134 



knowlton: a fossil maize from peru 



material analyzed; (2) the material analyzed (plancheite) con- 

 tained enough impurities (copper silicates) to affect the composi- 

 tion of the sample so that the results obtained are comparable 

 to the composition of shattuckite. 



But whatever may be the exact chemical relations of these 

 two minerals and whatever may be the formula of plancheite 

 the difference in the refractive indices proves conclusively that 

 they are not the same. 



PALEONTOLOGY. — Description oj a supposed new fossil species 

 oj maize from Peru. F. H. Knowlton, U. S. National 

 Museum. 



Some months ago the United States National Museum came 

 into the possession of a very remarkable specimen of fossil 

 corn from Peru. It was sent in as an ethnological specimen, 

 - - having been secured from a dealer in 



curios in the city of Cuzco, Peru, by Dr. 

 W. F. Parks, of St. Louis, Missouri. 

 Dr. Walter Hough, of the Division of 

 Ethnology in the National Museum, 

 brought the specimen to me for iden- 

 tification. Although it is wonderfully 

 well preserved, it is in many particulars 

 so different from the ordinary types of 

 corn with which I was famihar that its 

 affinity was not recognized until this was 

 pointed out by Mr. G. N. Collins, of the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, who for 

 many years has been making a special 

 study of the origin, evolutionary history, 

 and distribution of Indian corn (Zea). 

 The specimen has suffered practically no distortion during 

 fossiHzation, though a portion of the apex has been broken 

 off and lost. It is now a little more than 6 centimeters in 

 length and was probably about 8 centimeters long when complete. 

 The greatest diameter is nearly 4 centimeters. The point 

 of attachment for the "ear" was very small, suggesting that it 



Fig. I . Fossilized ear of corn. 



