Sp. 8. Silurus punctatus, Raf. Body whitish with gilt shades and many brown unequal dots on the sides, 8 barbs, 4 underneath, 2 lateral long and black, dorsal fin 7 rays, 1 spiny, pectoral fins 6 rays, 1 spiny, anal 27 rays, lateral line a little curved beneath at the base, tail forked unequal, upper lobe longer.

Sp. 9. Silurus olivaris, R. Body olivaceus, shaded with brown, 3 whole barbs, 4 beneath, 2 lateral thick brown, dorsal fin with 7 soft rays, pectoral fin 10 soft rays, anal fin 12 rays, tail rounded notched, teeth acute.

Sp. 11. Catostomus Inubalus, Raf. Body oblong, olivaceus brown, pale beneath, fins blackish, dorsal 28 rays, anal 12 rays, snout thick truncated, lateral line straight, tail whitish bilobate.

Sp. 12. Catostomus erythurus, Raf. Body oblong conical, rufous brown above, whitish beneath, scales very large, dorsal fin reddish 12 rays, anal fin yellow 7 rays, snout rounded gibbose, lateral line straight, tail forked and red.

Sp. 15. Clupea heterurus, Raf. Diameter one-fifth of total length, entirely silvery, a large brown spot at the base of the lateral line, head obtuse, belly serrate, dorsal fin 15 rays above the abdominal fin, anal fin 40 rays, tail unequal, lower lobe the longest, lateral line straight, scales small.

4. Conchology or the Shells. I trust I have discovered likewise the greatest proportion of the shells of the Ohio, having already collected and described over 30 species, the whole of which appear to be new; they consist of 24 bivalve and 8 univalve shells. It is strikingly singular that those shells belong only to 3 genera, that the 24 species of bivalve belong all to a single natural genus; and that those genera are all different from European fluviatile genera, which I have ascertained beyond a doubt by the shells and animals thereof. I shall add the characters of those new genera.

I. POTAMILUS.* Bivalve. Shell equivalve unequalateral, commonly transverse, rugose transversely, sloping posteriorly, shape variable, margin thickened, two muscular impressions, an epidermis surrounding the margin by a membranaceous brim, connective oblong convex membranaceous. Ligament with two teeth on one side, and a deep furrow on the other, between two carina in the left

*If I remember right this genus is also found

in the Hudson river, where 3 or 4 species are to be seen, which have been mistaken for Mya or Cardium.

shell, while the right shell has two unequal teeth, and two unequal carinas.

Animal with a mantle open and bilobe, branchias as a second interior mantle, body compressed tough, two openings or siphons anterior on each side, not tubular, one foot on each side commonly bilamellose, next to the openings.

1. Sub-genus. Shell transverse, not truncated, thick and without knobs; 1. Potamilus latissimus; 2. P. violacinus; 3. P. niger; 4. P. fasciolaris; 5. P. phaiedrus; 6. P. ellipticus; 7. P. zonalis; 8. P. obliquatus.

2. Sub-genus. Shell transverse, truncated posteriorly, thick and without knobs. 9. Potam. retusus; 10. P. truncatus; 11. P. triqueter.

3. Sub-genus. Shell transverse, thin, not truncated. 12. P. alatus; 13. P. leptodon; 14. P. fragilis; 15. P. nervosus; 16. P. fasciatus; 17. P. auratus.

4. Sub-genus. Shell transverse, thick, not truncated, knobby or warty. 18. P. gibbosus; 19. P. verrucosus; 20. P. tubercularis; 21. P. nodosus.

5. Sub-genus. Shell rounded or longitudinal. 22. P. pusillus ; 23. P. subrotundus; 24. Potamitus obovulis. Raf.

II. G. PLEUROCERA. Univalve. Shell variable oboval or conical, mouth diagonal crooked, rhomboidal, obtuse and nearly reflexed at the base, acute abovethe connection, lip and columelle flexuose entire. Animal, with an operculum membranaceous, head separated from the mantle inserted above it, elongated, one tentaculum on each side at its base, subulate acute, eyes lateral exterior at the base of the tentacula. 6 species. 1. Pl. retusa; 2. Pl. saxatilis; 3. Pl. fasciata; 4. Pl. coneola; 5. Pl. angulata; 6. Pl. turricula. Raf.

