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PALAONTOGRAPHICAL
INSTITUTED MDCCCXLVIL.
MDCCCL.
SOCIETY.
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ve oS Mot KS on 7 A MONOGRAPH VW ee a [S34
OF
THE PERMIAN FOSSILS
OF
ENGLAND. e
BY
WILLIAM KING, ; sae » oy > C We aT MEM. SOC. GEOL. DE FRANCE; &C.: PROFESSOR OF MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY 1 que EN?s dofinds) tazway
Cy: CALA LE
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LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE PALAONTOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.
1850.
INTRODUCTION.
Tue fossils described in the following pages belong, for the most part, to a series of deposits overlying the North of England Coal-measures, and passing under the Midland Saliferous marls, and sandstones. These three groups of deposits represent distinct consecutive geological systems ; the lowest or most ancient one representing the Carboniferous ; the highest or most recent one, the Triassic; and the intermediate one, the Permian. The rocks of the Permian system were deposited during the latest division of the Protozoic or Primary organic period ; and those of the Triassic, in the earliest division of the Deuterozoic or Secondary period. The separation between these two great periods is based on the prevailing idea, that Organic Nature underwent a most marked change at the time the Permian rocks were being deposited: this may,
_ or may not have been the case; at any rate, the prevalence of the idea invests the fossil
remains of the rocks in question with the utmost importance in philosophical geology.
Although a few earlier brief notices appeared descriptive of the deposits immediately connected with the province of this Monograph, it was not until the Rev. Professor Sedgwick published his admirable Memoir ‘ On the Geological relations and Internal Structure of the Magnesian Limestone, that they became properly appreciated. The edifice so ably reared for England, by one of the illustrious founders of Modern Geology, has of late had its parallel erected for a far distant region, by another, whose name is as inseparably connected with the early history of this ennobling science.
Investigating the Geology of Russia, Sir Roderick I. Murchison, with his colleagues M. de Verneuil, and Count Keyserling, discovered in Perm, and the adjoining countries on the Western or Kuropean flanks of the Ural Mountains, an extensive group of rocks, consisting of Limestones, Gypseous and Saliferous marls, and repeated alternations of Cupreous grits, containing numerous fossils intermediate in character between those respectively belonging to the Carboniferous, and the Triassic system. At the com- pletion of their investigations, Sir R. Murchison became fully convinced, that the rocks in question were the exact equivalents of the Todte-liegende, Mergerl-schiefer, and Zechsteins of Germany; and of the Lower New Red Sandstone, Marl-slate, and Magnesian Limestones of England,—our home deposits having been previously demon- strated to be of the same geological age as those just named occurring in Germany.
The extensive development of these deposits in the Government of Perm, where they
occupy an area twice the size of France,—their containing a far more copious and !
X PERMIAN FOSSILS.
varied suite of fossils than was known to occur in the contemporaneous rocks of England, or Germany,—their having no proper distinctive general title, except such as were obviously inappropriate,—and in consideration of the general reception and fitness of geographical names for co-ordinate groups, as exemplified by those previously im use, —Sir R. Murchison was induced to apply to these deposits the term Permian, which, it will be perceived, is derived from the name of the country in which they are most extensively developed.
The Permian system, as developed in the North of England, is divisible into six distinct members, having the following order of superposition.
a. Crystalline, earthy, compact, and oolitic limestones.
6. Brecciated, and pseudo-brecciated limestones.
c. Fossiliferous limestone.
d. Compact limestone.
e. Marl-slate.
j. Various coloured sandstones.
By traversing certain districts in the County of Durham, the above order of,
position will be observed. Thus, passing from the edge of the limestone near ~
Bolden direct to the coast, we meet with, at the base of the Cliff on the west side of Down Hill, a bed of freestone,—the lowest member of the series (/); next the overlying Marl-slate (e), on which repose several beds of brown-coloured lime- stone (/), the lowest of which are flaggy, and the highest gritty and imperfectly concretionary. Following the direction of the dip of these deposits, that is, towards the coast, we first meet with beds of light-coloured limestone (c), containing numerous organic remains, as at Hylton-North-Farm, and Southwick-Lane-House: this is succeeded in the ascending order, as in the West Quarry at Southwick, by a variety of beds generally of a brecciated and pseudo-brecciated character (0); and these in their turn become overlaid by vast beds of crystalline and other limestones (a), extensively worked in the Fulwell Quarries, and continued down to Roker Cliffs on the coast, where they are lost in the German Ocean. It often happens that this order of superposition is obscured by some of the beds becoming modified in character, or some of the members being absent. ‘The inferior limestone (d) is, in some places, compact, and of a uniform dark gray colour (Midderidge) ; in other places it is deep brown, imperfectly concretionary, thin bedded, and sometimes cellular (Harton, &c.) ; and ina few others mottled, and ribboned with various shades of brown and gray (Pallion): it also varies in chemical composition, consisting in general simply of carbonate of lime, to which is added, in a few localities, (Ferry-Hill, Johnston,) a considerable portion of carbonate of magnesia. The highest member of the series (a) is another deposit, varying even more decidedly im its characters : a bed at one place may be crystalline, compact, and ash-coloured; and at a few yards distance, earthy,
INTRODUCTION, Xl
yellow, and more or less charged with coralloidal, botryoidal, and other crystalline forms (Building Hill): in one district, this deposit splits into flexible laminee, as thin as paper (Marsden); in another it is dull, fine grained, compact, and thick bedded ; and at a few paces off, it is glimmering and completely crystallised: this member also varies in chemical composition; inasmuch as the crystalline portions are entirely composed of carbonate of lime; while the earthy, which form the principal mass of the deposit, are essentially magnesio-calcareous in their composition.
As regards those cases in which one or more members of the system are wanting a reference may be advantageously made to the section at Tynemouth Cliff, which exhibits the following deposits in the order represented :
Pseudo-brecciated limestone.
True brecciated do.!
Beds of Freestone.”
Now I am led to conclude, that in this section, three members of the series are absent ;—namely, the Marl-slate (e), the Compact limestone (¢), and the Fossiliferous limestone (c). My reasons for this conclusion are; Ist, the true brecciated bed contains fragments of brown-coloured limestone, identical with that which occurs at Down Hill, and other places along the Permian escarpment, north and south of this locality; 2d, it contains fragments of the fossiliferous limestone ;> and 3d, the Marl-slate is entirely absent. The breccia was clearly not formed until after the deposition and complete consolidation of those members the debris of which it contains. A parallel case appears to obtain at Claxheugh, where the brecciated or pseudo-brecciated limestone (2) is seen overlymg the sandstone (/). In several places, the Marl-slate only is absent ; as in the Cliff on the south side of Cullercoats Bay ; though at a few yards to the north, between tide marks, near the line of the 90 Fathom Dyke, the Marl-slate (here coloured black, with carbonaceous matter, as in the adjacent quarry at Whitley) is distinctly seen intercalated between the sandstone, and the flaggy beds of brown limestone.
The order of superposition of the Permian beds is instructively displayed in several
1 This bed encloses large boulders of limestone (some of which are two feet in diameter) in the centre of the cliff; but at the north end it completely loses its brecciated character, and becomes quite arenaceous and compact.
* This bed is a true conglomerate, enclosing some rather large angular boulders of purple-coloured freestone.
® I only succeeded in finding two or three specimens of fossiliferous limestone in the breccia at Tynemouth Cliff; and these yielded me the following fossils :—Fenestella retiformis, Synocladia virgulacea, Acanthocludia anceps, Cyathocrinus ramosus, Productus horridus, Strophalosia Goldfussi, 8S. excavata, S. Morrisiana, Streptorhynchus pelargonatus, Camarophoria Schlotheimi, S. globulina, Trigonotreta cristata, T. undulata, Cleiothyris pectinifera, Epithyris elongata, EB. sufflata, Pecten pusillus, Monotis speluncaria, Bakevellia ceratophaga, Pleurophorus costatus, and Pleurotomaria antrina.
xl PERMIAN FOSSILS.
places between the Wear and the Tees. The railway cutting at Thrislmgton Gap exhibits, in the ascending scale, the Sandstone, Marl-slate, and Compact limestone. These members are exposed in the same relative position at several places north and south of this locality; and, by following them in the direction of their dip, they are seen to pass beneath the other members of the series. The shaft sunk near the quarry at Humbleton Hill for supplymg the New Water-works of Sunderland, shows that this Hill rests on a gritty limestone, with imperfect concretions, identical with that reposing on the flaggy beds of brown limestone at Down Hill: this gritty limestone has its uppermost beds exposed in the adjoining Lime-kiln Hole; and these beds, which contain a few fossils, such as Pleurophorus costatus, Leda Vinti, &c., are there seen to be surmounted by a thick magnesio-calcareous bed, which has been quarried for a number of years, and is clearly identical with the fossiliferous limestone (c) already noticed, as occurring at Hylton-North-Farm. By passing over the intervening valley to Tunstall Hill, the fossiliferous limestone is again met with ; but, in following the axis of this hill, it is soon observed to be overlaid by a non-fossiliferous calcareous rock, which either passes, or becomes changed, into the brecciated or pseudo- brecciated deposit exposed at the foot of Tunstall Hope: this is continued down to the coast, where it forms the bold and singular Cliffs extending from the Gorge near Ryhope, south to beyond Seaham harbour. Half a mile north of Ryhope Gorge, at the south end of the Crags, the breccia is seen to rise from beneath the highest member of the series,—the crystalline limestone (a), which is traced northward to Sunderland, where it forms the entire mass of those varied and singular beds constituting the low rounded eminence well known by the name of Building Hill. Numerous excavations in Bishopwearmouth have convinced me, that the crystalline limestone passes downwards into the brecciated rocks exposed in the Cliffs of the river Wear above the bridge, and at Galley’s Gill, precisely as at the Southwick quarries and the south end of the Crags. I only know of one place on the coast, south of the Wear, where any other member of the series appears to be exposed, which is at the north end of Black Hall Rocks ; and here occurs a breccia containing fossils the same as those characteristic of the fossiliferous limestone of Humbleton Hill and Hylton-North-Farm, and passing under the highest member of the series (a), which forms the remainder of these ‘‘ Rocks” to their southern termination. The beds at the south end of Black Hall Rocks have very much the aspect of the dull compact thick-bedded limestone occurring in several places on the coast between the Tyne and the Wear; and they contaim its characteristic fossils, namely Schizodus Schlotheimi, Mytilus septifer, §c. _ At Hartlepool, the southernmost coast point of the Permian limestone, the Cliffs consist principally of the oolitic variety of the highest member—a variety which also occurs between tide marks, opposite Sunderland, and near Roker Baths north of the Wear, associated with botryoidal, and other crystalline
1 Permian fossiliferous limestones also occur in a few places a little south of the Tees; but I have not
had an opportunity of examining them properly.
INTRODUCTION. XL
forms of limestone,—in both of which places it has yielded me specimens of the above- named shells. Probably the brecciated beds at the north end of Black Hall Rocks, like those at Tynemouth Cliff, are partly formed of the débris of the fossiliferous limestone, true beds of which are seen, at little more than a mile distance, in Castle-Eden-Dene.
The conditions under which the Permian Rocks of the North of England have been formed, are worthy of investigation. The lowest member of the series, the freestone (/), like arenaceous deposits in general, appears to have been accumulated in shallow water: this view is to a certain extent proved by the presence of land plants in some of its beds, as at Westoe; and by the surface of other beds being in some places (Thrislington Gap) crowded with strong ripple marks. In some localities, as at Tynemouth, it appears to have been accumulated in a violently agitated sea,— perhaps on a coast margin,—some of its beds containing large angular fragments of a purple-coloured sandstone, and having quite the character of a conglomerate. The Marl-slate (e) is apparently another shallow water or littoral deposit; as it contains, in addition to A/ye, the remains of Ferns (ewropteris Huttoniana) at 'Thickley, and Thrislington Gap. The fishes, with which it is everywhere loaded, also attest its littoral origin; as the genera which characterise it, namely, Paleoniscus, Pygopterus, Celacanthus, and Platysomus, from their abundance in certain Coal-measure deposits, those of Yorkshire in particular, may be safely concluded to have lived at no great distance from the shore. The presence in the Thuringian equivalent of the English Marl-slate of Lingula Credneri, Discina speluncaria, Productus horridus, Camarophoria Schlotheim, Pleurophorus costatus, Bakevellia antiqua, Kenestella retiformis, and probably some other species, #f they were generally numerous, might be considered as strongly opposing this conclusion. The next member of the system,—Compact limestone (/), concluding from its mineralogical and chemical characters, and from the fragile nature of many of its organic remains (Acanthocladias, Strophalosias, &c., Whitley), appears to be a pelagic deposit. The same conclusion may be safely advanced with respect to the overlying member, the Fossiliferous limestone (c); for it is impossible to conceive, that such delicate organisms, as the numerous Ciliobrachiate Corals, and spiney Palliobranchs imbedded in it, could have existed any where except in deep water. In nearly all the localities where this limestone is seen, it has a very irregular structure, and scarcely offers any appearance of stratification: it is clearly a chemical deposit; and from the circumstances noticed, I am strongly disposed to regard it as having been formed, or rather precipitated, in a very rapid manner. The brecciated member (4) has evidently been deposited under unusual circumstances: it nowhere contains fragments of any other than Permian limestone; but the size of these fragments, measuring, in some localities, two feet in diameter (Tynemouth Cliff), and weighing, in others, several tons (Ryhope), indicates, however contiguous the parent bed from which they were torn may have been, that they were heaped together by powerful cataclysmal agencies. The next and last member of the series, the Crystalline member (a), possesses, in its often finely laminated character, that is, when observed in its normal or unaltered
XIV PERMIAN FOSSILS.
condition, iternal evidence of having been deposited in a sea little affected by disturbing influences. It also appears to have been formed in shallow water; since the surface of some of its beds, between tide water marks, opposite Sunderland," is as distinctly rippled as the alluvial sand accumulated in the immediate vicinity. The entire absence of Corals, and Palliobranchiate shells in these beds, may perhaps be adduced as another argument in favour of the view which has been advanced: besides, such shells as Mytilus septifer, Schizodus Schlotheimi, &c., which they exclusively contain, might be instanced as another accordant evidence.
The internal structure of the last-noticed member, constitutes a most important subject in lithological Geology. It may be safely stated, that few rocks in the entire series of stratified formations present such singular and varied aspects as are often displayed by the uppermost member of the Permian System in the County of Durham. Some of its beds are as different from what they were originally, as the most decided metamorphic rocks. This member, it has already been stated, consists of crystalline, earthy, compact, and oolitic limestones ; but it will be more convenient for present purposes to say, that it consists of crystalline, and non-crystalline limestones. The former are largely developed at Building Hill, and several other places ; the latter, at Hartlepool, and some other localities on the coast of Durham. The crystalline kinds consist chiefly of carbonate of lime; but the non-crystalline (oolitic), contain a large portion, as much as 44 per cent. (Johnston), of carbonate of magnesia in addition. Various hypotheses have been proposed to account for the presence of so large a quantity of carbonate of magnesia in the non-crystalline limestones : it is the general opinion, however (and I am quite in favour of the same view), that this substance is an original constituent of the rock, or, in other terms, that it was deposited at the same time as the carbonate of lime with which it is associated.2 But the most singular circumstance connected with this member is, that the same bed is often crystalline and essentially calcareous in one part, and non-crystalline and mag- nesio-calcareous in another not a yard apart: nay, hand specimens display precisely the same molecular and chemical differences. In some localities, the crystalline hmestones assume the most singular appearances, consisting of enormous branching radiating coral-like masses, or of globular, hemispherical, discoidal con- cretions, the latter varying from the size of a marble to that of the largest cannon-ball. The cause of these singular structures has ever been, and will probably long remain, a perplexing problem. None of the hypotheses hitherto advanced to account for them, appear to me to be satisfactory: this is considered a sufficient reason for my attempting to emulate previous writers in speculating on their origin.
Like most sedimentary rocks, the Protozoic especially, many of the beds of the Permian system, in ad- dition to their natural partings, or those displayed on their lines of deposition or stratification, are very much and continuously intersected or divided by cleavage splits, varying extremely in their distance from each other. Now in brief terms, although the connexion is completely obscured in some places, I have generally found, that wherever the coralloidal, or globulo-concretionary structures are most distinctly developed, it is in the immediate vicinity of either the cleavage splits, or the deposition partings. A few years since, at Building Hill, near Sunderland, the quarrymen exposed several beds, which were completely divided into great irregular rhomboidal blocks, the form of which has resulted from the cleavage splits passing con- tinuously and somewhat obliquely through the beds. In this particular instance, there were displayed the most singular and beautiful coralloidal forms I have ever seen. When one of these rhomboidal blocks was broken, it disclosed a number of dark brown radiately-branching coralloidal bodies striking off towards the
1 This locality, which was immediately opposite the old battery, is now occupied by the new docks.
2 Dr. Richardson is inclined to ascribe the formation of the constituents of the magnesian limestone “to the influx of waters holding chloride of magnesium in solution, which, meeting with calcareous matter held in solution by an excess of carbonic acid, robbed it of that excess, and the two carbonates of lime and magnesia fell together. (Vide Report Brit, Association, 1842, part ii, p. 37.)
INTRODUCTION. XV
centre (repeatedly pullulating similar bodies in their progress from all its sides), where they were the most numerously developed, regardless of the latter answering to the plane of a cleavage split, or of a deposition parting: the interspaces between the branches of the coralloidal bodies were filled with a yellow ochreous magnesio-calcareous powder; while the branches themselves were radiately crystallised, and essentially composed of carbonate of lime. Since the period referred to, I have seen similar phenomena in other places ; as in the railway cutting between Sunderland and Ryhope, where the beds are distinctly divided by cleavage splits, from the walls of which, and also from those of the deposition partings, innumerable crystalline bodies, resembling the Music Pipe Coral, branch off in the most striking manner, giving the beds the appearance as if they were formed of vast petrified coral reefs. At Fulwell and Southwick quarries, where the beds have not been so decidedly acted on by cleavage forces, I have seen enormous stalactiticoid and mammillated masses shooting off, both upwards and downwards, base to base, from the plane of horizontal deposition partings,—the law of gravity having been altogether disregarded by the mysterious agent of their production. It required no effort of the mind to perceive, that the coralloidal and mammillated forms had been produced by one and the same agent, and that this agent had thus operated since the depo- sition and consolidation of the rock, nay, even subsequently to the completion of the cleavage structure. Other inferences, as the following, spontaneously flow from a right interpretation of the phenomena observed : Ist, the entire rock was originally magnesio-calcareous in its composition ; 2d, the ochreous portions have not undergone any chemical or molecular change; 3d, the rock became divested of the magnesia when it assumed the crystalline form; 4th, the crystalline portions have undergone a complete chemical and molecular change.
But it may be asked—how, or in what manner, has this change—this metamorphism been produced ? This is a question which I can only answer hypothetically. Apparently several circumstances have con- tributed to the change; namely, the chemical composition of the rock, cleavage splits, and deposition partings ; for it is impossible to ward off the idea, that they are in some way or other connected with the coralloidal structures. The cleavage splits naturally direct our attention to their producing agent; but an important point requires to be settled before 7# can be made available in the present inquiry ;—thus, is cleavage a mechanically or a physically induced structure? If the former, I should not be in the least disposed to invoke its aid; but if the latter, a powerful agent seems to be at our command. The cleavage agent, for the reason above stated, however, does not avail us in working out the problem under con- sideration. As a last resort,—no answer appears so satisfactory as the one suggested by the hypothesis, that some volatilising agent, in passing or circulating through the cleavage splits and deposition partings, has acted here and there on the original constituents of the rock, expelling the magnesia in such places, and crystallising the residual carbonate of lime; while the former constituent would remain associated with the
calcareous base wherever the rock was not acted on. I am certainly more inclined to adopt this view than
the one which maintains the change to have been produced by simple chemical segregation when the rock was in a soft state, as proposed by Professor Sedgwick ; or that which contends for the partial permeation of the beds at any indefinite time after their formation, either by vapours of some form of magnesia evolved from subjacent igneous sources,! or by a magnesian solution effused from overlying oceanic reservoirs, as proposed by some other writers.
It may be objected, that this hypothesis does not explain the origin of the globulo-concretionary masses, which are often seen where the coralloidal structures are not developed. If these masses were decidedly isolated (in some cases the connexion between them is very slight), and in the heart of a pulverulent bed, without any connexion with the deposition partings, or cleavage splits, I admit that there would be some reason for withholding assent to it; but, as neither one, nor the other of these conditions prevails, this objection readily falls to the ground, whether it be based on what is displayed in the bed of “‘ cannon-balls”’
1 The Sunderland Magnesian limestone has often been termed Dolomite ; but until it is certain, that the
magnesia of this deposit has originated in the same way as that of the true Dolomites of the Tyrol, it seems
premature to make such a use of this mineralogical term. Respecting the origin of the magnesia contained
XVl PERMIAN FOSSILS.
at Roker Cliff, or in the rock of “marbles” at Building Hill. In those beds which are almost entirely composed of crystalline carbonate of lime, as in the Bathing Cove at Byers’s Quarry, and several other localities, it may be supposed, that the volatilising agent has acted on the entire mass of the rock.
I have been ledinto the foregoing observations, not so much froma desire to describe certain phenomena, as to give them a Paleontological bearing, which, to a certain extent, they appear to possess; because, from the published observations of Freiesleben! and Geinitz, it is suspected, that rocks displaying precisely the same characters, having the same relative position, and containing the same fossils, are developed in several localities in the Permian region of Thuringia. Do the rocks alluded to contain the fossils Schizodus Schlotheimi, Mytilus septifer, &c., to the exclusion of Palliobranchiate shells, and corals, as their equivalents
in Durham ?
The Permian members of the North of England do not complete the series ;? ‘as in the South of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, other rocks, occasionally consisting of variously coloured marls, with and without gypsum, exist, which are supposed to be more recent than the former, and which become obscured by seemingly being intermixed with, or apparently passing into, the Sandstones, and Saliferous marls of the overlying Triassic system. As much obscurity hangs over the Permian rocks of the Midland districts, it will be the safest plan to make no other than a mere incidental mention of them; and the same may be advantageously adopted with regard to the Derbyshire Magnesian Limestone containing Productus horridus, the Bristol Magnesian Conglomerate, and the so-called Permian rocks in South Wales, and some other deposits, supposed to be of the same age, in the neighbourhood of Dungannon and Belfast, Ireland. Certain members of the Permian system undoubtedly occur in Cumberland.*
in the Tyrolian Dolomites, the reader is referred to the hypothesis of Von Buch, and to some others lately proposed by Haidinger, Professor Favre, and Von Morlot, translations of which are given in the ‘New Edinburgh Philosophical Journal’ for January and July, 1849.
1 Geognostischer Beitrig zur Kenntniss des Kupfer-schiefergebirges, vol. iv.
2 T am inclined to think, that the remains of a higher member of the Permian system occur in the County of Durham; as during the excavation of the Newcastle and Sunderland railway, at a place between Fulwell toll-gate, and Monkwearmouth, the workmen exposed several large natural galleries passing through beds of marly limestone belonging to member a, and filled with a very fine pipe clay of various colours, as red, blue, yellow, and green. It occurs to me, that Professor Phillips (? Philosophical Magazine, 1828) has described something of the kind in the limestone quarries at Brotherton. I was prevented making any proper observations on these galleries in consequence of the workmen sodding the sides of the excavation shortly after it was made.
3 The account herein given of the Permian members of the North of England has been derived from my own observations made some years since, assisted by Professor Sedgwick’s Memoir, and another valuable paper, entitled ‘ Notes on the New Red Sandstone of the County of Durham below the Magnesian Limestone,’ by Mr. William Hutton, and inserted in the ‘Transactions of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-on-Tyne,’ vol. i, pp. 66-74. In some respects I differ from Professor Sedgwick, particularly as regards the origin of the crystalline structures, and the relative position of some of the beds ; for example, those between Marsden and North Point on the coast of Durham, and the Fish bed in Pallion Quarry. My removal to Galway has prevented the latter point bemg further examined into, which was always my intention previously to finishing the present work: I cannot, therefore, maintain my views so strongly as could be desired: perhaps, were I going over the ground again, I might’be led to modify them to a
certain extent.
INTRODUCTION. XV
Our attention may, in the next place, be directed to the Permian rocks on the Continent of Europe. In Thuringia, these rocks hold exactly the same relative position as they do in the North of England: wherever the Carboniferous, or Triassic rocks are associated with the Permian deposits, these are seen overlying the former, and underlying the latter: the agreement is still further borne out in a more detailed point of view, as shown by the following comparative table of the constituent members of both the English and Thuringian Permians.
Members of the Thuringian Permians. Members of the North of England Permians. Stinkstem. Crystalline, and Non-crystalline Limestone. Rauchwacke.! Brecciated, and Pseudo-brecciated ditto. Dolomit.? Fossiliferous ditto.
Zechstein. Compact ditto. Mergerl-schiefer.® Marl Slate. Todte-liegende.* Inferior Sandstone.
The upper members of the Thuringian Permian rocks appear to assume the character of the English Midland Permians; and, like the latter, they often become obscurely blended with the overlying strata of the Triassic system. In other parts of Germany, as Saxony and Silesia, some, or all, of the same members are found; and they are met with still further to the east, particularly on the confines of European Russia, where they become somewhat modified. Count Keyserling having discovered true Permian rocks in Petschora-land, bordering the icy sea, it is extremely probable, as surmised by De Koninck, from an examination of their fossils, that M. Robert met with the same deposits im the still higher region of Spitzbergen.
The localities noticed afford indisputable evidence, that the Permian Ocean occupied an immense area, extending from Ireland to the Ural mountains, and probably to Spitzbergen, with its northern boundary line defined by the Carboniferous, Devonian, Silurian, and Igneous regions of Scotland, Scandinavia, and Northern
1 T saw none of the beds of Rauchwacke and Stinkstein myself when in Thuringia; but from the description which Freiesleben gives of them, as abridged by M. d’Aubuisson de Voisins, (vide ‘Traité de Geognosie,’ tome i,) I have little or no doubt of their being the exact equivalents of the English brecciated, and pseudo-brecciated limestones, and of the crystalline (coralloidal, globulo-concretionary), earthy, compact, and oolitic limestones abounding in the county of Durham.
2 This member has been variously named by German geologists. It is often called Upper Zechstein, Zechstein-dolomit. The bed which I saw of it at Schlossberge von Kénitz, agrees most remarkably in colour, mineral and chemical characters, structure, and organic contents, with the one occurring at Hum- bleton and Tunstall Hills. Near Kénitz, it reposes on beds (Zechstein), agreeing with the compact grey limestone at Thickley, Ferry-Hill, and other places.
3 The principal difference between the Mergerl-schiefer and our Marl Slate is, that the former abounds in some places with argentiferous and other copper ores, in which case it is called Kupfer-schiefer.
4 The Todte-liegende varies, like its English equivalent, in colours; when light coloured, it is called Weissliegende ; when red, rothe-todte-liegende.
