On the Pre- Carboniferous Floras of North-east America. 103 
the optic nerve and the eye completely, all the surrounding parts 
were removed, and a section made through the skull so as to exhibit 
a lateral view of the interior of the cranium. 
The brain itself was disorganized in all the young specimens; but 
distance, so that it would have been possible, if the brain had re- 
mained perfect, to trace it to its origin. 
With regard to the eye itself, no difficulty was experienced in se- 
parating the iris, choroid, and lens. The other structures usually 
existing in the eye had been so long subjected to the influence of the 
alcohol that Y could not determine their condition. 
It must necessarily happen that many interesting observations are 
made in the course of an investigation like that which has been 
May 5, 1870.—Lieut.-General Sir Edward Sabine, K.C.B., 
President, in the Chair. 
Tue BAKERIAN Lecture was delivered by Jon W. Dawson, 
LL.D., F.R.S., &c., Principal and Vice-Chancellor of M‘Gill College, 
Montreal, “On the Pre-Carboniferous Floras o orth-Eastern 
America, with especial reference to that of the Erian (Devonian) 
Period.” The following is an Abstract. 
y 3 ; 
_ Subsequently additional material was obtained by personal inves- 
tigation of the Devonian of Maine and New Brunswick, and, through 
the kindness of Prof. James Hall, from that of New York. These 
abled the author to prepare a catalogue of 121 species, and to attempt 
a thorough revision of the Erian flora, an investigation of its 
conditions of growth and relations to the Carboniferous flora. 
