University of the State of New York
=co
MEMOIR
New York State Museum
Frederick J. H. Merkill Director
No. 3 Vol. 3
October 1900
THE ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN
COLUJVIBIA COUNTY, N. Y.
JOHN M. CLARKE M.A. Ph.D.
StaU faltintoUgist
ALBANY
UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
I goo
University of the State of New York
MEMOIR
OF THE
New York State Museum
Frederick J. H. Merrill Director
No. 3 Vol. 3
October 1900
THE ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN
COLUNIBIA COUNTY, N. Y.
JOHN M. CLARKE M.A. Ph.D.
State faleontologiit
ALBANY
UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
1900
V^
University of the State of New York
REGENTS
With yean of election
1874 Akson Judd Upson L.H.D. D.D. LL.D. - - Clumcellor, Glens Falls
1892 William Oeoswell Doank D.D. LL.D. - - Vice-Chancellor, Albany
1873 Martin I. Townsend M.A. LL.D. _____ Troy
1877 Chaunoet M. Depew LL.D. _______ New York
1877 Charles E. Fitch LL.B. M.A. L.ILD. _ _ _ _ Kochester
1877 Orris H. Warren D.D. _______ Syracuse
1878 Whitklaw Reid LL.D. _______ New York
1881 William H. Watson M.A. M.D. _____ Utica
1881 Henry E. Turner ________ Lowville
1883 St Claie McKelway L.H.D. LL.D. D.C.L. _ _ _ Brooklyn
1885 Hamilton Harris Ph.D. LL.D. _____ Albany
1885 Daniel Beach Ph.D. LL.D. ______ Watkins
1888 Carroll E. Smith LL.D. ______ Syracuse
1890 Pljny T. Sexton LL.D. ______ _ Palmyra
1890 T. Guilford Smith M.A. C.E. LL.D. _ _ _ _ Buffalo
1893 Lewis A. Stimson B.A. M.D. ______ New York
1895 Albert Yandee Veer Ph.D. M.D. - _ _ _ _ Albany
1895 Charles R. Skinner M.A. LL.D.
Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-ofScio
1897 Chester S. Lord M.A. LL.D. ______ Brooklyn
1897 Timothy L. Woodruff M.A.. Lieutenant-Governor, ex-officio
1899 Theodore Roosevelt B.A. LL.D. Governor, ex-officio
1899 John T. MoDonough LL.B. LL.D. Secretary of State, ex-officio
1900 Thomas A. Hendrick M.A. LL.D. _____ Rochester
SECRETARY
Elected by regents
1900 James Russell Parsons je M.A.
DIRECTORS OF DEPARTMENTS
1888 Melvil Dewey M.A. State library amd Home education
1890 James Russell Parsons je M.A.
Administrative, College and High school dejp'ts
1890 Feedeeiok J. H. Merrill Ph.D. State museum
CONTENTS
Prefatory note 5
Introduction .......... 6
Chapter 1
Stratigraphic structure of Becraft mountain .... 6
Chapter 2
Description of the fauna 16
Vertical range of species . 65
Faunal values of species 68
Chapter 3
Nature and distribution of the Oriskany fauna in New York 72
Distribution of the calcareous facies 72
Ulster county , 72
Orange county ......... 75
Albany and Schoharie counties 77
The original Oriskany sandstone 78
Fauna of the Gaspe limestones ...... 80
Chapter 4
The Devonic age of the Helderbergian fauna and the base
of the Devonic system in New York .... 82
1 the argument from correlation ..... 83
2 the argument from the intrinsic character of the fauna 83
3 the argument from stratigraphy ^95
Fauna of the Manlius limestone . . ... * 98
Explanation of plates 103
Index ,122
I
PREFATORY NOTE ^
The original purpose of this work was solely to depict the character i
and composition of the Oriskany fauna of Becraft mountain, which of j
itself displays many features of interest. In its progress, however, vari- \
ous questions have arisen which concern the intrinsic value of the fauna i!
and its importance in correlation. Yet without an understanding of the
fauna itself it would be impracticable to discuss the latter problems, and '
for this reason the title of the paper is restricted to the principal argu-
ment of the work, to which the discussions of somewhat broader scope 1
are corollaries.
THE ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN,
COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK
INTRODUCTION
The existence of a fauna in the New York series linking together
in the character of its species that of the calcareous shales and lime-
stones of the Lower Helderberg and that which has been regarded as
pertaining to the normal Oriskany sandstone of Oneida county and
westward sections, was first brought to public notice in 1892, in a
paper published by Prof. Charles E. Beecher and accompanied by a
list of the species prepared by the writer.'
The interesting bearings of this assemblage of species, its new
forms and new associations and its real importance in the correlation
of the lower Devonian are sufficient reason for presenting its char-
acteristics in detail.
The fauna in its highest development is found at Becraft moun-
tain, about 2 miles east of the Hudson river, near the city of Hud-
son in Columbia county. Strata of the same horizon occur at other
localities in the state and carry some of the characteristic species which
appear in profusion on Becraft mountain. Such outcrops are found in
Ulster and Orange counties on the west side of the Hudson, but they
quickly disappear in the westward extension of the Oriskany formation.
Chapter 1
STRATIGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN
Becraft mountain has been the subject of geologic observation since
the early report of W. W. Mather on the geology of the first district
of New York (1842). A brief account of the succession and structure
of the rock beds will be found on page 351 of that work, and a very
' Notice of a new Lower Oriskany fauna in Columbia county, N. Y. by C. E.
Beecher, with an Annotated list of fossils, by J. M. Clarke. Amer. jour. sci. 1892-
44:410-14.
ORISKANT FAUNA OF BECBAFT MOUNTAUT 7
generalized section across the mountain from east to west is given on
plate 24, iigure 6. The mountain is an outlier of principally early
Devonic strata about 2 miles in north and south extent, and these
rest unconformably, as shown by Mather, J. D. Dana and W. M. Davis,
on the upturned slates of the Hudson river formation. The most com-
plete and interesting portrayal of the structure of this area is that given
by Davis.'
Accompanying that paper is a sketcli map of the mountain giving
the stratigraphic succession both in plane and in section. It is not my
purpose to enter into great detail with reference to the structure of this
area, but, to point' certain . of my observations, I have taken the liberty
to represent on a somewhat different scale, the map given by Prof.
Davis, with some emendations of the contacts of the various formations
and the addition of two important divisions not noted by him.
Over the northern portion the mountain is a simple, low syncline;
and toward the central part it shows a double syncline separated by a
very short fold, at which the layers of the Becraft limestone come to
the surface. Again, farther south the duplicate form of this syncline
is in a measure lost and the structure gradually becomes more compli-
cated, particularly at the southeast edge of the area. This was indi-
cated by Mather, who in one of his sections suggested that the rocks
at this point were overturned. Davis likewise left the structure here
in some doubt. The first strata resting on the upturned Hudson
river slates,* are those of the Tentaculite (Manlius') limestone, which
nearly inclose the entire area and on the northeast and southwest boun-
'Amer. jour. sci. 1883. 3d ser. 26:381-89.
"At Mount Moreno, just south of the city of Hudson, these slates carry a
fauna with Coenograptus gracilis, Didymograptus Sagittarius,
D. tenuis Hall and other graptolites identical with those of the Normanskill
shales at Kenwood and Glenmont, Albany county. The taxonomy of the great
mass of so-called Hudson river slates in the Albany region which has recently
been studied bj Ruedemann points to the early Trenton age of the Normanskill
shales and inferentialiy of these slates lying beneath the Manlius limestone of
Becraft mountain.
^See footnote, p. 8
8
KEW TOKK STAT£ MtTSEUM
daries are rendered very conspicuous by their strong escarpment. Over
this lies the Pentamerus (Coeymans*) limestone, characteristically devel-
oped, and thereon a well defined mass of Catskill shaly (New Scot-
land') limestone. The latter is overlaid by the Becraft' limestone. To
these four formations Davis assigned the following thicknesses:
Manlius limestone 20-30 feet
Coeymans limestone 40-50 feet
New Scotland beds 50-60 feet
Becraft limestone 40-50 feet
^The requirements of uniformity in stratigraphic nomenclature are compelling
the relinquishment of 6uch of the early division names in the New York series as
do not indicate localities of exposure. In order to save to the state of New York
its preeminent title to the names of these divisions and in the farther hope of per^
petnating an equable grouping of the stratigraphic units of the New York series, the
writer, in conjunction with Charles Schuchert, has recently {Science. Dec. 8, 1899,
American gedogiM. Feb. 1900) proposed the arrangement of the formations given
in the following table. This proposition has been carefully considered and is the
result of mature deliberation.
ITEW YOEK SERIES
BBA OK STSTXH
PE&IOD OR GEOUP
AOK OR STAGE
Cambric
or
Taconie
Champlainic*
(Lower Silurian and
Ordovician)
Georgian
Acadian
Potsdamian
' Canadian**
(Paleochamplainic)
Mohawkian*
(Mesochamplainic)
Cincinnatian'*
(Neochamplainic)
Georgia slates
Potsdam sandstone and limestone
f Beekmantown limestone*'
I Chazy limestone
f Lowville limestone**
i Black river limestone
[ Trenton limestone
f Utica shale
< Lorraine beds*'
[ Richmond beds (Ohio and Indiana)
0R18KANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN
NBw YOKK SEUIE8 coutimied
SKA OB STsnu
Ontaric*
or
Siluric
Devonic
muoD OE owavT
tat OB tftkom
Oswegan*
(Paleontaric)
Niagaran'
(Mesontaric)
Cayugan*
(Neontaric)
.2
Ileldcrbergian
Orifikanian*"
Mesodevonic
Dlsterian**
Erian'»
Senecan '
Chaiitauqaan**
\ Oneida conglomerate
i Shawangunk grit
[ Medina sandstone
f Clinton beds
I Rochester shale
1 Lockport limestone
[ Guelph dolomite
[ Salina beds
< Kondout waterlime"
[ Manlius limestone'*
Coejmans limestone"'
New Scotland beds"*
Becraft limestone""
Kingston beds"^
Oriskany beds
IEsopns grit"*
Schobarie grit
Onondaga limestone
I Marcellus shale
1 Hamilton beds
f Tully limestone
Genesee shale
Portage beds
(Naples beds,
Ithaca beds,
Oneonta beds,
local facies)
f Chemung beds
(Catskill
sandstone"'
local facies)
1 Champlainic. This most appropriate designation was introduced by the concur-
rence of the four geologists for the formations here assigned to it (excluaive of the
Potsdam sandstone), and it has clear right of way over the later application of the name
to the period of postglacial alluvium. That the later term has become ingrained in
10 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
literature renders it all the more conspicuous as an infraction of the law and of the rights
of the men who first proposed it. In the face of Champlain, 1842, the term Ordovician
has no standing.
2 Ontaric. Vanuxem placed the base of the Ontario division at the "gray
sandstone," Hall and Emmons at the Medina, Mather at the Shawangunk grit.
Vanuxem and Hall terminated the above division with the Niagara, Emmons included
the Salina and waterlime. Growing evidence fully indorses Emmons's view as to the
termiuation of the group and period with the clearing of the Salina sea.
3 Canadian. This term has the prestige of time and priority.
4 Mohawkian (new). Conrad and Vanuxem made use of tlie term, Mohawk
limestone, for certain of the calcareous layers beneath the Trenton, bnt they differed
so widely in their application of the term that in the summation of their results, the
geologists decided to abandon it. The name is here revived with a broader mean-
ing. The valley and watersheds of the Mohawk river afford typical exposures of
all members of the group.
5 Cincinnatian. The formations of the Neochamplainic are not as completely
developed in the state of New York as in Ohio and Indiana. In the latter sections
the Lorraine fauna is represented, but is followed above by the well defined fauna of
the Richmond beds. Probably in no other region is the succession of these faunas
so complete as about Cincinnati, and this fact justifies the recognition of the term
Cincinnatian, which already has historic value. For a full description of the series
by Winchell and tJlrich, see Oeol. and nat. hist. sur. of Minn. 1897. v. 3, pt 2,
p. 101-5.
6 Oswegan. This name is appropriate on account of the widespread occurrence
of the Oneida and Medina formations in Oswego county, N. Y. Vanuxem employed
the term, Oswego sandstone, for the formation subsequently and by common consent
called Medina sandstone. In reviving the name, though with a broader meaning
than in its original use, it derives its title from its early date.
7 Niagaran. In the sense suggested by Prof. Dana.
8 Cayugan (new). The divisions of this group are knit together by lithologic
and faunal characters and are distinctly Ontaric. The outcrops are typically exposed
about the north end of Cayuga lake, N. Y.
9 Helderbergian. The present state of our knowledge does not permit the use
of the term, Helderberg, in its original scope. The Helderberg division was
made to embrace formations now regarded as constituting the lower and part of
the middle Devonic. We propose to restrict the term Helderbergian to the forma-
tions currently known as Lower Helderberg, excluding the Tentaculite limestone.
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECBAFT MOUNTAIN 11
10 Oriskanian. The Oriskany formation varies considerably in the chaiacter of
its sediment. Its calcareous fades is highly developed in eastern New York, while
the more silicious sediment excludes all others in the central part of the state. The
fauna of the Oriskany from its lowest beds, as at Camden Tenn., to its highest beds,
as in the province of Ontario, shows progress in differentiation, but it is not yet
practicable to subdivide the New York development of the fauna.
11 Ulsterian (new). From the outcrops of all the members in Ulster county,
N. Y.
12 Erian. The Erie division comprised the formations from the top of the
Onondaga limestone to the top of the Chemung. We propose to save the term to
the New York nomenclature by reviving it with a restricted meaning.
13 Senecan (new). In Seneaa county and along the shores of Seneca lake are
excellent exposures of these beds.
14 Chautauquan (new). From exposures in Chautauqua county, N. T.
15 Beekmantown limestone (new). The Calciferous sandrock of Eaton and authors
generally. This formation took its original name from sections in the Mohawk valley,
where the rocks are without fossils. At Beekmantown N. Y., the normal fauna is finely
developed and the rock section essentially complete.
16 Lowville limestone (new); instead of Birdseye limestone of common use.
Lowville is a town in Lewis county, N. Y., where these beds are well exposed.
17 Hudson river beds. It is becoming increasingly evident that the great mass of
shale in the Mohawk and Hudson river valleys which was designated at an early date by
this term is resolvable into horizons extending from the middle Trenton to and including
the Lorraine beds. At present it seems unlikely that, when this determination of horizons
has been carried through the series, any part will remain to which the original term can
be applied by virtue of its distinctive fauna, though it may still serve to designate a
facies of the formations mentioned.
18 Rondout waterlime (new). From the fine development of these beds in the
extensive cement quarries at and near Rondout N. Y.
ly Manlius limestone. Tentaculite limestone of Gebhard, Mather and later writers.
The name here used was introduced by Vanuxem and is entitled to first consideration.
Manlius is the place of typical exposure in Onondaga county, N. Y.
20 Coeymans limestone (new); and
21 New Scotland beds (new). These terms designate respectively the Lower
Pentamerus (Heiderberg and Pentamerus limestones of the New York geologists) and
the Catskiil or Delthyris shaly limestones. Coeymans and New Scotland are adjacent
towns in Albany county, N. Y., through which runs the Heiderberg escarpment, affording
the finest exposures of these formations.
12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
The Becraft limestone, a heavy bedded rock, hard, gray and sub-
crystalline, occupies the position of the Scutella limestone as developed
in the Helderberg and Schoharie sections and pi>obably represents both
the Scutella and Upper Pentamerus limestones of those sections. Over
the summit of the Becraft limestone on the eastern ridge of the moun
tain the surface slopes gradually downward to the west and follows the
dip of the strata.
At the base of this slope is a marshy area draining toward the
south, and in the vicinity of this low region and ' above it for about
one third the width of the slope is the outcrop of the Oriskany
which was not recognized by Prof. Davis. This is largely concealed
under the soil, and there are no very clearly defined exposures of it
except where the soil has been removed from small areas, in which
case the surfaces rather than the edges of the strata are seen; but a
considerable quantity of the rock that has become loose has worked
up through the soil, and is not only found near its proper site but is
scattered abundantly through the stone walls in the immediate vicinity
of the strata themselves, so that the material is to be looked for and
found most abundantly on the westward slope of this syncline and in
the vicinity of the little stream thi'oughout its extent. These strata,
highly silicious, hard, dark limestones, have been most favorably
exposed to decomposition, and in consequence the calcareous matter has
22 Becraft limestone. This name was introduced by N. H. Darton with the
sanction of Prof. James Hall, for the beds previously known as the Upper Pentamerus
and Scutella limestones of the Helderberg sections. The present name is derived from
Becraft mountain, Columbia county, N. Y.
23 Kingston beds (new). The " upper shaly beds " of W. M. Davis, which are
typically exposed and attain a thickness of 250 feet in the vicinity of Kingston N. Y.
24 Esopus grit. Proposed by Darton with the approval of Prof. Hall, for the old
term Cauda-galli grit. It has been suggested by Freeh that the Esopus grit should be
regarded as a part of the arenaceous sediments of the Oriskany. The very few fossils
which it contains, however, do not as yet fully indorse this suggestion.
25 Catskill sandstone. This is an approximate expression of the value of this
formation. Catskill sedimentation doubtless began as early as Portage time, its
representation during which is expressed in the term, Oneonta beds.
Geological Map
OF THE
Becraft Mountain Synclinal
Manlius Coeymans NewScotland Becraft Kin§;.ton On'skany
(Tenraculite) (Pentamerus) (Shaly) (Upper Shaly)
ym ^
Esopus Schoharie Onondaga
The Hudson River Slates onthe Outskirts of this Area are not Represented
SCALE.
1 incK^^llodk
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 13
been largely leached out for a considerable depth on all exposed sur-
faces, only a porous residuum remaining. This light, rusty and firm
rotten stone retains the external and internal casts of the fossil remains
with which it is filled, in exquisite detail and forms excellent material
for study. Only by hastening nature's process with acid can the fossils
be made out from the black and cherty or unchanged calcareous cores
of this rock.
It is not easy to estimate the actual thickness of these strata at
this place, as it would appear that they have been partly eroded, but
there is no evidence above them of the black chert beds which ter-
minate the Oiiskany deposits in the Ulster, Albany and Schoharie
county sections, nor of the characteristic white quartz sandstone of the
central sections. These beds rest on an argillaceous limestone, which
seems to be present in only slight force and is almost wholly if not
quite concealed; the "upper shaly" or Kingston limestone, blocks of
which are frequently found in close association with the Oriskany and
so closely resemble the latter that considerable care and experience are
requisite to avoid confounding the two. The author has therefore taken
utmost care in making up the list of species of the Oriskanj^ to
eliminate all this "upper shaly" material from consideration. This is
readily done after experience in recognizing the lithologic differences,
aided by the fact that the Kingston limestone contains but very slight
intermixture of Oriskany species. The Helderbergian species here regis-
tered, therefore, occur in Oriskany limestone and in immediate association
with Oriskany fossils.
From the axis of the syncline, specially along the north and south
road crossing the mountain, is a ridge of gray, sandy grit with slaty
cleavage so strongly developed that the original bedding is entirely lost.
This rock covers a large area from the center of the region and constitutes
the high ridges which cap both of the synclinals. Prof. Davis regarded
all of this rock, which in places rises in very sharp escarpments, par-
ticularly on the east of the southern part of the road mentioned, as the
Cauda-galli giit (Esopus slate). I have found however in various places,
specially near the junction of the middle road with a crossroad from
the west starting in at the glue factory, that this rock contains
14 NEW YOUK STATE MUSEUM.
fossils wedged in between the cleavage planes and lying with their
surfaces parallel to the true bedding. These are exceedingly diffi-
cult to extract, but among them it has been possible to identify
Dalmanites anchiops; Phacops, a fragment of a head without
spine on the genal angle, (cf. P. bombifrons); Coelospira (cf.
Camilla); Chonetes, large (cf. arc u at a). These fossils are suffi-
cient to show the presence here of the Schoharie grit. They have not
been fotind throughout the entire thickness of this formation, and are
under all circumstances very rare, but, while we may safely ascribe a
portion of the formation to the Esopus slate, it is necessary to regard at
least that portion represented as such on the accompanying map as
belonging to the Schoharie grit. It is observable that, where these rocks
contain fossils, some calcareous matter is present.
The existence of the Corniferous limestone, the highest and. latest of all
the formations, was also determined by Prof. Davis ; and to this he ascribed a
thickness of 10 to 15 feet, but he speaks of having found no fossils in it and
is somewhat uncertain as to the correctness of his reference to the limestone
of this formation. This rock is a chert-bearing, light colored, almost white
limestone, the chert lying in layers and the entire thickness of the mass being
from 15 to 20 feet. In stratification it is essentially horizontal, or with a very
slight dip east. There can be no question that it is the Onondaga limestone.
The layers are sparsely fossiliferous, showing traces of rugose corals, particu-
larly Zaphrentis and well defined examples of the brachiopod Spirifer
raricosta. Directly beneath the outcrop of these beds are seen beds with-
out flint which are calcareous and shaly or shaly with calcareous lenses, the
limestone itself being blue and the shale weathering brown or rusty gray.
These beds show conclusive evidence of false bedding, as a vertical slaty
cleavage is highly developed, and in this respect they resemble those seen
near the roads below, which we have already referred to the Schoharie grit.
They thus appear to lie at a high angle beneath the chert-bearing beds, but
are unquestionably conformable to them, as is shown by the nearly horizontal
position of the fossils they contain. Nevertheless, these fossils, which are so
wedged into the rock that it is difficult to release them, are variously distorted
by pressure and only very compact bodies like solid corals have escaped such
distortion. The following species have been determined from these layers.
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECBAFT MOUNTArtT 15
Odontocephalus selenurus; Spirifer varicosus; Atrypa
reticularis, large and rotund; Leptaena rhoraboidalis ; Strep,
torhynchus pandora; Chonopliyllura; Zaphrentis; Favo-
sites, branching; Stroma topor a or Fistulipora, incrusting.
With the evidence before us then, we have no hesitation in concluding that
the succession of the upper Helderberg beds from the top of the Oriskany
sandstone upward is fairly complete, representing the Esopus slate, the
Schoharie grit, the non-chert-bearing Onondaga limestone and characteristic
" Corniferous " limestone.
Chapter 2
DESCEIPTION OF TPIE FAUNA
TRILOBITES
Dalmanites (Synphoria) stemmatus sp. nov,
Plate 1, flg. 6-16 ; plate 3, Sg. 1, 3
1892. Dalma/nitea, sp. nov. A, Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
Species attaining considerable size. Cephalon convex, abruptly slop-
ing to the genal margins. Genal extremities somewhat produced but rela-
tively short and terminating in broad, obtuse angles. Dorsal furrow
deep except at the junction of the glabellar lobes with the palpebral
lobe, where it becomes shallow and very much elevated. Frontal lobe
of glabella large, rounded in front, slightly elongated at the axial
extremity but not projecting beyond the frontal border or facial suture.
First lateral furrows long, deep and oblique, extending nearly three
fourths the diameter of the lobe. Glabellar surface behind the frontal
lobe slightly if at all depressed medially. Second and third lobes
wholly confluent at their extremities, often but a remnant of the second
lateral furrows remaining. Together these coalesced lobes have a sub-
triangular or subclavate outline and are convex and elevated at their
distal extremities, rising above the full hight of the glabella and almost to
the hight of the palpebral lobe. The third lobes are small and narrow,
16 NEW rOKK STATE MUSEUM
making an annular segment, varying but little in widtii; their extremi-
ties are almost concealed beneath the projecting lobes in front. Occi-
pital furrow deep; occipital segment long and very much arched; no
central spine or tubercle. Cheeks with steep lateral slopes; somewhat
concave within the thickened margin. Furrows beneath the eyes deep,
narrow, with elevated margin having a vertical, outward slope. Occi-
pital furrow widening from the dorsal furrows outward and coming to
a rather abrupt termination without meeting the submarginal depression
of the cheek or extending on the genal expansion. Eyes large, ele-
vated, the palpebrum higher than the palpebral lobe.
The thickened border bears a row of crenulations or crescentic orna-
mental processes, which are the most extended at the anterior extrem-
ity; here also the anterior three of these processes are somewhat coal-
esced. From this extremity may be counted, on both sides of the ter-
minal process, from 12 to 15 similar processes, becoming uniformly
smaller toward the genal extremities and finally disappearing altogether
at or near the lateral termination of the facial suture. In small speci-
mens the number of these processes may be considerably less.
The surface of the cephalon is ornamented, on the frontal lobe of
the glabella, with coarse pustules of varying size ; this lobe also bears
the elongate median scar which occurs in many species of the genus.
The coalesced second and third lobes are also pustulose but less strongly.
The cheeks directly beneath the eyes bear traces of low ramifying
grooves similar to those found in Dal. pleuroptyx of the Helder-
bergian fauna and Dal. anchiops of the Schoharie grit.
Thorax not observed.
Pygidium very broadly triangular, the length and width being as 2 to
3. The margin curves slightly outward on each side and terminates behind
in a broad, rounded extremity which is slightly elongated but is not
produced into a spine. The axis bears 10 or 11 annulations, and the
pleurae 9 or 10. The ribs are undivided by a median groove and are
without coarse tubercles.
Observations. This interesting species shows its immediate affinities
in many of its structural features. The peculiar ornamentation of the
\
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 17
frontal margin of the cephalon is possessed in less degree and different
quality by several antecedent species. Thus as far back as the Dal.
vigilans Hall, and Dal. verrucosus Hall of the later Niagara
(Waldron) fauna there is a pronounced development of a short and simple
spatulate process at the anterior extremity. In the Dal. pleuroptyx
Conrad, of the Helderbergian, this process becomes broadened and divided,
the divisions taking on the character of those in Dal. stemmatus,
though being less numerous and of less extent along the border. In
Dal. anchiops Green, of the Schoharie grit, a similar character is
manifested,' extending for a short distance on either side of the extremity.
