1855.] HARKNESS — FOSSIL FUCOIDS, ETC. 473 



The evidence afforded by the deposits which accompany the an- 

 thracitic shales, however, is such as to show that different circum- 

 stances prevailed from those which have produced the fucoid-sand- 

 stones of Barlae. The character of the shales both subjacent and 

 superior to the anthracite-schists leads to the inference that tranquil 

 water deposited them ; and they have every aspect of being the result 

 of a deeper sea ; the conditions being such as to support the conclusion 

 that other forms of fucoids than those which occur in the higher- 

 lying sandstones of Barlae produced the anthracite-schists ; an in- 

 ference, which is supported by the occurrence in the graptolite-shales 

 of a fucoid which in its external characters bears no relation to either 

 the PalcBochorda or Chondrites. When we consider the large area 

 which the anthracitic shales occupy, extending all across the South 

 of Scotland, it is probable that these owe their carbonaceous matter 

 to some form of ancient sea-weed, which, like the present Macrocystis 

 pyrifera, occurred in immense masses over extensive tracts of sea ; 

 the recent form referred to having a distribution through no less than 

 140 degrees of longitude. 



Notes on the Fossil Fucoids, Zoophytes, and Annelids of the 

 Flags and Sandstones at Barlae. By Professor R. Hark- 

 ness, F.G.S. 



Fucoids. 



1. Chondrites regularis, nov. spec. This species of branch- 

 ing fucoid is characterized by the regular mode in which it is divided ; 

 the branches in the specimen under examination appearing to issue 

 from a central stem, at nearly equal distances from each other on one 

 side, where the portion of the central stem and branches are seen in 

 a state of considerable relief. On the opposite side no branches are 

 apparent, and the stem is obscure, owing probably to the stony 

 matter enclosing this part of the fucoid. The branches are slightly 

 curved, and become more flattened and expanded near their extre- 

 mity. The lowest and largest of these in the specimen is about an 

 inch in length, the other two being smaller, and the branches seeming 

 to lessen in size as they approach the upper part of the fucoid. 

 The central stem in this specimen is about 3 inches long and j^th 

 of an inch in thickness, and has a rounded form. 



Locality. — Found along with other species at Barlae Quarry, Kirk- 

 cudbrightshire, in indurated shale. 



2. Chondrites informis, M'Coy *. This species, which occurs 

 in the black slate of Skiddaw (Whitless), is met with in considerable 

 abundance in the grey shales and sandstones of Barlae ; but in ge- 

 neral it presents itself in a more indistinct state than as seen on the 

 slates of Cumberland. 



3. PALiEOCHORDA MAJOR, M'Coyf. This fucoid is seen in 

 * Palaeoz. Foss. Cambr. pi. lA. fig. 4. f Ibid. pi. lA. fig. 3. 



