136 
GEOLOGY OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. 
The beautiful specimen of coral in the State Collection, arranged in the Table containing 
the fossils of the Onondaga limestone, is from the quarry to the south of Chittenango village. 
It consists of circular stars of uniform size, about three-fourths of an inch in diameter, com¬ 
posed of rays slightly undulating and curved, round and crenulated, which pass from one to 
another bv straight and angular lines; no distinct division existing between the stars, other 
than a slight enlargement of the crenulations and angles of the rays. In the centre of each 
star or circle, there is a small raised disk, as in Astrea; the disk being composed of rays, 
which bifurcate at the outer margin. It does not appear to belong to any known genus, but 
is allied to Astrea and Acervularia, making a third one with them. Considering it distinct, 
the name of Asterocycles is proposed for the genus, and confluens for the species; it will 
therefore be, in anglicized language, Confluent asterocycles. No less than three distinct 
circles are to be perceived within the outer one, and formed by the undulations of the rays. 
Near Manlius square, in a west and south direction, the Onondaga limestone is seen upon 
the water-lime group at the kilns, having a few inches of Oriskany sandstone between them. 
It is covered by the corniferous limestone, and not much of it is exposed. It contains the 
Gigantic cyathophyllum, as well as the Elongated pentamerus so characterstic of this rock. 
At Split-rock, to the southwest of Syracuse, the surface of the rock is uncovered for a mile 
or more from east to west, and farmed out to contractors, furnishing stone for a considerable 
portion of the western section of the canal. The rock has a slight dip to the south and west, 
and from one or more fractures which it exhibits, it obtained the name of Split rock. West 
of these fractures, there are sink-holes ; and the waters which formed them, probably removed 
a part of the support of the rock, and produced the fractures, the rock inclining from them 
towards the east. At one of the holes, the layers are much disturbed. 
32. 
