56 



BRITISH BELEMNITES. 



exceed the diameter at the alveolar apex. I hope to receive more specimens, and to give 

 sections hereafter. 



Belemnites acuminatus, Simpson. PI. IX, figs. 21, 22. 



Reference. B. acuminatus, Simpson, Lias Fossils, No. 29, p. 29, 1855. 

 B.ferreus, Simpson, Lias Fossils, No. 28, p. 29, 1855. 



Guard. " Cylindrical for nearly the whole length, then suddenly ends in a sharp point 

 somevi'hat produced ; transverse section circular ; length of guard about five times the 

 diameter." To this description of B. acuminatus Simpson adds the following note, which, 

 perhaps, refers to a different species : — " A specimen like in form has two slight grooves 

 and one strong groove at the apex." Of B. ferreus he only says, "Apex elongated ; no 

 groove ; base widened." 



Locality. B. acuminatus, Jet-rock, Upper Lias, Whitby {Si^npson). 

 B.ferreus, Middle Lias {Simpsoii). 



The specimens are in the Whitby Museum. 



Observations. The sketches given in PL IX of the two forms here described show 

 their great affinity and probable identity. I have had no opportunity of examining 

 sections. 



On account of general form and freedom from grooves or striae, there seems reason to 

 maintain for these Whitby specimens a distinct place and name. I have not yet perceived 

 among the fossils of Lyme Regis, Cheltenham, or Banbury, any closely allied forms ; 

 nor did the rich collections of Strasburg and Paris suggest to me any decided analogue. 



On a Group of Elongate Belemnites, with Striated Apices. 



Among the frequent fossils in the scars at Saltwick, near Whitby, where the Upper 

 Lias shales are largely exposed, is a beautiful group of slender elongated Belemnites. 

 For the most part they exhibit but feeble traces of lateral or ventral fiuTovvs, but are 

 more than usually striated at and near the apex. These forms are represented on PI. X, 

 which includes several species or varieties, as may be determined by further research. 

 Figs. 23, 24, 25, 26, show forms in which the apicial part is conoidal and deprived of 

 distinct furrows ; while in Fig. 27 the usual furrows appear, and the Belemnite is 

 tripartite. All of them are acute ; some have the apex very much drawn out ; all are 

 striated near the apex, and for some distance from it. All are somewhat compressed, 

 some of them considerably. In the published figures of Belemnites none are so like to 

 these as the representations of Belemnites acuarius gracilis, Quenst., ' Ceph.,' pi. xxv, 

 fig. 4, and Belemnites triparfitus gracilis, by the same author, pi. xxvi, fig. 1 7. 



