294 TKANS ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lxiv. 



branch on either side about a quarter of an inch above 



its base, and both about the same level. 



In rig. 13 the axis branches in its lower third giving 



off a long-stalked lateral cone on the left, which in turn 



bears a small lateral branch cone on the left about its 



middle. The terminal cone here also branches, bearing a 



lateral on the right, while another lateral arises on the 



left of the axis, and sessile with the base of the terminal. 

 Fig. 14 shows an axis bearing a solitary terminal cone 



of large size and somewhat thicker than normal. 



Fig. 15 presents a striking appearance. The terminal 



cone has branched, and two lateral cones arise on the axis 



at the same level, each stalked. 



Fig. 16 is an example of a solitary terminal cone like 



Fig. 14, which, however, has branched, bearing a lateral 



cone near its middle on the left. 



We consider next the size variations exhibited by these 



specimens. 



If the average size of a normal cone be taken as 40 to 

 45 mm., we find the terminal cones in these specimens 

 varying from, this to as much as a quarter more. When 

 the terminal cone branched near its base, the difference 

 in size between the branch and the part of the terminal 

 above the origin of the branch was very small. This is 

 well seen in Fig. 17 (Plate III.), which represents a 

 longitudinal section of a very young branched cone. The 

 liigher the point of origin of the branch cone, the greater 

 this difference in size became. When the branch arose 

 one-third or half-way up from the base of the main cone, 

 the lateral character of the branch was very apparent, the 

 free part of the main cone being markedly larger, and 

 forming the ccjntinuation of the axis. From measurements, 

 it was found that the length ratio between the branch cone 

 and the free part of the main cone was as 9 to 11. 



The lateral cones produced in the middle of the length 

 of the strobiliferous axis, or lower, varied from normal to 

 half -size, the average being somewhat between ; tlie length 

 ratio of lateral to normal cone being as 5 to 8. 



Complete sterilisation was found only in the lower 

 lateral cones. It was accompanied by branching of the 

 terminal cone, and was further associated with reduction 