9 a
Xvi PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Russia, and its southern boundaries, apparently stretching far into the south of Europe. It is unsafe to speculate further on the extent of area overspread by the Ocean during the Permian period. Rocks said to contain Permian Fossils have been discovered in various parts of Asia; and others, supposed to agree in their organic contents with the English deposits, have been found in Nova Scotia. It would thus appear, that the Permian Ocean has been of vast extent,—encompassing a great portion of the Northern hemisphere. |
As the Permian system immediately succeeded the Carboniferous, and was directly followed by the Triassic, it is reasonable to conclude, that the assemblage of organic remains characteristic of the first, in addition to its containmg several new forms, embraced many which are identical with, or allied to, such as belong either to one or the other of the two latter systems. As regards their Flora, a comparison cannot be well entered into, in consequence of the comparative paucity of vegetable remains in at least one of the systems. The known plants of the Permian rocks consist of A/ge, Lepidodendrons, Calamites, Sigillarias, Ferns, and some doubtfully allied forms, termed MNeggeratlia. The Alge of the Carboniferous rocks are not sufficiently known to be compared with the numerous Caulerpa-like Fossils which are met with in the Mergerl-schiefer, and its English equivalent: the genus Chondrus apparently characterises both the lowest and the highest member,— Chondrus Binneys having been found in the former, and C@. virgatus, Minster, also a Kupfer-schiefer plant, in the upper-Zechstein of Altenburg. The existence of Lepidodendron—a common carboniferous group—has undoubtedly been continued into the Permian period : a well-marked species occurs in the bituminous Mergerl-schiefer of Ruppers- dorf, in Silesia: Brongniart notices two species as occurring in Russia; anda specimen of the genus has also been found in the subordinate sandstone at Westoe, in Durham. Calamites are somewhat common; three species having been found in the Todte- hegende, near Oschatz ; one, in the corresponding rock at Westoe ;} and four more in Russia. Ferns are more numerous: Professor Naumann has discovered several species near Oschatz ; Major Gutbier, and others, have noticed many more found in Saxony. Fischer de Waldheim, Morris, and Brongniart, have made out nineteen species occurring in Perm: beautiful specimens of several others occur in Silesia; and a single one (Vewropter:s Huttoniania) characterises the Marl] slate of Durham: but, on the whole, only a generic relation can be established between them and the numerous Ferns which vegetated during the Carboniferous epoch,—WVeuwropteris tenuifolia found in the mines of Santagulova being the only one as yet identified with a Coal- measure species.” Psaronius, and some other genera of the sub-class /licales, found
1 Professor Sedgwick notices ‘‘ traces of calamites’” occurring in the lower New Red Sandstone of Cum-
berland. (Vide Proceedings Geol. Soe., vol. i, p. 344.) 2 Carboniferous species of plants have been found in the (?) Triassic beds of Savoy. (Vide postea, p. xvi.)
INTRODUCTION. xix
in the doubtfully periodised Freestones of Chemnitz, may simply be noticed in the present place. The asserted existence of Sig//aria in the subordinate sandstone beds of Westoe is of the same value as the supposed occurrence of this genus in the Permian deposits of Russia (vide Brongniart, in ‘Geol. Rus., vol. u, p. 11). Of Conifers, it is uncertain whether any have yet been found, the Permian age of which is settled; but from the abundance of coniferous wood in the Carboniferous deposits, it may be confidently expected, that their remains will yet be discovered. ‘The so- called Cupressites, and some other Conifer-like plants, occurring in the Mergerl-schiefer of Germany, may perhaps be sea-weeds.
The remains of the animal kingdom occurring in the Permian rocks being tolerably well known, compared with the vegetable Fossils, a better means seems to offer itself for enabling us to arrive at a more positive conclusion in the present inquiry.
Passing over the Sponges, which for many reasons cannot be satisfactorily com- pared with those of other systems, and the doubtfully related Moraminifera, which have been treated so fully by Mr. T. Rupert Jones, as to render any further notice of them supererogatory, we arrive at the Class Polyparia—an extensive group of Radiata— which flourished abundantly during the Protozoic period. ‘The Permian rocks are singularly deficient in the lamelliferous forms of this class; as only two species have been found, one of which occurs both in England and Germany. ‘The more elevated forms, the Ciliobrachiata, however, are tolerably abundant, some of which, it is suspected, will hereafter be found to be specifically identical with Carboniferous species. The genera Fenestella, Acanthocladia, and Phyllopora, which had representatives in the earlier ages, possessed Permian species rather widely distributed; as the same forms occur in both the German and English rocks: but the genus Synocladia, which is not known to have existed in earlier ages, had its species (Synocladia virgularia), confined to the Permian rocks of the North of England. It is to be regretted, that we are almost entirely in ignorance respecting the Polyparian fauna of the Triassic system.
The Class Hchinodermata is very scantily represented in the Permian rocks hitherto examined: only two species, each of which belongs to the two orders, Crinodee and Echinidee, are all that are known; and both occur inGermany and England. Should the fossil herem named 4rcheocidaris Verneuilana really belong to the genus in which it is placed, it will serve as an important Echinodermian link by which to connect the Permian with the Carboniferous period: the same may be said, but with more confidence, of Cyathocrinus ramosus.
The great division Articulata has a few Permian representatives among the dunellata and Crustacea. The former, from their paucity, are not of much importance in our present consideration ; but the latter require more than a passing notice. Considering the abundance of Trilobites in all other Protozoic deposits, it is surprising that none have yet been found in those under consideration: their absence eminently distinguishes the
xOK PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Permian from the Carboniferous rocks, as a system; while the occurrence of the so- called Limulus oculatus in the cupreous grits of Perm, and of such interesting forms as Limulus anthrax, L. rotundatus, and other probably congeneric species, in the coal field of Coal-brook Dale,’ links the two systems in close proximity to each other. The Entomostracous Crustaceans have evidently abounded during the Permian epoch ; as not only the Pelagic deposit (the Shell-limestone), but the apparently littoral or shallow-water member (the crystalline) contain them, especially the latter, in profusion. Mr. 'l'. Rupert Jones has ascertained that some of these minute organisms are identical with Carboniferous species. Probably some of them will be found in the Permian rocks of Germany; as Professor Naumann states, that the Mergerl-schiefer near Oschatz is loaded with Cypris: this reminds me of their prodigious abundance in the limestone near Byers’s Quarry, where they give the surface of the slabs quite a granulated aspect. A species of Cythere occurs in one of my specimens of fossiliferous limestone collected at Kénitz.
Mollusca.—Commencing with the lowest class of this extensive sub-kingdom, it may be stated, that the Permian epoch was rather copiously provided with pallio- branchiate forms. Twenty-three species belonging to ten genera are recorded in the present work, to which may be added about fourteen more species, which have been found in Russia. Germany and England have been represented by nearly the same palliobranchiate fauna during the Permian epoch; as most of the species, (Pro- ductus Leplayi, and one or two more being the exceptions,) have been found in both countries. Some species, as Zrigonotreta alata, Camarophoria Schlotheimi, Hpithyris elongata, L. sufflata, Cleiothyris pectinifera, have had their geographical range extended to the North-eastern regions of European Russia, where they are associated with species hitherto unnoticed in England and Germany ; namely, Chonetes sarcinulata, Strophalosia Cancrini, S. horrescens, S. Wangenheimi, and an un-named species of Orthis collected by Count Keyserling in Petschora-land. The genus Sfrophalosia, which is well represented in the Permian rocks of Germany and England, is also very characteristic of those in Russia; but it would appear, that none of the species abundant in the former countries have yet been met with in the latter one: there is, however, a striking similarity between their respective species ; for example, Strophalosia Morrisiana, and S. Cancrini,— Strophalosia Wangenheimi, and S. Goldfussi. Of the family Strophomende, the Permian system appears to possess but one form, Chonetes sarcinulata (vide ‘Geol. Russ.,’ vol. ii, p. 244), belonging to earlier rocks: this one, however, is of considerable . importance; inasmuch as its occurring in all the divisions of the Protozoic period, inseparably connects the Permian system with the earliest division of organic time. The singular genus Streptorhynchus, which does not appear to reach further back than the Carboniferous period, was represented during the Permian by a single species
1 The Coal-brook Dale Xiphosurians in the collection of Mr. J. Prestwich will afford a rich treat to the Paleeocrustaceologist.
INTRODUCTION. XX1
found both in Germany and England, and apparently closely allied to the so-called. Spirifer spurius, Minster, of the Triassic marls of St. Kassian. Concluding from the apparent absence of congeneric species in more recent rocks, it might be concluded, that the Permian epoch was the last to witness the existence of the genera Cama- rophoria, Cleiothyris, and Strophalosia. The group Trigonotreta, whether we view it as divisible into two great sections depending on histological differences, connects the Permian system both with an earlier and a more recent period: the Triassic Trigonotreta fragilis, Goldf., resembles in many respects 7. Permiana, which, in its turn, has a striking resemblance to a carboniferous species: Zrzgonotreta cristata is closely related to, if not identical with, the carboniferous 7. octoplicata ; and it is also apparently nearly allied to a Jurassic species found at Illminster, and in Wurtemberg. Cleiothyris pectinifera has a few proximately related species occurring in the carbo- niferous rocks; such as C. expansa, C. fimbriata, C. oblonga, and C. Rorssyi. The genus Camarophoria, as far as is known, only conducts us to an earlier age—the carbo- niferous, which has yielded species (Camarophoria crumena, C. superstes) closely allied to one thoroughly characteristic of the Permian system, both in its vertical and its horizontal extent,—Camarophoria Schlotheimi, it will be remembered, having been found in the Mergerl-schiefer, Zechstein, and Zechstein-dolomit of Germany, as well as in certain of the Permian rocks in the North of England, and on the western flank of the Ural mountains. Camarophoria multiplicata, hitherto only found in the fossiliferous lime- stone of the North of England, appears to have been a local species. Hypothyris, so abundant inthe Protozoic, and Deuterozoic formations, is suspected to have been repre- sented during the Permian period ; but hitherto not a species has yet been discovered in rocks of this age, unless it be the so-called Zerebratula Geinitziana found by De Verneuil in Russia. The two species of Apithyris have undoubtedly lived in the carboniferous epoch; and apparently one of them (/#. suffata) either had its existence prolonged into, or was proximately represented during, the Triassic period. The genus Productus, were it not for the occurrence of two or more species in the Triassic marls of St. Kassian, might be said to have ceased to exist at the close of the Protozoic period : Productus horridus, so characteristic of the Permian rocks, was probably also a carbo- niferous species ; since, besides its apparently occurring in the Mountain Limestone of Lough Macnean, Fermanagh, there is yet to be proved the exact age of the Derbyshire Magnesian Limestone which yields it. The single Permian Discina speluncaria, in being found in the Marl-slate, compact limestone, and fossiliferous limestone, has had a tolerably extensive range in time. The same may be said of Lingula Credneri, which occurs in the Zechstein of Germany, and the Marl-slate of Durham: it appears to have been also found in the subordinate bed of freestone near Ferry-Hill.
Passing to the Permian Lamellibranchs, some species have had a wide geographical range; for example, Plewrophorus costatus, Allorisma elegans, Mytilus septifer, Bysso-arca Kingiana, Monotis speluncaria, Bakevellia antiqua, and Solemya biarmica, which are found
Xx PERMIAN FOSSILS.
in England, Germany, and Russia; while others appear to have been more local in their habitat, as Schizodus truncatus, S. obscurus, Hdmondia Murchisoniana, and Cardio- norpha modiolifornis—English species ; Cardiomorpha Pallasi, and Monotis Kazanensis —Russian species. Some of the above are limited in their vertical range ; while a few, such as Plewrophorus costatus, &c., adding Leda Vinti, characterise the three highest members. And it is remarkable, that those species which are suspected to have carboniferous representatives, are such as have the most extensive chronological and geographical range: for example, So/emya biarmica, which occurs nearly wherever the Permian system is developed, is found in the Kupfer-schiefer of Ilmenau, and in the fossiliferous limestone of Durham; and Pleurophorus costatus, equally as extensively distributed geographically, has probably been found in the lowest Permian member, that is, in a bed of limestone between the Weissliegende and Kupfer-schiefer, and in the highest beds of the system—the Marls near Manchester. Some genera, which are extremely abundant in later periods, seem to have commenced their existence during the Permian epoch: the Russian Ostrea matercula,-De Verneuil, the most anciently known species of the genus, is exceedingly interesting on this account.
The Gasteropods of the Permian period are not quite so numerous as the last class; and the principal point of interest connected with them is in Chzton Loftusianus, hitherto only found in England. This species constitutes an important member, by which the great Azatus between the Paleozoic and existing species of the genus is becom- ing gradually filled up. One remarkable circumstance connected with the Permian Gasteropods is their general diminutiveness, which, coupled with their scarcity, seems to imdicate that the conditions of the Permian ocean were not altogether favorable for them. The genera Macrocheilus and Pleurotomaria, which had some splendid and noble representatives during the earlier. periods, became impoverished, as it were, in the Permian: and it would appear, from the size of the so-called Turbos and Rissoas found in the Manchester Marls, that species became more and more dwarfed as this period approached its termination. Plewrotomaria nodulosa seems to be limited to England, and P. penea, to Russia. The genus Murchisonia, represented by M. subangulata in the Permian rocks only of Russia and Germany, would appear to have occurred for the last time during this period. :
Nothing higher than the Tetrabranchiate section of the Cephalopods has yet been found in Permian strata; though, from the presence of Cuttle-fish mandibles (Rhyncho- lithes), and some other co-ordinate remains, in deposits of the Triassic system—perhaps the earliest in which anything of the kind has yet been found—we ought to be prepared for the occurrence of the Dibranchiate section. Considering the abundance of Goniatites in the Carboniferous rocks, and the presence of the remarkable genus Ceratites in the Triassic system, it is singular that no remains of the family Ammonitide have yet been found in the Permian deposits, especially, considering that the genera named are completely graduated into each other by means of the transitional group
INTRODUCTION. XX
represented by the Kartinsk Goniatites Orbignyanus and G. Kingianus. Both genera occur in the (?) Triassic Marls of St. Kassian; so that there is little doubt they will yet be found in strata of the Permian period. The family Nautihde has only two or three generic representatives in the present rocks. The two species of Nautilus are interesting, as having astriking resemblance to the Carboniferous Mautilus clitellarius and JV. concavus. One of the Permian species, JV. Schlothevm, is found both in England and Germany; but JV. Bowerbankianus has only yet been found in the former country. Dr. Geinitz has figured in the ‘ Versteinerungen’ a so-called Orthoceratites, said to have been found in the Kupfer-schiefer of IImenau,—a statement which may be received with very little doubt, if it be correct, that a congeneric species (Orthoceros Freveslebent) occurs in the Triassic Marls of St. Kassian. M. de Verneuil has found a portion of a Cyrtoceros in the limestone (Permian) of Schidrova near Ustvaga.}
Fishes appear to have been tolerably abundant in the Permian Ocean: they belong exclusively to the Placoid and Goniolepidot orders—great groups, which, during the Protozoic period were the sole representatives of their class. The order Placoidei is scarce in our home deposits,—Gyracanthus formosus being the only example found in England, and Gyropristis obliquus the only one found in Ireland; five or six, however, have been determined by Count Miinster to characterise the Mergerl-schiefer of Riechelsdorf. The order Gonzolepidot: is better represented. Fishes appear to have been decidedly more local in their habitats than any of the other Permian classes noticed ; for it is doubtful if any of the species occurring in Germany have yet been found in England. It requires to be observed, however, that Dr. Geinitz has recorded the oc- currence of the English species Palgoniscus elegans, P. glaphyrus, and P. macropthalmus, in the German Kupfer-schiefer: Paleoniscus Freieslebeni—a German Permian species, ig stated to have been found in the Carboniferous rocks of Ardwick in Lancashire ; and M. de Verneuil records the occurrence in Russia of the German species Palconiscus lepidurus, and P. Vratislaviensis: but these instances require a further investigation. None of the genera of fishes, with the exception of Miinster’s Placoids, found in the Permian system, can be strictly said to be essentially characteristic of it ; as Pygopterus, Palaoniscus, Celacanthus, and Platysomus, also characterise (and perhaps to the same extent) the Carboniferous system. While the genus Palzoniscus takes us into the Protozoic system, Platysomus, by its relation to Pycnodus, carries us imperceptibly into the Deuterozoic: this fact, as will hereafter be seen, has an important bearing on the question under consideration.
Class Reptilia. Until the important discovery within the last two or three years of Archigosaurus Dechent, i the Coal-measures of Saarbruck, the Permian period was considered to have been the first that witnessed the creation of air-breathing animals. However much such a discovery may have diminished the interest attached to the reptilian
1 Vide Note sur les Equivalents du Systeme Permien en Europe, p. 12.
XXIV PERMIAN FOSSILS.
fauna of the period in question, the character of this fauna is, nevertheless, such as to command the liveliest attention of all who study the past progress of organic develop- ment on our Planet; since, whatever may be our views as to the genesis of species, the structure of the Permian reptiles is confessedly of a higher grade than ought to have been expected. Passing over the doubtful, or imperfectly known genera /?hopalodon, Bri- thopus, Orthopus, and Syodon, discovered in the Permian rocks of Russia, our attention may be directed to the true Reptilians known under the names of Thecodontosaurus, Paleo- saurus, and Protorosaurus. ‘These three genera have been placed in the Thecodont (an extinct) section of the order Lacertilia ; instead of being organized after the type of the most fish-like Perreni-branchiate Batrachians or lowest reptiles, their structure would rank them at the head of the Lacertian order$ as they had well organized extremities, and were furnished with teeth implanted in distinct sockets, instead of being soldered, as in frogs, to a simple alveolar parapet." The English and German Thecodont Lacertians are found in the lowest members of the Permian system,—the Protorosaurus and Paleosaurus having been discovered in the Kupfer-schiefer of Thuringia, and the Thecodontosaurus, at Redland near Bristol, in the Magnesian Conglomerate, supposed by many to be the equivalent of the last formation, if not of the subordinate Todte- liegende of Germany. The reptiles of the Permian rocks of Russia have been found in the cupreous grits, which are supposed to occupy the highest position in the system. ‘This class of animals is the highest yet known to have lived during the Permian period.
Let us, in the next place, endeavour to ascertain—to what extent its flora and fauna relate the Permian period to that which immediately preceded, or to the one which immediately followed it. But before commencing, it will be necessary to observe, that considering the absence of the remains of many plants and animals, the existence of which during the Triassic period is strongly countenanced by hypothetical con- siderations,—and, considering the unsettled position of many beds, some of which have been referred to the Carboniferous, and others, to the Triassic system,—it must be evident, that much remains to be done before any very decided view can be taken on the present important question. The conclusion likely to be adopted, however, may, I think, be considered as being approximately correct.
In addition to the few instances already noticed, the presence of Carboniferous species of plants (Odontopteris Brardi, Annularia longifolia, Lepidodendron ornatissima, Pecopteris Cyathea, Sc.) in what appear to be Triassic, or, according to many, Jurassic deposits, near Petit Coeur in the Tarentaise, and other parts of the Alps, where they are associated with Ammonites and Belemnites, shows that several Protozoic forms were continued into the Deuterozoic period. Doubtless a few large groups, and
! Owen, ‘Report on British Fossil Reptiles,’ in Report of the Eleventh Meeting of the British Asso- ciation, pp. 197-198.
2 Consult a valuable memoir ‘On the Fossil Plants from the Arthracite Formation of the Alps of Savoy,’ in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. v, parti, by C. J. F. Bunbury, Esq., F.G.S.
INTRODUCTION. XXV
several genera appeared for the first time during the early part of this period; but there is nothing to indicate any great phytological break between the two widely- separated systems—the Carboniferous and Triassic. If it be correct, as stated, that Cycadeous Gymnosperms occur in the Coal-measures of Bohemia, and a species of Temopteris (T. Eckhardt) in the Mansfeld Kupfer-schiefer, it will follow, that the Deuterozoic period is not so much distinguished from the Protozoic by any peculiarity of its great phytological groups. Generically these periods are related to each other : they are also, to a certain extent, specifically connected: it may, therefore, be fairly concluded, that the Permian Flora did not differ to any material extent from either the Carboniferous, or the Triassic.
Of the animal sub-kingdom adiata, little can be predicated. ‘The Polyparians of the Triassic rocks are confessedly too little known to be referred to. The Echino- derms are in the same category. Cyathocrinus ramosus, Archeocidaris Vernewliana, and the Corals, however, give the Permian Radiata a Carboniferous aspect.
Referrmg to the class Crustacea, the abundance of Trilobites in the Carboniferous rocks forms a striking contrast to their marked absence in the Permian, and all subsequent formations: in this point of view, the Permian system possesses a negative deuterozoic aspect; while Kutorga’s Limulus oculatus gives it a positive secondary organic facies: the connexion, however, between the Permian, and Carboniferous systems is still maintained by means of the Coal-brook Dale Xiphosurians.
The Molluscous sub-kingdom binds together the Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic systems. Several species of the Carboniferous period continued to live, or were closely represented, in the Permian; and a few appear to have had their existence prolonged into the Triassic. There is a strong generic and a faint specific relation running through the three systems ; but taking all the classes into consideration, especially the Palliobranchiate, the relation has obviously more of a Protozoic than a Deuterozoic character.
As already observed, it is doubtful whether any of the Permian fishes have been found in the Carboniferous rocks: apparently, then, the Permian system is specifically distinct from the Carboniferous in its Ichthyan relations: generically they are connected with each other; and in this respect the connexion is a very close one. This cannot be so confidently asserted of the Permian, and Triassic systems ; though the occurrence of heterocercal Goniolepidots in the Trias rocks near Coburg,—Sir Phillip Egerton’s fortunate discovery of the Pycnodont characters of Platysomus,— and the presence of the homocerque Zetragonolepis Murchisont in the Permian rocks of Russia,—approximate the fishes of the two systems more closely than was admitted a few years since.
We cannot as yet form any satisfactory conclusion—as to whether the Permian system is more related to the Carboniferous than to the Triassic, in its reptilian fauna. The
occurrence of Labyrinthodons and Rhynchosaurs in the Triassic rocks, and, according to 3
XXV1 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
the determination of Von Meyer, of Labyrinthodont forms (4rchzgosaurus and Sclero- cephalus) in the Coal-measures of Germany, shows that there is a strong reptilian con- nexion between the Carboniferous, and Triassic systems.. The Thecodonts of the Kupfer-schiefer, and Magnesian Conglomerate, certamly do not link together the Reptiles of the Carboniferous and Triassic systems ; but, on hypothetical grounds, we are warranted in anticipating, that future researches will establish a more intimate reptilian connexion than at present prevails between these systems, and the one intermediate to them—the Permian.
Considering the foregoing premises, it may, I think, be safely concluded, that the Permian system is, by its Flora and Fauna, united both to the Carboniferous, and Triassic systems ;—strongly so in generic respects; but more to the former than to the latter: there is also a specific connexion between them; but it is slighter than the generic; and it is strongest between the Permian, and Carboniferous systems.
These conclusions are quite in accordance with the view taken by Sir Roderick I. Murchison of the value and position of the Permian deposits ;—that is, in considering them as a separate group co-ordinate with, and intermediate to, the Carboniferous and Triassic systems,—and including them in the Protozoic, rather than in the Deuterozoic period.
The present subject may be concluded by drawing the reader’s attention to the annexed Tables, which show the geographical and geological distribution of the plants and animals known to belong to the Permian system.
1 Foot impressions of supposed Labyrinthodents have been observed in the Devonian rocks of the United States by M. Conrad.
(No. I.|
LIST OF FOSSILS
BELONGING TO THE PERMIAN SYSTEM OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND.
+ signifies present.
— signifies not present.
The divisions of the Permian system a, 6, ¢, d, e, f, refer to the Counties of Northumberland and Durham.
No.
NO OO B&W DH
13 14 15 16 17 18
' Probably belonging to the highest Permian deposits.
NAMES OF SPECIES.
PLANTS. Chondrus (?) Binneyi, King! . Polysiphonia (?) Sternbergiana, King Caulerpa (?) selagenoides, Sternberg . Neuropteris Huttoniana, King .
Lepidodendron?
Calamites® .
Sigillaria* . ANIMALS. Spongia.
Scyphia tuberculata, King . Mammillopora mammillaris, King Tragos Tunstallensis, King
— Binneyi, King? Bothroconis plana, King
Foraminifera. Dentalina Permiana, Jones . — Kuingii, Jones . a (2), Jones . Textularia triticum, Jones . . . — cuneiformis, Jones . Spirillina, Jones
Freestone (a).
Marl-slate (4).
Compact limestone (¢).
aC. _ cr ee
2 Species not determined.
3 Idem.
‘ o 1 & sae ae| © |26 = ow So| -S& | So eral 5) Ses = 6/ 8 |as Gar 2 faa] an a o ion oO + == eae + = — + — — + — — =| — | + || a = | a = |e ae —|—| + + — —
4 Species not determined. ° Probably belonging to the highest Permian deposits.
Species occurring in Germany.
| |
Species occurring in Russsia.
| Species peculiar to | England, or Ireland.
++
t++tht +++ +4
++ ++ 4 4
XXViil _ PERMIAN FOSSILS. o 1 Ord S S é E al AS E lan : Be e : a E | 2 E28) © (eSisee aie Ba | S |2e(el 8 feos es ac No. NAMES OF SPECIES. a Si e128) Ss all sal a | a3 Ole ss oe eae Polyparia. 19 | Calophyllum Donatianum, King Se eel ae ah Se ee 20 Petraia profunda, Germar . —|}/—/}—} +)—]—-h +i 21 Calamopora Mackrothii, Geinitz . == | =| ar ae | | ae 99 Stenopora columnaris, Schlotheim — | = |oae ose | | en oe 93 Alveolites Buchiana, King . Soe ea a ee 24 Aulopora Voigtiana, King . =| — ies) apse aie 25 | Fenestella retiformis, Schlotheim! . — | —{|—| +) 4+/—] +1?%+ 26 | Synocladia virgulacea, Phillips —}|—| +) 4+) 4+)]—-i}—!—] + 97 | Phyllopora Ehrenbergi, Geinitz |) a et) es lf 9g | Thamniscus dubius, Schlotheim es ee ee Re te 99 | Acanthocladia anceps, Schlotheim — |) By ee ey ey} ae Echinodermata. 30 | Cyathocrinus ramosus, Schlotheim coma hnera| crac lbhmure oli eure RGR cau Mt sap 31 Archeocidaris Verneuiliana, King Se ee see ae ae Annellata. 32 | Spirorbis helix, King See Se Pa = Poe | oe 33 — Permianus, King . = ee ae ea Sah se 34 | Filograna Permiana, King . Se ee ee ee 35 Vermilia obscura, King . a ee 36 | Serpula (?) pusilla, Geinitz —}—;—}] +)/—/—] +] — Crustacea. 37 Cythere Morrisiana, Jones . —}—}—/ +) —] — J] —| — |] + 38 — Geinitziana, Jones . —}—}—}] +) —}] — |] —) — |] + 39 — elongata, Minster? —|—|—/?+)—} —] —| — | + 40 — Kautorgiana, Jones . —}—}—};—}—]}4+]—)|—] + 41 — (Bairdia) curta, M‘Coy® . —}—}|—|] +] —| +1 —| —] + 42 — ( — ) gracilis, M‘Coy* Se 8 ee ap es 43 — ( — %) acuta, Jones ee ee 44 — (Cythereis?) biplicata, Jones . Sf) a ee a Pee ee 45 — (Cytherella ?) inornata, M*Coy? — }—| —}| —| —| + | —) — |] + 46 — ( — 2) nuciformis, Jones . — |p— | = | — | —} +] — |] — 1 + 47 | Dithyrocaris Permiana, Jones . Se ee eee 48 | — glypta, Jones . = ff a fe Se re eS
! Vide Polypora infundibuliformis, in next Table. > A Carboniferous species. The specimen noticed was ex- tracted from the Dogg er-bank fragment.