Dalmanites (Odontocephalus) selenurus Eaton, of the
Onondaga limestone, has the frontal margin developed by perforation into
incisor-like processes, which again extend but a short distance from the
extremity, v^^hile in Dal (Corycephalus) regalis Hall, of the
Schoharie grit, the processes are blunt, distant and extend to the ends
of the cheek spines. In the limestone beds at Port Jervis, the " trilo-
bite beds " of Barrett, are the species Dal. dentatus Barrett and
Dal. dolphi Clarke, the former with a row of pointed triangular pro-
cesses extending nearly to the extremities of the cheek spines, the latter
with a stronger compound anterior process and two or three sharp lateral
processes on each side. Thus the marginal ornamentation of the head
is seen to be subject to much variation, and from the simple anterior
extension of the frontal border manifested in some of the late Siluric
species, through the Dal. pleuroptyx of the early Devonic into
Dal. stemmatus of the • Oriskany, there has been a simple intensi-
fication and extension of the type of crenulate ornament. Here, however,
the line ends, to be re])laced and followed by the various phases above
mentioned.
As to the employment of the term Synphoria, which is used
in the title of this species, a few remarks may be made. To some of
the ornamental expressions of Dalmanites referred to, generic or
subgeneric terms have been applied, e. g., Odontocephalus for
Dal. selenurus, Corycephalus for Dal. regalis, etc. It
^See Paleontology of New York. v. 7, pi. 10, fig. 11.
18 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
seems of very doubtful propriety to attempt to carry out such dis-
tinctions in this genus, and it is proper to make this remark here lest
the outstanding ornamental variations not yet included under such sub-
divisions offer a temptation for the erection of parallel divisions. A
much more fundamental character is found to exist in many of these
Devonic Dalmanites, viz, the coalescence of adjacent members of
the first and second pair of glabellar lobes. This is a difference of
rexl significance in the anatomy of the animal, and it distinguishes a
considerable number of forms from the normal Dalmanites in
which the division of the lobes named is complete.
In the species of the early Siluric such coalescence is obscurely
manifested, as in Dal. (Pterygometopus) eboraceus Clarke and
Dal. (Ptery.) intermedins Walcott, but here in association with
other characters which have been found a basis for a subgeneric distinction.
The upper Siluric was a period of full, typical development of Dal-
manites, and we observe that the Helderbergian species of the genus
maintain their typical character in this respect. Dalmanites stem,
m a t u s is the earliest Devonic form in which coalesence is pronounced.
Then follow Dal. anchiops Green and var. sobrinus il. and C,
Dal. regalis Hall, of the Schoharie grit, Dal. selenurus
Eaton, Dal. macrops Hall, Dal. diurus Green, Dal. calypso
Hall and Dal. myrmecophorus Green of the Onondaga lime-
stone. Within this group of species we find much diversity of mar-
ginal cephalic ornament : in Dal. macrops, Dal. calypso and
Dal. diurus the frontal border is undivided ; in Dal. anchiops
it is moderately crenulated ; in Dal. selenurus it is divided into
incisor-like processes (Odontocephalus); in Dal. regal is the
processes are different and extend over the entire margin (Corycepha-
lus); in Dal, myrmecophorus the cephalic margin is not known,
but the pygidial margin is highly modified (Coronura).
Turning to the Devonic species of this genus which possess the
typical separation of the first and second lobes, we may enumerate
Dal. pleuroptyx Conrad, Dal. dentatus Barrett, Dal.
d o 1 p h i Clarke, of the Helderbergian, Dal. boothi and var.
calliteles Green, of the Hamilton shales ; the first three bearing
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECK AFT MOUNTATN 19
cephalic ornament and the others with none, but possessing highly char-
acteristic pygidia (Cryphaeus). It seems therefore very probable
that the term Synphoria, introduced by the writer some years
ago, in its application to the former group of species having coalescent
glabellar lobes, may prove of subgeneric significance in distinguishing such
forms from the typical Dalmanites.
Dalmanites (Synphoria) stemmatus, var. convergens var. nov.
Plate 2, flg. 8-5
1892. Dalmanites sp. nov. A. var, Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
Not infrequent in this fauna are small pygidia of Dalmanites
having the same degree of annulation as Dal. stemmatus but with
a more slender and tapering outline. At the posterior extremity, also,
there is a short but acute termination. A few cranidia of correspond-
ing size show a slight crenulation of the anterior margin.
Dalmanites phacoptyx Hall and Clarke
Plato 2, flg. 10
1888. Dalmanites phacoptyx ^aM und Chrke, Paleontology of I^ew York. 1:51,
pi. 9a, fig. 23-27
This species was founded on some large but incomplete pygidia
from the Upper Helderberg (Ulsterian) at North Cayuga, Ontario, which
are characterized by their narrow, divided pleural ribs, long, cylindric
tail spine and irregularly tubercled surface, some of the tubercles being
large and having the form of spinules. These spinules occur without
arrangement on the pleural ribs and on some of the segments of the
axis. Lesser tubercles are scattered over the surface and are crowded
on the sides of the axis.
A few specimens representing this species have been found in the
Oriskany.
Dalmanites bisignatus sp. nov.
Plate 2, flg. 6-8
1892. Dalmanites sp. nov. B, Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
Cephalon and thorax not known.
Pygidium elongate triangular, sloping to a sharp angle which may
be extended into a short, flat spine. Axis quite slender and with
20 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
slightly incurving dorsal furrows. Segments transverse and narrow, 12
to 14 in number on internal casts, bearing a double median row of
strong and sharp tubercles with fine and faint pustules at the side.
Pleurae with 12 ribs which are separated by broad, flat grooves ; these
ribs are narrow, flattened above and divided by a fine median, linear sul-
cus. Very small tubercles are scattered irregularly over the ribs.
These are pygidia quite closely similar to that of Dal. d e n t a-
t u s Barrett, of the Port Jervis limestone and the Dal. p 1 e u r o p-
t y X Conrad, of the Helderbergian. The differences are these : in
Dal. dentatus the ribs of the pleurae are fewer in number^
more deeply divided by the sulci and more strongly pustulose ; on the
axis the median row of tubercles consists of two, three or four with
lesser ones at the sides. In Dal. pleuroptyx the number of
axial and pleural segments is generally more than here, the oiitline of
the shield is less sharply triangular and, while the pleural ribs are of
much the same character, the ornamentation of the surface is different,
consisting of a fine granulation extending over all annulations with but
a slight tendency to become coarser on the axis.
Phacops correlator sp. nov.
Plate 2, fig. 9
1892. Phacops {Acaste) of. anceps Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
This very interesting fossil I was at one time disposed to regard
as identical with Phacops anceps of the Upper Helderberg lime-
stone. On comparison with the original specimen, which was described
and figured by the writer in volume 9, Archivos do miiseu nacional do
Rio de Janeiro. 1890. p. 16, pi. 1, fig. 3, a difference appears, which
will not permit the union of the forms, and this is found in the sharper
development of the glabellar furrows. In Ph. anceps, the only
known example of which is an internal cast of the cephalon in limestone,
there is no trace of the first and second pairs of these furrows, but in
Ph. correlator these furrows are quite clearly developed both on
internal casts and impressions of the exterior. There is still a degree
of uncertainty whether all these specimens may not prove to belong
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 21
to the same species ; for in Ph. braziliensis, of the Maecuru Lower
Devonic, another species very closely similar to Ph. anceps, the
glabellar farrows may be all well displayed on the internal cast.'
The three species above mentioned are alike in the small size of the
cephalon, having the same dimensions in all specimens observed, in the
rounded genal angles, the firmness of the union of cranidium and cheeks,
separated specimens being very unusual, the peculiar dalmanitiform
aspect of the glabella and its slight median angulation, the small eyes
and smooth surface. Though the other parts of the species are not
known, yet the cephalon indicates the intermediate nature of these
species between the genera P h a c o p s and D a 1 m a n i t e s, and doubt-
less when the rest of the body has been found, it will express similar
relations.
The existence of expressions of this type of structure in the Lower
Devonic of the Amazons (Maecuru), of Cayuga, Ontario, at Becraft
mountain and nowhere else, so far as known, is a fact of significance
in the correlation of these faunas.^
Phacops logani Hall
Plate 1, flg. 1-5
1892. Phacops sj>. nov. Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
In the notice above cited I suggested the similarity of the speci-
mens of Phacops here found to Phacops logani of the Hel-
derbergian and Ph. p i p a of the Onondaga limestone. Restudy of
the material has convinced me that the fossil is not to be distinguished
from the former. Though the species is of frequent occurrence, the
specimens are generally somewhat distorted cephala and pygidia, and few
entire examples have been observed. Such distortion generally gives a
too pointed, subpentagonal fomi to the glabella and a too narrow and
elongate form to the pygidium. The characteristic traits of the species
Ph. logani are these : the glabella is relatively narrow and strongly
^See Archivos do mupeu nacional do Rio de Janeiro, v. 9, pi. 1, fig. 1, 2.
^The writer has recently obtained specimens representing the same type of structure
in the Gasp^ sandstone at Gaspe Basin Quebec.
22 KEW YOEK STATE MUSEUM
projacent at the front; its surface shows without compression both the
oblique and transverse moieties of the first glabellar furrows and also
the second furrows; the occipital ring is strongly arched and bears a
conspicuous tubercle. On the axis of the thorax just within the dor-
sal furrows is a row of large tubercles, one at each end of every
axial segment. These are not ornamental, but are more strongly marked
on the internal cast than on the external surface; they become smaller
posteriorly but on the cast show themselves even on the first segment
of the pygidium. The pygidium bears five or six lateral segments, flat
and divided by linear furrows which are generally obscure on the cast.
While these are the diagnostic characters, the species has some
other traits which it shares with but few allies. There is a small
spinule at the extremity of the cheeks, such as occurs in Ph. c r i s-
t a t a and Ph. p i p a of the Schoharie grit and Onondaga limestone ;
no spinules or conspicuous tubercles occur on the axis, such as are
found in Ph. cristata but are absent in Ph. p i p a. The divis-
ion of the pleural ribs on the pygidium is a feature not displayed in
the later Devonic species of the genus (e. g., Ph. ran a).
The specimens from Becraft mountain have for the most part these
characters of Ph. 1 o g a n i. Examples of the thoracic segments of
adult forms have proved rather uncommon, but those seen have the rows
of tubercles along the dorsal furrows well developed, while in smaller
forms these are less conspicuous and may be so far absent as to sug-
gest the possibility of there being a second species ; and yet it is to
be noted that these tubercles are less clearly developed in the later seg-
ments of Ph. logani and it may be are obscure in young examples
of the species.
Cordania becraftensfs sp. nov.
Plate 2, fig. 19-23
1892. Cordania, sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
Of this species only the cranidia and pygidia are known. The
former have a subcircular, marginal curve, with a round, thickened and
much elevated border which is clearly delimited within and is followed
by a relatively narrow and shallow depressed area passing into the con-
ORISKAinr FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 23
vexity surrounding the glabella. The latter is ovoid, convex and large
extending two thirds the length of the cephalon. Its anterior extremity
is rather broad and blunt, and at its base are two subtriangular or ovoid
lobes set off from the glabella by deep, oblique furrows. The other
glabellar furrows manifest themselves in the manner characteristic of this
genus, the first pair making a broad indentation just in front of the
middle, very noticeable on the internal cast, and the second pair being
extremely obscure. The ornamentation of the head consists of very fine
pustules vsdth larger ones scattered among them. This character is
maintained over the glabella to the frontal margin, where the coarser
pustules disappear, leaving the surface here with a very fine granulation,
and on the doublure this is replaced in part by punctation.
Pygidium subcircular, axis very convex, incurving toward the
extremity. The annulations are narrow and not direct, but rise nearly
vertical from the dorsal furrows or with a slight forward inclination,
then, at less than one third of their length, bend forward with a dis-
tinct angulation curving anteriorly over the median line. These annula-
tions are nine, and beyond the last that is well defined may be counted
three more obscurely defined. The interannular grooves are narrow.
The pleurae are broad, convex about the median region, becoming
depressed toward the margin, sometimes defining a narrow border. The
ribs are seven, rather broad, obscurely grooved for most of their length
by a linear sulcus which becomes well marked on the border and gives
the ribs the appearance of being bifurcated. The intervening furrows
are narrow. The ornamentation consists of fine, uniform tubercles on all
annulations, with a single axial row of strong, spinous tubercles directed
posteriorly.
This species, in its general aspect and comparatively large dimen-
sions, approaches Cord, cyclurus H. and C. of the Helderbergian
much more nearly than it does any of the later species, which are uni-
formly smaller and differently ornamented. In Cord, cyclurus the
cephalon has a few coarse tubercles on the border, and over the concave
area between the border and the glabella are fine, inosculating furrows.
The distance between the border and the anterior end of the glabella
is less in Cord, cyclurus than in Cord, becraftensis. In
24 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
the former species also the pygidium has the axial row of tubercles
smaller and duplicate toward the extremity, and lacks the fine granulation
of the entire surface.
The species is not iincomraon in this fauna.
Cordania hudsonica sp. nov
Plate 2, ag. 17, 18
A few pygidia show the presence of a quite distinct species of this
genus. They are of small size, broad and quite short, the axis covering
about one third the width of the shield, somewhat flattened and not
incurved as in Cord, becraftensis and Cord, cyclurus. They
bear eight or nine narrow, transverse annulations which show no angu-
lations. The pleural ribs are six, with a trace of a seventh, are quite
narrow, with interannular furrows of equal width. They are divided by
quite deep sulci, and the surface carries a few scattered tubercles.
Cyphaspis minuscula Hall (sp.)
Plate 2, flg. 21, 25
1888. Cyphaspis minuscula Hall and Clarke, Paleontology of New York. 7 : 140,
pi. 20, fig. 17; 24, fig. 7-12
1892. Cyphaspis sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
Cranidia of this species, distinguished from the closely allied Cyph-
aspis coelebs H. and C. of the Helderbergian by the low median
angulation of the glabella, are not of infrequent occurrence. Pygidia
referable to the species have also been observed.
Cyphaspis minuscula is quite widely distributed in the
Onondaga limestone of New York, and our present knowledge leads to
the belief that it may not be easy to fix on a genuine specific difference
between it and the Helderbergian form. The latter is exceedingly rare,
and but two very imsatisfactory specimens have been seen. The feature
above cited is the only one which could now be indicated as distinctive.
Both however are sufiiciently unlike the other Devonic species of the
genus, and represent a type characterized by the absence of any peculiar
arrangement of tubercles, spines or punctae on the surface, the exterior
being smooth or very finely granular.
OKISKANY FAUNA OF BECKAFT MOUNTAIN 25
Proetus conradi Hall
Plate 2, flg. 11-16
1S61. Proetus conradi Hall, Descriptions new species of fossils, p. 69
1892. Proetus sp. nov. ? A ; Proetus, sp. nov. B, Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
Separated cranidia and pygidia of a species of tliis genus are suffi-
ciently common and these vary greatly in size. Though some of them
attain much greater dimensions than any specimens of Proetus
conradi, yet they all seem to agree in structure among themselves
and with typical examples of that species from the Schoharie grit.
Specific distinctions among such Devonic forms of this genus as express
the old division G e r a s t o s, and are represented in the New York
series by P. angustifrons, conradi, clarus and r o w i, are
pretty close and yet dependable. The special traits of P r o e t us con-
radi are its subovoid or subtriangular and quite convex glabella, tan-
gent at its extremity to the inner margin of a flat frontal border, and
a pygidium with sloping pleurae bearing three or four rather indistinct
duplicate ribs, the axis having from 8 to 10 annulations which
curve backward along the median line.
But a single entire example of the species has been observed and
this is of medium size, attaining the proportions usual to species of this
type throughout the early Devonic faunas.
Acidaspis tuberculata Conrad
Plate 2, flg. 26
1840. Acidaspis tuberculata Conrad, Ann. repH geol. sur. N. Y. p. 205
This species, common in certain layers of the New Scotland beds,
is here represented by specimens of various sizes, often attaining con-
siderable dimensions.
Lichas cf. pustulosus Hall
1859. Lichas pustulosus Hall, Paleontology of New YorTc. 3 : 366
There have been found a few fragments of pygidia and other parts
of the test which may prove to belong to this Helderbergian species.
28 NEW YOEK STATE MUSEUM
Homalonotus sp?
We have previously recorded the presence of this genus as repre-
sented by a few patches and fragments of the test. Their specific
characters can not be made out. The genus, however, is to be expected
from the fauna, as it is represented by a species of commanding pro-
portions, H. major Whitfield, from the same horizon, near Marbletown,
Ulster county.
CIBRIPEDS
Plumulites sp.
A single plate shows the presence in the fauna of this genus of
cirriped crustaceans.
ANNELIDS
Conodonts
Annelid teeth of this character have been observed but not in
suitable condition for identification.
Autodetus beecheri Clarke
Plate 2, flg. Zl-n
1892. Autodetus sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 411
1894. Autodetus beecheri Clarke, Amer. geol. 13 : 33 i, fig. 7-19
This species is quite abundant, and young shells showing the pri-
mary revolutions of the whorls are commonly found attached to the
surfaces of brachiopods and spreading bryozoa. There is some varia-
tion in the aspect of the body at maturity, and though the form
is generally a truncated obcone, sometimes there is little difference
in the diameter of the basal cicatrix and that of the final whorl.
Generally, too, the surface, rough and wrinkled, - conceals all trace of the
sutures, but at times these are clearly shown by the annulated exterior
of the shell.
Spirorbis assimilis, sp. nov.
Plate 2, fig. 33-34
1892. Spirorbis sp. Clarke, op. cit. p. 411
Tube small, regularly coiled, not free on final whorl, all coils attached
and by their sinistral surface. Inner whorls nearly concealed; number
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 27
of exposed whorls 2-3. Exterior of outer wborl with a low, revolving
lateral carina, which gives the upper surface a flattened aspect; other-
wise the surface is smooth.
This species is distinguished from young forms of Autodetus
beecheri, in which the Spirorbis condition is completely inclosed
in the later growth of the shell, by the much less depth of its
whorls and the greater transverse diameter of the shell.
Cornulites cingulatus Hall
Plate 2, liK. 3»-38
1888. Cornulites cingulatus Hall, Paleontology of New YorJc. r. 5, pt 2
(= 7, suppl.) p. 20, pi. 116, fig. 29
The original of Corn, cingulatus is from the Helderbergian
(New Scotland beds) of New York, but its precise locality is not recorded.
It occurs occasionally in the Oriskany, where it presents a rapidly
expanding tube with coarsely and rather irregularly rugose surface, the
wrinkles being crossed by fine but sharp vertical striae. On the internal
cast the annulations have the aspect of insheathed cones and are not
unlike such casts of large Tentaculites, though of much less regu-
lar arrangement.
Tentaculites elongatus Hall
Plate 3, flg. 8-ia
1859. Tentaculites elongatus Hall, Paleontology of New YorTc. 3 : 136, pi. 6,
fig. 16-21
1892. Tentaculites c£. elongatus and Tentaculites sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
The specimens of this species, described from the Helderbergian (New
Scotland) limestone of the Schoharie section, are not infrequent throughout
the Oriskany. Many of them show finely the sharp, filiform, concentric
striae which cover annulations and depressions alike. Approaching the
apex of the shells, the surface gradually loses its annulations but retains
the concentric striae ; for some distance the apical region is quite free
of any trace of annulations and where this part is found by itself
it presents the aspect of a quite distinct species. The internal cast of
the species was well characterized by Hall as resembling a series of
truncated obcones one above the other; thus these casts are altogether
unlike the exterior of the species.
28 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Tentaculites ? acus, sp. nov,
Plate 3, fig. 1-7
1892. Coleolus sp. % Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
Shells having as large size as those of Tentac. elongatus but
with the exterior surface smooth or with very faint, distant, broad, con-
centric depressions and fine, indistinct and somewhat irregular growth striae.
The internal cast is similar to that of Tentac. elongatus but has
the constrictions less deep. Specimens of this species are not uncommon.
The wall of this species is thick and cellular, and a transverse
section gives two or more concentric circles at any plane, showing the
insheathment of the funnel-like divisions of the interior. This structure
is miich more pronounced than in any species of Tentaculites
observed by the writer and, though more regular than in Cornulites,
may prove to be of the same nature.
PTEROPODS (?)
Conularia ,cf. desiderata Hall
1857. Conularia desiderata Hall, Paleontology of New YorTc. 3 : 480, pi. 72a
fig- 4
A single fragment of medium size, bearing a clearly exposed
septum, approaches this species, described from the Oriskany elsewhere
in New York. Its surface characters are sufficiently preserved to demon-
strate the broad sulci at the angles and the absence of median furrows
on the four sides, but the detailed sculpture of the concentric lines is
not clearly retained.
GASTROPODS
Bellerophon sp. ?
A single specimen shows the inner whorls of a broad backed species.
Cyrtolites expansus Hall
Plate 3, flg. 20-23
1859. Cyrtolites ? expansus Hall, Paleontology of New Yorh. 3 : 479, pi. 104,
fig. 4, 5
1892. Cyrtolites expansus Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
The original figures and description of this shell from the Oriskany
sandstone of New York were evidently based on internal casts, and
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 29
were, hence, not altogether satisfactory for identification. Specimens of
this genus in the fauna under consideration are of not inconsiderable
size and seem to represent but a single species, characterized : 1 by
the sharp, concentric lamellae of the surface ; 2 by the broadly expanded
aperture ; 3 by the well defined median ridge on the earlier parts of
the shell, on which the striae have a pronounced retral bend, the ridge
becoming obsolete at the margin. The specimens have the proportions
and curvature of C y r. e x p a n s u s, and two of the figures cited (4a,b)
show evidence of the concentric markings and the definition of the
median ridge. Squeezes from casts of the exterior show a very fine
radial striation between the concentric lines. The ajiertural slope beneath
the coil bears a broad median sinus bounded by low, divergent ridges
which modify the peristome.
The species is not uncommon.
Pleurotomaria sp.
A single specimen of this genus has served as the surface of attach-
ment for a large colony of Fistulipora, and before this coral
began its growth the shell had become more or less covered with
Spirorbis and Hederella. Thus, while its form is preserved with-
out distortion and the slit-band is clearly shown, the character of its
ornament can not be made out, and it is unwise to attempt a definition
of the specific characters.
Diaphorostoma desmatum, sp. nov.
Plate 3, flg. 13-19
1892. Diaphorostoma sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
Prof. Hall embraced within the species Diaph. ventricosum a
series of small shells which are associated with the large, normal form
of that species, regarding them as young stages. Similar shells are found
very abundantly in the Becraft mountain Oriskany, and we find from a
careful examination of the best external casts obtainable that there is a
difference in the two in respect to superficial characters; for, while in
the large and ventricose shells the lineation consists of crowded, con-
centric growth lines which become wrinkles on the last whorl and seem
30 NEW YOKK STATE MUSEUM
to be to a large degree the cause of the irregularities in contour often
displayed by full-grown shells, the smaller form has these concentric
growth lines more sharply defined and elevated, and these are covered
by equally fine and sharp interrupted revolving striae, which together
produce an effect similar to that exhibited by the common Hamilton
species, D. lineatum Conrad. These revolving lines seldom cancellate
the concentric erect lines, but profoundly modify their interspaces.
In general form these shells do not widely differ from the early
whorls of D. ventricosum, but their abundance and uniformity of
size in addition to the characters indicated seem to establish a specific
difference.
Diaphorostoma ventricosum Conrad
Plate 3, flg. 25-28
1892. Diaphorostoma ventricosum Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
For other figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 112, fig.
1-10; 113, fig. 7, 8; 115, fig. 8
This species is the most abundant of all the gastropods and attains
normal size and proportions, though usually the large ventricose body
whorl has been crushed.
Strophostylus expansus Conrad
Plate 3, flg. 24
1892. Strophostylus expansus Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
For other figures see Paleontology of New York. v.'3, pi. 114, fig. 2, 3a, b
A single well defined example of this shell has been observed.
Orthonychia tortuosa Hall
1892. Platyceras ioriuosum Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
For figures see Paleontology of New York. 3:472, pi. 113, fig. 1-5
This species is not common, and no well-preserved examples have
been seen.
Platyceras cf. gebhardi Hall
Plate 3, flg. 89
Platyceras gebhardi* was described from the Oriskany of
'Paleontology of New York. 3:474, pi. 117, fig. 1-10.
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAUT 31
Cumberland Md. A single specimen having similar characters has
been observed in the Onskany of Becraft mountain, and this shows a
slight departure from the type in the flattening of the outer surface of
the body-whorl.
Platyceras nodosum Conrad
1892. Platyceras nodosum Clarke, op. cit. p. 412
For figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 115, fig. 1-C ;
116, fig. 1-4
This species, common in the Oriskany sandstone of Albany and
Schoharie counties, is occasionally represented in the Becraft mountain
fauna.
J^AMELLIBBANCHS
Pterinea sp. ?
(Cf. Megambonia lamellosa Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 467, pi. 109,
fig. 5,6)
Large but incomplete left valves indicate the presence of a
species without radii but with a smooth surface showing only concen-
tric growth lines. One of these exposes a part of the right valve,
which has a depressed convex and similarly smooth surface. The out-
line of these shells can not be clearly made out, but they present the
proportions and to some degree the aspect of the species cited.
Pterinopecten subequilateralis Hall
Plate 4, fig. 14
1859. Avicula subequilateralis Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 281, pi. 49,
fig. 6
Prof. Hall described this species from a single valve from the Pent-
amerus (Coeymans) limestone in Schoharie coiinty. The form is peculiar
and interesting from its subsemicircular, nearly equilateral form and its
smooth exterior. The original referred to was i-egarded as a left valve,
but our specimens seem to demonstrate that it is the opj)osite valve.
