Return to LIBRARY OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY WOODS HOLE, MASS. Loaned by American Museum of Natural History PROCEEDINGS \^ V CENTRAL P *\ rURAL\^^4 OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF P II I L A D E L PHI A . VOL. VII. 1854, 1855. PHILADELPHIA. 1> R I N T E D F 0 It T II E ACADEMY: By Merrihew & Thompson, Merchant 6trect above Fourth. 185G. A */ INDEX TO VOLUME VII. Abert, Col. J. J., don. to lib., x. Acad. C. L. C. Nat. Curiosorum, don. to lib., xii., xxix. Acad. Royale des Sciences de Belgique, don. to lib., xvi. Acad. Nat. Sci. of California, don. to mus., i.; extract from Proceedings of, 15. Accademia delle Scienze di Torino, don. to lib., ii. Agnew, A. G. E., don. to lib., xxxv. Albany Institute, don. to lib., xxxi. Allen, J. Fisk, don. to lib., xxv. Allen, William H., LL.D., don. to lib., xxxvrii. American Association for the advance- ment of Science, don. to lib., xxxv. American Academy of Arts and Sci- ences, don. to lib., viii., xxxiv. American Journal of Science and Arts, don. of, by Editors, i., v., viii., xi., xv., xvii., xxi., xxiii., xxvii., xxxi., xxxiv., xxxix. American Geographical and Statistical Society, don. to lib., xv. American Ethnographical Society, don. to lib., xii. American Philosophical Society, don. to lib., iii., xii., xxii., xxix. Annals of Science, don. of, by Editor, i., iii., v., vi. Anthony, J. G., don. to lib., ix. Annaboldi, G., don. to lib., xiii. Adams, Capt. H. A., U. S. N., don. to mus., xxx. Ashhurst, John, don. to mus., xxxvii. Ashmead, Chas. C, don. to mus., xxvi. Ashmead, Samuel, don. to mus., i., xiv., xxiii., xxv., xxvi., xxxiii. ; remarks on having noticed the fact that Colu- ber eximius can produce a sound like the rattle of the rattlesnake, and that the black snake can produce a similar sound, 345 ; catalogue of marine Al- gae discovered at Beesley's Point, N. J., 410. Avogadro, Le Comte, don. to lib.; ii. Baird, Prof. S. F., don. to lib., viii., x., xviii., xxix.; descriptions of new ge- nera and species of North American Frogs, 59 ; descriptions of new Birds collected between Albuquerque, N. M.,and San Francisco, Cal., 1853-4. on the Pacific railroad route, under Lieut. Whipple, 118; characteristics of some new species of Mammalia, collected by the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, Maj. Emory, Com- missioner, part 1, 331 ; characteris- tics of some new species of N. A. Mammalia, collected chiefly in con- nection with the U. S. surveys of a railroad route to the Pacific, part 1, 333. Baird, Prof., and C. Girard, descrip- tions of new species of Fishes from Texas, New Mexico and Sonora, col- lected by Mr. J. H. Clark and Capt. Van Vleit,24. Bache, Prof. A. D., don. to lib., xvi. Barton, Dr. E. H., don. to mus., xxi., don. to lib., xxii. Bavarian Government, don. to lib., ix., xxxii. Bender, E., don. to mus., xxvi. Beesley, Thomas, don. to mus., xxv., xxvi. Belfast Nat. Hist, and Philosoph. Soc, don. to lib., x. Blake, Wm. P., notice of remarkable strata containing the remains of In- fusoria and Polythalamia in the Ter- tiary formation of Monterey, Cal., 328. Blanding, Dr. Wm., Jr. don to mus.,iv. Bonaparte, Prince C. L., don. to lib., xxi. Boston Nat. Hist. Soc, don. to lib., viii., xi., xii., xv., xx., xxii., xxiv., xxv., xxvii., xxviii., xvxiv., yvxv., xxxix. Bouchardat, M., don. to lib., xx. Brazier, A., don. to lib., xii., xxii., xxiii., xxiv., xxviii. IV. INDEX. Breck, Samuel, don. to mus., xvi. Bridges, Dr. R., don. lo lib., iii. Brainard, Dr. B. H., don. to lib., xvii. Brinton, Dr., remarks on a new mode recently devised by him, for the pre- paration of anatomical specimens, 71. Briicke, Ernest., don. to lib., xxi. Burtt, Dr. J. L., Q. S. N., don. to mus., xxvi., xxx. Byrne, Bernard M., don. to lib., xxiv. By-Laws, amendment of, 88. California Acad, of Nat. Sci., don. to lib., xv. , xxii., xxvii., xxxi., xxxv. California State Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction, don. to lib., xii. Cabanis, J., don. to lib., xiii. Carpenter, G. W., don. to mus., i., don. to lib., vi. Carus, J. Victor, don. to lib., ix. Carret, Thos. W., don. to mus., xxi. Camac, Dr. Wm., don. to mus., xxvi. Carson, Dr., don. to mus., xxxvii. Cassin, John, don. to lib., xxxvi. ; re- marks on the appearance of Loxia leticoptera in great numbers in this vicinity, 203 ; list of pigeons of the genus Carpophaga, in the collections of the Acad. Nat. Sci. and of the Ex- plo. Exped. (Vincennesand Peacock) with descriptions and notices of new and little known species, 227 ; re- marks on Grex prate?isis, a specimen of which had been obtained near Sa- lem, N. J., 265 ; notes on N. Amer. Falconidae, with descriptions of new- species, 277 ; reference to Ganis an- tarcticics, and several species of geese and other birds from the Falk- land Islands, obtained by Capt. Bern- see, 289 ; descriptions of new species of Birds from Western Africa, in the collection of the Acad. Nat. Sci. of Philada., 324 ; remarks on the in- tended expedition of M. Duchaillu into the interior of West Africa, and on the results of his former expedi- tions in that country, 410; notices of some new and little known Birds in the collection of the U. S. Explo. Exped., in the Vincennes and Pea- cock, and in the collection of the A. N. S. of Philada., 438. Charleston Med. Journ. and Review, don. of, by Editors, v., xii., xv., xxi. . xxii., xxiv., xxvii., xxxiv., xl. Coates, B. H., don. to lib., xxii. Coleman, Dr., don. to mus., xiii., xxxvii. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, don. to lib., viii., ix. Committee to recommend to the Go- vernment the propriety of having Na- turalists attached to the expedition for the exploration of Africa, 2. Committee to solicit contributions from the members of the Academy, to aid the expedition of M. Duchaillu into Western Africa, 40. Committees, standing,for 1854,14 ; for 1855, 264. Committees on scientific papers : By Chas. Girard ; on a new Entomos- tracan of the family Limnadidae, in- habiting the western waters, 1 ; on a new species of Salmonidae, 71 ; a list of North American Bufonides, with diagnosis of new species, 72 ; descrip- tion of new fishes collected on the Southern Pacific railroad route, 126 ; enumeration of marine fishes col- lected at San Francisco, Cal., 127 ; observations on fishes from the Pa- cific, 128; characteristics of some cartilaginous Fishes from the Pacific coast of N. America, 195 ; on Fishes collected on the coast of Chili, 195; abstract of a report to Lieut. Gilliss. upon R ptiles collected during the U. S. Naval Astronomical Expedi- tion to Chili, 202 ; observations on viviparous fishes inhabiting the Pa- cific coast of N. America, with an enumeration of the species observed, 289 : By Dr. A. T. King, on the an- cient Alluvium of the Ohio River and its tributaries, 1 ; description of fos- sil Trees found in the coal rocks near Greensbuijjh, Pa., 35 ; description of a fossil Fruit found in the carbonife- rous rocks of Beaver county, Pa., 35 : By Mr. Conrad, synopsis of the ge- nera Parapholas and Penicilla, 2; rectification of the generic names of tertiary fossil Shells, 23; notes on Shells with descriptions of new spe- cies, 23 ; descriptions of new species of Qnio, 256; observations on the Eocene deposit of Mississippi, with descriptions of new species of Shells and Corals, 256; descriptions of new cretaceous and tertiary fossils, 264 ; descriptions of new species of cre- taceous Shells from Texas, 264 ; de- scription of a new species of Mela- nia, 264 ; notes on the Miocene and Post-Pliocene deposits of California, INDEX. V. with descriptions of two new fossil Corals, and description of a new spe- cies of Pentamenis, 119 : By Major Le Conte, notice of American Ani- mals formerly known, but now for- gotten or lost, 2 ; observations on Vespertilio leporinus, and descrip- tions of (our new species of Kinoster- num, 174 ; descriptions of new spe- cies of Astacus from Georgia ; on a new species of Gelasimus ; remarks on a new species of American Cimex, 399; observations on N. American Bats; descriptive catalogue of Ra- ninae, 419 ; description of a new spe- cies of Hesperomys, 4 19 : By Isaac Lea, rectification of Mr. T. A. Con- rad's synopsis of the family Naiades of N. America, published in Proc. A. N. S. Philada., Feb., 1S53, 15; de- scription of a new Mollusk from the red sandstone, near Pottsville, Pa., 346 : By Dr. Le Conte, descriptions of some Coleoptera from Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper, &c, 15 ; synopsis of the CEdemeridae of the V. States, 15 ; note on the genus Amblychila, 23 ; synopsis of the spe- cies of Platynus and allied genera inhabiting the U. States, 34 ; synop- sis of the Cucuiides of the U. States, 69 ; notes on some coleopterous In- sects from the collections of the Mexican Boundary Expedition, 70 ; synopsis of Dermestida? of the TJ. States, 91 ; synopsis of the Byrrhidae of N. America, 91 ; synopsis of the Erotylidce of the U. States, 128 ; de- scriptions of the species of Trox and Omorgus inhabiting the TJ. States, 202 ; descriptions of new Coleoptera collected by Dr. Webb, of the U. States Mexican Boundary Commis- sion, in 1850-'2,2f'3 ; synopsis of the Pyrochroides of the U. States, 2C5 ; synopsis of the Lathridiides of the TJ. States and contiguous territories, 285; analytical table of the species Hy- droporus found in the TJ. States, with descriptions of new species, 285; notes on the Amaras of the TJ. States, 345 ; synopsis of the Hydrophilida? of the TJ. States, 345: By Prof. Baird and C. Girard, descriptions of new species of Fishes, collected in Texas, New Mexico and Sonora, by Mr. Clark, and in Texas by Capt. Van Vleit, U. S. A., 23 ; notice of a new genus of Cyprinidas, 128: Bv Prof. Baird, descriptions of new species of N. A. Ranaeformes and Hylaeformes, in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, 34 ; descriptions of new Birds collected between Albuquer- que,New Mexico, and San Francisco, Cal., 91 ; characteristicsof som« new species of N. American Mammalia, collected chiefly during the U. S. survej s of a railroad ronle to the Pa- cific, part I., 336 ; characteristics of some new species of N. American Mammalia, collected by TJ. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey under Ma- jor Emory, TJ. S. A., 336": ByJ.W. Dawson, on fossil coniferous Wood from Prince Edward's Island, 35. By W. Dudley, description of a new- species of Crane found in Wisconsin, 35: By Lieut. Couch, TJ. S. A., notes on Birds observed in Texas and in the States of Nueva Leon, Tamaulipas and Coanuila, Mexico, with descriptions of new species, 35 : By Dr. Hallowell, descriptions of new Reptiles from California, and on a genus and species of Serpent from Honduras, presumed to be new, 89 ; remarks on the geographical distri- bution of Reptiles, with descriptions of several species supposed to be new, and corrections of former papers, 90; notices of new Reptiles from Texas, 174 ; contributions to South Ameri- can Herpetology, 127: By Dr. W. P. Gibbons, descriptions of new species of viviparous Fishes of California, 90; descriptions of new species of vivipa- rous, marine and fresh-water Fishes of California, 121 : By Drs. Evans and B. Shumard, descriptions of new fossil species from the cretaceous formation of Sase Creek, Nebraska, 91 ; descriptions of new fossil species from the fresh-water Tertiary forma- tion of Nebraska, 127 : By Dr. Leidy, synopsis of extinct Mammalia from Nebraska, 127 ; description of a fos- sil apparently indicating a species of the Camel tribe, 167; on Urnatella gracilis and a new species of Pluma- tella, 174 ; notice of some fossil Bones discovered on the banks of the Ohio River, 195; remarks on the identity of Bootherium cavifrons with Ovibos moschatus, or O. maximus, 202 ; indications of twelve species of fossil fishes, 395; contributions to a knowledge of the marine Inverte- brate fauna of the coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey, 399 ; indica-' tions of five species and two new ge- nera of extinct Fishes, 410 ; notices VI. INDEX. of some Tape-worms, 419 : Ey M. Tuorney, descriptions of new fossils from the Southern States, 167 : By James D. Dana, catalogue and de- scriptions of Crustacea, collected in California by Dr. Le Conte, 173: By Dr. A. L. Heermann, additions to N. American Ornithology, 173 : By A. Durand and Theo. Hilgard, descrip- tions of new plants from South Cali- fornia, 174 : By J. E. Holbrook, M. D., descriptions of Fishes of S. Caro- lina, 174. By Joseph Jones, abstract of experiments upon the physical in- fluences exerted by living organic and inorganic membranes upon che- mical substances passing through them by endosmosis, 174 : By John Cassin, list of the species of Pigeons of the genus Carpophagus, in the col- lection of the A. N. S. and of the U. S. Explo. Exped., with descriptions of new and little known species, 203; notes on N. American Falconidae, with descriptions of new species, 265; descriptions of new species of Birds from W. Africa and Zanzibar, 289 : description of a new species of Par- rot, 415 ; notices on some new and little known Birds in collection of U. S. Explo. Ex'ped. in Vincennes and Peacock, and in collection of A. N. S., 419 : By Dr. Genth, Herrerite identical with Srnithsonite, 203 ; an- alysis of Meteoric Iron, from Tucson, Mex., 288 : By Dr. Wetherill, Che- mical notices, 203 : By Prof. Julien Derby, remarks on the Cryptogamic Flora of the State of Georgia, 256: By Messrs. Norwood and Pratten, notice of fossils from the carboniferous se- J ries of the Western States, with de- j scriptions of new species, 264: By Mr. Durand, Plants Prattenianiae califor- nicae with descriptions of Plants, new or unpublished in America, 286: By Dr. T. C. Henry, notes on the Birds of New Mexico, 286: By W. R. Blake, notice of remarkable strata of the remains of Infusoria and Poly- thalamia in the tertiary formation of Monterey, Ca!., 336: By Wm. Stimp- son, description of new Invertebrata from the Chinese and Japanese seas, 345 and 385: By Dr. J. Aitken Meigs, relation of Atomic heat to Crystal- line form, 375 : By Jose del Solar, of Lima, Peru, description of a new spe- cies of Carica, 395 : By Prof. A . Ret- zius, on artificially formed skulls from the ancient world, 399 : By S. Ashmead, catalogue of marine Aluae, from Beesley's Point, N. J., with some remarks, 409 : By Philip R. Uhler, descriptions of some new spe- cies of Coleoptera, 415 : By T. P. James, an enumeration of Mosses detected in the northern U. States, which are not comprised in Gray's Manual, some of which are new spe- cies, 453. Conrad, T. A., rectification of generic names of tertiary fossil Shells, 29 ; notes on Shells, with descriptions of three recent and one fossil species, 31; descriptions of three new species of Unio, 256 ; observations on the Eocene deposit of Jackson, Miss., with descriptions of thirty-four new species of Shells and Fossils, 257; descriptions of eighteen new creta- ceous and tertiary Fossils, &c, 265 ; descriptions of one tertiary and eight new cretaceous Fossils fr©m Texas, in the collection of Major Emory, 268 ; description of a new species of Me-lania, 269 ; note on the Miocene and Post-Pliocene deposits of Cali- fornia, with descriptions of two new fossil Corals, 441 ; description of a new species of Pentamerus, 441. Cook, Mr., don. to mus., i. Couch, Lieut. D. N., (J. S. A., descrip- tions of new Birds of Northern Mexico, 66. Coultas, Harland, don. to lib., x. Correspondents elected : Adamson, Rev. Dr. J. C, 2S4. Audubon, John W., 337. Briicke, Prof. Ernest, 201. Burnett, W. J., 67. Couch, Lieut. D. N., TJ. S. A., 14. Dearing, Dr. Wm. E., 165. Dalton, Dr. John C, Jr., 337. Doremy, Dr. R. O., 341. Enderling, Dr. Chas., 22. G. y Garcia, Jose A., 341 . Hammond, Dr. Wm.A., U.S.A., 337. Kirkwood, Prof. D., 67. McClellan, Capt. Geo. B., U. S. A., 284. Motschulsky, Col. Victor, 126. D'Oliveira, C. B., 341. Pratten, Henry, 173. Prout, Dr. Hiram A., 173, Rathvon, S. S., 201. Sandberser, Dr. Fredolen, 408. Santos, C. A., 341. Sandberger, Dr. Guido, 40S. del Solar, Jose, 397. INDEX. VI 1. Steiner, Dr. Lewis H., 454. Suckley, Dr. George, U. S. A., 451. Von Nordman, Alexander, 126. Winslow, R. K., 201. Wailes, Prof. B. L. C, 337. Curators, report of for 1854, 252 ; for 1855, 450. Da Costa, Dr., don. to lib., xxxviii. ; remarks on a new process he has lately employed in making minute injections in anatomical preparations, 90. Dana, James D., don. lo lib., xvi., xxviii. ; catalogue and descriptions of Crustacea collected in California by Dr. J. L. Le Conte, 175. Dalton, Henry G., don. to lib., xxii. De Candolle, Alph., don. to lib., xxxi. Dawson, J. W., don. to lib., x., xxxii.; on fossil coniferous Wood from Prince Edward's Island, 62. Darlington, Dr. VVm., don. to lib., iii. Dietz, Dr. A. J., don. to mus., xiv. Dowler, Bennett, don. to lib., xviii. Dozy, F., don. to lib., xx. Dock, Dr., don. to mus., xxi. Drinker, Henry, don. to mus., xxxvii. Duchaillu, Belloni, don. to mus., xiii. Dudley, Wm., description of a new species of Crane from Wisconsin, 64. Durand, Mr., don. to mus., xxx. Dundas, James, don. to mus., xi. Dozy, F., and J. H. Molkenboer, don. to lib., xxi. Fisher, Dr. J. C, don. to mus., xi., xxiii., xxv. Fisher, Thos., don. to mus., xxi. Foulke, Wm. P., don. to mus., i. ; the thanks of the Academy voted to, for address delivered in commemoration of the founding of the Institution, 33 ; remarks on a lecture by Mr. Hugh Miller, republished in the U. States, entitled " the Two Records — the Mosaic and the Geological,'' 69. Franklin Institute, don. to lib., xvii., xxv., xxxiv. Freeman, Dr. W. H., don, to mus.. xvi., xvii.; don. to lib., xxii. Foetterle, Franz, don. to lib., xxix. Fox, Rev. Chas., don. mus., xxxiii. East India Company, Hon., don. to lib., xxxii. Ecole des Mines, don. to lib., xxvii., xli. Edwards, Amory, don. to mus., xi. Emerson, Dr. G., don. to mus., vi. Emmons, E., don. to lib., xxv. Engleman, Dr. Geo., don. to lib., vi. Evans and Shumard, descriptions of new fossil species from the Creta- ceous formation of Sage Creek, Ne- braska, 163; descriptions of new fos- sil species from the fresh water ter- tiary formations of Nebraska, 164. Entomological Society of Stettin, don. to lib., xx., xxix. Field, Roswell, don. to mus., xxxiii. Geological Society of Germany, don. to lib., ii., ix., xiii., xx., xxviii., xxix., xxxix. Gilliss, Lieut., U. S. N., don. to lib., xxxix., xli. Gillette, F. B., don. to mus., xxxvii. ,' Gould, Aug. A., don. to lib., xli. Grateloup, Dr., don. to lib., xl. Garcia, Jose Ant. G. y, don. to lib., xli. Girard, Chas., don. to lib., vi., x., xviii., xxv., xxix. ; on a new Ento- mostracan of the family Limnadidae, inhabiting the western waters, 3 ; notice of a new species of Salmonidae from the N. E. part of the U. States, 85; a list of the N. American Bu- fonids, with diagnoses of new species, 86 ; descriptions of new Fishes col- lected by Dr. Heermann on the Pacific railroad route, 129 ; enumeration of the species of Fishes collected by Dr. Kennerly at San Francisco, Cal., 141; observations on a collection of Fishes made on the Pacific coast of the U. States by Lieut. Trowbridge, U.S.A., 142 ; characteristics of some carti- laginous Fishes of the Pacific coast of N. America, 196 ; abstract of a report to Lieut. Gilliss, U. S. N., upon the Fishes collected during the U. States Naval Astronomical Ex- ped. to Chili, 197 ; abstract of a re- port to Lieut. Gilliss, U.S. N., upon the Reptiles collected during the U. S. Naval Astronomical Exped. to Chili, 226 ; notice upon viviparous Fishes inhabiting the Pacific coast of N. America, with an enumeration of the species observed, 318. Gibbons, Dr. W. P., don. to mus., vii.; Vlll. INDEX. Descriptions of new species of vivi- j parous Fishes of California, 105 ; des- criptions of new species of marine ami fresh-water Fishes of California, 122. Gilliams, Wm., don. to mus., xiv. Genth, Dr., Herrerite identical with Smithsonite, 232 ; analysis of the me- teoric Iron from Tucson, province of Sonora, Mexico, 317. Geological Society of London, don. to lib., ii., vii., xi., xv., xxv. Geolog. and Polytech. Soc. of AV. R. Yorkshire, don. to lib., vii. Gibbes, Dr. Robert W., don. to mus., xxvi. Goddard, Dr., don. to mus., vii., xi. Gouhenaut, A., don. to mus.,xi. Gray, Asa, don. to lib., ii., iii., xviii. Guex, John A., don. to mus., xiii., xvii., xxxvii. Gillou, Constant, don. to mus., xxxiii. Haldeman, Prof., don. to mus., vii. ; remarks on the Limnadella described by Mr. Girard, 34. Hall, Jas., don. to lib., iii. Hallowell, Dr. Edward, don. to mus., xvii., xxvi.; descriptions of new Rep- tiles from California, 91 ; on a genus and species of Serpent from Hondu- ras, supposed to be new, 97 ; remarks on the geographical distribution of Reptiles, with descriptions of new species, &c, 98; notice of new Rep- tiles from Texas, 192 ; description of new Reptiles from Guinea, 193. Hallowell and Leidy, Dis., don. to mus., xxxvii. Hanson, H. C, don. to lib., xv., xx. Hare, Lieut. G. H., U. S. N., don. to mus., xvii. Harrison, Joseph, Sen., don. to mus., xxi. ; vote of thanks of the A. N. S. to, for portraits presented, 255. Hartman,Dr. W. D., don. to mus., vii., Hammond, Dr. W. A., U. S. A., don. to mus., xxxiii., Harris, Edward, don. to mus., xxxiii. Harrison, N., don. to mus., xxxvii. Hauer, M. Von, don. to lib., xl. Heermann, Dr. A. L., don. to mus., vii., xi., xiv.,xxxii.; additions to N. American Ornithology, with descrip- tions of new species of the genera Actidurus, Pociiceps and Podylym- bus, 177. Hamilton, Wm., don. to mus.. vii. Henry, Dr. T. Charlton, U. S. A., notes derived from observations made on the Birds of New Mexico, during the years 1853-4, 306. Hering, C. T., don. to mus., xxxii. Hist. Soc. of Penna., don. to lib., viii. Horner, Dr., don. to mus., xxv. Horwitz, Dr. J., U. S. N., don. to mus.. iv. Hughes, J. C, don. to mus., xxxvii. Humboldt, Alexander, don. to lib., ix. Imperial Acad, of Sci. of Bordeaux, don. to lib., vi., ix., xxxv. Imperial Soc. of Nat. of Moscow, don. to lib., iii., ix., xxxix. Imperial Soc. of Nat. Sci. of Cherbourg, don. to lib., v., xxxv. Imperial Soc. of Sci. of Lyons, don< to lib., xxxix. Imperial Soc. of Agriculture of Lyons, don. to lib., xxxix. James, Thos. P., an enumeration of Mosses detected in the northern U. States, which are not comprised in the Manual of Asa Gray, M.D., some of which are new species, 444. Jones, Joseph, don to mus., xi., xxxiii., xxxvi., xxxvii.; an abstract of expe- riments upon the physical influences exerted by living organic and inor- ganic membranes upon chemical sub- stances passing through them by En- dosmose, 204. Jolis, M. Auguste de, don. to lib., v. Journal of Indian Archipelago and East- ern Asia, don. of, by Editors, i. vii., xv., xx., xxv., xxxv. Kennedy, Dr. H. W.. don. to mus.,iv., ix., xxx. Kilvington, Robert, don. to mus., xiv., xvi. xxvi. Kirtland, Prof., don. to mus., xi., xiv. King, Dr. Alfred T., on the ancient al- luvium of the Ohio River and its Trib- utaries, 4 ; Description of Fossil Trees in the coal rocks near Greens- burg, Pa., 64; Description of Fossii Fruit found in the Carboniferous Rocks of Beaver County, Pa., 66. Koninck, L. de, and H. Le Hon. don. to lib., xxvii. Kolliker, A., don. to lib. xxi. INDEX. IX. fvrider, John, don. to mus., i., iv.. xxvi. Kuhn, Carl, don. to lib., xxi. Lacordaire, Theo., don. to lib., ix.; xxvii. Lambert, John, don. to mus., i., vii., xxxiii. Lapham, J. A., don. to lib., xv., xxix., xxxii. Latour, M. H., don. to lib., xv. Latrobe, J. H. B., don. to lib., xxiv. Latham, G., don. to mus., xxxiii. Lawson, the Misses, don. to lib., xxxv. Lea, Isaac, don. to mus., i., vii., xiii., xiv., xxx. ; don. to lib., xii., xxii.; xxiv., xxvii., xxxiv. ; remarks on Acostaea guarduasana of D:Orbigny, 1 ; rectification of Mr. T. A.Conrad's " Synopsis of the family Naiades of N. America," published in the Pro- ceedings of the A. N. S. of Philada., Feb., 1853, 236 ; reference to the tanned skin of the Walrus, used for polishing cutlery, at Hull, England, 265 ; description of a new Mollusk, from the Red Sandstone near Potts- ville,Pa., 340. Le Conte, Major, don.to mus.,xxxvii. ; notice of American animals formerly known, but now forgotten or lost, 8 ; remarks on Magnolia Pyramidata of Bartram, 174 ; descriptions of four new species of Kinosternum, 180; Catalogue of American Testudinata, 189 ; observations on the Vespertilio Leporinus of Lin., 190 ; descriptions of new species of Astacus from Geor- gia, 400 ; on a new species of Gelasi- mus, 402 ; remarks on two species of American Cimex, 404 : Descriptive Catalogue of the Ranina of the U. States, 423 ; observations on the N. American species of Bats, 431; des- cription of two new species of Hes- peromys, 442. Le Conte, Dr. John L., don. to mus., i., vi., xiv. ; don. to lib., ii. ; descrip- tions of some new Coleoptera from ! Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Coop- j er, on N.Pacific R. R. route, 16; synopsis of the CEdemerida? of the U. • States, 20 ; note on the genus Ambly- chila, Say, 32 ; synopsis of the species j of Platynus and allied genera inhabit- ing the U. S., 35 ; remarks on a frag- ment of the jaw of a new Pachyderm from the Tertiary of Virginia, 69 ; synopsis of the Cucuiides of the U. j S., 73 ; synopsis of the Dermestidae of the U. S., 106; synopsis of the Byrrhidae of the U. S., 113 ; synopsis of the Erotylidae of the U. S., 158; descriptions of the species of Trox and Omorgus inhabiting the U. S., 211 ; some corrections in the Nomen- clature of Coleoptera found in the U. S., 216 ; descriptions of new Coleop- tera collected by Thos. H. Webb, M. D., in 1850-1-2, while Sec'y to the U. S. Boundary Commission, 220 ; re- marks on tailless Cats, 286; remarks on some misrepresentations contained in the " Catalogue des larves des Coleopteres,'Jby M. M. Chapinsand Candeze, 288; Analytical Table of the species of Hydroporus, found in the IJ. S., with descriptions of new species, 290; synopsis of Lathridiide of the (J. S. and northern contiguous Territories, 299: notes on the Amara>. of the [J. S., 345 ; synopsis of the Hydrophilida? of the TJ. S.,^356. Leeds Philosophical and Literary Soc, don. to lib., vii. Leidy, Dr. Joseph, donvto mus., i., vi.. xiv., xxi., xxiii., xxx., xxxiii. ; don. to lib., xviii., xxxi., xxxviii. ; re- marks on exhibiting to the Society four vertebrae of a huge extinct Sau- rian from Arkansas, for which he pro- posed the name of Brimosaurus gran- dis, 72 ; remarks on Sus Americanus of Harlan, or Harlanus Americanus of Owen, which he considered identi- cal with Bison latifrons, 89 ; remark- on several fossils indicating new species of extinct mammalia, 90 ; re- marks on the dentition of a new- species of mammal from Nebraska, which he characterized under the name of Dinictis felina, 127 ; re- marks on Prof. Lindley's review o! "A Flora and Fauna within living animals," 128; synopsis of Extinct Mammalia, the remains of which have been discovered in the Eocene formation of Nebraska, 156 ; descrip- tion of a fossil apparently indicating an extinct species of the Camel tribe. 172 ; on Urnatella gracilis and a new species of Plumatella, 191 ; notice of Fossil Bones discovered by Mr. F. A. Lincke, on the banks of the Ohio river, 199; remarks on exhibiting a drawing of a species of Hydraena found in the mantle of Unio purpu- reus, 202 ; remarks on the question of the identity of Bootherium Cavi- frons with Ovibus moschatus, or O. X. INDEX. maximus, 209; remarks on the so- called Fossil man exhibited in New Orleans several years since, 340 ; indications of twelve species of Fos- sil Fishes, 395 ; indications of five species with two new genera of Ex- tinct Fishes, 414 ; remarks on Esca- rina variabile, 415; notices on some Tape worms, 443. Letters from Individuals : — Adamson, Rev. J. C, 339. Bernsee, Capt., 287. Borda, Eugene,202. Brucke, Prof. Ernest, 285. Carpenter, G. W., 34. Couch, Lieut. D. M., 15. Dalton, John C, Jr., 203. Dalton, Dr. H. G., 264. Deane, Dr., 287. Dearing, Dr. W. E., 256. Dock, Geo., 23, 255. Dowler, Dr. Bennett, 202. Dos Santos, C. A., 418. Drinker, Sandwith, 167, 174. Enderling, Dr. Charles, 35. Flujjel, Dr. J. G., 195. Foulke, Wm. P., 22. Fox, Rev. Chas., 121. Gibbons, Dr. W. P., 15, 90, 345. Garcia, J. A., G. y., 419. Hare, Lieut. G. H., 202. Harrisom, Joseph, Jr., 255. Hagedorn, C. F., 385. Humphreys, W., 339. Huston, Dr. M. H., 89. Kennedy, H. W., 345. " King, Byron, 339. Kirtland, Prof. J. P., 174. Kuntz, G. H., 23. Landes, John, 202. Lea, Isaac, 1. Le Conte, Prof. John, 1. McClellan, Capt. Geo. B., 287. Michellotti, Giovanni, 121. Moore, Samuel, 418. Molkenboer, Dr. J. H., 203. Muller, Baron J. W., von, 1 . Peale, Chas. Wilson, 419. Piddington, Henry, 285. Prout, Dr. Hiram, 285. Pratten, Henry, 174. Rathvon, S. S., 202. Ruschenberger, Dr., 286. Sandberger, Dr. Guido, 415. Sauvalle, F. A., 409. Smith, Prof. J. L., 22. Tarbe, Prosper, Pres. Nat. Hist. Soc. Rheims, 339, 340. Vernueil,Ed. de, 287. Vauquelin, M., 15. Wailes, Prof. B. L. C.,202. Wetherill, Mrs. M. K., 15. Wilson, Prof. J. L., 167. Letters from Societies, &c. — Acad. C. L. C. Nat. Curiosorum, 255, 344. Acad, of Science of Berlin, 415. Acad, of Naturalists of Breslau, 34. 128. Amer. Ethnolog. Soc, 126. Amer.Philosoph. Society, 23, 69, 89, 289, 345.^ Belfast Royal Hist. Soc, 89. Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist., 339, 341. British Museum, 203, 419. California Acad. Nat. Sci., 173, 385. Entomolog. Soc. of Stettin, 339. Geolog. Soc of London, 289, 339. Imperial Soc of Sci. &c of Lisle, 285. Imperial Acad, of Sci. of Bordeaux, 409. Imperial Royal Institute of Sci. of Milan, 409. Imperial Soc. of Naturalists of Mos- cow, 15, 70, 399, 418. Leipsic City Library, 202. Linnean Soc. of London, 339. Lyceum of Nat. Hist, of New York, 23, 167, 173, 285. Minister of Public Works and Direct, of Mines of France, 419. Museum of Nat. Hist, of Strasburg, 127. Nat. Hist. Asso. of Prussian Rhine- land and Westphalia, 203,419. Nat. Hist. Asso. of Halle, 15. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Geneva, 255. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Dantzic, 339. N. York State Library, 15, 89, 127, 173, 202, 285, 348, 3S5. Penna. Slate Library, 89, 121. Portland Soc. of Nat. Hist., 69, 70. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Stockholm, 23, 70, 255, 409. Royal Saxon Soc. of Sci., 88, 415. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Vienna, 88, 195, 203,339, 345,399. Royal Bavarian Acad., 126,203, 339. 899. Royal Imp. Geolog. Inst, of Vienna. 128,418. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Belgium, 174. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Liege, 195. Royal Acad, of Sci. of Amsterdam, 202, 419. Royal Soc of Sci. of Gottingen, 203, 399. Royal Lib. of University of Gottin- gen, 341. Royal Soc of Sci. of TJpsala, 399. INDEX. XI. Royal Mineralogical Soc. of St. Pe- tersburg, 399. Royal Danish Soc. of Sci., 409. Royal Acad, of Sci., &c of Lyons, 418. Royal Soc. of Agriculture, &c, of Lyons, 418. Smithsonian Institution, 70, 121, 2S5, 385. Soc. of Nat. Hist, of Cherburg, 34, 409. Soc. of Arts and Sciences of Batavia, 341, 415. Wurtemburg Nat. Hist. Soc, 255, 345 Zoological Soc. of London, 264. Lewis, E. J., don. to lib., xxiv. Lewis, Dr. Samuel, don. to mus., xxxvii. Lindsley, Dr. Berrian, don. to lib., vi. Lichtenstein, Dr. H., don. to lib., xiii. Liner, Dr., U. S.-N., don. to mus., xxv. Linnean Soc. of London, don. to lib., xxviii. Lombardy Inst, of Sci., &.c, don. to lib., xxxv. Long. Dr.E., don., to mus., vii. Librarian, Report of, for 1854, 252 ; for 1855, 449. . Martins, Chas. and B. Gastaldi, don. to lib., xvi. Mayer, Prof., don. to lib., xxi. McCall, Col. Geo. A., don. to mus., i., xiv., xvii., xxiii. McClellan, Capt. Geo. B., don. to mus., xxvi. McMurtrie, R. C., don. to mus., xxxiii. Meigs, Dr. Charles D., don. to mus., vi. Meigs, Dr. J. Aitken, revised edition of the "Catalogue of Human Crania," in the collection of the late Dr. S. G. Morton, 420. Mitchell, Messrs. E. & J. M., and L. Brognard, don. to mus., xxx. Merrick, John, don. to mus., xi. Miller, Edward, don. to mus., xxiii. Michelin, H., don. to lib., xxviii. Mitchell, Dr. S. W., don. to mus., i. Mitchell, Dr. J. K., don. to mus., xvii. Morris, Dr. J. Cheston, don. to mus., xxx. Morris, Rev. John D., don. to lib., xxxi. Moore, Wm., don. to mus , xxxiii. Moss, T. F., don. to mus., xi. Motchoulsky, Victor, don. to lib., iii. Miiller, Baron J. W. de, don. to lib., ii. Muller, Dr. T. D., don. to mus., i. Murray, Andrew, don. to mus., xxxii. Members elected : — Barcroft, Stacey B., 395. Barton, Isaac, 285. Borda, Eugene, 173. Brown, Dr. Robt. F., 418. Cadwalader, Wm.,285. Clements, Dr. Richard, 395. Dock, Dr. Geo., 22. Drysdale, Dr. Thos. M., 339. Fassit, Francis, 201. Freeman, Dr. Wm., 254. Geylin, Emile, 173. Gillou, Constant, 34. Guex, John A., 201. Hartshorne, Dr. Henry, 337. Harrison, Joseph, 165. Harding, George, 22. Hagedorn, C. F., 397. Hering, C. J., 408. Hilgard, Dr. Theo., 337. Howell, Samuel D., 418." Humphreys, G. H., 408 Hooper, Dr. Wm. H., 254. Hunt, Dr. Wm., 264. Laroche, Rene, Jr., 414. Lewis, Dr. Samuel, 414. Luther, Dr. Diller, 337. Mallery, Garrick, 165. Mcllhenny, Dr. Wm. S., 88. Merrick, J. V., 67. Messchert, M., 337. Moore, Dr. Samuel, 418. Morris, Dr. J. Cheston, 337. Negus, Jas. Engle, 34. Newbold, Dr. Thos., 201. Pennypacker, Dr. Isaac, 173. Piatt, Clayton I., 34. Rogers, Fairman, 22. Rush, Madison, U. S. N., 384. Smith, J. Brinton, 126. Smyth, Samuel, 3S4. Spackman, Rev. Henry S., 395 Taggert, J. Edwards, 337. Tiedemann, Henry, 395. Turner, Dr. J. W., U. S. N., 22. Tyson, Job R., 88. Vanderkemp, Dr. J. J., 67. West, Hilborne, 408. Woodward, Dr. J. J., 384. National Institute, Washington, don. ro lib., xxviii. Nat. Hist. Asso. of Prussian Rhine- land and Westphalia, don. to lib., xx., xxxix. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Halle, don. to lib., ii. XH. INDEX. New Orleans Med. and Surg. Journ.,' Rand, Dr. B. H., don. to mus., vi., don. of, by Editors, ix., xii., xvi., ! xvii. ; don. to lib., iii., xxvii., xxii. xxxiii. ; remarks on presenting a specimen of Uranite from the W. Banks of the Schuylkill River near Fairmount, 286 ; remarks on a speci- men of Cyanide and Nitride of Tita nium, from the salamander of a blast furnace, at Spring Mill, 409. Rand, Theo. W., don. to mus., xxiii. Rank, Wm., don. to mus., xxxiii. Ravenel, A. H., don. to mus., xxxi., New York Journ. of Med., don. of, by Editors, i., v., viii. New York Lyceum of Nat. Hist., don. to lib., viii. New York State Library, don. to lib., x., xxxi. New York Med. Times, don. of, by Editors, xxiv., xxv., xxxviii. New York Inst, for the Blind, don. to lib., xxiv. New York Quarterly, don. of, by Edi- tors, xxiv., xxxi. Norwood, J. G. & H. Pratten, don. to lib., xxxii. Nott, Dr. J. C, don. to lib., xl. Nott, Dr. J. C. & G. R. Gliddon, don. to lib., vi. Orficers elected for 1854,253; for 1855, 453. Ord, George, don. to mus., xiv., xxvi. Remarks on the project of erecting a Mo nm ent to the memory of Alexandpr Wilson, at Paisley, Scotland, 415. Owen, Richard, don. to lib., xxxi. Patent Office of the U. S., don. to lib., xv., xxxiv. Patterson, Wm., don. to mus.,xxi. Penna. Hist. Soc, don. to lib., xxii. Penna. State Legis. Library of, don. to lib., xxiv. Pickering, Dr. Charles, don. to lib., v. Piddington, H., don. to lib., ix., xxviii. Pierce, H., don. to mus., xxxvii. Portland Soc. of Nat Hist. A complete sett ot the Publications of the A. N. S., of Philada., presented to, 34. Powel, Samuel, don. to mus., xxiii. Powell, J. E., communication on the habits of the Moose, as observed in the State of Maine, 342. Power, A. E., don. to mus., xxx. Pratten, Henry, don. to mus., xiv., xvi. Pryor, Dr. Charles, don. to mus., xi. Pottsville Sci. Association, don., to lib. , xxviii. Quevenne, M., don. to lib., ix., xxxii. Quesnet, Edward, don. to lib., xl. xxxii., xxxix. Retzius, Prof. A., on artificially formed skulls from the ancient world, 405. Redfield, Wm. C, don. to lib., xv. Rice, Wm., don. to mus., iv. Riddle, Dr. J. M., don. to lib., xxi. Ritchie, Capt. J. H., don. to mus., i. Robeson, A., don. to mus., vi. Royal Acad, of Science of Turin, don. to lib., xxxv. Royal Acad., of Science of Madrid, don. to lib., xxxv. Royal Acad, of Science of Stockholm, don. to lib., ix. Royal Acad, of Science of Vienna, don. to lib., ix., xii., xx., xxvi., xxix., xxxiv. Royal Acad, of Science of Amsterdam, don. to lib., xviii., xxxix. Royal Imperial Geological Inst, of Vi- enna, don. to lib., ix., x,, xxvii., xxix., xxxix. Royal Inst, ot Science of Lombardy, don. to lib., xxxv. Royal Saxon Soc. of Science at Leipzig, don. to lib., ix., xxxix. Royal Soc of Science of Gottingen, don. to lib., xxxiii. Royal Society of Edinburgh, don. to lib., iii., xxvii., xxxv. Royal Netherlands Inst, of Science, don. to lib., v. Royal Soc. of Liege, don. to lib., xxiii. Ruschenberger, Dr., don. to mus., i>, vii., xxiii-, xxxvii. ; don. to lib., viii., x. Reports of Committees :— On Mr. Girard's paper on an Entomo- stracan, 3 ; nominating Wm. P. Foulke, Esq. to deliver an Oration on the Anniversary (1854) of the So- ciety, 14 ; in favor of the expediency of assembling the members at an Anniversary Dinner, (1854) 14 ; on publication of Part 4, Vol. 2, N. S. of the Journal, 22 ; on two papers by Messrs. Norwood and Pratten, of the Illinois Geological Survey, on new IM-EX. Mil. species of Producti and on new sp-3 cies of Chonetes, 121 ; on Dr. Hallo well's contributions to S. American Herpetology, 165; on Dr. Holbrook's Description of Fishes of Florida, 195 ; to prepare a memorial to Con- gress soliciting aid to Dr. Kane and his companions in their Arctic perils, 255 ; on Messrs. Norwood and Prat- ten's Notices of Fossils from the Carboniferous series of the Western States, 284 ; on Prof. Julien Derby's Remarks on the Cryptogamic Flora of the State of Georgia, 284 ; on Mr. i'urand's paper, " Plantse Pratteni- aniae," &c, 336; on Dr. J. Aitken Meigs's paper entitled Relation of Atomic Heat to Crystalline foim, 395; of Committee appointed in 1852, to collect funds for the enlarge- ment and improvement of the Hall of the Aead. Nat. Science of Philada., 447 ; of Committee appointed in J 853, to superintend the enlargement of the Hall of the A. N. S., 449: on Mr. Cassin's Description of a new species of Parrot, 418. Resolutions ; to present the thanks of of the Society to Mr. John A. Guex for a collection of Coleopterous Insects, 195 ; To present a copy of the " Proceedings " of the Academy to the Nat. Hist. Soc. of Schuylkil Co., Pa., 201 , to appoint a Commit- tee to draft a memorial to Congress to send an Expedition for the relief of Dr. Kane and his companions in the Arctic regions, 253 ; relative to a proposal made by the Board of Re- gents of the Smithsonian Institution to change the system of Administra- tion of said Board, 284 ; inviting The members of the American Med. Asso. to visit the Museum of the Academy, 289 ; appointing a Committee to re- ceive the members of the American Med. Asso., 336; on the occasion of Mr. George Ord's visit to Europe, 336; granting privilege of giving tickets of admission to the Muse- um, to Mrs. Margaret Harlan, 341; presenting the thanks of the Academy to Senor S. A. Sauvalle of Havana, for a donation of Shells, 409; pre- senting a se't of the Proceedings of the A. N. S., as far as published, to Prince Charles L. Bonaparte, 422 ; to invite the Educational Convention about to assemble in Philadelphia, to visit the Museum of the Academy, 422. Sauvalle, F. A., don. to mus., xxxiii. Sandberger, Dr. G., don. to lib., x. Saussure, H. F. de, don. to lib., xv,, xxiv. Secretary, Corresponding, Report of, for 1854,264; for January, 1855,264. Secretary, Recording, Report of, for 1854,249. Sergeant, J. D., don. to mus., i., iv., xiv., xxxvii. Sampson, Jas., don. to mus., xxiii., de- scriptions of some new Marine In- vertebrata, 385. Silliman, Prof. B. Jr., on the supposed Human Footprints in the new Red Sandstone ot Connecticut, 409. Shaw, Dr. A., don. to mus.,xiii Situreaves, Capt. L., don. to lib., x. Smith, Aubrey H., don. to mus., xiv. Smith, Charles S., don. to mus., xvii. Smith, Dr. F. G., don. to lib., xv. Smith, Dr. L., don. to mus., iv. Smith, C. E., don. to mus., xxvi. Smithsonian Institution, don. to mus., iv., xxiii., xxxvii. ; don. to lib., vi., xii., xvi-, xvii., xviii., xxxiv. Society of Nat. Hist, of Strasburir, don. to lib., xiii. Society of Nat. Hist, and Phys. of Ge- neva, don. to lib., xii. Society of Arts, London, don. to lib., vii., xx., xxii., xxiii., xxviii., xxxvi. Societe Zoologique d' Acclimatation, don. to lib., xxv. Society of Nat. Hist, of Neufchate], don. to lib., xl. Speakman, John, decease of, 23. Squire, E., don. to lib., xviii., xxix. Stevens, Henry, don. to lib., xx. Stimpson, W., Descriptions of some new Marine Invertebrata from the Chinese and Japanese seas, 375. Stauffer, J., don. to lib., i. Storer, D. H., don. to lib., xvii. Sullivant, W. S., don. to lib., iii. Tasgert, Dr. W. H., don. to mus., xxxiii. Tappan, Rev. H. P., don. to lib., iii. Thomas, Prof. W. H. D.,don. to mus-, xxi. Thompson, Zadock,don. to lib. x. Tingley, Dr. W. H., don. to lib., ix. Torrey, Dr. John, don. to lib., x. Tuomey, M., Descriptions of new Fos- sils from the Cretaceous Rocks of the southern States, 167. Trask, Dr. J. B., don. to lib., xxviii. Trautwine, John C, don. to lib., xxiv X1Y. INDEX. Troschel, Dr. F. H., don. to lib., ix., xx., xxiii., xxvii., xxix. Trowbridge, Lieut. W. P., U. S. A., don. to mus., xv. Uhler, Philip R., Descriptions of a few species of Coleoptera supposed to be new, 415. University of the State of New York, don. to lib., viii., ix., xxxi. United States National Observatory, don. to lib., xxii. Van Beneden, Prof. P. J., don. to lib., xiii. Vaux, W. S., don. to mus., i., iv., vi., xvii., xviii., xxiii., xxvi. Vaux, Elwyn, Clay and Carpenter, Messrs., don. to lib., xxiv. Virginia Med. and Surg. Journ., don. by Editors, i., iii., v., viii., x., xii., xv., xvi., xxi., xxii., xxiv., xxv., xxviii., xxxi., xxxii,, xxxiv., xxxv.,xxxix. Wailes, B. L. C., don. to mus., xxv.; don. to lib., xxii. Warren, Dr. J. C, don. to lib., ix. xxxi. Warder, Prof., don. to lib., xxi. Watson, Dr. G., don. to mus., i., iv., xvii., xxiii., xxvi. Wheatley, Charles M., don. to mus., vi., xxvi., xxx. Wetherill, Dr. C. M., don. to lib., xv., xxxi. ; remarks on the action of char- coal on animal substances in promot- ing their rapid destruction, 203 ; Chemical notices, 233. Weitenweber, Dr., don. to lib., ix. Whit""" ^ ^nr- +n ,"1* "■■ **** Yeates, J., don. to mus., vii. Zantzinger, Dr. W. S., don. to mus., i. Zantedeschi, Ab. Francesco, Cav., don. to lib., xl. Zoological Garden of Amsterdam, don. to lib., xxxiv. PROCEEDINGS or THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. January 3dy 1854. Mr. Lea, Vice-President, in the Chair. Letters were read : From Baron J. W. Yon Miiller, dated Brussels, Nov. 23d, 1853, transmitting the works announced this evening, and also making en- quiries respecting the feasibility of establishing a Zoological Garden in Philadelphia. From Prof. John Le Conte, of Athens, Georgia, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. From Mr. Isaac Lea, dated Philadelphia, Dec. 30th, 1853, returning acknowledgments for his election as a Vice-President of the Academy. A paper was presented for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " On a new Entomostracan of the family Limnadidae, inhabiting the Western waters. By Charles Girard." Beferred to Drs. Leidy, Bridges and Buschenberger. A paper intended for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " On the Ancient Alluvium of the Ohio Biver and its Tributaries, by Alfred T. King, M. D.," was read and referred to Mr. Vaux, Mr. Lea, and Dr. Buschenberger. Mr. Lea exhibited to the Academy a specimen of D'Orbigny's Acostcea giia- d/casa?ia, which he owed to the kindness of that distinguished zoologist, during Mr. Lea's visit to Paris last year. This genus he reminded the members was identical with the Mulleria of Ferussac, as he formerly suggested, and was afterwards satisfied to be the case on seeing the original specimen, described by Ferussac in 1823, which is now in the fine collection of Mr. Delesert in Paris. Mr. Lea stated that although the specimen figured by D'Orbigny had quite a length of stem connecting the young portion of the shell, the Anodonta form, with the mature portion, the Ostrea form, yet this was not necessarily or uni- formly so. In the case of his own specimen this was very different. It hap- pened, as is sometimes the case with the genus Ostrea, a. dead valve was filled up by a subsequent living individual ; and on close examination, there were really dis- covered to exist two specimens of the Anodontiform age ; one on the old single valve at one end, and another on the reverse end appertaining to the living speci- men, having the epidermis on it perfect. Neither of these specimens had a stem, PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VII., NO. I. 1 2 [January; but advanced directly from the form of the Anodonta to that of the Ostrea, leaving the young beaks directly on the edjje of the valves. Mr. Lea thought that the difference of length of the stem, or the absence of it in various specimens arose from the fact of the young individual finding sooner or later something solid to commence the soldering of the under valve to, and then to spread out the area of the valve. On motion, so much of the communication of the Baron Von Milller' as relates to the establishment of a Zoological Garden in this city was referred to the following Committee : Mr. Ord, Mr. Vaux and Dr. Bridges. January 17 th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from Capt. John H. Ritchie, U. S. N., dated Phila- delphia, Jan. 10th, 1854, accompanying the donations to the Museum acknowledged at last meeting. Also a letter from J. Pemberton Hutchinson, Esq., dated Philadel- phia, Jan. 16th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of elec- tion as a Member. Mr. Conrad presented for publication in the Journal, a Synopsis of the Genera Parapholas and Penicilla ; which was referred to Dr. Ruschen- berger, Dr. Le Conte and Dr. J. A. Meigs. Mr. Lea exhibited a large and beautiful crystal of limpid quartz, cut into facets, which he had obtained in Italy. On leave granted, the Committee, to which was referred Baron Miiller's communication relative to the establishment of a Zoological Gar- den in this city, presented a report adverse to the same, the Committee being firmly impressed with the opinion that the project would not succeed, from " the difficulty of procuring a suitable locality, of convenient access, within the city or its precincts ; the great amount of capital required in the outset of the undertaking, and the precarious nature of the tenure, in this country, of all that depends upon popular favor." The Report was adopted, and a copy directed to be transmitted to Baron Miiller. January %4:ih. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Major Le Conte presented a paper, for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Notice of American Animals formerly known, but now for- gotten or lost." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Ruschenberger and Dr. Henderson. On leave granted, Mr. Foulke, after stating that it was probable the U. S. Government would fit out shortly an Expedition for the explora- tion of Africa, suggested the appointment of a Committee to urge upon the Government the propriety of having Naturalists attached to the Expedition. Whereupon on motion the following was adopted : Resolved j That a Committee of five members be appointed, whose duty 1854.] 3 it shall be to take such steps as they may deem expedient to recommend to the Government the scientific exploration of Africa. Committee, Dr. Ruschenberger, Dr. Leidy, Mr. Lea; Prof. Carson and Dr. Hallowell. Junuary 31 si. