Reviews — The Jurassic Rocks of England. 129 



The internal structure is not preserved, but the habit of the fruit 

 is excellently shown, as the plates testify. The author's careful 

 comparison with the more completely known species leaves no 

 doubt as to the essential identity of structure. 



Mr. Seward considers that we are still without any very satisfactory 

 evidence as to the nature of the male inflorescence, all the well- 

 investigated specimens being apparently female. 



The author founds a new genus (Withamia) for a remarkable 

 fossil, much resembling the Ci/cadorachis of Saporta. He shows 

 that there is no real similarity to the rachis of any Cycad, and 

 defines the new genus as follows : "A woody axis bearing two rows 

 of spiny appendages, in the axils of which are borne flit leaf-like 

 appendages." There is at present no clue to the affinities; the 

 comparison with PhjUocladus is perhaps as instructive as any. 



Mr. Seward says that, "as a general rule, fossil Conifers are 

 perhaps the most unsatisfactory plants with which the palteo- 

 botanist has to deal." Consequently he treats the fossils referred 

 to this order with special caution, though he has some beautiful 

 specimens to record. So far as the remains justify any definite 

 conclusion, it would appear that the principal tribes of the order 

 were already developed in the Wealden epoch; Araucariese, Abie- 

 tineas. Taxodinete, Cupressineas, and Podocarpese all have fairly 

 accredited representatives. A new species, Pinites Solmsi, is founded 

 on excellent fertile specimens, which strongly suggest the recent 

 genus, though neither the exact morphology of the cone nor the 

 insertion of the leaves can be determined with certainty. 



Brachyphylhm spinosum, sp. nov., with its great rhoinboidal leaf- 

 scars and spinose branches, is a most striking plant, which we 

 would gladly know more about. 



In his concluding remarks the author says (p. 240) : " Looking 

 at the Wealden plants collectively, we notice a very striking agree- 

 ment with the flora of the underlying Jurassic strata, and it would 

 be difficult to point to any well-marked or essential difference 

 between the plant-life of the two periods. The evidence of paleo- 

 botany certainly favours the inclusion of the Wealden rocks in the 

 Jurassic series." 



Both the author and the Museum are to be warmly congratulated 

 on the completion of this hook. If all writers on fossil botany had 

 shown the same sound and cautious judgment which characterizes 

 Mr. Seward's work, the subject would now be in a much more c 

 advanced position than it is. D. H. S. &<Z,#V^ 



HI- — Memoirs op the Geological Survey of the Unitkd 

 Kingdom. "The Jurassic Eocks of Britain. Vol. V: The 

 Middle and Upper Oolitic Kocks of England (Yorkshire 

 excepted)." By Horace B. Woodward, F.G.S. 8vo, pp. xiv 

 and 499 ; 145 Figures and Map. London : Dulau & Co., 1895. 



THE previous volumes of this important work have from time 

 to time been noticed in the Geological Magazine, and we 

 now have to congratulate Mr. Woodward on the appearance of the 



DECADE IV. VOL. III. NO. III. 9 



