50 



PALEONTOLOGY OF NEW-YOKK. 



84. 3. STICTOPORA LABYRINTHICA («. «p.)- 



Pl. XII. Figs. 8 a, b. 



Coral composed of broad, flattened, flexuous, branching stems, diverging and ascending 

 from a base ; branches uniting laterally, and forming broad foliaceous expansions ; trans- 

 verse sections of a group presenting an irregularly reticulate structure ; branches celluliferous 

 on both sides of the flattened central axis ; cellules oval, arranged in quincunx order. 



This coral occurs in tlie most compact portions of the Birdseye limestone, the edges of 

 the branches appearing in dark lines upon the exposed surfaces of the stone, as fig. 8 a. In 

 some localities large surfaces of the rock are covered in this manner, and it is nearly im- 

 possible to trace their commencement or termination. In a few instances, the flat surfaces 

 of the branches are exposed sufficiently to show the generic relations of the coral. The 

 branches are broader than in tlie next described species, but the arrangement of cells is 

 similar.* The edges of the branches liave much the appearance of Graptolites, except 

 that they are rarely straight. 



Fig. 8. The weathered surface of a fragment of the limestone, showing the transverse sections of this 



coral of the natural size. 

 Figs. 8 a, b. Enlarged portions as seen upon the specimen above, showing sections of two rows of cells 



rising obUquely from the axis. 



Position and locality. This fossil, as shown in iig. 8 and the magnified portions, is found 

 only in the Birdseye limestone. It is abundant at Chazy village, Clinton coimty, and at 

 Watertown, Jefferson county. (State Collection.) 



* Tlie accompanying illustration on wood may enable the student to comprehend more clearly the characters of this 

 somewhat obscure fossil. The drawing is an exact representation of a small portion of the surface of the limestone, 

 where this coral abounds. In many instances the branches are iiartially turned on one side, and present two or three 

 rows of cells; but where fully exposed, the number of vows is above twelve. 





Fig. 1. A small fragment tif limestone, showing the natural size of the coral upon the weathered surface. 



Fig. 2. Vertical section of the same fragment of limestone, showing the ascending and anastomosing branches 



Fig. 3. F,nlargcd portion of the worn edge of a branch of the coral from fig. 1. 



Fig. 4. Surface apparently unworn, presenting elevated obliijue ridges between the rows of cells. 



Fig. .5. .Surface of a branch somewhat worn. 



