2 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
excavations in the Cretaceous clays at Kreischerville, particularly 
that known as the Androvette pit, where the largest quantities of 
amber have been found. We were fortunate enough on this occasion 
to secure a large quantity of lignites, including several fragments 
of some size, showing the amber in situ. On a subsequent visit, 
in the following autumn a further supply of material was secured, 
including some admirably preserved Pityoxylon from a newly opened 
excavation known as the Drummond pit. 
The lignites gathered at Kreischerville belong to at least three 
genera: Araucarioxylon, Cupressinoxylon, and Pityoxylon. Of 
these -only the last proved to be succiniferous. The first two 
genera mentioned represent several species and present features 
of very considerable interest, but it is not our intention to discuss 
them further here. The pityoxyloid lignite containing masses of 
amber was found in the form of large pieces from the various 
excavations at Kreischerville, as well as in smaller fragments occur- 
ring in the amber-bearing strata themselves, at the Androvette 
pit, as described by Dr. HotticK (4. c.). The amber enclosed in 
lignite appears both in the translucent shining condition and in the 
dull ochraceous modification. In the latter state it is particularly — 
conspicuous on account of the contrast in color with the black lignite, 
and may be made out not only in the form of pockets and nuggets, — 
but also as fine yellow threads or streaks corresponding to the normal — 
resin passages of the wood. Unfortunately the state of preserva- 
tion of most of the succiniferous lignites left something to be desired. — , 
In the Drummond and Androvette pits, however, were found a— 
number of partially charred, and, as a consequence, exquisitely pre-_ 
served Pityoxyla, which were apparently specifically identical with 
or at any rate closely allied to the actually succiniferous fragments — 
of Pityoxylon. It has been thought advisable to defer the descrip- 
tion of the amber-containing lignites until a greater quantity of 
material should be accumulated, which might not only be better 
preserved, but might also throw some light on the conditions leading — 
to the formation of amber. The partially charred lignites belong-_ 
ing to the genus Pityoxylon Kraus appear, nevertheless, worthy 
of immediate investigation, both because they show features of 
considerable phylogenetic interest, and because the genus Pity- ; 
i 
