in  that  department,  hopes  he  may  be  allowed  to  submit  a 
special  report,  in  compliance  with  a  request  made  by  the  chairman  of  the 
Curators. 

I  have  the  high  gratification  of  reporting,  that  through  the  ardent  attach- 
ment to  the  study  of  the  Natural  Sciences,  and  the  great  personal  enterprize 
also,  of  a  member  of  this  Society,  a  collection  has  been  organized,  which,  as 


344  [Dec.  1847. 

it  now  stands,  is  one  of  the  first  extant,  and  when  further  additions  already 
engaged  shall  have  arrived,  the  Ornithological  collection  of  this  Academy 
will  be  probably  the  most  extensive  and  complete  in  the  world. 

The  collection,  well  known  in  Europe  as  that  of  the  Prince  Massena,  Duke 
of  Rivoli,  has  been  received.  This  large  collection,  the  arrangement  of 
which  is  now  nearly  completed,  consists  of  not  less  than  twelve  thousand 
five  hundred  specimens,  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  in  a  very  superior 
state  of  preservation. 

Where  so  many  of  the  families  and  genera  of  birds  are  alike  fully  repre- 
sented, it  is  not  easy  to  pronounce  in  which  of  these  a  collection  is  most 
remarkable  ;  this  distinction,  however,  in  the  Rivoli  collection,  I  am  in- 
clined to  award  to  the  Rapacious  birds,  in  the  various  genera  of  which  it  is 
not  only  almost  absolutely  complete,  but  very  many  of  the  species  are  illus- 
trated by  series  of  specimens  showing  varieties  of  plumage,  or  distinctions 
of  sex,  age  and  season,  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner.  Of  the  Aquila 
ehrysaetos,  (Linn.)  or  Golden  Eagle,  for  instance,  there  are  six  specimens  : 
of  the  Aquila  Bonellii,  (Bonap.)  also  six:  of  the  Aquila  naevia,  (Gm.)  five; 
of  the  Aquila  vulturina.  (Daud.)  a  large  black  Eagle  from  South  Africa,  four 
specimens  ;  of  the  Haliaetus  vocifer,  (Daud.)  six  ;  of  the  Helotarsus  ecauda- 
tus,  (Daud.)  six;  of  the  Pernis  apivorus.  (Linn.)  ten;  of  theButeounicinctus, 
(Temm.)  nine;  of  the  Buteo  aguia,  (Temm.)  nine  specimens;  and  many  of 
the  smaller  or  more  variable  species  are  even  more  fully  represented.  Of  the 
Astur  magnirostris,  (Gm.)  for  instance,  we  have  fifteen  specimens,  of  the 
Accipiter  nisus,  (Linn.)  thirteen,  of  the  Meliecrax  musicus,  (Daud.  twelve, 
of  the  Circus  cinerascens,  (Mont.)  fifteen,  of  the  Falco  peregrinus,  Gm., 
fourteen,  and  of  one  species,  the  Falco  sparverius,  Linn.,  twenty-six  speci- 
mens were  not  considered  too  many  to  illustrate  its  supposed  changes  and 
varieties  ;  and  even  with  these  the  Duke  or  his  Curator  appears  to  have  been 
scarcely  satisfied,  for  among  the  specimens  in  the  collection,  marked  as  un- 
determined, were  six  others  of  this  species.  I  mention  this  case,  more  par- 
ticularly, because  it  affords  an  example  of  the  extraordinary  care  and  atten- 
tion shown  by  the  former  proprietor  of  this  collection  ;  not  even  a  variety,  of 
any  possible  consequence  in  the  representation  of  a  species,  having  been 
neglected,  when  attainable,  notwithstanding  the  previous  existence  in  the 
collection  of  numerous  specimens  of  the  same  species. 

Of  Vultures,  all  the  known  species,  except  three,  are  in  the  Rivoli  col- 
lection ;  one  of  which,  I  may  observe,  has  been  obtained  from  another 
source. 

Taking  into  consideration  the  comparative  difficulty  of  collecting  Rapa- 
cious birds,  and  more  especially  of  forming  such  series  of  specimens  as  are 
to  be  found  in  this  collection,  its  great  scientific  value  in  the  Order  Rap- 
tores  ;  is  sufficiently  evident. 

