the fact that none of them showed signs of wear at the point of support, rendered this supposition untenable. Mr. John Robinson, of Salem, the author of a work on Ferns, has given the first suggestion as to the possible use of these objects. He has asked why they may not have been covers to incense burners. Curiously enough old incense burners are dug up which have the same oval shape that a section of the bell shows. The bell has openings at the base and also at the sides and top, so that the smoke of burning incense might escape. It is quite evident that these objects are neither bells nor pagoda ornaments, and this suggestion of Mr. Robinson's may possibly lead to some clue regarding their origin.

Worked Shells in New EnglAND SHELL-HEAPS, by Edw. S. Morse, Ibid.-Mr. Morse called attention to the fact that heretofore no worked shells had been discovered in the New England shell-heaps. A similar absence of worked shells had been noticed in the Japanese shell-heaps. Worked shells were not uncommon in the shell heaps of Florida and California. Mr. Morse then exhibited specimens of the large beach cockle (Lunatia) which showed unmistakable signs of having been worked. The work consisted in cutting out a portion of the outer whorl near the suture. To show that this portion could not be artificially broken, he exhibited naturally broken specimens of the same species, both recent and ancient, in which the fractures were entirely unlike the worked shells.

CONGRES ET MISSIONS ETHNOGRAPHIQUES. - From Professor John T. Short, of Columbus, Ohio, we are in receipt of a circular stating the programme and list of delegates for the second session of this body to be held at Geneva, in 1882, on the 10th of April. The labors will be divided into seven sections:

1. Ethnogeny: Origin and migrations of races.

II. Ethnology: Development of nations by environment, geographic position, climate and aliment.

III. Descriptive ethnography: Distribution and classification of peoples, nations, and nationalities over the earth.

IV. Theoretic ethnography: The conditions of the development of nationalities. v. Ethic. Manners and customs of nations.

VI. Political ethnography: The bases on which the existence of nations rests. Motives which have induced them to group themselves into great States, or to subdivide to secure the advantages of centralization.

VII. Ethnodicy. International law. The comparative study of legislations from an ethnographic point of view.

The delegates for our country are Professor John T. Short, of Columbus, Ohio, and Dr. Francis Parkman, Boston, Mass. Either of which gentlemen will be glad to furnish further information respecting the congress.

ITALIAN ANTHROPOLOGY.-Two original memoirs appear in the Archivio, Vol. XI, Fasc. 1:

Maestrelli, Dr.-The exponent of vital capacity.

Amadee, Dr, Giuseppe-Numerical anomalies in the human dental system.

GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY.

A new type of PerissodactyLA.-In a paper on the "homologies and origin of the molar teeth of the Mammalia Educabilia, published in March, 1874,1 I ventured the generalization that the primitive types of the Ungulata would be discovered to be characterized by the possession of five-toed plantigrade feet, and tubercular teeth. No Perissodactyle or Artiodactyle mammal was known at that time to possess such feet, nor was any Perissodactyle known to possess tubercular teeth. Shortly after advancing the above hypothesis, I discovered the foot structure of Coryphodon, which is five-toed and plantigrade, but the teeth are not of the tubercular type. For this and allied genera, I defined a new order, the Amblypoda, and I have published the confident anticipation that genera would be discovered which should possess tubercular (bunodont) teeth. This prediction has not yet been realized. I now, however, record a discovery, which goes far towards satisfying the generalization first mentioned, and indicates that the realization of the prophecy respecting the Amblypoda, is only a question of time.

In 1873, I described from teeth alone, a genus under the name of Phenacodus, and although a good many specimens of the dentition have come into my possession since that date, I have never been able to assign the genus its true position in the mammalian class. The teeth resemble those of suilline Ungulates, but I have never had sufficient evidence to permit its reference to that group. Allied genera recently discovered by me, have been stated to have a hog-like dentition, but that their position could not be determined until the structure of the feet shall have been ascertained.

