A. parviflora of Pursh. The Veronica scutellata must form a new species, which Mr. R. calls V. uliginosa: the Nelumbium speciosum ought to have been called N. luteum: the Cerastium Semidecandrum of the U. S. is a peculiar species, which Mr. R. calls C. purnilum, &c. It is to be noticed with regret that Dr. W. P. C. Barton has adopted the erroneous generic denomination Centaurella of Michaux, erroneous in a double view, because that genus had been previously dedicated to his own uncle Dr. Benj. Barton by Dr. Muhlenberg, published by Wildenow under that name in the Acts of the Berlin Society, and adopted by Persoon, and because the name of Centaurella is defective, according to the wise rules of nomenclature established by Linnæus, being a diminutive of Centaurea, an old genus. His pretext is that the genus Bartonia of Muhlenberg and Wildenow is obsolete, and another new genus has been named Bartonia by Nuttall and Pursh; but unless a fourth name! and a better one be given to the Bartonia of Wildenow; a third one likewise erroneous (Centaurium) having been given to it by Persoon through an oversight, (since he had adopted the Bartonia in the same volume), the Centaurella of Michaux must retain its old and good name of Burtonia, and the Bartonia of Nuttall must be called Nuttallia! as Mr. Rafinesque has named it in his Florula MissuriSeven new species are introduced in this Prodromus; some remarks will be ca. offered on each of them. 1. Potamogeton diversifolium-page 27. It happens that ever since the year 1811, Mr. C. S. Rafinesque has given the very same name to another species of this genus, which was the P. hybridum var 6. of Michaux, but which is a peculiar species, distinct likewise from the P. heterophyllum of Europe, see Enumeratio of Amer. Potamog. in Med. Rep. p. 46. hex S, vol. 2, p. 409. The species of Dr. W. P. C. Barton must therefore receive another naine. It is proposed to call it P. dimorphum. Its characters are stated as follow. Minute, filiform, upper leaves flotting elliptic petiolated half an inch long, with 6 nerves, lower leaves sessile filiform, many minute axillar spikes. This species is the P. Setaceum of Pursh, page 120, but not of Wildenow, being different from the European. 2. Pyrola convoluta-page 50. This appears to be the P. asarifolia of Michaux, and therefore not new. 3. Hypericum,-without a name! page 74.. Imperfectly described: it appears very similar to H. nudiflorun of Michaux, &c.; if it should be different, the name of H. adpressum may be given to it. Diagnosis. Stem upright, quadrangular leaves, lanceolate, obtuse, smooth, uprightbranches opposite. The writer of this article was informed verbally by the author that it is herbaceous and trigy nous. 4. Aster corymbosus, var 6. alatus,— page 81. Petiols winged, leaves deeply acuminated, deeply serrated, teeth acuminate. 5. Aster philadelphicus,-page 81. Branches horizontal, leaves long linear. Next to A. tradescanti. 6. Aster tenuiculus,-page 81. Branches weak, leaves linear, or oblong-linear, Next to slightly serrated in the middle A. fragilis. We shall not dare to pronounce on these three species of Aster; in such an extensive genus, when new species are so imperfectly noticed, they cannot be considered as ascertained. 7. Malaxis correana,-page 36. This species had been mistaken for the M. loeseli by some American botanists, but it is perfectly distinct from the loeseli of Europe. Pursh has omitted this plant. Dr. Barton gives the following tolerable description of it. Bulb round, scape two leaved, leaves broad-lanceolate, spike oblong, labellum cordate concave canaliculate shorter than the petals.