338 :mesoz()T(' floras of rNrrED states. 



resemble Siphonia excavota and .S. pra'morsa of Goldfuss. The markings 

 of llie surface, however, differed so nnich fi'om these that he seemed 

 obhged to give them a different specific name, (liel)el says that most of 

 the sjiecimens sent by Meusebach were lal)eled as coming from "Ciljolo, 

 S miles from Comanche Spiings, ' ' Init some were from Henderson, between 

 New Bramifels and Giiadelupe, while still others were simply labeled 

 "Texas, ' ' and he does not state how the Siphonia specimens were labeled. 

 As, however, the l:)eds holding these organisms are widely distributed 

 throughout that general region, this defect in the record is immaterial. 



Amid all this variety of opinion and confusion in trying to classify this 

 form, it is, of course, impossible to decide the question even to which of the 

 two great kingdoms of natin-e, ^■egetable or animal, it really belongs, and 

 we must be content for the present to leave it as wholly problematical. It 

 is qviite certain that it is not coniferous or a plant of any of the high types 

 of structure, and if a plant at all, it must belong near the line at which the 

 two kingdoms blend. I collected over 50 specimens, besides parts of the 

 vine-like stems that seem to bear them, and at some futiu'e time I hope 

 some competent investigator, in the light of what has thus far been done, 

 W'ill subject them to a more searching analysis and wider comparison with 

 the living and fossil organisms that they resemble, and will thus discover 

 and make known their true nature. 



The name must also remain doubtful, at least the generic name, but 

 Giebel's paper seems to be the earliest of all, and therefore the specific 

 name that he gave it must stand, whatever the genus may be. If he is 

 right and it is a Siphonia, this leaves it as he placed it. If found to 

 l^elong to any other estal)lished genus, Giebel's specific name must be 

 connected with that genus name. If it is a new genus, whatever its affini- 

 ties, Cragin's genus Porocystis must be used. 



Returning to the itinerary, I need only add that after Mr. Hill left the 

 party at Bluffdale, on October 14, I continued the reconnaissance over 

 the Trinity l^eds, following up the Paluxy to Morgans Mills and some 8 

 miles farther in a northwesterly direction, to where they were seen to rest 

 on the brown Carbonifei'ous sandstones holding encrinites and spirifc^-s, 

 thence to Wolf Creek, where fine exposures occur, some of which liold 

 poorly preserved vegetable remains, and then to Woodrock Hollow, a dry 

 canyon on the right l^ank of the Paluxy, 2 miles below Bluffdale. Along 