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred the following papers, severally reported in favor of their publication in the Proceedings : On a new Entomostracan, of the family LimnadidjE, inhabiting the Western waters. By Charles Girard. LIMNADELLA, n. g. Gen. Char. — Eye one. Antennae subequal, provided upon their inferior side with long and plumose setae, whilst on the upper side there are short, slender and simple spines. Two elongated tape-shaped jaws. Eeet in twenty-lour pairs, provided upon their extremities and sides with slender and plumose setae, or hairs. A series of spiny processes along the posterior half of the dorsal line. Post abdominal plate very large. Nutritive system phlebenteric. Observations. — This genus diners from Limnadia in being provided with one eye only, instead of two. Also by its antennae, the two pairs of which are similar in structure, whilst in Limnadia one pair is smaller than the other. The post abdominal plate and number of feet will afford other distinguishing charac- ters between Limnadella and Limnadia. From Cyzicus or Estheria it differs, first, by the structure of the shell, which in Estheria resembles that of an Area, whilst, in Limnadella, it is altogether Cyproid in its general aspect. There is a marked difference between these two types in the structure of the an- tennae, the joints of which are provided on their upper part with numerous spines in Limnadella, whilst in Cyzicus there is but one single spine at the anterior edge. The structure of the feet is likewise dissimilar, being furnished with plumose setae in Limnadella. Limnadella Kitet, n. sp. Spec. Char. — Shell : elongated, subelliptical, thickest anteriorly ; twice as long as deep ; anterior, inferior, and posterior margins regularly continuous ; upper outline somewhat irregular on account of the beaks being rather promi- nent. Valves uniformly convex. Greatest depth one eight of an inch, greatest length one quarter of an inch. Specimens may occasionally attain to a larger size. Color, deep or light brown, mottled with black. Animal : antennae composed each of twelve or thirteen subequal joints. Twenty-four pairs of feet, the six posterior ones diminishing gradually away so as to render the last three rudimentary. The last of all is inserted upon the last caudal segment but one. There is a broad sub-triangular plate, terminated by two pairs of very large spines, curved upwards; the inferior pair being longer and slenderer than the up- per one. The concave margin of that plate is furnished with a series of quite small spines. On the uppermost part of the post-abdominal plate is inserted a pair of very delicate sword shaped appendages, very difficult to be observed even with a good microscope. Along the posterior half of the back there exists a series of sixteen processes, provided upon their upper and posterior sides with about five or six minute curved spines, the tip of which is bent backwards. The anterior two of these processes are but rudimentary ; the most developed occupy the middle of the series; the posterior ones again diminish gradually as they approximate the post-abdominal plate. Specimens collected at Cincinnati were sent to the Smithsonian Institution by Thomas Kite, of that city. 4 [January, On the Ancient Alluvium of the Ohio River and its Tributaries. By Alfred T. King, M. D., of Greensburgh, Pa. The Ohio River, and all its tributaries which I have examined, are bounded by an ancient alluvial deposit, rising from one to two hundred feet above the present beds of those streams, and extending from half a mile to nearly two miles in width. In the brief description which I design to give of these deposits I shall com- mence with that extensive and remarkable one at the mouth of the Beaver River. This is a beautiful and romantic stream, rising in the northern part of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. It runs nearly south, and empties into the Ohio river about thirty miles below Pittsburgh. At its mouth are two small towns, Rochester on the east and Bridgewater on the west. The town of Beaver, which is the seat of justice of Beaver county, is situated on the hill immediately above and west of Bridgewater, on an alluvial plain, two miles and a half in length, one mile, or nearly so, in width, and one hundred and thirty feet above the bed. of the Ohio, stretching along the northern shore of that river. Although wells have been sunken, in different parts of the town, 128 or 130 feet, which would be about on a level with the bed of the Ohio, still no one has penetrated through this deposite. The strong probability is, therefore, that it extends many feet beneath the present bed of the river. On the opposite side of Beaver river this deposite stretches along the Ohio, about three quarters of a mile. At both ex- tremities it is apparently transferred to the opposite side of the river, in conse- quence of the present curving of the stream, which causes the water to impinge against the base of those lofty hills which everywhere skirt the shores of this picturesque river. Seldom does the Ohio, or any of its numerous and mighty tributaries, flow through the centre of this ancient alluvium, for this deposite is seen every now and then on opposite shores. On the eastern side of Beaver river this deposite is 20 or 30 feet higher than it is at the highest point on Beaver plain, w hich would make it there about 150 or 1 60 feet, above the bed of the Ohio. At the most eastern extremity the hills are com- posed of fine sand and loam, containing fluviatile and terrestrial shells of the genera A?iodo?ita, Unio, Planorbis, Paludina, Limnea and Helix. Nearly the whole of the residue of this deposit at Rochester, Bridgewater and Beaver, is composed of nodules of argillaceous oxide of iron, and of rounded, polished river pebbles, from the size of gravel to the size' of a man's head and upwards. At the town of Rochester, the Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad Company has made an extensive cut of about eighty feet through this mass of iron nodules and river pebbles. Here it exhibits symptoms of stratification. Commencing at the summit, there is first a thin seam, which composes the surface soil, of sandy loam, then loose pebbles, below which there is a seam of eight or ten feet of conglomerated pebbles cemented together with an oxide of iron. So- firmly bound together are these pebbles, that the workmen, when making the cut, were obliged to blast them, and I am told that they encountered much more difficulty than they ordinarily do in more solid, compact rock. Below this is a seam of ignitable bituminous coal, about one inch and a half in thickness, extending entirely through the cut, and always preserving the same relative position. Below this coal were loose pebbles again, and so on, alternately, from the summit to the base. Doubtless this tendency to stratification in alluvial, as well as in marine de- posites, may be accounted for that streams at different periods transport different materials, but the continuous seams, and vast masses of hydrate of alumina, frequently seen in alluvial bluffs, particularly in those of the Mississippi river, and the pure crystals often seen imbedded in solid sedimentary rocks, clearly indicate the existence of chemical affinity between some of the particles of sediment, in connection with mere mechanical deposition. Beaver river is a small stream, not larger than the Mohawk, but its scenery is exceedingly beautiful. Its calm and placid bosom reflects vividly like a 1854.] 5 mirror the tall mountain cliffs, and the magnificently variegated scenery of the autumnal landscape. The deep gorges and dark precipitous ravines which cut transversely the lofty hills which rise like mountains on each side, and the broad alluvial plains which bound its shores, lined for miles with beautiful towns and villas, where the sound of cheerfulness and the hum of industry are everywhere heard, render the scenery exceeding interesting and picturesque. From the mouth of this river to the town of New Brighton, a distance of about three miles, the alluvium is composed principally of pebbles, resembling those already described. Here it is about one hundred and fifty feet in depth, at the highest point, and about three quarters of a mile wide. From this point to a distance of from ten to fifteen miles above, this deposite is strewed over with immense masses of transported angular rocks, derived from the neighboring hills. These rocks are of all sizes, and, in places, very numerous, strewed about in every direction, and piled upon each other in the most irregular manner. There are several enormous piles of these quartzose rocks, or coal grit, about eight or ten miles from Rochester, lying upon the brow of a hill, which over- looks the river, and more than two hundred feet above its present bed. Some of these masses will weigh thousands of tons. There is one wrhich is probably in situ, which will measure twenty feet in height, and over one hundred feet in circumference, much shattered below, where it is grooved, rounded, and smoothed by the long continued action of running water. This rock presents a singular aspect to the observer who attempts to account for its present form, and its relative position with the river below. It is surrounded by huge but smaller masses of the same character, all exhibiting the same wearing and polishing action of running water, and piled upon each other in the wildest confusion. I descended with Dr. Barker, of Beaver, who kindly accompanied me, this precipitous hill, along a narrow and winding path to the river below. All the way we passed over and around similar piles of rocks, and for miles above this point found a similar condition of things to exist. Most of these rocks are dis- tinctly traceable to their parent hills, still higher up the stream. The enormous size of some of these transported rocks, and the unequivocal evidence of the wearing action of running water upon them, indicate that they were carried by a long continued, turbulent and impetuous stream, which had been, previous to this exhibition of its maddening fury, in a comparatively quiet and placid condition, during which time the subjacent alluvial sediment, before described, was deposited. It may be proper to mention here, that in connection with these angular masses of quartzose grit, I found, not unfrequently, syenitic, granitic, porphyritic, greenstone boulders, &c, &c, which were exceedingly hard, rounded and polished, similar to the more common quartzose pebbles. The largest which I saw connected with the angular rocks wTould not weigh more than a few hundred pounds. But about three hundred feet above the head of little Beaver creek, a tributary of the Ohio river, and about twelve miles from the locality I am now describing, there are boulders of granite and other primary rocks lying upon the summit of a hill, which will measure thirty feet in circumference. Indeed the hills, which here contain the enormous cannel coal vein of from fourteen to eighteen feet in thickness, are strewed over with boulders of primary rocks, and the diluvial scratches and groovings are visible in places. These hills are, in some places, 300 feet high. At different points along Beaver river, and at heights of more than a hundred feet above its present bed, I observed convincing indications of the grooving, smoothing and polishing action of running water, on the solid sandstones of the adjacent hills. These workings were unquestionably produced by the river when it flowed over this alluvial plain. The same kind of markings I observed in the hills which skirt the shores of the Ohio. About fifteen miles below Pittsburgh, at a place called the Narrows, I observed, at the height of more than a hundred feet above the river, the solid sandstones polished and grooved, as if channelled by the moulding instrument of a joiner, and even pot holes are worn into their sides. 6 [January, Nearly the entire cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny and Cincinnati are built upon this remarkable deposite. From Pittsburgh to Wilkinsburg, seven miles east, it is seen stretched along the northern shore of the Monongahela river, and nearly two miles in width. To this remarkable locality I will now briefly direct attention. Passing from Greensburgh to Pittsburgh, along the turnpike, it will be observed that the last anticlinal roll of the Allegheny chain of mountains is at Grapeville, four miles west, and the last synclinal trough, which is but imperfectly formed, is about three miles further west. From this point the beautiful undulations which are so characteristic of the Allegheny chain, die away, and the rocks assume nearly a horizontal position. Their horizontality, however, is only appa- rent, for they really rise, at an almost inappreciable angle, westward. From this point to within seven miles of Pittsburgh the general geological and topo- graphical structure of the country remains nearly the same. At the summit of the hill, which overlooks the town of Wilkinsburg, standing upon the limestone which is super-imposed upon the great Pittsburgh seam of coal, the observer beholds, more than a hundred feet beneath him, a beautiful and extensive alluvial plain, bounded on the north by hills, which separate it from the Allegheny river valley, and which contain the coal and limestone to which allusion has just been made, and on the South by the Monongahela river. The whole of this great seam of coal and the incumbent limestone, to the depth of three hundred feet, have been swept away by a process of denudation, and their places partially supplied by an alluvial deposite over one hundred feet in thickness, and about the same height over the present bed of the Monongahela river. As the Pennsylvania Railroad passes over this deposite I shall avail myself of the measurements which are given in one of the last annual reports of the Com- pany. The elevation of the Ohio river at Pittsburgh, above tide, is given at 700 feet. The elevation above tide at Wilkinsburg is 922. There would, there- fore, be a difference of tidal elevation between Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg of 222 feet. After substracting 22 feet feet for the fall of the river between these two points, we would have 200 feet for the depth of the deposite. If we assume that the shale and limestone upon which this vast deposite re- poses, and which will be presently described, are from 200 to 300 feet beneath the Pittsburgh seam of coal, we will be enabled to form some idea of the enor mous denuding process, by which this river excavated its channel, and after- wards deposited upon its ancient bed, in some places, over two hundred feet of sedimentary matter. This is, of course, only an approximative estimate ; but from all the data which I have been enabled to procure, the average depth may be safely assumed at from one hundred to two hundred feet. In consequence of the great depth of this deposite at Wilkinsburg, I, at one time, conjectured that the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers met, at some antecedent period, and formed the Ohio, either at this point or at East Liberty, which are from five to seven miles East of their present junction. To satisfy myself on this curious point, I crossed the plain at Wilkinsburg, three quarters of a mile, to the base of those lofty hills which separate the two great alluvial valleys, and found that the whole region was composed of river pebbles, sand and loam, with which were mingled fluviatile and terrestrial shells. Near the Frankstown road, which is nearly two miles in a straight line from the Monongahela river, I saw some men excavating a well. They had gone down to the depth of twenty or thirty feet, and had passed through nothing but pure river sand and pebbles, meeting occasionally only with an Anodonta or a Unto. Near this point I crossed the dividing hills, and descended along a narrow path to the road which winds along the bank of the Allegheny river. Here I found this ancient deposite presenting: nearly the same appearances, and of about equal magnitude to the one on the Monongahela side. In the neighborhood of Laurenceville it is of great breadth, and of not less than two hundred feet in hickness. 1854.] 7 The hills which separate these Two ancient alluvial valleys are a continuous chain, and of sufficient altitude to constitute an effectual barrier to the mingling of the waters of these two rivers, at any point nearer than their present con- fluence at the city of Pittsburgh- I observed at Rochester, New Brighton, and at different points along the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, that this deposite reposes on a dark colored shale, sometimes passing into more compact slate. As I was descending a hill on the Frankstovvn road, near East Liberty, I discovered an old acquaintance, a thin stratum of calcareous rock, on which the shale re- poses, and which — in contradistinction to other limestones, belonging to the coal series — I have denominated the ^rj^a-limestone. This is a somewhat peculiar rock, characterised by containing a vast number of small bivalve shells, belonging to the genus Atrypa, etc. When long exposed to the atmosphere, its external surface readily disintegrates, and presents a rag- ged and shaly appearance, the surface being covered with small Atrypa and pro- jecting joints of Encrinites. In some localities I have found in this rock the genera Terebratula, Trilobites, Plei/.rotomaria, Productus, Spirifer, Bellerophon, Euomphalus, Ammonite and Orthoceratite. But the joints of Encrinites and the small Atrypa are the charac- teristic fossils, and distinguish it from all other limestones belonging to the car- boniferous series. This limestone, in Westmoreland county, is seldom found more than two or three feet in thickness. But near the Ohio line I found it over ten feet, it being there a very compact and durable rock, well adapted for agri- cultural and other purposes. It is exposed at numerous points in Western Penn- sylvania, and uniformly presents similar lithological and paleontological cha- racters. I mentioned, at the commencement of this paper, that this ancient alluvium was traceable everywhere along the Ohio river and its tributaries which I have examined, and doubtless along those which I have not so closely surveyed. Those tributaries to which my attention has been more particularly directed, are the Beaver, Allegheny, Monongahela, Youghiogeny, Kiskeminitas, Loyalhanna and Conemaugh rivers, etc., etc. But in the brief and necessarily imperfect delinea- tion of these remarkable deposites, which I have attempted to give, I have con- fhied myself to a few localities only, leaving a more extended and minute description for some future period. It is not at all improbable that those high bluffs which bound the vast alluvial valley of the Mississippi river (which is from thirty to fifty miles in width), were deposited at the same period. Also the alluvial terraces on which the city of Cincinnati is built, the highest of which is 120 feet above the level of the Ohio river; and doubtless the natural terraces and ridizes of Lake Erie and Ontario, which were so graphically delineated by Mr. Charles Whittlesey, of Cleveland, in the July No., 1850, of the American Journal of Science. For, in all these localities, fossil teeth and other bones of the mammoth and mastodon have been found imbedded in this deposite. These animals, which were once the lords of the creation, the primates of this lower world, perished and became extinct in that last grand revolution, during which I presume these ancient sedimentary deposites were slowly and gradually elevated to their pre- sent position, and which immediately preceded the advent of man. From the whole of this investigation my mind has been convinced that the relative position of the rivers and this ancient alluvium through which they now pass, or along whose borders their waters deeply flow, has changed since the period of deposition. But when, and in what manner, or by what cause, are questions not so readily answered as proposed. The hypothesis of local oscillations, first proposed many years ago by Sir Charles Lyell, to account for the deposition of the Rhenish loess, will, with slight modifications, I believe, clearly explain all the phenomena connected with this post tertiary formation. Indeed, from the numerous facts upon which this hypothesis is based, it may be regarded as an exceedingly plausible theory, if not a legitimate induction. It has lonj; been ascertained that various parts of the earth's surface are now, and perhaps ever have been, undergoing slow and gradual oscillatory movements. 8 [January, Parts of Sweden, Norway, and the shores of the gulf of Bothnia, have been long gradually rising. Also extensive regions of South America have been undergoing a slow but gradual upheaval, during a period of many centuries. On the other hand, the gradual sinking of the coast of Greenland, for the space of more than six hundred miles, during the last 400 years, has been more incon- trovertibly established by actual markings and critical examinations made by the most astute minds. Large portions of the earth's surface have been suddenly upheaved, whilst others have as suddenly subsided. The whole coast of Chili was suddenly elevated several feet by the earth- quake of 1822, producing terrible commotion in the sea, and sending vast waves over the ocean, which doubtless transported huge masses of rocks many miles from the shore. In 1611, an earthquake sank the town of New Madrid, on the Mississippi river, several feet beneath the waters, the vibrations of which continued three months. Many other facts of an analogous character might be adduced, but these are sufficient to show that various parts of the crust of the earth are now under- going oscillations, and that it is not at all improbable that the hydrographical basin of the Ohio may have undergone, at some remote period, similar move- ments. First we may suppose that there was a gradual subsidence during a period, perhaps, of many centuries, of the whole hydrographical basins of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and even extending beyond che limits of their tributary streams. This depression of the land would necessarily lessen the fall of the waters into the Gulf of Mexico, and increase the alluvial deposite. After a cer- tain indefinite period we can readily suppose that this process of subsidence was reversed, and the whole as gradually upheaved, until the rocks were brought to their present altitude, when the oscillation ceased. During this slow upward movement the waters would necessarily cut their channels through the alluvial deposite, which had been thrown down during the process of subsidence. At the commencement of this upward movement we may suppose a sudden upheaval to have occurred in Beaver county, somewhat analogous to that on the coast of Chili, in 1822, which would produce such commotion and recoil of the waters in Beaver river as to cause them to impinge, with terrific force, against the projecting rocks of the adjacent hills, rive them asunder, and pile thein as they are now found, over its ancient alluvial bed. Afterwards, the process of elevation may have been as gradual as that of the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, which amounts only to two or three feet in a century. In corroboration of this view I may mention, that although the rocks are nearly horizontal, yet the hills which skirt the shores of this beautiful stream are often seen cracked from the base to the summit, and the strata, in places, much disturbed. Also, the dark, yawning gorges, and broad and deep ravines, cutting entirely through the hills, indicate, I think, that the rocks here of the ancient coal measures have undergone great disturbance since the period of their original deposition. Notice of American Animals, formerly known, but now forgotten or lost. By John Le Co.nte. The writers of the last century have left us descriptions of several animals which modern research has not since been able to detect. In looking over the works of these authors, who favored the world with their knowledge so long ago, it necessarily happens that we find their descriptions more or less imper- fect, either from the insufficient manner in which they were made, or from that brevity of expression which was then fashionable in natural science. Hence 1854.] 9 has arisen much confusion and indecision. I have selected from these writers of a former age, the following animals which appear to have heen then well known, but are now forgotten or overlooked ; I beg leave to call the attention of natur- alists to this subject, with the hope that they may be all found and accurately described, or else struck out from the number of those enumerated among the productions of America. Felis rufa, or Bay Cat of Pennant, Arc. Zool., vol i. p. 51. With yellow irids, ears erect, tufted with black long hair; color of the head, body, and outside of the legs and thighs a bright bay, obscurely marked with dusky spots; the forehead marked with black stripes, from the head to the nose; cheeks white, varied with three or four incurvated lines of black; the under and upper lip, belly, and inside of the legs and thighs white, the inside of the upper part of the fore legs crossed with two black bars ; the tail short, upper part marked with dusky bars and near the end with one of black, the underside white; fur short and smooth ; twice the size of a common cat, (that is 27 inches long,) said to come from the interior of New York: probably erroneous. Described by Mr. Pennant from the living animal. The common wild cat of our country, found in all the northern, southern, and western states, has in latter years been confounded with this species ; I think, however, they cannot but be distinct. Mr. Pennant, the best naturalist that England has ever produced, could never have confounded two animals so dis- similar. It is true, in describing one, he had before him the living animal, in the other a dried skin, but of the last, he could examine hundreds. He certainly could not have mistaken the indistinct brownish grey of the one for bright bay, nor could the last color have faded into the other. The common wild cat, however, never should have been called Felis rufa, even if it was identical with Pennant's animal, as Ray had described it in his Synopsis Methodica Animalium, p. 169, as Catus montanus. If these two ani- mals are the same, why has the name given so long even before the birth of Pennant, been discarded, in defiance of the rule of priority in nomenclature ; when it was last described, it was easy to restore the name of montanus. A just regard for the name of Ray, if nothing else, surely demanded this. A description follows of the Felis montana, as I knew it in Georgia, made from numerous specimens either living or recently killed, including probably every variation to which the animal is liable. Felis montana. Mountain Cat, Pennant, Arc. Zool., vol. i, p. 51. Catus mon- tanus, Ray, Synops. Method. Animalium. Above, hair mixed dusky, and pale brown, top of the head brown striped lon- gitudinally with dusky, cheeks with dark brown, back with dusky ; the last sometimes wanting. Irids yellow, ears black, upright, and slightly pencilled, especially during the winter; with a broad, transverse, cinereous bar. Cheeks on each side with a large semicircular tuft of long hair. Legs spotted with dark brown, sides most frequently obscurely spotted with the same, sometimes, how- ever, not spotted; chin and throat white, with a black stripe on each side, form- ing an angle ; sometimes these stripes are wanting, or very faintly marked in « pale brown. Belly, inside of the thighs, and hind part of the fore legs whitish, spotted with black. Tail, above, generally very faintly annulate with brown; these rings often disappear; tip black, beneath white, which color appears on the upper part at the tip, whenever the hair is in any way disturbed. Feet beneath dusky or dark brown. Mean length of 12 specimens 31 inches, tail 6. I have given the foregoing very full description, that it may be compared with the preceding. Most of the marks which are common to the two, belong to al- most every species of the genus Felis. I add two obscure species, of which but little is known. I am not willing to pronounce them distinct from each other or from the montana, without farther examination. The first was seen in Califor- nia by my son, and the description and measurements were made by him ; the other is extracted from Lewis and Clarke's travels. 10 [January, Californian Wild Cat : Above, mottled white, black, and fuscous, lighter on the sides, which are slightly barred; beneath, white; legs fuscous, with black bars, much more dis- tinct on the anterior ones, which are anteriorly white. Ears large, rounded, black, with a white spot connected with the mastoid part, tip with a short tuft. Tail short, blunt, barred with darker, tip black with an extreme white point. Length 31 inches, tail 6, head 4.5, height 1.5. Lewis and darkens Wild Cat : Larger than the wild cat of the United States; color of the back, neck, and sides reddish brown, irregularly varied, with small spots of dark brown, tail two inches long and nearly white, except the extremity which is black; it terminates abruptly, as if amputated. Belly white, variegated with small black spots, legs of the same color as the sides. The back is marked transversely with black stripes; ears black, on the outer side covered with short fine hair, except at the upper part, where it is furnished with a parcel of fine, straight, black hair three- fourths of an inch long. The hair of the animal is long and fine. This animal was called by Rafinesque, Felis fasciata. I have declined adopt- ing his name, as he never saw it, and was too much in the habit of describing things by hearsay, with as much confidence as if he had himself procured them, and had them lying before him. A drawing or an engraving was sufficient for him to make a new genus from, as was often the case, I am sorry to say, with authors of more credit. Both Charlevoix and Dupratz, mention a species of Felis in Louisiana, which appears not to have been lately seen ; they call it Pichoux; the following is a description of it — Pichoux : Upper part of the head, neck, back, sides, shoulders, and thighs bright tawny, face striped downwards with black, shoulders and body marked with stripes and large oblong black spots, the legs with small spots, breast and inner side of the legs and thighs whitish, spotted with black ; tail long, marked with black, taw- ny, and grey. Size of a common cat, (about 18 inches). Does not appear to be the Felis pardalis, from its smaller size, and probably different markings, besides being in some of the under parts white. If this ani- mal is no longer found in Louisiana, it is highly probable that it may be met with in Texas or New Mexico. Animals at one time extremely common in any particular country, will suddenly leave it without any visible cause. As an in- stance of this : previous to the year 1820, no bird was more common in that part Georgia where I resided, than the Conurus Carolinensis or Parakeet. They would pass through the air in flocks of from 50 to 100. They suddenly all disappeared, and for more than thirty years, not one has been seen where they were so abun- dant. Travellers through Texas and New Mexico, would do well to look for this beautiful species of cat. The Chat sauvage, described by Dupratz, vol. ii., p. 93, is an animal well worth enquiring about. He thus describes it : — Chat sauvage : He says that it does not feed on animal substances, but on fruits, bread, and other vegetables. It seems that it wras easily and often tamed. It is gentle and frolicsome, and not more than 8 or 10 inches high and about 15 long. The head like that of a fox : when tamed the color is grey ; when wild, red : its paws have long toes and short claws ; it has improperly been called a cat, as it has nothing of the cat about it but its activity, and bears a greater resemblance to the marmot. 1854.] 11 Silvery Fox, of Louisiana, Penn. I. c, p. 48. With a fine and thick coat of a deep brown color, overspread with long silvery- hairs of a most elegant appearance. They differ from most other American species in their habit of burrowing. The description is borrowed from Dupratz, vol. ii., p. 92. This can hardly be the Canis velox. Pennant in Supp. to Arctic Zoology, p. 52, mentions a whitish grey fox, no larger than a hare, common among the Archithinne Indians, 4000 skins of which have been brought in one year to the British factories. The Comanche Dog : Common among the Comanche Indians. Naked, except a few stiff hairs about the mouth. This dog is mentioned by Clavigero, vol. i., p. 56, as an inhabitant of Mexico, called by the natives Holoitzuicintli. It is remarkable that though some of these dogs have been brought within the United States, we have no description of them : they are quite large, being upwards of two feet high, and used by the natives for hunting. Here is an instance of the absurdity of those writers who state, that climate has an influence in altering the appearance of animals ; thus they tell you that the so-called Turkish dog, which is hairless, has been made so by its progenitors living for numerous generations in a warm climate ; now here we see an animal equally naked, which inhabits the moun- tains and cold steppes of the south-west. Of a similar character is the assertion that sheep lose their wool in the Southern States, and in the West India Islands. The Water Rat of Pennant, 1. c, p. 130. With small eyes, ears covered with fur, teeth yellow, body covered with long black hair, mixed with a few of a rust color, belly of a deep grey. A Mouse of Louisiana : Mentioned by Dupratz. Not larger than Mus musculus, of a very bright bay. These are all the mammals which I can collect, as worthy of being called im- perfectly known, or rather lost to modern naturalists. I now proceed to consider the Birds. Vultur sacra : Bartram's Travels, p. 150. The head and neck are bare of feathers nearly down to the stomach, where the feathers begin to cover the skin, and soon become long and of a soft texture, forming a ruff or tippet, in which the bird, by contracting his neck, can hide that as well as the head ; the bare skin on the neck appears loose and wrinkled, which is of a very deep bright yellow color, intermixed with coral red as it approaches the yellow of the sides and fore part. The crown of the head is red; there are lobed lappets of a reddish orange color, which lie on the base of the upper man- dible. But what is singular is, a large portion of the stomach hangs down on the breast of the bird, in likeness of a sack or half wallet, and seems to be a dupli- cature of the craw, which is naked and of a reddish flesh color, this is partly concealed by the feathers of the breast, unless when it is loaded with food, and then it appears prominent. The plumage of the bird is generally white or cream colored, except the quill feathers of the wings and two or three rows of the co- verts, which are of a beautiful dark brown; the tail which is large and white, is tipt with this dark brown or black, the legs and feet are of a clear white ; the irids golden ; the pupil black. The tail was used by the Seminoles as a war standard. Dupratz, vol. ii., p. 109, mentions this bird under the name of White Eagle, and says that the Indians in whose neighborhood he lived, the Natchez, used the feathers for adorning their pipe of peace. Ferruginous Woodpecker : Pennant, 1. C, p. 271. With a dusky bill, the crown and pendant crest of a pale yellow ; a crimson bar extends from the mouth along the lower part of the cheek. The cheeks, 12 [January, back, and coverts of the wings are of a'deep ferruginous color, lower part of the back of a pale yellow ; primaries ferruginous, barred on their inner webs with black. Sent from South Carolina to Mr. Pennant, by Dr. Garden ; therefore there can be no doubt of its having been obtained near Charleston, although no one has ever seen it since. The high character of both these gentlemen forbids us to suppose that there was any deception on either side, either in sending the animal to Europe, or in its habitat. The Florida Pheasant : Mentioned at page 20 of Stork's introduction to John Bartram's Journal of Travels in East Florida. I have had described to me a bird, which must have been this, as inhabiting the hummocks on the banks of St. John's River, but I never had the good fortune to meet with it. Norton Sound Bustard, Penn. vol. iii., p. 321. A Captain Rich informed Mr. Pennant, that at Norton's Sound, in latitude 64° 30', he had seen great flocks of a large bird which were very shy, ran very fast, and for a considerable way before they took wing, so that he could never get one shot. Black Ibis, Bartram's Travels, p. 148. Black on the upper side, breast and belly white, legs and beak as white as snow. Size of Ibis alba. Red-billed Heron, Pennant, Supp., p. 65. With a red bill. Irids yellow, legs green, plumage white. There are many of the smaller birds of America described by Pennant, that I am convinced are not now known, and many more that have lately been de- scribed as new species, that were well known to the English naturalist. Not being, however, sufficiently acquainted with the ornithology of our country, I cannot, without devoting too much time to the subject, determine which they are. It has all along been the custom with American naturalists, entirely to neglect everything that this illustrious man and elegant scholar has written on the subject of our animals; but it would be a labor well repaid by the thanks of every lover of science, if any one would go over his Arctic Zoology, and give us the scientific names of every thing which he has described. There remain only a few reptiles to be added to this list : there can be no dif- ficulty in obtaining them if they really exist, and I cannot see how any one can doubt of their existence. A very little attention on the part of persons living where they are said to be found, would soon make us acquainted with them. Trionyx, of Bartram. Travels, p. 177. They are flat and thin, two and a half feet in length, and eighteen inches in breadth across the back ; in form resembling the sea tortoise, the whole back shell except the vertebrae or ridge, which is not at all prominent, and ribs on each side, is soft and cartilaginous, and easily reduced to a jelly when boiled ; the an- terior and posterior extremities of the back shell appear to be embossed with round horny warts or tubercles ; the belly or nether shell is but small and car- tilaginous, except a narrow cross bar connecting it at each end with the back shell, which is hard and osseous ; the head is large and clubbed, of nearly an oval form, the upper mandible is however, protruded forward and truncated, somewhat resembling a swine's snout, at the extreme end of which the nostrils are placed ; on each side of the base or root of this proboscis are the eyes, which are large. The upper beak is hooked and sharp like a hawk's bill ; the lips and corners of the mouth large, tumid, wrinkled and barbed with long pointed warts which can be projected or contracted at pleasure, which gives the creature a frightful and disagreeable countenance. Inhabits St. John's river, Florida. It is a remarkable circumstance, that although this tortoise is found as it were at our very doors, no one has ever seen it since the venerable author of the pre- 1854.] 13 ceding description noticed it in his travels. There can be no doubt of its exist- ence in St. John's river of Florida, and that it can be obtained at any time. Although it is represented in the figure attached to the description with five claws on all the feet, this does not detract from the truth of the account. If this be an error, I attribute it to his not having made a complete drawing of it at the time when he first saw it, and afterwards having finished it from memory ; from this may have resulted the error, if there is one. Although I do not see any more difficulty in a Trionyx having claws on all his toes, than in a Cistudo having three claws when it has five toes j in this case there is a subtraction, in the other an addition. It has been said that this wa3 an incorrect and exaggerated figure of the Trionyx spiniferus (spinifer) of Lesueur. Nothing can be more absurd than this assertion. Lesueur's species has on the front part of the cara- pace a series of small pointed warts not easily discoverable, while Bartram's animal has larger extensible and contractile tubercles on the head and neck. I remember when it was much the custom to ridicule Mr. Bartram, and to doubt the truth of many of his relations. For my own part I must say, that having travelled in his track I have tested his accuracy, and can bear testimony to the absolute correctness of all his statements. I travelled through Florida before it was overrun by its present inhabitants, and found every thing exactly as he re- ported it to be when he was there, even to the locality of small and insignificant plants. Mr. Bartram was a man of unimpeached integrity and veracity, of primeval simplicity of manners and honesty unsuited to these times, when such virtues are not appreciated. Apalone hudsonica, Rafinesque, Annals of Nature, p. 3. Upper shell rounded-elliptical, fiat, entire, soft, with a small anterior keel, yellowish with brown spots, and a circular black line near the margin. Two long oculated spots before and behind the eyes. Nose proboscidal; jaws with- out a bill. Lower shell anterior. Body denudated behind. Tail obtuse, mu- cronate, shorter than the shell. Five palmated toes to all the feet, with small claws. Length 2 to 6 inches. Found in the Hudson river between the falls of Hadley, Glen, and Baker, and further up to the source. Called Mud Turtle. Although this description was published long ago by Rafinesque, no one, that I know of, has ever thought fit to look for the animal. Now, although Rafin- esque was certainly insane and apt to see and describe things wrhich had no real existence, yet when his descriptions appear full and complete, and his localities accurately specified, it certainly is worth while to look for the objects he pro- fesses to have seen. Why do not some of our young naturalists take such things in hand ? Advancing age forbids me. The slender Lizard, Penn. Supp., p. 86. About eight inches long, as slender as a crow-quill; head small, tail blunt and of equal thickness ; body marked from head to tail with lines of pale brown and black, belly lead color ; top of the nose and tail white. Salamandra. 1 once saw, and indeed had in my possession, a Triton or Salamandra, which was sent from New Orleans, of which the following is a short description. I add it in this place because it was a most extraordinary animal. Dusky, speckled with yellowish white, and inclining to blown on the belly ; everywhere except on the belly and tail covered with small warts, so as to re- semble shagreen; tail blunt, with a narrow fin wrinkled longitudinally and trans- versely so as to appear striated and articulated. Length 5 in. .75. The preceding are all the animals which I can find that have once been more or less particularly described, but of which at present no one knows anything. I might have added to the list many that have been described by Rafinesque, but the most of them appear in their coloring, as well as in other characteristics, so opposed to everything known of congeneric species, as to render it extremely probable that the author was laboring under some delusion when he published 14 [January, them. It is well known that he was in the habit of describing things which he never saw, and in his eagerness to claim a priority in discovery, to describe the same object two or three times over under different names. It is to be hoped that the reading of these few pages will turn the attention of naturalists in the Southern and Western States to the investigation of the few species pointed out as forgotten or lost, and that we will not remain long with- out knowing whether they have a real existence. The Committee on Mr. Conrad's " Synopsis of the Genera Paraph ol as and Penicilla " reported in favor of publication in the Journal. A report was read from a Committee appointed at the meeting of 3d inst., to inquire into the expediency of having an Address delivered be- fore the Society at its Anniversary on the 21st of March next, and to nominate a suitable person to prepare such an Address, recommending the same, and nominating Win. Parker Foulke, Esq. The Report was adopted and the nomination confirmed. A Report was also read and adopted from a Committee appointed at a late meeting to enquire into the expediency of assembling the members of the Academy at an Anniversary Dinner on the same day, (21st of March,) and in favor of the same. A Resolution was also adopted, appointing a Committee of Arrange- ments for the occasion. Committee, Dr. Ruschenberger, Mr. Cassin, Prof. Carson, Mr. H. C. Hanson, and Mr. Wm. P. Foulke. ELECTION. Lieut. D. M. Couch, U. S. A. was elected a Correspondent. The Society then elected the following list of Standing Committees for 1854. Committees for 1854. Ethnology, John S. Phillips, B. H. Coates, M. D., J. Aitken Meigs, M. D.j Comparative Anatomy and General Zoology, Joseph Leidy, Edward Hallowell, John H. Brinton ; Mammalogy, John Le Conte, James C. Fisher, Samuel W. Woodhouse ', Ornithology, John Cassin, Edward Harris, George A.McCaU; Herpetology and Ichthyology , Edward Hallowell, John Cassin, Gavin Watson ; Conchology, T. A. Conrad, Thos. B.Wilson, W. S. W. Ruschenberger; Entomology and Crustacea, S. S. Haldeman, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Robert Bridges ; Botany, Robert Bridges, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Elias Durand ; Palaeontology, Thomas B. Wilson, Joseph Leidy, Charles E. Smith ; Geology, Isaac Lea, Aubrey H. Smith, J. P. Lesley ) Mineralogy, William S. Vaux, Samuel Ash- mead, John C. Trautwine; Physics, James C. Fisher, B. Howard Rand, Edmund Draper; Library, Robert Pearsall, Wm. P. Foulke, H. C. Hanson ; Proceedings, Wm. S. Zantzinger, Joseph Leidy, W. S. W. Ruschenberger. 1854.] 15 February ItJi. Mr. Lea, Vice-President, in the Chair. Letters were read : From the Natural History Association of Halle, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, vol. 6, No. 6, and transmitting the volume of Memoirs of that Society, announced this evening. From the Trustees of the New York State Library, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, vol. 6, No. 12. From Mrs. M. K. Wetherill, dated Philadelphia, Feb. 1st, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the Resolution adopted Dec. 27, 1853. From Dr. W. P. Gibbons, Corresponding Secretary of the California Academy of Natural Sciences, dated San Francisco, Dec. 31, 1853, ac- companying the botanical specimens presented this evening. Mr. Lea read a paper entitled " Rectification of Mr. T. A. Conrad's Synopsis of the Family of Naiades of North America, published in the Proceedings of the Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, February, 1853." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Prof. Haldeman and Dr. Wilson. February 21st. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read : From Lieut. D. M. Couch, U. S. A., dated Washington, Feb. 7th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Corres- pondent, From the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, dated October 6th, 1852, transmitting the numbers of the Balletin of that Society an- nounced this evening. From M. Vauquelin, dated Paris, Aug. 20th, 1853, transmitting a pamphlet on the subject of certain instruments, and a new suture for the treatment of Ectropion, invented by him. The Corresponding Secretary read from the Placer Times and Tran- script, (published at San Francisco,) Jan. 14th, 1854, an extract from the Proceedings of the California Academy of Natural Sciences, claim- ing priority of description of viviparous fish inhabiting the Bay of San Francisco, for Dr. Wm. P. Gibbons. Dr. Gibbons proposes the generic name Holconote, and for one species H. Agassizi. For another species the California Academy proposed H. Gibbonsensis. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Descriptions of some Coleoptera from Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper, &c, &c. j" and also a second paper entitled " Synopsis of the (Edemeridag of the United States ;" both of which were referred to Dr. Zantzinger, Prof. Haldeman and Mr. Cooke. 16 [February, February 2§th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. The Committee on Dr. Le Conte's papers read at the meeting of 21st inst., reported in favor of publication. Descriptions of some new Coleoptera from Oregon, collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper of the North Pacific R. R. Expedition, tinder Gov. J. J. Stevens. By John L. LeConte, M. D. The following species were contained in a collection recently made by Dr. Cooper, and kindly placed in my hands by Prof. Baird. The total number of species collected was nearly 70; among which are specimens of Omus De j e a n ii and Audouini. Among the described species, not before noticed in our territory, is Ancylochira L a n g i i, (Buprestis Langii, Mann.) and among species also found on the Atlantic side of the continent, Haplochile p y g- maea, Lee {Morio pyg. Dej.), Clytus undulatus Say, Monohammus s c u- t e 1 a r i s Say, Hispa v i 1 1 a t a Fabr., Eumolpus a u r a t u s Fabr., Galleruca canadensis Kirby. This indicates, that notwithstanding the extensive collections which have been made both in California and Russian America, the Coleoptera of Western America are still comparatively unknown, and that consequently even small .collectious made by travellers, who have but little time to devote to science, will possess very great scientific value. Cicindela, n. sp. The thorax of the specimen has been destroyed, and the species can therefore be made known only approximately, until the native species of the genus have been properly arranged in systematic order. The species in question seems most closely allied to C. longilabris Say, which it resembles exactly in its markings, but the elytra are less deeply punctured, and of a dull greenish bronze color; the apex is broadly rounded and finely serrate; the suture is armed with a minute spine. The labrum is not longer than is usual in the species of the genus, and entirely resembles in form C. 12-guttata, having only one distinct tooth at the middle; the palpi (of the female) are black; the sculp- ture of the head precisely as C. 12-guttata. Platynus, a species resembling P. obsoletus (Feronia obs. Say,) in every re- spect except that the elytra are somewhat wider. I have not yet investigated this genus sufficiently to pronounce upon the value of such a difference. Carabus oregonensis, cyaneo-niger thorace fere opaco, latitudine vix breviore minus convexo dense intricato-rugoso, antice posticeque angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angulis posticis modice productis, apice rotundatis, lateribus pone medium subreflexis, elytris thorace fere duplo latioribus subtiliter striolato- punctatis, foveis minus profundis serie triplici impressis. Long. -85. One male found at Prairie Paso. This species is closely related to C. taedatus Fabr. (also found by Dr. Cooper,) but the thorax is proportionally smaller and narrower and much more densely and finely rugose ; the rugosities of the head are also smaller, and the impressions less deep ; the striae of the elytra and the impressed foveas are all less marked. Calosoma aenescens, nigroaeneus, crassiusculus, thorace latitudine plus duplo breviore, subtilius dense intricato-rugoso, basi utrinque late foveato, lateri- bus latius rotundatis pone medium modice reflexis angulis posticis paulo productis rotundatis, elytris thorace latioribus seriatim punctatis, foveisque aeneis triplici serie impressis, interstitiis catenatim paulo elevatis, tibiis intermediis rectis. Long. .8- Both sexes, found at Fort Vancouver. This species is very'different from C. tepidum and calidum by the thorax being less rounded on the sides and the pos- terior angles being distinctly prolonged. To Callisthenes it approaches by its form, but the wings are large, and the outer points of the antennae are entirely pubescent. The spaces between the foveas of the elytra are also quite distinctly elevated. 1854.] 