CLASS, CELENTERATA.-ORDER, RUGOSA. Acervularia davidsoni, Edwards & Haime. Acervularia profunda, Hall. Phillipsastrea gigas,* Owen. Diphyphyllum archiaci, Billings. Cyathophyllum, robustum, Hall. Cystiphyllum americanum, Edwards and Haime. Cystiphyllum conifollis, Hall. Chonophyllum magnificum, Rominger(?) ORDER TABULATA. Favosites emmonsi, Rominger. Favosites hamiltonensis, Rom. Favosites hemispherica, Yandell & Shumard, Var. Favosites limitaris, Rom. Favosites digitatus, Rom. Favosites placenta, Rom. Alveolites goldfussi, Billings. Aulopora (two or three species.) Monticulipora monticola, White. CLASS, ECHINODERMATA-ORDER, CRINOIDEA.** Strobilocystites calvini, White. Strobilocystites polleyi, (new species), Calvin. Nucleocrinus angularis, Lyon. Nucleocrinus, (new species). one side and a corresponding pit on the other side where the pustule on the next layer below fitted up into it. C. monticulifera is what the Iowa City marble cutters call "wave;" its wavy lines look somewhat live an outline map of a range of monticles, or hillockshence the scientific name given to it.-H. A. R. *The different species of Acervularia and Phillipsastrea are what the marble workers and people of Iowa City call "birds-eye" marble.-H. A. R. Some varieties of Cyathophyllum are calyx-shaped, or cup-like, having a depression in the large end and then tapering to a point like a horn tip, and usually somewhat curved. They have been called and believed to be petrified buffalo calf's horns, by unlearned people.-H. A. R. The different species of Favosites form the kind of stone commonly called “fish egg” marble; but it is an entirely different product from the true fish-egg or oolite marble, which is not found here at all. Favosites means "honey comb stone," and all of those specimens which look like petrified honey comb belong to this genus.-H. A. R. **The crinoids grew on a jointed stem, which had roots like a plant in the sea bottom mud, and supported a head with arms that grew out from the common center and turned up; these arms bore a fringe of vibratile cilia, which makes a well preserved fossil specimen look like one side of a quill feather. The stem shows an annulated or ring joint structure which leads to their being often called petrified worms. But they belong to that great group of radiate animals which includes also the star fishes.----H. A. Ř. Megistocrinus farnsworthi, White. Melocrinus solonensis* (new species). CLASS, MOLLUSCA† ORDER, BRACHIOPODA. Strophodonta erratica, Winchell. Strophodonta demissa, Conrad. Streptorhynchus chemungensis, Conrad. Orthis iowensis, Hall. Chonetes lineata, Vanuxem. Chonetes scitula, Hall. Productella dissimilis, Hall. Productella subalata, Hall. Spirifera parryana, Hall Spirifera whitneyi, Hall. Spirifera aspera, Hall. Spirifera subvaricosa, Hall and Whitfield. Spirifera fimbriata, Conrad. Cyrtina hamiltonensis, Hall. Athyris vittata, Hall. Atrypa reticularis, Linnætus, Atrypa aspera, var. occidentalis, Hall. Gypidula occidentalis, Hall Gypidula læviuscula, Hall. Pentamerella dubia, Hall. Pentamerella micula, Hall. Rhynchonella intermedia, Barris. Leiorhynchus altus, Calvin. Terebratula romingeri, Hall Terebratula linklæni, Hall. Tropidoleptus carinatus, Conrad. Tropidoleptus occidens, Hall. ORDER, LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. Casts of these two-valved mollusks are not uncommon, but the preservation is usually such as to make it impossible to identify them. ORDER, GASTEROPODA. Platyceras, (four or five undescribed species). Euomphalus cyclostomus, Hall. Tentacutites hoyti, White. *This new species was first found at Solon, in Big Grove township, and hence was so named by Prof. Calvin.-H. A. R. Mollusks are the great variety of so-called shell fish. The shell rock of which the University central hall is built, and which is extensively used for curb stones and other purposes throughout Iowa City, is almost entirely composed of the shells of different species of mollusks.-H. A. R. ORDER, CEPHALOPODA. Casts of chambered shells belonging to the genera Orthoceras, Gomphoceras and Gyroceras are quite common in some localities. CLASS, ARTICULATA--ORDER, CRUSTACEA. (Trilobites.)* CLASS, VERTEBRATA-ORDER, FISHES. Dermal plates of the curious fish Dinichthys, and teeth and fin spines of Devonian sharks, are sparingly distributed through all the rocks of the county. Of the Carboniferous fossils only two have been identified, and these only generically. Calamites. The two species of Strobilocystites are represented in my collection by three specimens, and it is interesting to note that, so far as known, these are the only specimens of Devonian Cystideans that have ever been collected. The type is usually regarded as having become extinct in the Upper Silurian; but, in this particular locality, at least, Cystideans persisted as late as the middle of the Devonian age. The Strobilocystites calvini was described by Dr. C. A. White in the publications of the Philadelphia Academy of Science, for 1876. The S. polleyi differs from it in being larger, more globose, and in having the surface ornamented with minute irregular, vermicular furrows instead of the papillae that characterizes the S. calvini. The arm grooves of S. polleyi do not reach more than half way to the base. Prof. D. D. Owen describes a number of species of fossils from this locality, but I have not been able to identify them all. It is very probable that his Chonetes iowensis is identical with Chonetes scitula, of Hall, but his drawing and description are so imperfect as to make it impossible to determine the fact with absolute certainty. Others of Owen's species doubtless pass under names assigned to them by more recent workers. *The trilobites were a sort of three-lobed cross between a worm and a crayfish. There were scores of different species of them in the ancient seas, but only one kind has yet been found in Johnson county.