42 



FOSSIL MEDUSA. 



the collections from the Lower Cambrian slates of Middle Granville, New 

 York. Dr. Fitch does not mention the name of the village in which the 

 quarry was located at which the specimen was found. Knowing that he 

 visited North Granville frequently, that the quarries there are west of the 

 village, that at about that time (1849) slabs of slate were quarried at the 

 Middle Granville quarries and used in the sidewalks of the village, and 

 that those slabs still show numerous specimens of Dactyloidites asteroides, I 

 think we are warranted in concluding that the type specimens were from 

 that locality. Dr. Fitch describes and figures the species as follows: 



Buthotrephis (?) asteroides, new species. This has been observed ouly upon a 

 single slab now standing in the quarry in the west part of the village. On this slab, 



in fifteen or twenty places, faint discoloration s 

 occur, the outlines of which are accurately repre- 

 sented in the annexed figure. Neither the axilla? 

 nor the terminations of the branches are distinct; 

 enough, however, is seen to show that this is a 

 relic very different from any that has hitherto 

 been noticed, and so well characterized that the 

 figure here given will enable any one to recognize 

 it. 



The specimens studied and described by 

 Prof. James Hall were taken from the side- 

 walks in the village of Middle Granville, 

 where the slabs of slate had been lying for many years. He identified 

 the fossils as plant remains, and described them as follows: 



The smallest specimen measures 70 mm across, and shows six ovate peripheral 

 expansions, with short stalks, radiating from a small central disk. The larger speci- 

 men has a diameter of nearly 130 m '", and differs from the preceding not only in size, 

 but in the length of the foot stalks of the leaf-like expansions, which are from 10 to 

 20 mm long. 



The peripheral expansions or bodies preserve more carbonaceous matter than the 

 stalks or the central disk, and would appear to indicate that they were of firmer (possi- 

 bly chitinous) texture and contained more organic matter. 



The distal ends of the expansions show a dark spot surrounded by light and 

 dark concentric bands, such as would be preserved if the body had been a bulb open 

 at the end, or contained a large vesicle. 



It is difficult to determine the true biological position of these obscure specimens. 

 They differ in their mode of growth from the compound fronds of graptolites, such as 

 Graptolithus, Retiograptus, Logauograptus, or riryllograptus, iu having six rays to 



Fig. 14 — Bythotrephis (?) asteroides. 



