DETOROID GRAPTOLITES OF THE NIAGAMN DOLO- 

 MITES AT HAMILTON, ONTARIO. 



Compiled by Ray S. Bassler, 



Curator, Division of Invertebrate Paleontology, U. 8. National Museum. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The large collection of graptolites which has been accumulating 

 in the U. S. National Museum for many years, mainly through 

 transfer from the U. S. Geological Survey, has recently been classi- 

 fied and so arranged that all of the specimens are now available for 

 study. Fifteen j^ears ago, Dr. R. R. Gurley, then connected Avith the 

 U. S. Geological Survey, undertook a monographic study of the 

 graptolites of the world with specimens now constituting the greater 

 portion of the Museum's present collection as the basis for his work. 

 Doctor Gurley accumulated a mass of manuscript relating chiefly to 

 the bibliography of these organisms, but his resignation from the 

 survey brought the work to an end. Nothing further was done with 

 either the specimens or manuscript until 1905, when an arrangement 

 was made with the director of the New York State Museum, whereby 

 Dr. Rudolph Ruedemann, assistant state paleontologist, should study 

 Doctor Gurley 's unpublished typps and use as much as possible of 

 the manuscript in connection with his studies on the graptolite 

 faunas of New York. In his preface to Part 2 of the Graptolites of 

 New York,« Doctor Ruedemann writes the following: 



Our request [for the loan of Gurley's types] was most liberally yrauted by the 

 authorities of the U. S. Geological Survey and of the National Museum, but 

 with the specimens there was delivered to us the voluminous unfinished manu- 

 script of Gurley's monograph of the graptolites with the understanding that we 

 should use as much as possible of the same, and thus assure to Doctor Gurley's 

 long labors the credit to which they are entitled. The author has gladly 

 availed himself of Gurley's work, which even in its fragmentary form bears 

 witness not only of the admirable patience and enthusiasm of its author, but 

 also of his keen power of observation. 



In justice to both Doctor Gurley and myself a full statement of what this 

 voluminous manuscript contains and what has been used for this memoir 

 should be given in this place. 



<*New York State Museum, Memoir 11, 1908. 



