250 PALEONTOLOGY OF ILLINOIS. 



Position and locality: In the shales of the Keoknk group at 

 Nauvoo, Illinois; Keokuk, Iowa; and Kings Mt. tunnel, on the 

 C. S. R, E., Lincoln county, Kentucky. 



SYRINGOPHYLLUM nov. gen. 



Sponges frondescent, with both sides deeply channeled. Chan- 

 nels parallel, increasing in number by interpolation. Vertical 

 canals, arranged in linear series, pass through the expansion 

 from side to side, opening into the bottom of the channels. In- 

 terspaces minutely tubular, the small canals originating in the 

 central region of the expansion, and proceeding to each surface in 

 a curved direction. Spicules and minute characters of skeleton 

 apparently indistinguishable from Antlinxjiidclla. 



This genus, though clearly a member of the Anthaspidellidse, 

 differs greatly from the typical genera of the family, in the form 

 of the sponge, arrangement of the canals, and the absence of 

 distinct oscula. 



Several sponges now referred to Calathiuni (e. g. C. canadense 

 Billings and C. infelix U. & E.) are, perhaps, the nearest rela- 

 tives known. From these Syringophyllum is distinguished by 

 the frondescent form of the sponge. 



SYBINGOPHYLLVM WOBTHENI n. sp. 



PI. VII, figs. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e. 



Sponge frondescent, consisting of an expansion several inches 

 in diameter and 5 mm. thick. Both sides are deeply channeled 

 in a like manner. The channels are parallel, radiately arranged 

 from the base, five or six in 10 mm., increasing in number by 

 interpolation. 



The mouths of vertical canals, passing through the frond from 

 side to side, are arranged in linear series, five to seven in 10 mm., 

 along the bottom of the channels. The ridges between the rows 

 of canals which, when worn, appear to be striated, are com- 

 posed of a finely tubular spicular mesh, the spicules being- 

 arranged so as to form columnar series, extending from the 



