DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

OF THE

UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

No. 4

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMKNT PRINTING OFFICE

1884

ADVERTISEMENT.

The publications of the United States Geological Survey are issued in accordance with the statute 

approved March 3, 1879, which declares that 

" The publications of the Geological Survey shall consist of the annual report of operations, geological and economic maps illustrating the resources and classifications of the lands, and reports upon 

general and economic geology and paleontology. The annual report of operations of the Geological 

Survey shall accompany the annual report of the Secretary of the Interior. All special memoirs and 

reports of said Survey shall be issued in uniform quarto series if deemed necessary by the Director, 

but otherwise in ordinary octavos. Three thousand copies of each shall be published for scientific 

exchanges and for sale at the price of publication ; and all literary and cartographic materials received 

in exchange shall be the property of the United States and form a part of the library of the organization. And the money resulting from the sale of such publications shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States."

ANNUAL REPORTS.

. From the above it will be seen that only the Annual Reports, which form parts of the reports of the 

Secretary of the Interior and are printed as executive documents, are available for gratuitous distribution. A number of these are furnished the Survey for its exchange list, but the bulk of them are 

supplied directly, through the document rooms of Congress, to members of the Senate and House. 

Except, therefore, in those cases in which an extra number is supplied to this office by special resolution, application must be made to members of Congress for the Annual Eeports, as for all other executive documents. 

Of these Annuals there have been already published:

I. First Annual Report to the Hon. Carl Schurz, by Clarence King. "Washington, 1880. 8°. 79 pp. 

1 map. A preliminary report describing plan of organization and publications.

II. Report of the Director of the United States Geological Survey for 1880-'81, by J. W. Powell. 

Washington, 1882. 8°. Iv, 588 pp. 61 pi. 1 map.

HI. Third Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey, 1881-'82, by J. W. Powell. 

Washington, 1883. 8°. xviii, 564 pp. 67 pi. and maps.

IV. Fourth Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey, 18S2-'83, by J. W. Powell. 

Washington, 1884. 8°. xii, 473 pp. 85 pi. and maps.

MONOGRAPHS.

The Monographs of the Survey are printed for the Survey alone, and can be distributed by it only 

through a fair exchange for books needed in its library, or through the sale of those copies over and 

above the number needed for such exchange. They are not for gratuitous distribution.

So far as already determined upon, the list of these Monographs is as follows:

I. The Precious Metals, by Clarence King. In preparation.

n. Tertiary History of the Grand Canon District, with atlas, by Capt. C. E. Dutton. Published.

III. Geology of the Comstock Lode and Washoe District, with atlas, by George P. Becker. Published.

IV. Comstock Mining and Miners, by Eliot Lord. In press.

V. Copper-bearing Rocks of Lake Superior, by Prof. R. D. Irving. In press.

VI. Older Mesozoic Flora of Virginia, by Prof. Wni. M. Fontaine. In press.

VII. Silver-lead Deposits of Eureka, Nevada, by Joseph S. Curtis. In press.

VIII. Paleontology of the Eureka District, Nevada, by Charles D. Walcott. In press.

Geology and Mining Industry of Leadville, with atlas, by S. F. Emmons. In preparation.

Geology of the Eureka Mining District, Nevada, with atlas, by Arnold Hague. In preparation.

Coal of the United States, by Prof. R. Pumpelly. In preparation.

Iron in the United States, by Prof. R. Pumpelly. In preparation.

Lesser Metals and General Mining Resources, by Prof. R. Pumpelly. In preparation.

Lake Bonneville, by G. K. Gilbert. In.preparation.

Dinocerata. A monograph on an extinct order of Ungulates, by Prof. 0. C. Marsh. In press.

Bull. No. 4.
ADVERTISEMENT.

Sauropoda, by Prof. 0. C. Marsh. lu preparation.

Stegosauria, by Prof. 0. C. Marsh. In preparation.

Of these monographs, K"os. II and III are published, viz:

II. Tertiary History of the Grand Cauon District, with atlas, by C. E. Dntton, Capt. U. S. A. 1882. 

4°. 264 pp. 42 pi. and atlas of 26 double sheets folio. Price $10.12.

m. Geology of the Comstock Lode and Washoe District, with atlas, by G. F. Keeker. 1883. 4°. 

XV, 422 pp. 7 pi. and atlas of 21 sheets folio. Price $11.

Nos. IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII are in press and will appear in quick succession. The others, to 

which numbers are not assigned, are in preparation.

BULLKTINS.

The Bulletins of the survey will contain such papers relating to the general purpose of its work as 

do not properly come under the heads of ANNUAL KEPOKTS or MONOGRAPHS.

Each of these Bulletins will contain but one paper, and bo complete in itself. They will, however, 

be numbered in a continuous series, and will in time be united into volumes of convenient size. To 

facilitate this each Bulletin will have two paginations, one proper to itself, and another which belongs to it as part of the volume.

Of this series of Bulletins there have already been published:

1. On Hypersthene-Andesite and on Triclinic Pyroxene in Augitic Kocks, by Whitman Cross, with 

a Geological Sketch of Buffalo Peaks, Colorado, by S.F.Emmo^s. Washington, 1883. 8°. 42pp. 2 pi. 

Price 10 cents.

2. Gold and Silver Conversion Tables, by A. Williams, jr. Washington, 1883. 8°. 8pp. Price 5 

cents.