17 Ancylochira a d i e c t a, supra splendide viridiaenea, dense punctata, crassius- cula, thorace latitudine fere triplo breviore, antrorsum anguslato, lateribus late rotundatis cuprascentibus, late canaliculate-, elytris lateribus late, sutura an- guste cupreis, costis utrinque 4, scutellarique cum sutura confluente elevatis laevibus nitidis, costa altera subsuturali fere integra adiecta, interstitiis dense punctatis, apice subemarginata. Long. *6, lat '25. One specimen found between Fort Vancouver and Yokolt Plain, in July. This species belongs to a group of species having the form of A. aurulenta and striata, but differs from all the others known to me by having obsolete costae in the in- tervals between the four ordinary costae, and by having an additional costa ex- tending nearly from the apex to the base between the elevated suture and the normal first dorsal costa. The head is entirely free from hair, and is uniformly punctured ; the under surface of the body is bright coppery, tinged with green, moderately punctured; the prosternum is broadly impressed between the coxae, and is not hairy. Ancylochira lauta, supra splendide viridi-aurea, dense punctata, fronte non concava fere glabra, thorace latitudine plus duplo breviore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus late rotundatis cuprascentibus, late canaliculato, elytris lateribus late, sutura anguste cupreis, costis 4, alteraque scutellari cum sutura confluente nitidis laevibus elevatis, interstitiis dense granulato-punctatis, apice vix truncata. Long. -58— '75. Abundant in Oregon, whence it has been brought by Dr. Townsend, Capt. Wilkes' Expedition, Col. M/Call and Dr. Cooper. Resembles the brilliant variety of A. striata, but is distinguished by its more robust form, and by the costae of the elytra being impunctured. A variety occurs in which the elytra have each a broad blue vitta, extending from the first to the third costa. The body be- neath is coppery, somewhat hairy, and the antepectus is impressed between the coxae ; the front has a narrow somewhat smooth medial line. Ancylochira radians, supra splendide'viridi-aurea, dense punctata fronte concava, longe albo-pilosa, thorace latitudine vix duplo breviore, antrorsum an- gustato, lateribus late subrotundatis cuprascentibus, disco late canaliculato, elytris sutura margineque cupreis, costisque quatuor alteraque scutellari cum sutura confluente nitidis elevatis laevibus, interstitiis dense granulato-punctatis, apice subtruncata. Long. *6, lat. -23. One specimen found at Fort Vancouver. It is with some hesitation that I venture to describe this species as distinct : its general form is narrower than A. lauta, and is very much that of A. striata: from the latter it differs by the somewhat concave and pilose front. The pectus is as in the other species, but is densely clothed with long white hair. The under surface is coppery golden, more densely punctured than in the preceding. Ancylochira pl'acida, viridi-aurea, cupreo-tincta, confertissime punctata, thorace latitudine fere duplo breviore, antrorsum subangustato, lateribus late ro- tundatis, postice transversim impresso, elytris vitta cuprea utrinque ornatis, striis punctatis haud distincte impressis, apice conjunctim rotundatis, Long. «29. Collected by the late J. K. Townsend, in Oregon, and given me by Mr. Will- cox, as Phcenops placida of the Berlin museum. The form of body is more cylindrical than in the other species known to me; the pectus is not canaliculate, and the prolongation of the sternum is broader and more obtuse than in A. decora, or the other species with which I have compared it. The insect, though differing from Ancylochira in having the scutel slightly pointed behind, ap- proaches much nearer to that genus than to Phaenops, and until a revision is made of the genera of our native Buprestidae on more natural characters than have been hitherto employed in their study, should be suffered to remain where I have placed it. Ellycbnia facula, elongato-elliptica, atra tenuiter pubescens, thorace latitu- dine vix breviore, disco convexiusculo, lateribus et apice concavis reflexis punctatis, macula submarginali lunata rosea ornato, elytris dense punctulatis linea unica dorsali obsoleta utrinque notata. Long. *52. One specimen, Prairie Paso, differs from E. corrusca by its less dilated 2 18 [February. form, and longer thorax, and by Ike presence of only one elevated line on each elytron. Lytta Cooperi, atra, capite thoraceque laete fulvis, nitidis laevigatis, illo basi subemarginato, ante oculos nigro, hoc pentagonali, latitudine breviore, an- gulis lateralibus acatis, dorso deplanato, elytris lineis elevatis grosse reticulatis ; antennis extus incrassatis, articulis rotundatis, tibiis posticis calcari externo lon- giore dilatato. Lous- -73. Wenass river, to Fort Colville. It affords me great pleasure to dedicate this fine species to Dr. Cooper, to whose taste for natural history we are indebted for the present interesting collection. This species belongs to group (A — b) of my synopsis of Meloides, (Proc. Acad. 6, 334,) near L. vulnerata, but is very distinct by the reticulated elytra. Ditylus gracilis, elongatus ater, tenuiter pubescens, thorace latitudine lon- giore, obovato postice angustato, lateribus antice rotundatis, dense punctulato, late profunde canaliculato, disco utrinque ante medium subfoveato, elytrts subti- liter granulato-punctatis, lineis 4 distinctis subelevatis. Long. «63. One specimen found between Fort Vancouver and Yokolt Plain, in July. Very different from the two species mentioned on p. 20, by the more slender form and elongate thorax; the dorsal channel is dilated and bifurcated towards the apex and base of the thorax. Phymatodes aeneus, osneo-piceus, parcius pubescens, thorace latitudine bre- viore, rotundato punctulato, antice posticeque marginato, elytris thorace paulo latioribus, nitidissimis, parce punctatis, femoribus valde clavatis, antennarum basi rufescente. Long. *3. One specimen found betwreen Fort Vancouver and Yokolt Plain. Somewhat resembles in appearance P. sereus. Asemum a s p e r u m, nigro-piceum, tenuiter pubescens, capite scabro-punctato, oculis magnis valde emarginatis, thorace latitudine breviore rotundato, punctato, medio late excavato, versus latera punctis elevatis exasperato, elytris subtiliter scabris, lineis duabus obsoletis vix distinctis. Long. *7 — *9. Prairie Paso, July to August. This fine species seems intermediate between Criocephalus and Asemum ; the eyes, although nearly as large as in the former genus, are deeply emarginate; the antennae are hardly half as long as the body, and pubescent. The discoidal excavation of the thorax does not extend much in front of the middle. Crossidius ? h i r t i p e s, ater, thorace confertim punctato, latitudine breviore, lateribus obtuse armatis, basi marginata, disco utrinque pone medium subfo- veato, elytris confertim subtilius punctatis, fulvis, sutura basique nigro-margi- natis, abdomine sanguineo, basi obscuro ; subtus parcius longe pilosus, tibiis intus dense pilosis. Long. *5 One specimen, Wenass river to Fort Colville. The palpi and antennae are destroyed: it is possible that this should form a separate genus, but the man- dibles are emarginate at tip as in Crossidius, from which it seems to differ in having the thorax obtusely armed at the sides, as in Purpuricenus. The upper surface may have been hairy, as in C. testaceus, but the hair is now en- tirely removed. The elevated lines of the elytra are hardly visible. Toxotus flavolineatus, niger, flavo-pubescens, thorace antice posticeque valde constricto, nitido parcius punctulato, canaliculato, lateribus tuberculo magno acuto armatis elytris a basi angustatis, thorace duplo latioribus dense punctu- latis et rugosis, margine a basi fere ad apicem vittaque dorsali postice evanes- cente antice abbreviata utrinque ornatis, apice intus subtruncata. Long. 1*0. One specimen, Fort Vancouver to Yokolt Plain. On each side of the yellow dorsal vitta is a distinct elevated line. Strangalia vitiosa, nigra, flavo-pubescens, capite rufo-variegato, thorace confertim punctato, latitudine breviore antrorsum angustato, lateribus subangu- latis basique subito depressa testaceis, disco nigro, subcanaliculato, postice utrin- que oblique impresso, elytris punctatis fiavis, a basi angustatis, macula laterali 1854.] VJ ad medium apiceque late nigris, ilia oblique intus emarginata, pedibus testaceis femoribus tibiisque posticis ad apicem genubus tarsisque nigris, antennis pallido annulatis. Long. -7. Two specimens, one having the third joint of the antennae black, the other, having it pale at the base, like the following joints : Fort Vancouver and Prairie Paso. This species resembles very closely S. obliterata, but the thorax is shorter and more dilated posteriorly; the impressions are much stronger, and the disc is separated from the base by a sudden declivity ; the basal margin is also yellow, and there is no trace of the two elytral spots before the middle ; the apex of the elytra is not at all rufous. In the description of S. obliterata (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 328) the testaceous sides of the thorax and the annulate antennas are not mentioned ; they were overlooked on account of the dark color of the specimen from which the description was made. Plectrura product a, nigro-picea, parce griseo pubescens, guttulis flavo-pu- bescentibus parce adspersa, confertim rugose punctata, thorace callo dorsali parvo, elytris callis subquinque-seriatis nitidis parce ornatis, apice non crenula- tis, singulatim longe acuminatis, antennis annulatis. Long. «5. One specimen, Fort Vancouver. This species does not agree with the des- cription of P. sprnicauda Mann. (Bull. Mosc. 1852, 366). The thorax has a strong: lateral spine, with some smaller ones around it, as required in the generic description, but the tips of the elytra are not crenulate; the smooth tubercles form five series, of which only the outer one is entire; the others are imperfect, containing only three or four tubercles each ; the sutural one is indistinct, the second ends just behind the middle ; the third and fourth are abbreviated at each end, commencing about one-third from the base, and ending at one-fifth from the apex ; the scutellum and a little thoracic line anterior to it are more densely pubescent, with yellow hair, than any other portions. Tetraopes oregonensis, niger, capite thorace elytrisque coccineis (pallide pubescens ?) thorace nigro-4-punctato, disco medio subito elevato, antice pos- ticeque valde constricto, lateribus subito valde dilatatis, parcius punctate elytris parce punctatis puncto humerali, duobus ante medium, altero utrinque pone medium, scutelloque nigris, pedibus antennarumque articulo lmo coccineis. tarsis, genubus, tibiisque posticis nigris. Long. -55. Wenass River to Fort Colville. This species has the form of T.femora- t us Lee, but the thorax is still more dilated on the sides. From T. basalis (the only other species known to me in which the base of the antennae is red) it is easily known by the sudden elevation of the disc of the thorax. The pubescence has been removed by the alcohol, and I am therefore uncertain whecher the antennae are annulated. The black spots of the elytra are in the usual position, but are very small, and, with the exception of the humeral one, disappear entirely in many specimens. Coccinella subversa, hemispherica nigra, capite ante oculos albo (ore, cly- peoque feminae nigris) thorace subtiliter punctulato, lateribus rotundatis, macula antica ad angulos quadrata, apiceque albis, elytris distincte at subtiliter punctu- latis scutello nigro, et praecipue macula obliqua ad medium nigra notatis. Long. '2. This species resembles closely C. c a lifo r n i c a, but is smaller, and the elytra are much more distinctly punctulate. Hippodamia mo est a, rufescente-nigra, nitida, dense subtiliter pur,ctulata, macula frontali rhomboidea, thoracis margine laterali antice posticeque latiore, linea media ante medium, guttisque dorsalibus duabus albis, elytris thorace lati- oribus macula laterali triangulari ad quadratem posticum alba ornatis. Long. 3. Prairie Paso. The ungues are acutely toothed, as in most species of the genus ; the white triangular spot of the elytra is between one-fourth and one-fifth from the apex, and is somewhat dilated along the margin in one specimen. Necrophorus p o 1 1 i n c t o r, niger, thorace ovali, transverso, marginibus late depressis, disco tenuiter canaliculato, fortius transversim impresso, elytris par- 20 [FEBRUARY^ cius punctatis macula ad medium laterali in epipleuram extenso, aJteraque parva lunata anteapicali rubris, pectore flavo-pubescente, abdomine breviter griseo- ciliato, tibiis posticis rectis. Long. -58. Fort Vancouver to Yokolt Plain. Of the species found in the Atlantic States, this approaches most nearly toN. sexpustulatus; the thorax is almost pre- cisely as in that species, but is more profoundly impressed j the margin is punc- tured, the disc in one specimen is smooth, in the other obsoletely punctulate^ The antennae are entirely black. Necrophorus confossor, niger, thorace ovali, transverso marginibus punc- tatis late depressis, disco parce punctulato canaliculato, transversim valde im- presso, elytris sat punctatis fasciis duabus dentatis (prima ad suturam extendente. epipleurisque auruntiacis, pectore anoque fiavo-piloso, antennarum clava aurun- tiaca basi nigro-picea tibiis posticis rectis. Long. '68. One specimen, Prairie Paso. This species closely resembles in appearance N. marginatus, but the thorax is less narrowed posteriorly, and the depressed margins are considerably broader, being, in fact, very much as in the preceding species, or N. n i g r i t a. Alophus d idy m u s, niger, opacus, ochreo-fusco subtiliter dense pubescensy rostro canaliculato, thorace dense punctato, latitudine vix breviore antice pro- funde constricto lateribus antice paulo rotundatis tenuiter canaliculato, vitta utrinque sublaterali densius pallide pubescente, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, dense subtiliter rugose punctulatis, ochreo nigroque subtesselatis, gutta utrinque ante medium, alteraque ad dodrantem densius pallide pubescentibus. Long. *48. Fort Vancouver ; collected also by the late J. K. Townsend. Somewhat smaller and narrower than A. alternatus Say, and readily distinguished by the different form of the thorax and by the entire absence of elytral striae. I have adopted the name under which it is known in the Berlin Museum. I have several species of Curculionidae, from various sources, collected in Ore- gon, but being unable to determine with certainty the genera to which they belong, and being in truth not at all satisfied with the elaborate arrangement used by Schonherr, I forbear describing them until I can bring them all together ; re- flecting that more confusion may be produced by referring a species to an impro- per genus, than by suffering it to remain undescribed. Synopsis of the CEde.meridje of the United States. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. Although I can contribute but two new species, at present, to this small family of Coleopterous insects, it seems desirable that a concise list of the species already described should be presented, as the descriptions have become somewhat scattered, and some of the species have been placed in wrong genera. The trenera allied to Xylophilus are placed in this family by some entomologists, but the association does not seem natural, and the species are therefore not in- cluded in this synopsis. Calopus Fabr. 1. C. angustus Lee. Ann. Lye. of New York, 5-, 158- Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ditylus Fisch. J. D. quadricollis Lee Ann. Lye. 5, 157. Oregon. 2. D. c ce r u 1 e us Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2nd, 1, 96. Upis carulens Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 2, 20. Maine and Lake Superior. This species is very closely allied to D. lae v is of Europe, but differs by the thorax being finely punctured, less rounded on the sides, less narrowed posteri- orly, and by the basal angles being less prominent. 3. D. gracilis Lee Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 7, 18% Oregon^ 1854.] 21 Anoncodes Schmidt, {emend. Redt.) 1. A. melanura Redt. Kafer, 623. Cantharis mel. Linn. Syst. Nat. Necy- dalis notata Fabr. Ent. Syst. 2, 353 : Syst. El. 2, 371. (Edemera a.picialis Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1, 188. Nacerdes melamtra Schm. Linn. Entom. 1.29 : Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2nd, 1, 96. For the complete synonymy of this species, which is found on both conti- nents, see Schmidt's memoir above quoted, and Redtenbacher's Kiifer, p. 623. The insect is most abundant in the vicinity of our cities, and has probably been introduced by commerce. The synonymy omitted relates to its occurrence on the eastern continent, and therefore has no place in our local fauna. Redten- bacher very properly unites Nacerdes with Anoncodes. Asclera Schmidt. 1. A. dorsalis. Nacerda dorsalis Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 55. * Xanthochroa vittata Say,' Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc 2nd, 1, 96. Sea shore, South Carolina, Texas : abundant in June. The anterior tibiae have two dis- tinct terminal spurs, so that the species cannot be referred to either of the genera in which it has been previously placed. I can see no reason why it should be separated from Asclera, with many of the species of which it agrees in form. 2. A. taeniata, elongata, testacea tenuiter pubescens, thorace obovato, latitudine longiore, confertim punctulato, disco utrinque ante medium late im- presso, lateribus piceis, elytris confertim punctulatis, piceis, margine suturaque testaceis, abdomine picescente, antennarum articulo lmo 3io longiore. Long. •28 — 36. Georgia: although resembling the next species in color, this is readily dis- tinguished by the absence of elevated lines on the elytra, and by the basal joint of the antennae being longer than the third joint : the thorax is also of a different form, being regularly obovate, and without a transverse impression. The an- tennae and anterior tibiae are sometimes slightly fuscous. 3. A. lateralis Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. 2d, 1, 96. Nacerda lateralis Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 54. A. signaticollis Hald. loc. cit. 96. Mid- dle and Southern States. A. signaticollis Hald. is merely a variety of this species in which the brown color has extended over the greater part of the head and legs, and in which the testaceous margin of the elytra has also disappeared. 4. A. bicolor Lee Ann. Lye. 5, 158. Oregon. 5. A. thoracica Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc 2d, 1, 97. Necydalis thora- cica Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 370. Olivier, Enc Meth. 8. 447. (Edemera fraxini Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 272. Middle and Southern States. 6. A. notoxoides Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1, 96. Necydalis notoxoides Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 369. Olivier, Enc Meth. 8, 447. Southern States. 7. A. excavata Lee Am. 5, 158. San Diego, California. 8. A.ruficollis Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. 1,96. (Edemera rvficollis Say, Journ. Acad. 3, 271. Ischnomera carinata Newm. Ent. Mag. 5, 378. Middle and Southern States. 9. A. puncticollis Hald. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2d ser. I, 96. (Edemera puncticollis Say. Journ. Acad. 3, 273. Lake Superior and New York; Missouri, (Say). 10. A. o b s c u r a, nigro-picea, opaca, tenuiter fusco-pubescens, ore rufescente, thorace latitudine breviore, obovato, subtiliter dense punctato rufo disco pur- purascente, callo ad medium sublsvi, tenuiter canaliculato, basi distinctius marginata, elytris subtiliter dense punctulatis lineis duabus obsoletis elevatis, antennarum articulo lmo 3io non longiore. Long. -44. Two specimens Sta Fe, New Mexico, Mr. Fendler. The thorax is broader, and anteriorly more narrowed behind than in any other of our species. The last (11th) joint of the antennae is nearly one half longer than the 10th, and is dis— oo [February. tinctly constricted as in Ditylus at the middle. The labrum and base of the mandibles are reddish ; and the thorax is ferruginous, exhibiting a violet tinge at the middle of the disc, where there is an indistinct smooth space. (Edemera vestita Say, Journ. Acad. 3, 273. Missouri. Unknown to me. (Edemera erythrocephala Germ. Ins. Nov. 167. Kentucky; probably A sclera, but unknown to me. Ischnomera unicolor Mels. Proc. Acad. 3, 54, is very similar and per- haps identical with the European Asclera ccerulea. ' Dryops rufifrons, cyanea, capite thoraceque rufis.' Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1, 2, 76; Syst. El. 2, 68. Unknown to me. A letter was read from Wm. Parker Foulke, Esq., dated February 3d, 1854, accepting the appointment to deliver an Address before the Academy on the 21st of March next, the anniversary of its foundation. Mr. Vaux, on behalf of the Publication Committee, reported the pub- lication of Part 4, Yol. 2, new series, of the Journal. The Report of the Corresponding Secretary was read and adopted. Mr. Vaux read a letter from Prof. J. Lawrence Smith, dated Wash- ington, Dec. 20th, 1854, transmitting a portion of a highly interesting Meteorite from Tennessee, and asking in exchange fragments of Me- teorites in the Cabinet of the Academy, for analysis. Referred to the Committee on Mineralogy. ELECTION. George Harding, Esq. and Fairman Rogers, Esq., of Philadelphia, Dr. Thomas J. Turner, U. S. Navy, and George Dock, M. D., of Harrisburg, were elected Members; and Charles Enderlin, M, D,, of New York, was elected a Correspondent. 1854.] 23 March 7th, 1854.. Dr. Elwyn in the Chair. Letters were read : From the American Philosophical Society, dated Feb. 17th, 1854 ; from the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, dated Feb. 21, 1854, and from the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Nov. 2, 1854, severally acknowledging the receipt of the Publications of the Academy. From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Nov. 2, 1853, transmitting the volumes acknowledged this evening. The Corresponding Secretary read a printed circular from the Port- land (Maine) Natural History Society, dated Jan., 1854, giving an ac- count of the destruction by fire of their entire Cabinet and Library, and soliciting donations in aid of a renewal of the same. Referred to the Curators and Library Committee, with power to act. A paper, intended for publication in the Proceedings, was read, en- titled " Descriptions of new species of Fishes collected in Texas, New Mexico and Sonora, by Mr. John H. Clark, on the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, and in Texas by Capt. Stewart Yan Yliet, U. S. A., Part 2 ; by S. F. Baird and C. Girard." Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Hallowell and Mr. Cassin. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled u Note on the genus Amblychila, Say; which was referred' to Dr. Zantzinger, Mr. Ashmead and Dr. Leidy. Mr. Conrad presented the following papers, viz., " Rectification of the generic names of Tertiary Fossil shells," and " Notes on Shells, with descriptions of three recent and one fossil species/' both of which, being intended for publication, were referred to Dr. Leidy, Mr. Hanson and Dr. Le Conte. Mr. Cassin announced the decease of Mr. John Speakman, one of the few remaining founders of the Academy. March lAth. Yice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from George Dock, M. D., dated Harrisburg, Penna., March 4th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a member. Also a letter from G. H. Kuntz, of Leipzig, dated Feb. 11, 1854, in reference to a collection of Birds' Eggs for sale in that city, with a cata- logue of prices. Referred to the Curators. March 2Sth. Yice-President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees, to which were referred papers read March 7th, by Prof. Baird and Charles Girard, by Dr. Le Conte, and by Mr. Conrad, severally reported in favor of their publication in the Proceedings. PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VII., NO. II. 3 24 [March. Descriptions of new species of Fishes collected in Texas, New Mexico and So- nora, by Mr. John H. Clark, on the U. S. and Mexican Boundary Survey, and in Tjx*s by Capt. Stewart Van Vliet, U. S. A.* By F. S. Baird and Charles Girard. Second Part. VERC0ID2E. 1. Pomotis spectosus, B. and G. — Body ovate, gibbous on the nape; snout small. Head forming the fourth of the total length. Eyes large, their diameter one fourth of the length of the side of the head. Mouth small, posterior ex- tremity of intermaxillary extending to a vertical line passing in advance of the orbit. Peduncle of the tail well developed; caudal with its posterior margin emarginated, and forming lictle less than the fifth of the total length. Pectorals elongated, their tips reaching as far backwards as those of the ventrals, and to the anterior margin of the anal. Scales of lateral line, 43. D X. 11. A III. 11. C 4. I. 8. 7. I. 3. V I. 5. P 11. Ground color, as preserved in alcohol, brownish; lighter beneath. A narrow blackish vitta on each side near the dorsal line, following the curve of the back. Posterior portion of soft dorsal provided with a large subcircular black spot. Anal and ventrals blackish. Pectorals yellowish. Opercular flap moderate, black. Brownsville, Texas. — Capt. Van Vliet. J. H. Clark. 2. Pomotis fallax, B. and G. — Body short and high, thicker, and head and mouth larger than in P. speciosus. Body depressed at the nape. Outline of head more oblique, at an angle of about 45 degrees with the axis of the body. A vertical line erected at the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass along the anterior edge of the pupil to the line of insertion of head and body. Opercular flap very large and black. Peduncle of the tail shorter than in P. speciosus, as also the pectorals, which de not reach as far back as the filamentous tips of the external soft ray of the ventrals. Scales of lateral line, 39. D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. 1. 8. 7. I. 2. V I. 5. P 14. Deep blackish brown above, yellowish beneath. Bluish dots on the sides of head, sometimes confluent into irregular lines. A small dark spot at the poste- rior and basal portion of the soft dorsal fin. Ventrals blackish. Elm Creek, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 3. Pomotis convexifrons, B. and G. — Allied to the two preceding species in general appearance. The nape is little if at all depressed. A vertical line erected from the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass along the an- terior border of the pupil and fall considerably behind the line of junction of head and body ; angle of outline of head with the axis of body, more than 45°. Scales in lateral line, 37. Peduncle of tail short. Opercular flap black and larger than in P. fall ax. The spiny dorsal is highest upon its middle, and the external soft ray of ventrals not prolonged into a thread. D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. I. 8. 7. 1. 2. V I. 5. P 13. Color uniform reddish brown ; fins light greyish. Posterior and basal portion of soft dorsal provided with a small roundish spot. Ventrals blackish. Rio Cibolo, trib. of Rio San Antonio, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 4. Pomotis nefastcjs, B. and G. — General form more elongated than in P. convexifrons, and less so than in P. aquilensis. Outline nearly straight along nape. Opercular flap small, black, narrowly margined with blue. Head form- ing two-sevenths of the total length. Eyes rather large, their diameter forming the fourth of the length of side of head. Mouth rather small ; a vertical line erected from the posterior extremity of the maxillary, would pass between the • anterior edge of the orbit and the pupil, and fall considerably anterior to the * The species described in this paper from the waters of western Texas and those emptying into the Gila, were collected while the Boundary Survey was in charge of Col. J. D. Graham ; the others while under Major W- H. Emory. 1854.] 25 nuchal line. Caudal fin posteriorly emarginated. Spiny dorsal comparatively low. Soft part of dorsal and of anal well developed. Tip of ventrals reaching the anterior margin of anal. Pectorals not extending quite as far back. Scales along lateral line, 45. D'XI. 10. A III. 10. C 3. I. 8. 7. I. 2 V I. 5. P 14. Uniform reddish brown, lighter on lower part of flanks. A small black spot at the posterior basal part of the soft dorsal. Dorsals, caudal and anal greyish, with a darker margin. Ventrals and pectorals yellowish. Rio Cibolo and Rio Salado, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 5. Pomotis heros, B. and G — General outline subelliptical. Nape depressed. Head forming the third of the length, not including the caudal fin. Caudal entering for about five times in the total length. Eyes large, and contained four times, by their diameter, in the length of side of head. Mouth small ; pos- terior extremity of intermaxillaries not extending beyond a vertical from the anterior rim of the orbit. Pectorals very long, their tip reaching backwards as far as the second soft ray of anal fin. Tip of ventrals extending to the first spine of the anal. Caudal crescent-shaped. Spiny dorsal elevated. D X. 12. A III. 11. C 3. I. 8. 7. I. 2. V I. 5. P 13. Color uniform blackish brown. Pectorals yellowish; other fins greyish. Oper- cular flap black with a whitish border, Rio Cibolo, trib. of Rio San Antonio, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 6. Bryttus longtjlus, B. and G. — Pomotis longulus, B. and G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc, Philada. vi. 1853, 391; and in Marcy's Expl. Red River, La., 1853. PI. xii., page 245. The specimens are larger than those previously described. The coloration is likewise better preserved. D X. 11. A III. 9. C 3. I. 8. 7. I. 2. V I. 5. P 13. The ground color, as preserved in alcohol, is reddish brown with minute im- punctures of greyish, the dorsal and anal being provided posteriorly, the first with a subcircular, large black spot, the second with an elongated spot of the same color, and extending nearly to the whole base of the soft part of that fin. The pectorals and caudal are uniform greyish, the latter having a yellowish border. Ventrals and external half of* anal yellowish. Rio Cibolo, trib. of Rio San Antonio, Texas. — J. H. Clark. 7. Grystes nuecensis, B. and G. — Head forming four-thirteenths of the entire length. Mouth deeply cleft ; its angle reaching a vertical passing backwards of the eye; lower jaw longer than the upper. Eyes rather large ; their diameter contained six times in the length of side of head. Scales on the cheeks a little smaller than those on the opercular apparatus. First dorsal lower than the second, caudal subcrescentic posteriorly. Anal extending a little further behind the second dorsal, though shorter and less deep. D X. 13. A III. 11. C 4. I. 8. 8. 1. 3. VI.5.P 15. Ground color of back black, clouded with greyish brown. Sides dull yellow- grey, with an interrupted darker band. Beneath light yellow. Rio Frio and Rio Nueces, Texas. — J. H.aClark. LABRIBJE. HERICHTHYS, B. and G. — Body compressed ; outline subelliptical ; frontal region convexe. Teeth small, subcorneal, simple, anterior row the most con- spicuous. Lower lip entire. Five branchiostegal rays. Ventrals, dorsal and anal fins acuminated ; caudal rounded. Five or six spiny rays to the anal. Scales large ; lateral line interrupted posteriorly. Obs. — This genus has strong affinities with Heros of Heckel, from which it chiefly differs by the structure of tlTe anterior row of maxillary teeth, which are simple, instead of bein^ provided with lateral hooks. The relative size of the scales will likewise afford another generic feature of no small importance. 8. Herichthys cyanoguttatus, B. and G. — Head forming about two-sevenths of the entire length. Snout subconical, detached from the frontal line by a de- 26 [March, pression in advance of the eye. Jaws equal. Three irregular rows of minute teeth situated behind an anterior and more conspicuous row. Eyes rather lar^e and circular, their diameter being contained four times and a half in the length of side of head. Posterior part of cheeks scaly ; large scales on the opercular apparatus. Anterior margin of dorsal situated in advance of the insertion of ventrals; tip of posterior rays extending a little beyond the tip of those of anal. Insertion of ventrals backwards of base of pectorals ; external soft ray much longer than the others. The caudal forms about the two-ninths of the entire length. D XVI. 9. + 1. A V. 6 + 1. C 2. I. 7. 7.1. 3. V I. 5. P 14. The scales are quite large ; there being 19-20 rows of them across the line of greatest depth, and eighteen in the lateral line, from upper angle of operculum to where it is interrupted, and eight more beneath on the peduncle of the tail. Ground color brownish, with small bluish spots scattered all over the body and fins. Brownsville, Texas (fresh water). — Capt. Van Vliet and John H. Clark. SILURIDjE. AILURICHTHYS, B. and G. — Head depressed, subrounded, smooth and un- armed. Two pairs of flattened barbels, — a maxillary pair, sometimes very much elongated, and a submaxillary one, always shorter. Velvet teeth on the rnaxil- laries, and a band of similar teeth immediately behind the upper maxillary. An- terior margin of both dorsal and pectoral fins prolonged into a membranous thread, more or less elongated according to the species. An adipose fin opposite the anal. Caudal more or less forked. 9. Ailurichthys marinus, B. and G. — Siluriis marinus, Mitch. — Gahichthys parrce, Cuv. and Val., Hist. Nat. Poiss. XV. 1840, 33. — Gahichthys marinus, Storer, Synops. 1846, 149. Indianola, Texas. — J. H. Clark. Obs. — We refer to the same genus ; Gahichthys gronovii, G. eydouxii and G. blochii, of Cuvier and Valenciennes. 10. Arius equestris, B. and G. — Maxillary barbels extending to the middle of length of pectorals. Head contained four times and three-quarters in the total length. Adipose fin of medium size, and situated opposite to the middle of anal. The latter is concave upon its external margin, and deeper than long. The an- terior margin of dorsal is equi-distant between tip of snout and adipose fin. Tip of pectorals extending as far back as the posterior margin of dorsal. Anterior margin of dorsal thrice as high as the posterior margin ; superiorly that fin is subconcave. Longitudinal diameter of eye contained five times in the length of side of head. Br. 5. D I. 7. A 16. C 13. I. 7. 7. I. 12. V 6. P I. 9. Indianola, Texas. — J. H. Clark JV. 11. Pimelodus affinis, B. and G. — Very closely allied to P. cmruhscens, Rafin. and distinguished from it by a more advanced position of the dorsal fin and a greater elongation of the barbels. The head is contained five times and a half in the entire length. The caudal is about the same length as the head. The length of the anal fin is a little more than the fourth of the length, as in P. c&ru- lescens. The eyes are of medium size, and their diameter contained a little over six times in the length of side of head. D I. 6. A 35. C 5. I. 8. 7. 1. 6. V 8. P I. 10. Color reddish brown above, silvery white beneath ; occasionally marked with subcircular and small black spots. Rio Grande del Norte. — J. H. Clark. CHARACINI. ASTYANAX, B. and G — Adipose fin present. Abdominal line not serrated. A double row of teeth on both the upper and lower jaw, and flattened with several conical spines or processes upon their edge. Neither canine nor palative teeth. Dorsal fin above the ventrals. Scales large. 1854.] 27 12. Astyanax argeis-tatus, B. and G. — Body very much compressed. Head short, forming about the fifth of the entire length. Eyes lar^e and circular. Mouth of medium size, its angles not extending to the vertical of the pupil. Opercular apparatus quite narrow. Dorsal fin subquadrangular, higher tinm long, slightly concave upon its upper margin, its origin being midway between tip? of snout and base of caudal fin. Adipose slender, opposite the posterior portion of anal. Caudal deeply forked and longer than the head. Anal very long, exteriorly concave, much deeper anteriorly than posteriorly, and situated behind the dorsal. Ventrals immediately under the dorsal, and rather slender. Pectorals likewise slender, their tips, however, do not reach the base of ventrals. D I. 10. A I. 20+1. C 5. I. 9. 8. I. 4. V 8. P 13. Scales higher than long, somewhat truncated anteriorly ; their surface exhibit- ing several very marked diverging striae. Lateral line conspicuous, slightly in- clined downwards. Back deep reddish brown. Sides silvery. Belly reddish. Fins reddish yel- low. An elongated black spot at the base of the tail, extending along the cen- tral ray of caudal fin. Upper tributaries of Rio Nueces. — J. H. Clark. CYPRINID^. 13. Catostojius congestus, B. and G. — At first sight this species calls to mind C. gibhosus, by its short and contracted shape ; it differs from it, however, in the scales and form of the fins. The head is contained five times and a half in the total length. The snout is blunt, abruptly truncated, and the mouth very small. The eyes are large, subelliptical, and their longitudinal diameter con- tained four times in the length of the head from the tip of snout to posterior mar- gin of opercular apparatus. The dorsal fin is subquadrangular, its anterior mar- gin being nearer to the tip of snout than to the base of caudal. The caudal is semilunar, with the lobes rounded. The anal is narrow, its length less than the half its height. The ventrals are inserted under the middle of the dorsal. The tip of pectorals does not reach the base of ventrals. D II. 12 ; A I. 7+1 ; C 4. 1. 8. 8. I. 3; V 9 ; P 17. The scales are large, there are fourteen rows across the line of greatest depth of body. The lateral line, which runs straight along the middle of the side, contains about forty-six scales. The color as preserved in alcohol is uniform reddish brown above, lighter be- neath, sides silvery. The fins are all unicolored, and of the tint of the region to which they belong. Rio Salado, Texas. — John H. Clark. 14. Catostomus clarkii, B. and G. — A rather small and short species, in shape subfusiform and compressed. The dorsal line is gently arched. Head small, subcorneal, truncated anteriorly, forming a little less than the sixth of the total length of tbu fish. The eyes are subcircular, of medium size, their diameter being contained about four times in the length of side of head. The mouth is larger than in C. covgextus, and surrounded with more developed lips. The up- per margin of dorsal fin is slightly concave, its anterior margin as high as long. The caudal is subcrescentric posteriorly, with rounded lobes. The insertion of the anal is narrow, its height is twice and a half the width. The insertion of ventrals is under the posterior third of the dorsal. The pectorals are elongated and of medium development. D II. 114 1 ; A II. 7 ; C 5. I. 8. 8. I. 4 ; V 10 ; P 17. The scales are rather lame; about twenty rows across a line from base of ven- trals to anterior margin of dorsal. Sixty-eight to seventy scales in the lateral line, which extends to caudal fin. Colors in alcohol : greyish brown above, with scattered darker nebulous spots; sides greyish; belly whitish ; fins unicolor, vertical ones greyish; horizontal ones yellowish. Rio Santa Cruz, Gila. — John H. Clark. 28 [March, 15. Catostomus plebeius, B. and G. — Body subfusiform, compressed. Head elongated, subcorneal, forming the fifth of the entire length. Mouth of medium size. Eyes large, subelliptical, their longitudinal diameter being contained about five times in the length of side of head. Dorsal fin subquddrangular, its anterior margin being equi-distant between the tip of snout and the first rudi- mentary rays of the upper lobe of the caudal. The latter is slightly concave posteriorly, and the lobes rounded off. The base of the anal is contained nearly three times in its height, and when brought backwards its tip extends to the ru- dimentary rays of the inferior lobe of the caudal fin. The ventrals are inserted under the posterior, third of the dorsal, bent backwards their tip does not reach as far as the anus. The pectorals are of medium development, subovate, pointed posteriorly. D I. 9+1. A I. 7. C 3. I. 8. 8. I. 2. V 8. P 14. The scales are of medium size, considerably the largest on the peduncle of the tail. Twenty-eight to thirty rows from the base of the ventrals to the dor- sal fin. About eighty in the lateral line, which is not discernible as far as the base of caudal fin. The color, as preserved in alcohol,' is dark brown on the upper regions, faintly mottled with blackish patches. The sides and belly exhibit traces of orange in some of the specimens, in others it is pale yellowish. The fins are unicolor, the dorsal, caudal, and pectorals blackish brown ; the anal and ventrals yellowish. Rio Mimbres, trib. of Gila. — John H. Clark. 16. Catostomus tnsignis, B.andG. — Subfusiform, elongated, compressed. Head forming two-ninths of the total length. Mouth of medium size, surrounded with considerably developed lips. Eyes large, subelliptical; their longitudinal diam- eter contained almost six times in the length of side of head. The dorsal fin is subquadrangular, its anterior margin is situated midway between the snout and base of caudal fin. The latter is posteriorly forked, with its angles subacute. The anal is quite narrow and elongated, its base enters three times in the length of its anterior margin. The ventrals are inserted under the posterior half of the dorsal, their tip posteriorly does not reach the vent. The pectorals are elonga- ted, their tips not extending as far back as the anterior margin of the dorsal. D II. 11. A II. 7+1. C 3. I. 8. 8. I. 3. V 10. P 18. The scales are large, there are twenty rows between the base of ventrals and the dorsal line. The lateral line takes a straight course along the middle of the sides and is composed of about sixty scales. The color, as preserved in alcohol, is dark reddish brown above and on the sides, lighter beneath. There is a black dot at the base of each scale, giving a dotted appearance to the body. The fins are unicolor. Rio San Pedro of the Rio Gila. — John H. Clark. 17. Cailpiodes tumidtjs, B. andG. — Head forming four-nineteenths of the total length. Snout conical. Mouth very small and protruding. Lips small. Eyes very large, their diameter contained four times in the length of side of head. Anterior margin of dorsal equi-distant between the tip of snout and base of cau- dal, the posterior portion of which is very low. Tip of anal extending to base of caudal. Tip of ventrals reaching as far back as the vent. Tip of pectorals extending almost to base of ventrals. Caudal fin forked, and about the same length as the head. JJ II. 27. A II. 9. C 5. I. 8. 8. I. 4. V II. 9. P 16. Thirteen rows of scales may be counted on the line of greatest depth, and thirty-seven or thirty-eight scales on the lateral line. Color lisjht reddish brown above and yellowish white beneath. Near Fort Brown, Texas. — John H. Clark. 18. Gila gibbosa, B. and G. — Body rather thick; dorsal region between dorsal and occiput more arched than generally observed in the genus. Head forming a little less than the fourth of the entire length ; greatest depth nearly equal to the length of head. Eyes quite large, their diameter contained five times in the length of the side of head. Anterior margin and dorsal nearer to the base of 1854.] 29 caudal than to the tip of snout. Ventrals, as usual, in advance of the dorsal, and anal behind the latter. Greatest length of caudal constituting nearly the seventh of the entire length. The scales assume a greater uniformity according to the resions than in the other species hitherto described. D I. 8+1. A I. 9. C 5. I. 9. 8. I. 4. V 9. P. 17. Color in alcohol ; dark reddish brown above, and on the side ; dull yellow beneath. Rio Santa Cruz, tributary of the Gila — John H. Clark. 19. Gila pulchella, B. and G. — Allied to the preceding species, from which it can be distinguished by the more slender body and head. The head is shorter. The mouth smaller. The greatest depth is contained about five times in the en- tire length ; in Gila gibbosa but four times. Diameter of the eye entering five times and a half in the length of the side of head. Length -of caudal forming about the sixth of the entire length. Two rudiments of spines at the anterior margin of dorsal, instead of one. D IT. 9. A I. 9. C 4. I. 9. 8. 1. 3. V 9. P 17. Color, greyish brown above and on the side : dingy yellow beneath. Rio Mimbres, tributary of the Gila. — John H. Clark. 'Rectification of the generic names of Tertiary Fossil Shells. By T. A. Conrad. Since the publication of several papers on Tertiary fossils, I have, with the aid of more numerous works of reference, been enabled to rectify the nomen- clature of some genera, selecting the earliest authority, whether the author had published a diagnosis or only indicated a genus by refeience to atypical species. GLYCIMERIS, Lam. G. americana, Con. ; G. reflexa, Say ; G. elongata, Co??., 1535 ; G. goldfussii, Wagner ; G. elongata, Con. ; G. porrecta, Con. ; (Panop^ea.) Gloss us, Poli. G. rusticus, Sowerby ; G. Markoei, Con. (Isocardia.) Syndosmya, Recluz. S. aequata, Con. ; S. constricta, Con. ; S. linosa, Con. ; S. mississippiensis,. Con.; S. nuculoides Con.; S. protexta, Con.; S. subobliqua, Con.; S. subre- flexa, Co??. (Aiuphidesma.) Mytiltjs, Lin. M. incurvus, Con. (Myoconcha incurva, Con.) Navicula, Blai?i. N. Marylandica, Con, ; N. cuculloides, Con. ; N. lima, Con. ; N. mississippi- ensis, Co?i. ; N. protracta, Con. (Byssoarca.) Leda, Sch?i??i. Nucula, Lam. L. acuta, Con. ; L. sequalis, Co??. ; L. bella, Con. ; L. calcarensis, Con. ; L. carolinensis, Co?i. ; L. ccslata, Co?i. ; L. concentrica, Say; L. cultelliformis, Rodgers ; L. laevis, Say ; L. liciata, Con.; L. limaluta, Say ; L. mucronata, Con. ; L. opulenta, Co??. ; L. parva, Rodgers ; L. serica, Co??. ; L. subtrigona, Con. ; L. tellinula, Co?i. ; (Nucula.) Mercenaeia, Schttm. Venus, Li?i. M. capax, Co??. ; M. Ducatellii, Co??. ; M. Mortoni, Co?i. ; M. permagna, Co??.; M. Rileyi, Co??. ; M. staminea, Con. ; M. tetrica, Co??. ; M. tridacnoides. Lam. (Venus.) Meretrix, Lam. Cytherea, Lam, M. a?quorea, Co?i. ; M. albaria, Say ; M. astartaeformis, Co??. ; M. carolinen- 30 [March, sis, M. discoidalis. Can.; M. elevata, Con.; M. eversa, Con.; M. fioridana, Con. ; M. imitabilis, Con. ; M. lenticularis, Co?/. ; M. liciata, Con. ; M. Mary- landica, Con. ; M. metastriata, Con. ; M. Mississipppiensis, CW. ; M. Mortoni, Con,. ; M. Nuttallii, Con. ; M. obovata, Con. ; M. ovata, Rodgers ; M. pandata, Co?i. ; M. perbrevis, Con. ; M. perovata, Con. ; M. Poulsoni, Con. ; M. pyga, Con. ; M. reposta, Co«. ; M. Sayana, Con. ; M. semipunctata, Con. ; M. sobrina, Con. ; M. subimpressa, Con.; M. subnasuta, Co«. (Cytherea.) Schizodesma, Gray. Mactra, Lin. S. delumbis, Con. ; S. ponderosa, Con. (Mactra.) Mactropsis, Con. M. aequorea, Con. ; M. rectilinearis, Con. (Triquetra, Con.) Arcopagia, Leach. Tellina. A. biplicata, Con. (Tellina.) Neithea, Drouet. N. Humphreysii, Con. ; N. Poulsoni, Con. (Pecten.) Cyclas, Klein. C. acclinis, Con. ; C. alveata, Con. ; C. anodonta, Say ; C. carinifera, Con. , C. contracta, Say ; C. crenulata, Con. ; C. cribraria, Say : C. dolabra, Con. ; C. Foremani, C n. ; C. Jamaicensis, Lam. ; C. metastriata, Con. ; C. mississip- piensis, Con. ; C. modesta, Con. ; C. multistriata, Con. ; C. pandata, Con. ; C. perlevis, Con.; C. pomilia, Con.; C. radians, Con. ; C. squamosa, Lam. ; C. subobliqua, iS«y ; C. subplanata, Con. ; C subvexa, Con. ; C. 3ymmetrica, Co?z. ; C. trisulcata, Co?/. ; C. undula, Con. (Lucina.) Dosinia, Scopoli. D. (venus) concentrica ? Bom ; (D. acetabulum, Con. ;) D. elegans, Con. ; D. (cytherea) lenticularis, Rodgers ; D. (cytherea) excavata, Morton ; D. discus, Reeve. (Artemis.) The last is a recent species, and the two preceding Cretaceous. D'Orbigny makes D. acetabulum distinct from D. concentrica. UNIVALVES. Ancilla, Lam, A. altilis, Con. ; A. lymneiodes, Con. ; A. scamba, Con. ; A. subglobosa, Con. ; A. tenera, Con. (Ancillaria.) Crucibtjl.um, Mont. C. constrictum, Con. ; C. costata, Say ; C. dumosa, Con. ; C. grandis, Say ; C. multilineata, Con. ; C. ramosa, Con. (Dispot^ea.) Galeodia, Link. Morio, Mont. G. lintea, Con. ; G. (cassis) Hodjjii, Con.; (Casstdaria.) Stomatia, Browne. S. (cryptostoma) perspectiva, Say; S. arctata, Con,; S. bilix, Con.; S. canaliculata, Soxv. ; S. declivis, Con.; S. fragilis, Con. ; S. mississippiensis, Con.; (Sigaretus.) Busyeox, Bolton. Linne confounded Murex amanus with a shell described afterwards by La- marck under the name of Fusus prohoscidifems, by references to figures in Rhumphius and Gualtieri, but his description applies only to the former {Pyrula earica, Lam.) The generic name Busyeon founded on this shell has priority over FrLGUR. Busyeon canaliculatum, Lin. ; B. aruanum, Gmel. ; B. contrarium, Con.; B. coronatum, Con. ; B. excavatum, Con. ; B. fusiforme, Con. ; B. incile, Con. ; 1854.] 31 B. maximum, Con. : B. perversum, Lam. ; B. rugosum, Con.; B. tuberculatum, Con. ; B. gibbosum, Con. The last is a recent species. (Fulgur.) Sycotypus, Browne. Ficus, Bolton. S. Mississippiensis, Con.; S. (pyrula) penita, Con. Porcellana, Adans. P. crassilabra, Con. ; C. denticulata, Con. ; C. eburneola, Con. ; C larvata, Con. ; C. limatula, Con. : C. perexigua, Con. Recent species. P. P. succinea, Con. ; P. albilabris, Co?i. (Marginella.) Amphiceras, Gronovius. A. iota, Con. (Ovula.) Distortrix, Link. D. crassidens, Con. (Triton.) Gyrineum, Link. G. Maclurii, Con, (Ranella.) Yolutilithes, Swains. V. Sayana, Con. ; V. petrosa, Con. (Voluta.) Svvainson includes in this genus the volutes with a callus, as V. rarispina, of which I have proposed the genus Atiileta. Turris, Humph. Gray refers Pleurotoma, Lam. to this genus, but Hermannsen, Turritella. Where there is no diagnosis, and such discrepancy of opinion exists, Turris can hardly be acknowledged. Notes on Shells, with descriptions of three recent and one Fossil Species. By T. A. Conrad. Gxathodon flexuosum, Con. Amer. Journal of Science and Arts, Vol. 3S , p. 93, (figured,) 1840. G. rostratum, Petit. 1853. Rev. et Mail, de Zool., p. 552. G. trigonum, Petit, is probably identical with G. Lecontei, Con., fossil in Cali- fornia. Journ, Acad. Nat. Sc, Jan., 1853. Petit's description was published July, 1853. Note on the genus Trigonella, Con. This name being superseded, I propose to substitute that of Pachydesma. Description of a new Dolium. ~D. album. Oblong-suboval, with convpx ribs, which are closely arranged, except on the shoulder; about 18 on the body whorl ; spire conical, with rounded volutions, columella perforated at base; lip simple, margin acute. This species most nearly resembles D. penlix in form, but is proportionally much narrower, with the ribs more distant and prominent on the shoulder, and with a channel round the suture which the other does not possess. The spire is less elevated, the species much smaller, and the color nearly white without spots. Description of a veto Conularia. C indentata. Elongated, quadrate, tapering very gradually, angles some- what truncated and crossed by numerous indentations ; surface minutely granu- lated by fine equal decussated iines. Locality. — Galena, 111. IVlr. Germain. This species has distant septa, and the middle of each side has an obsolete, slightly impressed, longitudinal line ; on the cast there are two carinated ap- proximate linps, with an impressed line on each side of them. 4 32 [March, Description of a new Bulimus. B. lineolatus. Oblong-ovate, thin, slightly umbilicated ; whorls 6, smooth ; columella reflected, very narrow ; lip reflected, very thin and acute ; color white and fulvous, variegated, with dark brown stripes , aperture more than half the length of the shell ; spire conical. » Inhabits Volcano of Cartago, Costa Rica. t This species approximates B. paziantis of D'Orbigny, but is more ventricose, has a shorter spire, broader bands, narrower columella, and the lip is somewhat reflected, which is not a character of the allied species. That shell has the •aperture less than half the length of the shell, whilst the other has it more than half its length. Description of a new Alasmodonta. Subovate, thin, slightly contracted medially; umbonal slope rounded, slightly ventricose ; ligament margin elevated ; posterior margin obliquely truncated, the extremity subangulated and much above the line of the base ; epidermis oliva- ceous, with a few obscure rays ; cardinal tooth single in the right valve, long, compressed, elevated, triangular ; in the left valve widely trind, the posterior lobe obsolete, and situated posterior to the apex; within bluish. Length If, nearly ; height f. Locality. — J. G. Anthony. Exteriorly this shell closely resembles 77. eolliuus, Con., when young and without spines. N<ote ou the genus Amblychila, Say. