HITHEETO KJTOWN AS STEENBERGIJ3. 357 



separates the yellow from the white jasmine, or some species 

 of Carya in which it exists, from the others in which it does 

 not. It has never been regarded as constituting a generic 

 distinction. 



Subsequently to the penning of the preceding observa- 

 tions, I have been favoured by G. W. Ormerod with per- 

 mission to examine a specimen of Sternbergia obtained 

 from the celebrated quarry at Peel, in Lancashire. I find 

 in this interesting fragment demonstrative evidence of the 

 accuracy of my previous determination. The specimen is 

 partly covered with the usual thin film of carbonaceous 

 matter, in which the cellular structure is beautifully preserved; 

 the cells, which exhibit a very strong disposition to be 

 arranged in vertical lines, have also left a definite impression 

 upon the exterior xii the Sternbergia, which consists of clay 

 ironstone. Horizontal laminae of brown carbonaceous matter 

 are prolonged inwards from the smooth investing layer, and 

 Separate the contiguous disks. In these laminae, also, the 

 cellular structure is beautifully defined. In the disks inter- 

 vening between the cellular laminae, there is no trace of 

 structure whatever. They wholly consist of inorganic clay 

 ironstone. This specimen appears also to support my con- 

 clusion, that the centre of each horizontal lamina has usually 

 been absorbed; but I cannot decide positively whether 

 this has actually been the case, or whether the clay has 

 been forced in at one extremity by an external pressure, 

 which has been sufficient to break through the delicate 

 layers of piths, and thus connect the disk — like portions of 

 the cast at their centres. One part of the specimen ex- 

 hibits a very different external aspect from the remainder, 

 showing how very much influence mere pressure has had in 

 modifying the external surfaces of the so-called Stem- 

 bergias. 



