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ON PTEROMYA CROWCOMBEIA MOORE AND SOME SPECIES OF PLEUROMYA

AND VOLSELLA FROM THE RH.-ETIC AND LOWER LIAS.

BY L. RICHARDSON, F . R . S . E . AND J . W . TUTCHER.

[Plates VIII. and I X . ]

For a number of years past we have been engaged in studying the
Rhaetic and basal Lower-Lias deposits of Gloucestershire and Somerset.
In the course of our investigations we have collected m a n y specimens
of Pleuromya and Volsella. Of these some could be readily identified
with already-described and figured forms, but of the others, some
appeared to be undescribed and others to be known by names that
obviously required investigation.
The present paper is the result of our examination of the specimens
we have collected.

THE GENUS PTEROMYA MOORE.

This genus was created by Charles Moore for the reception of such
inequivalve Myadse as his species crowcombeia* It does not appear to
have been generally accepted, but as he created the genus, and as the
feature upon which he mainly founded it, namely, the inequality of
the valves, is very distinctive, we are of opinion that it ought to be
used.

PTEROMYA CROWCOMBEIA MOORE.

Plate VIII., figs, la, b, and 2.

1861. Quart. Joarn, GeoL Soc, Vol. XVII., p. 506, plate xv.,
figs. 22 and 23.

REMARKS.-—Moore's type came from the Flinty Bed of Beer Crow-

combe, which is equivalent to the Plewopkorus-'Jied of Blue Anchor.f
Typical specimens, however, have only been found in abundance—and
in great abundance—in bed 21 at Blue Anchor.J
Moore, in his description, refers to the posterior ridge and area on
the left valve, but when describing the right valve—whilst commenting

* Quart. Journ. Geo!, Soc, Vol. X V I I . ( 1 8 6 1 ) , p . 505.

f Quart. Journ. GeoL Soc, Vol. L X V I L ( 1 9 1 1 ) , p . 17.
% hi., p. 17.
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52 L. RICHARDSON AND J . W. TUTCHER : PTE ROM YA CROWOOMBEIA

on the absence of these features—makes no mention of the curiously

" thickened " margin and recurved posterior portions of the valve
(see plate VIII., fig. 2). On the left valve the ribbing ends abruptly
at the ridge (fig. lb), but on the right valve it is continuous to the
" thickened " margin. The test is extremely thin. On young forms
the ribbing is very pronounced and regular, and the presence or absence
of the thin test does not affect these features on the cast. On the other
hand, on older specimens the ribbing on the later-added portion of the
shell is much less pronounced.

PLEUROMYA TAT EI nom. IIOV.

Plate VIII., figs. 3a, b, and c.

1871. Myaciles muscidoides, Geol. Surv., Phillips, Geology of Oxford,
p. 107, plate vii., fig. ->6.
1876. Tate and Blake, The Yorkshire Lias, p. 406, plate xiii., fig. 10.
REMARKS.—The form to which Tate applied the specific name of
crowconibeia is common in and characteristic of the Pleuroniya-Heds
(the lower portion of the Ostrea-Be&s auctt.) of the Lower Lias over a
wide area, indeed from Yorkshire to the .Dorset coast.
In Moore's Pleromya croiocombeia the valves are dissimilar : in
Pleuromya tatei they are similar. The ornamentation of both valves
of the latter species is similar to that of the left valve only of the
former. In addition to this difference the Lower-Lias shell is very
much larger. As in the case of the left valve of the Khfetic shell, the
ribbing on both valves of the Lower-Lias shell terminates at the
posterior ridge, beyond which is a narrow smooth area..
Associated with the above-described typical form of Pleuromya
tatei are specimens (var. alitor nov.) differing therefrom in having
more central umbones, a stronger posteriorly reflected margin and a
less defined ridge (plate VIII., fig. 4). In spite of these differences we
do not consider it desirable to separate this form specifically from the
above.
In the Langport Beds or White Lias proper, the Pleuromya that
is commonest resembles in shape Pleuromya tatei var. altior. A con-
siderable number of specimens has been examined, but in no case has
a n y indication of ribs been observed. This may be due to the condition
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L. RICHARDSON AND J . W. TUTCHER : PTEROMYA CROWCOMBEIA 53

of preservation, but we consider it desirable to draw attention to the

fact, and tentatively distinguish it as a variety—-var. langportensis.

Tate refers to a specimen from the White Lias of Somerset in the

B a t h Museum, " named Pteromya crowcombeia by the author of the
species else," he continues, I should not have assigned our [Yorkshire]
specimen to it."* Tate's doubts were quite justified, for whereas the
valves of Pteromya crowcombeia from the Pteria-contorta-'Be&s are
dissimilar, those of the shells from the White Lias are similar, as is the
case with the species from the Pleuromya-Beds.

