t850.] 67 



Mr. Evans' reports have' traced the cretaceous formation, with its characteristic 

 fossils, from the mouth of the Iowa river to about 300 miles below the Yellow 

 Stone. In this region of country, and west 130 miles from Pierre Chouteau, (on 

 the Missouri four miles above Teton river,) Mr. Evans noticed the following 

 fossils : Nucula Hammeri ?, Ammonites Conradi, Morton, Inoceramus Crispii? 

 Inoceramus planus, Inoceramus mytilloides ?, Inoceramus Cuvieri, Nautilus De- 

 kayi, Morton, CucuUcDa vulgaris, Morton, Pholadomya occidentalis, Morton, 

 Gryphcea Pitcheri, Morton. 



Also two species of Avicula, a Lucina, a Pyrula?, several undetermined spe- 

 cies of Ammonites and Baculites, two species of Scaphites, and a Diceras ? 



On Sage creek, a southern tributary of the Chayenne, heading on the " bad 

 lands," Mr. Evans obtained three species of Inoceramus, two of Ammonites, Nau- 

 tilus Dekayi, Cucullcea vulgaris, &c. 



August 2Wi. 



Dr. Morton, President, in the Chair. 



The Committee to which was referred Mr. Cassin's paper, read at 

 last meeting, reported in favor of publication in the Proceedings. 



Descriptions of new s-pecies of Birds of the genera Paradisea, Pastor, and 

 Bnceros, and a yrofosition to re-name others of the genera Alcyone and Hi- 

 rmido. 



By John Cassin. 



1. Paradisea Wilsonii, nobis. 



Form. Specimen about to be described probably not fully adult, somewhat 

 mutilated, skin of the hinder part of the head wanting. Plumage compact, with 

 elongated feathers from the sides of the neck, and two plumes having their origin 

 at the base of the tail, which latter are curved into circles of about one inch 

 diameter. First primary spurious, third and fourth longest and nearly equal. 

 Exposed portion of the plumage of the back, thread-like ; feathers on the belly 

 broad and truncate. Subgenerically related to Paradisea magnifica. Lath, 



Dime7isions. Total length of skin from tip of bill to end of tail about 7J in., 

 wing 31, tail \h inches. 



Co/o;,s. Back crimson, which color is completely enclosed by an edging of 

 black, and forms a somewhat cordate mantle. Large nuchal spot pale yellow. 

 Front and chin black. Wing coverts and quills hair brown, greater coverts and 

 primaries narrowly edged, secondaries and tertiaries broadly edged with crimson, 

 some of the more exposed tertiaries almost entirely of this color, and tipped 

 with black. Tail and coverts above and below bail brown. Ornamental plumes 

 of the tail steel blue. Elongated feathers on the side of the neck black, with 

 a beautiful coppery lustre, and tipped with bright green; Under parts from the 

 neck to the abdomen silky green, the feathers brown at their bases, and having 

 intermedial (between the brown and the green colors) triangular spots of a 

 deeper glossy green, inclining to blue upon the neck and breast; truncate feathers 

 of the sides and belly tipped with deep shining green, posterior part of abdomen 

 dull brownish black. 



Hab. New Guinea? 