III. G. AMBLOXIS. Univalve. Shell thick oboval, mouth oval, rounded at the base, obtuse above with a thick appendage of the lip, columelle flexuose, a small rugose ombilic. 2 Species, 1. A. eburnea; 2. A. ventricosa. Raf.

5. Fossil remains of Animals. These are numberless in the valley of the Ohio, and particularly at the falls; but it is very difficult to ascertain what is new among them, however a great proportion appear to me undescribed. I have already seen or collected about 60 different species, among which are about 12 sp. of Tubiporites, 15 sp. of Madriporites, 2 sp. of Turbites, 12 sp. of Terebratulites, 8 sp. of Encrinites, 1 Eurycephalites, and seveof Gryphistes, 3 sp. of Celleperites, 3 sp. ral unknown shells, besides fossil wood and real petrified walnuts.

6. Bolany. The vegetation of the Western States has some peculiar features the most striking is its monotony, a few species being spread by millions over large tracts of country, while but few spots rich in a variety of plants, are to be met with. I have collected, however, a rich herbarium both on the Ohio and in crossing the Alleghany mountains. On those mountains I found the following new species. Uvulana angulala, Streptopus undulatus, Viola gibbosa, V. nephrodes, Prunus cuneatus, Trillium lirioides, Delphidium flexuosum, Dentaria parvifolia, Agrestis viridis, &c. I believe I have altogether already 4 new genera and 35 new species of plants, among which are the following. Staelry longifolia, Podostemon repens, Hieracium striatum, Plantigo compressa, Aira compressi, Scutellaria parviflora, Scutellaria macrophylla, Agaricus ellipticus, Gratiola cataracta, Alyssum gracile, Silene miniata, &c. My new genera are the following:

1. G. ENDIPLUS. Calyx 5 sparted. Cor. tubular campanulate, 10 angular, 5 fid, a longitudinal oblong bilamellar nectarium under each division. 5 Stamens equal jutting, filaments bearded in the middle. Style long, 2 stigmas. Ovary hairy. Fruit a double capsul, the exterior one monolocular bivalve hairy; the interior one bilocular bivalve 4 seeded, seeds one above the other. This genus has much affinity with Hydrophyllum, Phacelia, and Decemium, it contains only 1 sp. E. bifidus. Leaves pinnate, pinnules ovate lanceolate entire or divided, glaucous underneath. Flowers purplish blue.

2. G. TORREYA. Calyx quadrifid, unequal nearly labiate. Corolla labiate, upper lip concave entire, lower lip trilobe, lobes notched. 4 Stamina didynamous, antheras monolocular mucronate beneath, hairy, connected. Stigma bifid. Four naked seeds. The type of it is the Torreya grandiflora, which is perhaps the Lamium hispidulum of Michaux, but not a Lamium.

3. G. CYANOTRIS. Perigone 6 parted persistent, membranaceous, petals equal open linear, spatulate. 6 Stamina, filaments filiform smooth, ovary trigone, style filiform, stigma trifid. Capsul trigone, oblong, trilocular, trivalve, trispermous. One species Cyanotris_scilloides, with a long raceme of blue flowers, bracteas scariose shorter, leaves radical oblong lanceolate. Affinity with Nolina.

4. G. POTARCUS. A fleshy fluviatile substance, flat, without fibres, with a few

There were two excrescences of a horny nature, about three inches long, and of a curved figure. They inclined to the right and left one each way. They did not grow side and side, but one was in front of the other.

They were not attached to the skull, but were merely rooted in the flesh of the comb. In this, however, they had taken firm root, and had derived abundant nourishment from the blood vessels.

