506 G. H. PERKINS TERTIARY LIGNITE OF BRANDON, VERMONT 



must be rejected and a wholly new start made, or as much of the older 

 work as possible might be retained by assuming, more or less arbitrarily, 

 t'hat certain forms represent certain of the described species and regard- 

 ing as undescribed all that could not properly be so located. 



The latter course has been adopted, and it is abundantly justified in 

 the opinion of the author by the conditions existing, as any one who will 

 attempt to use the older descriptions and figures can easily assure him- 

 self. For instance, when sections of several specimens plainly included 

 by Lesquereux in the same species were made and examined, it was 

 found that some were one-celled, others two-celled, and still others three- 

 celled. Numerous similar difficulties were encountered. There is no 

 doubt that considerable variation must be allowed in the fruit or seed 

 of many species, but surely there is a limit to this variety. 



VEGETABLE REMAINS ONLY FOUND IN THE LIGNITE 



It is quite noteworthy that under the conditions existing in the lignite 

 beds there should have thus far been found not a single shell or any 

 other trace of animal life. While hundreds of perfectly preserved fruits 

 have been obtained and a few fragments of leaves, not one trace of animal 

 life has been discovered. The fragments of leaves are few and small and 

 all show netted venation. 



COMPARISON OF LIGNITE FRUITS WITH THOSE OF LIVING SPECIES 



Much study has been given to the identification of the Brandon fruits 

 with those of modern trees, but thus far without very important results. 

 Indeed it has not been possible to assign most of them to any of the 

 existing genera/ As may be seen from the species given on plates 86 

 and 87. some cf the Brandon plants are assignable to modern genera, 

 but none are specifically identical, though some are undoubtedly closely 

 allied to modern forms. Through the kindness of Professor G. L. Good- 

 ale, I have had full access to the large collections of seeds and fruits in 

 the Harvard University museum, and Professor B. L. Robinson afforded 

 me the same assistance at the Gray herbarium. I have also had the 

 very efficient help of Mr C. G. Pringle and access at all times to the her- 

 barium of the University of Vermont, which now includes all of Mr 

 Pringle's private collections. 



From the above facts it is plain that there has been no lack of recent 

 material for comparison, or of counsel, and yet all that can be affirmed 

 is that the Brandon plants did not produce fruits identical with any 

 living species examined, and that only a small portion of the fossils can 

 be placed in modern genera with any certainty. Professor Goodale 

 called my attention to a collection of fruits in the Harvard University 



