* PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



fragilis and Harlani, taken from that bed by Prof. C. r seemed conclusive on 

 this point. The species is an Aturia, and the first found in the cretaceous for- 

 mation of New Jersey, though W. M. Gabb had discovered one perhaps the 

 same in the cretaceous of California. It, has some resemblance to the zic-zac, 

 but presents fewer and more diftant septa, longer chambers, and the parietal 

 processes of the septa more divaricate and less dorsally situate. It differs 

 from the A. Alabamensis (Morton) by the same features, and in the smaller 

 siphuncle and much less parallel septa. The following are its characters : 



Uncovered chambers nine ; septary process elongate, acuminate, shallow, 

 diverging outward from a spiral line joining their bases ; well separated from 

 the succeeding septa; dorsal portions of the septa short, very excentric as 

 regards each other; ventral portions opposite them, forming nearly a right 

 angle with the ventral outline. Siphuncle smnll, more dorsal than the end of 

 the dorsal fourth of the diameter. Ventral face broad rounded; septal 

 processes scarcely visible on the ventral view. Diameter of the l*st chamber 

 o in. 111.; of first visible (at siphuncle) 22 1. Median diameter (from penul- 

 timate chamber) 8 inches. 



This species most resembles Nautilus Parkinsoni, which cannot be far re- 

 moved from Aturia. In it the septary process approaches closely the succeed- 

 ing septum ; while in the A. pancifex they fall far short of the latter, and are 

 more divaricate; the siphuncle is less dorsally situate, measuring one-fourth 

 the diameter in the former. In A. Agustata, Conrad, from the Eocene of 

 Oregon, there is much resemblance, but that animal is much more like the zic- 

 zac ; its septary processes are not divaricate and but little separated; the 

 dorsal portion of the septary wall instead of being opposite its ventral portions 

 is opposite that of the septum next anterior. The nearest ally i3 the A. 

 Mathewsonii Gabb. It appears to differ in the small siphuncle, and obliquely 

 truncate and divaricate septary processes, and the relatively much shorter 

 median or central portion of the septary margins. My friend T. A. Conrad's 

 opinion as to the peculiarities of this species is confirmatory of my own. 



Dr. Leidy read several extracts from a letter of Dr. Gideon Lin- 

 cecura, addressed to Mr. Durand, dated Long Point, Texas, Dec. 24, 

 1865. One of the extracts related an interesting account of an ant 

 battle, witnessed by Dr. Lincecum, as follows : 



"The large, black tree ants have exceedingly destructive wars sometimes with 

 their own species. Like the honey bee, they maintain separate and distinct 

 governments, or hives, and between these, as far as my observation goes, there 

 is no commerce or intercourse of any description. But they have territorial 

 claims and quarrels ; and these quarrels are occasionally decided on the battle 

 field. As they are equal in physical strength and the science of war, the 

 amount of life that is destroyed in one of their national conflicts is sometimes 

 very great. I have seen left on one of their battle fields at least a gallon of 

 the slain. Th*-y were not dead, but they were in a far more lamentable con- 

 dition. Their legs having been all trimmed off; they lay on the ground amongst 

 the scattered fragments of their dissevered limbs, wallowing and writhing their 

 legless bodies, in an agony of sullen, mad, hopeless despair. 



This disastrous engagement took place in the little front yard of my office, on 

 the eveuing of the 10th of July, 1855. There were considerable numbers en- 

 gaged in battle when I first observed them. They were madly fighting in a 

 hand to hand conflict, and reinforcements were momentarily arriving to both 

 armies. The battle had now become general, and was raging over an area of 

 15 to 20 feet in diameter. It was 4 P. St., and placing a chair in a convenient 

 situation for observation, I seated myself, for the purpose, if possible, of ascer- 

 taining the cause of the difficulty, and to note their mode of warfare. I was 

 not present at the commencing of the battle, and now, while it was wildly 

 raging, could not find out the cause of it. It was not long, however, until I 



[Jan. 



