12 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



VOL. 72 



of Geology at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, w^ho most generously 

 assisted in quarrying out the specimen. As shown in the accompany- 

 ing photograph (fig. 13) representing the beginning of the excavation 

 for the thin bedded, fossiliferous layer desired (marked .r), numerous 

 large blocks of stone had to be removed before the real task of 

 quarrying the slab was, begun. The work was completed successfully 

 and the exhibit is now being installed in the hall of invertebrate 

 paleontology. The perfection of the fossil shell remains on this slab 





"■ A'- J 



- ' 4 ' y 



* 





Fig. 14. — Surface of fossiliferous limestone slab, one twenty-fifth natural size. 

 Photograph by Bassler. 



is evidenced in figure 14, which, however, shov/s only in a small degree 

 the distinctness of the shells upon the rock background. 



Upon the completion of the quarrying operations at Oxford, 

 Dr. Bassler proceeded to Chicago, Illinois, where he was engaged in 

 the preparation of casts of type specimens of fossils contained in the 

 collections of the Walker Museum, University of Chicago. The 

 paleontological collection of the National Museum, which includes 

 the celebrated Walcott, Ulrich, Springer, Harris, Nettelroth, and 

 Rominger collections, is especially rich in type specimens of Early 

 Paleozoic fossils, but nevertheless the Walker Museum possesses 



