16 EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



disproportionate length. These frequently present a striking resem- 

 blance to a turtle, and are known by the name of that animal. 



g. Oblong embankments, with arms or wings extended on either 

 side. These vary from simple crosses to figures of birds and men, the 

 head being usually omitted. 



h. Representations of animals of more definite outlines and better 

 proportions : among these are bears, foxes, otters, &c., and upon the 

 Wisconsin river, buffaloes. It is proved by numerous excavations that 

 the works which resemble animals are destitute of relics ; they are 

 mere relievos or embossments on the surface of the earth, seldom ex- 

 ceeding four feet in height, and in some cases but a few inches. Mr. 

 Lapham disclaims all intention of indulging a disposition to theorize or 

 speculate on the origin or design of these remains, and declares his ob- 

 ject to be merely the faithful performance of the office of surveyor, to 

 study the facts, apd to report them in as much detail as may be neces- 

 sdry, leaving to others the deductions which, in connexion with other 

 information, may be drawn from them. In the opinion of the commis- 

 sion aj)pointed by the society to examine the memoir, '' Mr. Lapham 

 has accomplished his task with grent thoroughness and artistic skill; he 

 seems to have explored the entire field, to have nidustriously delineated 

 every object of interest, and to have omitted no detail of drawing or 

 description which could conduce to a clear understanding of the matter 

 of w^hich he treats." The publication of this memoir, which will be 

 alike creditable to the author, the Antiquarian Society, and this Institu- 

 tion, will furnish an interesting addition to the antiquities of this coun- 

 try, which cannot fail to be hailed with pleasure by the ethnologist. 



5. Two botanical papers, furnished by Dr. John Torrey, of the New 

 York Medical College, have been published during the past year. The 

 first describes a new plant, to which the author has given the name of 

 Darlingtonia Coiijhniica. It is a new pitcher-plant, which was first de- 

 tected b}' Mr. W. D. Brackenridge, assistant botanist in the United States 

 Exploring Expedition under Captain Wilkes. It has hitherto been found 

 only near the Shasta mountain, on the Upper Sacramento. The specimens 

 brought home by Mr. Brackenridge were without flowers or seed-vessels, 

 so that the genus of the plant could not be determined, but it was taken 

 for a new Sarracencia. Atiier many years, the flowers were discovered 

 by Dr. G. W. Hulse, and brought to Dr. Torrey, who has shown that 

 the plant is an entirely new genus of the same small but very interest- 

 ing natural order to which the Sarracencia belongs. He has bestowed 

 upon it tlie name of Darlingtonia, in honor of Dr. William Darlington, 

 of West Chester, Pcnnsyh-ania, author of several valuable botanical 

 w-orks. The genus formerly dedicated to this veteran botanist by De 

 CandoUe having been reduced to an older one. Dr. Torrey embraced 

 the opportunity of restoring the name, and connecting it with one of 

 the most remarkable plants of North America. 



6. The second memoir by Dr. Torrey is an account of a new mari- 

 time shrubby plant, called " Batis Maritima," which grows on the 

 shores of Key West, Jamaica, Cuba, and the neighboring parts of the 

 continent. It has been known to botanists for more than one hundred 

 and fifty years, j'^et, strange to say, it has not till now been correctly 

 described, nor its place in the natural system determined with any cer- 



