Sir P. Egerton and Dr. Hooker on Fossils from South Africa. 227 



If provisional names are advisable until further evidence is obtained, the former 

 may be designated Palaoniscus sculptus ; the latter, Palcsoniscus Bainii. 



Figs. 26, 27, 31, 33, 34, 37, 38, belong to P. Bainii ; figs. 28, 29, 30, 32, 35, 

 36, 39, 40, belong to P. sculptus; figs. 41, 42, imbricated scales from the upper 

 base of the tail. 



The figures represent the specimens magnified two diameters. 



P. M. Grey Egerton. 



Note on a Fossil Plant from the Fish River, South Africa. 

 By J. D. Hooker, M.D., F.R.S., F.G.S. &c. 



[Plate XXVIII. fig. 1.] 



The remarkable fossil discovered by Mr. Bain in the Roggeveld (Fish River), 

 and figured on Plate XXVIII., presents no resemblance to any plant with which 

 I am acquainted ; and, though the specimens are in excellent condition, I am 

 wholly unable to suggest a probable affinity for them. The general appearance 

 of the plant is that of an elongated stem, giving off at intervals whorls of linear, 

 lanceolate, blunt leaves. These leaves are seven or fewer in a whorl ; are all 

 united at the base ; are of unequal length and breadth ; and are marked with six 

 to ten straight, undivided, unbranched, free ribs or veins, with intervening narrow 

 grooves ; in this respect resembling the leaves of some American Cycadea, and of 

 some ConifercB, as Dammara and Podocarpus latifolius. 



Mr. Bain has found some truncated conical bodies, not unlike the bases of 

 stems, in a position that appears to indicate the probability of their having been 

 the bases of the stems of this fossil ; but they do not present any characters of 

 structural or systematic importance. 



I have shown the specimens to many of my botanical friends, amongst others 

 to one well- versed in fossil botany also (Dr. Lindley), but none of them are able to 

 suggest any plausible affinity amongst living plants. 



Joseph D. Hooker. 



Note. — Whilst this sheet was passing through the press, an opportunity was afforded, by the kindness 

 of Col. Portlock, of examining a small series of fossil plants forwarded by Mr. R. N. Rubidge from the 

 Dicynodon-strata of Smithfield, Orange River Sovereignty. In Mr. Morris's opinion, these fossils are 

 essentially " Secondary" in character, from the preponderance of the remains of Cycadeee, and probably 

 represent a Triassic or a Jurassic flora. — Edit. 