3. On the Fossil Faunas of the Upper Devonian along the meridian of 76° 30', from Tompkins County, 

N. Y., to Bradford County, Pa., by Henry S. Williams. 1884. 8°. 36 pp. Price 5 cents.

4. On Mesozoic Fossils, by Charles A. White. 1884. 8°. 36pp. 9 pi. Price 35 cents.

STATISTICAL PAPERS.

. A fourth series of publications having special reference to the mineral resources of the United 

States is contemplated. Of that series 1 he first has been published, viz: Mineral Resources of the 

United States, by Albert Williams, Jr. 1883. 8°. xviii, 813 pp. Price 50 cents.

Correspondence relating to the publications of the Survey, and all remittances, which must be by 

postal note or money-order, should be addressed to the

DlKECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

Washington, D. G. 

WASHINGTON, D. C., May l, 1884.
DEPAKTMENT OF THE INTEKIOE

BULLETIN

OF THE

UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

No 4.

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT POINTING OFFICE

1884
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY

J. W. POWELL DIEECTOE

MESOZ'OIC FOSSILS

BY

CHARLES A. WHITE, M. D.

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTINC* OFFICE

1884
CONTENTS.

Page.

Description of certain aberrant forms of the Chainidae from the Cretaceous 

rocks of Texas............................................................ 5

On a small collection of Mesozoic fossils obtained in Alaska by Mr. W. H. Dall, 

of the United States Coast Survey ......................................... 10

On the Nautiloid, genus Enclimatoceras Hyait, and a description of the type 

species.................................................................... 16

ILLUSTEAT1ONS.

PLATE I. Requienia patagiata............................................ 20

II. Requienia patagiata and R. texana ............................. 22

III. Monopleura marcida............................................ 24

IV. Monopleura marcida............................................ 26

V. Monopleura pinguiscula ........................................ 28

VI. Cyprina? dallii, Aucella concentrica, var., and Belemnites macritatis ......................................................... 30

VII. Enclimatoceras ulrichi......................................... 32

VIII. Enclimatoceras ulrichi .......................................... 34

I.. Enclimatoceras ulrichi............. .......................... 36

(91)

ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS

BY CHARLES A. WHITE.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN ABERRANT FORMS OF THE 

FROM THE CRETACEOUS ROCKS OF TEXAS.

Although the Cretaceous strata of Texas have long been known to 

possess great and peculiar interest, comparatively little systematic 

study has yet been given to their paleontology; and their place in the 

Cretaceous series, especially that of the lower portion of the formation 

there, is not yet satisfactorily known. Indeed, the relation of the Cretaceous rocks of Texas to those of the other portions of the continent 

farther to the northward is yet doubtful ; and as it is expected that 

parties of the United States Geological Survey will soon take up the 

systematic study of the geology of Texas, I shall not now attempt any 

general discussion of the subject. However, as this article is devoted 

to the description of certain forms, the like of which in North America 

have been found only in the Cretaceous rocks of Texas, it is proper that 

I should mention certain conspicuous differences between the fauna of 

the Texan Cretaceous and the faunas of the rocks of that period in all 

other parts of the continent, so far as they are yet known.

These faunal differences are so great that they are suggestive of a 

difference in the age of the strata containing the respective faunas ; but 

still I suspect that they are due largely to climatic or other causes 

which have controlled the development and geographical distribution 

of species. The extent of these faunal differences can of course be fully 

shown only by a complete series of illustrations, such as can be prepared 

only after many years of paleontological labor. Therefore only the more 

striking examples will be mentioned. The Actinozoa are represented 

by a considerable number of species and genera in the Texan Cretaceous, 

while only a few traces of the whole class have yet been discovered in 

all the strata of that period to the northward. Several families of Echinoids are well represented in the Texan strata, while only two or three 

specimens, of one species, are yet known to exist in all the region to 

the northward. The Budistae are yet known only in the southern Cretaceous strata, where they are not uncommon. The same is true of the 

aberrant forms of the Chamidae, such as are described in this article ; 

for I do not regard the shell described by Conrad from the Upper Missouri Eiver region under the name of * Requienia senseni, as belonging 

*See Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philad., Vol. II, p. 299. 

(93)
6 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS, [BULL. 4.

to either that or any related genus. Certain genera also are represented 

in the southern, and not in the northern districts. Thus Exogyra and 

Gryphcea are abundantly represented in Texan and other southern Cretaceous strata, but they have not been found in rocks of that age north 

of about latitude 35°, in the interior part of the continent.

The fossils described in this article were collected by Mr, George 

Stolley from the vicinity of Austin, Tex,, and sent by him to the Sinithsonian Institution; and permission to use the same has been given by 

the Director of the United States National Museum. The three new 

forms herein described were found associated together; but the Caprotina (=Uequienia) texana of Boemer was not found associated with them 

in the same layers. The collection containing the new forms is a very 

interesting one, but it is made up largely of those three species. A few 

examples of Lucina, Cerithiumj and other mollusks were found associated 

with them, and also a species of CladopJiyllia. The condition of preservation of these fossils is peculiar, nearly all of them being pseudomorphs 

in almost pure calcite. This condition, while it has preserved the form 

of the shells quite completely, has entirely obliterated the minute structure of the test which, in the species here described, it would be desirable 

to know.

Some diversity of opinion has prevailed among paleontologists as to 

the true zoological position of the forms which are described on the folio wing pages, and other forms closely related to them; but it is now 

generally agreed that they have close affinities with the Chamidse, to 

which family they are here referred. I think, however, that while they 

all ought to be placed near Chama, the forms which are usually ranged 

under the generic names Diceras. Eeqiiienia^ Honopleura, Caprotina, &c., 

ought to be separated from the typical chamidae as one or more groups 

or subfamilies.

