140 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



layers generally break up into blocks or slabs of moderate size 

 and are commonly found resting on the surface of the slope under- 

 lain by this rock. These fragments generally have their surface 

 covered with weathered-out fossils, chiefly brachiopods and bryo- 

 zoans, and in the majority of localities in the Schoharie region 

 they form the only available source of the fossils of this rock. 



Very often these fragments are used in the construction of 

 stone fences where however they are associated with other rock 

 masses from higher or lower strata. One of the best places 

 for the collection of the fossils of the upper portion of this rock 

 is along the line of contact with the overlying Becraft lime- 

 stones. There is generally some weathering back along this 

 contact, the more massive Becraft limestone overhanging and 

 sometimes forming rock shelters. Behind the house of Mr Sam 

 Clark, on Dann's hill opposite Schoharie, one of these rock shel- 

 ters has been formed, the projecting ledge bein^ supported by 

 a pillar of New Scotland [see pi. 12]. Near by is a small cavern 

 worn along the Becraft-New Scotland contact line by a small 

 stream which runs dry during the summer months. In the floor 

 and arch of the shelter many weathered-out specimens of well 

 preserved fossils may be obtained. At this point the slope 

 underlain by the New Scotland beds is very steep, and numerous 

 broken fragments of the harder beds of this series, together with 

 slabs of the lower Becraft, formerly covered the surface, but 

 have been gathered and piled up in fences behind which the soil 

 of the slope is retained. From these fragments many good 

 fossils may be obtained. 



Farther north, on the slope of West or Terrace mountain, 

 below the house of Mr George Acker, other good opportunities 

 for collecting fossils from this horizon are offered. In fact, with 

 the exception of a few outcrops on East hill above Schoharie, 

 specially near the Mix and O'Keilly quarries, the best oppor- 

 tunity for the collection of the fossils from this formation is in 

 West and Dann's hills, between the Coeymans cliff below and 

 the Becraft cliff above. The nearest good collecting ground for 

 these fossils in the Helderberg is on the slopes of High Point; 