In his recent explorations in the Wasatch Eocene of Wyoming, Mr. J. L. Wortman was fortunate enough to discover a nearly entire skeleton of a Phenacodus very near the typical P. primævus, which presents all the characters essential to a full determination of its place in the system. The unexpected result is, that this genus must be referred to the order Perissodactyla, and that, with its allies, it must form a special division of that order corresponding in the tubercular characters of its teeth with the bunodont or suilline division of the Artiodactyla. In this character, however, there is a closer gradation than in the case of the Artiodactyla,

1 Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia.

2 Paleontological Bulletin No. 17, Oct., 1873, p. 3; also, Report G. M. Wheeler, U. S. Engineers Expl. W. 100 Mer., iv, p. 174—1877.

and it would scarcely be necessary to create such a group on that character alone. But the genus differs further from the Perissodactyla and approaches the Proboscidia, in the fact that the astragalus articulates with the navicular only, and by a universally convex surface, as in the Carnivora.

The astragalus resembles that of the latter order very closely, and differs from that of Hyracotherium and the nearest forms among the Perissodactyla. Phenacodus has moreover five well developed toes on all the feet, and was probably not entirely plantigrade. The cast of the brain case shows that the celebral hemispheres were quite small and nearly smooth, and that the very large cerebellum and olfactory lobes were entirely uncovered by them. The bones of the two carpal rows alternate with each other, and there is a large third trochanter of the femur. The cervical vertebræ are opisthocœlous. The systematic position of the genus may be schematically represented as follows:

Order PERISSODACTYLA; ungulate; digits of unequal lengths; carpal bones alternating; a postglenoid process. Astragalus with proximal trochlea, and without distal double ginglymus.

Suborder Diplarthra; astragalus distally plane or concave in one direction, and uniting with both navicular and cuboid bones; a third trochanter of the femur. The known families belong here.

Suborder Condylarthra; astragalus convex in all directions distally, only uniting with navicular bone; a third trochanter of femur.

Family Phenacodontida. Molar teeth tubercular; the premolar teeth different from the molars; five digits on all the feet.

Genera; Phenacodus Cope, and very probably Catathlaus, Mioclanus, and Protogonia Cope, and perhaps also Anisonchus Cope. These genera include fifteen species, all from the lower Eocene beds. The Condylarthra are then the ancestral type of the known Perissodactyla, that is of the horses, tapirs and rhinoceroses, and of the numerous extinct forms.-E. D. Cope.

NEW GENUS OF PERISSODACTYLA DIPLARTHRA.- -Good specimens of the Hyracotherium tapirinum Cope, show that the superior dentition is uninterrupted from the canine inclusive. It thus differs from Hyracotherium which has one or two diastemata. The fourth inferior premolar is like the third premolar. The H. tapirinum may then be referred to a new genus under the name Systemodon.-E. D. Cope.

NOTES ON CREODONTA.-A fine series of specimens of Mesonyx demonstrates the following points: (1) Pachyæna was founded on a superior molar of Mesonyx, and must be suppressed. (2) Apterodon Fischer, is the same as Mesonyx. (3) Mesonyx 1 AMERICAN NATURALIST, October, 1880.

2 Proceedings Amer. Philosoph. Soc., September, 1881.

navajovius Cope1 must be separated as a distinct genus, since the apices of the crowns of the last two molars have two cusps. This genus may be called Dissacus. (4) It results that there are four species of Mesonyx: M. ossifragus Cope, M. lanius Cope, M. obtusidens Cope, and M. gaudryi Fisch. M. ossifragus was the largest Creodont of the Eocene, equaling the largest grizzly bear in the size of its skull.

The number of possible combinations of tubercular and tubercular-sectorial molar teeth is considerable, and many of them. are represented in the genera of the Creodonta. A new one must now be added, in a genus which has, in the lower jaw, two tubercular sectorials, and one tubercular posterior to them. The genus thus stands between Stypolophus and Didymictis, but is nearer the former than the latter, since it has three true molars. It differs further from both in having but three premolars and a wide diastema. The canine is well developed. I call the genus Lipodectes, and describe two species, both from the Lowest Eocene, probably Puerco, of New Mexico.

