OF THE EASTERN BORDERS. 309 



as it overlies two marine shells (Chonetes Hardrensis and Bellerophon 

 Urii) which are distinctly recognisable beneath it. 



This appears a portion of a large herbaceous branching Fern. 

 Polypodium pruinatum branches in a similar manner. 



Locality. Budle, in shale. 



FiLiciTES INTERCOSTATA (Tate). Plate XIII. figs. 4 & 4 a. 



This is a portion of a stem A\ inches long, and 3 lines broad ; it 

 is ribbed longitudinally ; the principal ribs are flat and parallel, and 

 in every intervening sulcation is a smaller rib ; ten smaller alternate 

 with ten larger ribs in the breadth of the stem. 



This has much the appearance of a Calamite, but although the 

 fragment is long in proportion to its breadth, there are no articula- 

 tions. It is more probably the remains of a herbaceous Fern ; for 

 some of the fossil Pecopteridse have stems which are regularly and 

 broadly ribbed. 



Locality. Budle, in shale. 



Plants of doubtful affinity. 



Genus Bechera (Sternb.). 



A herbaceous stalk, jointed, tumid at the articulations, furrowed ; 

 leaves whorled, narrow and acute. 



Bechera simplex (Tate). Plate XIII. fig. 9. 



Stalk simple, with unequal furrows ; leaves linear-lanceolate, acu- 

 minate, proceeding in pairs from the tumid joints, usually two pairs 

 from each joint. 



This species is interesting, as Becherse have rarely been seen in the 

 Mountain Limestone Formation, and as being the only one observed 

 in our district. The relationship of these plants is very doubtful. 

 Sternberg refers them to Naiades, a small order of aquatic endo- 

 genous plants. 



Locality. Budle, in shale. 



CoNiFERiTES? VERTiciLLATUS (Tate). Plate XIII. figs. 8 & 8 «. 



This is a portion of a stem one inch in length and one line in 

 breadth ; it is longitudinally striated, but not jointed, and on each 

 rib, at short intervals, is a prominent, roundish leaf-scar, the scars 

 being in a hue with each other, and forming regular rows across the 

 stem. 



Some additional illustration is derived from a specimen from the 

 Glasgow shales, in the Museum of the Geological Society ; it is 

 similarly striated, but the stem is larger, the leaf-scars are on each 

 alternate rib, and it is tenninated with a cone. In appearance it is 

 like the fertile frond of an Equisetum. Both specimens, however, 

 are different from an Equisetum, as they have neither joints nor 

 sheaths, and, judging from a cursory examination of the Glasgow 

 specimen, we apprehend that the terminal cone may prove more 



