400 PALEONTOLOGY OF ILLINOIS. 



and the position of the 'son, our species could also be compared to Aspidium 

 Wrightii, Mitt, of Cuba. Its place is, therefore with the Poli/poditcs or Asjri- 

 elites of Groppert. 



The specimen fig. 7, is in a concretion form Mazon creek ; the others on shale 

 from Morris. 



Found by Mr. S. S. Strong. 



PECOPTERIS SQAMOSA, Sp. nov. 



PI. xii, fig. 1 to 4; PL xiii, fig. 10 and 11, fructif. 



FROND evidently bi or tripinnately divided, triangular or 

 lanceolate in outline, with a thick rachis, half an inch or more 

 at its base, covered to the top of its last divisions with long, 

 linear lanceolate pointed scales, either straight and appressed 

 to the stem, or open and diverging all around, even sometimes 

 appearing as dried up and crumpled as in fig. 2. The rachis 

 of the last divisions is proportionally broad as seen in fig. 1 

 and fig. 4, enlarged, and is also either scaly or marked, with 

 crowded points indicating the base of the scales. Secondary 

 pinnae long, linear, slightly tapering to an obtuse point, flex- 

 uous or curved upwards, bearing alternate, unequal, narrow 

 linear, obtuse, oblong leaflets, nearly perpendicular to the ra- 

 chis, reflexed on the borders, very close to each other, or often 

 contiguous for their whole length, marked with a deep medial 

 nerve, but no trace of veins. These leaflets, generally more 

 or less irregular in their length, have their fructification indi- 

 cated by small round dots, placed in two rows, close to the 

 borders; the dots are numerous and distinct; their relation 

 to the veins and veinlets is unknown. 



The species is quite distinct and only distantly related to Pccopteris platy- 

 rachis Brgt. The specimen represented, pi. xii, fig. 4, shows a part of a frond 

 of this species, in its process of development. The divisions appear still un- 

 opened and the outline only of the secondary pinnae with mere traits of medial 

 nerves, are indicated by flakes of scaly matter. 



This specimen is upon shale from the roof of the coal at Colchester ; tho 

 other specimens figured are in concretions from Mazon creek. 



