PRB-CARBONIPEROUS PLANTS. 



61 



74. N. (Megalopteris) Dawsoni, Hartt.— (PI. XVII, Figs. 191 to 

 194.) — Bailey's Report on New Brunswick. Acadian Geology, 2nd 

 edition, p. 650 Fig. 193. — M.D., St. John, New Brunswick. 



*' Frond rugose, rhachis thick, striated, broadly winged, pinnae alternate, 

 very oblique, acute at apex, often an inch wide and six inches long, 

 margin undulate ; midrib disappearing before reaching apex, veins 

 numerous, very oblique, curved, forking thrice very obliquely." 



This is one of the finest of the Devonian ferns, its pinnules being sometimes 

 six inches in length, and at first sight reminding an observer of the Glos- 

 sopterids of later rocks, though very different in their venation. The 

 fragments in Prof. Hartt's collection appear to indicate that the fronds 

 consisted of large oblong pinnules closely aggregated together, or attached 

 at a very acute angle to a rachis itself broadly winged. The veins spring 

 from a broad flat midrib at a very acute angle, and curve outward to the 

 margin, which they meet almost at right angles. It may admit of doubt 

 whether this fern is really a Neuropteris ; but its scattered pinnules would 

 at once by their form and venation be referred to that genus, though the 

 habit of growth seems to have been different ; and for this reason I have 

 suggested the sub-generic name above. 



In the species of Neuropteris the Devonian Flora approaches very 

 nearly to that of the Carboniferous, several of the species being closely 

 allied to common Coal formation ferns. They are, however, distinct speci- 

 fically, and on the whole of a more delicate and less massive type. The 

 principal exception to this is the remarkable species N. Dawsoni. 

 This, however, manifestly presents in its venation a tendency toward 

 Cyclopteris, though the form of the leaf is so different, and it is quite 

 likely that when more fully known it will become the type of a new genus. 



<- 



.; / . Genus Callipteris. — Bronq. 



75. Calliptbris pilosa, S.N.— (PI. XVI, Fig. 189.) 



JBipinnaie or tripinnate. Pinnae oblong with hm ni terminal leaflet, and 

 crowded obovate obtuse decurrent pinnules, with a thick short midrib and 

 a few forking curved veins. Frond dense and covered with very 

 numerous microscopic hairs generalli/ mitki'ig thf venation. Fertile 

 pinnae with nearly round pinnules, smooth and much reflexed in the 

 margins. 



This curious fern, rather common in the Middle Devonian at St John, 

 was described by me in Acadian Geology under the name Sphenopterit 



