

64 



CANADIAN FOSSILS. 



these supposed whorls of leaves are really clusters of spore-cases which 

 may have belonged to Psilophyton or to ferns. They are not very dis- 

 similar from the spore-cases of Psilophyton robustiua. 



122. Sporangites Huronensis. Dn. — Silliman'a Journal, April, 

 1871. Canadian Naturalist, Vol. V, new series. Underthis name I have 

 described the small globular papillate spore-cases found so abundantly 

 at Kettle Point, Lake Huron, in beds believed to be of Hamilton age. 

 They are probably spore-cases of some Lepidodendroid plant, and are so 

 abundant as to give a highly bituminous character to the shale. 



Various Fruits, &c. •^ -^*--.v 



In Figures 230 to 232, 1 have represented several obscure seeds and 

 similar organs from St. John, and in Figs. 124 to 126, PI. X, some similar 

 objects from Gasp^. That in fig. 126 is probably a concretion enclosing 

 some organic body, the others may perhaps be badly preserved fragments 

 belonging to some of the species above described. 



It will be observed that the above mentioned fruits and floral organs 

 constitute a series strictly parallel to the more common fruits of the Car- 

 boniferous ; so that whatever genera these last belonged to, must have been 

 represented also in the Devonian. Unfortunately our knowledge of the 

 affinities of Carboniferous fruits is too imperfect to give us much informa- 

 tion on those of the older series. Such inferences as I have been able to 

 draw I have already staled above. 



{Angioapermous Exogen.') 



Genus Syringoxtlon. — Dn. 



123. Syringoxylon mirabile, Dn. — Journal of Geological Society, XVIII, 

 305 ; PI. XII, Fig. 145.— M.D., New York. 



I have nothing to add to the description of the species cited above : 

 but after careful re-examination of the sUces prepared, find my views of 

 its structure and affinities, therein stated, fully confirmed. I give 

 improved drawings of some of these structures in a supplementary cut, 

 shewing the nature of it,s dotted ducts and woody fibres, in hopes that 

 they may be recognised in this country. - ' ' '" : 'v ■ • 



As the only plant of this grade as yet known in the Palaeozoic rocks, 

 it is of the greatest interest ; and I have sought earnestly for further 

 examples, carefully examining all fragments of Devonian wood which I 

 have been able to obtain. As yet, however, no other specimen has been 



