Berry: Araucarian remains 253 





megascopic as well as microscopic. The specimen consists of 

 about one half of a flattened cone, diagonally fractured in a plane 

 not greatly inclined to the longitudinal axis, the latter being hidden 

 distally by the cone-scales and weathered away proximally. 



This cone was evidently lignified in the clays and subsequently 

 penetrated peripherally by pyrite for a distance of about 1.5 cm., 

 which, while serving to hold together the much cracked and dessi- 

 cated interior, also effectually obscures the surface features. It 

 was found among the shingle at low tide on the beach at Cliff- 

 wood Bluff, N. J., having been washed out of a body of clay which 

 makes the floor of the beach at this point, and was broken when 

 found, no trace of the other half having been seen. 



The specimen is 9.3 cm. long, 7.8 cm. wide at right angles to 

 the flattening force, and 2.5 cm. thick, so that in life the cone 

 must have been almost spherical — a slightly prolate spheroid. 

 The scales were numerous, comparatively long and slender, and 

 the cone-axis was very stout. 



In this connection a number of fossils of a more or less doubt- 

 ful nature from this locality suggest themselves as of Araucarian 

 affinities, notable among which are the leafy twigs referred to 

 Presl's genus Cunninghamites , so named for their resemblance to 

 the existing genus Cunmnghamia, and usually referred to the 

 Taxodieae, although in Zittel's Handbuch (abth. 2, 1890) they are 

 placed by Schenk in the Araucarieae. Two species have been 

 recorded from this locality, Cunninghamites elegans (Corda) Endl. 

 and C. sqnamosus Heer, both suggesting Araucarian foliage of the 

 type found in the Eutacta section of the genus Araucaria. The 

 broad-leaved type of foliage of the subgenus Columhca is probably 

 also present at Cliffwood Bluff in the species Araucarites ovatus 

 Hollick, to which I will refer on a subsequent page. 



Other doubtful remains from this locality which are suggested 

 as possibly of Araucarian affinities are the fossils denominated 

 ; crozamia{J) dnbia Berry* and supposed to represent the central 

 a *is of a cycadaceous fruit-spike. This might well represent the 

 ax *s of an Araucarian cone like the one under discussion, more 

 Specially as the scales are shed at maturity (in the recent species 

 ^jeast) ; the small prominence in the spirally disposed pits of the 



* Berry, Bull. Torrey Club 32 : 43. //. /./. 2. I9°5- 



Ml 