This right valve is convex with a long, straight hinge which makes
the greatest diameter of the shell. The anterior and posterior wings
are not distinctly set off from the body of the shell, but the former
is the larger and is defined by a deeper concavity of the surface. The
32 NJJW YORK STATE MUSEUM
notable convexity of this right valve and the absence of byssal sinus
beneath the anterior wing are features which suggest the subgenus
Vertumnia Hall.
The surface is without any trace of radial marking, but bears fre-
quent though rather obscure concentric lines of growth. The species
is rare, and the left valve has not been observed.
Pterinopecten proteus, sp. nov.
Plate 4, fig. 4-8
Shell of medium or large size, subcircular in outline with anterior
and posterior wings well developed. Left valve normally convex, right
valve slightly convex or depressed. Hinge-line straight and making the
greatest width of the shell.
Surface marked by an ornamentation quite variable in its expression.
A few stout ribs depart from the beak and maintain their individuality
to the margin, becoming broader and somewhat flattened as they extend
outward. The intervals between these ribs are broad and in occasional
instances are but rarely divided by minor ribs. As a rule, however,
these interspaces carry one, rarely two secondary ribs, which are
implanted and not produced by dichotomy, and these lesser ribs maintain
their minor character throughout, very seldom attaining the size on the
margin, of the primary ribs. The mode of inci-ease of these ribs is
such that no tendency to their fasciculation is manifested. The variable
size and number of the intermediary ribs, however, give each specimen
an appearance in this respect unlike all others. The radii are crossed
by fine, elevated lamellae, which are moderately and equally distant over
the upper and median parts of the shell, but become closely crowded
near the margins. These cancellate all radii. On the right valve there
is notable variation in the size of the primary ribs, but no ribs which
are distinctly intercalary except over the anterior slope. Concentric lines
are also present, and these may become lamellae over the peripheral
regions, in which case they may obscure the ribs and produce an
approximately smooth surface. Specimens of both valves have been
observed on which the predominance of the concentric lines almost
obliterates the radii, specially on internal casts. This, however, is not
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 33
complete, the casts generally showing obscure nodes on the radrl where
these have been crossed.
Prof. Hall describes as Avicula recticosta a single nght
valve from the Oriskany sandstone of Albany county, characterized by
its strong ribs, which are said to proceed in pairs from the umbo and
to dichotomize; in these respects that shell is unlike those with which
we are here dealing.
This is the most abundant of the lamellibranchs of this fauna. In
its general features it may be brought into comparison with several of
the Ulsterian and Hamilton species, but its specific traits are distinct
and pronounced.
Pterinopecten signatus, sp. nov.
Plate 4, fig. 3
Shell of medium size, obliquely suboval. Hinge-line straight and
long, not exceeding the greatest diameter of the valves. Anterior ear
strongly developed and nasute; posterior of moderate size not sharply
set off from the body of the shell. On the left valve the byssal
depression is strong, the surface normally convex. The ornament of
this valve consists of narrow, filiform subequidistant radii, increasing
by implantation, the first of the minor series generally attaining on the
margin the full size of the piimary series. The interspaces are broad,
free and subequal on the margins. These radii cross both wings, but
are obscure on the anterior. Fine, erect concentric lines cross all radial
lines; toward the edges these become crowded, lamellose and overlap
each other. The right valve is depressed convex or flattened and bears
radial striae, but the concentric lines are obscure or wanting except on
the wings.
This rare species is readily distinguished from Pt. proteus by
its fine, regular and uniform radii. It resembles the Onondaga species
Pt. terminalis, but not closely. Pterinopecten bellulus
of the Helderbergian is unlike it in having dichotomous and fascicu-
late radii.
Pterinopecten pumilus, sp. nov.
Plate «, flg.
The sole example observed of this species is a right valve of very
34 NEW YOEK STATE MUSEUM
small size and quite considerable convexity. The beak is subcentral, the
outline and contour slightly oblique and the wings not distinctly
separated from the body of the valve. The surface bears from 40 to
50 fine radii, the majority of which arise by dichotomy over the
median parts of the valve, but all have about the same size and are
equidistant on the margin. These are crossed by extremely fine, con-
centric lines and a few obscure undulations.
The convexity of this valve shows the relation of the species to
those later Devonic shells which have been referred by Hall to the
subgenus Vertumnia.
Aviculopecten sp.?
A small right valve of orbicular outline has deeply concave wings
and a depressed surface with extremely faint and fine radii.
Lyriopecten sp. ?
An imperfectly retained right valve has very obscurely defined
wings, the anterior wing not interrupting in any way the convexity of
the shell. The surface is cancellated by fine radii in several series,
crossed by concentric, erect lines.
Actinopteria communis Hall
Plate 4, flg. 1, 2
1859. Avicula communis Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3:286, pi. 51,
fig. 1-7; 53, fig. 4, 6
To this species is referred a shell which attains the size of average
specimens of Actinopt. communis and is ornamented by radii of
alternate or unequal size, crossed by low, concentric erect lamellae. On
the anterior surface of the left valve these striae produce a sharp can-
cellation and on the large and flat posterior wing radial and concentric
lines are of about the same size. On the right valve the wing is can-
cellated but on the body of the shell the concentric lines are absent,
and the radii are distant and not alternate. This rare shell in the
Oriskany seems to agree with the characters of Actinopt. com-
munis of the Helderbergian, though it also approaches the Actin-
opt. textilis Hall of the same fauna.
OBISKANY FAtJNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 35
Actinopteria insignis sp. nov.
Plate t, fig. 10-13
In form and proportions this shell resembles a young A c t i n o p t.
communis, but its habit is always small and its exterior profoundly
cancellated. It is oblique, with large and much depressed posterior
wing and small but nasute anterior wing, separated from the body of
the shell by a broad sulcus distinctly extending to the umbo. The
principal radial striae are strong and rounded, each interspace bearing
from one to three very much smaller ones, making a more marked con-
trast in the size of the radii than is exhibited by the species Ac tin-
op t. communis. These lines are crossed by close concentric lam-
ellae cancellating the entire surface, though both series of lines are quite
obscure on the posterior wing. To a certain degree this shell presents
in miniature the characters of the species Actinopt, textilis,
which is mainly distinguished from its associate, Actinopt. com-
munis, in the stronger cancellation and interruption of the radii.
The species is not uncommon.
Goniophora sp. ?
This genus is represented by an incomplete valve showing a pretty
strong posterior carination and quite regular concentric plications which
become broader posteriorly.
Megambonia crenistriata, sp. nov.
Plate i, flg. 15-17
1892. Megambonia helliatriata Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
Megambonia bellistriata Hall, of the Helderbergian, and
M. cardiiformis Hall, of the Onondaga limestone are shells in which
with present knowledge it is difficult to find a specific difference. The
Megambonia occurring in the Oriskany of Becraft mountain approxi-
mates this specific type, but is distinguished therefrom in the follow-
ing features: it is a persistently smaller shell, none of the observed
specimens approaching the dimensions normal to those forms; again,
it is shorter and lacks the strongly ovoid contour of the others, a
feature specially marked in early stages, where the form was decidedly
86 NEW TOKK STATE MUSEUM
transverse; the byssal groove is profound from the umbo down, and
the auricle sharply convex.
The entire surface is covered with fine, elevated radial sti-iae of
subequal size and separated by grooves of the same width. Over the
auricle and adjoining surface the striae are coarser and are crossed by
strongly cancellating concentric lines, which produce projecting processes
on the radii, in places taking the form of small spinules. Low varices
of growth occur at irregular intervals.
Cypricardinia indenta Conrad
Plate 4, fig. 18-30
1892. Cypricardinia cf. lamellosa Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
For figures of C. lamellosa see Paleontology of New YorTc. v. 3,
pi. 49a, fig. 50 a-c; of G. planulata and C. indenta, op. cit. v. 5, pt 1,
pi. 79, fig. 1-23
The specific type of Cypricardinia lamellosa Hall, described
from small specimens from the shaly (New Scotland) limestone, is con-
tinued upward into the Onondaga and Hamilton faunas. The figured
examples of the C. planulata of the Schoharie grit show a shell
of very large size, possessing the characteristic lamellate surface, but
associated with it is a small shell of rather diiferent outline, which it
will be diflacult to separate from C. lamellosa. Cypricardinia
indenta occurs both in the Onondaga limestone and Hamilton shales.
Internal casts of these shells, the usual condition in which they are
found, show some slight difference in the character of the broad, con-
centric ridges of the surface; but, when the exterior is retained, it
appears to be in all cases without material variation in the form,
contour and size of the shell (C. planulata excepted). The shells
occurring in the Becraft mountain Oriskany are of this persistent type,
of medium size, with strong posterior ridge and postcardinal depression,
with six to eight concentric lamellae, which are broad and free at the
edges and have their surface sculptured by fine lines, radial on the
postcardinal slope but en chevron over the umbonal ridge, again becoming
radial toward the middle of the shell.
The species is represented in our collections by about a dozen specimens-
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 37
Conocardium inceptum Hall (?)
Plate i, fig. 21-33
1857. Conocardium mceptum Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 491
Shell small, obliquely triangular, anterior slope abrupt, posterior
surface moderately extended. The heart-shaped anterior surface is some-
what convex at first but becomes depressed nearer the margin. The
median portion of the valves is prominent, somewhat oblique anteriorly,
and its crest is ridged by the remnant of the anterior expansion. The
posterior is concave medially, the extremities of the Valves being turned
upward.
External surface marked by fine, sharply elevated radial plications
in a primary and secondary series, the members of each being of about
equal size. These are crossed by finer, concentric erect lamellae making
a deep cancelation of the exterior. On internal casts the surface appears
to bear libs of which five or six in the posterior region are broad and
separated by narrow furrows; over the middle of the valves the ribs are
much narrower, eight or 10 in number, and the intervening furrows are
broad, sometimes showing traces of intercalary ribs in each. On the
posterior slope the ribs become broader again.
The original description was based on very incomplete material,
unaccompanied by figures. So far as can be ascertained the Oriskany
shell is identical with this Helderbergian species. The aspect of
the plication in internal casts is not unlike that of some of the small
examples of Conocar. cuneus var. nasutum Hall, of the
Schoharie grit* and particularly that of Conocar. concinnum Hall
of the Hamilton shales^ to which it corresponds in size, but we are
not yet fully acquainted with the exterior of these shells. Average
length and width of shell, 10 mm.
"^See Paleontology of New York. v. 6, pt 1, pi. 67, fig. 13.
»P1. 68, fig. 26, 27.
3b NEW YORK STATE UrCSElTM
BRACHIOPODS
Oriskania sinuata, sp. nov.
Plate 5, fig. 9-13
1892. CentroneUa sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
Shell of comparatively large size, elongate ovate in outline. Lateral
commissure sigmoid. Pedicle-valve convex, strongly ridged medially, with
sharply sloping sides. Beak prominent, arched and so incurved as largely
to conceal the deltidial plates. Brachial valve flat in the umbonal
region. A low median sinus begins at about the center of the valve,
becomes wider and deeper over the pallial region and makes a strong
linguate depression on the anterior margin. On the interior the brachial
valve bears the strong cardinal plate and process peculiar to this genus,
and shows deep addiictor impressions and pronounced vascular sinuses
over the pallial region.
This shell, which sometimes attains the proportions of Oriskania
navicella Hall and Clarke of the Oriskany sandstone at Rondout
and Knox, differs from that species in its deeply sinuate brachial valve.
Cryptonella (?) fausta, sp. nov.
Plate 6, flg. 1-8
1892. Cryptmiella, sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
Shell of medium size, elongate oval, commissure nonsinuate. Valves
inequiconvex or subequiconvex. Beak of pedicle-valve generally erect
and prominent, with well developed cardinal slopes, sometimes arched,
partially concealing the deltidial plates. Surface of the pedicle-valve
convex, sometimes with a broad median prominence which adds to the
convexity; sides gradually sloping; anterior margin nonsinuate. Brachial
valve somewhat less convex, slightly depressed in the pallial region;
in some specimens ridged medially in the umbonal region.
Interior of the pedicle-valve with muscular scars, obscure vascular
sinuses and dental plates developed into a short spondylium.
Surface generally smooth ; sometimes with traces of obscure plica,
tions about the margins.
The shells included under this name may with more material be found to
embrace two distinct forms, those having nearly equiconvex valves and those
in which the pedicle-valve is the deeper and distinctly ridged medially. The
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 39
latter have the expression of Centronella more pronounced, while the
former suggest the genus Cryptonella. The former also have the beak
of the pedicle- valve the more erect. These two expressions, however, seem to
grade one into the other. One of the equiconvex shells retains a portion of
the interior of the brachial valve and shows the principal part of the loop.
There is an elongate hinge-plate which is perforate, and from its
anterior edge descend parallel or slightly divergent loop branches which
are reflected and upturned at their extremities as though to form an
ascending curve, but if this upward branch existed it has been broken
oflF, as frequently happens in Cryptonella. The aspect of the
apparatus is like that of the genus mentioned, save in this respect,
that the descending branches are cemented for their entire length to
the apparent floor of the valve. Both replaced shell and loop are
retained in silica and it seems probable that this attachment is wholly
due to excessive deposition of this substance. The species is not of
infrequent occurrence. There is an iindescribed shell of very similar
character to this in the New Scotland limestone.
Cryptonella, sp. nov.
This species is represented by two imperfect specimens of a large,
convex pedicle-valve whose width is equal to or greater than its length.
The surface is somewhat elevated medially in the unbonal region of
one of the specimens, while in the other the valve is full and rounded.
Umbones depressed ; beak not conspicuous, erect. Surface highly punc-
tate with very low and fine radial plications. On the interior the
dental lamellae unite to make a short but slightly elevated spondylium,
in front of which is a short median septal plate. Length of the valve
17 mm; width 21 mm.
Rensselaeria ovoides Eaton
Plate 5, flg. n-19
1892. Rensselaeria ovoides Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
For other figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 104, 105 ; v.
8, pt 2, pi. 75
Typical examples of this characteristic Oriskany species are quite
common in these beds.
40 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Megalanteris ovalis Hall
Plate S, tg. 1»-1«
1892. Rensselaeria suessana? and R. ovalis Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
For other figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 106 ; v. 8,
pt 2, pi. 77, fig. 12-22
Specimens are commonly found showing considerable variation in
outline, but well characterized in all specific details.
Eatonia medialis Vanuxem
1892. Eatonia raedialis Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
For figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 37, fig. 50,
a-y; v. 8, pt 2, pi. 61, fig. 29-35
A few incomplete specimens indicate the presence of this Helder-
bergian species in the Becraft mountain Oriskany.
Eatonia peculiaris Conrad
1892. Eatonia peculiaris Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
For figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 38, fig. 21-26;
101, fig. 2; V. 8, pt 2, pi. 61, fig. 17-26
Normal examples of this species are occasionally found. It is a
well known species of both the Helderbergian and Oriskany faunas.
Camarotoechia barrandii Hall
1892. RhyncTionella harrandii Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
For figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 103, fig. 3-8
Specimens of the Rhynchonellas observed in these beds have proved
to be very xmsatisfactory for study and for the most part, for identifi-
cation. A part of a large interior of the pedicle-valve, attaining the
full proportions of the figures of the species given in the work cited,
is safely referred to this species ; and a few other specimens with less
security.
(?) Camarotoechia fitchana Hall
For figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 101, fig. 1, a, b
A large but imperfect brachial valve bearing about 75 obliquely
angular ribs is referred with reserve to this species.
OEISKANT FAUNA OP BECEAFT MOUNTADT 41
Camarotoechia oblata Hall
Plate 5, fig. 32
For figures see Paleontology of New Yorh. v. 3, pi. 102, fig. 1, 2
A number of large shells possess the numerous sharp, simple ribs
of this species, with its low fold and shallow sinus bearing 10 to 14
of the plications. The distinction between C. oblata and C. plio-
pleura Conrad is not well marked in these shells.
Camarotoechia dryope Billings (sp.)
Plate 5, fig. 20, 21
1874. Rhynchonella dryope Billings, Geol. stir. Canada ; Paleozoic fossils.
V. 2, pt 1, p. 37, pi. 3, fig. 1, a-c
A well preserved shell, silicified without distortion, has a sharply-
elevated median fold and sinus and angular plications, of which there
are four on the fold, three on the sinus and five or six on each lateral
slope. The general aspect of the exterior is shown in the figures on
plate 5.
On comparison of this species with the figures of Rhynchonella
dryope given by Billings there seems excellent reason for regarding the
forms as identical. The Canadian shell is from Gaspe, limestone no.
8, to the character of whose fauna special reference is made on a
subsequent page.
Camarotoechia, sp?
This shell, of M'hich several distorted specimens have been observed,
is of about the same dimensions as the preceding species, but its fold
and sinus are less prominent and not angular in front. The ribs are
more numerous and not angular but rounded, there being five or six
on the fold and sinus and seven or eight on the lateral slopes.
Anastrophia, sp. nov.
The collections contain a single crushed internal cast of an
Anastrophia, unlike described species in the very fine plication of
the surface. It bears eight ribs on the median fold and 16 on each
lateral slope. The genus has not before been recorded from horizons
above the Helderbergian.
43 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Coelospira concava Hall
Plate 5, Hg. 23-26
1892. Coelospira sp., Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
For figures see Paleontology of New Yorh. v. 3, pi. 38, fig. 1-7;
V. 8, pt 2, pi. 53, fig. 20-23
This little shell agrees in size and contour with the common
Helderbergian species, but seems never to bear more than 12 plications,
while in normal examples of the species the number may vary from
10 to 16.
The interior of the pedicle-valve bears a short median septum
dividing two posterior muscular scars: at the middle of the valve it
bifurcates and seems to inclose the impression of an anterior muscular
pair, an arrangement similar to that seen in Coel. Camilla of the
Onondaga limestone.
This species is less common than Coel. dichotoma.
Coelospira dichotoma Hall
Plate 5, flg. 27-33
For other figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 103, fig. 3 a-c
Very abundant, occurring in large, well defined examples through-
out the beds. This species is readily recognized both by its
size, which at maturity is the largest attained by species of this genus,
and by the duplication of its plications. The interior of the pedicle-
valve shows a median septum extending for more than one half the
length of the shell and dividing an elongate muscular area.
Leptocoelia flabellites Conrad
Plate 5, fig. 33-36
1892. Leptocoelia flabellites Clarke, op. cit. p. 415
For other figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 103b, fig.
la-g; 106, fig. la-f; v. 8, pt 2, pi. 53, fig. 40-46, 53
The specimens of this species are in pretty close agreement with
typical examples from the arenaceous Oriskany. A difference which is
observable in all examples is a slight convexity of the brachial valve,
specially pronounced on the anterior region by a deflection of that valve.
0EI8KANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 48
There is, farther, a notable breadth to many of the specimens, which
is not so marked in normal individuals. Many of the examples empha-
size the close appi-oximation of this species to the Lept. acutipli-
cata Conrad, of the Onondaga limestone. This resemblance is particu-
larly noticeable in the pedicle-valves, but the broader and more sharply
angular plications of the latter species and the more depressed brachial
valve constitute reliable differences. Prof. Hall, in 1867, pointed out
the similarity of Lept. flabellites and L. acutiplicata, sug-
gesting that the two might prove to be identical.
Trematospira multistriata Hall
Plate 6, flg. 1-1
1859. Trematospira multistriata lldiW. Paleontology of New YorTc. 3 : 209, pi. 24,
fig. 3a-t ; 28, fig. 5a-f
1892. Trematospira multistriata Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
(?) 1857. Spirifer perforatus Hall, Descriptions of new species of fossils, p. 60
1859. TremMtospira perforata Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3:208, pi. 28,
fig. 3 a-i; 8, pt 2, pi. 49, fig. 5, 6
According to the original descriptions, the distinguishing feature in
the species above cited is the stronger fasciculation of the plications in
T. perforata. It is noted also that in T, multistriata re-
peated duplication of the plications may occur. The specimens of
Trematospira from the Oriskany agree in general features with
the above species, though none have been seen which attain the size
often reached by T. multistriata. The plications are sharply
angular, with a broader, outer slope, specially near the median fold and
sinus. These are sometimes simple throughout their course, but gener-
ally are duplicated at irregular intervals, the result of which is a strong
fasciculation of the surface, the few early ribs which start at the um-
bones maintaining their prominence over the shell. This fasciculate
effect is probably more pronounced in the majority of cases than is
usual in normal specimens of Tremat. multistriata, but it would
be impracticable to divide the Oriskany specimens on the basis of this
character. On the other hand, their variation in surface characters
serves to indicate the probable unity of those two Helderbergian species.
The surface is finely granulose and punctate.
44 ITEW TOEK STATE MUSEUM
Meristella lentiformis, sp. nov.
Plate 6, fig. 5-11
1892. Meristdla, sp. nov., Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
Meristella lenta Hall, is a diminutive species, wliicli lias
been reported only from the Oriskany sandstone at Cayuga and De
Cewville Ont.' It is of peculiar form, having the pedicle-valve
broadly concave in the pallial region and the brachial valve highly con-
vex medially, the sides sloping from this median prominence with a
gently concave surface. In respect to this form, which is an extreme
expression of a tendency frequently exhibited among the more equicon-
vex Meristellas, the species approaches the Meristella (Pen-
tagonia) unisulcata Conrad, of the Onondaga and Hamilton
beds. In the structure of the brachidium both of these shells have proved to
be genuine Meristellas. The most abundant representative of this
genus in the Becraft mountain Oriskany is a shell which nearly
approaches Mer. lenta in contour, with some noteworthy differences,
not the least being its considerable size. We may characterize the
species as follows: shell unequally convex; outline transversely oval;
pedicle-valve with short incurved beak and narrow cardinal slopes
bordered by obtuse cardinal ridges diverging from the beak. Umbo
slightly convex or flat, the surface sloping to the sides very gradually. A
median sinus starts at the umbo and rapidly broadens, producing a general
depression in the pallial region, which is rather sharply deflected. The
sinus is produced into a linguate extension at the anterior margin.
The general flatness of this valve is more marked in young shells, the
anterior deflection becoming prominent with the increase of age. The
brachial valve has a full beak curved into the delthyrium of the oppo-
site valve, and is elevated medially into a broad ridge-like concavity
terminating in a fold on the anterior margin. The lateral slopes are
gently concave. The surface of both valves is smooth or bears only
concentric growth lines.
On the interior the apophyses and impressions are those characteriz-
*For figures of this species see the original description, Paleontology of New York,
4:420, pi. 63, fig. 19-22 and also v. 8, pt 2, pi. 44, fig. 15-lS.
OEISKAHT FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAW 45
ing the genus. Particularly well developed is tlie broad, flabellate
muscular scar of the pedicle-valve and the median septum of the bra-
chial valve, extending for more than half the length of the shell.
The brachial valve resembles in its less extreme conditions that of
the associated specimens of M. lata, but the shell taken in its entirety-
can not be confounded with any other species.
Meristella lata Hall
1859. Meristella lata Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 431, pi. 101, fig.
3, a-in
1892. Meristella of. laevis Clarke, op. cit. p, 414
The specimens which represent this species are of very much smaller
size than the forms of this Oriskany shell which have been described,
but they show no wide departure therefrom in other respects.
Meristella (?) vascularia, sp. nov
Plate 6, fig. 13-14
Among these fossils are frequently found internal casts of large
pedicle-valves of an elongate Meristella- like form with broad median
sinus developed over the anterior region. Notwithstanding that these
specimens are not uncommon, I have not been satisfied of the charac-
ter of the brachial valve to be referred to them, nor has it been
possible to get a very clear conception of the exterior of the shells.
These interior casts differ from that usual to Meristella in the
following respects. Very prominent dental lamellae are developed by
convergence and union into a strong spoon-shaped process, which fills
the umbonal region and rests on the bottom of the valve, its anterior
edge being free. The corresponding structure found in the Meris-
tellas is of diminutive size compared with this. In front of this
process lies the elongate, often obscure central nuiscular scar, which in
Meristella is much more strongly developed and constitutes the
most conspicuous feature of the interior. From the mai-gins of the
spondylium, even traversing the central scar, diverge strong radial grooves
which cover the umbonal and median regions of the valve, disappearing
about the margins. These features are uniform in all specimens, though
the vascular lines are less conspicuous in young sheEs.
46 KEW YORK STATE MDSEUM
The exterior of the shell, preserved in part on one silicified speci-
men, bears low and distant radial striae, which are crossed by veiy fine
and crowded concentric lines. Even with our present imperfect knowl-
edge the species is clearly distinguished from all known Meristellas,
but it is still far from certain that the shell is to be referrrd to this
genus.
Spirifer arenosus Conrad
1892. Spirifer arenosus Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
For figures see Paleontology of New York. r. 3, pi. 98, 99, 100 ;
V. 8, pt. 2, pi. 29, fig. 1-4; 80, fig. 3-7
Specimens of this characteristic Oriskany shell are not at all
uncommon here and attain the considerable size and transverse form of
the species as it occurs in the higher beds of this state. At Cum-
berland Md., and at Cayuga Ont., the species is generally much
shorter on the hinge and more elongate medially, but this expression
has not been observed among the specimens from Becraft mountain.
No complete account has ever been given of the nature of the
surface configuration of this shell, and some of the fine external molds
from the decomposed silicious limestone show the characters with exac-
titude. The plications are broad and distinctly flattened above, with
very narrow interspaces, and the grooves bear the finest radial striations
which are not interrupted by concentric lines. This is such a char-
acter as is seen on many of the upper Siluric Spirifers, but is not
usual among the Aperturati till after the close of the Devonic.
Spirifer murchisoni Castelnau
Plate 6, flg. 26-30
1843. Spirifer murchisoni Castelnau. Essai syst. silur. de VAmer. septentr.
p. 41, pi. 12, fig. 1, 2
1859. Spirifer arrectua Hall. Paleontology of New York. 3 : 422, pi. 97, fig.
1,2
1892. Spirifer arrectus Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
Characteristic specimens are very abundant throughout these beds.