Nor  are  other  Orders  far  behind  the  Raptores,  and  it  is  rather  a  remark- 
able as  well  as  interesting  character,  that  in  many  genera  the  species  of 
which  are  of  more  difficult  attainment,  such  as  the  larger  swimmers, 
waders  and  gallinaceous  birds,  the  Rivoli  collection  is  particularly  complete. 

Of  the  Natatorcs,  or  swimming  birds,  the  collection  is  scarcely  second  to 


Dec.  1847.]  345 

that  of  the  Rapacious  birds.  I  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  splendid  collections 
of  the  species  constituting  the  various  genera  of  geese,  ducks,  cormorants 
ind  gull3,  now  beautifully  arranged  by  Mr.  Gambel,  for  the  truth  of  my 
assertion.  The  genera  Diomedea,  Porcellaria  and  Thalassidroma,  are  also 
yery  amply  illustrated.  The  specimens  of  the  several  species  of  Pelicans, 
are  highly  interesting,  as  are  also  those  of  Alca  impennis,  Linn.,  Phaleris 
•ristatella,  Gm.,  Mormon  glacialis,  Linn.,  and  others  of  species  which  like 
xhese,  only  inhabit  the  Arctic  regions. 

The  magnificent  series  of  specimens  of  the  Flamingos,  also  wiil  be  found 
especially  worthy  of  notice. 

The  order  Grallatores,  or  wading  birds,  is  very  extensively  represented  ; 
the  various  genera  of  plovers,  herons,  storks,  ibises, — in  fact,  scarcely  a  genus 
can  be  named  which  is  not  fully  illustrated.  The  genus  Grus,  or  cranes,  is 
especially  worthy  of  attention.  I  may  notice,  too,  the  various  species  of 
Ibis,  particulaly  the  Ibis  religiosa,  Cuv.,  or  sacred  Ibis  of  the  Ancient 
Egyptians,  of  which  a  suite  of  specimens  will  be  found  in  its  proper  place. 

Of  the  Rasores  or  Gallinaceous  birds,  the  Pigeons  number  one  hundred  and 
twenty  species. 

The  genera  Perdix,  Phasianus,  Pterocles,  Tetrao  and  Otis  are  richly  repre- 
sented, as  are  also  the  beautiful  genera  Gallus,  Lophopharus  and  Tragopan. 

I  may  be  allowed  to  notice  especially,  splendid  specimens  of  Pano  muti- 
cus,  Linn. — of  the  Phasiani  Scemmeringii,  Temm.,  Stacei,  Vigors,  and 
veneratus,  Temm.,  of  Gallus  Sonneratii,  Temm.,  of  Gallus  Lafayettii,  Less., 
of  the  Polyplectron  emphanum,  Temm.,  very  fine  specimens  of  the  Argus 
giganteus,  Temm.,  and  also  a  specimen  of  that  singular  bird,  the  Apteryx 
australis,  Shaw,  of  which,  at  quite  a  recent  period,  but  one  specimen  was 
known  in  Europe. 

In  the  great  order  Incessores  or  Perching  birds,  the  Garrulinse,  Icterinae, 
Tanagrinae,  Laniinae,  Turdinae,  Caprimulgime,  and  theScansorial  subfamilies 
generally  deserve  particular  notice. 

Of  Paradise  birds  there  are  all  the  known  species. 

Of  the  Hornbills,  (Buceros,)  six  species  only  are  wanting. 

Of  the  various  genera  of  Parrots,  there  are  upwards  of  two  hundred 
species. 

In  short,  so  extensive  and  comprehensive  is  the  Rivoli  collection,  that  it 
is  evident  an  extraordinary  attachment  to  natural  history,  a  superior 
knowledge  of  Ornithology,  constant  assiduity  during  a  long  period,  and 
opportunities  of  no  common  order,  must  alike  have  contributed  to  its  for- 
mation. 

