FOSSIL FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE FLORISSANT SHALES 163 



in it, in addition to those which we could safely assume to be vernal 

 or otherwise. This information would not only be of interest from 

 an entomological standpoint, but would perhaps help to explain the 

 differences between the contents of closely adjacent beds, which might 

 have been deposited at different seasons of the year. 



Many specimens have been obtained at Florissant by persons who 

 have no expectation of using them for scientific purposes; or are depos- 

 ited in collections unworked. The University of Colorado will be very 

 glad to obtain the loan of any such material for study, and will return 

 it carefully; but it is hoped that if any new species are found in private 

 collections, they will be ultimately deposited in some museum where 

 they can be permanently cared for and made accessible to students. 



Summary of the Fauna and Flora of the Florissant Shales 



» BIRDS (2 species) 

 Order Passeres 

 Palaospiza Bella J. A. Allen, is a passerine bird of uncertain affinities, but regarded 

 as the type of an extinct genus. "The absence of the bill renders it impos- 

 sible to assign the species to any particular family, but the fossil on the whole 

 gives the impression of Fringilline affinities." (Allen.) 

 Order Limicolae 

 Charadrius sheppardianus Cope, is a plover which Cope could not distinguish 

 from the modern genus Charadrius. It was discovered by Dr. G. Hambach. 

 FISHES (9 species) 

 Order Holostei 

 Amia dictyocephala Cope, and A. scutata Cope, represent a genus which has one 

 living species {A. calva, Linne, the Bow-fin) in North America, but is com- 

 mon (six species) in the Bridger Eocene of Wyoming. It appears to repre- 

 sent a waning type. 



Order Nemognathi 

 Rhineastes pectinatus Cope, is a catfish belonging to a genus otherwise known 

 (five species) from the Bridger Eocene of Wyoming. 



Order Eventognathi (Plectospondyli) 

 Amyzo7i Cope, is a genus of Catostomidae, or suckers, well represented at Floris- 

 sant. Three or four species occur, and have been described by Cope. 

 Order Peecomorphi 

 Trichophanes Cope, a genus of perciform fishes of the family Aphredoderidse, 

 is represented by T. jolianim Cope, and T. copei Osborn, Scott and Speir. 