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. In a small bottle of specimens of Coleoptera, collected in New Mexico by Major Sibley, U. S. A., recently sent me through my kind friend Prof. Baird, was fortunately contained a specimen of Amblychila; as some confusion seems -still to exist with regard to this very rare insect, a few remarks may not be out of place. Fort Union is about seventy miles E. N. E. from Santa Fe, and consequently «ear the base of the Rocky Mountains; it will be remembered that Say's speci- men was also obtained near the same chain, although at a point farther north. This fact, as well as the complete agreement of the specimen with Say's de- scription, fixes it as an authentic type of A. cylindriformis. The outline (Plate 1) wood cut appended to this note was made by Mr. W. Van Ingen, from a drawing by G. G. White, and is very accurate in form. It will readily enable 'the necessary comparison to be made wilh the Californian specimen described by Mr. Reiche, which I believe was afterwards purchased by Baron Chaudoir. On comparing the New Mexican specimen with Mr. Reiche's figure, (Am. Ent. Sue Tr., vol. S, pi. 19, also copied into Chenus. Encyc. Hist. Nat.) several important differences may be perceived: the head and thorax of his is propor- tionally narrower, and in the enlarged figure of the head, the labium is repre- sented as having a quite prominent tooth each side of the emarginate medial pro-? longation, and the lateral angles are rounded; in mine, the labrum each side of the prolongation is merely slightly sinuous, and the lateral angles are rectangu- lar, so that the general outline each side of the middle is decidedly concave. The 'large punctures in the side figure seem to form a regular series between the -costa and the suture, wThile in mine they are distributed irregularly. In comparison with the description given by Mr. Reiche (1. c. p. p. 560), I have only to say, that my specimen shows a quite decided brownish tinge on the elytra, while the Californian specimen is described as entirely black; and that the smaller punctures of the elytra are by no means obsolete. Mr. Reiche's re- mark in the generic description, that the basal tooth of the mandibles is bifid, ap- plies only to the right mandible : that of the left side has, it is true, a correspond- ing prominence, but it is so small and so far back, as not to alter rhe outline in any way, and therefore Mr. Reiche's observation tends to produce confusion. Proceed. A. N. S. To). VII. PI. I. Slmblinbila cpltnbriformts $an. 1854.] 33 I should not at all hesitate, therefore, to consider the Californian A. P i c c o- 1 o m i n i i as distinct from Say's species, were it not for the preposterous collar which, in Mr. Reiche's figure, is appended to the base of the thorax, and for the very inaccurate representations given by his draughtsman of the two species of Omus found in Oregon, (I. c. 7, pi. 10.) Such figures might be excusable in America, where artists have not yet turned their attention to objects requiring such accuracy of delineation, but in parts of Europe where accurate figures have been made, and as the yearly accessions to our scientific libraries show can still be made, such figures as those published in the Annales above quoted, of Am bly- chila and Omus, are hardly to be commended. Having found near San Francisco, in California, some specimens of Omus californicus Esch., I avail myself of the present occasion to remark, that it is very closely allied to O. A u do u in i Reiche, and in fact only differs by having the head and thorax very densely and deeply wrinkled, and the punctures of the elytra more equal in size : the appearance of rows of punctures jiiven in the very wretched figure accompanying Eschscholtz' description (Zool. Atl. tab. 4, fig. 1,) and copied by Reiche (1. c. sup ) is hardly apparent. The epipleurae in Omus are narrow, and defined by an acute line, which unites with the margin near the apex of the elytra. In Amblychila the epipleurae are broad, and the defining elevated line becomes obsolete about one-fifth from the tip. The discoidal costa is about the same length : the intermediate costa (called by Say the marginal elevated line) is more elevated, and extends to about one- seventh from the tip : the smaller punctures of the elytra become effaced towards the tip, and the large ones (each of which bears a small elevated point,) are somewhat more numerous. The references to this genus are : to the New Mexican and Nebraska one, Amblychila cylindriformis Say., Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 409; Reiche Ann. Ent. 7. Manticora Cylind. Say, J. Ac. Nat. Sc. 3, 139. And to the Californian one : Amblychila Piccolo minii Reiche, Ann. Ent. Tr. 8, 560, tab. 19 ; Mann. Bull. Mosc 1844, 183. A. cylindriformis Lacordaire, Mem. Soc. Roy. Sc. Liege, 1, 95. The Committee appointed to make arrangements for the celebration of the Anniversary of the foundation of the Society, reported that an Address had been delivered on Monday evening, 20th inst., at the Hall of the University by Wm. Parker Foulke, Esq., and that on the evening of the 21st inst., a large number of members and correspondents, and a few invited guests, dined together at the Hall of the Musical Fund Society. The Report of the Corresponding Secretary was read and adopted. The following resolutions offered by Dr. Zantzinger, were unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the thanks of the Academy be presented to Wm. Parker Foulke, Esq., for the able, eloquent and highly appropriate ad- dress, delivered by him at the Hall of the University, on Monday even- ing 20th inst., in commemoration of the founding of the Institution. Resolved, That a committee of three members be appointed to request a copy of the Address for publication. Whereupon the following members were appointed the Committee : Dr. Zantzinger, Mr. Aubrey H. Smith and Mr. Wm. S. Yaux. Dr. J. C. Fisher offered the following, which was unanimously adopted. Resolved, That the thanks of the Academy be presented to the Com- mittee of Arrangements for celebrating the Anniversary of the found- 34 [April, ing of the Society, for the excellent manner in which they discharged their duties. On motion of Mr. Lea, the thanks of the Society were also ordered to be presented to the Trustees of the University, for the use of the Hall on the evening of the 20th inst. ELECTION. Mr. Clayton T. Piatt, Mr. Jas. Engle Negus and Constant Gillou, Esq., of Philadelphia, were elected Members. April \.ih. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read, From the Society of Natural History of Cherbourg, dated 28th Oct. 1853, transmitting the 1st vol. of its Memoirs, and asking an exchange. From the Scientific Commission of the Zoological Garden of Amster- dam, dated Nov. 1843, transmitting its Memoirs. From the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated Albany, 22d March, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings to complete vol. 6, and No. 1, vol. 7. From Prof, Haldeman, addressed to the Corresponding Secretary, dated Columbia, Penn., 29th March, 1854, as follows : " I find that the Limnadella described by Mr. Girard, Proceed. Acad. vol. 7, page 3, is my Limnadia coriacea, ib. 1, 184, for June, 1842. At that time I doubted the propriety of placing it in Limnadia, chiefly on account of the dorsal tubercles mentioned in my description, but I had no means of making the neces- sary comparisons. It was discovered in great abundance in a road-side puddle, subject to desiccation, and although I removed a number of them to a small pond, I have never met with them since." Dr. Le Conte presented a paper, for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Synopsis of the species of Platynus and allied genera, inhabit- ing the United States." Referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Zantzinger and Mr. Foulke. A paper was presented for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Descriptions of new species of North American Ranaefortnes and Hy- laeformes in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, by Spencer F. Baird." Referred to Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Le Conte and Dr. Leidy. On motion of Mr. Yaux, it was Resolved, That a complete set of the Publications of the Academy be forwarded to the Portland Society of Natural History, Portland, Maine. April Will. The President, Mr. Ord, in the Chair. A letter was read from the Academy of Naturalists of Breslau, dated 18th Nov. 1853, acknowledging the receipt of the Proceedings, vol. 6, Nos. 3 — 8, and of Journal No. 3, vol. 2, new series. Also a letter from Geo. W. Carpenter, Esq., dated April 11th, 1854, presenting a copy of Livingston's Memoirs of eminent Americans. 1854.] 35 Dr. Leidy read a paper from Mr. J. *\Y. Dawson, of Pictou, N. S., entitled " On Fossil Coniferous wood from Prince Edward's Island ;" which was referred, to Dr. Leidy, Mr. Foulke and JVIr. Isaac Lea. Mr. Cassin presented a paper from W. Dudley, Esq., of Madison, "Wisconsin, describing a speeies of Crane found in Wisconsin, and pre- sumed to be new; which was referred to Mr. Cassin, Col. McCall and Dr. Wilson. Mr. Cassin also presented two papers from Dr. Alfred T. King, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, severally entitled "Description of fossil trees found in the Coal Rocks near Greensburg, Pa./' and " Description of a fossil Fruit found in the carboniferous rocks of Beaver Co., Penn. ;" both of which were referred to Mr. Cassin, Mr. Aubrey H. Smith and Dr. Bridges. Dr. Leidy exhibited drawings representing lateral and inferior views of the restored skull of Oreodon Culbertsonii, from the Eocene of Nebraska. April 18^/j. Wm. Parker Foulke, Esq., in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. Charles Enderlin, of New York, dated 31st March, 1851, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Correspondent. A letter was also read from the Lyceum of Nat. History of New York, dated April 4th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of late Nos. of the Proceedings. Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, en- titled "Notes on Birds observed in Texas, and in the States of Xeuva Leon, Tamaulipas and Coahuila, Mexico, with descriptions of new species; by D. N. Couch, U. S. Army." Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Mr. Cassin and Col. McCall. Dr. Leidy exhibited a specimen of the restored upper jaw of the Titanotherium Proutii, of Nebraska. April 25th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred papers, read April 4th by Dr- Le Conte and Prof. S. F. Baird ; April 11th, by Mr. J. W. Dawson, of Pictou, N. S. ; by Mr. Wm. Dudley, of Madison, Wisconsin ; by Dr. Alfred T. King, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania; April 18th, by Lieut. D. N. Couch, U. S. A., severally reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Synopsis of the species of Platynus and allied genera, inhabiting the United States. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. The species of the small group of Carabica, herein examined, are quite fre- quently so closely related, as to be with difficulty separated ; some synonymy too has been produced by the want of sufficient bibliographical knowledge on the part of those who have investigated these genera. To lessen in some degree 36 [April, the difficulty now resting over the subject, I have thought that a series of origi- nal descriptions of all the species known to me, based upon a careful comparison of their specific characters, might remove some of the obstacles encountered from the different style of the descriptions of different authors. I do it the more gladly, as an opportunity is thus afforded me of correcting many important errors into which I was led, in some of my earlier writings, by the haste and inexperience of youth, from the effects of which it falls to the lot of only the most favored of men to escape. The reader will find, in some portions of this essay, a further development of the principle announced by me in a synopsis of Silphales, (Proc. Acad. 6, 275,) illustrated in a genus, of which the species are very numerous ; these species form small groups, according to their respective affinities, and in general the limits of each species are marked by well defined organic differences. But in some of the groups, occur forms so closely allied as to present, with a large series of specimens, almost imperceptible differences, by which sets of specimens, at first sight readily recognized and separated, become linked together. These variations (in form, not color) are frequently seen to be constant in those found in one locality, and in the present condition of science, would seem to indicate positively the origin at different points, or at various points intermixed together, of organic forms, so closely related as not to present sufficient differences to be regarded as ordinary species. Thus it is that Nature who, not only between her works, but between her processes, continually displays gradations of sublime harmony, reveals to u,s~ some of the steps between those genera in which absolutely distinct species are found in restricted localities, and those in which absolutely the same species are found widely distributed. The genera known to me with the exception of a single new one, have been fully described in other works, and may be thus arranged : Mentum dente bicuspi ; ungues plus minusve serrati : Paraglossae ligula non longiores .... Calathus. Paraglossae longiores, ultra ligulam extensae . . Pristodactyla. Mentum dente simplici ; ungues simplices : Paraglossae ligula longiores ..... Anchus. Paraglossae ligula non longiores : Antennae articulo 3io sequente sesqui longiore . Rhadine. Antennae articulo 3io sequente subaequali . . Platynus. Mentum dente nullo Olisthopus. Calathus Bon. 1. C. gr eg ar ius, longiusculus, piceus, nitidus, apterus, thorace latitudine fere longiore antice subangustato, lateribus testaceis late rotundatis, margine postice latiore refiexo, basi utrinque paulo impresso, elytris striis tenuibus pro- fundis, punctis tribus impressis, antennis palpis pedibusque testaceis. Long. «4. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 76; Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 29. Feronia gregaria Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 47. Calathus distinguendus Lee. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc 2, 53. Ann. Lye. 4, 216. A common species in the Middle and Eastern States, and is found occa- sionally at Lake Superior. The North American species of this genus are very closely allied, and seem hardly worthy of being separated; ^nevertheless, the three species recognized by me in the Atlantic portion of the continent, are as well distinguished from each other as from those of the Pacific coast. This one will be readily recognized by the shining lustre and the moderately broad re- flexed lateral margin of the thorax; in the next species the lateral margin is narrower, perceptibly depressed, and not at all refiexed towards the posterior angles. For authentic specimens of this species I am indebted to Dr. Harris. 2. C. confusus, longiusculus, piceus pernitidus, apterus, thorace latitudine sublongiore, antice subangustato, lateribus testaceis late rotundatis margine an- gusto postice vix depresso, subrefiexo, basi utrinque paulo impresso, elytris 1854.] 37 striis tenuibus profundi?, punctis tribus impressis, antennis palpis pedibusque tes- taceis. Long. -31 — -35. Lake Superior ; abundant. Very similar to the preceding, but a little nar- rower in its form, and with the lateral margin of the thorax not distinctly wider towards the posterior angles, and less reflexed. 3. C. o p a c u 1 u s, longiusculus, piceus, thorace latitudine non longiore, antice subangustato, lateribus testaceis iatius subdepressis, non reflexis, basi utrinque paulo impresso, elytris fere opacis, striis tenuibus hand profundis, punctis tribus impressis, antennis palpis pedibusque testaceis. Long. «35 — 42. Middle, Southern and Western States; rare. This species, with the form of C. gregarius, has the dull elytra and finely impressed strias of C. ruficollis ; it seems also sufficiently distinct from the preceding species, by the sides of the thorax being' depressed, broader behind and not reflexed. 4. C. qu a d r i c o 1 1 i s, longiusculus, piceus, apterus, thorace latitudine non breviore, antice vix angustato utrinque subimpresso, elytris fere opacis, striis tenuibus non profundis, punctis 3 vel 4 impressis, antennis palpis pedibusque testaceis. Long. '27 — *4. San Francisco, California. This species is narrower than C. ruficollis, and is readily distinguished by the form of the thorax; the thorax and head have a reddish tinge, but do not appear ever to reach the deep, dull rufous color observed in C. ruficollis. 5. C. ruficollis, latiusculus, piceus, apterus, capite thoraceque piceo-rufis, hoc latitudine breviore, antice angustato, lateribus (prsesertim antice) rotundatis, margine minus distincte depresso subrefiexo, basi utrinque subimpresso, elytris fere opacis striis tenuibus, punctis 3 impressis, antennis palpis pedibusque rufo- testaceis. Long. -35 — -4. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 78 ; Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 195. San Francisco and San Diego. Considerably wider than any of the preceding species, and with the sides of the thorax anteriorly more rounded ; the sides con- verge a little near the base, whereby the posterior angles are rendered less rec- tangular than in those above described. This species and the preceding, fre- quently subject travellers to great annoyance by crawling over their bodies at night, when sleeping on the ground ; the multitudes which are seen in March and April, under every object capable of affording them shelter, are worthy of admiration. 6. C. ob s c u r u s, minus elongatus, piceus, apterus, thorace latitudine non breviore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundatis (angulis basalibus obtusiori- bus) margine depresso subrefiexo, basi utrinque subimpresso, elytris fere opacis, striis tenuibus non profundis, punctis tribus impressis, antennis palpis pedi- busque iufo-testaceis. Long. *4. One female found in the Southern part of California. This species differs from C. ruficollis and C. quadricollis by the form of the thorax, which is not wider than long, considerably narrowed in front and moderately rounded on the sides, which are distinctly depressed even to the base, and hardly reflexed. The elytra are more distinctly wider than the thorax, but otherwise are formed and sculp- tured as in C ruficollis. Pristodactyla Dej. 1. P. i mp u n c t a t a, nigra, nitida, thorace leviter obovato, latitudine non breviore, angulis posticis rotundatis, lateribus margine anguste reflexo, basi utrinque late foveato, elytris thorace latioribus, pone medium paulo dilatatis, striis profundis, bipunctatis, antennis palpis pedibusque rufis, unguihus valde serratis. Long. -35 — *42. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 2 ] 7 . ; Feronia impunctata Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 45. Pristodactyla americaiia Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 83. Middle States ; rare. Smaller than the next, and distinguished by the thorax 38 [April, being more distinctly narrowed towards the base, and by the elytra being slightly dilated from the base to the posterior third. I have great doubts of the propriety of separating this genus from Taphria ; the very slight difference in the form of the last joint of the labial palpi, which is less dilated in the American species, is surely insufficient. From the differ- ence in the form of the ungues, noticed in the species below, I am inclined to believe, that a natural arrangement would require all the genera (so called) of this group, in which the mentum tooth is emarginate, the paraglossae longer than the ligula, and the ungues serrate, to be united into one genus. The species contained in Pristonychus, Pristodactyla and Taphria do not appear more dif- ferent from each other than those embraced in Platynus. 2. P. corvina, nigra, nitida, thorace ovali, postice vix angustiore, latitudine non breviore, an»ulis posticis rotundatis, latenbus margine anguste reflexo, basi utrinque late foveato, elytris thorace latioribus postice non dilatatis, striis pro- fundis, bipunctatis, antennis palpis pedibusque runs, unguibus valde serratis. Long. -46. Lee. Ann. Lye 4, 217. Pristonyckus americanus Lee. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 52. Pennsylvania and Georgia; not common. 3. P. ad vena, nigra, subnitida, thorace subquadrato, postice subangustiore, lateribus rotundatis, margine subreflexo, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, basi utrinque late foveato, elytris thorace latioribus tenuiter striatis, bipunctatis, an- tennis pedibusque nigro-piceis, unguibus basi subtilius serratis. Long. *3G — 4. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 217. Lake Superior ; not rare on the northern shore; a specimen from the north- eastern boundary of Maine was kindly given me by Mr. Brevoort. More slender than any of the other species here described, and very similar in appearance to some of the smaller European Pristonychus. The mentum tooth is much less emarginate than in the preceding. 4. P. dub i a, nigra, minus nitida, thorace obovato, postice magis angustato, angulis posticis obtusis, rotundatis, basi depressa utrinque subfoveata^ elytris thorace latioribus subellipticis, tenuiter striatis bipunctatis, antennis pedibusque piceis, unguibus ba>i vix obsolete serrulatis. Long. -48. One specimen: New Mexico; collected by Mr. Fendler. The base of the thorax is only about two-thirds as wide as the apex ; the dorsal line is fine, but the transverse impressions are well marked. The mentum tooth is narrow, and very slightly emarginate at the tip. In these four species, the under surface of the tarsi is glabrous, and the outer margin of the two posterior pairs is deeply grooved. In my synopsis of Pteros- tichus (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc.,2d ser., vol. 2) it will be seen that in closely allied species, the latter character is of little value. The same would seem to be the case in the present group, and no better proof is required than the remarks made by Baron Chaudoir, on the page immediately opposite that in which he insists strongly on the great assistance which is derived from it in distinguishing Cala- thus from Pristonychus. The real difference between the genera is precisely that so long ago made known by Erichson, viz., the length of the paraglossae, which in Calathus do not extend beyond the ligula, while in Pristonychus (and likewise in Pristodactyla and Taphria) they are very distinctly elongated. Anchtjs Lee. Palpi tenues, acuminati, maxillares articulo ultimo paulo longiore ; antennae filiformes, articulo lmo crassiore,. et longiore; mentum dente medio simplici; ligula truncata, paraglossis angustis longioribus. A curious insect, having very much the appearance of Diaphorus, but having the head less constricted posteriorly, and the elytra rounded at the apex ; the thorax is long and cordate, almost turned into a pedicel at the base, with the impressions elongate and very narrow ; the elytra are twice as wide as the thorax, oblong and convex, with the humoral angles rounded, and the apex scarcely 1854.] 39 sinuate ; the striae are deep and moderately punctured, the intervals are narrow, convex, and are each marked with a row of very fine punctures, from which pro- ceed very short hairs. The legs are moderately long, the anterior tibiae scarcely dilated at the apex, with the emargination extending nearly to the middle ; in the male the first three joints of the anterior tarsi are very slightly dilated, and furnished beneath with a few papilla3. The antennas are very slightly thickened externally ; the first three joints and the base of the fourth are smooth, but furnished with a few scat- tered hairs ; the first is longer than the third, and somewhat thicker than in the other genera of this group. The paraglossae are narrow, curved, and longer than the truncate ligula ; the tooth in the emargination of the mentum is moderately large, and almost acute at the tip. The palpi are slender and moderately long ; the last joint is elongate oval, and almost acute at the tip; that of the maxillary palpi is distinctly longer than the penultimate joint. It seems by its characters closely to approach Stomis, but the mandibles are not so long and the labrum is not at all emarginate. By the structure of the anterior tibiae as well as by the sexual characters, it evidently belongs to the* present group. 1. A. pus il 1 us, niger, nitidus, parce breviter pubescens, capite parce punc- tato, thorace latitudine longiore, convexo, cordato, postice constricto, angulis posticis rectis, disco obsoletius basi et apice distinctius punctatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus oblongis convexis, profunde striatis interstitiis convexis uniseri- atim punctulatis, piceis lateribus late rufescentibus, antennis palpis, pedibusque rufis. Long. '25. * Stomis americanns Lap.' Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 356. Platynus pusillus\. Harris, MSS. Massachusutts, Dr. Harris; Illinois, Mr.Willcox. Finding in this insect many of the characters of Stomis, I was misled by the very poor description of Mr. Laporte, (Etudes Entom. 1, 72) with which it agrees as closely as could be ex- pected, in every respect except size. Baron Chaudoir, as I have already ob- served in my synopsis of Pterostichus, (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc, 2d ser., 2,) has since stated that Mr. Laporte's insect is Feronia fastidita Dej. Under these circumstances, the specific name adopted by me under error falls, and I take pleasure in giving to the insect the name under which it was communicated to me by Dr. Harris. Rhadine Lee. This genus only differs essentially from Platynus by the greater length of the third joint of the antennae, which is one half longer than the fourth joint ; the first joint is short, being about one-half longer than the second. The form of body is that of the first division of Platynus, but the margins of the thorax and elytra are more broadly rerlexed, and the elytra are strongly sinuate at the apex ; the antennas and feet are also longer. These characters give the insect a considerable resemblance, in general appearance, to Anophthalmia. 1. R. larva lis, pallide rufo-picea, nitida, thorace cordato-ovali, postice valde angustato, valde reflexo-marginato, angulis posticis rectis, elytris fere ellip- ticis, dorso planiusculis, fortiter marginatis, apice sinuatis, obsolete striatis, sub- tiliter tripunctatis. Long. "41. Le Conte, Ann. Lye. 4, 219. One specimen (male) found near St. Louis, Missouri, was kindly given my by Dr. Engelmann. In the State of Ohio, Dr. Schaum procured a dark brownish black specimen, in which the sinus of the elytra was so strong, as to form on each side of the apex a tooth; the specimen was a female, but not having it be- fore me for examination, I cannot determine whether the difference is to be re- garded as sexual or specific, Platynus Bon. (emend. Brulle.) Under this generic name I group, after the example of Mr. Brulle, those spe- 40 [April, cies upon which Bonelli formed his three genera, Platynus, Anehomenus, and Agonum. My reason for preferring for this assemblage of species the name Platynus, is merely, that such was the name chosen by Mr. Brulle, who was the first entomologist to perceive the necessity of merging the groups into one genus. Two years afterwards, Erichson proposed to call the assemblage of Bonelli's three genera by the name Anehomenus, alleging that Platynus was in- applicable to most of the species, and that it had, moreover, been employed (in the form Platyna) for a genus of Diptera ; the first point, in the present state of nomenclature, need not occupy our attention; the second point is also without weight, since Platyna was proposed as a genus many years after the establish- ment of Platynus by Bonelli, and before it was shown that the latter genus in- cluded any other form than that to which it was limited by the author. The name Platynus was consequently not vacant, and its application in any form, to a genus other than that intended by Bonelli was improper. This genus, as here understood, contains a very large number of species, all agreeing in having the paraglossae scarcely longer than the ligula ; the mentum tooth distinct and not emarginate ; the palpi slender, with the last joint ahout equal to the preceding; the first joint of the antennae moderately thick, not longer than the third, which again is not longer than the fourth; the tarsi are filiform, and the ungues entirely smooth. The antennas are usually filiform, but sometimes setaceous. The form of body is variable, usually somewhat slender, with the elytra nearly twice as wide as the head or thorax, and oval or oblong, sometimes elliptical ; the elytra are either rounded, truncate or emarginate at the base, usually slightly sinuate at the apex, and sometimes almost truncate, in which case a form of body results not unlike Dromius or Metabletus. Occasionally the form of body is stouter, and the elytra are hardly one half wider than the thorax ; and in some west- ern species, unknown to me, the form is said to be almost similar to Calathus ; these latter species have been separated by Motschulsky as Tanystoma, (after- wards changed to Tanystola) ; the only characters given are, that the last joint of the palpi is longer than the preceding, and the posterior angles of the thorax ob- tuse. Scaphiodactylus (Chaudoir) is also said to have the palpi as in Tanystola, but the posterior angles of the thorax are acute. Not having identified these genera, I can with propriety say nothing in regard to them. The thorax is very variable in form, being sometimes oval, sometimes cordate, square, or rounded ; the margin is sometimes strongly reflexed, sometimes hardly visible. The interval between the second and third stria; of the elytra is always marked with punctures, or fovae, varying in number from three to seven ; some species, not known to me by personal observation, are described as having but two punctures. To facilitate the determination of our species, the following division into groups may be found useful. A. Corpus apterum gracile ; thorax fortiter marginatus, ovalis ; elytra humeris rotundatis indistinctis. Sp. 1 — 4. B. Corpus alatum gracile ; thorax margine mediocri, elytra basi truncata, an- gulis posticis distinctis, tripunctata. a. Angulis posticis thoracis non prominulis ; antennae subsetaceae ; tenuiter striata. • Sp. 5 — 7- b. Angulis posticis thoracis prominulis; antennas filiformes ; elytra tenuiter striata. Sp. 8 — 9. c. Nigerrimi ; elytra profunde striata. Sp. 10 — 11. C. Corpus alatum, gracile ; thorax subcordatus, tenuiter marginatus, angulis posticis distinctis, impressionibus basalibus proecipue profundis productis. d. Elytra tripunctata, pedes concolores. Sp. 12 — 13. e. Elytra multipunctata, pedes run, vel picei. Sp. 14 — 18. D. Corpus alatum, praecipue minus gracile, thorax rotundatus, (raro quadratus;) •lytra tripunctata. f. Praecipue nigri (raro picei vel metallici ;) pedes concolores. Sp. 19 — 31. 1854.] 41 g. Pedes testacei, vel run; thorax convexus tenuiter mar- ginatus. Sp. "" 33. E. Corpus alatum, gracile; thorax ovalis, vel leviter cordatus, tenuius mar- ginatus ; elytra tripunctata; pedes plus minusve testacei. Sp. 34—40. F. Corpus alatum, gracile, praecipue elongatum; thorax ovalis ; elytra multi- punctata; pedes plus minusve testacei. Sp. 41 — 48. G. Corpus alatum; thorax rotundatus, tenuissime marginatus ; elytra foveata. Sp. 49. H. Corpus alatum, minus gracile, thorax praecipue rotundatus (praecipue tenuiter marginatus) impressionibus basalibus latis, minus profundis ; elytra multipunctata. h. Corpus elongatum metallicum, pedes concolores. Sp. 50 — 51. i. Corpus minus elongatum sub^racile, pedes plus minusve testacei. Sp. 52—54. k. Corpus robustius, angulis thoracis posticis fere distinctis. Sp. 55 — 56. I. Corpus alatum, fere gracile, elytra oblonga, basi valde emarginata, apice fere truncata; elytra vel tripunctata, vel quadrifoveata. Sp. 57 — 61. The cases of difficulty, in referring species by this table, will be but few ; a species (P. quadratus) is placed in (f.,) which might, with almost equal propriety, be placed with (d.) ; still, the form is less slender, and the margin of the thorax much more obvious than in the latter group. P. crenulatus in group (F.) differs from the others of the same group, by the broader and more quadrate elytra ; still, its chief affinities appear to be with that group, and I have, therefore, not separated it from its allies. A. The species of this group are of a slender form and not winged ; the legs and antennae are long ; the thorax is obovate, usually elongate ; the posterior angles are obtuse and rounded at the apex ; the lateral margin is strongly reflexed, and is broader than usual. The elytra are regularly elliptical, with no distinct hu- meral angles ; they are sinuate towards the tip ; the lateral margin is broader than in any other group, and is strongly reflexed. This group corresponds to Platynus of Bonelli and Dejean. 1. P. f ra g il i s, piceus,thorace latitudine fere longiore obovato, fortius mar- ginato, angulis posticis obtusis, subrotundatis, basi transversim profunde im- presso, elytris ellipticis, thorace duplo latioribus, fortius marginatis, tenuiter striatis, 3-punctatis, antennis versus apicem subincrassatis. Long. -34. Found in the mountains near Santa Isabpl, in the southern part of California. One specimen has four impressed punctures on the elytra. The antennae, instead of being setaceous, as in the next two species, are slightly thickened beyond the fourth joint, as in most of the species of this genus. 2. P. h y p o 1 i t h o s, niger nitidus, thorace latitudine fere longiore, obovato, fortiter marginato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, basi transversim profunde impresso, utrinque longius sat profunde impresso, elytris thorace duplo latioribus ellipticis fortius marginatis, striis modice profundis, interstitiis convexis 2, 4 et 6to juxta striis biseriatim irregulariter punctatis, antennis setaceis palpis pedi- busque ferrugineis. Long. «55. Feronia hypolithos Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 59. Platynus erythropus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 97. Middle and Western States, in the vicinity of mountains. Besides the punc- tures mentioned, there are several on the sutural stria before the middle. De- jean's description is very full, but lest any entomologist should hesitate in refer- ring this species to the description given by Say, which is certainly defective in some particulars, I transcribe it to save the labor of future reference. "Apterous, black, glabrous : feet rufous ; striae of the elytra punctured. Length more than ll-20th of an inch. "Antennae dark piceous ; palpi rufo-piceous. Thorax narrowed behind, dorsal 42 [April, line deeply impressed, surface obsoletely transversely wrinkled, basal lines di- lated, distinctly indented, angles obtusely rounded, lateral edge regularly ar- quated. Elytra, striae not deeply impressed, irregularly punctured. Thighs and coxae rufous ; tibiae and tarsi dark rufous. " This species seems to belong to the genus Pterostiehus of Bonelli, and it may be distinguished from those which we have mentioned to be referable to that genus by the color of its feet." 3. P. angustatus, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine fere longiore, obovato, fortius marginato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, basi transversim impresso, utrinque longius sat profunde impresso, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, ellipticis fortius marginatis, striis profundis, interstitiis convexis, 3io quadripunctato, an- tennis setaceis, tibiis tarsisque piceis. Long. *5 — '55. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 98. Catskill Mountains, New York; Habersham Co., Georgia. This species is probably found in all mountainous portions of the United States east of the Mis- sissippi. 4. P. stygicus, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, postice angustato, fortius marginato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, basi transversim impresso, utrinque latius profunde impresso, elytris thorace vix duplo latioribus, basi subtruncatis striis profundis, interstitiis subconvexis, 3io tripunctato, an- tennis filiformibus. Long. .43. One specimen, found at Sault Ste Marie. This species resembles in appearance P. sinuatus, &c, below, but from the absence of wings, and from the form of the thorax, I am induced to place it in the present division. The margin of the thorax is not as wide as in the other species, but is a little dilated towards the posterior angles ; the basal impressions are deep, and are destitute of punctures or lines. The elytra are slightly convex, and their lateral margin is somewhat narrower than in the preceding species. B— a. Composed of winged species, of a piceous black color and slender form ; the antennas are long and setaceous; the thorax is strongly margined, a little wider than long, somewhat narrowed posteriorly, with the basal angles obtuse, neither prominent nor rounded ; the posterior transverse impression is strong, and the basal impressions moderately long and deep. The elytra are more than twice as wide as the thorax, truncate at base, finely margined, sinuate towards the extremity ; the humeral angles are rounded ; the striae are fine, and the third in- terstice has three punctures, the first being placed in the 3d stria, the other two in the 2d stria. 5. P.tenuicollis, piceo-niger, thorace latitudine fere longiore, capite non latiore, margine latiore piceo fortius reflexo, angulis posticis subrotundatis, elytris striis tenuibus profundis, tripunctatis, antennis palpis pedibusque piceis. Long. •3S. Ajichomenus tenuicollis Lee. Ann. Lye 4, 222. One specimen, found at the Sault Ste Marie. Although very much resembling the next species in all its characters, the thorax is comparatively so much nar- rower, that I am obliged to consider it as distinct. The base of the thorax is more obliquely truncate each side, by which the basal angles are rendered more obtuse. By a clerical error the specific name is printed angusiicollis, in Agassiz' Lake Superior. 6. P. marginatus, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, lateri- bus rotundatis, margine latiore piceo fortius reflexo, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, elytris striis profundis, tripunctatis, antennis palpis tibiis tarsisque piceis. Long. -42. Lee Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Anehomenus marginatus Lee. Ann. Lye. 221. Middle and Western States ; not rare. A specimen from the north shore of 1854.] 43 Lake Superior agrees perfectly with this species, except that the legs are entirely of a dark testaceous yellow. From the next this species is distinguished by the lateral margin of the thorax being as wide anteriorly as towards the base, and more strongly reflexed. 7. P. cincticollis, niger, nitidus, thorace latitiuline breviore, postice an- gustato, lateribus rotundatis, postice subsinuatis, margine piceo reflexo, postice latiore, elytris tenuiter striatis, tripunctatis, antennis pedibusque piceis, vel piceo-testaceis. Long. *37 — *45. Feronia cincticollis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 52. Ancho menus cincticollis Say, ibid 4, 421. Platynus blandu.i Germ. Ins. Nov. 12. Anchomenus corvinus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 102. Lee, Ann. Lye. 4, 221. Anchomenus deplanatus Chaud. Bull. Mosc. 1S43, 763. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 221. Anchomenus marginalia Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. Middle and Southern States ; common. The last two synonyms belong to a < variety in which the interstices of the elytra, instead of being slightly convex as usual, are entirely flat ; there are, however, no other differences of a definite character, and I see no reason why they should be retained as distinct. The brevity of Mr. Haldeman's description will make it doubtful whether this or the preceding species was meant, but a typical specimen kindly furnished me by 'him evidently belongs to the present species. Dr. Harris possesses a specimen of this species, which was named Feronia maculifrons, by Mr. Say; with the description (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. vol.3, p. 146) of that species it does not agree. B— b. Containing two winged species from California, closely allied to those of the preceding division, but of a somewhat less slender form, and with filiform an- tennae. The thorax is strongly margined, slightly narrowed towards the base, with the posterior angl°s obtuse, not rounded, and slightly prominent; the pos- terior transverse impression is deep, and the basal impressions shallow ; the elytra are twice as wide as the thorax, truncate at base, with the humeral angles rounded ; they are finely margined and very slightly sinuate towards the tip; the strise are fine, the interstices slightly convex, and the third has frequently four impressed punctures, which, however, seem liable to considerable variation ; the normal number appears to be three. 8. P. b i c o 1 o r, piceo-rufus, nitidus, thorace latitudine vix breviore, postice subangustato, lateribus rotundatis, postice sinuatis, margine fortius reflexo, basi truncata, angulis posticis rectis prominulis, elytris piceis, thorace duplo latiori- bus, striis tennibus, interstitiis vix convexis, margine rufo-piceo. Long. '43. San Diego, California. The lateral margin of the thorax is moderately wide and not dilated posteriorly ; the basal impressions are marked with a short im- pressed line at the bottom. Apart from color this species is distinguished from the next by the narrower thorax and more slender form. 9. P. c i n c t e 1 1 u s, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine breviore, postice paulo anirustato, lateribus rotundatis postice sinuatis, margine fortius reflexo, diaphano, basi truncata, angulis posticis prominulis rectis, elytris thorace fere duplo lati- oribus, striis tenuibus, interstitiis vix convexis, margine saepe tenuiter piceo. Long. *42. San Francisco, California ; very abundant. Specimens occur with three, four, and even five punctures on the third interstice of the elytra ; the impressed lines of the basal impressions of the thorax are less distinct than in the preceding ; the antennae and palpi are nearly black ? the tarsi are sometimes dark piceous. I have distributed this insect under the name Anch. brunneo-marginatus (Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196,) but on reconsidering the matter, I find so many points of disagreement, that 1 am obliged to propose a new name. His description reads : "Apterus, niger, depressus, capite laevissimo inter antennas impresso, thorace longiore, subcordato, lateribus refiexo-marginatis, angulis posticis acutiusculis, 44 [April, elytris oblongo-ovalibus, apice sinuatis, leviter striatis, punctis tribus minutis impressis, antennis pedibus, thoracis elytrorurnque margine rufo-brunneis. Long. 4* lin. lat. H lin." With regard to the value of the first word of this diagnosis, I will merely ob- serve that it occurs also in Count Mannerheim's diagnosis of Anch. maeulicoUis (1. c. 199,) which, however, I found at San Diego, in July, flying about in the evening twilight in such numbers as to be a source of great annoyance. B— c. The species of this group are moderately large, winged, and a pure shining black color; the thorax is slightly cordiform, with the posterior angles rectan- gular; the dorsal line and anterior transverse impression are deep ; the basal impressions are large, moderately deep and finely punctulate; the lateral margin is moderate and is strongly retlexed, and slightly diaphanous in a strong light. The elytra are more than one half broader than the thorax, truncate at base, slightly sinuate at the extremity ; they are somewhat flattened on the disc, and declivous towards the margin ; the stria? are deep, and the third interstice has three impressed punctures. I regret to be partly answerable for the confusion introduced among the species of this group, by mistaking those which have been already described, and incautiously admitting some which are not sufficiently distinct. Having carefully re-examined the subject, I hope that the results, here arrived at, may be found corrrct. 10. P. d e c e ns, niger, subnitidus, alatus, thorace postice subangustato, late- ribus postice vix sinuatis, angulis posticis non prominulis, impressionibus basali- bus dilatatis punctulatis, elytris magis deplanatis, tripunctatis, striis profundis obsolete punctulatis. Long. -5 — *56. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia decentis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 53. Andiomenus gagates Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 107. Andiomenus decentis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 421. Anchomenus coracinus Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 220. (Descriptio nequam.) Middle and Southern States ; not common. The description last cited was made from a badly preserved specimen, in which the wings had probably been pulled off to enable the elytra to be brought together ; at least, on raising the elytra, I find fragments of the wings still remaining. The distinctive characters of the species are the larger size, the less distinct posterior angles of the thorax, (which are almost obtuse and very slightly rounded,) and the less lustrous and more flattened elytra. The .fine punctures of the striae are sometimes almost invisible. Dejean mentions four elytral punctures ; the second one, however, is abnormal. 11. P. s i n u a t us, niger, nitidus, alatus, thorace latitudine subbreviore postice subangustato. lateribus postice vix sinuatis (basi apice sublatiore) angulis posticis vix prominulis, impressionibus basalibus dilatatis, punctulatis, elytris paulo con- vexis, bipunctatis, striis modice profundis, punctulatis. Long. .4 — 5. ? Audio menus sinuatus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 108. l.ec. Ann. Lye. 4, 220. Middle States and Lake Superior. I am somewhat doubtful whether this is really Dejean's species. He says, in comparison, with the preceding, "le corselet est a peu pres de la meme forme ; seulement les bords lateraux sont un peu moins largement deprimes." This difference, if it exists, is by no means obvious. The only satisfactory characters I can find are the smaller size, the more shining, less depressed and less deeply striate elytra. a. Thorace postice magis angustato, lateribus postice subsinuatis, angulis pos- ticis subprominulis. Anchomenus depressus Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 221. Platynus depressus Lee. Agassiz* Lake Superior. Western States and Lake Superior. The difference in the form of the thorax 1854.] 45 is quite perceptible, yet, as there are forms almost intermediate, and no other character can be seen to separate it from the preceding, I think it expedient to arrange it as one of the races of P. sinuatus. 0. Thorace latitudine non breviore, postice angustato, et lateribus longius sinuato, angulis posticis paulo prominulis; impressionibus basalibus profundiori- bus. Middle States and Lake Superior. Although the difference between this and P. sinuatus seems very considerable, in a large series of the form (*) they seem to disappear ; 1 have therefore hesitated to propose a new name lor this, and consider it, like the previous one, as a race under P. sinuatus. C— d. A group containing winged species, evidently allied to P. exte n si collis &c, but differing by having only three elytral punctures ; the feet and antennas are entirely black. The thorax is flattened, moderately margined, the margin growing broader towards the base; it is almost longer than wide, very slightly' narrowed posteriorly, hardly sinuate on the sides, truncate at base, with the pos- terior angles rectangular, not rounded ; the basal impressions are very long and finely rugous ; the elytra are flattened, truncate at base, slightly sinuate at apex ; the striae are deep and fine, the interstices flattish, the 3d with three impressed punctures ; the antennas are filiform. 12. P. f u n e b r i s, cyanescenti-niger, thorace latitudine non breviore, postice subangu^tato, et lateribus subsinuato, angulis posticis rectis, basi utrfhque lon- gius impresso, et confertim ruguloso, elytris opacis thorace duplo latioribus parum convexis, striis subtilibus interstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato. Long. .4. San Diego, California: abundant in almost dry water courses. Very distinct from all other species found within our territories. 13. P. ae n e o 1 u s, subtus nigro-virescens, capite thoraceque obscure viridi- aeneis, hoc latitudine non breviore, postice subangustato, lateribus late rotundatis, angulis posticis rectis, basi utrinque longius impresso, et confertim ruguloso, elytris planiusculis purpureo-nigris, nitidis, tripunctatis, striis tenuibus, pro- fundis, interstitiis vix convexis. Long. *4. One specimen ; Oregon. Also sufficiently distinct from all our other species. C— e. A group of extreme complexity, containing winged species of metallic colors, bluish or greenUh, with the base of the antennas, the feet, and occasionally the thorax rufous or pale piceous. The antennae are long and filiform ; the thorax is occasionally a little longer than wide, never much narrowed posteriorly, the margin fine, but strongly reflexed, moderately rounded on the sides; the base is oblique each side, and the posterior angles are obtuse and sometimes moderately rounded ; the basal impressions are long, and posteriorly are marked with a short line. The elytra are elongate, about twice as wide as the thorax, scarcely sinu- ate posteriorly, striae deep, but usually fine, the interstices hardly convex, the third with four to seven punctures, varying in the same species. By arranging the different forms as races under the more distinct species, this group appears to be capable of being reduced to order. 14. P. e x t e n s i c o 1 1 i s, supra asneo-viridis, nitidus thorace latitudine longiore, postice paulo angustato, angulis posticis vix rotundatis, basi punctulata, impres- sionibus basalibus tuberculo parum elevato intructis, elytris striis subtiliter ob- solete punctulatis, interstitio3io 4—7 punctato, antennarum basi pedibusquerufis. Long. -31 — 39. Lee. Aga^siz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia extensicollis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 54. Feronia (Anchomenus) proximits Harris, New England Farmer, 1S2S, p. 132. Anchomenus extensicollis Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 113. Ago/mm (Anchomenus) extensicollis Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 24. 46 [April, Middle, Southern, and Western States and Lake Superior ; Massachusetts. Dr. Harris; (lat. 54° according to Kirby.) This is usually considered as the type of Say's species, and is distinguished by the shining color, by the thorax being more distinctly narrowed posteriorly, with less rounded angles, and by the tubercle between the basal impression and the angle being distinct. The punctures of the base are fine, occasionally extending along the whole base, but sometimes visible only in the impressions. The color of the elytra sometimes varies to- wards bluish and coppery. The under surface is black. *. iEneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, postice angustato angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo indistincto instructis. Long. *39. Anchomenus obscuratus Chaud. