Trii iittartionx. 79 



excellent specimens are to be obtained, and also at Glenkiln, 

 where numerous specimens belonging to the lower shales are got. 

 Beld Craig is also an excellent place for both the upper and 

 lower shales, where many tine specimens can be obtained. A 

 stranger going to Beld Craig for the first time had better go 

 to the head of the glen and then up the burn above the fall, 

 for about a mile, during which distance the shales are barren, 

 but after this we come upon the fossiliferous sliales in abundance. 



In Bromel's description of the fossils of Sweden (1727), which 

 appears to be the earliest account of Graptolites known, the 

 author supposes some of them to have the appearance of the 

 fossil leaves of grasses. 



The term Graptolithes {Gr. Grapho, I write, lithos, stone) is 

 found for the first time in the "Systemte Naturoe " of Linnajus, 

 first edition. The name was applied to certain natural objects, 

 many of which could not be Graptolites, and which he did not 

 believe to be true fossils. In the twelfth edition of the "Systemixj," 

 Stockholm, 1768, there is a description of a fossil named by 

 Linnwus Graptolithus scalaris, the nature of which has caused a 

 good deal of controversy. This Graptolithus scalaris was origin- 

 ally described by Linna'us, and figured in his " Scanian Travels " 

 (Scanska Resa), published in 1751. I do not think we need 

 follow this supposed Graptolite further. It would be rather 

 difiicult to form a correct opinion of it, whether it was of a 

 Monoprionidian or a Diprionidian form, from the figure before 

 us, wliich I have brought forward and drawn on an enlarged 

 scale from that given by Geinitz (Die Graptolithen vi. fig. 20). 

 The two other circular forms under G. scalaris are probably 

 Graptolites ; one of them has some resemblance to aV. Seclgwickii, 

 the other has got denticles on each side of the solid axis, which I 

 have never seen before on a simple Graptolite. We also find 

 their denticles running downwards from the initial point, and 

 the same from their distal point, and meeting at the centre of 

 the circle ; this is a thing quite unusual in any form of Grapto- 

 lite I have ever seen. There may have been some mistake in 

 copying from the original, but in fact they appear to be more 

 like a copy from a Grecian or Roman marble wreath — all they 

 want is the ribbon on the top to complete the likeness, for in no 

 way do they resemble the natural form of a Graptolite. 



Historical Opinions. — In 1821, Wahlenberg considered the 

 Graptolites of Sweden as very slender Orthoceratites. In this 