External molds display very perfectly the nature of the surface, which
has never been quite accurately given. The broad, subangular ribs are
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 47
crossed by regularly concentric fimbriae of short spinules, and between
these rows the surface is studded with granules so regularly arranged
that they seem to have been produced by the breaking up of radial
lines by intersections.
Very recently Dr H. Scupin has discussed the variations of this
specific type occurring in the two Americas and South Africa^ restrict-
ing the term S p. a r r e c t u s to the forms figured by Hall in the work
cited, excluding figures le and If on plate 97. From a consideration
of these figures only it might seem that there is a varietal difference
in the specimens here referred to, the one form having five or six lateral
plications and a more prominent median fold, while the latter (fig. le
and If) has seven or eight latei'al plications, an apparently lower
median fold, and seems to be a shell of larger habit. It would be a
difficult matter to separate the specimens of this species occurring in
the Oriskany sandstone on the basis of these features. The degree of
plication is variable within the limits specified, and the prominence of
the median fold as well as the apparent size of the shell dependent
on the mode of retention. Determinations based on none too good
illustrations and fortified mainly by the study of internal casts will not
prove of practical usefulness in this case. Among the forms of this
shell found in the Oi'iskany fauna the transitions from one expression to
the other are so frequent as to make it practically certain that these
differences are altocrether fugitive.
I adopt without hesitation Castelnau's early term, S p . m u r c h i -
s o n i for this species, following Mr Schuchert's suggestion ; for though
the figures given by Castelnau are for the most part extremely obscure,
no doubt can attach to his intentions and demonstration iu this case.
In accordance with his determination, Dr Scupin proposes to restrict
the term a r r e c t u s to shells represented in Paleontology of New
Yorh as cited, exclusive of le and If, and regards these identical with
Sp. antarcticus Morris and Sharpe, a shell collected by Darwin in
the Falkland islands. These he would term Sp. arrectus var.
'Ueber exotisclie, ziir gruppe des Spirifer primaevus gehorige Formen ; Zeitschr.
der Deutsch. geol. Gesselsch, 1899. 50 : 462.
48 KEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
antarcticus, including therewith Sp. chuquisaca Ulrich (Bol-
ivia), Sp. orbignyi Morris and Sharpe (Falkland Islands) and S p.
capensis v. Buch (South Africa), In view of the characters and
variability of S p . m u r c h i s o n i in its typical localities it seems
probable to the writer that a knowledge of all these lower Devonic
shells (including Sp. hawkinsi Morris and Sharpe, Falkland islands)
which is not so fully based on the characters of the internal cast,
will prove them to belong for the most part to Sp. murchisoni.
Spirifer saffordi Hall
Plate 6, flg. 23-85
1859. Spirifer saffordi Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 203, pi. 28, fig.
2, a-b
1892. Spirifer of. fimhriatus Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
This is less common than either of the other species of Spirifer.
Squeezes show that the low, sparse libs are crossed by distant, con-
centric rows of greatly elongated, vertical spine-bases. These are produced
both above and below the actual attachment of the spinules, the open-
ings of the latter being seen at aboiit the middle of each supporting
ridge. From the position and direction of these hollow bases, it would
seem that the spinules were either erect or inclined backward.
Metaplasia pyxidata Hall
1859. Spirifer pyxidatus Hall, Paleontology of New Yorh. 3 : 428, pi. 100,
fig. 9-12
1892. Spirifer pyxidatus Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
For figures see Paleontology of New York. v. 8, pt 2, pi. 39, fig. 19-22
This peculiar shell, which is common in the Oriskany at certain other
localities, specially at Cayuga Out., and is found also in the Onon-
daga limestone, is not of infrequent occurrence at Becraft mountain.
OBISKANY FAUJNA OF BJiCKAii' MOUNTATN 49
Cyrtina varia sp. nov.
Plato 6, flg. 15-2a
1892. Cyrtina rostrata and C. cf. dalmani Clarke, op. cit. p. 414
The specimens of Cyrtina in this fauna are quite variable in
size and proportions. There is a small, tetrahedral form with high,
slightly concave and relatively short cardinal area, v^^hich suggests C y r .
dalmani Hall of the Helderbergian fauna, but is of larger size
with narrower plications (5 or 6 on each lateral slope) and broader
intervals. This form passes into one with very elongate cardinal
area, like some of the forms from the Oriskany sandstone which have
been regarded as young of Cyr. rostrata Hall.* There is again
a large shell which sometimes attains the full size of Cyr, rostrata,
with slightly arched, cardinal area and rather short hinge-line. These
shells bear from 5 to 8 plications on the lateral slopes, have
the median fold depressed or slightly furrowed on top, with a simi-
larly flattened median sinus. The surface in all is finely pustulose
and crossed by sharp, concentric lines. As there is at present no
satisfactory basis for separating these various shells, and as they can
not all be referred to any of the described species, they are here
considered as individual expressions of the same species.
Chonetes hudsonica sp, nov.
Plate 7, flg. l-«
1892. Chonetes sp. n., Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
This is the only normally convex Chonetes found in this fauna.
The shell is of medium or small size, transverse in outline ; hinge-line
marking the greatest width of the shell ; lateral margins subparallel
for a short distance and rounding rather abruptly to a nearly trans-
verse anterior margin. Surface of the pedicle-valve quite uniformly
convex, with a faint median sinus seen only over the anterior
portion of the valve. The surface striae are fine, round and close
together, with very narrow interspaces. They increase rapidly and
irregularly by bifurcation and implantation. Very fine, concentric
^See Paleontology of New York. v. 3, pi. 96, fig. 1, a and b.
50 mEW YOEK STATE MUSEUM
lines are sometimes visible with favorable preservation. The cardinal
spines are two or three in number on each side of the beak and are
directed outward.
On the brachial valve a fold to correspond to the obscure median
sinus of the pedicle-valve is not always to be seen. So far as ob-
served, the multiplication of the striae of this valve seems to be
wholly by bifurcation. With respect to their interior characters, both
valves present normal structure with a considerable development of the
median septum in the pedicle-valve.
This species is quite common and is identical with or closely
allied to a shell known to occur in the New Scotland limestone of
the Helderbergian in Albany county.
The comparison of these shells with specimens of Ch. melonica
from limestone no. 8 of the Gaspe series, at Grand Gr6^'e on the bay
of Gaspe, Quebec, shows that the latter is a larger shell with a charac-
teristic parabolic outline and a more profuse striation.
Ch. hudsonica however occurs in the Gaspe sandstones associ-
ated with Spirifer gaspensis, Leptostrophia blainvillii
Billings, etc.
Chonostrophia complanata Hall
(=Ch,onetes danosoni Billings, Oeol. sur. Canada; Paleozoic fossils, 2:18. 1874)
Plate 7, flg. 1-13
1859. Ghonetes oomplanatus Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 418,
pi. 93, fig. 1, a-d
1892. Chonostrophia sp. n. Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
This shell seems never to attain the size of the normal Oriskany
form, but it has in general the same outline and seems to present no
stable features on which a distinction from this species can be based.
The striation of the surface is extremely fine and when well preserved
is distinctly fasciculate, particularly about the beaks. Usually however
this is more or less obscured over the body of the shell, the striae
•becoming subequal and often very faint. At times a still finer con-
centric striation is apparent. The reversed convexity is quite strongly
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECKAFT MOUNTAIIT 51
developed, perhaps more so than is usual with the upper Oriskany
shell.
It is difficult to find any differences between this shell, specially
in its smaller form and the Chonetes dawsoni Billings from the
Gaspe sandstones. Both forms are but slight departures from the normal
lai-ge expression of the shell depicted in the original illustration of
C. complanata.
Between this species and the Chonostr. helderbergia Hall
and Clarke of the Helderbergian, there seems but little difference ex-
cept in the more uniform striation of the latter and its slighter con-
vexity, but in the Chonostr. reversa Whitfield, of the Onondaga
the differentials are the distinctly fasciculate striation, the elongate
rather than transverse form and the diminutive size.
Anoplia nucleata Hall
Hate 7, ng. 14
1859. Leptaena ? nucleata Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 419, pi. 94,
fig. 1 a-d
1892. Anoplia nucleata Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
For other figures see Paleontology (^ New York. v. 8, pt 1, pi. 15,
fig. 17,18 and pi. 20, fig. 14-17.
This little species is far more abundant here than in the arenace-
ous Oriskany of New York. It occurs also in some abundance in
rocks referred to the Oriskany in Jones county, Illinois.
Orthothetes becraftensis sp. nov,
Plate 7, flg. 15-28
Shell small, suborbicular or elongate in outline. Pedicle-valve
erect at the beak, umbonal region generally sloping directly or with
low convexity to the peripheral margins ; sometimes slightly depressed
about the umbo. Brachial valve depressed at and about the beak,
becoming convex over the median and anterior regions.
• Surface of both valves covered with strong, rounded striae in-
creasing by implantation, new striae generally appearing in successive
cycles. The surface also bears exceedingly fine, concentric lines which
62 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
are visible in the interspaces but seldom cross the radial striae. Con-
centric varices of growth are also frequent, specially near the margins.
The cardinal area of the pedicle-valve is triangular, broad and
erect, seldom showing distortion. In but a single instance has attach-
ment been observed and that is the young shell figured on plate 7,
which adheres by its entire outer surface to a valve of Meristella
and is associated with Autodetus, Hederella and some other
parasitic growths. The deltidium is pronounced. On the interior the
markings are those characteristic of the genus ; the brachial valve
bears an erect, continuous cardinal process, divided into two lobes,
each grooved on its outer face. The lateral walls of this process are
continued inward to form the strong dental sockets.
This very common species has no close ally in the Devonic faunas
of the neighboring region. The Orth. woolworthana and
Orth. deformis of the Helderbergian are large shells with a much
finer surface striation, and perhaps the nearest approach is found in
the Orth. arctostriata of the Hamilton shales, from which a
difference will be found in outline and character of surface. Most
closely allied also to O. becraftiensis is an undescribed species in
the Gaspe sandstone.
Hipparionyx proxtmus Vanuxem
1842. Hipparionyx proxtmus Yanuxem, Geology of New York', repH on third
dist. p. 124, fig. 29, no. 4
1892. Hipparionyx proximus Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
The specimens of this well known Oriskany species which have
been obtained are of large size and characteristic in all details.
Stropheodonta lincklaeni Hall
Plate 7, flg. 37
1859. Strophodonta lincklaeni Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3:415,
pi. 93, tig. 2, 3
1892. Stropheodonta lincklaeni Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
This species was not originally very clearly defined on account of
the imperfection of the material, but the name has been generally
applied to plane or slightly convexo-concave stropheodontids with a very
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 53
finely radiate surface. Indeed the exterior appears at first view to be
almost smooth and shows numerous concentric growth-lines, but fine
striae are invariably present, so fine and numerous as to produce a
striated effect without a very clear definition of individual lines. The
aspect of the species is sufficiently peculiar to distinguish it readily
from other fonns.
Stropheodonta lincklaeni was described from the Oriskany
sandstone of Albany and Schoharie counties. The species is not com-
mon at Becraft mountain.
Leptostrophia magnifica Hall
Plate 7, flg. 36
1859. Strophodonta rruignifica Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3:414,
pi. 93, fig. 4; 94, fig. 2a-d ; 95, fig. 8
1892. Leptostrophia magnifica Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
A few specimens which apparently represent this Oriskany species
have been observed, though none of these attain the normal propor-
tions; yet they are large, perplane shells, surpassing the dimensions
of Lept. becki and conforming in external and internal features
with Lept. magnifica, to which they are provisionally referred.
Leptostrophia oriskania, sp. nov.
Plate 7, flg. 29-33
1892. Leptostrophia cf. hecki, and L. perplana Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
The most abundant fossil in these rocks is a species of Lepto-
strophia of uniformly small size and somewhat variable in the
aspect of the exterior. In the work above cited I was disposed to
regard some specimens of this, in which the concentric corrugations of
the surface are most pronounced, as representing the Helderbergian
species Lept. becki, though their uniformly smaller size was
recognized; others, having the surface almost or wholly devoid of coi'-
rugations, were referred to the middle Devonic species L. perplana
Conrad. On a review of the material it has become exndent that all
have features common to both of those mentioned and represent but
a single species. It might be looked on as a small variety of Lept.
b4 NEW YOEK 8TA*rE MUSEUM
b e c k i , were it not for the great variability of the exterior, and
perhaps in all respects its structural affiliations are closest with that
shell; but it never attains the size of that species, while its persistent
small size forms one of its most stable characters.
Shell of medium size, very gently concavo-convex. Hinge-line
straight, attaining the greatest width of the shell; at full growth very
slightly produced at the cardinal extremities, but in young stages with
quite decided extensions. Cardinal area narrow and mainly confined
to the pedicle- val ve ; striated horizontally and crossed vertically by
ridges which make themselves apparent on the hinge-line as denticula-
tions. The area is crossed by a narrow delthyrium which is generally
covered. Surface of the pedicle-valve covered with fine, rounded striae
which increase rapidly by intercalation. At intervals on the surface,
usually distant, are sharply defined concentric varices or growth-
lines. Accompanying these are concentric corrugations, sometimes
so pronounced and regular that the surface suggests that of Lep-
taena rhomboidalis, but generally finer and irregular. These
may extend over the entire surface or be best developed in the um-
bonal and median parts of the shell; or they may be very obscure
and often, when the concentric varices are frequent and strong, may
be altogether indistinct. Along the hinge-line the wrinkles are ob-
lique, being parallel to the extended extremities of early growth stages.
On the brachial valve the ornament is of quite the same charac-
ter. The apophyses and scars of the interior are those prevailing in
this genus. The cardinal process is bifurcated, and the posterior face
of each division is concave. From the base of this process diverge
short, lateral ridges which are highly pustolose, between them lying a
shorter median ridge. In both valves the muscular scars are indistinct.
Dimensions. Full grown shells seldom exceed a length of 20 mm
and a width of 25 mm.
Brachyprion majus, sp. nov.
Plate 8, flg. 8-13
1892. Stropheodonta, sp. n. A. Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
There are two species of this genus, Brachyprion, in this
fauna, and both present some similarities to the species of the Helder-
ORISKAKY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 55
bergian S t rop he odon t a varistriata (Conrad) Hall. While both
complete all the stages of growth represented by that species, they
alike pass beyond those and attain adult characters not exemplified in
species of earlier date. Brachyprion varistriatum is a com-
mon species in the Manlius limestone, and, though usually of small size
in the former, sometimes assumes considerable dimensions. Prof. Hall
has described as a variety of this species, Stroph. varistriata,
var. arata, from "a crystalline band of the shaly limestone of the
lower Helderberg group; Becraft's mountain, Hudson", its differential
being found in the strong, sharp, subequal striae. The ornament of
the species, Brach. varistriatum, specially in its smaller forms, is
that of the well known Rafinesquina alternata of the Trenton
limestone and many coeval and later shells; that is, it consists of
coarser, filiform striae alternating with a group of subequal, finer ones.
This character is well expressed on specimens of Brach. majus
through early stages and till the maximum of convexity is attained
and the pronounced deflection to the anterior margin begins. Thence
forward this character becomes modified. In the other species, Brach,
schuchertanura, however, early stages do not exhibit this arrange-
ment of the ornament, but start with the surface characters of the
var. aratum Hall, retain it for a brief period only, the resultant orna-
ment being distinct from that in any of the allied shells. No stronger
argument on behalf of the specific distinction of the var. arata could
be adduced.
With regard to the peculiar structure of the hinge which charac-
terizes the genus Brachyprion, both of these Oriskany shells have
it well developed ; the delthyrium is open and the denticulatious of
the hinge-line are small and extend only about half way to the
cardinal angles.
Shell of quite large size at maturity. Hinge straight and having
the full width of the shell ; marginal outline elongate lunate. Surface
of the pedicle-valve gently convex but strongly sloping in the umbonal
region, the greatest elevation and convexity of the valve being attained
in front of the center and following a line parallel to the margin.
56 NEW YORK STATE MtlSEUM
Thence forward the slope is much more abrupt. The brachial valve
conforms in contour with its opposite.
The cardinal area is narrow, the denticulations on the pedicle-valve
quite small.
The oi'namentation of the valves is, as we have just observed, a
series of alternating filiform striae with a group of two to six smaller
striae in the intervals. These striae multiply rapidly by bifurcation
and intercalation, and the fascicles become increased with considerable
irregularity. Immature shells of the species may show only these
characters and in this condition represent the normal state of Brach,
varistriatum, but at maturity the high convexity and abrupt an
terior slope is added, and on this anteiior surface the striation is
modified by the rapid increase in number of the larger striae
and diminution in size and number of the intervening striae.
Thus the aspect of the striation becomes much more uniform on these
later parts of the shell. It is to be observed, however, that this
modification does not always set in at the same period of shell growth,
and we may therefore have shells of incomplete growth showing these
adult characters outside of the umbonal region and, on the other hand,
large shells with adult convexity, retaining the fasciculate striation of
early stages. We observe in the species Brach. schuchertanum
the presence of an indistinct and irregular median fold and sinus on
pedicle and brachial valves, and some trace of a like feature is to be
occasionally seen on old shells of this species. The striae are crossed
by very fine, elevated, concentric lines which distinctly cancellate the
surface.
Brachyprion ma jus is not an uncommon member of this
fauna.
Brachyprion schuchertanum, sp. nov.
Plate 8, flg. 1-7
1892. St/ropheodonta cf. radiata Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
Shells at full size as large or larger than in Brach. majus.
Convexo-concave, rising from the umbones regularly to the middle or
antemedian portion of the pedicle-valve and sloping thence with uni-
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BEORAFT MOUNTAIN 57
formity. The great convexity and abrupt slope of Brach. ma j lis
are absent. Along the middle the brachial valve is depressed by a
longitudinal sinus widening anteriorly, seldom well defined at its edges.
This is well marked on the interior of the valves and shows itself
on the exterior of the pedicle-valve as a broad median ridge passing
without definition into the lateral slopes. Hinge-line straight and as
long as the width of the shell. Umbo of the pedicle-valve convex
and prominent.
The surface of early growth stages is marked by a few coarse,
strong, subangular ribs with a few secondary striae. These rapidly
increase by division and implantation, so that eventually but , little
trace of fasciculate arrangement is left, and the surface becomes
equally, coarsely and closely striated. These striae are crossed
by fine concentric lines, which are sharper than those in Brach.
ma jus, and present a different aspect, on account of the absence of
the finer radiating striae which they cancellate in that sjiecies. Cardinal
and internal characters as in Brach. m a j u s , the row of cardinal
denticulations being somewhat larger than in that species.
Early stages of this species are, as observed, suggestive of
Brach. aratum Hall, and in some cases recall specimens of S t r o ■
pheodonta demissa Conrad, from the Hamilton shales.
Leptaena rhomboidalis Wilckens
1892. Leptaena rhomboidalis Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
The shells of this species are common and conform to the type
of this shell occurring in the Helderbergian and Ulsterian rather than
to the large and ventricose form of the Oriskany which has been
described by Hall as Strop ho mena rugosa, var. ventricosa,
Dalmanella perelegans Hall
1859. Orthis perelegans Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3:171, pi. 13,
fig. 4-12
1892. Orthis perelegans Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
Shells which can be ascribed to this species have usually under-
gone some compression which obscures in some degree their specific
58 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
characters and at times produces a resemblance to the allied shell,
Dalm. subcarinata. Satisfactory evidence of the presence of the
latter, is however, still wanting. Both are characteristic brachiopods
of the New Scotland beds.
Rhipidomella oblata Hall
Plate 8, fig. 14, 15
1857. Orthis oblata Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3:162, pL 10
1892. Orthis cf. oblata Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
This Holderbergian species is represented by specimens of rather
small size and of not very frequent occurrence.
Crania pulchella Hall and Clarke
Plate 8, flg. 16-18
1892. Crania pulchella Hall and Clarke, Paleontology of New York.
V. 8, pt 1, p. 180, pi. 4, fig. 3
1892. Crania sp. n., Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
The specimens of this species from Becraft mountain are frequently
of large size and have the radial plications very sharply developed.
These are more numerous than in the typical specimens of the species,
but, as they rapidly increase with additions to the diameter of the
shell, there is no reason for not regarding both forms as of the same
specific type.
The original of Cr. pulchella is from the New Scotland
limestone, near Clarksville N. Y.
Crania of. bella Billings
Plate 8, flg. 19, 20
1874. Crania hella Billings, Geol. sur. Canada ; Paleozoic fossils. v. 2,
pt 1, p. 15, tig. 5
1892. Crania sp. n. Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
This is a generally small shell with smooth surface, upper valve
more or less convex, generally concave on the posterior slope, with
apex directed slightly backward ; sometimes with the posterior margin
transverse. It approaches very closely to the species cited, from the
OEISKAKT FAtTNA OP BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 59
Gaspe limestone no. 5, termed by Billings "Passage beds" from the
"Upper Silurian" (Lower Helderberg) to the "Lower Devonian"
(fauna mainly of Oriskany species). The shell is less common in the
Becraf t mountain fauna than C. pulchella.
Pholidops terminalis Hall
Plate 8, flg. 23-25
1859. Pholidops terminalis Hall, Paleontology of New York, 3:490,
pi. ]03b, fig. 8a-d
1867. Pholidops arenaria Hall. Idem., 4:413, pi. 3, fig. 24
1892. Pholidops terminalis Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
Sharply defined impressions of this species are very common.
The original of Ph. terminalis was from the Oriskany sand-
stone of Cumberland Md., and thut of Ph. arenaria from the same
formation at Knox N. Y.
Pholidops sp.?
Plate 8, flg. 21, 22
1892. Pholidops sp. n., Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
A few specimens have been seen of a very small Pholidops,
unlike Ph. terminalis and the group of species to which it belongs,
with terminal beaks, but representing the more common expression of
the genus with subcentral beaks, represented by species which range
through the Paleozoic rocks from the lower Siluric into the Carbonic.
Lingula cf. rectilatera Hall
1869. Lingula rectilatera Hall, Paleontology of New York. 3 : 156, pi. 9, tig.
6, 8
1892. LvngvXa sp., Clarke, op. cit. p. 413
A single incomplete example retains the parallel sides and trans-
verse anteiior margin of this species described from the New Scotland
limestone.
BRYOZOA
Rhombipora rhombifera Hall
See Paleontology of New York. 6:18, pi. 11, fig. 15,17-20; pi. 23, fig. 11,12
A few twigs of a Rhombipora which agree in size and struc-
ture with this Helderbergian species have been observed.
60 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Stictopora sp?
A few specimens of this genus have been observed, but none
have the exterior well enough preserved to justify an attempt at their
identification, though in general aspect as well as in the character of
the cells so far as ascertainable the species is very closely allied to
St. granulata Hall of the Helderbergian,
Unitrypa lata Hall
1887. Fenestella {Unitrypa) lata Hall, Paleontology of New York. 6:136,
pi. 53, fig. 1-10
This species was described from the Onondaga limestone of Wal-
pole Ont. It is not uncommon in the Oriskany of Becraft mountain.
Unitrypa acclivis Hall
1887. Fenestella ( Unitrypa) acclivis Hall, Paleontology of New York. 6 : 138,
pi. 52, fig. 16-23.
Not common. The originals were from the Onondaga limestone of
Walpole Ont.
Lichenalia cf. crassa Hall
For figures of L. crassa, see Paleontology of New YorJc. v. 6, pi. 11,
fig. 21, 22
Specimens which seem to agree with this Helderbergian species
are occasionally found.
Polypora separata Hall (?)
See Paleontology of New YorJc. 6 : 166, pi. 39, fig. 10, 11
Specimens very similar to this species but having larger fenest-
rules are common. Polypora separata was described from the
Onondaga limestone of Walpole Ont.
Polypora, sp. indes.
Polyporella cf, compressa Hall
Of the Helderbergian.
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 61
Isotrypa, sp. indes.
Reteporina, sp. indes.
Fenestella biseriata Hall (?)
See Paleontology of New York. 6:113, pi. 42, %. 16-18
Fronds having the characters of this species are occasionally found
The originals of the species were from the Onondaga limestone at
Cherry Valley N. Y.
Hemitrypa columellata Hall
1887. Fenestella {Ilemitrypa) columellata Hall. Paleontology of New York.
6:146
This species, described from the Onondaga limestone of Walpole
Ont., is occasionally found in the Becraft mountain Oriskany,
Hederella magna Hall and Simpson
Plate 9, flg. 10
1887. Hederella magna Hall and Simpson, Paleontology of New York.
6 : 280, pi. 65, fig. 15
To this species is referred a Hederella charactei-ized by its
short, stout, strongly rugose and somewhat irregular cells, erect at their
extremities, growing in a double series which proceed from a central
stock generally in part concealed by overgrowth. The cells are larger
than in any of the other species here found.
The onginal of this species was from the Hamilton shales of
York N. Y.
Hederella arachnoidea, sp. nov.
Plate 9, fig. 11
This is the smallest of the species here observed, the zoarium
being very fine, creeping in an irregidar manner over the surface of
attachment, genei'ally showing the biserial stock, but this is often obscured
by frequent and irregular branching. The cells are narrow, often flat-
tened, branching taking place at quite distant intervals but alternately
on opposite sides. The species may be distinguished from H e d .
g r a c i 1 i o r by its finer, more elongate cells, its more distant branch-
ing and much more diffuse and irregvilar zoarium.
62 JTEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Hederella ramea, sp, nov.
Plate 9, flg. 9
A very graceful zoarium consisting of a primitive stock from which
branches arise on either side at distant and highly irregular intervals,
the secondary branching arising from the principal branches in such a
way as to produce a palmate frond. The cells are subcylindric, smooth
and procumbent at their extremities.
Hederella gracilior, sp. nov.
Plate 9, flg. 10
In this species the zoarium attains about the size of that in H e d .
filiformis Hall and Simpson of the Hamilton shales, but the form
of the colony is less diffuse, the double series of cells retaining a
compact form and the entire zoarium being a miniature of Hed.
magna. To the difference in size of the cells in these two species
are added as distinguishing characters the flattened and less rugose
condition of the cells and their more slender and regular form.
