420 Geological Society. 



iheimianum, Sterub., Sic/Maria discophora, Konig, sp., and S. 

 Taylori, Carruthers, sp. 



The subject of the paper was divided into four heads. la the 

 first an epitome of the views of previous writers on Ulodendron was 

 given. The writers noticed were Steinhauer, Rhode, Allan, Konig, 

 Sternberg, Brongniart, Lindley and Hutton, Buckland, Hooker, 

 Sauveur, linger, Goppert, Tate, Geinitz, Goldenberg, Miller, Eich- 

 wald, Macalister, Dawson, Carruthers, Robl, Schiraper, Weiss, 

 Williamson, Feistmantel, Stur, Thomson, Zeiller, Lesquereux, and 

 Renault. In the second part the Author described the specimens 

 belonging to the species named that he had been able to examine, 

 several of which he proposed to figure. 



The third part contained the general conclusions as to the nature 

 of Ulodendron at which he had arrived. He commenced by defi- 

 ning the four genera Lepidodendron, Lepidophloios, Si/illaria, and 

 Rhytidodendron, as distinguished by the characters of their leaf- 

 scars, and showed that Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, and Khytidodendron 

 occasionally exhibit large scars, arranged in two opposite vertical 

 rows. These are the Ulodendroid scars. They marked, in the 

 Authors opinion, the point of attachment of a caducous appendicular 

 organ, which had in a very few cases been found in position. 

 These appendicular organs were probably sessile cones. Details 

 were given, showing the progressive development of the scars, the 

 obliteration of the normal leaf-scars by the appendicular organs, 

 and the branching of Ulodendroid stems. 



The concluding portion of the paper contained the synonymy at 

 length and full descriptions of the three fossil plants, Lepidoden- 

 dron Veliheimianum, Siyillaria discophora, and S. Taylori, together 

 with the horizons and localities in which they have been found in 

 Britain. Boihrodendron was shown to be a decorticated form of 

 Ulodendroid stem, and Knorria a east of the case of Lepidodendron. 



2. "On an almost perfect Skeleton of Bhytina gigas=Mhytina 

 Stelleri (' Steller's sea-cow') obtained by Mr. Robert Damon, F.G.S., 

 from the Pleistocene Peat-deposits on Behring's Island." By 

 Henry Woodward, LL.D., F.R.S., F.G.S. 



The Author spoke of the interest which palaeontologists must 

 always attach to such animals as are either just exterminated, or 

 are now in course of rapid extirpation by man or other agents. He 

 referred to the now rapid destruction of all the larger Mammalia, 

 and expressed his opinion that the African elephant, the giraffe, the 

 bison, and many others, will soon be extirpated unless protected 

 from being hunted to death. The same applies to the whale- and 

 seal-fisheries. 



He drew attention to a very remarkable order of aquatic animals, 

 the Sirenia, formerly classed with the Cetacea by some, with the 

 walruses and seals by others, and by De Blainville with the ele- 

 phants. He particularly drew attention to the largest of the group, 

 the Bhytina, which was seen alive and described by Steller in 



