238 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



As the fruit of Sphenopteris crassa is unknown, there is no 

 evidence that it belongs to the genus Calymmotheca, Stur; 

 hence I retain it in the genus Sphenopteris. 



From the examination of specimens of Sphenopteris crassa, 

 L. & H., which have come under my notice, I would propose 

 the following description of the species : 



Sphenopteris crassa, L. & H. 



Main axis dichotomous, and marked with small transverse 

 scale-scars. Frond tripinnate (?) ; pinnse alternate, linear 

 lanceolate ; pinnules alternate, those towards the lower por- 

 tion of the frond cyclopteroid and sessile, more or less deeply 

 laciniate, the upper pinnules rhomboidal, broadest towards 

 their centre, and narrowing into a short stalk at their basal 

 extremity, apex truncate, margins more or less deeply notched ; 

 veins springing from the base of the pinnule and extending 

 to the margins, numerous and frequently dichotomising. 



Position and Localities. From the Calciferous Sandstone 

 series : Burdiehouse, near Edinburgh ; Straiton Brickworks, 

 Loanhead {Mr J. Gibson) ; and Kilmundy Limestone Quarry, 

 near Burntisland (collected by Mr J. Bennie, fossil- collector 

 to the Geological Survey of Scotland). 



My thanks are due to Professor Archer for permission to 

 describe and figure the specimen in the " Hugh Miller Collec- 

 tion," Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh^ and to Dr A. 

 Geikie, Director-General of the Geological Survey of Great 

 Britain, and Professor J. Geikie, of the University of Edin- 

 burgh, for the use of the specimens in their custody.* 



Explanation of Plate V. 



Sphe7iopteris crassa, L. & H. 

 Fig. 1. Type specimen of the species. From Burdiehouse, near Edinburgh. 

 Fig. 2. Larger of the two specimens in the " Hugh Miller Collection," 

 Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh ; also from Burdiehouse. 



* I6th May 1883.— When on a recent visit to Newcastle, Mr House, Curator 

 of the Natural History Museum, called my attention to the original of Lindley 

 &nOi Kntion's Sphenopteris linearis. This is not the Sph. linearis (Bvoug.), 

 but an exceedingly fine specimen of the upper portion of Sphenopteris o'ossa 

 (L. & H.). The Plate is not a satisfactory rendering of the specimen. The 

 following synonym must therefore be added to those already mentioned at the 

 commencement of this paper : — Sphenopteris linearis (Lindley and Hutton), 

 Fossil Flora.— Plate 230. 



