23 



insculptus, Cope) has been discovered by Dr. Lockwood in the greensand- 

 marl of New Jersey (No. 5). 



In the second place, it is of importance to observe that the genera have 

 nearly all been obtained from the chalk of Europe. Portheus is represented, 

 perhaps, by some specimens referred to Hypsodon ; one species of Ichthyo- 

 dectes is figured by Dixon from Sussex, and one of Cimolichthys, Erisichthe, 

 and Pachyrhizodus, each. Enchodus has long been known from Holland, &c, 

 Apsopelix and Stratodus being, so far, the only ones not found in Europe. 

 This is of much interest in every aspect, and points to the synchronism, as 

 generally understood, between the chalk-formations of Kansas and of 

 England. 



Species of Mollusca are not numerous in the beds of the Niobrara epoch. 

 They consist chiefly of Inocerami of two or more species. Through the kind 

 assistance of my friends, N. Daniels of Hays, and Dr. J. H. Janeway, post- 

 surgeon at Fort Hays, I was enabled to procure from the yellow chalk a 

 number of very complete specimens of the remarkable shells already men- 

 tioned. I" submitted them to my colleague, T. A. Conrad, and add herewith 

 his account of them. He thinks they possess some resemblance to the Ru- 

 distes ; but he doubts their being truly related to that division. 



Fragments of these Haploscajihce are common in the formation, and have 

 been described by authors as portions of huge Inocerami. 



" HAPLOSCAPHA, Conrad. 



" Shell subovate or subtriangular ; hinge long and straight, edentulous, 



oblique ; curved, prominent ridges occupy the upper portion of the interior, 



the ridges beginning and ending at a distance from the margins of the 



shell ; a singular twisted callus composes the hinge, the back of which is 



transversely ribbed. 



" H. grandis, Conrad. 



"Length greater than height; hinge-line very long ; ridges concentric, 

 about twelve in number, extending into the cavity under the hinge. 



" This shell, Professor Cope informs me, has been found 27 inches in 

 diameter. The posterior side of the right valve is elongated and dilated, and 

 the form of the shell is not unlike that of Meleagrina. The substance is 

 fibrous, or rather columnar, and much resembles that of CaprineUa, as figured 

 by d'Orbigny, except that the fibers are transverse. The exterior is always 



