NO. 1557. NEW CHINESE PALEOZOIC FOSSILS— GIRTY. 43 



no moro than a varioty, better marked, however, than any of the 

 varieties recognized by Waag-en and Wentzeh 



Locality and Jwrlzon. — Pennsylvanian (Wu-shan limestone); near 

 Ta-ning-hien, East Ss'i-ch'uan (Stations 1 and -i). 



BATOSTOMELLA MEEKANA," new species. 



This form has not been found free, and the following description 

 has been drawn up from thin sections. It evidently occurs.as cylin- 

 drical, probably branching, stems, of which some grow to a diameter 

 of \ nun., while others were only about 3 mm. thick. 



DcHei'lptlon. — The cells are slightl}^ oval in outline, one diameter 

 being a little greater than the other. In the mature region the}" are 

 separated by intervals about equal to one-half their own diameter, and 

 number about five in 2 mm. longitudinally. The acanthopo re-like 

 granules are relatively few, and as a very prevalent rule occur in 

 single rows between the apertures. On the average about eight sur- 

 round each cell, but as they vary greatly in distribution sometimes 

 more (as many as 12 and 13) and sometimes less can be counted. They 

 are also ver^' irregular in point of size, some having a diameter twice 

 or even three or four times as great as others. Very often the}" 

 appear to be in two well-marked grades of size, but sometimes another 

 intermediate grade can be recognized, and it seems likely that there is 

 no absolute classitication to which they can be reduced in this respect. 

 AVhile in a general way the large and small granules appear to be reg- 

 uhirly distril)uted, no definite system or arrangement can be made out. 

 In sections longitudinal to the tubes, the thickened or mature region 

 is quite shallow, about twice the width of the apertures. The latter, 

 however, here appear of much smaller diameter than in the transverse 

 section, being only about half as wide as the intercellular granulifer- 

 ous spaces, which therefore present nearly square areas in thin sec- 

 tions cut longitudinally. 



This form is structurally very closely related to Rhomhopora lepi- 

 dodendrotdes, but is clearly distinct from that widely distributed 

 American species. Kayser identitied Rhomhopora lepldodendroides 

 in the Lo Ping fauna. From this BatostomeUa VK-ekcuia seems to be 

 distinct, as it without nuich question is if the Lo Ping form is cor- 

 rectly identihed. Of the two species of Rlioinhopora described by 

 Waagen, from India, it may be distinguished from R. ■polyporata by 

 the much smaller number of granules. Though more similar to R. 

 ohll(pia^ it also difiers in several particulars. It is a more robust form. 

 The cells are more nearly circular and apparently of larger size, since, 

 according to Waagen's figure, only about three occur longitudinally in 

 2 mm. Furthermore, Waagen states that the granules are all of a size 



"This species is named for Mr. F. B. Meek. 



