318 Geological Society : — 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 

 [Continued from p. 2.35.] 

 December 16, 1857.— L. Horner, Esq., V.P.G.S., In the Chair. 

 The following communication was read : — 



" On a remarkable fossil Specimen belonging to the Genus Neu- 

 ropteris, from the Coal-measures of Lancashire, and Remarks on that 

 Genus." By C.J. F. Bunbury, Esq., F.R.S.. F.G.S. 



The author begins by noticing the comparative rarity, in a fossil 

 state, of theyoung half-expanded fronds of Ferns, showing the charac- 

 teristic circinate vernation ; and he remarks that the specimens ia that 

 state, hitherto figured, belong to the genus Pecopteris. He then 

 describes a well-characterized specimen of Neuropteris in this circi- 

 nate condition ; it appears to belong to N. gigantea, or a variety of 

 it, and was procured from Oldham in Lancashire. This specimen 

 affords a strong confirmation of the opinion, that the fossil Neuropte- 

 rides were really Ferns, which some have been tempted to doubt, in 

 the absence of any knowledge of their fructification. This specimen 

 shows that they had the characteristic vernation of Ferns ; in par- 

 ticular, it shows a striking agreement in structure with the young 

 fronds of Aspidinm exaltatum. It is thus clear, at any rate, that 

 Neuropteris did not belong to the Coniferous Order, in which there 

 never is any approach to the circinate vernation ; even in Salisburia, 

 the leaves of which have, in their form and veining, so much the 

 appearance of a Fern, their arrangement in the young state is quite 

 different. The only flowering plants which can be compared with 

 Ferns in this respect are the Cycadere ; and in the absence of fruc- 

 tification it is not easy to prove positively that Neuropteris may not 

 have belonged to tliat family. It is most probable, however, from 

 the composition of the frond, the veining, texture, and all the cha- 

 racters together, that these fossil plants were true Ferns. To deter- 

 mine their nearest affinities in that family is hardly in our power, as 

 there seems to be no constant relation between the vernation or 

 other external characters and the fructification. 



The genus Neuropteris is chiefly characteristic of the Coal-mea- 

 sures. The author has scarcely seen a genuine species of it from 

 any formation later than the Trias, unless we except the enigmatical 

 Anthracitic beds of the Alps, which afford several species apparently 

 identical with those of the Coal. The Oolitic species referred to this 

 genus by Lindley and Hutton do not agree with its characters. Two 

 species, Neuropteris Loshii and N. tenuifoUa, appear to be common 

 to the Carboniferous and Permian systems. 



The author then points out, that, owing to the variations in dif- 

 ferent parts of the same frond (variations corresponding to those in 

 many recent Ferns), the described species of Neuropteris have been 

 too much multiplied ; and he concludes with critical observations on 

 9. kvf of them. 



