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A NEW BRITISH CARBONIFEROUS FOSSIL. 
A. C. SEWARD, M.A., F.G.S. 
THE records of the rocks, and especially of the older sida are 
not infrequently exceedingly difficult to decipher. In the case of 
animals with internal or external hard parts, such as slates or 
molluscs, the conditions for preservation in sands or clays are 
favourable enough ; but as regards those organisms which are without 
such convenient structures, the traces of their existence are often far 
from legible. It is the duty of palzontologists to interpret as. far as 
they can the indistinct markings, cast ressions which the 
rocks afford ; and such attempts at interpretation should always be 
undertaken with the utmost caution whe data are of a prob- 
ro 
lematical nature. The numerous instances of so-called fossil alge 
afford examples of doubtful records, which have in many cases been 
wrongly determined, and have added confusion to the nomenclature 
of a science which is eeonuentent encumbered with bewildering 
synonyms. 
Occasionally a fossil has been described and figured as an 
interesting addition to the flora of a past age, and subsequently 
removed by general assent to the kingdom of extinct animals; or, 
again, certain supposed fossil animals have been shown to be plant 
fragments. Mistakes of this kind are difficult to avoid, and all that 
we can do is to curb our inclination to make dogmatic statements, 
unless the evidence at hand justifies such a course. Doubtful fossils. 
are often well worthy of description and illustration as contributions 
to facts, from cere as new discoveries are made definite conclusions 
may be draw The important point is to boldly confess our 
imperfect Laicdes, to ath speculations guardedly, and to add 
such facts as we can towards the solution of palzontological 
problems. 
A recent ‘find’ by Mr. George Best, of Darlington, affords an 
interesting example of a Carboniferous fossil, about which it is safer 
to express’ ourselves cautiously, and to wait for further evidence, 
before attempting to definitely decide as to its true position in the 
organic kingdom. ‘This fossil was obtained from the Lower Coal- 
Measures Sandstone of Stainton Quarries, Barnard Castle.* It is 
represented somewhat less than natural size in Fig. 1; the specimen 
has a length of 8 cm. and in its broadest part measures 2°7 cm 
The surface of the sandstone cast, which is without any trace of 
carbonaceous matter, is marked by two spirally twisted ridges, above 
* Woodward, H.B. Geol. England and Wales, 1887, pe “181. 
August 1894. 