Genus BEQUIEMA Matheron.

BEQTTIENIA PATAGIATA (sp. nov.).

Plate I, Figs. 1-8; and Plate II, Figs. 1-4.

Shell, irregular in shape; test, moderately thick; left valve, much 

larger than the right, spiral, the spire being more or less distorted and 

much elevated, consisting of two or three volutions; the scar of attachment at the apex always present, but sometimes very small; the upper 

side of the spire flattened, broad; the under side regularly convex, 

meeting the flattened upper side at a distinct peripheral angle, which 

angle usually bears a prominent, thin, more or less wrinkled carina or 

fringe. Bight valve more regular in shape than the left; the under 

side convex and the upper flattened, the two sides meeting at an angle 

similar to that of the left valve, but it is not quite so acute, and it is 

not fringed; the spire sometimes nearly flat, but usually more or less 

elevated, making about two volutions; ligamental groove narrow, and

(94)
wmml - TEXAN FOSSILS. 7

having, especially upon the larger valve, somewhat the appearance of 

a spiral suture. Hinge strong, the principal tooth of the right valve 

being large and prominent. Surface marked by irregular lines and 

wrinkles of growth.

It is difficult to state the dimensions of a shell so irregular in shape 

as those of this species are; but the extreme measurement of an 

adult shell may be given as about 55 millimeters.

The irregular shape of the shell seems to be in a good degree the result of a natural habit of the mollusk, but it was in many cases evidently 

the result, in part, of the contact which it had with other substances. 

The beak of the left valve is usually distorted by reason of its early attachment to a foreign body; and shells of its own or other species were 

frequently attached to its surface, adding still further to its disfigurement. (Museum number, 12363.)

EEQUIENIA TEXANA Eoemer.

(Plate II, Figs. 5, 6, and 7.)

Caprotina texana Roemer, 1852; 'Kreidebildungen von Texas, page 80, Plate V, Figs. 

2a, 2&, and 2c.

Shell very inequivalved, thin, smooth, subtriangular; the larger 

valve coiled to the right, the terminal volution forming a low, small 

coil; the upper side flattened, and marked by obsolete spiral lines which 

are crossed by slightly undulating lines of growth; outer side regularly 

convex, and marked by oblique lines of growth. The smaller valve 

suborbicular, carinated, concave; the uinbo forming a small spiral of 

about one volution.

The foregoing description is a free translation of Professor Eoemer's 

original description, and the three figures on Plate II are copies of his 

illustrations. The collection which Mr. Stolley sent to the Smithsonian 

from the region round about Austin, Tex., contained numerous examples of this species, but they have all suffered injury by pressure of 

the somewhat fragile shell. These specimens show that the species 

reached a considerably larger size than that which is indicated by Professor Eoemer's figures; and also that the larger valve was usually, if 

not always, more or less distorted when fully grown. This species differs from R. patagiata in reaching usually a larger size, in having a less 

angular aspect, its test proportionally thinner, the spire of both valves 

less prominent, and in the peripheral angle being without a prominent 

fringe.

Other species which are probably referable to the section of the 

Chamidae to which the shells herein described belong, are published by 

Eoemer in his Kreidebildungen von Texas ; but our collections do not 

at present contain any representatives of them. (Museum number, 

12366.)

(95)
8 ON' MESOZOIC FOSSILS. [BULL. 4. 

Genus MOTOPLEUKA Matheron.

MONOPLEURA MARCIDA (sp. DOV.). 

|(Plate III and Plate IV.);

Shell irregular; right valve deeply elongate, sometimes slender, more 

or less distorted, and usually a little twisted; rudely subelliptical in 

transverse section; the somewhat flattened anterior side and gently 

convex posterior side connected by a more abrubt rounding above and 

below. Scar of attachment sometimes large, occasionally extending 

along a large part of one side of the valve, but sometimes it is very 

small; ligamental groove extending from the apex to the hinge 

margin, distinct, linear, its presence made more conspicuous by the 

greater elevation of its posterior than of its anterior border. Left 

valve flat or gently convex; more or less straightened on the anterior 

side, and otherwise conforming to the margin of the right valve. Surface of the left valve marked by concentric lines of growth, and by 

numerous radiating irregular raised lines; that of the right valve 

marked by more or less strong lamellations and lines of growth, and 

by occasional longitudinal lines, similar to those which mark the other 

valve. Hinge moderately strong; the two teeth and hinge plate of the 

left valve strong and prominent, and the tooth of the right valve correspondingly prominent. The individuals sometimes grew separately, 

but often in clusters, attached to some foreign body or to each other.

The largest right valve in the collection has an extreme length of 50 

millimeters, and its greatest diameter at the margin 22 millimeters. 

(Museum number, 12364.)

MONOPLEURA PINGUISCULA (sp. nov.).

(Plate V.)

Shell very irregular; right valve deep, capacious, often distorted, and 

sometimes more or less twisted; transverse section of the valve rudely 

subelliptical; scar of attachment sometimes large, but often small; 

ligamental groove linear, extending from the apex to the hinge margin, 

sometimes distinct and sometimes obscure, sometimes nearly straight, 

and sometimes irregular and oblique. Left valve more or less strongly 

convex, its umbonal portion being prominent and strongly incurved, 

and projecting beyond the hinge line. Test thick and strong in the 

dorsal portion and thin in the ventraL Surface of both valves having 

a plain aspect, but in the case of each it is marked by more or less distinct concentric lines and undulations of growth, with occasional faint 

traces of radiating lines, but the latter are never so distinct as they are 

upon the left valve of M. marcida. Hinge strong; the tooth of the right 

valve large and prominent, and those of the left valve supported upon 

a strong plate.

