i6 The Taconic — Marcou. 
\^Loc. cit. p. 235.] The '■'■ JModiolopsis like shell" instead of 
being a Lamellibranch, is referred by Mr.' Walcott to a Crusta- 
cean, called Nothozoc vermoittana ; and the Orthoceras is fcr 
him a cast of Hyolithes commimis. Besides Mr. Walcott has 
found the Olenelhis thomfsoni^ which put an end to "the age of 
the later Trenton or the Cincinnati group," of Mr. Dana, for 
the eastern quartzyte formation. The state of anarchy created 
by Messrs. Hall, Dana and Walcott, in regard to the fossils and 
age of the eastern quartzyte has been increased, if possible, by 
Mr. ,Whitfield who has referred this eastern quartzyte to the 
"Potsdam sandstone." \^Btilletm Amer. Mtcs. Nat. Hist.., voL 
I, p. 145, 1 884, New York.] 
Fossils of the Stockbridge and Sparry limestones 
In his paper Mr. Walcott avoids describing, discussing or even 
giving the names of the fossils found in the limestone, lenticnlar 
masses, or limestone belts (as he calls them) inclosed in Taconic 
slates; saying "I think it unnecessary to restate the evidence 
given by Prof. Dana to prove that this limestone belt is the 
representative of the Trenton-Chazy-Calciferous series of the 
western side of the Champlain basin" i^Loc. cit. p. 237). 
However he gives the name and even the figures of a few fossils 
found in the town of Pownal, Vt., at Mount Anthony, at Gray- 
lock peak, at South Berlin and at Hoosic falls, nine species in all, 
without descriptions. All are only "closely allied" with Cincin- 
nati or Trenton fossils, with the exception of Soleuopora 
comfacta., which is the only fossil identified. Mr. Walcott does 
not pay any attention to the sporadic character of the geological 
position of those fossils, nor to their associations, nor to their 
numbers, nor to their preservation, except that they are 
"weathered out in relief on the surface of a compact, clouded 
marble." 
stratigraphy and lithology. 
Dr. E. Emmons says; "The Taconic system as a whole, 
may be regarded lithologically as an immense slate system, with 
subordinate beds of sandstone and limestone. It rests uncon- 
formably upon primary schists and passes beneath the New 
York system." "The sandstones, limestones and slates are not 
only different in their relative position, but they are much 
thicker than those with which they have been supposed to be 
