NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 379 



25. Nyctherodics violaceus, (Linnaeus). 



Ardea violacea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 238, (1766). 



Ardea jamaicensis et cayanensis, 6m. Syst. Nat. i. p. 625, 626,(1788). 



Wilson, Am. Orn. viii. pi. 65. Aud. B. of Am. pi. 336, oct. ed. vi. pi. 364. 



Another wanderer, possibly from the Southern States of North America, 



though understood to be resident in some of the West Indies. One specimen 



only, in Mr. Swift's collection, is in quite mature plumage, and is identical 



with specimens from the State of Georgia, in the Academy's Museum. 



26. Onychoprion fuliginosus, (Gmelin). 



Sterna fuliginosa, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 605, (1788). 



Wilson, Am. Orn. viii. pi. 72. Aud. B. of Am. pi. 235, oct. ed. vii. pi. 432. 



A single specimen in mature plumage, is the same species figured by Wilson 



and Audubon. As a bird of North America, it is only known as inhabiting 



the extreme southern coast of the United States, but is abundant in the whole 



southern hemisphere. 



27. Thalassecs. 



A specimen of a young bird of a large, thick-billed species, which I fail to 

 recognize. It may, however, be a common species. 



With this species we close this collection, which, though few in number of 

 species, is a highly interesting and valuable contribution to the Museum of 

 our Academy. 



Descriptions of new species of Crinoidea and Echinoidea from the Carboniferous 

 rocks of Illinois, and other Western States. 



BY F. B. MEEK AND A. H. WORTI1EN, 

 Of the Illinois State Geological Survey. 



Although we have not jet had time to write out full remarks upon the 

 relations of the species described in this paper, we would state that we have 

 compared them carefully, not merely with figures and descriptions, but witli 

 authentic specimens of a large majority of the known American Carboniferous 

 species. In comparing them with the forms figured and described in the Iowa 

 Report, as well as with a large number of other Western Carboniferous forms 

 named and described, though not yet published, by Prof. Hall, we have pos- 

 sessed the advantage of having at hand, in almost every instance, the original 

 types of those species which belong to, and are now in the possession of one 

 of the authors.* 



Full illustrations of all the species, together with remarks, comparisons and 

 extended descriptions will appear in the forthcoming report of the Geological 

 Survey of Illinois. 



Genus PLATYCRINUS, Miller. 



Platycrinus Prattenanus. Calyx small, wider than high, distinctly trun- 

 cated below and widening gradually upwards, composed of thick, smooth, 

 slightly convex plates, which are united, (excepting the basal series) by 

 grooved sutures. Base comparatively large, more than one-tbird as high, as 

 wide, and provided with a small rim arouad the margin of the broad truncated 

 under side; consisting of one pentagonal, and two hexagonal plates, the upper 

 side of the latter being concave in the middle, and about twice as long as the 

 superior lateral slopes ; sutures carinated, the carinas passing down over the mar- 

 ginal rim of the under side. Columnar facet large, or more than half as wide 

 as the base, and slightly concave. First radial plates a little wider than high, 

 quadrangular, nearly as wide at the base as above, somewhat convex on the 



* Since this was in type we have received a copy of Prof. Hall's supplement to the 

 Iowa Report, in which we see he describes other species not contained in the collec- 

 tions alluded to above. We have carefully compared his descriptions of these additional 

 species with ours, described in this paper, and believe them to be all distinct, unless our 

 Dichocrinus conus may be identical with his D. lavis. 



I860.] 



