108 Nicholson — On Graptolites. 



but few of the higher forms of aniiiial life. Two species of a 

 phyllopod crustacean/ {Peltocaris aptychoides and P. Harhiessi, 

 Salter), were discovered by Prof. Harkness, along with the first 

 Brachiopod found in these deposits, the Siplionotreta micula of McCoy. 

 Another crustacean of an allied genus, described by Mr. Henry 

 Woodward,^ and named by him Discinocaris Browrdana, was dis- 

 covered last year in the neighbourhood of Moffat, by Mr. D. J. Brown. 

 Besides the above, there occur traces of the action of marine worms, 

 and I have, in addition, found one, possibly two, species of Lingula, 

 a thin-walled Orthoceras, or Pteropod, and some curious spine-like 

 bodies, probably referable to crustaceans. With the exception of 

 these scanty remains, the strata under consideration have yielded no 

 fossils higher in the scale of existence than Graptolites. In no 

 other British deposit do we, however, find a greater profusion of 

 these beautiful and characteristic fossils, or a greater number of 

 specific types. It is the object of this communication to describe 

 certain new forms of Grraptolites which have come under my 

 notice, together with one remarkable genus, apparently allied to the 

 Graptolitidcp,, though probably representing a different order. 



Corynoides calicularis, gen. nov. (Plate VII. Figs. 9-11). In the 

 more anthracitic shales of Dobbs' Linn, and of Hart Pell, near 

 Moffat, there occur certain singular fossils, for which I have adopted, 

 at Prof. Harkness' suggestion, the generic name Corynoides, and have 

 appended the specific title calicularis. These occur in the same state 

 of fossilization, as do the Graptolites, . viz., as flattened pyritous 

 impressions, and though often occurring in considerable number, they 

 present a great similarity to one another in size, and in their general 

 characters. The stipe varies in length from one-third to half an 

 inch, and has an average breadth of one-twentieth of an inch ; the 

 base, or proximal extremity, is provided with two small, slightly 

 diverging spines or mucros (Fig. 9), which are wanting in other 

 less perfect specimens, when the stipe terminates below by tapering 

 to a point (Fig. 10). There are no cellules, the lateral margins of 

 the stipe being perfectly plain; but the polypary expands at its 

 distal extremity into a sort of cup or calyx, the free edge of which 

 is divided into four or five equal or unequal teeth. There are no 

 certain traces of any central solid axis, but the surface of the stipe 

 is sometimes striated. From the above description it will be evident 

 that Corynoides forms a simple hollow tube, probably corneous, 

 provided with a single or double radicle or mucro, and developed 

 distally into a cup-like " hydrotheca." Unlike the Graptolitidce, proper 

 Corynoides, has evidently been composed of a single polypite only, 

 though it resembles the typical Graptolites, in having been apparently 

 free and oceanic, and in the possession of a corneous or sub-calcareous 

 test or polypary. Corynoides seems to be most closely analogous to 

 some of the Corynidce or Tuhularidm of our own seas, especially 

 resembling such forms as Coryomorplia, in which there is but a single 

 polypite. It cannot, however, be considered to be absolutely refer- 

 able to the Corynidce, since no known Corynid exists as a free-floating 



1 See Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. Vol. xix., p. 87. * Op. cit., Yol. xxii., p. 503, 



