TRENTON LIMESTONE. 
105 
The surfaces of both these specimens present the essential characters of the L. alternata, 
and the beak is always perforated. This is shown in the enlarged view of the hinge in 
fig. 1 a , which at the same time shows the foramen not quite closed. 
This nasute feature is often connected with a single elevated ridge, or more prominent 
stria, much longer than the others, and extending from the base to the beak of the shell. 
This appears very distinctly in the two preceding specimens; but to show that this character 
is common to the species, the specimen fig. 1 d is represented, showing a prominent line 
down the centre, while the shell is totally destitute of the other characters of S. nasula, being 
scarcely convex and very regularly semioval. 
Figs. 1 e, f g & h. These figures represent a series of the younger shells of this species, as they occur 
in the compact limestone of Middleville, Little Falls, Trenton Falls, and other places. The 
striae often alternate irregularly, and sometimes they are of nearly equal size. This variation 
often arises in part from exfoliation of the shell; but if a number of specimens are examined, 
there will be found a gradation in the striae, and some of them exhibit the typical characters 
of the species. 
These figures present also a gradation in form from the perfectly semioval to the elongated 
or nasute front, showing very conclusively that this character cannot be relied upon in the 
distinction of species.* 
Position and locality. This is one of the species, which, commencing its existence prior 
to, or at the epoch of the Trenton limestone, continues in great numbers throughout that 
rock, and, though not appearing in the Utica slate, reappears in the Hudson-river group 
in immense numbers, several thin strata in the upper part of this group being composed 
almost entirely of the shells of this species. 
The forms 1 e,f, g & h, of Plate XXXI. A., are the most common and abundant in the 
Trenton limestone, and some of these are met with in almost every locality : the other 
forms are more rare. 
It is abundant at Middleville, Little Falls, Jacksonburgh, Herkimer, Trenton Falls, 
Sugar River, Turin, Lowville, Watertown, Plattsburgh, Glen’s Falls, &c. 
The same species, in forms like 1 g, h , i, k, Plate XXXI., and others, are abundant at 
Maysville (Ky.), Cincinnati and Oxford (Ohio), Madison (Indiana), and in Tennessee. 
(State Collection.) 
* I have been induced to dwell so long upon this species, from the fact of its variable form, and other characters 
which have been the source of much annoyance to amateurs, and no little trouble to myself, since I have it from 
different persons and localities, under at least six or eight different names. 
[Paleontology.] 
14 
