376 



Fossil Coal Plant. 



between them, it must have occasionally appeared in that light. 

 Bat in no instance is there such a separation of the serrated edges, 

 there being but one line across the apex, which is generally 

 straight or slightly curved outward, as in the drawing. 



The impression varies in size from a width of five-eighths of 

 an inch by a length of one and a half inches, to a breadth of one 

 and a half, and a length equal to the breadth. The sketch is 

 made from nature and represents the average size and appearance. 

 The very fine but distinct curved lines or striae, extend with- 

 out breaks from the tips of the teeth with great regularity, con- 

 verging to a point at the base, where the stem unites. Its space 

 in the rock is represented by a very thin scale of coal, the raised 

 lines on one face of the specimen corresponding to depressed lines 

 on the counterpart, showing it to be a single thickness and not 

 double. 



On some of them may be seen fine cross markings like nerves 

 of reticulation, but in the finest specimens these are wanting, and 

 are probably due to wrinkles of compression. The teeth at the 

 edge are not uniform in number. I have counted from eighteen 

 to twenty-six. After much research, no connexion has been ob- 

 served with any branch or other vegetable, or with each other. 

 The light, slender, but well defined stem is generally wanting. 

 It is never seen longer than represented in the sketch, and seldom 

 more than half an inch in length, where it terminates abruptly, 

 as though it were broken oiT. There are minute straight lines 

 like fibres in this stem. 



1 have never seen the fossil elsewhere; but Mr. John Newberry 

 of Cuyahoga Falls, has a specimen from his father's mine, three- 

 fourths of a mile west of " Chestnut Ridge." They exist in the 



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