Francis Tully discovered a strange, soft-bodied fossil in Illinois, which was later named the 'Tully Monster' (Tullimonstrum gregarium). This bizarre creature, which lived around 300 million years ago, had a stalked eye and a proboscis, and its classification has remained a subject of scientific debate ever since. The Tully Monster is a testament to the wonderful and sometimes puzzling diversity of prehistoric life.

The Tully Monster, with its odd, alien appearance, exemplifies the wondrous and often inexplicable nature of the fossil record. It serves as a powerful symbol for the strangeness of the past, a creature that defies easy categorization and challenges our understanding of evolutionary history. Such oddities inspire a sense of wonder and mystery, fueling the poetic imagination's engagement with deep time.