Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-08-16

al the Favositid, or Honey
combed coral ; the Syringopora
and the Fenestella elegans in tn
midst of these, we find a large hem
spherical mass of Stromatopora
considered to be an ancient sponge
Next, we have magnificent i'm
preston of Eurypterus Remipes
from Waterville, N. Y; related Il
the Trilobite, but probably of high
er organization. A very choic,
specimen this is, Judging from {
note to the original label still at
tached to it, which reads thus
"Rarest-the State has not one-I take
great pleasure in sending you this
And next to it we have some per.
feet and very beautiful Tentaculites,
crowded together upon the surface
of two slabs, belonging to the Onon-
daiga Salt group, one from Helder-
berg, the other from Schoharie,
N. Y. A limestone slab from
Litchfeld, bears upon it three
beautiful delicate branching Cri-
noids; another from Schoharie a
very fine specimen of the rather
rare species, Lepadocrinus Geb-
hardi.
Here is interpolated special col
lection of fossils from Perry county,
Tenn, belonging to the Dyestone
and Gray Limestone groups of
Prof. Stafford which beside the
local interest attaching to it, is
valuable in containing some splen-
did specimens, particularly of Cri-
mold heads.
Thenext age-the Devonian-also
called the Age of Fishes-is intro
duced by the Carniferous Period,
represented by a large number of
Fossils, among which we find several
fine specimens of Spirophyton
Canda-Galli, supposed to be sea-
weed Orthoceras and Cyrtoceras
splendid corals a particularly fine
piece of Favosites Gothlandica
some little Echini (Radiates); also
two beautiful Olivenites (NucTeo-
crinus); besides any quantity of
Brachiopods, and a goodly repre-
sentation from the Trilobites. From
the Marcellus Shale of the Hamilton
Period we notice some splendid
Goniatites, the exterior finely mark
ed, showing the angled character of
the Septa, it being thus differen-
tiated from the Nautilus, to which
it is nearly related. There is be-
sides, such vast number of speci-
mems here, belonging to this period
and the subsequent periods of the
Devonian, of a similar character in
general, to those already named,
that we must pass them by for want
of space. We may, however, men
ton the advance indicated in regard
to vegetable life, for here are many
specimens of Ferns, as also of Sig
illaria and LepidOdendron, belong
ing to this period-their highest
takes. place in the
Carboniferous. Fishes become a
prominent and characteristic feature
of the life of the earth during this
age. And here we have teeth and
scales, and in some instances almost
the entire forms preserved upon the
rock surfaces. Here are some scales
of Lepidosteus and Holoptychius;
a quite perfect outline of Paleonis-
Gus from Mansfield, Prussia besides
several others from our own coun-
try.
The Carboniferous Age, or the
Age of Coal Plants, of course
abounds IN vegetation. There is
here to be seen a rich collection of |
Ferns very distinct and beautiful. |
specimens of the charac-
teristic Lepidodendra and Sigil-
larids, belonging to the Botanical
division called Lycopods. The re-
mains are distinguished by the
markings and the arrange
ment of the scars left by the falling
leaves. These exterior markings
are in some cases very elaborate,
of handsomely en-
bossed character. In the Sigillarids,
the leaf-scars are arranged in verti-
cal series, while in the Lepidodend-
rids they are alternate. The Gala
mites belonging to the Equiseta or
horse-tails, are very abundant and
large; their Fossils are very charac-
teristic of the Coal Period.
Here is a tray-full of Sub Carbon
ferrous specimens, mostly from
and vicinity; the ma
ority marked "Glenwood" and
'Stacker's Quarry" 1t contains
Corals, Lithostrotion and other
kinds several genera of Brachio-
pods, Spirifer, Leptena, etc., with
Two splendid specimens of Produc-
-us Cora from Montgomery county.
There are many very beautiful and
perfect bud-like Pentremites, espe-
cially characteristic of this age, to-
gether with other remains of Grim
Oidal life; and here is large Echi-
mold, obtained from Mr.. VIM. T.
place, near CIarksville, and
named by Prof. Stafford "MelOraites
in honor of ''the friend
md patron" of our University.
Here are two delicate specimens
Of Archimedes, one "said to be from
Montgomery county, Tennessee"
the other from Kaskaskia, Illinois.
This is Bryozoans Coral, of a screw
Or auger shape, very strange and
beautiful under a magnifying glass.
But we cannot remain longer on
the many interesting evidences of
life during Paleozoio time we
must now take up the medieval life
history of our earth
MEsozOIC TIME,
q