SOME NEW DEVONIC FOSSILS 



277 



few more in number than in the normal of the species, but the 

 variation may be interpreted as one due to the protracted continuity 

 of the simple plicated condition of infancy. 



Variant 2 senilis. Occasional expressions occur in which 

 the fasciculation becomes well pronounced as a secondary condi- 

 tion following the sharp plication of early growth but finally is 

 obscured or lost by rapid intercalation so that the peripheral sur- 

 face carries a great number of fine subequal radii. This expres- 

 sion doubtless represents the extreme development of the specific 

 characters beyond the point usually attained in the normal growth 

 of the species. 



Variant 3 e q u a 1 i s. Again, in certain full grown shells the 

 primitive coarsely plicate stage is so early suppressed as to be 

 scarcely noticeable and fasciculation is at once inaugurated and 

 continued throughout the shell growth. This is a very early 

 assumption of mature characters unaccompanied by evidences of 

 senile growth in final stages. 



Lower Devonic. Grande Greve, P. O. 



GASPESiA gen. nov. 

 Gaspesia aurelia Billings sp. 



Orthis aurelia Billings. Palaeoz. Foss. 1874. v. 2, pt i, p. 34, 

 pl- 3,H- 3 



The singular valves which Mr Billings described under the name 

 cited are strophomenoidlike shells with straight hinge extending 

 the full width of the valves, central beak, which is slightly pro- 

 duced beyond the hinge line, a generally semielliptical outline, and 

 the surface marked by sharp distant and ,spar.se, radial ribs. The 



Gaspesia aurelia 



substance of the shell is tenuous and none of the specimens shows 

 any trace of hinge structures or muscle scars and none were noted 

 by Billings. Billings remarked that the shell " closely resembles 

 O. p e c t i n e 1 1 a Conrad of the Trenton limestone." In the 

 apparent suppression of hinge structure we have suspected the 

 affiliation of this species with the nearly symmetrical and thin- 



