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... ntent at http://about.jstor.org/participate--jstor/individuals/early-journal--content. JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary source objects. JSTOR helps people discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content through a powerful research and teaching platform, and preserves this content for future generations. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not--for--profit organization that also includes Ithaka S+R and Portico. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 1235 plates of the sides, where, instead of being on the centre, they are situated on the inner margins. Although the specimen is very young-less than an inch in length-the spots are already wanting on some of the plates, probably vanishing with age. This species is deeply interesting.l, and especially so to the members of this Society, on account of its very limited geographical distribution, being confined probably to a radius of about 50 miles from the city of Philadelphia. Probably it is in a slow progress towards extinction, and an entire disappearance from the earth; and hence it is plainly important to science that there should be an immnediate investigation of the exact boundaries of its distribution, so that hereafter from time to time its course towards an ultimate annihilation may be clearly seen. Besides being, as already known, one of the smallest of turtles-rather smaller than the Nanemys getttata-it is quiet and mild in its habits, not at all ferocious, though its food consists chiefly of insects, and in a smaller de(rree of vegetation. It frequents meadows in the vicinity of strearns. As the cultivation of the land becomes more complete, its haunts will be dirainished, it3 food lessened, and its numbers decreased. While this genus is confined to a small distance of the borders of the Delaware River, the great confluent of the Delaware Bay, it is remarkable that a species of another genus-the Ptychemys rutyosa-is confined to the confluents of the nearly adjoining Chesapeake Bay. June 18th. Vice-President BRIDGES in the Chair. Twenty-two members present. An announcement was made of the death of Francis Peters, Escq., a menmber of the Academy, at Paris, Franice, on the 19th of May. June 25th. Vice-President BRIDGES in the Chair. Twenty-two members present. On report of the respective Committees, the following, were ordered to be published in the Proceedings: Descriptions of new species of Cyrena, Corbicala and Sphaerium. BY TEMPLE PRIAME. Cyrena G y p r i n a e f o r m i s Pr ime. C. testa ovato-suborbicalari, valde inaequilaterali, turgida, crassa, epidermide viridi-nigrescente vestita; uImbonibas niinlimis, oblique antice carvatis, acatis, paratn prominentibus ; latere antico brevi, rotuadato, postice subtrancato; lamina cardinali lata; dentibus cardinalibus elongatis, prominentibus, apice profunde fureatis; dentibus lateralibus brevibus, antico crasso, conico. Long. 91; lat. 85; diam. 60 mill. Hab.-Northern Australia. (Collect. Caming et Prime.) This large species is somewhat allied to the Cyrena C y p r i n o i d e s Quoy it is, however, less triangular in its general appearance, and its beaks are less inflated. 2. Cyrena I a e v i s Prime. C. testa orbiculato-trigona, depressiuseula, inaequilaterali, tenui, minuta; epiclermide viridi-glaacescente vestita; regulariter transversim striata; latere autico obtuso, margiae superiore postico con-1861.] 126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF vexo inferiore, arcuato; umbonibus parvis, depressis, obliquiis, approximatis, detorticatis; ligamento elongato; valvis tenuis, intus candidissimis; cardine angusto, inaequaliter tridentato; dentibus cardinalibus obliquis miiiutis, mediano et postico dente valvae dextrae bifidis; dentibus lateralibus parum elongatis brevibus. Long. 46; lat. 42; diam. 22 mill. Hab.-Borneo. (Collect. Prime.) This light and delicate species seems different from any other that has come under my notice. 