CARBONIFEROUS FLORA—HONEYMAN. 93 
Art. [V.—CaRBONIFEROUS FLORA, WITH ATTACHED SPIRORBES, 
By Rev. D. HontymMay, D. C. L., &c. 
Read Jan. 91h, 1888. 
When making a special examination of the Fossil Flora in the 
Museum, and more particularly the beautiful series of Carboni- 
ferous Flora collected by the late Barnes, M. E., for the Paris 
Exhibition of 1867, as well as others collected by myself before 
and after this date, I had occasion to consult “ The Fossil Plants 
of the Devonian and Upper Silurian Formations of Canada,” by 
(Sir) J. W. Dawson, LL. D., F. R.S., F. G. 8S. (Geological Survey 
of Canada, 1841). In Plate XIV. I observed Fig. 161, a. b. of 
Cordaite with a number of Spirorbes attached, and enlargement 
of the latter. In page 43 “Like the Cordaites of the coal for- 
mation it sometimes has on its surface shells of Spirorbes (Fig. 
161).” Ina note we read “these shells are attached to some of 
the leaves of Cordaites Robbii in Prof. Hartt’s collections, and I 
have noticed the same fact as occurring at Gaspe, though the 
specimens seem to have been mislaid. The shells from St. John 
are similar to the S. Carbonarius of the coal formation, but the 
tube widens more rapidly and is smooth. They may be named 
S. Erianus.” 
It seems hopeless to convince palaeobotanists that the 
Spirorbes are really shells. As long ago as 1845 I showed 
evidence of this, and described these shells as Spzvorbes, and sub- 
sequently I have investigated and described the microscopic 
structure of the shell. Yet I see that Schimper reproduces, 
though with doubt, the old error, that these organisms are 
funei (Gyromyces ammonis of Gceppert). I have represented 
the St. John specimens in fig. 161. They appear reversed or 
sinistral, but when placed on a thin leaf their appearance in this 
respect depends on the side of the leaf exposed. Fig. 161 b- 
shows the actual appearance as seen on the upper side of the 
leaf. Vide Acadian Geology, p. 205, and proceedings of the 
Geological Society, December, 1885. 