Besides  the  Rivoli  collection,  others  of  great  interest  have  been  received, 
one  of  the  most  important  of  which  is  that  of  M.  Bourcier,  an  Ornithologist 
of  the  city  of  Lyons,  well  known  by  his  papers  in  the  Annales  des  Sciences 
Physiques  et  Naturelles  de  Lyons,  the  Revue  Zoologique  and  other  journals. 

The  collection  consists  of  .about  one  thousand  specimens,  and  is  almost 
■xclusively  composed  of  Conirostre3,    and  Scansores  ;  a  large  portion  of 


346  [Dec.  1847. 

which  are  South  American  and  Mexican  species.  M.  Bourcier's  col- 
lections contains  specimens  of  nearly  all  the  little  known  species  of  New 
Grenada,  and  is  especially  rich  in  the  beautiful  Tanagers  of  that  country. 

The  collection  made  in  California  by  Mr.  Wm.  Gambel,  I  am  happy  to 
state,  has  also  been  added  to  the  collection  of  this  Society.  This  collection 
contains  numerous  and  remarkably  beautiful  specimens  of  the  birds  of 
Western  America,  many  of  which  were  not  previously  in  any  collection  in 
the  United  States,  and  are  of  rare  occurrence  in  those  of  Europe. 

The  specimens  of  the  hitherto  unknown  species  described  by  this  enter- 
prising young  naturalist,  in  the  Proceedings  and  Journal  of  this  Academy, 
are  especiolly  interesting,  as  well  as  those  of  Tyrannulae  Saya  (Bonap.)  and 
nigricans,  Sw.,  Ptilogonys  Townsendii,  Aud.,  Pica  Nuttallii,  Aud.,  Pipilo 
fascus,  Sw.,  Picus  Harri3ii,  Aud.,  Picus  scalaris,  Wagler,  Lanius  elegans, 
Sw.,  Hasmatopus  Bachmannii,  Aud.,  Strepsilas  melanocephalus,  Vigors,  and 
many  others. 

Mr.  Edward  Harris  has  presented  to  the  Society  several  specimens  of  un- 
usual value  to  the  collection,  of  which  may  be  mentioned  a  specimen  of 
Tyrannus  verticalis,  (Say,)  shot  near  his  residence  at  Moorestown,  N.  J., 
being  the  first  instances  of  the  appearance  of  this  species  so  far  west  or 
north. 

A  series  of  specimens  of  the  genus  Parus,  including  the  Parus  septentrio- 
nalis,  Harris,  has  also  been  presented  by  this  gentleman. 

A  collection  made  by  the  writer  during  a  period  of  about  fifteen  years 
is  also  merged  into  that  of  the  Academy.  It  is  composed  principally  or 
birds  from  Western  Africa,  collected  under  some  advantages,  and  of  the 
rarer  birds  of  North  America.  Of  the  African  species,  I  may  be  allowed 
to  mention  a  series  of  specimens  of  Musophaga  violacea,  Isert,  including 
males,  females  and  young  birds  ; — specimens  of  Taracus  giganteus,  Vieill. — 
Buceros  elatus,  Temm.  — Cuculus  Klaasii,  Le  Vaill. — Pyrenestes  ostrina. 
Vieill.  and  others. 

Of  the  American  species,  those  of  most  interest  are  a  series  of  specimens 
of  Archibuteo  sanctijohannis,  (Gm.)  including  the  perfectly  adult  bird,  and 
the  rare  stage  of  plumage  figured  by  Wilson  as  a  variety  ;  also  several  spe- 
cimens including  the  perfect  adult  of  Buteo  Pennsylvanicus,  (Wilson,)  or 
broad  winged  Hawk ;  a  specimen  of  Astur  atricapillus,  Wilson,  from  New 
Jersey;  a  series  of  nine  specimens  of  Astur  Cooperi,  (Bonaparte;)  also  a 
specimen  of  Bombycilla  garrula,  (Linn.)  shot  near  this  city;  several  speci- 
mens of  Trichas  Philadelphia,  Wilson,  Sylvicolae  maritima,  (Wilson,)  agillis. 
(Wilson,)  coerulea,  (Wilson,)  and  many  others  of  this  genus. 

