NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 19 



Stigmaria Jicoides with the rootlets attached, Galamites arenosus 

 in an erect position in the shade, along with one or two crushed 

 fragments of Galamites nodosus, and Pinnularia capillacea, the 

 supposed roots of Calami tes. The species of ferns noted were 

 Alethopteris heterophyllia, Neuropteris giganiea, Sphenopteris lati- 

 folia, the latter found in large fronds, and seeming by its abundance 

 to be the characteristic fern of the strata, and Sphenopteris artemisiae- 

 folia. Of this very rare fern only one beautifully preserved frond 

 was found in the sinking of the pit, and the sole other record of 

 the species in our strata is from the roof shales of one of the coal 

 seams at Airdrie, where it is rare. Mr. Young stated that he was 

 indebted to Mr. Samuel Adair at the pit for kindly presenting a 

 large series of specimens of the various species to the Hunterian 

 Museum. 



PAPER READ. 



Observations on the Swollen Condition of Carboniferous Crinoid 

 Stems. By Mr. R. Etheridge, Jun., F.G.S., of the British 

 Museum, Corresponding Member. With two Plates (I. and 



n.). 



1. Introduction. 



The enlargement visible in, and the injuries sustained by, the stems 

 of Crinoids during Palaeozoic times, do not appear to have excited 

 much curiosity amongst naturalists and palaeontologists. Indeed, 

 the same remark applies to the Crinoidal remains of other geologi- 

 cal periods, and, so far as I am aware, to those of the present day. 

 I believe that this will prove a fruitful branch of study in the 

 future. In the present communication I purpose placing on record 

 a few personal observations made on the stems of Carboniferous 

 Crinoids during the last few years, whilst engaged in palaeonto- 

 logical work on the Geological Survey of Scotland, and lately on 

 specimens contained in the British Museum collection. The more 

 apparent characters visible will only be touched on at present, as I 

 wish to reserve the more purely microscopical details for a future 

 communication. 



2. History. 



Before proceeding to describe the specimens, it is but right that 

 attention should be drawm to the views held, and facts recorded bv 

 the comparatively small number of authors who have touched upon 



