1851.] bunbtjry on a fossil fern. 31 



December 3, 1851. 



T. A. Tagg, Esq., the Rev. H. M. De la Condamine, and W. B. 

 Beaumont, Esq. were elected Fellows. 



The following communications were read : — 



1. Description of a peculiar Fossil Fern from the Sydney Coal 

 Field, Cape Breton. Bv C. J. F. Bunbury, Esq., For. Sec. 

 G.S. 



[PL. I.] 



The fossil plant of which I propose to give an account was commu- 

 nicated to me some time ago by Richard Brown, Esq., from the coal- 

 mines of Sydney, Cape Breton. I have shown it to several of my 

 most learned friends, both botanists and geologists, who have all 

 pronounced it to be entirely different from anything they had pre- 

 viously seen ; nor have I been able to find any fossil with similar 

 characters represented in any published work. The appearance of 

 the specimen is indeed so peculiar and extraordinary, that its dis- 

 coverer, who is well known to have an intimate acquaintance with 

 the fossils of the Sydney coal-field, conceived it to present an actual 

 union of the structures and characters of two distinct families. I have 

 thought, therefore, that a careful description and figure of so singular 

 a fossil might not be unacceptable to the Geological Society. Al- 

 though I fear I must confess myself unable to give a very satisfactory 

 explanation of the anomalies which it presents, still it seems desirable 

 that the peculiarities of a specimen, at present unique, should be put 

 upon record ; and this notice, by exciting attention and discussion, 

 may perhaps lead to a complete elucidation of the subject. 



The slab of shale now before us exhibits four distinct portions of 

 stem, which, from their relative position and proportion, may reason- 

 ably be supposed to have belonged to one plant. The largest, and that 

 which appears to be the main stem, is about 4 inches long and 

 half an inch broad, retaining pretty nearly this breadth for about 

 half its length, and then tapering very gradually to the upper end. 

 In direction it is wavy, curving first slightly to one side, and then 

 more decidedly to the other, with so gentle and easy a curve as seems 

 to show that this flexure was natural, and not the effect of pressure 

 or violence. It shows no tendency to a dichotomous division, but 

 bears three small and short lateral branches, which seem to be in- 

 completely developed. The situation of these branches is irregularly 

 alternate. The other stems which appear in the specimen are much 

 more slender, and although their connexion with the main stem is 

 lost, may be conjectured to be branches which sprung from it lower 

 down. They likewise are curved, with an easy and evidently natural 

 flexure, and two of them exhibit very plainly the circinate or involute 

 curvature characteristic of Ferns. The surface of the main stem is 

 pitted all over rather slightly and irregularly ; the pits seeming to 

 indicate the insertions of scales or hairs, or some such appendages ; 

 there are no definite areolae nor leaf-scars. In the smaller stems, 

 or branches, on the other hand, the surface presents an appearance 