CRINOIDEA
Edriocrinus becraftensis, sp. nov.
Plate 9, fig. 12, 13
The calyxes of this species may be distinguished from those of
Edr. sacculus Hall from the Oriskany sandstone of Cumberland
Md. in their elongate, much moi'e slender and very gradually enlarging
form, and generally quite small size. They are blunt but not broad at
the base and enlarge upward with gently incurving sides. In one in-
stance only has the upper edge of the calyx been observed, and ex-
cept for this edge no specimen shows traces of the component plates.
The casts of the calyx are not infrequent.
ANTHOZOA
Zaphrentis sp.
These fossils occur as casts of the calyx. Two forms are evident,
one, the smaller, conforming to the characters of Zaphrentis, the
larger differing from this structure in the presence of double series
of tubercles in the lamellar interspaces.
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 63
(?) Ptychonema helderbergiae Hall
See Paleontology of New York. 6 : 15, pi. 9, fig. 16, 17
Several specimens have been found which have a ramose stock
and attain the proportions of this species both in size of stock and
cell apertures.
Vermipora streptocoelia, sp. nov.
Plate 9, ag. 7, 8
Ramose twigs of from 8 to 12 mm diameter are bundles of tubes
like those of Vermipora, but, instead of having a direct course out-
ward from their point of growth, as in the known species of the genus,
these tubes are exceedingly irregular, wandering about in serpentine
courses as they approach the termination, but appearing to be straighter
within the substance of the stock. The material illustrating this
peculiar form is not very favorably preserved, and the species will be an
interesting subject for farther study,
Vermipora serpuloides Hall, var.
See Paleontology of New York. 6 : 5, pi. 2, fig. 24-31
Vermipora serpuloides of the Helderbergian differs from this
species in the smaller size and greater number of its tubules. The
colony is slender and branching. With better material it is probable
that this form would prove a distinct species.
Cladopora smicra, sp. nov.
Plate 9, flg. *-6
Small and sparsely branching colonies with stems from 3 to 5 ram in
diameter, bearing small, very oblique cells in 6 to 8 vertical rows. The
apertures of these cells are much compressed, the upper surface being
broadly arched and the under surface being more or less excavated in
the substance of the stock. On the older parts of the stem the cells
are reduced in form to scales covering circular pits. The species is
distinguished from Clad, styphelia by its slender form and much
less conspicuous cells. The species exists also in the Onondaga limestone
of western New York.
64 NEW rORK STATE MUSEUM
Cladopora styphelia, sp. nov.
Plate 9, fig. 1, 2
There are found occasionally twigs of Cladopora of considerable
size, bearing very large oblique cells which are arranged more or less
irregularly in 8 to 10 vertical, alternating rows. These stems have a
diameter of 6 to 8 mm and the apertural diameter of the cells is from
2 to 4 mm. The species is readily recognized by the size of the cells and
their angular projection at their apertures, which gives the colony a
very rough exterior.
Aulopora cf. schoharie Hall
See Paleonlology of New Torh. 6 : 3, pi. 2. fig. 1-6
The few specimens of Aulopora observed are very closely allied
to this Helderbergian species, but appear to be persistently of larger size.
Monotrypella arbusculus Hall and Simpson
1887. Chaetetes {Monotrypella) arbusculus Hall and Simpson, Paleontology
of New Yorh. 6:12, pi. 9, fig. 1-8
Of this Helderbergian species a few very characteristic examples
have been observed.
HYDROZOA
Dictyonema cf. splendens Billings
1874. Dictyonema splendens Billings, Geol. sur. Canada; Paleozoic fossiU.
V. 2, pt 1, p. 12, fig. 2, 2a
Mr Billings described his species from the lowest of the Gaspe
series of limestones (no. 1) which, according to his determinations, con-
tains a fauna with notable Helderbergian affiliations. This species does
not agree closely with the species known from the New Scotland lime-
stone (D. crassum Girty), but is comparable to a form observed only
in some fragments from the calcareous Oriskany.
OEISKAKY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN
65
VERTICAL RANGE OF THE SPECIES OF THE ORISKANY FAUNA AT
BECRAFT MOUNTAIN
1 Dalmanites (Synphoria)stemmatu8 C.
2 D. (S.) stemmatus var. convergens V.
3 D. phacoptjx H. & C
4 D. bisignatns C ,
5 Phacops correlator C
6 P. logani H
7 Cordania becraftensis C
8 C. hudsonica C.
9 Cjphaspis minuscula H.
10 Proetus conradi II
11 Acidaspis tubereulata Conrad
12 Lichas cf. pustulosus H.
13 Homalonotus »pA
14 Beyrichia sp.\
15 Plumulites
16 Annelid teeth
17 Autodetus beecheri C.
18 Spirorbis assiinilis C
19 Cornulites cingulatus II
20 Tentaculites elongatus H
21 T. (?) acus G
22 Connlaria sp
23 Eellerophon sp
24 Cyrtolites expansus H.
25 Pleurotoniaria sp
26 Diaphorostoma desniatum C
27 D. ventricosum Conrad
28 Strophostylas expansus Conrad . . . .
29 Orthonychia tortuosa H
30 Platycerae cf. gebliardi H
31 P. nodosum Conrad
32 Pterinea ep.'i
33 Pterinopecten subequilatera H
34 P. proteus C
35 P. signatus C
36 P. pumilus C
37 Aviculopeeten sp
38 Lyriopecten sp
39 Actinopteria communis £[.
40 A. iuBignis C
1 1
2
3
4
6
Helderbergian
(Coeymans, New
Scotland, Be-
craft and EinK-
ston limestones)
1
J
Si
M g
s
If
•-CD
=3 3
pa"'
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
z
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
66
NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
41 Goniophora sp
42 Megambonia crenistriata C...
43 Cypricardinia lamellosa Conrad
44 Conocardium inceptum H. (?) . .
45 Oriskania sinuata C.
46 Ciyptonella (?) fausta C
47 0. sp. nov
48 Rensselaeria ovoides Eaton . . .
49 Megalanteris ovalis 11
50 Eatonia medialis Van
5 1 E. peculiaris Conrad
52 Cainarotoechia barrandii H.. . . .
53 C. fitcliana //.(?)
54 C. oblata //.
55 C dryope Billings
56 Q.sp%
57 Anastrophia sp
58 Coelospira concava H.
59 C. dichotoina H.
60 Leptocoelia flabellites Conrad . .
61 Trematospira multistriata H. , .
62 Meristella lentiforiuis C
63 M. lata H.
64 M. (?) vascularia C
65 Spirifer arenosus Conrad
66 S. murchisoni Castelnau
67 S. saffordi H
68 Metaplasia pyxidata H
69 Cyrtina varia C
70 Ohonetes hudsonica C.
71 Chonostrophia complanata H. . .
72 Anoplia micleata H
73 Orthothetes becraftensis C. . ..
74 Hipparionyx pr.tximus Vanux. .
75 Stropheodonta lincklaeni IL. . .
76 Leptostrophia magnifica H.....
77 L. oriskania C.
78 Bracbyprion schuchertanum C.
79 B. iiiajus C.
80 Leptaena rhomboidalis Wilch..
81 Dalmanella pereleaans H.
82 Rbipidomella oblata H.
1
— 1 w
X
X
4
X
X
X
«8
OS
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
OS
t
Is
at
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUKTAIN
67
83 Crania pulchella H. & C
84 C. cf. bella Billings
85 Pholidops terminalis H
86 P. sp
87 Lingula cf. rectilatera H.
88 Rhombipora rhombifera H.
89 Stictopora ap
90 Unitrypa lata H
91 U. acclivis H
92 Lichenalia cf. crassa H.
93 Polypora separata -ff. (?)
94 P. »?>
95 Polyporella cf. compressa II.
96 Fenestella biseriata II. (?)
97 Heiiiitrypa columellata II.
98 Isotry pa sp.
99 Reteporina sp
100 Edriocrinus becraftensis C
101 Zaphrentis
102 Ptycbonema helderbergiae II. (?) . .
103 Vermipora streptocoelia 0
104 V. serpuloides II. var
105 Cladopora sniicra C
106 C. styphelia C
107 Aulopora cf. schoharie II
108 Monotrypella arbusculus H. (& S.. .
109 Hederella magna H. <& S
110 H. aracbnoidea C.
111 H. ramea C.
112 H. graciliora C
113 Dictyoneina cf. splendens Billvngs.
Total
r. 3 1
Hill
<u E OS r:
^ 4) O d o
X
X
X
X
X
X
25
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
113
s 2
24
X
X
X
X
10
With our present knowledge there are thus 113 recognizable, dis-
tinct specific forms in the fauna of the Oriskany at Becraft mountain,
and of these 94 are identifiable with species already known or are
clearly new forms peculiar to the fauna. Of the 94, 25 preceded the
68 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
introduction of Oriskany sedimentation, having been first described from
the fauna of the Helderbergian. In the arenaceous beds of the Oris-
kany 23 occur; 10 range upward into the faunas of the Upper Hel-
derberg (Ulsterian), but a part of these are restricted to the sandy,
lower beds of this formation (Schoharie grit), and others have been
noted only in the chert beds of Ontario, Canada, where the intermixture
of Oriskany and Onondaga species is well marked and has been re-
corded by Schuchert. The fauna contains 35 species which so far as
known are peculiar to it. On farther analysis of the foregoing table,
it is evident in some cases that species which range down and upward
are restricted to particular groups. Thus the alien trilobites are from
the Helderbergian ; the gastropods are exclusively Oriskany ; while the
alien lamellibranchs are mostly Helderbergian. But the leading factor
of the fauna, the brachiopod, has its derivation as freely from below
as in the Oriskany invasion.
FAUNAL VALUES OF THE SPECIES
The following is a statement of the faunal values of these species
or their closest affiliations with species of other faunas.
Dalmanites (Synphorla) stemmatus C. — D. (Syn.) Maecurna C, Maecuru sandstone,
Amazonas
" var. convergens C.
D. pliacoptyx H. & O. — idem, Onondaga limestone, Ontario
D. bii^ignatus C. — D. dentatus Barrett, Helderbergian, Port Jervis
D. pleuroptjx Conrad, Helderbergian and Ulsterian, N, Y.
Phacops correlator C. — Ph. anceps C, Onondaga limestone, Ontario
Ph. braziliensis (7., Maecuru sandstone, Amazonas
Ph. logani H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Cordania becraftensis G. — Cord, cjclurus H. «fe C, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Cord, hudsonica C.
Cj'phaspis minuscula H. — idem, Ulsterian, N. Y.
Proetus conradi II. — idem, Schoharie grit, N. Y.
Acidaspis tubereulata Conrad — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Lichas cf. pustulosus H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Homalonotus sp.
Autodetus beecheri C.
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECKAFT MOUNTAIN 6,9
Spirorbis assimilis C.
Comulites cingulatus J7.— idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Tentaeulites elongatus ^.— idem, Helderbergian, N. T.
T. (?) acus C.
Bellerophon sp.
Cyrtolites expansus ZT.— idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y. and Pa.
Pleurotomaria sp.
Diaphorostoma desmaUim C. — D. ventricosum Conrad, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
D. ventricosum Conrad — -idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Strophostylus expansus Conrad — idem, Oriskany, Md.
Orthonychia tortuosa H. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Platyceras cf. gebhardi H. — idem, Oriskany, Md.
P. nodosuiii Conrad — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Pterinea ? — Megambonia lamellosa II., arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Pterinopecten subequilatera H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Pterinopecten proteus C.
Pt. siguatus C. — Pt. terminalis H., Ulsterian, N. Y.
Pt. bellulus II., Helderbergian, N. Y.
Pt. pumilus C. — Vertumnia, Mesodevonic
Aviculopecten sp.
Lyriopecten sp.
Actinopteria communis H. — idem and A. textilis H., Helderbergian, N. Y.
A. insignis G. — A. communis II., Helderbergian, N. Y.
Goniophora sp.
Megambonia crenistriata C. — M. bellistriata H., Helderbergian, N. Y.
M. cardiiformis II., Onondaga limestone, N. Y.
Cypricardinia indenta Conrad — idem, Onondaga limestone and Hamilton, N. Y.
C. lamellosa H., Helderbej'gian, N. Y.
Conocardium inceptum K. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Oriskania sinuata C. — O. navicella R. & C, Oriskany, N. Y.
Cryptonella fausta C. — idem (?), Helderbergian, N. Y.
Kensselaeria ovoides Eaton — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y. and Md.
Megalanteris ovalis ^.— idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Eatonia medialis Van. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
E. peculiaris Conrad — idem, Helderbergian and arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Camarotoechia barrandii H. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
C. litcliana 11. (?)— idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
0. oblata H. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
70 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
C. dryope Bill. — idem, Gasp^ limestone no. 8
C. sp.
Anastrophia sp.
Coelospira concava H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
C. dichotoma H. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany
Leptocoelia flabellites Conrad — idem, arenaceous Oristany, N. T., Gasp6 (lime-
stone no. 8 and sandstone), Brazil, Falkland
islands, 8. Africa
Trematospira multistriata H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Meristella lentiformis G. — M. lenta H., Oriskany, Ontario
M. lata H. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
M (?) vascularia C.
Spirifer arenosus Conrad — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y. and Md.
S. murchisoni Castelnau — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
S. saffordi H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y. and Tenn.
Metaplasia pyxidata II. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.; Onondaga limestone,
Ontario
Cyrtina varia C. — C. rostrata, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
C. dalmani, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Chonetes hudsonica C. — idem Helderbergian, N. Y. (?), Gasp^ sandstone
Chonostropliia complanata II. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Ch. lielderbergia H. & C, Helderbergian,
N. Y.
Anoplia nucleata H. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y., Edmund's hill, Aroos-
took CO. Me.
Orthothetes becraftensis (J. sp. indes. Gaspe sandstone
Hipparionyx proximus Van. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y., Gaspe limestone
no. 8
Stropheodonta lincklaeni II. — idem, Oriskany, N. Y.
Leptostrophia oriskania — L. becki IL, Helderbergian, N. Y.
L. perplana Conrad, Upper Helderberg and Hamil-
ton, N. Y.
L. magnifica H. — idem, arenaceous Oriskany, N. Y.
Brachyprion schuchertanum C. — B. aratum II., Helderbergian, N. Y.
Stropbeodonta demissa Conrad, Hamilton
B. majus 0. — B. varistriatum Conrad, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Leptaena rhomboidalis Wilck. — idem, Helderbergian and Ulsterian, N. Y.
Dalmanella perelegans U. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
D. subcarinata H. — Helderbergian, N. Y.
►
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 71
Khipidomella oblata iZ— idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Crania pulchella E. dc (7.— idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
C. cf. bella Bill. — idem, Gasp^ limestone no. 5.
Pholidops terminalis ^.— idem, ? Oriskany, Md. N. Y.
Ph. 8j>1
Lingula cf. rectilatera U. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Khombipora rhonibifera H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Stictopora sj>.
Unitrypa lata H. — idem, Onondaga limestone, Ontario
U. acclivis //. — idem, Onondaga limestone, Ontario
Lichenaiia cf. crassa II. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Polypora separata //. (?) — idem, Onondaga limestone, Ontario
Poljpora
Poljpora cf. compressa H. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Fenestella biseriata II. (?) — idem, Onondaga limestone, Ontario
Hemitrj'pa columellata H. — idem, Onondaga limestone, Ontario
Isotrjpa
Reteporina
Edriocrinus becraftensis C. — E. sacciilus II., Oriskany, Md
Ptychonema helderbergiae H. (?). — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Vermipora streptocoelia C.
Vermipora serpuloides H. var idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Cladopora smicra C. — idem, Onondaga limestone, N. Y.
(J. styphelia C.
Aulopora cf. schoharie II. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Monotrypella arbusculus H. db S. — idem, Helderbergian, N. Y.
Hederella magna II. — idem, Hamilton shales, N. Y.
H. arachnoides C.
H. ramea C.
H. gracilior C.
"We may briefly summarize this tabulation as follows. Of tbe 94
clearly defined species of this fauna, 38 represent expressions of species
which began their existence in Helderbergian times ; on the other
hand, but 18 of the species of the fauna continued their existence or
appear to be represented by closely allied forms beyond the close of
the Oriskany sedimentation. 29 are represented in the earlier known
fauna of the arenaceous beds of the Oriskany.
72 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Chapter 3
NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ORISKANY FAUNA
IN NEW YORK
The fauna of the calcareous Oriskany is in no sense a mixed
assemblage, or an intermingling of faunas of adjacent provinces. The
sequence of life has continued without apparent interruption from the
Helderbergian (Kingston beds) into the sediments of the Oriskany
and the Onondaga limestone.
It is extremely probable that important variations from the fauna
of the Catskill shaly (New Scotland) limestone had already made their
appearance in the Becraft limestone, and that we first become acquainted
with some of these in the study of the calcareous Oriskany. No
proof therefore could be adduced more emphatically confirmatory of
the intimate faunal relations of the Helderbergian with the Oriskany
fauna and its successors than the facts brought forward in this paper.
The fauna discussed in the foregoing pages is that of the col-
careous fades of the Oriskany formation. The sedimentary deposits of
this and neighboring sections were essentially limestones notwithstanding
the silicious content, whether diffused through the mass or segregated as
cherty secondary product. In the earlier presentation of this fauna it
was regarded as of lower Oriskany horizon, on account of the presence
of many Helderbergian species, but we believe it will be more correctly
construed as the representative of the proper and normal Oriskany
fauna, the true fauna of this time unit inclosed in the sediments of
its proper habitat.
distribution of the calcareous FACIES of the oriskany in new YORK
Ulster county. A complete section of the strata from the Coeymans
limestone through to the summit or almost to the summit of the Oriskany
OEISKANT FAUNA OF BECRAFl' MOUNTAIN
73
formation, is exposed near Kingston, along the West Shore railroad
one half mile southeast of Kondout creek.'
On the Becraft limestone, which is 60 feet thick, lies a very
considerable thickness (222 feet) of impure schistose limestones, the
"upper shaly" limestone of W. M. Davis, and the Kitignton beds of
this paper. In the reported section these beds have been subdivided
with eveiy variation in the sediment, which is in places a compact blue
limestone carrying silicious matter, in others a gray, shaly and argilla-
ceous limestone. The fossils of all its layers are those of the true
New Scotland limestone faunas, the contents of the higher layers
varying little from those of the lower.
I have identified the following species. (In making this section Mr
Van Ingen and Dr Ruedemann divided these beds into 18 subdivisions,
numbered from lowest to highest, 4-21. These minor divisions were
based solely on slight changes in the character of the sediment. In
the list of fossils I quote these subdivisions by number in order
to show the range of the species.)
Dalmanites pleuroptyx, 4, 12, 21
Phacops logani, 12, 15, 16, 19, 21
Hoiiialonotus vanuxemi, 8, 9, 12, 19
Acidaspis tubcrculata, 12, 16
Tentaculites elongatus, 16, 19, 21
Cypricardinia lamellosa, 16
Camarotoeehia cf. campbellana, 4
C. mutabilis, 8
Eatonia peculiaris, 4, 6, 14
E. medialis, 9, 19
Spirifer cycloptenis, 4, 5, 12
S. perlamellosns, 4, 5
S. modestus, 12, 16
Coelospira concava, 4, 20, 21
Atrypa reticularis, 4
Meristella cf. laevis, 4, 5
Leptaena rhomboidalis, 4, 6
Stropheodonta becki, 4, 20, 21
Strophonella punctulifera, 4
Rhipidomella oblata, 4, 5, 6, 21
Dalmanella suboarinata, 5, 9
D. planoconvexa, 12, 14, 15
Pholidops ovata, 16, 19, 20, 21
Zapbrentis roemeri, 5
Duncanella rudis, 9, 12, 14, 16, 20
Pleurodictyum lenticulare, 9, 21
Hindia fibrosa, 6
'For the detailed succession here I have largely relied on observations made at
my request by Mr Gilbert Van Ingen, who, aided by Dr Rudolf Ruedemann, has
carefully collected from all the strata.
74
NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Immediately above these beds appear 11 feet, 3 inches of chert
beds, followed by 18 feet, 7 inches of a fine quartz pebble conglom-
erate (=29 feet, 10 inches). Then comes in a silicious and quite fossil-
iferous limestone 5 feet, 6 inches in thickness (no. 29 of the section)
and over it about 36 feet of chert bands containing a few fossils.
The entire thickness of the deposits from the top of the Kingston
beds to the base of the Esopus shale is about 60 feet.
The fauna of this part of the section is essentially contained in
the calcareous layer, and is the following:
Dalmanites cf. stemmatus
Phacops logani
Proetus conradi
Tentaculites elongatus
Diaphorostoma ventricosum
D. desmatum
Cyrtolites sp.%
Platyceras tortuosum
Cryptonella fausta
Megalanteris ovalis
Camarotoecliia pliopleura
Camarotoechia barrandii
Eatonia peculiaris
Meristella lentiformis
Spirifer murchisoni
Leptocoelia flabellites
Chonetes hudsonica
Chonostrophia complanata
Leptostrophia oriskaijia
Edriocrinus sacculus
Cladopora smicra
All of these species with the exception of Edriocrinus sac-
culus are observed in the Becraf t mountain Oriskany fauna. No
species occur in the chert bands which are not represented here.
At Gknerie, 7 miles north of Kingston, the same calcareous beds
of the Oriskany are finely fossiliferous, probably affording a more
complete representation of this fauna. The following are among the
species identified :
Dalmanites cf. stemmatus
Phacops logani
Tentaculites elongatus
Diaphorostoma ventricosum
D. desmatum
Cyrtolites sp. n.
Platyceras gebhardi
P. reflexum
Meristella lentiformis
Spirifer arenosus
S. murchisoni
Trematospira sj). n.
Anoplia nucleata
Leptaena rhomboid alls, va/r. ventricoBa
Leptostrophia magniiica
L. oriskania
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECKAFT MOUNTAIN 75
Oriskania sinuata Orthothetes becraftensis
Megalanteris ovalis O. large sj). n.
Camarotoechia oblata' Brachyprion scliuchertanum
C pliopleura Hipparionyx proximus
Leptocoslia flabellites Cbonetes hudsoniea
Coelospira dichotoma Edriocrinus sacculus
Meri Stella lata
This association has some peculiarities, e.g. the presence of some
of the Cumberland Md., species which have not before been observed
in the Oriskany of New York (Platyceras gebhardi and P .
r e f 1 e X u m) and several forms of novel aspect.
Orange county. In the southern extension of these beds a similar
faima accompanies the calcareous strata. In Orange county true silicious
sandstones are absent but the pebble beds and cherts are well defined.
These features have been clearly brought out by the work of Dr
Heinrich Ries in his special report on the geology of this county,
published in the IStli annual report of the New Yorh state geologist,
1898, p. 402, 483, etc. He says:
The two belts of Oriskany which occur in this county present
widely different characters. The western belt forms the western part
of the Ilelderberg ridge, which extends up the Neversink valley from
Port Jervis. It consists of fine-grained, shaly sandstones and impure
limestones, the latter often containing many fossils. The limestones
weather to a soft, red rock, from which the fossils may often be dug
with a knife. The beds dip to the westward under the Esopus slates
and Pleistocene deposits of the Neversink valley, but the bedding is
almost everj'where obscured and there is present a pronounced cleavage
which causes the rock to split into very thin la3'ers. The cleavage
generally dips steeply to the east. There are also present cherty bands
containing fossils. The Oriskany forms narrow ridges and the thick-
ness of the formation is about 125 feet [in the vicinity of Port Jervis].
The second Oriskany area is along the western side of Bellvale
and Skunnemunk mountains, where it affords a fine-gi"ained red or gray
quartzite which changes locally into a conglomerate.
Fossils occur very sparingly In the silicious beds of the western
area, Ries recording there Anoplia nucleata, Leptocoelia
flabellites and Leptaena rhomboidalis. But on the west-
76
NEW YORK STATE MTJSEUM
em line of arenaceous limestones from Cuddebackville to Port Jervis
the species are those characteristic of these calcareous beds in the
localities already considered, to wit (Ries) :
Platyostoma depressum
Tentaculites elongatus
Orbiculoidea grandis
Chonostrophia complanata
Spirifer murchisoni
Meristella lata
Leptocoelia flabellites
Coelospira dichotoma
Eatonia peculiaris
Edriocrinus sacculus
The difference in the lithologic character of these beds on the
eastei'n and the western flanks of the eroded Appalachian ridge is
striking and may be construed as evincing the nearer approach of the
easterly silicious and pebbly beds to the ancient shore line.
At Port Jervis the sections exposed at the Nearpass, Buckley and
Bennett quarries have been given by Dr S. T. Barrett.' Here are 150
feet of the upper shaly (Kingston) beds lying above the Becraft lime-
stone, and these are followed by the calcareous strata (5-10 feet) termed
by Mather and Horton the Trilobite beds, which are specially characterized
by the presence of Dalmanites dentatus Barrett.
Dr Barrett gives the following species as occurring in this stratum:
Horaalonotus vanuxemi
Dalmanites pleuroptjx
D. iiasutus
D. deutatus
[D. dolphi]
Hyolithes centennialis
Tentaculites elongatus
Holopea antiqua
Loxonema fitchana
Pterin ea textilis
Leptaena rhomboidalis
Strophonella conradi
Stropheodonta planulata
Strophonella cavumbona
S. leaven worthana
Stropheodonta becki
Braehjprion varistriatum
Chonostrophia complanata
Eensselaeria mutabilis
Orthis subcarinata
O. multistriata
Spirifer murchisoni
Cjrtina rostrata
Orbiculoidea discus
O. conradi
Schizocrania (?) superincreta
' Amer. jour. sci. 1877. 13 : 386.
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECUAFT MOUNTAIN 77
T have not had opportunity to verify all of these identifications, biit
the list as it stands shows a predominance of Helderbergian species.
