199 



Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology. Edited by R. B. 

 Todd. Part XLIL 8vo. London, 1852. 



History of the United States. By George Bancroft. Vol. IV. 

 8vo. Boston, 1852. 



Municipal History of Boston during two Centuries. By Josiah 

 Quincy. 8vo. Boston, 1852. 



April 1, 1852. 

 The President in the Chair. 



Mr. Teschemacher read a communication on the ex- 

 istence of numerous coniferous plants during the coal period, 

 and on the general resinous nature of coal of all descrip- 

 tions, as follows : — 



The paper I last read before the Society advanced the propo- 

 sition, that the Stigmaria, so abundantly and so universally 

 found in the Coal formations, was a resinous plant identical with 

 the genus Picea. I will now support this by evidence tending to 

 show the existence of other coniferous plants at this period, as 

 well as the general resinous nature of coal of all descriptions. 

 The following specimens I would exhibit in illustration. 



1. A slice of Southern Pine, (Pinus australis^) in which, owing 

 to its resinous nature, the glandular vessels of the coniferous 

 tribe are very clearly visible. 



2. A slice of the same carbonized, in order to show the ap- 

 pearance of these glands when changed by this action. 



3. A specimen of Anthracite, and one of Cumberland coal, in 

 which these glandular vessels are extremely distinct. Such spe^ 

 cimens are quite common in Pictou coal. 



4. Impressions in the Shale from Carbondale, Pa. of the leaves 

 of a species of Pinus. 



5. A specimen of the same Shale, show^ing an impression of 

 the base of a bunch of leaves and its sheath at the junction 

 with the stem. 



