Descriptions of three Filariae / by Joseph Leidy.

  • Leidy, Joseph, 1823-1891.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Descriptions of three Filariae / by Joseph Leidy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    December nth. Dr. Leidy presented for the inspection of the members, fragments of fossil mammalian remains, from Missouri Territory, received from the Smithsonian Institution, through Prof. Baird, consisting of portions of crania, maxillae and teeth, which he characterized under the names of Rhinoceros nebraskensis—a species not much largerthan a common hog,—Palaeotherium Bairdii, Merycoidodon Culbertsonii, and Agrio- chcerus antiquus. 1. Rhinoceros Nebeaskensis.—A species founded upon a great portion of the face, containing all the superior molar teeth; an inferior maxilla with six molars ; and three superior, apparently deciduous molars. It is about the same size as the R. minutus of Cuvier. Length of line of seven superior molars, .... 4 7-10 inches. six inferior .... 4 2-10 Breadth of jaws from the first superior true molar teeth of one side to the other, 3 8-10 2. Agriochcerus, n. g.—Founded upon a great portion of the face and inferior maxilla, containing six molar teeth on each side, and the posterior two molars of both sides superiorly of another individual. The posterior molars of this genus resemble in general form those of Merycopotamus, Talk., 4- Caut., and are about one-third smaller, but the outer demicones are not separated to the base from each other like the former, but are combined by a rounded column as in Hyo- potamus bovinus. The fourth premolar has four demicones, but the internal posterior one is rudi- mentary. The third has two demicones: the external large, the internal small. The second forms but a single cusp. The inferior true molars in general form re- semble those of Merycoidodon, but may at a glance be distinguished by the pos- terior edge of the postero-external demicone bifurcating before it terminates, sending one arm to join the internal angle of the posterior internal demicone ; the other to join its posterior external face about the centre. Length of range of superior six molars, . . . . . 3 in. 1 line. <« inferior posterior five molars, . . . 3 1 Breadth of face from one superior posterior molar to the other, 2 10 The species he called A. antiquus. 3. Pal;eotherium.—Remains of this genus have been previously discovered in this country. Dr. Prout in Silliman's Journal, Vol. 3, n. s., p. 248, describes a fragment of an inferior maxilla of a species larger than the P. magnum of Cuvier. The species, for distinction, may be named P. Proutii. A second species was founded upon the cranium and a portion of the face con- taining the true molars ; and the six superior and inferior molars of both sides of another individual. This species is about two-thirds the size of P. crassum. The arrangement of the superior molars is very like that of Paleotherium Hippoides. Length of range of seven superior molars, . . . . 2 8-10 inches. cc <c seven inferior .... 3 Breadth of face on line with posterior superior molars, . 2i This second species Dr. L. named P. Bairdii, in honor of Prof. S. F. Baird; Curator of the Smithsonian Institution. t