66 [April, 



Description of fossil fruit found in the Carboniferous BocJcs of Beaver County , Pa* 

 By Alfred T. Kijxg, M. D., of Greensburg, Pa. 



Mr. Mendenhall, of New Brighton, showed me several specimens of fossil 

 fruit imbedded in solid sandstone, belonging to the carboniferous series of that 

 neighborhood. And through the kindness of George W. Tyler, Esq., editor of 

 the Boston Herald, I procured a specimen for description. 



These specimens bore considerable resemblance, both in form and size, to the 

 fruit of the Butternut, Juglans cinerea. 



There have been found in the coal strata in Leicestershire, England, a number 

 of species of a three cornered fruit, to which the generic name Higonocarpum 

 has been given. Possibly, the specimen which I am about to describe, may be 

 referred to that genus. 



This is a drupaceous fruit, of an ovoidal shape, from two inches and a quar- 

 ter to three inches in length, and from one inch and three quarters to two 

 inches and a half in breadth, and weighs from two and a quarter to three ounces* 

 Its external surface is nearly covered with a thin coating of bituminous coal ; a 

 large portion of which, however, adheres to its matrix. This coal was formed, I 

 presume, by the carbonization of its pericarp. Its interior is filled with coarse 

 grained sand, similar to the rock in which it was imbedded. The epicarp 

 i formed of three nearly equal valves, joined by three prominent sutures, uniting 

 in a point at the apex. Between the sutures are seen a number of nearly parallel 

 and prominent longitudinal striae, which gracefully curve so as to meet in a point 

 at the distal extremity. 



In all the specimens which I saw, there is a deep depression or excavation at 

 the base, where the fruit was attached, in all probability, to a peduncle. 



This fruit is not triquetrous, as the name Trigonocarpum seems to indicate, but 

 strictly ovoidal, sometimes nearly obovoidal, having three prominent sutures 

 joining the three valves of the epicarp. 



It was found in Beaver County, Pa., about three miles from the town of New 

 Brighton, in a thick stratum of compact, but coarse grained sandstone, near the 

 middle of the carboniferous series. 



Should this belong to the genus Trigonocarpum^ 1 propose calling it Trigono- 

 carpum carbonariwm. 



Descriptions of new Birds of Northern Mexico* 

 By D. N. Couch, U. S. Army. 



1. CORVUS CRYPTOLEUCUS. 



Female. Form. Bill short, high at base, compressed; nostrils covered with 

 flat, bristle-like feathers, which are about two-thirds as long as the bill. Wings 

 long, fourth primary longest, first short ; tail moderate, rounded. About the size 

 of or rather larger than the common crow of North America, (Corvus ameri- 

 canus.) 



Color. Entirely black, with violet and purple reflexions. Feathers of the 

 neck before and behind, and of the back, pare white at their bases and for about 

 two-thirds of their length, being, in fact, white tipped with black. Bill and feet 

 black. Iris yellowish brown. 



Total length from tip of bill to end of tail 18! ; wing 13i ; expanse of wings 

 33; tail 8 inches. 



Locality. State of Tamaulipas, Mexico; March, 1853. 



Obs. Not abundant, though occasionally seen. 



2. Icterus Scottii 



Male. Bill moderate, scarcely curved ; tip acute, not compressed. Legs and 

 toes moderate. Wings rounded ; second and third primaries longest, first shorter 

 than the fourth and longer than the fifth. 



Color. Head, neck, breast, forehead, wings, tip of tail and upper central tail 

 feathers to tip of upper coverts, black. Upper primary and under wing coverts? 



