1 882] Ichthyological Papers. 381 



quoted by Drs. Hayden and Aughey from the loess of Nebraska. 

 There are thus, of mollusks, eleven genera attributed to fresh- 

 water, against thirteen genera to land forms. The single excep- 

 tion to varieties now living, as above noted, is Helicina, the 

 species meant, H. occulta Say, being now extinct. 1 It may be 

 properly considered the only species characteristic of the loess. 

 From the loess of cast Central Iowa, at Iowa City, the chela of a 

 Canibarus is reported,'- under circumstances which leave no doubt 

 that it is from true loess. 



Of higher animals there have been found, especially in the 

 Southern States, remains of Mastodon, Megatherium, Mylodou. 

 Megalonyx, Castor, and Fiber, among others. Their remains and the 

 relation of the loess to the drift, which, when both are present, it 

 always covers, places its epoch at the close of the glacial period. 

 (To be continued.) 



ICHTHYOLOGICAL PAPERS BY GEORGE POWERS 

 DUNBAR, WITH A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. 



A STUDY of the fishes of the Southern States is one replete with 

 **• many points of interest for the naturalist, and had it not been 

 for a series of misfortunes, the credit for the earliest research into 

 this field would probably be due to an American student now 

 unknown. It is the object of the present article, to give some 

 information relating to the life and labors of this meritorious 

 naturalist, which are of especial interest, since he was one of the 

 first native-born Americans who made an extended study of the 

 ichthyology of this region. The absence during his time of any 

 periodical devoted to the natural sciences in this country, con- 

 tributed much to his disadvantage, and as a consequence the 

 technical descriptions were withheld in anticipation of an oppor- 

 tunity to publish. This unfortunate circumstance is one of the 

 causes of his obscurity, and is in part answerable for the loss of 

 his many excellent observations in this branch. 



George Powers Dunbar was born in Baltimore, February nth, 



1812. Nothing of unusual interest was noticeable in his early 

 childhood, except an innate love for a study of natural history, on 



