6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [NoV. 6, 



grey and buff sandstone, containing a few fragments of plants, but 

 no remains of animals. 



Portions of six reptilian skeletons were obtained from this trunk. 

 The most important of these is a large and nearly complete skeleton 

 of Dendrerpeton Acadianum — by far the most perfect example, as I 

 suppose, of any carboniferous reptile hitherto found. I shall not 

 attempt to describe this specimen, and the new points of structure 

 which it illustrates ; but I send the specimen itself, in the hope that its 

 details may be examined and described by the eminent naturalist by 

 whom the species was originally named and characterized. Another 

 specimen found in this trunk is a jaw of an animal about the size of 

 Dendrerpeton Acadianum, but with fewer and larger teeth. I send 

 this specimen, which may possibly indicate a new species. The re- 

 maining skeletons were imperfect, and belonged to a small individual 

 of Dendrerpeton Acadianum, two of Hylonomus Lyelli, and one of 

 Hylonomus Wymani. The dislocated condition of these and other 

 skeletons is probably due to the circumstance that, when they were 

 introduced, the matter filling the trunk was a loose mass of fragments, 

 into the crevices of which the bones dropped, on decay of the soft 

 parts. Most of the skeletons lie at the sides of the trunk, as if the 

 animals had before death crept close to the walls of their prison. At 

 the time when the reptiles were introduced, the hollow trunk must 

 have been a pit 4 feet in depth. 



A number of specimens of Pupa vetusta and Xylohius Sigillarice 

 were found, but nothing throwing further light on these species. 



I found in this trunk, for the first time, indications of the presence 

 of Insects. The remains observed were disjointed and crushed frag- 

 ments, and as they did not include wings or elytra, I cannot give 

 any decided opinion as to the orders to which they may have belonged. 

 The most probable conjecture would be that they were Neuroptera or 

 OrtJioptera of large size. The most interesting fragment obtained is 

 a compound eye, imbedded in coprolitic matter, along vrith obscure 

 portions of limbs and abdominal segments. Its facets are perfectly 

 preserved, and are lined with a brownish bituminous matter, simu- 

 lating the original pigment. These remains are at least sufficient 

 to prove that in Nova Scotia, as in Europe, Insects inhabited the 

 coal-forests, and that they furnished a portion of the food of Den- 

 drerpeton or its allies. I may mention here that in other coprolites 

 quantities of segments of Xylohius occur, and that there are some 

 little groups of bones of very small reptiles, which are probably co- 

 prolitic. 



The beds on a level with the top of this erect tree are arenaceous 

 sandstones, with numerous erect Calamites. I searched the surfaces 

 of these beds in vain for bones or footprints of the Reptiles which 

 must have traversed them, and which, but for the hoUow erect trees, 

 would apparently have left no trace of their existence. On a surface 

 of similar character, 60 feet higher, and separated by three coals 

 with their accompaniments, and a very thick compact sandstone, I 

 observed a scries of footprints which may be those of Dendrerpeton or 

 Hylonomus. The impressions are too obscure to show the toes di- 



