The Appendages, Anatomy, and Relationships of Trilobites — John Shaqi
The Appendages, Anatomy, and Relationships of TrilobitesRaymond, Percy E. (Percy Edward)
Science
The Appendages, Anatomy, and Relationships of Trilobites
Raymond, Percy E. (Percy Edward)
Trilobites
Part II is a discussion of the internal anatomy of the trilobite and a
brief statement of some of the possible habits and methods of life of
these animals. Part III, which begins with a survey of the
relationships of the trilobites to other Arthropoda, is largely taken
up with an attempt to demonstrate the primitive characteristics of the
former, and their probable ancestral position. The form of the
ancestor of the trilobite is deduced from a study of the morphology,
ontogeny, and phylogeny of the group, and evidence adduced to indicate
that it was a depressed, flattened, free-swimming animal of few
segments.
In Part IV are included somewhat detailed descriptions of a few of the
best specimens of _Triarthrus_ and _Cryptolithus_. Professor Beecher,
while an observer of the minutest details, believed in publishing only
the broader, more general results of his investigations. This method
made his papers brief, readable, and striking, but it also resulted in
leaving in some minds a certain amount of doubt about the correctness
of the observations. In a matter so important as this, it has seemed
that palæontologists are entitled to the fullest possible knowledge of
the specimens on which the conclusions are based. The last part is,
therefore, a record of the data for the restorations of _Triarthrus_
and _Cryptolithus_.
The illustrations in the plates were nearly all made by or under the
supervision of Professor Beecher, as were also text figures 45 and 46.
In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to Mrs. Charles E. Beecher
for the use of drawings which were the personal property of Professor
Beecher; to Doctor Charles D. Walcott for photographs of the limbs of
_Calymene_, and for his kindness in sending me the slices of
trilobites from Trenton Falls and specimens of _Neolenus_ and
_Triarthrus_; to Doctor R. V. Chamberlin for suggestions and
criticisms in regard to the relationship of trilobites to Insecta,
Arachnida, Chilopoda, and Diplopoda; to Mr. Samuel Henshaw, Director
of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, for permission to use the time
which has been devoted to this work; and to Miss Clara M. Le Vene, for
assistance in the preparation of the manuscript. My greatest debt is
to Professor Charles Schuchert, to whom the work owed its inception,
who has assisted in many ways during its prosecution, and who read the
manuscript, and arranged for its publication. To him I can only
express my warmest thanks for the favors which I have received and for
the efforts which he has put forth to make this a worthy memorial to
our friend and my teacher, Professor Charles Emerson Beecher.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
November, 1919.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Historical review 17
Part I. The appendages of trilobites 20
Terminology 20
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