276 Van Tuyl and Berckhemer — Problematic Fossil. 



and disappearing completely on the apical coil. Sutures arch- 

 ing upwards with a slight depression near the middle, continu- 

 ing a slight distance interiorly. 



Upper extremity of fossil unknown. Apical coil spiral and 

 laterally compressed, lying in the plane of the greatest diame- 

 ter and consisting of about one whorl. Another specimen in 

 our possession varies from the form described. It is only half 

 as broad, even in the early stages, the suture lines are about 

 half as far apart and the sides are more nearly parallel. This 

 possibly represents a different species. 



The fossil stands vertically in the bed with the spirally 

 coiled apex downwards. This is the relationship exhibited by 

 all the specimens found in place. The more perfect speci- 

 mens, upon which the description is based, are now in the 

 Paleontological Museum of Columbia University. 



The affinities of the organism are somewhat obscure. One 

 would at first sight take it for an abnormal cephalopod, on 

 account of its apparent distinct septation, The only slight 

 continuation of the sutures interiorly and their disappearance 

 on the lateral margins, as well as the absence of a siphuncle 

 and the non-septate character of the apical coil, are, however, 

 not in favor of this view. But these negative characters may 

 be due, in part, to the imperfect preservation of the fossil in 

 the red shale. John M. Clarke* describes Orthoceras speci- 

 mens from the Oneonta sandstone occupying a position in the 

 beds similar to that of our organism, but his forms exhibit 

 undoubted cephalopod characters. 



Paleontological Laboratory, Columbia University. 



*N. Y. State Mus. Bull. 39, vol. viii, pp. 167-171, 1900. 