I became satisfied that the horns as they were called, and believed by the owner to be, were the spurs of another cock, that had been amputated and transplanted. In their living and bleeding state it is easy to comprehend how the wounded surfaces may have united by the first intention, and the spurs of one cock grow upon the comb of another, as the teeth of one human being may be associated with the jaw of another.

It is worthy of remark in the present case, that the inoculated or transplanted spurs, had received nourishment and acquired growth, in their new situation. They were longer and stouter than the leg-spurs of the individual cock himself; and indeed of any cock I had ever seen. They were also more crooked, and less pointed. Their form and magnitude had both been changed by their translation from the legs to the comb.

The bird was four years old, and perfectly healthy. His appearance was

odd, as he exhibited his horny excres

cences.

The appearances were, in all the memorable particulars, exactly like those which I observed in the cock brought last summer, from New-Orleans, by Mr. Giraud, to New-York. In that breed, all the facts and circumstances were substantially the same as in this. The horns were loose in the comb, and had no connection with the cranium. Their size and figure, however, were somewhat changed from spurs. The health was good, and the most striking incident was the whimsical appearance.

It would appear probable from these two cases, that there is an operator in Louisiana, who is very successful in these experiments upon cocks.

On the Mongrel Races of Animals. In a Letter from Dr. Allen, of Onondago, to Dr. Mitchill. Read before the Lyceum, June 15th, 1818. DEAR SIR,

I cannot forbear to give you an account of a singular phenomenon in natural history, well knowing your attachment to every circumstance of philosophical research. Sometime in the spring, now past, a sow, the property of a Mr. Reed, within two miles of this place, was delivered of a litter of animals, the appearance of which, has excited much speculation and surprise. The litter consisted of six in number, one of which was a perfect pig in every respect excepting one of the hind feet, which instead of a hoof, terminated with three claws resembling a dog's.

The other five were perfect dogs, as to feet, tail, hair, shape, &c. to the foreshoulders which resembled a pig's; the head was short like a dog's, the eyes and nose exactly in appearance like a pig, except as I observed before, rather shorter. They resembled a pig in nothing, except the shape of the nose, the appearance of the eyes, and the shape of the foreshoulders; they were all born alive, four of them died in fifteen minutes. But the most perfect of the dogs and the pig, lived and sucked until several hours elapsing, were killed by the owner, and to all appearance would have lived to arrive at maturity. The sow was a likely young white animal, this being her first litter, and was put with a male equally well formed and handsome.. About the time she went to the male, the owner had a bitch, and the yard was frequented for a number of nights, by numbers of dogs,

these were all the circumstances I now recollect attending.

I regret I was unable to dissect those animals, in order to ascertain their analogy to either class of animal in the viscera. This is a simple statement of the facts, I forbear to comment in the least, mean time I should be happy (should your avocations admit,) to receive your opinion on the subject, so much out of the common order of the nature of the brute creation, and on the union of two animals so dissimilar in their habits and nature. Accept, sir, the assurance of my particular regard and esteem,

Your obedient servant, JAMES MEASE ALLEN, M. D. S. L. MITCHILL. M. D. Clintonville, Onondaga County, N. Y. June 6th, 1818.

Description of a Phoca Vitulina, or Common Seal of the Long-Island and NewYork Coast. By Samuel L. Mitchill. Account of a Seal or Phoca, caught at South-Amboy, near New-York, June 13, 1818.

The length was 5 feet and 6 inches, and the girth around the thorax 4 feet and 4 inches.

There were no external ears, but only orifices for admitting sounds through the air and the water, in which the creature subsisted by turns.

The animal could live more than three minutes under water, without breathing. To enable it to sustain itself in this way; the extremity of the snout was so contracted as to enable the nostrils to be accurately closed at pleasure, and thereby to exclude the liquid element.

The back was of a dusky or iron gray when out of water and dry; though much darker when immerged. Belly whitish gray, or dirty white. Both have an undulated variegation of hue, in a transverse direction. Under the chin and along the throat, the hair is rather longer, and approaches nearer to a cream colour.

