12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [DcC. 1, 



On the Spheroidal Bodies, resembling ^k^V)S, from ^Ae Ludlow 

 Bone Bed. By Joseph Hooker, M.D., F.R.S. F.G.S. 



The fossils in question consist of spherical bodies varying in size 

 from 1 line to \ of an inch ; they ha^e suffered no compression nor 

 mutilation during their conversion into mineral matter. The surface 

 is nearly smooth and uniform to the naked eye, but seen under the 

 microscope to be covered with circular or hexagonal areolae, placed in 

 contiguity in the latter case. 



Fractured specimens show them to be hollow spheres, whose walls 

 are fully twice as thick as the cavity they enclose. Their contents 

 consist of a little loose white powder, of mmeral matter, displaying 

 no organic structure. 



The walls (or integument) consist of a single series of narrow 

 hexagonal cells, placed side by side, radially. The cell-walls are very 

 thin, and exhibit no markings, nor are there any intercellular spaces. 

 No vascular tissue is observed in any part, nor remains of any outer 

 integument. 



This simple structure of spore-case is very characteristic of the 

 natural order Lycopodiacece and of the allied fossil genus Lepido- 

 strobus, and I am not aware of any other order to which these fossils 

 may more safely be referred. In their spherical form they differ 

 from any known spore-case of this alliance, but mere form is a cha- 

 racter of very minor importance in such organs, suggestive of specific 

 only and not of generic difference. 



In the great thickness of the walls and consequent length of the 

 radiating cells forming the latter, they differ conspicuously from any 

 recent or modern spore-case with which I am acquainted. 



The great difference in size of the specimens, unaccompanied by any 

 other character, is remarkable, as is the apparent absence of any point of 

 attachment. The latter is probably due to contraction of the tissues, 

 and cannot be regarded as any evidence of these fossils having been 

 seeds or spores rather than the cases in which such are contained ; 

 for in some of the best specimens of Lepidostrobus which I have ex- 

 amined, there is no evident attachment between the spore-case and 

 the modified leaf or scale which supports it, and through which it 

 was nourished in its progress to luaturity. 



The accompanying fossil-wood presents very obscure traces of 

 structure, and none on a cursory examination that throw any light 

 upon the origin of the spherical bodies ; but I have not had time to 

 adopt the usual means for making a satisfactory examination. 



3. On the Supposed Fish Remains figured on Plate 4 of the 

 'Silurian System.' By Prof. F. M'Coy, F.G.S. 



Having pointed out to Sir Roderick Murchison, about two years 

 ago, the great resemblance which the so-called Onchus Murchisoni 

 (fig. 10 of the above plate) bore to the slender didactyle pincers of a 



