QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 149 
with much surprise in your number for August last (p. 144) 
the statement, quoted from ‘ Silliman’s American Journal’ for 
May, to the effect that Mr. Meek had ascertained the shell of 
Spirifer cuspidatus, not only in American specimens referred 
to this species, but in an Irish specimen received by him 
from Mr. Davidson, to be clearly punctate, contrary to the 
decision of Dr. Carpenter.” 
My determination of the imperfect character of the shell 
of that species was made, some twenty-five years ago, upon 
specimens obtained from St. Vincent’s Rocks, near Bristol 
(where I was then residing), and authenticated by Mr. 
Stutchbury. In my Report to the British Association (1844, 
§ 44), I pointed out that the Sp. cuspidatus of the Mountain 
Limestone differs from Sp. Walcotti and other Liassic Spiri- 
fers in not being perforated,—the absence of the superficial 
punctations seen upon the latter not being due (as Professor 
Morris had supposed) to the metamorphic condition of the 
shell, “‘ since, although the structure of the shell is often 
obscured by this action, I possess sections in which it is ex- 
tremely well preserved, and in which there is an evident 
absence of the perforations.” 
The distinction which I then drew between the two groups 
of Spirifers. characterised respectively by the perforation and 
non-perforation of their shells, led Mr. Davidson to a more 
careful examination of the internal structure which: they 
respectively present ; and the differences which he then dis- 
covered were such as to lead him to separate these two groups 
generically, the designation Spirifera being retained for the 
original Sp. striata, cuspidata, and other imperforate species, 
whilst the perforated species were remitted to the genus 
Spiriferina. 
The question as to the real character of Sp. cuspidata 
having thus come to be of no small importance, I have gladly 
responded to the suggestion of Mr. Davidson that I should 
re-investigate it; and I have commenced with a careful 
examination of my original Bristol sections. These again, I 
confidently affirm, show not the slightest trace of perforations, 
though the structure of the shell is well preserved. 
I have obtained from the School of Mines, through Mr. 
Etheridge, and from the Museum of Irish Industry and that 
of the Geological Survey of Ireland, through Mr. W. H. 
Baily, chips of specimens from six different localities, all which 
specimens are vouched for by those gentlemen as genuine 
Sp. cuspidata. In not one of the sections I have made of 
these shells is there the smallest trace of perforations, though 
the structure of the shell is well preserved in every instance. 