Lipodectes penetrans, sp. nov., represented by a left mandibular ramus with three of the molars preserved. The last has a long heel; the first and second true molars are alike, and resemble those of Trüsodon, but the appendicular cusps are better developed. The anterior inner cusp is, however, smaller than the others and is nearly median in position. The heel is elevated on its external border into a strong triangular cusp. The posterior border rises into an acute cusp, which is internal to the middle line. The internal border of the heel is not elevated, and the surface is the oblique inner face of the external cusp. The anterior cusps are only moderately elevated and the cusps are acute. The enamel is smooth, and there is a low cingulum on the external base. The first (second) premolar is two-rooted, and has a large base. The second (third) consists principally of an elevated cusp with a subtriangular section. The heel is very small and acute, and there is no anterior basal tubercle. The internal face is strongly grooved in front. Canines directed upwards, with robust base. Symphysis short. Length of molar series, .043; of premolars, .019; of diastema, .012; length of base of last molar, .010; do of canine, .007; depth of ramus at last molar, .018; of diastema, .015. As large as, but more robust, than the red fox.

Lipodectes pelvidens. This species is about the size of L. penetrans, and differs from it in the less carnassial character of the inferior molars. The anterior cusps are relatively smaller in every way, and are more distinctly separated by deeper emarginations. The heel is wider, and has a less elongated external marginal cusp. The inner margin of the heel is elevated, enclosing a basin-like fossa, and rises into a flat cusp posteriorly. There is 1 Paleontological Bulletin, No. 33, p. 454.

a small median posterior marginal tubercle, which runs into a posterior cingulum, and is wanting from the L. penetrans. The tubercular has the three anterior cusps distinct as in Didymictis sp., while the heel is longer than in the known species of that genus. Its external border rises into a prominent cusp with triangular base. The fourth premolar has a small heel on the inner posterior side, and an acute anterior basal cusp. The principal cusp is robust and the basal portion is widely grooved posteriorly (apex lost). True molars with an external cingulum. Enamel obsoletely wrinkled. Length of true molar series, .024; of fourth premolar, .0075; length of last molar, .008; width of heel of second true molar, .005; length of crown of do., .007.-E. D. Cope.

THE PERMIAN FORMATION OF NEW MEXICO.-This formation is richly fossiliferous in New Mexico, and the vertebrates include several of the types already known from Texas and Illinois. Such are, among reptiles, the genera Diadectes, Dimetrodon and probably Clepsydrops. Of batrachians there are two genera, Eryops, and what is probably Zatrachys. Diplodus represents the fishes. All the individuals, and hence, probably, the species, are of smaller size than those of the Texan Permian, resembling i this respect those found in Illinois. Two species of batrachians of the genera above mentioned, are new, and may be described as follows:

Eryops reticulatus.-The most prominent peculiarity of this species is seen in the neural spines, which are not expanded at the summit as in E. megacephalus, but have rather contracted apices. Another character is the sharply reticulate sculpture of the maxillary bones. The species is much smaller than the E. megacephalus, or even than the Trimerorhachus insignis, and the extent of ossification of the vertebral elements is intermediate between the two species. The inferior surfaces of the intercentra are smooth, and the diapophyses are compressed. The occipital condyles are depressed and not very well distinguished inferiorly. The humeri have expanded extremities with enlarged epicondyles and well developed condyles, and no epitrochlear foramen. Width of occipital condyles, m. .016; elevation of dorsal vertebra, .024; width of intercentrum, .011; length of intercentrum (below), .007; five maxillary teeth in .015.

Zatrachys apicalis.—Represented by vertebræ and dermal bones. The summits of the neural spines are expanded, and the superior faces of the expansions are tubercular and have a median prominence. The expansions are sometimes large, resembling the dermal bones of crocodiles, and in that case the median prominence is a keel. On the smaller expansions the latter is a mere apex. There are narrow flat bones which I suppose to be neural spines, which are ornamented with inosculating ridges. A capitular head of a diapophysis is compressed. Intercentra well ossified, those preserved without lateral notch. Inferior surface with