LOWER HELDERBERG ROCKS. 135 



Geological position and locality. In the shaly layers of tlie Pentamerus limestone : 

 Jerusalem hill, Litchfield, Herkimer county. 



GENIS DlCTYOCROrS. 



In a plate intended to accompany his Report of 1841, Mr. Conrad has 

 figured and designated a peculiar fossil body by the name Diduocrinites. 



The body is turbinate, with an appearance of a cavity at the base for 

 the insertion of a column. The surface is marked by curving impressed 

 lines leaving intermediate rhombic spaces, which are occupied by sub- 

 imbricating scales. 



The Receptaculites rhombifer of R(emer ( Beitraege zur Geologischen Kentniss des 

 Nordwestlichen Harzgebirges, p. 30 : Sphteronites rhombifer ? pi. iv, f. 21) is evi- 

 dently a similar body, and likewise one of doubtful position in the system as far as 

 its structure is known. 



Dictj ocrinus sqnamifer ( n. s.). 



Plate VII A. Fro. 11 - 13. 



Body turbinate. Base slightly truncated, and deeply impressed in the 

 centre as if for the insertion of a pedicle. Surface entirely covered by 

 rhombiform subimbricating scales ; those near the base being longer 

 than wide, while the upper ones are wider than long. 



The substance of the body is crystalline calcareous spar, solid at the 

 base, but having a depression above as shown at the broken margins. 

 The relations of this body with the Crinoideae or Cystideae are at least doubtful, 

 but the specimen is not sufficient to make any satisfactory determination. The 

 character of the scales, if there were no other solid parts, would indicate a flexible 

 or elastic pouch; and it is scarcely probable that the pedicle was solid, like the 

 columns of crinoids. 



Fig. 11. The body, natural size. 



Fig. 12. The base, showing cavity for the insertion of a pedicle. 



Fig. 13. Enlargement of surface, showing form and arrangement of scales. 



Geological position and locality. In the shaly limestone of the Lower Helderberg 

 group, Schoharie. 



