266 Palaeontolome. 



fcj' 



among its tracheids, Brachyphyllum resembles the older Gymno- 

 sperms, as well as the arboreal Lycopodiales and Eqtnsetales, a 

 feature in which it also resembles the existing but very ancient 

 genus Piims. BrachyphyUinn also agrees with the Abietineae in the 

 nature of its traumatic reactions more closely than with the living 

 Arnncarineae , since in it resin canals were formed as the result of 

 wounding, just as they now are in Picea and Abies. These consi- 

 derations, as well as the anatomical character of BrachypJiylhini in 

 general, lead to the conclusion that the Walchieae are definitely 

 separable from the existing Araucarineae as represented hy Agathis 

 and Araucnria. 



In attempting to answer the question why living Araucarineae 

 should differ so widely from Bvachxphyllum , and why the latter 

 should so strongly resemble in its traumatic phenomena, the Abie- 

 tineae, the author points to the great similarity existing between 

 Byachyphylluni and existing Araucarineae on the one band, and on 

 the other band the great resemblance of Brachyphyllum to the 

 Cnpress,i)ieae and Abietineae with respect to the nature of the wound 

 reactions. He is led to consider that Brachyphyllum has come from 

 an ancestry which possessed ligneous resin canals. There is nothing 

 inherently improbable in the derivation of the Araucarineae from 

 an Abietineous stock, although the former occupy a peculiarl5MSolated 

 Position among the Coniferales. D. P. Penhallow. 



Jeffrey, E. C. and M. A. Chrysler. The Lignites of Brandon. 

 (Fifth Report of the Vermont State Geologist. 1906. p. 1—7. pl. 

 XLIX— LI.) 



Material obtained in 1904, from the well known Brandon 

 deposits, serves to Supplement the data obtained by Knowlton 

 from a study of similar material in 1902, and from which the con- 

 clusion was reached that the deposits are Miocene. 



The present studies reveal a fairly well preserved Laurinoxylon 

 to which the name L. brandoniaiutin is given in reterence to the 

 locality. There are also specimens of poorl}^ preserved Pityoxylon , 

 possibly the same as that previously recognized by Knowlton, and 

 several specimens of Dicotyledons in a bad State of preservation , 

 but provisionally referred to Betidoxylon. An interesting feature of 

 these latter is to be found in the presence of a fungus which 

 appears in the form of rounded, alveolated masses, sometimes clearl}^ 

 connected with mycelia. According to Prof. Farlow, the fungus 

 cannot be determined with satisfaction , but it may be a Sclerotium 

 of some sort. It has been designated as Sclerotites brandonianns. 



D. P. Penhallow. 



Scott, D. H., The Present Position of Palaeozoic Botany. 

 (Progressus Rei Botanicae. I. N^. 1. p. 139—217, with 37 text- 

 figures. 1907.) 



This paper gives a general survey of our knowledge of Palaeo- 

 zoic plants and their affinities, as affected by recent discoveries. 



In the introduction, methods of preservation and other matters 

 introductory to a study of fossil botany are discussed, and the 

 author then very briefiy reviews the lower classes of Palaeozoic 

 plants viz. Algae , Bacteria , Fiingi and BryopJiyta. As regards the 

 last named, in the absence of any evidence as to reproductive or- 



