On Fossils from the Coal-formation of Nova Scotia. 69 



2. " On some Fossils from near Bahia, South America." By 

 S. Allport, Esq. Communicated by Prof. Morris, F.G.S. 



The south-west point of the hill on which the Fort of Montserrate 

 is built, in Bahia Bay, exhibits a section of alternating beds of con- 

 glomerate, sandstone, and shale ; in the last Mr. Allport discovered 

 a large Dinosaurian dorsal vertebra, not unlike that of Megalosaurus, 

 several Crocodilian teeth, and numerous large scales of Lepidotus, 

 together with a few Molluscs (Paludina, Unio, &c.), some Ento- 

 mostraca, and Lignite. Two miles from Montserrate, in a N.E. 

 direction, is the Plantaforma, another hill of the same formation, but 

 loftier. The shales here also yielded similar fossils. 



These fossiliferous shales and conglomerates dip to the N.W. 

 towards the Bay, and appear to overlie a similarly inclined whitish 

 sandstone, which rests against the gneissose hills ranging north- 

 eastwardly from the point of St. Antonio. 



3. " On a Terrestrial Mollusc, a Chilognathous Myriapod, and 

 some new species of Reptiles, from the Coal- formation of Nova 

 Scotia." By J. W. Dawson, LL.D., F.G.S. &c. 



On revisiting the South Joggins in the past summer, Dr. Dawson 

 had the opportunity of examining the interior of another erect tree 

 in the same bed which had afforded the fossil stump from which the 

 remains of Dendrerpeton Acadianum and other terrestrial animals were 

 obtained in 1851 by Sir C. Lyell and himself. This second trunk- 

 was about 15 inches in diameter, and was much more richly stored 

 with animal remains than that previously met with. There were here 

 numerous specimens of the land-shell found in the tree previously 

 discovered in this bed, several individuals of an articulated animal, 

 probably a Myriapod, portions of two skeletons of Dendrerpeton, 

 and seven small skeletons belonging to another Reptilian genus, 

 and probably to three species. 



The bottom of the trunk was floored with a thin layer of carbonized 

 bark. On this was a bed of fragments of mineral charcoal (having 

 Sigillaroid cell- structure), an inch thick, with a few Reptilian bones 

 and a Sternbergia-cast. Above this, the trunk was occupied, to a 

 height of about 6 inches, with a hard black laminated material, 

 consisting of fine sand and carbonized vegetable matter, cemented by 

 carbonate of lime. In this occurred most of the animal remains, 

 with coprolites, and with leaves of Noeggerathia (Poacites), Carpo- 

 lithes, and Catamites, also many small pieces of mineral charcoal 

 showing the structures of Lepidodendron, Stiymaria, and the leaf, 

 stalks of Ferns. The upper part of this carbonaceous mass alter- 

 nated with fine grey sandstone, which filled the remainder of the 

 trunk as far as seen. The author remarked that this tree, like other 

 erect SigillariK in this section, became hollow by decay, after having 

 been more or less buried in sediment ; but that, unlike most others, it 

 remained hollow for some time in the soil of a forest, receiving small 

 quantities of earthy and vegetable matter, falling into it, or washed in 

 by rains. In this state it was probably a place of residence for the 

 snails and myriapods and a trap and tomb for the reptiles ; though 



