Mr. G. A. Bouleng ^'atrachians from Brazil. 415 



incompletely modified foliage -pinnules is not uncommon in 

 Osmunda regalis. The Iruiting-pinnules end in several 

 simple or divided thread-like filaments. The fruit appears 

 to consist of exaiinulate Marattiaceous sporangia. 



Another interesting point was observed on some of the 

 specimens in the collection of the Geological Survey of 

 Ireland. This had evidently been noticed by Mr, Baily, 

 though its importance was not fully appreciated, and is referred 

 to by him as a rounded expansion of the base of the stem, which 

 apparently separated into scales. Mr. Carruthers, evidently 

 referring to the same structure, says " The stipes were 

 thick, of considerable length, and clothed with large scales, 

 which formed a dense covering at the enlarged base " *. 



The structures here alluded to are two large stipules, one 

 on each side of the base of the rachis, and on some of the 

 specimens in the collection of the Geological Survey of 

 Ireland they are admirably shown. What has given rise to 

 the statement that the base of the stipe was " clothed with 

 large scales " is evidently the remains of large pinnules which 

 are situated on the main rachis between the pinnte, and are 

 continued to almost the extreme basal termination of the 

 rachis. Such pinnules, obliquely imbedded in the matrix 

 and broken over, have been mistaken for scales. So far as 

 my observations have gone, the rachis is entirely destitute of 

 membranous scales. 



Tlie presence of the stipules at the base of the rachis of 

 Arclueopteris hihernica, altogether independently of the evi- 

 dence allbrded by the fruit, points strongly to its afiinities 

 being with the Marattiaceaj ; and when to this is added the 

 Marattiaceous structure of the fruit itself, there does not 

 remain the slightest doubt in my mind that the true position 

 of Archceopteris hihernica is in the Marattiaceas. 



In conclusion, I have to express my tlianks to Dr. A. 

 Geikie and Prof. Ball for all the facilities they kindly gave 

 me for examining the specimens in the respective collections 

 of the Geological Survey of Ireland and in the Science and 

 Art Museum, Dublin. 



DV. — A List of BatracJiians from the Provirice Santa 

 Catharina, Brazil. By G. A. Boulengee. 



Two rather extensive collections of Frogs, formed in the 

 Sierra do Catharina by Ilr. Michaelis, which I have recently 



* Carrutlicrs, /. c. 



