34 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [DeC. 3, 



that of the fossil from Cape Breton. I have already noticed that the 

 older parts of the stem, in this fossil, bear superficial markings 

 similar to what are often seen on the fossil stalks or stipites of Ferns. 

 And as these marks are admitted, in the one case, to be due to the 

 removal of chaify scales, or other such appendages of the epidermis, 

 so I think we may suppose them to be of similar origin in the other 

 case. I am not of opinion, however, that the stems in the specimen 

 before us can be properly the stipites of Ferns ; for their ramification, 

 and especially the insertion of the fronds, is too irregular. On the 

 other hand, the position of these fronds and their insertion on the 

 stems appear to me consistent with the supposition that the whole 

 belonged to a creeping Fern. 



It remains to explain what, on this hypothesis, could be the nature 

 of those appendages which so much resemble the leaves of a Lepido- 

 dendron. The only explanation I can suggest is, that they may 

 possibly have been scales (palece), of the same nature as those 

 which are so commonly found to clothe the creeping stems of Ferns, 

 I must own, that among the recent Ferns with a stem of this cha- 

 racter, I do not know any with scales similar to these in form or 

 texture. But in Lomaria Magellanica, a Fern indeed very unlike 

 our fossil in other respects, the rhizome and base of the stipes are 

 clothed with long, narrow, pointed scales, of a peculiarly rigid cha- 

 racter, and bearing, as I think, no small resemblance to the apparent 

 leaves of the fossil in question. What strengthens my suspicion 

 that these leaf-like bodies may be mere scales, is the presence of 

 apparently similar, though much more minute, appendages on the 

 rhachis of one of the fronds. 



The only figure I have met with that bears any resemblance to this 

 fossil, is that of Selaginites Erdmanni, in the sixth part of Germar's 

 fine work on the fossils of Wettin. The plant there figured, although 

 much larger than ours, has a certain degree of resemblance to it in 

 ramification, and in the marking of its surface (particularly fig. A. 

 pi. 26). The Wettin fossil, however, does not present the hiform 

 aspect which is so extraordinary in ours. Notwithstanding the opi- 

 nion of so eminent a naturalist as M. Germar, I cannot help feeling 

 great doubts whether his Selaginites really belongs to LycopodiacecB. 

 Its ramification appears to me too irregular, its general form too 

 thick and clumsy for that order of plants, and the supposed leaves 

 with which its surface is covered, appear (in the plate) more like 

 scales than true leaves. 



To return to our Cape Breton fossil. If my explanation of its 

 structure be correct (of which I feel by no means confident), it will 

 indeed be less wonderful than was at first supposed, but will yet be 

 an uncommonly interesting specimen ; for instances of the fronds of 

 fossil Ferns still attached to the stem are exceedingly rare. In for- 

 mations of a later age than the Coal-measures (the Gres bigarre and 

 the Wealden), a very few specimens have been found of Ferns * with 

 the fronds still in their natural position, springing in a tuft from a 

 small knotty rhizome ; but I am not aware that anything similar has 

 * See the works of Schimper and Mougeot, and of Dunker. 



