Geological Society of London. 233 



dalled genus Ulodendron of Lindley and Hutton comprised specimens 

 belonging to several species and even to diiferent genera. Unless 

 the outer surface of the bark is well preserved, stems of Clathrarian 

 SigUlaricB and Lepidodendra are undistingnishable ; but species of 

 Ulodendron have been in several cases founded on decorticated 

 examples, and distinguished by such chai'acters as the size of the 

 Ulodendroid scar. The three species which have furnished most of 

 the specimens described as TJlodeAidron, and to the description of 

 which the present paper is chiefly devoted, are Lepidodendron Vel- 

 theimianum, Sternb., Sigillaria discophora, Konig, sp., and S. Taylori. 



The author first gave an epitome of the views of previous writers 

 on Ulodendron ; and secondly, described the specimens belonging to 

 the species named that he had been able to examine. 



The third part contained the general conclusions as to the nature 

 of Ulodendron at which he had arrived. He commenced by defining 

 the four genera Lepidodendron, Lepidophloios, Sigillaria, and Hhy- 

 tidodendron, as distinguished by the characters of their leaf-scars, 

 and showed that Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, and Rhytidodendron 

 occasionally exhibit large scars, arranged in two opposite vertical 

 rows. These are the Ulodendroid scars. They marked, in the 

 author's opinion, the point of attachment of a caducous appendicular 

 organ, which had in a very few cases been found in position. These 

 appendicular organs were probably sessile cones. Details were given, 

 showing the progressive development of the scars, the obliteration 

 of the normal leaf-scars by the appendicular organs, and the branch- 

 ing of Ulodendroid stems. 



The concluding portion of the paper contained the synonymy at 

 length and full descriptions of three fossil plants, Lepidodendron 

 Veltheimianum, Sigillaria discophora, and S. Taylori, together with 

 the horizons and localities in which they have been found in Britain. 

 Bothrodendron was shown to be a decorticated form of Ulodendroid 

 stem, and Knorria a cast of the case of Lepidodendron. 



2. " On an almost perfect Skeleton of Rhytina gigas=iRhytina 

 Sielleri ('Steller's sea-cow ') obtained by Mr. ftobert Damon, F.G.S., 

 from the Pleistocene Peat-deposits on Behring's Island." By Henry 

 Woodward, LL.D., F.E.S., F.G.S. 



The author spoke of the interest which palceontologists must 

 always attach to such animals as are either just exterminated, or 

 are now in course of rapid extirpation by man or other agents. He 

 referred to the now rapid destruction of all the larger Mammalia, 

 and expressed his opinion that the African Elephant, the Giraife, the 

 Bison, and many others, will soon be extirpated unless protected 

 from being hunted to death. The same applies to the Whale- and 

 Seal-fisheries. 



He drew attention to a very remarkable order of aquatic animals, 

 the Sirenia, formerly classed with the Cetacea by some, with the 

 Walruses and Seals by others, and by De Blainville with the Ele- 

 phants. He particularly drew attention to the largest of the group, 

 the Bhytina, which was seen alive and described by Steller in 1741. 

 It was then confined to two islands (Behring's Island and Copper 



