176 



PALiEONTOLOOY OF NEW- YORK. 



Genus INOCAULIS {nov. gen.). 

 [Gr, ivos, Jibra, and xauXo?, caulis.^ 

 A plant-like, corneous coral, with nunicrous bifurcating branches ; structure fibrous or 

 plumose. 



Tiie texture of this coral is similar to the Graptolites, a black scaly crust or film being all 

 that remains of the substance. From the specimens examined, it appears to have grown in 

 groups, with rounded or flattened stems, which are dichotomous above, and more or less 

 spreading. The structure is too peculiar to be mistaken, or to be referred to any established 

 genus. 



.571. 1. INOCAULIS PLUMULOSA (»)..vy,.). 



PL. XL G. Fig. a a, b. 



Stems flattened, dichotomous ; structure fibrous or plumulose, apparently composed of im- 

 bricating elongated scales or fibres, which spread equally on all sides. 



This coral is not aljuiidant, though small fragments are frequently seen in the shale. It is 

 very often replaced by iion pyrites, and where the surface is exposed to weathering, the fossil 

 soon disappears, so that it is only on freshly fractured surfaces that the structure is preserved. 



Fig. 2 a. A part of several stems upon the surface of the shale. 

 Fig. 2 6. An enlarged portion, showing the structure. 



Position and lor.ality. In the Niagara shale at Lockport, Rochester and other places. 



(State Collfclioii.) 



The corals of this group, described in the preceding pages, constitute the greater number 

 and most conspicuous forms among the numerous species of this period. Further examinations, 

 however, will doubtless much increase the number now known, since many imperfect and 

 unsatisfactory specimens have fallen under observation, possessing characters distinguishing 

 thcni from those described, but insufficient to furnish conclusive evidence of their affinities. 