In fact, its Oriskany representation seems to me largely dependent on
the identity of the specimens here regarded as Spirifer a r rectus
(= S. murchisoni). I am satisfied that the Chonostrophia is
the form (C. helderbergiae) of the New Scotland beds, and at
all events the character of the rock shows the fossils to be an ag-
gloraerated mass of remains brought together by wave wash. Present
evidence indicates that this is not an Oriskany nor indeed a transition
fauna but a proper part of the Kingston limestone beds.
Albany and Schoharie counties. To the north and west of the
Kingston sections, through the Helderberg mountains the Oriskany
f(»rmation becomes thinner and gradually loses its calcareous character.
On the Oniskethau creek near Clarksville it is represented by a foot
or tM'^o of dark compact chert. It is a gray, quartzitic sandstone
about two feet thick at Countryman hill, near New Salem. At the top
of the hill south of the Indian Ladder it has much the same character
and thickness and abounds in Spirifer arenosus, Sp. murchi-
soni, Meristella lata, etc. South of High point, near Alta-
mont, the rock becomes slightly calcareous.
At Knox it is finely exposed as a compact quartz sandstone
though not more than 2 to 3 feet thick.
On West mountain, Schoharie, at the house of George Acker
(Murphy farm), above the Becraft limestone rest about 10 feet of a
gray, schistose, arenaceous limestone, which terminates above in a hard
quartzite. The calcareous content of the rock is considerably less than
the silicious. Fossils are abundant :
Rensselaeria ovoides Spirifer murchisoni
Stroplieodonta magniventra Pholidops terminalis
Spirifer arenosus Meristella lata, etc.
In none of these sections can the Oriskany strata be properly
termed sandstone, in the sense in which that term was originally applied
to it in 1837.
78 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUJI
THE ORIGINAL ORISKANY SANDSTONE
The name Oriskany sandstone was applied by Vanuxem to white
or yellowish, often friable and crumbling quartz sandstone exposed at
Oriskany Falls, Oneida co., where it has a thickness of 20 feet.
All calcareous beds are here wanting and the transition from the un-
derlying Manlius limestone is abrupt, but fossils are found in abund-
ance though not in great variety, the species being for the most part,
Spirifer arenosus, S. murchisoni, Eensselaeria ovoides,
Hipparionyx proximus, Chonostrophia complanata and
Meristella lata. This quality of rock does not occur in any of the
eastward exposures of the Oriskany from Albany county to the New Jer-
sey line except as an occasional thin streak without fossils. From
Oriskany Falls westward no calcareous beds appear except toward the top
of the deposit as the sedimentation grades into that of the Onondaga
limestone above. Through Onondaga county into Cayuga, the white,
often granular, sandstone is frequently exposed, perhaps nowhere better
than at its extreme western appearance at Yawger's woods just north
of Union Springs. Vanuxem observed that at no other outcrop of this
sandstone are the fossils so finely preserved.
The character of the Oriskany deposit in New York from Schoharie
county westward may be regarded in a general way as a series of arena-
ceous lenses (in strike section) connected by thin sheets of quartzitic
sandstone. The outcrops at Oriskany Falls and Yawger's woods are
such lenticular masses. Others occur in the sections at Jamesville and
Skaneateles Falls and the last that is well marked in the westernmost
extension of the formation occurs at Phelps, Ontario co. Between that
point and Buffalo the rock may be traced as an undulated sheet a
few inches thick composed of angular pieces of the underlying water-
lime cemented by dark quartz sand.
At the horizon of the formation in the deep salt shaft put
down at Livonia, Livingston co., was a 4^ foot layer at a
depth of 1000 feet. This layer was a hard, compact quartz
sand, almost a quartzite, which in its lower part contained frag-
ments of the hydraulic limestone on which it rests, cemented
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECK AFT MOUNTAIN 79
together in the mass. The few traces of fossils in this rock indicated
for the most part Ulsterian species, Pentagonia unisulcata,
Pentamerella allied to P . a r a t a , but also a Spirifer, prob-
ably S. arenosus. In the Buffalo cement co.'s quarries at Buffalo,
the Oriskany sandstone is found to lie in small masses which have
been M^ashed into the cavities of the corroded surface of the Manilas
waterlimes and in vertical fissures filled with white quartz sand which
traverse the Manlius limestone and the Eurypterus-bearing cement beds
beneath. Fuller reference to this occurrence is made on a subsequent
page.
This variation in thickness in different meridional sections results
in what appears at present an actual absence of the formation from
the rock series in certain places. It has thus not been detected in
the region about Cedarville, Herkimer co. Again it makes an abrupt
appearance at Splitrock near Syracuse. In Seneca county it does not
manifest itself at all, but turns up in Ontario county at the village
of Phelps, as just noted. Other evidences of this interrupted depo-
sition occur between Ontario county and Lake Erie.
Such discontinuity of the sand deposits of the Oriskany are indi-
cations of an exposed and broken coast line, in the western part of
the state, the sand feebly encroaching on areas of entirely different
deposition.
The great brachiopods, Spirifer arenosus, Rensselaeria
ovoides, Hipparionyx proximus and Meristella lata
with Tentaculites elongatus, which are the species goner
ally present in these arenaceous lenses, could not have had their
habitat on such a deposit and in a sea whose depth favored such deposi-
tion. W^e shall not be wrong in regarding these accumulations of
remains in the true Oriskany sandstone as agglomerations, swept out
of their facies and away from the more calcareous, deeper water
deposits of the time. To regai'd them as species of the sandy facies
of Oriskany time would, I believe, be altogether erroneous. They
appertain truly to the calcareous facies and the normal fauna of the
Oriskany formation.
80 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
FAUNA OF THE GASPE LIMESTONES
In connection with this Oriskany fauna that of the limestones of the
Gaspe peninsula, province of Quebec, requires brief consideration. This
remarkable series of 2000 feet of limestones was first exploited by Sir
William Logan in 1844^ who separated them into eight divisions*, num-
bering from bottom to top. The organic contents of the entire series
are principally known from the description of the species by Billings*.
This author however makes no reference to the considerable number
of forms mentioned by Logan in his characterization of his subdivisions
of the group. The record of species has been somewhat augmented in
recent years by the lists given by Ells in his report on the geology
of the Gaspe peninsula, the new identifications of which are largely
ascribed to Dr H. M. Ami. This entire series of limestones was origi-
nally regarded of Siluric age; Billings afterward demonstrated and Logan
conceded the similarities between the fauna of division no. 8 and that of
the Oriskany of New York, while Ells and Ami are not disposed to
assign to the Siluric any other part than divisions 1 and 2. This
great section of limestone deposits doubtless presents the most gradual
of known transitions from beds (no. 1 and 2) carrying a fauna cor-
relating with Helderbergian time and composition, through a great thick-
ness of sparsely fossiliferous calcareous and magnesian beds (no. 8, 4,
5, 6) into a profuse limestone fauna with most pronounced Oriskany
traits (no. 7 and 8). It is not practicable to here present faunal lists
resulting from the writer's recent studies of the series though these
would serve to indicate the close similarity of complexion in the lower
beds, 1 and 2, and the beds at Stewart's cove, Dalhousie and in the
Chapman plantation, Aroostook county, Maine. In the upper beds, no.
7 and 8, the fauna carries Rensselaeria ovoides, (a small and
slender variety) Megalanteris ovalis, Hipparionyxproxi-
mus, Dalnianites, very close to D. stemmatus, Stroj^heo-
donta magniventra, Camarotoechia pliopleura, C.
*l8t annual report geol. sur. of Canada.
"Geology of Canada. 1863 cb. 16.
'Geol. sur. Canada. 1874, vol. 2, pt 1.
0RI8KANY FAUNA OF BECBAFT MOUNTAIN 81
dryope, Eatonia peculiaris, Leptocoelia flabellites,
etc., all of which pertain to the fauna of the calcareous Oriskany
of New York. With these strong Oriskany traits the fauna
canies certain species which indicate the continuance of a still
earlier assemblage. Billings assigned to it some species of the
Helderbergian and though the majority of these identifications re-
quire careful reconsideration there is in the organic content of
limestone no. 8 a notable constituent of Helderbergian origin. It is
interesting to note that certain of the lower beds of division no.
8 specially at the exposure at Ship Head, Cape Gaspe, are com-
posed of a greenish sandy limestone, extending through a thick-
ness of not less than 150 feet. They evince thus, as do the
Oriskany beds of eastern New York a considerable siliceous
content though still to be regarded as calcareous deposits. Logan's
subdivision of the limestone series was given with lucidity and
exactitude but seems hardly to clothe this unique succession with the
dignity and importance it merits. Dr Ami has suggested that the upper
beds, 7 and 8, be termed the Grand Greve limestones, from the little
village on the peninsula where these strata are best exposed and most
readily accessible. To Mr Charles Schuchert and the writer, who have
recently spent some time in this region, this name seems happily chosen
and we have thought that with equal propriety the lower beds, 1
and 2, exposed in the base of Mt St Alban along the shore of
Cape Rosier cove on the gulf of St Lawrence, may be called the
St Alban limestones, while the passage beds of Billings (no. 3, 4, 5, 6)
which are displayed in the fine 700 foot vertical escarpment at Cape
Bon Ami, west of Cape Gaspe, may receive the name of Cape Bon
Ami limestones.
Logan and Dawson in referring to the interesting outcrop of " Silu-
rian " or " Lower Helderberg " rocks on the coast one half mile south
of Dalhousie, N. B., speak of it as "Cape Bon Ami." I have also ob-
served the locality thus given on specimens from there exhibited in the
fine museum of McGill university. Lest confusion arise from the dupli-
cation of this name, I may note that the little headland in question
82 NEW YORK STATE MUSEtJM
at Dalhousie is locally known as the "Bon Ami rocks." It is more-
over, a mass of eruptive, the extremity of one of the parallel apophyses
extending eastward from the great massive of Dalhousie mountain. The
fossiliferous rocks are exposed for the most part in Stewart's cove, some
distance south of this point.
Chapter 4
THE DEVONIC AGE OF THE HELDERBERGIAN FAUNA AND
THE BASE OF THE DEVONIC SYSTEM IN NEW YORK
The fact of the presence of numerous Helderbergian species in the
fauna of the Oriskany of Becraft mountain, as an integral part of that
fauna, not a casual intermixture, is sufficient demonstration that the
fauna of the Helderbergian became modified in its continued existence
by the departure or extinction of certain of its species only. A fair
percentage kept the field up to the time of and pending the incursion
of species of the early Oriskany. In this way the former became a
true and proper part of this new fauna with whose indicial species it
coexisted throughout the remainder of its duration. A modification
so gradual as to permit such an uninterrupted existence can not sever
the close relation of the one fauna in its entirety to the other. It is
therefore a natural corollary from the account given of the Oriskany
fauna, to consider briefly the relation of the organic assemblage con-
stituting the typical and normal Helderbergian to the Devonic type of
organic life, and that formation in its relation to the Devonic system.
We may postulate this proposition: the sections on which the term.
Lower Helderberg group, was based are in Albany and Schoharie coun-
ties N. Y. ; it is here that the formation attains its greatest and most
differentiated sedimentation as well as its highest profusion of organ-
isms ; it is therefore to these sections and their organic contents that
every argument in analysis and correlation of the fauna and its con-
taining sediments must be eventually referred.
0RI8KAKY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAnf 83
1 THE ARGUMENT FROM CORRELATION
Since the proposition of Beyrich in 1867 to correlate the Helder-
bergian faunas of New York with strata in the Hartz mountains
which he believed to be of lowest Devonic age, the most careful
study of the lower Devonic has resulted in a like conclusion. Prob-
ably the detailed investigations following Beyrich's suggestion, by that
highly accomplished student of the Devonic, Prof. E. Kayser of Marburg,
effected the widespread acceptance of this correlation of the Helderbergian
with the lowest Devonic, specially among European students, with whom
little question of its propriety and exactitude has found expression
during the last decade. The history of the earlier stages of the dis-
cussion concerning the age of these and other beds which had been
at first regarded as of, upper Siluric age, was given by the writer
with some fulness 10 years ago,* and has again been presented
in a recent paper by Charles Schuchert. To these the reader
is referred. It is not germane to the purpose of this paper to bring
forward again the history of labors which have so far as evidence
from correlation goes, firmly established the Devonic age of this fauna.
To enumerate the names of those who have entered into this problem
is to give the full tale of the most experienced students of these
faunas, Kayser, Tschernyschew, Freeh, Barrois, Nov^k, Oehlert and
others. It is, however, quite unnecessary to seek in extra-limital
correlates the evidence of such Devonic age.
2 THE ARGUMENT FROM THE INTRINSIC CHARACTER OF THE FAUNA
With whatever emphasis extra-limital correlates bespeak the
Devonic age of this fauna, the strongest demonstration of its Devonic
affinities is intrinsic. In the work above cited the \vriter brought for-
ward in a tentative way a summation of uuch evidence, and since that
time has taken opportunity on several occasions to refer to the increas-
ing and convincing evidence of the proposition. No American geolo-
gist has since then given attention to the subject of the predominant
* 8th ann. rep't N. Y. state geologist. 1889. p. C2-91.
84 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
faunal traits of the Helderbergian, with the exception of Charles
Schuchert, of Washington, who, after expressing his conviction of their
Devonic character, resulting from protracted study of the brachiopods
of the fauna' has entered into the subject in much detail and with
great force.* George H. Girty has discussed the characters of the
sponges and coelentrates of this fauna in a valuable paper published
in the IMh annual report of the New Yoi'h state geologist, 1895, but
mthout entering widely into the consideration of the faunal bearing of
the species discussed. For the rest, stratigraphers, cartographers, writers
of textbooks and others who have had no occasion to consider the subject
on its merits and perhaps no adequate appreciation of the merits of
the question, have till lately been content still to accept the view
promulgated largely by the influence of Murchison, that the fauna
constitutes a terminal member of the upper Siluric section in New York.
No full analysis of the constituents of the typical Helderbergian
fauna can be presented here, nor is it essential. A review of the
species of the entire fauna with the incorporation of the very consid-
erable number of undescribed forms known to occur in it would be
necessary to set the matter forth with its full force. It will suffice
here to restate briefly the leading features of the association which must
be relied on to determine its age. Let this statement, however, pre-
face the present discussion. 2he Helderbergian fauna is that contained
by the strata, all and several, lying between the top of the Tentaculite
(Manlius) limestone below, and the top of the Kiiigston beds above.
The Helderbergian fauna
Siluric characters
Positive elements
Trilobites. There are no features presented by the trilobites which
indicate Siluric at^e.
Cephalopods. In the Helderbergian, representatives of the cephalo-
pods are most rare. The species of the genera Orthoceras, and
"■See Bull. U.S. geol. sur. 1897. no. 87.
2 Bull. geol. see. America 1900. 11 : 241-332.
ORI8KANY FAUNA OF BECBAFT MOUNTAIK '85
Cyrtoceras are very imperfectly known. The little known species
of Cyrtoceras are not diagnostic.
Pteropods. The species of Conularia and Tentaciilites
present no diagnostic characters.
Gastropods. Holopea, Diaphorostoma, Strophostylus
are diffused throughout Siluric and Devonic horizons. Of all these
genera Holopea alone is near its Siluric culmination.
Lamellibranchs. Cypricardinia is freely represented in the
Niagaran, but its culmination is of Devonic age. Actiuopteria
occurs occasionally in the Niagaran, but its paucity there is in marked
contrast to its abundance in the Helderbergian. There are no indub-
itably predevonic types in this element of the fauna.
JBracliiopods. The only species of this extensive group known to
be common to the Helderbergian and Niagaran faunas are the cosmo-
politan brachiopods, Leptaena rhomboidalis and A t r y p a
reticularis. The prevalence of species of Dalmanella is sug-
gestive of Siluric affinities. The genus is typically expressed in the
species D. elegantula and D. arcuaria of the Niagaran, but attains
its culmination in the Helderbergian. (I), planoconvex a, D. per-
elegans, D. concinna, D. quadrans). In successive faunas this
means no more than the progressive development of a generic group.
In time subsequent to the Heldei'bergian the genus is continued to
the close of the Devonic.
Bilobites varica is foreshadowed in the B. b i 1 o b a and B.
acutiloba of the Niagaran. The genus is not of subsequent date.
Orthostrophia (O. strophomenoides and O. H a 1 1 i ) rep-
resents a short-lived genus, doubtfully anticipated by the Or this
fasciata of the Niagaran.
Scenidium is a genus which appeared in the Trenton, attained
its maximum in the Niagaran, declined and disappeared in American
faunas with the Sc. insigne of the Helderbergian. In Europe the
genus continued into the middle Devonic (Sc. areola Kays.).
Of the genus S p i r i f e r the species S. m a c r o p 1 e u r a Con. is a
final expression of a group (liadiati pauciplicati H. ifeC. )
which culminated in the Niagaran.
86 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Anastrophia, the upper Siluric representative of the earlier
Parastrophia, is represented in the Helderbergian, but it was also
present in the calcareous Oriskany,
Sieberella attains its highest development in the Siluric and
its species (S. galeata and S. pseudogaleata) are of frequent
occurrence in the Helderbergian. The type, however, does not end here,
but is continued upward into the Mesodevonic, even the species S .
galeata being commonly identified from these horizons by European
writers.
Bryozoans. But few Siluric affinities are expressed in this group.
Rhinidictya presents its latest species. Diamesopora and C a 1 -
1 o p o r a range from lower Siluric upward into the Onondaga limestone.
Grinoids. None of the crinoids are of distinctively Siluric char-
acter.
Cyatids. The presence of Anomalocystites (though this genus
occurs in the Oriskany), Lepadocrinus, Sphaerocystites, is
suggestive of wfsiing Siluric traits. The cystids are not absent from
succeeding faunas, but are of rare occurrence.
Corals. Duncanella rudis of the Helderbergian is anticipated
by D. borealis of the Niagaran and succeeded by D. truncata of
the Onondaga.
' Enterolasma (E. strictum) is the last representative of a
genus which makes its other appearance in the Niagaran.
Grojptolites. Girty has described Monograptus beecheri from
the Helderbergian. Before this interesting discovery we had no knowl-
edge of the continuation of the rhabdophorous graptolites beyond
the Niagaran fauna except in the case of Dictyonema, which is not
uncommon in the Mesodevonic. There are several structural features,
indicated by Mr Girty's description and figure, which indicate that M.
beecheri will not prove a representative of the Monograptus type
of the Siluric, Freeh has expressed the view that such forms are
probably Re-tiolites.
Negative elements
The absence of the Devonic types, Cryphacus and Goniatites,
is noteworthy.
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN'
87
Devonic cliaracters
Positive elements
Trilolites. This element is, for the purposes of a diagnosis, of the
first importance. The trilobitic genera present are Homalonotus,
Bronte us, Dalmanites, Phacops, Acidaspis, Lichas, Pro-
etus, Cordania and Cyphaspis.
The single species of Homalonotus (H. vanuxemi) possesses
the strongly annulated pygidium characterizing the earlier representatives
of the genus (e. g. H. delphinocephalus of the Niagaran, H.
major of the Oriskany) and in this respect is in strong contrast to
the latest members of the genus, with obsolete pygidial ribs. On the
other hand, the species presents the smooth, unlobed glabella of the
prevalent H. dekayi of the Hamilton, and therein indicates a pro-
gress from the Siluric type of Triraerus to the Devonic Dipleurae.
Bronteus barrandii is a species with comparatively small
pygidium, having a simple, unbifurcated median rib; representing a
group prevailing in the lower Devonic faunas of Europe.
Dalmanites. The typical expression and phyletic normal of this
genus (Odontochile) is represented by a series of Siluric and
Devonic forms in which the glabellar lobation is without coalescence
and the pygidium more or less caudate. Tliis type is foreshadowed
in the lower Siluric (D. achates Billings), and the Niagaran species, D.
limulurus, D. vigilans and D. verrucosus, express the struc-
ture without modification. The outburst of dermal extravagances which
characterizes many Devonic trilobitic genera is foreshadowed in this
group in the snouted D. bicornis of the Niagaran, a tendency per-
petuated and carried to extreme in D. t r i d e n s and D. n a s u t u s of
the Helderbergian. A diiferent style of ornament is evinced in D.
pleurotopyx of the Helderbergian (a species which continued its
existence into the Onondaga limestone). Here the frontal margin
becomes crenulated, and this tendency is more highly elaborated
in the D. d o 1 p h i and D. d e n t a t u s of the calcareous Oris-
kany. This style of ornament associated with simple glabellar
lobation disappeared with the disappearance of D. pleuroptyx in
88 NEW YOEK STATE MUSEUM
the Onondaga. In Cryphaeus of the Mesodevonic the lobation
is retained, but the marginal ornament has disappeared from the cepha-
lon and appears on the pygidium. The cephalic ornamentation in the
species, D. stemmatus, Oriskany, D. regalis, and D. anchiops
Schoharie grit, and D. selenurus, etc. of the Onondaga limestone is
associated with lobal coalescence and may be looked on as an instance
of morphic equivalence.
Phacops is represented by P. 1 o g a n i (P. hudsonicus).
The species mentioned are typical Phacopes, forms in which the
glabellar lobes are almost or quite coalesced, the glabella ventricose and
the pygidium short. Such typical forms are not known in any
earlier American fauna. In general this genus divides itself
into two groups, in one of which the glabellar furrows are
represented by faint, linear impressions, and the pleura of the pygidium
are duplicate ; in the other the furrovvs are obsolete and the pygidial
pleura simple. The latter is believed to be limited to Mesodevonic
faunas (P. r a n a , Hamilton, P. latifrons, Eifelian), while the former
is widely disseminated as a characteristic Paleodevonic group. To
this belong the Helderbergian species.
Of Acidaspis we have two species ; A. t u b e r c u 1 a t a is re-
lated to the Onondaga A. callicera. The remarkable A. h a m a t a
(genus Dicranurus) with long, recurved cervical horns, finds its only
known analogue and almost specific identity in the A. monstrosa,
Barrande, of the etage G (Paleodevonic).
L i c h a s is represented by L. pustulosus, the most abundant
species, which seems to indicate a type of subgeneric structure not
elsewhere presented. L. consanguineus belongs to the subgenus
A r g e s and has species both in the Siluric and Devonic.
The single species of Proetus (P. protuberans) in the
Helderbergian of New York is of rare occurrence. In type of struc-
ture it conforms throughout to the series P. conradi, Oriskany, P.
angustifrons, Schoharie grit, P. c 1 a r u s , Onondaga limestone and
P. r o w i of the Hamilton group.
Cordania makes its earliest appearance in the Helderbergian,
OBISKANT FAUNA OF BECBAFT MOUNTAIN 89
and is represented in the Oriskany, Schoharie grit, Onondaga and
Hamilton faunas.
Cyphaspis coelebs ( the only species ) is closely allied to C.
m i n 11 s c u 1 u s of the Oriskany and Onondaga.
Gastropods. This group is characterized by an immense develop-
ment of the genus Platyceras, which has been but sparingly rep-
resented in the Siluric faunas, but attains its numeric climax in species
here and in the Onondaga and Hamilton. The prevalence of these
forms is one of the most striking characters of " Hercynian " faunas,
and Barrois has suggested that they may v?ith propriety be designated
by the name Capulian. The type Orth onychia attains its culmina-
tion in the Helderbergian and Ulsterian; the nodose species, w^hich
become abundant in the Oriskanj' and Onondaga, are represented;
while the lamellose species and the ventricose, platystomoid forms are
predominant. The spinose group, prevailing in the Onondaga and
Hamilton, has not been observed here.
The genera Strophostylus and Platystoma have both
more abundant representation in earlier and later faunas, and are not
diagnostic.
Lamellibranchs. The prolific development of pterinaeoids stands
in sharp contrast to their comparative paucity in the Niagaran,
while it is in harmony with their abundance in the Devonic.
(Avicula textilis, A. communis, A. obliquata, A. manti-
cula, A. securiformis, A. pauciradiata, etc.). A v i c u 1 o-
p e c t e n has a well developed representation (A. tenuilamellata,
A. spin 11 lifer a, A. schoharie, A. umbonata, A. bellula).
Mytilarcas of large size and gibbous form, belonging to the
Devonic subgenus Plethomytilus, are abundant in individuals
(M. ovata, M. cordiformis).
Conocardium has but a meager representation in the single,
rare species, C inceptum. This genus is but sparingly known in
Siluric faunas.
A large species of Modiomorpha (M. o b 1 o n g a) ; undescribed
species of the genera Grammysia, Goniophora, Paracylas
are also known.
90 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
£rac7iiopods. Rhipidomella, which culminates in the Meso-
devonic, is largely represented. But a few doubtful representatives
are known in the Silunc.
Schizophoria, eminently characteristic of the higher Devonic,
is clearly defined in the Helderbergiun. The only earlier species of
the genus is generically inchoate. Orthothetes is in the line of
progress from its elementary forms in the Niagara to its abundant
development in the middle and upper Devonic. It is represented by
two species, O. deformis and O. woolworthana.
Leptostrophia, beginning its development here becomes a
large and characteristic Devonic group.
Brachyprion, well advanced in structure toward the type of
Stropheodonta, is represented by two species. Progress along the
same line continues in the Oriskany and thereafter the type seems to
lose itself in the latter genus.
Strophonella, starting in the Silunc, attains its culmination
in the Helderbergian (S. headleyana H., S. leaven worthana
H., etc., and gradually declines to the close of the Devonic.
Leptaenisca is not known elsewhere in American faunas.
Chonostrophia is known only in the Helderbergian, Oriskany
and Onondaga.
Spirifer. The lamellose septati, represented by Sp. perlamel-
1 o s u s , become culminant in later Devonic faunas.
The same is true of the Fimbriati unicispinei, (S. saffordi,
S. cyclopterus, S. octocostatus) which are preceded by an
inceptive representation in the Niagara and followed by several species
in the Devonic.
Of the Aperturati the only species is S. concinnus, the
earliest representative of the S. orestes subtype. This entire group
becomes culminant in the Devonic and lower Carbonic.