-Obs. Spike few flowered, flowers herbaceous, petals yellowish, scape quadrangular, leaves scarcely plicated; blossoms in June, grows in shady woods. The author of the Prodromus professes to mention only such species as were found by himself, or his friends; he does not assume, therefore, to give us a complete enumeration of the plants of Philadelphia; in fact a great many plants well known by our botanists are omitted by him. We are acquainted with several which were found by Mr. C. S. Rafinesque in the neighbourhood of that city, and for the gratification of the student we shall mention some of them, hoping that Dr. Barton will avail himself of these additions, whenever he may publish the real Flora Philadelphica. We shall use the characters V. É. and A. for Vernal, Estival, and Autumnal. Viola rotundifolia Mx. This is omitted by Pursh, and is very distinct from his V. clandestina, found on the Vissahikon, rare, V. Viola blanda. Wild, common, near the Schuylkill, V. Viola bicolor, Pursh. V. tenella, Raf. near Woodbury, V. Viola papilionacea, Pursh. In Pernsylvania. V. Viola concolor, Forster. At the falls of the Schuylkill. V. Viola Striata, wild. V. asarifolia, Mg. Ditto. V. Eschynomene aspera, Mx. near Glocester point. E. Florkea uliginosa, Mg. below the falls of Schuylkill. V. Arabis rotundifolia, Raf. At Cambden. This species is intermediate between the A. reptans and the Draba arabisans. V. Arabis parviflora, Raf. and Athaliana, Bart, Ditto. V. Carex acuta, Mg. common in woods; many other species of this extensive genus are omitted in the Prodromus. V. Sedum ternatum, Mx. near Darby. V. Uvularia acutifolia, Raf, at the falls. V. Charophyllum procumbens, Mg. Ditto V. Polygala spathulata, Raf. near Mount Enothera uniflora, Raf. in New-Jer- Callitriche terrestre, Raf. (and Mg.) above Cooper's Ferry. V. Callitriche cruciata, Raf. at Germantown. E. Hyacinthus botryoides, L. near Germantown, naturalized. V. Narcissus pseudonarcissus, L. naturalized, near Gray's Ferry. E. Lechea mucronota, Raf. in New-Jersey. Epilobium divaricatum, Raf.near Chesnut Hill. E. Leiophyllum thymifolium, Pursh, (Am- Pyridanthera barbulata, Mx. near Spirea tomentosa, L. Ditto. E. &c. We have been induced to notice this ART. 5. MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 1. Description of the Tubipora Striatula, NOSSIL Tubipores, although not un most unnoticed by methodical writers. Remains of this genus, or rather family of Polyps, are not scarce in North America, and in particular in the northern and western parts of the state of New-York. I have seen many species in the possession of Dr. Saml. L. Mitchill, which appear altogether new, and whose descriptions I hope he will soon give us. I shall at pre- Tubipora striatula. Tubes connivent, The specimen upon which this species is ascertained, and which is deposited at the Lyceum of Natural History, was found at Glen's falls on the Hudson river, imbedded in a calcareous sand-stone many feet below the surface of the ground, and nearer to the bed of the river. The stratum had been permeated in the lapse of ages by the waters, and the specimen left exposed, although it was disengaged with some difficulty. It is itself nearly changed into the same sand-stone, very heavy and of a gray colour. It is nearly cubical, about five inches long, two or three broad, irregular on the sides, truncated at both ends. The tubes are all compactly connected, through the whole length instead of being only connected by transverse diaphragms, as in the majority of other species; these tubes diverge a little from their base, by growing gradually thicker towards the top, where their broadest diameter reaches two lines sometimes: they are slightly flexuous and rather unequal in breadth and length, although their majority forms at the top a truncated plane, not quite even however. The greatest number are hexagonal, with the sides nearly equal, but many have unequal sides, some are pentagonal, and a few heptagonal, either with equal or unequal sides. The little furrows are slightly flexuous and visible inside as well as outside. They are articulated by internal cells, very visible where the inside is broken and not petrified; it is even sometimes visible outside by slight transverse furrows, and lower cells are shorter vertically than horizontally; the upperones are generally equal in height and diameter, but some of the uppermost are longer than broad. This production, as well as the other fossil tubipores, are vulgarly known in the United States under the appellation of petrified Wasp-nests, a faint similarity with some nests of wasps being perceived in many; which has led the ignorant