33 



NuLLiPORA? OBTEXTA (n. s.) In the Chemung rocks at Burling- 

 ton, a peculiar incrustation is met with, which appears to possess the 

 characters of Nullipora. It usually commences on the convex side of 

 a small shell, completely encrusting it, and apparentlj^ permeating its 

 substance, and then flowing out from it on every side in irregular un- 

 dulations, giving a subcircular outline, and preserving about the same 

 thickness beyond the border of the shell that it has where that forms 

 a part, except at the outer margin of the incrustation, where it is thin. 

 The upper surface is covered with fine, distinct, irregular, granular 

 corrugations, showing undulating wrinkles of growth. Its general as- 

 pect is like the upper valve of Crania, and when it encrusts an OrtMs, 

 as it frequently does, the deception is quite complete, as the striation 

 of the shell is not fully obscured by the incrustation, and the beak of 

 the encrusted shell gives the usual appearance of the umbo of Crania. 



They have been observed encrusting the separate valves of Nucleo- 

 spira Barrisi, Ortliis Thiemei, and Nucula lowensis, all small shells, 

 but the overflowing part has been observed to reach to an inch and a 

 quarter in diameter. 



February 5, 1862. 

 The President in the chair. 



A paper was presented in the name of Mr. Charles A. 

 White, of Burlington, Iowa, entitled, " Descriptions of new 

 species of Fossils from the Devonian and Carboniferous rocks 

 of the Mississippi Valley," Referred to the Committee on 

 Publication. 



Mr. A. E. Verrill made a report on the coral incrusting 

 the bell, olive jar, and decanter, from the wreck of the 

 frigate Severn, lost in 1793, and presented at the last meet- 

 ing by Messrs. Sampson and Tappan. It proved to be a 

 species of Heliastrea, resembling both II. stelhdata and II. 

 annularis of M. Edwards, but probably distinct from either. 



Mr. Marcou read the following communication : — 



Observations on the terms " Peneen," " Permian," and 

 " Dyas." By Jules Marcou. 



In an article published simultaneously in three or four English peri- 

 odical scientific journals,* Sir Roderick Impey Murchison expresses 



* See "On the Inapplicabilit'i/ of the new term '■Dyas'' to the ^ Permian^ Group 

 of Rocks,as pr-oposed by Dr. Geinitz." By Murchixon. Edinburgh Neiv Philo- 

 sophical Journal, Jan., 18G2 ; Tlie Geologist, jSIo. 49, Jan., 1862 ; The London, Edin- 

 burgh, and Dublin Philosophical Mur/azine, Jan., 18G2, and also The Illustrated 

 London Neios, Jan., 1802. 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. N. H.— VOL. IX. 3 MAY, 1862. 



