THE :\iAinLAXi) CYCADS. 4:>;5 ' 



This spocios diffors fi-om C. niarylnndica in the hirgrr l(\'if soars, 

 thinner walls, thicker armor, and the great paucity of reproductive 

 organs, and from C . McGecana in the normal shape of the trunk and its 

 greater size. Since it was originally described from the type specimen, 

 W. ('., B., Xo. I 172, the only one tluMi known, only one other, and this 

 a mere fragment, W. C, B., Xo. '.VAo'2, the ( iiles fragment, has been found 

 that could be referred to it. 



A photograph of the type sp(>cimen, \V. ('., B., No. 1472, the R. T. 

 Donaldson trunk, Xo. 1, called by him the "beef maw stone," was early 

 made, showing the best preserved side and the hollowed-out apex (ci-ow's 

 nest), and this has appeai'ed in two of the groups of Maryland Potomac 

 cycads that have been published in the Annual Reports of the TTnited 

 States Geological Survey." 



It also occurs in the group photographed l)y the Woman's College, 

 PL LXXXVII, I'ig. 1, 5. These views are all too small to do it justice 

 and it is shown less reduced on PI. XCIII. 



This is one of the largest and most perfect specimens in the collection, 

 though ol)liciuely trimcated at both l)ase and apex and deeply cavitous 

 at both ends. It presents the general appearance of having been originally 

 a leaning trunk, the angle of inclination having been nearly 40°. 



The degree of mineralization is about normal, the color a dark gray- 

 bi'own, and the specific gravity that of the average trunk. Its extreme 

 length is nearly 45 cm., l:)ut only 30 cm. of the exterior is shown on one 

 side and 22 cm. on the othei-. It is considerably compressed laterally, its 

 major axis measuring 38 cm. and its minor axis 27 cm. It has a girth 

 of 109 cm. 



If the tnmk is made to stand vertical, the leaves on the better pre- 

 served side are strongly deflexed, while those on the opposite side are 

 acutely ascending, but placed at an angle of 40° ; those on both sides are 

 slightly and equally ascending. (Locality: PI. LXXX, No. 81.) 



PI. LXXXVII, Fig. v, 4, shows the Giles fragment, W. C, B., No. 

 3352. This is a small fragment of quadrangular shape showing the 

 external surface on one side and extending to the wood. The interior 

 shows no structure, l)ut ihc organs of the armoi' are very perfect and 



a Sixteenth Ann. Rep., Pt. I, pi. c, fig. 2; and Nineteenth Ami. Ixcp., Pi. II, pi. Ix, fig. 12. 

 Mox xi.viii — 0.5 28 