3 A Carboniferous species. 4 Idem. > Idem.
ae
No.
INTRODUCTION.
NAMES OF SPECIES.
mo
Palliobranchiata. Lingula Credneri, Geinitz . Discina speluncaria, Schlotheim Productus horridus, J. Sowerby . — umbonillatus, King Strophalosia Goldfussi, Minster . — excayata, Geinitz — Morrisiana, King a parva, King : Streptorhynchus pelargonatus, Sena Camarophoria Schlotheimi, Von Buch — globulina, Phillips — multiplicata, King Trigonotreta cristata, Schlotheim . — multiplicata, J. de C. Senerty — Jonesiana, King — alata, Schlotheim . — undulata, J. de C. Sower ip — Permiana, King Martinia Clannyana, King . — Winchiana, King . Cleiothyris pectinifera, J. de C. Seibert Epithyris elongata, Schlotheim — sufilata, Schlotheim .
Lamellibranchiata.
Pecten pusillus, Schlotheim Lima Permiana, King Monotis speluncaria, Schlotheim — radialis, Phillips — Garforthensis, King! Mytilus squamosus, J. de C. Sowerby? — septifer, King® Edmondia Murchisoniana, King . Bakevellia ceratophaga, Schlotheim — antiqua, Miinster* . — tumida, King _ bicarinata, King
XXIX pe Te s |f.J2 |28 S Se SIS Th AS Ey ates 3 Ito SS les] SI SSlBelse les Se ecieele (Ss) oeleelee Paeul erate 5 |e |e |Be a Wee | ma ee Pe ae ee —|+]/4+}/+}/—/—-] 4+] - —|—| +} +.) +) —} + — —}—|—j|+}—}—|)—]—)} + —{—;|—|+]}4+]/—-] +]— —}—|/—|+}—|}-] +)—- —|—{+/+!—|—] +)—- —{—}—|}+}—|-—]—-|-!| + —{|—|—|+}/4+)—] +) - —}—|—|/+}+)—] +] 4+ —|—|}—|+}+}/—]—|—-| + —|—};—}|+}/—}—] —|—] + —}|—}/—|+}+/—-]+),-|- —}/—}|—|+})/—}—]—|—|] + —;/—}—|+}—|—-}—|-—|] + —|—/+/+}—;—|)+]- el cpa None ae |) ell eo ae —}—|—|/+}!—|—}—|—| + —{/—}|—/|+/—|—|]—|—-/ + ee oe ee ee ie el ae eae ae el are —}{—}—|+}/4+]—] +] + See ee ar te ee ae ae —|—| +) eye ya] el a a | ee —}—}—;/+}/4+})—| + /%+ —}/—}/—}/+)—|—}—j—] + —}—}—}—)—]}—] —|—| + | ee ae aed Se Uae Soe a ee oe ee ee al Sy ee ae dp Sree) cam —|—-—|} +) 4+) —) 4+) 4+ Seo lc ae elie Name te oe mi a ee Nee | eam ae
1 Probably belonging to the highest Permian deposits. ? In Yorkshire, this species probably occurs in the highest
Permian deposits.
3 Vide postea, pp. 160, 161, 162. * In the Midland districts of England, this species probably occurs in the highest Permian deposits.
XXX PERMIAN FOSSILS. eaves 5 2 2 ole 23 Si) Sle lee a] SA see al Se S| Sle (2S) © aSie5) se| as BS Esl OSE e aio 2 Sz) Re No. NAMES OF SPECIES. 2 g 3h & 2) 2 |B alle is ne a 84 | Bakevellia Sedgwickiana, King SN ee AN eS Et 85 | Byssoarea striata, Schlotheun : | SE thi 86 — tumida, J. de C. Sowerby . a en es ee nn | ee a 87 — Kingiana, De Verneuil . Se aS 88 | Nucula Tateiana, King ey Se ee ee es 89 | Leda Vinti, King . : Se Teel age a ee Nema PY ak 90 | Solemya biarmica, De Verneudl ee ees a 9] — Phillipsiana, King HSE SRE Ma ee et 92 | Cardiomorpha modioliformis, King Ne) SRN ag NE es Ye eae | 93 Pleurophorus costatus, Brown! . Se pee eI Mpc Pee teal 1 ett 94 | Schizodus obscurus, J. Sowerby? . ey | Mess ees | TF pe NY gaa ef te I a 95 — rotundatus, Brown . ee ee te) ee 96 — Schlotheimi, Geinitz Ee Ee at Dee eee een et Mee 97 — truncatus, King . Se reese AN ete i Cp eee 9g | Astarte Vallisneriana, King PEE HG eV AN ae ew ae Wat 99 — Tunstallensis, King ean |e ea eve en aoe oe oa pate 100 | Allorisma elegans, King GAO SE ae ee ae RE eee 101 Psammobia (?) subpapyracea, King PIA es GA SHE eat I a Gasteropoda. 102 Chiton Loftusianus, King —|—;—}] +/—] —] — |} — |] + 103 | Turbo helicinus, Schlotheim? —}—|]—}| +/ —|] —] +) — 104 — Mancuniensis, Brown* . — | —}] + Pe) — | — |) — |] + 105 — Permianus, King SS eae es ee es |p es ee 106 — Thomsonianus, King —{/—|—| +/?4)/—] —|—] + 107 — Taylorianus, King sf Sys pee pe peep ey 108 | Rissoa obtusa, Brown? a SS ee Sep ets |) Oo 109 — leighi, Brown® . Py ee a ee | et 110 — Gibsoni, Brown? Se cee as HR ec ce 111 Loxonema fasciata, King SP eee ee Se Se SS pees 112 — Swedenborgiana, King ee MT EE ee Le ry ate 113 — Geinitziana, King ef VRS Nyy ye ee a 114 | Macrocheilus symmetricus, King . a) Ba | a a I Si 115 Euomphalus Permianus, King . SEA cee | OU ne aa ET 116 Natica minima, Brown® iy cee mee alc seca) ce A Til — Leibnitziana, King a ee coe ores it ll ea |e 1 At Newton, this species probably occurs in the highest Idem.
Permian deposits. 2 Probably belonging to the highest Permian deposits. 3 Besides occurring in the Fossiliferous limestone, it also probably belongs to the highest Permian deposits.
Probably belonging to the highest Permian deposits. Idem. Idem. Idem.
| Species peculiar to
INTRODUCTION.
Belvaee le raf | ERI ee el ele leo) ba cate. | Se A BS) Sa aes eu Be iS SOONG Se ollie aris)
No. NAMES OF SPECIES. leo ea EE Sel no 2 2 | 3 a am) 2a 5 & 3 ds Byraetey elt sal Si | a is 118 | Pleurotomaria antrina, Schlotheim . . . . |—j|—j|—]4+/+4{/—] 4 /~— 119 — Tunstalllensisw Asghar te) st isi ( 6 |p ier ete mene yee) fn IM 120 _ snyoollyorstns LAGGY G2 Gp eer Ne NG oie A a 121 —_ iinkianayieng isa ine) aol eed ee ee em | eee fee 122 Wentaliummy SoxpieAC generis ee epiien wee lnk rial peep neater yam Scam Ia a Cephalopoda. 123 Nautilus Preieslebeniy Gerece - 1) 2) 0) |e een he a | 124 cece OW CL OAMKARIUS ACO Gi en a sei sic) ee mn Ne ote | ee ea ly eee Pisces. 125 Gyracanthus formosus, Agassiz? . . . . Sum dana de | eel eed a aed 126.7 |)Gyropristis|obliquus, Agassiz? © 2429.) 5 ee 1275) baleeoniscus/elewans, Sedgwick) 18. je) ef mn | et es fa | 128 — comtuss Agassiz, ten) os seed [eaten avert pment | eect cee | ena HE 129 — ela liyi US PAG OSSteN ten Meee tare ues |ye——e [rf Us eens (yee eae Apocalypse 130 — macropthalmus);Agasste Ve 3 |) —— te Wim | ee ee ee 131 _ longissimus, dgassiz . . . . | —}| +} —} —| —]?4 |) — | — 132 — Catopterus) Agassie ian ou eee ment eee eee IN 133 Platysomus macrurus, dgassiz . . . . . me ete eta Lene cane aE i 134 — ROMIAUUS tA GaSStzs te mane aniat arn uien i omens ctaiy lest is|: wee |e eesen ly) SUM eeeee rae 135 Acrolepis Sedgwicki, dgassiz . . . . .. ce i TN ee tp sf na il te a 136) byeopterusimandibularis, Agassiz (06) oo | Hea ea ee ee ah ae 137 <a -H SCULPLUSs AGASStZ) litt on share |: | te et emer | ese |p [Reet | eae | cl 138 erp LACUS EET COT Metals )tpnatichi ed Oy ai cisie| ok Hey sang pesee (hse iyeed co Are HSB 1S 9p CcelacanchuseranulosusyAgassic: 0 a. |) se ace | tere ee en ellen a 140 — Caudalie hg erton speci glen hance tite) at rt Peratieg erty bia beten [RTH cal es veal Reptilia. 141 | Palosaurus cylindrodon, Riley and Stutchbury® | — | — | —}—}—| — |) — | — 142 — platyodon, Riley and Stutchbury$® CaN eh fe Yh ey a A a 143 | Thecodontosaurus antiquus, Riley and Stutchbury’| — | — | —| —]| —]| — |} — | — ’ Position in the Permian system not known. * Probably belonging to the highest Permian deposits. ? A Carboniferous species. 5 Exact position in the Permian system unknown.
* Probably belonging to the highest Permian deposits. 6 Tdem. 7 Idem.
be as es
aie
| England, or Ireland.
++ 44
++t++t+t¢e+eet¢¢¢t¢4++ +
++ +4
liar
No.
or
wo bs hw bo N
(o2)
XXX11
(No. II]
LIST OF PERMIAN FOSSILS
PECULIAR TO GERMANY, OR RUSSIA.
NAMES OF SPECIES.
PLANTS.
Caulerpites brevifolius, Minster — intermedius, Miinster _ distans, Miinster — spiciformis, Sternberg Zonarites digitatus, Sternberg Chondrites virgatus, Minster Walchia, Naumann . Weissites sphericus, Miinster — (°¢), Geinitz : Tzeniopteris Eckhardti, Germar Pecopteris Schwedesiana, Dunker — Martinsi, Germar _— Goepperti, Morris _ Wangenheimi, Fischer — Grandini, Fischer — , Naumann : Sphenopteris Geepperti, Minster — erosa, Morris _ dichotoma, Althaus — incerta, Fischer . — lobata, Morris — (2) bipinnata, Minster (2) patens, Althaus . Neuropteris dichotoma (?), Fischer = flexuosa, Brongniart
|
_ heterophylla, Brongniart
— Grangeri, Brongniart
~ macrophylla, Brongniart — rotundifolia, Brongniart .
— Villiersu, Brongniart _ Voltzii, Brongniart — salicifolia, Fischer . — tenuifolia, Brongniart
OBSERVATIONS.
cle | i} | | | i | | \
Be io |) eh Be Be — |b —|+ = || —|+ —|+ —| + —|+ =|) oF —| + = | 4p = || 4 + = + — + — —|+ =| ar + — = | or + — + — aah malay +} =) + — + — + — + — + pat + — ste Gea) + = + —
Professor Naumann notices one species of Walchia or Lycopodites occurring in the neighbourhood of Oschatz.
Professor Naumann states, that this species, and three or four more, are found in the Permians of Oschatz.
Originals, having a doubtful identifi- cation with extra-Permian species.
A Carboniferous species.
INTRODUCTION.
XXXII
No.
34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
44
NAMES OF SPECIES.
Neuropteris conferta, Gappart . Odontopteris Fischeri, Brongniart _ Permiensis, Brongniart _ Strogonovi, Fischer — , Naumann Neeggerathia cuneifolia, Kutorga — expansa, Brongniart Lepidodendron elongatum, Brongniart _ ined. sp., Brongniart .
Calamites gigas, Brongniart
_ Suckown, Brongniart — arenaceus, Fischer — trigonus, Kutorga Cupressites Ullmanni, Bronn _ bituminosus, Geinitz — frumentarius, Schlotheim — pectinatus, Sternberg — , Geinitz . Leaves of Conifer, Geinitz
ANIMALS.
Polyparia. Coscinum dubium, Geinitz Anthophyllum incrustans, Lonsdale Alveolites producti, Genitz
Stenopora spinigera, Lonsdale _— crassa, Lonsdale
Polypora infundibuliformis, Goldfuss _ biarmica, Keyserling
Crustacea. Limulus oculatus, Kutorga
Palliobranchiata. Productus Leplayi, De Verneuil Strophalosia Wangenheimi, De Vernewil — horrescens, De Verneuil _ Cancrini, De Verneuil
Species peculiar to Russia
| SRP se ae ol se de Srl |
+
+ +4
+
++4H
| Species peculiar to Germany.
+
Vee eels tees alee |
+
OBSERVATIONS.
t+++4e4++
Professor Naumann notices a species of Neuropteris occurring in the Permian rocks of Oschatz. Perhaps it is the same as the one cited, which is found at Ruppersdorf.
Professor Naumann states, that two species of Odontopteris occur in the environs of Oschatz.
A Carboniferous species.
I have seen beautiful specimens of a Lepidodendron collected at Rup- persdorf; but I am not acquainted with the species.
A Carboniferous species. Professor Naumann states that this and other two Calamites occur at Oschatz.
A Carboniferous species.
These are probably Fucoids.
Suspected to occur in the North of England Permians.
Idem.
Count Keyserling records a fossil with this name occurring in Petschora- land. Itis the same as the one re- corded in the ‘Geology of Russia,’ under the name of Fenestella infundi- buliformis; but I suspect it is identi- cal with the Fenestella retiformis of Schlotheim.
Dr. Geinitz records this species as occurring in Germany.
OBSERVATIONS.
A species occurring in all the great divisions of the Protozoic period.
Dr. Geinitz records these two species as occuring in Germany, which is
M. de Verneuil notices the occurrence of
Athyris concentrica (Tereb. id.), Von in the Permian rocks of Russia; but this appears to be
A doubtful fossil,—probably a plant.
Dr. Geinitz records this species as oc-
XXXIV PERMIAN FOSSILS.
oZiog No. NAMES OF SPECIES. ee ae 66 Chonetes sarcinulata, Schlotheim + | — 67 | Orthis ined. sp., Keyserling + | — | Apparently a Strophomena. 68 Camarophoria superstes, De Vernewil =o) 69 | Hypothyris (?) Geinitziana, De Verneuil Sy I a 70 Trigonotreta curvirostris, De Verneuil a eae waulnes Cowannl. 71 — Blasu, De Verneuil J |] 79 — rugulatus, De Vernewl . a) 73 | Spirifer (?) Schrenki, Keyserling ae 7 Cleiothyris Roissyi, L’ Eveille +) — 75 Epithyris Qualenii, Fischer +})}—
Buch, Lamellibranchiata. doubtful. 76 Ostrea matercula, De Vernewl . +] — 77 Pecten Kokcharofi, De Verneuil . + | — 78 Monotis Kazanensis, De Verneuil a |) 79 — sericea, De Verneuil db |) as 80 — lorata, Keyserling fy 81 — impressa, Keyserling Sl ae 82 | Pinna(?) prisca, Laspe —|+ 83 | Leda Kazanensis, De Verneuil + | — 84 — parunculus, Keyserling +/— 85 Nucula Wymmensis, Keyserling +|— 86 | Cardiomorpha Pallasi, De Verneuil +] — 87 = minuta, Keyserling + | — 88 Schizodus Rossicus, De Verneuil + | — 89 — , De Verneul : + | — | Vide Postea, p. 193. 90 | Osteodesma Kutorgiana, De Verneuil . ar || = 91 Anthracosia umbonatus, Fischer ae || = 92 — ined. sp., Kutorga . steal Gasteropoda. 93 Turritella biarmica, De Vernewil ft] — 94 Turbonilla Altenburgensis, Geinitz —|+ 95 Pleurotomaria penea, De Verneuil +)/— 96 — Verneuiliana, Geinitz <i) te 97 Murchisonia subangulata, De Verneuil Sf ] curring in Germany. Cephalopoda.
98 | Cyrtoceros (?), De Verneuil +) — 99 Orthoceros, Geinitz . a || os
INTRODUCTION.
NAMES OF SPECIES.
~ PIScEs.
Janassa bituminosa, Schlotheim . — dictea, Miinster Dictea striata, Miinster Wodnika striatula, Minster Byzenos latipinnatus, Miinster . Radamus macrocephalus, Miinster Palzeoniscus Freieslebeni, Agassiz — lepidurus, Agassiz . — macropomus, Agassiz speciosus, Minster — Vratislaviensis, Agassiz — magnus, Agassiz — ornatus, Miinster — Tcheffkini, Fischer Tetragonolepis Murchisoni, Fischer Platysomus gibbosus, Blainville . — rhombus, Agassiz — intermedius, Miinster — Althausi, Miinster - Fuldai, Minster
Globulodus elegans, Minster Dorypterus Hoffmanni, Germar . Acrolepis asper, Agassiz
— exculptus, Germar
— angustus, Minster
— giganteus, Minster
— intermedius, Miinster . Pygopterus Humboldti, Agassiz . Ceelacanthus Hassiz, Miinster
Reptilia. Protorosaurus Speneri, Von Meyer Paleeosaurus, Geinitz ; f Rhopalodon Wangenheimi, Fischer Brithopus priscus, Kutorga Orthopus primzevus, Kutorga Syodon biarmicum, Kutorga
Species peculiar to Russia.
++++4
| Species peculiar
++etete¢et+4¢4¢4
t++H44
+++ 4+ ++ 44
+ +
to Germany.
XXKKV
OBSERVATIONS.
Probably the number of Russian
Permian Fossils will be considerably increased hereafter. M. de Ver- neuil submitted some apparently new species to M. Agassiz; several more are in the Collection of the School of Mines of St. Petersburg ; and others, deposited in the Royal Museum of Berlin, have been col- lected by Rose and Ehrenberg, in the cupreous grits of Verschni Moulinsk, near Perm.
A species of Platysomus.
Vide Versteinerungen, p. 3, pl. i.
«<These three species require a further
examination.” (De Verneuil.)
XXXV1
[No. III]
SUMMARY OF PERMIAN FOSSILS.
: é Sy ei -|Speci = . Species pecu- Totality of | Totality of Mt ae eerie nee pe Species pecu- P : e g ar to Eng-| ;. . | liar to Ger- Genera. Species. aad iseern iaaioereelee liar to Russia. many. Plantsn eet View tiv lamethanley, 60 7 16 27 26 | Animals | Spongia ee. | 4 5 5 5 — = Foraminifera . : 3 6 6 6 ual be Polyparia 3 ; 14 18 1 4 5 2 | Echinodermata : 9 2 ) Te dt lh Annellata : : 4 5 5 4 bas a Crustacea ; : 3 13 12 12 1 — | Palliobranchiata ‘ 14 37 23 9 14 pee Lamellibranchiata . 19 47 30 16 16 2) Gasteropoda . : 210 26 2] 218 3 2 Cephalopoda . 5 | 3 4 9 1 ] l Bisces : . : ae! ? 45 16 ? 16 2 (—?) more 27 Reptilia . 5 . 7 9 3 3 4 2 114 277 143 100 73 61
There now remains the pleasing duty of acknowledging my obligations to a number of kind friends who have in various ways assisted me in the present work ;— some with the loan, or gift of specimens and books,—others with many valuable and varied communications, or other favours, which they were always ready to oblige me with when solicited. In these respects, my thanks are especially due to Professor D. T. Ansted, M.A., &c., King’s College; Rev. G. C. Abbs, Cleadon; Dr. Baird, British Museum ; Professor Dr. Bensbach, Queen’s College, Galway ; Mr. KE. W. Binney, Manchester; Mr. T. Bramwell, Enfield House, Gateshead ; M. Bouchard-Chantereaux, Boulogne; Mr. Thomas Davidson, Mem. Soc. Géol. de Fr.; Mr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., &c., British Museum; Dr. Richard Griffith, Dublin; Mr. James Hardy, Berwickshire ; Mr. John Jameson, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Mr. J. G. Jeffreys, F.R.S., &c., Swansea ;
INTRODUCTION. XXXV
Professor Dr. L. de Koninck, Li¢ge; Count. Alexandre von Keyserling, St. Peters- burg; Mr. John Morris, F.G.S., &c.; Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, G.C.S. &c. ; Professor James Nicol, Queen’s College, Cork ; Professor Richard Owen, F.R.S., &c. ; Professor John Phillips, F.R.S., &c.; Mr. John Pickering, London; Mr. Joseph Prestwich, jun., F.G.S.; Mr. John Rogerson, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Mr. J. de C. Sowerby, F.L.S., &c.; Mr. J. W. Salter, A.L.S., &c.; Rev. Professor Sedgwick, M.A., &c.; Mr. H.C. Sorby, F.G.S., Woodbourn, near Sheffield; Professor Dr. John Scouler, Dublin Royal Society; Mr. G. Tate, F.G.8., Alnwick; M. Ed. de Verneuil, Paris; Mr. Robert Vint, Sunderland; and Mr. Edward Wood, Richmond, Yorkshire.
I must also express my deep obligations to Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton. Bart., M.P., F.R.S., &c., for his highly valuable contributions on Permian Ichthyology, Had this portion of the present Monograph depended on my own resources and competency, it certainly would have been greatly deficient in one of its most important features: considering this, I feel myself particularly called on, to express how much I feel the compliment of having been assisted by one who so ably represents the great Agassiz among British Paleontologists. While on this subject, I feel it my duty to express my thanks to the Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and the Curator of the Museum, Mr. E. Charlesworth, F.G.S.; also to Dr. Edward Charlton, and the Committee of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-on-Tyne, for the loan of several invaluable specimens of fossil fish, most of which are herein figured; and to Mrs. Surtees, of Mainsforth, for the loan of all the specimens belonging to the valuable collection of her late gifted husband, the author of the ‘ History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham.’
My obligations are also deservedly due to Mr. T. Rupert Jones, Assistant Secretary, &c., of the Geological Society of London, for his excellent notes on the Permian Morami- nifera and Entomostraca, which, had it not been for his labours, would only have been briefly noticed in the present work.
To the President, Sir Henry de la Beche, F.R.S., &c., and the Council of the Palzeontographical Society, and especially to the courteous and indefatigable Honorary Secretary, Mr. J. S. Bowerbank, F.R.S., &c., I am under the deepest obligation,—not only for the many favours they have kindly obliged me with,—but because I feel persuaded the labour they have expended in connexion with this Monograph, has too seriously encroached on time that might have been more profitably occupied on those studies in which they respectively have earned the highest reputation.
WILLIAM KING.
Prosprct Hitt, Gatway, July, 1850.
CORRIGENDA.
Page 2, line 1, for “ Lichinales,” read “ Lichenales.”
»» 22, for “ Marsilacee,” read “ Marsileacee.”
» 1, for “like the first,” read “like that of the first.””
» 22, ,, 16, for “Potycmita,” read “PoLyca@ia.”
>» 23, for “ Polycela,” read “ Polycelia.”
» 7 from bottom, for “ Cleiothyris,”’ read “ Athyris.”
— bottom line, for “ Delthyris,” read “ Trigonotreta.”
», 69, line 6 from bottom, omit “ (caput-serpentis) and in Gryphus.”
for “vitreus,” read “vitrea.”
for “it is somewhat ring-shaped,” read “it is short, and somewhat ring-shaped.”
” » »
» » ce
rn 4 3 insert “long,” after “attached ”
ye mp 2 i for “dorsata,” read “ truncata.”
» 70, ,, 2 from top, for “ Pachyrhynchus voseus,” read “ Bouchardia rosea.”
HS yy BD? vy omit “ Delthyris and.”
> 95> 28, . for “ Delthyris,” read “ Trigonotreta.”
» 72, ,, 11 from bottom, for “ Roysit,” read “ Roissyi.”
5 fy 95 HS a insert “and” after “ circumstance.”
» 20 from top, ézsert “similar to those,” after “arteries (j).” », 81, first line in Table, “Lingula” ought to be in italics.
» — line 20 >» Jor “Dicelosio,” read “ Diccelosia.””
ast Ses Re omit “ Delthyris (elevata), Dalman.” >= » 48 » for “ Pectunculus,” read “ Pectunculoides.” , 82, ,, 4 from top, for “SuB-KineDom,” read “ SuB-cLAss.”
19) » 93, last line in foot-note 4, for “a character of which,” read “a character the existence of which.” », 94, line 8 from top, for “ the name of which,” ead “my name for which.” — 5 from bottom, for “ same,” sead “small.”
» »
AEDS By for “were either free,’ read “that they were either free.” ;
y= 9 2 SD for “prove,” xead “ proves.”
» 97, ,, 17 from top, for “species,” read “ specimens.”
— , 19 Bs omit “to be,” and “ with.” » 99, ,, S8from top, for “ constitute,” read “ constitutes.”
Page 99, List of localities, omi¢ “and Tynemouth.” >, 102, line 2 from top, insert “ Whitley ” after “ Dalton-le-Dale.” » 104, foot-note 6, for “1” read “all.” ,, 106, line 24 from top, for “ Dicelosia, read “ Dicelosia.” >» 128, 5, 15 a for “incurving,” read “incurved.” sO Oh bac. do. do.
OE ee a me for “ pectunculus,” read “ pectunculoides.”
tamer ta) Re omét sentence “It appears to be, &e.”
» 145, ,, 18 from top, for “crural base,” read “ crural processes.”
MA abe Pi for “is,” read “appears to be.”
me by RY. 5 inseré “ Kutorga,’ after “PLICA,” and omit “ Kutorga.”
», 150, ,, 15 from bottom, for “with,” read “from.”
