DEVONIC FISHES OF THE NEW YORK FORMATIONS 1 85 



intercommunication existed during the mid-Devonic between the typical 

 lowan and Eurasian faunas by means of a northeasterly passageway 

 through Manitoba, Hudson and James bays, Greenland, Spitzbergen and 

 .circumpolar regions.' More recently, however, weighty objections have 

 been opposed to this theory, and it has been asserted very emphatically by 

 Professor Schuchert ^ that there is not the slightest reason to connect the 

 Hudson and James Bay Devonic with that of the Dakota sea (or western 

 intercontinental province). It is further denied by the same author that this 

 latter province was in connection with a southern ocean, extending into 

 Brazil, until Hamilton time. On the other hand students are agreed that 

 communication was maintained between the Appalachian province and 

 that of the southern hemisphere during the mid-Devonic. Concerning the 

 pathways that were open between the Appalachian and Eurasian provinces 

 during the Middle and later Devonic there are still some differences of 

 opinion. 



It will be observed accordingly, that the Devonic in this country was 

 preeminently an era. of provincial development of marine faunas. Further- 

 more it appears that diversity in this respect is more strongly marked in 



^Weller, S. Composition, Origin and Relationships of the Corniferous Fauna in the 

 Appalachian Province of North America. Jour. Gaol. 1902. 10: 423-32. Compare also 

 an earlier paper by the same author on interpretation of Silurian faunas. Jour. Geol. 1898. 

 6:692-703. This theory is adopted by L. Hussakof in explaining the distribution of 

 Devonic fishes. Cf. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Mem. 1906. 9: 137. 



^Schuchert, C. On the Faunal Provinces of the Middle Devonic of America, etc. 

 Amer. Geol. 1903. 32: 137-62; Ulrich, E. O. & Schuchert, C. Paleozoic Seas and Bar- 

 riers in Eastern North America. N. Y. State Mus. Bui. 52. 1902. p. 633-63. Among other 

 suggestive papers dealing with faunas and provinces and migrations during the Devonic 

 one may consult the following by Dr J. M. Clarke: Outline of the Geological Succession in 

 Ontario County. N. Y. State Geol. 4th An. Rep't 1884. (1885) p. 9-22; The Her- 

 cynian Question. Ibid. 8th An. Rep't 1888. (1889) p. 61-91; The Stratigraphic and 

 Faunal Relations of the Oneonta Sandstone etc. Ibid. 15th An. Rep't 1895. (1897) 

 1:31-81; The Naples Fauna in Western New York, pt i. Ibid. i6th An. Rep't 1896. 

 (1899) p. 29-162; pt 2. N. Y. State Mus. Mem. 6. 1904. p. 199-454; Marcellus Lime- 

 stone of Central and Western New York. N. Y. State Mus. Bui. 49. 1901. p. 115-38; 

 Indigene and Alien Faunas of the New York Devonic. N. Y. State Mus. Bui. 52. 1902^ 

 p. 664-84. 



