ie 
Discovery of a Chambered Wnivalve Fossil. 187 
Ant. XVI.—Discovery of a Chambered Univalve Fossil in the Eocene 
Tertiary of James River, Virginia ; by M. Tvomey. 
Turxtne that it may have sufficient interest for the pages of this 
Journal, the following notice of the discovery of a Nautilus in the Eo- 
cene on James River, Va., is communicated. 
- Mr. ‘Lyell during his visit to this portion of the tertiary of the United 
States, directed my attention to the broken link in our great cretaceous 
formation, presented by Virginia. At his suggestion, I determined to 
observe any fossils that may come under my notice, with a view to the 
elucidation of this interesting point. The hberality of Capt. H. H. 
Cocke, U. S. N., affordéd me a good opportunity of examining the fos- 
sils of the‘well known eocene locality at Evergreen, near City Point, 
James River. \ Capt. C. at the instance of Edward Ruffin, Esq. editor 
of the Farmer’s Register, who is engaged in the investigation of the ter- 
tiaty of Lower Virginia, caused a shaft to be sunk at the base of the 
escarpment at the locality just mentioned. In this shaft and at a depth 
of about twenty feet below the level of tide water the fossil referred to 
was found. It was imbedded in the dark colored tenacious clay ¢on- 
taining much green sand, common to some of the eocene strata of this 
region. ‘The’ exterior of the shell is much decayed, but the pearly 
surface of the interior is well. preserved, and by removing portions 
parallel to the aperture the concave septe and siphunculus can be 
seen. It was associated with eocene species of Turritella, Crassa- 
tella, Pectunculus, a small Panopza, and a little lower 
stun was found gigantic Osttea, measuring in height 
this huge individual, and the common form of O. compressirostra, Say, 
found in the same stratum, would pronounce them distinct species ; but 
Tam: in possession of a suite of specimens showing the intermediate 
forms ‘between the two, and am convinced that this enormous fossil is 
but-a full grown O. compressirostra. . 
~ Petersbiirg, Va., Stine 10, 1842. 
Mesiy tek soe h 27 
