152 Mr WITHAM'S Description of a Fossil Tree, 8fc. 



the workmen Kettle bottoms. The rock being so hard, it became 

 necessary to blast it, which probably detached the branch from 

 the fragment of the stem. The branch has been sliced, and shews 

 the concentric rings in a perfection almost approaching to the 

 fossils belonging to the oolitic series. (See Plate IV. Figs. 3, 

 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.) The pith is large. This is the most powerful 

 link which has been found to unite the chain of evidence, which> 

 in every other respect, is so strong in favour of these plants be- 

 longing to the phanerogamic class. Two vast Coniferae and a 

 fragment found within 400 yards of each other, afford strong rea- 

 son to think, that, in a square mile of the same deposite, many 

 of these ancient relics of early creation will be brought to light, 

 and leave room to believe that these phanerogamic plants are as 

 abundant in these deposites as in those higher up in the series *. 



* In August 1831, another portion of a fossil has been discovered within a few 

 yards of the fragment of the third fossil stem. An horizontal slice of this, 4 inches 

 long and as many broad, shews the concentric zones of the wood in a very marked 

 manner ; and a longitudinal section of the same exhibits distinctly the circular ele- 

 vations, equal to about half the breadth of the elongated cellules. Here, then, the 

 very remarkable organization of the walls of the woody tissue of recent Coniferae 

 are exhibited more satisfactorily than in any of those plants hitherto discovered in 

 or below the coalfield proper. 



