CAPE CHIDLEY, HUDSON STRAIT.
A single coral from this locality is represented by two fragments that have apparently been broken from a larger mass. The exact form of the corallum is unknown, but the structure of the corallites is well preserved and clearly seen in longitudinal and traverse sections. Its structural characteristics are quite different from those of any form known to the writer, and it is regarded as representing a new genus and species named and characterized as follows:—
Labyrinthites. Gen. nov.
Corallum massive, made up of very slender, long, columnar corallites, upwardly directed and parallel, each one connected along the whole of its length with two or three adjacent corallites in tortuous series separated by narrow interspaces. Tabulæ, complete, distant. No septa nor tubules.
Although the manner of growth of this coral resembles somewhat that of Halysites it could scarcely be referred to that genus, on account of the absence of septa and tubules, although in Halysites catenularia var. gracilis tubules are apparently wanting. The small size of the corallites would not necessarily be considered a character sufficient to constitute generic distinction. Another genus, Fletcheria, may be considered, but Labyrinthites has little in common with it. In both, the tabulæ are distant and simple, practically the only point of resemblance unless we notice the small size of the corallites of Fletcheria and the stated rudimentary condition of its septa.
As the want of septa in the Cape Chidley specimens may be due to imperfect fossilization, Labyrinthites is, on account of its mode of growth, provisionally classed with the Halysitidæ.
X30
Labyrinthites chidlensis. Sp. nov.
Corallum massive, composed of slender, straight, upright corallites with numerous interspaces. Corallites a little less than ·33 mm. in average diameter, quadrangular or five or six sides in transverse outline, with rather thick walls. Each corallite coalesces along its entire length with two or three adjacent ones, giving rise to a meandering succession of tubes inclosing narrow spaces not wider than the corallites themselves. In the specimens examined the corallites reach a maximum length of ·30 mm. In longitudinal sections tabulæ, in the form of thin, flat, transverse plates across the corallites, are observed, between ·5 and 1·5 mm. apart. There are no tubules between contiguous corallites, and the mural union appears to be complete.
Dr. Ami, who is studying the groups of fossils, other than the corals, obtained by Mr. Low at Cape Chidley, informs me that the majority of the Cape Chidley fossils are referable to the Ordovician, whilst two specimens are of Silurian age. The lithological character of the rock in which the coral is preserved appears to more nearly approach that of the Ordovician specimens.
Preliminary List of Organic Remains from Beechey Island, Lancaster Sound, in the District of Franklin.
(Determined by H. M. Ami, Assistant-Palæontologist.)
(A)—From the bluish-gray impure limestones.
Coelenterata.
1.
Acervularia austini (Salter).
2.
Boreaster lowi, Lambe.
3.
Clathrodictyon? franklinense. N. sp.
Echinodermata.
4.
Crinoidal fragments.
Brachiopoda.
5.
Hindella phoca, (Salter).
Gasteropoda.
6.
Hormotoma arctica, N. Sp.
7.
” affinis, N. Sp.
8.
Lophospira salteri, (Haughton)
9.
Loxonema rossi, Haughton.
10.
Holopea borealis, N. Sp.
11.
Euomphalus beechiensis, N. Sp.
Pelecypoda.
12.
Orthonota? desiderata, N. Sp.
Trilobita.
13.
Encrinurus arcticus, (Salter).
Ostracoda.
14.
Leperditia hisingeri, Schmidt.
15.
” balthica, (Hisinger) var. arctica, Salter.
16.
Isochilina grandis, (Schrenk) Jones, var. canadensis, N. var.
17.
Primitia mundula, Jones, var. arctica, N. Var.
18.
Beyrichia kloedeni, McCoy.
Besides the above, there are remains of the tracks and trails of Annelida which cannot be identified with any described form, and to them have been given specific designations as follows:—
19.
Eugyrichnites lowi, N. Sp.
20.
Planolites arcticus, N. Sp.
(B)—From the yellowish-gray, semi-crystalline, limestone:
Coelenterata.
1.
Strephodes pickthornii, Salter.
2.
Obscure remains of some form of hydroid which appears to indicate the presence of a species of graptolite, too imperfectly preserved for identification.
Echinodermata.
3.
Crinoidal fragments.
Brachiopoda.
4.
Orthothetes donnettii, (Salter).
5.
Rafinesquina? sp. indt.
6.
Hindella phoca. (Salter).
7.
Glassia? sp. indt.
