Reports and Proceedings. 429 



similar series of stigmata as those occurring in Lepidodendron. An 

 examination of the minute tissue, however, showed that while this 

 general resemblance existed between the two stems, there was no 

 real affinity between the plants, for though Cycadece were the simplest 

 form of Coniferce their wood was made up of disc-bearing vascular 

 tissue, was laid on in separable exogenous layers, and was traversed 

 by medullary rays ; while in Lepidodendron the wood was entirely 

 made up of scalariform tissue, without any trace of medullary rays, 

 or a true exogenous arrangement. The histological examination of 

 the stem showed the fossil plant to be cryptogamous, but having a 

 stem with a structure more highly organised and more nearly 

 approaching to that of phanerogamous plants, than any known cryp- 

 togam. This opinion was confirmed by an examination of the organs 

 of fructification, which were shown to be strobili, bearing a single 

 sporangium on the upper surface of each scale, as in Lepidostrohus, 

 or several, as in Flemingites. The sporangia contained both large 

 and small spores, and are consequently more nearly allied to BMzo- 

 carpea than to Lycofodiacece. 



The stem of Calamites was composed of a cylinder of scalariform 

 tissue surrotmding a large cellular pith. The author had been 

 shown by Mr. Binney, a beautifully preserved specimen, showing 

 the relation of the parts. The vascular tissue was developed from a 

 series of equidistant parts around the pith, and grew outwards, and 

 laterally, until they united in a continuous cylinder, fluted on the 

 inner surface, and with the flutings filled with the cellular tissue 

 of the pith. The early vascular bundles in the yoimg shoots of 

 exogenous plants, have a similar structure, but they speedily unite 

 to form a woody cylinder, with a clearly defined and smooth inner 

 surface towards the pith. This early condition is, however, perma- 

 nent in the stem of some arborescent species of Cactus — which, in 

 this respect, closely resemble Calamites — but it is only as imilarity in 

 the arrangement of the parts without any true affinity, for the stems 

 differ as much as Lepidodendron does from Cycas. The woody cylin- 

 der formed constrictions at regular intervals round the pith, as in 

 some Artocarpece. The fruit of Calamites was a strohilus, the whorls 

 of which were alternately barren and fertile. The barren whorls 

 were developed as scales protecting the fertile whorls, which con- 

 sisted of spines, each supporting four obovate sporangia. Both 

 genera — Lepidodendron and Calamites — were certainly ciyptogams, 

 differing, both in structure of stem, and in the organs of fructification, 

 from each other, yet both agreeing in main characters with the 

 vascular cryptogams, although possessing more highly organised 

 stems than exist in any known members of that class. — Edinburgh 

 Evening Courant. 



The Eichmond and North Eiding Naturalists' Field-club. — 

 On the 31st of July the members of this club had an excursion to 

 the interesting locality of Saltbum-by-the-Sea, to examine the 

 geology and natural history generally of Saltbum and Huntclifie. 

 The weatlier was anything but favourable, yet the members mustered 



