CTCADITES. 29 



from a strictly median course. The appearance, indeed, is such 

 as to suggest a folding over of the pinnae margins. It has 

 already been pointed out in the introductory remarks on fossil 

 cycadean fronds, how the pinnaB of such recent species as 

 Enceplialartos GheUmckii, Lem., may become folded over until 

 a narrow median groove is left in the middle of the lower 

 surface of the segment, representing the line of separation of 

 the recurved edges (PI. XIII. Fig. 3). On the other hand, we 

 may have a similar curling over in the pinnae of a true Cycas ; 

 but in the present specimen the narrow line is for the most part 

 perfectly median and of uniform breadth, and cannot well be 

 attributed to any other cause than the presence of a central vein. 

 At one corner of the specimen there are three pinnae, which 

 clearly demonstrate a folding over of the margins, but this is 

 in itself no proof of the absence of a single vein. These pinna 

 fragments are in oblique contact with what appears to be a 

 portion of the racbis, and if we may regard the two as 

 organically connected, the segments exhibit the same characters 

 as regards the form and attachment of the base as Schenk has 

 described in the German examples. Ecclesbourne. Rujford Coll. 



2. Cycadites Saportse, sp. nov. 



[PI. III. Fig. 7; PI. VI. Fig. 5; PI. VIII. Fig. 2.] 



Type. Large and well-preserved fronds. British Museum. 



The difficulty of recognizing the essential character of Cycadites 

 in the pinnae of fossil fronds has made itself felt in no small 

 degree in dealing with the present series of specimens. The 

 figures and descriptions given by Homer and Dunker of the 

 Cycadites-like leaves have to be viewed in the light of Schenk's 

 more recent statements, 1 based on an examination of Dunker s 

 type specimens. If we leave out of consideration those portions 

 of cycadean fronds which are figured by Dunker as Cycadites 



1 Schenk (A. 2), Palaeontographica, vol. xix. p. 233. 



