132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



7. T.ENIDIESTES, Reich. 



Gen. Char. Bill robust, varying in color with the sex, as also does the 

 plumage; lower mandible deep, nail prominent, lamellte not projecting. Feet 

 robust, varying in color with the sex, tarsus shorter than middle toe with 

 claw. Colors of female with metallic reflections on the speculum. 



Species Ttenidiestes antarctica, Gm. Southern extremity of S. America, and 

 adjacent islands; Chili. 



December 6th. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the Chair. 

 Thirty-three members present. 



Prof. Cope made some observations on a number of species of reptiles from 

 the Cretaceous beds of Kansas, which he had recently studied. He stated 

 that the specimens included parts of Eiasmosaurus platyums Cope, Polycotylus 

 latipinnis Cope, Liodon proriger Cope, and two new Liodons, which he named 

 L. ictericus and L. mudgei respectively. They both belonged to the division 

 with depressed vertebral centra, and the L. ictericus was near L. validus Cope, 

 of New Jersey, but exhibited a less anterior, and less prominent proximal 

 external angle of the quadratum. which Prof. Cope stated indicated a less 

 extensive lateral flexibility of the ramus of the mandible. 



In L. Mudgei the angle was still more posterior, and the pterygoid teeth 

 were not pleurodont, as in Platecarpus tympanitieus. Remains of the cranium 

 indicated a reptile of 30 feet in length, while those of the L. ictericus be- 

 longed to two individuals of 40 and 50 feet in length. A third new Mosa- 

 sauroid of the size of the L. Mudgei was described under the name of Clidastes 

 cineriorum. It was stated to be much the largest species of the genus, and to 

 differ from the three now known in having the plane of the articular extrem- 

 ities at right angles to the long axis of the centra, and not oblique to it. 

 From near Sheridan, Kansas ; described by Prof. B. F. Mudge. He described 

 a third new Liodon, of gigantic size, stating it to exceed by very much the 

 Mtestricht reptile, and even the Mosasaurus brumbzi Gibbes, which was till 

 now the largest known species. He pointed out the characters of the verte- 

 brae, which were very much depressed as to the centrum, which measured 5| 

 inches in diameter. It was allied to the M. brumbzi, but differed in having a 

 strong emargination of the articular faces to accommodate the neural canal. 

 He named it Liodon dyxpelor. 



Prof. Cope also exhibited the humeri and femora of Polycotylus, which 

 were like those of Ple.siosaurus, and measured 18 inches in length. 



Mr. Thomas Meghan exhibited several specimens of the Madura aurantiaca, 

 the common osage orange, in which the plants were inarched together in 

 pairs in a remarkable way. He said the osage orange was extensively grown 

 as a hedge plant, and in digging up the one year plants, these united twins 

 were usually found in the proportion of about one score in ten thousand. 

 Double kernels were common occurrences in many seeds. There were double 

 peaches, almonds, and double yolks in eggs. But these all had their separate 

 seed coverings or membranes, and the yolks their own albuminous envelopes, 

 consequently the separate embryos produced distinct plants. But these indi- 

 cated that there had been two separate embryos under one seminal covering, 

 and that the radicular portions of this double embryo, having no membrane 

 to separate them, had inarched themselves together while passing to the 

 ground. If this was the true explanation, he thought there was no such case 

 recorded. That it was true seemed probable, from the fact that all the speci- 

 mens were united in exactly the same manner, showing that time, place, and 

 the circumstances of the union were uniformly the same. The scars showed 



[Dec. 



