218 



Systematic Paleontology 



of sporangia comparable to that of the modern genus Scliizcea. These 

 are both figured (x4) on pi. xxii. 



With regard to the botanical affinity of this species the writer's 

 convictions are indicated in the generic name. No modern group of 

 ferns fulfils the conditions as does the family Sehizseacese. The fossil 

 fern is identical with various modem tropical members of this family 

 in vegetative habit, no other modern ferns known to the writer resembling 



Fig. 2. — Restoration of a frond of Schizseopsis americana Berry, about four- 

 fifths natural size. 



it in the character of the fronds except the genus BJiipidopteris of the 

 Polypodiacese, which has a quite different habit and type of fructification. 

 The venation is closely similar to Schizcea. The fructifications are sim- 

 ilarly borne and the spores are similar in form and markings to those of 

 the closely allied modern species of Lygodium and Aneimia. It is be- 

 lieved that the combination of close agreement in vegetative characters 

 with a similar close agreement in fructification characters, in so far 

 as they are determinable from the nature of the material, justifies the 

 reference of these ferns to the family Schizseacese, a family which on 

 theoretical grounds we would expect to find represented in the Lower 



