232 Further Observations on the 



teresting fossils were during the day brought into our tent 

 in such numbers, that our collection was limited only by our 

 means of transport. 



The Nautili of Seedrapett are of all sizes, from one not 

 larger than an anna piece, to one thirteen inches in diame- 

 ter : there are two species, but by far the most common 

 is that of which a section is given.* The shape of the 

 septa between the chambers nearly resembles that of the 

 recent species, being a simple curve ; but the siphuncle is 

 situated a good deal nearer the inner than the outer margin 

 of the chamber, while in the recent Nautilus its position 

 appears to be almost, if not, quite centrical. Externally also 

 it differs in shape from the species commonly brought to 

 India, the whorl being much rounder and more dilated. 

 The shell of this fossil has almost entirely disappeared, and 

 the outer chamber, and also such of the air chambers as are 

 situated in the outer whorl, are quite filled with ordinary 

 hard limestone, and those in the inner whorls with a cal- 

 careous spar, differing from that in the outer chambers as 

 much as the sparry stalactite does from the limestone roof to 

 which it hangs.f The siphuncle is preserved only in the 

 inner whorls; but the space and collar through which it 

 passed, are visible in the outer air chambers also. Associated 

 with the Nautili we found many Baculites, sometimes im- 

 bedded in the stone, sometimes separate, and also a few por- 

 tions of Ammonite. These fossils were all found on the sur- 

 face, either quite loose, or partially buried in the rock, and 



* Several sheets of drawings of these fossils have been received from 

 Mr. Kaye, and though well executed we have thought it advisable to 

 postpone their publication until they can be accompanied with descrip- 

 tions of each species. — Ed. 



t The fossil species here described differs also in having a larger 

 number of air chambers in proportion to its size. A small specimen, 

 only two inches in diameter, contains forty chambers, while a modern 

 specimen, twice that size, has only twenty-nine. A larger specimen of 

 tbe fossil has nearly sixty chambers. 