to believe that they are petrifications of such bodies, of which their stratum and their geological position preclude the possibility. All the species of Tubipores now living are found in the sea; but the local position of my specimen of Tubipora striatula, is not demonstrative of the geological fact that the place where it was found, was once the bed of the sea: from many circumstances, I conclude that it rather was the bed of the large lake of the Hudson, and the species might (with some others) have inhabited lakes instead of the ocean, or have lived in such lakes at a period when it had a communication with the ocean, 2. Specimens of several new American species of the genus Aphis. This genus has always appeared to me highly interesting. It is one of the first which cannot fail to attract the notice of the Botanist; all its species being parasitical on plants, and often highly injurious, deserve to he studied even by those who do not cultivate Entomology. It appears that this genus is one of the most extensive in nature, and if it is supposed that one third of all plants nourish them, and that every such plant breeds a peculiar species, we could hardly conceive such a prodigious multiplication of species: it is however highly probable, that many species can live on different plants, and that a less number of plants affords them. As yet scarcely less than 100 species have been enumerated, and very few of them described, the authors having followed Linnæus in the practice of conceiving that the specific name derived from the plant on which they feed, was sufficient to characterize them, which implied the erroneous belief of their being found thereon exclusively. These little insects have also attracted the attention of philosophers, and the experiments made upon them by Bonnet and Hubert, have revealed two wonderful secrets of nature; Bonnet discovered that the females separated from the males could breed, and that their female posterity to the seventh generation, could likewise breed without intercourse with the other sex! and Hubert has lately ascertained that the ants use them as their cattle, carrying their eggs and young on the plants suiting each species, in order to feed on the honied liquor they exude. These facts fill us with admiration, and account for the rapid propagation of those insects, and their sudden appearance on many plants. I shall endeavour to study all the species of this genus found in the United States, and invite the attention of the Botanists and Entomologists to this interesting subject, begging them to distinguish particularly those which feed on different species of plants, those which breed on a single exclusive species, and the few species which may feed on a common species of plants. Meantime, I shall enumerate and describe concisely about 12 species, which I observed in the state of New York, last year, (many on rare plants), the whole of which are probably new or yet undescribed. 1. Aphis Diervilla-lutea. Body nearly rounded, annulated, whitish rufous, length 1 line; antens very short bent, one third the length of the body, appendages long truncated two thirds the length of the body. 2. Aphis Aralia-hispida. Body pale green or rufous, obovate 1 1-2 line; head truncated; antens longer than the body and straight; appendages 1-2 line. 3. Aphis Aquilegia-canadensis. Body pale rufous; acute posteriorly, without appendages, 1 line; antens of same length. 4. Aphis Hieracium-venosum. Body ferruginous red, oboval about 1 line long; antens two thirds of that length, appendages very short. 5. Aphis Melampyrum-latifolium. Body, oboval, green, with a pale stripe along the back, 1 line long; eyes black, antens half a line; appendages very short. 6. Aphis Pleris-aquilinoides. (P. aquilina Amer. Auct.) Body pale green, oboval, one line long; eyes brown, antens half a line long; appendages very short. 7. Aphis Campanula-riparia. (C. rotundifolia Amer. Auct.) Body oboval brickred, two lines; feet and antens reddish brown, antens shorter than the body; appendages very short. 8. Aphis Chenophyllum-canadense. Body oboval, acute, pale green, with two paler dorsal stripes, length 1 1-2 line, head truncated, antens shorter than the body; appendages very short. 