291 
portion to be a mass of microspores and macrospores, (Figs. 
14, 15, 16,17 and 18) with numerous remains of spore cases. 
No sign of tissue was discovered. The bright layers were made 
up of hydrocarbon, and spores were not detected in them. As 
the bright layers were thin, a good chance was afforded of 
testing the doubt as to whether spores did enter into the 
structure of them. I, therefore, cut a vertical section in which 
one of the bright layers was bounded on either side by dull 
ones. On placing it under the microscope spores were numerous 
on both sides of the bright layer but were not observed in it, 
they were confined to the dull. (Fig. 21.) 
There would appear to be two varieties of macrospores and 
microspores represented in this ccal. The largest variety of 
macrospore measured about °047 of an inch in diameter, and 
a triradiate ridge appears on the surface of some. (Figs. 
14, 15,16.) They are larger than those seen in the “ Shallow” 
and “Better Bed” seams, but in other respects very similar. 
My attention was first called to the other variety of spores by 
what I have represented in Fig. 19, where two macrospores, 
measuring ‘003 of an inch in diameter, are seen surrounded by 
hundreds of minute microspores, measuring *0005 of an inch 
in diameter. 
The lower bed of the “Splint Coal” is replaced abruptly, 
and without parting, by the “ Rough coal,” or middle bed of 
the seam. The transition in the structure of the Coal is most 
striking, and deserves careful attention, (Fig.26.) The “ Rough 
Coal” was made up of two layers alternately one with the other 
and of about the same thickness (half an inch.) One of these 
had a bright lustre, the other a medium dull. In the dull 
layers spores were fairly numerous, but for the most part were 
a distinct variety to those which appear in the bed below. 
(Figs. 22, 23, 24,25.) By far the greater portion of the coal is 
made up of vegetable tissue and hydrocarbon. 
The “Rough Coal’ is followed, without parting, by the 
“Upper Splint”? bed. The lustre was dull, and the coal may be 
said to be practically a mass of macrospores and microspores, 
and are notall of the same species as those in the Lower Splint. 
(Figs. 27, 28, 29, 30.) 
