1883. 33 Trans. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 



for several days in succession. These facts were then very generally 

 known and attracted much attention. 



The President presumed that the appearances were being studied 

 by observers of the heavens, who would yet definitely report upon 

 them. He also referred to the facts known in regard to the locomotive 

 appendages of trilobites, as recently discussed in an article of The 

 American Naturalist, and to the discovery of tracks in Colorado. 



He further remarked on the recent observations of Prof. Alex. 

 Agassiz, on the growth of the coral formation in the peninsula of 

 Florida, and his own observations on the Gulf Coast, in confirmation 

 of the view of the organic nature of the increase, with little, if any, 

 assistance from elevations of the sea-bottom. 



Prof. D. S. Martin called the attention of the Academy to the 

 recent death, by typhoid fever, on Thanksgiving day, of Prof. 

 Arthur Spielman, one of the most promising Resident Members, 

 from whom had been expected an important record of observations 

 on the excavation of the tunnel beneath the Hudson River. He 

 referred to the great ability, energy and activity of Prof. Spielman, 

 his remarkable engineering skill, and the great loss to society and 

 the Academy by his decease at so early an age. 



The President exhibited and described 



SOME PECULIAR SCREW-LIKE CASTS FROM THE SANDSTONES OF 

 THE CHEMUNG GROUP OF NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA. 



These he considered the remains of the stems of seaweeds, and com- 

 pared with Spirophyton. Two distinct forms were shown, which he 

 regarded as two species of a new genus, to which he gave the name of 

 Spira.xisj this he defined as follows : 



Spiraxis (nov. gen.).* 



Body cylindrical or sub-fusiform, somewhat abruptly conical above, 

 more gradually tapering below ; surface traversed by two parallel 

 revolving prominent ridges, in some species closely approximated, in 

 others separated by an interval of half the diameter of the stem. No 

 traces of internal structure or distinct surface-markings visible. 



The two species are described as follows : 



I. Spiraxis major, n. sp. 

 Body cylindrical ; about one inch in diameter, terminating above in 

 a conical summit, traversed by two strong spiral revolving ridges, 

 which cross the axis at an angle of about 45°. These ridges are flat- 

 tened or sulcated. 



* Fully described and figured in the Annals, Vol. III., No. 7. 



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