Mr. J. D C. Sowerby and Mr. George 



Art. V. Additional Observations upon a Fossil found in 

 Coal Shale , and the description of a Palate found in 

 Coal, near Leeds. Bi/ J. D C. Sowerby, Esq. F.L.S, 

 and E. J. George, Esq. F.L.S. 



Ix the second number of this Journal,* a figure was given of a 

 Bone, found in Felling Colliery ; we were not then aware that a 

 portion of the same fossil had been figured by David Ure, in 

 his history of Rutherglen and Kilbride, + from a specimen found 

 in coal at Stonelaw ; he had well observed its vascular structure, 

 and finding it different from that of wood, was induced to say, 

 *' From the structure this petrifaction would appear to belong to 

 the Cane, rather than to the Pine." (p. 304). Mr. Farkes has 

 been so fortunate as to become possessed of the specimen figured 

 by Ure, and has kindly submitted it to our inspection ; the ap- 

 pearance of its section confirms us more strongly in our opiuioa 

 that it is bone, an opinion supported by that of Mr. De la Beche, 

 in the Geological Transactions, j where he considers the some- 

 what similar bones we have alluded to as found in the Lias, '^ to 

 have been the external defensive radii of some fish, and to have 

 been used in the same manner with similar bones of the Balistes 

 tribe." In a theoretical point of view it is a matter of consider- 

 able importance to prove that bones are found imbedded in any 

 of the coal measures : they are certainly very rare ; in a practical 

 light they may be esteemed as of still greater consequence, for 

 they will probably serve to identify particular strata of coal at 

 very remote places. From analogy we are led to suppose that 

 these bones belong to marine fishes ; we are already acquainted 

 with marine shells (Ammonites Listeri and Pecten papyraceus) ; 

 it has also been a general opinion that freshwater (perhaps lake) 

 shells are not uncommon in the same formation, such as Uniones 

 and Anodontes ; but independently of the difficulty often ex- 

 perienced in ascertaining the genera of shells from their fossil 



* Vol. I. p. 252. t. viii. f. 9. 



+ Plate XII. f. 6. 



t Secoiid series, Vol. I. p. 43. with a figurr. 