The specimen from Yorkshire figured by Tate is a small example

of Pleuromya tatei. Associated with it, he states, are larger forms,
which he suggests m a y be adult specimens. He draws attention to
their close resemblance to Cerornya infra-liassica Peters, but our
specimens do not agree with Peters' figure. | Possibly Tate's forms
are our variety altior.

VOLSELLAJ ETLLANA ( J . SOWERBY).

Plate IX., fig. 1.

1818. Mineral Conchology, Vol. III., p. 19. plate 212, fig. 2.

REMARKS.—Sowerby's type came from " Pickeridge Hill, near

Roundsford Park, Taunton." We figure a particularly fine specimen
from the Pleuromya-~Beds of the same locality.

As will be seen on reference to the figures of Volsella Icevis ( J .

Sowerby) (Min, Conch., plate 212, fig. 2), and of this species (plate
IX., fig. 5 of this paper), the latter is usually twice as large as an
average-sized specimen of the former, and the anterior margin is
practically straight.
Volsella hiUana (J. Sowerby) is very closely related to, and prob-
ably the same as, V. glabrata (Dunker). §

* The Yorkshire Lias, p . 4 0 6 .

f V o n K a r l F . P e t e r s Uber den Lias von Fiinfkirchen (1863),
t a b . 1, figs. 1-3.
J =Modiola.
§ " U e b e r d i e in d e m Lias Halberstadt vorkommenden Ver-
s t e i n e r u n g e n , " Palceontographica, t. I . , p . 39, t a b . 1, fig. 17.
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54 L. RICHARDSON AND J . W. TUTCHER : PTEROMYA CROWCOMBEIA

VOLSELLA HILLANOIDES (CHAPUIS AND DEWALQUE).

Plate IX., figs. 8a and b.

VOLSELLA L^EVIS ( j . SOWERBY).

Plate IX., fig. 5.
1812. Mineral Conchology, Vol. I., p. 30, plate 8.

VOLSELLA LANGPORTENSIS S p . 110V.

Plate IX., figs 7 and 11a and b.

* The Yorkshire Lias ( 1 8 7 1 ) , p. 3 7 7 .

t Der Jura ( 1 8 5 8 ) , p. 4 8 , tab. 4, fig. 13.
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L. R I C H A R D S O N A N D J . W . T U T C H E R : PTEROMYA CROWCOMBEIA 55

under the name of Modiola minima Moore." Through the kindness

of the Rev. H. H. Winwood, of Bath, we have been able to examine
the specimen from the ' Flinty Bed " of Beer Crow combe figured by
;

Moore as *' Modiola minima Sowerby."* Under this name Moore also
recorded the form from the Langport Beds, which we have named
Volsella langportensis." The specimens from neither the " Flinty ;

Bed " nor the Langport Beds, however, are Volsella minima (J.
Sowerby).
The form that we have selected as the type of Volsella langport-
ensis is that which is most individually numerous. Certain variations,
however, occur, The commonest variety in the Langport Beds is a
narrower shell—var. angustiformis {vide supra), a less common one is
a straighter shell—var. erecta (vide supra).

VOLSELLA LIASINA (TERQUEM).

Plate IX., fig. 6 .

1855. Terquem, Palwout. Liasique Luxem., p. 3 1 2 , plate xxi., fig. 9 .
REMARKS.—We have collected several examples of this species
from the lower portion of the Angidata-Beds (hemera marmorece) in
the Bristol district.

VOLSELLA MINIMA (j. SOWERBY).

Plate IX., figs. 2 and 3 .

1818. Mineral Conchology, Vol. III., p. 1 9 , plate 2 1 0 , figs. 5 - 7 .
REMARKS.—This name has been somewhat indiscriminately
applied. Sowerby has figured three specimens, two extremely small
(plate 2 1 0 , figs. 6 and 7 ) , and one larger (fig. 5 ) , which represents about
the average size of the mature specimen. This last m a y be selected
a s the type. It was sent to Sowerby " from Taunton." It m a y have
been obtained from the neighbourhood of West Hatch, where specimens
identical with that figured by Sowerby (fig. 5 ) are very common in
the basal portion of the Pleuromya-Beds.
We do not recollect having found typical specimens of Volsella -
minima (J. Sowerby) outside the Pleuromya-'Beds.
Specimens have been procured wherever the Pleuromya-'Beds are
exposed.
* Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, V o l . X V I I . ( 1 8 6 1 ) , p. 5 0 5 , pi. xv., figs.
26 and 27.
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56 L. RICHARDSON AND J . W. TCTCHER : PTEROMYA CROWCOMBEIA

VOLSELLA WICKESI sp. nov.

