70 



PEOCEEDH^GS OF THE GEOLOQICAL SOCIETY. [Apr. 28, 



Its venation is nndistinguishable from that of the elongated parallel- 

 veined leaves which I have usually referred to the genus Foacites ; 

 and I am inclined to suspect that these last, notwithstanding their 

 parallel venation and elongated grass-Hke forms, are really allied to 

 the Perns. They were certainly low plants growing in dense clumps 

 in the coal-swamps (figs. 4 and 5). 



Yig. 4. — Schizopteris (?), Lower Coal-measures, Nova Scotia. 

 Yig. 5. — Poacites, Lower Coal-measures, Nova Scotia. 



Fig. 4. Fig. 5. 





'M 



Poacites are among the most abundant fossils of all the members 

 of the coal-formation ; and I cannot find any specific distinction, 

 except such as might be founded on the greater or less slenderness of 

 the leaves. All have parallel veins, raised on one side of the leaf, 

 depressed on the other ; and in perfect specimens slender striae can 

 be detected between these, giving the leaves an aspect akin to those 

 of the family Typhacece. The veins are pretty constantly one-fiftieth 

 of an inch apart. 



An ill-preserved specimen from Horton resembles the genus 

 Sphaeredra (L. and H.). Similar, though much smaller, specimens 

 are figured by Dr. Jackson as occurring at the Albert Mine. 



