GEOLOGY. 377 



fourth part of the trunk, they resemble in the length of the hypapophysis 

 the vertebras of Crotahts, Vlpera and Natrix ; which they also resemble in 

 the presence of a process developed from both the upper and lower part of 

 the diapo;>hysis. The results of a minute comparison of all the parts of the 

 complex vertebra; of ophidian reptiles were given, which rendered it proba- 

 ble that the Salonica fossil serpent resembled those genera in which the liy- 

 pnpophysis i.s well developed from all the trunk vertebra; ; the breadth of 

 the base of the neural arch indicates that they have been from about the 

 middle of the trunk. They offer so many points of resemblance with those 

 of the rattlesnake and viper, that they may have belonged to a venomous 

 species, but they arc specifically distinct from those existing serpents ; they 

 differ genetically and in a very marked degree from the vertebra? of the great 

 constricting serpents (Python and Boa), as well as from the large fossil ser- 

 pent (Pahcophis) of the Eocene Tertiary formations. A summary of the 

 known existing serpents of Southern Europe and Asia Minor was given, 

 showing that none of the living species equal in bulk the fossil serpent. "A 

 classical myth embalmed in the verse of Virgil, and embodied in the marble 

 of the Laocoon, would indicate a familiarity in the minds of the ancient 

 colonists of Greece with the idea at least of large serpents. But according 

 to actual knowledge, and the positive records of zoology, the serpent be- 

 tween ten and twelve feet in length, from the tertiary strata of Salonica 

 must be deemed an extinct species." For this fossil Professor Owen pro- 

 posed the name of Laophis crotalo'ides. 



NEW FOSSILS FROM THE POTSDAM SANDSTONE. 



Hitherto the Potsdam Sandstone of New York, the lowest rock of the 

 Silurian, has been known to afford no fossils but one or two species of the 

 genus Lingula. Through the researches of Mr. F. H. Bradley, of New 

 Haven, a species of Trilobite (genus Calymene) has been discovered, and 

 also one of Pleurotomaria, besides an impression of a crinoidal disc. The 

 Plcurotomaria is only a cast. The Trilobite, although a small one, its 

 breadth but one eighth of an inch, is well preserved. The buckler and 

 caudal extremity have not been found together, but the markings of each 

 are very distinct. Proceedings Montreal Meeting American Association. 



FALL OF A LARGE MASS OF METEORIC IRON IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



Mr. Pv. P. Grey communicates to the Philosophical Magazine the follow- 

 ing account of the fall of a large mass of meteoric iron at Corrientes, 

 in South America, as given in a letter, by an observer of the phenomenon, a 

 Mr. IT. E. Symonds. He says: In 1844, I accompanied the Corricntine 

 army in its invasion of the province of Entre Rios. One morning in 

 January, when encamped on the river Mocorita, near the Corrientine fron- 

 tier, we were all awaked from a profound sleep, and every man of the army 

 of 1400 sprang on his feet at the same moment. An aerolite was falling. 

 The light that accompanied it was intense beyond description. It fell in an 



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