•Walter Keeping — Fossils from Central Wales. 487 



prepared to receive other forms as vegetable i-emains, such as the 

 PaliBOchorda tardifurcata, n, sp., whose general aspect is more worm- 

 like. The last-mentioned species has indeed in itself sufficient 

 evidence as to its real plant nature, showing here and there distinct 

 branchings (PI. XI. Fig. 5) ; but the ordinary specimens found would 

 certainly be, by many Palceontologists, referred to worms. Thus I 

 am led to regard most of the simple worm-like surface structures 

 upon our Cardiganshire Grits as strap-like seaweeds. 



It is noteworthy that these structures usually project as convex 

 bodies upon the under surfaces of the Grit beds. 



BuihotrepMs major, n. sp. PI. XI. Figs. 1 and 2. 



Plant consisting of a long stalk of very uniform diameter, from 

 the upper end of which springs an umbellate head or racemoid cone 

 of branches. Branches usually 8 — 10 or more in number, mostly 

 simple, but sometimes dividing dichotomously. The branches do 

 not start from exactly the same point at the end of the stalk, though 

 they all terminate nearly at one level, so that the structure is really 

 corymboid ; but the central axis may be so far developed that the 

 head consists of a central rachis with lateral branches, pine-tree 

 fashion (Fig. 2). Width of branches scarcely less than the main 

 stem, very uniform throughout. 



Measurements of type specimen. — Length of stalk, 2 inches ; 

 breadth of stalk, 1^ mm. ; length of branches, 1^ inches; breadth 

 of branches, 1^ mm. 



Usually this species occurs as a delicate impression, or as half- 

 corapressed solid bodies in the Metalliferous Slate Series ; but the 

 plant has not unfrequently been buried upright, as it lived, in the 

 sediment, when the circular sections and tip end of the branches 

 come to resemble rain pittings. 



In the Aberystwyth grits of Craiglais, Aberystwyth, a group of 

 more delicate narrow branched fan Algae occurs, most of which 

 probably belong to this species, their more scanty and delicate 

 form being the consequence of less favourable life-conditions in the 

 sands than in the clayey sea-bed. 



Localities and Geological Horizon. — In the Aberystwyth Grits and 

 ]\Ietalliferous Slates at Craiglais, Aberystwyth ; Llyn fron Goch, 

 Llantrisant ; Rhyd y Felin ; Cefn Coch ; S. of Tal y Bont ; Pont 

 Erwyd ; Wern Grug, Llanilar road ; Llanilar ; Clarach ; Talerddig ; 

 Tregaron ; Pennant Valley, Llanbrynmaer ; Machynlleth ; East of 

 Llan y Mowddwy. 



Also at Hodgson How Quarry, Keswick (?). 



ButliotrepMs minor, n. sp. PI. XL Fig. 3. 



A stouter but smaller form than the last, and branching more 

 freely. Stalk short and stout, giving off rapidly some two, four, or 

 more main branches, which commonly divide once or twice again. 

 A short irregular and expanded cone-head results, with the branches 

 often fascicled. The branches are markedly smaller than the main 

 stalk. 