The longest right valve in the collection measures about 50 millime-

(96)
WHITE.] TEXAN FOSSILS. 9

ters, but the shape and dimensions of the shell are so variable that it 

is impracticable to give any precise measurements.

Compared with the preceding species, with which it is associated, 

this species is more robust, has a smoother aspect, the left valve is 

much more prominent and convex. The right valve is proportionally 

more capacious, and never has that slender, rough, and angular aspect 

which that of the other species presents. The general aspect of this 

species, especially as regards its convex and curved left valve, is much 

like that of some species of Caprotina, but the character of the surface 

of both valves and that of the hinge seem to agr,ee essentially with 

Monopleura. All the specimens in the collection appear to have grown 

separately, and not in clusters, as M. marcida often did. (Museum 

number, 12365.v

(07)
ON A SMALL COLLECTION OF MESOZOIC FOSSILS COLLECTED IN ALASKA BY MB. W. H. BALL, OF THE UNITED 

STATES COAST SURVEY.

During the years 1840-'42, Ilia Wosnessensky, while making zoological collections along the west coast of North America, obtained also a 

few fossils from Alaska. These were published by Constantine Grewingk, in Verhandlungen der Russisch-Kaiserlichen Mineralogischen 

Gesellschaft zu St. Petersburg, for the years 1848 and 1849, pp. 344-347. 

Those which Wosnessensky obtained from the Bay of Katmai, on the 

southern coast of Alaska, Grewingk referred to the Jurassic; and some 

others, from Kodiak Island, he referred to the Tertiary. In the work 

presently to be noticed, Eichwald, however, declares the former to be 

of Neocomian, and the latter of Turoniau age.

Alaska and the Aleutian Islands were visited during the years 1847- 

'52, by Peter Doroschin, a Eussian mining engineer, who made some important collections of Mesozoic fossil mollusks from various localities in 

that region. Professor Eichwald, in 1872, published these fossils in St. 

Petersburg, together with other fossils which Doroschin had collected 

in the region of the Caspian Sea, the title of the work being, " Geognostisch-Palaeontologische Bemerkungen ueber die Halbinsel Mangischlak und die Aleutischen Insel." In that work, under the subtitle 

" Fossile Thiere des Neocom und Gault," pages 158-200, he describes 

sixty-two species of Mesozoic fossil mollusks from Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, and devotes sixteen plates to their illustration. It is this 

portion of Doroschin's collection that I propose to more especially refer

to in this article, because I have now to consider a small collection of 

fossils from Alaska which probably came from the same formation. 

Eichwald is positive in his reference of this part of Doroschin's collection mainly to the Neocomian division of the Cretaceous, but in part to 

the Gault. He identifies certain species found in Alaska with some of 

those which have been long known in Eussian strata, and which Keyserling referred to the Jurassic. Geologists have generally accepted 

this reference; but in the work on Alaskan fossils just referred to, Eichwald states that the Eussian strata which bear the fossils alluded to 

are of Neocornian, and not of Jurassic age. He also regards the Eussian and Alaskan strata which bear those fossils respectively as geologically equivalent, and makes at least one Alaskan species identical 

with a Eussian one. 

Prof. Jules Marcou* has called attention to the fact that there is a

* Explication d'une seconde edition de la Carte Ge'ologique de la Terre: by Jules 

Marcou; pp. 121 and 137-140.

(98)
WHITE.] ALASKAN FOSSILS. 11

commingling of Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous types, in both the Eussian and Alaskan strata which have just been referred4to; and that a 

similar condition of things exists in the island of SaghalM, and other 

portions of Northern Asia.

The Mesozoic collections which were made by Doroschin in Alaska 

are very important, but Eichwald's publication gives no comprehensive 

sketch of the geology of the Alaskan region. He refers some of the 

fossils from Chasik Island to the Gault, and some to the Neocomian; 

but he gives no description of two separate Mesozoic formations there. 

For want of definite information as to the geology of the region one 

cannot feel certain that all the fossils which Eichwald refers to the 

Neocomian really came from one and the same formation. If those fossils are all strictly of the same epoch, I think Eichwald's reference of 

them to the Neocomian is not unreasonable, because so many of those 

mollusks are of Cretaceous types; and yet Marcou's statement that 

there is a commingling of Jurassic and Neocomian types in those northern Mesozoic strata seems to be well supported. It has been thought 

by some paleontologists that Aucella is confined to Jurassic strata; but 

this genus is now known to exist in strata of undoubted Cretaceous age; 

and if the opinion of Eichwald is accepted, it will appear that Aucella 

is more characteristic of the Cretaceous than of Jurassic strata. At 

least it is plain that we cannot now rely upon the presence of that 

genus as affording any proof of the Jurassic age of the strata which 

contains it.

