NO. 1372. NEW CARBONIFEROUS MOLLUSKS—G I RTY. 733 



ventral side of the .shell the.sc markings appciir almost dirootly trans- 

 verse, or are slightly bowed, with the convexity toward the smaller 

 end. At the sides they assume a strong forward direction, and arc 

 still further tiexed in passing over the dorsal callosity. In one or two 

 specimens 1 have noticed a very slight serial sinuosity, repeated by 

 each lira, as it passed from the ventral side of the shell, hut I am 

 not sure that this is more than an individual characteristic. The lira3 

 are, moreover, faintly crcnulated or serrated, so that the repetition of 

 these minute projections sometimes lends to this specimen or to that 

 the appearance of having tine, indistinct longitudinal lines. 



The question might pertinently be raisetl whether ClaoulittH is a 

 true Scaphopod, and whether it is not, like several other reputed 

 Dentalia, a worm tube or other exuviie. As the shelly matter of 

 these specimens has been replaced b}' pyrite, they are unfavorable for 

 sectioning to determine by means of the microscope their minute 

 structure. This class of evidence can not, therefore, l)e considered. 

 Some of the Scrpulidi^ grow singly, as is well known, and have one or 

 more longitudinal ribs similar to ClavuUtes^ but the uniformity of 

 size, shape, and curvature in ClavuUte^^ and the unvaried location of 

 the callosit}' upon the dorsal side. It strong evidence against any affinity 

 with the worms. Professor Pilsbry, whose opinion has been consulted 

 regarding ClavnJites, has suggested as a possil)ility that this genus 

 ma}' be related to Ilyollthes or to the Coimlariidie. These sugges- 

 tions are worthy of consideration, but against this relationship may 

 be urged the facts that Ihjolithes is rarely circular in section and Cim- 

 ular'ia never curved. Claoulltes presents more characters comparable 

 with the recently described genus Eiichostoina than with Conn hi rid 

 itself. Both the genera last mentioned are characterized by their 

 bright, glossy, phosphatic shells, Avhich strongh' resist solution, and 

 probably, also, replacement. The fact that my specimens of Clavuli- 

 tes are pyritized, therefore, may be considered as negative e^•idence in 

 estimating the possibility of an affinity of that genus with (Mther 

 Enchmtoiiia or Conularla. Could all three genera be .secured from 

 the same l)ed, where they had ])een sul)jecte(l to the same conditions, 

 evidence of this nature would he more conclusive than that furnished 

 by existing conditions. 



From all the facts available, however, it appears much nn)n> prob- 

 able that Claoulltes is allied to Dcntalaun than that it should he a.sso- 

 ciated with any of the other genera discussed. 



A singular circumstance which almost invariat)ly atteiuls the preser- 

 vation of the specimens examined is that the larger end is iMiibedded 

 in a pyritiferous concretion. This condition is .shown in several of 

 the specimens tigured. 



Cat. No. 35184, U.S.N.M. 



Lnndifij andh(J7'lzon. — 'PQ\\ns\\\-A\\\\\u (HurHngiUiie shalr), Howard, 



Kansas. 



