1870.] DAWSON — SPORE-CASES IN COAL. 369 



the Datch call " Truytje roer my niet," (Gertrude don't touch 

 me) the wild water-melon or '• bitter appel," of the colonists Citrul- 

 Jus amurus, and the brilliant Leonotis Leonurus, were common. 

 The scarlet blossoms of the last-mentioned, as usual, being very 

 conspicuous amidst the greenery around them. 



ON SPORE-CASES IN COALS. 



(^From the American Journal of Science and Arts for April^ 1871.) 

 By J. W. Dawsox, LL.D., F.R.S. 



When in London, last spring. Prof. Huxley was kind enough 

 to show me some remarkably beautiful slices of coal mounted by 

 his assistant, Mr. Newton, and showing with great distinctness 

 multitudes of spore-cases and spores, some of them very well pre- 

 served. He further stated to me his belief that such material had 

 been largely or mainly instrumental in the production of Coal. 

 At the time I declined to accept this conclusion, on the ground 

 that the specimens probably represented layers of coal exceptional- 

 ly rich in spore-cases; and that even in these specimens a large 

 quantity of matter was present which long experience in the ex- 

 amination of coals enabled me to recognize as cortical or epider- 

 mal matter, which I had previously shown by my examination of 

 the coals of Nova Scotia to be the principal ingredient in ordinary 

 coal. I promised, however, on my return to Canada, to look 

 over my series of preparations of coal, with a view to the occur- 

 rence of spore-cases, and also to make trial of the somewhat im- 

 proved method of preparation employed by Mr. Newton. On my 

 return I gave the results of my examination to Prof. Huxley in a 

 letter which he has quoted in the brilliant exposition of his obser- 

 vations and conclusions in the " Contemporary Review" for Novem- 

 ber,^ and which will probably give a tone to the representations 

 of popular writers on this subject for some time. While, however, 

 admitting the great interest and importance of Prof. Huxley's 

 observations, and prepared to contribute some additional illustra- 

 tions of the occurrence of spore-cases in coal, I think it well to 

 direct attention anew to the actual composition of the substance, 



" 111 the quotation the word •• cubical" has been substituted for " cor- 

 tical." 



