_ PROCEEDINGS 
OF 
THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 
Vo. ITI. 1840. No. 69. 
Feb. 26.—A paper was first read, entitled “‘ Further observations 
on the fossil trees found on the Manchester and Bolton railway ;” 
by John Hawkshaw, Esq., F.G.S. 
Since Mr. Hawkshaw’s former communication, another fossil 
tree has been found on the opposite side of the railway. It is about 
three feet in height, and three feet in circumference, and stands on 
the same thin stratum of coal as those first discovered, and perpen- 
‘dicularly to the surface of the bed. Mr. Hawkshaw is, therefore, 
strengthened in his belief, that the trees grew in the position in 
which they are found. 
After this notice of the recent discovery, he proceeds to describe 
the effects produced in hot and moist climates on felled or pro- 
strated solid dicotyledonous trees. The tropical forests with which 
he is acquainted from personal examination, are situated in Vene- 
zuela on the shore of the Carribean sea, and between the 8th and 
10th degrees of north latitude, and the 65th and 70th of west longi- 
tude. In these forests a few months are sufficient to destroy the 
interior of the largest tree, little more being left than an outer shell, 
consisting chiefly of the bark. Mr. Hawkshaw noticed this pecu- 
harity more frequently in dicotyledonous trees, having a proper bark, 
than in monocotyledonous vegetation, excluding necessarily those 
always hollow; and he does not remember to have seen a single in- 
stance of a paim similarly acted upon. Sometimes the portion of the 
dicotyledonous tree remaining on the ground, presented very much 
the appearance of the founder’s mould, when the pattern has been 
withdrawn from the sand, and before the metal has been run in; 
and by this kind of decay, a cavity is formed from which a fac simile 
of the tree might be cast. In other cases, prostrated trunks having 
the appearance of being solid, have yielded to the pressure of his 
feet, and proved to be only hollow tubes. Dangerous accidents have 
also occurred from temporary bridges constructed of dicotyledonous 
trees having given way beneath the passenger, though there was 
no outward indication of decay. The bark of these trees had 
changed but little, though nothing of the interior remained but 
dust, and a few remnants which crumbled beneath the slightest 
touch. 
* Ante, p. 139. 
VOL. 111, "4 
