Okamura reference

[BENAMY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dear Neale (and anyone else interested in the really bizarre)

Our library has a complete run (I think) of the privately published
Journal of the Okamura Fossil Institute.  From what I understand, Mr.
Okamura had a long, respected career as a petroleum geologist but
at some point, must have looked at little too long and hard at clasts
in limestones and dolomites.

What he illustrates, in paleozoic and mesozoic rocks (if my memory
is correct) are thin sections in which he "sees" all sorts of phyla
represented.  He provides, in systematic order, descriptions of all
these taxa.  The "vertebrates" include ducks (whole), monkeys and
people (homunculi?).  He provides observations on the dress (they're
clothed) and character (modest, etc.) of these fossils.

I hope I haven't offended any colleagues of Dr. Okamura's.  If anyone
wants further information about this work, I can go down to the
library and refresh my memory.

Elana Benamy
Collections Manager, Invertebrate Paleontology
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
benamy@say.acnatsci.org