GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY. 145 



externally a longitudinally wrinkled surface without ribs or leaf-scars ; but 

 within, on the " ligneous " surface, or that of the inner bark, there are broad flat 

 ribs and transversely elongated scars. The appearances are precisely those 

 which might be expected on an old trunk of my Sigillaria Brmi-nii, to which 

 species this tree may have very well belonged.* 



The contents of the trunk correspond with those of others previously found. 

 At the bottom is the usual layer of mineral charcoal, consisting of the fallen 

 wood and the bark of the tree itself. Above this, about 2 feet of its height are 

 filled with a confused mass of vegetable fragments, consisting of Cordaites, 

 Lepidode7idron, Ulodendron, Lepidostrobus, Calamites, Trigonocarpum, strpes and 

 fronds of Ferns, and mineral charcoal ; the whole imbedded in a sandy paste 

 blackened by coaly matter. In and at the top of this mass occur the animal 

 remains. The remainder of the trunk is occupied with grey and buff sandstone 

 containing a few fragments of plants, but no remains of animals. 



Portions of six reptilian skeletons were obtained from this trunk. The most 

 important of these is a large and nearly complete skeleton of Dendrerpeton 

 ^cadianum — by far the most perfect example, as I suppose, of any carboniferous 

 reptile hitherto found. I shall not attempt to describe this specimen, and the new 

 points of structure which it illustrates ; but I send the specimen itself, in the 

 hope that its details may be examined and described by the eminent naturalist 

 by whom the species was originally named and characterized. Another 

 specimen found in this trunk is a jaw of an animal about the size of Dendrer- 

 peton Acadianum, but with fewer and larger teeth. I send this specimen, which 

 may possibly indicate a new species. The remaining skeletons were imperfect, 

 and belonged to a small individual of Z)e7irfrer/ie<o« Acadianum, ivfo of Hylonom us 

 Lyelliy and one of Hylonomus Wymani. The dislocated condition of these and 

 other skeletons is probably due to the circumstance that, when they were 

 introduced, the matter filling the trunk was a loose mass of fragments, into the 

 crevices of which the bones dropped, on decay of the soft parts. Most of the 

 skeletons lie at the sides of the trunk, as if the animals had before death crept 

 close to the walls of their prison. At the time when the reptiles were intro- 

 duced, the hollow trunk must have been a pit four feet in depth. 



A number of specimens of Pupa vetusta and Xylobitis Sigillaria; were found, 

 but nothing throwing further light on these species. 



I found in this trunk, for the first time, indications of the presence of Insects. 

 The remains observed were disjointed and crushed fragments, and as they did 

 not include wings or elytra, J cannot give any decided opinion as to the orders 

 to which they may have belonged. The most proboble conjecture would be that 

 they were Neuroptera or Orthoptera of large size. The most interesting 

 fragment obtained is a compound eye, imbedded in coprolitic matter, along 

 with obscure portions of limbs and abdominal segments. Its facets are perfect- 

 ly preserved, and are lined with a brownish bituminous matter, simulating the 

 original pigment. These remains are at least sufficient to prove that in Nova 

 Scotia, as in Europe, Insects inhabited the coal-forests, and that they furnished 



• Quart. Journ. Geol. So. No. 68. p. 523. 



Vol. VIII. 



