REPORT ON UPPER PALEOZOIC FOSSILS FROM CHINA. BOT 
The surface lacks ribs either upon the sides or on the fold and sinus, but is 
marked by very fine radiating striz. 
I know of no Carboniferous species which really requires comparison with the 
present. In general appearance it suggests a Keticularia, such as R. lineaia, but 
the fine continuous lire can hardly be interpreted as marks left by the spines which 
characterize that group. 
The development of fine subsidiary lirze seems to be a much more common 
feature in the English Reticularie (vide R. lineata var. reticulata), judging from 
Davidson’s description and figures, than in the American, where it is essentially 
unknown. We haveat least one, though alittle known, form possessing this character 
which was apparently described by Swallow as Spirigera prouttz. Jam not prepared 
to speak positively as to the internal structure of this type, but dental plates and 
septa seem to be absent or but slightly developed. In the American Reticularix 
(R. pseudolineata, ete.), and I suppose in the European ones, there is a median septum 
in both valves, while the ventral valve possesses long dental plates as well. The 
Chinese shell thus differs in structure from the lincatus group of Spiriferi, although 
it shows some points of superficial resemblance. 
Spirifer blackweldert differs from S. lineatus as identified by Kayser from 
Chinese specimens, as well as from any other Chinese species identified or described 
by him, nor can it be found among the shells described by Waagen from India or 
by Tschernyschew from Russia. In fact, closer parallels can be drawn with certain 
Silurian forms, such as Spirifer radiatus, than with those usually found in the Car- 
boniferous. In the radiatus group, as in S. blackwelderi, the ventral valve possesses 
dental plates, but while socket plates, and sometimes a low septum, are found in 
the dorsal valve of the former, that of S. blackweldert appears to be without those 
structures. 
Locality and Horizon.—Pennsylvanian (Wu-shan limestone) ; near T'a-ning-hién, 
East Ssi-ch’uan (stations 1 and 2). 
Spirifer sp. (a). 
This species also is known only in a fragmentary manner. ‘The width of the 
largest specimen, which is a ventral valve, is 98 mm. and the length 55 mm., the 
latter diameter being by far the least complete. The actual width was probably 
not much over 1oomm. ‘The actual length is very largely a matter for conjecture; 
probably it was about 75 mm. ‘The areais broad, seemingly almost the full length 
of the shell, but it appears to be rather narrow. As nearly as can be ascertained 
it is 15 mm. high at the beak. ‘The sinus is distinct, but shallow and ill defined. 
The side presented to the observer is the interior. Part of the exterior has been 
uncovered, but no ribs or other ornamentation can be discerned. ‘This feature, 
therefore, seems to be as in Martinia, or possibly Squamularia; but the broad cardi- 
nal line, the shape (which is probably very transverse), and the curvature (which in 
spite of manifest crushing appears to be low) put a negative to any such association. 
We must have in this specimen either a Spzrifer of a novel type or, more probably, 
one which by attrition or imperfect preservation has lost its proper surface char- 
acters. At the same time, if ribs at all well developed were originally present, the 
loss must have been considerable to have obliterated them altogether, and it would 
seem to be impossible that had they been grouped in fascicles, as in the cameratus 
type of Spirifer, this structure could have been destroyed, fascicles and all. 
On the hypothesis that this form originally possessed well-marked ribs it might 
be compared with several forms found in the Salt Range of India, but hardly with 
anything yet known from China. ‘The loss of the ribs would be easier to under- 
