The American Naturalist. 
[August, 
Macgeea culmula, n. sp. — Coral small, elongate, cylindrical, 
slightly contracted and bent in the middle ; externally somewhat ir- 
regular ; calyx small, flattened at the bottom, width and depth about 
equal, outer wall thin; rays of moderate strength, from thirty to 
thirty-two in number. Costge continuous with the rays over the margin 
of the cup, and for a short distance below ; lower down interrupted or 
covered by a continuous, perfect epithecal coat. Costte and rays 
alternating in strength ; apparently denticulate on the edge. This 
feature, however, is not distinctly made out, owing to a slight erosion 
of the specimen. 
The specimen in hand is attached nearly full length to a fragment of 
Diphyphyllum, although not a truly parasitic species. Dimensions : 
Diameter, four mm. ; length, twenty-two mm. Position and locality : 
Rockford Shales, Hackberry, Iowa.— Clement L. Webster, Charles 
City, Iowa. 
Pohlig on Elephas Antiquus.— Professor Pohlig, of Bonn, gives 
us the result of his investigations into the characters of Ekphas antiquus 
(Falconer), in 260 pages quarto, and ten quarto plates. Especial interest 
attaches to this species as the ancient representative of the African 
elephant in Europe, and on account of its annectant character to the 
typical forms of the genus. Prof Pohlig has successfully worked out 
its entire dentition, including the smallest milk-teeth, which are the 
rarest parts of Proboscidians to be found in collections. His material 
has been mainly derived from the museums of Germany, and of Italy. 
Particularly useful are his descriptions of the first deciduous molars, 
and the deciduous superior incisors. Towards the close of the memoir 
he gives his views as to the phylogeny of the species of Elephas. He 
will not admit that the Africanus group originated from the same type 
of mastodons as the others ; he even believes that it descended from 
some pre-mastodont genus. We cannot assent to this view as it is 
evident that the Tetrabelodons include the possibility of all the species 
of elephants. 
Incidentally Prof Pohlig expresses his views on other species of the 
genus Elephas. He thinks that a form preceded the Elephas primi- 
the E. 7Hcndioualis (Nest 
the E. hysHciriciis I-alc. C; 
He regards the E. milttoms l-alc, /-;. mnaidricnsis Leith Adams, and 
E. falconcri Husk, as dw: 
stnction to the Mediterran 
He also defines a dwarf - 
\\\i\\ the /-'. incridionalis. 
vitiqu. 
