40 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION 
point, and while only single valve impressions of bivalve shells are 
obtainable, such we know, from recent deep sea dredging, have been 
conveyed by currents, etc., from shallow to deeper water. Still the 
Corals, numerous Bracheopods, Bryozoons, Trilobites and Plants 
found associated are opposed to this conclusion. 
- The Fucoids are chiefly displayed as stained branches on the 
surface of a layer, in very poor preservation ; sometimes, however, 
you find fragments of a plant colored green by iron salts. 
One of the most difficult fossils for determination which our 
local chert beds ever presented was very recently obtained, un- 
fortunately in a fragmentary condition—a wrinkled, flattened bitu- 
minous specimen. It may puzzle the most experienced palzeontol- 
ogist to classify even if more perfectly preserved. It may represent 
a crushed reed, and perhaps it may be obtainable in a better con- 
dition in Silurian rocks elsewhere. - It would be desirable to secure 
a fairer representative than the one here submitted. The other im- 
pression, deeper and more marked, was forwarded about the middle 
of the month to Professor T. R. Jones, of London, but I doubt 
even if that admits of description. So many unexpected things 
have turned up of late that we need not altogether despair of secur- 
ing another specimen which may enable our scientific friends to 
form a more reliable opinion than the writer entertains at present. 
The Niagara chert beds lately presented also the fragment of an 
Orthoceras, which does not correspond with any of the ones figured 
in the publications of Ohio Geological Survey or the later ones of 
the State of New York, which the late Dr. Jas. Hall, of Albany, 
kindly sent. The fragment reminds me of a cuttle fish to which Dr, 
Spencer, F. C. S., alluded to formerly in one of his papers on the 
“ Paleontology of the Local Rocks.” The Orthoceras in question 
must have been about 6 feet long, had exceedingly close septa, 
tapering slowly, apex sharply defined. The diameter of the cham- 
ber of habitation was exceedingly small, taking into consideration 
the length. Of course it would be impossible now to say more than 
the fragment produced reminds me of the very extraordinary cuttle 
displayed many years ago on the surface of the heavy limestones 
used for building in the city. Itis greatly to be regretted that no 
drawing or photograph was taken at the time, for it was looked 
