260 PALAEONTOLOGY OF NEW YORK. 



its place. The brachidium has long, straight jugal processes, the triangular 

 anterior plate in numerous specimens shows that the posterior rod-like process 

 from the median ridge of that plate extends upward almost to the crura, but 

 terminates abruptly and has no connexion whatever with the latter. To dis- 

 tinguish this peculiar modification of the RENSSEL^RiA-type, it is proposed to 

 adopt the subgeneric term, Beachia.* Rensselaria Suessana, so far as now 

 known, is its only representative. 



With our present knowledge the genus Renssel^ria must be recognized as 

 the earliest and most primitive type of terebratuloid structure. That this 

 genus, and Centronella, together with the plicated group of Terebratula Guer- 

 imgeri, and perhaps also, the plicated shells incompletely described by Waagen 

 as NoTOTHVRis, from the Permo-Carboniferous limestones, have had a common 

 origin must be regarded as beyond a reasonable doubt. 



The simple loop in all of these forms is but the result of the coalescence of 

 the two lateral arms or extended crural processes ; and anything more simple 

 than the triangular loop of RfiNSSELiERiA would be only the discrete processes 

 of Amphigenia and the rhynchonelloids. 



RfiNSSELiERiA appeared with the Lower Helderberg fauna and, in America, 

 disappeared with the Oriskany sandstone. The Terebratula strigiceps, F. Roemer, 

 from the lower Devonian of Siegenf has been referred to this genus by Kayser, 

 and though the internal character s of this species have not been demonstrated, 

 its exterior endorses this interpretation. Elsewhere in Europe the existence 

 of Renssel^eria has not been satisfactorily established. 



* It is with gi-eat satiafactiun tbat I dedicate this interesting' generic fui-m to tbe Hun. Allbn U. Bkacu, 

 of Watertown, N. Y., an earnest advocate and patron of science, who, while Lieutenant-Governor of the State 

 in 1870, recognized the importance of establishing the State Cabinet of Natural History as an organization 

 for the i)romotion of scienlilic i-esearch, as intended by its foundera, and, with the aid of a few friends, 

 secured the enactment of a law organizing the institution as the " State Museum of Natural History." The 

 purpose of this law was to carry into effect the reccmmendation of the Legislature of 1866 : — to place that 

 organization "m the condition required by the present state of science, and to maintain it in full efficiency 

 M a Museum of Scientific and Practical Geology and Comparative Zoology." 



In this connection I recall with pleasure the interest taken in this matter by Hon. William F. Allbn, 

 at that time State Comptroller, and afterwards Judge of the Court of Appeals, who drew the form of this 

 bill and aided in securing its passage by tbe Legislature. 



t See also Qdkkstbdt, Petrefactenk. Deutschlands ; Brachiopoden, p. 343. 1871. 



