120 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 
known carbonifercus ferns from’ Mazon Creek, Illinois, U. S., 
in proof that fossilized flora may be recognized and easily determined, 
even though the plants may not possess a single particle of car- 
bonaceous matter. The vein-like markings of Neuropteres Hirsuta 
were as well defined in the matrix (colorless), as the black impres- 
sions of similar leaves from the same locality. The fern-fronds 
from the English Iron Stone, frequently present merely a stain, 
slightly differing from the muddy deposit in which they were originally 
embedded. While quartered with my regiment in Nova Sootia, I 
noticed that the carboniferous plants there always presented the black- 
ened appearance only observable, perhaps, in a majority of cases in the 
coal measures of Europe and Illinois. Called upon for an ex- 
planation regarding the absence of carbonaceous matter in fossilized 
Fucoids or Algze, may we be permitted to ask in return, why sczeztosts 
avoid such an absolutely hard nut to crack? Alluding to plants of 
the coal measures in a very interesting paper on the “ Preservation 
of Plants as Fossils,” a copy of which the author kindly sent me, I 
find an important admission to which I would most respectfully call 
attention, viz: ‘‘Very frequently leaves occur in a fossil state with 
an zmpression merely, the sandstone shows no traces of carbonaceous 
matter, but the outlines and the venation are as perfect as if the 
actual leaf were before us.” Again in an abstract of a paper on 
“Problematic Organisms and the Preservation of Algze as Fossils,” 
the same writer remarks: ‘‘ The absence of organic or carbonaceous 
matter is not considered er se to militate against the animal or 
vegetable origin of many of the forms, but when taken in connection 
with the absence of definite form, the position of the remains in the 
strata, and other circumstances, etc.” This objection in the con- 
cluding paragraph can hardly be applicable as regards our 
Clinton local beds. No better defined fossilized plant 
remains have ever been figured on or described (as far as I 
have seen as yet), as the perfect specimens of Dr. James Hall’s 
Buthotrephis, a Silurian Fucoid, presenting. an impression 
which I, in common with many others, supposed to be a sea 
plant. I have already stated that a Brachiopod occurs also 
in the same layer (Limgula oblata, Halt). This is not 
the only Mollusc there, and my correspondent, I believe, is mis- 
taken when he states ‘‘these problematic organisms are mostly 
found in strata devoid of other fossils” As regards their appearance, 