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 763. 1 Anchomenus clongatulas Dej.' Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 222. Middle States and Lake Superior. 0. Laete viridi-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore, postice suban- gustato, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo distincto instructis. Long. *39. One specimen from Lake Superior, which differs from the type by the thorax being much less narrowed posteriorly, with the posteriorly angles more rounded. y. Viridi-aeneus, subnitidus, thorace latitudine longiore, postice subangustato, angulis posticis subrotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo nullo. Long. •35 — 39. Anchomenus viridis Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 222. Western States ; a specimen was sent me by Dr. Harris, as Anch. extensicollis Say. ef. Cyaneus, subnitidus, thorace latitudine longiore, postice vix angustato, an- gulis posficis subrotundatis, impressionibus basalibus tuberculo nullo, elytris striis profundioribus, haud punctulatis. Long. *34. Northern Sonora, near the Gila River. Resembles (y) except in color; the striae of the elytra are, however, deeper and not at all punctulate. g. Capite thoraceque aeneo-viridibus, hoc latitudine vix longiore, postice sub- angustato, angulis posticis fere rotundatis, impre«sionibus basalibus tuberculo distincto instructis, elytris cyaneis, striis profundioribus obsolete punctulatis. Long. *35. One specimen found with the preceding. 15. P. simplex, supra aeneo-viridis, subnitidus, thorace latitudine non bre- viore, postice subangustato, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, basi laevi, utrinque longius impresso, elytris striis tenuibus impunctatis interstitiis vix con- vexis 3io 5 — 8 punctato, antennarum basi pedibusque piceo-testaceis. Long. -3 — •37. Colorado River, California. Has very much the form of (J) of the preceding species, but the thorax is absolutely free from punctures ; in some specimens the thorax is more distinctly narrowed at the base, but the difference is not well marked : the base of the thorax is occasionally piceous, as in the dark colored specimens of the next species, from which it is distinguished by the interstices of the elytra being smooth. The under surface is black, the epipleurae tinged with piceous. 16. P. decorns, capite viridi-aeneo, thorace saepius rufo (nonnunquam piceo- virescente) latitudine vix breviore, basi paulo angustato, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, basi fere laevi, utrinque longius impresso, elytris striis tenuibus, interstitiis fere planis sat distincte punctulatis brevissime vix distincte pilbsis, 3io punctis 5 — 7 impressis, antennis basi pedibusque rufis. Long. *3l — 34. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia decora Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 53. Anchomenus decorns Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 115. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 223. Anchomenus obscurvs Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 223. (Var. pedibus fere piceis, tho- raceque viridi.) 1854.] 47 Abundant in the Middle, Southern and Western States ; the dark colored vari- eties and all the intermediate forms are found on the shores of Onondaga Lake, near Syracuse, New York. 1 think that Anch. thoracicus Dej. must belong to this species, but as the fine punctures of the elytra are not mentioned in his des- cription, it will be safer to consider it as distinct ; in some specimens of («) they might, however, readily be overlooked. a.. Capite viridi vel cyaneo, thorace rufo, elytris viridi-nigris, interstitiis parce fere obsolete punctulatis. Long. *31 — "34. Middle and Southern States ; also found near the Pima villages on the Gila. This differs from the type in having the punctures of the interstices of the elytra very faint ; they are, however, furnished with short hairs. The specimens from the Gila differ in having the thorax a little less narrowed posteriorly, and tinged with greenish. 17. P. anchomenoides, nigro-piceus, capite virescente, thorace subquad- rato latitudine vix breviore, margine tenui non reflexo, postice subangustato, an- gulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis basi utrinque minus profunde impresso, disco virescente, lateribus late parteque inflexa testaceis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus oblongis, convexiusculis, testaceis, interstitio 3io punctis 4 maiusculis impressis, antennarum articulis tribus, palpis, ano, pedibusque flavo testaceis. Long. -28. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum anchomenoides Randall, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 2, 2. Pennsylvania, Lake Superior and Maine ; rare. The disc of the elytra is darker than the margin ; in the specimen from Pennsylvania the striae are deep and the intervals somewhat convex ; the one from Lake Superior has very fine striae and the intervals are entirely flat. Is not Agomim sordens Kirby, (Fauna Bor. Am. 25,) a closely allied species or, perhaps, a variety having smaller punctures. 18. P. c al i fo r n i c u s, niger, piceo-aenescens, thorace subquadrato, lati- tudine vix breviore, postice subangustato, margine tenuiter reflexo, angulis pos- ticis obtusis minime rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus elongatis, postice pro- fundis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, oblongis, basi truncatis, tenuiter striatis, 5-punctatis, antennarum articulo lmo, thoracis parte inflexa, epipleuris pedibus- que piceo-testaceis. Long. *27 — *32. ? Anchomenus calif amicus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 128. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843,197. San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego, California. I am doubtful about the propriety of referring this to Dejean's species, which is described as having the head and thorax obscure greenish-bronzed ; slight traces of such color may be perceived in some of my specimens, but usually they are of a brownish black color, slightly tinted with bronze. In the uncertainty which hangs over many of the species, and under my great want of success in collecting (or perhaps in identifying) the species found in California, it would be hardly prudent to pro- pose this as a new species. The refiexed margin of the thorax is distinct, but very narrow. D— f. Winged species mostly of a black color, with the legs and antennae of the same color as the body ; the thorax is rounded, with the posterior angles very obtuse, or altogether rounded; the margin is moderately broad, usually slightly dilated and refiexed towards the base ; the basal impressions are broad and shallow ; the elytra are not much wider than the thorax, truncate, or even subemarginate at the base, rounded and hardly perceptibly sinuate towards the extremity ; the in- terstices are mostly fiat, and the third has three punctures, the second of which, except when otherwise stated, is placed on or near the third stria. A numerous group, containing closely allied, yet quite distinct species. 19. P. c ol 1 a r i s, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, paulo convexo latitudine vix breviore, angulis posticis rotundatis ^ndistinctis, margine picescente latius reflexo postice latiore, impressionibus basalibus vix definitis, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus convexiusculis, striis tenuibus subtiliter crenulatis, interstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato, antennis basi fere piceis. Long. *3 — -35. Anchomenus collaris Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc 4, 421. 5 48 [April, Louisiana; Dr. Schaum. A very distinct species, having the reflexed margin of the thorax broader than in any of the following; the basal impressions, al- though deep, are formed principally by the union of the reflexed margin with the moderately convex disc, and are consequently very indefinite. The punctures of the striae of the elytra are very distinct. 20. P.moerens, piceo-niger, nitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, basi fere truncato, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, margine re- flexo postice latiusculo, impressionibus basalibus latis, tuberculo nullo, elytris thorace fere duplo latioribus, parum convexis, tenuiter striatis, tripunctatis. Long. -34— -38. Agonwm mcere?is Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 152. Louisiana, Dr. Schaum; Pennsylvania. This species differs from P. tenuis and others having fine elytral striae, by the greater breadth of the reflexed margin of the thorax, (which, however, is narrower than in the preceding,) and by the greater distinctness of the posterior angles ; the reflexed margin is sometimes tinged with piceous ; the second elytral puncture is very near the second stria. 21. P. laevis, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, basi late rotundata, angulis indistinctis, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus profundis, tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris con- vexiusculis, tripunctatis, striis profundis, vix punctulatis. Long. *35 — 38. Middle and Western States. The thorax is more rounded than in P. melana- rius ; the tubercle of the basal impression less distinct, and the posterior angles hardly perceptible. From P. atratus it differs by the more strongly reflexed thoracic margin, the deeper basal impressions and the wider elytra. 22. P. melanarius, niger, nitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine bre- viore, basi fere truncata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus latis, subrugosis, tuberculo dis- tincto instructis, elytris thorace vix sesqui latioribus, basi subemarginatis, minus convexis, tripunctatis, striis profundis punctulatis, tibiis tarsisque obscure pices- centibus. Long. *36 — '4- Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Ago?rum melanarivm Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 152. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 26. Agonum maicrum Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 300. Middle States, abundant; Vermont, Dr. Harris. The more reflexed thoracic margin the deeper basal impressions, and the distinct tubercle near the angle will readily separate this species from P. Harrisii. Dr. Harris thinks that this is not the species intended by Dejean. As, however, the latter says that the tibiae, tarsi and basal joint of the antennae are sometimes of a brownish color, I think that he cannot refer to any other of our species having three elytral punc- tures. A specimen having the thorax a little longer and less regularly rounded on the sides, was sent me, by Dr. Harris, under the name Agomim nitidum \ I cannot, however, find sufficiently definite characters to separate it. 23. P.metallescens, supra nigro-aeneus, subnitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine breviore, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, mar- gine angustius reflexo postice vix latiore, impressionibus basalibus subrugosis, tuberculo distincto instructis, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus paulo convexis, basi subemarginatis, striis tenuibus profundis, subtiliter punctulatis, interstitiis paulo convexis, 3io tripunctato. Long. *3 — 35. Sault Ste Marie, and northern shore of Lake Superior. Resembles in form and sculpture the preceding species, but, besides the color, readily distinguished by the narrower thoracic margin. The under surface, the antennae and feet are black, slightly bronzed. 24. P. t e n u i s, supra aeneo-niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine breviore, subro- tundato, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, margine angus- tius reflexo picescente postice sublatiore, impressionibus basalibus latis minus profundis, subrugosis, tuberculo indistincto instructis, elytris thorace fere sesqui latioribus, convexiusculis, tenuiter striatis, interstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato. Long. '36. 1854.] 49 Middle and Eastern States, rare. Sufficiently distinct from P. melanarius, by the slightly bronzed color, more obtuse and more rounded posterior thoracic an- gles, and less deep and impunctured elytral striae. From P. metallescens, which it resembles in the form of the thorax, it is easily known by the smooth elytral striae and more dull color. From P. moerens, it is distinguished by the wider thorax with more rounded base and less distinct posterior angles. Dr. Harris sent a specimen as Ag. collare Say ; the impunctured striae, how- ever, prevent it from being referred to the species described by him under the same name in the Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. as above quoted. 25. P. Harrisii, niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, subro- tundato, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis, rotundatis, margine angus- tius depresso vix reflexo, impressionibus basalibus latis, subrugosis, minus pro- fundis, tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris paulo inaequalibus, thorace sesqui latioribus, tripunctatis, striis impunctatis. Long. *35 — *4. Agonnm Harrisii Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 225. Massachusetts and Lake Superior. The inequalities of the elytra are pro- duced by irregular dilated shallow impressions along the course of the striae : the most obvious of these is usually near the extremity of the fifth striae : Dr. Harris regards this as specific, and therefore applied to the species the unpublished name Ag. sulcatum. The thorax is less transverse and less rounded than in the preceding species, and the sides are less distinctly reflexed towards the base. The second elytral puncture is on the second stria. 26. P. pice us, rufo-piceus, nitidus, antennis capite thoraceque supra ob- scuris, hoc quadrato-rotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, basi late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis vix rotundatis, marine anguste depresso vix reflexo, im- pressionibus basalibus latis, minus profundis, elytris thorace vix sesqui latiori- bus tripunctatis, striis sat profundis. Long. *28. Agouum piceum Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 226. Massachusetts, Dr. Harris. Although differing in size and color, so as to pre- sent no resemblance whatever to P. Harrisii, the form and structure is very much as in that species : the posterior angles of the thorax are more distinct, and the elytral striae deeper : as in that species, the second elytral puncture is in the second stria. 27. P. car bo, niger, nitidus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine paulo bre- viore, basi vix late rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, margine angus- tissime reflexo, impressionibus basalibus minus dilatatis, sat profundis, elytris thorace vix sesqui latioribus convexiusculis, tenuiter striatis, tripunctatis. Long. -35. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. One specimen, from the northern shore of Lake Superior. Differs from all the preceding species by the narrower and slightly thickened reflexed margin of the thorax. It approaches otherwise perhaps most nearly to P. tenuis : the second elytral puncture is very near the second stria, but not in it, as in the twro preceding species. 28. P. atratus, niger, nitidus, thorace fere rotundato, latitudine paulo bre- viore, basi rotundata, angulis posticis rotundatis, indistinctis, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus latis tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris thorace paulo latioribus, convexiusculis, tripunctatis, striis sat profundis. Long. -34. Lee. Agassiz5 Lake Superior, 205. Northern shore of Lake Superior. The thorax perhaps most nearly resembles that of P. melanarius, but the base is more rounded, and the basal angles hardly to be determined : the elytra are but little wider than the thorax, and more con- - vex, giving the insect very much the form of Pterostichus erythropus. In one specimen the striae of the elytra are impunctured, in another they are obsoletely punctulate. 29. P. frater, niger, nitidus, thorace transverso,subquadrato, basi vix late y 50 [April, rotundato, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, lateribus late rotundatis, margine anguste reflexo, basi utrinque late impressa, tuberculo indistincto instructo, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, paulo convexis, tripunctatis, striis profundis, interstitiis paulo convexis. Long. -35. San Francisco and San Diego, California, not rare. I was inclined to refer this species to Agonum brevicolle Dej ., (Sp. Gen. 3, 159) but on examining seve- ral specimens, I find that the elytral punctures are always three: the second is placed about the middle on the third stria, as in most of the species above described : the lateral margin of the thorax is hardly wider towards the poste- rior angles than at the middle: the basal impressions are sometimes slightly ru- gous and punctulate. The form of the thorax is somewhat that of P. Harrisii, but is less rounded on the sides. 30. P. quadratus, aeneo-niger, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, quadrato, postice subangustato, basi media truncata, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, angulis posticis vix rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus profundis, subtiliter rugosis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus minus convexis subquadratis, tripunctatis, striis sat profundis, interstitiis fere planis. Long. .34. One specimen, Oregon. Enough remains of the antennae and feet, to show that they were black. This species has a comparatively smaller thorax than the others of this group, and seems to establish a passage towards group (C — d,) from which, however, it differs in having the basal impressions of the thorax more excavated, and not prolonged anteriorly. The sides of the thorax are moderately rounded anteriorly : the second elytral puncture is placed on the second stria. 31. P. c u pr i p e nn i s , subtus aeneo-niger, capite thoraceque viridi-aureis, nitidis, hoc latitudine breviore rotundato, margine tenui postice paulo latiore, basi utrinque modice impressa, subtiliter rugosa, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, oblongo-ovalibus, fulgenti-cupreis, viridi late marginatis, subtiliter tripunctatis, striis tenuibus, interstitiis planis. Long. *32 — *36. iLec Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Feronia cupripevnis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 50. Agonum cupripenne Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 139. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 28. Abundant throughout the Middle and Western States; found also at Lake Su- perior, and, according to Kirby, in lat. 54°. A variety from Lake Superior has the thorax and head and margin of the elytra greenish blue, and the disc of the latter golden. A specimen from New York, given me by Mr. Guex, has the upper surface green, somewhat darker, and tinged with purple on the head and thorax. D-g. A group containing winged species, in which the thorax is almost circular, and finely margined, with the basal impressions deep, but very small like punc- tures. The elytra are oval, truncate at base, slightly sinuate at tip, and mode- rately convex ; the stria? are deep and punctured, the third interval has three im- pressed punctures: the antennae at least in part are rufous. 32. P. punctiformis, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, tenuiter margi- nato, basi utrinque puncto maiusculo impresso, elytris thorace fere duplo latiori- bus. convexis tripunctatis striis antice punctulatis, antennarum basi tibiis tar- sisque rufis, femoribus saepe nigro-piceis. Long. *28 — *36. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 206. Feronia punctijormis Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 58. Agonum rufipes Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 173. Agonum pun ct if or vie Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4,423. Agonum foveicolle Chaudoir, Bull. Mosc. 1843, 764. Lake Superior, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nebraska. Between the specimens having the legs entirely red, and those having the thighs almost black, I can perceive no difference of a specific nature. Mr. Chaudoir compares it with Ag. lenum (Dej.,) but his description applies to no other but this species. 1851.] 51 33. P. limbatus, nitidus, capite thoraceque saturate piceo-rufis,'hoc ro- tundato, tenuiter marginato, basi utrinque puncto magno impresso, elytris thorace hand sesqui latioribus nigris margine lato testaceo, tripunctatis, striis fortius puuctatis, postpectore abdomineque nigris, antennis piceis basi, palpis pedibus- que testaceis. Long. -35. Feronia limbata Say, Trans. Am. Phil Soc. 2, 47. Agonum palliatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 174. Georgia, Illinois and Pennsylvania. A more robust species than the preceding, with a larger thorax. E. A. group containing winged species of a metallic or submetallic color, with the base of the antennae, the palpi and the legs, or at least the tibiae and tarsi yellow. The thorax is slightly cordiform, narrowly margined, with the poste- rior angles obtuse and slightly rounded ; the basal impressions are deep, mode- rately large and punctulate ; the elytra are twice as wide as the thorax, truncate at base, moderately convex ; the striae are punctured ; the third interstice has three punctures, of which the second is on or near the second stria. 34. P. as r u g i n o s u s, piceo-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine subbreviore, ovali, convexo, tenuiter marginato, angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus parvis minus impressis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, ovalibus, con- vexis, tenuiter striatis, rnterstitiis planis, 3io tripunctato, antennarum basi pedi- busque piceo-testaceis. Long. «23 — *28. Agonum aruginosum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 168. Vermont, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia. By the small size of the basal im- pression of the thorax, this is readily distinguished from the other species, of this group. Sometimes the antennae appear entirely brownish black, but usually the first joint, at least, is reddish. 35. P. exc a va t u s, aenpus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore, parum convexo, postice subanaustato, basi punctulato utrinque profunde impresso, an- gulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus tenuiter striatis, striis versus basin subtiliter punctulatis, interstitio 3io trifoveato, antennis basi pedibusque piceo-testaceis. Long. «28. Agonum ezcavatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 1@9. Middle and Western States ; not rare on the banks of streams. 36. P. fe r r e u s, nigro-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine fere longiore con- vexo, postice paulo angustato, basi punctulato utrinque profunde impresso, an- gulis posticis obtusis, subrotundatis, elytris convexiusculis, tripunctatis, striis profundis usque ad medium valde punctatis, versus apicem minus impressis an- tennarum basi tibiis tarsisque piceo-testaceis. Long. «3. Agonum. ferreum Hald. Proc Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 228. Agonum ocreatum Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1, 299. (Sp^c. immat.) Middle and Western States ; not common. The striae of the elytra are quite faint towards the tip, which is obliquely subsinuate. 37. P. e r r a n s, obscure cyaneo-aeneiis, nitidus, thorace latitudine paulo bre- viore, paulo convexo, postice maijis angustato, basi vix punctulato, utrinque profunde impresso, angulis posticis obtusis rotundatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus paulo convexis, tripunctatis, striis angustis impunctatis, antennis fuscis, articulis 3 pedibusque rufis. Long. *29. Feronia errans Say, Journ Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 147. Agonum errans Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 423. One specimen found on Platte River, Nebraska. Very similar to the next, but the thorax is longer and more distinctly narrowed posteriorly; the stria? of the elytra are absolutely without punctures, and the base of the antennae is much paler. 38. P. sub c o r d a t u s, cupreo-aeneus (raro viridi-aeneus) nitidus, thorace 52 [April, minus convexo, latitudine breviore, postice subangustato, basi punctulato, utrinque latius profunde impresso, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, elytris thorace fere duplo latioribus minus convexis, tripunctatis striis angustis versus basin subtiliter punctulatis, antennis nigro-piceis, articulo lrao pedibusque piceo- rufis. Long. *3 — «34. Lee Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. ?Agouum erythropum\\ Kirby, Fauna Eor. Am. 28. Sandy Lake, Upper Mississippi ; the green variety was found in Nebraska, near the Rocky Mountains. By the change of genus Kirby's name becomes a homonym of P. erythropus Dej. above described. As Mr. Kirby does not mention the punctures of the base of the thorax, nor of the striae of the elytra, I am not certain that his species is the same as the one described ; should it prove to be different from mine, the name P. Ki rb y i must be applied to it. 39. P. b a sa 1 i s, asneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore ovali con- vexiusculo, postice subanguscato, angulis posticis rotundatis, impressionibus basalibus profundis parce punctulatis, tuberculo obsoleto instructis, elytris tho- race duplo latioribus oblongis, minus convexis, striis modice profundis, inter- stitiis paulo convexis, 3io subtiliter tripunctato, antennis piceis, articulo lmo pedibusque rufis. Long. *3. Agonum basale Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227. One specimen found in Nebraska, near the mountains. From its color and form this species, at first sight, resembles a small specimen of P. extensicollis, but on comparison it is found completely different. The basal impressions of the thorax are not prolonged anteriorly, and the margin is not wider at the rounded posterior angles. The third interstice of the elytra has only three very small punctures, of which the second and third are placed on the second stria. 40. P. v a g ans, virescente-aeneus, nitidus, thorace latitudine non breviore, ovali, postice subangustato, margine postice paulo latiore, angulis posticis ro- tundatis, impressionibus basalibus profundis, parce punctulatis, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, oblongo-ovalibus, parum convexis, striis sat profundis obsolete punctulatis, interstitiis vix convexis, 3io subtiliter tripunctato, antennis piceis, articulo lmo pedibusque rufis, genubus, tarsisque paulo infuscatis. Long. «29. One specimen, New York. Resembles in form P. nutans, but the elytra have only three small punctures (the second near the second stria on one elytron, and near the third on the other ;) the striae are deeper and very finely punctulate ; from P. subcordatus, it differs by the longer thorax. F. Winged species of a slender form, usually black, sometimes, hower, piceous, and in one instance of a metallic green color ; the base of the antennae and the feet are yellow ; the thorax is oval, with the margin narrowly reflexed becoming broader towards the posterior angles, which are rounded and indistinct; the basal impressions are narrow, sometimes deep and smooth, sometimes nearly obsolete. The elytra are elongate oval, twice as wide as the thorax, moderately convex, emarginate at the base and obliquely subtruncate at tip; the striae are fine, the interstices flat, the third marked with five or six punctures. 41. P. nutans, capite thoraceque viridiaeneis,hoc ovali, latitudine longiore, margine angusto reflexo postice latiore, angulis posticis. nullis, impressionibus basalibus profundis laevibus, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, elongatis, aeneis nitidis, 5-punctatis, striis tenuibus impunctatis, antennis nigris articulo lmo pedibusque piceo-rufis, femoribus apice infuscatis. Long. ;27 — 35. Feronia nutans Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 52. Agonum nutans Say; ibid. 4, 423, (syn. excl.); Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227. A so num femoral um Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 146. Middle and Western States ; also in Nebraska. Say, in the fourth volume above cited, makes the unaccountable error of referring Agonum striatopunctatum Dej. to this speciest 1854.] 53 42. P. crenulatus, nigro-aeneus, minus convexus, thorace subrotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, margine reflexo postice paulo latiore, angulis posticis nullis, basi utrinqu'e profundius impresso, et parce punctulato, elytris thorace duplo latioribus oblongis, 5 vel 6-punctatis, striis tenuibus antice punctulatis, intersf itiis planis, antennarum basi pedibusque piceo-testaceis, vel testaceis. Long. -31. Georgia, rare ; Louisiana, Dr. Schaum. This species establishes, by its form and characters, a passage from this group towards P. excavatus among those having three elytral punctures. The elytra are broader and more square in their outline than in any other species of this group, to which, nevertheless, it seems most closely related ; in one specimen three joints of the antenna? are pale, in the other only the first one is dark testaceous. 43. P. striatopunctatus, aeneo-niger, elongatus nitidus, thorace ovali latitudine longiore, margine reflexo postice latiore, angulis posticis nullis, basi utrinque profunde impresso, et obsolete punctulato, elytris thorace duplo latiori- bus, elonjjato ovalibus, striis punctulatis satprofundis, interstitiis paulo convexis, antennarum articulo lmo pedibusque testaceis. Long. -24 — *3. Agonum striatopunctatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 167. Agonum decipiens Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 229. Georgia. Has very much the form of P. nutans, but is smaller and darker colored ; the strice of the elytra are deeper and distinctly but finely punctured. 44 P. re tract us, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato-ovali, latitudine non breviore, postice modice angustato, angulis posticis valde rotundatis, margine tenui postice latiore subreflexo, basi utrinque longitudinaliter sat profunde im- preasa, elytris ovalibus, picescentibus thorace plus sesqui latioribus, striis mo- dice profundis, interstitiis subconvexis, 3io punctis 4 vel 5-impresso, pedibus rufis, antennis piceis basi rufo-testaceis. Long. *27 — 3. Lee Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum retractum Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 228. ? Agonum lenum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 166. Lake Superior, Massachusetts and New York. The first specimen described by me was defective in having very small elytral punctures, whereby I was led into the error of describing the elytra as having only three punctures on the third interstice. The thorax is larger and wider in proportion than the last spe- cies, but the elytra are wider and less elliptical than in the remaining species of this group, and the stria? are deeper. I am somewhat doubtful about referring Dejean's description to this species, since not only the first joint of the antennae, but very frequently three or four joints are paler than the outer joints, and the striae of the elytra, in comparison with the following species, could hardly be called fine. As, however, Dejean implies that the sides of the thorax are some- what reflexed posteriorly, I must acknowledge that my reference of his species to what is described below as P. picipennis, must be considered faulty. 45. P. ruficornis, piceo-niger nitidus, elongatus, thorace latitudine paulo longiore, ovali, postice paulo angustato, angulis posticis rotundatis, margine tenuiter reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus latis minus pro- fundis, elytris elongato-ellipticis, thorace vix sesqui latioribus, piceis striis tenu- ibus, interstitiis planissimis, 3io punctatis 5 — 7 impresso, pedibus rufis, antennis piceis extrorsum pallide rufis. Long. *31. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. ? Agonum picipenne var. C and D. Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 25. Lake Superior. Larger than the preceding and following species, and besides the difference in the thorax, readily distinguished by the antennae being much paler from the fourth joint outwards. I have cited Kirby, because he says that the varieties mentioned have the second, third and fourth joints of the antennae piceous, and the rest ferruginous; in my specimens the first joint is rufous in one, and piceous in the others. 46. P. p i c i p e n n i s, niger nitidus, elongatus, thorace ovali, latitudine Ion- 54 [April, giore, tenuiter rnarginato, angiitis posticis rotundatis, itnpressionibus basalibus angustis parum profundis, elytris thorace latioribus, elongato-ellipticis, piceis, striis tenuibus, interstitiis plants 3io punctis 4 — 6 impresso, epipleuris pedibusque pieeo-testaeeis, antennis nigro-piceis, articulo lmo rufescente. Long. -25 — «27. Agonum picipenne Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 25. Agonum lenum% Lee Ann. Lye 229. Platynas lenis\ Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior 205. Middle States, Nebraska and Lake Superior. The elytra are sometimes nearly black, and sometimes nearly testaceous ; the lateral margin of the thorax is not dilated posteriorly. In the paler specimens the antennae are piceous, with the first three or four joints testaceous. 47. P. lutulentus, piceo-testaceus, nitidus elongatus, capite nigro, thorace ovali, latitudine longiore, tenuissime rnarginato, angulis posticis rotundatis, itn- pressionibus basalibus parvis minus impressis, elytris thorace latioribus, elongato- ellipticis, striis tenuibus interstitiis planis, 3io punctis 4 maiusculis impresso, antennis piceis, articulo lmo rufo. Long. -26. Maine and Lake Superior. Apart from the difference in color, this species differs from the preceding in having the thorax still more finely margined, with the basal impressions smaller and less marked ; the striae of the elytra are finer, and the punctures appear to be larger and never more than four in number. I formerly distributed this species as Agonum sordens Kirby, (Fauna Bor. Am. 25,) but on reviewing the subject; I find that it does not correspond with his description. The color beneath is about the same as above, and varies from pale piceous to deep piceous. 48. P. n i g r i c e p s, pallide testaceus, nitidus, elongatus, capite nijjro, tho- race elongato, subquadrato, latitudine longiore, lateribus paulo rotundatis, basi angulisque posticis rotundatis, tenuissime rnarginato, impressionibus basalibus parvis, minus impressis, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus elongato-ellipticis, striis tenuibus, interstitiis planis 3io punctis 4 subtilibus impresso, sutura thoracisque disco longitudinaliter infuscatis, antennis piceis, basi testaceis. Long. «25. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum nigriceps Lee, Ann. Lye 4, 229. One specimen, Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. The appearance is very much like that of Demetrias atricapillus of Europe ; the elytra are somewhat more dis- tinctly sinuate at the apex than in the other species of this group, and are, in- deed, almost obliquely truncate ; the sutural striae is deeper than the others. G. A group containing but one winged species of a metallic green color, and mo- derately stout figure ; the thorax is rounded, slightly truncate at base, very finely margined, with the basal impressions small and deep; the elytra are subellip- tical, emarginate at base, slightly sinuate at tip, finely striate, with several large quadrate foveae on the third interval. 49. P. octopunctatus, supra aeneo-viridis, vix nitidus, thorace rotundato, tenuiter rnarginato, basi snbtruncata, utrinque fovea profunda impressa, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus ellipticis, tenuiter striatis, foveis quatuor quadratis ob- scuris profundis utrinque impressis, antennarum' basi pedibusque piceo-rufis, femoribus aeneo-micantibus. Long. -3. Carabus octopunctatus Fabr. Ent. Syst. Suppl. 55. Syst. El. 1, 186. Feronia octopunctata Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 51. Agonum octopu?ictatum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 136. Middle and Western States. The elytra are frequently tinged with coppery from the suture as far as the fourth stria, and have occasionally five foveae. The under surface is shining blackish green. 1854.] 55 H— h. A group containing two winged species, in which the thorax is rounded and moderately large, finely margined, with the margin extending along the sides of the base and very slightly thickened, but hardly reflexed. The elytra are not much wider than the thorax, emarginate at base, hardly sinuate at the apex, and have four and five punctures on the third interval. The antenna? and feet are entirely black ; the upper surface is coppery. 50. P.protractus, elongatus supra acneus, nitidus, thorace rotundato, tenuiter marginato, basi truncata utrinque latius foveata et obsolete punctulata, angulis posticis valde rotundatis, elytris thorace paulo latioribus, 4-punctatis, interstitiis planis ; subtus cum antennis pedibusque aeneo-niger. Long. *33. Lake Superior, and Sandy Lake, Minnesota. The difference between this and the next species is not well defined ; nevertheless, several specimens agree in havins the thorax not wider than long, with the posterior angles more definite, although much rounded ; the general form of the body is narrower. These dif- ferences are not sexual, as of each form are found both males and females. 51. P. c h a 1 c e u s, capite thoraceque supra aeneis nitidis, hoc rotundato, tenuiter marginato, latitudine breviore, basi truncata, utrinque latius foveata et obsolete punctulata, angulis posticis obsoletis, elytris thorace fere sesqui lati- oribus, cuprascentibus, 4 vel 5-punctatis, interstitiis planis, subtus cum antennis pedibusque aeneo-niger. Long. -33 — *35. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. Agonum chalceum Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 224. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, not rare 5 a specimen also occurred in Nebraska. Can Agonum enpreum Dej. (Sp. Gen. 5, 736,) be a variety of this or the pre- ceding species, having but three elytral punctures? H-i. Winged species of moderately stout figure and variable color. The thorax is broad and rounded, with the posterior angles obsolete ; the margin is fine and slightly reflexed, the basal impressions are largp, rounded and shallow. The elytra are deeply emarsjinate at base, very slightly sinuate at the apex ; the strias are fine, and the intervals flat; the third interval has from 5 to 8 punctures. 52. P. pi acid us, cyaneo-niger, subnitidus, thorace rotundato, latitudine paulo breviore, margine fortius reflexo picescente postice paulo latiore, basi utrinque late sat profunde foveata, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, tenuiter striatis, 5 — 7-punctatis, antennarum articulo lmo tibiis tarsisque piceo-testaceis. Long. -3—37. Feronia placida Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 43. Agonum morosnm Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 145. Lake Superior, Maine, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Santa Fe. Readily recog- nized by its greenish or bluish black color; the elytral punctures are usually six in number, of which the two posterior are situated in the second stria, the others on the third. Varieties occur having the legs of a uniform dull reddish color. 53. P. maculicollis, rufo-testaceus, subnitidus, capite obscuriore, thorace rotundato, latitudine breviore, margine tenui paulo reflexo, basi utrinque late vix distincte impressa obsolete punctulata, macula discoidali magna obscura ornato, elytris thorace sesqui latioribus, tenuiter striatis, 5 — 6-punctatis, nigris margine lata ad humeros dilatata antennis pedibusque testaceis, abdomine nigro- piceo ano testaceo. Long. «40 — 48. Agonum maculicolle Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 175. Anchomenus maculicollis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 199. California, in every part west of the Sierra; the elytra are distantly and very obsoletely punctulate ; of the punctures the two anterior are placed in the third, the others in or near the second stria. The thorax is sometimes entirely testa- ceous. By a strange error Count Mannerheim has added the word Ct apterus " to the diagnosis, which he has otherwise copied almost literally from Dejean; the 56 [April insect is always winged, and at San Diego, in June, occurred in such numbers, flying in the twilight, as to be very troublesome. 54. P. variolatus, aeneo-niger, thorace latitudine breviore, rotundato, mar- gine tenui reflexo, basi utrinque late minus profunde foveata, elytris thorace duplo latioribus, tenuiter striatis, punctis 5 — 7 maiusculis impressis, aeneo-pieeis, margine late pedibusque flavo-testaceis, antennis nigro-piceis, articulo lmo rufo. Long. -25. Lee. Ann. Lye. 5, 178. San Francisco, California; under bark of dead trees. The four anterior of the elytral punctures are placed on the third, the posterior three, or two (as the case may be) are adjacent to the second stria. In one specimen there are only three punctures on the third stria, the other four being on the second. The basal im- pressions do not combine with the concavity near the margin (as in P. placidus) but remain distinct. Mr. Motschulsky (Bull. Mosc. 1845, pars 1, 21,) has mentioned a species under the name Agonum limlatttm, which may be identical with our insect. He merely states, " in size and form it resembles closely A. p e 1 i d n u m, but is readily distinguished by the whitish margin of the elytra." The specific name is, however, preoccupied by Say. H— k. A group containing species of a robust form, but flattened body ; the color is more or less metallic ; the legs and antennae dark colored or black ; the thorax has the posterior angles somewhat distinct, but not prominent; the margin is very narrow, but not reflexed; the basal impressions are shallow and prolonged anteriorly. The elytra are scarcely one half wider than the thorax, emarginate at base, very slightly sinuate at the tip ; the striae are well marked, but fine ; the third interval has from five to seven punctures. 55. P. deplanatus, aeneus, virescens, modice elongatus, thorace rotundato- quadrato, tenuiter marginato, latitudine breviore, postice parum angustato, basi truncato, utrinque sat profunde impresso, angulis posticis obtusis, haud rotun- datis, elytris fere depressis, thorace vix sesqui latioribus, oblongis, tenuiter striatis, 6-punctatis, antennarum articulo lmo pedibusque piceo-aeneis. Long. •38—45. Agonum deplanatum Menetries, Bull. Petrop. 2, 58. (1844.) Abundant at San Jose. The original description mentions that the striae of the elytra are finely punctulate ; this character may be observed in some speci- mens, but is usually not apparent. The basal impressions of the thorax are sometimes very obsoletely punctulate ; the punctures of the third interval of the elytra are not adjacent to either stria. 56. P. f o s s i g e r, niger, vel aeneo-niger, thorace rotundato-quadrato, tenuiter marginato, postice subangustato, basi late rotundata, utrinque longius impressa, angulis posticis obtusis subrotundatis, elytris paulo convexis, (feminse opacius- culis) thorace vix sesqui latioribus, oblongis, striis fere impunctatis, interstitiis parum convexis, 3io punctis 5 — 7 maiusculis impressis. Long. '35—38. Agonum fossiger Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 160. Anchomenus fossiger Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 199. California, at San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and the Colorado River. Varies not only in color, but even in form ; the thorax is usually distinctly wider than long, and considerably rounded on the sides ; the basal impressions are broad and obsoletely prolonged anteriorly to the middle, and occasionally slightly punctulate. a. This is a single specimen from San Francisco, in which the thorax is not wider than long, almost square, and less rounded on the sides than in the other specimens, but with the posterior angles less distinct and more rounded. The general form of the body is narrower, but as I have not found the characters sufficiently distinct, it would be imprudent for the present to separate it under another name. 1854.] 57 I. r A group of small black winged species, having the thorax transverse, rounded at the sides and base, with the posterior angles very obtuse, but usually distinct ; the margin is narrowly reflexed, especially towards the posterior angles; the basal impressions are not obvious, being lost in the concavity between the mar- gin and the disc ; the elytra are oblong, and flattened ; they are deeply emarginate at base ; when the elytra have three small punctures, they are almost truncate at tip, and are slightly sinuate: when I he elytra are deeply foveate, the sutural portion is more prolonged, so that the truncation becomes oblique. The striae are veiy fine and badly defined; the legs and antennae are black; the latter area little stouter than usual, though hardly perceptibly so. 57. P. c o n s i m i 1 i s, niger, nitidus, thorace subquadrato transverso, basi et lateribus latins rotundato, angulis posticis distinctis, margine tenui reflexo pos- tice paulo latiore, elytris oblongis, basi valde emarginatis, thorace duplo latiori- bus, tenuiter striatis, subtiliter tripunctatis. Lon^. *32. One specimen ; Michipicoton, Lake Superior. Differs from P. obsoletus by its larger size, less rounded base of thorax, and much more distinct posterior angles. The four anterior trochanters are red. As in the next two species, the apex of the elytra is almost truncate, and as in them the second puncture is in the second stria. 58. P. obsoletus, niger, nitidus, thorace transverso, postice subangustato basi valde rotundato, angulis posticis obtussissitnus, margine tenui reflexo pos- tice paulo latiore, elytris oblongis, basi valde emarginatis, thorace duplo latiori- bus, tenuiter striatis, subtiliter tripunctatis. Long. *24 — -28. Feronia obsoleta Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 57. Agonum luctuosum Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 172. Agonum obsoletum Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 4, 423. c F/ronia placida Say,'i Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227 ; Agassiz' Lake Superior, 205. New York and Lake Superior. The error by which I referred this species to' Feronia placida Say, is entirely unaccountable. This common species frequently has the anterior and middle trochanters of a deep red color. I have received a typical specimen named by Say, through the kindness of Dr. Harris. 59. P. strigicollis, niger, nitidus, thorace transverso, postice vix an- gustato, basi rotundata, angulis posticis obtusis, margine tenui reflexo postice paulo latiore, impressionibus basalibus longiusculis minus distinctis subtiliter rugosis, elytris fere duplo latioribus oblongo-quadratis, subtiliter striatis, tri- punctatis. Long. -3. Anchomenus strigicollis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 294. Oregon, at Prairie Paso, and Fort Vancouver, Dr. J. G. Cooper ; northern part of the west coast of America, according to Count Mannerheim. This spe- cies is very closely related to the preceding, but the thorax is wider posteriorly, thus becoming more quadrate, the posterior angles are more distinct, and there- flexed margin is a little wider. The elytra are comparatively much shorter, being not more than one half longer than wide, while in P. obsoletus they are fully twice as long as wide; the basal impressions of th° thorax, though long, are very indistinct; in the preceding they cannot be traced. 60. P. bembidioides, aeneo-niger, opacus, thorace transverso subquad- rato, basi rotundata, postice subangustato, angulis posticis obtusis at distinctis, elytris oblongis, maculis sericeis confluenlibus variegatis, tenuiter striatis, foveis quatuor magnis utrinque impressis. Long. -26. Lee. Agassiz' Lake Supetior, 206. Sericoda bembidioides Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 15, pi. 1, fig. 2. Agonum bembidioides Lee. Ann. Lye. 4, 227. One specimen, Lake Superior. Closely resembles the next species, but is sufficiently distinct by its larger size, and the irregularly mottled appearance of the elytra. Kirby's genus Sericoda was formed on an erroneous examination of the palpi 58 [April, of a distorted or mutilated specimen. Chaudoir (Bull. Mosc. 1844, p. 70) has established a genus Rhytiderus, upon Dromius 10-punctatus, from South Ame- rica, but which, as observed by Erichson, (Bericht fiber Kntom. 1844,) be- longs to Kirby's Sericoda. The relation between the genus Sericoda, and a very common insect of northern Europe, does not, however, appear to have been suspected by any of the authors, 61. P. stigmosus, aeneo-niger, subnitidus, thorace transverso subquadrato, basi rotundata, postice subangustato, angulis posticis obtusis at distinctis, elytris oblongis, tenuiter striatis, utrinque foveis magnis quatuor impressis. Long. '21. Flatynus quadripunctatu$\ Lee. Agassiz' Lake Superior, 206. Very abundant at Lake Superior, and found also in Maine and New Hamp- shire. Dr. Schaum tells me that he considers this as the same as the European P. quadripunctatus, and in my catalogue of Lake Superior Coleoptera, I gave it as such on his authority. On comparing, however, a large number of specimens with one found in Sweden, the posterior angles of the thorax, although very ob- tuse, appear to be always well defined, while in the European specimen the angles and the base are rounded together, so that the apex of the angle cannot be defined. Many of the specimens have two slightly impressed foveae before the middle of the thorax, but some are found without such impressions. Olisthopus Dej. 1. 0. parmatus, niger, nitidus, thorace rotundato, transverso, margine tenui testaceo, basi utrinque minus profunde impressa, elytris thorace latioribus breviter ovalibus, basi emarginatis, subtiliter tripunctatis, sat profunde striatis, piceo-testaceis, disco plus minus infuscato, antennis palpis pedibusque testaceis, ill is extrorsum fuscis. Long. -28. Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 181. Feronia parmata Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 2, 49. Olisthopus ductus Say, Trans. Am. Phil Soc 4, 424. