286 Contributions towards Establishing the General Character 



others : and the probability is, that that section of Neuropteris having the 

 leaflets attached by the median part of their basal margin^ pertained to 

 Sigillaria reniformis and its allied species. 



Mr Binney, who has paid especial attention to this subject, has been 

 so kind as to inform me, that the leaves which he finds commonly 

 associated with Sigillaria are Neuropterides, apparently the same as 

 those which occur in Felling ; along with these are also to be found 

 Pecopteris lonchitica and P. nervosa* (Lindley and Hutton) ; the latter 

 is particularly abundant. It ought to have been mentioned, that Pecop- 

 teris nervosa occurs in Felling Pit. If the latter should eventually be 

 proved to have belonged to Sigillaria, it would appear to follow that 

 the truth was at direct variance with our conclusion. This variance, 

 however, I have little doubt, is more apparent than real. When stating 

 in a former part of these " Contributions," that several of the so-called 

 Pecopterides ought to be included in Sternberg's third section of Neurop^ 

 teris, that is, those which have the entire basal margin of the leaflets 

 attached to the rachis, Pecopteris nervosa was one which 1 had in view, 

 because, in its veining, it possesses a striking resemblance to Neuropteris 

 eilpina, which is figured by Sternberg.! In figure 9, Plate V, I have 

 represented a portion of the Felling Pecopteris nervosa, by which it will 

 be seen, that, although the leaflets are confluent with each other at the 

 rachis, and therefore so far in agreement with the genus in which it 

 has been placed — the absence of a distinct midrib, J and several of the 

 veins springing from the rachis, utterly forbid us placing it in Pecop- 

 teris. In short, taking the whole of its characters into consideration, it 

 appears to have a strong relationship to Odontopteris ;§ but whether it be 

 considered as belonging to this genus, or to Neuropteris, it is precisely 

 the form to which the previous train of argument has conducted us. It 

 is therefore possible, that the so-called Pecopteris nervosa may have be- 

 longed to some species of Sigillaria. 



The description which Brongniart has given of Sigillaria lepidoden- 

 drifoliajW is clearly opposed to the conclusion at which we have arrived. 

 This celebrated botanist, from certain appearances afforded by this 

 species, is inclined to think that it was furnished with leaves, similar to 

 those observable on Lepidodendron^ and termed Lepidophyllum. I strongly 

 suspect, however, that what have been taken for leaves in this specimen, 

 are merely rajn<jMta, similar to those found upon Ferns.** Two speci- 



* Brongniart's species under this name appears to be different. 



t " Flore du Monde Primitif," parts 5 and 6, tab. xxii. fig. 2, 



X In Lindley and Hutton's figure of this species, the leaflets are represented 

 with what might be considered a midrib ; but the veining has not been properly 

 attended to. 



§ Otopteris Braardi (Brong. pi. 76,), which possesses a striking resemblance, in 

 some points, to the fossil that is %ured, has the leaflets partly confluent with 

 each other at the base. 



B " Vegetaux Fossiles," Tome i, pi. 161, pp. 426—428. 



•« In his general remarks on Sigillaria, Brongniart expresses himself in favour 



