ON THE FOSSIL TREES IN A MARL PIT AT HANLEY. 81 



must have measured eighteen feet in height and a little over 

 nine feet in circumference. Although I have examined this 

 specimen closely, I have failed to discover any trace of 

 the roots. The swollen base alone indicates their com- 

 mencement, but as it appears to rest on a bed of coal I 

 infer that the roots have become carbonized. 



The exterior surface of the fosssil is covered with a thin 

 coating of coal about a quarter of an inch thick. Under 

 this I noticed fine longitudinal lines, but I have not suc- 

 ceeded in finding any scars. 



On the north side of the fossil I pointed out to some 

 of the members present a deep longitudinal depression 

 which commenced near the base and extended the whole 

 height of the fossil, and probably went much higher. 

 There is something very peculiar in this depression. You 

 must bear in mind that this is not an isolated case. I 

 have frequently noticed them before, and other observers 

 have recorded similar depressions. An eminent authority 

 has suggested to me that these depressions were caused 

 by the falling of the internal cylinder (which, like the 

 outer cylinder, was of a hard nature) against the outer 

 cylinder or shell, which would cause it to bulge out the 

 outside towards which it fell, and cause a hollow inwards 

 on the contrary side. 



The second specimen, or No. 2, which was lying on the 

 ground a short distance from the erect one, presented much 

 the same appearance as No. 1. On examining the place 

 where it had stood, I saw distinct marks of stigmaria, and 

 I have no doubt that they belonged to this tree. 



Around these trees I noticed a considerable quantity of 



G 



