FOSSIL PLANTS. 383 



riculata, Brgt., a plant which has not yet been discovered in our Coal Meas- 

 ures. The two specimens figured in this Keport, have been found in the con- 

 cretions of Mazon creek, the first one, fig. 5, by Mr. John Collins, to whom the 

 species is dedicated. Other and larger leaflets of the same species have been 

 obtained from the same place. 



NEUROPTERIS CAPITATA, Sp. nov. 



PI. vii, fig. 1, and PI. viii, fig. 9. 



FROND or part of frond bi-pinnately divided, triangular in 

 outline or tapering upwards from an enlarged base ; pinnse 

 linear, with alternate, oblong, short, very obtuse, broad, con- 

 tiguous pinnules, and a proportionally very large triangular 

 obtusely pointed terminal leaflet, obtusely lobed on each side 

 near its base. Medial nerve, none; veinlets scarcely visible 

 to the naked eye, coming out from the narrowed base of the 

 leaflets, strongly arched towards the borders, with numerous 

 bifurcations. At the upper part, or near the point of the 

 frond, as seen in PL vii, fig. 1, the pinnae become shorter, less 

 divided, and at last mere pinnules attached to the rachis by a 

 broad pedicel. All leaflets are unsymmetrical at the base, 

 being auricled or elongated downwards, or toward the main 

 rachis, and merely rounded on the other side. 



The general appearance of this species is somewhat similar to that of Neu- 

 roptcris Loschii, Brgt., from which it is readily distinguished by its propor- 

 tionally broader, round-topped pinnules, more abruptly cut at the base, its pol- 

 ished smooth surface, and the large terminal triangular leaflet. The large spe- 

 cimen figured is from Murphysborough ; the other has bten found in concre- 

 tions at Mazon creek. The same species is abundant in the roof shales of the 

 main four-feet coal bed at Yellow creek, Ohio. 



