114. THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



fQund with other fossils in the Upper Devonian shales of Kiltorcan, 

 Ireland, which the writer has described below. 



Him ANTOPHYTON JoHNSONi, n. sp. (Plate V). 

 Rhizome. This consists of a central axis and branches with 

 leaves attached. Only a part of the main rhizome is preserved and 

 both it and the branches show only the inside of the outer bark of the 

 rhizome. The branches of the rhizome known are from 50-10 cm. long 

 (and about 50 cm. wide) and both the main stem and the branches 

 have numerous closely-set saucer-shaped depressions, each marked 

 in the center by a tubercle or strand impression, these bemg about 

 8-10 mm. apart from each other; they mark the points of attachment 

 of the leaves. 



Leaves. The leaves were closely set on the stem and were either 

 thin, of of compressible tissue, for they are quite flat in the shale in 

 which they are imbedded; they show a smooth surface and a weak 

 vertical rib fading out in the middle part of the leaf. Where the 

 base of the leaf is visible, it exhibits a modification of form when it has 

 an oblique attachment to the rhizome. 



About a dozen leaves are visible on the slab where they are pre 

 served, some showing attachment to the surface of the rhizome, but 

 with many this connection is concealed. The protuberances of the 

 rhizome where the leaves were attached are so closely placed that the 

 surface must have fairly bristled with the leaves that stood upon it. 

 Two of these leaves show a length of 100 mm. and still do not expose 

 the extremity of the leaf, though they are considerably reduced from 

 their width at the point of attachment to the rhizome, where it varies 

 from 8 to 11 mm.; while where it approaches the tip it is reduced to 

 5 mm. If the ends of the leaves are like those of the Silurian species, 

 they will have a rounded termination. 



Though the surface of the leaf appears smooth when casually 

 observed, a closer inspection may detect a dark raised line 

 in the lower or proximal third (sometimes traceable for two third^ 

 of the length of the leaf), or at times the line may seem depressed 

 rather than raised. This probably marks a denser line of tissue, 

 that served to stiffen and support the leaf. 



Other broken leaves are visible beyond those whose connection 

 with the rhizome is obvious, though the branch of the rhizome appears 

 beyond them. 



In none of the examples preserved, or layers of the shale, have I 

 observed the fruiting portion of the species, which is known only 

 from its rhizomes and leaves. 



