Devonian Plants. 13 



from the cortical portion of the same genns, or possibly conifer- 

 ous*. Another form of carbonaceous matter, abundant in some 

 of the sandstones, consists of scaly fragments resembhng the 

 remains of decayed cones, probably Lepidvstrohi. 



The great abundance of vegetable fragments throughout an 

 immense thickness of rock^ indicates the existence of extensive 

 land surfaces clothed with vegetation, though this apparently con- 

 sisted of but a few species. The small bed of coal occurring in the 

 lower p;5rt of the section, is composed entirely of irregularly lamin- 

 ated shining coaly matter without mineral charcoal. From its 

 appearance and the vegetable remains in its underclay, I infer that 

 it consists principally of the accumulated rhizomata of Psilophy- 

 to7i, in situ. Its roof-shale is filled with the Poacites-like leaves 

 before mentioned, and with stems of Psiloj^hyton ; and it is remar- 

 kable that these last are in great part coiled up in the state of 

 vernation, as if overwhelmed by a succession of spring floods. 



5. Animal Remains, Rain-marks, etc. 



The animal remains found in the plant-beds were Entomostraca 

 (Beyrichia), Spirorhh (resembling that of the coal-measures), 

 Worm-tracks, and Ichthyodorulites [Onchus and Machceracan- 

 thus\). In one of the beds above the coal Sir W. E. Logan found 

 a few brachiopodous shells, apparently identical with those at the 

 base of the series, and also some remarkable transversely marked 

 furrows, which may have been produced by worms or by marine 

 gasteropods. 



Near the upper part of the section, where the plants become 

 more rare, and the rocks are more abundantly tinged with the red 

 peroxide of iron, the beds are plentifully and often very grotes- 

 quely marked with ripple-furrows, shrinkage-cracks, and current- 

 lines. In one or two beds there are surfaces covered with round- 

 ed projections resembling casts of rain-marks; and in proof that 

 this is their true character, the surface being irregular, we have 

 not only the rain-marks themselves, but the little rills formed by 

 the gathering drops as they rolled along, in this one of the most 

 ancient showers of which we have as yet any geological record. 



The general character of the conditions indicated by the Dev- 

 onian rocks and flora of Gaspe does not differ materially from that 



* Aporoxylon (Unger). 



t Prof. Newberry regards one of these as identical with his MachcBra' 

 eanthus sulcatus from the Devonian of Ohio. 



