BLACK-RIVER LIMESTONE. 
55 
Fig. 1. Natural longitudinal section of a Gonioceras, showing a portion of the siphuncle, which is 
greatly expanded laterally between the septa, and contracted at their junction with it. In this 
specimen, the sides are worn down below the angles of the shell, so that the septa do not 
appear to turn backwards or towards the apex, as shown in 1 a , where the section is more 
directly through the angles. 
Fig. 1 a. A longitudinal section, showing a small portion of the siphuncle at one extremity, and a more 
perfect exhibition of the curving septa towards the exterior of the fossil. 
Fig. 1 b. A transverse section, showing the position of the siphuncle. The specimen on the upper side 
of the figure has been slightly worn, so as to present a straight line. The siphuncle is nearer 
to the upper edge than is represented in the figure. 
Fig. 1 c. A transverse section near the smaller extremity of the shell, showing the position of the 
siphuncle. 
Fig. 1 d. A small portion of the exterior denuded of the shell, showing only the central portion of the 
septa. 
Position and locality. In the Black-river limestone, and limited entirely to that mass. 
Watertown, Jefferson county. 
(State Collection ; Cabinets of the Albany Institute , of J. B. Crawe, and J. Hall.) 
89. 1. ORMOCERAS TENUIFILUM. 
Pl. XV. Figs. 1 a, b, c ; Pl. XVI. Figs. 1 a, b, c, d, e; and Pl. XVII. Figs. 1 a, b. 
Compare Orthoceratites crassiventris. Wahlenberg, 1821, Petrefacta Telluris Suecarue, in Nov. Act. Reg. 
Soc. Sci. Upsal, Vol. viii. p. 90. 
— — Hisinger, 1819, Anteckn V. Tab. iv. fig. 9. 
— — Id. 1837, Petref. Suec. Tab. x. fig. 3. 
Ormoceras Backii. Stokes, 1837, Geol. Trans. 2d series, vol. v. p. 709, referring to fig. 1, pl. 30 of vol. 1 
of the same work and same series. 
Conotubularia Cuvierii. Troost, 1838, Memoires de la Societe Geologique de France, Tome iii. pag. 88, 
pl. 9, fig. 1; also fig. 7, pl. 10 of the same memoir. 
Actinoceras. Bronx, as figured by Stokes, Geol. Trans, ut supra. 
Elongated, subcylindric, somewhat gradually tapering to a very elongated conical form ; 
siphuncle ventral, annulated or expanded into bladder-like rings at the junction of the 
septa; septa moderately concave ; surface marked by longitudinal undulated fine thread¬ 
like lines. 
The greatest expansion of the swelled portion of the siphuncle is just within the concavity 
of the septum, and the constricted portion is just above the convexity of the septum. The 
outer shell is thin, but it is connected with an interior one which often closely joins it by 
infiltration of mineral matter, when it presents a thickened appearance. The septa are 
likewise composed of double plates or laminae, which separate and expand at the siphuncle, 
folding round and forming the outer shell of this annulated tube. In cases where these 
laminae separate a little nearer to the outer shell than in others, the rings, instead of being 
obtuse or rounded at their edges, are angular. 
This species of Ormoceras occurs in immense numbers in the Black-river limestone. 