There  will  also  be  found  several  specimens  of  Rallus  Jamaicensis,  Briss. 
obtained  near  this  city ;  a  series  of  specimens  of  Anser  hyperboreus,  (Gm.) 
also  a  specimen  of  Bernicla  nigricans,  (Lawrence,)  a  recently  discovered 
American  species,  of  which  this  is  the  third  specimen. 

Various  collections,  including  several  hundred  specimens  from  the  cele- 
brated Ornithologist  M.  Temminck  of  Leyden,  and  a  large  number  from  the 


Dec.  1847.]  347 

British  Museum,  have  been  secured  for  this  Society  through  the  exertions  of 
Mr.  Edward  Wilson,  now  residing  in  England.     « 

To  this  gentleman  the  collections  of  the  Society  are  indebted  in  a  de- 
gree second  only  to  that  of  his  distinguished  brother. 

Independently  of  his  immediate  agency  in  obtaining  the  Rivoli  collection 
and  that  of  M.  Bourcier,  the  collections  made  by  him,  personally,  in  various 
cities  of  Europe,  evince  at  once  his  love  of  Natural  History,  his  excellent 
judgment  and  his  just  appreciation  of  the  wants  of  the  natural  sciences  in 
this  his  native  country. 

Mr.  Wilson's  ornithological  collections,  in  the  aggregate,  amount  to 
several  thousand  specimens,  a  portion  of  which,  only,  has  been  received  ; — 
but  that  portion  contains  some  of  our  most  valuable  acquisitions.  I  will 
mention  a  fine  specimen  of  Haliaetus  pelagicus,  (Pall.)  from  Behring's 
Straits,  a  species  which  is  probably  the  largest  of  known  FalconidaE,  and  is 
especially  interesting  to  American  Ornithologists  from  the  fact  of  its  being 
an  inhabitant  of  the  northern  regions  of  this  continent ;  also  a  beautiful 
specimen  of  the  Meleagris  ocellata,  Temm.,  the  second  species  of  Turkey 
discovered  a  few  years  since  in  Yucatan. 

For  almost  the  whole  of  the  large  collection  of  Humming  Birds  the 
Society  is  indebted  to  the  same  gentleman. 

One  other  collection,  which  is  to  be  delivered  to  this  Society  early  in  the 
coming  year,  remains  to  be  noticed,  and  that  is  Mr.  John  Gould's  collection 
of  the  birds  of  Australia. 

When  I  inform  the  Society  that  this  collection  contains  specimens  of  all 
the  known  Australian  birds,  except  five  species,  and  of  the  nests  and  eggs 
of  a  large  number,  its  peculiar  value  will  be  immediately  understood.  I 
may  be  excused  for  remarking,  however,  that  Mr.  Gould's  collection  acquires 
additional  interest  from  the  consideration  that  it  contains  the  original  speci- 
mens from  which  many  of  the  numerous  species  described  by  him  were  first 
characterized,  and  that  the  specimens  comprised  in  his  collection  are  those 
from  which  the  drawings  were  made  for  his  latest  and  splendid  work,  "  The 
Birds  of  Australia." 

The  number  of  specimens  now  contained  in  the  collection  and  those 
which  will  be  received  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing  year,  according  to  ar- 
rangements now  completed,  may  be  estimated  as  follows  : 

Duke  of  Rivoli's  collection,         ....         12,500  specimens 

M.  Bourcier's  collection, 1,000         " 

Mr.  Edward  Wilson's  collections  .         .         .  4,000         " 

Mr.  Gambel's  and  Mr.  Cassin's  collections   .         .  1,000         " 

Mr.  Gould's  collection, 2,000         " 

Former  collections  of  the  Academy     .         .         .  2,500         " 

23,000 
As  premised  at  the  commencement  of  this  report,  this  magnificent  result 
is  the  work  of  an  individual  member  of  this  Society,  himself  a  naturalist  of 
excellent  and  varied  acquirements,  who  in  the  formation  of  this  and  other 


348  [Dec.  1847. 

collections,  and  a  library  also,  in  natural  history,  may  be  said  to  have  real- 
ized the  happiest  hopes  of  the  American  student  and  the  American  natural- 
ist and  to  have  marked  an  era  which  must  ever  be  acknowledged  as  the 
most  important  in  the  history  of  the  Zoological  sciences  in  this  country. 