During the prosecution of his work upon the United States Coast and 

Geodetic Survey along the western coast of the Alaskan Peninsula in 

the year 1874, Mr. W. H. Dall made a collection of Mesozoic invertebrate fossils which are of the same age as, at least a part of, those which 

were collected by Doroschin. In his notes, Mr. Dall designates the locality at which they were discovered, as "Fossil Point, Port Moller"; 

and indicates its position as approximately in longitude 160° 31' west; 

and latitude 45° 14' north. The collection consists mainly of a species 

of Aucella, which is evidently identical with the forms which are figured 

on Eichwald's Plate XVII (loc. cit.); the specimens of which collection, 

like those of Doroschin's, are all in the condition of natural casts. The 

collection also contains a single valve of a species of Cyprina, and some 

fragments of a remarkably slender Belemnite. This collection is now 

the property of.the United States National Museum; and permission to 

use it in the preparation of this article has been given by the Director 

of the Museum.

Two years previous to Mr. Ball's labors in Alaska, the same region 

was visited by M. Alph.-L. Pinart, who obtained some fossil shells of 

Mesozoic age upon the eastern side of the Alaskan peninsula. These 

fossils evidently came from the same formation that furnished the shells 

which are figured by Eichwald on his Plate XVII. M. Piiiart, in his 

report, entitled "Voyages a la cote Nord-Ouest de 1'Amerique," desig-

(99)
12 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS. [BULL. 4.

nates the two localities from which the fossils just mentioned were 

obtained, as "le baie d'Amakshak, pres Soutkhouin; et le baie de Nakkhalilik, pres du volcan Chigihinagak." The former locality is approximately in latitude 56° 50'; longitude 159° 40' west; and the latter, in 

latitude 56° 58'; longitude 159Q 10' west.

The fossils which were collected by M. Pinart were discussed by M. 

P. Fischer, in the report just cited, under the subtitle, " Sur quelques 

Fossiles de 1'Alaska," pages 33-36, Plate A. Only two species were obtained by Piuart from the localities just mentioned, one of which Fischer 

places under Plioladomya (Homomya), but he gives it no specific name. 

The other he refers to the Aucella concentrica of Fischer.

I am in some doubt as to whether Ball and Pinart collected from the 

same locality in any case, but I think it probable that Ball's locality on 

the western side of the Alaskan peninsula, and Pinart's localities on the 

eastern side, had all been previously visited by Doroschin. If, is quite 

evident, however, that the strata from which they respectively collected 

specimens of Aucella all belong to one and the same horizon. If the 

Mesozoic collections of Dall and Pinart, and also that part of Doroschin's collection which Eichwald refers to the Neocomian, all really came 

from one and the same formation, the fauna thus represented has certainly much of Cretaceous, as well as of Jurassic character. This is 

true, even after excluding those species of Doroschin's collection which 

Eichwald refers to the Gault, and of course all that he refers to the Turonian. Still, this fauna has enough of Jurassic character, according to the 

views which have hitherto been generally entertained by paleontologists, 

to suggest that the strata which bear it occupy a transitional position, 

as indicated by Marcou. According to views now generally held by 

naturalists, transitional faunas ought to occur between all those which 

especially characterize each epoch respectively, and the suggestion of 

such a case for this Alaskan fauna seems to me to be reasonable.

Certain of the Cretaceous strata of Texas have been doubtfully referred to the Neocomian, bat with this exception, no North American 

strata south of the northern limit of the United States have hitherto 

been referred to the lower division of the Cretaceous series, and a broad 

hiatus has appeared to exist between those northern strata and the lowest of the Cretaceous rocks yet known south of the limit just referred 

to. Within a few years past, however, the labors of Dr. George M. 

Dawson in the coast region of British Columbia, have brought to light 

some series of fossils which Mr. Whiteaves thinks prove the strata carrying them to be of the age of the Middle Cretaceous, and the upper 

part of the Neocomian. (See Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, Sec. IY, 1882, 

p. 81.) Lately also, some Ammonites have been sent to the United 

States National Museum by Mr. James G. Swan, from Skonum Point, 

British Columbia, which are suggestive of the earliest Cretaceous, if 

not of Jurassic age, and they will doubtless be found to hold an important relation to the Cretaceous strata examined by Dr. Dawson, and

(100)
WHITE.] ALASKAN FOSSILS. 13

also to the Alaskan Mesozoic strata which bear the fossils described in 

this article. In fact, it seems now to be evident that it is along the 

west coast of Forth America, from California to Alaska, that we are to 

look for the lower portion of the Cretaceous series on this continent. 

While these northwestern strata seem to be certainly older than the 

oldest of the Cretaceous strata in all that broad region occupied by Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, it is nevertheless true 

that in all that great region, where the Cretaceous and Jurassic strata 

are both exposed, the former seems always to rest conformably upon the 

latter. This apparent conformability over so wide a region shows how 

cautious one ought to be in concluding that deposition has been continuous in all cases where there is perfect conformity of strata, even if 

it is of great extent.

A consideration of these Alaskan fossils would be much more interesting if we had a satisfactory knowledge of the stratigraphical geology

of the region from which they were obtained. A sketch of the geology 

of the Alaskan Peninsula, which, although brief, is the best with which 

I am acquainted, is given by Mr. Ball in the American Journal of 

Science for July, 1882, pp. 67 and 68. This sketch shows the relations 

of the rock-formations of that peninsula to each other; and one may 

obtain from it also an indication of the formation from which the fossils 

described in this article were obtained.

MOLLUSCA.

Genus AUCELLA Keyserling. 

AUCELLA CONCENTRICA Fischer (variety).

(Plate VI, Figs, ii-12.)

