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III.—On the Distribution of the Graptolithidæ in Time and Space

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

Extract

It was indicated even by Murchison that the Graptolites constitute admirable characteristic fossils of the Silurian formation. Subsequent investigation has established that the group Graptolithidæ is essentially confined to the oldest fossiliferous formation. A single genus, the genus Dictyograptus, Hopk. (Dictyonema, Hall), occupies a remarkably exceptional position as regards its distribution in time. Formerly, indeed, this genus was separated from the proper or true Graptolites (Rhabdophora, Allman), and referred with some other genera (Dendrograptus, Hall, Ptilograptus, Hopk., Callogroptus, Hall) to the Campanularidæ but recently W. C. Brögger has very clearly shown that the genus in question differs very little from the true Graptolites, inasmuch as the most important parts of the latter, such as the sicula, and the hydrothecæ, have been detected in it. By this the Graptolithic nature of the genus in question is rendered very probable. Members of the genus Dictyograptus, Hopk., appear among the very oldest of known Graptolites; the genus maintains itself throughout the whole of the Silurian formation, while by its side new genera make their appearance, culminate and disappear. Even after the other Graptolites had long since disappeared from the ancient sea-fauna, this genus still lived on, for we find it occurring in the Devonian.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1885

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References

page 406 note 2 Die silurischen Etagen 2 und 3 in Kristianiagebiet und auf Eker,” Christiana, 1882.Google Scholar

page 407 note 1 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, vol. iii. pp. 245 and 449; vol. iv. pp. 333 and 423; vol. v. pp. 45, 273, and 358; and vol. vi. pp. 16 and 185.

page 407 note 2 It received from Linnarsson the name of Dichograptus tenellus, L., but erroneously. Upon this further hereafter.

page 407 note 3 Loc. cit. pp. 145.

page 408 note 1 Tullberg's, S. A. most recent work (Zeitschr. d. deutsch. Geol. Gesellsch. 1883, pp. 223269Google Scholar) contains a system in which the Dictyograptidæ, Tullb., are placed, as a new family, at the head of all other families.

page 410 note 1 “Veiviser ved Geolog. exeursioner i Christiania Omegn.”—Christiania, 1865.

page 410 note 2 “Die silurischen Etagen 2 und 3 im Kristianiagebiet und auf Eker.”—Christiania, 1882.

page 410 note 3 Vorläufige Mittheilung über eine neue Graptolithenart, etc.,” in Nyt Mag. for Naturv. vol. xxvii. (1882), pp. 341362.Google Scholar

page 410 note 4 In Ofv. Kongl. Vet. Akad. Förh. 1881.

page 411 note 1 Graptolites de Bohême,” Prague, 1850.Google Scholar

page 411 note 2 Die Versteinerungen der Grauwackenformation in Sachsen: I. Graptolithen,” Leipzig, 1852.Google Scholar

page 411 note 3 Zeitschr. d. deutsch. geol. Gesellsch. 1850, 1851, 1866, 1871, 1875.Google Scholar

page 411 note 4 Zeitschr. d. deutsch. geol. Gesellsch. vol. xxi. (1869), p. 143.Google Scholar

page 411 note 5 Ibid. vol. xxxv (1883), p. 256.

page 411 note 6 Ibid. vol. xxi. (1869), p. 569.

page 412 note 1 Graptolites of the Quebec Group, Montreal, 1865.Google Scholar

page 412 note 2 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xi. (1873), pp. 133—143.

page 412 note 3 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xiv. (1874). pp. 1—9.

page 412 note 4 Prodromus of the Palæontology of Victoria, Dec. i.—iii. (1874—78).