474 Mr. R. Kidston on some Fossil Plants 



recorded from Scotland. I have only to express my hope 

 that Mr. Dunlop will continue his investigations in a field of 

 natural history on which he has so successfully entered. 

 Many of the specimens he has secured are exceedingly fine ; 

 of some of the species, they are finer than any I have yet seen 

 from the British Coal-fields. 



As it is my intention to work out the distribution of the 

 Carboniferous flora, I am much indebted to Mr. Dunlop for 

 the facilities he has given me in examining his specimens. I 

 shall be very glad if others, who possess specimens of Carbon- 

 iferous fossil plants, would kindly allow me to examine them, 

 and so assist in working out their distribution ; on my part 

 I shall be most happy, as far as I can, to help any who may 

 wish for assistance in the study of this most interesting class 

 of fossils. 



It is only possible by mutual cooperation to compile a 

 complete list of the Carboniferous fossil plants from an area 

 so large and rich as that of the British Coal-fields. 



C ALA MARIJE. 



Calamites, Suckow. 



Weiss, in his two volumes on Calamites *, has contributed 

 so much to our knowledge of the stems and their ramification, 

 the fructification, foliage, and roots of Calamites, that this 

 group of fossil plants can no longer be looked upon as that 

 about which we are most ignorant. His first volume deals 

 chiefly with the fructification of Calamites, his second treats 

 of the stems, as well as of the foliage and roots, with much 

 additional information in regard to their fructification and 

 systematic position. 



The Calamarise have usually been classed with the Equi- 

 setacete ; but from the examination of their fructification it 

 is seen that there are points in which they clearly differ from 

 the recent Equisetum. On the other hand, there are some 

 characters in which Calamites have a considerable similarity 

 with the Equisetaceas, and among recent plants it is certainly 

 with this group they have the greatest affinity. 



It would appear that some of the fossil cones which have 

 been referred to the Calamariaj show that their upper part 

 bore microspores, whilst their lower portion bore macrospores, 



* " Steinkoklen-Calainarieii. — Part I.," Abhandl. zur geologischen 

 Specialkarte von Preussen und den Tniiringischen Staaten, Band ii. 

 Hefti. 1876 ; " SteinkoHen-Calamarien.— Part II.," Abhandl. &c. Band v. 

 Heft ii. (1884), 