The different species of Aucella which have been recognized and 

published by various authors ^present so few salient characteristics 

which distinguish them from each other that, excepting a consideration 

of their general or average shape, a detailed description of any of 

them is necessarily hardly anything more than a repetition of generic 

characters. Such would certainly be the case in attempting to diagnose the form now under consideration. This form also varies so much 

in shape that an attempt to compare it with other published forms in 

that respect is also unsatisfactory. I therefore omit descriptive details, and give numerous figures, which illustrate some of the extreme 

shapes which this Alaskau shell assumes. The specimens which are 

figured on Plate VI are selected from the Alaskan collection of Mr. 

Ball, which has already been mentioned. A glance at these figures 

will show that they present almost as great a degree of variation among 

themselves as is usually found among the illustrations of the different 

species of Aucella which have hitherto been published by different

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14 ON'MESOZOIC FOSSILS. [BULL.4.

authors. If, for example, the specimens which are represented by 

Figs. 2 and 3, and 9 and 10, respectively, had been found alone and at 

different localities, I think few paleontologists would have hesitated to 

publish them as different species. The specimens are all in the condition of natural casts and molds, and therefore all the surface characteristics of the species are not shown. Fig. 12 is drawn from a guttapercha cast, taken from a natural mold of part of a shell, and shows 

the strong, sharp, concentric ridges which marked the surface of the 

test. (The Museum record number of the type specimens is 12360.)

The numerous specimens of this collection show such a gradation of 

form among themselves that I cannot doubt that they are all properly 

referable to one and the same species. Comparing these specimens 

also with the figures of Alaskan forms of Aucella which are given by 

M. Fischer on his Plate A, and also with those given by Eichwald on 

Plate XVII (loc. cit.), I cannot doubt that they are all specifically identical with each other, nor that they all represent only one species. I 

have, however, some doubt as to which of the known European species 

of Aucella the Alaskan form ought to be referred to; but as it seems to 

agree more nearly with A. concentrica Fischer, I have designated it as 

a variety of that species.

Genus CYPBINA Lamarck. 

CYPRINA? DALLII (sp. nov.).

(Plate VI, Fig. 1.)

Shell moderately large, and having the usual external aspect of 

Cyprina, as is shown by the figure on Plate VI. 

The collection made by Mr. Dall contains only a single example of

this form, and that is in the condition of a natural cast of the right

valve. It is therefore too imperfect for satisfactory specific diagnosis, 

and it is named only for convenience in any future discussion of the 

fauna of which it forms a part. (The Museum catalogue number is 

12362.)

Genus BELEMNITES Lamarck.

BELEMNITES MACEITATIS (sp. nov.).

(Plate VI, Figs. 13 and 14.)

The collection made by Mr. Dall contains some imperfect specimens 

of a remarkably slender Belemnite, imbedded in fragments of hard 

sandstone, together with some natural molds of a couple of more perfect examples. They are very slender, ^nd taper gradually to a blunt 

point at the distal end. The extreme proximal end is unknown.

The very slender form of this species at first led me to suppose it to

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WHITE.] ALASKANi FOSSILS. 15

be a species of the Pennatulid genus Grapliularia of Edwards & Hairne. 

It has, however, not only the usual radiate and concentric structure of 

Belemnites, but one of the examples shows plainly the cavity of the 

phragmocone, with a small bulb-cavity at its point. Another, example 

shows a faint longitudinal groove along one side, such as is common in 

both Belemnites and Belemnitella. "(Museum catalogue number, 12361.) 

Dr. Eichwald, in the work already cited, describes three species of 

Belemnites from Chasik Island, and one from the' Alaskan Peninsula j 

but the species here described differs materially from all of them in its 

small size and very slender form.
ON THE NAUTLLOID GENTJ8 ENCLIMATOCERA8 HYATT, 

AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPE SPEC 1ES.

In the year 1880 Mr. E. O. Ulrich sent to the Smithsonian Institution 

a small collection of fossils which he had obtained from the Cretaceous 

strata near Little Rock, Ark. A part of these fossils were described by 

me in Yols. Ill and IV of Proceedings of the United States National 

Museum; but the Nautiloid shell now described was then only casually 

noticed. Its peculiarities were recognized at that time, and the specimens were laid aside with the hope that better material might be procured for study. Other specimens belonging to this or a closely related 

species were afterward collected by Mr. Lawrence C. Johnson from 

strata supposed to be of Cretaceous age, in Wilcox County, Alabama, 

but they are no more perfectly preserved than the Arkansas specimens.

Prof. Alpheus Hyatt having had in hand an exhaustive work on 

Nautilus and its allies, the Arkansas specimens were placed with him for 

examination. In a preliminary work of his, just published, he divides 

the genus Nautilus -as it has been generally recognized, into numerous 

genera besides those previously proposed by other authors. To one of 

these groups he has given the generic name Enclimatoceras, and made 

the species here described the type of the genus. The following is his 

generic diagnosis, which he has also published in the Proceedings of 

the Boston Society of Natural History, Vol. XXII, 1884, p. 270.

Genus ENCLIMATOCEKAS Hyatt.

" Enclimatoceras includes species of the Trias to the Tertiary, inclusive, which are connected by the outlines of their sutures. The whorls 

are involute from an early stage, and compressed. The abdomens are 

rounded, but become acute in many species. The sutures have prominent ventral saddles, flattened in species with rounded abdomens, and 

acute in those with acute abdomens ; never divided by ventral lobes. 