Plate IX., fig. 4.

REMARKS.—This form—which we name after Mr. W. H. Wickes

E X P L A N A T I O N OF P L A T E S .
Plate VIII.
F i g s , la, b, c, a n d 2.—Pteromya crowcombeia Moore. ( S e e p . 51.)

F i g s . 3a, b, a n d c— Pleuromya tatei n o m . n o v . ( N a t . size.) (See p. 52.)

Horizon.—Pleuromya-Beds. Lower Lias.

A u s t Cliff, n e a r B r i s t o l .
Collection. —- J . W . T u t c h e r .

Horizon,—Pleuromya-Beds. Lower Lias.

Locality.-- Filton, near Bristol.
Collection,-—J. W . Tutcher.

Locality.—Radstock Grove, R a d s t o c k , S o m e r s e t .
Collection,—J. W . Tutcher.

* Proc, Bristol Nat. Soc, V o l . I X . , p t . 2 ( 1 8 9 9 ) , p p . 99-103.

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L. RICHARDSON AND ,T. W . TUTCHER : PTEROMYA CROWCOMBEIA 57

F i g . 6. — P i e c e of Pleuromya-Bed l i m e s t o n e w i t h Pleuromya tatei t o

show t h e a b u n d a n c e in w h i c h s p e c i m e n s occur a t t h i s horizon.
( T h r e e - q u a r t e r s n a t . size.)
Locality.—West Hatch, near Taunton, Somerset.
Collection.—3. W . Tutcher.

Plate IX.
F i g . 1.—Volsella hillana ( J . S o w e r b y ) . ( S e e p . 53.)
Horizon.—Pleuromya-Beds. Lower Lias.
Locality.—Piekeridge Hill, near Taunton.
Collection,—L. Richardson.

F i g s . 2 a n d 3. Volsella minima ( J . S o w e r b y ) . ( S e e p . 55.)

Horizon.- Pleuromya-Beds. L o w e r L i a s .
Locality.—{2, m a t u r e s p e c i m e n ) A u s t Cliff, n e a r B r i s t o l ; (3, i m -
mature specimen) West Hatch, near Taunton.
Collection.— J . W . Tutcher.

F i g . 4.—Volsella wickesi s p . n o v . ( S e e p . 5 6 . )
Horizon.—Pleuromya-Beds. Lower Lias.
Locality.—Redland ( " N e w C l i f t o n " ) , Bristol.
Collection, — J . W . Tutcher.

F i g . 5.—Volsella laevis ( J . S o w e r b y ) . ( S e e p . 5 4 . )
Horizon.—Pleuromya-Beds. Lower Lias.
Locality.—Redland ( " N e w C l i f t o n " ) , Bristol.
Collection,—J. W . Tutcher.

Fig. 6.—Volsella Hasina ( T e r q u e m ) . ( S e e p . 5 5 . )

Horizon.- Angulata-Beds ( h e m e r a marmoreae). Lower Lias.
Locality.—Winford (Somerset), near Bristol.
Collection.— J . W . Tutcher.

F i g s . 7, 11a, a n d b.—Volsella langportensis s p . n o v . ( N a t . size.)

(See p . 5 4 . )
Horizon,-- Langport Beds.
Locality.—(11a a n d b) N o r t o n D o w n , n e a r S t r a t t o n - o n - t h e - F o s s ,
n e a r R a d s t o c k , S o m e r s e t ; ( 7 ) young specimen—Clan D o w n ,
near Radstock.
Collection. - 3. W . T u t c h e r .

F i g s . 8a a n d b.- -Volsella hillanoides ( C h a p u i s a n d D e w a l q u e ) . ( N a t .

size.) ( S e e p . 5 4 . )
Horizon.—Angulata-Beds ( h e m e r a marmoreae). L o w e r L i a s .
Locality.—Hobbs Wall, Farmborough (Somerset), near Bristol.
Collection.—J. W . Tutcher.
E
 Photo bif\ [./. W. Tutche
Pteromya crovxomheia Moore, and Lower Lias Pleuromya!.

Proc. Tories. GeoL Soc, Vol. XIX. Plate VIII.

 Photo hy] _ [./. IT. Tutcher.
Rhswtie and Lower Lias Volsellfe.

Proc. Yorks. GeoL Soc, Vol. XIX. Plate IX.