SoDiciliiiis; New. ii 



steep cliffs fifty or sixty feet in lieight. The deposit was found to 

 consist of this large fossil almost exclusively and only on the 

 closest examination were we so fortunate as to discover others, 

 several small univalve shells, which also proved to be new to 

 science. 



Another year passed by, during which time another collection 

 was received at Washington from Mendocino county, where they 

 had been discovered by Dr. G. F. Becker, and then Dr. C. A. 

 White of the United States National Museum christened them 

 with the name, Coralliochama, and pronounced them the type of 

 a new genus. 



Through the kindness of Prof. S. F. Baird and Dr. C.A. White 

 we are able to present the accompanying illustrations of this inter- 

 esting and curious fossil, about which further details may be given 

 in a future paper. 



Explanation of Plates — i. Cardinal view ol an adult example, 

 natural size. II. Fig. i, Cardinal view of a partly grown example, natural 

 size. Fig. 2. Opposite view of another example. Fig. 3. Section of a 

 portion ot an upper valve, showing the outer prismatic layer, the inner 

 porcellanous layer, and the cellular inner layer, with the vertical plates 

 of the outer portion of the outer layer. Partly diagrammatic; natural 

 size. Fig. 4. Diagram of a transverse section of a lower valve, showing 

 the outer prismatic layer, the innner porcellanous layer, and the middle 

 cellular layer. 



SONOROUS SAND. 



We copy the following letter by W. R. Frink from the Proc 

 Cal. Acad. Sci., V. 339, describing the peculiarities of the sonor- 

 ous sand of the Island of Kaui, ot the Plawaiian group : 



' The bank, which is composed of this sand, commences at a 

 perpendicular bluff at the southwest end of the island, and extends 

 one and a half miles alinost due south, parallel with the beach, 

 which is about one hundred yards distant from the base of the 

 sand-bank. This sand-driit is about 60 feet high, and at the 

 extreme north end the angle preserved is as steep as the nature 

 of the sand will perinit. The bank is constantly extending to the 

 south. It is said by the natives, that at the bluff and along the 

 middle of the bank, the sand 'is not sonorous. But at the southern 

 end and for half a mile north, if you slap two handfuls together, 

 there is a sound produced like the low hooting of an owl — more 

 or less sharp, according as the motion is quick or slow. Sit 

 down upon the sand and give one hand a quick, circular motion, 

 and the sound is like the heavy base of a melodeon. 'Kneel 

 upon the steep incline, extent the two hands, and clasp as much 

 sand as possible, slide rapidly down carrying all the sand you 

 can, and the sound accumulates as you descend, until it is like 

 distant thunder. In this experiment the sound was sufficient to 

 frighten our horses, fastened a short distance froin the base of 

 the drift. 



