N. FL. Darton — Fossils of Orange County, 2T. Y. 453 



in several formations which have thrown much light upon the 

 complicated stratigraphical structure of the district. An ac- 

 count of the results of the investigation will soon be ready for 

 publication. 



The principal paleontological discoveries are in continuation 

 of those of Professor Dwight and Mr. Dale nearer JSTewburg, 

 and the one to which attention is now called is the finding of 

 Trenton and Hudson Eiver fossils in the Hudson Eiver (?) 

 slates at several widely distant points. 



The first and most important is near Sugar Loaf village, 

 twenty-one miles S.W. of JSTewburg, also at Walden on the 

 banks of the Wallkill, eleven miles JST.W. of Newburg, and at 

 an intermediate point, Eock Tavern, ten miles west of Newburg. 

 Two other probable localities are known, but have not as yet 

 been 'sufficiently explored for description. 



Mather, in his final Eeport on the First District, 1843, p. 

 369, states, in referring to the Testacea of the Hudson Eiver 



Group, " a few were observed near the villages of 



Walden and Sugar Loaf," but so far as I can determine this 

 statement stands alone until now, when I can confirm and 

 augment it. 



JSTear Sugar Loaf village most of the fossiliferous beds lie to 

 the west of the station, and at Buhner's Quarry a bed was 

 discovered that yielded all the species found. Its thickness 

 was about 40 mm.; it was composed almost entirely of fossils 

 and fragments mixed with a soft red earthy matter and not 

 crossed by the very prominent cleavage planes of the enclosing 

 slates; other thinner beds of this material were found and a few 

 indeterminable Crinoidal stems were observed in the rock on 

 the more or less obscure bedding planes ; no fucoid remains 

 were recognized. The fossils- were more or less decomposed 

 and often contorted, but many specimens were beautifully dis- 

 tinct. The following remains were identified and are given in 

 the order of their abundance. 



Orthis pectinella H. ; 0. testudinaria ; 0. plicatella H.; Leptcena 

 sericea Sow. ; Camerella hemiplicata H. ; Strophomena alternata 

 Cv.; Streptorhynchus planimbona or S. felifextaf H.; and a Iri- 

 nucleus concentrica Eaton, was recognized by a portion of the 

 border of a cephalic shield. Several fragments were found which 

 showed no specific character, especially a Ohoetetes, a Favosite, 

 and crinoidal columns. 



Occasional beds bearing more or less distinct fossils were 

 traced eastward from the above locality for several thousand 

 feet, nearly to the Archaean rocks of Sugar Loaf hill and dipping 

 under them with a steep S.B. dip. 



At Eock Tavern, fossils were discovered in the shales ex- 

 posed in the new railroad cut at points where alteration was 



