HAMILTON GROUP, 159 



A quarry of some interest iir this group, is on the farm of Wifliam Lewis, not far from 

 Solsville. It was opened for the Chenango canal. The rock is the hard calcareous grey 

 shale, being the upper rock of the hill. There are no regular horizontal lines of division 

 whatever, but those which are curved or irregular only. The vertical joints are remarkably 

 well defined, giving a wall-like appearance to the rock. This is a common feature to many 

 parts, and in many places where the group exists. The joints are in two directions, nearly at 

 right angles to each other ; one N.E. and S.W, A rock of its nature would appear unsuita- 

 ble for the purposes required ; yet the surface of the quarry is good evidence that it is slow 

 to change, except in its color, and the numerous fragments upon the surface of the soil show 

 a disposition rather to wear away than to decompose. This quarry is rather rich in fossils as 

 to genera and species, but the individuals are not numerous. It is one of the two localities 

 of the Maximum phragmoceras, formerly the Cyrtoceras maximus, and where the greatest 

 number and the best preserved specimens were found. The other locahty is on the road 

 between WaterviUe and Bridgewater. This fossil is the largest coiled chambered shell which 

 is found below the lias of Europe. There is a smaller species, which is more expanded from 

 the chambers towcirds the mouth, and which was found also at Ladd's, etc. Lewis' quarry 

 ■is one of the four or five locaUties of the Punctated goniatite (G. punctata) ; also of the Un- 

 dulated conularia, the common aviculae, such as the Flabella, the Erect, and the Parity ; also 

 the Triquetrous pterinea (P. triqueter). Great orbicula. Channelled cypricardite (C. alveata). 



The singular and graceful forms first noticed in the cauda-galU grit, reappear in this group, 

 and are common to many localities. The forms are better defined in this rock than in the 

 lower one, and the parts are all united or confluent ; showing, in other words, a continuous 

 surface, and not one of detached parts, either real or apparent, as in those of the other rock. 

 A common form in this, is one which resembles a curtain and its folds, supported at both 

 ends ; one raised a little higher than the other, less space being between the ends than in the 

 depth of the folds or curtain, as in the succeeding wood-cut, the original of which is from 

 Levris' quarry. It is furnished also with a stem, which, with the other characters they pre- 

 sent, fully establishes their right to be considered as Plants ; and from their great number, and 

 their associates being oceanic, they must be of like marine origin. 



In the wood-cut on the next page, is a specimen from Lewis' quarry, showing a stem, and 

 the curtain-like folds. 



