338 MESOZOIC FLOKAS OF UNITED STATES. 



resemble Siphonia excavata and S. pnemorsa of Goldfuss. The markings 

 of the surface, however, differed so much from these that he seemed 

 obhged to give them a different specific name. Giebel says that most of 

 the specimens sent by Meusebach were labeled as coming from "Cibolo, 

 8 miles from Comanche Springs, ' ' but some were from Henderson, between 

 New Braunfels and Guadelupe, while still others were simpl}^ labeled 

 "Texas, ' ' and he does not state how the Siphonia specimens were labeled. 

 As, however, the beds holding these organisms are widely distributed 

 throughout that general region, this defect in the record is immaterial. 



Amid all this variety of opinion and confusion in trying to classify this 

 form, it is, of course, impossible to decide the question even to which of the 

 two great kingdoms of nature, vegetable or animal, it really belongs, and 

 we must be content for the present to leave it as wholly problematical. It 

 is quite certain that it is not coniferous or a plant of any of the high types 

 of structure, and if a plant at all, it must belong near the line at which the 

 two kingdoms blend. I collected over 50 specimens, besides parts of the 

 vine-like stems that seem to bear them, and at some future time I hope 

 some competent investigator, in the light of what has thus far l^een done, 

 will subject them to a more searching analysis and wider comparison with 

 the living and fossil organisms that they resemble, and will thus discover 

 and make known their true nature. 



The name must also remain doubtful, at least the generic name, but 

 Giebel's paper seems to be the earliest of all, and therefore the specific 

 name that he gave it must stand, whatever the genus may be. If he is 

 right and it is a Siphonia, this leaves it as he placed it. If found to 

 belong to an}?^ other established genus, Giebel's specific name must be 

 connected with that genus name. If it is a new genus, whatever its affini- 

 ties, Cragin's genus Porocystis must be used. 



Returning to the itinerarj^, I need only add that after Mr. Hill left the 

 party at Bluffdale, on October 14, I continued the reconnaissance over 

 the Trinity beds, following up the Palux}^ to Morgans Mills and some 8 

 miles farther in a northwesterly direction, to where thej^ were seen to rest 

 on the brown Carboniferous sandstones holding encrinites and spirifers, 

 thence to Wolf Creek, where fine exposures occur, some of which hold 

 poorly preserved vegetable remains, and then to Woodrock Hollow, a dry 

 canyon on the right bank of the Paluxy, 2 miles l^elow Bluffdale. Along 



