S4 MR. i). DAYIES Oi^ TlIE ilCOLOGX OP [vol. Ixxvii, 



were devoid of plant-remains. The fossiliferous shales were ob- 

 tained from 10 to 15 feet above the seam. The shales were of a 

 gritty character throughout, and pale in colom\ 



Among the Equisetales, Asterophyllites dominated. Splieno- 

 phyllum was present, although very rare. Lycopodiales were also 

 particularly scanty. Of the Filicales and Pteridosperms Spheno- 

 pteris was more numerous than the other genera. A notable feature 

 in these shales was the great predominance of the rachis of ferns 

 or fernlike plants, often with some of the petioles attached 

 and stripped of their fronds and pinnules. Cordaitales were un- 

 common. 



Of the remaining classes, Equisetales represent nearly four-fifths 

 of the i^lants. 



The Upper Yard Seam (Table III & fig. 4, pp. 38-39) lies 

 36 feet above the Middle Yard Seam at the Britannic Colliery, 

 and is locally known as the Bute Seam. The shales for examina- 

 tion were obtained from beds about 8 to 14 feet above the seam, 

 and were dark grey. The beds below this level failed to yield 

 evidence of plant-remains ; but a thin band of black shale was 

 found to be impregnated with crushed shells of Anthracomya 

 pTiillipsi : this band occurs 6 feet above the coal-seam. The area 

 from which the shales were obtained lies nearly due west of the 

 shaft, and at a distance of 1300 yards from it. 



Of the Equisetales, Catamites dominates the other plants of the 

 class, ^plienopliyllum is again absent. Lycopodiales are beginning 

 to assert themselves, as witnessed by a fair distribution of Lepido- 

 clendron. Of the Filicales and Pteridosperms, Neuropteris easily 

 holds sway over the other genera, and, just as in the seam 

 immediately below (the Middle Yard Seam), a great number of 

 specimens of the rachis of ferns or fernlike plants are in evidence. 

 Cordaite-leaves are also frequently found in these shales. The 

 Filicales and Pteridosperms show a marked superiority in number 

 over other classes. 



The Nine-Foot Seam (Table IV & fig. 5, pp. 40-41) at the 

 Trane Colliery occurs 150 feet above the Upper Yard Seam ; but, 

 owing to the limited development of this seam, the shale was 

 obtained from a point 200 yards east of the shaft. The beds 

 for 15 to 18 feet above the seam were nearly devoid of plant- 

 remains ; but a series of fossiliferous beds were struck about 18 to 

 24 feet above the seam. The shales examined were coarse and 

 gritty, and in thin layers. The plant-remains were very much 

 broken up. Of the Equisetales, Asterophyllites was most com- 

 monly met with, and represented two-thirds of the whole 

 assemblage of plants belonging to this class ; Hplienopliylliim 

 was again absent. Lycopodiales were rarely observed, and Lepi- 

 dodeiulron was dominant. The Filicales and Pteridosperms were 

 well represented by Neuropteris. Specimens of the rachis of ferns 

 or fernlike plants were particularly rare, notwithstanding the fact 