8.
Plectambonites? sp. indt.
Gasteropoda.
9.
Hormotoma arctica, N. Sp. Resembles the form figured by Salter in his ‘Geology’ in the Appendix to Sutherland’s ‘Journal of a Voyage,’ &c. Pl. V., fig. 18, 1852.
10.
Hormotoma, sp., cf. H. affinis, N. Sp.
11.
Loxonema, sp. Resembles some of the forms classed under the designation L. rossi, Haughton, but separable from the narrower types to which the species is restricted.
Trilobita.
12.
Proetus, sp. indt. Pygidium.
13.
Encrinurus??, sp. indt. Portion of the head of an individual, not sufficient for identification.
Ostracoda.
14.
Primitia, sp. A very elongate form resembling P. cylindrica, (Hall).
15.
Primitia, sp. No. 2. Distinct from above.
Preliminary Lists of the Species of Organic Remains from Blocks of Limestone from Southampton Island.
(A)—From a piece of yellowish limestone:
Echinodermata.
1.
Crinoidal fragments.
Brachiopoda.
2.
A strongly camerate form of strophomenoid shell, probably a Strophodonta.
3.
Orthothetes? sp.
4.
Camarotœchia ekwanensis, Whiteaves.
5.
” sp.
6.
Retzia, sp.
Gasteropoda.
7.
Pleurotomaria, sp. of the type of P. alta. Hisinger.
8.
” sp. of the type of P. perlata, Hall.
Trilobita.
9.
Encrinurus, sp., cf. Encrinurus punctatus, Emmrich.
10.
Proetus, sp. indt.
Ostracoda.
11.
Primitia, sp. indt.
(B)—From a small piece of drab coloured dolomitic limestone:
Brachiopoda.
1.
Orthis, sp. of the type of Orthis (Dinorthis) subquadrata, Hall.
2.
Rhynchonella, sp.
3.
Glassia?, sp. indt.
Ostracoda.
4.
Primitia, sp. indt.
(C)—From a small piece of dark-brown bituminous shale:
Pisces.
1.
Obscure remains of some species of fish, too imperfectly preserved for identification. This shale appears to resemble the Niobrara-Benton shale of the Manitoban region.
(D)—In a small piece of buff limestone:
Brachiopoda.
1.
Small shell of the type of Glassia, possibly the same as the Glassia variabilis, (Whiteaves) from the Silurian of the Ekwan river district.
2.
Rhynchospira, sp. or Retzia, sp. A finely ribbed shell, not sufficiently well-preserved to be identified with any degree of certainty.
3.
Conchidium, sp. a small and immature form of what appears to be the Conchidium decussatum, Whiteaves.
Gasteropoda.
4.
Murchisonia (Hormotoma), sp. indt.
5.
Loxonema, sp. An imperfect individual with seven whorls preserved, having an apical angle of 10°, and would require at least three more volutions to complete the shell at this stage.
(E)—In impure limestone:
Brachiopoda.
1.
Strophomena (Rafinesquina) alternata, (Emmons) Conrad. Three valves of this species appear to be represented in this small slab of rock, and exhibit the characteristic sculpture and other surface characters.
(F)—In cream-coloured dolomite:
Brachiopoda.
1.
Camarotœchia, sp. possibly the same as the Camarotœchia ekwanensis, Whiteaves.
Ostracoda.
2.
A very large Ostracod, which is not in a good state of preservation, but which, from its size and general characters appears to be close to Isochilina grandis.
(G)—In a drab-coloured limestone.
Brachiopoda.
1.
Strophomena, sp. of the type of Strophomena euglypha, Sowerby. The sculpture of this shell is very much like that of Strophomena (Rafinesquina) alternata, Conrad.
2.
Pentameroid shell, not sufficiently well preserved to state definitely whether it is Pentamerus oblongus or not, but it strongly resembles a dorsal valve of this well-known form from the Silurian of Europe and North America.
This rock resembles strongly the rock of Mansfield island, where Dr. Bell obtained a number of fossils, determined by the writer to be Silurian, and possibly homotaxial with the Wenlock and Niagara formations.
(H)—In a dark dolomitic limestone.
Bryozoa.
Some species of bryozo appear in the collection.
Brachiopoda.
1.
Strophomena. sp.
2.
Strophomena, sp., cf. S. acanthoptera, Whiteaves.
3.
A rhynchonelloid form which appears to be the Camarotœchia ekwanensis, Whiteaves.
