Dr. H. Woodward—A. Fossil in a Chalk Flint. 485 
of the same structure exposed on the reverse side) near the top end of 
the flint (Fig. 2). I assume, for description, that the convex edge 
of the scale-like markings is the upper margin as shown in the 
drawing. 
Measurement of scales from exposed base to summit. 
From base, scale No. 1is 8mm. broad by 5 mm. high. 
9 |< 
= 15 te) re) 2) ye) 
3 12 9 ”? 5 yh) 
ee esse » GP os 
5 13 Ue) 27 13 7 
6 16 Uk) ” 7 ” 
7 23 9 De) 9 bib) 
8 17 29 29 8 tT) 
9 15 7 ie) 5) ”? 
10 15 Ie WL Osey me 
La Ca Nyt GoM 
12 We 29 ? 4 2 
13 20 9 We) 5 oe) 
fic wae al 
bi) 
To summit ey NS ae si 4 ed 
Scales on reverse side exposed near the summit of the flint. 
Nos. 12 and 14 both wrap around the edge of the flint, and appear on the reverse 
side also, intercalated with Nos. 16 and 17. 
No. 16 is 20 mm. broad by 10 mm. high. 
iN 10 9 99 5 9? 
The upper portion is obscured, being, like the rest of the pebble, 
much worn down by rolling and attrition. The lower part of the 
pebble is composed of a dark amorphous flint which merges into 
a lighter shade near the scale-like markings. 
If we compare the specimen before us with the rare remains of 
Coniferous cones met with in a fossil state, I cannot remember to 
have seen a silicified Cretaceous example, nor one in which the 
carbonaceous matter was not preserved and showed the separate 
bracts visibly overlapping one another from the apex to the base. 
This is not the case in the fossil in flint we are considering. 
I suggested to Dr. Arthur Smith Woodward that possibly the specimen 
might represent a fragment of a fossil fish, but he pointed out to me 
that the scale-like markings are not uniform, nor are they arranged 
symmetrically, also that they have been worn away to one level, and 
have no structure visible. 
I compared the pebble with a fish-coprolite from the Chalk, but 
although these bodies have an arrangement in layers the phosphatic 
material composing them is always preserved, and they have never 
in my experience been met with silicified or enclosed in a chalk flint. 
I submitted the rolled flint to Dr. F. A. Bather, but after a careful 
examination he wrote on the label the following note: ‘‘No one 
in the Geological Department considers the markings organic. The 
bands have no appreciable thickness. (F. A. B.)” 
I wrote to my friend Dr. Hinde to ask whether the specimen might 
possibly be attributable to a fossil sponge, chalk sponges being most 
abundantly met with in that formation enclosed in flints. He replied 
that the markings did not resemble those of any sponge with which 
he was acquainted. 
