THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 115 
the Sertularia, the Polyzoa, and the Calcareous Alga. If the 
illustration given at page 321 is reliable, it certainly bears a marked 
resemblance to one of the Niagara Graptolites described and figured 
by Dr. Spencer, Acanthograptus. The spiny process is absent ; 
however, that was not likely to be preserved in shale. The scabrous 
stems of Jnocaulis Plumulosa (Hall) are generally quite smooth when 
found in the same material. ‘‘ The clearing up of the affinities of 
a single doubtful fossil is never barren of good results,” remarked 
the late lamented paleontologist, J. W. Salter, “since it may tend 
to throw light on other forms as little understood.” At an early 
stage it may be noticed the young Graptolite appears to be furnished 
with Cilea, like the sponge, The examples given by Hall probably 
represent a later stage of growth. Admitting that this is an age 
more for the collection of facts than for their elucidation and 
explanation, I have always endeavored to let the fossils speak for 
themselves, rather than put forth views which ultimately may prove 
to be erroneous, and, when I venture a little beyond, I may honestly 
say my intention has ever been to attract the attention of others far 
more competent to judge. 
Dec. 22nd, 1892. 
RECEPTACULITES.—NOTES IN CONTINUATION. (NO. 1). 
The Zoologicai position of this family group is also one in 
which much difference of opinion exists. Nearly all the leading 
paleontologists of the age since the time of Goldfuss, Hall, Echwold, 
Roemer, Salter, Carpenter, Bradley, etc., and other eminent men, 
have had something to say regarding it, and yet the classification 
remains undetermined—Formanifera (order) Orbitolitidz family 
-—Salter and Carpenter say. Bradley claims it as a sponge, 
and while Billings, who has evidently closely studied the matter, 
appears to favor this view he does not seem to have quite made up 
his mind regarding it. Witness his concluding remarks: ‘‘ When 
we consider that the full grown and adult individuals of many of the 
long extinct tribes of animals never attained in their structure a 
more advanced organization than that exhibited by the embryos of 
orders living at the present day, it does not seem surprising that 
we should find in the Paleozoic rocks a sponge which, 
although often of large size, never became more highly developed 
than is the recent genus S/ong//a when it has only advanced to 
