Return to LIBRARY OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY

WOODS HOLE, MASS.

Loaned by American Museum of Natural History

PROCEEDINGS

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ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES

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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.

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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* "ā– ā–  ****

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 Ā« 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. Ā»

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. Ā«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 (Ā«) 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