The genus Merista is known in America only in the Helder-
bergian and Oriskany faunas.
Meristella has a remarkable development in this fauna and its
existence is continued through the Mesodevonic. It is not known in
the Siluric.
OKISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 91
A similar outburst of species is afforded by the genus Tremato-
s p i r a (T. multistriata, T. costata, T. perforata, T. sim-
plex). The genus is here culminant, the small T. c a m u r a of the
Niagara being the only preexisting species.
Parazyga is known only here and in the Mesodevonic.
Nucleospira is here near its culmination with a considerable
subsequent development into the Mesodevonic.
Stenoschisma is not elsewhere known. '
Uncinulus attains its culmination here (U. rautabilis, U.
abrupta, U. vellicata, U. nucleolata).
Eatonia is known only in the Helderbergian and Oriskany
faunas.
Sieberella (S. galeatus and S. pseudogaleatus) occurs
widespread in the upper Siluric, and a common middle and upper
Devonic shell is referred by European paleontologists to S. galeatus.
Rensselaeria (R. mutabilis, R, aequiradiata, R. ellip-
tica, etc.) makes its first appearance here and disappears with the close
of the Oriskany.
Trigeria is known in America only in the Helderbergian (T.
portlandica Square lake Me.) and Oriskany (T. gaudrp Oehlert,
Cumberland Md.) faunas.
Cryptonella begins its existence in the Helderbergian (C. e x •
i m i a ) and is continued into the lower Carbonic.
Bryozoans. The sum of the characters of this element points
strongly toward the Devonic. Rhombipora, Diamesopora,
Coelocaulis, Callotrypa, Fistulipora, Lichenalia, have
a few representatives in the Siluric, but are here much progressed
toward or to their culmination. Paleschara, Stictopora, Cra-
nio p o r a , abound in later faunas. The feuestelloids ( F e n e s -
tella, Unitrypa, Hemitrypa, Polypora) are relatively few
in the Siluric, greatly abound in the Helderbergian, but attain their
culmination in the Mesodevonic. The genus Thamniscus makes its
first appearance here.
Crinoids. Edriocrinus occurs only here and in the Oriskany.
92 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Mariacrinus, a subgeneric expression of Melocrinus, attains its
culmination in this fauna. Coronocrinus, Cordylocrinus, Cara-
arocrinus, Brachiocrinus and Aspidoc ri n u s are not known
elsewhere.
Corals. The development of explanate Favositea is notable
and in direct accord with their progress toward culmination in the
Onondaga limestone.
Striatbpora and Aulopora attain their culmination in the
Devonic.
Pleurodictyum here makes its first appearance.
Zaphrentis has a meager representation ( Z. r o e m e r i ) ; its
culmination is in the Onondaga limestone. The same is true of
Cladopora and Vermipora.
Of the stromatoporoids, Girty has described five species of
Syringostroma, a genus not known in earlier faunas but occurr-
ing in the middle Devonic.
Sponges. Hindiafibrosa, though occiirring in the Siluric,
is here at its most profuse development, and its existence is carried
upward into the Onondaga limestone (Onondaga county).
Negative elements
Trilohites. The Siluric genera Bumastus, Calymmene,
S t a u roc e p h a 1 u s, Encrinurus, S p h aer e x o c h u s, Platy-
notus, Crotalocephalus, are absent.
Cephalopods. The group is but very sparsely represented. There are
no representatives of the genera Ascoceras, Actinoceras,
Oncoceras, Hormoceras, Cyrtoceras (of Siluric type)
Pentacoceras, Hexacoceras, or any charactez-istic Siluric types.
LamelUbranchs. Ambonychia, Anomalodonta, Telli-
nomya, Clidophorus and Modiolopsis are wanting.
Brachiopods. The entire family of the Trimerellidae
(Trimerella, Dinobolus, Monomerella, Rhinoboliis, Lin-
gulops, Lingulasma), which was so profusely represented in the
late Siluric, is absent.
Orthis (s. 8. ) disappears in the Niagaran j probably also, P 1 e c t •
ORISKANY FATTKA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN
98
orthis and Hebertella. The upper Siluric genera Mimulus and
Streptis are absent.
Strophomena has not been perpetuated beyond the Siluric.
Plectambonites disappears in the Niagaran.
Of the genus Spirifer, we have no representative of the S .
n o b i 1 i s type (Radiati duplicati).
The genera Whi t f iel d el 1 a, Hyattella, Dayia, Hindella,
Meristina, Glassia, Zygospira are absent.
Ilhyn<jhotreta and Parastrophia disappear with the
Niagaran.
Conchidium, Pentamerus, Barrandella and Strick-
land i n i a are not present.
No terebratuloid genus is known in the upper Siluric.
Eichwaldia disappears with the Niagaran.
These genera of Crinoids disappear with the Niagaran fauna:
Eucalyptocrinus, Glyptaster, Thy sanocrinus, Marsupio-
crinus, Lyriocrinus, Lamp terocrinu s, L ecanocrinus,
Pisocrinus, Allocrinus, Coccocrinus, D e nd rocrin u s,
Ampheristocrinus. None of the following Niagaran genera of Cys-
toids continiie beyond that fauna : Caryocrinus, Callocystites,
Ly socy s tites, G o ra p h o c y s t i t es, Al 1 oc y s ti t e s, Halocys-
tites, Hemicosmites, Apiocystites, Heterocystites.
This statement of the affinities of the various generic elements of
the Helderbergian fauna is more graphically represented as below.
The direction of the dashes indicates either (forward) Devonic or
(backward) Siluric affinity.
Trilohites
Dalmanites (Synphoria) — Lichas —
Phacops — Proetus —
-r-Homalonotus Cordania —
Bronteus — , Cyphaspis —
Acidaspis —
Cephalopods
— Orthoceras — — Cyrtoceras —
94
NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
— Tentaculites —
Platyceras —
Orthonychia —
— Strophostylus —
Actinopteria —
Aviculopecten —
Mytilarca —
Conocardium —
Modiomorpha —
— Dalmanella —
Rhipidomella —
Schizophori a —
— Bilobites
— Orthostrophia
— Scenidiura
Orthothetes —
Brachyprion —
Leptostropbia —
Strophonella —
Christiania
Leptaenisca
Chonostrophia —
— Spirifer —
— Rhinidictya
— Diamesapora
— Callopora —
Rhombipora —
Coelocaulis —
' Callotrypa —
Fistulipora —
— Lichenalia
Pteropods
Gastropods
Lamellibranchs
JBrachiopods
Bryozoa
— Conularia —
— Diaphorostoma—
— Holopea
Cypricardinia —
Graramysia — -
Goniophora —
Paracyclas —
Merista —
Meristella —
Trematospira —
Parazyga —
-Nucleospira —
Stenoschisma
Lissopleura
Unciniilus
Eatonia —
-Sieberella —
-Anastrophia —
Eensselaeria —
Trigeria
Cryptonella —
Thamuiscus —
Paleschara —
Stictopora —
Fenestella —
Unitrypa — ■
Hemitrypa —
Polypora —
OEISKANT
FAUNA OF BECKAFT
Grinoids
MOUNTAIN
Mariacrinus —
Brachiocrinua
Coronocrinus
Aspidocrinus
Cordylocrinus
Cystoids
■Anomalocysfcites —
— Sphaerocystites
-Lepadocrinus
Corals
Duncanella — •
StriatojK)ra —
-Enterolasma
Pleurodictyum —
Zaphrentis — ■
Cladopora —
Favosites — •
Verraipora —
Aulopora — •
'
Graptolites
-Dictyonema —
Stromatoporoids
— Monograptus ?
Syringostroma —
Hindia —
Sponges
95
i
3 THE ARGUMENT FROM STRATIGRAPHY
The fact that the faunas of the Manlius limestone and the Ron-
dout waterlimes are not, in this discussion, considered a part of the
fauna of the Helderbergian has already been stated. The distinctive
differences in these faunas are briefly noted in the following chapter.
In eastern central New York there is no interruption in the
stratigraphic succession from the Manlius limestone upward. The
heavy layers of this formation are generally capped by a Stromatopora
limestone. In the westward extension of the Helderbergian, the
Coeymans and New Scotland limestones gradually lose their individu-
ality. In the records of salt, gas and artesian wells throughout the
district west of Cayuga lake the strata referred to the Lower Helder.
berg, often of considerable thickness, present nothing of the true
Helderbergian. These vague and indeterminate assignments cover for
the most part the blue limestone, generally quite pure and often
96 • NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
hydraulic, found between the base of the Onondaga or of the Oris-
kany sandstone when present, and the Eondout waterlimes lying
above the gypsum beds. These beds are the stratigraphic equivalent
of the Tentaculite limestone, for they contain species which charac-
terize this horizon in eastern New York, though Tentaculites itself
is rarely seen in the western exposures.
At the quarries of the Buffalo cement co. at Buffalo, is a section
of unusual interest to which brief reference has been made. Above
the Rondout waterlimes the strata which bear the fauna of the Manlius
limestone are continuous to the base of the Onondaga limestone.
The quarryraen divide this portion of the section into " cement
rock " below and " bullhead " above, and, though the lower passes
gradually into the upper, it is in the former (Rondout) that the species of
eurypterid crustaceans prevail, while in the latter fossils are not com-
mon, though the horizon is pretty well defined by an undescribed
species of Cyathophyllum with representatives of Whitfieldella
sulcata and Spirifer cf. vanuxemi (S, eriensis Grabau).
This " bullhead " waterlime occupies the position of and is coextensive with
the Manlius limestone and is the Manlius horizon. The upper surface of
this deposit is extremely uneven, and seldom conforms with the approxi-
mately parallel sedimentation lines of the rock itself. In parts of the
quarry, where this surface has been exposed on a large scale by the
stripping of the Onondaga limestone above, the contour is extremely
irregular, and the depressions in some cases take on the aspect of
crooked channels running into one another, the effect being just that
which would result from the probable cause, erosion before the deposi-
tion of the Onondasra limestone commenced.
The horizon of the Oriskany sandstone is indicated only by a thin
seam of fine, bituminous matter, containing no sand except in a few
of the depressions mentioned, where small characteristic nodules of black
sand are found.
In certain parts of this section the upper hydraulic or " bullhead "
strata show very positive evidence of disturbance and folding and at cer-
tain places the crest of these folds is seen to be partially removed,
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 97
'while the Onondaga limestone beds lie horizontally on them. All
these evidences are indicative of an interval of unrepresented time
between the deposition of the Manlius limestone and the commencement
of Onondaga sedimentation. These evidences are distinctly corroborated
by the following accessory phenomena.
The same quarry shows several nearly vertical fissures which have
been filled with white, compact quartz sand. The most clearly developed
of the three such fissures here observed is shown in the accompanying
plate and diagram. This is an irregular fissure transecting the strata
nearly vertically, with horizontal apophyses running out along the sedi-
Onondaaa limesrone!
••bo II head*
5
— — — '- Top of cement roc/i
Floor of c^ua■^r^f
Diagram showing the largest of the sand dikes (A) In the quarries of the Buffalo cement CO., at Buffalo N. Y. The
floor Of the quarry Is the lowest layer used for burning cement and while the dike seems to enter this stratum It does
not penetrate It. The figure shows the Irregular character of the Assure walls, and the lateral apophyses In the lower
part which are essentially parallel to the bedding. At the top Is a slight displacement of the " bull-head " or Manilas
waterllme on one side of the dike. B shows a second dike, the filling of a very narrow fissure. Others are evident
elsewhere In this quarry. The Onondaga limestone ties horizontally over them all and Is not penetrated by them.
mentation planes and across them at various angles. It is filled with
firmly cemented quartz sand having the aspect and quality of typical
Oriskany sandstone. The top of this fissure is in the Oriskany horizon
and the overlying Onondaga limestones are undisturbed. It extends
downward across the entire series of waterlimes to and perhaps below
the base of the quarry. This disturbance and fracture of the strata,
which has possibly been extended by solution and accompanied by a slight
displacement on one side, must have taken place after the consolidation of
the Manlius limestone and before the deposition of the undisturbed Onon-
98 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
daga limestone. This event belonged to the interval of the Helderbergian
and Oriskany deposition elsewhere in New York, and the filling of the
fissure is, doubtless, veritable Oriskany sediment.
We have already observed that at various localities throughout western
and central New York the thin, cherty deposit of the Oriskany con-
tains fragments of the hydraulic limestone from beneath. This con-
dition was particularly noticeable in the remarkable section afforded by
the salt shaft put down at Livonia, Livingston co. Such organic re-
mains as occurred in this deposit were found entirely in the cement and
were not well preserved, but showed indications of having been worn
and broken by the waves. Evidence of this kind sufficiently demonstrates
an interval between the Manlius and Onondaga limestones unrecorded
in these sections, and shows the continuity of the rocks carrying the
fauna of the former with the sedimentation immediately preceding and
their discontinuity with the sedimentation of the true Helderbergian
period.*
FAUNA OF THE MANLIUS LIMESTONE
The species of the so-called "Tentaculite limestone", so far as
noticed, have been principally described in volume 3 of the Paleon-
tology of New York, and the citations given in that work are of
occurrences located mainly in the eastern and eastern-central parts of
the state. Even where the limestone is in immediate contact with
and conformable to the overlying deposits of the Helderbergian, there
are few evidences of the continuation of any well established species
above the " Tentaculite limestone " itself. In eastern-central New York
a repetition of the Manlius fauna may appear after a brief preliminary
invasion of the later and displacing fauna but in these oscillations be-
'After writing this account of the physical disturbances in the strata at Buffalo,
based on observations made in 1899, I learned tiiat the phenomena had
also been studied by Dr A. W. Grabau, who has published the result of
his detailed investigations in a recent bulletin of the Geological society
of America (2 : 347-76, 1900. Siluro-Devonic contact in Erie county, N.Y.)
Grabau concludes that these fissures were formed by violent rupture of the
waterlimes before the incoming of the sandy sediment subsequently washed in
from above.
ORISKAKy FAUNA OF BECK AFT MOUNTAIN 99
tween the retreating and invading faunas there is seldom evidence of
a commingling of species. In the Helderberg section the commonly
occurring fossils are Tentaculites gyracanthus Eaton, Spirifer
vanuxemi H., Brachyprion varistriatum H., Megambonia?
aviculoides H., Modiolopsis? dubia H., Beyrichia notata
H. and B. trisulcata H.
The number of forms which were assigned by Prof. Hall to this
horizon is 22, but some of them, particularly species of Holopea,
Euomphalus, Oncoceras and Cyrtoceras, are of quite uncer-
tain character. It has been remarked in a foregoing paragraph that
the Tentaculites which are so abundant in eastern New York appear only
with extreme rarity in the westward extension of the formation. At Union
Springs, Cayuga co., the Manlius limestone has a more prolific fauna
than has been observed elsewhere west of Herkimer county. Atten-
tion was specially directed to this occurrence by Prof. S. G. Williams
in a paper read before the American association for the advancement
of science in 1885 and an article entitled "Note on the Lower
Helderberg rocks of Cayuga lake", which appeared in the report of
the New York state geologist for 1896, p. 10-12. Prof. Williams
here gave a list of 26 species which he had identified from localities
in this vicinity.
The most favorable spot for the examination of this fauna is in
the rocks exposed on Frontenac island, just off the village of Union
Springs. These are blue gray hard limestones from 8 to 10 feet in
thickness, lying over the Eondout waterlimes, which are about 25
feet thick and carry Eurypterus remipes. Above the blue
limestones waterlimes again appear, and for a while the fauna of
the Frontenac island beds retreats, but reappears in the hydraulic
strata lying below the Oriskany sandstone at Yawger's woods, 2 miles
north of the village. My identifications of the species do not in all
respects agree with those made by Prof. Williams, and our differences
concern almost entirely such species as he recorded as found in the
eastern subdivisions of the Helderbergian.
The limestone layers are characterized by two distinct beds of a
Stromatopora or Stromatoceriura, and it is between these that
100 • NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
the more productive fossiliferous beds occur. In part these beds are
made up of masses of the lamellibranch Ilionia sinuata, a species
described by Hall as Anatina? sinuata, from Herkimer county.
It is by far the most abundant of all the species here present.
Ilionia is a generic type of strong Siluric cast, represented by
the well-known and highly characteristic Lucina priscaof Wahlen-
berg, from the upper beds on the island of Oesel. Other species are a
form of Hormoceras, a strong Siluric type, and a Cyrtocerasor
Gyroceras making more than one revolution, a small form of O n c o -
c e r a s , perhaps that identified by Williams asO. ovoides Hall, but
which appears to me different in several respects. This genus, O n c o -
c e r a s again indicates the Siluric affinity of the fauna. There are
species of Orthoceras both smooth and annulated, which have not
yet been satisfactorily identified. Among the gastropods are some species
of Holopea which are hardly identifiable. Also an Euomphalus,
which may be compared with the E. sinuatus Hall of this horizon.
Spirifer vanuxemi and Brachyprion varistriatura, which
occur throughout the extent of the limestone east and west, are here
quite abundant. Also the Atrypa sulcata Vanuxem, which proves
to belong to the genus Whitfieldella, and a large unidentified form
of the genus Chonetes. I look on the discovery in this fauna of
Halysites eaten ulatus as of much significance. Though not
abundant, the species is thoroughly characteristic. Another coral is
present, doubtless that referred to by Prof. Williams as Zaphrentis sp.,
which I find to have the characters of the new genus Charactophyl-
1 u m , and to be most closely allied to the C. (Cyathophyllum) radi-
culum Rominger, of the Niagaran fauna. A few other species have
been observed but not in condition for satisfactory identification.
It is perfectly clear without farther argument that the types expressed
in the foregoing list are very positively indicative of Siluric age, and,
furthermore, that they have nothing in common with the true Helderbergian
fauna. No single species of the list and none of the generic forms here
cited, such as Hormoceras, Oncoceras, Ilionia (or Platy-
mermis), Whitfieldella, Halysites and Charactophy Hum,
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAIT MOUNTAIN 101
pass over into later faunas. No additional evidence is required to
establish the individuality of the fauna of the Manlius limestone and its
affiliation with the SUuric. As the names of several species appear on
Prof. Williams's list which belong to the Helderbergian, I feel it necessary
to add that of the following I have found no trace : Lingula recti-
latera, Or thos trophia s tr ophomen oides^ Nucleospira
ventricosa, Holopea danai.^
* Dr Grabau's study of the organic remains of the Manlius limestone of
Erie county {op. cit.) which was to some extent based on collections from this
horizon in the N. Y. state museum have resulted in the identification of a considerable
number of species. As this work has issued since the foregoing matter was in
type his results are briefly presented. Following are the species:
Nematophytum crass um Penhallow
Cyathophyllum hydraulic um Simpson (MSS.). This species is every-
where abundant throughout the western extent of the Manlius waterlimes.
Orthothetes hydraulica Whitfield. Originally described from Bellville
and Greenfield O,
Spirifer eriensis Grabau. This species has commonly passed under
the name of S. vanuxemi which, as noted by Whitfield and others, is hardly
distinguishable from S. crispu» as it occurs in the Coralline limestone at
Schoharie.
Whitfieldella sulcata Vanuxem
Whitfieldella cf. rotundata Whitfield
Whitfieldella ef. laevis Whitfield
Loxonema ? sp.
Pleurotomaria ? sp.
Trochoceras gebhardi Hall
Leperditia scalaris Jones
The most striking feature of this little fauna is its similarity to that of the
Coralline limestone of eastern New York, the representative of the Niagaran
formation in that region. This is seen in the similarity of Spirifer eriensis
to the S. crispus as identified by Hall from that formation, of Whit-
fieldella cf. rotundata with W. nucleolata of the same formation.
Tiie presence of Trochoceras gebhardi in both and the close relationship
of Leperditia scalaris Jones with L. jonesi Hall of the Coralline
limestone. Dr Grabau's conclusion from the study of this fauna as well as of
the tectonic relations of the strata in Erie county emphasizes the strongly Siluric
character of the Manlius limestone.
I EXPLANATION OF PLATES
104 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
PLATE 1
Phacops logani Hall
Page 21
Fia. .
1, 2 Superior and profile views of a cephalon, showing the
minute genal spinule and faint glabellar furrows
3, 4 Portions of other cephala in which the eye is retained
5 A pygidium, showing the duplication of the lateral ribs.
x3
Dalmanites (Synphoria) stemmatus sp. nov.
(See Plate 2)
Page 15
6 An incomplete internal cast of the cepbalon, showing the
frontal ornament and the fused glabellar lobes
7, 8 More complete specimens of the cephalon, showing
general form and structure
9 A front view of the latter, showing the elevation of the
shield and eyes
10 A part of the head taken from a mold of the exterior
and showing the marginal ornament in detail
11, 12 Hypostomas of two individuals
13 A small and unsymmetrical pygidium
14 The internal cast of a large pygidium, its apparent width
greatly increased by the loss of the posterior border
15, 16 Two pygidia of normal outline and structure
ClinSKAXV F.VLXA.
Memoir 3 N.Y. State Museum.
Plate 1.
G B Simpson del
James B.Lyon. State Printer
Philip Ast hth
I
OEISKANY FAUKA OF BECEAFT MOUNTAIN 105
PLATE 2
Dalmanites (Synphoria) stemmatus sp. nov.
(.See Plate 1)
1, 2 The frontal doublure of two cephala showing the marginal
ornament
Dalmanites (Synphoria) stemmatus.
var. convergens var. nov.
Page 19
3 An incomplete and somewhat distorted cranidium
4 A pygidium of usual size and proportions
5 Another pygidium more obtuse at the extremity
Dalmanites bisignatus sp. nov.
Page 19
6-8 Pygidia of this species, showing the form and character
of ornament
Phacops correlator sp. nov.
Page 20
9 A cephalon restored in outline, showing the dalmanitiform
character of the glabella and the rounded cheeks. x3
Dalmanites phacoptyx Hall & Clarke
Pagel»
10 A portion the very characteristic pygidium of this sjtecies
Proetus conradi Hall ,
Page 29
11-13 Portions of the cephalon, more or less flattened
14 An uncompressed glabella with traces of the lateral furrows
15 The pygidium
16 Internal cast of an essentially entire individual
106 ^N^"^ YORK STATE MUSEUM
Cordania hudsonica sp. nov.
FlO. Page 34
17 An internal cast of the pygidium. x2
18 A pygidium with portion of the exterior showing the orna-
ment. x3
Cordania becraftensis sp. nov.
Page 22
19, 20 Two pygidia, showing surface markings. x3
21, 22 Two cranidia, natural size
23 A portion of the cranidium, enlarged to show the character
of the ornament. x2
Cyphaspis minuscula Hall (sp.)
Page 24
24, 25 Two cranidia, x3
Acidaspis tuberculata Conrad
Page 25
26 The cranidium. x3
Autodetus beecheri Clarke
Page 26
27 The internal cast of the spiral tube lying in the natural
mold of the fossil. x3
28 A specimen showing the cast spiral tube and a part of
the exterior wall
29 The exterior of the species with a Fistulipora grow-
ing on the surface
30 The interior wall of the shell with the casts of the spiral
tubes removed except that of the initial volution which
lies on the surface of attachment. x3
31 The initial form of the shell, attached to the surface of a
brachiopod. This is a highly convex bulb, which is not
overlapped by the early part of the first volution. x5
32 A somewhat more progressed condition with more of the
spiral tube remaining. x5
ORISKANV FAUXA.
Memoir 3. NY. State Museum
Plate 2.
G.B Simpson del
James B.Lyon, State Pnnter
Phihp Ast bth
I
I
OEISKANT FAUNA OF BECKAFT MOUNTAIN 107
Spirorbis assimilis sp. nov.
Fio. Page 36
33 A group of these tubes on the internal surface of a valve
ofMeristella
34 The upper surface of a specimen. xlO
Cornulites cingulatus Hall
Page 27
35 A small tube attached to the edge of a valve of Ortho-
thetes. x3
36 A larger example. x3
37 A large tube, showing surface of attachment to a Fistu-
lipora. x3
38 Internal cast of another specimen. x3
108 NEW YOEK STATE MUSEUM
PLATE 3
Tentaculites (?) acus sp. nov.
Page 28
Fia.
1 A specimen which shows the smooth exterior and the
annulated or insheathed cast of the interior. x3
2 The exterior, showing low annular depressions
3 The internal cast. x3
4-7 Specimens of natural size, showing the generally smooth or
slightly corrugated exterior
Tentaculites elongatus Hall
Page 37
8 The initial end of a specimen, showing its smooth exterior
and the character of the internal cast. x5
9 External and internal casts. x2
10 Enlargement of the apical portion of the tube, showing
the smooth area and gradual development of annulations
and concentric lines. xlO
11 The character of the surface at maturity. x5
12 A portion of the exterior, natural size
Diaphorostoma desmatum sp. nov.
Page 29
13-15 Three views of an average specimen
16, 17 Views of other specimens
18 The upper surface of a larger shell, showing the lineation
19 An enlargement of the surface characters. x6
Cyrtolites expansus Hall
Page 28
20 Upper view of a slightly distorted specimen, for the most
part an internal cast
OHISKAXV FAIJXA.
Memoir 3. NY, State Museum.
Plate 3,
n
I
6
^Uliilii,,
0 E Simpson del
James B Lyon State Pnnter
Phihp Ast hth
4' *.
51
1
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUTSTTAIN 109
21 Posterior view of the same specimen showing the sub-
apical groove
22 An enlargement of the external ornament. x6
23 A smaller example Avith more strongly developed median
carina
Strophostylus expansus Hall
Page 30
24 An upper view of a characteristic specimen
Diaphorostoma ventricosum Hall
25-28 Views of various specimens showing the general aspect of
the shell in this fauna
Platyceras cf. gebhardi sp. nov.
Page 80
29 Lateral view of an internal cast of this species
110 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
PLATE 4
Actinopteria communis Hall
Page 34
Fia.
