42 FOSSIL MEDUSZ. 
the collections from the Lower Cambrian slates of Middle Granville, New 
York. Dr. Fitch does not mention the name of the village in which the 
quarry was located at which the specimen was found. Knowing that he 
visited North Granville frequently, that the quarries there are west of the 
village, that at about that time (1849) slabs of slate were quarried at the 
Middle Granville quarries and used in the sidewalks of the village, and 
that those slabs still show numerous specimens of Dactyloidites asteroides, 1 
think we are warranted in concluding that the type specimens were from 
that locality. Dr. Fitch describes and figures the species as follows: 
Buthotrephis (?) asteroides, new species. This has been observed only upon a 
single slab now standing in the quarry in the west part of the village. On this slab, 
in fifteen or twenty places, faint discolorations 
occur, the outlines of which are accurately repre- 
sented in the annexed figure. Neither the axille 
nor the terminations of the branches are distinct; 
Shae ie ye enough, however, is seen to show that this is a 
eae re a relic very different from any that has hitherto 
rt been noticed, and so well characterized that the 
-=> figure here given will enable any one to recognize 
it. 
The specimens studied and described by 
Prof. James Hall were taken from the side- 
Fic. 14 —Bythotrephis (?) asteroides. 0 . p 5 5 
walks in the village of Middle Granville, 
where the slabs of slate had been lying for many years. He identified 
the fossils as plant remains, and described them as follows: 
The smallest specimen measures 70™" across, and shows six ovate peripheral 
expansions, with short stalks, radiating from a small central disk. The larger speci- 
men has a diameter of nearly 130™™, and differs from the preceding not only in size, 
but in the length of the foot stalks of the leaf-like expansions, which are from 10 to 
20™™ long. 
The peripheral expansions or bodies preserve more carbonaceous matter than the 
stalks or the central disk, and would appear to indicate that they were of firmer (possi- 
bly chitinous) texture and contained more organic matter. 
The distal ends of the expansions show a dark spot surrounded by light and 
dark concentric bands, such as would be preserved if the body had been a bulb open 
at the end, or contained a large vesicle. 
It is difficult to determine the true biological position of these obscure specimens. 
They differ in their mode of growth from the compound fronds of graptolites, such as 
Graptolithus, Ketiograptus, Loganograptus, or Phyllograptus, in having six rays to 
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