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Georgia. A type of 0. cinctus, given me by Dr. Mel- sheimer, does not differ in any essential point from the other specimens. I have never seen any in which the lateral bead of the thorax was not testaceous, and am inclined to believe that Mr. Say had not a specimen of his Feroui a parmata before him when he described 0. cinctus. The basal impressions of the thorax are sometimes obsoletely punctulate, in other specimens they are quite smooth ; the elytra are sometimes nearly uniform brownish yellow, sometimes piceous, with the shoulders and sides indistinctly brown. 2. 0. micans, nigro-piceus, nitidus, cyaneo-micans, thorace rotundato, transverso, marline tenui testaceo postice subreflexo, basi utrinque vix late foveata, elytris ovalibus. basi emarginatis, tripunctatis, tenuiter striatis, mar- gine tenui testaceo, antennis palpis pedibusque flavis, ill is extrorsum fuscis. Long. • 18. Leeonte, Ann. Lye. New York 4, 230. Georgia and Louisiana. Readily distinguished by its small size; the striae of the elytra are finer than in 0. parmatus, and the intervals perfectly fat ; the margin of the thorax is a little reflexed and broader towards the base. Species Unknown to me. From California. Calathus B e h r e n s i i Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 195. Scaphiodactylus micans Chaud. Bull. Mosc. 1844,479. Anchomenus micans Menetries, Bull. Petrop. 2, 58. Tanystola striata Motsch. Kafer Russl. (Carab.) 69. Anchomenus striatus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 132. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 198. Tanystola s u 1 c a ta Motsch. Kafer Russl. (Carab.) 70. Anchom. sulcatus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 131. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1813. 198. 1854.] 59 Anchomenus ovipennis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196. A. rotundipennis Motsch. Bull. Mosc. 1845, part 2, 340. Anchomenus rugiceps Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196. A. ovipennis Motsch. 1. cit. 2, 339. Anchomenus m a u r u s Motsch. Bull. Mosc. 1845, 2, 339. Anchomenus brunneo-marginatus Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 196. Anchomenus ferruginosus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 128. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 197. Agonum brevicolle Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 159. Anchom. brevicollis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 199. Agonum f a m e 1 i c u m Menetries, Bull. Petrop. 2, 58. From Russian. America. Agonum mol 1 e FJsch. Mem. Soc. Imp. Mosc. 6, 102. Fischer, Ent. Ross. 2, 125, tab. 19, fig. 2. Anehom. mollis Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 129. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 198.« Agonothorax planipennis Motsch. Kafer Russl. (Carab.) 68. From Atlantic America. Anchomenus elongatulus Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 112. Agonum n i t i du 1 u m Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 143. Agonum c u p r e u m Dej. Sp. Gen. 5, 735. Agonum a 1 b i c r u s Dej. Sp. Gen. 3, 158. Agonum sordens Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 25. Agonum seminitidum Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 26. Agonum simile Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 27. Agonum af f i n e Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 27. Feronia maculifrons Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 116, (vide Platynus cincticollis, sup. p. 43.) Feronia scutellaris Say, (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 146) is a diseased specimen of one of our black species, allied to P. melanarius. Anchomenus pubescens Dej. (Sp. Gen. 3, 122) of which Anch. obconicus Eald. (Proc Acad. 1, 299) is a synonym, does not belong to this group, but forms a genus A t r a n u s Lee. (Ann. Lye. 4, 438,) allied to Chlaenius. The European Platynus angust icollis Dej . is mentioned by Kirby (Fauna Bor. Am. 23) as being found on this continent in lat. 54° and 65°; his descrip- tion seems to apply to one of the species of division (B — a,) and probably to P. marginatus ; a comparison of specimens is, however, desirable in order to es- tablish the synonymy. Descriptions of nexv genera and species of North American Frogs. By Spencer F. Baird. HYLAD.E. Teeth in upper jaw. Abdomen granulated. Two outer metatarsals, firmly united throughout by muscle and ligament. 1. Acris crepitans, Baird. — Brownish above. The median region of head and body above bright green : a dark triangle between the eyes. Three oblique blotches on the sides, nearly equidistant; the first behind the eye, the last on the Hanks and running up on the back; all usually margined with lighter. A narrow white line from the eye to the arm. Beneath yellowish white. Inferior face of thigh plain. Tibia a little more than half the length of the body; foot rather smaller. Head rather obtuse, scarcely longer than broad. Web of hind foot extending to the penultimate articulation of the 4th toe. Syn. Hylodes gryllus, De Kay, N. Y. Zool. III. (1842.) 70, PI. xxii. f. 61. Ilab. Northern States generally. 2. Acris acheta, Baird. — Slender. Tibia two-thirds the length of body. Color above dark brown ; blotched much as in Acris gryllus. Beneath white, closely 60 [April, mottled with brown on the body and on the inferior and inner faces of the limbs ; where are also visible minute white dots. Lower surface of body appears quite black. A narrow white line from eye to arm. Hab. Key West, Florida. Genus Chorophilus, Eaird. Smooth above, granulated beneath. Extremities of limbs simple, not dilated at tip. Hands free; feet with a slight basal web, which is entirely wanting be- tween the two outer toes. Tongue orbicular ; emarginate behind. Teeth pos- terior to the inner nares. Tympanum distinct. Transverse apophyses of sacral vertebrae dilated into triangular pallets. Distinguished from Acris by expansion of apophyses; from Litoria by the emarginate tongue, less membrane of toes, and more posterior palatine teeth ; from Hylodes in having a membrane at base of toes, &c. Type, Chorophilus nigritus, Baird, (Cystignathus nigritus, Holb.) Genus Heloccetes, Baird. Granulated almost everywhere above and below. Tongue nearly entire. Vo- merine teeth between the nares. Tympanum distinct. Fingers and toes slightly dilated or knobbed. Fingers free ; toes webbed to bases of phalanges ; a slight membrane at base of outer toes. Transverse apophyses of sacral vertebras ex- panded at ends. Differs from Hylodes and Acris in membrane of toes, and dilatation of sacral apophyses ; from Hyla in slight web and disks ; from Chorophilus in more an- terior position of vomerine teeth, &c. 3. Heloccetes feriarum, Baird. — Body stout, squat. Head broad. Femur and tibia and hind foot about equal, and half the length of the body. Above dark or fawn, with three nearly parallel stripes down the back, the central widening, but scarcely bifurcate behind, and commencing behind a triangular spot between the eyes. A similar dark vitta on sides of head and body, with a white line along edge of the jaw. Body about one inch long. Hab. Carlisle, Penna. 4. Heloccetes triseriatus. Baird. — Body rather slender ; head narrow. Femur less than tibia, which is about two-thirds length of body, and shorter than hind foot. Light bluish ash above, with a "Hark dorsal stripe commencing at the snout, and not interrupted between the eyes; bifurcating about the middle of the trunk ; a stripe on each side of this, and another on sides of head and body, making five distinct stripes anteriorly; lateral stripe with white line below. Body about an inch in length. Syn. Hyla triseriata, Max. Prinz von Wied. Reise 1, (1839,) 249. Hab. Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and the upper Missouri. 5. Heloccetes clar/cii, Baird. — Snout acute, projecting. Extremities somewhat dilated. Tibia half the distance between eye and anus. Foot but little longer, not nearly half the length of body. Above grayish brown or ash, with distinct large circular blotches. A dark band from snout through eye and tympanum down the sides, and a whitish line on the side of jaw. Size about one inch long. Hab. Galveston and Indianola, Texas. 6. Hyla richardii, Baird. — Above uniform grass green ; smooth; beneath white. Tibia considerably less than half the length of body. Hind foot less than arm from elbow. Less than one inch in length. Hab. Cambridge, Mass. 7. Hyla andersonii, Baird. — Skin smooth but wrinkled ; arm from elbow longer than hind foot. Above dull olive brown, as are all the exposed surfaces of the limbs when the animal is couchant ; all the concealed surfaces, especially those in contact with each other, are thickly sprinkled with circular, yellowish white spots on a pale brown ground, seen also on the armpits and sides of body behind. A post-ocular dark vitta extended down the sides (where its lower 1854.] 61 edge is indistinct) and sending a dark branch across the arm to the chin. No bars on the limbs. Body about two inches in length. Hab. Anderson, South Carolina. 8. Ihjla exlmia, Baird.— Smooth above. Tibiajnot half the total length of body. Hind foot not longer than arm from elbow. Bluish above, with two dark longitudinal stripes; beneath white. A dark band from the eye along the sides, margined above and below by a white line, the latter reaching only to the arm, behind which the outline of the dark band is indistinct. Legs not banded. Body about an ineh long. Hab. City of Mexico. 9. Hyla vanvlietii, Baird. — Nearly smooth above. Tympanum nearly as large as the eye. Tibia half as long as the body, longer than arm from elbow, which in turn exceeds the foot. Ash gray or olive, with an irregular cruciform dorsal blotch. A black spot on the side above the foreleg. A white spot under the eye. Thigh and leg with three transverse bands each. Their inner surfaces (when flexed) scarcely reticulated, but spotted with white upon a darker ground. Inside of tibia uncolored. Body two inches long. Hab. Brownsville, Texas. 10. Hyla affinis, Baird. — Body rough. Tympanum two-thirds the size of eye. Tibia not quite half the length of the body, but reaching more than halfway from anus to centre of eyes. Color ash gray or green, with numerous rounded dorsal blotches. Three transverse bands on each thigh and leg. No vermicu- lation on anterior and posterior faces of hind legs, nor on lower part of sides. A light spot under the eye. Web of hand extending only to the third joint of the second finder. Arm from elbow less than tibia, but longer than hind foot. About li inches long. Hab. Northern Sonora. RANIDiE. Teeth in upper jaw. Abdomen smooth. Two outer metatarsals free for most of length, or united only by membranes. 11. Rana montezumce, Baird. — Head as wide as long. Body generally smooth, except pustulation on the sides and sometimes above. No fold of skin, either on the sides or around the tympanum. Tympanum about size of eye; but little variation with sexes. Large vocal vesicles on each side behind jaws. Tongue broad, cornua short. Palatine ^protuberances close together. Toes not webbed beyond middle of last phalanges on the external sides. Color purplish olive above, grayish below, with crowded spots or vermiculations of whitish all over the body. In young specimens, rounded, areolated, dark blotches on the back and foreleg. Size, that of Rana pipiens of Holbrook. Hab. City of Mexico. 12. Rana septentrionalis> Baird. — Body stout, depressed. Skin not tuberculated, but uneven. A broad depressed ridge on each side of back; none intermediate ; a branch of same round the tympanum, meeting a thickening from the jaw. Hand much longer than forearm. Femur and tibia nearly equal, about half the length of the body, and less than the hind foot. Foot large ; terminal joint of middle toe free ; that of the others free only on the inner side. Above light greenish olive, vermiculated with lighter, and with a few large dark blotches posteriorly. Beneath yellow, unblotched. No line on sides of the jaw. Two inches long. Hab. Northern Minnesota. 13. Rana sinuata, Baird. — Body rather stout; tympanum three-fourths the size of eye. Palatine teeth small, ranging with the centres of inner nares. Skin pitted all over with minute pores, with scattered glandules beneath; an indistinct fold of skin on each side of back, none intermediate ; granulation of buttocks in- distinct. Femur not half the length of body, rather longer than tibia ; hind foot considerably longer than the tibia. Above and on sides purplish brown, with 62 [April, sinuations or coarse vermiculations of yellow. Beneath silvery white. Legs transversely barred. Two and a half inches long. Hab. Sacketts Haibor, N. Y. 14. Rana pretiosa, B. and G. — Female. Body thick and stout ; head short, broader than long. Tympanum not two-thirds the length of the eye. Tongue large. Palatine teeth minute, posterior to the inner nares. Skin leathery, co- vered with asperities, except on inner surfaces, even on the sole of the foot. A depressed ridge of skin on each side, none intermediate ; a glandular ridge along the upper jaw. Femur not half the length of the body ; tibia about equal to it, but shorter than the hind foot. Terminal joint of longest toe free, next margined, and web generally extending between the tips of the toes on one side, and the last articulation on the other. Shortest toe rather more than one-third the length of the hind foot, both measured from the tarsus. Above yellowish brown, with rounded dark blotches. Sides dusky; dorsal ridge lighter; a light line along the posterior ridge of the upper jaw. Faint indications of a dark area about the tympanum ; a few spots about the nostrils. Beneath yellowish white, obsoletely marmorated with brown. About two and a half inches long. Syn. Rana pretiosa B. and G., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc Phila., vi. 378. Hab, Washington Territory. 15. Rana cantabrigensis, Baird. — Above yellowish brown. A dark vitta through the eye, margined below by whitish. Lateral fold of skin light colored, as is also a median dorsal line extending from the snout to the anus. A narrow light line along the posterior faces of the thigh and leg. Tibia half the length of body. General appearance and size of R. sylvatica. Hab. Cambridge, Mass. (Collection of Prof. Agassiz.) 16. Rana boylii, Baird. — Abroad depressed ridge of skin on each side of back. Skin finely tubercular above. Head broader than long. Tympanum scarcely evident, pustulated. Tibia more than half the length of body; hind foot less than half this length; webbed entirely to the horny tips; outer toe decidedly longer than the third, An elongated tubercle at base of inner toe, with another opposite to it. Above dull reddish olivaceous, with indistinct blotches on the back, and fascia on the legs. Beneath yellowish, mottled anteriorly. Two inches long. Hab. California (interior.) 17. Scaphiopus couchii, Baird. — Outer toe but little shorter than the third. Hand nearly as long as forearm. Above grayish ash, with dark markings. A dark line down the back from each orbit, in connection with other markings, causing a slight similarity of pattern to Hyla versicolor. Beneath white. An inch long. Hab. Coahuila and Tamaulipas. On Fossil Coniferous Wood, from Prince Edward Island. By J. W. Dawson. Under the impression that any facts relating to the formation which lias af- forded the interesting reptilian fragment recently described by Dr. Leidy in the Journal of this Academy, will prove interesting, 1 beg leave to communicate the following results of microscopic examinations of the coniferous wood referred to in my note appended to Dr. Leidy's paper. I may premise that Prince Edward Island, which extends in an east and west direction about 130 miles, with an extreme breadth of about 35 miles, consists almost entirely of bright red sandstones, similar to the matrix of Dr. Leidy's fossil, with occasional bands of red clay, conglomerate and arenaceous and con- cretionary limestone. Over a large part of the island, these beds dip at very small angles to the northward. There are, however, some tracts in which the beds undulate to the southward and south-east. These red rocks, in their mine- ral character, much resemble the new red sandstone of Cornwallis and other 1854.] 6 r> places in Nova Scotia, and Dr. Gesner, in his Report on the Geology of Prince Edward Island,* notices the occurrence of trap dykes at two localities on the northern coast, a circumstance which still farther increases the resemblance. There are, however, a few places in which beds occur which much resemble the upper parts of the coal formation of Nova Scotia, and it is in these localities chiefly, though I believe not exclusively, that the coniferous wood in question occurs, along with a few other vegetable fragments, for the most part very im- perfectly preserved. Some interest, therefore, attaches to these fragments of fossilized wood, as a means of comparison between the oldest portions of the red sandstone formation of Prince Edward Island, and the inferior members of the coal formation on the opposite coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, in which coniferous wood is also of very frequent occurrence. 1. Coniferous wood from Gallas or Gallows Point , west side of Orwell Bay. — At this place, which I visited in 1842, the following beds appear in descending order, the dip being to E. S. E. at angles of 6° to 8° : red and brownish sand- stones, gray sandstone with bands of concretionary limestone, and containing carbonized vegetable fragments, some of them resembling catamites, but without joints, gray and brown shales or indurated clays; brownish sandstone, with large trunks of trees silicified. One of these trunks measured three feet in its greatest diameter ; they are prostrate and somewhat flattened. I have no doubt that these rocks underlie the ordinary red sandstones of the island, and Dr. Ges- ner, who examined them in 1847, takes the same view, affirming them to be carboniferous, and stating that he found in them catamites and stigmaria, which, if well characterized specimens, would go far to confirm that conclusion. My specimens of fossil wood from this place are perfectly silicified, and of a dark clove-brown color. They are much fissured in the direction of the medul- lary rays, and the fissures are filled with flesh colored sulphate of barytes. Under the microscope, transverse slices show a somewhat dense tissue of quadrangular cells arranged in rows. Longitudinal slices in the direction of the medullary rays, show parallel elongated cells, medullary rays not strongly marked, and traces of hexagonal discs of the Araucarian type on the walls of the cells. Two rows of these discs occupy the whole breadth of a cell. 2. Specimens from Des Sables and Crapaud. — At these localities the only rocks seen are the ordinary red sandstones, and the coniferous wood is found only in loose fragments on the surface. From the large quantity scattered over the fields, and the general scarcity of travelled boulders in this part of the island, I have no doubt that it now lies over or near its original site. The specimens from this place are dense and without fissures, and have a structure quite similar to that of the wood from Gallas Point, though not in so perfect preservation. 3. A specimen from, some part of the sovth shore of Prince Edward Island , now in the collection of the Puton Literary Society. This specimen was obtained from a person who stated that it was a portion of a large trunk. It still retains in its crevices remnants of the matrix of coarse reddish sandstone. It is cracked in lines radiating from the centre, and is perforated by numerous vermicular holes, now somewhat flattened, but which were probably the burrows either of Teredines or xylophagous larvae. Some parts of this specimen retain their structure in a very perfect condition. It is of precisely the same character with that already described, and shows one or two rows of discs on each cell. All these specimens probably belong to the same genus, and perhaps to the same species of coniferous trees ; and they all differ materially from the conife- rous wood of the coal formation. I have slices of the latter from various parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, some of them from the new- est beds of the coal formation. All of them are of much coarser texture than the specimens from Prince Edward Island. The cells are wider, and usually with three or even four rows of discs, and the medullary tissue is more strongly marked. In the closeness of the cellular tissue, fewer rows of discs, and fine- ness of the medullary rays, the Prince Edward Island specimens, though dis- tinctly of the Araucarian type, approach more nearly to the modern pines of this * 1847. 6 64 [April, country than to those of the coal formation. They therefore afford no proof that these lower members of the red sandstone formation of Prince Edward Island are of carboniferous date, but would rather tend to connect them with the overlying beds which have afforded the remains of the Bathygnathus borealis. The occurrence, however, in this position, of rocks so nearly resembling those of the upper coal formation, renders it probable that no very sudden or marked physical changes intervened between the deposition of the latter and that of the new red sandstones, and thus furnish an argument in favor of the Permian date of this last deposit.* Description of a species of Crane found in Wisconsin^ presumed to be new* By William Dudley, of Madison, Wisconsin. Grtis Hoyianus, nobis. Form.— Size large ; second primary longest, first and second nearly equal ; tail two inches longer than the folded wings ; numerous large feathers arise from the base of each wing, elevated and droop down over the tail, giving the bird an os- trich-like appearance. Head densely clothed with feathers to base of bill; no naked shin. Dimensions. — Length of wing from flexure 23 inches ; tarsi 11 5-10 inches ; middle toe 5 inches, hind toe just reaches the ground; bill 5 inches. Color. — Head and upper half of neck light ferruginous ; on the breast, back and upper tail coverts are a few scattering feathers tipped with the same ; pri- maries black, remaining parts white. Legs black. Observation. — This fine large crane was killed on Sugar River, in Dane Co., Wisconsin, and is now in the Museum of the Wisconsin Natural History Asso- ciation. Sex not known. It is named in honor of my worthy friend Dr. P. R. Hoy, of Racine, Wisconsin, whose untiring industry and zeal in Natural History have added much to science. Description of Fossil Trees in the coal rocks near Greensburgh^ Westmoreland county ) Pennsylvania* By Alfred T. King, M. D. Throughout nearly the whole of Western Pennsylvania, but more abundant in particular localities, may be found fragments of immense silicified trees lying on the surface of the ground. About seven miles east of Greensburgh there is a re- markable locality. Here may be seen immense logs from six to eight feet long, and from one to four feet in diameter, strewed over acres of ground. After the closest examination, I have been unable to find any very clear indications of high vegetable organization in these silicified trees. Indeed I have been unable, after the closest scrutiny, to discover a single specimen of fossil plant in our vast carboniferous series, of higher organization than vascular Cryptogamia. I might, perhaps, except some specimens, which I first saw a few weeks since in Beaver county, Pa., of Trigonocarpum? This is the fruit of a tree, which some have supposed to be allied to the Palms ; of this, however, there is still great doubt and uncertainty. Many of the specimens of silicified wood contain numerous and beautiful crystals of quartz scattered throughout their interior structure, which would seem to indicate that the silicifying process must have taken place whilst the wood was immersed in water of high temperature. Whilst excavating a tunnel on the Pennsylvania Railroad near Greensburgh, a stratum of very compact sandstone of about fifteen feet in thickness was opened', which contained vast quantities of trunks and limbs of trees, some per- meated with silicious and pyritous matter, whilst others have left only their imprints, the woody matter having been converted into coal, which forms a thin * For description of the Newer Coal Formation of Nova Scotia, see Journal of London Geol. Soc. vol. 1. p. 322 ; and Taylor's Statistics of Coal, p. 196. 1854.] 65 but beautiful pellicle, covering the impressions of the plants. These trunks and Jimbs are of all sizes, from an inch to nearly three feet in circumference, strewed about, and piled upon each other in the most irregular manner, and so numerous that scarcely a fragment of rock was thrown out which did not contain either a vegetable impression or a silicified stem. Although in the shale above, vast piles of detached fern leaves were found, be- longing principally to the genus Neuropterist accompanied with numerous im- pressions of Calamites, yet no species of fern was discovered in the sandstone, with the exception of two specimens, both of which belonged to distinct genera. The one was a Pecopteris, and the other was the Cyclopteris trichomanoides , Among the numerous arborescent fossil plants which were found in this sand- stone, was an entire tree of immense magnitude, lying prostrate, about four feet above the Pittsburgh seam of coal, and about thirty feet beneath the surface. The part which was removed measured twenty six feet in length, and two feet ten inches in circumference at the base. From the size of the two main branches which enter the rock on the opposite side, I infer that this tree may have been from forty to sixty feet in height. At the base, it was much flattened by the pressure of the superincumbent weight, but strange as it may seem, the branches still retained nearly their original cylindrical form. It was entirely enveloped in a coating of pure bituminous coal, varying from a quarter of an inch to one inch in thickness. Its interior was filled with sand, mixed with sulphuret and car- bonate of iron, which much increased its weight, but there were no indications of vegetable structure. The thin vegetable band, which alone remained con- verted into pure bituminous coal, may have surrounded an axis of more perishable material, which, when the tree was removed from its original position by the storms or the Waves, rapidly decayed. Its hollow interior would necessarily be filled with sand, broken shale or other sediment which was brought by large rivers into that turbulent sea, the bed of which was gradually subsiding. This view is corroborated by the fact, that the rock in which this plant is found imbedded, and which constituted its matrix, presents an entirely different appear- ance in color, and in some degree in lithological character, from that which fills the interior of the fossil tree. Although there were numerous, but irregular longitudinal flutings, both along the main irunk and its branches, yet I could discover no indications of those beautiful scars, so characteristic of arborescent ferns, and of the genus Sigillaria, which indicate the spots where the petioles of the leaves articulated with the stem ; and hence I infer that this tree should not be referred to either of those families of plants. The question naturally arises, to which of the three great divisions of the vegetable kingdom do these fossil trees belong. Do they belong to arborescent ferns, gigantic palms or lofty pines ? Are they of exogenous or endogenous growth ? It has been said by fossil botanists, that true exogena? and endogenae have been found in the carboniferous rocks of Europe. I have, therefore, been much inter- ested in discovering some clear indications of these highest forms of vegetable structure, in the coal measures in this country ; but 1 have thus far failed, unless the specimens to which I have already alluded, should on further examination, prove exceptions. I am aware that M. Brongniart has placed the Sigillariae among the exogenae, but with all due deference to his high authority, I must say that I have been unable to find in that family of fossil plants any evidence of pith, bark, con- centric rings, medullary rays, or other indications of so high a structure. Since writing the above,! have made another examination of the specimens of fossil trees, and believe that I was at first mistaken in regard to some of them being branches. The rock in which they were found had been blasted, and consequently the fossil trees were much broken. The largest entire piece which I saw was not more than four or five feet in length. These facts may have some bearing upon their position in the vegetable scale. 66 [April, Description of fossil fruit found in the Carboniferous BocJcs of Beaver County , Pa* By Alfred T. Kijxg, M. D., of Greensburg, Pa. Mr. Mendenhall, of New Brighton, showed me several specimens of fossil fruit imbedded in solid sandstone, belonging to the carboniferous series of that neighborhood. And through the kindness of George W. Tyler, Esq., editor of the Boston Herald, I procured a specimen for description. These specimens bore considerable resemblance, both in form and size, to the fruit of the Butternut, Juglans cinerea. There have been found in the coal strata in Leicestershire, England, a number of species of a three cornered fruit, to which the generic name Higonocarpum has been given. Possibly, the specimen which I am about to describe, may be referred to that genus. This is a drupaceous fruit, of an ovoidal shape, from two inches and a quar- ter to three inches in length, and from one inch and three quarters to two inches and a half in breadth, and weighs from two and a quarter to three ounces* Its external surface is nearly covered with a thin coating of bituminous coal ; a large portion of which, however, adheres to its matrix. This coal was formed, I presume, by the carbonization of its pericarp. Its interior is filled with coarse grained sand, similar to the rock in which it was imbedded. The epicarp i§ formed of three nearly equal valves, joined by three prominent sutures, uniting in a point at the apex. Between the sutures are seen a number of nearly parallel and prominent longitudinal striae, which gracefully curve so as to meet in a point at the distal extremity. In all the specimens which I saw, there is a deep depression or excavation at the base, where the fruit was attached, in all probability, to a peduncle. This fruit is not triquetrous, as the name Trigonocarpum seems to indicate, but strictly ovoidal, sometimes nearly obovoidal, having three prominent sutures joining the three valves of the epicarp. It was found in Beaver County, Pa., about three miles from the town of New Brighton, in a thick stratum of compact, but coarse grained sandstone, near the middle of the carboniferous series. Should this belong to the genus Trigonocarpum^ 1 propose calling it Trigono- carpum carbonariwm. Descriptions of new Birds of Northern Mexico* By D. N. Couch, U. S. Army. 1. CORVUS CRYPTOLEUCUS. Female. Form. — Bill short, high at base, compressed; nostrils covered with flat, bristle-like feathers, which are about two-thirds as long as the bill. Wings long, fourth primary longest, first short ; tail moderate, rounded. About the size of or rather larger than the common crow of North America, (Corvus ameri- canus.) Color. Entirely black, with violet and purple reflexions. Feathers of the neck before and behind, and of the back, pare white at their bases and for about two-thirds of their length, being, in fact, white tipped with black. Bill and feet black. Iris yellowish brown. Total length from tip of bill to end of tail 18! ; wing 13i ; expanse of wings 33; tail 8 inches. Locality. State of Tamaulipas, Mexico; March, 1853. Obs. Not abundant, though occasionally seen. 2. Icterus Scottii» Male. Bill moderate, scarcely curved ; tip acute, not compressed. Legs and toes moderate. Wings rounded ; second and third primaries longest, first shorter than the fourth and longer than the fifth. Color. Head, neck, breast, forehead, wings, tip of tail and upper central tail feathers to tip of upper coverts, black. Upper primary and under wing coverts? 1854.] . 67 sides, under surface of body, under and upper tail coverts, rump, and posterior portion of back, bright yellow ; sides under the wings greenish yellow. Tips and bases of secondary wing coverts white, forming along the tips a defined stripe, the white on the base being covered by the primary coverts ; exterior edge of tips of tertiary quills white ; tips of exterior tail feathers slightly tipped with dull white. Bill black ; base of lower mandible bluish lead. Feet very dark slate. Total length 8* ; tip to tip llf ; wing from carpal joint 4 ; tail 3! inches. Locality. Western New Leon and Coahuila; April, 1853. Obs. Plentiful, common. Song varied and highly melodious. An immature specimen of this species has the black on the head and neck maculated with olive ; wings, central tail feathers and tips dark ferruginous, and the yellow substituted by a light olive, which is darkest on the rump and lightest on the abdomen, where it is dull yellow. I have named this handsome bird as a slight token of my high regard for Major General Winfield Scott, Commander in Chief of the IT. S. Army. 3. SlRUTHUS ATRIMENTALIS. Male. Small ; bill short, conic ; wing short, rounded, third and fourth prima- ries longest and nearly equal ; tail long, graduated : legs slender. Color. Chin, lores and narrow frontal band black. Head above and neck, rump and entire under parts cinereous, palest and nearly white on the abdomen. Back ferruginous, each feather with a dark central line ; quills and tail feathers brownish black, both edged externally with white. Bill light brownish red ; feet dark ; iris dark brown. Total length 5i ; wings 2J ; wings from tip to tip 7! ; tail 3 inches. Locality. Aqua Nueva, State of Coahuila; May, 1853. The Report of the Publication Committee for 1853 was read and adopted. ELECTION. John Vaughan Merrick, Esq., and John J. Vanderkemp, M. D., of Philadelphia, were elected Members, and Prof. Daniel Kirkwood, of Newark, Delaware, and Waldo J. Burnett, M. D., of Boston, Mass., were elected Correspondents. . 1854.] 69 May 2d, 1854. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. A letter was read from the Portland (Maine) Society of Nat. History, dated April 20th, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of an entire copy of the Publications of the Academy, presented in accordance with a late resolution. Also a letter from the American Philosophical Society, dated April 27, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of the last number of the Journal and of the Proceedings. May 9 th. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Dr Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled " Synopsis of the Cucuiides of the United States," which was referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Zantzinger, and Dr. Rand. Dr. Le Conte exhibited a fragment of the jaw of a new Pachyderm from the Tertiary of Virginia, 80 or 90 miles S. W. of Alexandria, and characterised it as a new genus allied to Dicotyles. Mr. Wm. Parker Foulke asked the attention of the Academy to a Lecture by Mr. Hugh Miller, recently republished in the United States, under the title, " The Two Records, the Mosaic and the Geological ;" and made some remarks upon the importance of maintaining a careful scrutiny of the logic of the natural sciences. The cultivators of those sciences are particularly interested at this time in pre- venting any misapprehension of the results of their researches, as there is a prevailing disposition to " reconcile " these by extreme processes with the popular interpretation of certain texts of the Mosaic history. Unfinished inves- tigations of the students of nature are used as complete evidence ; and provisional generalizations are employed as fixed premises, from which are drawn conclusions very inconvenient to subsequent inquirers and writers. Thus both religion and natural science are wronged. Mr. Miller teaches that in the attempt to reconcile the two "records," there are only three periods to be accounted for by the geologist, viz., " the period of plants, the period of great sea monsters and creeping things : and the period of cattle and leasts of the field ;" that the first of these " periods " is represented by the rocks grouped under the term palceozoic, and is distinguished from the secondary and the tertiary, chiefly by its " gorgeous flora ;" and that " the geological evi- dence is so complete as to be patent to all, that the first great period of organized being was, as described in the Mosaic record, peculiarly a period of herbs and trees yielding seed after their kind." The general reader, not familiar with the details of geological arrangement, could not fail to infer from such a statement, used for such a purpose, that the palaeozoic rocks are regarded by geologists as forming one group, representative of one period which can properly be said to be distinguished as a whole by its gorgeous flora ; and that it is properly so dis- tinguished for the argument in question. It was familiar to the Academy as well as to Mr. Miller, that from the carboniferous rocks downward (backward in order of time) there have been discriminated a large number of periods differing one from another in mineral and in organic remains; and that the proportion of the carboniferous era to the whole series is small, whether we regard the thickness of its deposits or its conjectural chronology. It is only of this carboniferous era, the latest of this series, that the author's remarks could be true ; and even of this, if taken for the entire surface of the earth, it could not be truly asserted that PROCEED. ACAD. NAT. SCI. OF PHILADELPHIA, VOL. VII., HO. III. 7 70 [May, " the evidence is so complete as to be patent to all ,5 that the quantity of its vegetable products distinguishes it from the earth's surface during the era in which we live. To confound by implication all the periods termed palaeozoic, so as to apply to them as a whole what could be true, if at all, only of the carboniferous period, is a fallacious use of a generalization made for a purpose and upon a principle not properly available for the writer's argument. The high esteem in which the character of Mr. Miller is deservedly held by readers in the United States, where his writings are widely circulated ; and the respectful manner in which his interesting researches have occasioned his name to be mentioned by authors eminent in the department of geology, give to such of his writings as bear upon the biblical question, peculiar importance with reference to the com- munity at large. Mr. F- urged the duty of insisting upon the maintenance of regular methods of exposition as well as of investigation, leaving apparent inconsistencies, which are beyond our means of explanation, to be "reconciled" by our successors with the aid of larger accumulations of knowledge than we possess. The progress of science has been retarded by the assumption that every discovery must be immediately proved to be harmonious with certain other portions of our knowledge. A due regard to the sacredness of religious faith and to the natural sensitiveness of the popular mind will secure respectful caution; but it is most consistent with the acknowledged imperfection of human faculties, and at the same time most worthy of the true dignity of science, to assume that ultimately all truths will be found to agree ; and meantime, strictly adhering to the canons of evidence, to explore courageously the great field open to us. We ought espe- cially to avoid generalizations which have no sound philosophical principle, or which are framed or applied merely from a desire to appease over-zealous minds ignorant of the facts already ascertained. This obligation is stronger in propor- tion to the degree of confidence given to the teacher in any case, and also in proportion to the limitation of access to other sources of information. May lQtJim Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Imperial Soc. of Naturalists of Moscow, dated May 30tb; June 1st, and September 13th, 1853 ; From the Kaiserlichen Akad. der Wissenschaften, dated Vienna, 10th Nov., 1853 ; From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated 23d Nov,, 1853; From the K. K. Geologischen Reiebenstalt, dated Vienna, 22d Nov., 1853, severally transmitting their publications announced this evening by the Librarian. From the Royal Acad, of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Nov. 1, 1853 ; From the K. K. Geologischen Reiebenstalt, dated Vienna, 21st Nov., T853 ; From the Smithsonian Institution, dated Washington, May 10th7 1854; and From the Portland Society of Nat. History, dated Portland, Maine? 11th May, 1854, severally acknowledging the receipt of the Publications of the Academy. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, -entitled " Notes on some new Coleopterous Insects from the Collections'' 1854.] 71 of the United States and Mexican Boundary Commission." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Ruschenberger and Dr. Leidy. Dr. Le Conte also presented a paper from Mr. Charles Grirard, on a new species of Salmonidae from the Northeastern part of the United States, which was referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Hallowell. Dr. Brinton desired to draw the attention of the Academy to a new mode which he had recently devised and practised in the preparation of anatomical specimens, several of which he exhibited. Anatomical specimens, he said, had hitherto been preserved either in the wet state, or else dried ; both plans were open to objections. If animal tissues be immersed in alcohol, or other preservative fluids, their color becomes blanched, their structure condensed, and consequently their size and shape to a certain degree modified ; and at the same time they present incon- veniences for demonstration ; whilst in the dry state, as for example, in the ordin- ary dried preparation of our cabinets, the parts are so shrunken and changed, as to convey but an imperfect idea of their primitive relations. As this shrinkage of the tissues, and the decomposition are dependent most probably upon atmospheric influence, Dr. Brinton stated that it had occurred to him some time since, that should he be able so to exclude the air, as to prevent all evaporation from taking place, he would perhaps succeed in preventing, not only the desiccation of the part, but also its decomposition. Influenced by this idea, he had commenced a series of experiments, and the suc- cess up to this time accompanying them, had led him to draw the attention of the Academy to the subject. His object being to encase hermetically every portion of his specimen, Dr. Brinton remarked that he had selected for his earlier experiments, a solution of gun cotton in ether, the ordinary collodion. This he applied by means of a brush over every portion of the external surface of his preparation. The ether quickly evaporating, a thin film of the cotton was deposited upon and in all the interstices of the tissue. This process was repeated until a layer of sufficient thickness had been obtained; successive coatings of copal and shellac varnishes were then ap- plied, so as to rentier to the preparation a certain degree of firmness and stiffness. But it soon became evident to him that collodion was not entirely suited for the generality of objects, especially for those of any considerable bulk. It possesses too slight a degree of tenacity, and is liable to become easily chipped and fissured. It was necessary, therefore, to employ some other material, and a solution of gutta-percha in benzole was selected ; this was applied in a similar manner over the object to be preserved. The pellicle left by the evapora- tion of the benzole was tenacious, dense, and could be increased to any de- sired thickness. Single layers were transparent, suiting admirably for layers of fasciae. For the encasement of the adipose tissue, collodion was still employed. The thick coating, however, which it was considered necessary to apply upon the muscular mass, was of course opaque ; hence, it became of importance to re- sort to an artificial coloring process, and for this purpose, collodion stained with the wood of the Pterocarpus santalinus, (the ordinary red saunders,) was found to answer admirably. The color resulting imitated closely that of fresh muscle. The preparation was then completed by the repeated application of copal and shellac varnishes. . Dr. Brinton explained to the Academy, that he did not present his specimens as tried and perfected preparations, for as yet they had attained the age of but some twenty days ; but merely as evidences of the application of a new principle to the preparation of anatomical objects. Time was required to test its value. Whether or not any internal decomposition could take place in consequence of the retention of a residual amount of air, Dr. Brinton could not state; but he doubted that such would be the case, to a degree sufficient to affect the contour of the specimen. Should, however, such a result ensue with regard to the speci- mens upon the table, still his experiments had shown that the process was ap- 72 [May, plicable to any tissues which had been injected or soaked with a solution of the chloride of zinc, or any other antiseptic. Here decomposition would be impossible, and the gutta-percha was certainly sufficient to prevent the shrinking consequent on evaporation. Dr. Brinton then stated that he was still experimenting, and had succeeded in procuring a colorless solution of gutta-percha in benzole and in chloroform, which would supersede the use of the collodion for the adipose matter. These transparent solutions would doubtless be applicable to the preparation of dissec- tions of the nervous system, and to pathological structures. He stated also that he thought possibly an extension of this principle might hereafter be made sub- servient to the preservation of any fresh animal tissue. Further results would be submitted to the Academy. May 23c?. Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. Letters were read — From Dr. Wm. Wirtenweber, dated Prague, 30th Oct., 1853, trans- mitting several of his works, acknowledged this evening. From Dr. W. D. Hartmann, dated West Chester, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1854, acknowledging the receipt of his notice of election as a Corres- pondent. Dr. Le Conte presented a paper by Mr. C. Girard, and intended for pub- lication, entitled " A list of North American Bufonides, with diagnoses of new species." Referred to Dr. Hallowell, Dr. Leidy,and Mr. Hanson. Dr. Leidy called the attention of the members to specimens of four vertebras of a huge extinct saurian, from near Greenville, Clark Co., Arkansas. They had been kindly loaned by Mr. W. F. Roberts, an agent of the Arkansas Mining Company, who had discovered them with numerous others. Dr. L. stated, that in his late visit to St. Louis, Mr. Albert Koch, the industrious collector of fossil remains, had exhibited to him a collection of bones from the same State, and apparently of the same animal, which he was on the eve of sending to Berlin. The specimens on the table are remarkable for the robust transverse processes, which project laterally from the lower part of the body, and terminate in a large facet for the articulation of a rib. The bodies are cylindroid, and are terminated by slightly concave or nearly flat articular surfaces. The sides of the body are moderately concave, and have an acute margin at the articular surfaces. On each side of a median prominence pf the under side of the body a large vascular foramen exists. These vertebrae resemble those of the Cirnoliasaurus mag?ius, from the green sand of New Jersey, described previously in the Proceedings of the Academy,* but in that the large transverse process is cylindrical, while it is compressed cylindroid in the Arkansas saurian, and probably this latter belongs to a distinct genus, for which the name Brimosaitrus grandis is proposed. The bones are embedded in a hard limestone with mollusca, and they probably belong to the cretaceous or to the eocene period. One of the most perfect of the vertebroe presents the following measurements : Length of the body , 3| inches. Depth of articular surfaces 5 " Breadth of « " 6 « Length of the spinal arch ... 3 References of Plate II. Figs. 1 — 3, Brimosaurus grandis. : — 6, Cirnoliasaurus magnus. (S (( ♦Vol. v. p. 325. 1854.] 73 May oO th. Vice President Bridges in the chair. The Committees on Dr. Le Conte's papers, read 9th and 16th inst., on Mr. Charles Girard's papers, read 16th and 23d inst., severally re- ported in favor of their publication in the Proceedings. Synopsis of the Cuc?tiides of the United States. By Johk L. Le Conte, M. D. Catagenus Westwood. 1. C. rufus Westw. Zool. Journ. 5, 221. Cueujus rufus Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend, suppl. 123 ; Syst. El. 2, 93. Oliv. 74 bis, tab. 1, fig. 3. Middle, Southern and Western States. This species varies in size from -18 to •55 of an inch. The posterior angles of the thorax are usually prominent, on account of the sinuosity of the sides near the base ; sometimes this sinuosity is very faint, then the posterior angles, although rectangular, are not prominent. Newman's C. punctic-ollis (Ann. Nat. Hist. 2, 398) is described as having but 6 striae on each elytron, (the 5th and 6th stria? are said to be indistinct.) Now, in some specimens, which cannot be separated from C. rufus, the fifth and sixth striae are not well marked, but in all that I have seen the seventh stria is quite obvious. As the elytra are declivous at the sides beyond the seventh stria, I think it probable that this seventh stria is constant in the gpnus, in which case there is no reason why Newman's species should not be united with C. rufus. Cuctjius Fabr. 1. C. clavipes Fabr. Gen. Ins. Mantiss. 233, (1790) ; Ent. Syst. emend. 1 , 2, 94. Olivier, Enc. Meth. 6, 242, (1791); Ins. 74 bis, tab. 1, fig. 1. Middle and Western States, not rare ; found principally under the bark of Liriodendron, but not confined to that tree. This species is omitted in Fabri- cius' Systema Eleutheratorum. 2. C. puniceus Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 303. Er. Ins. Deutschl. 309. Sitka ; I have not seen this species. By an oversight, Mr. White, in the British Museum Catalogue, quotes Motschulsky for the name. By another oversight in the same Catalogue, C. sanguinolentus and haema- todes, European species, are mentioned as found in North America, while our common species, C. clavipes, is said to inhabit South America. Reference to these errors is perhaps needless, as attention has already been called to them by Schaum, (Bericht, &c. 1851, p. 55t) but they are merely mentioned in this place for the information of those to whom Schaum's Report is not accessible. Pediacus Shuckard. 1. P. planu s, depressus, fuscus, opacus, dense punctat.us tenuiter pubescens, fronte bifoveata, thorace latitudine vix breviore, antrorsum paulo an^ustato, lateribus subrepandis pone medium oblique emarginatis, angulis posticis pro- minulis, elytris punctulatis lateribus declivibus, stria suturali profunda. Long. -12 — 14. Silvanus planus Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 223. Lake Superior, rare. The fourth, sixth and eighth joints of the antennae are a little smaller than the third, fifth and seventh ; the last three joints are twice as wide as the eighth. The anterior angles of the thorax are rounded. One speci- men is paler colored and almost rufous. 