ON NEMATOPHTTON AND ALLIES. 



29 



therefore, represents a definite structure, that these trees attained a diameter exceeding two 

 feet, had large and spreading roots and gave off lateral branches. Unfortunately, no struc- 

 tures referable to their foliage or fructificatiou could be found. This was, however, not 

 surprising, for it is the rule, in the case of fossil plants, that the beds holding trunks show- 

 ing structure do not contain the more delicate organs. 



It was farther found that Psilophyton princeps, P. robnstius, Arthrostigma gracile and 

 Cordailes anguxtifolia were constant associates of these plants. There were also in the sand- 

 stones, numerous fragments of fossil wood, showing structure similar to that of the 

 trunks, and flattened branches of various sizes which might probably be referred to this 

 species, though not showing structure or any definite external naarkiug. 



A little later. Dr. Robert Bell, when exploring on the rivers of Gas^ié, found additional 

 specimens, some of them with the structure very well preserved, and also specimens of a 

 remarkable fossil resin, to which reference will be made in the sequel. 



In subsequent visits to Gas^ié and Bay des Chaleurs, other specimens were found, 

 more especially a trunk no less than two feet five inches in diameter in the Bordeaux 

 quarry opposite Campbellton, where it was associated with Psilophyton and quantities of 

 fossil resin, and at Cape Bon Ami, where drift fragments were found in the marine Silurian 

 shales associated with fragments of Psilophyton, and with the remarkable globular bodies 

 named Puchylheca, to be noticed in the sequel. In 1870 I observed, in the Museum of the 

 Geological Survey of England, fragments of woody matter in shales of the Ludlow 

 formation holding Pachytheca, and on examining specimens kindly furnished by Prof. 

 Etheridge, I fonnd them similar to the Gaspé specimens. A still more interesting dis- 

 covery is that of similar wood in the Denbighshire grits at the base of the Silurian, by Dr. 

 Hicks.' 



The wood-cuts (Figs. 1, 2, 3) show the mode of occurrence of some of the trunks, and 

 in my Reports on the fossil plants of the Erian of Canada,- will be found many additional 

 details as to mode of occurrence and state of preservation. 



Fig. 1. — Trunk and branch of Nematophyton in 

 Sandstone cliff, Gaspé. 



Fig. 2.— Erect trunk of Nemato- 

 phyton one foot in diameter, 

 Gaspé. 



' Quarterly Journal Geol. Soc. of London, 1881. 



' Geol. Survey of Canada, 1871 and 1882. 



