THE SVINAFELL LAYEkS 



585 



Furthermore, there are a lot of willow leaves not yet determined. One type of 

 leaf, probably a willow (PI. VII, 3, found in two specimens by S. Bjornsson in 

 layer C. Snidagil), does not belong to any plant now growing in Iceland. 



Sorbus. An impression of one leaf fragment (PI. VI) was found by S. 

 Bjornsson in the uppermost part of layer B in Snidagil. It is not determined 

 with certainty, but looks more like the species now growing in Greenland 

 {Sorbus decora (Sarg.) Schneid. var. groenlandica) than the recent Icelandic 

 species {S. aucuparia L.) 



Primus padus? The impression of one whole leaf (Pi. VI) was found by 

 S. Bjornsson in the uppermost part of layer B in Snidagil. 



Vaccinium, Empetrum. S. Bjornsson has told the author that he has seen 

 impressions of leaves which he thinks are Vaccinium sp. Among samples from 

 the Svinafell layers, collected by a young boy from Reykjavik. Sigurdur 

 Sigurjonsson, was one with impressions which in all probability are of 

 Empetrum. 



Table 1 

 Pollen Counted in Samples from Layer B in Snidagil 



Gramineae. Some impressions of straw stalks have been found; the longest 

 one, found in Snidagil, was 17 cm in length. 



Polypodiaceae. In three samples are impressions of leaves of some Dryo- 

 pteris sp. 



As mentioned above, the first plant remnant found in the Svinafell layers 

 was a petrified twig. Subsequently many twigs have been found, but none has 

 been determined so far. 



Pollen and spores. Pollen-analytical study of the Svinafell layers is still at a 

 preliminary stage. In the autumn of 1958, Th. Einarsson counted pollen in 

 some samples from the lower grey layer at Snidagil. This was done in Reykja- 

 vik under very poor technical conditions, and the samples were not treated 

 with HF. The sediments seem on the whole to be poor in pollen and some. 



