Mr J. M. Macf avian e on Lcpidopliloios. 187 



ately wrought out by Dawes (" Quar. Jour. Geol. Soc." 

 sec.iv. p. 289); Bmney(" Palasont. Soc. Memoirs," 1871), as 

 well as by Professor Williamson. It agrees in all respects 

 with large stems of Lepidophloios, except in the absence 

 of a ligneous zone, and the presence of a series of vascular 

 diverticula, which differ very materially from those pro- 

 ceeding into the leaves. Instead of, as in the latter, being 

 derived merely from the outside of the vascular cylinder, 

 it is the result of a break in the continuity of the cylinder ; 

 in fact, it repeats, on a small scale, the dichotomous branch- 

 ing of the large stem already mentioned. But, as William- 

 sou remarks, "instead of half the entire cylinder being 

 split off, but a small portion of it is so separated." He 

 infers, therefore, " that the vascular bundle thus originated 

 proceeded to some modification of a branch, but which 

 modification was of smaller dimensions than brandies 

 usually attained to, and which consequently required a less 

 abundant supply of vascular tissue than ordinary branches 

 needed. Such a modification would," he imagines, " only 

 be found in a Strobilus, which must be regarded as a branch 

 that has undergone an arrested development at a very early 

 stage of its growth." Schimper, arriving at the same con- 

 clusion, says : " It is natural to suppose — so it seems to 

 me — that they were the points of attachment of fruits." 

 Supposing, then, this assumption to be correct, do we find 

 specimens which would justify this conclusion? We do. 

 Through the whole of the Calciferous and Carboniferous 

 Limestone series a particular form of cone occurs, which, 

 by a little study, one is able to distinguish from the cones of 

 Lepidodendron Veltheimianum and allied forms. Occasion- 

 ally there is attached to this cone a slender stem (Plate 

 VIII. fig. 1), which agrees exactly in every point of its 

 external characters with Lepidophloios and Halonia, but 

 on a much smaller scale, and without the tubercles of the 

 latter. Dawson figures this cone very accurately, but 

 makes no mention of the stalk which supported it. I have 

 been able to obtain many specimens with the cones 

 attached, and in all stages of growth. Here I may be 

 allowed to mention a very interesting circumstance as to 

 the distribution of these plants among the rocks of the 

 neighbourhood. About four years ago I commenced to 