The lateral lobes are deep, and the lateral saddles well marked. The 

ventral saddles in the young are broad, and closely resemble the ventrals 

of the Hercoglossw, as do also the broad lateral saddles of the later 

larval stages in some species. There are no annular lobes at any stage 

in the Triassic, according to Mojsisovics. They do not seem to be 

present in some of the Jurassic and Cretaceous species, at least during 

the early stages, and are very small in some adults. The Triassic species 

are nearly related to Grupoceras, according to Mojsisovics' figures and descriptions in * Das Gebirge um Hallstatt.' The siphon in this type is a 

little below the center in the young, though ventral in the adult5 and 

this also agrees with the characteristics of Enclimatoceras styriacns, sp.

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WH11B.J ENCLIMATOCERAS, 17

Mojsisovics, of the Trias, and Grupoceras. Nevertheless there is no 

ventral lobe at any stage; the annular lobe is absent in the Triassic 

forms, and young of later forms; and the siphon in two species is 

short-funneled, with connective walls, or ellipochoanoidal. Type, Enclim. 

(Naut.) ulrichi White."

ENCLIMATOCERAS (NAUTILUS) ULRICHI White.

(Plates VII, VIII, and IX.)

Shell moderately large; somewhat narrowly but regularly rounded 

upon the periphery in the adult state, and broadly rounded at the sides; 

whorls almost completely involute, the umbilici being very small; 

septa somewhat deeply concave; ventral saddles large, prominent, and 

regularly rounded; lateral lobes broad and moderately deep; lateral saddles prominent and narrow, and rounded at the outer end, and 

also becoming laterally prominent in the later formed septa of adult 

shells. The character of the surface is unknown, but it was apparently 

plain; and the test was moderately thin. In the young state the shell 

was more globose in form, and the septa were much less deeply lobed.

All the specimens which have yet come under my observation are in 

the condition of natural casts, and all are imperfect. The best one of 

these specimens is figured on Plates VII, VIII, and IX, together with a 

fragment showing the inner volutions. The>outlines which are added to 

the figures represent the supposed outline of the aperture of the adult 

shell.

The diameter of the coil of the type specimen, when perfect, was apparently about 180 millimeters; the greatest transverse diameter about 

125 millimeters. Some of the specimens already referred to, which 

were collected in Alabama by Mr. Johnson, indicate a considerably 

larger size.

In Vol. I of the Transactions of the Saint Louis Academy of Science 

Dr. Shumard described a form under the name of Nautilus texanus, but 

which he did not figure. Judging from his description, it seems to agree" 

with the form here described, except for the material difference that it 

is marked by numerous flexuous transverse ribs, while the surface of 

our form is evidently plain. The difference between E. ulrichi and most 

of the other Cretaceous Eantiloid shells of the United States has now 

been made generic by Professor Hyatt, and specific comparisons are 

therefore unnecessary. The collection sent by Mr. Ulrich to the Smithsonian, containing the type specimens of this species, also contains representatives of numerous other species, but all of them, like these types, 

are imperfect. Among them are Callianassa ulrichi White, lubulosteum 

dickhauti White, Gryphcea pitcheri Morton?, Turritella, Anchura, Axincea, 

Cucullcea, &c.

The type specimens bear the Museum catalogue number 8349; and 

permission to use them in the preparation of this article has been given 

by the Director of the Museum.

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Bull. 4 2

INDEX.

	Page. 

Alaskan fossils, discussion of................................................. 10

Aucella concentrica ......................................................... 13

Belemnites macritatis ....................................................... 14

Chamidse, aberrant forms of................................................. 5

Cretaceous fossils of Texas .................................................. 5

Cretaceous fossils of Arkansas ............................................... 16

Cyprina? dallu............................................................. 14

Dall, W. H., Alaskan fossils collected by..................................... 10,11

Dawson, Dr. George M., labors in British Columbia referred to................ 12

Doroschin, Peter, Alaskan fossils collected by................................ 10

Eichwald, Prof. Edward von; publication of Alaskan fossils.................. 10

Enclimatoceras of Hyatt, generic diagnosis of................................ 16

Enclimatoceras ulrichi ..................................................... 17

Fischer, P., on Alaskan fossils ............................................... 12

Grewingk, Constantine, publication of Alaskan fossils......................... 10

Hyatt, Prof. Alphens, on the genus Enclimatoceras........................... 16

Marcou, Prof. Jules, work cited................................ .............. 10

Monopleura marcida ........................................................ 8

Monopleura pinguiscula..................................................... 8

Pinart, A. L., collection of Alaekan fossils by ................................ 11

Requienia patagiata .........^.............................................. (i

Kequienia texana ..................................................... .... 7

Roomer, Prof. Ferdinand, work cited......................................... 7

Stolley, George, collection of Texas fossils by ................................ 6

Swan, J. G., collection of fossils by, in British Columbia...................... 12

Texas fossils, discussion of.................................................. 5

Ulrich, E. 0., collection of Arkansas fossily by................................. 16

Whiteaves, J. F., on Cretaceous fossils of British Columbia .................. 12

Wosnessensky, Ilia, collection of Alaskan fossils by .......................... 10

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20 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS. ([BULL. 4.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.

PLATE I.

REQUIENIA PATAGIATA. (Page 6.)

FIGS. 1, 2, 3. Three different views of one of the largest of the type specimens; both

valves together.

FIGS. 4, 5. Two views of a smaller example.

FIGS. 6, 7. Two views of another example, showing the two valves partly separated. 

FIG. 8, A portion of a left valve, showing the hinge. All of natural size. For other

figures of this species see Plate II.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN NO. 4

KEQUIEXIA I'ATAGIATA.
22 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS.

PLATE II.

REQUIENIA PATAGIATA. (Page (5.)