9. Aphis Erigeron-philadelphicum. Body green, oblong oboval, length two lines; antens bent, shorter than the body; appendages very short. 10. Aphis verticolor. Body oblong, oboval, two lines long; head truncated brown, thorax fulvous, abdomen ferruginous, feet brown, but white near the body, antens nearly as long as the body and brown; appendages very short.-On several species of the order Glossanthia or Cichoracevus, and ever on the Hieracium venosum along with the 4th species. 11. Aphis furcipes. Body oblong oboval, length one line, green,eyes black, antens longer than the body, feet brown, as well as the tops of the appendages, which are one fourth the length of the body.On the Primula veris and Bellis perennis in gardens. 12. Aphis fusciclava. Body oboval, depressed, dark fulvous, without appendages, length one line; antens shorter than the body, bent, tips clavated and brown. On many garden plants. P. S. I have observed, this year, about twenty other different species of this wonderful genus, which shall be noticed and described hereafter. On further consideration, I suspect that my first and 9th species, with bent antens, like an elbow, ought to form a peculiar genus, to which probably many species will belong. It will be so desirable to divide this extensive genus, that I venture on proposing this new genus under the name of Loxerates, i. e. bent horns. But my 12th species, must certainly form a new genus, differing widely from the Aphis, by the flattened body, the missing appendages, the antens bent and club-shaped, and I shall give to it the name of Cladoxus, i. e. Bent-club. The real genus Aphis is distinguished by the following characters :-Body oval or oblong and thick, two appendages on the rump, and often a lengthened oviductum, forming a third appendage; antens setaceous straight, but often recurved over the back; bill very short; wings longer than the body, obtuse, roofed, veined, and generally with an oblong spot on the lower edge, in the males; females without wings. C. S. Rafinery 3. New species of Mammifers, noticed in the Notes to the (Tableau methodique des Mammiferes) Methodical Picture of the Mammifers, by D. Desmarels, in the 24th and lust volume of the French New Dictionary of Natural History. Paris, 1804. Translated and improved, by C. S. Befinesque. 1. Galago minulus. Raf. Petit Galago Lemur minutus Desm. Tabl. pag. 10. Cuvier Dwarf galago. Def. Murine gray, ears very short.-Obs, from Senegal, as well as the Galago Senegalensis of Geoffroy, which differs by being much larger, of the size of a cat, with long ears, and a variegated colour. 2. Pteropus pusillus. Geoffroy Catalogue des Mammiferes du museum d'Histoire Naturelle. Pterope Olive, Desm. Tabl. pag. 11.- -Olivaceous Pterope. Def. Fur entirely of an olive colour.Obs. It merely differs from the Picropus rufus by the colour and smaller size, native of the eastern tropics as well as all the other species of this genus. 3. Pteropus Straminéus. Geofir. Cat. Mus. Pterope jaune Desm. tabl. p. 11.— Yellow Pterope. Def. Fur entirely yellowish. Obs. Size of the following. 4. Pteropus ruber. Geoffr. Cat. mus. Pterope à cou rouge Desm. tabl. p. 11.Redneck Pterope Def. Fur fallowish, neck rufous.- -Obs. Desmarets thinks it may be a variety of the Pteropus rufus or the P. fuscus. 5. Vespertilio borbonicus. Goeffr. cat. mus. Chauve souris. de l'Ile Bourbon Desm. tabl. p. 12.-Bourbon Bat. Def. Tip of the nose nearly split, a white spot at the base of each wing. 6. Phyllostoma crenulata. Geoffr. cat. mus. Phyllostome crenelé Desm. tabl. 12. Crenulated Phyllostome. Def. Appendage of the nose lengthened and crenuJated. 7. Phyllostoma emarginata. Geoffr. cat. mus. Phyllostome échancré Desm. tabl. p. 12. Notched Phyllostome. Def.Appendage of the nose lengthened, lanceolated, and denticulated, top truncated and notched. 8. Mustela rufa. Geoffr. cat. mus. n. 217. Marte marron, Desm. tabl. p. 16.-Red Weasel. Def. Fur very long, brown, variegated with little lines of a brownish fallow; tail black, ears very short. Obs. Size of Mustela foina, L. 9. Cirella fasciata. Geoffr. cat. mus. Civette à bandeau ou Genette de France, Desm. tabl. p. 17.