102 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



Unio Popeii. Testa laevi, transversa, compresso-cylindracea, ad basim sub- 

 emarginata, valde inaequilaterali, ad latere planulata, postice truncata ; valvulis 

 subtenuibus, antice crassioribus ; natibus parvis, promiuulis, ad apices granu- 

 latis ; epidermide vel tenebroso-oliva vel fusca, olasolete radiata ; deutibus car- 

 dinalibus compressis, erectis, acuminatis crenulatisque ; lateralibus praelongis, 

 lamellatis subrectisque ; margarita vel alba vel salmonis tincta et iridescente. 



Hab. Devil's River and Rio Salado, Texas. Capt. Pope, U. S. A. 



Unio Bairdianus. Testa laevi, elliptica, paulisper inflata, postice compressa, 

 valde inaequilaterali ; valvulis subtenuibus, postice crassioribus ; natibus promi- 

 nulis, ad apices concentrice undulatis ; epidermide tenebroso-fusca, obsolete 

 radiata ; deutibus cardinalibus parvis, erectis, acuminatis crenulatisque ; late- 

 ralibus longis, lamellatis subcurvisque; margarita alba, et valde iridescente. 



Hab. Devil's River, Texas. Capt. Pope, U. S. A. 



Anodonta Henryiana. Testa lajvi, oblonga, inflata, ad basim et antice com- 

 pressa, subaequilaterali, postice truncata ; valvulis pertenuibus ; natibus depres- 

 sis, planulatis, ad apices minute et irregulariter undulata ; epidermide nitida, vel 

 lutea vel luteo-viridi, obsolete radiata, et vittata ; margarita coeruleo-alba et 

 valde iridescente. 



Hab. Matamoras, Tamaulipas, Mexico. L. Berlandier, M. D. 



Helix (Polygyra) Couchiana. Testa superne paulisper elevata, subplanu- 

 lata, inferne subinflata ; nitida, albida, longitudinaliter et subtiliter striata, 

 minute perforata ; anfractibus quinis ; apertura rotundata, quinquedentata ; 

 labro subacute. 



Hab. Texas. L. Berlandier, M. D. 



Helix (Polygyra) Tamaulipasensis. Testa superne paulisper elevata, sub- 

 planulata, inferne subinflata, nitida, albida, longitudinaliter et subtiliter striata, 

 minute perforata ; anfractibus quinis ; apertura lunata, tridentata ; labro spis- 

 sato, reflexo. 



Eab. Texas. L. Berlandier, M. D. 



Examination of a Nickel Meteorite, from Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. 

 BY WM. J. TAYLOR. 



This highly interesting and unique meteorite was found in an Indian mound 

 in which excavations were being made in a search for Indian antiquities, in 

 Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. It then weighed five and a quarter ounces ; in 

 shape it resembled a hea's egg. When found, there was a fissure which divided 

 it almost equally into two parts. The person who discovered it seeing this, 

 placed it upon an anvil, and with one blow of a sledge-hammer, divided the 

 meteorite. One half was forged, with the intention of manufacturing it into a 

 cutting instrument of some description ; the other remained in its original state; 

 excepting that its exterior was filed smooth and bright. 



To Dr. William Spillman, of Columbus, Mississippi, I am indebted for 

 the material for this investigation ; he obtained the meteorite from the man 

 who first found it. The unforged half he brought with him on a recent visit to 

 this city, and a portion of which he has presented to the Academy, on the con- 

 dition that it should be carefully cut, so that the surface which formed one side 

 of the existing fissure above mentioned should be preserved and sent to him. It 

 was proposed to have it cut by a lapidary, but he attempted it without success, 

 usin"" diamond dust on the wheel. On making the first incision, about one- 

 eighth to one-sixteenth of an inch in depth, he found it impossible to proceed, 

 and refused to make farther attempts to cut the meteorite. Mr. John Phillips, 

 a fellow member of the Academy, and an amateur machinist, on hearing of our 

 difficulties, kindly offered to saw the specimen, and succeeded admirably, though 

 it was with very great difticulty. He spoke of its peculiar toughness, (the hard- 



[April, 