,, 164, last line in footnote 3, for “Janeia,” read “ Solemya.” ,, 177, line 20 from top, omit “or tertiary.” Mem. Solemya Mediterranea occurs in the Tertiary deposits of Italy. » — » 22, for “The recent Solemya, and the Paleeozoic Janeia are, &c.”’ read ‘ Solemya is the only genus, &e.” Pages 178 and 179, for “Janeia” read “ Solemya.” Page 178, omit diagnosis of Janeia. 212, bottom line, for “ lamine,” ead “lines.” 213, line’2 from top, omit “and distinctly separated from each other.” — ,, 1%, for “and still an inhabitant,’ read “and is still an in- habitant.” » 219, line 17, place the name “Phillips” close after “NAUTILUS.” Letterpress to Plate VI,’ second page, line 1,~for “ Palechinus,” read “ Archeeocidaris.” The same correction in line 4. _ Pl. XIV, first page, line 15, omit “adductor.” Pl. XVII, line 7, insert “ Pleurotomaria antrina,” after figure “6.” ,, 13, for “Frieislebeni,” read “ Freiesle- beni.” — e »» 25, imsert “Freieslebeni,” after figure “20.” _— Pl. XXVIU, line 4, for “granulosus,” read “ granu- latus.”
»
»
»
ae »
FOSSILS OF THE PERMIAN SYSTEM.
PLANTS.
Tue Phytological Division of Organic Nature has only a few known representa- tives in the Permian System of England, and these belong exclusively to the lowest classes.
SuB-KINGDOoM CRYPTOGAM A.
Guided by the classification and nomenclature of M. Adolphe Brongniart and Dr. Lindley, it is intended to separate this sub-kingdom into the two large groups or classes, Thallogene and Acrogene, as proposed in the latest publications of these writers."
Class THALLOGEN&, Lindley.
CrLiuuLargs, De Candolle.
Les CryprocamMeEs CELLULEUSES, dd. Brongniart. CrypropHyta, Link.
TuaLLtopuyta, Kndlicher.
AMPHIGEND, Ad. Brongniart.
TuaLtocEens, Dr. Lindley.
Diagnosis.—“ Stems and leaves undistinguishable.”” (Lindley.)
The whole of the plants stationed in this class are remarkable for the extreme simplicity of their structure. They are mere masses of cells, having no wood, properly so called, although in the case of some sea-weeds and funguses, they must acquire considerable age.°
' Enumeration des Genres de Plantes cultives au Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris, &c., by M. Adolphe Brongniart, 1843 ; and The Vegetable Kingdom, by Dr. Lindley, 1847.
2 The Vegetable Kingdom, p. 5, 1847.
3 Idem, p. 5, 1847.
9 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Of the three groups or sub-classes (Algales, Fungales, and Jnchinales,) into which the Thallogens are divided, the first is the only one of which any remains have been found in the Permian rocks.
Sub-class ALGALES, Lindley.'
Diagnosis.—< Cellular flowerless plants, nourished through their whole surface by the medium in which they vegetate ; living in water or very damp places; propagated by_zoospores, coloured spores, or tetraspores.””
The sea-weeds found in the Permian rocks of England are so imperfectly preserved that it is difficult to define them generically. It is probable that some of them belong to extinct or undefined genera, but until they are better known, it is considered the safest plan to place them in those established generic groups to which they offer the strongest resemblance.
Genus Chondrus, Stackhouse.
Diagnosis.—* Frond cartilaginous, dilating upwards into a flat, nerveless, dicho- tomously divided frond, of a purplish or livid red colour; fructification subspherical capsules in the substance of the frond (rarely supported on little stalks), and containing a mass of minute free seeds.”
The type of this genus is the Fucus crispus of Linnzeus, a species common on every
part of the British coasts.
CuonpRrus (?) BINNEYI, Avng. Plate I, fig. 1.
“LITTLE CIRCULAR BODIES, RESEMBLING THE CASTS OF A VERY SMALL AMMONITE,” Binney. Trans. Manch. Geol. Soc., vol. i, p. 56, 1839.
The specimen figured is the only one known to the writer. It belongs to a species which appears to have had a somewhat broad frond, with numerous closely-crowded, sessile seed-vessels. In one or two places the seed-vessels are so closely approximated as to have assumed a polygonal form, which shows that they have been of a yielding substance. Mr. Binney, to whom the discovery of this interesting fossil is due, found it in the Red Marl at Newton, near Manchester. The “ little circular bodies” noticed above are the capsules alluded to.
' Dr. Lindley applies the term “ Alliance” to what are in the text named Swb-classes. ? Lindley, The Vegetable Kingdom, p. 8, 1847. ® Greville, Algze Britannice, p. 126, 1830.
PLANTS. 3
Genus Polysiphonia, Greville.
Diagnosis.—* Filaments partially or generally articulate, longitudinally striated with internal parallel tubes. Fruit double. 1 ovate capsule furnished with a terminal spore ; 2 granules immersed in distorted ramuli.””
The inarticulate Mucus fructiculosus, Wulf., common on the south coasts of England
and Ireland, is the type of this genus.
POLYSIPHONIA (?) STERNBERGIANA, Ang. Plate I, Fig. 2. Conrervitss (?), King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848. This is a Conferva-like plant, with numerous filiform branches, proceeding from a slender stem. The only specimen apparently known was found in the Marl-slate of Thickley.
Genus Caulerpa, Lamouroux.
Diagnosis. —“ Frons viridis, membranacea, plana vel cylindracea, stipitata, surculo repente cartilagineo radicante instructa. Fructus... . (?)’””
M. Adolphe Brongniart, speaking of the fossil next to be described, and other three species found in the Kupferschiefer of Thuringia, states that “they appear to be related to the genus Caulerpa.”’ Perhaps it would not be going too far to suggest that they may belong to the fourth section of the genus characterised as having “yramulis undique imbricatis, linearibus vel setaceis.” (’)
CAULERPA (?) SELAGINOIDES, Sternberg. Plate I, fig. 3.
CAULERPITES SELAGINOIDES, Sternberg. Versuch. p. 20, 1821.
— LYCOPODOIDES 55 Idem. FucoIpDEs LycopoporpEs, Sternberg. Brongniart, Vég. Foss. p. 73, pl. 9, fig. 3, 1828. — _ SELAGINOIDES as Idem, p. 73, pl. 9, fig. 2, 1828.
(2) Onn oF THE “Two species oF Ferns,” cited by Sedgwick. Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2d series, vol. ii, p. 120, 1829. Vortz1a Puituipsit, Lindley and Hutton. Fossil Flora, vol. ii, pl. 195, 1836. (?) Pryna (?) Prisca, Minster. Beitrige, p. 45, pl. 4, fig. 4, 1839; and p. 66, pl. 4, fig. 4, 1843. () Sotzn, Geinitz. Grundriss, p. 450, 1846. FucorpEs (CauLErpa ?) tycopoporpes, Brong. King, Catalogue, p. 5, 1848. Voitzia, Howse. T. F. N.C. vol. i, p. 264, 1848. (2) Sotzn (?) pPInNmForRMIs, Geinitz. Versteinerungen, p. 8, 1848. CAULERPITES SELAGINOIDES, Sternb. Geinitz, Verst. p. 21, pl. 8, figs. 9, 10, 1848.
' Smith, The English Flora, vol. v, p. 327, 1833. ? Greville, Algze Britannicee, Synopsis, p. lxiii. ° Histoire des Végétaux Fossiles, p. 43, 1828.
A PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Diagnosis.—“ F. caule pinnatum ramosa, foliis sparsis numerosis, caulem indique, tegentibus, oblongo-linearibus membranaceis (F) enervis.”*
After examining a number of specimens, none of which, however, were so instructive as could be desired, the writer feels it necessary to unite the three so-called species Voltzia Phillipsii, Lind. and Hutt., Mucoides selaginoides, Sternb., and F. lycopo- doides, Sternb., the differences being so slight, that he is strongly persuaded they represent different parts of the same species.
The form named Lwcordes lycopodoides, according to M. Ad. Brongniart, strongly resembles those Caulerpas with distichous leaves, as C. pennata, Tourn., and C. taxifolia, Tourn.: it appears to differ from them simply in the leaves being larger, and less regularly arranged. The specimen of C. selaginoides figured in the ‘ Histoire des Végétaux Fossiles’ agrees in many respects with the C. selago.
Pinna (2) prisca, Minster, appears to be a compressed portion of the stem of Caulerpa (?) selaginoides. Fragments of a vegetable fossil occasionally occur in the Marl-slate strikingly resembling the figure in Count Minster’s ‘ Beitrage,’ and which it is difficult to conceive to be anything else but the remains of the stem of this plant. They are transversely barred, somewhat as in the fossil figured by Count Minster, a character which appears to be due to transverse cracks, resulting from the shrinking up of the (cellular ?) substance of which they were composed.
As Professor Sedgwick, in the Supplement to his paper (Trans. Geol. Soc. 2d series, vol. i, p. 239), doubts “the two vegetable impressions,” noticed by him elsewhere (Op. cit. pp. 77, 120), as being “two species of Fern,” it is suggested that one of them may have been the fossil under consideration: there can be little doubt, however, that at least one of them was a plant of this kind (vide Meuropteris fluttoniana).
Caulerpa (?) selaginoides occurs in the Marl-slate at Thrislington Gap, Midderidge (Sedgwick), Cornforth, Whitley, Cullercoats Bay, Brussleton, and Thickley, but nowhere is it very common. Geinitz records it as occurring in the equivalent rock (Kupferschiefer) at Mansfeld, Iimenau, and Reichelsdorf; and in the lower Zechstein of Corbusen, Germany. The so-called Pixna (?) prisca is stated to occur in the Kupferschiefer of Merzenberge near Gera, between Milbitz and Thieschiitz.’
' Brongniart, Histoire des Vegétaux Fossiles, p. 23, 1828.
2 A privately published lithograph appeared a few years since, representing a specimen of a gigantic Fucus, apparently of the genus Halymenia, found in the New Red Sandstone at Woodside, on the Mersey. As it is questionable whether this formation belongs to the upper division of the Permian system, or the inferior portion of the Trias, it has been deemed advisable to allude to this fossil only thus in- cidentally. For the same reason, a mere notice must suffice for the fucoids discovered by Mr. J. S. Dawes in probably the same formation, between Birmingham and Walsall. (Vide Report of the British Association, held at Manchester, 1842, p. 47; Transactions of the Sections.)
PLANTS. D
Class ACROGEN&, Ad. Brongniart, 1843.
ProtopHyta, Endlicher. CRYPTOGAMES VASCULARES, Ad. Brongniart. AcroGENs, Lindley.
Diagnosis.—* Stems and leaves distinguishable.’ (Lindley.)
This group, which differs from the last in possessing a vascular system, embraces the Mosses, Ferns, Lycopodiaceas, Hquisetaceas, and some other allied plants, all of which, with the exception of the first and last, are known to occur, or to have related to forms in the Permian system.
Sub-class FiricaLes, Lindley.
Diagnosis.— Vascular acrogens, with marginal or dorsal one-celled spore-cases, usually surrounded by an elastic ring ; and spores of only one kind.” (Lindley.)
Dr. Lindley divides Ferns into three orders: Ophioglossacee (Adders’ Tongues), Polypodiacee (ordinary Ferns), and Daneacee (Daneworts, tropical plants). The Permian species next to be described appears to belong to the second group.
Order POLYPODIACEA.
Diagnosis.—“ Spore-cases ringed, dorsal or marginal, distinct, splitting irregu- larly.’ (Lindley.)
Genus Neuropteris, Ad. Brongniart.
Diagnosis.—* Leaves bipinnate, or rarely pinnate; leaflets usually somewhat cordate at the base, neither adhering to each other, nor to the rachis, by their whole base, only by the middle portion of it; midrib vanishing at the apex; veins oblique, curved, very fine, dichotomous. ructification: sori lanceolate, even (covered with an indusium) arising from the veins of the apex of the leaflets, and often placed in the bifurcations.”* (Ad. Brongniart.)
This is an extinct genus of Ferns which abounded during the early ages of the world, as remains of it are very common in the coal formation: several species also occur in the Jurassic rocks; but only one is known to belong to the Permian deposits of Britain.
' The Vegetable Kingdom, p. 4, 1847.
2 Op. cit. p. 74.
ZOpy city pal 7S:
* Histoire des Végétaux Fossiles, p. 226; Fossil Flora, vol. i.
6 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
NevuROPTERIS HuTTonriAnA, King. Plate 1, Fig. 4.
(?) Onz or THE “Two sprctus oF Ferns’ cited by Sedgwick. Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2d series, vol. ii, p. 120, 1829, Nevuropreris Hutronrana, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848.
It is impossible to draw up a diagnosis of this Fern from the imperfect state in which it is generally found. The pinnules, of which only single or isolated examples appear to have been noticed, display the venation rather imperfectly: they resemble the pinnules of WVewropteris gigantea in form, at least, such as they are represented by Sternberg in the ‘ Flora der Vorwelt,’ pl. xxii; but the vems are wider apart, some- what as in WV. heterophylla. The form of the pmnules is somewhat oblong: they have an indistinct midrib: and the veins, several of which apparently rise from the base, become forked as they approach the margin.
Professor Sedgwick notices two Ferns in his paper, but it is suspected that the one not cited in the synonomy under the present head, and which has not yet occurred to the writer, is the Caulerpua (?) selaginoides, a view apparently sanctioned by what has already been stated under this species.
Neuropteris Huttoniana occurs sparingly at Thrislington Gap, Midderidge, Brussleton, and Kast Thickley, in the Marl-slate.’ |
Sub-class LycopoDALeEs, Lindley.
Diagnosis.—* Vascular acrogens, with axillary or radical one- or many-celled spore-cases, and spores of two sorts.” (Lindley.)
This group comprises the two orders Lycopodiacee and Marsilacee, to which it 1s proposed to add another, Lepsdodendracee, which is represented by several paleeozoic forms.
Order LEPIDODENDRACES, Sternberg.”
LEPIDODENDREA, Unger. SaGENARIACE®, Corda.
Diagnosis.—Arborescent plants having a stem, with a rather large pith, consisting of perpendicularly elongated parenchyma, and surrounded by a narrow, completely- closed cylinder (medullary sheath ?), composed of irregularly-arranged, striated vessels. Encircling the cylinder is a broad zone of spheroidal parenchyma, surrounded by
' A remarkable Fern (?), figured and described in the ‘Fossil Flora,’ vol. ii, p. 201, under the name of Dictyophyllum crassinervum, has been found in the (Permian or Trias?) New Red Sandstone, near Liverpool.
* The Vegetable Kingdom, p. 69, 1847.
8 Sternberg considered this a “ Family” group, which he named ‘‘ Lepidodendron.”’
PLANTS. 7
another zone of a similar but denser tissue: the whole inclosed by a cuticle of radiately-disposed parenchyma. Bundles of spiral or striated vessels pass off from the outside of the (?) medullary sheath into the leaves, the collective bases of which, in the form of lozenge-shaped prominences, cover the stem in quincuncial order. Bothrodendron, Lepidodendron, and some other forms, characterise the group.
Genus Lepidodendron, Sternberg.
Dagnosis.—“ Stems dichotomous, covered near their extremities by simple, linear, or lanceolate leaves, inserted upon rhomboidal areolz ; lower part of the stems leafless; areole (longer than broad) marked near their upper part by a minute scar, which is broader than long, and has three angles, of which the two lateral are acute, the lewer obtuse ; the latter sometimes wanting.”
The late investigations of Dr. Jos. Hooker on the fructification of Lepidodendron have completely demonstrated its lycopodal character,’ which had been rendered extremely probable by the previous researches of Lindley, Brongniart, and Morris, particularly by the latter, who, several years since, described and figured the tripartite spores of this genus, discovered by Mr. J. Prestwich in the coal formation of Coal Brook Dale.s Although the fructification of Lepidodendron agrees very closely with that of Lycopodium, the character of its tissues removes the genus not only from the latter, but favours both genera, being placed in distinct ordinal groups.
Lepidodendrons, in their foliage and external appearance, evidently bore a striking resemblance to some of our recent coniferous plants; but these are the only points of agreement, as their tissues and fructification place them in a much lower division of the vegetable kingdom. They may be said to have been gigantic Lycopodales, rivalling in stature and simulating in appearance some of the Conifers of existing forests.
LEPIDODENDRON (?)
LEPIDODENDRON, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848. — Howse. T. N. F. C. vol. i, p. 264, 1848.
Specimens of Lepidodendron are occasionally. found in the Lower New Red Sand- stone Quarry, between Westoe and South Shields. There is one in the Newcastle Museum from this locality; but it is so imperfect as to render the making out of its specific character an impossibility.
1 Fossil Flora, vol. i. 2 «Remarks on the Structure and Affinities of some Lepidostrobi,’”’ by Dr. Jos. Hooker, F.R.S., &c., inserted in the ‘Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain,’ &c. vol. ii, part ii, 1848. 3 Transactions of the Geological Society of London, 2d series, vol. v, pl. xxxviii, figs. 8, 9, 10.
(eo)
PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Sub-class CALAMITALES, King.
It is proposed to adopt provisionally a new group in which to include the extinct genus Calamites, which, from its histology and general aspect, does not appear to belong to any yet established. From what is known of the genus just named, the sub-class Calamitales may be characterised as consisting of plants having jointed stems and branches, with a distinct pith, surrounded by a ligneous (or ligneo-vascular) zone, which is intersected by medullary rays, and composed of striated vessels or tubes arranged . inradiating series. Considering the histological character just given, this group may, with some propriety, be separated from the class Acrogene, and placed among the Dicotyledons, as originally suggested by Dr. Lindley."
Genus Calamites, Suckow.
Diagnosis.—“ Stems jointed, regularly and closely furrowed, hollow, divided in- ternally at the articulations by a transverse diaphragm, covered with a thick cortical integument. (? Leaves verticillate, very narrow, numerous, and simple.)””
It is necessary to mention that the above diagnosis is incorrect so far as relates to the stems being “hollow.” From specimens in iron-stone nodules found in the collieries of St. Berain and St. Leger, M. Ad. Brongniart has arrived at the conclusion that the fossils termed Calamitea by Cotta, are in reality Calamites with the tissues mineralized. Mr. Dawes has also been fortunate in the discovery of specimens leading to the same conclusion.*
CALAMITES (7)
Catamites, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848. _— Howse. T. N. F. C. vol. i, p. 264, 1848.
A specimen resembling Calamites Mougeotu, now in the Newcastle Museum, was some years since found in the Lower New Red Sandstone Quarry, between Westoe and South Shields.
! Fossil Flora, vol. i, p. 53.
2 Tdem, vol. i.
3 «Observations sur la Structure interieure du Sigillaria elegans,” &c., in Archives du Muséum d’ Histoire Naturelle, tome 1.
4 The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. v, p. 31, 1848.
PLANTS. 9
Sub-class SIGILLARALES, King.
Diagnosis —Arborescent plants, having stems with a large pith encircled by a narrow striato-tubular (ligneous:) cylinder, the tissue of which is intersected by medullary rays, and arranged in radiating series. On the inner side of the cylinder is a (reticulated? ) medullary sheath, consisting of irregularly-arranged vessels. On the outside of the cylinder is a broad zone of cellular tissue, inclosed in a distinct cuticle. Bundles of spiral or striated vessels pass off from the medullary sheath, through the (ligneous:) cylinder, into the leaves, the collective scars of which (in the typical genus) are arranged in single rows on ribs, running longitudinally up the stem.’
The writer has not yet seen any reason for modifying the view which is advanced in his “ Contributions” respecting the affinities of S’gi//aria ; he is therefore led to place the present group between “ the highest vascular Cryptogams and the Cycadeous Gymnosperms.
Order SIGILLARIACE (Stigillariee), Corda.
Genus Sigillaria, Ad. Brongniart.
Diagnosis.—* Stem conical, deeply furrowed, not jointed; scars placed between the furrows in rows, not arranged in a distinctly spiral manner, smooth, much narrower than the intervals that separate them.”
Sigillarias have been trees, with a simple or branched stem, varying from twelve to a hundred feet in height, having large, wide-spreading, thickly-fibrilled roots (most probably Stigmaria), and apparently crowned with a pendant fern-like foliage (? certain species of Neuropteris).*
1 Vide Ad. Brongniart’s “Observations sur la Structure interieure du Sigillaria elegans,’ &c. in the ‘Archives du Muséum d’ Histoire naturelle,’ tome i; and the writer’s ‘‘ Contributions towards establishing the General Character of the Fossil Plants of the genus Sigillaria,” in the ‘ Edinburgh Philosophical Journal,’ vols. XXXVi, XXXVI, and xxxviil.
2 Edin. Phil. Journal, vol. xxxviil.
3 Fossil Flora, vol. i.
4 This is the view which the writer published in the ‘Edinburgh Philosophical Journal,’ in 1545. Respecting the much-debated point connected with the root, he read at a meeting of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-on-Tyne, in May 1842, a paper, one of the principal objects of which was to prove that ‘ Stigmaria, which has hitherto been considered a distinct plant, is nothing more than the root of Sigillaria.” (Vide Literary Gazette, June 18, 1842, p. 425.) Subsequently, and it is believed at the Cork meeting of the British Association, held in 1843, Mr. E. W. Binney first announced his discovery of Stigmaria oceupying the position of roots to Sigillaria, which induced the present writer to bring before the public, in the ‘ Edinburgh Philosophical Journal’ for October 1843, an outline of his own views as contained in the paper already referred to, the publication of which was commenced in the succeeding number, under the title of ‘Contributions towards establishing the General Character of the Fossil Plants of the genus Sigillaria.” It is necessary to mention these
b
10 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
SIGILLARIA (?) SreILLaria, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848.
Specimens of the genus under consideration occasionally occur in the Lower New Red Sandstone Quarry between South Shields and Westoe, but they are so very imperfect as to render it impossible to say whether or not they belong to any species identical with those found in the immediately subordinate Coal-measure beds.’
facts, as they appear to have been entirely overlooked by almost every one who has written of late on the subject. It may be added, that the writer does not think any evidence has yet come to light proving positively that Stigmaria is the root of Sigillaria: all that can be safely said is, that there are very strong evidences in its favour: this is the view which he advocated in the “Contributions,” although a more decided one was taken in his previously published notices.
' From the occurrence of true Coniferous Gymnosperms in the Carboniferous rocks of England, one is induced to believe in the existence of this section of plants in the same geographical area during the Permian epoch. Some years ago, the Rev. Dr. Buckland read a paper at a meeting of the Geological Society, ‘‘On the Occurrence of Silicified Trunks of Large Trees in the New Red Sandstone Formation, or Poikilitic Series, at Allesly, near Coventry” (vide Proceedings of the London Geological Society, vol. ii, pp. 439-40), sections of which displayed the true discigerous vessels of Coniferous wood. Is the Allesly Sandstone Permian or Triassic ?
The ‘small fragments of carbonized wood,” and ‘carbonaceous matter apparently derived from vegetable fossils,” noticed by Professor Sedgwick as occurring in “the Marl and Blue Shelly Limestone- beds of Palterton and Bolsover” (vide Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond., 2d series, vol. ii, pp. 81, 120), require to be alluded to in the present place. Perhaps the “many,” “long,” ‘‘ compressed cylindrical stems, about one inch and a half in diameter, but without any external markings to indicate their origin,” seen by the same gentleman (Op. cit., 2d series, vol. iii, pp. 107, 120), traversing the low beds in Welsea Quarry, between Nosterfield and Well, are the remains of Fucoids,—probably Cawlerpa selaginoides.
ANIMALS.
Or the five primary divisions into which the Animal Kingdom may be divided, namely, Spongia, Radiata, Articulata, Mollusca, and Vertebrata, the whole had repre- sentatives during the remote period, the Natural History of which, pertaining to a limited area, it is proposed to describe in the present Monograph.
SuB-KINGDOM SPONGIA, Auct.
Xzoyyos, Aristotle.
Sponera (Genus), Linneus. CERATOPHYTA SPONGIOSA, Schweigger. Portrera (Class), Grant.
Sponerapm, Mleming.
Amorrpuozoa, Blainville.
SPONGIAIRES (Family), Milne Edwards. GELATINIFERA, Hogg.
Diagnosis.—“‘ Organized bodies growing in a variety of forms, permanently rooted, unmoving and unirritable, fleshy, fibro-reticular, or irregularly cellular, elastic and bibulous, composed of a fibro-corneous axis or skeleton, often interwoven with siliceous or calcareous spicula, and containing an organic gelatine in the interstices and interior canals; reproduction by gelatinous granules generated in the interior, but in no special organ.”
Dr. Grant, to whom naturalists are much indebted for some interesting particulars on Sponges, divides the group into the three orders—/Hahmida (with siliceous spicula), Leuconida (with calcareous spicula), and Keratosa (consisting principally of horny species) ;> but, as it is not yet ascertained to which of these groups the Sponges hereafter noticed belong, it is deemed advisable to waive all discussion on the several interesting points involved in the consideration, and to pass on to the genera to which they appear to belong, taking simply their external characters as the means of identification. It may be premised, that Mr. Bowerbank has demonstrated the
! Dr. Johnston, A History of British Sponges and Lithophytes, p. 78, 1842.
2 British Annual and Epitome of the Progress of Science for 1838, p. 267. In addition to the orders proposed by Dr. Grant, the singular genus Dysidea, Johnston, (“spongious, with imbedded inorganic grains of sand,’’) may hereafter be considered as the type of another order,
12 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
existence of Halinidas or Sponges with siliceous spicula in the Greensand ;’ and lately, Mr. Lonsdale has described a genus (Conis, a granulo-calcareous Sponge) belonging to the order Leuwconida, from the same formation.”
Genus Scyphia, Oken.
Diagnosis.—“ Stirps affixa, cava, simplex vel subramosa, cylindracea, ore aperto, e fibris reticulatis.”* (Goldfuss.)
This genus, which is typified by the recent Spongia fistularis, Esper, embraces Sponges “ with a reticulated tissue, and whose general form resembles a cylindrical or ex- panded tube, terminated by a large opening.”* Goldfuss has figured several Jurassic species.
ScyPHIA TUBERCULATA, King. Plate I, figs. 1 and 2.
ScyPHIa TUBERCULATA, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848.
Diagnosis.—Form cylindrical. Surface tuberculated. With an axial excurrent canal, from which several smaller ones strike off to the surface; the superficial tubercles forming their apertures.
This Sponge appears to be scarce. It occurs in the Shelly Limestone at Humbleton Hill and Dalton-le-Dale.
Genus Mammillopora, Bronn.
Lymnorea, Lamouroux.
Diagnosis.—“ Masses mammillated, finely porous and reticulated, agglomerated within a common calciform, wrinkled, adherent base.’”
This genus was originally proposed by Lamouroux, whose name Lymnorea being preoccupied, Bronn was led to replace it in his ‘ Pflanzenthiere’ and ‘ Lethzea’ by the one herein adopted. The above diagnosis, from the ‘ Penny Cyclopzedia,’ has been used in preference to the one in German given by this author.
MAMMILLOPORA MAMMILLARIS, A7zvg. Plate II, figs. 3 and 4.
MANON MAMMILLARIS, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848.