3. Cyrena r e g u 1 a r i s Prime. C. testa ovato-rotundata, tumida, cordiformi, valde inaequilaterali; epidermide viridi vestita; latere antico acuto, postico subtruncato, latere supero posticali sulco sinuoso decurrente separato; umbonibus tumidis, brevibus; licameDto angusto; valvis intus albis; cardine utroque latere tridentato; dentibus cardinalibus obliquis, mediano et postico dente valvae dextrae bifidis; dentibus lateralibus brevibus, antico crasso, conico, apice acuto. Long. 78; lat. 69; diam. 40 mill. Hab. ?-(Collect. Prime.) Somewlhat similar in general appearance to the Cyrena C a 1 e d on i c a GJarsies; it is, however, anteriorly more angular, the body of the shell is more inflated, the beaks are more prominent, and the epidermis is smoother and more regular. 4. Cyrena S i a m e n s i s Prime. C. testa ovato-transversa, subtrigona, inaequilaterati, convexa, postice subtruncata, antice valde declivi, crassa, solida, in medio convexa; epidermide fusca induta; irregulariter striata; valvis intus albis; umbonibus depressis, brevibus, saepius erosis; dentibus cardinalibius trilus, obliquis, approximatis, fere parallelis, superne canaliculatis; dentibus lateralibus stubaequalibus. Long. 61 ; lat. 47; diam. 27 mill. Hab.-Siam . (Collect. CuMing et Prime.) Nearly allied to the Cyrena S u m a t r e n s i s Sower-by, from which it differs, however, in being less inflated, smaller and generally less ponderous. 5. Cyrena Be rn a r di an a Prime. C. testa ovato-transversa, trigona, inaequilaterati, tumida, crassa, in medio ventricosa, margine superiore arcuato; epidermide viridi vestita; regulariter striata; umbonibus parvis elevatis; ligamento eloingato, partim infosso; valvis solidis, intus candidissimis: cardine angusto, inaequaliter tridentato; dentibus cardinalibus angustis; dentibus lateralibus elongatis. Long. 65; lat. 49 ; diam. 38 mill. IIab.-New Caledonia. (Collect. Cuming et Prime.) I dedicate this species to tlle Chevalier Bernardi of the Conchological Journal of Paris. 6. Corbicula e r o s a Prime. C. testa trigona, subaequilaterali, tumida, crassa, solida, tranisversim irregulariter striata; epidermide nigrescente vestita; latero antico brevi, postico obtuso; margine inferiore parum arcuato; uumbonibus inflatis, erosis; cardine incrassato, tridentato; dentibus cardinalibus crassis ; dentibus lateralibus aequalibus, serrulatis. Long. 20; lat. 18; diam. 13 mill. Hab.-Camboidia. (Collect. Cuming, Jay et Prime.) Comnpared to the Corbicula L y d i g i a n a Nobis, the only species to which it seems at all allied, it is less elevated, not so triangular in appearance, its lines of growth are less regular and deeper, its epidermis is darker and rougher. Corbicula b r u n e a Pr -ime. C. testa ovato-transversa, subaequilaterali, extremitatis aequaliter obtusa, transversim striata, sulcis regularibus; epi-[June, NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 127 dermide brunea vestita; umbonibus parvis, integris, laevigatis; intus violacea; cardine tridentato; dentibuis lateralibus aequalibus. Long. 22; lat. 19; diam. 12 mill. Hab.-Scamander River. (Collect. Prime.) 8. Corbioula r h o m b o i d e a Pr-ime. C. testa ovato-transversa, subaequilaterali, tumidula, utraque extremitate obtusa, transversim striata, sulcis profundis et regularibus; epidermide fuscescenlte vestita; umbonibus tumidis, erosis; intus candida ad margines pallide coerulea; cardine incrassato, inaequaliter tridentato; dentibus lateralibus aequalibus, praeloligis, tenuissime striatis. Lonig. 24 ; lat. 21; diam. 14 mill. Hab.-Malacca. (Collect. Cuming et Prime.) Compared to the Corbicula b r u n e a Nobis, it is heavier, more inflated, the beaks are fuller, both cardinal and lateral teeth are broader and stronger, the color of the interior of the valves is of a lighter shade; the epidermis is darker and the lines of growth are a little heavier. 9. Corbicula n o t a t a Prime. C. testa ovato-transversa, tumidiuscula, tenui, aequilaterali; utraque extremitate aequaliter obtusa; valvis intus viride violaceis ; epidermide viridi vestita; transversim sulcata; sulcis distantibus; umbonibus parvis, turgidulis, integris; cardinie angusto; dentibus cardinalibus tribus, inaequalibus, divergentibus; dentibus lateralibus angustis, an cuatis. Long. 18; lat. 14; diam. 10 mill. Hab.-Philippines. (Collect. Cuming, Jay et Prime.) Very nearly allied to the Corbicula t u m id a Deshlayes; it is, however, lighter of texture, more equilateral, less inflated, the beaks are smaller, the lines of growth are not quite so heavy and more numerous; the cardinal teeth are more distinct. 