Head and face roundish. Neck thick and round, though susceptible of much elongation and contraction. Whiskers stiff, thick and plaited in five or six rows.

Eyes globose, nearly black, and capable of being accurately covered by the lids. Above each eye a patch of about five bristles.

The anterior extremities about ten inches long, and capable of being employed to scratch the head and the side. They are capable of being so expanded as to answer the double purpose of feet

and fins: have on each five distinct white nails, obliquely situated. Resemble the fins of the marine tortoise. The posterior extremities terminal, and webbed like the feet of a water fowl. When at rest, their soles touch each other. There are on each five nails, the middle one of which is situated on a toe shorter than the rest. Tail flat and tapering, but not more than four inches long.

Mouth capacious, teeth small and sharp. The creature devours herrings with voracity. Two teats on the abdomen, which are retracted within the skin.

There are several varieties, such as that found in the gulf of Bothnia, in lake Baikal of Siberia, in the Caspian sea, and in the ocean, more especially the north Atlantic, and of very different sizes and colours.

The Progress of the Human Mind from Rudeness to Refinement; exemplified in an Account of the Method pursued by Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, under the Authority of the Government of the United States, to civilize certain Tribes of Savages within their Territory; drawn up by Samuel L. Mitchill, M. D. LL. D. &c. &c.

THE

HE war which in 1814 led the inhabitants of Tennessee and Georgia, to destroy, in their own defence, a considerable part of the Creek nation, has been interpreted by some persons as proving the inutility of attempts to civilize savages. This conclusion is incorrect. The Cherokees have been initiated into the arts of improved life as well as the Creeks; and yet the Creeks only have engaged in hostility against the United States. There must therefore have been some other cause than the lessons they have learned from our agents. And this was probably the instigation of our secret and avowed enemies.

Until this extirminating warfare arose, the great problem of civilizing the aborigines was believed by many to have been in a fair way of being solved, or rather that it was already solved in the United States. The subjects of this philanthropic and instructive experiment were the Creeks and Cherokees. The former of these nations of Indians came from the west of the Mississippi. There is a tradition among them, that there are in the fork of Red-River, two mounds of earth, and that at that place the Cussatuhs, Cowetubs and Chickasaws found themselves; that being distressed by wars with red-men, their forefathers crossed the Mississippi, and travelling eastward, they passed the falls of Tallapoosa above Tookaubatche, and settled below the rapids of Chatapooche. Hence they spread out to Ocmulgee, Oconee, Savannah, and down the sea coast towards Charleston, where they first saw white people. By

those they were resisted and compelled to retreat to their present settlements.

This nation possessed a tract of country about three hundred miles square. It is for soil and climate, as well as natural advantages in general, not surpassed perhaps by any spot of equal extent, upon the face of the earth. The number of warriors at the last enumeration amounted to about four thousand Their settlements have been surrounded for many years by the Americans, the French, Spaniards and English. They were tempted in various ways to be concerned in the leagues and stratagems of their neighbours, who wished to get possession of their lands. They, however, generally conducted themselves with remarkable prudence, and avoided such alliances as might implicate them in depopulating wars. Accordingly, they preserved their national existence, and at the commencement of our federative government, attracted a large and early attention.

The greatness of their numbers, the value of their lands, and their contiguity to the colonies of the enterprising nations of Europe, made it necessary to have a seasonable and full explanation with them. At that time George Washington was President of the United States; and the Creeks were in an hostile mood. Congress was sitting in the city of NewYork; and the principal subject then under consideration was, whether they should be treated by forcible and warlike operations, or by gentle and pacific means. The considerate statesmen of the United States were divided in opinion on these points. Some were in favour of the exterminating, and others of the conciliatory plan. Among the latter was Benjamin Hawkins, then a Senator in Congress from North Carolina, who dissuaded in strong terms the project of hostile operations against the Creeks. By his interference a military expedition was withheld until a negotiator could be sent