The  arrangement  of  this  immense  collection,  excluding  duplicates,  will, 
in  all  probability  be  completed  during  the  coming  year,  and  it  is  also  pro- 
bable that  at  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Academy,  a  report  can  be  made 
of  the  exact  number  of  species  aud  specimens  exhibited. 

It  is  to  be  understood,  however,  that  other  extensive  additions  are  con- 
templated, which  if  received  and  incorporated  into  the  present  collection, 
may,  of  course,  naturallly  affect  the  issue  to  which  I  allude. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by 

John  Cassin, 

December  28th,  1847.  Curator. 

A  note  was  read  from  Prof.  Haldeman,  dated  Columbia, 
Penn.,  Dec.  27,  1847,  requesting  that  the  following  correction 
of  his  published  papers  may  be  noticed  in  the  present  No. 
of  the  Proceedings. 

The  genus  Heterodromia,  Raid.,  Proceedings  Academy,  vol.  3, 
p.  127,  seems  to  be  identical  with  Psammcechus,  Boudier,  although 
the  prothorax  is  not  wider  than  long,  as  described  by  Latreille. 

The  proposed  genus  Chorea,  Raid.,  Proceedings  Academy, 
vol.  3,  p.  150,  is  founded  upon  the  female  of  Cerophytum,  unless 
the  structure  of  the  posterior  femora  should  be  found  to  differ. 
Neither  of  these  rare  genera  has  been  yet  announced  as  Ameri- 
can, and  but  one  species  of  each  is  found  in  Europe.  M.  Lucas 
has  described  a  species  of  Psammoechus  from  Algeria,  which  he 
names  Boudieri. 


The  Academy  then  proceeded  to  an  election  for  Officers  for 
1848.     The  following  result  was  announced  by  the  Teller?: 

President. 
William  Hembel. 


vice-presidents. 
J.  Price  Wetherill, 
Samuel  George  Morton. 

CORRESPONDING    SECRETARY. 

Walter  R.   Johnson. 

RECORDING  SECRETARY. 

John   Lambert. 


Dec,  1847.]  349 

librarian. 

Wm.  S.  Zantzinger. 

TREASURER. 

George  W.  Carpenter. 

CURATORS. 

Joseph  S.  Leidy, 
William  S.  Vaux, 
Samuel  Ashmead, 
John  Cassin. 

AUDITORS. 

Robert  Pearsall, 
William  S.  Vaux, 
Robert  Bridges. 

PUBLICATION    COMMITTEE, 

William  S.  Vaux, 
Walter  R.  Johnson, 
Robert  E.  Griffith, 
Samuel  Ashmead, 
William  Gambel. 


ELECTION    OF    MEMBERS    AND    CORRESPONDENTS. 

Joseph  Pancoast,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  was  elected  a 
Member,  and  the  following  were  elected  Correspondents  of 
the  Academy  : 

William  Lonsdale,  Esq.,  F.  G.  S.,  of  London. 

Sir  J.  F.  W.  Herschell,  do. 

Michael  Faraday,  Esq.,  F.  R.  S.,  do. 

Prideaux  John  Selby,  Esq.,  Northumberland,  England. 

Prof.  Nillson,  of  Lund,  Sweden. 


31 


Proc.Acai.N.  S.  Philada.  Vol.  III. 


Plate  2. 


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8c  Co  Lift  PHada 


Equus  Am  eric  anus. 


Pioc.  Acad  N.S.Philada    Vol 


Plate  3. 


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I 


Co  lube  i   venustus. 


Qwnatonut  &jf   >yjfieclrwm    ^ftemotatwn. 


Fig.  2.  Fig.  1. 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  4. 


QStonatoniy    o€    c/foecfowm    </ffe9?io/(>ata/m. 


Fig.  13. 


Fig.  14. 


Fig.  16. 


Fig.  18. 


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Fig.  17. 


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