IS^e.] DAWES ON STERNBERGI^. 139 



*' I have sent a curious fragment picked up on the Joggins shore. 

 It exhibits in one specimen two different forms of Sigillaria, usually 

 I believe considered as different species. I have never seen another 

 similar specimen, but think the association of the two forms in this 

 piece cannot be accidental." 



The specimen, now on the table, in fact exhibits on one side a 

 sharp and distinct impression of the leaf-scars and other markings 

 of a Sigillaria, apparently S. scutellata or a variety of it. The other 

 side is plainly fluted, and has the appearance of a decorticated Si- 

 gillaria much rubbed and defaced, and with no distinct trace of the 

 insertion of leaves. I am inclined however to believe that this sin- 

 gular diversity between the two sides of the specimen is accidental. 

 It will be observed that that side on which the markings are sharp 

 and distinct exhibits, not the original surface of the stem, but an im- 

 pression of it, as is evident from the leaf-scars being situated in hol- 

 lows or depressions, and from the narrow prominent ridges between 

 them, where we should expect to find furrows : in short, all the 

 markings are in reverse, as compared with what we see in perfect 

 specimens of Sigillariae. I conceive therefore that this cannot be 

 really a portion of a stem exhibiting different characters en opposite 

 sides. I am rather inclined to think that the clay of which this spe- 

 cimen is composed may have been moulded within the bark of a 

 decayed stem of one Sigillaria, which gave it the simply fluted ap- 

 pearance, and, while yet soft and moist, may have received an im- 

 pression on the other side from the external surface of a different 

 stem. But I propose this explanation with much hesitation and 

 doubt, as it is certainly very remarkable, under this supposition, 

 that the ridges and furrows on the two opposite sides should so ex- 

 actly correspond in direction. 



February 4, 1846. 



P. W. Barlow, Esq., F.R.S., and Dr. George Buist were elected 

 Fellows, and M. F. Dubois de Montpereux of Neuch^tel a Foreign 

 Member of the Society. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. Observations upon BT^B.^B^^Gim, By John S.Dawes, Esq., 



F.G.S. 



This communication had reference to the remarks offered by Mr. 

 Dawson in his memoir, read at the last Meeting of the Society, on 

 Fossils from the Carboniferous Rocks of Nova Scotia. The author 

 does not agree in the conclusion of Mr. Dawson, tiiat herbaceous 

 Endogens may sometimes have produced the columnar forms usually 

 referred to the pith of coniferous and other large trees. He thinks 

 that although the appearance in question may indicate that the ibssil 



