170 



[Senate 



As an encouragement to those who have already spoken to me on this 

 subject, expressing hopes of the permanent care and preservation of 

 this part of the collection and who have been only waiting such an ar- 

 rangement to contribute specimens, I may say that the collection has re- 

 cently been placed by the Regents of the University, in the charge 

 of Mr. John Gebhard, Jr., of Schoharie, whose quiet Zealand untiring 

 industry have almost solely contributed to bring out the rare and beau- 

 tiful exhibition of fossils from the rocks surrounding his native valley. 

 Those, therefore, who desire to contribute specimens may feel assured 

 that in the hands of Mr Gebhard, every fossil will be fully appreciated 

 and carefully preserved. 



BUTHOTREPHIS ? C.ESPETOSA, (n. species.) 

 Plate 1, fig. 1, a, b, c. 



Plant at base composed of numerous coalescing stems which in as- 

 cending are frequently bifurcated; branches tapering to acute points.i i 



The mode of growth is very peculiar in this species ; in all the indi- 

 viduals seen the base appears like a coalescing or twisted bundle of 

 stems, which separate and expand above, frequently bifurcating in their 

 extension. Several specimens of this species have been found in the 

 lower part of the Trenton limestone. It is extremely different from all 

 the other species of the genus and may perhaps be referred with al- 

 most equal propriety to the genus Palaopkycus, though when better 

 known it will probably be separated from both these genera. 



This species has been found in the vicinity of Watertown, Jefferson 

 <:ounty, and occurs in thin layers, exposed by the action of the water of 

 the river, near the lower part of the formation. 



RETEPORA FENESTRATA, (n. species.) 

 Plate 2, fig. 1, a, 6, c, d, e. 



Frond much expanded, loosely reticulate ; branches rounded, frequent- 

 ly bifurcating, united laterally by transverse bars ; non-poriferous sur- 

 face striated ; poriferous side of branches covered with numerous small 

 angular pores, sometimes with poriferous nodes upon the poriferous 

 side of the branches ; fenestrules irregular in size and form. 



This species is very peculiar in its character, appearing at first view 

 like a reticulated coral without transverse bars. The growth and bifur- 

 cation of the branches appear to have been quite irregular and they 

 approach each other so closely as often to appear as if coalescing. In 

 the presence of transverse bars, which are apparently non-poriferous, 



