1849.] SHARPE ON THE SECONDARY ROCKS OF PORTUGAL. 199 



late, the latter oblong. All are surrounded by a very slightly sinu- 

 ated fasciole inclosing a shield-like space. The surface of the test is 

 covered with scattered tubercles surrounded by rings of granules ; 

 the interspaces are minutely granulated. The subanal fasciole is in- 

 distinct and distant from the anus. The post-oral spinous space is 

 broadly triangular. 



This handsome species is from the upper beds of hippurite lime- 

 stone, of the valley of Alcantara, near Lisbon. 



Remarks on Zamites gramineus. By J. Morris, Esq. 



Zamites, Brong. {Otozamites, Braun.) 



Z. GRAMINEUS. Cycadites, Phillips, Geol. York. i. tab. 10. f. 2, 

 var. MundcB, nob. Plate XXVI. fig. 7 a & 7 6. 



The vegetable impressions in the shale associated with the coal 

 from Cape Mondego, belong to a small group of fossil fronds referred 

 by some authors to the family Cycadese (Zamites), and by others to 

 the Ferns {Odontopteris and Otopteris) ; the relation however of some 

 species arranged in the latter genera is still considered doubtful. 



The Mondego specimen may be provisionally referred to that 

 section of the genus Zamites, Brong., of which Z. Bechei, Brong., 

 and Z. brevifolia, Braun, are the types, consisting of pinnate fronds, 

 with more or less linear-lanceolate pinnse, ha\ing an auricled or 

 semicordate base, and for which M. Braun has proposed the name 

 Otozamites"^ . 



The species from Cape Mondego appears to be identical with the 

 Zamites gramineus, sp. Phillips, as regards the general form of the 

 frond and pinna ; but the veins are more numerous in the Portuguese 

 specimen than in the figure given in the * Geology of Yorkshire' (vol. i. 

 tab. 10. fig. 2). 



It may be thus described : — 



Frond pinnate, pinnae alternate, oblique, linear-elongate and slightly 

 falcate at the apex, auricled at the base or semicordate ; veins fine, 

 numerous, equal, dichotomous, and somewhat parallel or even slightly 

 flabellate ; rachis slender, striated ? 



The pinnae are distant from each other about half the width of a 

 pinna, and attached by the lower half of the base ; the veins radiate 

 in the auricle. On the same slab of shale is an impression of a 

 smaller specimen, and which is probably only the young or not fully 

 developed frond of the same species ; but it differs in having the 

 pinnae shorter, more approximate and obtuse, and in this respect 

 somewhat resembles the Zamites brevifolius, Braun. 



Plate XXVI. fig. 7 a. Frond of the natural size. 



Fig. 7 b. A leaflet magnified. 



* These forms are characteristic of the Jurassic series, being chiefly found in 

 the lias and lower oolite. 