FlGS. 1, 2. Two views of a small example ; both valves together. 

FIG. 3. Upper view of a large and somewhat distorted example. 

FIG. 4. A similar view of a smaller distorted example. All of natural size. For other 

figures of this species see Plate I.

REQUIENIA TEXANA. (Page?.)

FIG. 5. Lateral view; the two valves together. 

FIG. 6. Upper view of the left valve.

FIG. 7. Similar view of the right valve. Figures 5, 6, and 7 are after Koemer; all of 

natural size.

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U. P. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ]!ULI.KTIN XO. 4 1'L. II

0 

REQUIEXIA PATAGIATA REQUIEXIA TKXAXA.

V
24 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS. tnui.L.4,

PLATE III.

MONOPLEUKA MARCIDA. (Page 8.)

FIGS. 1,2. Opposite lateral views of a cluster of individuals, the larger ones being 

attached to a left valve of another example.

FIG. 3. An upper view of the same example, showing the hinge of the largest right 

valve, and the left valves of the other members of the cluster in situ.

FIG. 4. Inner surface of the left valve which forms the base of the cluster represented 

by Figs. 1,2, and 3.

FIG. 5. A separate example, showing both valves.

FIG. 6. Another example, also showing both valves.

FIG. 7. A right valve, showing the slender ligamental groove.

FIG. 8. Another slender right valve, also showing the groove.

FIG. 9. Interior view of the same example, showing the hinge.

FIG. 10. A similar view of the hinge of another example, which is attached to a right 

valve of Requieniapatagiata. All are of natural size. For other examples see Plate IV.

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U. S. GKOLO(5ICAL SUliVF.V BULLETIN NO. 4 PL. lit

IMONOPLEUKA JVIARCIDA.
26 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS. fBULL.4.

PLATE IV. 

MONO PLEURA MAKCIDA. (Page 8.)

FIG. 1. Lateral view; the right valve attached to a foreign body, and the left valve 

bearing two young examples of Beguienia patagiata.

FIG. 2. Lateral view of another example, the left valve bearing a young Requienia.

FIG. 3. A similar view of another example, which also shows both valves.

FIGS. 4,5. Opposite views of a large distorted example; both valves together.

FIGS. 6,7. Opposite views of another example, also showing both valves.

FIGS. 8,9. Opposite views of a cluster of very young individuals attached to a corallite of CladopTiyllia. All are of natural size. For other examples 

of this species see Plate III.

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U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN KO. 4 PL. IV

4 5 

MOXOPLEURA. MAKCIDA.
28 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS. lBuu.,4.

PLATE V. 

MONOPLEURA PINGUISCULA. (Page 8.).

FIGS. 1, 2. Opposite views of a large example, showing both valves.

FIGS. 3, 4. Opposite views of a distorted example, showing both valves.

FIG 5. Another example; the right valve much elongated.

FIG. 6. Another example; the right valve much distorted.

FIG. 7. Another example, showing the hinge-plate of the broken left valve.

FIG. 8. A right valve, showing the hinge. All natural size.

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MOXOPLKUUA PIXGUISCULA.
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PLATE VI.

CYPRINA? DALLII. (Page 14.) , 

FIG. 1. Lateral view of a natural cast of the interior of a right valve. 

AUCELLA CONCENTRICA var. (Page 13.)

FIGS. 2, 3. Two views of an internal cast of an adult example of normal shape. 

FIGS. 4, 5. Two views of another example, of smaller size. 

I FIGS. 6, 7. Two views of still another similar example. 

FIG. 8. View of a left valve of one of the largest examples. 

FIGS. 9, 10. Two views of an unusually short and inflated example. 

FIG. 11. The left valve of another short example.

FIG. 12. View of a gutta-percha cast from a natural mold of part of a shell, showing 

the concentric lamellations of the test. All of natural size.

BELEMNITES MACRITATIS. (Page 14.)

FIG. 13. A fragment, showing tlie terminal portion of the phragmocone. 

FIG. 14. View of a gutta-percha cast of a natural mold. All of natural size.
U. P. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY r.ULLETIX \0. 4 PL. A'l

U

12

14

10 « 9 

CYP1UNA ? 1>ALLII, AUCELI.A CONCENTIUCA Var., AND HELEMNITES jMACKITATIS.
32 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS. [BULL. 4.

PLATE VII.

ENCMMATOCERAS ULRICHI. (Page 17.)

FIG. 1. Lateral view of the type specimen, four-fifths natural size. 

FIGS. 2, 3. Two views of a fragment, showing the inner volutions. For other figures 

see Plates VIII and IX.
U. 8. OKOLOGICAI, SUIIVEY HULUITIN XO. 4 I'L. VII

ENCLIMATOCEKAS VJ,KICHI.
34 ON MESOZOIC FOSSILS. IBTOL.!

PLATE VIII.

ENCLIMATOCERAS ULRICHI. (Page 17.)

Front view of the type specimen, four-fifths natural size. For other figuroB see 

Plates VII and IX.

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U. S. (GEOLOGICAL .SURVEY IHILLETIN NO. 4 PL. VIII

KNCLIMATOCKHAS ULKICHI.
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PLATE IX. < 

ENCLIMATOCERAS ULRICHI. (Page 17.)

Peripheral view of the type specimen, foar-fifths natural size. For other figures see 

Plates VII and VIII.

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U. S. GEOLOGICAL HURVKY BULLETIN NO. 4 PL. IX

ENCLIMATOCEKAS ULKICIII.