-French Civet Def. Fur rufous brown, back, feet, and tip of the tail dark brown, breast light rufous, a band across the eyes of a dirty white. Obs. size of the Mustela foina, L.-nose and lower jaw whitish, very distinct from the Civetta genetta of Spain and Barbary; found in France. 10. Civetta indica. Geoffr. cat. mus. Civette de L'Inde Desm. tabl. p. 17.— Indian Civet. Def. Fur yellowish gray, a collar of three rufous brown stripes, back covered with parallel lines of same colour, several rows of brown dots on the sides, belly whitish-Obs. Larger than the Civetta fossana, and of a more slender shape-native of the East Indies. 11. Canis leucoxurus. Raf. C. argentatus Geoffr. cat. mus. Renard argent Desm. tabl. p. 18.-White tail fox. Def. Fur entirely black, except the end of the tail, which is white, and some white hairs on the forehead and cheeks.- Obs. Size and shape of the Isatis or Canis lagopus, L. found in the north of the two continents: very different from the Silvery Fox Canis cinereo argenteus, L.but as the name of C. argentatus, implied a similarity and did not apply corectly, I have changed it to another more correct. 12. Canis antarcticus. Geoffr cat. mus. Renard antarctique Desm. tabl. p. 18.Antarctic Fox. Def. Brownish feet, fallow outside, tail shortened. Obs. Size of the common Fox, colour rather darker; lives at the Falkland Islands. p. 19. Dasyure gutte.-Dotted Dasyure. Def. Grizzled gray, dotted with white. Obs. Native of Australia, along with the D. maculatus, of which it had been considered as the female; this last is black. 15. Sciurus rufiventer. Geoffr. cat. mus. Ecureuil à ventre roux Desm. tabl. p. 21.-Fallow-belly Squirrel. Def. Back fallowish brown, belly pale fallow, tail brown at the base, fallowish at the end. Obs. Native of North America, rather larger than the Sc. vulgaris. L. 16. Sciurus erithopus. Geoffr. cat. mus. Ecureuil fossoyeur. Desm. tabl. p. 21. -Burrowing Squirrel. Def. Back brownish gray, feet fallow, tail brown with scattered yellowish hairs. Obs. Smaller than the Sc. vulgaris, long nails; perhaps a species of my genus Tenotis, which contains all the squirrels with pouches like the genus Cricetus, and who live under ground, then it might be called Tenotis griseus. Raf. 17. Castor europeus Raf. C. galliæ. Geoffr. cat. mus. Castor de France Desm. tabl. p. 25.-European Beaver. Def. Fur short, tail one fourth of total length. Obs. The Beaver of the eastern continent has been ascertained by Geoffroy St. Hilaire to be different from the American Beaver; he is much larger, and with a shorter tail in proportion; his fur is not so long, but the colour varies in both species, and this species does not build dams and lodges, but burrows near the water. 18. Cavia cristata. Geoffr. cat. mus. Cavia huppe. Desm. tabl. p. 25.-Crested Aguty. Def. Fallowish brown, belly yellowish, tail very short, a crest of long hairs behind the head. Obs. Size and shape of Cavia aguti; native of South America. 19. Lepus egyptius. Geoffr. cat. mus. Lievre d'Egypte. Desm. tabl. p. 26.Egyptian Hare Def. Fur pale grizzled, legs brown, ears long, broad, and scarcely involuted. Obs. Size and colour of common Hare, but rather lighter on the back. From Egypt. 20. Echidna Setosa. Geoffr. cat. mus. Echidne soyeux Desm. tabl. p. 27.—Red Echidna. Def. Hairs long, ears thick and chestnut colour, stings weak and shorter, except on the back of the head, the sides and the tail. Obs. From Australia, different from the Echidna hystrix, which has strong and long stings. 13. Canis cancrivorus. Geoffr. cat. mus. Renard crabier Desm. tabl. p. 13.--Crabeater Fox. Def. Fur dark grizzled on the back, fallowish white underneath, anterior legs rufous brown, posterior ones black. Obs. Size of the common Fox, 21. Myrmecophaga nigra. Geoffr. cat. colour nearly similar to the common mus. Fourmilier noir Desm. tabl. p. 27. Hare, but darker; native of South Ame--Black Ant-eater. Def. Entirely of a Fica. dark black, tail prehensile. Obs. Size 14. Dasyurus gultatus. Desm. tabl. and shape of the M. tamandua of which |