Miscellaneom, 461 



rica, published in the 15th volume of the Geological Society's 

 Journal, Dr. Dawson noticed some fragmentary plant-remains 

 which he referred with some doubt, the one to Schizopteris 

 (Brongn.) and the other to Sphcereda (L. and H.) With these 

 were also fragments of a fern resembling Sphenopteris [Cyclop- 

 teris) adiantoides of Lindley and Hutton. Since 1858 the author 

 has received a large series of better-preserved specimens from Mr. 

 C. F. Hart ; and from these he finds that what he doubtfully 

 termed the frond of Schizopteris is a flattened stipe, and that the 

 leaflets which he referred to Sphenopteris adiantoides really be- 

 longed to the same plant. Mr. Hart's specimens also show that 

 ■what Dr. Dawson thought to be Sphceredce were attached to the 

 subdivisions of these stipes, and are the remains of fertile pinnse, 

 borne on the lower part of the stipe, as in some modern ferns. 

 This structure is somethino- like what obtains in the Cuban 

 Aneimia adiantifolia, as pointed out to the author by Professor 

 Eaton, of Yale College. No sporangia are seen in the fossil spe- 

 cimens. 



Dr. Dawson ofl'ers some remarks on the difiSculties of arranging 

 this fern among the fossil Cyclopterides, Noeggerathice, and Adian- 

 iites ; and, placing it in the genus Cyclopteris, he suggests that it 

 be recognized as a subgenus (Aneimites^ with the specific name 

 Acadica, 



The regularly striated and gracefully branching stipes, termi- 

 nated by groups of pinnules on slender petioles, must have given 

 to this fern a very elegant appearance. It attained a great si^e. 

 One stipe is 2 inches in diameter, where it expands to unite with 

 the stem ; and it attains a length of 21 inches before it branches. 

 The frond must have been at least 3 feet broad. The specimens 

 are extremely numerous at Horton. 



The author then notices that the long slender leaves so common 

 in the Coal-measures of Nova Scotia, and hitherto called Poacites^ 

 though sometimes like the stipes of Aneimites^ are probably leaves 

 of Cordaites. 



On some specimens of Aneimites Acadica, markings like those 

 made by insects have been observed ; also a specimen of the 

 Spirorbis carhonarius. 



Note on a specimen of Neaera, Collected hy Mr. R. S, Fowler^ 

 and Exhibited to the Natural History Society, 



This specimen was obtained from the stomach of a Flounder at 



