Botafitf and Zoology. 439 



Single specimen has thrown unexpected light, not obtained by -^i^' in- 

 spection q{ fifty others of nearly the same appearance. 



As it is, the questions in doubt are much more numerous than those 

 "Svhich appear settled. One of the characters which seems 10 have es- 

 caped him is that of the fissures chiefly traversing well defined vegeta- 

 ble surfaces (epidermis). These are from ^ line to ^ inch in depth, 

 describe various curves, or right lines, sometimes parallel lines, and 

 forms of all kinds, they are sometimes filled vviih siliceous matter and 

 sometimes with a charcoaly mass evidently of different structure to all 

 around. Neither does he seem aware of the nwnerous fossil remains 

 of fungi in the coal, some of these much resembling thosa which now 

 exist in the siliceous epidermis of the bamboo and the rattan, 



I also differ from him in what he considers the annual rings of Arau- 

 caria, although my first impressions were similar to his. * 



My specimens of Sigiilaria, Lepidodendra, and Sagenariaare numer- 

 ous, and there are various appearances, resembling the interna! struc- 

 ture of some of these gigantic vegetables, which if they can be recog- 

 nized as such would cause considerable astonishment. The appearan- 

 ces which Dr. Goeppert has at present probably no idea of, are many 

 and very interesting, but wiihout well and carefully drawn figures, de- 

 scriptions of them, would be useless. In stating that I diflTer from so 

 experienced a naturalist oa this subject as the learned professor of Bres- 

 lau. It is far from my intention to impute to him even erroneous views 

 yet it is only from difference of opinion that truth comes to h'ght, and 

 this is my only desire. 



When this subject shall have been taken up and studied by scientific 

 men whose minds are well prepared and who are possessed of sufficient 

 leisure, I am sure that extremely interesting facts and consequences 

 will be developed by their observations. 



Boston, Sept. IStli, 1851. 



2. ConsptctMs Crusfaceonim^ ^c, ; Crustacea of the Exploring Ex- 

 pedition; by Jam£s D. Dana. — Crustacea Grapsoioea, (Proc. Nat. 

 Sci,, Philad., 1851, p. 247,) — This paper includes descriptions o( the 

 following new species :* 



Eucrate crassimanus; Macrophthalmus pacifJcus; Gelasimus nilidus; 

 Heloecius inornalus; Pseudograpsus oregonensis, P. nudus: Grapsus 

 planifrons, G. longitarsis, G. crinipes ; Guniograpsus simplex, G. inno- 

 taius; Planes cyaneus; Hemigrapsus crassimanus, H. affinis; CyviO' 

 grapsus angulatus^- Sesarma obtusifrons, S. obesum; Sarmatium eras- 

 sum ; Cyclograpsus cinereus, C. granulatus; Chasmagnathu^ subquad- 

 ratus, G. granulatus, C. laevis; Helice crassa ; Acanthopus abbreviaius; 

 l^tagusia speciosa^ P. glabra ; Cardisoma obesum, C, hirlipes; Pinno- 

 tberafrtba; Pabia subquadrata^ Halicarcinus pubescens; Hymenicus 

 varius, H. Novi-Zealandice, H. pubescens. 



2. Mastodon in Northern Illinois ; by Prof S. P. LArnROP,— A large 

 tooth of a mastodon in a fine slate of pre^rvaiion has recently been 

 found in the Kishwaukee river, in New Mifford Co., Illinois, It was 

 drawn up by a seine, from near the mouth of the river. 



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