NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 233 



Descriptions of three new species of Gorgonidse, in the collection of the 



Academy. 



BY GEO. H. HORN. 



LOPHOGORGIA. 



L. cl av a t a. Polypary bipinnate. Trunk and branches very much flat- 

 tened. Branchlets thick, and but slightly compressed, clavate at their ex- 

 tremities. Calices numerous and projecting. Coenenchyme thick. Color 

 reddish-pink. 



This species differs from the L. 11 a m m e a , in its more numerous aud pro- 

 jecting calices. The branchlets of the latter are much flattened and acumi- 

 nate, and have an intense red color. 



Locality unknown. 



L. aurantiaca . Polypary very much subdivided. Trunk but slightly 

 flattened. Branchlets numerous and rounded, arising in pairs from opposite 

 sides of the branches. Calices numerous and slightly elevated. Coenenchyme 

 thin. Color orange, striped with red. 



This species is much more subdivided than either of the others, and has its 

 trunk and branches much less flattened. The color of the trunk, deprived of 

 the cortex, is red. 



Locality unknown. 



Rhipidigorgia. 



R. Engelmanni . Flabellate, coarsely reticulate. Branches much flat- 

 tened, from one to two and a half lines wide. Interspaces rounded, occasion- 

 ally elongated to the extent of one inch. Color ochreous externally, purple 

 or reddish within. 



The fronds of this species are higher than wide, (height 9 inches, width 6 

 inches,) bearing no free branchlets. Calices large and crowded, quadrangular 

 in outline, with no elevation of their edges. Coenenchyme thick, easily 

 crushed. 



Locality. Mazatlan. Dr. Engelmann. 



The Cutting Ant of Texas. 

 BY S. B. BUCKLEY. 



Myrmica (Atta) Texana " Cutting Ant." 

 Description. 



Neuter. Color reddish-brown; head disproportionately large, mandibles large. 

 triangular falcate, serrate, bent downwards in adult, two small, short spines at 

 the back of each lobe of the head ; sinus between lobes large; antennas two, 

 two-jointed, last joint clavate; thorax small, compressed, upper surface armed 

 with six spines, front pair inclining forwards, middle pair erect, smallest, and 

 near front pair, back pair inclining backwards ; connecticum nodose, two- 

 jointed ; abdomen about half as large as head, oblong, ovate, obtuse; legs two- 

 clawed, a claw or spine near the base of the tibia of the two front legs. Adult 

 4^ lines long. 



Female. Color reddish-brown ; head disproportionately small ; sinus small be- 

 tween its lobes, rudiments of spines at back of each lobe ; antennae and mandibles 

 as in neuter ; thorax large, upper front protruding over the head, compressed, 

 upper surface covered with thick downy hairs; abdomen larger than thorax. 



I860.] 15 



