ON THE ALUM BAY LEAF-BED. 147 



the total number of specimens that could then be brought together from the 

 three localities was but about 300. 



It is therefore no matter of surprise that in larger collections since made 

 many fresh forms are met -with. 



At our last Meeting at Bii-mingham I exhibited drawings of some few of 

 the most striking new forms, and mentioned that both Dr. P. de la Haroe 

 and Dr. Oswald Heer urged the importance of a more careful examination of 

 this flora. 



A committee for this purpose was appointed, and the sum of ^20 was 

 placed at our disposal. Through the kindness of Professor Sedgwick and 

 the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, we obtained the services 

 of Mr. H. Keeping, now at the Woodwardian Museum, who has had much 

 experience in the working of this bed. 



I went down to Alum Bay last September with Mr. Keeping, and remained 

 there during the working to note the appearance of the leaves when first 

 turned up. 



In the majority of instances, not only the outline, but the venation, even 

 the most delicate, is at first clearly visible, though a few houi's' exposure to 

 the air almost obliterates the more dehcate marks. A washing with a solution 

 of isinglass often preserves them ; indeed in some instances it brings them out 

 even more sharply ; but, unfortunately, it often fails. There are some speci- 

 mens on which I partly traced the venation with pencil as soon as they were 

 exposed ; now, after an interval of ten months, they are so faded that the 

 part not pencilled is harcUy, if at all, to be made out. It is much to be 

 regretted that there is this difficulty in preserving the specimens, and we 

 shall be very glad to receive suggestions for their treatment. All our speci- 

 mens have had the usual isinglass wash, though I fancy it somewhat 

 obscures the character of the surface of the leaves. I cannot speak with 

 certainty on this point ; for, as I had not anticipated such a result, I did not 

 record the character of the surfaces among the notes I made on the spot 

 btiU, from comparing the recoUection I have of the appearance of the leaves 

 when first turned up with their appearance now, I am ahnost certain this is 

 the case. This I the more regret as the character of the surface of a leaf is 

 often a useful help in determining its genus . I hope to have an opportunity 

 of again examining this bed ; and I shaU endeavour to take both drawings 

 and complete descriptions of the leaves before the air and light have in anv 

 way injured them. ^ 



After a fortnight, bad weather put a stop to our work. We had, however, 

 succeeded in obtaining a good collection, numbering altogether some 470 



specimens. The leaves are, on the whole, well preserved, but the bed in one 



part yielded forms so indistinctly marked as to be ahnost worthless. 



I have in course of preparation descriptions of aU the leaves in this, as 



well as m my own coUection, which I will lay before one of the learned 



societies of London*. 



Were they now complete, this would not be the suitable place for reading 



them ; and the publication of them in a report, without drawings, would 



much lessen their value. 



I have brought drawings of some of the leaves, wHch show that the aid 



afforded by this Association for examining this bed has helped us to obtain 



not only finer specimens than Dr. P. de la Harpe and Mr. Salter had at thei^ 



disposal, but also many fresh forms, 



* The Palaontographical Society has undertaken the pubHcation of a monograph 



J.2 