10. Corbicula m i n o r Prime. C. testa ovato-transversa, depressiuscula, tenui, subaequilaterali, extremitatibus rotundata; umbonibus prominentibus, erosis; sulcis regularibus; epidermide virescente vestita; intus violacea; dentibus primariis crassis; lateralibus subaequalibus. Long. 15; lat. 11; diam. 7 mill. ilab. ?-(Collect. Prime.) Compared to the Corbicula i n a e q u i I a t e r a I i Nobis, this species is more equilateral and less elongated. 11. Corbicula p a r v u 1 a Prime. C. testa ovato-transversa, depressiuscula, tenui, aequilaterali, extremitatibus rotundata; umbonibus magnis, tumidis, erosis; sulcis irregularibus; epidermide viridi flavescente, irregulariter maculata vestita; intus pallide violacea; dentibus primariis crassis, lateralibus aequalibus. Long. 12 ; lat. 10; diam. 5 mill. Hab.-India. (Collect. Prime.) 12. Corbicula s u b r a d i a t a Prime. Cyrena subradiata Kurr., in litt. C. testa trigona, aequilaterali, compressiuscula, antice paulo latiore et obtusiore, striis regularibus, distantibus, epidermide viridi, nitente induta; intus pallide violacea; umbonibus minimis, acutis antice obliquatis, violaceo-subradiatis; cardine angusto, dentibus primariis crassis. Long. 14; lat. 12; diam. 7 mill. Hab.-India. (Collect. Prime.) Very closely allied to the Corbicula r a d i a t a Deshayes, from the Nile, it differs in being less inflated, more oval shaped, the beaks are less full and more acute. 13. Corbicula s o 1 i d u 1 a Prime. C. testa ovato-trigona, crassula, aequi 1861.] 14. Corbicula v i o 0 a c e a Prime. C. testa ovato-transversa, subaequilaterali, obliqua, extremitatibus aequaliter obtusa, transversim irregulariter striata; epidermide squalide virescente vestita; umbonibus magnis, obliquis, erosis, intus profunde violacea; cardine angusto tridentato. Long. 15; lat. 13; diam. 8 mill. Hab. ?-(Collect. Jay et Prime.) 15. Corbicula A g r e n S i s Prime. Cyrena Agrensis Kurr., in litt. C. testa ovato-transversa, aequilaterali, laevigata, depressiuscula, extremitatibus rotundata; epidermide viridi-olivacea induta; sulcis regularibus, distantibus; intus pallide violacea; umbonibus tumidis, erosis; cardine angusto, dentibus cardinalibus crassis, lateralibus aequalibus, tenuiter serrulatis. Long. 9; lat. 8; diam. 5 mill. Hfab.-Agra, India. (Collect. Prime.) 16. Corbicula i n a e q u il a t e r a 1 is Prime. C. testa ovato transversa, depressiuscula, tenui, inaequilaterali; extremitatibus rotundata; umbonibus prominentibus, approximatis, antice obliquatis, violaceo subradiatis; sulcis regularibus, intus pallide violacea; epidermide pallide virescente induta; cardine angusto; dentibus cardinalibus crassis, lateralibus inaequalibus. Long. 16; lat. 12; diam. 8 mill. Hab.-Africa. (Collect. Prime.) 17. Sphaerium V e r m o0n t an a Primie. S. testa ovato-trigona, tumida, inaequilaterali" striis regularibus, epidermide viridi-fiavescente vestita; umbonibus tumidis; cardine arcuato; dentibus lateralibus crassis. Long. 11; lat. 10; diam. 7 mill. Hab.-VermoIt, N. America. (Collect. Prime.) This species, though somewhat allied to Sph. s t r i a t i n u m Lam., is mucl more inequilateral. Descriptions of new Palozoic Fossils from Illinois and Iowa. Of the Illinois State Gealogical Survey. ECHINODERMATA. CRINOIDEA. Genlus PLATYCRINUS, Miller, 1821. PLATYCRINUS OWENI.-Body rather large, cup-shaped, or sub-hemispherical below the summit of the first radials, rounded on the under side, height about two-thirds the breadth. Base saucer-shaped, or nearly four times as wide as high, pentagonal in outline, the sides being nearly straight or slightly concave, sutures anchylosed; columnar facet large, its breadth equalling abolit half that of the base, concave, margined by a slightly raised somewhat undulated rim, and perforated by a large central opening. First radial plates large, sub-quadranguLlar in general outline, but having the superior lateral angles truncated for the reception of the anal anid interradial pieces, wideninig a little from the base upwards; facet for the reception of the second radial pieces [June, NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA.