THE AMAZONIAN UPPER CARBONIFEROUS FAUNA. 



As, from recent discussions of correlation and geographical dis- 

 tribution, the Upper Carboniferous fauna of the lower Amazonian 

 region seems to be considered a somewhat important element, it 

 appears desirable to make it known more completely than it is at 

 present. A description of the brachiopods was published in 1874 

 (Bulletin of the Cornell University, Science, No. 2), and a revi- 

 sion of that group with some new material and a complete study 

 of all the material known from Amazonian localities was made 

 shortly afterward, but withheld from publication from lack of 

 means for preparing the necessary plates. This study is now 

 out of date as regards nomenclature, and many of the species 

 then regarded as new have very likely been since described from 

 other regions. As, however, from various circumstances the 

 probability of being able to revise it in view of the recent litera- 

 ture, and to publish it with proper illustrations, is now extremely 

 remote, it is thought best to give the following resume. Palae- 

 ontologists will find much to criticise in the identifications, notes, 

 and comparisons made a dozen years ago and only very incom- 

 pletely revised since, but it is hoped that they will be able to 

 recognize the most characteristic types and that they will find 

 enough of interest in a more complete presentation of this 

 interesting fauna to overlook the shortcomings of the present 

 note. 



The region in which this fauna is definitely known is repre- 

 sented in the annexed sketch map, taken in great part from 

 Steiler's Atlas, but with some modifications introduced from the 

 map given by Mr. H. H. Smith in his work, Brazil, the Ama- 

 zons and the Coast, New York, 1879. This map represents the 

 upper part of what is locally known as the lower Amazonas, that 

 is to say the section below the mouths of the Rio Negro and the 

 Madeira, where the valley is narrowed by the approach of the 