Diagnosis.—Form mammillary polymorphous. Pores minute and polygonal. This Sponge has some resemblance to the Jurassic Mammuillopora protogea, Bronn
1 Proceedings of the Geological Society of London, vol. iii, p. 280.
2 Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. v, part i, pp. 63-6.
3 Petrefacta, Heft i, p. 4.
4 Milne Edwards, in Lamarck’s ‘ Animaux sans Vertébres,’ vol. ii, p. 578, 2d edition, 1836. > Penny Cyclopeedia, vol. xxii, p. 376.
ANIMALS. 13
(Lymnorea mamuullosa, Lamouroux), but it does not display the large oscula on the summit of the mammille, characteristic of the latter. The want of large excurrent openings in this species has caused its removal from the genus Jd/axon, in which it was formerly placed.
Mammillopora mammillaris occurs sparingly in the Shelly Limestone at Humbleton Hill.
Genus Zragos, Schweigger.
Diagnosis.—* Stirps e fibris densis, subgelatinosis ; superficies ostiolis distinctis.””
(Schweigger.)
The type of this genus is the A/cyonium incrustans of Esper, which belongs to the order Halinida. There is considerable doubt as to whether the following two Sponges ought to be placed in it.
TRAGOsS TUNSTALLENSIS, King. Plate II, fig. 5.
Diagnosis.—Form irregularly infundibular. Swmmit expanded and slightly exca- vated. Margin of the cavity irregularly lobed. Outer surface uneven. Substance fibrous, with numerous, small, excurrent passages.
The usual size of this Sponge is half an inch in height, and three quarters in width. In its fibrous texture it resembles the Zragos patella, figured by Bronn in the ‘Lethzea Geognostica,’ pl. xvi, fig. 3.
It is occasionally found in the Shelly Magnesian Limestone at Tunstall Hill.
Tracos Binneyi, A7ng. Plate II, fig. 6.
Diagnosis.—Infundibuliform ; slightly excavated at the summit. Swrface porous, and irregularly tuberculated.
This is a larger species than the last, occasionally measuring an inch and a half in width, and two inches in height. It appears to have been variable in its relative proportions, as some specimens are much less in height than in width; they have somewhat the appearance, however, of having been depressed by superincumbent pressure. None of the specimens examined show any excurrent openings on the outside, but it is suspected that these, as in many recent cup-shaped Sponges, were situated within the cavity: this part, however, is in general so filled up with mineral matter and casts of shells, that it is impossible to offer any decided opinion on this pomt. Where the outside is pretty clear of the investing mineral matter, there may be seen a few small pores, which, it may be safely concluded, were the openings of the
' Handbuch der Naturgeschichte der Skelettlosen ungegliederten Thiere, p. 422, 1820.
14 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
incurrent canals. The figure of this Sponge is reduced to half the size of the original specimen.
Mr. KE. W. Binney, to whom I have much pleasure in dedicating this Sponge, has obtained several examples from the Red Marls at Bedford, ten miles west of Manchester, where it appears to be not uncommon.
Genus Bothroconis,’ King.
Diagnosis—A creeping sponge. Surface pitted. bres irregularly reticulated. Excurrent openings minute. Type, Bothroconis plana, King.
Being unacquainted with the chemical composition of its skeleton, I have nothing to offer regarding the affinities of this genus, except the suggestion, that it may be related to the Conis’ of Mr. Lonsdale.
BoTHROCONIS PLANA, K?ing. Plate II, figs. 7, 7a.
Diagnosis.—A flat, wide-spreading Bothroconis. Pits cup-shaped, one sixteenth of an inch in diameter. Interstitial areas a little less than the pits in width.
The specimen from which figures 7, 7a, have been taken, is spread over an irregular surface about six inches in diameter, but owing to long exposure to atmospheric and other abrading influences, it is only in a few hollow, and consequently less exposed parts, where the characters are preserved with any distinctness. The magnified representation under figure 7a, Plate II, exhibits the regularly-margined, cup-shaped pits (z); and the irregularly-reticulated intervening areas, furnished with pores (4), which I am strongly disposed to regard as openings of the excurrent canals. This species appears to be related to the larger Mydnopora (2) cyclostoma of Phillips, (vide Geol. Yorksh., vol. u, pl. ui, figs. 9, 10.)
I have only been able to find this interesting Sponge in the Shell-limestone at Tunstall Hill.’
' Etym. BoOpos, fovea ; and xéms, pulvis.
2 The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol. v, pp. 55-66, June, 1848.
° Mr. Jones informs me that he has found in the Shell-limestone of Tunstall Hill a minute Sponge (’), globular, and irregularly pitted, of about 1, inch diameter.
ANIMALS. 15
Class FoRAMINIFERA, D’Orbigny.!
Synonyms. Navutri1 et OrrHocerata, Auct. prior.
PoLyTHALAMA, CrEpHALoPoDA, Lamarck. 1812. Extrait de son Cours.
— ve, MunriiocuLa, CepnaLopopa, Latreille. 1825. Fam. nat. du Réegne
Animal. CELLULACEA ET POLYTHALAMACEA, —_ Blainville. 1825. Manuel de Malacol. ASIPHONOIDEA, CepHALopopA, De Haan. 1825. Monograph. Ammonit. FoRAMINIFERA, — D Orbigny. 1825. Annal. des Sciences nat., tom. vii, 1826." — — Cuvier. 1828. Regne Animal., édit. nouv.
SYMPLECTOMERES, RuizopopEs, PotytHaLamta, Bryozoa, Ehrenberg. 1838. Abhand. der Akad. Berl. Foraminirergs, “entre les Echinoderms et les Polypiers,” D’ Orbigny. 1846. Foraminif.
} Inrusorres, Dayjardin. 1835. Annal. des Sciences nat., sec. sér.
foss. Vienne. FoRAMINIFERA, “immediately above the Porifera,” Williamson. 1849. Trans. Microscop. Soce., vol. ii.
A group of minute, shelled animals, belonging tothe sub-kingdom Acrita; marine, inhabiting sea weeds and the sea bottom; generally free, but sometimes attached to shells, corals, &c.
Animal gelatinous,’ occupying a calcareous shell, which is formed of a succession of cells or chambers, arranged in a straight, spiral, or agglomerated manner. The cells communicate one with another either by one or more apertures,* or by a narrow neck or tube, through which the animal matter is continued from cell to cell.’ The cells are either separate from each other, or more or less envelope one another. The later cells are progressively larger than the earlier cells. The shell is generally perforated with foramina’ for the passage of retractile filaments (pseudopodia).
The occurrence of Foraminifera in the Permian Formation not having hitherto been
1 By Mr. T. Rupert Jongs.
* M. d’Orbigny’s researches in the natural history of this group were commenced in 1819. The paper containing his Tableau des Céphalopodes was read in 1825, and published in the Ann. Se. nat. for 1826.
3 Like the substance of Hydra. The presence of a stomach is doubtful.
* Hence the appellation ‘‘ Foraminifera.”
° Each new articulation of the animal being produced by gemmiparous generation from the aperture at the extremity of the preceding cell, and each cell being a repetition of the former cells, the character of the connexion between the cells is shown by the external orifice of the last cell.
6 With regard to the perforated appearance of many of the Foraminifera, especially the hyaline species, I would observe that the apparent apertures, as shown by transmitted light, are really, when seen by reflected light, merely punctations or thinned doubly-concave spaces in the shell. In the investing coats of the Nummulite, which appear to be perforated with minute tubules, the separate flakes, when favorably mounted, are seen to be imperforate, but bearing innumerable and scarcely-separated transparent spots ; and these, when the coats are arranged one on another, are placed in so regular an order from within out- wards, that in an oblique section, fine transparent lines resulting therefrom give the whole shell the
16 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
noticed, and twelve species only having been described as belonging to the earlier strata,’ the few species which we now bring forward may perhaps be regarded as of some interest. The presence of so few species of this group in the early formations tends to strengthen the remark made by M. dOrbigny, that the Foraminifera appear to have been subject toa somewhat regular progression both in character and number, the simple forms occurring in the early formations, and that but rarely, and the most complicated not appearing until the cretaceous, tertiary, and recent epochs, and then with profusion. Further observations, however, by increasing our knowledge of the microzoa of the paleeozoic rocks, may perhaps somewhat modify this interesting hypothesis.
Of the two genera, Dentalina and Textularia, found in the Magnesian Limestone, the first (a simple form) is the most common, and is locally abundant; the latter (a more advanced or complex form) is stated by M. d’Orbigny to appear for the first time in the Neocomian series. Prof. Ehrenberg, however, in March 1843 (Monats-Bericht Berl. Akad.), described a Textularia of the Russian Carboniferous rocks, and Mr. Phillips has pointed out the existence of this genus both in the Mountain-limestone, and the Oolite of Yorkshire, and we have now two species to add from the Permian group.
The specimens under notice were obtained from some thin calcareous slabs, occurring on the sea coast near Byers’ Quarry, between Sunderland and South Shields, composed of a hard gray crystalline Limestone, with an uneven surface, here and there exhibiting a covering of fine calcareous grit. The latter, almost if not quite as hard and compact as the crystallme Limestone, had been subjected to the action of the waves and weather, and afforded casts and shells of Mollusca, Entomostraca, and Foraminifera standing in relief, and more or less perfectly preserved. The crystalline Limestone also afforded, on fracture, many specimens of Entomostraca, and probably may have been as rich in organic remains as the less altered gritty covering.
Besides the species figured, a few other less distinct forms occurred in this Lime- stone, as well as in a more friable and yellowish stone from Humbleton and Tunstall Hill.
appearance of being tubuliferous. The structure of the outer rim, however, of the Nummulite, and some other genera, may be truly tubular or foraminated, admitting the passage of pseudopodia. In Textularia, Valvulina, Bulimina, and others, in which the shell is not hyaline, but opaque and friable, the thinned or transparent spaces in the shell are fewer, and very irregular in size and distribution; and here tubular structure, both apparent and real, is altogether absent, as also in the Agathistegia, in which the shell is still more homogeneous and opaque.
1 The Carboniferous Limestones of Russia. (See Geol. Russia, vol. ii, p. 382.) Evidences of Foraminifera were observed in Mountain-limestone by Messrs. Tennant and Darker in 1839, and by Mr. Lonsdale in 1840, but the genera were not ascertained; and Mr. Phillips, both in 1841 (Palzeoz. Foss. Devon., p. 153) and in 1846 (Remains of Micros. Anim., Yorkshire, p. 5), refers to the presence of Foraminifera in the Mountain-limestone, and in the Devonian and Silurian rocks. See also Mr. Williamson’s paper on some Microscopic Objects, &c. (Manchest. Mem., 1847, p. 88). Anadditional species, Nodosaria fusuliniformis, has been noticed by Prof. M‘Coy in the Carb. Limestone of Tyrone (Ann. Nat. Hist., 1849).
ANIMALS. 17
Order SticHostEeta, D’Orbigny. Genus Dentalina, D’Orb.
Generic characters.—Shell elongate, conical, equilateral, slightly curved; formed of a series of chambers, more or less globose, arranged end to end, on a single axis. Aperture small, round, on apex of the last chamber.
No. ]. DENTALINA PERMIANA, 706. ‘Tab. VI, fig. 1. Length, an Thickness, =45 Shell formed of about nine smooth, oval cells. The early cells subglobose, the later cells longer than broad. Last cell somewhat beaked. Sutures shallow. Not rare, both in the young and adult state, at Byers’ Quarry. Several species of Dentalina approach this form, especially D. elegans, D’Orb. (tertiary), Foram. foss. Vienne, p. 45, n. 21, tab. i, figs. 52-6, and D. gracilis, D’Orb. (cretaceous), Mém. Soc. Géol. France, tom. iv, 1" partie, p. 14, n. 4, tab. i, fig. 5.
No. 2. DENTALINA Kine@I1, 206. Tab. VI, figs. 2, 3. INCH. Length, 35 Thickness, =35
Shell formed of about eight globose cells, each bearmg ten to twelve ribs. Sutures excavated.
Of frequent occurrence, at Byers’ Quarry.
D. Kingit is very similar to D. multicostata, D’Orb. (cretaceous), Mém. Soc. Géol. France, tom. iv, 1 partie, p. 15, n. 8, tab. i, figs. 14, 15; which latter, however, has more than double the number of ribs. This form is closely allied to that of Nodosaria sulcata, Nilss. (cretaceous), WVod. elegans, Miinst. (tertiary), Nautilus obliquus, Gualt. (recent), JV. jugosus, Montag. (recent), and od. Rapa, D’Orb. (recent).
No. 3. DENTALINA (?) Tab. VI, fig. 4. Length, a0 Thickness, 45 Crystalline and transparent cast of shell formed of two oval, oblique cells ; last cell beaked; each cell marked with a diagonal fold, as if it were a tube bent on itself. We have met with three instances of this anomalous fossil, in the same locality as the last.
18 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Order ENALLOSTEGIA, D’Orbigny.
Genus Zextularia, Defrance.
Generic characters.—Shell conical or wedge-shaped, equilateral, formed of. cells arranged (like a band of hair) alternately, on the same plane and on two distinct parallel axes. Aperture semilunar, on the inner side of the last cell.
No. 1. TextuLartiaA Triticum, xob. Tab. VI, fig. 5.
Length, ai.
Thickness, =45
Shell conical, somewhat flattened on two of its sides; its horizontal section oval ; composed of nine subglobose cells. Sutures deeply sulcated. This species is found at Byers’ Quarry; rare.
No. 2. TEXTULARIA CUNEIFORMIS, 06. Tab. VI, fig. 6.
INCH. 1 Length, <4
Thickness, +45
Shell wedge-shaped, having four equal sides; composed of fourteen to sixteen flattened cells. Sutwres shallow.
We have seen three or four specimens of this species from Byers’ Quarry. A very similar form occurs in the Gault of Folkstone.
Genus Spirillina, Ehrenberg.
Gen. char —Microscopic shell, spiral, orbicular, porous, hyaline, smooth. (Ehrenb.)
After the execution of the plates, Mr. King found in the Shell-limestone at Tunstall Hill a specimen of a spiral shell, apparently identical with Sperdlina, Khrenb.
The specimen is a horizontal section, 3,inch diameter, having six volutions, and without any traces of septa.
The alliances of this little Serpula-like shell are at present uncertain. Professor Ehrenberg and Mr. Williamson have noticed similar shells in the recent state, and Mr. Strickland a species from the Lias.
ANIMALS. 19
In his paper on the “ Recent Polythalamia and Infusoria of North and South America,”’ Professor Ehrenberg has placed amongst the Polygastrica a_ spiral, foraminated, unchambered, six-whorled shell, from Vera Cruz, with the above-cited characteristics. The specimen having several young shells within it (passim testulis pullis foeta), received the appellation of Sp. vivipara. Mr. Williamson, in his paper on “Some of the Microscopical Objects found in the Mud of the Levant, &c.,’’? notices and figures a minute, spiral, transparent Foraminifer, having no trace of septa, which, except that it contams no young shells, appears to be identical with Professor Khrenberg’s species ; and at page 87 Mr. Williamson notices how closely the specimens he has seen resemble the one found by the Rev. P. B. Brodie in the Lias, and figured and described by Mr. Strickland, in the ‘Geol. Journal,’ vol. 11, p. 30, as Ordzs enfimus.
We have from the Lias a cast in pyrites of this little spiral shell, 3, mch diameter, one surface concave, the other nearly flat, composed of six volutions partially covermg one another, convex on their outer, and concave on their inner or enveloping surface ; a portion of the shell, soft, white, and apparently destitute of foramina, is still adherent, especially between the volutions; the pyrites in the inner whorls is somewhat mammillated, and has some irregular transverse scormgs, but no decided evidence of septa exists.
A specimen from the Miocene Sand of Bordeaux, j inch diameter, has six sub- cylindrical volutions, with a central space, and (mounted im balsam) exhibits an appearance that at first sight seems to be the result of concamerations ; but on closer examination, the outer wall of the volutions that have been covered by the external whorls seems to be perforated by large pear-shaped passages; this appearance is more visible on one (the concave) surface than on the other (the flat) surface of the shell, and is the result of surface-markings. The flat surface is sub-concentrically marked with coarse, rounded punctations, and the concave surface bears a,series of large pear- shaped pits’ along the sutures of the volutions, anda cluster of punctations on the central space. The shell of this individual is not foraminated as Professor Ehrenberg’s and Mr. Williamson’s specimens are described to be.*
Although, according to these authors, the shell of the recent specimens is more or less perforated with foramina, that is, beset with transparent points,’ a character generally found amongst these microscopic, shelled Acrita, yet the absence of septa, or rather of the evidence of this little microzoon having been built up of a succession
1 Abhand. Konig. Akad. Wissenschaft. Berlin, 1841, p. 442.
2 Page 45, pl. ii, fig. 34, printed from the Manchester Lit. Scient. Soc. Mem. 1847.
3 Formed apparently by regular depressions on the enveloping edge of the investing whorl.
4 It is just possible, however, that transparent pittings have been regarded as foramina in these as in other instances. (See note 6, page 15.)
° For the same reason, viz. its punctated surface, the Bordeaux specimen has some claim to an alliance with the Foraminifera.
20 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
of individual cells, a mode of structure still more characteristic of Moraminifera, D’Orb. (Polythalamia, Ehren.), is very inimical to the classing of Spirillina with the Foraminifera.
Professor Ehrenberg has placed Sp. vivipara among the Polygastrica, but to this group it appears even more strange than to the Foraminifera.
The further examination, however, of recent specimens will probably decide to what family this minute organism really belongs. In the mean time we may direct observation to the fact of the existence of the genus, and probably the same species, not only in the recent state (in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean) and in the super-cretaceous deposits (Bordeaux), but also in the Lias and the Magnesian Limestone. Although so like a Serpula in its form, the fact of its occurring in these various deposits strongly militates against its being an Annelid, and places it amongst such low organisms as Polygastrica or Polythalamia, which preserve generic and even specific characters throughout very many geological epochs.
SuB-k1INGpom RADIATA, Cuvier.
ZOOPHYTES, Auct.
This portion of the Animal Kingdom is divisible into five classes, viz.: Jnfusoria, Entozoaria, Malactinia, Polyparia, and Echinodermata, the last two of which are only known as members of the Permian Fauna.’
Class Potyparta (Les Polypes*), Lamarck, 1801.
The latest writers on this group divide it into what may be termed two sub-classes, viz. Nudibrachiata and Cilobrachiata, respectively characterised by the absence or presence of cilia on the tentacles or brachial appendages surrounding the oral aperture
1 [ have adhered throughout this Monograph to the law of priority only as regards the names of species, genera, and families. With respect to higher groups, I have used such names for them as appear to be the most suitable, and I have often altered the value of the groups on which such names have been imposed : thus Blainville’s name Palliobranchiata is more scientifically correct than Cuvier’s Brachiopoda ; besides, it is expressive of the great distinguishing character of the group to which it belongs. Blainville’s name has therefore been preferred, though the value of the group of Molluscs, to which the author of the ‘Manuel de Malacologie’ applied it, has been raised to the rank it holdsin the Cuvierian system.
* Les Polypes ‘ont été ainsi nommés, parce que les tentacles qui entourent leur bouche ces font un
peu ressembler au poulpe, que les anciens appelaient polypus.’’—Cuvier, Régne Animal, tome iii, p. 289, 1830.
ANIMALS. 21
of the polyps. The first sub-class may be conveniently divided into two orders, Hydroida and Actinoida ; but the second does not as yet appear to be resolvable into more than one, for which it is intended.to use in a popular sense the name Aryozoa, originally proposed for the group itself by Ehrenberg. In the first and lowest order, Hydroida, digestion is performed by the secretion of a simple sac excavated in the gelatinous and granular substance of the animal’s body. In the second, Actinoida, the digestive sac, which, like the first, throws out the rejectamenta by the same aperture as that which receives the nutriment, is suspended by a series of vertical folds of membrane, in a distinct abdominal cavity, to the outer parietes of the body. In the sub-class Ciliobrachiata, the alimentary canal, which is likewise suspended loosely in an abdominal cavity, is provided with a distinct mouth and outlet.’
It is uncertain whether the whole of the orders just noticed have representatives amongst the Corals hereafter to be described. There are strong objections to any of them being considered as Hydroidas; but there is nothing to oppose the placing of most of them in the other divisions.
Sub-class NUDIBRACHIATA, Farre.
Waiving the /ydroida, for the reason just stated, it is proposed to pass at once to the order Actinoida established by Dana, who divides it into two sub-orders, Actinaria and Alcyonaria.
Sub-order ACTINARIA, Dana, 1847.
ZOOCORALLIA POLYACTINEA, Lhrenberg. Zoantua, Blainville.
Les ZoantTArReEs, Audouin et Milne Edwards. ZoopuHyta HELIANTHOIDA, Johnston.
Diagnosis.—“< Tentacles six, twelve, or more m number, not papillose (with few exceptions), and perforate at the apex; often coralligenous ; coralla calcareous, very rarely corneous, cells radiate with lamelle.’”” (Dana.)
The members of this division are represented on the British coasts by the naked Actinias or Sea Anemones, everywhere distributed on our rocks; by the single species Zoanthus Couch, which seems to be confined “to the Cornish part of the British Channel ;” and by a few forms of lamelliferous Corals rarely to be met with in northern
' Vide Owen’s Lectures on the Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Invertebrate Animals, p. 82. * Structure and Classification of Zoophytes, p. 113, 1847.
22 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
seas.' The Madrepores, Astreas, Fungias, and other calcareous forms so abundant in warmer climates, are familiar productions of Actinarian Zoophytes.
The animal is generally of a cylindrical form; often crowned with a large number of naked, tubular tentacles, encircling a single contractile orifice, which serves the double purpose of an ingress and egress opening. The orifice leads into a short gullet, terminating in a large digestive cavity, which is lmed with numerous vertical membranous folds, constituting, apparently, the principal seat of reproduction. These folds are supported by the radiating plates to be seen in Astreas and Fungias, and in the figure of Calophyllum Donatianum given in Plate III, fig. 1.
Family CYATHOPHYLLID#, Dana.
Diagnosis—“ Coralligenous, the corallum of: each polyp, internally at middle, usually transversely or obliquely cellular.”? (Dana.)
This family embraces a number of Paleozoic genera, such as Cyathophyllum, Strombodes, and the one next to be noticed.
Genus Calophyllum, Dana.
Potycmiia, King.
Diagnosis.—* Quite simple, caliculato-ramose, or aggregate. Corallum within transversely septate; cells concave, regularly stellate; no internal dissepiments between the lamellz and the sides of the corallum, therefore not cellular.” (Dana.)
At the time I published the paper “‘ On some Families and Genera of Corals,” in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History,’ 2d series, vol. iii, April, 1849, I was not aware that Mr. Dana had previously established a genus under the name of Calophyllum corresponding to my Polycelia, typified by a Permian Coral, which had been originally named Turbinolia Donatiana.
Both genera being evidently the same, I readily adopt the name which belongs to it by right of priority; but lest it should hereafter be found necessary to subdivide the genus as given by Mr. Dana, it has been deemed necessary to repeat the diagnosis of Polycelia as published in the ‘ Annals.’
“‘ A (?) simple Cyathophyllidia. orm conical. Walls solid. Primary vertical plates converging to within a short distance of the centre. Secondary vertical plates reaching
1 Dr. Johnston, in his ‘ History of British Zoophytes,’ 2d edition, notices four genera of British lamel- liferous Corals, viz. Pocillopora, Oculina, Turbinolia, and Caryophyllia. With regard to Oculina, on the occurrence of which m our seas there has been considerable doubt, a brief account by the writer is given, in the ‘Annals of Natural History,’ vol. xix, p. 279, of a beautiful specimen of the species O. prolifera, measuring eleven inches in diameter, which was brought up off the coast of Shetland, where
it had undoubtedly been living. 2 Structure and Classification of Zoophytes, p. 115.
ANIMALS. 23
about half way to the centre. Transverse plates horizontal, at irregular distances from each other, and extending quite across the cavity. Chambers or lamellar interspaces capacious compared with those of other Cyathophyllidias. Meproduction within the polypiferous cup.
“Type, Zurbinolia Donatiana, King, ‘Catalogue of the Organic Remains of the Permian Rocks of Northumberland and Durham,’ p. 6.
“This genus differs from most Cyathophylide in its structural characters ; but it appears to be nearest related to Cyathophyllum, taking as its type the (?) tri-areal C. plicatum of Goldfuss, which is the first species described under the genus. (Vide “Petrefacta,’ pl. xv, fie. 12.)"*
It may be added, that the difference just alluded to consists in the absence, in Calophyllum, of a distinct vesicular axis or central area, and a vesicular wall or outer area. The genus is strictly uni-areal in its structure, possessing, m an unusually developed form, merely the intermediate area of transverse and vertical plates found in most of its associated genera.
CALOPHYLLUM DonatianuM, King. Plate III, fig. 1. TurBINoLIA Donatiana, King. Catalogue, p. 6, 1848.
Diagnosis.—A Calophyllum: vermiform: gradually enlarging from the base upwards: transversely wrinkled and longitudinally striated on the outside. Vertical plates dense and somewhat apart from each other: primaries four; secondaries sixteen. Zransverse plates horizontal, rather thick, and at irregular distances from each other. Polypiferous cell shallow.
This Coral bears a striking resemblance to Count Mimster’s Cyathophyllum radice- forme (Beitrage, Heft 4, pl. 1), found in the calcareous Marl-beds of St. Kassian, in the Tyrol.
The specimen figured, which is the only one of the species known to me, was procured at Humbleton Hill, in the upper bed of Shell-limestone.
PreTRAIA, Miinster.? TURBINOLOPSIS (FUNGITES), Phillips. CYATHOPHYLLUM (PROFUNDUM), Greinitz. SrrepropLasmMa, Hall.
Diagnosis.—“ Polyparium unattached, undivided, conical, deeply concave (hypo- crateriform) on the lamelliferous surface. Lamellee denticulated on the edges, plain on the sides, alternately long and short. External surface more or less striated longitudinally in correspondence with the lamella, and marked by annular lines of growth.” (Phillips.)
! Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 2d series, vol. iii, p. 388. 2 Beitrage, Heft i, p. 64.
24 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
The original description, which appeared in the ‘ Beitriige,’ of Petraia being so imperfect,—Count Minster having drawn it up under the belief that he was describing a genus of Gasteropodous shells,—I have been compelled to adopt the diagnosis given by the author of the ‘ Palzeozoic Fossils of Cornwall, &c.’' The views, too, of Professor Phillips on the analogies of this genus may very appropriately follow as a pendant. “In the single unattached mass and denticulated lamellae of unequal lengths, we see the closest analogy with Fungia and Turbinolia (with the latter of which they have been commonly united) ; while the deeply concave, lamelliferous disc and the absence of horizontal septa seem to give generic peculiarity. The lamelle are not granular on their sides.”
The genus is not known to occur in a recent state: all the species that have been described belong to the Palaeozoic formations, unless we include in it the Anthophyllum venustum of Minster found in the (?) Triassic beds of St. Kassian.