4.
A smooth form of shell which may be the Glassia variabilis, Whiteaves.
Ostracoda.
5.
Undetermined forms or imperfectly preserved forms.
(I)—In a rather dark buff-weathering limestone:
Brachiopoda.
1.
Leptæna (Plectambonites) sericea, Sowerby. A form with winged extremities of hinge area.
2.
Strophomena, of the type of S. nitens, Billings.
3.
Orthis (Dalmanella), sp., cf. D. testudinaria, Dalman.
4.
Rhynchonella, sp. type of R. neglecta, Hall. This may be the Camarotœchia ekwanensis, Whiteaves.
5.
A smooth brachiopod which may be a Glassia.
(J)—In a small slab of drab-coloured limestone.
1.
Obscure remains of algæ or other plants.
(K)—In a slab of yellow weathering dolomite:
1.
Camarotœchia ekwanensis, Whiteaves.
2.
Smooth and small Glassia-like brachiopod, too imperfect for identification.
3.
Obscure remains of a trilobite, indeterminable.
(L)—In a drab-coloured limestone:
1.
Pentamerus oblongus, Sowerby. These forms resemble closely those determined by the writer in Dr. Bell’s collections from Mansfield island.
(M)—In a dark mottled buff and gray dolomitic limestone:
Brachiopoda.
1.
Strophomena, sp., of the type of S. hecuba, Billings.
2.
” (Rafinesquina) alternata, (Emmons) Conrad. This limestone appears to be homotaxial with the Trenton of Ontario and the Galena-Trenton of the Manitoba region.
(N)—In a yellow weathering dolomitic limestone:
Brachiopoda.
1.
Strophomena, sp., or strophomenoid shell with alternata-type of sculpture.
2.
Camarotœchia, sp., cf. C. ekwanensis, Whiteaves.
3.
Glassia?, sp. indt.
Ostracoda.
4.
Leperditia, sp., cf. Leperditia hisingeri, Schmidt.
5.
Primitia, sp. indt.
(O)—In a drab coloured dolomitic limestone:
Cephalopoda.
1.
A portion of some gyroceran or orthoceratite shell; resembles in some respects the external characters of Orthoceras nicolleti figured in Vol. iii., part 11, of the Palæontology of Minnesota, Pl. 55, fig. 1.
(P)—In a yellowish-gray dolomitic limestone:
Cephalopoda.
1.
Actinoceras keewatinense, Whiteaves. Several siphuncles of this species recently described by Dr. Whiteaves occur in the collections from Southampton island.
(Q)—Collections of Stromatoporoids from Southampton Island:
Sixty-three microscopic sections have been submitted to a preliminary examination, and the following species among others, appear to occur:—
1.
Clathrodictyon regulare, Rosen.
2.
” fastigiatum, Nicholson.
3.
” sp., cf. C. striatellum, Nicholson.
4.
” (?) crassum, Nicholson.
Some of these are parasitic on Favosites Gothlandicus, Lamarck. They are referable to the Silurian, about the age of the Niagara.
Preliminary List of Organic Remains from Loose Blocks of Limestone, Cape Chidley.
(A)—From the drab-coloured limestone:
Polyzoa.
1.
Pachydictya, sp. indt.
Brachiopoda.
2.
A strophomenoid shell with sculpture of Strophomena varistriata type occurs in the collection with Sieberella galeata.
3.
Trematospira, sp. indt.
4.
Conchidium decussatum, Whiteaves.
5.
Clorinda, sp. probably a new form which I would designate, Clorinda lowi, N. Sp.
6.
Sieberella galeata, Dalman. A form which is very near the type of this cosmopolitan species. If it prove a variety or mutation, I should designate the same as var. Chidleyensis, N. var.
The above are all of Silurian age.
(B)—From a dark gray impure limestone resembling that of the Black River and Trenton formations of southern Canada:
Cephalopoda.
1.
Eurystomites undatus, Emmons.
2.
Plectoceras obscurum, Hyatt; or some closely related species.
3,
4 and 5. Three species of Orthoceras, as yet undetermined. They are not well preserved and require better specimens before they can be identified. These are probably of the age of the Trenton of southern Canada.
(C)—From a slab of bituminous shale:
1.
Asaphus latimarginatus, Hall. I cannot distinguish this form from the species usually designated in Canada as Asaphus canadensis, Chapman, from the Utica shale.