-H. A. R. CHAPTER IX.-PART 3. NATURAL HISTORY. A Lesson in Zoology.-Mr. Shimek's Report--Lists of Beasts, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes.Native Animals.-Bear and Wolf Stories.-Wolf Scalp Bounties.-The Game Law.Game and Fish Interests. A LESSON IN ZOOLOGY. Bohumil Shimek, a student in the State University, class of 1883, has made a special study of the zoology and botany of Johnson county. An additional interest attaches to Mr. Shimek's work from the fact that he is himself one of the "native animals" of Johnson county, having been born in Jefferson township, June 25, 1861, of Bohemian parentage. He took the full college course in natural science, and kept the laboratory well supplied with live frogs, for illustrative experiments on muscle and nerve action. His expertness in catching frogs by hand led his class-mates to perpetrate the joke that Shimek was a Frenchman, and would never starve to death as long as there was a wild frog loose in the country. Mr. Shimek stands very high in the esteem and confidence of Prof. Calvin, as a diligent, careful, thorough going and zealous student of science; and it is pleasant to record that the best study yet made of the zoology of Johnson county has been by one of her own sons. MR. SHIMEK'S REPORT. LIST OF MAMMALS. 1. Felis concolor (L.)—American panther or cougar. 2. Lynx rufus, (Gul.)-American wild-cat or lynx. 3. Canis lupus, (L.)-Common wolf. The "timber" and "prairie" wolves are zoologically the same. 4. Vulpes vulgaris (Flem.)—Red fox, very variable; known by the following other names: Cross fox, black fox. 5. Putorius vulgaris, (Cuv.)-Least weasel; usually white in winter. 6. Putorius ermineus, (Cuv.)-Common weasel; white in winter. 7. Putorius vison, (Gap.)—Common mink; quite frequently met with. 8. Taxidea americana, (Bd.)—American badger. 9. Mephitis mephitica, (Bd.)-Common skunk; plenty. 10. Lutra canadensis, (Sab.)-American Otter. 11. Ursus americanus, (Pallas.)-Bear. 12. Procyon lotor, (Ston.)-Common raccoon. This species was formerly abundant, but as the heavy timber is being cut away, it is becoming rarer. They can be seen most easily in early spring, during the "love" season; at this time the males become very fierce, and are more likely to show "fight" than at other times. 13. Cariacus virginianus, (Gray.)—Red deer; formerly abundant. My father, who came to the country in 1856 and settled in Jefferson township, used to tell of deer that he had seen in Hutchin's grove. [Mr. Shimek omits the elk (Cervus canadensis)-individuals and herds of which were occasionally seen by the early settlers in Johnson county.]-Editor. 14. Vespertilio subulatus, (Say.)-Little brown bat; very common. Probably two other species of vespertilio are found in the county. 15. Atalapha noveboracensis, (Coues.)-Red bat. 16. Scalops argentatus (Aud. & Bach.)—Silvery mole or prairie mole. 17. Blarina brevicauda, (Bd.)-Mole shrew, or short-tailed shrew; a small, insignificant species. 18. Sciuropterus volucella, (Geoff.)-Common flying squirrel; abundant. 19. Sciurus niger (Lint.)—Fox squirrel; common. 20. Sciurus carolinensis, (Aud.)-Gray squirrel, or black squirrel This species varies from a grizzly yellowish gray to pure jet-black; the jet-black form is very rare here. 21. Tamias striatus, (Bd.)-Chipmunk, or ground squirrels; very common in the timber, and along hedge and fence-rows. 22. Spermophilus tridecemlineatus, (Aud. & Bach.)-Striped gopher, or thirteen-lined spermophiles. 23. Spermophilus franklini, (Rich.)-Gray gopher; these two species of gopher are found in fields and on the prairies. They are a great nuisance to farmers, destroying much corn. 24. Arctomys monax, (Gmel.)-Woodchuck, or ground-hog; formerly quite common, now rather rare. 25. Castor fiber, (L.)—Beaver; this species has become extinct in the last few years. Two specimens now in the University were captured about ten years ago. 26. Geomys bursarius, (Rich.)-Pouched gopher, pocket gopher; a farmers' pest. ⚫ 27. Zapus hudsonius, (Coues.)-Jumping mouse; smail, mouse-like. Remarkable for its jumping powers. 28. Arvicola riparius, (Ord.)--Meadow mouse. 29. Arvicola pinetorum, (Le C.)-Pine mouse; one specimen taken. There are probably three or four more species of the mouse-kind, but I have not sufficient data at hand to give a record. 30. Fiber zibethicus, (Cuv.)-Muskrat; very common. 31. Lepus sylvaticus, (Bach.)-Common rabbit; very common. 32. Didelphys virginiana, (Shaw.)-Opossum. Of the above list, numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 25 and 32, are no longer found in the county. |