2. P. subglaber, depressus, testaceus, nitidus, vix subtilissime pubescens. capite thoraceque punctatis, fronte excavata, thorace latitudine paulo breviore, lateribus subquadridentatis (denticulo postico ante basin posito) disco^late bi- impresso, elytris obsoletius punctatis lateribus elevatis, margine sulcato, stria suturali distincta. Long. *14. One specimen, North Carolina, Mr. Zimmermann. The antennae are a little 74 [May, shorter than in P. planus, and the inequality of the joints from the fourth to the eighth is not as obvious. In some lights the elytra have the appearance of being faintly striate. The impressions of the thorax consist of two longitudinal ones concave outwards, which are connected near the base and apex by transverse impressions. 3. P. subcarinatus Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 363. Russian America; (unknown to me.) LiEMOPHLCEUS Er. A. Frons antice trisinuata. 1. L. biguttatus, latiusculus depressus, supra piceus, parum nitidus sub- tiliter pubescens, capite thoraceque confertim punctatis, elytris confertim punc- tatis striis utrinque 4 profundis, suturali antice minus distincta, macula utrinque ante medium testacea ornatis ; thorace utrinque linea profunda insculpto, late- ribus late rotundatis subrepandis. Long. «1 — 15. Le Conte, Agassiz' Lake Superior, 223. (1850.) White, Brit. Mus. Cat. (1851) p. 5. Cucuius biguttatus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 267.^ Lcemophl&us bisignatus Guerin, Icon. Regne An. 205. A common species found in the Middle and Southern States, and as far west as Nebraska. The under surface is frequently rufous, but is sometimes as dark as the upper surface. As this species is more densely punctured than the next, and agrees in this respect with the European L. moni 1 i s (Cue. bipzistulatus Panz.) with which Say compares it, I have concluded that this is really Say's species ; the typical specimens in the Melsheimer collection render this view certain. The head of the male is as wide as the thorax, and. the antennae two-thirds as long as the body. 2. L. f a s c i a t u s, latiusculus depressus, rufus nitidus glaber, capite thorace- que modlce punctatis, hoc lateribus rotundato vix repando, utrinque linea pro- funda insculpto, elytris nigris, striis utrinque 4 profundis, suturali antice indis- tincta, interstitiis parce subseriatim punctulatis, macula utrinque ante medium testacea ornatis. Long. «1 — *18. Melsheimer, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 113. Middle and Southern States to Texas ; the head of the male is very large. 3. L.adustus, laete rufus, paulo convexus, latiusculus, nitidus glaber, capite thoraceque punctatis, illo canaliculato, hoc lateribus rotundatis postice sinuatis, angulis posticis prominulis, linea tenui utrinque insculpto, elytris nigris, basi triangulariter laete rufis, tenuiter multistriatis, striis punctatis, interstitiis vix parce punctulatis, apice rufescente. Long. -I. A unique male specimen of this beautiful species, found in York Co., Pennsyl- vania, was kindly given me by Dr. Melsheimer under the name here adopted. Body above and beneath bright rufous, shining, glabrous. Head as wide as the thorax, slightly convex, finely, moderately densely punctured ; vertex finely channelled ; before the eyes is a line transverse arched line ; the outline of the front is concave each side and emariiinate in the middle, which is not so much produced as in the two preceding; the labrum is short; mandibles long and slender, emarginate at tip. Antennas moderately stout, nearly as long as the body. Thorax twice as wide as long, considerably narrowed at the base, sides strongly rounded, sinuate near the posterior angles, which are sharp and promi- nent ; disc moderately convex, finely punctured, with the lateral line not strongly impressed. Elytra not wider than the thorax, moderately convex, with 7 or 8 very fine striae, on which are placed moderately large punctures; the interstitial spaces are marked with a few very fine punctures, which on the sutural space form a somewhat regular series ; their color is black, with a large, common, tri- angular, rufous spot at the base, which along the suture extends one-third the .length; the apical margin is slightly reddish. The scutellum is transverse, without any distinct apical angle. 1854.] 75 B. Frons medio producta, vel late emarginata vel truncata ; scutellum trian- gulare. 4. L. b u 1 1 a t u s, elongatus, depressus testaceus, nitidus glaber, thorace lati- tudine non breviore, lateribus rectis, postice subangustato, parce punctato, liner, utrinque profunda exarato, dorso bulla magna laevi paulo convexa impressione minus profunda definita ornato, elytris obsolete striato-punctulatis. Long. «07. One female found at the junction of the Colorado and Gila Rivers, California. The large, slightly elevated, dorsal convexity of the thorax will readily distin- guish this species. The head seems to be nearly smooth, and the anterior trans- verse line is distinct ; the antennas are a little more than half as long as the body, and their joints are rounded. 5. L. n i t e n s, elongatus, depressus, testaceus, nitidus, glaber, thorace quad- rato, lateribus fere rectis, obsoletissime parce punctulato, linea utrinque pro- funda exarato, elytris subtilissime seriatim punctulatis, stria suturali postice tenuiter impressa. Long. *0S — *09. Abundant at the Colorado River, California. The head is finely and sparsely punctulate, the vertex is slightly channelled, and the anterior transverse line is deep ; in the male the head is as wide as the thorax, and the antennae are as long as the body, with the first joint equal to the two following united. 6. L. Z i in m e r m a n n i, elongatus, depressus, testaceus nitidus glaber, capite thoraceque parce punctulatis, hoc latitudine fere longiore, lateribus rectis, angulis anticis prominulis, linea utrinque profunda exarato, elytris subtiliter striato- punctulatis, sulco laterali valde profundo. Long. -07 — *09. Pennsylvania and Maryland, Mr. Zimmermann ; Illinois, Mr. Willcox. This very small species is readily distinguished from the next by the finer punctua- tion and the absence of the outer marginal line of the thorax. 7. L. punctatus, elongatus, depressus, testaceus nitidus, glaber, capite thoraceque sat dense punctatis, hoc latitudine paulo breviore, postice subangus- tato lateribus fere rectis, lineis utrinque lateralibus duabus, elytris tenuiter 4 striatis et seriatim punctulatis, sulco laterali profundo. Long. *07. S. Carolina, Mr. Zimmermann. The small punctures of the elytra appear to be near the striae, but not upon them, and form two series between the striae. The antennae of the male are as long as the body, and the first joint is as long as the head, or about equal to the three following united. The outer marginal line of the thorax is not distinct. 9. L. g e m i n a t u s, elongatus, depressus, rufo-testaceus, nitidus, glaber, capite thoraceque densius punctatis, hoc latitudine non longiore, lateribus rectis, postice non angustato, utrinque bistriato, elytris tenuiter striatis, striis punctu- latis, sulco marginali profundo. Long. -C/6. Louisiana and Georgia, Dr. Schaum. The outer stria of the thorax is distinct, but does not reach the base. The antennae of the female are two thirds as long, those of the male almost as long as the body ; the first joint is equal to the two following united in the female, and is a little longer in the male. This species is very closely related to the last, but seems, by the difference in the form of the thorax and by the differences in the antennae and elytra, to be properly sepa- rated. 10. L. mod est us, elongatus, depressus, testaceus nitidus, glaber, capite thoraceque parcius punctatis, hoc quadrato, lateribus antice rotundatis, postice subangustato, linea laterali profunda utrinque notato, elytris striis minus impres- sis distincte punctatis. Long. -08. CucKJus modesties Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5, 268. Lcemophlceus suigularis White, Brit. Mus. Cat. 7, (1851.) Georgia and South Carolina. The antennae of the male are a little longer than the body, and the elytra are shorter than in the female. The first joint of the antennae in both sexes is as long as the two following united. 11. L. puberulus, elongatus, depressus, testaceus, nitidus sat dense sub- tiliter pubescens, thorace quadrato, latitudine subbreviore lateribus fere rectis, 76 [Mat, postice subangustato, subtiliter punctulato, linea utrinque laterali distincta, disco late impressa, elytris tenuiter striatis, vix punctulatis. Long. «05 — «07. Colorado River, California, abundant. The head is very finely punctulate, and is distinctly channelled posteriorly; the discoidal impression of the thorax is very faint, but it causes the anterior margin, in particular lights, to appear slightly elevated. The male only differs from the female by the broader head and longer and thinner antennae ; in both sexes, the first joint of the latter, al- though thicker, is but little longer than the second. C. Frons vix producta, medio emarginata ; labrum breve, transversum. 12. L. c e p h a 1 o t e s, elongatus depressus, niger nitidus glaber, capite thorace maiore quadrato, sat punctato, mandibulis (maris) elongatis, thorace quadrato, postice subangustato, subtiliter parce punctulato, lateribus recti's, linea laterali tenui, elytris obsolete striato-punctulatis, testaceis, basi apice margine sutura- que nigris. Long. *10. A very singular species, of which I found but a single male at the Colorado River, in California. The head is quadrate, with parallel sides, and without im- pressions ; the usual marginal line is distinct. The mandibles project beyond the labrum, and are about half as long as the head, the tip is emarginate. The labrum is broad and slighrly emarginate ; the antennae are more than half as long as the body ; the first joint is not much larger than the second, but the last three joints are distinctly larger than the preceding and subtriangular. The scuiel is triangular. The under surface of the body is black, with the antennae and feet piceous. Species unknown to me. 13. L. longicornis Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 303. Russian America. Dendrophagus Schonh. 1. D. gla b e r Lee. Agassiz' Lake Sup. 223. Lake Superior and Lake Huron, rare. From the punctures of the elytra proceed small hairs, which, however, are invisible, except with a very powerful lens. 2. D. C y g n ae i Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1846, 15. Sitka ; (unknown to me.) Brontes Fabr. 1. B. dubius Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 97. Cueuius dubius Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. 2, 95. Oliv. Enc. Meth. 6, 242. Abundant in every part of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. The mandibles of the male are armed with a very slender curved horn, which converges upwards to meet the one of the opposite side. The upper surface of the body is sometimes entirely black ; some- times the head, thorax and margin of the elytra are brown. 2. B. debilis, ater, depressus opacus, dense punctatus, thorace latitudine vix breviore, lateribus denticulatis, angulis anticis paulo productis, elytris subtilius punctato-substriatis, lateribus magis declivibus, antennis piceis, pedibus testa- ceis. Long. .17 — .2. Georgia, not rare. Differs from the preceding by the thorax being not dis- tinctly transverse, less strongly toothed at the sides, with the anterior angles acute, but very slightly produced ; by the stria of the elytra being less punc- tured, and by the sides being almost perpendicular. The sexual characters are as in the preceding. 3. B. truncatus Motschulsky, Bull. Mosc. 1845, 1, 92. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 364. California (San Jose,) and Russian America (according to Motschulsky.) This species has the thorax formed almost as in the preceding, the anterior angles being a little more produced ; the elytra are, however, deeply striate, with the inter- stices more rough with elevated punctures; they are also more strongly carinate towards the side. The sexual characters as in the preceding species, but in ad- dition, the elytra of the male are longer, and obliquely slightly sinuated at the apex. 1854.] 77 Telephanus Er. 1. T. v el ox. Heterodromia velox Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 127. Psam- machus (velox) Hald. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 348. Telephanus atricapillits\ Er. Ins. Deutschl. 329. Middle, Southern and Western States, under stones and pieces of wood. This species is named in Dr. Harris' collection, ie Orsodacna? pallida Say," which name is quoted by Schaum (Bericht, &c, 1851) as having priority, but I have not been able to find any description of the insect among Say's publications. Silvanus Latr. A. Thorax lateribus sexdentatis. 1. S. dentatus Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 5,265. Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1852, 303. Lyctus dentatus Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. 1, 2. 503; Syst. El. 2, 561. Found, but not abundantly, throughout the United States, usually in rice, sugar and other articles of commerce. According to Fabricius, it is found in South America, and according to Mannerheim in Russian America. 2. S. surinamensis Steph. 111. Brit. Ent. Mandibulata, 3, 1 14. For the synonyms of this common insect, see Erichson's Ins. Deutschl. 336. It is now diffused over the whole globe in articles of commerce. Erichson adopts, from Fabricius, the specific name frumentarius for it, but the oldest des- cription is certainly that of Linnaeus. Of the descriptions by the older authors, the chronological succession is as follows : Dermestes surinamensis Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. 12mo reform. 1767) 2, 565. Tenebrio surinamensis De Geer Mem Ins. (1775) 5, 54, tab. 13, fig. 12. Colydium frumentarium Fabr. Ent. Syst. 62, (1775) id. emend. 1, 2, 496. Dermestes sexdentatus Fabr. Ent. Syst. emend. (1792) 1, 232. B. Thorax lateribus haud dentatus. a. Caput pone oculos denticulo armatum. 3. S. b identa t u s, linearis, depressus, opacus ferrugineus. subpubescens, thorace confertim punctulato, elongato, postice angustato, angulis anticis spino- sis, lateribus crenulatis, dorso obsolete bisulcato. elytris punctato-striatis ; capite pone oculos denticulato. Long. -12. Erichson, Ins. Deutschl. 338. Dermestes bidentatus Fabr. Syst. El. 1, 317. Colydium sulcatum Fabr. Syst. El. 2, 555, (teste Erichson.) A European species, which occurs in the Middle and Southern States. The sides of the thorax are very slightly sinuous. 4. S. pi ana tus, linearis valde depressus, opacus, ferrugineus, subpubescens, thorace confertim punctato, elongato, pone medium sinuatim angustato, angulis anticis subspinosis, lateribus obsolete crenulatis, elytris confertim punctato- striatis ; capite pone oculos denticulato. Long. *12. Germar, Ins. Nov. 466. Silvanus Zimmermanni Guerin, Icon. Regne An. 198. Southern States and Nebraska. The outline of the thorax is slightly concave before the middle, with the sides nearly parallel ; behind the middle ihey con- verge, so that at the middle they form, a very obsolete angle ; the anterior angles are hardly prominent, and the posterior ones are obtuse, but not rounded. 5. S. cognatus, linearis valde depressus, subnitidus ferrugineus, subpubes- cens, thorace confertim punctato, obsoletius in disco, elongato, ab apice sensim angustato, lateribus crenulatis fere rectis, angulis anticis acutis parum productis, elytris punctato-striatis ; capite pone oculos denticulato. Long. -10. Southern States ; closely resembles the preceding, but the sides of the thorax are straight, and the anterior angles, though short, are more acute ; the posterior angles are obtuse. b. Caput pone oculos haud denticulatum. 6. S, i m b e 1 1 i s, linearis, depressus, fere opacus, ferrugineus subpubesceus^ 78 [May, thorace confertim subtilius punctato, linea dorsali obsoleta laevi, elongato, ab apice angustato, lateribus parum rotundatis, angulis anticis acutis, non productis, elytris confertim punctato-striatis. Long. »11. Georgia. This species has the elongate form and brown color of those of the preceding division, but is easily distinguished by the absence of the little tooth behind the eye. The posterior angles of the thorax are obtuse. 7. S. n iti d u lus, linearis, valde depressus, testaceus, nitidus subpubescens, thorace parcius subtiliter punctulato, latitudine longiore, pone medium angus- tato, angulis anticis acutis, haud productis, elytris subtilius seriatim punctatis. Long. '08. Colorado River, California, under poplar bark. The sides of the thorax are almost parallel anteriorly, and subangulated at the middle ; the anterior angles are scarcely prominent, and the posterior ones are obtuse. The disc is marked with two faint longitudinal impressions connected at the base. The elytra are not wider than the head, and the rows of punctures become obsolete towards the tip. The head is as broad as the thorax, flattened and finely but not densely punctulate. 8. S. o p a c u 1 u s, linearis, depressus, rufo-testaceus, opacus, pubescens, tho- race latitudine non longiore, quadrato, angulis omnibus prominulis, lateribus crenulatis fere rectis, confertissime punctato, dorso obsolete bisulcato, elytris subtiliter dense punctato-striatis. Long. *07. Colorado River, California, under bark. From the next species it differs by its more elongate and depressed body, and the coarser punctuation of the head and thorax. 9. S. rectus, elongatus, subdepressus, testaceus, opacus, subpubescens, thorace latitudine subbreviore, quadrato, angulis omnibus rectis, lateribus rectis subcrenatis, confertim punctulato, elytris punctato-striatis. Long. *07. One specimen from Illinois, Mr. Willcox. The punctures of the head and thorax are very fine ; the strias of the elytra are more distant than in any of the preceding species. The specimen is not in very good condition, but I think that there can be no doubt of the propriety of referring it to this genus. 10. S. quad rico His, linearis, subdepressus, rufo-testaceus, nitidulus, sub- pubescens, thorace sat dense punctulato, linea dorsali sublaevi, latitudine sublon- giore, lateribus parallelis subsinuatis, angulis anticis rectis, posticis subobtusis, basi rotundata, elytris thorace non latioribus punctulatis, punctisque vix maiori bus seriatis impressis. Long. -ll. Guerin, Icon. Regne An. 198. Georgia. My specimens are not in good condition, but present all the cha- racters of this genus, except that in the only antenna now remaining the 10th and llth joints appear closely united. 11. S. advena, elongatus, rufo-testaceus, subnitidus pubescens, thorace punctulato, transversim quadrato, lateribus paulo rotundatis, angulis anticis dila- tatis, posticis rectis, basi sinuata, elytris subtiliter punctato-striatis ; antennarum articulo 9no sequente minore. Long. -06 — '07. Erichson, Ins. Deutsch. 339. Redtenbacher, Kafer Oesterr, 778. Crtjptophagus advena Waltl, Silberm. Rev. Ent. 2, 256. ' Latridius mil s ceo rum Ziegler, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 270. Abundant throughout the United States, in articles of commerce, herbaria, &c. This species, although placed by several entomologists in the present genus, has so much the form of Paramecosoma, that any person would be tempted to refer it to that genus. The first joint of the abdomen is not longer than the second, and therefore, according to Erichson's definition, it would be excluded from the family of Cryptophagides. In this essay must be included the description of a remarkable insect, of which my unique specimen is in such a bad condition, that I am unable to determine whether it should be referred to any described genus, or even to indicate its po- sition in the group ; from its specific characters, I suspect a relation with Pedi- 1854.] 79 acus, but the size of the eyes and the form of the thorax are very different. I retain for it the name which appears in Dejean's Catalogue. Nemicelus marginipennis, linearis, valde elongatus et depressus, pallide testaceus nitidus, capite cum oculis ma<rnis thorace latiore, hoc latitudine fere duplo loniiiore, lateribus antice rotundatis, postice subsinuatis, pone medium an- gustato, disco punctulato, fovea utrinque prope basin profunda impresso, elytris punctulatis vix striatis, margine laterali nigricante, apice truncatis. Long. *20. Georgia. The antennae are longer than the head and thorax, with turbinate joints, gradually increasing in size ; the first joint is thickened, and is longer than the two following united. The last joint of the maxillary palpi is larger than the penultimate and apparently acute at tip. The angles of the thorax are all rounded ; the posterior foveae are oblong, slightly oblique, and about as far from the sides as from the base. Notice of some Coleopterous Insects, from the Collections of the Mexican Boun- dary Commission. By John L. Le Conte, M. D. This paper includes descriptions of some new species contained in collections received from the Boundary Commission immediately before the completion of the survey, and with the collections previously made by the active and enter- prising naturalists attached to the expedition, will enable a moderately full Coleopterous Fauna of the lower Rio Grande to be prepared. Of the species noted below, some were collected between Laredo and Ring- cold barracks, by Messrs. Schott and Weise, under the command of Major Emory. Those from Frontera, Rio Grande, were collected by Mr. J. D. Clark, under Major Graham : a few others were obtained by Mr. Clark at San Antonio, in Texas. Some very interesting species from Fort Union, New Mexico, collected by Major Sibley, are also added, although not belonging properly to the Boundary fauna: and one from Dr. Cooper's collection in Oregon, which was omitted in my de- scription of his species. Cicindela punc tul ata and albohir ta. Frontera; Mr. Clark. Cicindela 16-punctata Klug. Jahrb. 32. Frontera; Mr. Clark. This species resembles very closely C. Hentzii, nor does there appear in Klug's de- scription any character which would separate it from that species. The law of representative forms is abundantly exemplified in the species of this genus, and much careful investigation will be necessary to determine what are well defined limits of the species. C. bland a? A species closely resembling this was also found by Mr. Clark at Frontera. Pasimachus costifer, niger, nitidus; thoracis elytrisque marginibus cyanes- centibus, illo postice angustato, lateribus postice sinuatis angulis posticis rectis, his modice convexis, laevibus, carina humerali postice obsolete continuata, cos- taque submarginali acuta utrinque paulo abbreviata ornatis : antennarum arti- culis 2 et 3 compressis. Long 1-05 — 1-2. Dr. Weise, Laredo to Ringgold Barracks. This species has the same form as P. depressus and pnnctulatus, but the sharply elevated costa between the margin and the obsoletely prolonged humeral carina will readily distinguish it, The mandibles are slightly rugous. Harpalus i m p i ge r, niger, nitidus, elongatus, thorace latitudine paulo bre- viore, paulo convexo, postice angustato, lateribus rotundatis, angustemarginatis, basi subemarginata punctulata, utrinque subimpressa, angulis posticis obtusis non rotundatis, elytris thorace vix latioribus, profunde striatis, unipunctatis, apice sinuatis, antennis palpis pedibusque ferrugineis. Long. '52 — «G5. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mr. Fendler : Frontera, Mr. Clark. This species is comparatively almost as elongated as H. erraticus, but the thorax is more 80 [May, narrowed posteriorly, the lateral margin is narrower, and the elytra of the female are not toothed near the apex : the posterior angles of the thorax are slightly prominent, and almost rectangular. Phileurus cribrosus, ater, nitidus, convexus, clypeo marginato apice acute elevato, ante oculos transversim carinato, thorace transverso, parcius punctato, pone medium canalieulato, elytris punctis grossis seriatim positis. Long. -52. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks; Mr. Weise. This curious little species seems to have most affinity with those of Burmeisters division {& (2)) ;* the anterior tibia? have three large external teeth, the mandibles are without any prominent external tooth, and the elytra without any short series of punctures near the scutellum. It differs, however, from all those described by Burmeister in hav- ing in place of the two usual frontal tubercles a transverse ridge, scarcely emar- ginate at the middle. The prosternal prominence is small, acute and densely pilose. At Vallecitas, in California, I found the elytra and thorax of a species which seems on comparison very similar to the specimen found by Mr. Weise, but be- longs to a section of the genus having a short stria at the base of the elytra, be- tween the first and second stria: the punctures of the elytra are more closely set, so as to form striae ; the thorax is more densely punctured anteriorly, and almost smooth posteriorly : the dorsal channel extends almost to the apex, but is not deep, and finally the anterior tibiae above the three long teeth have an indis- tinct prominence representing a fourth tooth. The length was about '65 of an inch. The species may be called P. i 1 1 a t u s. Athyreus ser r a tu s, ferrugineus, nitidus, clypeo antice truncato elevato, vertice transversim elevato, thorace lateribus rotundatis serrulatis, antice valde declivi, et medio late impresso, carinis utrinque duabus obliquis munito, apice valde marginato, elytris tenuiter striato-punctatis, antennis flavis. Long. -54. One specimen, Laredo to Ringgold Barracks. The head is finely scabrous ; the clypeus is truncate and perpendicular at the apex, which forms a subtrian- gular facet; each side above the eye commences an elevated line, which runs for- ward to the angle of the lateral emargination of the clypeus, then in a curve runs to the apex, where it unites with the elevated edge of the triangular facet above mentioned : the vertical horn is very short and transverse. The thorax is sparsely punctulate, with a few large punctures along the middle, and in the concavities: each side at the middle is a broad transverse sulcus, limited ante- riorly by an elevated line ; anterior to this the disc is very declivous, with the anterior margin strongly elevated; at the middle of this declivous face is a shal- low impression, and again each side a deeper excavation, between which and the first mentioned elevated line is a strong somewhat oblique elevated ridge : the sides are regularly rounded and serrate, the anterior angles are acute. The striae of the elytra are fine and moderately punctured ; the interstices are very sparsely punctulate. The under surface and the legs are furnished with long yellow hairs. Although this is the first authentic appearance of the genus Athyreus in our fauna, I find on comparison that Bolbocerus fossatus Hald. (Proc. Acad. 6, 362,) and Scarabaeus ferrugineus Beauv. (Ins. 90, tab. 2b, fig. 3,) also be- long here; the middle coxa? in both of those species are separated, and the meso- sternum is somewhat elevated, acutely margined at the sides and declivous ante- riorly. In his beautiful monograph of Athyreus, Klug suggests that the species of Beauvois just mentioned belongs to this genus, although in the absence of specimens for examination, this opinion could not be confirmed. Anomala luteipennis, ovata nigra virescens, nitida, supra glabra, thorace lateribus rotundato, sat dense punctato, capite densius rugoso, postice punctato, elytris luteis, striis punctatis sutura epipleurisque anguste nigricantibus, pygidio parcius sat grosse punctato antennis testaceis. Long. -47 — 52. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Sehott. One specimen has a small black *Lamellicornia, 3, 151. 1854.] 81 spot on each elytron on the first smooth interstice about the middle : the meso- sternum is not prominent : the club of the antennae in all the specimens is as long as the remaining portion. A nearly allied species from Wisconsin, given me by Mr. Guex, may be thus described. A. marginella, ovata nigra virescens, nitida supra glabra, capite densius rugoso, postice punctato, thorace lateribus subansjulato, punctato, elytris pallide testaceis, striis punctatis, sutura, margine, lineola humerali, guttaque utrinque dorsali ad medium nigris, pygidio confertim subtiliter rugoso, opaco, antennis testaceis, (lamella % longiore). Long. -4 — -45. Helichus ae qua lis, fuscus aequaliter pubescens, subtiliter punctatus, thorace latitudine longiore, lateribus vix rotundatis, fere parallelis : elytris vix obsolete striatis. Long. *18. One specimen, Frontera (Rio Grande), Mr. Clark. This species differs from H. lithophilus, by the thorax being longer, and scarcely narrowed anteriorly, and by the fine punctures of thorax and elytra being very distinct: the striae of the latter can hardly be traced. Its characters approach most closely to H. Gilensis Lee. (Pro. Acad. 6, 43), a species of a broader form, and with very distinct lines of punctures upon the elytra. Cymatodera b al t e at a, testacea, parce pilosa, capite thoraceque dense punc- tatis fusco-piceis, hoc latitudine fere duplo longiore, subcylindrico, postice sub- angustato antice transversim impresso, lateribus subsinuatis, elytris punctis quadratis magnis seriatis postice minoribus, interstitiis parce punctatis ; gutta utrinque ad quadrantem, fascia lata pone medium, alteraque angustissima sub- apicali nigro-piceis, antennis capite thoraceque vix longioribus fusco-testaceis. Long. «41. One specimen, Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Schott. The general form and appearance is that of C undulata, but the thorax is not constricted poste- riorly and is less sinuate on the sides, and the punctures of the elytra are much larger. Cymatodera c a nc el 1 at a, fusco-picea, parce pubescens, capite thoraceque dense punctulatis, hoc latitudine sesqui longiore, pone medium subito fere duplo angustiore, ante medium transversim impresso, lateribus antice parallelis, postice sinuatis, elytris punctis magnis quadratis seriatis postice vix minoribus, inter- stitiis angustis parce punctulatis, antennis capite thoraceque paulo longioribus, extrorsum paulo incrassatis, articulis turbinatis, ultimo longiore cylindrico. Long. *38. One specimen found with the preceding. Remarkable for the strange form of the antennas, and for the sudden narrowing of the thorax behind the middle : there is however, no posterior transverse impression, except the constriction in the sides : the middle of the base is slightly elevated and marked with an oblong fovea. It is closely related to C. brunnea Mels., but is smaller, with the thorax much more narrowed behind. Elaphidion t a e n i a t u m, fuseo-piceum, tenuiter fusco-pubescens, thorace latitudine vix breviore, lateribus rotundato, dense punctato, callis dorsalibus minus distinctis, punctoque laterali albo notato, elytris thorace paulo latioribus, antice grossius punctatis macula parva basali, alteraque transversa irregulari ad medium albo-pubescentibus, apice truncato, breviter bispinoso : antennis (?) corpore brevioribus, articulis 3 — 6 apice breviter unispinosis. Long. -95. One specimen, Mr. Schott. In form resembles E. atomarium, but is not quite so robust: the thorax is scabrous with large punctures, the dorsal callosities are, as usual, three in number, one medial elongated, the others each side in front of the middle. The head around and between the eyes is densely pubescent with whitish hair : the elytra are moderately shining, the punctures are not very dense and become very small towards the apex. The thighs are not armed. Elaphidion t e n u e, nigro-piceum, valde elongatum, lineare, aequaliter longius cinereo pilosum, thorace subcylindrico, latitudine fere sesqui longiore, lateribus parum rotundato, sat dense punctato, callo elongato dorsali notato, elytris punc- 82 [May, tatis, punctis postice subtilioribus, apice emarginatis at vix armatis, antennarum articulo 3io spina longissima armato. Long. *56 — .65. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Schott. Remarkable for its very slender form, in which it almost equals E. unicolor, (Stenoc. ■unicolor Randall) : the fourth joint of the antennas is armed with a very minute spine : the following joints are unarmed, as are the femora: the spine of the third joint extends two- thirds the length of the fourth joint. The elytra are truncate at tip, but the truncate part is slightly emarginate, in such manner that the angles become a little prominent. The antennae of the male are longer, those of the female shorter than the body. Oncideres pustulatus, niger, pube brevi fusca dense vestitus, thorace bre- vissimo, spina laterali acuta armato, lineaque transversa subundulata denudata ornato, elytris guttis sparsis denudatis nitidis, versus humerostuberculiformibus ornatis. Long. '15. Laredo, Mr. Schott. The anterior spots of the elytra are elevated, those be- hind the middle are flat. Aedilis spectabilis, niger, subtiliter dense cinereo-fuscoque pubescens, thorace fusco maculis albis confluentibus utrinque ornatis, elytris basi fasciisque tribus undulatis obliquis fuscis (intermedia latiore), pedibus fusco annulatis, antennis longissimis cinereis, articulis 1 — 5 apice fuscis, 5to fasciculo apicali interno recurvato ornato. Long. *91. Fort Union, Major Sibley. The first five joints of the antennae are densely clothed beneath with fine short erect hair : the apex of the fourth joint is hardly thickened, but at the apex of the fifth joint is an internal brush of long yellowish hairs, wThich are recurved, so as to form a hooked prominence. The form of the thorax in this species is quite different from A. nodosus, and is more similar to Monohammus, the spine being perpendicular, and the disc more cylindrical : it ought probably to form a new genus, but as the arrangement of the genera of Longicorns is still very unsatisfactory, it is needless for the present to separate species that are obviously allied. Ulochcstes Lee. (Cerambyci Lepturidae.) Caput deflexum, fronte quadrata, perpendiculari, pone oculos subito, at parum constrictum: oculi emarginati; antennas inter oculos pone medium insertas ; palpi breves articulis turbinatis subasqualibus ; antennae corpore duplo breviores, arti- culis 3 et 4 coniunctis 4to aequalibus : thorax transversus lateribus et dorso acute tuberculatus, densissime pilosus ; elytra abbreviata, scabra, apice subacute ro- tundata, humeris valde elevatis. Tarsi posteriores articulo lmo sequentibus coniunctis oeqnali. Alae abdomine longiores, rectae. 1. U. leoninus, niger, capite griseo-pubescente, thorace antrorsum angus- tato densissime longe griseo-piloso, antice valde transversim impresso, postice paulo constricto, elytris cpacis apice late testaceis, tibiis testaceis, apice nigris ; antennis basi obscure testaceis, alis fuliginosis. Long. «96 ; lat. '33. Prairie Paso, Oregon, Dr. Cooper. This very .fine insect seems allied to Necydalis ; it differs, however, by its less constricted neck, and by the propor- tions of the joints of the antennae, also by its stouter form : the elytra diverge more posteriorly, showing a tendency towards a subulate form. The scutel is smooth and shining, with the sides hairy : the pectus is thinly clothed with gray- ish hairs. Mallodon serrulatus, piceo-niger, nitidus capite antice parcius, pone ocu- los den-ius punctato, genis subacutis, thorace transverso, lateribus scabro et in- sequali disco subtilius parce punctato, antrorsum subangustato, lateribus rectis serrulatis, versus angulos posticos paulo refiexis, elytris disperse subtilius punc- tatis. Long. 2-3. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Weise. Resembles closely M. c i 1 ip e s Hald., but the sides of the thorax are less serrate, and less reflexed: the disc is also less convex, the mandibles are not elongated, but thick, and emarginate at the end; those of the male of M. cilipes are similar in form. 1854.J 81 Bnprestis sp h e n i cu s, nigro-aeneus, elongatus convexus breuissime parce pubescens, capite thoraceque punctis inauratis, hoc latitudine sesqui breviore, antice paulo angustato lateribus late rotundatis, basi media late rotundata utrin- que sinuata, angulis posticis acutis, elytris a basi angustatis postice subacutis et serrulatis, subtiliter striato-punctatis, interstitiis parce punctatis, basi flavo pilosis, abdomine lateribus maculis triangularibus flavo-pilosis ornato. Long. •75—1-0. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks. Mr. Schott. The arrangement of Buprestidae is at present in such confusion, that I am unable, by the books, to determine the proper reference of this species. Generic characters of much importance in this family have been lost sight of in the arrangements proposed, and a thorough re- vision is necessary. This particular species has for generic characters : clypeus broadly but regularly emarginate ; the antennae inserted under a strongly elevated line which runs obliquely towards the emargination of the clypeus ; the labrum emarginate; the mentum rounded anteriorly; the scutel small, transverse and rounded : coxal plates much but gradually dilated internally : rnesosternum di- vided, with the portions entirely connate with the metasternum : palpi almost cylindrical, with subequal joints : anus very slightly emarginate : tarsi with the joints 1 — 4 broadly lobed, the lobe of the fourth joint rounded : the basal joint of the posterior tarsi very little longer than the second: the mandible are thick, short and obtuse. Buprestis a m b i e n s, laete viridis, aenescens, elongatus minus convexus, capite valde rujjosoet punctato, oculis mediocribus, thorace latitudine breviore punctato lateribus rotundatis, flavo-marginatis, basi fere recte truncata, fovea ad medium alteraque utrinque ad angulos notata, elytris basi coniunctim subemarginatis, hu- meris acutis, lateribus flavo-marginatis, parallelis a dodrante angustatis, apice truncatis, sat profunde striato-punctatis, interstitiis paulo convexis, parce punc- tulatis. Long. *68. Frontera (Rio Grande), Mr. Clarke. Although having very much the form of Anthaxia, this species differs considerably in its generic characters ; the an- tennre palpi and feet are unfortunately wanting, but the following marks will enable the genus to be recognized : The antennae are near the eyes, (which are moderate in size) and are inserted on the front : behind the insertion is a deep fovea, at the bottom of which is a round shining tubercle* (as in Dicerca) ; the clypeus is very broadly emarginate in the arc of a circle, (labrum wanting) ; the mandibles are short, thick and ob- liquely truncate; the mentum is broaci and rounded anteriorly; the rnesosternum firmly connate with the metasternum; the posterior coxal plates with the poste- rior outline concave so as to form an internal tooth; anus not emarginate ; scutel very small, subtriangular. The yellow margin of the thorax is posteriorly separated from the disc by an impressed line : the yellow of the elytra is slightly dilated behind the humerus »nd again about the middle. Phaenops m i r a nd u s, niger, aenescens subtiliter dense punctulatus, capite guttis 5 politis, circulo positis, thorace guttis 4 anticis (intermediis maioribus) alteraque utrinque pone medium, lineaque dorsali postica nitidis Icevigatis ; ely- tris margine basique tenuiter rubris, lineiscue fiavis decussatis oinatis. Long. «65. Fort Union, New Mexico, Major Sibley. This beautiful species is nearly of the same form as our common black P. longipes, but is less acute posterior- ly : the yellow lines of the elytra are arranged so as to include the following spots : a large common triangular one at the scutel, separated from the base by the red margin ; an elongated lateral spot extending from behind the humerus to two-fifths the length: a large common rhomboidal spot on the suture, extending from the second to the fourth fifth of the length : immediately opposite the ex- ternal angle of the rhomboid, a small submarginal black dot ,• finally a large api- cal blotch ; separated from the rhomboid by a narrow yellow line, and from the margin by the red marginal line above mentioned. The yellow stripes which bound the anterior faces of the rhomboid are considerably broader than the *Is this an ocellus, or a tympanum ? 84 [May, others. The under surface is of a uniform black bronze color, and densely punctured. Eusattus puberulus, infiatus niger, subopacus, parce breviter flavo-pubes- cens, elytris parcius punctatis, lineisque elevatis duabus obsoletis notatis ; tho- racis angulis posticis acutis modice productis, tibiis anticis extus usque ad medium serrulatis, apice valde productis. Long. '34. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Weise. The sides of the thorax are strongly margined, and furnished with long hairs : the base and apex are ciliate as usual with short bristles: the disc is entirely without punctures: the slightly elevated lines of the elytra in one specimen can hardly be observed. Asbolus ? infaustus, parum convexus, niger, subnitidus, capite parce punctato, thorace latitudine sesqui breviore, lateribus rotundatis, postice brevi- ter sinuatis, angulis anticis acutis, posticis rectis, basi truncata, parce in disco obsolete punctato, elytris ovalibus thorace paulo latioribus, postice valde decli- vibus, disco punctis, lateribus apiceque tuberculis subelevatis subseriatis notatis. Long. -83. One specimen, Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Weise. This species agrees in its characters very closely with the two California species described in the Annals of the Lyceum of New York, (5, 129) the mentum is however more flat- tened, slightly carinate at base, and impressed anteriorly ; the antennas are less slender, and the joints are more distant, and the last joint is not truncate, but oval and pointed, and but little smaller than the tenth joint. A close affinity to Centrioptera is also seen, but that genus has less produced prosternum, and" the mentum is not emarginate. Allecula soc ia, picea fusco-pubescens, thorace latitudine duplo breviore, parce punctato, antrorsum angustato, lateribus rotundato, angulis posticis fere rectis, elytris profunde striato-punctatis, interstitiis subconvexis, punctatis. Long. *45. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Schott. Closely related to A. punctulata Mels., but wTith a broader thorax: as in that species the eyes are large and moderately distant, the third joint of the antennae equal to the fourth, and the penultimate joint of all the tarsi lobed. Meloe s u b 1 a e v i s, cyaneo-niger, fere opacus, capite thoraceque parce sub- tiliter punctulatis, hoc quadrato, postice subangustato, angulis omnibus rotunda- tis, disco subdepresso, foveis duabus ante medium impresso, elytris subtiliter daedaleo-rugosis, antennis sensim paulo incrassatis. Long. -65. Fort Union, New Mexico, Major Sibley. Probably a female : the antennae are not filiform as in M. angusticollis Say, nor thicker in the middle as in M. im- pressus Klrly, but are very gradually thickened to the end : the third joint is not longer than the fourth, and is about twice the size of the second. The inner spur of the posterior tibiae is acute, the outer one is larger, concave and obtuse. This species approaches the Western American M. strigulosus Mann., but the thorax is not so much elongated, the sides are nearly straight, and the base less emarginate. Lytta cos tat a, valde elongata, nigra, dense cinereo-pubescens, capite linea nigra impressa, thorace latitudine sesqui longiore, antrorsum angustato, lateribus late rotundato, linea nigra dorsali impressa, elytris sutura margine, costisque 4 elevatis ornatis, externa antice paulo abbreviatis, tarsis antennisque nigris. Long. "65. One specimen, Frontera, (Rio Grande) Mr. Clark. The antennae are slender and filiform : the first joint is equal in length to the third ; the second is about one half as long; from the third the joints diminish gradually in length : the inner spur of the posterior tibiae is acute, the outer one is broader, obtuse and con- cave. The labrum is slightly emarginate. It belongs in division (B — g.) of Proc. Acad. 6, 331. Lytta luteicornis, nigra dense cinereo-pubescens, thorace latitudine longiore lateribus antice rotundatis, disco lineolis duabus nigris saepius ornato, 1854.] 85 lateribus fere parallelis, elytris thorace fere duplolatioribus ; tibiis apice tarsis- que nigris, palpis, labro, clypeo, antennisque luteo-testaceis, his extrorsum ob- scuri6. Long. *85 — «95. Laredo to Ringgold Barracks, Mr. Weise. In the male, the first joint of the antennae is as long as the head, compressed, and angulated externally beyond the middle but very slightly curved : the second joint is one half larger than the third. In the female the first joint extends to the posterior margin of the eye, and the second joint is about equal to the third. This species is allied to L. longi- collis Lee. but the color of the cephalic organs, and the sexual characters distin- guish it at first sight. Zonitis rufa, pallide rufa, breviter pubescens, capite modice, thorace parcius punctato, hoc latitudine fere longiore, nitido subcanaliculato, lateribus antice ro- tundatis, elytris dense rugose punctatis, pedibus ore antennisque nigris. Long. -27. One specimen, Frontera, (Rio Grande) Mr. Clark. This species has very much the appearance of a small Nemognatha, but the maxillae are not elongated: the spurs of the posterior tibiae are broad, the outer one obtuse, the inner one subacute. The second joint of the antennae is two-thirds as large as the third. Tanymecus lautus, niger, parcius cinereo-squamulosus, capite punctato canaliculato, thorace latitudine sesqui breviore, lateribus parallelis apice rotun- datis, parcius grosse punctato, disco subcanaliculato, postice fovea lata excavato, elytris thorace latioribus humeris obtuse angulatis, apice valde declivi, punctis seriatis maiusculis impressis, interstitiis alutaceis. Long. -46. One specimen, Frontera, (Rio Grande) Mr. Clark. The largest species I have seen within our Territories. Notice of a new species of Salmo??idcB, from the north-eastern part of the United States. By Charles Gieard. The body of the male is subfusiform and rather slender, particularly the caudal region ; the head being regularly subconical and contained five times in the total length. The maxillaries are gently curved, extending backwards to about the posterior margin of the orbit. The female is stouter, with the peduncle of the tail shorter ; the head has the same general shape, but is not contained five times in the total length. The maxillaries are less curved, but extend as far backwards as in the male. The eye is very large ; its diameter being contained nearly five times in the length of side of head. The caudal is deeply emarginated posteriorly, giving to it a more forked appearance than in either Salmo oquassa or Salmo sebago. The adipose fin, in the male, is situated opposite the anterior margin of the anal, whilst in the female it corresponds to the posterior margin of the same fin. The scales are well developed, being somewhat smaller, however, than in Salmo sebago, and considerably larger than in either Salmo oquassa or Salmo erythrogaster. On the dorsal and ventral regions they are considerably smaller than upon the sides and along the peduncle of the tail. They extend, diminish- ing in size, over nearly the half of the length of the middle rays of the caudal fin. The lateral line takes an almost straight course along the middle region of the flanks. The following is an approximate formula of the rays of the fins: D 3. 12. A 1. 9. C 8. I. 8. 9. I. 5. V 1. 9. P 14. There are two anterior rudimentary rays to the dorsal, one or two to the anal, one to the ventrals, eight or ten to the upper lobe of the caudal, and five or six to the inferior lobe. The uppnr surface of head and dorsal region are blackish brown; the sides are silvery white, and the belly yellowish. The region above the lateral line is densely spread all over with black irregular spots, some of which are confluent; a few scattered ones may be seen beneath that line upon the middle of the abdo- men. Four to six of these spots, wrell defined, are always observed on the oper- 8 86 [May, culum, one of which may occasionally reach the preoperculum. A few reddish orange dots, individually situated in the middle of a black spot, are occasionally observed along the middle and upper part of the flanks. Whether these dots are peculiar to the female or proper to both sexes, I am not prepared to say, from want of sufficient information, upon that point. This species was first brought to my notice by M. Townend Glover, of Fish- ki'i Landing, Dutchess Co., New York, who caught it in the upper affluent of Union river, in the State of Maine, during the middle of September. I propose for it the name of Salmo gloverii, as a token of gratitude towards an artist whose labors, if promoted, would contribute so much to popularize natural history, and spread its benefits throughout the country. A list of the North American Bufonids, with Diagnoses of New Species* By Charles Girard. 1. Bufo americanus, Le Conte MS. Holbr. N. Amer. Herp. v. 1842, 17, pi. iv. Inhabits the Atlantic States, from Maine to Virginia, extending through the mountainous regions of the Carolinas into the valley of the Mississippi. It is likewise found in the North Western States and Canada. 2. Bufo lentiginosis, Holbr. N. Amer. Herp v. 1842, 7, pi. i. — Rana le7itigi?wsa, Shaw, Gen. Zool. iii. 1, 1803. 173. PI. liii. — Bufo erythronotus , Holbr. Ibid. 11. PI. ii. Ranges along the sea coast, from South Carolina to Florida, and following the gulf through Alabama and Mississippi. Scattered individuals are met with across the mountains to South Carolina. Bufo ctythrojiotus does not appear to us different from B. lentiginosus^ since color alone cannot be taken as an exclusive guide amongst the bufonids. 3. Bufo woodhousii, Girard. — Bufo dorsalis, Hallow, (non Spix). Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philada. vi. 1852, 181 ; and in Sit.greaves Exped. Ziini and Color. Rivers, 1853, 142. PI. xix. Head short and thick; upper central surface but little depressed, not to say grooved ; the suborbital ridge being slightly elevated. The occipito-temporal ridge is thicker, and hence a little more conspicuous. Snout rounded, nostrils terminal. Mouth wide, upper jaw emarginated. Tym- panum and parotids of moderate size. Limbs rather short and stout. First finger much longer than the second. A large metacarpal disk. Toes semipal- mated. Two metatarsal tubercles, a very large and a very small one. No membranous fold at the inner lower edge of the tarsus. Papillae of medium size upon the back. Inferior surface, with rather small and crowded granular warts. Above dark brown, with numerous lines of yellow. A dorsal yellowish vitta running the whole length of the body. Transverse blotches of black upon the thighs and fore arms. Beneath ochraceus. The affinities of this species are intermediate between B. americaims and B. lentiginoses. Its geographic range appears to be New Mexico, having so far been found in the province of Sonora, and in the San Francisco mountains. 