260 Mr Seward, Wealden Plants from Bernissart. 



occupy a gorge, 250 m. deep, bounded on either side by Carboni- 

 ferous strata. A short list of species of Bernissart plants was 

 published in 1878 by M. Dupont 1 , the identifications being made 

 by the late Marquis of Saporta. 



Through the courtesy of M. Dupont, the Director of the 

 Brussels Museum, the writer has recently examined the collection, 

 which consists of numerous small fragments of typical Wealden 

 species. The fragmentary nature of the fossils renders accurate 

 determination difficult, but several species are represented by a 

 large number of examples and can be readily identified. The 

 following species have been recognised : — Algites sp., Lycopodites 

 sp., Equisetites sp., Onychiopsis Mantelli (Brongn.), Matonidium 

 Goepperti (Ett.), Laccopteris Dunkeri (Schenk.), Ruffordia Goepperti 

 (Dunk.), Weichselia Mantelli (Brongn.), Sphenopteris Fittoni Sew., 

 Sphenoptei'is delicatissima Schenk., Sagonepteris Mantelli (Dunk.) 

 Protorhipis Roemeri (Schenk.), Gladophlebis Dunkeri (Schimp.), 

 Lechenbya valdensis Sew., Gleichenites sp., Adiantites sp., Pinites 

 Sohnsi Sew., Conites minuta sp. nov. etc. 



The Flora is represented by fragmentary samples which appear 

 to have been transported for a considerable distance, and finally 

 deposited in a fine freshwater argillaceous sediment. A striking 

 feature of the flora is the scarcity of Gymnosperms; nearly the 

 whole of the material consists of fragments of Fern fronds, Weichselia 

 Mantelli being by far the commonest species. The evidence 

 afforded by the plants points unmistakably to a Wealden age, 

 nearly all the species being identical with those described from 

 the Wealden rocks of the Sussex coast, the north German area, 

 and elsewhere. 



On the Biology of Bulgaria polymorpha. By Mr R. H. Biffen. 

 [Bead 22 January 1900.] 



The life history of this fungus has been studied in detail by 

 means of cultures grown on blocks of sterilized oakwood. On 

 infecting these blocks with germinating ascospores, or with conidia 

 from the mycelium produced by the ascospores, a crop of adult 

 ascospores was produced in about six months. At the same time 

 the wood is attacked by the fungus and deliquefied in a charac- 

 teristic manner, the process starting at the pits in the walls of the 

 elements. 



1 Bull. Ac. R. Belg., vol. xxvi. [2], 1878, p. 387. 



