[From introduction:]
Hinde (1879) figured four annelid jaws (scolecodonts) collected in the limestone quarries at Cults, Fifeshire. A strata dip of five degrees to the south made the overburden at the quarries too thick for surface quarrying, and underground mining has taken the place of surface operations. Rock specimens were collected from material brought to the surface from about a half-mile to the south of the mine entrance. The Charlestown Main Limestone is grey in color, about 12 feet thick, and except for the lower part, about 98 per cent CaCC
3. It consists of fossil invertebrate debris including sponge spicules, chitinous fragments, and possible carbonaceous matter. For more detailed information see “The Limestones of Scotland” (Geological Survey of Great Britain, 1944, 1956, vols. 35, 37).
Of the four annelid jaws figured by Hinde only one is complete enough to warrant description. Three of the specimens, which have no relationship to each other, were described as
Eunicites affinis. In this paper one form is placed questionably in the genus
Nereidavus and the other two are listed as genus and species indeterminate.
Considerable material from the limestone mine at Cults was treated with hydrochloric acid but only three complete jaws were found in the residues. All other specimens were so fragmentary that they could not be used. A surprising amount of the rock material collected turned out to be shaly and the acid had little effect on it. There is no question that additional specimens could be found if more material were treated.
The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pa., for reproducing the illustrations for this article as part of their research on Continuous Tone Printing.