CEPHALOPODA OF THE OKETAOEOUS MAKLS. 275 



Genus BACULITES Lamarck. 



Baculites ovatus.' 



Plate XL VI, Figs. 3-9. 



Baculites ovatus Say: Am. Jour. Sci., vo^. 2, 1st ser., p. 41; vol. 6, PL v, Figs. 5 

 and 6; Morton, Am. Jour. Sci., vol. 17, p. 280; vol. 18, PL I, Figs. 6-8; 

 Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1st ser., vol. 6, p. 89, PL v, Fig. 6 (and 5?); 

 Synopsis, p. 43, PL i, Figs. 6-8 (the latter perhaps doubtful) ; Gabb, Synop- 

 sis, p. 22 ; Meek, Check List (in part), p. 33 ; Geol. Surv. New Jersey, 1868, 

 p. 730. 



The examples of this species as they occur within the State of New 

 Jersey are pretty generally internal casts and usually only small detached 

 fragments of a few chambers each. Occasionally one is found which will 

 preserve the inner layers of shell, but even this appears to be quite rare. 

 One of the examples figured by Dr. Morton, PL ix, Fig. 1, of his Synopsis, 

 is in this condition, and is the only one which I have seen preserving even 

 this much of the shell. The specimens do not appear to attain a very great 

 diameter, the largest observed having a diameter of not more than 1^ inches 

 in the longest axis. They appear to have enlarged upward very slowly 

 with the increased length, but are by no means uniform in this respect, not 

 even in different parts of the same individual. The exterior of the shell, so 

 far as can be determined from the cast, must have been smooth except for 

 a few undulations on the edges, more particularly so on the siphonal edge, 

 where they are somewhat evenly arranged, at least on the younger speci- 

 mens. The general form of the shell in section is stipposed to be ovate, 



' The following is Say's original description of JS. ovaius, taken from Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, Ist 

 ser., vol. 2, p. 41: 



"Baculites ovata, elongate; transverse septa subovate, aix-lobed, and a smaller one behind; loies 

 of the superior faces of the septa, three on each side, with a minute one between each, dentated at their 

 edges; anterior lobe (nearest the siphuncle) small, not sinuous; second lobe with a single projection 

 each side and sinus at tip; third lobe dilated, with a small sinus each side and more obtuse and pro- 

 found one at tip; posterior lobe hardly larger than the lateral intermediate ones. 



■■' Greatest diameter of the transverse section, one inch and one-fifth ; smaller diameter, seveu- 

 tenths ; length of the segment about half an inch." 



The specimen used was the same as that used and figured by Dr. Morton in the Jour. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci., Phila., 1st ser., vol. 6, pp. 89 and 196, PI. v. Fig. 6, and was from the Lower Green Marls at Never- 

 sink Hills, N. J., while the B. compressa described by Say on the same paige as above was from Nuttal's 

 collection, made on the Upper Missouri Kiver. 