PETRAIA PROFUNDA, Germar. Plate ILI, fig. 2.
(?) Astr#A PEDICULATA, D. Phillips, Encye. Met. vol. vi, p. 615, 1834. (?) A Lameuirerous Coral, Phillips. Lardner’s Cycl. Geology, vol. i, p. 190, 1837. CYATHOPHYLLUM PROFUNDUM, Germar. Versteinerungen, p. 37, 1840. — — PA Geinitz, N. Jahrbuch, 1842, p. 579, pl. x
fig. 14a. — — a Geinitz, Geea, von Sachsen, p. 98, 1843. = — 55 De Verneuil, Bull. Soc. Geol. France, 2™ série,
vol. i, p. 23, 1844. PreTrata N.S., King. De Verneuil, Op. cit. — — » Geol. Russ. vol. i, p. 221, 1845. CYATHOPHYLLUM PROFUNDUM, Germar. Op. cit. PETRAIA DENTALIS, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848. CARYOPHYLLIA QUADRIFIDA, Howse. 'T. N. F. C. vol. i, p. 260, 1848. CYATHOPHYLLUM PROFUNDUM, Germar. Geinitz, Versteinerungen, p. 17, pl. vii, fig. 7, 1848.
Diagnosis.—* Form conical, and slightly curved. Cavity deep, and longitudinally furrowed. Plates of two lengths ; the longest five or more in number, plain edged (? ) and reaching half way to the centre; the shortest from one to four in number. Lamellar interspaces with two very finely-denticulated, slightly prominent ridges.”
The following description of Petraca profunda is copied from Geinitz :
“ Umgekehrt lang-kegelformig mit tief herabgehender konischer Mindung. Die starken Liangslinien der Oberflache, deren man auf einer Halfte oben gegen fiinfzehn zihlt, werden unregelmassig und hausig durch concentrische erhdete und vertiefte Wachsthumsringe und Linien unterbrochen. Das untere Ende des Ganzen ist gewohnlich etwas seitwirts gebogen. Die Miindung geht bis zur Mitte der Hohe,
1 Paleozoic Fossils of Cornwall, &e., p. 1. 2 King, Catalogue, p. 5, 1848.
ANIMALS. 25
sogar noch tiefer herab. Die Vertheilung der Querlamellen, deren in der Mitte der Lange etwa 24 vorhanden sind, ist nicht ganz regelmassig. In einem durchbrochenen Exemplare stehen die vier bis zur Axe laufenden fast im Kreuz, und zwischen ihnen fiinf oder sechs klemere, welche auch ziemlich abwechselnd kleiner und grosser sind.”?
The beautiful specimen figured by Geinitz, and from which the above description is taken, is conical, with the lower or poimted end slightly curved: the aperture is very deep, occupying the upper half of the specimen, or more: externally it is longitudinally striated, and transversely rugose. The plates, of which there are in all about twenty-four, vary inlength: there are four long plates dividing the Coral into as many compartments, each of which contains five or six short ones. The specimen measures about an inch and a half in length.
The specimen represented in Plate III, fig. 2, is a broken cast: but I am enabled to make out some characters in addition to those given by Geinitz. The original was of a conical form; slightly curved; with a deep cup, longitudinally furrowed on its inner surface; and several longitudinal plates of two lengths: the longest, about five in number, reached half way to the centre; the shortest are placed between the others, in sets of from one to four, making in all about sixteen plates. The cast shows, by means of a magnifier, that the lamellar mterspaces were each furnished with two very finely-denticulated, slightly prominent ridges; but I have not been able to satisfy myself of the existence of marginal denticles on the plates. The Coral called by Count Minster Anthophyllum venustum, from the St. Kassian beds, offers a close resemblance to it.
Petraia profundais a rare species. 1 have only succeeded in procuring two or three specimens from the Shelly Magnesian Limestone at Humbleton Quarry. Geinitz states its having been found in the lower Zechstein at Eisleben, Ilmenau, Gerbstedt, and between Hettstadt and Leimbach.
Sub-order ALCYONARIA, Audouin and Milne Edwards, 1836.
Zoocoratiia Ocractinpa, Lhrenberg. Zooruytaria, Blainville.
Les Atcyontmns, Audouin and Milne Edwards. ZOOPHYTA ASTEROIDA, Johnston.
The members of this order have several representatives on the coasts of Britain ; but only one or two kinds, the Alcyonias (Dead Man’s Hands), and Pennatulas (Sea-pens) are anywhere common: some others, as Gorgonias (Sea-fans) and Primnoas (Sea- shrubs), are but rarely met with; while the remainder, as the Tubiporas (Music-coral), Coralliums (Red Coral), and some others, are only to be found in foreign seas.
In the Alcyonarias, the body is usually of a cylindrical form; the mouth is
1 Versteinerungen, p. 17.
d
26 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
generally encircled with eight broad, pectinated, prehensile tentacles; and the digestive cavity is often lined with a corresponding number of vertical membranous plaits, subserving the same purpose as their more numerous homologues in the Actinarias.
The only Permian Corals having any claim to be placed in this group, are those included in the four genera next to be described.
Genus Calamopora, Goldfuss.
Diagnosis —“ Stirps calcarea, e tubis prismaticis, parallelus, contiguis, diver- gentibus ; tubi diaphragmatibus transversis (e siphone prolifero) intersepti, et poris lateralibus communicantes.”! (Goldfuss.)
This genus, of which the type is the Calamopora alveolaris, Goldf., was formed for certain species of Corals, including the Corallium Gothlandicum, Lin., erroneously placed by Lamarck in his genus Favosites, which is typified by the Wadrepora truncata of Esper. The tubes of all the species have their walls foraminated, and they are furnished interiorly with a number of transverse plates situated generally at regular distances from each other.
Calamoporas existed very abundantly as individuals, though not as species, during the earliest organic periods ; but they do not appear to have lived subsequently to the Permian epoch.
CaLaMoporA MackRoruatil, Geznitz. Plate IIL, figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6.
(?) CaALAMoPORA sPoNnGITES, Goldfuss. Petrefacta, p. 82, 1828.
(2) —_ os = Germ. Transl. De la Beche, Geol. Man. p. 459, 1832; and 3d Eng. Ed. p. 572, 1833. (9) — — 85 Phillips, Enc. Met. vol. vi, p. 615, 1834.
(?) TuBULICLADIA SPINIGERA, Lonsdale. De Verneuil, Bull. Soc. Géol. France, 2™° serie, vol. i, p. 23, 1844.
(’) — — 3) Geol. Russ. vol. i, p. 221, 1845. (2?) STENOPORA — % Op. cit. vol. i, Appendix A, p. 632, pl. A, fig. 11, 1845.
Catamopora Mackroratl, Geimitz. Grundriss, p. 582, 1846. STENOPORA INDEPENDENS, King. Catalogue, p. 6, 1848.
= crassa, Lonsdale. Howse, T. N. F. C., vol. i, p. 260, 1848.
— Mackrorui, Geinitz. Versteinerungen, p. 17, pl. vin, fig. 10, 1848. Coscrnrum DUBIUM, Geinitz. Op. cit. p. 18, pl. vii, figs. 24-27, 1848.
Diagnosis.—A branching Calamopora: with numerous slender, round or polygonal, transversely-wrinkled tubes, rising perpendicularly in the centre of the branches, and afterwards suddenly curving out to the surface. Interpolated or new tubes numerous ; originating on the outside of the old ones. Margin of the apertures with from five to eight spine-like tubercles.
1 Petrefacta Germaniee, vol. i, p. 77.
ANIMALS. Q7
Considering that Mr. Lonsdale suspected this Coral to be the same as the Russian Stenopora spinigera,' it is to be regretted that the identity cannot as yet be satisfactorily made out. There appear to be some points of difference between them, which it may be as well to notice at present, such as the greater number of small interpolated tubes, and the large tubes suddenly bending out towards the surface, in the English Coral : it is probable, however, when better specimens of the Russian form are examined, that these differences will be found not to prevail, at least, to the extent alleged.
There can be little doubt that some of the specimens figured by Geinitz, in the ‘ Versteinerungen, as Stenopora Mackrothi are specifically identical with the English Coral under consideration, particularly the one under figure 10, a, 4, pl. vii; and this is strongly suspected to be the case with those figured and described under the name of Coscinium dubium (vide Op. cit. p. 19, pl. vu, figs. 24-7); but the specimens given under figures 8 and 9 of the same plate appear to belong to a different species, the one hereafter named Stenxopora columnarts.
I formerly considered this Coral to belong to the genus Sfenopora ; but its mural foramina and transverse plates (vide Pl. III, fig. 6, a, 6), as displayed in a beautiful specimen which I have lately procured, prove that it belongs to the genus Ca/amopora of Goldfuss. These plates are concave superiorly, and separated from each other by a space equal to the width of the tubes. The foramina generally run in perpendicular rows, the continuity of which is broken by the transverse plates.
The Coral appears to have been small and variable in form, sometimes simple, but generally with two, three, or more branches. The margin of the tube-apertures is furnished with from five to eight spine-like tubercles, apparently hollow. The inter- spaces between the apertures are generally small, through the close approximation of the tubes, or the interpolation of new ones. The tubes are for the most part long, running up the axis for a considerable extent, and afterwards suddenly curving out to the surface: new tubes spring from the outside of old ones: they are often transversely wrinkled or contracted, the contractions beimg parallel to the surface at whatever inclination the tubes are to the plane of the axis of the branches.
A large dendritic Coral, from the Carboniferous Limestone of Northumberland, occasionally measuring nine inches long, and apparently of this genus, has a structure agreeing with that of the present species. Its tubes are furnished with numerous trans- verse plates: their walls are foraminiferous ; and they are marginated with tubercles ; but the transverse plates do not extend to the centre of the tubes; generally little more than half way; the centre is consequently open, at least in the upper part of the tubes, but lower down it becomes closed.
De Koninck’s Favosites scabra seems to be a closely allied form ; and perhaps the Russian Coral which Kutorga has identified with the Ceriopora milleporacea of Goldfuss is the same species.
' Geology of Russia and the Ural Mountains, vol. i, Appendix A, p. 632.
28 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Calamopora Mackrothu is rather a common Coral, being found at Tunstall Hill, Humbleton Quarry, Dalton-le-Dale, Ryhope Field-House Farm, and Whitley, in the Shelly Limestone. The German localities, according to Schlotheim and Geinitz, are Milbitz and Corbusen, in the lower Zechstein; and Gliicksbrunn and Liebenstein, in the Zechstein- Dolomite.
Genus Stenopora, Lonsdale.
CoraLLiIoLites, Schlotheim. TuBULICLADIA, Lonsdale.}
Diagnosis.—* A ramose, spherical, or amorphous tubular Polypidom; tubes polygonal or cylindrical, radiated from a centre or an imaginary axis, contracted at irregular distances, but in planes parallel to the surface of the specimen; tubular mouths closed at final periods of growth; ridge bounding the mouths, granulated or tuberculated ; additional tubes interpolated.” (Lonsdale.)
This genus, founded on an Australian fossil Coral, the Stenopora Tasmaniensis, Lonsdale, is stated to be “ essentially composed of simple tubes variously aggregated and radiating outwards. The mouth is round or oblong, and surrounded by projecting walls, having along the crest a row of tubercles. The mouth, originally oval, is gradually narrowed (svevec) by a band projecting from the inner wall of the tube, and finally
closed.’
In a specimen of Stenopora Tasmaniensis given me by Mr. Morris, the tubes are partitioned by transverse plates, with precisely the same varying character as those in the tubes of the Northumberland Carboniferous Ca/amopora already noticed ; but there is no appearance of mural foramina.
STENOPORA COLUMNARIS, Sch/othevm. Plate III, figs. 7, 8, and 9. CoRALLIOLITES COLUMNARIS, Schlotheim. Taschenbuch, p. 59, 1813. in = a Akad. Miinch., vol. vi, p. 23, pl. ii, fig. 10, 1820. STENOPORA INCRUSTANS, King. Catalogue, p. 6, 1848. (?) ALVEOLITES PRODUCTI, Geinitz. Versteinerungen, p. 19, pl. vu, figs. 28-31, 1848. Diagnosis —An incrusting Stenopora. Polypidoms ‘tubular, cylindrical, slightly wrinkled more or less transversely, and in close contact except towards their orifice, where they are a little reduced in diameter, leaving rather wide interspaces, which are often perforated with interpolated tubes. Apertures circular or slightly polygonal, with a tuberculated margin. This species might easily be confounded with Calamopora Mackrothi, but, leaving out of view the want of transverse plates and its incrusting character, it has wider The name Twbulicladia, which is the earliest one, was rejected by Mr. Lonsdale for that of Stenopora.
Strzelecki’s Physical Description of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, p. 262, 1845. Lonsdale, in Darwin’s ‘ Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands,’ Appendix, p. 161.
co w Ll
ANIMALS. 29
interspaces ; the margin of its tube-apertures is more crowded with tubercles; and the apertures of both the full-grown and interpolated tubes have a more regular arrange- ment. I have not succeeded in discovering either surface or mural foramina; but I am not without a suspicion that they will yet be found.
Were I certain that this species possessed transverse plates, there would have been nothing of any weight remaining to prevent its being placed in the last genus; but having failed in discovering them, and looking to the simple character of its tubes, and its interpolated reproduction, I have been led to put it in Stenopora, though not without some doubt as to the propriety of the collocation: on the other hand, the pullulation of new tubes on the outside of the old ones (vide Plate III, fig. 8) opposes its being associated generically with the next species.
Although an incrusting Coral, I have a specimen of Stenopora columnaris coating some encrinal internodes, with a branch, apparently springing from its surface, and growing round an imaginary axis; but perhaps the case in point is nothing more than a Calamopora Mackrothiu attached to the surface of a Stenopora columnaris.
This species is generally found covering fragments of the columns of Cyathocrinus ramosus, and filling up the cavities of shells. Schlotheim’s figure, quoted in the list of synonyms, exhibits it under the former aspect. A specimen in my possession has erown on the large valve of a Productus horridus, which is similar to what Geinitz represents of a German Coral, herein doubtfully referred to the same species. I have seen other specimens incrusting the stems of Zhamniscus dubius.
Except that it has wider interstitial spaces, and more interpolated tubes, Stexopora columnaris might be taken for De Koninck’s Alveolites irregularis.
It occurs at Humbleton, Tunstall Hill, and Whitley; but is nowhere a common species. Geinitz’s dlveolites producti, which may be the same Coral, is found at Corbusen, in Saxony.
Genus Alveolites, Lamarck, 1801.
Diagnosis.—* Polyparium lapideum, vel incrustans, vel in massam liberam, ¢ tubulis plurimis concentricis invicem sese involventibus compositum. Tubule ex cellulis tubulosis, alveolatis, prismaticis, breviusculis, contiguis et parallelis formate, extus reticulatim concatenate.” (Lamarck.)
The tubes or cells of Alveolites are short, parallel, contiguous to each other, and of a prismatic shape, forming layers enveloping each other, and constituting elongated, sub-globular, hemispherical masses of varying sizes. Looking at the shortness of the tubes, Lamarck was induced to conclude that their polyp tenants had the body less elongated than those inhabiting the Tubipores or Music-corals.”
1 Animaux sans Vertébres, vol. ii, p. 285, 2d ed. 2 Idem, p. 286.
30 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Not being sufficientiy acquainted with the typical species of this genus (Alveolites escharovdes, from the environs of Dusseldorf,—query, Carboniferous or Devonian), I am not prepared to say how far it agrees with or differs from the apparently allied genus Calamopora. Reverting to Alveolites, probably the principal differences between it and the last consist in the shortness of the cells, their want of internal transverse plates, and their terminal mode of reproduction. These characters, keeping out of view the want of transverse plates, also appear to constitute the difference between the present genus and Sfenopora.
Most of the Alveolites are yet only known in a fossil state. (Lamarck.)
ALVEOLITES BucuiaNna, King. Plate III, figs. 10, 11, and 12.
Diagnosis.—Tubes or cells adjoining, cylindrical, leaning, concavely arcuate ascendingly, alternately overlying each other, and slightly wrinkled more or less transversely. Apertures regularly arranged, circular, occasionally polygonal, margined by a circle of from twelve to fourteen small, closely-packed tubercles, which generally ‘fill up the interspaces.
This pretty Coral, which is dedicated to one of our most profound paleontologists, differs from Stenopora columnaris in the more regular arrangement of its apertures, in the general absence of interpolated tubes, and in being composed of a single tubular layer. The interspaces are generally wide enough to admit of the presence of the tubercles belonging to two adjoining apertures (vide Pl. III, fig. 11): when wider, an interspace is here and there perceived, containing a small opening, which may belong either to additional interpolated tubes, or to old ones which have become decrepit. The apertures are regularly arranged, more so than those of Stenopora columnaris, and decidedly more uniform in their arrangement than the corresponding structures in Calamopora Mackrothii. The tubercles appear to be hollow, and con- nected with foramina, which a high magnifying power discloses on the interspaces when they (the tubercles) are abraded.
The only reason why this Coral has been separated generically from the last, is its mode of growth, a character which renders it doubtful whether A/veolites is the genus to which it really belongs. It seems advisable, however, to retain it in its present position, deferring all discussion on the matter until more is known of the structure of those paleeozoic Corals which Lamarck placed in his fourth and fifth sections— Polypiers a réseau” and “ Polypiers foraminés.’”’
Alveolites Buchiana is a scarce fossil, having only occurred to me once in the Shell- limestone at Humbleton-hill Quarry.
ANIMALS. 31
AuvLopora, Goldfuss, 1830.
MiLippora (picHotoma), Linneus. TUBIPORITES (SERPENS), Schlotheim. CATENIPORA (AXILLARIS), Lamouroux.
Diagnosis.—“ Stirps calcarea, e tubulis obconicis, vacuis e latere proliferis, singulis ostiolis terminalibus exsertis.”’ (Goldfuss.)
Copying Milne Edwards, Awopora may be described thus: “ Tubes calcareous, with a round opening more or less projecting or elevated, originating laterally from each other, and forming by their union a creeping reticulated Coral, or a raised tubular mass.”
This genus, which Goldfuss established on the Catenipora axillaris of Lamouroux, consists of ramose, creeping, unilocular tubes; and has in its young stages, before it has become complicated in its ramifications, much of the aspect of Alecfo, and some other repent, dendritic, tubular Bryozoic Corals. The latter, however, differ from the present genus in having chambered or celluliferous tubes, a difference that seems to warrant the placing of 4ulopora among the Alcyonarias.
In my ‘ Catalogue’ Bronn’s genus Stomatopora is considered as synonymous with Aulopora, on the authority of what is stated in the ‘ Lethzea Geognostica,’ p. 54; but I now suspect that it is only A/ecto which stands in this position. I am not aware that any Auloporas have been found higher in the series of formations than the palzeozoic.
AvLopora VoieTIANA, King. Plate III, fig. 13.
AULOPORA, N. S., King. De Verneuil, Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 2™° série, vol.i, p. 24, 1844. — — Ah Geol. Rus., vol. 1, p. 221, 1845. StomaTopora (AULOPORA) DIcHoTOMA, Lamourouw. King, Catalogue, p. 6, 1848.
Diagnosis.—Stems and branches slender, beaded, composed of a single series of flask-shaped ce//ules, which are narrow at their proximal end, and swelled at their distal extremity. Branches originating on the sides of the cellules near their distal extremity. Cellule-apertures . . . (?)
Aulopora Voigtiana agrees in appearance so closely with Lamouroux’s Alecto dichotoma, that I was formerly led to believe in their identity ; the stems and branches in the latter species, however, are too uniform in width to admit of the identification. Specimens occasionally occur decidedly more branched than the one which is figured.
I have not yet been able to ascertain whether this species is unilocular or chambered ;
1 Petrefacta, vol. i, p. 82. 2 Lamarck, Animaux sans Vertébres, vol. ii, p. 323, 2d ed.
32 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
its generic collocation is therefore still a matter for further consideration; and on the same ground it is even doubtful whether it should be considered an Alcyonaria or a Bryozoon. It is named after M. Voigt, whose ‘ Practische Gebirgskunde’ contains some account of the Permian beds of Germany.
The specimen figured is attached to the exterior of a Productus horridus found in the Shell-limestone at Humbleton Quarry, where it is rare.
Sub-class CILiOBRACHIATA, Farre.
Potyzoa, J. V. Thompson.
Bryozoa, Ehrenberg.
Zoopuyta Ascrporpa, Johnston. Potyres Tunicrens, Milne Edwards.
As previously stated, this group of Zoophytes does not appear to be divisible into orders like the last sub-class, notwithstanding the attempts which have been made to divide it by some naturalists. The divisions [nfundibulata and Hippocrepia proposed by M. Gervais, as based chiefly on difference of habitat, whether marine or fresh-water, appear so divested of the necessary structural individuality, and of so little value com- pared with the orders already noticed, that in place of adopting them, it seems a much safer plan to regard the Ciliobrachiates as resolvable into only one order, for which Ehrenberg’s name Lryozoa may be very conveniently retained. In this case the names of M. Gervais may be advantageously used to distinguish groups of a lower value.
The sub-class Czlobrachiata comprises both marine and fresh-water productions. The very minute Cristatellas and Plumatellas inhabiting ponds and lakes are of the latter kind; while the Flustras (Sea-mats), Escharas, Elasmoporas (Lace-coral), and several others, represent the marine section.
As some of the members of this sub-class form a highly interesting group of Permian Zoophytes, I have been induced to give a short description of the polyps inhabiting similar productions of the present seas. Referring to Plates II, IV, and V, certain figures will be observed representing highly magnified parts of Menestella and other allied genera. These figures exhibit the stems, branches, and other parts, with a number of circular openings (vide PI. II, figs. 9, 10, and 11; Pl. IV, fig. 5; Pl. V, figs. 3, 9, 11, 12, &c.), which in the originals are so minute as to require a magnifier to render them visible. Every opening is the entrance to a minute cell formerly tenanted by a microscopic polyp, thousands of which constructed and cotenanted such a Coral as is represented in Plate III, fig. 14. In giving a description of an existing ciliobrachiate polyp and its cell, it is believed that it will serve to illustrate the Corals hereafter to be described.
The polyp is generally of the form of an elongated sac, which is protected for a considerable extent inferiorly by a covering of a horny nature in Mwustra, and of
ANIMALS. 33
calcareous matter in Hschara. It is this portion which constitutes aggregately the cells or polypidoms so beautifully preserved in the fossils, and remaining in the recent forms just named after the death of their tiny occupants. From my own observations on Flustra, Escharina, and some other allied genera, I am led to believe, that after the deposition of the base of the cell, the lateral perpendicular walls are first erected, and when they have been elevated to the proper height, the front wall is gradually formed, commencing with the lower or proximal part of the cell, and finishing with the aperture at the opposite or distal extremity. The entire substance of the cell is minutely porous; and in addition, the front wall is variously ornamented with large openings or foramina:’ it is also furnished, in certain genera, with some curious com- plicated structures (birds’ head and other processes), the economy of which is not at all understood. Reverting to the polyp; the upper portionof the sac, which is generally a soft, retractile, and transparent membrane, is crowned with, in many cases, a beautiful campanuliform appendage, consisting of rather long, delicate, tubular, ciliated tentacles, varying in number according to genera and species: in a species of Hscharina now under examination, there are about twenty-four tentacles. Within the tentacular cup is situated the mouth or oral aperture, which, according to the researches of Farre and other observers, leads into a long membranous gullet, at first considerably dilated and puckered, so as to resemble the branchial chamber of the Ascidians, and probably subserving respiration as well as deglutition (Milne Edwards). For some distance lower down, the gullet is contracted, ending in a gizzard of a rounded form, internally beset with minute teeth, and succeeded by a pouch-shaped stomach terminating at a short distance from the base of the cell. From the upper part of the stomach a narrow intestine ascends alongside of the gullet, terminating near the oral aperture, where it forms the cloacal outlet. The superior or soft portion of the sac can be withdrawn into the inferior solid portion or cell in the same manner as invert- ing the finger of a glove. When in this state, the polyp is protected by a corneous moveable lid or valvular fold of the integument fitting mto the aperture, and occa- sionally by a girdle of setz closely converging over the same opening. The gullet and intestine are folded somewhat in the form of a siphon. The protrusion and retraction of the soft portion of the polyp, and the various organs connected with it, are effected by means of muscles conveniently situated within the sac. When the polyp protrudes itself, the “ bundle of setze first rises out of the apex of the cell, and is followed by the rest of the flexible integument; the tentacula next pass up between the sete, and separate them ; the folds of the cesophagus and intestine are straightened, and when
the act of protrusion is completed, the crown of tentacles expands, and their cilia commence vibrating.”
1 The foramina are distinctly seen on the non-celluliferous surface of the Corals represented in Plate II, fig. 16; Pl. V, fig. 8.
* Owen, Lectures on the Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Invertebrate Animals, pp. 96-7.
é
34 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Milne Edwards gives it as his opinion that few Bryozoons or Cilobrachiate Corals existed during the early geological periods; late researches, however, show that they coexisted with the earliest Actinarians; and they seem to have been considerably more abundant than the latter during the Permian epoch.
Family FENESTELLIDA, King,’ 1849.
The establishing of this group is obviously called for, now that there are so many reticulated genera of Paleozoic Corals possessing a structure which prevents their being placed in any of the families already formed. lasmoporide appear to have the closest relationship to Menestellide ; but Mr. Lonsdale has shown such a marked difference between their respective generic types, that a separation to the extent proposed seems to be strongly warranted. Considering Fenestella as the type of the family, it is proposed to include in it all those reticulated genera agreeing with this genus, in having the cellules planted on a basal plate composed of vertical capillary tubes, as first discovered by the author just noticed. Besides Menestella this family embraces the Pfy/opora and Polypora of M‘Coy, also the genera Synocladia and Phyllopora, shortly to be introduced.
Genus Fenestella, Miller.
CERATOPHYTES (RETIFORMIS), Schlotheim. GORGONIA (INFUNDIBULIFORMIs), Goldfuss. RETEPORA (FLUSTRACEA), Phillips.
Diagnosis—*< A ramose, cellular, calcareous polypidom ; cells variously distributed on one side of the branches, with or without dividing ridges: branches connected by transverse or oblique processes cellular or not, forming, generally, expansions or funnel- shaped bodies: the latter with the cellular surface sometimes on the inner, sometimes on the outer side; cells cylindrical, obliquely arranged, overlying, mouths inclined outwards, more or less distant; interior of mature specimens, a layer of vertical capillary tubuli; reverse side of young specimens, the layer of tubuli of mature specimens, a crust perforated by minute pores; in aged specimens both cellular and reverse surfaces greatly thickened, all external ribs or sculpturing obliterated, and oral apertures more or less contracted; a row of foramina or chambers between the parallelly-disposed cells, or a small shallow cavity over the mouth in species with cells in quincunx.”” (Lonsdale.)
