FOSSIL PLANTS. 387 



think, demonstrates that all the leaflets represented in our plate viii, fig. 1 to 

 6, belong to the same species. The cyclopteroidal leaflets of this species vary 

 in size from little more than half an inch to four or five inches in diameter. 



NEUROPTERIS INFLATA, Lesqx. 



Geol. Rep. of 111., vol. ii, p. 43], PL xxxvii, fig. 2. 



Though a few specimens of this species have been found in the concretions 

 of Mazon creek since its description was made, these specimens do not indicate 

 in the nature and characters of this plant anything more than was formerly 

 known. All these specimens have only two basilar ? round inflated leaflets, 

 of a thick coriaceous substance, without any traces of lateral branches. One 

 of the specimens has the leaflet of one side lacerated, or cut in lanceolate linear 

 laciniae, much like the leaves published in the Geol. Report of Penna , p. 85H, 

 PI. v, fig. 5, as Cyclopteris Germari, Gopp? As the specimen which I con- 

 sidered then (1854, Bost. Soe. of N. H.) as referable to Goppert's species, is 

 not in my possession, I cannot, by comparison, ascertain if it is or is not iden- 

 tical with ours. Moreover, as both the European and the American species 

 are founded on mere fragments of specimens, we must consider the species 

 which they represent as still uncertain or doubtful. 



NEUROPTERIS CORIACEA, Sp. nov. 



PI. viii, fig. 7 and 8. 



WE have of this species only a small branch in a concretion 

 from Mazon creek. It is part of a secondary pinna, lanceolate 

 in outline, bearing nearly opposite oblong lanceolate obtusely 

 pointed pinnules, turned upwards at an acute angle to the ra- 

 chis, and gradually diminishing in size to the terminal leaflet, 

 which appears proportionally broad. As it is broken from the 

 middle upwards, its form is unknown. The texture of the 

 leaflets is thick, and the smooth epidermis is inflated along the 

 veins and veinlets in an irregular manner, as seen in fig. 8, 

 enlarged. 



This inflation may be caused by groups of spores or elongated sori, placed 

 along the veins which are twice forked, and along their divisions. A swelling 



