Genus Pasceolus. 



Genus Fasceolus. — (Billings.) 



This genus was proposed by Billings, as he says : " For certain ovate 

 or subglobular bodies, resembling the Ldiadites Kcenigi of the Silurian 

 system, but dift'ering therefrom in the form of the plate-like markings 

 of the casts of the interior, which in this genus are pentagonal or 

 hexagonal instead of quadrangular. A specimen from Anticosti 

 shows that the animal was inclosed in a thin leather-like sack, and 

 attached to the bottom by a short tubular continuation of this exter- 

 nal covering. Its affinities appear to be with those of the Tunicata.'" 

 — [Geological Eep. of Canada for the year 1857, page 342.] 



Two species were described from Canada by Prof. Billings : P. 

 Halli and P. Globosns. In the discussion of these sj^ecies (Paleozoic 

 Fossils, vol. i., page 392), he says: 



"Eichwald, in his Lethcea Rossica, has described and figured two 

 species, Cijclocrimis SpaiikU and C. exilis, Avhich appear to me to be 

 either congeneric with our tAvo, or at least to belong to the same 

 family. Both of Eichwald's species are small globular bodies, covered 

 with hexagonal or pentagonal plates. The plates of C. Spa?kii have 

 a tubercle in the center, and a number of obscure rounded ridges 

 radiating to the sides. He says there is a small oral orifice on one 

 side, and on the side 02:)posite a rudimentary pedicle. One of his 

 figured specimens is covered with a tubidar incrustation, consisting of 

 small cells, which he considers to be a part of the integument itself; it 

 may be, however, a coral. A fragment of one of the specimens of 

 P. Halli, from Anticosti, is incrusted in precisely the same manner, 

 with what I take to be a species of Stenopora. Eichwald places his 

 genus among the Cystidea ; but the more general characters, such as 

 a jointed crinoidal colunui, the arms or pinnul!?e, and the peculiar 

 orifices which characterize all true Gystideans, are not forthcoming. 

 It is barely possible that his view may be the correct one." 



" The fossil called Sphceronites tessalatus (Phillips), from the 

 English Devonian rocks, has the surface covered with hexagonal plates, 

 and resembles, in general aspect, a species of Fasceohis. Mr. Pen- 

 gelly has figured a specimen in the "Geologist," vol. iv., which shows 

 the interior covered with a net-work of vertical and horizontal ribs, 

 giving the appearance of the inner svirface of the specimen of Recep- 

 tacidites calciferus. He proposes a new generic name. Splicer ospcyncjia, 

 for it. If the specimen figured ' by him be truly of the same species 

 as that described by Phillips, it would seem that an internal structure, 

 like that of Beceptacidites, is not inconsistent with an integument of 



