Maury — Connecting Link in the Genesis of Fulgur. 335 



Art. XXYII. — A New Connecting Link in the Genesis of 

 Fulgur y by Carlotta J. Maury. 



Among a quantity of fossils lately collected by Professor 

 G. D. Harris at Montgomery, Louisiana, from the Jackson 

 horizon of the Eocene is a very interesting species which forms 

 a perfect connecting link between Levifusus and Fulgur. A 

 dozen specimens were found. 



The relationship of the two genera was pointed out some 

 years ago by Dr. Dall and Professor Harris. Dr. Dall in 1890 

 stated that Fulgur, which took its rise in the Eocene, was 

 descended from such forms as Levifusus Blakei and trabeatus. 

 Professor Harris later noted the tendency shown by many 

 Levifusi to revert to an ancestral Fleurotoma-Uke form and 

 traced the derivation of Fulgur from 

 Pleurotoma through Surcula, Levifusus 

 (pagoda-like forms), Levifusus (suteri- 

 j i k e forms), Levifusus {trabeatus-\ike 

 forms), Levifusus Branneri to Fulgur 

 echinaium. 



But Levifusus Branneri Harris in addi- 

 tion to shoulder spines is ornamented by 

 a row of twelve nodules on the center of 

 the body whorl. The Montgomery shell 

 is without the slightest trace of this row, 

 and, as shown in the accompanying figure, 

 presents such a striking resemblance to 

 Fulgur that it might almost be taken as 

 one of the many varietal forms of Fulgur 

 spiniger. The spire, however, is almost 

 exactly that of Levifusus Branneri. To emphasize the fact 

 that it is the most direct ancestor of Fulgur known, the name 

 fulguriparens has been given to the Montgomery shell. 



Levifusus fulgnriparens 

 n. s. (Longitude 25 mm .) 



Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