Professor Phillips states, that the late Mr. Miller of Bristol, many years ago,
1 Vide Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 2d series, vol. ii, p. 388. 2 Geology of Russia, vol. i, Appendix A, p. 629.
ANIMALS. 35
suggested to him the propriety of establishing a new genus for some of the reticulated Corals allied to Retepora ; and on mentioning this to Mr. Lonsdale, he, at once, adopted the suggestion, and named a species Fenestella Milleri," in his notice on Fossil Corals, appended to Sir Roderick I. Murchison’s ‘ Silurian System.’ Since then, Mr. Lonsdale has most successfully worked out the genus in Darwin’s work already referred to, and in the “ Appendix A” of the great work on ‘ Russia and the Ural Mountains,’ by Sir Roderick I. Murchison, Count Keyserling, and M. E. de Verneuil.
Believing that the genus Fenestella, as constructed by Mr. Lonsdale, requires subdividing, it is suggested, that the diagnosis just given be modified as regard the arrangement of the cellules, and the character of the connecting bars. I would therefore propose the following alteration.
A ramose, cellular, calcareous polypidom: cellules longitudinally distributed on one side of the branches, in two or more linear series, the series separated from each other by a dividing ridge: stems or ribs connected by transverse non-celluliferous processes ; forming generally expansions or funnel-shaped bodies, &c. &c.
By adopting this alteration we keep together a large number of Paleozoic Corals having a well-defined character, such as Menestella antigua, Lonsd., FP. crassa, M‘Coy, and F. flabellata, Phill., and divested of the species constituting M‘Coy’s Polypora and Ptylopora, and those forming the two succeeding genera; at the same time Fenestella antiqua is still retained as the type of the genus.
FENESTELLA RETIFORMIS, Schlothemm. Pl. Il, figs. 8, 8a, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
KoRALLOPHITEN, KERatopnHytEN, &c., Schl. Taschenbuch, pp. 55, 59, 1813. (2?) RericuLateD MartINE PRopUCTION RESEMBLING THE Gunus FLustRa, Winch. Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond. Ist series, vol. iv, p. 10. 1817. KERATOPHYTES RETIFORMIS, Schl. Akad. Miinch., vol. vi, pp. 17-20, pl. i, figs. 1, 2, 1820. EscHARITES — » Petrefact. pp. 342-3, 1820. (?) RettcuLatep Marine Propuction, Winch. Conybeare and Phillips, p. 305, 1822. EscHarites rEtIrormMis, Schl. Boué, Edin. Phil. Journ. vol. xii, p. 144, 1825. (2) CoRALLOID RESEMBLING GoRGONIA FLABELLUM, Hogg. Nat. Hist. Stockton, p. 78, 1827. GORGONIA INFUNDIBULIFORMIS, Goldfuss. Petrefacta, p. 20, pl. x, fig. 1a; and pp. 98, 99, pl. xxxvi, fig. 2 6, c, 1828. (?) — ANTIQUA, Goldfuss. Op. cit., p. 99, pl. xxxvi, fig. 3 6, 1828. (2) RETEPORA FLUSTRACEA, Phillips. Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond. 2d series, vol. iii, p. 129, pl. xii, fig. 8, 1829. aay — 5 De la Beche, Geol. Man. p. 385, 1831; Op. cit., Germ. Trans. p. 459, 1832; and 3d English Edition, p. 572, 1833.
1 Paleeozoic Fossils, p. 22.
36 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
GORGONIA INFUNDIBULIFORMIS, Goldf. Op. cit., Germ. Trans., p. 459, 1832; and 3d English Edition, p. 572, 1833. — antiqua, Goldf. Op. cit., Germ. Trans., p. 459, 1832; and 3d English Edition, p. 572, 1833. Rerepora FLUsTRACEA, Phillips. Encyce. Metr., vol. vi, p. 615, pl. iii, fig. 8, 1834. GORGONIA INFUNDIBULIFORMIS, Goldf. Phillips, Op. cit. — antiqua, Goldf. Phillips, Op. cit. — INFUNDIBULIFORMIS, Goldf. Bronn, Lethea Geogn. p. 47, pl. v, fig. 1} Gh O5 UGS. < — RETIFORMIS, Sch/. Quenstedt, Wiegmann’s Archiv, p. 89, 1835. RETEPORA FLUSTRACEA, Phillips. Thomson, Min. Geol., vol. ii, p. 294, 1836. o= = ns Phillips, Lardner’s Cycl. Geology, vol.i, p. 190, 1837. GORGONIA RETIFORMIS, Schl. Morris, Catalogue, p. 38, 1843. — — », Geinitz, Geea von Sachsen, p. 98, 1843. — ANTIQUA 65 Ofds Wllis FENESTELLA ANTIQUA, ,, Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 2° série, vol. i, p. 24, 1844. — FLUSTRACEA, Phillips. Idem. — INFUNDIBULIFORMIS, Goldf. Idem. — RETIFORMIS, Schl. Idem. Last rour Synonyms. Geol. Russ., vol. i, p. 221, 1845. FENESTELLA FLUSTRACEA, Phillips. Tennant, Strat. List, p. 88, 1847. — RETIFORMIS, Schl. King, Catalogue, p. 6, 1848. — FLUSTRACEA, Phillips. Howse, T. N. F. C., vol. i, p. 261, 1848. — antTiaua, Goldf. Idem. — RETIFORMIS, Sch/. Idem. = == » Geinitz, Versteiner., p. 17, pl. vii, figs. 11-13, 1848. —_ ANTIQUA », Geinitz, Op. cit.
Diagnosis —Fronds or foliations variously folded, more or less convoluted, and generally funnel-shaped. Stems or ribs slender, more or less bifurcating. Ce/lules small, bi-serially arranged; the series separated from each other by a narrow tu- berculated ridge. Connecting processes slender, and generally short. d/eshes more or less oval. Von-celluliferous surface marked with fine straight longitudinal strize. Both surfaces of the stems minutely foraminated.*
Fenestella retiformis is a variable Coral; and, in consequence, some have been led to divide it into two or more species ; but I feel satisfied, from examining a large suite of specimens, that the observed differences are not sufficiently persistent to be considered as specific, being due merely to difference of age or incidental causes.
The stems or ribs, in the young state, show the dividing ridge slightly prominent ; when more advanced, it is strongly raised and tuberculated. These and another modification, all of which are occasionally displayed on one specimen, are represented in Plate II, figs. 9, 10, and 12. In dwarfed specimens the stems are oftener divided
1 The following is the diagnosis given by Goldfuss: ‘‘Gorgonia undulata, infundibuliformis, subtilissime
reticulata, ramulis teretibus, cortice crassiuscula osculis creberrimis tuberculata.”’ (Petrefacta Germanie, vol. i, p. 99.)
ANIMALS. 37
than usual, and their lower part, on the celluliferous surface, is strongly angulated through the prominency of the dividing ridge, and the close proximity of the tubercles ; while higher up they possess the usual characters. Similar differences obtain with the meshes, the form of which depends chiefly on the distance of the stems from each other, being circular in one specimen, oval in another, oblong in this, and linear in that. The fossil represented by Goldfuss in the ‘ Petrefacta Germaniz,’ pl. xxxvi, fig. 2 4, ¢, is a rare condition for this species. I have been fortunate, however, in obtaining a specimen resembling it, showing the tubercles with an aperture at the apex, as repre- sented in Plate II, fig. 11. Never having been able to find any internal casts of these appendages, so frequent as regards the cellules, I am inclined to think that they remained closed until a late period of their growth. Mr. Lonsdale, referring to Goldfuss’s figure, simply designates them “abraded vesicles.”" Why may they not be considered gemmuliferous vesicles, which have become ruptured through the discharge of their contents? M‘Coy’s Fenestella carinata, and some other species, display similar open cellules.*
This Coral sometimes attains a large size: the frond of my largest specimen measures eight inches in width. The under side or non-celluliferous face is occasionally seen with root-like processes, apparently hollow, from} to ; of an inch in length, striking off from the stems (vide Plate II, figs. 18 and 19). . From what is displayed in a specimen before me, I am inclined to think that in many cases all the fronds of one Coral possess these processes, and that they served, not only as supports to the fronds, but as stays to keep them separated from each other. Specimens are some- times so completely folded, that it is difficult to abandon the idea of its being the outer surface of the frond, which is celluliferous. Is not the specimen represented by Geinitz, in his ‘ Versteinerungen,’ pl. vii, fig. 15, in this condition ?
Mr. Lonsdale, in showing that Fenestel/a has no relation to Gorgonia, the genus in which Goldfuss and others have placed the Permian Corals, states, that ‘“ beneath the thick series of obliquely-overlying cylindrical cells, limited to one side of the Coral, there is no axis formed of concentric bands, yet distinct from the crust,” as in Gorgonia, “but a parallel layer of vertical, capillary tubes, the walls of which differ not apparently from those of the cells. In the young state this layer constitutes the outer surface of the non-cellular side.” In Fezestella retiformis the vertical capillary tubes are sometimes finely displayed, when they are seen to be straight, and crowded with minute foramina, as shown in the magnified representation in Plate II, fig. 17. According to Mr. Lonsdale, the intermediate layer of vertical capillary tubes is totally wanting in Retepora (Hlasmopora), proving that the species under consideration does not belong to this genus, as was formerly supposed.
' Geology of Russia, &c., vol. i, Appendix A, p. 630. ? Synopsis of the Carboniferous Fossils of Ireland, pl. xxviii, fig. 12; pl. xxix, figs. 1, 2. % Geology of Russia, vol. i, Appendix A, p. 627.
38 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
The Russian Coral which Mr. Lonsdale has identified with Fenestella retiformis appears to be a distinct species, that is, if the cellules on its branches are really tri- serially arranged, and the connecting processes “occasionally cellular;’ as I have never yet found any British specimens displaying a tendency to become so far modified. Several specimens which I collected at Konitz differ in no respect from a variety, occurring at Humbleton, with frequently dividing branches, and the cellules rather wider apart than usual. Quenstedt appears to have been the first to identify the British Coral with Schlotheim’s Keratophytes retiformis.’
This species is rather abundant in the Magnesian Limestone at Humbleton Quarry, Ryhope Field-house Farm, Dalton-le-Dale, and Hylton North-Farm ; it occurs sparingly at Tunstall Hill and Castle Eden Dene. Mr. Hogg probably alluded to this species, when noticing the occurrence in the last locality of a ‘‘coralloid resembling Gorgonia flabellum.” At Tynemouth I procured a small specimen imbedded in the Breccia. Professor Sedgwick records a specimen which he found “in the beds of Blue Limestone at Nosterfield, near Tanfield.”” It occurs at several localities in Germany. The first published specimen, which is noticed by Schlotheim in the ‘'Taschenbuch,’ p. 55, was found in the Kupferschiefer of Schmerbach. The other German localities, as recorded by Von Dechen, Geinitz, Goldfuss, and Schlotheim, are Altenburg, Konitz, Liebenstein, and Gliicksbrunn, in the Zechstein-Dolomite ; Corbusen and Milbitz in the Lower Zechstein.
Genus Synocladia, King, 1849.
ReErepora (VIRGULACEA), Phillips. GORGONIA (DUBIA = VIRGULACEA), Morris. FENESTELLA (VIRGULACEA), Lonsdale.
Diagnosis.—* A foliaceous or frondiferous infundibuliform Fenestellidia. Fronds consisting of numerous connected stems or ribs. Stems bifurcating; radiating from a small root ; running parallel to, and at a short distance from each other, on one plane ; and giving off bilaterally numerous short, simple branches, of which opposite pairs conjoin midway between the stems arcuately or at an ascending angle. Branches occasionally modified into stems. Ce//ules on the inner or upper surface of the fronds ; on both stems and branches ; imbricated ; and distributed in longitudinal series. Serves of cellules separated from each other by a dividing ridge.”* (?) Gemmulvferous vesicles on the dividing ridges.
Type, Retepora virgulacea, Phillips.
Synocladia differs from all other Fenestellidias in the character of the branches or
1 Wiegmann’s Archiv, 1835, p. 91.
? Trans. Geol. Soc. London, 2d series, vol. ili, p. 120. ’ Vide Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 2d series, vol. iii, pp. 388, 389.
ANIMALS. 39
connecting processes, which, on account of their arched or angulated form, their being celluliferous, and their occasionally becoming modified into stems, remove it from the genus (Fenestella), m which it has hitherto been placed. It differs from Polypora, M‘Coy, equally as regards the connecting processes; also in the serial arrangement of the cellules. I am not aware of the existence of any other species but the one
following.
SYNOCLADIA VIRGULACEA, Piillips. Plate III, fig. 14; Plate IV, figs. 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6,
(ands: (?) ReticuLaTeD AncyonitTE, Winch. Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond., Ist series, vol. iv, p. 10, 1817. (&)) — _ 5 Conybeare and Phillips, p. 305, 1822.
Reterora vireuLtacea, Phillips. Trans. Geol, Soc. Lond., 2d series, vol. ii, p. 120, pl. xii, fig. 6, 1829. — — a De la Beche, Geol. Man., p. 385, 1831; Germ. Transl., p. 459, 1832; and 3d Eng. Ed., p. 572, 1833: oa a Encyc. Met., vol. vi, p. 615, pl. i, fig. 2, 1834. — — AB Thomson, Min. Geol., vol. 11, p. 294, 1836. GorGonta DuBIA, Schlotheim. Morris, Catalogue, p. 38, 1843. FENESTELLA VIRGULACEA, Phillips. Bull Soc. Géol. France, 2™° série, vol. i, p. 25, 1844. = == Me Geol. Russ., vol. i, p. 221, 1845. = == He Tennant, Strat. List, p. 88, 1847. — — a King, Catalogue, p. 6, 1848. — — af Howse, T. N. F. C., vol. i, p. 263, 1848.
Diagnosis—A. funnel-shaped, multi-foliaceous Synocladia, springing from a small root. boliations more or less folded and convoluted. Stems somewhat strong, often dividing. Cellules in from three to five furrows. Dividing ridges with the (?) gemmu- liferous vesicles alternating with the cellule-apertures. ranches or connecting processes in general angulated midway between two adjoining stems ; furnished, for the most part, with two rows of cellules; and occasionally becoming modified into stems or ribs.
This beautiful Coral is often found attaining a large size, but rarely in a complete state, owing to its foliations readily separating from each other: what is generally seen is only one frond belonging to a single individual. It varies somewhat in a few of its characters ; as in the width of the stem-interstices, the greater or less divarication of the stems producing a corresponding change in the meshes: when the stems are close to each other, the connecting branches or processes lose their normal character, passing across the interspaces obliquely or horizontally; and where they are much separated from each other, the branches become converted into stems. When the branches, forming a consecutive set, are modified in this manner, they offer a striking
Ce
40 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
resemblance to the genus Ptylopora of M‘Coy. These modifications are represented in Plate IV, fig. 5. The bifurcation of the stems appears to be caused by the addition of one cr more longitudinal rows of cellules. A stem goes on increasing in width for a while, through the interposition and gradual development of a new row of cellules; after which it divides: both divisions then increase in length, each one afterwards dividing in the manner described. The cellules have a raised margin surrounding their aperture; and their cast shows them to be curved, overlying each other, and slightly contracted at their upper part (vide diagram under figure 6, Plate IV). The so-called gemmuliferous vesicles alternate with the adjoining cellule-apertures : they often leave their impression in the form of a pit intervening between the rows of impressed cellule-apertures, when the celluliferous surface of the fossil is in the state of an impression, as exhibited in figure 4, Plate IV ; occasionally, however, a specimen occurs with the celluliferous surface itself exhibited, as in figure 5, Plate IV, in which case the (?) gemmuliferous vesicles are seen to be tubercular, and open at the summit. Sometimes specimens are found furnished with simple root-like processes on the under side of the fronds (vide Plate IV, figs, 7 and 8), similar to those already noticed when describing enestella retiformis.
Synocladia virgulacea is rather a common species in some localities, as at Humbleton Quarry, Ryhope Field-house Farm, Dalton-le-Dale, and Hylton North-Farm. It is less common at Tunstall Hill, and very rare at Whitley. In all these localities it is found in the Shelly Magnesian Limestone. I found a small specimen in Breccia at Tynemouth Chiff. It does not appear to have been noticed either in Germany or Russia.
Genus Phyllopora, King, 1849.
GorGonta (EHRENBERGI), Geinitz. FENESTELLA (PERMIANA = EHRENBERGI), King.
Diagnosis —* A Fenestellidia consisting of infundibuliform, folded, perforated fronds or foliaceous expansions. Ce//ules on the whole of the outer or under surface of the fronds; and planted more or less approximating to a position at right angles to the plane of the capillary-tubular basal plate. Cel/ule-apertures with plain margins, and parallel to the surface of the fronds.”*
Type, Gorgonia Ehrenbergi, Geinitz.
In order that the present group be properly appreciated, it has been deemed necessary to make a few observations on the genus /efepora, and another one lately published in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ under the name of Elasmopora. Lamarck founded his fefepora on three or more species of very dissimilar structure, some of which have already been made typical of other genera; the type,
1 Annals of Natural History, 2d series, vol. 11, p. 389.
ANIMALS. Al
however, of the Lamarckian genus is the first-described species, the Jllepora reticulata of Linneeus, an irregularly-reticulated frondiferous Coral, having its inner or upper surface exceedingly verrucose through the irregular prominency of its tubes. Lamouroux and Blainville, observing the striking difference between the Retepora reticulata, as it may now be termed, and the next species which Lamarck noticed, namely, the A/llepora cellulosa of Linnzeus, took the opportunity of placing the latter as the type of Retepora, making, at the same time, a new genus for the former— Lamouroux calling it AKrusensternia, and Blainville, Frondipora. This is a proceeding which cannot be too much discountenanced, as it involves scientific nomenclature in the greatest possible confusion, and without any prospect of its being ended. It is chiefly to a similar proceeding on the part of other writers, that so many difficulties beset the study of most of the genera of Palaeozoic Corals. The plan which I purpose adhering to throughout this Monograph is to consider the first species described under the head of any genus to be the type of it, unless otherwise stated; as I feel persuaded that this will enable me to treat authors with every fairness due to them, and at the same time it will dispose of many such difficulties as those complained of.
It may now be allowed me to transcribe a portion of what I have already published im connexion with the genus founded on the A/depora cellulosa.
“ Family KLASMOPORIDA, King, 1849.
“This group agrees with Hscharide in the structure of its polypidoms or cellules, but differs therefrom in being uni-lamello-celluliferous, and reticulated. Only the following genus is known to the writer.
“Genus Hasmopora, King, 1849.
*“ Diagnosis—The typical Elasmoporidia, consisting of infundibuliform, folded, perforated fronds or foliaceous expansions, which are entirely celluliferous; the cellules opening on their inner or upper surface. Ced/ules arranged alternately, and running more or less parallel to the plane of the fronds ; their front and dorsal walls forming the two faces of the fronds. Cellule-upertures approximating more or less to a position at right angles to the plane of the fronds, and furnished with tubular and other processes on their inferior or projecting margin. Gemmuliferous vesicles overlying the cellule-apertures. Both surfaces of the fronds foraminated. Outer or under surface of the fronds marked with distant waved lines, forming the boundaries of the cellules.
“Type, Millepora cellulosa, Linnzeus, a species occurring in the Mediterranean. An allied species (Hlasmopora Beaniana, King) inhabits the British seas.””
' Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 2d series, vol. iii, p. 390.
A2 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Hlasmopora is nearly related to Hschara in the position of the cellules relatively to the plane of the frond, and in the structure of the same parts; but it differs from the latter in the fronds beimg perforated, and composed of only one plate of cellules.
Reverting to Phyllopora ; this genus differs from Fenestella, Polypora, and Synocladha, in its fronds not being formed of radiating or parallel stems or ribs ; from the first two, in the want of non-celluliferous connecting bars; and from the first and the last,! in the nearly vertical position of its cellules in relation to the plane of the fronds ; while the plain-margined cell-apertures of all these genera, and the bi-structural character of their fronds, consisting on the one side of cellules or polypidoms, and on the other of capillary tubes, seem strongly to favour their intimate alliance, and their belonging to one and the same family.
With regard to Hasmopora, there is an unapproachable difference between it and Pihyllopora, as will be seen by placing collaterally the principal characters of each.
Phyllopora, (vide Pl. V, figs. 3, 4, 6.) Hlasmopora.
Outer or under surface or side of the fronds cellu- Inner or upper surface or side of the fronds cellu-
liferous. liferous. Fronds composed of two lamine of different struc- Fronds composed of one lamina consisting simply
tures. Inner lamina of capillary tubes (fig. 4 a, of cellules or polypidoms. and fig. 6 6); outer lamina of cellules or polypidoms placed nearly at right angles to the latter (fig. 3 6, and fig. 6 a).
Substance of celluliferous side consists of cellule- Substance of celluliferous side consists of the front wall of the cellules.
Cellules nearly parallel to the plane of the fronds.
interstices or dissepiments (fig. 3 ¢, and fig. 6 c¢). Cellules nearly at right angles to the plane of the fronds.
Cellule-apertures parallel to the plane of the fronds. Margin of the apertures plain.
Cellule-apertures more or less at right angles to the plane of the fronds. Margin of the apertures furnished with tubular
and other processes.
I suspect that Phyllopora will eventually embrace several species of Paleozoic Corals; but until more is known of their structure, it seems preferable to wait rather than make generic identifications which may eventually prove incorrect. Is the so- called Retepora prisca, represented in Phillips’s ‘ Palaeozoic Fossils,’ pl. xii, fig. 37, furnished with cellules on the outer surface? Perhaps I may be permitted to request a close examination of the curious fossil M‘Coy has described in Dr. Griffith’s ‘Synopsis,’ under the name of Refepora undata (pl. xxix, fig. 11), with the view of ascertaining whether or not it belongs to this genus.
1 Being unacquainted with the internal structure of Polypora, I cannot speak as to the position of its cellules.
ANIMALS. A3
PHYLLOPORA EHRENBERGI, Geznitz. Pl. V, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
GorGonta EnRENBERGI, Geinitz. Grundriss, p. 585, pl. xxiii a, fig. 12, 1846. FENnESTELLA Permiana, King. Catalogue, p. 6, 1848.
Retrerora Lonspatu, Howse. T. N. F. C. vol. i, p. 263, 1848.
FENESTELLA EHRENBERGI, Geinitz. Versteiner., p. 18, pl. vu, figs. 16-18, 1848.
Diagnosis.—Foliations infundibuliform: generally (?) not much folded. Meshes oval: a little wider than the interstices: m general arranged in linear series longitudinally ; and alternately in the opposite direction. Cellules slightly inclined upwards: from two to three on an interstice: with an oval or circular aperture, and a polygonal base. Von-celluliferous face marked with fine, waved, longitudinal strie. Capillary tubes flexuous.
This beautiful Coral, first discovered by Geinitz, is remarkable for consisting apparently of a single funnel-shaped foliation, strikingly conical when young (vide Pl. V, fig. 2), but afterwards becoming more expanded. Besides the figure just referred to, Dr. Geinitz has given a similar one representing a specimen equally as conical in form, and a larger one showing the same character; and Mr. G. Tate collected a beautiful specimen at Tunstall Hill, of a nearly cylindrical form, and in a very unusual state of preservation, showing its inner or non-celluliferous surface. It must not be omitted, however, that I suspect, when we are more acquainted with this species, it will be found to consist of a number of foliations, as in the Fenestellide already described. Allusion has already been made to the nearly vertical position of the cellules in relation to the plane of the foliations, a character so marked, that I have been induced to regard it as of generic importance. Figure 6 of Plate V represents a magnified view of the cellules ; showing how strikingly their position contrasts with the curving and imbricated character of the cellules of Synoclada virgulacea.
Phyllopora Ehrenbergi appears to be a scarce Coral both in England and Germany. It occurs very rarely at Silksworth, Tunstall Hill, and Humbleton Quarry, in the Magnesian Limestone. Geinitz mentions its occurrence in the Lower Zechstein at Corbusen and Milbitz; and in the Zechstein-Dolomite at Gliicksbrunn.
Family THamniscipm, King. 1849.
This group comprises certain shrub-like genera of Palzeozoic ciliobrachiate Corals, possessing the bi-structural and polypidomial characters of Fenestellidias, and having very much the appearance of recent Horneras. It embraces the two following genera, one of which (Zhamniscus) is the type, and apparently Mr. M‘Coy’s Ichthyorachis. All the known constituent genera are readily distinguished from Fenestellidias by having free stems and branches.
' Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 2d series, vol. i, p. 389.
44 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Genus Thamniscus, King, 1849.
Diagnosis.—< The typical Thamniscidia. Stems frequently and irregularly bifur- cating more or less on one plane: celluliferous on the side overlooking the imaginary axis of the Coral. Cel/lules imbricated and arranged in quincunx. Gemmulvferous vesicles overlying the cellule-apertures.”!
Type, Ceratophytes dubius, Schlotheim.
I formerly placed the type of this genus in Lamouroux’s Hornera ; but it is evident from Mr. Lonsdale’s observations that this was an erroneous collocation.” At the time my ‘Catalogue’ was published, I had not made up my mind how this species, and the one following it, should be disposed of generically, though I felt persuaded that they could not be included in any of the reticulated genera then established. I was therefore induced to adopt provisionally the name which Schlotheim had given to them, under the erroneous impression, probably, that they were of a horny and flexible nature, and consequently true Ceratophytes as contradistinguished from the Lithophytes or calcareous Corals.
The principal distinctive characters of Zhammniscus, compared with other allied genera, consist in the frequent and irregular terminal bifurcation of the stems, and in the gemmuliferous vesicles overlying the cellule-apertures.
Probably the Fenestella intertexta of Captain Portlock,’ isa congeneric species.
THAMNISCUS DUBIUS, Schlothem. Plate V, figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
ENCRINITES RAMOSUS, in pars, Schl. Minch. Akad., vol. vi, pp. 20-24, pl. u, fig. 4; pl. iv, figs. 16, 17, 1820. KERATOPHYTES DUBIUS, Schl. Petrefacten, p. 341, 1820.
CERATOPHYTES — » Boué, Edin. Phil. Journ., vol. xu, p. 144, 1825.
GORGONIA DUBIA » Goldfuss, Petref., pp. 18, 19, pl. vu, fig. 1 a, 6, ¢, 1826.
Unknown Coratiine Bopy, Sedgwick. Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond., 2d series, vol. iii, pl. x1, fig. 5, 1829.
GorGonta DuBIA, Schl. Germ. Transl. Geol. Man., p. 459, 1832. — — » Quenstedt, Wiegmann’s Archiv, p. 91, 1835. — ANcEPS ET G, puBIA, Schl. Morris, Catalogue, p. 38, 1843. — DUBIA, » Geinitz, Geea von Sachsen, p. 98, 1843. FrnEsTeLLA (Hornera 2?) ramosa, King. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 2™ serie, vol. i, p. 23, 1844. — (?) pusta, Schl. Idem, p. 24. —- 0? - » Geol. Russ., vol. i, p. 221, 1845.
