64 [April, 



country than to those of the coal formation. They therefore afford no proof 

 that these lower members of the red sandstone formation of Prince Edward 

 Island are of carboniferous date, but would rather tend to connect them with the 

 overlying beds which have afforded the remains of the Bathygnathus borealis. 

 The occurrence, however, in this position, of rocks so nearly resembling those 

 of the upper coal formation, renders it probable that no very sudden or marked 

 physical changes intervened between the deposition of the latter and that of the 

 new red sandstones, and thus furnish an argument in favor of the Permian date 

 of this last deposit.* 



Description of a species of Crane found in Wisconsin^ presumed to be new* 

 By William Dudley, of Madison, Wisconsin. 



Grtis Hoyianus, nobis. 



Form. Size large ; second primary longest, first and second nearly equal ; tail 

 two inches longer than the folded wings ; numerous large feathers arise from the 

 base of each wing, elevated and droop down over the tail, giving the bird an os- 

 trich-like appearance. Head densely clothed with feathers to base of bill; no 

 naked shin. 



Dimensions. Length of wing from flexure 23 inches ; tarsi 11 5-10 inches ; 

 middle toe 5 inches, hind toe just reaches the ground; bill 5 inches. 



Color. Head and upper half of neck light ferruginous ; on the breast, back 

 and upper tail coverts are a few scattering feathers tipped with the same ; pri- 

 maries black, remaining parts white. Legs black. 



Observation. This fine large crane was killed on Sugar River, in Dane Co., 

 Wisconsin, and is now in the Museum of the Wisconsin Natural History Asso- 

 ciation. Sex not known. It is named in honor of my worthy friend Dr. P. R. 

 Hoy, of Racine, Wisconsin, whose untiring industry and zeal in Natural History 

 have added much to science. 



Description of Fossil Trees in the coal rocks near Greensburgh^ Westmoreland 



county ) Pennsylvania* 

 By Alfred T. King, M. D. 



Throughout nearly the whole of Western Pennsylvania, but more abundant in 

 particular localities, may be found fragments of immense silicified trees lying on 

 the surface of the ground. About seven miles east of Greensburgh there is a re- 

 markable locality. Here may be seen immense logs from six to eight feet long, 

 and from one to four feet in diameter, strewed over acres of ground. After the 

 closest examination, I have been unable to find any very clear indications of 

 high vegetable organization in these silicified trees. Indeed I have been unable, 

 after the closest scrutiny, to discover a single specimen of fossil plant in our 

 vast carboniferous series, of higher organization than vascular Cryptogamia. I 

 might, perhaps, except some specimens, which I first saw a few weeks since in 

 Beaver county, Pa., of Trigonocarpum? This is the fruit of a tree, which some 

 have supposed to be allied to the Palms ; of this, however, there is still great 

 doubt and uncertainty. 



Many of the specimens of silicified wood contain numerous and beautiful 

 crystals of quartz scattered throughout their interior structure, which would seem 

 to indicate that the silicifying process must have taken place whilst the wood 

 was immersed in water of high temperature. 



Whilst excavating a tunnel on the Pennsylvania Railroad near Greensburgh, a 

 stratum of very compact sandstone of about fifteen feet in thickness was opened', 

 which contained vast quantities of trunks and limbs of trees, some per- 

 meated with silicious and pyritous matter, whilst others have left only their 

 imprints, the woody matter having been converted into coal, which forms a thin 



* For description of the Newer Coal Formation of Nova Scotia, see Journal of 

 London Geol. Soc. vol. 1. p. 322 ; and Taylor's Statistics of Coal, p. 196. 



