14S Dr Paterson on the Fossil Orf^anic Remains 



teris in beauty. It occurs exclusively in the clay ironstone no- 

 dules, and thin stratum of clay, exposed at Wardie Burn. The 

 species which have been determined are, — Cyclopteris obliqua, 

 C. Jlahellata, C. ti-ichominoides, C. renifbrmis. 



Calamites. Numerous remains of this genus occur, but in 

 consequence of the very mutilated state in which they are found, 

 they have not as yet been referred to their species. 



Lepidodendron. This genus may be ranked the next in 

 point of abundance. The species occasionally occur beauti- 

 fully branched and spread out upon a considerable surface of 

 the slate ; one of them was measured, and was found to be 

 six feet in length, by three and a half broad, and although this 

 is inconsiderable in point of size compared with that mentioned 

 by Messrs Lindley and Hutton, it was sufficient to impress 

 strongly on our minds the general appearance which these abun- 

 dant primeval trees must have had. The species which have 

 been observed are eight in[number, viz. L. elegans, Sternbergii, 

 ramosum, aculeatum, obovatum, appendicidatum, selag-itioides, 

 and lycopodioides. 



Lepidostrobus. This genus may next be mentioned, more 

 especially as it has long been supposed to belong to the last 

 mentioned group of plants, which idea, from specimens in our 

 possession, we are enabled to support. Of this genus two 

 species are found, Lepidostrobus variabilis and oi'natus ; the for- 

 mer is by much the most frequent, and has the scales arranged 

 from the base to the apex of the cone. It is now generally ad- 

 mitted that these impressions must have been made by the re- 

 productive organs of plants, similar in form to the same parts in 

 recent Coniferae and Lycopodiaccse. Two very different opi- 

 nions, however, are prevalent with regard to the class of fossil 

 plants to which they are to be referred, and we have the names 

 of the most celebrated fossil botanists in this country and France, 

 rano'ing themsel/es on opposite sides of this question. The edi- 

 tors of the British Fossil Flora are of opinon that they are de- 

 rived from the scars noticed on the stems of the Ulodendra (no 

 remains of which have as yet been observed in this locality). 

 M. Brongniart, however, merely from' their frequent connexion 

 with Lepidodendra, maintains thatr^ they are the reproductive 



