On a JVew extinct Fossil Vegetable, 307 



commend the author of this synopsis to peruse carefully the 

 Journal of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia, and 

 promise him much useful information on the anatomy and clas- 

 sification of reptilia. 



For the hahits of crocodiliis acutus, (Cuv.) Mr. G. quotes, er- 

 roneously, Bartram and Descourtilz, whose observations refer to 

 c. luciiis (Cuv.) only, which in this synopsis adds another to the 

 interminable list of names, and figures as alligator mississipiensis ! ! 



When will closet writers learn to copy that beautiful simplicity 

 which we observe displayed by nature, in all her operations ? — 

 In the Journal of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadel- 

 phia, Mr. G. may obtain more interesting materials concerning 

 the fossil crocodiles. 



The third and last order of this treatise, or enaliosauri of 

 Conybeare, consists of fossil extinct genera and species, and are 

 more particularly interesting to the geologist and comparative 

 anatomist ; but as they constitute a new order of reptilia, are 

 very properly treated of in a general synopsis : in this, as in al- 

 most every other instance in the volume before us, Mr. G. has 

 failed to do justice to American writers ; the new genera and 

 species which they have added to this order, are not even noticed. 

 — Is this to be attributed to ignorance, ill nature, or criminal in- 

 difference towards his collaborators? R. S. T. 



ON A NEW EXTINCT FOSSIL VEGETABLE OF THE 

 FAMILY FUCOIDES. 



By Richard Hakian, M. D. Philadelphia, Dec. 6th, 1831. 



JVatural order, ALGCE. — Linnaeus. Family, Fucoides. — Stern- 

 burg and Brongniart Algacites, Schlotheim. Section, Cla- 

 DORYTES. — Harlan. 



F. Brongniartii. — Fronde elongata, sub-quadrangularis, cana- 

 liculata, transverse rugosa ; ramulis inequalis, sparsis, remotis, 

 compressis, rugatis, recurvis, nudis. 



Place in the series. — Compact sand-stone, subjacent to the coal 

 formation: occurring in slabs from one to three inches in thick- 

 ness, the upper surface being tinged ferruginous. 



Locality. — Western part of the state of New York : the fossil 

 is also stated to abound on the VVelland canal, Canada. 



