306 Traiisactio)ts. — Geology. 



Sapixdace^ . 

 Sapindopliyllum coriaceunij sp. nov. 



Plate XXXII., figs. 22, 23. 



S.foliolis rujidc coriaceis, lanccolatis incequilatcris, falcatis, 

 bast angustatis, margine integerrimis ; neriationc camptodroina, 

 nervo primario valido, nervis secundariis tenuibus, plcrianque 

 obsoletis. 



Locality : Wangapeka, Nelson (Canterbury Museum). 

 [Ex Coll. N.Z. Geol. Surv., 18G7 ; Hector.] 



The fossil leaves before nie (figs. 22, 23) from Wangapeka 

 are without doubt part-leaflets : they betray a specially firm 

 leathery texture ; they are lanceolate, and have remarkably 

 uneven sides ; they are sickle-shape-curved, narrowed towards 

 the base ; the edge is without serrations. It was impossible to 

 ascertain the existence or non-existence of a petiole. Only 

 a little of the nervation is perceptible in consequence of the 

 thick, much -charred substance. The strongly -pronounced 

 primary nerve becomes gradually smaller towards the top, and 

 from it start fine curved secondary nerves. 



I believe I do not make a serious mistake if I connect these 

 remains of fossil leaves with the Sapindacecs, a family the 

 existence of which in the flora of former ages has been proved 

 beyond a doubt. Moreover, this family is represented both in 

 the Tertiary flora and in the flora now living in New Zealand, 

 and the characteristics described of the fossils mentioned seem 

 to agree best therewith. Future researches might throw more 

 light upon this matter. We have an analogous plant in 

 Sapindus prodromus, Heer, from the Atane strata of Green- 

 land, which is distinguished fi-om the species described only 

 by the more delicate leaflets, which are less narrow at tlie 

 base. 



Cupanites novse-zeelandise, sp. nov. 



Plata XXXII., figs. 18, 20. 



C. foliolis coriaceis, oblongis vel lanceolatis, basi obliqua 

 rotundato-obtusis, apicem versus angustatis, margine integerri- 

 mis ; ncrvatione caynptodroma ; nervo priinario valido, recto; 

 nervis secundariis sub angulis 60^-70^ orientibus, arcuatis mar- 

 ginem adscendentibus, simplicibus ; nervis tertiariis obsoletis. 



Localities : Grey Eiver, Westland (Canterbury Museum) ; 

 Pakawau, Nelson. [Ejc Coll. N.Z. Geol. Surv. ; Hector.] 



The oblique base and the only indicated inequality of the 

 sides of these fossil leaves permit of the assumption that they 

 are only part-leaflets of a composite leaf. The texture, as far 

 as may be recognized fi-om the nature of the impression, is 