4. Bufo cognatus, Say, in Long's Exped. to Rocky Mts. ii, 1823, 190. — Holbr. N. Amer. Herp. v. 1842, 21. PI. v. — B. and G. in Marcy's Expl. Red Riv. La. 1853. 242. Zool. PI. xi. A very characteristic species in the structure of the upper surface of head. Found in the territory of Nebraska, and southwards as far as the province of Coahuila, Mex. 5. Bufo speciosus, Girard. — Head moderate ; its upper surface smooth and even, or with slight traces of ridges or carinae. Snout subtruncated and rounded; nostrils subterminal. Mouth large, upper jaw slightly emarginated. Tongue * Specimens upon which these descriptions are based, are preserved in the museum of the Smithsonian Institution, at Washington. 1854.] 87 small, elongate, posteriorly free for the fourth of its length. A subgulav vocal bladder. Tympanum of medium size. Parotids subovoid, of stoutish appear- ance. Limbs of moderate development. First finger much longer than the second, which is equal to the fourth. A large subcircular metacarpal disk. Toes semipalmated. Two metatarsal spade-shaped processes, the innermost being much the largest. A membranous fold at the inner lower margin of tar- sus. Skin above covered with papillae of moderate development, and with small warts beneath. Color above greenish brown, maculated: no dorsal lighter vitta. Beneath, greenish or yellowish white, unicolor. Allied to B. woodhousii, differing, however, in the form and development of the metatarsal processes. It appears to inhabit the valley of the Rio Bravo (Rio Grand del Norte), and to be not uncommon in the province of New Leon. 6. Bufo punctatus, B. and G. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vi. 1852, 173. A very marked species in the shape and structure of the head. Hitherto found in the valley of the Devil's river (Rio San Pedro, of Rio Grande), and in the province of Coahuila, Mex. 7. Bufo debilis, Girard. — Upper surface of head without any crest or ridge. Snout rounded. Mouth moderate. Upper jaw emarginated. Tongue small. Tympanum small. Parotids moderate and elongated. Limbs of moderate de- velopment, femur shorter than tibia. First finger longer than the second. A large metacarpal disk. Toes slightly united at base by a web. Two metatar- sal processes. No membranous fold at the inner lower margin of the tarsus. Skin above pustulous; pustules of moderate development; warts beneath very small. Color above brownish yellow, spotted. No dorsal lighter vitta. Beneath of a uniform soiled yellow. Allied to B. speciosus ; found in the lower part of the valley of the Rio Bravo ^Rio Grande del Norte), and in the province of Tamaulipas. 8. Bufo nebulifer, Girard — Bufo granulosus, B. and G. (non Spix). Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vi. 1852, 173. This species is strongly suggestive of B. mariuus, Schn. (B. agna Daud) ; it is, however, easily distinguished from it upon a comparison of individuals of both species. It inhabits Texas, the valley of the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande del Norte), the provinces of Tamaulipas and New Leon, Mexico. 9. Bufo columbiensis, B. and G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. vi. 1853, 378. This is possibly the largest species of North American toads; it is common in the valley of the Columbia River, Oregon Territory, where it was first observed by the naturalists of the U. S. Exploring Expedition under Capt. C. Wilkes. 10. Bufo boreas, B. and G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Philad. vi. 1852, 311. So far the most northern bufonid ; it is not uncommon about Puget Sound, where it was collected many years ago by the naturalists of the U. S. Explor- ing Expedition. 11. Bufo halophila, B. and G. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philada. vi. 1853, 311. Since this species was first described an adult individual has been secured, which has enabled me to give the following diagnosis : Upper surface of head without either crests or grooves. Skin thick and adhering to skull. Snout rounded. Parotids of medium size. Ryes moderate. Tym- panum small. Tongue lanceolated, bro.idest posteriorly. Upper jaw emargi- nated. Inner finger longer than the second. Two metacarpal disks. A mem- branous fold along the tarsus. Toes semipalmated ; two metatarsal tubercles. A narrow yellowish dorsal vitta. Ground color greenish yellow, with nume- rous black spots and dots, distributed all over the upper parts and sides of body, head and limbs. Beneath unicolor of a dingy yellow. Inhabits the western coast, frequenting the sea margin ; hitherto observed only in California. 88 [June, 12. Bufo quercinus, Holbr. N. Amer. Herp. v. 1842, 13. PI. iii. This quite small species appears to be restricted to very narrow geographical limits, having so far been found only in the neighborhood of Charleston, S. C. 13. Bufo insidior, Girard. — Upper surface of head plane and smooth. Snout subacute, protruding. Mouth moderate, upper jaw slightly emarginated. Tongue elongated, tapering towards both ends. Tympanum inconspicuous. Parotids large and elongated, situated obliquely upon the shoulder. Limbs moderate. First finger equal to the second in length. A metacarpal disk, and a tubercle. Toes slightly webbed at base. Two metatarsal tubercles. Skin papillous above, warty beneath. Above of a bluish slate hue, with black markings. Beneath unicolor, dingy yellow. Small specimens, perhaps immature, were collected in Chihuahua by Dr. Thos. H. Webb, attached to Comm. Bartlett's party in the survey of the U. S. and Mex. boundary line. 14. Engystoma carolinense, Holbr. N. Amer. Herp. First ed. i. 1836? 83. PI. xi., and 2d ed. v. 1842, 23. PL vi. — Dum. and B. Erp. gen. viii., 1841, 743. Found in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. 15. Engystoma rugosum, Dum. and B. Erp. gen. viii., 1841, 744. Said to occur in the same regions as the preceding species. Have never ob- served it, and therefore cannot endorse it as a North American species. The following amendments to the By-Laws were adopted : Chapter viii., Art. 1. No specimen of Natural History contained in the collections of the Academy shall be loaned from the Hall, under any pretence, or for any purpose whatever. Chapter xii., Art. 2. Every proposition to alter or amend these By-laws shall be submitted, in writing, at a meeting for business, and if adopted by the affirmative votes of two thirds of the members pre- sent, it shall be read at the meeting for business next succeeding ; and then, if adopted by the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the members present, it shall be again read at the next succeeding meeting for busi- ness, and on receiving the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the mem- bers present, it shall become a part of these By-Laws ; Provided, that at least twelve members be present at each of the three readings. The following Article was added to Chap. XII : Chapter xii., Art. 3. No one, or more, of the By-Laws of this Academy shall be suspended. ELECTION. Dr. William S. M'llhenny and Job B. Tyson, Esq., of Philadelphia, were elected Members. June 6th. Vice-President Lea in the Chair. Letters were read — From the Royal Saxon Society of Sciences, dated Leipzig, 27th Feb., 1854; From the Boyal Academy of Sciences of Vienna, dated Jan. 18 and Jan. 28th, 1854 : 1854.] 89 From the Furstlicli Jablonowskischen Gesellschaft zu Leipzig, dated 13th Jan., 1854 ; and from the Belfast Natural History Society, dated 31st Dec., 1853 ; severally transmitting donations to the Library an- nounced this evening. From the Librarian of the Pennsylvania State Library, dated Harris- burg, June 1, 1854; From the Trustees of the New York State Library, dated Albany, May 26ib, 1854; and From the American Philosophical Society, dated August 20, 1854, severally acknowledging the receipt of recent publications of the Academy. From Dr. M. H. Houston, dated Wheeling, Va., May 22d, 1854, presenting the Indian remains deposited in the Cabinet by Mr. Ellet, through Dr. C. D. Meigs, May 16th, 1854. Dr. Hallowell presented for publication in the Proceedings, two papers, entitled respectively, " Descriptions of New Reptiles from California ;" and " On a genus and species of Serpent from Honduras, presumed to be new," both of which were referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Le Conte, and Col. McCall. Dr. Leidy stated that while examining some fossils he had accidentally in- spected the fragment of lower jaw, supposed by Harlan to belong to an extinct species of hog, the Sus americanns ; and which Prof. Owen, after an examination, had considered as a new genus, Harlavus, allied to the tapiroid pachyderms, when it immediately occurred to him that it belonged neither to a suiline nor a tapiroid animal, but to a true ruminant, and this, the Bison latifrons. The form of the fragment of jaw is the same as the corresponding portion in the ox, and its robustness is in relation to the size and strength of the head of Bison latifrons. The fossil belonged to a very old individual, as indicated by the production of large fangs to the teeth, and the almost entire removal of the enamelled crown by trituration. The first of the series of true molars in the specimen exhibits two fangs of dentine united by an isthmus of cementum, (see plate vi. accompanying Owen's memoir, in vol. i. new series, of the Journal of this Academy.) In the second true molar a line of enamel yet borders the crown. The little prominence in the centre of the dentinal space of the anterior lobe is the rem- nant of the crescentic enamel island. The middle of the three folds on the outer side, which misled Prof. Owen to suspect an affinity of the animal to Toxodon, is nothing more than the remains of the robust accessory column of the molars of Bison latifrons t as may be seen by comparing the specimens, or the figures in Owen's plate, with the corresponding part in the figures 6 and 7 of the last molar in plate ii. of my " Memoir on the Extinct Species of American Ox." The last molar of Bison latifrofis, indicated in the figures just mentioned, not only exactly fits the corresponding space in the fragment of jaw, but the remain- ing portion of tooth in the latter is of the same form and size as the correspond- ing portion of the entire tooth. If these views be considered as correct, then the Sus americanns, or Harlanus america?ius, ceases to be a distinct animal, and the fossil in question becomes a portion of Bison latifrons. In further confirmation of these facts, a portion of a humerus and a tibia, mentioned in Prof. Owen's paper, and an atlas and a metacarpal bone were dis- covered by Mr. Couper, with the [fragment of jaw, and these had previously been referred to Bison latifrons in my memoir above referred to. 90 [June, Dr. Leidy next called attention to several fossils indicating new species of extinct mammalia. The first was the crown of a molar tooth discovered by Captain Bowman, U. S. A., in the sands of Ashley river, S. C. It most resembles the left lower penultimate molar of the bear, but the triturating surface is more generally level, and presents less disposition to the formation of cusps. The specimen measures 24 m.m. antero-posteriorly, and 17 m.m. transversely. For the genus and species supposed to be indicated by the specimen the name of Aretodus pris- tinus was proposed. The other fossils consisted of two specimens loaned by Prof. Hall, of Albany, and constitute part of the collection made by Messrs. Meek and Hayden, during an expedition to Nebraska Territory in the summer of 1853. They were found on Bijou Hill, east of the Missouri River, in a tertiary formation surmounting cretaceous beds. One of the specimens is an inferior molar of a solipedal animal, apparently intermediate to Equus and Anchitherium, the enamel folding upon the triturating surface being less complex than in the former, and greater than in the latter. It appears to have had an envelope of crusta petrosa as in the horse, though nearly all removed in the specimen. In size it is relatively long compared to the corresponding teeth of A7ichitheriumi but is short compared to those of Equus. Its antero-posterior measurement in 17 m.m. For the genus and species the name of Hippodon speciosus was proposed. The remaining specimen is the fragment of a lower jaw, containing a last pre- molar and the first true molar of a small ruminant allied to the Musks. The last premolar on the triturating surface presents a series of five folds projecting inwardly. Its measurement antero-posteriorly is 8 m.m. The inner side of the true molar is nearly as plain as in those of Pceb rot her item. Its measurement antero-posteriorly is also 8 m.m. For the genus and species the name of Mery- codus necatus was proposed. 9 June ISth. Dr. Ruschenberger in the Chair. A letter was read from Dr. W. P. Gibbons, dated San Francisco, May 16, 1854, transmitting the specimens of viviparous fishes acknowledged this evening; also a paper intended for publication in the Proceed- ings, entitled, u Descriptions of four new species of Viviparous Fishes from Sacramento River and the Bay of San Francisco. Read before the California Academy of Natural Sciences, May 15th, 1854; by Wm. P. Gibbons, M. D." Referred to Dr. Le Conte, Dr. Leidy, and Dr. Hallowell. Dr. Hallowell presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, entitled, " Remarks on the Geographical distribution of Reptiles, with descriptions of several species supposed to be new, and corrections of former papers ;" which was referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Da Costa, and Dr. Le Conte. Dr. Da Costa directed the attention of the Academy to a new process which he had lately employed in making minute injections. In order to insure a greater rotundity and distinctness of the vessels than is usually obtained, he performed a series of experiments with solid substances dissolved in ether, and as evidence of the results he submitted several specimens to the inspection of the members. The substances selected on account of their ready solubility were the resins, and of these the sandarach and the Damarra copal were found to answer best. One ounce of the resin was dissolved in about three ounces, or if mucous membranes were to be injected, in about four ounces of ether. This was then filtered, and enough finely ground yellow or red paint added to give to the injecting mass the 1854.] 91 requisite color. Judging from the equal distinctness of the vessels in some of Prof. Hyrtl's preparations in his possession, he was led to believe that it is on a similar principle that these beautiful injections are made, except that turpentine is probably used as a solvent instead of ether. He was, however, not able to speak positively on this subject, since the injecting material used by Prof. Hyrtl has never been disclosed. The advantage of using ether for injections, as first directed by Dr. Goddard, instead of turpentine, is that preparations in which ether has been used are always more uniformly and more minutely injected ; and by dissolving solid substances in it, Dr. Da Costa believed that equal distinctness, with perhaps greater minuteness than is even afforded in the preparations of Prof. Hyrtl, may be obtained. June 1§th* Major Le Conte in the Chair. Dr. Le Conte presented two papers for publication in the Proceedings, viz : " Synopsis of the Dermestidse of the United States, " and " Synop- sis of the Byrrhidse of North America," both of which were referred to Dr. Leidy, Dr. Elwyn, and Dr. Ruschenberger. Dr. Leidy presented a paper for publication in the Journal, entitled, " Descriptions of New Fossil species from the cretaceous formation of Sage Creek, Nebraska, by John Evans, M. D., and B. F . Shumard, M. D. ;" which was referred to Mr. Conrad, Mr. Charles E. Smith, and Mr. Foulke. Mr. Cassin presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, en- titled, " Descriptions of new Birds collected between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and San Francisco, California. By S. F. Baird." Referred to Mr. Cassin, Dr. Heermann, and Col. McCall. June 27th, Vice President Lea in the Chair. The Committees to which were referred papers by Dr. Hallo well, read June 6th and 13th, 1854 ; by Dr. Gibbons, June 13th ; by Dr. J. Le Conte, read June 20th ; and by Prof. Baird, read June 20th, severally reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. Descriptions of new Reptiles from California. By Edward Hallowell, M. D. CHELONIANS. Emys nigra, nob. Sp. Char. — Shell oblong-ovate, slightly compressed at the sides and emargi- nate, but not distinctly serrated posteriorly; latero-posterior margins of carapax everted; nuchal plate narrow, truncate anteriorly, broader posteriorly ; 24 mar- ginal plates, the two posterior more or less quadrilateral, the two adjoining pen- tagonal ; color blackish above, the upper part of head and neck presenting numerous very small yellow spots upon a black ground ; anterior extremities with a tinge of yellow ; under jaw and throat yellow, with dark colored mark- ings ; plastron yellow in the middle, with large blotches of black or dark brown at the sides, and anteriorly and posteriorly ; under surface of tail and extremities blackish; tail of moderate length. 92 [June, Dimensions. — Length of head 1 inch ; breadth f ; length of carapax 6£ inches, measured along curvature superiorly ; breadth at middle 5| inches ; of tail 2§. Habitat. — Posa Creek, Lower California, where it occurs in great numbers. Gen. obs. — This species resembles none ol the North American Emydes with which 1 am acquainted. Its dark color puts one in mind of, but is not so jet a black as that of Sternothaerus niger of Madagascar. SAURIANS. Dipso-saurtjs, Hallowell. Gen. char. — Head triangular, covered above and in front with tubercles ; nos- trils latero-superior, opening in a single scale ; rostral plate veitical, triangular; jaws margined each with a series of smooth quadrilateral plates ; tympanum visible, depressed ; upper part of body covered with carinated scales, more or less rounded posteriorly, arranged in oblique rows ; a row of scales much larger than the rest along the dorsal line, and much more strongly carinated, forming a slight dorsal crest; a gular fold ; scales of abdomen quadrangular, smooth ; femoral pores ; tail covered with transverse rows of verticillate and carinated scales* DlPSO-SAURUS DORSALIS. Sy?i. — Crotaphytus dorsalis, Baird and Girard. Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1852, p. 126. Coloration. — Body presenting numerous lines of red upon the sides, with blotches of the same color over the shoulders, the intervening spaces numerous white spots; upper surface and sides of tail marked with red spots arranged in transverse rows ; upper surface of extremities with red ; throat, abdomen, under surface of extremities and tail white. The coloration, as described by Profs. Baird and Girard, appears to be taken from younger specimens, one such before me corresponding with it precisely. Dimensions. — Length of head 7 lines; breadth 7 ; length of head, neck and body to vent, 8 inches, (Fr.) ; of tail lh inch.; anterior extremities 1£ inch. ; posterior 3 inches to extremity of nail of longest toe. Habitat — Desert of the Colorado, to which it appears to be confined. The smaller specimen from near Fort Yuma, the large one found in the desert be- tween Rum River and the Tejon Pass, (pronounced Tahon ;) a country without water, not sandy, but arid, bearing artemisia, &c. Gen. remarks. — This animal differs from Crotaphytus (Holbrook) in having the upper part of the body covered with quadrangular scales, instead of granula- tions, and the larger row of carinated dorsal scales giving rise to a slight crest, no trace of which exists in Crotaphytus, from Leiolepis in having tubercles, and not plates, upon the head and from Homalo-saurus in the form of the marginal plates of the upper jaw. Uro-saurus, Hallowell, Gen. char. — Body very slender, which, as well as the head, is much depressed; scales upon the back much larger than those upon the sides, and strongly cari- nated ; nostrils superior in a single scale; head covered with plates ; aural aper- tures very distinct ; a gular fold ; extremities slender; toes 5—5 ; tail very long and tapering, verticillate ; femoral pores, but no anal ones. Uro-saurus graciosus, nob. Sp. char. — Head yellow, with a few browrnish marks; seven longitudinal rows of scales upon the back very distinctly carinated. Color of body yellowish, mixed with brownish and black spots ; extremities yellowish, with dark colored transverse bands ; tail of same color above as body ; under surface silvery white, with blackish spots; eleven femoral pores. Dimensions. — Length of head 5-8ths inch; greatest breadth f inch; length of head, neck and body to vent, If inch j of anterior extremities to extremity of 1854.] 93 longest toe 6-8ths inch ; of posterior to extremity of longest toe Jf inch ; of tail 4£ inches; total length. Habitat. — Lower California. Gen. Remarks. — The contrast between the large carinated scales upon the back, and the small ones upon the sides resembling granulations, is very striking ; the long and slender tail also is remarkable. In these respects Uro-saurus is allied to Tachydromus, but the plates upon the head are very different. SCELOPORUS, Wiegmann.' ScELOPORUS MAGISTER, nob. Sp. char. — Larger than any known species of Sceloporus, and remarkable for its large and strongly carinated scales, which are very much denticulated poste- riorly ; anterior margin of aural apertures strongly denticulated ; upper part of head, body and extremities and tail straw color, without spots or blotches ; a black triangular blotch upon each side of the neck, in front of the shoulder, the base below ; two large bluish green blotches upon the abdomen, one on each side and one upon the neck ; the rest of the under surface light straw color ; tail long, very thick at base, tapering near the point ; twelve femoral pores on each side. Dimensions. — Length of head, neck and body to vent, 4 6-8ths inches; great- est breadth of head 1£ inch; length of head If inch ; of tail l-5th inch ; of anterior extremities l£ inch ; of anterior foot to extremity of longest toe 1 inch ; of pos- terior extremities 1 6-8ths inch; of foot to extremity of longest toe If inch : total length 9 6-8ths inches. Habitat. — Near Fort Yuma, at junction of Colorado and Gila, also nearTuson in Sonora, upon a rocky soil. Gen. remarks.— This species is remarkable for its large size and greatly deve- loped spines. It is a much larger animal than the spinosus of Wiegmann, and wants the quadruple series of dark colored spots that exist in that animal. The posterior margins of the scales are strongly denticulated, which is not the case in spinosus, one of the characters of which is " squamis paucidentatis." From horridus, Wieg. it differs in coloration, arrangement of plates upon the head, and in the number of femoral pores, which in the latter are 4 — 5. Sceloporus bi-seriatus, nob. Sp. char. — Scales of the back much larger than those upon the sides. Five frontal plates in two rows ; the middle of the anterior row largest ; four inter- nasals ; two very small plates between the anterior row and rostral ; two vertical plates ; one large plate on each side of the occipital, and two in front of them; posterior border of scales not denticulated. A narrow brownish vitta across the head near the middle of the superciliary plates ; coloration of head resembling that of undulatus ; light ash grey above, with a double row of dark-colored spots upon the back on each side of the dorsal line, extending a short distance upon the tail ; extremities ash colored above, banded with black ; under surface silvery grey, with two blue blotches, one on each side of the abdomen, and a blue blotch upon the chin ; 20 femoral pores. Dimensions. — Length of head, neck and body to vent, 3 inches: of tail 4£ inches ; length of anterior extremities 5-8ths inch ; of foot anteriorly to extremity of longest toe 5-8ths inch ; of posterior extremity 1 inch ; of foot posteriorly to extremity of longest toe 1 inch ; total length 7£ inches. Habitat. — Borders of El Paso Creek and in Tejon Valley. Constantly climb- ing up trees, when scared, to a distance of twenty or thirty feet, running along the ground and up the trees very quickly. Gen. remarks. — Wants the undulating lines or bars of undulatus, these being replaced by the spots above described; the scales upon the sides are also much smaller than those of undulatus. This species resembles very closely the variabilis of Wiegmann, and is probably the same, notwithstanding cer- tain differences in the description. In the absence of a good drawing, or authen- ticated specimen, we cannot pronounce, positively, whether they be the same or not, although inclined to the former opinion. Thus the head, according to 94 [June, Wiegmann, is unicolor ; and the plates upon the head cannot be said to he ruguloso carinatis, for they are for the most part smooth in bi-seriatus. It wants the white lateral line beneath the spots which is observed in scalaris, Wiegmann. The arrangement of the plates upon the head appears to characterize this species very well, being uniform, with unimportant exceptions, in all the specimens brought by Dr. Heermann. Var. A. azureus. — Body uniformly blue above, mingled with brown, the the blue color predominating; on the sides greenish with a metallic lustre ; head brownish above ; two large blue blotches upon abdomen, one on each side ; rest of under surface silvery white with bluish tints, especially about the chin ; scales large and strongly carinated, not denticulated posteriorly; tail stout at the base, much less tapering than in bi-seriatus; the plates of the head correspond pre- cisely with those of the latter animal. Dimensions*— Length of head, neck and body to vent, 3 2-8ths inches ; of tail 3 5-Sths inches ; of anterior extremities 1 inch ; of anterior foot to extremity of longest toe 6-8ths inch ; of posterior foot to extremity of longest toe 1 2-8ths inch ; total length 6| inches. Habitat. — Associated with bi-seriatus. Var. B. variegatus. — Body light ash color, with transverse brownish bands and markings coalescing with each other, so as to give the whole a marbled appearance ; head above ash color mingled with brown ; extremities ash color, with transverse bands of brown ; under surface silvery grey without bluish spots or blotches ; 17 femoral pores, remarkably large ; tail stout, thick at the base. Dimensions. — Length of head neck and body 4h inches ; greatest breadth of head 1 inch ; length 1 inch ; tail mutilated, circumference at base 1 2-8ths inch ; length of anterior extremities If inch ; of loot to extremity of longest toe f inch ; of posterior extremity 2£ inches ; of foot, posteriorly, to extremity of longest toe 1 inch. Habitat. — Same. CNEMIDOPHORUS, Dum. and Bib. Gen. Char. — Nostrils in the nasal plate near its posterior border ; two supero- nasals ; palate without teeth, with a shallow, triangular notch, posteriorly ; scales smooth. (Dum. and Bibron.) Cnemidophorus undtjlatus,* nob. Sp. char. — Body of moderate size ; tail very long ; head brownish above ; upper part of body with three or four longitudinal bands of black with irregular mar- gins ; interspaces yellowish, with a tinge of red in some specimens ; sides mar- gined with black and white or light yellow ; tail black and light yellow, present- ing numerous transverse rows of rhomboidal carinated scales ; upper part of extremities same color as sides of body; under surface silvery grey, with a number of minute black spots upon the abdomen, throat and chin ; tail round, moderately thick at base, tapering to a point ; 20 pores very distinct ; 8 rows scales upon the abdomen. Dimensions. — Length of head 1 inch ; greatest breadth posteriorly half an inch ; of head, neck and body 3k inches ; of anterior extremities % inch ; of foot to ex- tremity of longest toe half an inch; of posterior extremities 1£ inch ; of foot to extremity of longest toe 1 inch ; of tail 7£ inches ; total length 111 inches. Habitat. — Near Fort Yuma, in San Joachim Valley. Gen. observ. — Cnemidophorus perplexus, according to Profs. Baird and Girard, has seven longitudinal yellowish lines along the back ; in all the specimens above described, five in number, there are but four. Profs. Baird and Girard state that in some specimens of Cnemidophorus tigris, " four longitudinal yellow stripes may be seen extending from the occiput to the base of the tail, and occasionally a little distance on the latter. In the young state the black patches predominate, unite, and form as it were the ground color, and the yellow constitutes irregular small spots." — Vide Sta?isbury's Report, Appendix C. p. 339. •From the undulating longitudinal dark lines along the back. 1854.] 95 The total length of Say's Ameiva tesselata is 1 foot, tail 8J inches, — in this respect corresponding very well with the above, but none of the specimens present the tesselated appearance described by Say, the «' transverse lines dividing the whole surface in a tesselated manner." Eumeces, Wiegmann, Sp. char. — Two supero-nasals contiguous ; internasal much more extended in the lateral than antero-posterior direction, its internal margins in contact with the anterior frenal ; two fronto-nasal, contiguous, lateral border in contact with the posterior frenal ; frontal hexagonal, elongated, broader anteriorly ; fronto- parietal rhomboidal, placed obliquely ; inter-parietal broad, with an acute angle in front, passing in between the fronto-parietals ; parietals oblong, quadrilateral ; four supra-orbitals ; a small naso-frenal : an anterior and posterior frenal, the latter much larger ; twelve rows of smooth hexagonal scales upon the back, be- ginning with those marked by the lateral vitta. Color. — Shining black or brown above, with four bluish vittae, the two in- ternal broader than the others, commencing about midway upon the sides of the head immediately over the eyes, and extending along the back and terminating upon the tail ; the lateral ones commence at the anterior margin of the orbit, and passing beneath it, extend upon the sides and are lost upon the tail ; chin and throat whitish ; abdomen and under part of tail slate color ; under surface of extremities whitish. Dimensions. — Length of head f inch ; breadth \ inch ; length of body and tail 4? inches; of tail 2 3-8ths inches; of anterior extremities £ inch; of posterior | inch. Habitat. — Lower California, near Mohave River, and in San Bernardino Valley. OPHIDIANS. Rhinostoma occipitale, nob. Char. — Teeth of equal length, posterior ones not channelled ; head depressed, eyes small ; a rostral, two anterior and two posterior frontals; one anterior and two posterior oculars; a vertical ; two occipitals ; a small frenal ; nostrils in a single plate ; seven superior labials, the eye resting on the third and fourth. Abdom. scuta, 158 ; subcaud. 34. Coloration. — Milk white above with 41 transverse black bands, including seven upon tail and one upon posterior part of head ; six complete rings upon tail ; throat and abdomen white ; under part of tail white, with transverse bands continuous with those upon back of tail ; 15 rows of smooth quadrangular scales. Dimensions — Length of head 4 lines, breadth 2£ lines; of body 9 inches 9 lines; of tail, 1 inch 7 lines; total length, 9 inches. Hab. — Mohave Desert. Gen. Remarks, — This serpent resembles no other as yet figured in N. Ame- rica, and is therefore easily recognized. In the genus Sonora of Prof. Baird and Girard, there are, according to them, three postoculars, and two nasal plates on each side with the nostril between them. In Sonora semiannulata there are twenty-five transverse black bands upon the body, and six complete rings upon the tail. The rings in Col. (Zacholus) zonatus of Blainville completely sur- round the body. The nostrils, according to Blainville, open between two plates, but Wagler has them each in a single plate, " in medio scutelli sitis," in his defi- nition of Zacholus. Wagler, however, cites Col. Riccioli, Metaxa Serp. Rom. as appearing to belong to this genus, " scheint als gattung zu gehoren," but C. Bonaparte represents the nostrils as placed in the commissure between two scuta M gli narici sono situate alia eommissura di duo scutelli nasali." Blainville represents two black half rings upon the head. Zacholus zonatus is probably allied to Coronella balteata. Crotalus cerastes, nob. Sp. Char. — Head covered with polygonal tubercles, larger in front, the latter in three rows; two small quadrangular plates on each side, between the nostril and the vertical rostral ; two quadrangular internasals ; external border of supra- 96 [June, ciliary plates developed, so as to present two horn-like processes, one on each side of the head at their middle; nostrils small; pits between the eyes and nos- trils large ; twenty rows of carinated scales, the inferior rows near the abdomen smooth; body slender, much compressed; tail very short, with three or four rattles. Coloration. — Head ash color above, a black band running from the posterior margin of the orbit to within a line of the occiput ; a series of forty-one transverse brownish bands, yellow in the centre, along the back; general color of animal above light yellow; several transverse bands upon the tail ; under surface light yellow, slightly clouded with spots near the external margin of the abdomen; abdom. scut. 146 ; two rows of bifid post-abdom. scutell. ; 14 single caudal scuta ; three inferior rows bifid. Dimensions. — Length of head 5 lines; greatest breadth 4 lines; length of body 8 and 3-8th inches; of tail, | ; total length 9| inches. Hab — Borders of the Mohave river, and in the desert of the Mohave, — always in the dry sandy soil, with no vegetation whatever. Maximum size one foot and a half; occurs in large numbers, and is also seen in the Desert of the Colo- rado, but is much less abundant, Dr. Heermann not having observed it ihere. The river Mohave spreads itself out in the desert and there loses itself, and upon the floating sand hills near it these animals are found. The Crolalus Lecontii is never seen with them. The Mohave empties into a salt lake about 15 miles in extent. Gen. Remarks. — I supposed that this animal might be the young of Crotalus Lecontii, but Dr. Heermann informs me that the Lecontii is never found with it, and that it never attains to more than a foot and a half in length, and always presents the horn-like processes above described. It would appear to be the representative of the Vipera Cerastes of Africa, and is found, like that serpent, in desert and sandy regions, and is also slow and sluggish in its movements. The genus Cerastes, proposed by Wagler and adopted by Dumeril and Bibron, it would appear should be dropped and Vipera substituted. BATRACHIANS. Rana nigricans, nob. Sp, char. — Remarkable for its size ; color uniform, dark brown, with numerous small black spots, and large blotches interspersed over the surface ; sides some- what lighter, marked with black; anterior extremities dark brown, or ash color above, blotched with black ; posterior of same color, with numerous transverse black bands; chin, throat and abdomen straw color, shaded with brown; under surface of extremities yellowish, marked with black. Dimensions. — Length of head, neck and body, 4£ inches; greatest breadth of head, If inches; length of anterior extremities, 1| inches: of foot anteriorly to extremity of longest toe, 1 inch; of posterior extremity, 5 inches; length of hind foot, If inches ; of foot posteriorly to distal end of longest toe, 2| inches. Hab. — El Paso Creek. Gen. Observations. — This species is remarkable for the great length of its posterior extremities; allied to Rana Draytoni, Baird and Girard, but the posterior extremities appear to be longer. Hyla nebulosa, nob. Sp. char. — Uniform light grey upon the upper part of the body and sides ; snout light ash ; a considerable number of dark colored subcircular spots about a line in diameter, scattered over the upper part of the body and upon the sides ; extremities ash color above, with greyish spots; abdomen greenish yellow; chin light yellow; under surface of extremities orange colored; abdomen and under surface of extremities granulated. Dimensions. — Length of head, neck and body, If inches; greatest breadth of head, | inch; length of anterior extremities, If inches; of posterior extremities 2 and 3-8th inches to extremity of longest toe. Hab. — Tejon Pass. 1854.] 97 Gen. Remarks. — Is a much smaller animal than Hyla versicolor, and the mark- ings are very different. The back is much less abundantly covered with warts, and the superciliary ridges which are so much developed in versicolor, are but slightly so in this species. The extremities are much more slender in the latter, and the tibia is of nearly equal length with the thigh, but in versicolor it is about a line shorter. Hyla scapularis, nob. Var. hypochondriaca. Char.—Oi a uniform pale olive, color above without spots, paler toward the sides; numerous small, elevated smooth points upon the surface, resembling tubercles; upper surface of extremities pale olive; a narrow dark colored vitta, extending from the anterior margin of the eye to the snout; another much broader from the posterior margin of the eye to the shoulder ; margin of upper jaw of same color as the vitta ; posterior part of abdomen and under surface of extremities orange colored ; chin and throat whitish ; abdomen thickly granulated. Dimensions. — Length of head and body, \h inches; of head f ; breadth f ; length of anterior extremities, f ; of posterior, If. Hab — Tejon Pass. Gen. Remarks. — It will be observed that it wants the squalus toothed mark upon the head, and the markings upon the back, which belong to scapularis. The specimens above described, with numerous others already known, and a large number of rare fishes, birds and plants, and many insects, were collected by Dr. Heermann, Naturalist to the Government Expedition for the exploration of a route for the Pacific Railroad, and afford the best evidence of the zeal and untiring industry of our esteemed fellow member. Through his efforts in great part the Herpetology of California is now almost, if not quite, as well known as that of Pennsylvania. On a genus and species of Serpent from Honduras, presttmed to be new. By Edward Hallo well, M. D. MICROPHIS. Char. — Head of moderate size, short, depressed in the middle, covered with nine plates ; snout rounded ; nostrils between the nasal and anterior frontal plates ; a frenal; one antocular ; two posterior oculars ; seven superior labials, the eye resting on the third and fourth; eyes of moderate size, pupil round; supraciliary plate not projecting over the eye ; tail of moderate length. Microphis quinqueliniatus, nob. Sp. char. — Head, body and tail above ash color ; five dark blue stripes ex- tending from the occiput to the base of the tail, the three intermediate ones broader than the lateral; the other stripes prolonged upon the tail, the middle one to near its extremity ; 17 rows of smooth quadrangular scales ; 170 abdom. scuta; two bifid preabdom.; 33 subcaudal. Dimensions. — Length of head 6-8ths inch; breadth posteriorly 4-8ths inch ; length of body 17 inches ; of tail 2 inches 5-8ths ; circumference 1 inch 3-8ths ; total length 1 foot 8 inch 3-8ths. Habitat. — Honduras, South America. Two specimens presented to Museum of the Academy, by Dr. Woodhouse. Gen. Remarks. — This serpent has the general characters of Coronella,but the nostrils open between the anterior frontal and nasal plates, insiead of the nasal and internasal, the two being fused into one plate. We have, therefore, pro- posed for it the generic name given above, although not disposed to attach much importance to minor considerations of this kind in the determination of genera. 98 [June, Remarks on the Geographical distribution of Reptiles, with descriptions of several species supposed to benewy and corrections of former papers* By Edward Hallowell, M. D. Genus Euprepis. Gen. character. — Nostrils in the posterior part of the nasal plate ; two super- nasals ; palate with a triangular furrow, more or less profound ; scales carinated; pterygoid teeth. (Dum. and Bib.) Euprepis striata, nob . Sp. character. — Nasal plates well developed, two super-nasal contiguous ; an internasal ; two fronto-nasal wide apart ; a frontal broad in front, narrow poste- riorly ; two fronto-parietal, more or less quadrilateral, contiguous ; an inter-pa- rietal very narrow posteriorly, broad with an acute angle in front; two parietals, no occipital ; two freno-nasal, and two freno-orbital plates ; head brownish above in front, and upon the sides, blackish posteriorly ; ground color of body and tail above deep black, the middle of each scale dusky white, the back and tail pre- senting therefore numerous alternating lines and bands of black and white ; upper surface of extremities blackish with white spots ; sides of body marked with black and dusky white and brown ; chin, throat, abdomen, under surface of extremities and tail silvery white j 21 rows of strongly carinated scales ; the greater number of these scales present each five carinas upon the surface. Dimensions. — Length of head 13 lines ; breadth 8 lines ; length of neck and body 3f inches ; of tail 4i inches ; of anterior extremities 1 inch 4 lines ; of pos- terior 1 inch 6 lines ; total length 9 inches 4 lines. Habitat. — Liberia, western coast of Africa. Two specimens in museum, pre- sented by Dr. Henry A. Ford. There is in the Academy another specimen of this genus from the same locality, described by me some years ago as Plestiodon Harlani. It is a much larger animal and it differs from the present species greatly in its coloring, being uniformly yellowish brown above with distinct bars of dark blown upon the sides. The scales in Harlani are tricarinate. I have not been able to discover pterygoid teeth in either of these animals. Pachydactylus tristis, nob. Sp. character. — Color above yellowish, with numerous brownish lines upon the upper surface of the tail ; throat, abdomen, under surface of extremities and tail yellowish; body and extremities covered above with granulations; abdomen with smooth scales ; granulations upon under surface of the tail larger for the most part than those upon upper ; nostril plate quadrangular, two small plates immediately above it ; head covered with small granulations. Dimensions. — Length of head 11 lines ; of body to vent 2 inches 5 lines; from vent to extremity of tail 2 inches 4 lines ; total length 5 inches 6 lines. Habitat. — Liberia, west coast of Africa. Specimen in museum presented by Dr. Goheen. Cgelopeltis, Wagler. Gen. character. — Head sub-distinct, ovate, quadrangular ; rostrum narrow, acute, furrowed in front of the eyes, supra-orbitar plates projecting considerably; eyes oblong, rotund; pupil round ; vertical scute long, narrow; scales not densely approximated, lanceolate, concave ; abdomen and under part of tail rounded ; two posterior oculars, one anterior, one loral, quadrate. (Europe and Africa.) CCELOPELTIS VIRGATA, nob . Sp. character. — Color uniform, brown above, reddish upon the sides, and to a certain extent upon the abdominal scuta ; middle portion of abdominal scuta straw color; two narrow yellowish vittae upon each side of the head, the supe- rior passing immediately over the eye ; scales smooth, 23 rows ; entire length 1 foot 8£ inches, (Fr.) length of tail 3£ inches; abdom. scuta 192, subcaudal 55. Habitat. — Liberia, west coast of Africa. Two specimens in museum of Academy, presented by Dr. Ford. 1854.] 99 Fam. VIPERIDtE. Gen. Brachycranion, Hallowell. Gen. char. — Head short and thick, covered with seven plates, exclusive of the rostral, viz., one pair of frontal, a vertical, two supra-orbitar, and two occipitals, one ant-orbitar and one post-orbitar ; margin of orbit formed by supra-ocular, pos- terior and anterior oculars, and superior margin of fourth labial plate. Subcaudal plates single; palatal, but, with the exception of the fangs, no mandibular teeth. Brachycranion corpulentum. Sp. char. — Occipitals subquadrangular ; four supero-labials ; one large tempo- ral plate immediately behind post-ocular ; scales smooth, quadrangular, 25 rows; color shining black above, brownish beneath ; 182 abdominal scuta ; 25 sub- caudal. Dimensions. — Length of head i an inch, breadth 5 lines ; length of body 1 foot 6 inches ; of tail 2 inches ; circumference 1 inch 8 lines. Habitat. — Liberia, W. coast of Africa. Presented by Dr. Ford to the Academy. Gen. observ. — The vipers among venomous serpents are characterized chiefly by the absence of forsettes behind the nostrils, and the presence of a double row of plates under the tail. In the greater number, the head is covered with scales as upon the body ; in others there are also plates of various forms, and irregularly disposed, as in Vipera berus, while others have upon the head smooth and regu- larly formed plates, like those of Coluber and the genus Sepedon of Merrem. In others the subcaudal plates are bifid toward the anus, and single near the ex- tremity of the tail, or alternately single and bifid as in Acanthophis. Bungarus, a genus of Colubriform venomous serpents inhabiting Asia, has a dorsal row of hexagonal scales larger than the others, with nine plates upon the head and single plates under the tail. Elaps has nine plates upon the head, but the plates under the tail are bifid. In the animal under consideration there are, as above stated, but seven plates upon the head exclusive of the rostral, there being but one pair of frontals (two in Elaps, Acanthophis and Bungarus) and single plates under the tail. These characteristics, with the peculiar form of the head and the presence of fangs, are such as to give it a distinct generic cha- racter different from those of any of the serpents with which I am acquainted. The appearance of Brachycranion corpulentum is very repulsive. Since the above was written, I have observed in the work of Dr. Andrew Smith,* on the Zoology of South Africa, the description and figure of a reptile which resembles the one just described, to which the name Atractaspis Bibronii has been given. The body in Atractaspis Bibronii is much more slender, is longer, but the tail is shorter. The shape of the head in the figure is very different, giving one the impression of a harmless serpent, as Dr. Smith at first supposed it to be, that of the other induces at once a strong suspicion of its venomous character. There are but twenty rows of scales in Bibronii, and the general color of the body and tail is intermediate between blackish green and orange colored brown. The fangs in Corpulentum also differ from those of Bibronii in their dimensions, being not more than half the length of those in the figure of Bibronii. Like them, they do not appear to be capable of complete erection. Upon the upper surface of the tail in Corpulentum, along the median line near its middle, is a row of six broad scales and four others near the tail, somewhat similar in appearance to those upon the back in Dipsas. Cham.eleo gracilis, Hallowell, Journal Acad. Nat. Sc. vol. viii. pi. 18. A good species. It differs considerably in its general appearance from Chama?leo dilepis of Leach, of which there are three specimens in the collection presented by Dr. Henry A. Ford, of Liberia. One of these on being opened was found to contain more than a dozen eggs. I thought at one time that possibly Ch. gra- cilis might be the female of Ch. dilepis. * Zoology of South Africa, by Andrew Smith, M.D., Reptiles, pi. 71. 100 [June, Euprepis Harlani, nob. Syn. Plestiodon Harlani, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, vol. ii. p. 170. Boa Liberiensis, nob. Abdom. scut. 237, subcaud. plates single, 53 — 50 ; Ion gitudinal rows of scales. Syn. Python Liberiensis, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc. vol. ii. p. 249. Dipsas Blandingii, Hall., Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, vol. ii. p. 170. Anterior teeth of lower jaw much larger than the others. Two teeth, one on each side in posterior part of upper maxilla provided, each with a sheath, and channelled anteriorly ; four rows of teeth in the upper jaw, two in the lower. Seventeen rows of scales. Two anterior oculars, two posterior ; a loral ; nostrils between two plates, occipital large. Abdom. scuta 273. Subcaud. 131. Length of head, 1 inch 5 lines ; of head and body 4 feet ; of tail 1 foot (Fr.) 2h inches. Schlegel remarks that the mode of dentition in Dipsas cynodon is unique in the genus, having one or more teeth much longer'than the rest at the posterior part of the upper maxilla, others equally longer being found at the anterior extremity of the inferior maxilla and of the palatal bone. It will be observed that a simi- lar arrangement exists in Dipsas Blandingii, although the animals differ greatly from each other. Triglophodon ? Dumeril. Prodromus, class, des Ophid. Psammophis Phillipsii, nob. Syn. Coluber Phillipsii, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, vol. ii. p. 169. A very well characterized species of Psammophis. Jaws very dilatable, several teeth in the anterior part of the lower jaw longer than the others ; in the upper maxilla on each side two long teeth posteriorly, and two near the middle; teeth unequal ; four first followed apparently by an interval, then the two ante- rior long ones ; scales lanceolate, smooth, intermediate ones more narrow. Psammophis Phillipsii differs greatly from Psammophis moniliger of the Cape. The two longitudinal rows of black spots are wanting in Phillipsii, and the latter is a much larger animal ; 15 rows of scales. CORONELLA TRIANGULARIS, nob. Syn. Col. leevis, Proceed. Acad. Nat. Sc, vol. ii. p. 118. 17 rows of smooth scales, 21 in Coronella laevis. This animal has a general resemblance to the Coronella laevis, (pi. 12, Amphibia, Fauna Pontica) but the markings are very different, as is also the number of rows of scales. The tail is also longer. It may be considered as the representative of the Coronella laevis in Western Africa. Leptophis smaragdina, Boie. Sy?i. Dendrophis smaragdina, Schlegel. Leptophis gracilis, Hall. — Proc Acad. Nat. Sci., Vol. ii, p. 60. Fifteen rows of strongly carinated scales; an- terior frontals rather longer than the posterior ; nostrils between two plates; one long and narrow loral on each side; one ant-orbitar, two posterior orbitars; eight superior labials on the right side, nine on the left ; inferior margin of orbit formed by the 4th and 5th on the right, and by the 5th and 6th on the left side of the head ; posterior teeth not channelled. Since the above was read, we have received Vol. vii. part 1, of the Herpetologie generale, ou histoire naturelle complete des reptiles, par M. Dumeril, in which I observe that this animal has been placed in the genus Leptophis by that eminent herpetologist. This genus, as characterized by him, includes serpents with scales, sometimes carinated and sometimes smooth, a conclusion which we ourselves had also arrived at — the carination of the scales was