350 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



sections are given by Witham.^ The species appears to be 

 very closely related to Aran carioxy Ion Withami, if really 

 distinct from it. 



PL iv. LEriDODENDRON StERNBERGII. 



Locality. — Felling Colliery, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 



Horizon. — Lower Coal-Measures. Eoof of the Low Main 

 Coal. 



Remarhs. — All the plants placed under Lepidodendron 

 Sternhergii by Lindley and Hutton are, I believe, referable 

 to Lepidodendron ophiurus, described by Brongniart in 

 1822.2 In 1820 Sternberg, under the name of Lepidodendron 

 dichotomum, figured certain Lepidodendra.^ Two species 

 were probably included in these plates, and Brongniart, to dis- 

 tinguish them, named the plant on Sternberg's plates i. and ii. 

 Lepidodendron Sternhergii, and that on his pi. iii. Lepidoden- 

 dron longifolium."^ Some authors still regard Lepidodendron 

 Sternhergii, Brongt. ( = Lepidodendron dichotomum, Sternb., in 

 part), as distinct from Lepidodendron ophiurus, Brongt. As 

 far as I know the original types of Lepidodendron Sternhergii 

 are lost, and, in such a case, there remains only the original 

 figures and descriptions of the species from which to settle 

 the question. These do not appear to me to afford evidence 

 for determining this point. Or, to put it in other words, 

 Sternberg's figures and descriptions do not afford sufficient 

 data for the formation of a clearly defined species. 



But whatever view may be taken of the specific indi- 

 viduality of Lepidodendron Sternhergii, Brongt., one point is 

 perfectly clear, that the commonest Lepidodendron of our 

 Lowest and Middle Coal-Measures is the Lepidodendron 

 ophiurus, Brongt. I do not think that any solution of the 

 difficulty can be found in the figures and descriptions of 

 subsequent authors. Future discoveries may yet satisfac- 

 torily show the true position of Lepidodendron ophiurus, 



1 Inter. Struc. Foss. Veget, &c., 1833, p. 72, pi. vi., figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 ; 

 pi. viL, figs. 7, 8. 



^ Class, d. veget. foss., pp. 27 and 90, pi. iv. , figs, la, Ih. 



2 Ess. monde prim., pis. i.-iii. 

 4 Prodrome, p. 85, 1828. 



