Bevioics — Prof. W(.in-$c](e)ielc — The Graphifc Jlijies of Ccijlon. il') 



opening, or miciopyle, along the top. As shown in specially favour- 

 able specimens, both of Lepidocarpon Lomaxl and of L. WUdiamim, 

 the more ancient Burntisland form, the functional megaspore became 

 filled by a large-celled prothallus, resembling that of the recent 

 Isoetes or Selaginella. The whole body, consisting of the sporophyll, 

 bearing the integumented megasporangium and its contents, became 

 detached from the strobilus, and in this isolated condition is identical 

 with the 'seed' described by Williamson under the name of Cardio- 

 carpon anomahim, which, however, proves to be totally distinct from 

 the Cordaitean seed so named by Carruthers. 



The seed-like organs of Lepidocarpon are regarded by the author 

 as presenting close analogies with true seeds, but as dift'ering too 

 widely from the seeds of any known Spermophyta to afford any 

 proof of affinity. The case appears rather to be one of parallel or 

 convergent development, and not to indicate any genetic connection 

 between the Lycopods and the Gymnosperms, or other Phanerogams. 



I^ IHJ "V I IE "W S. 



E. Weinsciienck. Zur Kenntniss der Grapiiitlaoeustatten. 

 HI, Die Graphitlagekstatten der Insel Ceylon. Abb. 

 k. bay. akad. Wiss., CI. ii, Bd. xxi, Abth. 11 ; Miinchen, 1900. 



PROFESSOR Weinschenck has examined a series of rock and 

 vein specimens from the graphite mines of Ragedara, Ampe, 

 Pushena, and Humbuluwa, in Ceylon, collected by i)r. Griinling. 

 He discusses the nature of the granulitic rocks and tlie mode of 

 occurrence and origin of the graphite. 



A general petrographical description of the granulitic rocks^ is 

 givenf illustrated by three plates of microphotographs. .^lassive 

 habit, granulitic structure, and variable chemical composition are 

 <;haracteristic. Except in the more basic varieties, intorgrowtlis of 

 two felspars are very noticeable. The granulitic rocks include 

 a continuous series ranging from aplites (weiss-steine) to pyroxene- 

 plagioclase rocks (trapp-granuliten) and even pyroxenites. A rather 

 oily lustre and greenish colour are very characteristic features. The 

 xjonstituent minerals are in a remarkably fresh condition, except^ in 

 the immediate neighbourhood of the graphite veins. It is interesting 

 to note that Professor Weinschenck does not mention any pleochroic 

 monoclinic pyroxene. , • i i 



There are certain other rocks in Ceylon which include coarse- 

 grained dolomites and ' cipolins,' containing blue apatite and contact 

 minerals such as forsterite, chondrodite, phlogopite, and spinel, and 

 also the peculiar andalusite, sillimanito, and corundum bearing rocks 

 described by Lacroix. 



The o-rauulitic rocks show no trace of tlie operation ot dynamic 

 causes;" they are regarded as an eruptive mass which may form 

 a single unit or be compound in character. Ihe occurrence <>f 

 coarse crystalline dolomites in the midst of the granulitic series 

 seems to show tliat different eruptive units are separated l)y contact 