1 Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 2d series, vol. in, p. 389. 2 Geology of Russia and the Ural Mountains, vol. 1, Appendix A, p. 628. * Report on the Geology of Londonderry, &c., p. 324, pl. xxii A, fig. 3 a, 6, ¢.
ANIMALS. AB
FrenesteLua (Hornera?) ramosa, King. Idem. = — » Tennant, Strat. List Brit. Foss., p. 88, 1847. CERATOPHYTES DUBIUS, Schl. King, Catalogue, p. 6, 1848. FrnrEsTELLA RAMOSA, King. Howse, T. F. N. C., vol. i, p. 261, 1848. — ANCEPS ET F. pusia, Schl. Geinitz, Versteiner., p. 18, pl. vii, fig. 23, 1848.
Diagnosis.—Stems or branches somewhat thick; numerous; frequently dividing ; and slightly rounded on both surfaces: each of which marked with distinct flexuous longitudinal lines. Cel//ules from three to six on the width of a stem; arranged in quincunx or somewhat in linear series longitudimally, and oblique in the opposite direction; prominent, especially on the sides of the branches, to which they, in some instances, give a denticulated appearance. Cellule-apertures generally assuming a circular form.’
This Coral has often been confounded with the next species, but it possesses characters, which it is considered, not only give it a specific, but a generic individuality. This has evidently arisen from the extremely variable character which it frequently displays, almost every specimen offering a modified aspect. The cellules are more apart in some than in others; irregularly arranged in this specimen; disposed in longitudinal series m that; and curving obliquely across the branches in another, as in [dmonea: they vary, too, in number; from three to six on the width of a branch : the form of their aperture is also very variable, being either circular or oval. Figures 7, 9, 10, and 11, in Plate V, exhibit, besides these modifications, a difference in the branching: one shows the stems decidedly free (Pl. V, fig. 7); the other, conjoming (Pl. V, fig. 10),—in short, simulating the character of Synocladia ; another specimen before me shows an approach to the regular truncated, bilateral branching of the next genus. Goldfuss has figured a specimen of Zhammniscus dubius,” with the branches apparently, and in some cases, perhaps, really anastomosing, as in Synocladia virgulacea ; which has probably led Mr. Morris to identify the latter with the former ; but this is a character to be met with only occasionally, and generally near the root of the Coral. In the specimen under figure 11, in Plate V, there is displayed above some of the cellule-apertures (a) a small hemispherical body (4), which, when removed, leaves a distinct annular impression (¢c). The hemispherical bodies vary occasionally in position, being more or less elevated with reference to the upper lip of the apertures; and in a specimen of the same Coral, which I procured at Konitz, a few appear to be situated a little within the cellules immediately under the lip. There can be no doubt as to these bodies bemg casts of shallow cup-shaped cavities, similar to those observable in certain Lunulites, and in the Cellaria salicornia: and from their position, they may safely be
' The following is Goldfuss’s diagnosis: ‘‘Gorgonia ramis dichotomis pinnatis, pinnulis subopposites ramis pinnulisque scabris.”’ (Petrefacta Germanie, vol. i, p. 18.) * Petrefacta Germanie, pl. vii, fig. 1 a, 6, ¢.
46 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
concluded to be the homologues of the gemmuliferous vesicles often seen overlying the cellule-apertures of Bryozoic Corals.
As the mode of formation of the gemmuliferous vesicles is not generally known, a few particulars on the subject, as supplied by an examination of some recent forms, may not be altogether inappropriate. In Hasmopora (Beaniana) they are prominent and spherical: their basal or attached portion, somewhat cup-shaped, is first formed; next their lateral margins, which arch over to within a short distance of each other, leaving a narrow longitudinal fissure. In Hscharina the vesicle in its early stage resembles the latter; its lateral margins, however, do not remain separated, but become confluent, forming an irregular dome-shaped appendage: whether the foramina with which its outer or convex wall is furnished, answer the purpose of an opening, or there is one on its proximal or inferior part, that is, m proximity to the upper lip of the cellule- apertures, [am not enabled to say. In Cellaria salicornia the gemmuliferous chamber is neither prominent nor spherical, but always remains sunk in the substance of the Coral, forming a cup-shaped cavity, as it evidently is in Zhamniscus dubius: at first there is a difficulty in distinguishing it from the adjacent inferior cellule-aperture ; afterwards, however, it becomes gradually separated from the latter by the interposition of a narrow calcareous dissepiment ; and its opening, at first circular, is gradually converted into a transverse linear fissure.
Besides the gemmuliferous chambers in 7iamniscus dubius, but where they are absent, there is occasionally seen what may be termed an accessory vesicle on both sides of the distal lip of the cellule-apertures, as represented in Plate V, fig. 11 @, which reminds one of a similar structure a little below and on both sides of the proximal lip of the cellule-apertures in certain Escharinas.
In some specimens of Zhamniscus dubius, as in the one represented under figure 12, Plate V, the proximal lip is furnished with a denticle-like process, which occasionally varies a little between the right and left of its usual position.’ In a few instances I have observed casts of the same appendage, showing it to have been hollow, and homologous with the hollow mucronate process similarly situated in Cellepora Skenet, in which the mucro is furnished with two foramina on the upper side and near the base. Hlasmopora Beaniana possesses a similar process, but it is foraminated at the point. I have not been able to discover, as yet, any foramina in the corresponding part of the fossil.
The first synonym quoted for this species is explained by the fact, that Schlotheim imagined its branches to be the arms of a Cyathocrinus ramosus incrusted with a Thamniscus dubwus.
Thamniscus dubius is not a common Coral, though it is pretty generally distributed. It occurs at Tunstall Hill, Ryhope Field-house Farm, Castle Eden Dene, Humbleton
! In the impression of the fossil represented in Plate V, fig. 11 e, there is a pit or depression of the same appendage under some of the cellule-apertures.
ANIMALS. A7
Quarry, and Hylton North-Farm, in the Shelly Magnesian Limestone. In consequence of Geinitz confounding it with the next Coral, it is difficult to make out its German habitats from the ‘ Versteinerungen, but it appears to be widely distributed in the Thuringerwald. Schlotheim and Goldfuss mention its occurrence at Gliicksbrunn ; I collected it myself at Schlossberg von Konitz, where it occurs rather plentifully.
Genus Acanthocladia, King, 1849.
CERATOPHYTES (ANCEPS), Schlotheim. GorGoNtA (1D.), Goldfuss.
RETEPoRA (PLUMA), Phillips. GLAUCONOME (BrIeINNATA), Phillips. FENESTELLA (ANcEPS), Lonsdale.
Diagnosis.—“ A Thamniscidia. Stems symmetrically and_ bilaterally branched more or less on one plane; rarely bifurcating. Branches short, simple, occasionally elongated, and becoming bilaterally branched. Stems and branches celluliferous on the side overlooking the imaginary axis of the Coral. Ce//ules imbricated, and arranged in longitudinal series. Serves of cellules separated from each other by a dividing ridge. (7) Gemmuliferous vesicles on the dividing ridges.”*
Type, Ceratophytes anceps, Schlotheim.
The Corals which it is proposed to place in this genus have often been included in Goldfuss’s G/auconome, which is typified by a tertiary-like Cellaria-salicornia fossil (G. marginata, Munster, ‘ Pet. Germ.,’ p. 100, pl. xxxvi, fig. 5), undoubtedly belonging to a genus previously established by Defrance, under the name of Vincularia. In this case the name G/auconome becomes obsolete. This, together with the circumstance that no genus is known to the writer as available for a number of species represented by the Ceratophytes anceps, have induced him to institute the one under consideration. Such species as Retepora pluma, Glauconome bipinnata, G. pulcherrima, G. grandis, and several others, fall at once into the group, without a doubt beimg raised of their congenerism.
Acanthocladia is readily distinguished from Zhamniscus by its symmetrical and bilateral branching, its stems being rarely dichotomous, and the simple form of most of its branches. In Acanthocladia branching rarely happens through the stems bifurcating : itis due to the development of some of the bilateral offsets: whereas the reverse obtains in Ziamniscus,—the branching in this genus being due to the terminal forking of the stems. Another important difference consists in the position and character of the gemmuliferous structures. Assuming certain prominences observable in Ceratophytes anceps to constitute these organs (but it is not of much importance whether they do so or not, since their absence in C. dudbius still constitutes a difference),
' Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 2d series, vol. ili, p. 389, 1849.
A8 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
it may be said that in Acanthocladia the gemmuliferous vesicles are prominent, and situated on ridges which separate the rows of cellules ; whereas in Z/ammniscus they are cup-shaped cavities overlying the cellule-apertures.
Mr. M‘Coy’s genus Jchthyorachis appears to be closely related to Acanthocladia in its mode of branching; but the arrangement of the cellule-apertures favours the idea of its reproductive character being similar to that of Zammniscus.
All the known species of Acanthocladia are confined to the Palzeozoic formations.
ACANTHOCLADIA ANCEPS, Schlotheim. Plate V, figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
KERATOPHYTES ANCEPS, Schl. Miinch. Akad., vol. vi, p. 20, pl. ii, fig. 7, 1820. — — », Petrefacten, p. 341, 1820.
CERATOPHYLLITES — Schl. Boué, Edin. Phil. Journ., vol. xii, p. 144, 1825.
GORGONIA — » Goldfuss, Petref., p. 98, pl. xxxvi, fig. 1 a, 6, ¢, d, 1828. (?)
AN UNKNOWN Corat, Sedgwick. Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond., 2d series, vol. iu, pl. xii, fig. 7, 1829.
GorGonta ancups, Sch. Germ. Transl. Geol. Man., p. 459, 1832; and 3d Eng. ed., p. 572, 1833.
— — »» Phillips, Encye. Met., vol. vi, p. 615, 1834. — — » Geinitz, Neues Jahrbuch, p. 541, 1841. a — ET G.puB1A, Schl. Morris, Catalogue, p. 38, 1843. — — », Geinitz, Geea von Sachsen, p. 98, 1843. FENESTELLA — » Bull. Soc. Géol. France, 2™ ser., vol. i, p. 24, 1844. —- — » Geol. Russia, vol. i, p. 221, 1845. a= — » Tennant, Strat. List Brit. Foss., p. 88, 1847.
CERATOPHYTES — » King, Catalogue, p. 6, 1848. FENESTELLA — » Howse, T. N. F.C., vol. i, p. 261, 1848. _ — Et G. punta, Schl. Geinitz, Verstein., p. 18, pl. vii, figs. 19, 20, 22, 1848.
Diagnosis.—Stems numerous, erect, frequently dividing pinnately. Prnnules slightly tapering, generally opposite to each other, and blunted at their extremity. Rows of cellules from three to six on the stems. Cel/ule-apertures more or less circular, and somewhat apart. Capillary tubes slightly flexuous.'
This Coral consists of a number of long, slender stems, rising from a small base round an imaginary axis, and giving off bilaterally, and at regular distances from each other, numerous branches, generally short and simple, but occasionally elongated, also bilaterally branched, and sometimes still further developed in the same way, assuming, in short, a bi- and even a tri-pinnatedform. The rows of cellules, separated from each other by a slightly-developed dividing ridge, are variable in number : generally there are only three ; but in some specimens so many as six may be counted. The vertical
! The following is Goldfuss’s diagnosis: ‘‘ Gorgonia ramosissima, ramis subdichotomis, ramulis distichis brevibus, cortice osculis papillosis serialibus costata.”’ (Petrefacta Germaniz, vol. i, p. 98.)
ANIMALS. 49
capillary tubes are slightly flexuous, which gives a waved striated appearance to the non-celluliferous surface of the Coral.
Figure 17, in Plate V, represents a magnified view of the impressions made by a portion of a stem; showing the pits or depressions (4) resulting from the supposed gemmuliferous vesicles, on lines produced by the slightly-developed dividing ridges ; also, the whole of the surface intervening the cellule-apertures (a), perforated by pores or minute foramina.
Both Goldfuss’s figure (pl. xxxvi, fig. 1 d) and description of this species represent the rows of cellule-apertures situated on broad, rounded ridges, instead of furrows, as they have invariably occurred to me. I notice this discrepancy without being able to explain it, but in hopes of drawing the attention of some one to the original specimen figured in the ‘ Petrefacta,’ and now probably in the University Museum of Bonn.
Acanthocladia anceps occurs at Tunstall Hill, Dalton-le-Dale, Ryhope Field-House Farm, Castle Eden Dene, Humbleton Quarry, Hyiton North-Farm, and Whitley, in Shelly Magnesian Limestone ; and at Black Hall Rocks and Tynemouth Abbey Cliff, in Breccia. [tis widely distributed over the Permian region of Germany ; occurring in the Lower Zechstein of Corbusen, Milbitz, Schwaara, Dinz, and Hergisdorf; in Zechstein at Kamsdorf; and in Zechstein-Dolomite at Posneck, Oppung, Konitz, Liebenstein, and Gliicksbrunn (Geinitz).
Class ECHINODERMATA, Cuvier.
This class has lately been divided into seven orders, viz. Cystidee, Crinoidee, Lchimdee, Stelleridee, Ophiuridee, Holothuridee, and Sipunculidee, of which the second and third are the only Permian kinds at present known.
Order CRINOIDEH, Miller, 1821.
Diagnosis.—‘ Radiated animals, having the body regular; provided with five pinnate articulated rays, a central mouth, a visceral cavity, and a distinct anus ; and supported on an articulated stem fixed by its base.”” (Milne Edwards.)
Crinoideas, like most of the groups herein described, though they flourished abundantly during the early periods of the world’s organic history, only constitute an insignificant feature in existing creation. The Pentacrinus Caput-Meduse, an inhabitant of the West Indian seas ; the beautiful Comatula rosacea, belonging to our own coasts ;
1 «T have derived the name of this family from the Greek TA ZQA KPINOEIAEA, the lily-shaped animals, and have used the word to form, with another distinguishing term prefixed, the name of the genera.” (Miller, ‘A Natural History of the Crinoidea, &c.,’ 1821.)
2 Lamarck’s Animaux sans Vertebres, 2d ed., vol. ii, p. 652.
50 PERMIAN FOSSILS.
and the singular Holopus Rangii of Martinico, are the principal known forms remaining of an order the débris of which in many cases form entire mountain masses.
Having existed so abundantly during former periods, it may be readily conceived that the order Cyinoidee comprises a large number of genera; but it is only the following one which it is the province of this Monograph to notice.
Genus Cyathocrinus,' Miller, 1821.
Diagnosis —“ A crinoidal animal, with a round or pentagonal column formed of numerous joints, having side arms proceeding irregularly from it. On the summit adheres a saucer-shaped pelvis of five pieces, on which are placed in a successive series, five costal plates, five scapulze, and an intervening plate. From each scapula proceeds one arm having two hands.”? (Miller.)
Cyathocrinus, concluding from what is still known of its chrono-geological range, is decidedly a Paleozoic genus ; not bemg known to occur in any formations superior to the Permian. It is also found in the immediately underlying Carboniferous rocks. Cyathocrinus planus 1s the typical species.
CYATHOCRINUS RAMOSUS, Schlotheim. Plate VI, figs. 15-20.
PENTACRINITES FASCICULOSUS, Knorr. Schlotheim, Taschenbuch, p. 57, 1813. Encrini, Thomson. Annals of Philosophy, vol. iv, p. 417, 1814. Cur EncrinitE, Parkinson. Winch, Trans, Geol. Soc. Lond., vol. iv, p. 10, 1817. ENcrinites RAMosus, Schi. Akad. Miinch., pp. 20-24, pl. ui, fig. 8, pl. iii, figs. 9-15 a, 6, 1820.
— _— » Petrefactenk., p. 330, 1820. CYATHOCRINITES PLANUS, Miller. Nat. Hist. Crinoidea, p. 85, 1821. PENTACRINITES RaMosus, Schl. Boue. Edin. Phil. Journ., vol. xii, p. 144, 1825. CYATHOCRINITES PLANUS, Miller. Sedgwick, Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond., 2d series, vol, iii,
p. 120, 1829. Encrinites raMosus, Schl. Al. Brongniart, Tab. de Terr., p. 423, 1829. CYATHOCRINITES PLANUS, Miller. De la Beche, Geol. Manual, p. 385, 1831; Germ. Transl. ditto, p. 459, 1832 ; 3d Eng. ed. p. 572, 1833.
ENCRINITES RAMOSUS, Schl. Op. cit.
— — » Phillips, Encye. Metr., vol. vi, p. 615, 1834. CYATHOCRINUS PLANUS, Miller. Loe. cit.
— — AB Morris, Catalogue, p. 51, 1843.
_ — oe Geinitz, Gea von Sachsen, p. 90, 1843. ENCRINITES RAMOSUS, Schl. De Verneuil, Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 2™° série, vol. 1,
p. 25, 1844.
1 «The name of this genus is derived from KYAQOX, a cup.” (Miller, op. cit., p. 85.) 2 Loc. cit.
ANIMALS. ae
ENCRINITES RAMOSUS, Schl. Geol. Russ. vol. i, p. 221, 1845.
CYATHOCRINITES PLANUS, Miller. Geinitz, Grundriss, p. 548, 1846.
EncrINITES RaMosuS, Schl. Tennant, Strat. List., p. 88, 1847.
CYaTHOCRINUS — » King, Catalogue, p. 6, 1848.
ENcCRINITES PLANUS, Miller. Howse, 'T. N. F. C. vol. i, p. 261, 1848.
CYATHOCRINUS RAMOSUS, Schl. Geinitz, Versteinerungen, p. 16, pl. vil, figs. 3-6, 1848.
Diagnosis.— Cup twice as wide as it is high at the margin ; sides at an angle of about fifty degrees. Basal or pelvic plates diamond-shaped; imner portion the longest. Supra-basal or costal plates, four normals pentagonal ; inferior margin slightly convex ; sides of nearly equal length: modified plate six-sided: surface of all a little rounded. Marginal or scapular plates, brachials pentagonal; with the latero-superior angles truncated ; twice as wide as itis deep ; upper margin slightly concave : articulating areas marginal ; nearly as wide as the upper margin of the plate: abrachial plate irregu- larly six-sided : supplementary abrachial four- or five-sided. Co/wmn branched, rounded, with (?) both plane and beaded internodes, and a pentagonal canal: articulating surfaces slightly concave; with an inner granulated area, and an outer radiately- marked zone.
The marginal plates (Pl. VI, fig. 18 e) of the cup of this Cyathocrine are unusually broad compared with their depth, and the size of the supra-basal plates (c). The conse- quence is, that the cup is much wider at the top than at the base. The basal plates, in the only cup I have seen, and which is the one figured, have their surface broken off ; it 1s therefore impossible to say whether they were rounded, thereby giving the lower part of the cup a corresponding form, or level, with a surface at the same angle as the plane of the upper plates, making the entire sides of the cup entirely flat, and passing continuously so into the column. It is suspected, however, that the latter character obtained. There are two kinds of internodes occurrmg in our rocks: the commonest is plane (PI. VI, fig. 20): and the rarest is beaded (Pl. VI, fig. 19): both probably belong to the same species, since other Crinoideas, e. g. Ancrinus hliformis, are known to possess a column composed of both plane and beaded internodes. Dr. Geinitz figures only plane internodes; but Schlotheim has represented beaded examples in pl. iii, figs. 11, 12, of his ‘ Beitrage.’ I have not yet succeeded in procuring any specimens of the arms or the branches of Cyathocrinus ramosus ; though single joimts have now and then occurred to me. Schlotheim erroneously figured specimens of Thamniscus dubius and Acanthocladia anceps, as arms, or branches; but the only representation given by the Baron, and referable either to the one or the other of these appendages, is under fig. 10, in his 11th plate, which exhibits them imcrusted with a Stenopora columnaris.
The author of the ‘ Natural History of the Crinoidea,’ simply from an examination of the columns of this species, was led to identify it with his Cyathocrinus planus ; the cup, however, shows it to be very distinct from the latter, particularly in the width of its marginal or scapular plates.
PERMIAN FOSSILS.
Or w
Cyathocrinus ramosus occurs rarely in the Shell-limestone at Tunstall Hill and Silksworth; abundantly in the corresponding rock at Humbleton Hill; and rather uncommonly in the Breccia at Tynemouth. Geinitz records its occurrence in the Lower Zechstein of Corbusen; and in the Zechstem-Dolomite of Asbach, Schmal- kalden, Posneck, and Kamsdorf. According to Schlotheim, it is found at Glicksbrunn and Liebenstein.
Order KCHINIDE, Cuvier.
This order, of which the common Sea-urchin (fehinus esculentus) of the English coasts is a good representative, consists of a large number of genera, both living and extinct; but the following one is the only form known to be Permian.
Genus Archeocidaris, M‘Coy.
Diagnosis. —“ Interambulacra composed of three or more rows of plates, those on each side, next the ambulacra, pentagonal; those of the immediate rows hexagonal, as in Palechinus ; each plate having in the centre one large perforated tubercle, surrounded by an elevated ring, as in Cidaris, each of which tubercles bears a large, mobile, generally muricated spine.”’ (M‘Coy.)
“Tt is a singular circumstance that, except Professor Agassiz, every author who has treated of the Achinodermata of the Mountain-limestone, should have referred the hexagonal plates with the above characters to the genus Cdaris, when a glance at the recent or Oolitic Cidarites would be sufficient to show that in their entire framework there is not one hexagonal plate, both the ambulacra and interambulacra being composed each of fwo rows of pentagonal plates only, while'in the present genus, as in Palechinus, their interambulacra must have been composed of more than two rows, as is obvious from their hexagonal form; the large, perforated tubercle, however, is precisely in accordance with that of the true Crdaris, as is also the mode of attachment and general character of the large spies with which both genera are armed....... I had long ago distinguished this genus in my MSS. under the name of Archeocidaris, subsequently Professor Agassiz announced his intention of forming the genus Hehinocrinus for the Cidaris Nerit, &c.”?
Though Agassiz’s name is adopted by Professor M‘Coy, yet later writers, from the circumstances above related, have been led to give the preference to the name Archeocidaris. M. Agassiz, with his colleague M. Desor, has lately changed the name into Paleocidaris.
! Carboniferous Limestone Fossils of Ireland, p. 173. 2 Idem.
ANIMALS. 53
ARCHHOCIDARIS VERNEUILIANA, King. Plate VI, figs. 22-24.
Ciparis, King. De Verneuil, Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr.,2™° série, vol. i, p. 25, 1844. — Geol. Russ., vol. 1, p. 221, 1845.
— VbrRNEUILIANA, King. Catalogue, pp. 6, 7, 1848. = Howse, T. N. F. C., vol. i, p. 261, 1848.
— Kopysnxriinel, Geinitz. Versteimerungen, p. 16, pl. vii, figs. 1, 2, 1848.
Diagnosis.—“ Interambulacral plates sub-hexagonal, a little longer transversely than longitudinally. Socket-balls large, perforated, placed on elevated bases. Glenoid circles radiately crenulated. Muscular areas concave, somewhat broad, surrounded with an elliptical border of small tubercles in a single series.”
The diagnosis of Archeocidaris Vernemlana must still remain imperfect until specimens more complete than any I have seen are found.
Not having discovered any specimens with ambulacra, or more than two contiguous rows of interambulacral plates, it is unsafe positively to consider this species as belonging to the genus in which it has been placed. ‘The sub-hexagonal form of the plates which have fallen under my notice, has principally led me to regard it as an Archeocidaris ; a view which seems to be strongly supported by the corresponding form of the inter- ambulacrals, in two contiguous rows, figured by Geinitz.
One of the specimens represented (Pl. VI, fig. 23) exhibits the longitudinal spaces between the muscular areas with three or four rows of small tubercles, in addition to the “single series” noticed in the diagnosis ; and in the illustrative specimen given by Geinitz, there are two intervening rows. Two kinds of spines occur in the rock containing this fossil; one is muricated, as in the specimen represented under fig. 24, and the other is finely longitudinally striated.” The spine figured by Dr. Geinitz appears to be rather different from the one herein represented, but it is probable the difference is in the figure, and not in the fossil.
Archeocidaris Vernemliana is a rare species. The only localities where it is found are Tunstall Hill, and Humbleton Quarry, in Shell-limestone. Corbusen, in the under Zechstein, is the single German station recorded for it by Geinitz.
! Catalogue of the Organic Remains of the Permian Rocks of Northumberland and Durham, pp. 6, 7, 1848. * Through an oversight, an error was committed in my ‘Catalogue’ as regards the occurrence of the
“* transversely-ridged’”’ spine therein mentioned.
5A PERMIAN FOSSILS.
SuB-KINGDOM ARTICULATA, Cuvier.
The Permian epoch, so far as its Fauna is yet known, appears to have only witnessed two (the first and second) of the five classes, viz, Annellata, Crustacea, Arachnida, Insecta, and Cirrhopoda, to which the extensive group of Articulated animals has been divided.
Class ANNELLATA, (Les Annélides) Cuvier.
Audouin and Milne Edwards, the ablest writers on this class, have divided it into four orders, which they name Annellata suctoria, A. terricola, A. tubicola, and A. errantia, respectively represented by the Leech, Worm, Serpula, and Sea-mouse. Only the third order requires our immediate attention.
Order TUBICOLA, Cuvier.
The only known Permian genera of this group are the following, all of which, with the exception of the so-called Serpula (?) pusilla, are still in existence.
Genus Spirorbis, Lamarck,’ 1801.
Diagnosis.—“ Vermis tubo calcareo inclusus, branchiis pectinatis antice coronatus, stylo carnoso exserto in discum dilato. Tubus spiraliter contortus.’””
This genus, first separated from the Linnean group, Serpu/a, by Lamarck, is distinguished by some peculiarity in its branchial filaments, and in having a regularly spiral-formed orbicular shell attached by a flattened disc to foreign bodies. It is typified by the Serpula Spirorbis, Linn., common on our coasts.
4
SPIRORBIS HELIX, King. Plate VI, figs. 8, 8 a.
SPIRORBIS HELIX, King. Catalogue, p. 6, 1848. — GLoBosus, M‘Coy. Howse, T. N. F. C., vol. i, p. 258, 1848.
Diagnosis.— Horm conical. Whorls smooth, somewhat broad, numerous, overlying each other, and sub-umbilicated. Aperture of a crescentic shape, having its concave or inner lip pressed in by the underlying whorl.
Figure 8, in Plate VI, is a magnified view of a young specimen. As the shell increases in size, the whorls leave the base, and rise to the summit, overlying the old
I Systéme des Anim. sans Vertebres, &c., p. 326, 1801. 2 Apud Schweigger, Handbuch, We., p. 601.
ANIMALS. 55
ones, in which state the basal outline does not exhibit any break where the aperture is situated ; on the contrary, it is nearly a true circle. Spirorbis globosus, with which this fossil has elsewhere been identified, is decidedly umbilicated, has a broad, rounded back, and a circular aperture—characters which widely separate both species from each other.
Spirorbis hele occurs at Humbleton, attached to Productus horridus, Fenestella retiformis, and other foreign bodies. I found a specimen adhering to a Spirifer <