GEOLOGY. 115 
referred to was dredged by Count Pourtales in the Florida Gulf 
Stream a few years ago. When the shells of Florida are sufficiently 
investigated, so that a check-list may be made, it may somewhat 
affect this comparison, but other Scutibranchiate species may be 
found on this coast, so that it is highly probable that the above 
comparison will remain substantially correct.—R. E. C. STEARNS. 
Cotturio Lupovicranus.— A male in fine plumage, now in m 
possession, was shot in West Newton, Mass., Oct. 21, 1872, by Mr. 
Joseph S. Maynard. Allowing the existence of two varieties, 
if not species, I think this specimen approaches nearer to Ludovi- 
cianus than excubitoroides. Is not this the first recorded instance 
of the authentic occurrence of this southern and western bird in 
the coast states, or at least near the coast, north of Virginia if 
not the Carolinas?—H. A. Purprr, November, 1872. 
Raccoon Fox.—In the June number of the American NATU- 
RALIST (page 362), I find a notice that one of these little ani- 
mals had been killed, and another seen in Fairfax County, Ohio, 
and it is remarked, in connection with its northern locality, that 
the specimen obtained was furred instead of haired. The range 
of the Bassaris astuta is much greater than your correspondent 
Supposes, unless there be two varieties or two species of this 
genus. They are found, I believe, throughout California, as far 
north as the Klamath River, Lat. 41° N., where, in 1852, I pur- 
chased from an Indian a breech clout made of seven skins, the 
fur of which was very soft and beautiful. I heard at the time that 
the “ Raccoon Fox,” as the miners called it, had occasionally been 
tamed and employed to destroy mice and other vermin. In ooper 
and Suckley’s Natural History of Washington Territory, ete., p. 
114, your correspondent will find a reference on my authority to 
the above habitat. - I doubt if it extends into Oregon, as the Sis- 
kiyou Mountains, parallel of 42° N., form a geographical boundary 
for several species of animals, birds and plants. 
The specimens in question were probably escapes, brought either 
from Kansas or California by some returned miner or emigrant. — 
Grorce Gisss, New Haven. 
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GEOLOGY. 
On a New Sues-crass or Foss, Birros (OponTornirHEs). — The 
_ Temarkable extinct birds with biconcave vertebræ (Ichthyornidæ), 
