294 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 



examination has thrown no light upon their struc- 

 ture.* On some parts of the internal axis there 

 are deep pits, indicating the lacunae in which a 

 resinous secretion w r as contained. 



The waterworn portion of a stem, figured in 

 lign. 22, which I picked up on the sea-beach in 

 Brook Bay, is the only specimen of the Clathraria 

 1 have seen from the Wealden of the Isle of 

 Wight. This fragment is highly interesting, 

 for the calcareo-siliceous earth of which the 

 stem now consists, is of a finer texture than 

 in any of the Tilgate Forest specimens, and trans- 

 verse sections display under the microscope more 

 satisfactory indications of the organization of the 

 original. Without many figures, and more length- 

 ened descriptions than our space will admit of, 

 the peculiarities of structure exhibited in these 

 slices, could not be demonstrated ; it must there- 

 fore suffice to state, that the organization, so far 

 as it can be determined, shows a near approach to 

 that of the Cycadeae. 



But additional and most important informa- 

 tion as to the external form of the Clathraria, 

 has been afforded by the splendid specimen from 



• For other details I must refer to the " Medals of Creation," vol. i. p. 182. 

 All the specimens (inured in my previous works are in the Hritish Museum, 

 in the room appropriated to fossil vegetables. 



