22 BRITISH DEVONIAN BRACHIOPODA. 



Genus — Uncites, Def ranee. 



Uncites gryphus, ScJdotheim (sp.). PL IV, figs. 11, 12. 



Terebratula, Beuth. Juliae et Montium Subterranea, &c, p. 134, No. 74, 1 776. 

 Terebratulites gryphus, Schlotheim. Petrefactenkunde, pi. xix, fig. 1, 1822. 

 Uncites gryphoides, Defr. 1. Fer. Bull., 1827, xii, 152. 

 Uncites gryphoides, Blaiuville. Concbyliologie et Malacologie. 



— gryphus, Bronn. Letlisea Geogn., 1 Auf., pi. ii, fig. 6. 



Gypidia gryphoides, Goldfuss. VonDechen's Translation of Sir H.DeLa Beche's Manual, 



p. 527, 1832. 

 Terebratula gryphus, V. Buck. Ueber Terebrateln, p. 69, 1834, and Mem. Soc. Geol. 



France, vol. iii, p. 174, pi. xvi, fig. 18, 1838. 

 Uncites gryphoides, Quenstedt. Haudb. Petrefactenkunde, p. 459, pi. xxxvi, fig. 40, 

 1851. 



— gryphus, Davidson. British Fossil Bracbiopoda, Introduction, vol. i, p. 89, pi. vii, 



figs. 79—86, 1853. 



— — Sandberger. Die Bracbiopoden Rbeinischen Scbicbtensystems in Nassau, 



p. 38, pi. xxxi, fig. 5, 1855. 



— — Woodward. A Manual of tbe Mollusca, p. 225. 



Spec. Char. Shell elongated, oval ; bi-convex valves nearly equally deep, with a long 

 incurved beak, tapering at its extremity, hollow and truncated in young specimens by a 

 small, oval, apical foramen ; no true area, a large concave deltidium partly surrounds the 

 aperture, and extends to near the cardinal edge. The umbo of the dorsal valve is con- 

 siderably incurved, and partially concealed by the deltidium of the opposite valve. The 

 sides of the beak as well as the lateral portions of the umbo become at times considerably 

 deflected inwards, producing deep, lateral, elongated, concave depressions or pouches 

 opening externally, but not communicating with the interior. Surface covered with 

 numerous longitudinal radiating striae, or flattened ribs, which bifurcate at variable dis- 

 tances from the beak and umbo. Valves articulating by the means of teeth and sockets. 

 Shell impunctate. Dimensions variable. 



Length 16, width 14, depth 9 lines. 



Obs. The interior characters of this species have not been completely determined. 

 Professor Beyrich discovered in one specimen internal spiral processes, directed outwards ; 

 but I have some misgivings as to these spirals having in reality belonged to the specimens 

 in question, and should be glad to find Professor Beyrich's discovery confirmed by the 

 evidence of other specimens. The shape and position of the muscular impressions 

 remain likewise still unknown ; and it must also be remarked that the singular lateral 

 pouch-shaped depressions do not occur in all the specimens. The beak is rarely straight, 

 being more often bent to one side or the other. 



This remarkable shell has been long known as characteristic of a certain horizon of 



