182 Reviews. — Carruthers on Fossil Botany, 



The author proposes to describe the minute structure of these stems, and 

 compare them with recent structures. Two forms are described in these papers. 

 Carruthers, W.— On the Structure and Affinities oi Sigillaria and aUied Genera. 

 Quart. Journ. Geol Soc. vol. xxv. pp. 248-254, pi. x. 



The structure of the known -parts of this genus is described, and it is referred to 

 Lycopodiacece. 

 CoEMANS, EuG. — Note sur la Faraille des Equisetacees. Journ. Bot. voL vii. pp. 



337-340- 

 The author reviews the different parts of Calamites which have received separate 

 names, and unites them under four genera, — Calamites, Aittiularia, Spheno- 

 phyllum, and Phyllotheca, — ^^in the suborder Calamitece of Equisetacece. 



Dawson, J. W. — On Calamites. Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. iv. pp. 272, 273, 



The author confirms the views of M. Grand'Eury, but in two points his obser- 

 vations differ from those of M. Grand'Eury. None of his specimens had long 

 rhizomes, the secondary stems budding almost directly from the primary ; and he 

 has found leaves in connection with three species. 



Grand'Eury. — Observations on Calamites and Asterophyllites. (Translated from 

 the "Comptes Rendus," March, 1868.) Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. iv. pp. 

 124-128. 

 From observations on upright Calamites in the coal-measures of the Loire, he 

 describes this genus as having .creeping rhizomes ; articulated, fistular, and septate 

 stems ; the thin outer portion of which consists of (i), an exterior cortical layer, 

 now converted into coal ; (2), a thin layer of vascular tissue, now invariably 

 destroyed; and (3), a sort of inner lining of ^pid^rmis, which is carbonified. The 

 flutings are on the outer surface of the thin vascular -cylinder. There is no evident 

 trace of the insertion of leaves. The greater number of Asterophyllites he 

 considers as belonging to other stems than Calamites, and for tTiem he proposes 

 the name Calamophyllites, and distinguishes them from Calam-ites as having 

 articulate, very certainly hollow, and septate stems, of herbaceous nature, and not 

 always regularly striate ; leaves caducous, situated above the articulation ; and 

 caducous branches rising above the articulations in the axils of the leaves. 



Hancock, A., and T. Atthey. — On some curious Fossil Fungi from the Black 

 Shale of the Northumberland Coal-field. Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. iv. 

 pp. 221-228, pi. ix. and X. 

 The authors describe a number of lenticular bodies from the Cramlington black 



shale, which, from their resemblance to Sclerotium stipitatum, Berk, and Curr., 



they consider to be Fungi. These fossil bodies are supposed by Messrs. Hancock 



and Atthey to be fully -developed plants, producing spores, and related to the 



higher Fungi. The authors have overlooked the fact that this "doubtful" (Berk.) 



production, which led them to take this view of these bodies, is only a mycelium- 



tuber, the fructification of which is yet unknown. Five species are described. 



Hicks, H. — Notes on a Species oi Eophyton (?) from the Lower Arenig Rocks of 

 St. David's. Geol. Mag. Vol. IV. pp. 534, 535, pi. xx. 

 It is very doubtful whether this fossil belongs to the vegetable kingdom. The 



large-sized continuous tubes of which it is composed are unlike plant-structure. 



LiNNARSSON, J. G. O. — On some Fossils found in the Eophyton Sandstone at 

 Lugnas in Sweden. (Translated from the Danish Roy. Acad. Ofversigt 

 for March, 1869.) Geol. Mag. Vol. VI. pp. 393-406, pi. xi.-xiii. 

 Some additional forms of the impressions from these ancient beds are figured 



and described, establishing that they represent plants of a high organization, most 



probably monocotyledonous, as supposed by Torell. 



Mahony, J. A. — On the Organic Remains found in Clay near Crofthead, Renfrew- 

 shire. Geol. Mag. Vol. VI. pp. 390-393. 

 The author enumerates the following recent plants as found in stratified beds of 



sand and mud, intercalated with Boulder-clay, viz. : — 3 species ol Desmidece, 31 of 



Diatoi7tace&, 10 of Musci, g of Fhanerogamia. 



Nicholson, H. A.— On the Occurrence of Plants in the Skiddaw Slates. Geol. 

 Mag. Vol. VI. pp. 494-498, pi. xviii. 

 The author figures and describes four fossils, which he thinks most probably 



plants. 



