NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FOSSILS. 193 



Good specimens of fish are occasionally found in these 

 nodules. The shale above the ironstone is rich in Mollusca, 

 chiefly of the genus Anthracosia, of which several species 

 are common. 



Above the Ten-foot coal at Hanley there is a bed, about 

 two feet in thickness, called the mussel bed, composed of 

 fossil shells. It contains several species of the genera 

 Anthracosia, Anthracoptera, and Anthracomya. Passing over 

 several beds of coal and ironstone, the shales of which 

 contain large quantities of vegetable remains, we find the 

 Sparrow Butt or Hard mine coal. The roof of this coal is a 

 light-coloured marl, which is rich in many species of 

 Mollusca. One specimen of Crustacea (Limulus trilobitoides) 

 has been found in a small nodule of stone in this bed. 

 The black shale which overlies the coal contains scales, 

 teeth, and bones of fishes, and frequently teeth of Pleurodus. 

 The Bullhurst coal shale at Norton contains abundance of 

 Aviculapecten papyraceus : fish remains are rare. 



The lowest measures consist chiefly of sandstone, grit, and 

 dark shales, with eight or nine beds of coal and the valu- 

 able bed of hematite or Froghall ironstone. About thirty 

 yards above this latter bed we find the Stinking coal, the 

 shale of which is rich in Mollusca : with the exception of 

 detached scales and teeth : fish remains are rare. 



With this brief introduction, we will proceed to show 

 the various species which up to the present time have 

 been collected from the coal measures of North Stafford- 

 shire. In addition, we append a list showing the 

 distribution of the organic remains through the various 

 fossiliferous strata. It will be seen from this that many 

 species have a great vertical range, while others are restricted 



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