1, 2 Eight and left valves of the same shell, shovring the char-
acter of the surface
Pterinopecten signatus sp. nov.
Page 33
3 A left valve showing the form and external ornament
Pterinopecten proteus sp. nov.
Page 32
4-7 Right and left valves of this species, which show the wide
variation in external characters
8 An enlargement of the surface characters of one of these
shells. x2
Pterinopecten pumilus sp. nov.
Page 33
9 The right valve of this species, x3
Actinopteria insignis sp. nov.
Page 35
10, 11 Two left valves showing the form and external characters
of the species
12, 13 Enlargement of the surface characters from different parts
of the same shell. x5
Pterinopecten subequilateralis Hall (emend^.
Page 31
14 An external cast of the surface of a right valve, showing
the absence of radial ornament
()HISKAX\^ FAl XA.
Memoir 3.N Y State Museum.
Plate 4.
B Simpson del
James B Lyon. State Printer
Phihp Ast lith
OEISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN" H]
Megambonia crenistriata sp. nov.
Fia.
Page So
15, 16 Two left valves, showing the outline, contour and ornament
li -Enlargement of the surface. x5
Cypricardinia indenta Hall
Page 36
18 A nearly complete right valve. x2
19 Another valve, natural size
20 Enlargement of a portion of the surface. x5
Conocardium inceptum Hall (?)
Page :i7
21 A specimen, natural size
22 Another shell enlarged, showing the character of the sur-
face. x3
23 The opposite valve fi-om a larger specimen. x3
112 HEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
PLATE 5
Cryptonella (?) fausta sp. nov.
Page 38
Fia.
1-3 Dorsal, profile and ventral views of a typical example
4-6 Similar views of another shell showing the depressed con-
vexity of the brachial valve
7,8 Ventral and profile views of another example
Oriskania sinuata sp. nov.
Page 38
9, 10 Dorsal and profile views of a specimen which show the
convexity of the brachial valve
11 Another example showing the same characters
12 An example showing the muscular and vascular scars on
a cast of the brachial valve
Megalanteris ovalis Hall
Page 40
13,14 Dorsal and profile views of a characteristic example
15 An enlargement of the surface showing the imperforate
exterior layer and the perforate inner layer of the shell
16 An internal cast of the pedicle valve showing the muscular
and vascular scars
Rensselaeria ovoides Eaton
Page 39
17, 18 Profile and dorsal views
19 Internal cast of a pedicle- valve showing the muscular
impressions
Camarotoechia sp. cf. dryope Billings
20, 21 Profile and ventral views of an imperfect specimen
Camarotoechia oblata Hall
22 An internal cast of a pedicle-valve
0RISKA:N^1" FAt^XA.
Memoir 3,N.Y. State Museum
Plate 5.
0 B Simpson del
James B Lyon, State Printer
Phihp Ast hth
OBISKAKT FAUNA OF BECBAFT MOUNT AtN 113
Coelospira concava Hall
Page 43
Fio.
23 Dorsal view. x3
24 Ventral view. x2
25 The interior of the brachial valve. x2
26 The interior of the pedicle- valve showing the muscular
impressions. x3
Coelospira dichotoma Hall
Page 43
27 Dorsal view of the exterior. x3
28 Ventral view of the exterior of the same specimen. x3
29 Internal cast of the pedicle-valve showing the muscular
scars. x3
30 View of the interior of the brachial valve. x2
31, 32 Dorsal and ventral views of the exterior. x2
Leptocoelia flabellites Conrad
Page a
33, 34 Dorsal and ventral views of an average specimen
35, 36 Dorsal and ventral views of the specimen in which the
fold and sinus are not so pronounced
114 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
FLATE 6
Trematospira multistriata Hall
Page 43
Fio.
], 2 Dorsal views showing the character of the exterior
3 Dorsal view of a smaller shell with strongly duplicate
plications
4 Enlargement of the surface of the shell. x5
Meristella lentiformis sp. nov.
Page 44
5, 6 Dorsal and profile views of a characteristic specimen
7 Dorsal view of an internal cast showing the existence
of a strong median septum in the brachial valve
8-10 Dorsal, profile and ventral views showing the character-
istic contour of the species
11 Internal cast of the pedicle-valve showing the strong
muscular scar
Meristella ? vascularia sp. nov.
Page 45
12-14 Internal casts of the jiedicle- valve showing strong dental
lamellae, pedicle cavity and muscular impressions and
the radiating sinuses over the vascular region
Cyrtina varia sp. nov.
Page M
15 Enlargement of the surface showing its pustulose character
16-18 Anterior, posterior and profile views of an average
specimen
19 Anterior view of a larger specimen with convex pedicle-
valve
20-22 Three views of a smaller specimen
ORTSKANir FAUXA.
Memoir 3.N.Y, State Museum,
Plate 6.
B Siriipsoti del
James B . Lyon, State Printer
Phihp Ast hth
I
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 115
Spirifer saffordi Hall
Page 48
Fio.
23, 24 Exteriors of pedicle-valves showing the fimbriate surface.
In fig. 23 the rows of these fimbriae are more num-
erous and closely crowded than in the other. x2
25 A portion of the surface enlarged showing the character
of the spine bases on the concentric growth lines.
xlO
Spirifer murchisoni Castelnau
Page 46
26 An incomplete brachial valve
27 A ventral valve of large size showing the fimbriate
surface
28 A specimen showing the brachial valve with the internal
cast of the ventral muscular impressions
29 An enlargement of the surface showing the concentric
rows of short hollow spinules. xlO
30 A similar enlargement in which only the bases of the
spinules are shown. xlO
I
116 NEW TOEK STATE MUSEUM
PLATE 7
Chonetes hudsonica sp. nov.
Page 49
Tia.
1 The exterior of the pedicle-valve
2 The interior of the brachial valve
3 An external cast of the pedicle-valve
4, 5 Pedicle and brachial valves. x2
6 The surface striations enlarged. x4
Chonostrophia complanata Hall
Page 50
7 Ventral view of a small specimen
8 Internal cast of a pedicle-valve of average size
9 The interior of the pedicle-valve
10 Internal cast of a pedicle- valve with somewhat more
elongate outline
11 Exterior of a pedicle- valve of a large individual
12 Enlargement of the surface. x5
13 Interior of a large pedicle- valve
AnopHa nucleata Hall
Page 51
14 Dorsal view of a specimen retaining both valves. x3
Orthothetes becraftensis sp. nov.
Page 51
15 The interior of a pedicle- valve
16, 17 Exteriors of pedicle- valves
18 The cardinal process of the brachial valve. x3
19 The exterior of a small brachial valve, x2
20 Exterior of a small pedicle-valve
21 The interior of a young pedicle-valve attached by the
substance of its shell to the surface of a M e r i ■
Stella. x2
ORlSIv^ViV^" FAUXA
Memoir 3 NY State Museum
Plate 7.
G B Simpson del
James B Lyon State Printer,
Phihu Asl lith.
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN 117
22 The interior of an incomplete brachial valve showing
the cardinal process
23 Interior of the pedicle-valve showing the cardinal area
and deltidium
24 Posterior view of a specimen bearing conjoined valves
and showing the elevated cardinal area
25 Cardinal process of the brachial valve. x3
26 A portion of the external surface enlarged
27 The cardinal area of the pedicle-valve showing the
deltidium, x3
Leptostrophia oriskania sp. nov.
Page 53
28 An enlargement of the external surface. x5
29 Sculpture cast of the pedicle-valve
30, 32, 34 The external surface of pedicle-valves showing their va-
riations in outline and the undulated surface
31, 35 The exterior of brachial valves
Leptostrophia cf. magnifica Hall
Page 93
36 The exterior of the ventral valve of a small shell which
may represent this species
Stropheodonta lincklaeni Hall
Page 52
37 A specimen of the dorsal valve showing a portion of
the interior with cardinal process and also a part of
the external surface
118 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
PLATE 8
Brachyprion schudiertanum sp. nor.
Page 66
Wta.
1 The apical portion of the brachial valve showing the
coarse angular striae similar to those of Stropheo-
donta arata Hall. x3
2 The exterior of the brachial valve
3 External cast of brachial valve
4 The exterior of an incomplete pedicle-valve
5 The exterior of a brachial valve
6 An imperfect interior of the brachial valve
7 An enlargement of the external surface showing the
character of the ornament. x5
Brachyprion majus sp. nov.
Page 5«
8 The character of the external surface. x5
9 The exterior of the pedicle-valve, the umbo of which
is made somewhat too conspicuous
10 The interior of the pedicle- valve
11 An internal cast of the pedicle- valve showing the
muscular impressions
12 The exterior of the brachial valve
13 The cardinal area of the pedicle-valve showing the short
rows of denticles on either side of the deltidium
Rhipidomella oblata Hall
Page 58
14, 15 Views of the exterior
Crania pulchella Hall and Clarke
Page 58
16 An incomplete specimen showing marks of attachment
17 A more complete example. x3
18 Two specimens exfoliated at the apex
OHISKAIVV FAU^-A
Memoir 3.N.Y State Museum.
Plate 8 .
G B Sirnpsoii del.
James B.Lyon, State Printer
Phihp Ast hth
OEISKANY FAUNA OP BECEAFT MOUNTAIK 119
Crania cf. bella Billings
_^ PageU
rta.
19 The upper valve
20 Profile view of a very young example showing the
regular conical form, xlO
Pholidops sp.
Page 59
21 The interior of one of the valves
22 The exterior. x5
Pholidops terminalis Hall
Page S»
23 The exterior of the larger valve. x3
24 The interior showing the muscular scars. x3
25 A valve showing replacement of the shell by a series
of chalcedonies formed concentrically about centers of
silicification
120 NEW yOKK STATE MUSEUM
PLATE 9
Cladopora styphelia sp. nov.
Page 64
Fro.
1, 2 The exterior of branches of this species
Cladopora smicra sp. nov.
Page 63
3-5 Branches of this coral, natural size
6 An enlargement of the exterior. x3
Vermipora streptocoelia sp. nov.
Page 63
7 Portion of the frond showing the character of the tubes
as they emerge on the surface. x2
8 The same species with the external silicified layer re-
moved showing the meandering character of the tubes
in the substance of the coral beneath the surface. x2
Hederella ramea sp. nov.
Page 62
9 A characteristic colony showing the diffusely branching
frond, the whole being attached to a specimen of
Leptostrophia oriskania. x3
Hederella magna sp. nov. and Hederella graciliora sp. nov.
Page 61, 63
10 The surface of a brachiopod covered with fronds of
these species, the coarser frond with the larger tubes
being Hederella magna and the finer zoarium
H. graciliora. x2
Hederella arachnoidea sp. nov.
Page 61
11 The internal surface of the glabella of Dalmanites
stemmatus covered with the fine fronds of this
species. x2
ORISKAJNY FAtJXA.
Memoir 3. N.Y. State Museum.
Plate 9
v) *\.
0 5 Simp sen del
James B.Lyon. State Printer
Ph'.hp Ast liih
t
i
ORISKANY FAUNA OF BECRAFT MOUNTAIN
121
Edriocrinus becraftensis sp. nov.
Page 62
Fio.
12, 13 Views of the calyx of this crinoid
Beyrichia sp. ?
14 View from the anterior margin. xlO
15 View showing the outline and nodes of the valve. xlO
INDEX
The superior figures tell the exact place on the page in ninths; e. g. 77^ means page IT,
beginning in the third ninth of the page, i. e. about one third of the way down.
Bellerophon sp.? 28'.
Beyrich, E., on Helderbergian faunas, 83*.
Acaste cf. anceps, 20^-21*.
Acidaspis tuberculata, 25'.
explanation of plate, 106^.
Actinopteria communis, 34*, 35^
explanation of plate, 110^.
insignis, 35i.
explanation of plate, 110'.
textilis, 349, 35^.
Albany county, Oriskany fauna, IIK
Ami, H. M., on fauna of Gasp^ limestones,
80*.
Anastrophia, 41*.
Annelids, 26^-28*.
Anoplia nucleata, 51*.
explanation of plate, 116*.
Anthozoa, 628-64«.
Atrypa reticularis, 15^.
Aulopora cf. schoharie, 64*.
Autodetus beecheri, 266, 272.
explanation of plate, 106^.
Avicula communis, 34^.
recticosta, 33^.
subequilateralis, 31'-322.
Aviculopecten sp.? 34*.
Barrett, S. T., on sections exposed at Port
Jervis, 76^.
Becraft mountain, stratigraphic structure,
6'-15^
Beecher, C. E., Notice of a new Lower
Oriskany fauna in Columhia county, 6*.
Beyrichia sp., explanation of plate, 121^.
Billings, E., on fauna of G-asp6 limestones,
802.
Brachiopods, description of Oriskany
species, 38''-59^; in the Helderbergian,
85<-863, 901, 92s_936^ 944,
Brachyprion aratum, 57^.
majus, 549-56«, 57^.
explanation of plate, 118^.
schuchertanum, 55^, 56*, 56^-57*.
explanation of plate, IIS^.
varistriatum, 55^.
Bryozoa, description of Oriskany species,
598-625; in the Helderbergian, 86*, Ql^,
94'.
Camarotoechia sp.? 41^.
barrandii, 40*.
dryope, 41^
explanation of plate, 112'.
(?) fltchana, 40».
oblata, 411.
explanation of plate, 112®.
pliopleura, 41^.
Centronella, 38^.
Cephalopods in the Helderbergian, 84*-
851, 927^ 939.
Chaetetes (Monotrypella) arbusculus, 641
INDEX
123
Chonetes cf. arcuata, UK
complanatus, 50^.
dawsoni, 50^
hudsonlca, 49^-50^
explanation of plate, 116^
melonica, 50^.
Chonophyllum, 15^
Chonostrophia complanata, 50^-51*.
explanation of plate, 116^
helderbergia, 51^.
reversa, 51^.
Cirripeds, 26^.
Cladopora smicra, 63^.
explanation of plate, 120^
styphelia, 63^, 64}.
explanation of plate, 120^
Clarke, J. M., list of species of Oriskany
fauna, 6^; previous study on age of
Helderbergian, 83*.
Coelospira Camilla, 42*.
cf. Camilla, 14^,
concava, 42^.
explanation of plate, 113^
dichotoma, 42^.
explanation of plate, 113^.
Coenograptus gracilis, 7^.
Coleolus sp.? 281.
Conocardium concinnum, 37^.
cuneus var. nasutum, 37'.
inceptum, 37^
explanation of plate, 111*.
Conodonts, 26*.
Conularia desiderata, 28°.
cf. desiderata, 28^.
Corals in the Helderbergian, 86*, 92^, 95^
Cordania becraftensis, 228-242.
explanation of plate, lOG^.
cyclurus, 23^-242.
hudsonica, 24^.
explanation of plate, 106^
Cornulites, 28*.
cingulatus, 27^
explanation of plate, 107^.
Corycephalus regalis, 17*, 18*.
Crania bella, 58«.
cf. bella, 58^-59^
explanation of plate, 119^.
pulchella, 58*.
explanation of plate, 118^
Crinoidea, description of Oriskany species,
625; jn tjjg Helderbergian, 86*, 91^, 95^.
Cryptouella, 39^
(?) fausta, 385-395.
explanation of plate, 112^.
Cyphaspis coelebs, 24^
minuscula, 245.
explanation of plate, 106*.
Cypricardinia indenta, 36^
explanation of plate, 111^.
lamellosa, 365.
cf. lamellosa, 36*.
planulata, 36*.
Cyrtina dalmani, 49^.
cf. dalmani, 49^.
rostrata, 49^.
varia, 49^.
explanation of plate, 114*.
Cyrtolites expansus, 28^-29*.
explanation of plate, 108^-9^.
Cystids in the Helderbergian, 865, 952
124
NEW YOB.K STATE 31USEUM
Salmanella perelegans, ST'-SS*.
subcarinata, 58^
Dalmanites anchiops, W, W, n\ IS^.
var. sobrinus, 18*.
bisignatus, 19^-20^
explanation of plate, 105^
booth!, 18^.
var. calliteles, 18'.
calypso, 18*.
dentatus, IT^, 18', 20».
diurus, 18*.
dolphi, 175, 189.
(Pterygometopus) eboraceus, 18*.
intermedins, 18*.
macrops, 18*.
myrmecophorus, 18*.
phacoptyx, 19^.
explanation of plate, 105'^.
pleuroptyx, 16', 172, igg^ 20^.
(Corycephalus) regalis, 17*, 18*.
(Odontocephalus) selenurus, 17', 18*.
(Synphoria) stemmatus, 15^-19^.
explanation of plate, 104*, 105^
var. convergens, 19'.
explanation of plate, 105'.
verrucosus, 17^.
vigilans, 17^.
Dana, J. D., on geology of Becraft moun-
tain, 72.
Davis, W. M., on geology of Becraft
mountain, 7^.
Dawson, J. W., cited, 81«.
Description of fauna, 15*-719.
Devonic age of Helderbergian fauna, 82'-
101».
Devonic system, base, 82'-101'.
Diaphorostoma desmatum, 29''-30'.
explanation of plate, 108*.
lineatum, 30'.
ventricosum, 29'-30*.
explanation of plate, 109'.
Dictyonema crassum, 64*.
splendens, 64'.
cf. splendens, 64*.
Didymograptus Sagittarius, 7\
tenuis, 7*.
Distribution of Oriskany fauna, 721-82'.
Eatonia medialis, 40'.
peculiaris, 40^.
Edriocrinus becraftensis, 62*.
explanation of plate, 121^
sacculus, 62*.
Ells, E. W., on fauna of Gasp<S limestones,
80'.
Explanation of plates, 104-21.
Fauna, Oriskany, description, 15*-71^; of
Gasp6 limestones, 80^-822; of Manlius
limestone, OSMOl'.
Faunal values of Oriskany species, 68*-
71*.
Favosites, 15^
Fenestella (Unitrypa) acclivis, 60*.
biseriata, 61^.
(Hemitrypa) columellata, 61'.
(Unitrypa) lata, 60'.
Fistulipora, 15^.
Gaspe limestones, fauna, 801-82^.
Gastropods, description of Oriskany
species, 28'-379; in the Helderbergian,
852, 89', 941.
INDEX
125
Girty, G. H., on sponges and coelentrates
of Helderbergian, 84^.
Glenerie, Oriskany fauna, 74^.
Goniophora sp.? 35^
Grabau, A. W., study of Manlius lime-
stone of Erie county, 98^, 101^
Graptolites in the Helderbergian, 86'', 95^.
Hederella arachnoidea, 61''.
explanation of plate, 120*.
flliformis, 62^
graciliora, 61', 62^
explanation of plate, 120^.
magna, Ql\ 62*.
explanation of plate, 120''.
ramea, 62^.
explanation of plate, 120*.
Helderbergian fauna, Devonic age, 82^-
101'; limits, 84'; Siluric characters, 84''-
86«; Devonic characters, 871-93*.
Hemitrypa columellata, 61^
Hipparionyx proximus, 52^
Homalonotus sp.? 26^
major, 26^.
Hjdrozoa, 64*.
Isotrypa, 61^.
Kayser, E., on Helderbergian faunas, 83^.
Kingston, Oriskany fauna, 73^.
lamellibranchs, description of Oriskany
species, 31*-37*; in the Helderbergian,
853, 898^ 928, 942_
Leptaena? nucleata, 51^
rhomboidalis, 15^, 54^, 57'.
Leptocoelia acutiplicata, 43^
Qabellites, 42M3'.
explanation of plate, 113^.
Leptostrophia becki, 53*.
cf. becki, 531
blainvillii, 50^.
magniflca, 53^.
explanation of plate, 117*.
oriskania, 53'-54^.
explanation of plate, 117*.
perplana, 53^.
Lichas pustulosus, 25'.
cf. pustulosus, 25'.
Lichenalia cf. crassa, 60*.
Lingula rectilatera, 59^.
cf. rectilatera, 59''.
Logan, Sir William, on Gasp6 limestones,
802, 818.
Lyriopecten sp.? 34^
Manlius limestone, fauna, 98M01'.
Mather, W. W., on geology of Becraft
mountain, 6^-7^.
Megalanteris ovalis, 40^.
explanation of plate, 112*.
Megambonia bellistriata, 35^.
cardiiformis, 35''.
crenistriata, 35*, 36^.
explanation of plate, 111^
lamellosa, 31^
Meristella cf. laevis, 45*.
lata, 453.
lenta, 44^.
lentifo-rmis, 44^-45^.
explanation of plate, 114*.
(Pentagonia) unisulcata, 44*.
(?) vascularia, 45*-462.
explanation of plate, 114*.
Metaplasia pyxidata, 48'.
Monotrypella arbusculuB, 64*.
126
KEW YORK STATE MUSEUM
Nature and distribution of Oriskany
fauna, 721-823.
Nomenclature of geologic formations, 8«-
12».
Odontocephalus selenurus, 15^, 17^, 18'.
Orange county, Oriskany fauna, 75*-lP;
Oriskany strata, 75^
Oriskania navicella, 38*.
sinuata, 38^.
explanation of plate, 112^
Oriskany fauna, description, 15^-71'';
faunal values, 68^-719; vertical range,
651-68^; nature and distribution, 72^-
823; description of plates, 104-21.
Oriskany sandstone, original, 781-799.
Orthis oblata, 58'.
cf. oblata, 58^.
perelegans, 57*.
Orthonycbia tortuosa, 301
Orthothetes arctostriata, 52^.
becraftensis, 51^-52^
explanation of plate, 116^-173.
deformis, 52*.
woolworthana, 52*.
Pentagonia unisulcata, 44*. '
Phacops, 14^.
anceps, 20''.
(Acaste) cf. anceps, 20«-2l5.
cf. bombifrons, 14^.
braziliensis, 21^.
correlator, 20«-2l5.
explanation of plate, 105«.
cristata, 22*.
logani, 216-221
explanation ot plate, 104*. ,
Phacops pipa, 21^ 22*.
rana, 22^.
Pholidops sp.? 59^
explanation of plate, 119^.
arenaria, 59'.
terminalis, 59^.
explanation of plate, 119*.
Plates, explanation of, 104-21.
Platyceras gebhardi, 305-311.
cf. gebhardi, 30^, 31i.
explanation of plate, 109*.
nodosum, 31^.
tortuosum, 30*.
Pleurotomaria, 29^.
Plumulites sp. 26*.
Polypora, 60^.
separata, 60^.
Polyporella cf. compressa, 60^
Port Jervis, fauna, 76*.
Proetus angustifrons, 25*.
clarus, 25*.
conradi, 25i.
explanation of plate, 105«.
rowi, 25*.
Pterinea sp.? 31*
Pterinopecten bellulus, 33*.
proteus, 323-333, 33^.
explanation of plate, 110*.
pumilus, 339-343.
explanation of plate, 110'.
signatus, 33*.
explanation of plate, 1103.
subequilateralis, 31''-322.
explanation of plate, llO^.
terminalis, 33*.
INDEX
127
Pteropods, description of Oriskany species,
28^; in the Helderbergian, So^, MK
Pterygometopus eboraceus, 18^
(?) Ptychonema helderbergiae, C3i.
Rafinesquina alternata, 55^.
Rensselaeria oralis, 40^.
ovoides, 39^.
explanation of plate, 112'.
suessana? 40^.
Retepbrina, 61^
Rhipidomella oblata, 58^.
explanation of plate, 118*.
. Rhombipora rhombifera, 59'.
Rhjnchonella barrandii, 40'.
dryope, 41^.
Ries, Heinrich, report on geology of
Orange county, 75^
Ruedemann, Rudolf, observations on
Kingston beds, 73*.
Schoharie county, Oriskany fauna, 77^.
Schuchert, Charles, on age of Helder-
bergian, 83^
Spirifer antarcticus, 47*.
arenosus, 46*.
arrectus, 46*.
var. antarcticus, 47®-48^
capensis v. Buch, 48?.
chuquisaea, 48^.
cf. fimbriatus, 48*.
gaspensis, 50^.
hawkinsi, 48^.
murchisoni, 46'-48'.
explanation of plate, US'.
orbignyi, 48^
P^rforatus, 43*.
Spirifer pyxidatus, 48'.
raricosta, 14^.
saffordi, 481
explanation of plate, 115^.
varicosus, 151.
:Spirorbis assimilis, 26^-272.
explanation of plate, 107^.
Spongiae in the Helderbergian, 92=, 95^.
Stictopora sp.? 60^.
granulata, 60^.
Stratigraphic structure of Becraft moun-
tain, 6M53.
Streptorhynchus pandora, 15^.
Stromatopora, 15^.
Stromatoporoids in the Helderbergian,
955.
Stropheodonta, 54*.
demissa, 57^
liucklaeni, 528-53*.
explanation of plate, 117''.
cf. radiata, 56^
varistriata, 55^
var. arata, 55*.
Strophodonta lincklaeni, 52».
magnifica, 53*.
Strophomena rugosa, var. ventricosa, 57*.
Strophostylus expansus, 30^.
explanation of plate, 109^.
Synphoria stemmatus, 15^-19*.
Tentaculite limestone, 98^
Tentaculites ? acus, 28^.
explanation of plate, 108^.
elongatus, 27«, 28i.
explanation of plate, 108*.
cf. elongatus, 27'.
128
NEW TOKK STATE MUSEUM
Trematospira multistriata, 43'.
explanation of plate, 114^.
perforata, 43^.
Trilobites, description of Oriskany species,
15<-262; in the Helderbergian, 848, 372^
92«, 93*.
Ulster county, Oriskany fauna, 72'-75^
Unitrypa acclivis, 60*.
lata, 60».
Van Ingen, Gilbert, observations on
Kingston beds, 73^
Vermipora serpuloides, 63*.
streptocoelia, 63^.
explanation of plate, 1201
Vertical range of Oriskany fauna, 6oM8^.
Vertumnia, 32i, 343.
Williams, S. G., on Lower Helderberg
rocks of Cayuga lake, 99*.
Zaphrentis, 14®, 15^.
Bp. 62«.
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