I* 



4ik . CANADIAN FOSSILS. 



55. C0RDAITE8 ANQDSTiFOLiA, Dn. — (PI. XIV, Fig. 163.) — Canad. 

 Nat. VI. J. G. S., XVIII, 318.— M. D- Gaspd. M. D., St. John. 

 M. D., New York." 



" Leaves linear, much elonga ed, one-tenth to one-fourth of an inch broad, 

 with delicate, equal, p; rallel nervurea." • 



I have grouped under this name a, number of narrow Zostera-like leaves, 

 •with delicate longitudinal striation, which abound in the Devonian beds ; but 

 what maj have been their real nature I do not know. The short stem 

 with leaves represented in Fig. 163 b may have belonged to this species* 

 It is from Prof. Hall's collection. 



6. C0RDAITE8 sp.— (PI. XIV, Fig. 164.)— M. D., St. John, New 

 Brunswick. 



A few specimens have been found at St. John, of Idng narrow leaves, 

 evidently distinct from the preceding, and with parallel equal nerves. 

 Unless merely a variety of 0. Robhii, these may be entitled to a specific 

 name. Another form (Fig. 165) shows an appearance of striae between 

 the nerves, as in 0. borassifolia. It may represent still another species ; 

 but the specimens are few and imperfect. 



57. Cordaites sp.— J. G. S., XVIII, 318 ; PI. XVI, Fig. 69.— M. D., 

 New York. 



This may have been a stem of one of the preceding species. 



68. Cordaites flexuosus, Dn.— J. G. S., XIX, 462 : PI. XVIII, Fig. 9. 

 — U. D. Perry, Maine. 



" Leaves' lanceolate, acuminate, broad at the base ; nerves numerous^ 

 parallel, somewhat sinuous and uneven." 



ae«m to have been mislaid. The shells from St. John are similar to the S. carbonariiu of the 

 Ccal-formation; but the tube widens more rapidly and is smooth. They may be named 

 S. Erianut. 



It seems hopeless to convince PalsBO-botanists that these Spirorhes are really shells. Ai 

 long ago as 18451 showed evidence of thij, and described these shells as Spirorlns, and sub- 

 quently I have investigated and described the microscopic structure of tlio shell. Yet I 

 see that Schimper reproduces, though with doubt, the old error that these organisms are 

 fungi (Gyroinycea ammonis of Goeppert). I have represented the St. John specimens in 

 Fig. 161. They appear reversed or sinistral; but wiien placed on a thin leaf their ajjpear- 

 ance in this respect depends on the side of the leaf exposed. Fig. 161 b shows the actuaj 

 appearance as seen on the upper surface of the leaf. 



See also Acadian Geology, p. 205, and Proceedings of Geological Society, Dec. 1865. 



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