1892.] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 37 



WiLLIAMSONIA ? RiESII, n. Sp. 



PI. I. f. 2, 3. 



Organism consisting of a discoid center around and radiating from 

 whicli are numerous petaloid appendages, like the ray florets of a 

 composite flower. Disc about Sg inch in diameter. Entire organism, 

 including the expanded rays, about Ijrg inch in diameter. Rays about ^g 

 inch broad, linear or somewhat tapering to each end, imbricated (V) 

 striated (Vj longitudinally. 



It is with some hesitation that I have placed this organism 

 under the genus Williamsonia, but recent discoveries in the 

 Cretaceous clays of New Jei'sey have shown the existence there 

 of allied organisms, and its occurrence on Staten Island therefore 

 is not surprising. I am also impelled to find place for it under 

 this genus as otherwise a new genus would have to be erected, 

 which would be unwise with the meagre and unsatisfactory 

 material now in my possession: "Without entering into a 

 discussion of the probable affinities of Williamsonia it may be 

 said that our species is strikingly like some composite flower. 

 The perfect preservation of the rays however would indicate 

 that they were composed of some material more substantial 

 than the ray florets of our living compositse. They might 

 however have been of a scarious or woody consistency like we 

 have in the scales of Gnaphalium and other similar flowers. 

 Another direction in which investigation might be pursued is in 

 the study of scaly bracted fruits like those of Liriodendron. We 

 know that this tree and others, which are now represented by 

 but a single genus or even a single species, were in Cretaceous 

 times represented by types as diverse and numerous as the oaks 

 of to-day and with flowers or fruit probably equally diverse, so 

 that it would not require any great eflbrt of the imagination 

 to see in the organism before us a flattened portion of some such 

 fruit. It is also worthy of remark in this connection that the 

 rays in our specimen show indications of being imbricated, 

 although so poorly preserved that it is not safe to state this with 

 certainty. The specimen was found in one of the clay i)its 

 at Kreischerville, by Mr. Heinrich Ries, after whom it is named. 

 The figures represent counter-parts of the same specimen. 



Phyllites Poinsettioides, n. sp. 

 PI. I. f. 10. 



Leaf unsymmetrical, broad at top and tapering to the base. Apex 

 blunt. Margin extending into two incurved teeth or lobes at the upper 

 part, about equal wiih the apex, thus giving the leaf a somewhat kite- 



