12 D. P. PENHALLOW 



of long narrow leaves apparently attached to a creeping stem. The whole tuft is 16 cm. 

 long, 6 cm. broad at the upper extremity, and 5 cm. broad at the lower end, where all the 

 leaves appear to be attached to a horizontal stem about 1 cm. in diameter. This part of 

 the specimen is rather obscure, however, and too much importance must not be attached to 

 it. The leaves in width and other characteristics closely approach those of the narrower 

 form described above. 



Oval Bodies, No. 5. — Three impressions — one tolerably complete and the other two 

 fragmentary — have been found, showing oval bodies with a reticulated and radiating 

 structure. They show no trace of organic matter, and are as a rule devoid of Parka discs. 

 In the complete form they measure 13 X 20 mm., and show evidence of a cellular struct- 

 ure, which is distinctly radiating and composed of elongated cells. The general structure 

 is similar to that observed in the sporangia of rhizocarps. In one case impressions of Parka 

 discs were found near the edge and clearly ivithin the limiis of the body. This may, of 

 course, be a inirely accidental association. In the same case a discoid body, 5 mm. in 

 diameter (Plate I, fig. 6), but devoid of structural markings, was found near the margin, 

 and in all three specimens Parka discs were found scattered through the matrix in various 

 directions. 



In the case of the most perfect one there were also associated with it in close proxim- 

 ity two oval bodies ; one (fig. 3) containing eleven Parka discs, and the other and smaller 

 five discs. 



The impression gained by the size, form and structure of these bodies is that they 

 probably represent the entire (or portions of) sporocarps in which the Parka discs were 

 contained, a view which gains a certain measure of support from the peculiar association 

 of these bodies with one another. 



Discoid Bodies, No 6. — In three instances I observed round discoid bodies having 

 a diameter of 6 mm. in one case and of 5 mm. in each of the others. These objects are 

 more or less carbonized, biit less so than many of the Parka discs. They are usually of 

 well-preserved outline, somewhat more strongly elevated at the centre, as if there were a 

 harder body enclosed, which more fully resisted the action of pressure. They show no 

 structural markings. (Plate I, fig. 6.) The concentric lines shown in the figure are 

 probably the result of compression. These bodies are so distinctly different from any- 

 thing else found in the material under consideration, that it is not possible at present to 

 establish their connection. It might be urged that they are young sporocarps of the same 

 nature as those so commonly found in Parka, but if we grant this view we must admit a 

 remarkable uniformity in the state of development of all that have so far been found. On 

 the other hand, they are most certainly not isolated Parka discs, from which they are con- 

 spicuously different both in form and size. These bodies have been noted by both Mr. 

 Powrie and Mr. Held. The only other fossils with which they are more or less com- 

 parable is Pachjlheca, which occurs in the same beds, but the differences are such that it 

 seems hardly possible to connect the two. 



I should, therefore, be inclined for the present to regard them as sporangia represent- 

 ing a fruit similar to that which occurs in Psilotum, and I find that in his most recent 

 communication to Sir William Dawson Mr. Eeid also advances the same idea. 



