1870.] GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 99 



presented by the lower jaw of an Amphibian, of which a cast had 

 occurred in the coarse sandstone of the coal-formation between 

 Ragged Reef and the Joggins Coal-mine. It measured 6 inches 

 in length ; its surface was marked on the lower and posterior part 

 with a network of ridges inclosing rounded depressions. The an- 

 terior part of the jaw had contained about 16 teeth, some of which 

 remained in the matrix. These were stout, conical, and blunt, with 

 large pulp-cavities, and about 32 longitudinal striae, corresponding 

 to the same number of folds of dentine. The author stated that 

 this jaw resembled most closely those of Baphetes and Dendrerpe- 

 ton, but more especially the former. He regarded it as distinct 

 from Baphetes planiceps, and proposed for it the name of B. minor. 

 If distinct, this raises the number of species of Amphibia from the 

 Coal-measure of Nova Scotia to nine. The author also noticed 

 some insect remains found by him in slabs containing Sphenophyl- 

 lum. They were referred by Mr. Scudder to the Blattariae. 

 From the Devonian beds of Gaspe the author stated that he had 

 obtained a small species of Cephalaspis, the first yet detected in 

 America. With it were spines of Machairacanthus and remains 

 of some other fishes. At Gasp^ he had also obtained a new 

 species or variety of Psilophyton, several trunks of Prototaxites, 

 and a species of Cyclostigma. 



Discussion. — The president objected to the term Reptiles being 

 applied to Amphibia, from which they were totally distinct. He 

 questioned the safety of attributing the jaw to Baphetes, of which 

 no lower jaw had been previously found. Mr. Etheridge remark- 

 ed that the Cephalaspis difiered materially in its proportions from 

 any in either the Russian or British rocks. 



BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY. 



North American Laminariace^. — x\t a late meeting of 

 the Nova Scotian Institute, Prof. Lawson read a short paper on 

 this group of sea weeds, of which we give an abstract. He 

 commenced by stating that although many subjects interesting 

 to science had been the objects of study to members of the 

 Institute, yet that the LaminariacegB of our coast and harbors had 



