OOO EEXEST WARRKN. 



Measui'es and Beaufort Beds ; but the preservation was not 

 sufficiently good to be able to state that it was identical in 

 all respects. 



Mus. No. 12.— Ing-wavuniaj Zululand. Cretaceous? Pre- 

 sented by J. von Mengershausen, 1904. This fossil wood 

 consists chiefly of carbonate of lime. The specimen Avas 

 about 8 in. in length and o in. in diameter and shoAved the 

 base of a lateral branch. Preservation very poor. 



We see from this series of specimens that the same or 

 closely similar species of conifer occur in the lower portion of 

 the Upper Ecca as at Umhlali, through the wliole of the Natal 

 Coal Measures as at Yan Reenen and Harrismith, and 

 apparently into the Beaufort or Reptile Beds as at Estcourt. 

 There is also some evidence that a very similar, if not 

 identical, coniferous Avood occurs in the Cretaceous Beds in 

 Zululand, 



Mr. C. H. Stott, F.Gr.S., avIio has made a careful study of 

 the local geology, informs me that he has never found such 

 fossil wood in the LoAver Ecca Series, or Ecca Shales proper. 



If it can be proved that the same conifer flourished from 

 the bottom of the Natal Coal Measures (Permo-Carboniferous) 

 into the Cretaceous period, it would seem to indicate a 

 remarkable uniformity of climatic conditions for a \'ery 

 prolonged period. 



(2) DESCRIPTION OF FIRST SPECIES. 



Average Avidth of annual rings in different samples varies 

 from about o mm. to aboiit 8 mm. There is great A'ariation 

 in the width even in the same piece of Avood. 



Tracheides squarish or oblong in cross-section, angles 

 rounded. Average tangential Avidtli 0"034 mm. A con- 

 siderable difference generally occurs betAveen the tracheides of 

 the " spring-AVOod," and those of the " autumn-Avood." The 

 former are thinner-walled, and ha\'e a greater average radial 

 Avidth (0-037 mm.) than the latter (0-028 nnn.). The length 

 of the tracheides is short, but apparently very A'ariable in the 



