STIGMARIA. 269 



being about twenty millimetres in diameter at the base, the other about 

 fourteen. This specimen is particularly important and interesting, because 

 the appendages appear in tolerably good preservation on both sides of the 

 terminations of its axes. They grow successively smaller and shorter as they 

 approach the terminations, and the distances between them diminish. They 

 also become curved in the forward direction and close together bud-like 

 round the apex. Hence it is only as they develope that they acquire their 

 definitive position at right angles to the axis, resembling in this respect 

 foliage-leaves. At the same time their regular progressive increase in size 

 on both sides of every bifurcation proves that the division is not apparent 

 merely, a mere separation of the parts by crushing, and also that the line 

 of fracture was not essentially oblique. Otherwise there could not possibly 

 be this uniform decrease in size ; appendages of equal length to those 

 adjoining them would be found at the very apex. One figure only of a 

 mould of this kind is known to me from the literature, and this is to be 

 found in Goppert l , and has been reproduced by him several times. The 

 specimen is diagrammatically represented ; the appendages are all developed 

 alike and spring also from the apex, and there is therefore reason to suspect 

 that the line of fracture passed obliquely near the apex, and is therefore of 

 no value. The original specimen must be examined anew, and I do not at 

 present venture to speak decidedly about it. It would in any case be very 

 desirable to obtain fresh specimens, and these will certainly be found with- 

 out difficulty, if they are searched for, on the refuse-heaps. 



Before we proceed to consider the anatomy of Stigmaria, we may say 

 a few words respecting the various forms which have been described in 

 connection with Stigmaria ficoides, Brongn. One of the best characterised 

 of these forms is no doubt Stigmaria stellata 2 , which is known as a cast 

 and also as a mould with appendages of the usual character attached. Each 

 of its superficial scars is surrounded by short flat radiating furrows. This 

 form seems to be particularly abundant in the coal-district of Waldenburg. 

 In other places it is entirely wanting or is of very rare occurrence, as for 

 example in Lancashire, in Scotland, and in Canada. It is mentioned by 

 Dawson 3 from both the latter countries. Another form to be noticed is 

 Stigmaria conferta 4 , in which the scars are rather close to one another, 

 being separated only by narrow portions of the surface, for which reason 

 the systems of parastichies are very distinctly shown. This form, which 

 may possibly not really belong to the group, is rare like the last, having 

 been found apparently up to the present time only in the neighbourhood of 

 Radnitz and Svina in Bohemia. Stigmaria rimosa 5 , named Stigmaria 



1 Goppert (1), Lief, i and 2, t. 9, f. 6. a Eichwald (1), vol. i, t. 15, f. 2 ; Goppert (1), Lief, i 

 and 2, t. 10, f. 12 ; Williamson (6), t. 13. 3 Dawson (11), p. 69. * Corda (1), t. 13, f. 9. 



5 Goldenberg (1), t. 12. 



